Scottish Mag

Is Nobby not going to miss this match through suspension?

James Milner admits that Newcastle United's players have been forced to accept they won't be rescued by any multi-million pound signings during this month's transfer window following the 2-2 draw with West Ham. The Magpies had been expected to strengthen this month, but have failed to persuade clubs to part with their intended targets in a sluggish market and manager Glenn Roeder has admitted he may only be able to make emergency repairs to his injury-plagued squad by bringing players in on loan. But Milner, whose first-half goal inspired a Newcastle comeback on Saturday after they had fallen two goals behind to struggling West Ham, has promised the players will not be feeling sorry for themselves. Newcastle remain desperately short of players in defence and attack, but Milner believes the spirit and determination of Roeder's side can continue to carry them through the rest of the season. The former Leeds United prospect has been the only Newcastle player not to miss a game through injury this season, but even he has been struggling with an ankle problem in recent weeks. "It feels a bit like I'm one of the only players who hasn't been injured but I've actually been playing with a bit of an ankle injury since the away game at Birmingham," said Milner who, as revealed in The Journal earlier this month, will be rewarded for his fine form this season with a new contract at St James's Park. "I've managed to get through the games, although I have been struggling a little bit. Everyone seems to have knocks here and there, but we have to stick together and try and get through it. With the numbers we have, you can't say I'm not really 100%. "It's not the same as being at Chelsea and being able to bring in a £30m player. It shows the team spirit we do have. Everyone has had to look inside themselves. There have been injuries but we haven't moaned about them. We've got on with it. It would have been very easy to make excuses but we've never done that as a squad." United's spirit was once again evident in the second half against West Ham as Roeder's side made hardwork of their attempt to bounce back instantly from the dreadful 5-1 FA Cup defeat to Birmingham City. And it was Milner who epitomised the Magpies' refusal to buckle, despite the injury problems which continue to hamper them, with Peter Ramage and Shay Given the latest to suffer on Saturday. Ramage, who had a torrid afternoon before he limped off, is likely to be out for at least a fortnight with a hamstring strain while Given's groin has flared up again and could keep him out for as long as six weeks. Milner added: "It shows our spirit because it would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves at 2-0 down after the result we had in midweek and the start we had here. Nothing was going right for us. "It's about how you stick together and battle back. Getting a goal back helped. We showed a great team spirit and work ethic and could have won it in the end. Hopefully we can build on it." But it is Milner's spirit which has attracted attention in recent weeks and the Yorkshireman admitted he could never envisage a situation where he would never fight to the last. He said: "There's never been a game where I haven't wanted to give it my all. You have off days when nothing quite goes for you, but that's different from not giving 100%. "I give it my all whether 5-0 down or 1-0 up. The manager tells us we have to be mentally strong whatever the situation in the game. You might feel tired when you're 2-0 down but you have to battle on and I'll give 100% wherever I am. I can't stand losing, whether it's tiddlywinks, with my girlfriend or out there on the field."

They are reported to have already knocked back a 6 million bid and are holding out for ten..

TRANSFER RUMOURS Wycombe striker Jermaine Easter is at the centre of a transfer battle between Manchester City and Blackburn. (Various) Watford winger Ashley Young will complete a deal to join Aston Villa - in a move worth up to £9.65m. (Various) Blackburn are targeting Hertha Berlin centre-half Chris Samba to replace Andre Ooijer, who broke a leg against Manchester City on Saturday. (Various) Blackburn are set to clinch a £1.2m move for Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock within 48 hours. (Various) Middlesbrough striker Massimo Maccarone is wanted by Torino, Empoli and Siena. (Daily Mail) Wigan hope to agree a loan move for Ulsan Hyundai's South Korean winger Lee Chun-Soo. (Daily Mail) Newcastle may offer £9m, plus Titus Bramble, for West Brom defender Curtis Davies. (Daily Mail) Southampton boss George Burley is resigned to losing teenager Gareth Bale, despite rejected an £8m bid for him last week. (Daily Star) Fulham boss Chris Coleman will decide within the next 24 hours whether to accept Wigan's £5m offer for midfielder Papa Bouba Diop. (Daily Mirror) Hull City boss Phil Brown is keen to snap up Derby midfielder Seth Johnson. (Daily Mirror) OTHER GOSSIP George Gillett, the owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team, is set to reopen talks with Liverpool and top the bid from Dubai International Capital to take over the club. (Various) Celtic legend Murdo MacLeod has revealed he was offered the chance to play for Rangers 25 years ago. (Daily Record) Ex-Newcastle boss Graeme Souness is refusing to accept defeat in his bid to buy Wolves. (Daily Mail) Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock faces a 10-match touchline ban after being sent to the stands in Saturday's fiery match against Reading. (Daily Mirror) Frank Lampard's agent Steve Kutner has denied that the midfielder is close to signing a new contract at Chelsea. (The Guardian) Referee Uriah Rennie faces being demoted from the Premiership list after allowing James Milner's goal for Newcastle to stand despite Scott Parker standing in a offside position. (The Guardian) AND FINALLY... Man Utd star Wayne Rooney has revealed he knows all the songs to the hit musical Oliver! by heart. He also loves hit TV shows The Sopranos and Coronation Street. (The Sun) Hamilton Academical fan Andy Waring proudly led the Accies out as team mascot on Saturday - at the age of 60. (Daily Record)

Good man..

Glen Johnson (who I know some think is awful, however he has looked good for Pompey this year) and Lauren fighting it out for Portsmouths RB position. We have Carr..............GREAT!

Agree with that. I think Tommy Craig working alongside him played a big part...

Is that the former Man United/Boro Mark Wilson? Used to play football with him, was always a forward type player. Has he moved back to defence now? No, different player. This is a Scotland U21 and former Dundee United player.

If the interest is genuine I am surprised what with them having Telfer, Mark Wilson and also Gary Caldwell who can play right back too. Whilst Wilson is injured at the moment he has looked great for them when playing.

recall for lee clark? I thought this season, even though he was concentrating on coaching, Clark was going to still register as a player in case of emergencies? Surely we would have been better off with him on the park than Pattison?

GLENN Roeder is hoping that he will be able to bring one player in particular to St.James' Park before the end of January. The United boss refused to name his target but did say that the player, should he arrive on Tyneside, would be a big success for the Magpies over the next four or five seasons. However, Roeder is adamant he will not be forced into panic signings following the crushing FA Cup defeat against Birmingham City. Indeed, the Toon chief again reiterated his desire to bring quality to the club and avoid making the same mistakes as previous managers. Roeder told nufc.co.uk: "I will not be making any panic buys. "We are working hard to bring in new players but it is slow going because I want quality. "I could easily go out and buy a couple of central defenders who are the wrong side of 30, but that's the road to nowhere "I have got to be positive that I will be able to get the signature one of player in particular that I have targeted, and be positive that he would be a big success at Newcastle over the next four or five years.

More likely to be Chelsea or even Spurs as with them letting Davenport go it appears they must have someone else lined up..

My meeting in Glasgow has been cancelled due to the weather so looks like I am stuck in the office this afternoon now. Boss says I can go home an hour early though seeing as I live out in the sticks and its meant to be pretty bad out our way. Day off tomorrow and an early finish today...result!

Aye, but "true quality" could mean anything - Remember him talking about Carr as if he were Henry not too long ago? Lets hope he signs for Celtic No chance of that whilst they have the mighty Paul Telfer.. Well,they are interested If the interest is genuine I am surprised what with them having Telfer, Mark Wilson and also Gary Caldwell who can play right back too..

Aye, but "true quality" could mean anything - Remember him talking about Carr as if he were Henry not too long ago? Lets hope he signs for Celtic No chance of that whilst they have the mighty Paul Telfer..

Still snowing here..

Reports in the Dutch press are crediting Newcastle with an interest in Ajax striker Ryan Babel. Babel is one of a number of bright attacking prospects in the Dutch game and his efforts for club and country have prompted teams from around Europe to sit up and take note. The 20-year-old's present deal runs until the summer of 2008, but Ajax are keen to thrash out a fresh commitment. Club and player are said to have reached agreement over the length of deal and wage increase, but a stumbling block has emerged as Babel's representatives want a minimum-fee release clause inserted in the contract. Ajax are refusing to entertain such an idea and it is being reported that this has alerted interested parties. Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder is eager to increase quality in a number of areas and Babel is believed to have come across his radar. Babel said recently that he would not leave Ajax this term, but it remains to be seen if an interesting offer from abroad and the wrangle over his contract prompt a change of heart.

What a paraffin lamp

More likely to end up with the likes of Christian Dailly on loan at 11.52 pm on Jan 31st tbh..

Which ignorant cunt said that? She probably undercooked the chicken because she's a film star and never cooks for herself. Not overtly racist though, obviously. I must say I (honestly) haven't been watching it but having heard that, you have to wonder how thick someone would have to be to 1) Hold a view like that and 2) Express it in front of a large TV audience. I don't recall anyone saying that. In last nights highlights they discovered that Shilpa was using the oven on the grill setting which was why the chicken was undercooked and they told her that's what it was. She just laughed about it. I think that Jo from S Club 7 said it a couple of nights ago...

Suspended, or is that not till the weekend after? He is suspended for the midweek game against Villa

I do not think we could or should have been too confident going into the match. Whilst Sundays result was fantastic the performance certainly wasn't the same can be said for the match at Birmingham, Everton away was absymal whilst we picked up points against Man United and Watford but again we never looked convincing in those games either. Whilst I am delighted that we are picking points up as this is more important than how well we play, I for one am still not convinced by the current squad of players and still do not go into any match confident of a definite win..