Football News: Liverpool Injury Blow, Malaysia Consider Entering Australian League And THE Ronaldo At His Best, Plus More

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1. Bent given suspended sentence
Former Brentford, Crystal Palace, Port Vale, Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Everton, Charlton Athletic, Wigan Athletic, Birmingham City, Middlesbrough, QPR and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Marcus Bent has been given a 12 months suspended sentence after threatening police officers with a meat cleaver while high on cocaine. Bent admitted affray and possession of cocaine after an incident which ended with him being tasered by the police in his home, after he called 999 reporting that he had heard intruders in his flat. Bent was also given a two month long curfew and 200 hours of compulsory unpaid work, plus he must also pay each of the officers £500 compensation, £1500 court fees and a victim surcharge of £100, following the events which took place when police arrived to investigate the intruder call. Initially unable to enter the property, police were about to use a battering ram to open the door, when Bent, bare-chested, flung open the door while armed with a knife in each hand his "eyes wide, jaw clenched, his body rigid". He was described as being "wild with rage". One of the officers was forced to taser Bent as he swung the knives towards them continuing to say he could see the intruders. When the flat was checked, there were no signs of intruders, but they did find a small amount of cocaine.

2. Colin returns to management
Rotherham United have appointed veteran manager Neil Warnock to take temporary charge of the club until the end of the season. The 67 year old is a former Millers player and replaces Neil Redfearn, who is the shortest-serving manager in Rotherham history, after his sacking on Monday. Rotherham Utd are currently 22nd in the Championship and have lost 8 of the past 12 league games. Warnock has been out of work since he left QPR in December.

3. Messi wins his first La Liga Player of the Month award
Despite picking up a hamstring injury midway through January, Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi has won a Player of the Month award for the month. This is the 3rd season the award has existed, but only the first time that Messi has picked up the award, despite picking up 5 Ballon d'Or's in his career. January scored 6 goals in 6 matches to help keep Barca top of the table. "While it may be almost impossible to believe, Messi has finally been named the La Liga Player of the Month," read a statement on Barca's website on Friday. "The award has been given out since the beginning of the 2013-14 season and, this January, after 22 other players had been deemed more worthy in past editions, it was finally given to the world's best player."

4. Klopp confirms Smith injury
Liverpool left back Brad Smith has impressed in the cup in recent weeks, as part of a young defensive unit that took a pretty much full strength West Ham United side to a replay and then extra time. Smith was struggling by the end of extra time, with what appeared to be just cramp, but now manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed it is more than just cramp. Klopp said, while talking about the FA Cup: "It's the perfect opportunity to leave them and let them show how good they are. It was a great joy to watch these boys. Brad Smith, with his speed, he will always have it. They have to improve though. Brad has a little injury out of the game, we thought it was cramp, but it's a little serious."

5. Malaysia talk about entering Australian league
Former Chelsea player Dave Mitchell has revealed that the Australian A-League's expansion plans have included talks with the Malaysian FA over a Malaysian team entering the league. There are also, according to Mitchell, an idea to talk to clubs in Thailand and Indonesia about entering the league. Mitchell, who played and managed in Malaysia before his retirement, has said he was given authority by an unnamed A-League consortium to discuss the idea with all three countries, and has already spoken to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) regarding it. "While they agreed it would be difficult for FAM to send a team to the A-League because of the duration and also to assemble the national team fulltime, they said there are other ways to go round the problem," Mitchell told the MalayMail. "Without doubt the possibility of playing in the A-League will help uplift Malaysian football and also give it a new dimension to football in the country. In fact, it's faster to travel to Malaysia than some parts of Australia," the former Chelsea, Feyenoord and Sydney Olympic player said. "Cost-wise it will not be an issue as a substantial subsidy is given to participating teams besides travel also taken care of by the Football Federation of Australia. The Malaysian team travelling to Australia can play two matches in a trip. Besides the benefit of the development of the game it will be a tourism boost for both countries as supporters will travel with the team. Crowds at the stadium is also expected to be at a maximum."

6. Newcastle say Mbemba injury not as bad as feared
Last week's defeat against Everton saw Newcastle United lose central defender Chancel Mbemba to an ankle injury. It was feared the injury would be a long term one, with talk of worries about getting him back this season. Now the Tyneside club have been cheered by news that he should only miss a couple of matches after visits to two different specialists. "From our reports, Chancel could be fit for the Stoke game, or certainly the Bournemouth game after that," said McClaren. "That's a bit of a plus for it. He went to London for a second opinion, and then Belgium. The consensus is that with the right treatment, he could be fit in about a month."

7. Suarez says Liverpool is the only English club he would play for
Barcelona's Luis Suarez is hoping to stay with the Catalan club for a few years, but has said he would only go back to England if it was with Liverpool, and that he would like to go back to Ajax too. The Uruguayan international, who, while with Liverpool took the club to court in order to try and force through a move to Arsenal, did force a move from both Ajax and Liverpool, but remains a cult hero with both clubs' fans. Despite forcing moves from both clubs partially for more money, he now claims money would not be a factor: "I'd prefer to stay here for many more years. I know it doesn't always turn out that way. But if I had to return to the Premier League, I would only go to Liverpool. I wouldn't go to another team. It wouldn't be a move for money. I'd also love to play again for Ajax as they allowed me to develop as a player in Europe".

8. This is why the Brazilian Ronaldo is THE Ronaldo

9. United suffer double Serie A rejection
Two players have revealed that they rejected the chance to join Manchester United in the January transfer window. Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi has ruled out a move away from the Milan club in general, but revealed that the Red Devils tried to sign him in the process: "I heard something, but I want to stay at Inter. My answer will always be the same: I want to stay here. If Manchester try again, it will not be the first club or the last that I refuse. I feel good in Milan and I will not leave." Icardi was not the only Inter player rejecting a move from Milan to Manchester as Japanese full back, Yuto Nagatomo, also revealed he rejected a move to Man Utd: "I like everything about Inter, I want to stay here and renew my contract," Nagatomo told Inter's TV channel. "I turned down an offer from Manchester United, as my desire is to stay here. I have an excellent rapport with Roberto Mancini."

10. Collison forced to retire at the age of 27
Persistent injury problems with his knee have forced Wales international midfielder to retire from playing at the age of 27, just when he should be entering his peak. Collison, who played for West Ham United, Bournemouth, Wigan Athletic, Ipswich Town and Peterborough United, suffered a dislocated knee back in 2009, which he was never able to fully recover from. He joined the Posh in the summer, hoping to revive his career but sadly had to announce his retirement: "The nights I wake up in pain, or the mornings where I struggle to walk, will be a constant reminder I was lucky enough to play the game I love," he said. "I still wake up some mornings feeling good and think 'one more try'. But that would be unfair on myself, my fellow pros and my family. I want to bow out with some pride intact."

Written by Tris Burke February 13 2016 11:59:25