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New Zealand’s lack of consistency in recent years in its one-day cricket has been behind its mid-table placing on the world rankings, but increasingly there are signs of a change for the better.Apart from anything else, Sunday’s record victory over Pakistan in Sri Lanka ended the rot of seven losses in a row to Pakistan.Pakistan’s dismissal for 116, its lowest against New Zealand and 19 runs worse than their 135 scored at Napier in 2000/01, was the fifth time New Zealand has bowled out a side for less than 125 in the last five months, and in little over two years, New Zealand has 10 times dismissed sides for 135 or less.Nine of these scores have been lodged by subcontinental sides, India suffering on six occasions – four in the recent series in New Zealand. All four instances not to take place on New Zealand soil occurred in Sri Lanka.The list is:

77 Bangladesh Colombo (SSC) 2002/0389 England Wellington (WS) 2001/02108 India Auckland 2002/03108 India Christchurch 2002/03116 Pakistan Dambulla 2003122 India Queenstown 2002/03122 India Hamilton 2002/03127 India Colombo (RPS) 2001133 India Colombo (RPS) 2001135 Pakistan Napier 2000/01

Pakistan’s total was the eighth equal lowest score against New Zealand by any side.Top 10 lowest scores v New Zealand:

70 Australia Adelaide 1985/8677 Bangladesh Colombo (SSC) 2002/0389 England Wellington (WS) 2001/02108 India Auckland 2002/03108 India Christchurch 2002/03113 India Perth 1985/86115 Sri Lanka Colombo (PSS) 1983/84116 Bangladesh Chelmsford 1999116 Pakistan Dambulla 2003118/9 Sri Lanka Dunedin 1982/83

New Zealand’s latest position on the ICC One-Day International Championship is sixth, an improvement of two places since its inception in October. It has moved ahead of the West Indies and now sits behind Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.Their climb up the ladder is the best by any side in the first six months of the Championship, rising nine points and two places.The Championship standings as at the end of New Zealand’s first match in the Bank Alfalah Cup in Dambulla are:

Team Matches Points Rating Change1 Australia 46 6269 136 +8 (n/c)2 South Africa 57 6972 122 +2 (n/c)3 Pakistan 51 5675 111 -4 (up 1)4 Sri Lanka 61 6413 105 -12 (down 1)5 India 58 6047 104 -2 (n/c)6 New Zealand 46 4594 100 +9 (up 2)7 West Indies 35 3463 99 +5 (n/c)8 England 34 3337 98 +2 (down 2)9 Zimbabwe 44 2844 65 -2 (n/c)10 Kenya 25 704 28 +6 (n/c)11 Bangladesh 23 101 4 -7 (n/c)

When the New Zealanders had Pakistan reeling at 17 for five wickets, it was the fifth equal worst start by any side in an ODI (for five wickets down). New Zealand’s previous best effort with the ball was having Bangladesh 19 for five in the ICC Champions Trophy last year.The record of teams having fewer than 20 runs and being 5 wickets down:

start total12/5 71 Pakistan v West Indies Brisbane 1992/9312/5 36 Canada v Sri Lanka Paarl 2002/0314/5 81 Pakistan v West Indies Sydney 1992/9314/5 43 Pakistan v West Indies Cape Town 1992/9317/5 266/8 India v Zimbabwe Tunbridge Wells 198317/5 84 Kenya v Australia Nairobi (Gym) 2002/0317/5 84 Namibia v Pakistan Kimberley 2002/0317/5 116 Pakistan v New Zealand Dambulla 200318/5 153 Pakistan v South Africa Colombo (SSC) 2000/0118/5 115/9 New Zealand v Sri Lanka Colombo (SSC) 200119/5 167 Scotland v Pakistan Chester-le-Street 199919/5 77 Bangladesh v New Zealand Colombo (SSC) 2002/03

Note: India v Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells was a 60-over match and New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC) was reduced to 36 overs per side.Five of them have occurred in the last eight months while three have been at the same ground, the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Pakistan have proven particularly vulnerable to the spectacular collapse, having been involved in five of the nine worst collapses – three of which took place in the space of 16 matches and 71 days during the 1992/93 season.The game also resulted in Daryl Tuffey’s latest instance of a wicket in his first over, the 17th time he has achieved the feat in internationals, and the 10th time in an ODI.His record now reads:

Tests: Inn Over BallMarcus Trescothick 1 1 2 v England at Auckland, 1 Apr 2002 (W)Mark Butcher 1 1 5 v England at Auckland, 1 Apr 2002 (W)Shahid Afridi 1 1 3 v Pakistan at Lahore, 1 May 2002 (L)Virender Sehwag 1 2 6 v India at Wellington, 12 Dec 2002 (W)Sanjay Bangar 1 2 3 v India at Hamilton, 20 Dec 2002 (W)Parthiv Patel 2 2 6 v India at Hamilton, 21 Dec 2002 (W)Marvan Atapattu 1 1 4 v Sri Lanka at Colombo, 26 Apr 2003 (D)ODIs: Inn Over BallSaeed Anwar 1 1 1 v Pakistan at Napier, 20 Feb 2001 (W)Saeed Anwar 2 1 6 v Pakistan at Christchurch, 25 Feb 2001 (W)Marvan Atapattu 1 1 2 v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, 10 Apr 2001 (L)Kumar Sangakkara 1 1 3 v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, 10 Apr 2001 (L)Marcus Trescothick 1 1 3 v England at Auckland, 23 Feb 2002 (L)Sanath Jayasuriya 1 1 3 v Sri Lanka at Sharjah, 14 Apr 2002 (L)Imran Nazir 2 1 1 v Pakistan at Rawalpindi, 24 Apr 2002 (L)Sourav Ganguly 2 1 3 v India at Napier, 29 Dec 2002 (W)Sourav Ganguly 2 1 1 v India at Wellington, 8 Jan 2003 (L)Mohammad Hafeez 1 1 4 v Pakistan at Dambulla, 11 May 2003 (W)

Note: Inn = innings of opposition for Test list, innings of the match for ODI list; Over = over of the inningsAnd while Shane Bond may be out of the tournament due to a suspected stress fracture in his back, he did have time to claim his 50th wicket in his 27th ODI, the fastest first 50 wickets taken by a New Zealander and seventh equal on the world list.New Zealand:

Mat Wkts BB AveShane Bond 27 51 6/23 19.00 2001/02 to 2003Geoff Allott 28 50 4/35 21.34 1996/97 to 2000/01Chris Pringle 33 52 4/35 22.88 1990 to 1993/94Ewen Chatfield 36 50 5/34 24.10 1979 to 1983Danny Morrison 36 50 4/33 29.98 1987/88 to 1990/91Martin Snedden 41 50 3/25 30.38 1980/81 to 1984/85Lance Cairns 43 50 5/28 31.18 1973/74 to 1982/83Daryl Tuffey 43 50 4/24 29.16 2000/01 to 2002/03Richard Hadlee 46 52 5/26 26.61 1972/73 to 1982/83Willie Watson 47 50 3/15 33.70 1985/86 to 1991/92Chris Harris 48 50 3/15 30.10 1990/91 to 1994/95Scott Styris 51 51 6/25 34.01 1999/00 to 2002/03Chris Cairns 52 51 4/55 32.84 1990/91 to 1996/97Daniel Vettori 55 51 4/24 35.17 1996/97 to 2000/01Gavin Larsen 66 50 4/24 43.78 1989/90 to 1995/96Dion Nash 66 50 4/38 44.48 1992/93 to 1999Nathan Astle 74 50 4/43 33.34 1994/95 to 1998/99Jeremy Coney 84 50 4/46 38.26 1979 to 1986

All time:

Team Mat Wkts BB AveAjit Agarkar India 23 50 4/35 21.34 1997/98 to 1998/99Dennis Lillee Australia 24 50 5/34 17.30 1972 to 1980/81Shane Warne Australia 25 51 4/19 16.43 1992/93 to 1994/95Len Pascoe Australia 26 50 5/30 19.57 1977 to 1981/82Patrick Patterson West Indies 26 51 6/29 19.45 1985/86 to 1987/88Curtly Ambrose West Indies 26 51 5/17 17.03 1987/88 to 1989/90Waqar Younis Pakistan 27 53 6/26 14.96 1989/90 to 1990/91Shane Bond New Zealand 27 51 6/23 19.00 2001/02 to 2003

Note: The figures given are those at the end of the match concerned(Statistics compiled by Duane Pettet)

New Zealand’s selectors, tired of potential being unrealised in One-Day Internationals, have thrown down the gauntlet to players wanting to be part of the 2003 World Cup campaign today.Only 12 players have been named for the one-day side to Pakistan, with two more to be added by the end of the month.The 12 selected were:Stephen Fleming (c) (Wellington), Nathan Astle (Canterbury), James Franklin (Wellington), Chris Harris (Canterbury), Craig McMillan (Canterbury), Kyle Mills (Auckland), Dion Nash (Auckland), Jacob Oram (Central Districts), Mathew Sinclair (Central Districts), Daryl Tuffey (Northern Districts), Daniel Vettori (Northern Districts) and Lou Vincent (Auckland).Notable absences from the side are wicket-keeper Adam Parore and off-spinner Grant Bradburn.They have not been excluded from consideration but if players with the New Zealand A team in India for the Buchi Babu tournament can come up with the required performances, Parore and Bradburn may be left out.Selection chairman Sir Richard Hadlee said, “We are not happy with the team and individual performances in Sri Lanka. We were in a position to win at least four games, and possibly five.”We expect more from our senior players.”If performances were not forthcoming in the near future some players may want to rethink their futures in the game, he added.Hadlee said Parore was without doubt New Zealand’s best ‘keeper and had given tremendous value to New Zealand over the last 10 or 11 years, but it was necessary to start looking ahead.The selectors also had to look at his workload.”He has been remarkably injury free over all that time and we can’t expect him to play in every one-day game, in every Test match and in every tour game.”He has got to have some breaks.”Disappointed as he may be, we have got to look after his career longevity,” Hadlee said.Holding two positions open added more sting to the performances of the A team and would allow for a fine tuning of the balance of the side.Hadlee said that incoming coach Denis Aberhart would have a game plan that he wanted to employ and the selectors would be looking to select a team to fulfil that plan.Aberhart reiterated the comments of previous coaches that it was up to individuals to provide the performances and he would be looking to work with them to achieve that.Having the killer instinct was about desire and having the mental attitude to compete.”Some are born with it, some aren’t. I want to make sure that everyone buys into it,” he said.Hadlee said there was concern about the failure to develop a bowling strategy at the death in games.The selectors had indicated their thoughts on that to the team management and have said that they would like to see Tuffey, especially, bowl more often at the death.”A key focus for us is the World Cup in 2003. We want to be fully prepared for that and the ideal situation for us would be to have 20-25 players to select from.”There are enough One-Day Internationals and tournaments over the next 18 months for us to look at various combinations. We want to have pressure for places because if there is competition the level of play will increase,” he said.”The players should make it as easy as possible for us by performing,” he said.Hadlee said the call was tough on Bradburn and was not necessarily a reflection on his performance in Sri Lanka as he had only bowled two overs in the one game he played. The selectors wanted to reconsider the composition of the side, he said.The retention of Franklin, who did not get a game at all in Sri Lanka, was to provide the option of a left-arm pace bowler to the tour selectors.There was no clear indication on what would happen at the top of the order as much would depend on the two players called into the team.If Chris Nevin could show the sort of form the selectors were looking for, especially with the bat, then he was likely to be the preferred choice.There was still the option of continuing to open with Sinclair, who had scored two centuries in Sharjah earlier in the year.Hadlee said there had also been an indication from captain Fleming that Vincent might be considered as an opening choice.Selector Brian McKechnie said New Zealand’s most successful ODI batsman Astle was a player who thrived on being able to keep the strike and other players used had not been able to get it to him often enough.

The Indian government’s delay in granting permission has put a cloud over the resumption of the Pakistan-India bilateral series.ESPNcricinfo has learnt that a senior minister in the Indian government believes the chance of the series taking place is “very difficult”, and that a final decision will be taken by the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. Neither Thakur nor the BCCI president Shashank Manohar were available for a comment. However, a senior board official said he personally felt the series would not happen: “It looks unlikely considering the government has not said anything.”Both the BCCI and the PCB had met recently in Dubai and agreed to play a series in Sri Lanka subject to clearances from their national governments. On Friday, the PCB revealed that the Pakistan government had given the nod for the series, allowing Pakistan to play India in Sri Lanka. However, the Indian government has remained quiet since BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur submitted a written request to the Indian foreign ministry on Tuesday.”Sports should not be dragged into political and diplomatic controversies,” Rajiv Shukla, the chairman of the IPL governing council, told . “We cannot decide on the series with Pakistan without the consent of the government. That is why we have written to the government and are awaiting its response. The moment we get the response, we will let everyone know.”The PCB, on its part, has been fretting over the sudden silence from the BCCI over the last few days. If indeed the series does not take place, it would be a major setback for cricketing ties between the two countries.After expressing its reluctance in public frequently, the BCCI checked with the PCB earlier this month whether Pakistan were open to traveling to India to play a series between December and the first week of January.The PCB rejected that offer on two counts, saying it was Pakistan’s turn to host India in the UAE according to the MoU signed by both boards in 2014. The PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan also expressed surprise at the offer to play in India when there had been open protests against Pakistanis in India by the Shiv Sena, a regional political party.Despite the setback, Manohar and Shaharyar finally met in Dubai on November 21, where it was decided Pakistan would host India in Sri Lanka. Although neither of the two boards had revealed how many matches would be played, it was understood there would be three ODIs and two T20Is tentatively starting December 15.

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the FA Cup has lost its magic, largely down to the removal of replays and semi finals now being played at Wembley. The United boss was speaking ahead of the Manchester derby as the Scot hopes to get revenge for the 6-1 beating they received earlier in the season.

Elsewhere in the news Newcastle vow to hold onto Ba; Liverpool must take a stand over abuse, while West Ham’s move to the Olympic Stadium is in jeopardy.

 

David Silva benefits from second season syndrome – Guardian

Neil Warnock facing the axe at QPR – Daily Telegraph

Liverpool ‘must take a stand’ over abuse – Independent

A derby United cannot afford to lose – Guardian

West Ham move in jeopardy – Independent

Toon vow to hold onto Ba – Mirror

Man United want Modric to keep Rooney happy… but he’ll cost £50m – Daily Mail

United join chase for Bolton defender Gary Cahill – People

Liverpool target will not be sold, vows Aston Villa chief – Mirror

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Henry arrival delays Podolski bid with £8m offer on ice until the summer – Daily Mail

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Tottenham and Real Madrid both have a key playmaker in doubt for their Champions League quarter-final first leg in Spain on Tuesday.The first 90 minutes of the final-eight clash is under threat of being overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of several big names; none bigger than Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, who has netted 27 goals in La Liga this season, is struggling with a hamstring injury and sat out Real’s 1-0 loss to Sporting Gijon on Saturday.

That defeat ended manager Jose Mourinho’s nine-year, 150-game unbeaten run in league matches at home, a stretch that began when the Portuguese boss was at the helm of Porto and included tenures with Chelsea and Inter Milan.

The loss also gifted league rivals Barcelona an eight-point gap on top of the Spanish table, effectively narrowing Real’s hopes of a title in 2010-11 to one last resort – Europe.

To get there – and achieve his stated aim of winning the Champions League with three different clubs – Mourinho must extract the very best of a squad that could be reeling from the loss of Ronaldo and several other key players.

Los Blancos were also without French goal-scoring machine Karim Benzema, Brazilian full-back Marcelo and Spanish World Cup winner Xabi Alonso on the weekend, with only the latter likely of taking to the pitch against Tottenham.

Ronaldo is no certainty, with Mourinho admitting playing the attacking midfielder would be to ‘gamble’ with his fitness.

Spurs, meanwhile, will be hoping they can make it back-to-back Real losses at the Bernabeu when they pay a visit, but are sweating on the fitness of Welsh winger Gareth Bale.

The 21-year-old, who has proven indispensable to manager Harry Redknapp in Tottenham’s surprisingly successful European campaign, has been troubled by a lingering hamstring strain.

He sat out Spurs’ 0-0 draw with Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League as a precaution, but is expected to play some part in the quarter-final.

Spurs have only reached the semi-finals of the premier European tournament once before in 1962, and their limp league form heading into the home stretch has almost certainly resigned them to missing out next season.

Buoyed by their 1-0 away victory at AC Milan in the last round, as well as Real’s untimely injury concerns, Tottenham will be confident of taking at least an even ledger into their home leg next week.

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Denmark international midfielder Christian Poulsen on a three-year contract from Juventus.

The 30-year-old former Sevilla and Schalke enforcer has joined the Reds for a fee in the region of £4.5million, having spent the last two seasons in Italy.

Poulsen has won more than 70 caps for his country and featured for the Danes at the World Cup finals in South Africa earlier this summer.

Poulsen's compatriot Daniel Agger is confident that his fellow Dane will fit in well on Merseyside.

He commented:"Christian would be a perfect addition to most of the big clubs in Europe, so he will certainly fit in here.

"He is a top player and will make us stronger. We need to have big signings so we can compete and he is one of those players.

"Christian will improve the team, but we need more improvements if we want to be at the top of the league this season."

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"Maybe he will find the pace of here a bit of a culture shock; he will have to get used to the extra high tempo.

"He has played in Italy, Spain and Germany and done very well, so I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be a success with Liverpool."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last week by beating fourth bottom Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The pressure on boss Andre Villas-Boas cranked up another notch after Glen Johnson’s well taken goal in the dying embers decided a game that the Blues never looked like winning. It’s been rumoured that the former Porto coaches job is on the line after he reportedly fell out with owner Roman Abramovic despite the Russian spending £13 million on him as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement. A decent, if uninspiring, start to the season hasn’t helped Villas-Boas’ cause although it would be unfair to criticise him just 12 games into his managerial career at Chelsea. The fact of the matter is that he hasn’t had nearly enough time to construct his own squad and implement his own ideas to full effect. Fans and pundit’s who likened him to former boss Jose Mourinho are now comparing their style’s and tactics to one another. One of the biggest criticisms of the Portuguese coach’s reign to date is his preference to play a high defensive line which is something that has come undone in the last couple of home games against Arsenal and Chelsea. John Terry’s lack of pace and David Luiz’s positional problems have been exploited time and time again this season and it’s no surprise to see they’ve conceded 19 goals league goals already with 11 coming at home. That is in stark contrast to Mourinho’s double winning debut season where the Blues conceded only 15 during the entire campaign. Under the ‘Special One’ Chelsea had a settled back four that was rarely altered and was the cornerstone of their success. Villas-Boas, on the other hand, can’t seem to make his mind up regarding a consistent for Terry with Luiz, Alex and Branislav Ivanovic all taking turns. Finding the right formula up front has also been a problem with the constant chopping and changing leaving players unable to build up any momentum. The form of Fernando Torres remains a worry whilst Daniel Sturridge staked his claim for the ‘number nine’ role coming off the bench to equalise last week. Villas-Boas will need to get his team selection and tactics spot this time around if he is to alleviate the pressure on his shoulders with a win against Wolves.

Mick McCarthy is another boss feeling the pinch of a poor start to the season with his Wanderer’s side now sitting fourth bottom after a run of one win in their last 10 games. That victory over Wigan before the international break was their first since beating Fulham at the end of August with the Midlanders taking two points from a possible 24  in between. Normal service was resumed last week as they were easily beaten by Everton at Goodison Park despite taking the lead through a Stephen Hunt penalty. McCarthy has been the subject of numerous moans and groans from sections of Molineux supporters with his team selection and substitutions all coming under fire in recent weeks. In fact the Wolves supremo has a similar sort of issue to his opposite number in the Chelsea dugout with his back four currently under pressure to stop leaking goals at such a rapid rate. Summer signing Roger Johnson was supposed to be the man to tighten up the back line and initially it looked like he had done just that. Unfortunately since the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on 27th August they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet conceding 19 goals in just nine games. As an ex-defender himself McCarthy will surely be doing all he can to get his rearguard securely bolted before they make the less than daunting trip to West London.

Chelsea – 5th

Last Five: Lost 2-1 v Liverpool (H), Won 1-0 v Blackburn (A), Lost 5-3 v Arsenal (H), Lost 1-0 v QPR (A), Won 3-1 v Everton (H)

Potential Starting X11: 1. P. Cech 2. B. Ivanovic 26. J. Terry [C] 4. D. Luiz 3. A. Cole 12. J. Obi Mikel 7. Ramires 8. F. Lampard 10. J. Mata 15. F. Malouda 23. D. Sturridge*

Injury News: Villas Boas has no new injury concerns with Michael Essien the only long-term absentee.

Key Player: Daniel Sturridge

You’d have to say that last week was rather special for the strike after he won his first England cap and came off the bench to score Chelsea’s equaliser against Liverpool. Whilst the Blues went on to lose the impact Sturridge had was evident with his energy, strength and desire up front giving his side an extra dimension in the final third. He’s already stated he want’s to be the number one striker at Stamford Bridge and it’s likely Villas-Boas will heed that request.

Match Fact: Chelsea’s record against Wolves at Stamford Bridge is an impressive one and they are currently unbeaten in the Premier League against the Midland side. The Blues have won all three top flight games scoring 11 goals and conceding only two.

Wolves – 13th

Last Five

Lost 2-1 v Everton (A)Won 3-1 v Wigan (H), Lost 3-1 v Manchester City (A), Drew 2-2 v Swansea (H), Lost 2-0 v West Brom (A)

Potential Starting X11

1. W. Hennessey 5. R. Stearman 14. R. Johnson [C] 16. C. Berra 3. G Elokobi 11. S. Ward  8. K. Henry 4. D. Edwards 20. N. Milijas 17. M. Jarvis 29. K. Doyle*

Injury News: Ronald Zubar is still out with a groin strain whilst Kevin Foley has been ruled out until Janaury with an ankle injury. Other than that McCarthy has no fresh injury concerns.

Key Player: Kevin Doyle

Goals haven’t flowed as regularly as usual for the Republic of Ireland striker despite his effort and commitment soaring to new levels this season. Playing up front on his own has seen Doyle take on extra responsibility and his constant running and closing down of defences will be a key part of Wolves’ game plan up against Chelsea’s weak defensive partnership of Terry and Luiz.

Match Fact

Wolves have failed to claim a league victory at Stamford Bridge for over 30-years with their last West London win coming in an Old Division One clash on 24 March 1979.

Last Time at Stamford Bridge

Premier League, 23 October 2010

Chelsea 2-0 Wolves

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Malouda, 23. Kalou, 81

Attendance:  41,752

Referee: Lee Probert

PREDICTION

Chelsea are continuing their transitional period under Villas-Boas and the constant comparisons with Mourinho and his title winning team aren’t doing them any favours. True, five of the starting line up against Liverpool were part of the 2004/05 title winning side but they are all seven years older and their new coach has identified the need for new blood. The likes of Sturridge and Juan Mata have performed admirably in amongst the experienced heads and those two should be the bright sparks against Wolves on Saturday. McCarthy’s side are desperately in need of a win to haul themselves away from danger with the dreaded festive period looming.

Score: 2-0

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Manchester United are likely to be without key defender Rio Ferdinand for the rest of the season.

The England captain has been struggling with a calf injury since the beginning of February, and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed the 32-year-old centre-back could be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

The English Premier League leaders will be also without defenders Rafael and John O’Shea for the visit of Bolton Wanderers to Old Trafford on Saturday.

“Rio has been out for a few weeks now and we are not looking at this as a short-term situation,” Ferguson said.

“He has not started training yet. We will be lucky to get him back for some part of the season.”

Ferguson himself will also be missing from domestic action, with a five-match ban for publicly criticising referee Martin Atkinson set to begin following the Bolton game.

The Scot has not yet decided if he will appeal against the suspension.

“It is disappointing, but it is in the past now,” he said. “It is the only industry where you can’t tell the truth.”

The fitness of club captain Nemanja Vidic is also a concern.

The Serbian international missed United’s Champions League victory over Marseille on Wednesday, also with a calf injury, and is not expected to play a part in the Bolton match.

“It has been a bad spell for us,” Ferguson said.

“Only a few weeks ago we had every defender fit and things were looking great but it has all just fallen apart in the last week or so.”

“Hopefully Jonny Evans may be fit for Saturday, even if it is a bit of a risk.”

“He has trained all week but he has been out for such a long time.”

Midfielders Anderson (knee), Owen Hargreaves (knee) and striker Michael Owen (groin) are also missing.

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But things are beginning to look more positive further up the pitch, with winger Antonio Valencia nearing full fitness and midfielder Park Ji-Sung also close to a return.

“Attacking-wise our options are good. Antonio Valencia is back and we gave him a spell on Tuesday night which was good,” Ferguson said.

“Ji-Sung Park has trained and could be available.”

“Bolton have done extremely well this season. It will be a big game for us this Saturday.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed renewed hope in their reported interest in trying to sign Brazil striker Luis Fabiano from Spanish side Sevilla.

The 29-year-old had previously ruled out a move to White Hart Lane, but appears to have had a change of heart.

He is quoted as telling ESPN: "I must admit it's only in the last few weeks I have understood just how big Spurs' ambition is."

The South American frontman had previously stated:"I have heard Tottenham Hotspur made an inquiry about me.

"But, with all respect, that is not somewhere I am going to be able to win the Premier League or the European Cup in the next three or four years.

"There would be no point in me joining Tottenham. I might as well stay at Sevilla, as it's the same thing.

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"Sevilla are actually bigger when you look at how much we have been in the European Cup, so there would be no point me moving to a smaller team."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Last week Steven Gerrard claimed that the players were to blame for Roy Hodgson’s unsuccessful spell in charge of Liverpool last season, with numerous aspects of the club captain’s comments standing out’. Gerrard was quoted as stating, ‘It was the players underperforming and not delivering. That was the sad part.’

Indeed, Gerrard was keen to remind people that when Hodgson got the sack he was ‘one of the players who came out after he left and made sure people knew it wasn’t just Roy Hodgson’s fault’. However, quite simply the club was not a happy place to be while Hodgson was at the club with Gerrard declaring that under Kenny Dalglish there were now ‘happy faces from top to bottom of the club now and we move forward.’

Gerrard’s comments make for an interesting debate over the importance of a manager’s relationship with his players. When Dalglish returned to the Anfield hotseat in January, the clubs fortunes dramatically improved in the second half of the season. Granted Dalglish managed to ship out the misfiring Fernando Torres and bring in the inspirational Luis Suarez, yet were Roy Hodgson’s motivational skills really that poor in comparison to Dalglish’s?

Hodgson was not helped by the fact he replaced Rafael Benitez, a man who had stamped his own identity on the football club. Following on from the Spaniard was always going to be difficult.

It is not the first case of professional footballers underperforming for a manager of proven pedigree. Arguably the most high profile case in history is Brian Clough’s doomed 44 day tenure at Leeds United, a story of such significance that it had first a book then a film dedicated to it.

In 1974, the England manager’s job had just been given to Don Revie, a man who had spent 13 enormously successful years at Leeds United. Clough, despite regularly stating his aversion to the club, would be the man to take the job.

Clough alienated key players such as Johnny Giles and Billy Bremner by reportedly telling them ‘You can all throw your medals in the bin because they were not won fairly.’ Clough’s short spell at Elland Road included just one victory, giving him the unwelcome record of being Leeds least successful permanent manager.

Upon leaving Leeds Clough would go on to have enormous success at Nottingham Forest, twice winning the European Cup and once the league title amongst other honours. Clearly Clough was an enormously talented manager, yet in the same manner as Hodgson, the players were not performing, or not willing to perform at their best. Without that, any manager is doomed.

Player power at football clubs is fascinating. Avram Grant, Jose Mourinho’s successor at Chelsea came within inches of managing Chelsea to the Champions League. Yet, stories have long been abound that in reality the clubs senior players such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba were as much involved in the decision making that season.

The most recent story surrounding the relationship between player and manger is at Manchester City. The Carlos Tevez and Roberto Mancini fallout is a debacle that continues to rumble on. The relationship between the former captain and the authoritarian boss is at an all time low, following the forwards alleged refusal to come off the substitute’s bench in last month’s match against Bayern Munich.

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Tevez’s seemingly had no future at the club, yet there are now hints that he may be offered a lifeline by Mancini and City, only time will tell.

The truth is, a manager is only as good as the sum of his parts. If players are motivated, willing and ready to take a manger’s ideas on board then success will follow. The best manager’s have proven that time and time again. However, looking at the above examples, we should not forget even the manager’s at the very top can fail if players are more concerned with their bottom line than putting everything in on the pitch week in week out.

What are your thoughts on the important relationship between player and manger? Comment and follow me on Twitter @CamHumphries