‘Fit’ Rooney in focus

Aug 14, 2013

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England manager Roy Hodgson will hope his side can banish the Wayne Rooney transfer sideshow from the sports pages by beating their oldest rivals Scotland in Wednesday's friendly at Wembley .
The build-up to the game has been dominated by speculation about the Manchester United striker, whose club manager David Moyes lost his patience when quizzed about Rooney's future by reporters after Sunday's Community Shield.
The subject of two unsuccessful bids from Chelsea, Rooney has not played in any of United's pre-season games due to hamstring and shoulder injuries, but Hodgson says he is “physically fit“ to face the Scots. Given his lack of match fitness, it seems unlikely that the 27-year-old will be able to manage much more than a cameo, and Hodgson must also show care with some of his other first-team stars.
Frank Lampard, Jack Wilshere and captain Steven Gerrard are all returning after injury, and with the Premier League season beginning on Saturday, avoiding further injuries will be a key consideration. Around 20,000 Scottish fans are expected to descend on London for the game.
Drogba eyes redemption

Drogba eyes redemption
Johannesburg: There is a lot riding on the midweek New York friendly between Ivory Coast and Mexico for veteran Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba. The 35-year-old was cast into the international wilderness after another Africa Cup of Nations campaign went horribly wrong last February.
Serial title favourites Ivory Coast fell to eventual champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals and Drogba became one of the fall guys. Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi, the first coach in five consecutive Africa Cup tournament flops to survive, said the captain needed time out.
“We did not see the Didier we know at the Cup of Nations — moving to China cost him fitness and form,” explained the coach. Discarded for 2014 World Cup qualifying wins over Gambia (twice) and Tanzania, Drogba was promised a chance of redemption.
And it comes at the MetLife Stadium on Wednesday against a Mexican side used to African opposition having drawn 2-2 with Nigeria recently. A good showing from the dreadlocked 'Drog' and his dream of an international swansong at the World Cup in Brazil will be back on track.

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