Latest ChampionShip News

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
DUO MAY MISS OUT FOR HORNETS Nottm

Watford could be without on-loan defender Craig Cathcart and midfielder Don Cowie for the Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United central defender Cathcart hurt his knee in the recent home win over QPR and has missed the last two matches, while Cowie has been struggling with illness.

Midfielder Ross Jenkins remains sidelined with the back injury that has forced him to miss the last eight matches, but manager Malky Mackay has no other new injury or suspension problems.

The Hornets, who this week staved off the threat off adminstration by paying back a £4.88million loan to former chairman Jimmy Russo and vice-chairman Vince Russo, are looking to bounce back from two straight defeats in a bid to resurrect their play-off challenge.

In-form Nottingham Forest will take an unchanged squad to Vicarage Road as they look to extend their 14-game unbeaten league run.

Guy Moussi remains the only absentee. The French midfielder has missed the last five matches with an ankle injury that boss Billy Davies this week described as a "mystery".

Davies may opt to make some changes from the home victory over Preston last weekend. However, the Scot will stick with a defence that has kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Championship.

Garath McCleary and Lewis McGugan, who came off the bench during the 3-0 rout of North End, provide options in midfield while Dexter Blackstock, Nathan Tyson and David McGoldrick are available if Davies wishes to freshen up his strikeforce.




:thum:
 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
IRELAND BACK FOR CITY


Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland is likely to return to the team against Scunthorpe on Sunday in the FA Cup fourth round.

Ireland was on the bench in midweek after recovering from injury with City defeating Manchester United 2-1 in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg.

Manager Roberto Mancini intends to use two-goal hero Carlos Tevez sparingly at Glanford Park if at all.

Roque Santa Cruz and recent signing Patrick Vieira are both sidelined with calf injuries.

Manchester City (from): Given, Taylor, Zabaleta, Richards, Onuoha, Sylvinho, Garrido, Trippier, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Kompany, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Robinho, Tevez, Benjani, Petrov, Vidal, Boyata.
 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
HOLLOWAY PONDERS CHANGES

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway could wield the axe when his side host Watford.

The Seasiders were beaten 2-1 at home by relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday and Holloway was furious with their display.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Barry Bannan and Keith Southern are all pushing for recalls after being reduced to the role of substitute against the Owls.

Strikers Stephen McPhee and Billy Clarke remain on the sidelines due to injury and attacking midfielder Hameur Bouazza is away on international duty with Algeria.

Holloway is demanding an improvement against the Hornets after defeat against Wednesday cost his side the chance to move into the play-off places.

Holloway said: "We've got to get back to the drawing board, back to work and find the right response."

Stephen McGinn will be added to the Watford squad.

The Scotland Under-21 midfielder joined the Hornets from St Mirren for an undisclosed fee last week and is expected to be on the bench.

Another Scottish midfielder, Scott Severin, is Watford's only injury doubt with a minor groin problem so McGinn could take his place in the squad.

Boss Malky Mackay has an otherwise full-strength squad to choose from.

Liam Henderson and Will Hoskins are pushing for starts in attack with Danny Graham having failed to find the net in his last nine games.

Mackay will otherwise name an unchanged side from the one which lost at Doncaster last weekend.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
OWLS MISSING HAMSTRUNG JOHNSON
Sheff.

Jermaine Johnson is sidelined with a hamstring injury for Saturday's Championship visit of struggling Peterborough to Hillsborough.

Johnson was forced out of the action at Blackpool in midweek and replaced by Leon Clarke, who went on to score the Owls' second goal.

Clarke is expected to retain his place alongside Marcus Tudgay up front, while on-loan midfielder Tom Soares will play his last game before returning to Crystal Palace.

Luke Varney will go straight back into the squad for the game after returning on loan from Derby until the end of the season.

The striker, who spent the first half of the season on loan with the Owls, will have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench after Wednesday's two straight wins under new manager Alan Irvine.

Peterborough boss Mark Cooper will have a makeshift defence on show.

Cooper saw centre-halves Ryan Bennett and Craig Morgan sent off in last weekend's demoralising 3-0 home defeat to Derby so the pair will be suspended at Hillsborough.

Midfielder Charlie Lee is expected to be asked to fill in alongside former Kettering man Exodus Geohaghon as another regular, Gabriel Zakuani, remains out with a groin injury.

Kerrea Gilbert, Reuben Reid, Jake Livermore and Izale Mcleod all made their debuts against Derby at the weekend and should keep their places as Cooper desperately searches for a first away win of the season.

Midfielder Toumani Diagouraga has joined Brentford on loan, while striker Aaron Mclean will continue to be available for selection despite being placed on the transfer list earlier this month.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
BORO DOUBT OVER ROBSON


New signing Barry Robson is rated as a major injury doubt for Middlesbrough's Championship clash with Swansea on Saturday.

The 31-year-old, who made his debut at Sheffield United last weekend, is struggling with a hamstring injury.

Loan signing Isaiah Osbourne is battling to shake off a knock and Jeremie Aliadiere is nursing an ankle injury.

Striker Leroy Lita has completed his three-match ban after being sent off against Scunthorpe on Boxing Day while Julio Arca and Gary O'Neil are expected to shake off bumps and bruises.

However, Emanuel Pogatetz (hamstring), Rhys Williams (pelvis), Andrew Taylor (hernia surgery), Seb Hines (ankle and medial ligament) and Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) remain on the sidelines.

Swansea manager Paulo Sousa is boosted by the news that Cedric van der Gun will be available.

The Dutch winger had been struggling with a hamstring problem and missed the Swans' 1-0 victory over Leicester last weekend.

However, defender Albert Serran is expected to be out of action for at least eight weeks with a hamstring injury.

The Spaniard left the field before the end of Saturday's win over the Foxes despite only entering the fray as a 73rd-minute substitute.

Wales captain Ashley Williams was dropped for the clash against Nigel Pearson's side but will battle it out with Federico Bessone for a first team berth.

Striker Craig Beattie is expected to be added to the starting line-up following his 78th-minute appearance from the substitutes bench against the Foxes following illness and a knee injury.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
MUJANGI POISED FOR WOLVES BOW


New signing Geoffrey Mujangi Bia is poised to make his Wolves debut in Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round clash with Crystal Palace at Molineux.

Winger Mujangi has been signed on loan from RSC Charleroi for the remainder of the season with an option for the deal to become permanent in the summer.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will be forced to make one defensive change with full-back Richard Stearman suspended after his sending-off against Wigan last weekend.

McCarthy confirmed out-of-form striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake will retain his place in the starting line-up against Neil Warnock's side.

Crystal Palace will be without Lee Hills.

The young left-back is cup-tied having played in the competition earlier this season while on loan at Oldham.

Danny Butterfield, who recovered from a hamstring injury to make a substitute appearance at Plymouth last week, could come into the back four.

Palace expect in-demand teenage striker Victor Moses to be in the squad.

The England Under-19 star is poised to be sold during the transfer window but, barring any dramatic developments ahead of the weekend, he will travel to Molineux.

Nick Carle is unlikely to be involved as he weighs up a move to China while Sean Scannell (hamstring), Paddy McCarthy (shoulder) and Darryl Flahavan (jaw) are still missing.

Wolves (from): Hahnemann, Zubar, Craddock, Mancienne, Ward, Jarvis, Milijas, Foley, Henry, Ebanks-Blake, Doyle, Hennessey, Elokobi, Surman, Jones, Berra, Vokes, Iwelumo, Mujangi.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
BLUES MUST COPE WITHOUT COLE

Chelsea will be without left-back Ashley Cole for Saturday's match at Preston in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Cole is suffering from an ankle problem and will be replaced by Yury Zhirkov. Goalkeeper Hilario will replace the rested Petr Cech.

Michael Essien has been ruled out for up to six weeks following the knee injury he sustained on duty with Ghana in the African Nations Cup.

Preston boss Darren Ferguson will again be without Paul Parry and Barry Nicholson.

Former Cardiff winger Parry remains sidelined with a knee problem while midfielder Barry Nicholson (broken leg) is a long-term absentee.

However, defender Youl Mawene has been making steady progress after suffering knee ligament damage during the 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in November.

He has trained this week and could come into contention for the 23,000 sell-out clash in new boss Ferguson's first home match in charge.

Preston defender Neal Trotman has completed his loan move to League One outfit Huddersfield until the end of the season.

Ferguson said: "We are going to have to be at our maximum and Chelsea need to have an off day if we are to have a chance."

Chelsea (from): Hilario, Turnbull, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Terry, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, J Cole, Zhirkov, Kakuta, Bruma, Borini, Sturridge, Matic, Anelka.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
DONCASTER SET TO BE UNCHANGED

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll is not expected to make any changes for his side's FA Cup fourth-round clash at Derby on Saturday afternoon.

Rovers clinched a trip to Pride Park with a 1-0 third-round win at Brentford on Tuesday night and O'Driscoll has no new injury or suspension problems.

Skipper Brian Stock came through his first full 90 minutes at Brentford unscathed after returning to the starting line-up for the first time since undergoing ankle surgery in last Saturday's league win over Watford.

Midfield team-mate Martin Woods is back in training following a groin injury, but is not expected to return to the squad against Derby, while the likes of James Hayter, Byron Webster, John Spicer and Sam Hird are expected to start on the substitutes' bench.

Derby will be without on-loan striker DJ Campbell, who has scored three goals in seven appearances for the Rams since arriving in November but does not have permission from parent club Leicester to play in the competition.

Rob Hulse, Chris Porter and Kris Commons are all vying to fill the void, with manager Nigel Clough to decide who will partner Steven Davies in his starting line-up.

Clough has no other new injury or suspension worries and Shaun Barker is expected to shake off a knee injury to take his place in defence.

New signing Russell Anderson, who arrived on a free transfer from Burnley last week in time to make his first appearance, will start on the substitutes' bench again.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
BLUEBIRDS WAIT ON RAE

Gavin Rae is facing a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of Cardiff's FA Cup fourth-round clash against Leicester.

The central midfielder was forced to miss a second successive match due to a hamstring injury as the Bluebirds squeezed past Bristol City in Tuesday's third-round replay, but he is recovering strongly.

However Dave Jones has plenty of other concerns in Aaron Wildig (back) and Solomon Taiwo (illness), who is the latest player to be struck down by the virus that has ravaged the club for the last week or so.

Michael Chopra was sick during the clash in midweek while others were suffering in the dressing room afterwards but almost all are expected to battle through.

Midfielder Stephen McPhail has been back in training for the past three weeks after recovering from stage one malt lymphoma and a thigh injury, although no date has been set for his return.

Joe Ledley will play his penultimate match for the club prior to a lengthy lay-off after his double hip operation was moved back by a couple of days, meaning he can now take part in Tuesday's league encounter against Bristol City. Striker Josh Magennis (broken fibula) remains sidelined.

Leicester's Bruno Berner has been ruled out.

The defender is still to recover from the calf injury which forced him off during the 3-0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday on December 12, so on-loan Manchester City defender Ryan McGivern is likely to continue at left-back.

But boss Nigel Pearson will again be without the services of long-term absentees Aleksandar Tunchev and Stephen Clemence, who remain sidelined through injury.

Ashley Chambers will also miss out after joining Grimsby on loan until the end of the season.

The Foxes will be looking to end a two-game winless streak following a 1-1 draw with Ipswich and a narrow 1-0 defeat at Swansea.
 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
SELECTION POSER FOR KEANE

Ipswich Town manager Roy Keane has a striking poser to puzzle over ahead of the FA Cup trip to take on Southampton on Saturday.

Pablo Counago came off the bench to score a 97th-minute winner against Coventry last weekend and Keane must decide whether to hand him a start in place of on-loan Crystal Palace man Stern John.

John, though, headed his first goal for the club in the same game to end a 32-game wait for a goal. He is eligible to play in the competition.

Keane will stick with Arran Lee-Barrett in goal after he agreed a new contract extension as Brian Murphy and Richard Wright remain sidelined.

Murphy injured ankle ligaments warming up at Leicester a fortnight ago and is close to a return while former England international Wright will be out long-term with a knee injury.

Winger Luciano Civelli is now not expected to make a return from his knee injury this season and striker Jon Stead sits out the final match of a four-game suspension following his Boxing Day dismissal.

Southampton could hand a debut to new signing Lee Barnard.

The Southend striker has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the club and is available to face the Tractor Boys, while academy graduate Matthew Paterson has moved the other way to pen a permanent deal with the Shrimpers.

But midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is suspended as he starts a three-match ban for his sending-off during Wednesday's Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at MK Dons.

His absence leaves boss Alan Pardew light in midfield with skipper Dean Hammond sidelined with an Achilles problem.

Recent signings Dan Seaborne and Jon Ostemobor are cup-tied and fellow defenders Rahdi Jaidi (eye) and Graeme Murty (ankle) are still crocked, but full-back Dan Harding could return after missing out in midweek with a cold.

Striker David Connolly should also be available after resting a groin injury. On-loan Reading winger Michail Antonio is eligible and will expect to keep his place after his goal sank the Dons.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
DAVIES MISSES CUP CLASH

Bolton boss Owen Coyle will be without Mark Davies for the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Sheffield United after William Gallas' tackle on Wednesday left the midfielder with ankle ligament damage.

Davies had to be taken off on a stretcher after the controversial challenge during Wanderers' 4-2 defeat at Arsenal and it is not yet known how long he will be sidelined for.

Ricardo Gardner (groin) and Gavin McCann (ankle) will also miss out, while Danny Shittu is still with Nigeria at the African Nations Cup.

Sheffield United new boy Mark Yeates will have to wait to make his debut.

The winger, who has joined the Blades from Middlesbrough, is cup-tied having already featured in the competition.

Manager Kevin Blackwell has had a potentially tough selection poser taken off of his hands after defender Matthew Kilgallon this week joined Sunderland.

Marcel Siep will therefore partner captain Chris Morgan at the back.

Strikers Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward and Henri Camara are all pushing for places in the starting line-up after Blackwell opted to partner Richard Cresswell with Ched Evans last weekend.

The Blades earned their fourth-round trip to Bolton by seeing off QPR 3-2 in a third-round replay at Loftus Road.

Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, Knight, Robinson, Cohen, Taylor, Muamba, Lee, K Davies, Klasnic, Basham, A O'Brien, Al Habsi, Samuel, Elmander, Ricketts.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
TRIO RETURN FOR READING CLASH

Brian Laws has been boosted by the return to fitness of Jay Rodriguez, Chris McCann and Martin Paterson ahead of Burnley's trip to Reading in the FA Cup fourth round.

The trio have been sidelined with injuries since September but made their comebacks in a reserve game on Tuesday and should all be available for selection.

Steven Fletcher had to come off with a knock to his ankle in last week's defeat at Manchester United but should feature and Clarke Carlisle has returned to training after overcoming a side strain.

Club captain Steven Caldwell will miss out again though after suffering a setback in his recovery from a groin problem, while David Nugent is ineligible for FA Cup matches under the terms of his current loan deal from Portsmouth and Andre Bikey is still with Cameroon at the African Nations Cup.

Reading are hopeful of having top-scorer Gylfi Sigurdsson available.

The Icelandic midfielder - who scored a last-minute penalty at Anfield in the third-round replay win at Liverpool - missed the 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest last weekend with a foot injury.

The 20-year-old has scored eight times this season and is hopeful of being fit as the Royals look to avenge last season's play-off defeat to the Clarets.

Defender Matt Mills picked up his fifth booking of the season against Forest but will be available after the cut-off date for suspensions expired.

New signings Andy Griffin and Gunnar Thorvaldsson both made their debuts at the City Ground and will remain in contention.

Noel Hunt and Chris Armstrong (both knee) and Julian Kelly (shoulder) remain sidelined for Brian McDermott's side.

Burnley (from): Jensen, Carlisle, Edgar, Eagles, Alexander, Elliott, McDonald, Fletcher, Duff, Blake, Thompson, Penny, Guerrero, Gudjonsson, Kalvenes, Eckersley, Rodriguez, McCann, Paterson.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
LOVENKRANDS MISSES CUP CLASH

Newcastle striker Peter Lovenkrands will miss the FA Cup fourth-round trip to West Brom on Saturday as his compassionate leave continues.

The 29-year-old flew back to England for Monday night's 2-2 draw with the Baggies at St James' Park just days after returning to his native Denmark following the death of his father, Bent.

Lovenkrands, who scored his side's second equaliser in that game, has since flown home once again and will not be involved in the squad at The Hawthorns.

New signing Danny Simpson, who completed a permanent move to Tyneside on Wednesday evening after a successful loan spell, is a doubt after damaging an ankle on Monday evening.

Long-term absentee Joey Barton is still unavailable but the likes of Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar and Nile Ranger will once again come into contention.

West Brom have the same squad that picked up a 2-2 league draw against the Magpies.

Whether Roberto Di Matteo opts to makes changes to the starting XI that lined up on Monday remains to be seen but the two-time cup winner is certainly taking the competition seriously.

Roman Bednar started as the lone man in attack but was replaced by Ishmael Miller just after the hour mark, and the fit-again striker will be hoping to get more minutes under his belt as a flurry of games approach.

Bednar was part of four changes for the Magpies clash as Di Matteo responded to the 3-1 defeat against Nottingham Forest, with Youssouf Mulumbu, Robert Koren and Marek Cech also coming in.

James Morrison (heel) is still the only man on the sidelines but he is looking to return before the end of the month, while Abdoulaye Meite remains on African Nations Cup duty with Ivory Coast following their progression into the quarter-finals.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
MIRFIN AIMS TO UPSET BUOYANT CITY

Defender David Mirfin is confident Scunthorpe can bring Manchester City back down to earth in Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at Glanford Park.

Moneybags City are riding on the crest of a wave after their 2-1 victory against arch-rivals Manchester United in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday night.

But Nigel Adkins' Coca-Cola Championship side are not short of confidence having won two of their last three games, with only a late goal from Cardiff last weekend denying them a third win on the bounce.

City brushed aside the Iron with a 5-1 victory at Eastlands in the Carling Cup back in October, but former Huddersfield centre-back Mirfin insists the Championship side will pose more of a threat this time around.

The two clubs are worlds apart in terms of finance, with City splashing out over £100million in the transfer market last summer on the likes of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Gareth Barry, while the Iron operate on a shoestring budget.

But Mirfin insists reputations will count for nothing when Roberto Mancini's side arrive in North Lincolnshire and the no-nonsense defender believes his side can catch City cold with a blistering start.

"The best way to get at City is to carry on playing like we have been," Mirfin told the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

"As a front four we can always score goals and I think as a back six we've become more solid.

"If we play at our pace and don't let Man City dictate the pace, I think we can get at them.

"But it's up to us to start as well just as we have done in the last couple of games.

"The longer you're at 0-0, or 1-0 up, the more likelihood there is of there being a shock.

"If you go 1-0 down, you've got a mountain to climb. Teams at that level are good enough to defend a 1-0 lead and even go on and score more.

"It'll be a different game to the one at their place.

"We're in quite good form at the moment and while we respect them, we don't fear them. At home it's up to us to play how we want to."

Adkins is expected to recall former Charlton midfielder Josh Wright after he recovered from illness, with summer signing Michael O'Connor missing out through suspension.

Former physio Adkins must decide whether to recall first-choice goalkeeper Joe Murphy or stick with Josh Lillis, a lifelong City fan, who has excelled in recent weeks and got the nod to face Cardiff last weekend.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
RIBEIRO JOINS COLCHESTER ON LOAN

The 20-year-old will join up with the Us for Saturday's home game against Gillingham - and he could face fellow City youngster Tristan Plummer who has gone on loan to the Gills.

Wales Under-21 international Ribeiro suffered cruciate knee ligament damage on his City debut against Peterborough in August 2008 but proved his return to fitness during a loan spell at Stockport earlier this season.

City manager Gary Johnson told the club's official website: "Christian needs to go out and play games to gain confidence with a side playing well.

"He has a big future with us, he's a great prospect but he needs games to be ready for the Championship after his long-term injury."

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
STRACHAN HOPEFUL JOHNSON WILL STAY

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan is hopeful that winger Adam Johnson will remain on Teesside when the transfer window closes.

Manchester City, Chelsea, Sunderland and Wolves have all been linked with the 22-year-old winger, whose contract runs out at the end of the season.

However, Strachan has repeatedly insisted he is not for sale and, when asked once again about Johnson's situation, said he was optimistic the player will see out his current deal at the Riverside Stadium.

He said: "In my opinion, I think he will still be here once the window shuts, one way or another, because the guy likes playing for the club.

"He's a good kid and he understands it. He would like to try to get us back to the top level."

Boro have been encouraged by the level of compensation Chelsea were ordered to pay Manchester City - an initial £3.5million potentially rising to around £7million - for Daniel Sturridge with their own Academy graduate Johnson significantly more experienced at senior level.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
MAGPIES CLOSE ON WILLIAMSON

Newcastle are closing in on the signature of defender Mike Williamson from Portsmouth.

The Championship leaders have had a bid - thought to be around £1 million - accepted for the 26-year-old.

The centre-half has not featured for Pompey's first team since a £3million switch from Watford in September and wants regular football.

Newcastle boss Chris Hughton told the Northern Echo: "There has been an offer made which has been accepted and at the moment we're just working on the lad's terms.

"He's a lad with good pedigree.

"He did very, very well at Watford and I have known about him for a while. We were interested in him before he went to Portsmouth but his games have been limited there."

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
HOLLOWAY HANDED TOUCHLINE BAN

Holloway was given the ban following his breach of an FA misconduct rule during the Seasiders' recent FA Cup tie against Ipswich. He was also fined £2,400 and warned as to his future conduct.

The 2-1 defeat against the Tractor Boys saw both Ian Evatt and Rob Edwards sent off, and Holloway himself was sent to the stands for remonstrating with the fourth official.

The ban means the Pools boss will oversee the games against Watford on Saturday and Coventry a week on Saturday from the stands.

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
DONS BOSS REVEALS MacLEAN HOPES
Aberdeen v Kilmarnock

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee still hopes to bring Steven MacLean to Pittodrie.

The Dons boss claimed last week he had no chance of signing the Plymouth striker, saying he expected a Coca-Cola Championship side to win the race for his signature.

But, with such a move yet to materialise and MacLean yet to rule out Aberdeen as an option, McGhee is refusing to give up hope just yet.

He said: "I've maintained contact with that situation and, until he goes and signs somewhere else, there is always the possibility that he may come here.

"The boy has made it clear that it is one of his options to come here.

"But he is determined to try to give it as long as possible to try to get a permanent move out of Plymouth and we can't do anything about that.

"If he doesn't make that permanent move, chances are that he would be willing to come here."

Meanwhile, McGhee believes only some disappointing results in cup competitions prevented his predecessor Jimmy Calderwood from becoming the most successful Aberdeen manager since Sir Alex Ferguson.

Calderwood parted company with the Dons in the summer and returns to the club for the first time since his departure as manager of Kilmarnock in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash.

McGhee said: "I think a couple of difficult results in semi-finals were the difference between Jimmy being the most successful manager here since Alex Ferguson and going away with a great record in terms of league finishes and a great European run - and that cup thing being held against him.

"It's such a thin line between success and failure in these situations. But I think overall he has to have been judged as having done really well.

"I believe he should be welcomed back here with open arms and appreciated."

And McGhee says the return of Calderwood has made him ponder what his own achievements could be at Aberdeen.

"Absolutely," he said.

"I've said since I got here that I think Jimmy's achievements are the benchmark for us.

"Top four finishes in three consecutive years, a great European run - including getting through the league to the knockout stage. That is incredible.

"For us to aspire to that is the right thing to do but it's going to be hard to match."

 

sky star 2

Super VIP
Messages
9,792
NEW DEALS FOR BLADES 'STALWARTS'

Sheffield United duo Chris Morgan and Stephen Quinn have extended their contracts at Bramall Lane.

Captain Morgan and midfielder Quinn, whose deals were due to expire this summer, will now remain with the Blades until the end of next season after the club exercised their option to trigger another year.

Boss Kevin Blackwell told the club's official website: "This is really good news for us, the pair have become stalwarts at Bramall Lane and will continue to play major roles in the development of the team."

Quinn added: "I am delighted and it has come at a good time with me starting to find my best form.

"It is nice to know where you stand and it is better to be at a club than worrying about the future.

"It seems strange to see all the comings and goings, but I absolutely love it here. To be honest, I couldn't picture myself anywhere else, but things can change rapidly in football."

 
Top