All the best stories making the headlines on the back pages of Wednesdays regional newspapers. LONDON EVENING STANDARD Didier Drogba has dropped his biggest hint yet that this will be his last season in a Chelsea shirt. Chelsea are already making plans to sign another striker next summer and have been sending scouts to watch Benfica star Anderson Talisca in action. Wayne Rooney admits he will always be second best to Sir Bobby Charlton unless he also fires England to World Cup glory. Television presenter Charlie Webster has resigned as a patron of Sheffield United after the club allowed former player and convicted rapist Ched Evans to return for training. Gareth Bales agent has rubbished speculation linking the Real Madrid star with a move to Manchester United, amid sensational reports that a swap deal with Angel di Maria could be on the cards. Michael Carrick says he never considered retiring from international football after being overlooked for the World Cup. Franco Baldini faces an internal inquest as questions are asked about his role at crisis-club Tottenham. Mauricio Pochettino has warned his Tottenham players that he intends to make them suffer. Queens Park Rangers are planning to hand striker Charlie Austin a lucrative new contract to secure his long-term future at Loftus Road. MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS Louis van Gaal is not expecting to be able to throw any of his comeback players - Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, Radamel Falcao and Rafael - into his starting XI at Arsenal following the international break. England boss Roy Hodgson has revealed that Wayne Rooney is his caring captain. LIVERPOOL ECHO Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler says people are getting carried away with the Reds disappointing start to the season. Gareth Barry has suffered ankle ligament damage but is likely to be sidelined for weeks rather than months, Everton FC have revealed. The agent of midfielder Suso says Liverpool are keen on handing the Spaniard a new contract. NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE Newcastle United are in the running for non-league speed demon Che Adams who is set to quit Ilkeston FC this January. Nobby Solano is waiting to see if a London-based consortium get the nod to take over Scottish Premier League outfit Motherwell - in order to be appointed manager of the Fir Park club. Alan Pardew has hinted that 17-year- old whizz-kid Adam Armstrong will soon get his chance in Newcastle Uniteds first XI. THE JOURNAL Alan Pardew has insisted he wont get carried away by one of the best winning runs of his Newcastle United career. Steven Fletcher is looking forward to carrying on the Scotland feel-good factor - and putting one over on a Sunderland team-mate. SUNDERLAND ECHO Steven Fletcher says he is relishing his international duel with Sunderland team-mate John OShea this week. Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole is the North East Football Writers Associations player of the year 2014. BIRMINGHAM MAIL Tottenham Hotspur will make an audacious move to sign Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph in January according to our sister title The Mirror. Carson Yeung has been given fresh hope of overturning his conviction for money laundering - which would clear the way for a return to St Andrews. West Broms Silvestre Varela will step up his rehabilitation from groin surgery in a behind-closed-doors training match with Leicester City today. Welsh international Sam Ricketts has come in from the cold at Wolverhampton Wanderers as manager Kenny Jackett attempts to find a line- up that can live with the best in the Championship. EXPRESS & STAR Wolves demolition at Derby hasnt dented their promotion drive, maintains Kenny Jackett. West Brom hope defender Sebastien Pocognoli will be fit to face Chelsea next week despite the Belgium international suffering a minor hamstring tear. Record signing Brown Ideye insists he will be a hit at Albion after vital talks with boss Alan Irvine over his Hawthorns future. THE SENTINEL Stoke Citys Steven Nzonzi says he is determined to learn from new midfield partner Steve Sidwell. THE DAILY ECHO Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin has hinted he could leave the club next summer if they do not qualify for the Champions League. HULL DAILY MAIL Curtis Davies has promised he and his Hull City team-mates will prove the sobering defeat at Burnley was a one- off when returning to Premier League action next week. LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH Corry Evans is determined to return to Blackburn Rovers having helped his country take a massive step closer to an historic first appearance at a European Championship. Burnleys Stephen Ward is expected to shake off a minor knock in time to feature for the Republic of Ireland in Fridays European Championship qualifier against Scotland. Burnley co-chairman John Banaszkiewicz admits he has been surprised at recent criticism of Sean Dyche in some sections of the national media - insisting the club have always been 100 per cent behind their manager. SOUTH WALES EVENING POST Jefferson Montero believes he has yet to hit his peak despite producing a man-of-the-match performance against Arsenal. FULHAM CHRONICLE Didier Drogba has hinted he could hang up his Chelsea boots at the end of the season. Kit Symons hopes to add to Fulhams squad before the loan window closes later this month. SOUTH LONDON PRESS Callum Harriott has been told to cut out the tricks if he wants to play a bigger part in Charltons first-team. YORKSHIRE EVENING POST Danny Wilson is backing his former captain Neil Redfearn to be a success in the permanent head coaching position at Leeds United. NOTTINGHAM POST Former Nottingham Forest star Nigel Clough, now manager of Sheffield United, says the Blades took their time over their decision to allow convicted rapist Ched Evans to train with the club. THE PINK UN Norwich Citys Nathan Redmond never considered jumping ship in the summer after being touted with a swift Premier League return. EVENING GAZETTE Boro boss Aitor Karankas quest for perfection has helped Ben Gibson develop as a player over the past 12 months. WALES ONLINE Cardiff City manager Russell Slade has told unsettled midfielder Mats Daehli to fight for his future in the Welsh capital. THE BOLTON NEWS Neil Lennon believes the viewing public saw the real Bolton Wanderers in last Fridays 3-1 derby victory over Wigan and now wants that to remain the norm. WIGAN EVENING POST Shaun Maloney admits Friday nights clash against Ireland presents the perfect opportunity for Scotland to take a massive step towards qualifying for the European Championships. BLACKPOOL GAZETTE Jose Riga has spoken publicly for the first time since his sacking as Blackpool manager, describing his time at Bloomfield Road as the very worst circumstances. READING POST Pavel Pogrebnyak still has the hunger to force his way back into the first- team at Reading - according to boss Nigel Adkins. THE ARGUS Brighton chairman Tony Bloom has given his unequivocal backing to manager Sami Hyypia. IPSWICH STAR Ipswich Town centre-back Tommy Smith held clear the air talks with his New Zealand team-mates when he joined up with the All Whites squad this week. THE STAR Manager Nigel Clough has broken his silence on the Ched Evans saga, insisting that the shamed strikers impending return to training with Sheffield United is not a top priority with the club facing four vital matches in the space of ten days. Sheffield Wednesday number one Keiren Westwood has been forced to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad for their double-header against Scotland and USA due to a hip injury. HUDDERSFIELD EXAMINER Huddersfield boss Chris Powell says hes delighted to see James Vaughan back on the training ground - but wont put a timescale on his return. BOURNEMOUTH ECHO Baily Cargill admits he has half an eye on next months mouth-watering League Cup tie with Liverpool but insists his Championship ambitions are the current number one priority. EVENING TIMES Graeme Souness believes Scott Brown has the mettle and ability to cut it in the English Premier League - and that the midfielders combativeness can be harnessed to good effect by Scotland. Graeme Souness was involved in Brian Kennedys failed second attempt to buy into Rangers three weeks ago.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:36:32 +0000