Archives for "Scottish Premier Keeper News"
Gordon Set for Sidelines
By Danny Wright
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set for a spell on the sidelines after the club confirmed he had fractured an arm.
Gordon collided with Tottenham striker Jermaine Defoe mid-way through the second half in the 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
The Scot had to be replaced by Martin Fulop, and has already withdrawn from the international friendly with Wales next week.
Defoe appeared to leave his foot in on the goalkeeper when the pair clashed as Gordon attempted to claim a through-ball.
The 26-year-old looked to have suffered a head injury, but, strangely, referee Kevin Friend allowed play to continue.
Spurs nearly increased their lead as Gordon lay stricken, Tom Huddlestone seeing his shot blocked by a furious Phil Bardsley.
“Craig’s in a lot of pain,” manager Steve Bruce revealed, although the club have yet to confirm how long the former Hearts man will be sidelined for.
Scott Marshall to be given start tonight
Goalkeeper David Marshall will be given a start in Scotland’s big World Cup qualifier against Norway tonight.
Cardiff stopper Marshall was picked instead of Rangers counterpart Neil Alexander, with regular number one Craig Gordon still battling back from injury ahead of the new season.
“It’s a massive blow losing Craig but it gives someone else a chance,” Scotland manager George Burley said ahead of the Group Nine clash in Oslo.
Scotland sit in second place in Group Nine and Burley has targeted six points from the next three games to secure a play-off place for the 2010 finals in South Africa.
Midfielder and former captain Barry Ferguson and goalkeeper Allan McGregor were not considered because of misbehaviour during Scotland’s last get-together.
But, like Norway, Scotland have had no withdrawals from their original squad through injury.
“It’s great that we have a full complement of players and that has not always been the case,” said Burley to the BBC.
“Four players are missing from the last game against Iceland but the 23 who are here are all fit and raring to go and we will announce the team tomorrow.
“I’ve got a basic idea of who I’m looking to start and we’ve been through a few things. We have options in a number of positions.”
“I think David Marshall will play and deservedly so,” he suggested because of Marshall’s time as understudy to Gordon and McGregor.
“I know what it’s like to be in the squad for years and be overlooked. I’m here as cover because Craig’s missing.”
Scotland assistant manager Terry Butcher trusted Burley to make the right choice.
“He makes bold decisions; he’s always done that in his career and he’s done so with Scotland in the past,” said Butcher.
“Sometimes, your gut feelings are your best feelings but that’s down to George and his gut feelings in the past have been very good.”
Gordon had earlier revealed that he had only just missed out on selection and expects to return to training this week after three months out because of injury.
Gordon setback for club and Scots
Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is a major doubt for Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against Norway on 12 August after suffering an injury setback.
The Sells Endorsed goalkeeper who wear the Sells H20 Contour Ultimate Roll underwent a summer operation for a knee injury that sidelined him at the end of last season.
But new Black Cats manager Steve Bruce said: “Craig’s not recovered and that’s a worry after his operation.
“My worry is will he be fit to start the season, given it is the same knee as the one he had the operation on?”
Sunderland assistant Eric Black said the Premier League club would do all they could to ensure the 26-year-old will be fit to play in Oslo in the vital World Cup qualifier – and in his club’s league opener.
“It is touch and go, but the way he is progressing we are still hopeful he will make the start of the season,” Black told BBC Scotland.
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Polish Legend: Boruc “Punished By God”
By Danny Wright
Error-prone Artur Boruc has been told that his recent spate of errors are a “punishment from God.”
The Celtic keeper was at fault for all three goals in Poland’s 3-2 defeat to Northern Ireland at the weekend, including a gaffe which saw the 29-year-old miss-cue a back-pass that rolled into the net to gift Nigel Worthington’s side all three points.
Jan Tomaszewski, the legendary Polish stopper, now says Boruc is paying the price for starting a “religious war” that has “come back to haunt him.”
He told The Sun: “Artur has no one to blame but himself. You could say he has had a punishment from God,”
“He started a religious war in Glasgow and now it’s come back to haunt him. That is why he was under so much pressure in Belfast — as he is hated by most of the Protestant community.”
Tomaszewski made 63 caps for his country, but is most famous for being branded “a clown” by Brian Clough prior to a World Cup qualifying match in 1974.
However, Tomaszewski had the last laugh, as he put in an outstanding performance in a 1-1 draw with England that denied Sir Alf Ramsay’s side a place in the finals.
Frustration continues for Gordon
Sunderland stopper Craig Gordon admits that his frustration is mounting at being on the sidelines.
Gordon was ruled out with an ankle injury earlier this season which allowed Marton Fulop to come in, and the Hungarian has performed well well for the club.
Stopper Gordon is now struggling to force his way back into the side and he has not started a league match this year.
The Scottish star man insists that, although he cannot hide his frustrations, he is continuing to fight hard.
“It has been frustrating and annoying at times but you have got to put up with that and do the usual thing of get back to basics and you work hard in training and wait for your chance,” he told Sky Sports News today.
“But it is very difficult to do that and not get upset but I have knuckled down and put in some good performances.
“Hopefully I have put myself in contention for this weekend (against Manchester City).
“There have been days when it has been difficult but I am a professional player and it is how you react and I hope to win my place back very soon.”
Celtic and United’s astonishing shoot-out
With the semi-final of the Co-operative Insurance Cup goalless after extra-time at Hampden, Celtic and Dundee United go head to head in an amazing penalty shoot-out.
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Celtic Neil Lennon: It’s time for Artur to work harder
Celtic coach Neil Lennon has warned Artur Boruc he needs to work harder to win his
form back.
A string of high-profile errors from the Polish stopper has sparked an inquest at
Parkhead into what has gone wrong with a keeper rated in the £10million bracket just last summer.
Criticised for his weight by some, others believe Boruc’s mind is in the wrong place after a messy divorce and a string of off-field headlines
Today’s Daily Mail has the story.
Just last weekend the keeper admitted 2008 had been the ‘worst year of (his) life’.
Last weekend’s glaring blunder in the Scottish Cup clash with Dundee has now brought the issue to a head and former Celtic captain Lennon admits Boruc’s form has become a ‘concern’.
‘I think it’s a concern for him and for us as well,’ Lennon told Celtic TV. ‘We will have to have a look at that and address it. It is probably a concentration thing more than anything but we all make mistakes. When a goalkeeper makes them, they are highlighted even more.
‘But he will have to knuckle down and work a wee bit harder at his all-round game. ‘I don’t think he needs a rest, but I do think he will have to come in and put it to one side.
We have been over this before.
‘He is a strong character and he always comes back from it, but he has got to put everything into training and I’m sure he’ll start feeling better about himself again.’
Lennon believes Boruc can learn from his younger team-mate Scott Brown. The former Hibs midfielder has recovered from an indifferent start to his Parkhead career and the loss of his sister to cancer to emerge as a contender for Player of the Year, scoring against Dundee last weekend.
‘He took his goal well,’ noted Lennon. ‘He had a bit of luck with the rebound but he earned it. Hopefully he can keep building on the platform he has given himself and
take his game on.
‘I don’t know what the difference is between this year and last. He’s maybe had a look at some of the discipline problems he had last year and he has more or less cut that out completely this year.’
Meanwhile, Celtic are poised to run a check on the Croatian midfielder known as the new Robert Prosinecki.
Anas Sharbini has set his sights on leaving First Division club Rijeka and would welcome a move to the SPL. The 21-year-old admits, however, that he would prefer to remain in his homeland for a year or two in order to force his way back into the Croatian national team.
Rated in the £2.5million bracket, Sharbini said: ‘I want to leave Rijeka. I hope this will be resolved as soon as possible but, for now, I don’t know anything. The club will decide.
‘I have offers from Croatia and also from abroad. I would really love to stay in Croatia
for one or two more years so I can return to the national team.’
Agent Sanjin Ugarkovic told Sportsmail: ‘We know there is interest from Celtic and we are very pleased about that. It would be a great thing for the player to go there.
