Jenas completes move to Newcastle

=--NEWCASTLE, England (AP) -- Bobby Robson, the Premier League's oldest manager, completed the signing Monday of one of English soccer's youngest new stars, 18-year-old Jermaine Jenas.

Jenas joined Robson's Newcastle in a 5-million-pound (US$7 million) transfer from first division Nottingham Forest and moved straight into the Magpies' first team.

Jenas, captain of the England under-19 team, was formally presented at a St. James Park news conference after passing a medical.

"Newcastle are second in the table, winning games and hopefully I'll be able to be a part of them winning championships and medals," he said.

"You hope to play with one of the top teams in the Premiership. It's a dream coming to a club as big as Newcastle -- it's exciting and I'm looking forward to starting."

His arrival is timely for Newcastle, which could be without England midfielder Kieron Dyer for up to eight weeks with a stress fracture of the foot.

Jenas turns 19 on Feb. 18, the same day Robson celebrates his 69th birthday.

"He's a player for today, and for the future," Robson said. "We've not bought him to play in the reserves -- we've got plenty of others to do that. He will go straight into the first team squad."

"I bought this kid for the next manager," he added. "I see him as part of this club in the extreme long-term. He's got good legs, he's got energy and he's got youth on his side. He's not the finished article but I have a wonderful feel about him."

Robson said he persuaded Shepherd to splash out the big money for Jevas.

"Yes, it's a lot of money for the boy, but if you wait two or three years, who knows?" he said. "We see him as a player capable of playing today with a string of things to come for him.'

Jenas could make his first appearance in Saturday's trip to Southampton.

"I want to win things," he said. "I want to become a better player, and I definitely chose the right manager to make me a better player. I'm only 18, nearly 19, and I've got hopefully so much more to come. It's a lot more about education in the game also.

"We've got a lot of experienced players at this club to help me along, and hopefully I'll be able to do that. I've seen the passion -- they're very passionate about their football and it's a great place to be."

Villa to unveil new manager

BIRMINGHAM, England -- Aston Villa have called a news conference at Villa Park on Tuesday when they are expected to name their new manager.

The English premier league club's official Web site said the successor to John Gregory, who resigned on January 24, would be revealed to the media at 1300 GMT.

British newspapers have been rife with speculation about the identity of the new manager, with former Germany international Lothar Matthaeus the latest to be linked with the post by the Sunday Express newspaper last weekend.

Former Arsenal manager George Graham, ex-Switzerland coach Roy Hodgson and former Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish have also been touted for the job.

Bridge keeps calm amid England speculation

SOUTHAMPTON, England -- Southampton defender Wayne Bridge is keeping his feet on the ground while everyone around him speculates that a first England call-up is on its way.

Arsenal's Ashley Cole has been ruled out of England's friendly with the Netherlands on February 13 after picking up an injury in his club's 1-1 draw with Southampton on Saturday.

Bridge, an England under-21 international, is being widely tipped as the perfect replacement at left-back.

He will find out when Sven-Goran Eriksson names his squad next Saturday but says he will not lose any sleep if he is overlooked.

"Of course it would be a dream come to true to play for England and I have seen all the speculation that I might be in the next squad," the 21-year-old told the Southampton Web site on Monday.

"It is a very exciting prospect but I am not counting any chickens until and unless it happens.

"I still feel I am establishing myself in the Southampton side and still learning my trade there. I have only recently got into the [England] under-21 side regularly so I have a long way to go.

"But with Ashley Cole injured there is an opening in the England squad and it would be wonderful if I did get a call-up.

"I would not feel overawed or out of place and if I am going to get a chance before the World Cup finals then now is probably the time.

"Sven-Goran Eriksson is likely to do any experimenting sooner rather than later so this might be my chance and if it comes then I will do my utmost to take it.

"But if it does not happen this time then I will not get down about it because I have plenty of time ahead of me. I would love to go to the World Cup but I am still young and learning the game so hopefully there would be other chances.

"I have made very rapid progress and I am already well ahead of what I ever dreamed might happen and a full England cap would be amazing.

"It would be a hell of a game to make my debut. It would be great experience and an education to play against the Dutch in Amsterdam. But I am not taking anything for granted and am just trying to focus on Saturday's game at Newcastle."

Southampton manager Gordon Strachan thinks Eriksson would be right to pick Bridge.

"His form is very good. I've not seen many better than him," said the former midfielder, who played for Scotland at the 1986 World Cup finals in Mexico.

"He has definitely got something. He will also get better with the intelligence side, while there's not a problem with the physical side.

"Wayne can pass the ball, he can take the game to people. He is still learning defensively, but having Chris Marsden ahead of him and Paul Williams alongside him has helped a lot as they are experienced players."

Dutch striker loses appeal against three-match ban

LONDON (AP) -- Dennis Bergkamp will serve a three-match suspension for violent conduct after losing his appeal against his dismissal during Arsenal's FA Cup fourth-round win against Liverpool.

The Dutch striker was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher at Highbury on Jan. 27.

The FA, after reviewing video replays of the incident, turned down Bergkamp's appeal and upheld the three-match ban.

Bergkamp will miss Sunday's Premier League game at Everton, the next weekend's FA Cup tie with Gillingham or Bristol Rovers, and the Feb. 23 league clash with Fulham at Highbury.

A date remains to be arranged for Thierry Henry's hearing. The French striker faces misconduct charges for going after the referee at the end of Arsenal's defeat to Newcastle at Highbury on Dec. 18.

Fulham to play at Loftus Road

LONDON -- Fulham will play its home games next season at Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road stadium while Craven Cottage undergoes a 70-million-pound (US$100 million) renovation.

The 19,000-seat Loftus Road will be Fulham's home in 2002-2003. The club will return to an expanded Craven Cottage -- 30,000 seats -- for 2003-2004.

The west London-based Fulham chose the QPR ground over sharing with West Ham, which is located in east London.

"I'm delighted we have now secured a temporary home within the [Hammersmith and Fulham] borough," Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed said.

"I'm personally very pleased we are able to offer to help QPR through what is a very difficult time in the club's history."

Fulham's final match at the old Craven Cottage will be the Premier League game on April 27.

West Ham offers Roeder new contract

LONDON -- West Ham on Monday offered manager Glenn Roeder a new three-year contract.

Roeder, after surviving a tough start in his first year managing a Premier League side, has the Hammers up to 11th place coming off a 2-0 win over the weekend against Blackburn.

'We're in an advanced state of negotiations,' club managing director Paul Aldridge said. 'Hopefully everything will be settle within the next week or so.'

O'Neill fines Balde for elbow

GLASGOW, Scotland -- Celtic manager Martin O'Neill fined defender Bobo Balde for throwing an elbow at Hibernian's Paul Fenwich in the clubs' 1-1 draw over the weekend.

The defender will also appear on Thursday before a Scottish Football Association disciplinary board. Referee Alan Freeland did not see the indicent, but a video camera caught the action, the SFA said.

The rough-play incident is the second in a few weeks for the French player. Balde was criticized by Hearts manager Craig Levein after a recent challenge on midfielder Thomas Flogel.

O'Neill, who did not reveal the amount of the fine, made his feelings clear.

"I have seen the incident now," said O'Neill. "I hadn't seen it on Saturday night properly. There was a little monitor, but it wasn't the greatest. But I've seen it now a number of times. Had the referee seen it and sent him off then, Bobo could have had no complaints. I would also have had no complaints with that. I don't condone that behavior."

"I told him [Balde] so and he accepted that. I am not going to accept anyone putting an elbow in somebody's face. That is my private view so I might as well go public on that particular incident."

Gregory faces hearing

DERBY, England -- Derby is pleading with the Football Association not to impose a touchline ban on new manager John Gregory.

The former Aston Villa boss, who was appointed last week, goes before a FA disciplinary committee Tuesday in Sheffield.

He requested a personal hearing following charges brought by officials Andy D'Urso and Ray Gould after Villa's game against Liverpool on Dec. 26.

Gregory could be banished to the stands, but Derby feels a line should be drawn under the situation.

"We have made representation to the FA, asking them to look favorably on our behalf," the club said.

Gregory marked his first game in charge of the Rams by steering them to a 1-0 victory against Tottenham. It was the club's first victory in five league games and gives them a chance of avoiding relegation.

 

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Reuters contributed to this report.