Archives for "Premier League Keeper News"

Manchester United number one Edwin van der Sar has returned Manchester United for the first time since his wife collapsed with a brain haemorrhage before Christmas.

Edwin has not played since the 3-0 defeat of Everton on 21 November last year.

The united stopper has been on compassionate leave since his wife Annemarie van Kesteren was admitted to hospital in Amsterdam just before christmas. However latest medical tests have shown his wife has suffered no permanent damage.

Van der Sar has now headed to Qatar to be with the rest of his team-mates at their four-day winter training camp.

It will now be intresting to see if the United manager Sir Alex will replace Tomasz Kuszczak who has deputized in Van Der Sar’s abssece and has done little wrong between the sticks.

Sunday’s “mail on sunday” has also reported that United have put Ben Foster up for sale, Foster has sliped in the pecking order and has found himself not even making the bench ahead of young keeper Ben Amos.

Van Der Sar and  Tomasz Kuszczak are both wearing gloves from the new Adidas Glove Range Van Der Sar is expected to wear the new Adidas Fingersave Allround (white black sun).

Sunderland’s manager Steve Bruce has branded talk of a £5million bid for Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland as ‘garbage’.

Bruce managed kirkland who wears the new Adidas Response Fingertip (white silver) in his time at Wigan and acknowledges he is a ‘big, big admirer’ of the top stopper.

Bruce told the Sunderland Echo: “Talk of me bidding £5m for Chris Kirkland is garbage but he is a very good goalkeeper and I’m a big, big admirer of him.

“Some of the players I’ve been linked with have been ridiculous but you come to expect that in January and there’s nothing we can do about that.

“What I will say is that we’re working on one or two things and hopefully we can see them progress.”

The glove choice of Chris Kirkland the Adidas Response Fingertip (white silver)

Wigan have moved fast in the Januaray transfer window and  have completed the loan signing of Serbia’s Vladimir Stojkovic.

Stojkovic wear’s Uhlsport goalkeepers and has been wearing (the choice of Pepe Reina) the Uhlsport Ergonomic Absolutgrip

The 26-year old goakeeeper has joined Wigan from Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season and will go straight into the squad to face Aston Villa this weekend.

‘Everyone knows about the quality of the English Premier League,’ said Stojkovic. ‘So to get a chance like this is a fantastic opportunity for me”

‘It is going to be very tough because I know the quality of the goalkeepers already here but every professional trains to play first-team football.

‘I am looking forward to the challenge of getting in the team and fighting for a place.’ Stojkovic was speaking to the sports mail.

The stopper has been brought in for back up for first choice Chris Kirkland.

‘Vladimir is a highly experienced keeper who is the No 1 choice in his home country,’ said the Migan Manager Martinez. ‘That shows you the calibre of professional we are signing, as a player but also in terms of his character and determination to succeed.

‘He will add tremendous competition for places in the goalkeeping department – something which we need everywhere on the pitch.

Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale has signed an extension to his contract which will keep him at the Club until the summer of 2013.

“The keepers here are great to learn from and there’s a wonderful rapport, if I can do half of what Schwarzer and Zuberbuhler have done in their careers, it would be a great career to look back on. I’m working with the best here at Fulham and it was nice to get an opportunity in the Premier League against Everton earlier this season.”

David Stockdale wears PRO-GK goalkeeper gloves his choice of glove is the PRO-GK Revolution Aqua Roll Finger which is now available at www.great-save.com

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants to get his hands on France World Cup keeper Hugo Lloris

It is reported that Lyon what £20million for their top shot-stopper.

Reports say Ferguson is ready to make a move for the tall 23-year-old as he looks for Edwin van der Sar’s long-term replacement and he could make a major splash when the transfer window opens.

Manchester United stopper Edwin van der Sar is set to return to United after his wife’s successful progress following a brain haemorrhage.

Annemarie van Kesteren was left seriously ill when she collapsed at the family’s home in Holland before Christmas.

United boss Sir Alex put Van der Sar on indefinite leave following his wife’s collapse and it is understood that she has made a good recovery with no long term effects.

The duch keeper is expected to make his return to United’s Carrington training ground this week

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish admits a fee to keep in form on-loan goalkeeper Joe Hart may be out of the club’s reach.  

Joe Hart is at the moment on a season-long loan at St Andrews from big spenders Manchester City. Hart has impressed in Blues’ rise to seventh place in the Premier League, keeping 8 clean sheets.

It is unclear how Hart fits into new manager Roberto Mancini’s long-term plans at city.

McLeish told skysports news

“I’d rate him about 10th in the Premier League – we want a cheap deal!” said McLeish after the 1-0 win at Stoke City.

“His form’s been brilliant and he looks a big, powerful bloke.

“Joe has as good a chance as anyone else to be in the England squad. Fabio Capello and his people like him and he really earned his corn again.

“Possibly, the fee might be too much, but a bigger club could still have their sights on him.

“Sometimes a situation like this arises. But Joe might feel he wants to come to Birmingham at the end of the season. We haven’t talked about doing anything in January.”

Joe Hart wears the Umbro Speciali Pro (Black, Green & White)

Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez is confident Uhlsport endorsed Goalkeeper Pepe Reina will sign a contract extension at Liverpool.  

The stopper 27-year is already signed with the reds until 2012, but the club are keen to prolong that deal.

It has been spoke of that there has been an improved terms offer made, the deal is now on the table with the goalkeeper currently weighing up his options.

Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez told skysports news “We are very happy with him,” he said.

“He has been improving every single year and he will improve more because goalkeepers have more time in their career.

“He’s always positive and he’s one of the best in the training sessions because his attitude is always good.

“It depends on the agent and what the player wants but Pepe is very happy here in Liverpool so I don’t see a big problem.

“The team-mates love him because he’s a very good example.”

Pepe Reina wears the Uhlsport Ergonomic Absolutgrip £44.99 or 2 pairs for £ 79.98  sizes 7 – 11 inc’s 1/2′s

Palm: ABSOLUTGRIP

Backhand: YCAP TR

Cut: uhlsport patented ERGONOMIC-cut for perfect fitting (flat)

Latex: Patented ABSOLUTGRIP foam for advanced gripping properties.

FOR MORE on the Uhlsport Ergonomic Absolutgrip

Manchester City shot-stopper Shay Given has revealed that a heated dressing room helped Mark Hughes’ men to wins over Arsenal and Chelsea in the past 7 days.

Given told the Manchester Evening News “a few home truths were dished out after we finished all square with Hull” this was their seventh successive draw of the season so far This ended in a debate between management and players and has now seen City suddenly regain that winning mentality, beating Arsenal in the Carling Cup last Wednesday and then beating Chelsea in the Premier League.

“The odd rollicking never did anyone any harm if you take it in the right way. We’re all grown men as well and you have to take criticism when it comes along. I think the win over Arsenal was a really big effort from everyone. It was a platform for the Chelsea performance. We’ve fought tooth and nail for every ball. Maybe during a couple of the draws we had, we just weren’t all at it. We had to address that and we did. We’ve set the bar now and we can’t drop below it.” Shay went on to say.

Given was again on hands to help the team secure the victory against Chelsea by saving Frank Lampard’s penalty. He now wants them to maintain their momentum at Bolton on Saturday “We got the belief and the confidence from beating Arsenal. It’s amazing in football – when you get a victory, it just gives the whole place a lift. I think we brought that into the Chelsea game. We worked our socks off, every single player, and we deserved the three points.”

Shay Given wears the Puma V Konstrukt (White – 09 Edition) which is now on sale at great-save.com £54.99 each or 2 pairs for £94.98

Blackburn’s Rovers penalty hero Paul Robinson (currently wearing gloves from Under Armour) was delighted to help his side into the Carling Cup semi-finals last night at the hands of Chelsea.

Robbo as on fine form to save two penalties from Chelsea’s Michael Ballack and Gael Kakuta to send Blackburn into the last four of the League Cup.

It was 3-3 after extra-time at Ewood Park, before Blackburn  sealed a semi-final place, where they will face Aston Villa.

“For a club like us to be in the semi-final is fantastic,” Robinson told Sky Sports News.

“Realistically we are not going to challenge for league honours.

“So to be in a competition like this , with the possibility of going to Wembley for ourselves and the fans is great.”

“We just had to make sure his heart operation was working tonight, I think it would have been a good test,” he joked.

> Watch Paul Robisnon Interview on skysports