22 METROSPORT Tuesday, October 20, 2009 D ARSENAL will be without Theo Walcott for up to a month because of a medial knee ligament injury. The England forward hobbled off in Saturdays 3-1 win over Birmingham following a crunching challenge from Liam Ridgewell. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: The news is not good. We thought it would be just 48 hours but it is a medial knee ligament, which is what I feared. He will be out for three to four weeks. Midfielder Tomas Rosicky is also unavailable for tonights Champions League clash at AZ Alkmaar with a knee injury. Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo, Denilson and Johan Djourou remain sidelined and wont make the trip to Holland but left-back Gael Clichy has shaken off the ankle problem which kept him out of the Birmingham game. Theo faces four-week lay-off Sidelined: Walcott Rafa banks on Gerrard to save Reds seasonRAFAEL BENITEZ admits he is banking on fit-again talisman Steven Gerrard to breathe new life in Liverpools faltering season. With star striker Fernando Torres out of tonights Champions League clash with Lyon, the under-fire Reds boss is once again hoping his captains return can end a slump which has yielded three successive defeats. It could be a make-or-break week for Be- nitez, with tonights Anfield showdown fol- lowed by a Premier League clash with arch- rivals Manchester United on Sunday. Liverpool lie third in Group E after a win and a defeat, and a second reversal would leave them a mountain to climb to progress to the knock-out stages in Europe. Two more losses could effectively end Liverpools season and leave Benitez facing questions over his fu- ture, but he is confident Gerrards return after a groin injury, despite the fact Torres is still out with a similar problem, can help turn things around. With Steven around, it has an effect on the others. He is an inspiration to them, Benitez said. It is important to have Steven back. He is a winner with the right mentality. But we have to see these players on the pitch, they cannot win games when they are injured. The team knows we are not playing at the right level, but they also know that we are good enough. They know we must start playing again at that level, their response in training has been positive and we must repeat that on the pitch. One good result will change everything. But first we must win against Lyon to get us back on the right road. I am confident in my team, we are trying to improve and the response of the players this week has been very good and back to our best. We have gone from winning five on the trot to losing three in succession. We were scoring lots of goals and now we have not scored in three. But I do not believe there is much differ- ence in all these games. We have played well, created chances and won praise for our attacking play. Hopefully we can start to win again, the atmosphere will be better and the mood will change as confidence improves. I hope that the Champions League will create a special atmosphere that will inspire the players, as it usually does in games like this at Anfield. Picture:Getty Inspirational: Benitez is backing fit-again Gerrard to lift Liverpool SOCCER champIonS LeaGue SIR ALEX Ferguson was last night charged with improper conduct by the FA for his remarks about referee Alan Wileys fitness. The Manchester United manager (pictured) has already apologised to Wiley but it was not enough to save him from official action. The referees union has called for Ferguson, who has until November 3 to answer the charge, to be banned. Ferguson made his comments following Uniteds 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford on October 3. He accused Wiley of not being fit enough for a game of that standard and accused him of walking up the pitch for the second goal needing a rest. The Old Trafford boss could face a hefty fine or a touchline ban if found guilty of the charge. Ferguson said: My only intention was to highlight what I believe to be a serious issue in the game, namely that the fitness levels of referees must match the ever increasing demands of the modern game, which I hope will be properly addressed. Fergies ref rant earns FA charge Jonny on the spot to plug United gaps MANCHESTER UNITED will field a much-changed side in tomorrows clash at CSKA Moscow after Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to leave a crop of key first-team players at home. Last years losing finalists will be without Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra and Park Ji-Sung through injury. Rooney is still recovering from the calf strain he sustained during Englands 1-0 defeat in Ukraine ten days ago, while Giggs picked up a knock during Uniteds Premier League win over Bolton on Saturday. There are also concerns over defender Nemanja Vidic although Ferguson is convinced the Serb will be fit for Sundays visit to Liverpool. Jonny Evans (pictured) is poised to fill in tomorrow and after adopting a safety-first approach during last years breakthrough campaign, he is looking to allow his creative side to shine a lot more this term. Because it was my first real season, I made conscious decision to play it really safe and just concentrate on defending above all else, he said. This year I need to try and get on the ball, and really try to express myself a bit more. I need to be a bit more outgoing on the pitch and a bit more commanding. lEaguE Of iREland SHAMRoCk RovERS striker Gary Twigg is set to return after a thigh injury for tonights crucial Premier Division clash with Cork City at Tallaght Stadium. The Hoops, two points ahead of champions Bohemians, can make it eight wins in a row and stretch their unbeaten league record to 23 matches with a first victory of the season over the Leesiders. Twigg, yesterday named Player of the Month for September, will be hoping to add to his tally of 22 goals in the seasons final four matches. Cork, still hopeful of grabbing a Europa League place, have defender Danny Murphy back from suspension, but Joe Gamble, Dan Connor and Timmy kiely are all ruled out by knee injuries. Chasers Bohemians have another must-win game against St Pats at Dalymount Park, with manager Pat Fenlon glad to welcome Jason Byrne and Gary Deegan back after suspensions. Saints, desperate to escape the danger zone, are without Enda Stevens and Gary Dempsey both injured in Fridays 2-0 win over Bray. But Stuart Byrne returns after a one-match ban. Hoops hitman Twigg back to spearhead title charge ChampiOnShip CHRIS HUGHTON has confirmed he has been offered the Newcastle United managers position on a permanent basis. The Magpies caretaker boss claims he will hold talks with managing director Derek Llambias after Saturdays Championship clash with Doncaster, when he could confirm his new role. I am honoured to be offered the job. We are still in negotiations but its something we hope will get resolved, said the former Ireland defender. I have always felt the managers situation was an issue but not the most important one. Getting results has been the most important thing. Once we have got Scunthorpe [tonight] and Doncaster out of the way there will be a discussion with Derek. It will involve moving to manager on a full-time basis. Hughton was placed in temporary charge of first-team affairs for the third time on July 1 after owner Mike Ashleys talks with Alan Shearer in the wake of relegation came to nothing. Newcastle sit second on the Championship after a fine start to the season which earned Hughton manager of the month awards for August and September. Magpies offer Hughton full-time manager post By davId kennedy Steven has an effect on the others. He is an inspiration to them index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html