A let-off for Dan
Owners will not hide Cook’s 3 Lions hope
® ARSENAL ace Danny Welbeck has escaped retrospective action from UEFA after winning a controversial penalty against AC Milan.
He was accused of diving to win a spot-kick in last week’s Europa League last-16 second leg at the Emirates, with Arsenal trailing 1-0 at the time.
He converted the penalty and later added a second as the Gunners earned a quarter-final match against CSKA Moscow with a 5-1 aggregate victory.
A UEFA spokesman yesterday confirmed that no case had been opened against the 27-year-old England striker.
UEFA does not have an equivalent rule to the Premier League’s regulations on simulation, although its disciplinary body is able to review any incident from a match. ® ENGLAND new boy Lewis Cook will delay booking his summer holiday in the hope of forcing his way into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad instead.
Bournemouth midfielder Cook, 21, has been called up for the Three Lions’ World Cup warmups against Holland and Italy.
Cook, who led England’s Under-20s to World Cup glory last summer, said: “I haven’t booked my holiday yet.
“It is the senior squad and there is a lot of talent throughout, so you just have to go there and give it your all and try your best.
“The main thing is just to enjoy the experience and learn. I have ® to go there and be myself and if I get the chance to play just do what I do here and enjoy it really.
“If that (the World Cup) happens, it happens but I am just concentrating on giving my all.”
Cook says his tournament know-how will benefit him.
“I learnt a lot about tournament football and stuff and maybe I can give my feedback on that and try and help the team,” he said.
“I really enjoyed last summer and I think that it put me in good stead for this year.
‘‘Now I need to keep growing and keep learning and enjoy it.”