Living Foul

Pretty late on the round up today.  Not that there's a lot about, the paper's concentrating on today's Champions League stories (we play Benfica tomorrow).

Kevin Davies apologises to Cleverley seems to be the main story, from The Telegraph:

“I spoke to Tom Cleverley, because I was made to believe he had got a fracture or something,” he said.

“I didn’t realise after the game, so I put a call in to him and he was fine. I am pleased that there is no serious damage for him.

“By all accounts he had a fake [profile] saying I didn’t offer an apology.

"But I didn’t know. If I had known, I would have gone and seen him.

"That’s why I got his number and put the call in. I actually texted him and he rang me back and said he had seen the tackle and didn’t think it was that bad.

"So, it’s all fine. It’s all done and dusted for me. It’s a contact sport.”

Which seems pretty half-hearted as far as apologies go.  It's not exactly taking responsibilty, holding hands up and saying "yes, it was a bad tackle, I'm sorry."  And the ending, "It's a contact sport," might have been an acceptable retort in 1971, but not now:  maybe it is a contact sport, but you don't have to go in with the express purpose of making contact.  So yes, he's sorry, but perhaps he should look at his game, 100 bookings don't lie.

Anyway, the verdict on Cleverley is better than first thought:

It was initially feared that Cleverley had broken a bone and could have been out for much longer, but he underwent a scan yesterday which confirmed the injury was not as bad as first thought. The youngster will miss the start of the Champions League group stage and a possible England debut in next month's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro but should be back in action in November.

There's some words from Carrick in the papers, where he takes a patient approach towards playing, praising the young players for their start to the season:

“I am experienced enough to know it is a long season and the manager is going to need everyone.

“The young lads have come out flying this season and fair play to them. They are playing well.“It hasn’t just been me who has had to wait. There are others facing the same situation but it is a matter of time before everyone gets involved again.“Now the Champions League has started again more players will be needed.“I have been disappointed but you cannot get too down or worried about it. I know the situation, we are all in this together.”

 And on last season's Champions League defeat:

“It’s something you look back on and regret, but you can’t change it. You have to accept they were good and it’s up to us to be better. That has to be our aim this season."I haven’t watched the final again. I went on my holidays and then focused on this season.

“We know we’re doing things right because we were in the final. We just have to go one better.”

 And I'm so late on the paper round-up that there's a story from today and the news that Rio Ferdinand hasn't flown to Portugal for the Benfica game.  According to The Guardian:

There was no place either for Federico Macheda or Mame Biram Diouf, who scored twice for the reserves in their win over Fulham last night, but Jonny Evans and Patrice Evra shrugged off hip and knee knocks picked up at Bolton on Saturday.

It is not thought Ferdinand has suffered a fresh injury. However, after making his first appearance in a month during the 5-0 romp at the Reebok, and with Chelsea due at Old Trafford on Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson is not wanting to take any chances with the 32-year-old, whose fitness record has been patchy over the past few years.