Rose steps up his recovery
STOKE are refusing to set a target date for the return of Ryan Shawcross, who has been out for five weeks with a back problem.
Assistant manager Mark Bowen said: “He has been getting on with his recovery and having injections. I had a brief chat with him and he said it’s a case of not putting deadlines on himself. He has to make sure he is right.” DANNY Rose and Erik Lamela are back in training with the Tottenham first team.
England full-back Rose has been sidelined since late January with a knee injury and Argentinian midfielder Lamela has not played in almost 12 months due to hip problems.
But Spurs revealed yesterday that the pair had rejoined their team-mates on the training ground as they bid to recapture their fitness.
Spurs tweeted: “Danny Rose and Erik Lamela train with the rest of the team at Hotspur Way today as they continue to progress with their rehabilitation.”
Despite his lengthy spell out, Rose created controversy in the summer with his comments about Tottenham’s pay structure and transfer strategy.
The 27-yearold apologised for any offence caused by the interview he gave on the eve of the new Premier League season.
Rose has repeatedly been linked with a move to Manchester United but his return will boost Spurs. TALKS over extending Mesut Ozil’s contract at Arsenal are “going in a positive way”, according to his agent. There had been suggestions Ozil would be sold in January to avoid him leaving on for free in the summer. But Ozil’s agent Dr Erkut Sogut said: “He wants to play another two to three years in the Premier League. Contacts with Arsenal continue.”
SOUTHAMPTON boss Mauricio Pellegrino is eyeing a January move for Barcelona forward Paco Alcacer in an attempt to bring firepower to his goal-shy side.