Southgate’s Liddle advice
Arteta warned of a tough trip to new Forest NO SUBSTITUTE FOR A CUP RUN
GARETH SOUTHGATE probably does not know the influence he has had on Gary Liddle’s career.
Ahead of today’s clash against Blackpool, the Hartlepool stalwart is closing in on 700 appearances, 15 years after he became the first-ever player to be sold by the England head coach during his time in charge of Middlesbrough.
“At the time I was training with the likes of
NOTTINGHAM FOREST defender Scott McKenna believes his side are set for a storming 2022 after being very active in January – starting with Arsenal.
Forest could give debuts to two new signings tomorrow when Mikel Arteta’s side visit in the FA Cup.
They have bolstered their defensive options, bringing in experienced defender Steve Cook from Bournemouth, and added striker Keinan Davis on loan from Aston Villa.
The pair have promotionwinning experience and are eligible to play in the FA Cup.
McKenna said: “Seeing new faces come in always gives the squad a boost, especially when you see the quality they have. I feel they will really help us in the second half of the season.
“We have all trained with them now the last couple of days. They are top quality players both with Premier League experience.
“They will be great additions to the squad and I am really looking forward to seeing them in Nottingham Forest strips.
“There is competition at the back and at the top end of the pitch now. It can make a massive difference.
“We have a good core with that experience right through the middle of the team now.
“From what I have seen of Steve he is always in the gym before and after training. I can see he is a top professional and is going to be brilliant for the team and the club.
“With Keinan in the last few days we have seen the pace and power he has. He looks to stretch teams and also come short. He can really add something to our team.”
Arteta has insisted his Arsenal want to play despite being “really short in numbers”.
Liverpool were successful in postponing their Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates on Thursday after Jurgen Klopp tested positive and their training ground was closed.
The Gunners have Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang away at the Africa Cup of Nations, while Gabriel is suspended and other players are out with injuries and positive
George Boateng, Gaizka Mendieta and Bolo Zenden, so I knew it was going to be a struggle to break into the first team,” said Liddle. “To be fair to Gareth, he called me into his office before I moved on and gave me good advice – something he didn’t have to do.” Liddle (inset) was in the
Covid tests. Arteta (right) said his club were “open” to new signings this month, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles set to join Jose Mourinho’s Roma on loan.
But the Spaniard, who will return to the bench after his second bout of Covid, said: “We want to play and that is how we are approaching every game.
“We are really short with numbers, really, really short. We have some issues but we will know more tomorrow.
“We want to do everything to play the game and don’t expect anything different than to play on Sunday.”
Bradford side which pulled off arguably the biggest FA Cup upset of the past decade when they came from two goals down to beat Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge in 2015.
Liddle hopes to notch up another scalp today having added one more career highlight just eight months ago when he helped Pool end their four-year Football League exile with victory over Torquay in the National League play-off final.
“That was a tremendous day, very special for all of us involved,” he said.
MARK WARBURTON will struggle to fill QPR’s subs bench for the FA Cup tie against Rotherham today.
In addition to absences through Covid and injury, Rangers are missing Ilias Chair (inset), Seny Dieng and Osman Kakay at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Warburton, whose Championship promotion chasers host the League One side, said: “We have lost the three boys to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“And there are Jamaica (inset top)
World Cup play-offs coming up too in January during that, we’ll lose two more. Then you have the injuries and a pandemic on top.
“As a Championship club, losing five players with a squad of 22 before injuries, you can see the problems. We are really down to the barest of numbers. As it stands I have only 18 players available for Rotherham, when you are supposed to have nine subs.
“But for all that, if you can’t get up for the FA Cup, then you shouldn’t be in English football. It remains the oldest cup competition, a magnificent tournament with so many historic moments.
“So we’ll take it very seriously.”