The English FA’s appeal against Wayne Rooney’s international ban will be heard on December 9th by Uefa, as the home nation try to reduce the number of games the striker will miss for his country.

The Manchester United attacker was sent off for violent conduct in The Three Lions’ last Euro 2012 qualifier, a 2-2 draw with Montenegro in Podgorica, and was handed a three-match suspension by the European governing body.

The decision means that Rooney is now ineligible for the entire group stages of the tournament in Poland and Ukraine next year, but Uefa are willing to listen to the FA’s case for reducing the sanctions.

“The Uefa Appeals Body will deal with the case of England striker Wayne Rooney on Friday 9 December at Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon,” an official statement reads.

“This follows Uefa’s receipt on Friday 4 November of the official written appeal from the English Football Association against the three-match suspension given to Rooney by the Uefa Control and Disciplinary Body on 13 October.”

The outcome of the appeal may well have a swaying factor in Fabio Capello’s decision whether or not to include Rooney in his squad for the tournament, as playing the entire group stages without the striker would be a blow.

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By Gareth McKnight

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There’s no substitute for experience in football; something that Tottenham fans found out last season as they tried to balance a Premier League campaign with the rigours of Champions League football. It’s something that Stoke are finding out this year too as they make the step up to European football; so far this season Stoke have only taken five points out of a possible twenty-one when playing on the weekend after a mid week European game. In fairness to Spurs they managed it quite well last year but never really looked like getting fourth spot. However it was Redknapp’s first time in the Champions League and the difference between the intensity of Europe’s top two competitions is vast indeed. It has not gone unnoticed at Tottenham.

For anyone to suggest that Spurs could not have qualified from their Europa League group with ease would be ridiculous. If they had wanted to they could have. But instead Redknapp has played teams that resemble anything other than his first eleven. Don’t get me wrong it is still surprising that that they look unlikely to qualify, their second string should easily be able to top a group that includes the likes of Shamrock Rovers. However I doubt you’ll find many people in north London who will be overly disappointed by their probable exit from the competition.

Last season was a learning curve for Spurs and there are a few things that they’ve evidently picked up from it.

Europa League

You could never say that when Harry was previously in the Europa League with Spurs that he gave it his all but he used to put out much stronger sides than he has done this season. Despite their good start to the season Spurs will be aware that there is a long season ahead and competition for places at the top will be ruthless. With seven equally capable teams competing for four spots under no circumstances will Redknapp be in doubt as to what his priorities are. At the beginning of the season he lamented the fact that they were even in the Europa League labelling it an unnecessary distraction. It’s not just the games themselves that tire out the squad it’s the travelling all over Europe mid week. We saw what happened to Arsenal against Fulham after they played a tough match against the German Champions in the week and Redknapp knows that a successful run in Europe is worthless in comparison to a possible place in next year’s Champions League.

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Confidence

Last year’s performance by Tottenham in the Champions League will have left them brimming with confidence and it is starting to show. They beat the then-champions Inter Milan in their group and comfortably brushed aside AC Milan in the knockout stages. There weren’t many fans who thought they were possible of this beforehand but the aren’t many doubting them now. Redknapp has always attempted to instil belief in his players and this year it is perfectly evident that they the message is getting through to them. Interviews like Ledley King’s for The Telegraph and the performances they have been putting in all season are demonstrative of that.

New players

Playing against the best last year perhaps showed Tottenham where their weaknesses lay. The sale of Crouch and Palacios and the acquisition of Adebayor and Parker as their replacements has shored up the suspect areas in their team. When they played Real Madrid in last year’s Champions League their defence was over exposed and Adebayor, then with Madrid, punished them. In two strokes Redknapp has turned that experience to his advantage.

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Every team has low points in the season, it is inevitable, but Spurs have shown so far that they are twice the team they were last season. They are a far more all-round accomplished team and have taken the lessons from last year on board. Redknapp has transformed his team from one that dreamed of playing at Europe’s top table to a team that deserves to be there.

Follow me on Twitter @H_Mackay

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Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has been awarded the 2011 African Player of the Year award, after impressive performances for club and country.

Toure has become an important player for Roberto Mancini’s men since signing from European champions Barcelona in 2010, and scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final last season to end City’s 35 year trophy-less spell.

The news was released by the Confederation of African Football’s official website, who revealed that it was a close race for top spot.

“The 28-year old pipped Ghanaian midfielder Andre Ayew and Malian Seydou Keita to scoop the top-most honour at the Awards Gala on Thursday at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra,” it stated.

Toure is only the second player from the Ivory Coast to win the award, following on from Didier Drogba’s success, and it is the highest personal honour an African player can receive given that it is selected by coaches in the region.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Leeds have confirmed that they have sacked manager Simon Grayson, with the last straw being the side’s 4-1 home defeat to Birmingham on Tuesday night.

The Elland Road outfit are currently in 10th place in The Championship, but are only three points adrift of the playoff berths.

The news was released on the club’s official website, with chief executive Shaun Harvey keen to enforce a change in manager.

“We have 18 games to go this season and are still within touching distance of the Play-Offs, but felt with the transfer window now closed we needed to make the change at this time in the belief that a new managerial team will be able to get more out of the existing squad of players and make the difference.

“Simon and his staff have given the club over three good years service and we would like to place on record our thanks and wish them all the best for the future.

“Current youth team manager Neil Redfearn has been asked to take temporary charge of the first team until a new manager is available,” the statement concluded.

Grayson had taken over at Leeds back in December 2008, and despite leading the side back to The Championship, fell short of making it back to the top flight.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Arsene Wenger has always prided himself on placing a lot of faith in youth. Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song and Jack Wilshere are just a small example of the huge success that Wenger has had in finding and blooding young raw talent into his Arsenal squad over the years

As with all successes, there are always failures, and players who promised so much but failed to deliver. While Arsenal have had plenty of young talent come through the ranks, the Gunners have also had their fair share of youngsters who failed to make the grade at The Emirates Stadium or Highbury and never got to wear the Arsenal shirt for an extended period. Here are some of Arsenal wonderkids tipped to make the grade who fell by the wayside…

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Click on Bentley below to see the Top 10

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Thierry Henry has stated that scoring the winning goal against Sunderland on Saturday made him feel like a youngster again.

The veteran French attacker found the net in injury time to give The Gunners all three points in a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light, in what will be his last Premier League appearance for the north London outfit before heading back to New York Red Bulls.

The goal was a source of delight for Henry, who is eligible for Arsenal’s Champions League tie against AC Milan in midweek before returning to the United States.

“Just like a kid who came on and scored his first goal for the team he loves, that’s exactly how I felt, really like a kid,” he told BBC Sport.

“When it comes to Arsenal, I always feel something special. At the end of the day, I was there at the end of the move, but I just want to help.

“That’s all I wanted to do. I said it right from the start – I didn’t want to be a hero or whatever, just like one of the guys in the dressing room.

“When you come on as a sub, you want to help your team and change the game anyway, anyhow, and it did happen.

“A lot of the time, the guy who puts the ball in the back of the net will always get the credit, but the cross from Andrey Arshavin was perfect.

“You can always miss, but it was going to be very difficult to miss that one, so you have to give him a lot of credit for that one.

“I was just there at the right time and I finished it, so that’s the most important thing.

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“Obviously, I stayed a bit longer with the Arsenal fans at the end because I knew it was the last game for me in the Premier League, so I just wanted to say, ‘Thanks, that’s it’,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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William ‘fatty’ Foulke is arguably the fattest player to grace both the domestic and International arena.

The Sheffield United goalkeeping Legend weighed in at an incredible 22 stone and when he later move on to Chelsea the rumour has it that Foulke weighed more than two of the Blues’ backline combined. A top quality goalkeeper, Foulke proved that you didn’t have to be in peak shape as a footballer to make a decent career in the Beautiful Game. There are plenty of other players who have since packed on the pounds and subsequently been highly successful within the game.

This list is a tribute to the fat footballers of recent years and although the likes of Micky Quinn and Mido didn’t make the list, both of you remain forever in our thoughts.

Click on William Foulke below to unveil the top 10

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Blackburn boss Steve Kean has stated that his side have not started recent matches well, and is eager to have his side come straight out of the blocks in upcoming fixtures.

The Lancashire club are locked in a five-team relegation battle, and are currently in the dropzone in 18th place, locked on 28 points with two of their rivals.

With an integral home fixture against an off-the-boil Liverpool on Tuesday night at Ewood Park, the Scottish manager has urged his team to start the game well.

“We need to get back to how we were against Manchester United at the start when we were straight on it, we were focused,” he told Mirror Football.

“We’ve been slow to start against Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion and we need to look at the reasons why.

“I think we have to bring that to the players attention and we have to spark ourselves into life a lot quicker,” he confessed.

A win over Kenny Dalglish’s men would lift Rovers up to 16th place, and put increased pressure on the likes of QPR, Wigan and Bolton.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Bolton have joined Wolves and Blackburn in being relegated, after drawing 2-2 with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday.

Owen Coyle’s men needed to beat the Potters and hope QPR were defeated by Manchester City to stay up, and in the end Mark Hughes’ team did lose to the eventual Premier League champions.

Bolton had taken the lead after goals from Mark Davies and Kevin Davies had cancelled out a controversial Jonathan Walters opener, but a 77th-minute penalty by Walters gave the Potters a point, and saw the Reebok Stadium outfit demoted.

Trotters manager Coyle was livid with the refereeing decisions in both of the goals they conceded and frustrated at being relegated to the Championship.

“My feelings are obviously with our supporters and our wonderful club,” he told Sky Sports.

“I felt that we did enough to win the game after a slow start but the decisions – you’ve seen them yourself today.

“For that first goal to be allowed when Jonathan Walters clearly headed the arm of my goalkeeper when he’s got the ball in his hands, it was beyond belief that that could be given at this level but it was.

“And then we picked ourselves up, got 2-1 in front and had chances to go 3-1 and really put the game to bed.

“And then we allowed Stoke to come on at us with a little bit of pressure, although not any great goal-scoring opportunities.

“As it happens, Crouch has had a chance, Adam’s made a great save of it and then Crouch has played it around him.

“But for me it’s as soft a penalty as you’ll ever get because Crouch has actually stumbled into Adam.

“Adam is not even looking at him – he’s looking at where he’s played the ball.

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“But even then at two-each we still put ourselves up the park, Tim Ream’s had a great header in the last seconds of added time, a great save from the Stoke goalkeeper which would have afforded the three points and kept us in the Barclays Premier League.

“So of course it’s difficult to take, it’s a range of emotions,” the Scot concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has admitted that he is desperate to keep attacker Stephane Sessegnon at the club this summer.

The gifted forward proved himself as an important player for the Black Cats in 2011-12, and as such has been linked with a move to a number of other teams.

Despite this, the Northern Irish coach has revealed that he does not want to cash in on his star man during the transfer window.

“You can never tell what’s going to happen over the summer and I don’t want to be saying anything categorically at the start of it which will make us look foolish at the end of it,” he told the Sunderland Echo.

“I don’t want to say something now which will be thrown back at me next season with people saying: ‘Well you said this, or you said that’.

“But there’s no doubt Stephane Sessegnon is a player that we obviously want to keep and we’ll be doing everything we can to do so.

“He adds something to our attack that no other player does and our priority is to improve ourselves as an attacking force next season.

“If you want to do that, you have to look at keeping your best attacking players and attracting others.

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“Stephane has been making the right noises about being happy to stay at Sunderland and hopefully that will be the case,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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