UK Roundup

Kleberson set for Manchester United debut

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -- Brazilian midfielder Kleberson is likely to make his Manchester United debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday, says manager Alex Ferguson.

The World Cup winner was an unused substitute in the 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday, but has been earmarked to play at Old Trafford on Wednesday as the champion looks to continue its 100 per cent start to the season.

In contrast, newly-promoted Wolves have had a terrible start, losing 5-1 at Blackburn Rovers on the opening day and following up with a 4-0 home defeat by Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

"Kleberson had a game against Blackburn in the reserves last week and did well," Ferguson told Tuesday's Manchester Evening News. I put him on the bench at Newcastle, which gave him a chance to see the English game first hand.

"He's been training really well and I hope I can give him an opportunity against Wolves."

Kleberson, and young Portuguese signing Cristiano Ronaldo, will be helped at the match by United's Brazilian youth coach Francisco Filho.

Ferguson has asked Filho to act as a translator at games for the pair until they become more comfortable with English.

"It's not easy for him coming to a new club and a new country because of the language problem. It is the same for Cristiano Ronaldo," Ferguson added.

"But we've got an interpreter in and they are both going to be having three lessons a week where possible.

"We are also taking Francisco Filho to first team matches for a while to help them, and he will be with them during the week as well."

Kleberson is expected to feature at some point in Wednesday's game alongside rejuvenated United captain Roy Keane.

The Irishman has returned to form in a new, deeper midfield role this season after struggling for part of last year following his hip operation.

"Roy has been amazing so far," said Ferguson. "The lad has been absolutely brilliant. When players get older their game might lose certain things, but they also gain a great deal in other areas.

"Experience is where you really get the greatest benefit and we are seeing that with Roy. He had a big operation last season and you saw how it affected other players like Robbie Fowler and Freddie Ljungberg.

"There was no reason to believe that Roy should return any quicker. The long summer break he has had has done him the world of good and has brought about the form we are seeing now. We want to retain that for as long as we can."

Houllier defends Kewell

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has launched a passionate defense of his Australian international forward Harry Kewell.

Kewell, bought from Leeds United for 5.0 million pounds (US$7.82 million) to boost Liverpool's attack, has struggled in the opening two games of the Premier League season.

Liverpool has managed to find the net only once -- with a Michael Owen penalty against Chelsea -- while Kewell was ineffective in the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa on Sunday.

"We have to be indulgent with Harry because he didn't have a good week of training before the game," Houllier told reporters Tuesday.

"Don't forget he didn't play for his national team against Ireland (last Tuesday) and he only started training on Friday after an Achilles strain," Houllier said.

"As expected, he started the game (at Villa Park) slowly but got better and better and finished the game well.

"I was pleased with his contribution to the result. I'm not going to dwell on it. It happens sometimes a player is not at his best because he didn't train due to an injury. That is all," he said.

Houllier admitted Kewell, who missed an open goal 10 minutes into the game against Villa, was under pressure to produce match-winning performances after building an impressive reputation as a creative player at Leeds.

"That does add a bit of pressure on him, but we are making sure he feels comfortable," Houllier said.

"He is settling well in the team and his team mates like him. It will take some games before he is working properly. I know he is a big player. He's a winner, a fighter and a creative talent."

Kewell has a chance to impress against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Wednesday, although Houllier said Glenn Hoddle's side would not be an easy proposition.

"Glenn Hoddle, like me, is facing a massive season and we both know we have to live with that pressure," he said.

"But he is building, and when you are building you need time. He is a good manager. He has proved that in the past and the two buys he made this summer will be important in his success.

"Spurs have improved because of their signings. We knew about Helder Postiga. He wasn't cheap but is a good buy for the future," he said.

Brooking calls on West Ham to rally for fight

Stop-gap boss Trevor Brooking is giving first division West Ham United their next two games to focus on the tough battle they face to regain their premier league status.

Former West Ham and England midfielder Brooking, who stepped in as caretaker after manager Glenn Roeder was sacked on Sunday, believes a squad full of newcomers need greater commitment. But he only wants to stay in charge for the short term.

"We need that commitment or we will be in a lot of trouble in this division; we need people who will sweat blood for the club -- that is the least the fans demand," Brooking told West Ham's official Web site Tuesday.

Brooking, in his second stop-gap stint in four months after helping out when Roeder was struck down in April with a brain tumor, underlined the importance of the matches at home to Bradford City and at Ipswich Town over the next two weeks.

After playing Bradford on Tuesday night and Ipswich on Saturday, West Ham has a respite of nearly two weeks before facing Reading in which to appoint a manager, he said.

"We need to mount a promotion challenge and maintain a positive focus on that," Brooking said.

"The new players have not sampled what the crowd is like and it has been a traumatic time."

Roeder recovered from his illness following West Ham's relegation and returned but was sacked after three games.

West Ham, having off-loaded their leading players as it faced the reduced financial realities of division one, won 2-1 at Preston on the first day of the season but drew 0-0 at home to Sheffield United before losing 1-0 at Rotherham on Saturday.

Brooking praised Roeder's commitment in tough circumstances but said he did not see West Ham's defeat at Rotherham.

"It was obviously pretty dreadful otherwise the situation that developed over the weekend wouldn't have occurred," he said.

Brooking stepped in at the end of last season for the last three matches in the fight against relegation. Although West Ham picked up seven points in those games it failed to avoid the drop.

He said he did not want the manager's job long-term.

"It is a difficult situation but I am not comfortable in the role of stepping into Glenn's shoes," Brooking said.

"It is a difficult job which has its problems and whoever takes over will have to be strong to get a grip on the different personalities the club has," he said.

Former West Ham striker Iain Dowie, manager of second division Oldham Athletic, is favorite for the job.

"In the meantime we have to try and win the crowd over, try and get them to give us their total support so the new lads can feel what it is really like at Upton Park to get the crowd behind you."

Roeder said a brief farewell on the club Web site.

"I found the decision of the board of West Ham United to terminate my contract after only four matches disappointing," said Roeder, whose side also won a League Cup match 3-1 against second division Rushden.

"However, I would like to put on record my thanks to the players, staff, and fans of West Ham United, a truly great club, and wish them every success for the future."

Berkovic wants to stay at City

Manchester City's Israeli midfielder Eyal Berkovic, who handed in a transfer request earlier this month, said Tuesday he wants to end his career with the club.

Berkovic reportedly wanted to leave because City wouldn't consider extending his contract.

"Even when I asked for a transfer, at the bottom of my heart, I wanted to stay at City," Berkovic was quoted as saying in Tuesday's Manchester Evening News. "I have said it thousands of times, and I mean it -- I want to stay here until the end of my career. I love the club, and I feel at home here and in Manchester. I will take the transfer request back immediately."

Berkovic, 31, joined City from Celtic in the 2001/2002 season.

Wolves wait for Emerson

Wolves will have to wait a little longer before signing Brazilian midfielder Emerson from Atletico Madrid.

The Premier League strugglers said Monday they would complete the deal when the player received a work permit and passed a medical.

But a reported dispute between Emerson and Atletico has delayed the signing.

Wolves, who have conceded nine goals in two losses this season, play defending champion Manchester United on Wednesday.

"Emerson has not signed, and he will not be signed in time for the Old Trafford game," manager Dave Jones said on the club's Web site. "We've just got to wait on it, but at the moment it's hit a snag. I'm hoping it can go through, but it needs to be sorted by Emerson's agent and Atletico Madrid."

Rangers decline Di Napoli deal

Rangers won't be signing Italian striker Arturo di Napoli, manager Alex McLeish said Tuesday.

Di Napoli played in an under-21 game against Hibernian on Monday night.

"I had a look at him at Easter Road last night because it's difficult to judge a player just on five a side matches in training," McLeish said on Rangers' Web site. "He featured for the whole match, but I don't think he is any better than the players we already have. Therefore, we won't be pursuing an interest."

Scottish treble-winners Rangers lost several top players in the offseason.

Blackburn to compensate Bolton for broken door

BLACKBURN, England (AP) -- Blackburn chief executive John Williams said Tuesday the club would pay Bolton for repairs on a door that was ripped open by Rovers' doctor.

Phil Batty was escorting midfielder Steven Reid to the dressing room in the second half -- he received a red card -- but the door was locked, Blackburn said.

Batty forced open the door because a steward wasn't around.

"We shall certainly pay the bill, an offer I made to (Bolton chairman) Phil Gartside after the game," said Williams. "Indeed, Dr Batty has insisted to me that he would like to settle the bill personally."

Williams was upset the incident became public.

"I am surprised and disappointed that details of the incident together with quotes from the Bolton chairman have unnecessarily found their way into the press," he said.

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