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Monday Football
15 October 2007
by Jerrad Peters

FREDI Kanoute and Mamady Sidibe were injured, Saturday, when Togolese supporters stormed the pitch after their nation's 2-0 loss to Mali in Lome. Sidebe, a forward for Stoke City, was stabbed in the arm and Sevilla striker Kanoute was kicked by the mob after all hell broke loose at the final whistle. The loss saw Togo crash out of the qualification round of the African Nations Cup while Mali booked their place in the December tournament. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has vowed to investigate the incident. Mali Football Federation president Salif Keita reported, this morning, that 15 Malian supporters were hospitalized in Lome as a result of the brawl. National team manager Jean-Francois Jodar told L'Equipe that "Mamady Sedibe took a blow, doubtless with a weapon." He also stated that Kanoute was "hit with a belt. It was like a battlefield," he said. "There was blood everywhere in the dressing room."

Steve McClaren will shake-up his England squad for Wednesday's crucial match against EURO 2008 Qualification Group E rivals Russia in Moscow. The England manager, under pressure to retain Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry despite Frank Lampard's availability, will satisfy all critics by choosing both. While his side has enjoyed three successive 3-0 victories, McClaren will switch to an attacking 4-3-3 formation on Wednesday. Barry will play in the centre of midfield, with Lampard to his left and Steven Gerrard on the right. Michael Owen will operate as the centre-forward with Shawn Wright-Philips on the right-wing and Wayne Rooney making runs from the left. Nicky Shorey will step in for the injured Ashley Cole. And John Terry, set to undergo keyhole surgery to expell particles of floating bone from his ankle, has declared himself fit to play. In the event that the skipper cannot take the field at Luzhniki Stadium, McClaren would move Micah Richards alongside Rio Ferdinand and start Middlesbrough's Luke Young at right-back.

The state of the pitch at Luzhniki has received almost as much print as the players involved in the match. While the stadium typically lays natural grass from springtime through autumn, the Moscow winter requires a somewhat more durable surface. And while the Russians had initially intended to lay a new grass field for England's visit on Wednesday, the Russian Football Federation instructed the groudsmen at Luzhniki to switch to the artificial FieldTurf surface. The thinking in Moscow is that the solid, unforgiving turf will be a disadvantage to the visiting team. Steve McClaren, however, is refusing to use the pitch as an excuse for his players. "It's FieldTurf, not plastic," stated the England boss. "We've looked at the research. the Pro-Zone analysts have studied more than 100-games played on this surface; and the game is no different. There will be no issue with the pitch and absolutely no excuses."

Fernando Torres is likely to miss his first Merseyside derby. The Liverpool striker strained a thigh muscle while training with the Spanish national squad and missed Saturday's 3-1 win over Denmark. The medical staff at Anfield was further miffed when the 23-year-old flew to Finland with his teammates instead of returning to England for treatment. Liverpool will face Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Manchester United have uncovered their latest teenage phenom in Serbia. Stevan Jovetic is an attacking player for Partizan Belgrade and is already a full international. Just 17-years-old, he has already scored six goals this season while eclipsing the half-century mark in games-played in top-flight Serbian football.

Sheffield United have secured a one month loan deal for Phil Bardsley. The Manchester United right-back spent last season at Aston Villa and tried in vain to find a new Premier League club over the summer. As none have come calling, he will now attempt to secure a permanent move to Bramall Lane. Once touted as the successor to Gary Neville, Bardsley has failed to impress over his time at Old Trafford. Each of Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher, Danny Simpson, and Gerard Pique have been preferred to him in the position.