Newcastle United's caretaker manager Chris Hughton believes Michael Owen's omission from the England squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine has helped the 29-year-old striker.

Owen recently returned to action following a six-week lay-off because of an ankle ligament problem and eyebrows were raised when

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Netherlands international Robin van Persie has hinted that he is ready to pen a new long-term deal with Arsenal.

The 25-year-old, who has scored 60 goals in 170 appearances for the Gunners following his arrival from Feyenoord almost five years ago, is keen to settle down and claims his bad-boy days are behind him.

He told Champions magazine:"I believe the wild days are behind you when you reach 25. From …

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The agent and brother of Brazilian ace Ronaldinho says his sibling is more than happy to remain at AC Milan next season.

The 29-year-old playmaker has recently been linked with a summer switch to Manchester City, but Roberto De Assis insists his brother is content to stay put.

He told a Spanish radio station:"Dinho is calm in Milan. The injuries damaged his progress in the beginning, but …

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Football FanCast columnist Phil Tomlinson feels that
another polished performance against the Ukraine will have the England
detractors running for cover.

England's
emphatic 4-0 win over Slovakia on Saturday showed plenty of encouraging signs
for Fabio Capello ahead of Wednesday's date with the Ukraine.

The Three
Lions brushed aside their friendly opponents at Wembley with a powerful
performance in which England's midfield quartet were simply superb.

Some …

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Football
FanCast columnist Ken O'Brien looks into an
innovative way to make teams take the FA Cup more seriously.

The FA Cup is dying a slow death. What once
was the showpiece of the English football calendar has been turned into an
inconvenience for most top flight clubs. The Premier League and all the money
that comes with it is king.

So what can be done? The pride taken in the
FA Cup was partly based on the prestige of the competition, …

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent is set to miss England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Wednesday due to a knee injury sustained in training.

Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor has been called up as cover following the injury to Bent, but is unlikely to feature at Wembley, having only just recovered from a hamstring problem which saw him withdraw from …

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AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has again pledged his future to the club after renewed speculation linking him with Chelsea.

The 49-year-old is under contract at the San Siro until the end of next season and Ancelotti insists that his preferred option is to remain in charge of the Rossoneri.

He told the Gazzetta dello Sport:"My wish is to remain at Milan. That is, as long as …

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West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble is backing his side to clinch a top-seven finish and earn a crack at European football next season.

The England Under-21 international has helped the Hammers rise to eighth place in the Premier League standings and they trail seventh-placed

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Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey wonders whether an inquiry into Cesc Fabregas' ‘spit' is really the best use of vital resources.

Cesc Fabregas is likely to face an FA inquiry after Soho officials received a formal complaint from Hull City after an alleged spitting incident in the FA Cup clash at the Emirates earlier this month.

Fabregas, the

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Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey wonders just how long Sheffield United can keep up their protests as the Carlos Tevez saga somehow continues.

Sheffield United players are asking for £5m each in compensation for personal losses as the Carlos Tevez saga rumbles on.

Despite a deal being struck between the two …

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