ROONEY SEEKS TO DENT CHELSEA

Wayne Rooney is convinced Manchester United can inflict major psychological damage on Chelsea with victory at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Although Rooney was speaking before Jose Mourinho's shock departure from Stamford Bridge, he has noted the Blues' return of just a single point from their last two matches.

Another defeat this weekend would really leave Chelsea floundering and provide new boss Avram Grant with a major headache in his first few days in charge.

"If we can win, that would be Chelsea getting one point from nine in their last three games," Rooney told MUTV.

"You never know what that might do to their confidence.

"I know we didn't have the best of starts this season but it is amazing how quickly it has turned round.

"Now we have a chance to go three points in front of them, which makes it a massive game, even if it is not going to decide the title."

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MAGPIES KEEP TABS ON OWEN

Michael Owen's groin problem will be closely monitored by Newcastle as he attempts to avoid another bout of surgery.

The 27-year-old striker has been included in the squad for Sunday's Premier League clash with West Ham at St James' Park six days after limping off with a tight groin during the 1-0 defeat at Derby.

That may allay fears that the England frontman needs an operation to repair a hernia for now, with vital Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia coming up next month.

However, Magpies manager Sam Allardyce admits it is a situation which will have to be carefully managed to ensure Owen does not succumb once again.

He said: "When anybody gets anything where there is a slight tightening, then it's the beginning of a warning sign to say you need to make sure you find out what the problem is and then sort the problem out.

"You would manage that area more cautiously than anything else, and then take a view on a week-by-week basis and see how things are.

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JURGEN BLASTS SPURS - REPORT

Jurgen Klinsmann has reportedly told friends he will not manage Tottenham because they are "too small".

The German has been linked with a return to White Hart Lane as manager but is said to be uninterested in a club not playing in the Champions League - with Chelsea his destination of choice.

Tottenham boss Martin Jol has apparently been given six games to save his job after a 3-1 north London derby defeat pushed him closer to the exit door.

Sevilla coach Juande Ramos apparently remains Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's first choice, but Klinsmann has also been heavily backed.

However, a 'close friend' of the German apparently told the Daily Express: "Jurgen has told me he is not interested in becoming Tottenham manager.

"He thinks the club is too small for him and he will only return to England for a Champions League club.

"He met with Peter Kenyon in Los Angeles earlier this year and is still very, very interested in Chelsea. He thinks he has a good chance of getting the job if and when Mourinho leaves."

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STUBBS SWEET OVER EURO BID

Veteran defender Alan Stubbs believes Everton will go into their new European campaign "much wiser" than their last experience at that level.

Two seasons ago the Toffees were bounced out of the Champions League and then UEFA Cup qualifiers at the first stage and have suffered that embarrassment ever since.

But on Thursday, Everton face Metalist Kharkiv at Goodison Park in the first leg of their UEFA Cup first-round tie desperate to make amends.

Stubbs said: "This time round, hopefully we will be a bit wiser, a bit more experienced about how European football goes and we will take it from there and hopefully reach the group stages."

"Thursday is going to be a great night for the club again, but it will only be a great night if we get a good result. We're really looking forward to it but we know it will be a difficult game.

"The manager David Moyes and his assistant Alan Irvine have been over to Ukraine to watch them and they know it will not be an easy game at all. You do not get easy games in Europe.

"From my point of view, this will be my first game in Europe. To play for Everton full stop was something I never thought I would do, so to play for Everton in Europe would be a fantastic achievement."

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Hearts wingers in fitness race

Saulius Mikoliunas and David Cesnauskis are both struggling to be fit for the visit of Rangers after picking up hamstring strains in midweek. However, midfielder Laryea Kingston is available for the SPL match after returning from action with Ghana unscathed. By"http://www.football365.com"

Michael Stewart and Calum Elliot are both fit despite picking up knocks in the last outing against Motherwell.

Kick-off 12.30pm

Hearts (from): Banks, Neilson, Tall, Berra, Zaliukas, Wallace, Mikoliunas, Kingston, Jonsson, Stewart, Driver, Velicka, Elliot, Nade, Palazuelos, Ksanavicius, Ivaskevicius, Kurskis, Karipidis, Goncalves, Cesnauskis

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The `Striker Light` Gossip

FERGIE WANTS A STRIKER, AND WANTS BERBATOV, BUT MAY HAVE TO SETTLE FOR ANELKA OR DEFOE
The consensus along Fleet Street is that ManYoo boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants to sign a new striker but that he is running out of time and Dimitar Berbatov is too expensive.

With the injury-prone Louis Saha continuing to produce sick-notes, Carlos Tevez remains the only fit striker at Sir Alex's disposal. Berbatov, of whom Ferguson is a long-time admirer, would represent a high-class solution to the striker shortage, but Tottenham are in no mood to sell.

'Even United's planned bid today for Berbatov of £22million - twice what Tottenham paid Bayer Leverkusen for the Bulgarian barely a year ago - falls well short of being an offer Spurs cannot refuse,' reports The Daily Mail.

It is a point reiterated by The Times, which claims: 'A deal for Berbatov always looked problematic this summer, after an unsuccessful inquiry in June, but, while that situation will be revisited, possibly in January, United are scouring Europe in search of alternatives for the immediate future.

'United are aware that Nicolas Anelka could be available from Bolton Wanderers for about £8 million and that there is a chance of luring either Obafemi Martins or, intriguingly, Michael Owen from Newcastle United. All three have been discussed at Old Trafford during the summer, with Anelka the subject of a tentative and informal inquiry to Bolton in May, but Ferguson and Carlos Queiroz, his assistant, are not convinced of the merits of signing any of them.'

However, The Daily Mirrror believes differently.

According to the newspaper, 'Manchester United and Manchester City are locked in a fierce battle to sign Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka before Friday's transfer deadline.

'Sir Alex Ferguson wants £12million Anelka to solve his striker crisis at United, while City manager Sven Goran Eriksson is keen to bring the Frenchman back to his former club to inject some quality into his front line.'

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GUNNERS CRUISE PAST SPARTA

Arsenal joined Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United in the Champions League group stages following a 5-0 aggregate win over Sparta Prague.

The Gunners did the hard work in the first leg of the third qualifying round tie, which they won 2-0 away from home to ensure the pressure was off at the Emirates Stadium.

And after a bright start which saw Robin van Persie steer a header wide and Eduardo da Silva hit a shot straight at Tomas Postulka, Arsene Wenger's hosts took the lead on seven minutes.

Young winger Theo Walcott broke down the right flank and his perfect cross was clinically slotted home by Tomas Rosicky, who was playing against his former team-mates.

Marek Kulic and Jan Rezek wasted half-chances for the visitors - and sub Cesc Fabregas made it 2-0 with a crisp half-volley (82) before Eduardo found the net on 89 minutes.

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