When November came and went Hargreaves was apparently in line for a January return to action, again that didn’t happen. He has now been withdrawn from Manchester United’s Champions League squad and there are real fears he may not play again this season.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson gave a glimmer of hope for Hargreaves. The United boss claimed there is a chance the holding midfielder could be back before the end of the current campaign.

He said: “Owen’s recovery is slow

“It is a year-and-a-half now and I can’t put a time on it. But he will be back.

“He could come back and make an impact on the league for us. Hopefully he does.”

The knee problem Hargreaves has been sidelined with remains somewhat of a mystery. He has been in the US with Dr Richard Steadman, a knee specialist who seems to treat everyone with major problems – Alan Shearer, Michael Owen, Ruud van Nistelrooy and many others have all been treated by Steadman in the past. For Hargreaves though his return has been a long and slow process, although he did recently come through a behind closed doors friendly fixture unscathed.

In terms of England’s World Cup hopes it comes as a bit of a blow but I think it was pretty much expected he wouldn’t make the cut. If he had returned in January and played a part in the Champions league he may have been able to force his way into Fabio Capello’s thoughts but I would suggest that ship has probably sailed now.

Fortunately for Hargreaves no one has mentioned retirement yet and Ferguson’s suggestion he could return before the end of the season is a positive statement. Hopefully he’ll see some action before the end of the current campaign, and enjoy a full return in the 2010/2011 season.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer who blogs about Irish racing, Premier League football and Cheltenham 2010.

After losing to Scunthorpe United at home this weekend (0:1), angry fans surrounded Briatore and Ecclestone demanding the explanation for the club’s terrible policy and complete discontinuity on the manager’s bench, as well as in the transfer policy. Fourth defeat in the last six league games saw experienced manager Paul hart sacked after only 28 days on the bench and this is only the tip of the ice berg of problems in popular Hoops squad.

A lot of fans on the stands were wearing clown wigs and red noses as a protest against the situation in the club shaken by the problems on the pitch and outside of it, since 2007, when the club was bought by Italian F1 magnates, Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone, with the support of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mital who holds 20 %.

The facts since then speak for themselves: Paul Hart was even sixth full-time manager on Hoops bench in the last two and a half years. Italian quickly sacked John Gregory and after that Ian Dowie, Luigi De Canio, Paulo Sousa and Jim Magilton tried their luck on the bench in London. None of them has stayed for a whole season, some of them didn’t make it one term. Mick Harford, Gareth Ainsworth and Steve Gallen had the roles of caretaker managers. The team was situated in the midtable, far away from the play-off zone and the new signings were of decent quality, but not top-class, or they brought some talented but inexperienced “kids” from Italy or Argentina.

All of this, together with the situation with Paul Hart and the Mexican soap opera before sacking Jim Magilton, points out an obvious lack of vision and incompetence. QPR are a ridicule object for other clubs’ fans. especially since Jim Magilton was sacked because of the clash with midfielder Akos Buszaky, when the club management backed the player instead of manager (?). Rumor has it that Paul Hart’s sack was partially caused by the clash with on-loan Tottenham midfielder, Adel Taarabt. None of the many managers had time to make any changes in the team, bring their own signings, convey their vision… There were some speculations about how Briatore meddles in team selection, squad policies, etc. Completely untypical of English football and the managers of English teams.

The worst thing in the club was complete lack of continuity, and Briatore’s lack of patience for any manage he hired. One of the financially most stable teams in England, while they are by far the richest one in the Championship, definitely won’t be successful unless they show a little patience. The fans are paying a big price on season tickets (another novelty from the new owners), though they did work on the infrastructure of the stadium, so that is perhaps one sensible decision.

In spite of all the failures, this season can still be saved. A good run would see QPR break through to the play-off and possibly to the Premiership. However, the latest moves (selling winger Wayne Routlidge to Newcastle) show that the owners are still making hasty decisions, there are no results and the fans have lost patience. Unlike Briatore, who hasn’t given enough time to any of the managers, the fans gave him plenty of time. They kept swallowing all of his blunders quietly and waited for something else to change besides the faces on the bench, stands and club’s crest. They are still waiting…

Injuries have had a big part to play in Everton’s under-performing but the squad is starting to return to full fitness. Spanish midfield star Mikel Arteta returned as a late substitute in their win over Sunderland on Wednesday and his return could be vital. Arteta, as far as I’m concerned, is the best player in the Everton line-up and his absence has really been felt in the blue half of Merseyside – his return could well prove vital for Moyes’ hopes for the season.

After a run of three straight defeats Everton are now unbeaten in eight and more importantly they’re turning draws into wins. For the first time since September Moyes’ men are back in the top ten and should continue to move onwards and upwards. Last season Australian midfielder Tim Cahill was a vital part of Everton’s success. Cahill deputised as a striker when injuries hit their attack and chipped in with some vital goals. Scoring has been lacking in Cahill’s campaign so far but on Wednesday he bagged his first goal since September and if he can continue to find the target Everton will keep winning.

Moyes has built one of the most resolute sides in the league outside of the top four and they’ve been a hard team to beat for some time. The loss of Joleon Lescott to Manchester City in the summer didn’t help Everton’s cause but they seem to have finally got over his departure and are keeping teams at bay again. With 16 games left, Everton trail the top-seven by eight points and it looks as if Europe could be out of the question.

Europe has to be the target for Moyes at the start of the season but this time I reckon they might just miss out. Everton’s next five games could be crucial in securing a top six/seven finish (which is what will probably be needed for the Europa League, depending on who reaches the FA Cup final). They travel to Wigan on Saturday, before facing Liverpool (A), Chelsea (H), Manchester United (H) and Tottenham (A) – with two Europa League fixtures against Sporting Lisbon in the middle of all that. If they can keep up the tempo and pick up some points in those games, they may just get into Europe, but personally I think it is just a bit too much to ask after the poor start they had.

Written by Gareth Freeman, promoting Irish racing tips and the Grand National 2010.

Under previous boss Gary Megson Bolton offered very little in attack and were a very one-dimensional side. The Wanderers played route-one football, set-pieces seemed to be the only way they knew how to score (16 of 26 goals so far from dead ball situations) but against Arsenal there were plenty of chances from open play. Indeed, if Matt Taylor or Ivan Klasnic had been a little more clinical the score-line could have been very different.

A home tie against Arsenal was never going to be easy for Coyle and Bolton but they played well and opened up the visitors on more than one occasion. Korean youngster Lee Chung-Yong looked dangerous on the break and could benefit from a few more like minded players in the Bolton line-up, which I’m sure Coyle will be searching for during the current transfer window and in the summer.

The factor that perhaps led to Arsenal’s second goal was the fact Bolton were pushing forward in search of an equaliser, they committed men forward in a way that wasn’t evident in the time Megson managed the club. When you’re a goal down you have to attack – and Bolton paid the price, but against lesser teams (of which there are many) this tactic will inevitably pay off at times.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas made a huge difference for Arsenal, scoring the first and playing a major part in the second. When the Spanish sensation turns it on there really is no stopping him and Bolton just didn’t have an answer. However, they won’t have to face Fabregas every week and after just a week in charge Coyle had Bolton playing attacking football with more energy than the Reebok faithful have seen for some time.

It doesn’t get any easier for Coyle in the immediate future, the Wanderers face Arsenal again on Wednesday (Jan 20) in a rearranged fixture at the Emirates. Few will be expecting Bolton to get anything out of Arsenal but after an encouraging performance against the Gunners things could begin to pick up when easier opponents come along. On Tuesday January 26 Bolton welcome Burnley, Coyle’s former club, to the Reebok, that should be a fiery encounter – and one Coyle will be desperate to win.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing tips and Cheltenham 2010.

Dzeko is a big imposing striker whose physical presence is a problem for defenders trying to mark him, but he is also blessed with some near skills. In some respects he reminds me a little of Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which isn’t a bad thing at all. At Wolfsburg his goals per game ratio is around one in two, which is a very impressive statistic and he formed a great partnership with strike partner Grafite during the last campaign.

It looked as if AC Milan were all set to wrap up a deal to bring Dzeko to the San Siro during the summer, but that failed to materialise. However, reports are suggesting Dzeko could make the move to Serie A in the summer – although it has now emerged Chelsea are in the running.

Dzeko has an Italian agent, Silvano Martina, so you would perhaps think his agent would prefer a move to an Italian side. However, Martina has said Chelsea are very much in the running to snap up his client.

“I can confirm that Milan really likes the player. At the time in Italy they are the club which showed most interest.” Martina told calciomercato.it. “But attention must be paid to Chelsea as the Blues are following Dzeko.”

I’ve seen Dzeko on a number of occasions in the Champions League and I’m certain he could hold his own in any of Europe’s top leagues. The Bundesliga is a quality league itself, but I would argue that La Liga, the Premier League and the Serie A are of a slightly higher standard than the German competition and it would be good to see how Dzeko equips himself in a different environment.

The Bosnian hitman was nominated for the 2009 Ballon d’Or, making the shortlist of 30 players, which should see his stock rise somewhat. It would appear at the moment as if AC Milan and Chelsea are the frontrunners in the hunt for his signature, though Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been credited with an interest and it seems certain Dzeko will depart Wolfsburg during the summer.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing and Fairyhouse tips.

“At this moment my target is the top four,” explained the former Inter Milan. “Next season we want to win the Premier League.”

So now we must ask the following questions, 1) Can City finish in the top four this season? And 2) can they take the title next season?

We’ll start with this season. City trail fourth placed Aston Villa by six points, albeit with a game in hand, which is by no means an impossible task. They have a great squad already in place but perhaps need to bring in some new defenders in January. Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure have perhaps not matched the form at City they enjoyed at Everton and Arsenal respectively and they’ve already conceded 27 goals – more than any other team in the top nine. If City are to finish in the top-four by the end of the season the defence is the area they need to start with. Mancini knows all about defending, as all Italian coaches do, so he should waste no time in sorting out what has been a very leaky defence so far this season.

How about actually usurping the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea next season? To be honest, with their money and resources anything is possible. However, to speculate on how good Mancini will fare in the Premier League before he has even been in charge for one game is pointless, let’s just see how things are working out by the end of this campaign before we start to guess how next year will go.

Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting horse racing Ireland and the Grand National 2010.

Inter are in the worst situation. Mourinho will be back to Stamford Bridge, but the performance of his team against the strongest teams tells us that the spring will be only a formality.

Last year Inter were humiliated by Manchester United, this season by Barcelona. According to all criteria, Chelsea are among top three European teams and Inter are far away from the top, so the outcome of this match is more or less already seen.

Fiorentina made a real feat by making it to the knockout stage, but they got the most difficult rivals there is, Bayern.

Last year, Bavarians easily handled Viola and the way they ran over Juventus gives them the reason for optimism before this duel. However, Fiorentina are better and more experienced than last year, but still they will have trouble handling Bayern.

And finally, Milan. Perhaps it sounds strange, but Milan stand most chance of all the Italian clubs. They have the play for Europe and regardless of the fact that United are favourites they will be anything but an easy prey for Ferguson’s team.

Of course, such Manchester United would definitely struggle to resist Italians without defenders, but even a complete squad won’t be absolute favourites. They are definitely the favoured side but Milan are unpredictable and they will have Beckham,a lot of experience and the fact that they are experts on knockout stage on their side.

Anyway, this will be a great match and without a doubt the derby of Champions League knockout stage.

Why is Mourinho acting like a child ?

The way he turned whole Italy against him is not only the fear that he will end the oddyssey in Inter (Inter odds) without leaving a trace. That has been obvious for quite some time : the team hasn’t got the quality for Europe and the no one cares for the titles in Italy anymore.

The problem is the contract. When he extended the contract, Mourinho agreed to the clause that leaves Moratti the possibility to buy the Portuguese’s contract in April for a comparatively modest number of seven million euros.

Inter made the good calculation, Mourinho will be out of the Champions League by April and the situation in Serie A will clear out. With such Juventus and Milan, whose retirement home will lose their breath in the second part of the season, any of the people from the club can finish the job.

The new boss is already familiar. Moratti contacted former player Laurent Blanc who gets along great with Inter’s owner. Bordeaux’s results this season are definitely a good credential and the offensive football the former French national squad captain insists on is what Moratti wants to see in his team.

Jose is aware of all that, he is all but naive. The Portuguese will lose the planed money and probably a chance to lead any club capable of winning titles, at least for some time. Real and Barcelona are out of the question because his style doesn’ suit them, United is way off and there are some speculations about Liverpool but he won’t stand a chance with the Reds except for perhaps League Cup or similar trophy.

That is why, with all the problems on Mourinho’s back, the poor journalist could have done even worse.

Brian Laws is no longer the boss of Sheffield Wednesday, after the humiliating 0:3 defeat in Leicester. Popular Owls have gone since October 17th without winning – nine straight matches and thanks to the latest defeat and Ipswich’s triumph they slipped down to the relegation zone. The respectable midtable team that were predicted to attack the play-off zone, turned into sitting ducks in the last two months. Ambitious club president Lee Stafford (who assumed the post in January this year when the ownership structure somewhat changed) lost his patience. Brian Laws, the idol of the fans and the players at Hillsborough stadium will have to look for a new job…

Even though the situation is more than difficult, I must repeat that this move is probably another hasty decision. In the past three years that Laws has been at the helm, he has done a great job with quite poor means at his disposal. The losing side he took over from Paul Sturrock in November 2006. almost made it to the play-off by the end of that season. By the beginning of the next season they lost first six league games but rose to their feet and ended up safe in the midtable. This season they got off to a good start, well-coordinated with the unchanged squad (striker Marcus Tudgay and excellent keeper Lee Grant stayed in the team) boosted by interesting summer signings (Darren Purse, for example…). Still, we will never know if Laws could get them ahead again and create the familiar team spirit and ever-offensive play that adorned blue-white Owls from Hillsborough. Another premature sack…

The second “victim” that fell these days is Paul Sturrock, Plymouth boss. Sturrock is probably the best manager in the history of the club but that was the case with his first reign in the club. He is the man who lead the club twice to the Championship, against the Coca Cola Championship betting odds, in the period from 2000. to 2004. The second mandate, from November 2007. to date is a contrast to the previous success. When he took over in 2007. the team was fourth and had hidden play-off ambitions. In the end of the season they dropped to ninth and last season barely managed to survive (21st on the standings). Now, the agony continues…

The biggest cause of Sturrock’s failure is the lack of money and the budget that is a laughing stock compared to some other clubs. The players that gained some reputation had to be sold fast. Only in January 2008. they sold Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, David Norris, Dan Gosling, Peter Halmosi and Akosz Buszaky. Acquisitions like Emil Mpenza or Simon Walton turned out to be failures, so they had to rely on youngsters. This summer the Japanese consortium took over the club, but it brought no progress, as they signed average new players, the performance is vague and unconvincing, the relegation zone is the reality since August 2009. Still, his earlier contributions left Sturrock in the team but he was moved to another position. As a manager he left a devastating record: popular Pilgrims have recorded only four home wins in 2009 and in the last 47 league games they won only nine times. Therefore, this sack was completely justified, unlike the previous one…

These days Plymouth Argyle will face the embargo on transfers in the next transfer window, because they, as you may suppose, don’t have money. They didn’t pay for the previous transfers…

The worst of times for football in lower ranks…

It was no coincidence that the players from Brazil avoid coming to one of the biggest clubs in the world.

It is cold in Torino, you see the see only on pictures and the wind from the Alps destroys your will to samba. Football is seen as hard work and having fun on the pitch is illegal. The only thing that matters is a win, the lower the score- the better.

Juventus’ philosophy (Juventus news) and the winning mentality were often breaking the clubs with objectively stronger squads. Precisely this self-confidence helped the biggest Italian club, made mostly of Italian players to win foreign legion from Milan.

And then the management unworthy of their chairs decided to change it all. They paid 50 million for Diego and Melo, who joined Amauri and formed a Brazilian clan – a tribe that don’t play football but they talk, wave hands and complain. In the good old times it would be a mortal sin in Torino, while today such behavior is common.

That is why Juve lost. Good old Juve with Italian players and a Frenchman or an Argentinean would have easily made it to a goalless draw and sent the visitors back to Bavaria, waving freezing fans goodbye and went on planning to buy a guy from Sicily for two million and double his price few years later.

The present Juve are sinking. They came to their senses, as they plan to sell Amauri, but it is too late. The recovery process will be long and painful…