TAYLOR TO HAVE SCAN

Newcastle United's Steven Taylor is scheduled to have a scan on his ankle today.

The 23-year-old first picked up the injury against Arsenal last month and had only just returned to the side when he suffered a re-occurrence of the problem during the game against Spurs on Sunday.

The defender only managed 45 minutes before being replaced by Alan Smith at half-time.

And boss Alan Shearer told nufc.co.uk this week: "We felt Steven was ready to start and he'd had a good couple of days' training.

"But he's felt it again and we had to take him off at half-time.

"He'll have a scan on Tuesday so we'll know more then."

HIDDINK PRAISES DROGBA'S WORK RATE

Gus Hiddink stood back and watched Didier Drogba destroy Arsenal's back-line on Saturday and knew that he had witnessed the full circle of a player this season.

Drogba had not been himself up until February of this year when his confidence was at an all-time low, he was a bit part player, goals were scarce and the team looked to be on the decline and their title dream slipping away, then Gus Hiddink replaced Phil Scholari, restored confidence and made them believe that they could achieve anything again, the goals returned and belief was back at Stamford Bridge.

Hiddink's arrival has brought a return of nine goals from twelve appearences from Drogba and as the Dutchman tells the clubs official website, its Drogba that he just can't stop talking about.

'If you have to play him it hurts. He is physically very strong, he is brave because he is going into duels not knowing what is happening.

'Just power is not enough, I like the clever players who can reads the game, where the danger comes. We are talking about Drogba but I don't want to make many exceptions, but [you can] use the work of Alex who I think is a little underestimated in the recent period here.

'He is of tremendous value to the team, and is doing a great job. But then I forget the rest of the team as well, and I am proud of those guys.' asked what he had done to turn his game around? Hiddink quickly dismissed it was anything to do with him.'First, it's him, because the player himself is producing what he is producing recently, not just in the goals, but also as a personal contribution towards the team. He is coming in every day and practicing very hard, and smiles also,' said the Dutchman.

'In the first week we had a good talk, good training sessions and some team talks. I explained what i expected from everyone and they reacted, and he reacted as well.

'We don't demand every game one goal, but when he is delivering he is so sharp to get it done. He is also saying "Guys this is the moment we have to deliver", giving an example as well.'

ARSENAL DUO TO MISS ANFIELD TRIP

Arsenal will be without Robin Van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor for their trip to Anfield on Tuesday night.

Van Persie is struggling with a groin problem that he picked up in Saturdays FA Cup game against Chelsea and Adebayor is just being rested as a precaution after complaining of a tight hamstring.

Bacary Sagna is back in the squad after suffering from sickness but the Gunner's manager Arsene Wenger revealed in Monday afternoon's press conference that he was unsure if the right back would start or not.

“From Saturday we have lost Robin van Persie, who has a little groin problem,” said Wenger.

“Emmanuel Adebayor is rested. He has a little hamstring alert and we don’t want to take a gamble on him.

“Bacary Sagna is back in the squad we’ll decide if he can play tomorrow.”

MANCHESTER UNITED SCRAP 'ONE YEAR' SEASON TICKET

Manchester United have announced that they are to scrap the 'one year' season ticket scheme at the end of the 2008/09 season.

United took the decision following a ruling by the Office of Fair Trading into there sale and the fact that the Manchester club could not guarantee the ticket holder's entry into cup matches.

The tickets were launched in 2006 and have never been accepted by the Manchester United supporter's because of the cup ticket allocation saga.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust which have always contested the way the cup tickets were allocated, never had the intention of forcing United's hand by totally abolishing the scheme but were just trying undermine the controversial cup scheme.

''This is a significant victory for supporters and we welcome the changes secured to season ticket terms and conditions and the commitment to ongoing monitoring to ensure they are operated fairly in future,'' said MUST chief executive Duncan Drasdo.

United have reacted calmly to the OFT's announcement on Tuesday and are looking at amending their working practices to ensure the true clarity of their season ticket sales in the future.

''We are very pleased that a season ticket will continue to include cup matches,'' said United chief operating officer Michael Bollingbroke.

''That is central to our strategy and we have made the necessary changes for next season to avoid the situation where holders of 'One Year' season tickets were not guaranteed tickets for some cup games.

''While the number potentially affected was small, we accept that all season tickets should come with that guarantee in future.

''Most of the other changes to terms and conditions reflect existing practice, but their inclusion in the terms provides fans with greater reassurance and transparency.

''This is good news for the club and for season ticket holders.''

MP'S WARN OVER HEFTY DEBT'S

A group of MP's have held an enquiry in to the way that the Barclay's Premier League is run and they want a change in the rules to prevent new owners from saddling clubs with huge debts.

The all-party Parliamentary Football Group which has no direct say in how the league is run, would if implemented, prevent takeover's similar to the Glazier family that took control of Manchester United from Manchester United PLC(David Gill CEO right).

The MP's also would stop owners issuing loans to clubs such as Chelsea's Roman Obramovich to be treated as debt.

The group also back Sepp Blatter's 6+5 rule which states that each team can only field a maximum of five foreigners in any starting eleven.

Group chairman Alan Keen MP said: "We are saying that before someone can take over a club they have to pass a test, and should be financing the takeover on money they put in and not on debt.

"We are worried about incidents where people have taken over clubs such as Manchester United where the Glazers, who have never in the past shown any interest in football, and used the club's assets to secure loans for the takeover.

"If people come into a club simply to make money, or just gives the club a loan, we are worried that at some point they will take it out and threaten the existence of that club.

"A lot of money goes from the Premier League down into the grass-roots and if someone comes in purely to make money they might decide they do not want to give any more money to the Football Foundation.

"Clubs are not mere companies and Manchester United is different from British Home Stores. Supporters feel they own the club. They deserve more than clubs just being cash cows.

"The financial world has learnt a serious lesson in the last year that living by the old adage 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' can lead to catastrophic results. There is a real danger that English football could go the same way.''

The group says that it would welcome the Maximum of five foreign players rule to enable the development of domestic talent.

"If we wish for the fortunes of our national team to improve, we must ensure that young domestic talent is given the opportunity to get experience at the top level,'' says the report.

"We recommend that a measure is brought in to ensure that a minimum number of domestic players are to be included in a club's starting line-up.''

The MP's say that they would also welcome more independant members on the FA Board, the Premier League board and the Football Regulatory Authority.

I FEEL MORE SORRY FOR SOUTHGATE THAN SHEARER

What does Mike Ashley really think he was going to achieve by appointing Alan Shearer as manager?

I don't mean to sound negative about it but come on he's not really a Harry Redknapp is he?

The only thing i think Alan Shearer will bring to Newcastle at this moment in time is probably more shirt sales.

I have the most utter respect for Shearer and ever thing that he has achieved in his career but to think you can just walk in and turn things around at a club that's run more like a circus than a football club then your living with your head in the clouds.

Somehow Mike Ashley has diverted the attention from him making a mockery of the Toon to Alan Shearer saving them from relegation and if he doesn't save them then the storm will be hell of alot worse for Ashley.

Ashley needs to cast his eye over to the Riverside and take a look at Middlesbrough, They have been up against it for the last couple of seasons now and what do they do? get on with it. Gareth Southgate has got to play Arsenal and then Manchester United and then of course Newcastle and the way things are going he could well pick up something at St. James park and drop the Toon even further in the mere.

Alan Shearer i hope you save them, and i hope i end up with egg on my face but as you look at it from afar it just doesn't look good at all.

LAMPARD: WE MUST MAINTAIN THIS SPRIT

Frank Lampard must be struggling to remember which competition he is playing in every time he walks through that changing room door.

Chelsea are still in the mix for the Premiership, Champions League and FA Cup, slowly even i'm starting to get abit lost with Chelsea's fixture list so god knows what going through Franks head.

Gus Hiddink has raised spirit's at Stamford Bridge and that's what Lampard wants to maintain after their 2-1 win against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final last Saturday.

Next stop for Chelski is Everton on Wednesday and with spirit's high they now know that they have the momentum to maybe finish with 3 trophies filling their cabinet, it was a different story before Hiddink took over the reign's from 'Big Phil' and The Dutchman seems to have got back the control of the dressing room that Scholari had lost and restored the confidence back in to striker Didier Drogba, who has been on fire ever since returning to the starting eleven.

As Frank Lampard pauses for thought, he takes time out to talk to the clubs official website about the high spirit's, Drogba and the fixtures that will mould Chelsea's season.

'There is a long way to go before we get there [the FA Cup Final], there are a lot of games and a lot of fighting,' said Chelsea's vice-captain.

'Everton are a fantastic team, very physical and they have a fantastic manager. It will be very tough but we have got self belief and we are playing well in the league.

'We have to make sure that we don't get over confident, we must keep doing the good things that we are doing, we must keep playing together and playing with this spirit that we have. If we do that then we have a very good chance.'

'We can't afford to slip in the League, we must keep going, keep up the pressure and try to win all of our games.

'It is important we keep our form because we have some tough Champions League games and we have to be ready for when the Cup Final comes.

'What's important is that we keep our heads down and take each game as it comes. If we do that then we have a chance. Whether we can win three trophies is something that will be very difficult but we will always try.'

And with so many fixture's coming up its bound to start showing in the squad's physical fitness?

'It is tiring but we are professionals and we should be able to get through that,' reckons Lampard.

'Every player is enjoying the business end of the season, especially as we have got ourselves in a position where potentially we could be very successful this year.

'So it's tiring but as a professional you rest between games, you keep training well and then, when the games come, you hope you are going to get some glory at the end of it all.'

And your thought's on Drogba?

'For me Didier Drogba is an all-round player and a complete striker.

'In the form he is in there is no better striker out there, the way he shrugs people off and runs through. He is the best out there for me.'

The question on everyone's mind is will Gus Hiddink be at Chelsea next season?

'It makes no odds to us at all, we have complete concentration and what happens in the summer has nothing to do with us, that will be decided by the club.

'As players we just enjoy the moment and try to finish the season successfully.'