Cleverley close to new contract

Manchester United are reportedly ready to offer Tom Cleverley a new contract with a significant pay rise.



Cleverley is currently earning around £35,000 a week in basic wages, on a deal which expires in 2015.



United want to reward Cleverley for his efforts this season and have entered into negotiations over improved terms, according to the Sunday People.



The 23-year-old will be offered similar terms to Danny Welbeck, who recently signed a new long-term deal at Old Trafford.



Cleverley has made 32 appearances for United this season and also started England's 8-0 win in San Marino last Friday.

Atletico Madrid opens door to Torres

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone has seemingly opened the door for a possible return of Fernando Torres.

Torres has endured a torrid stay at Stamford Bridge since joining from Liverpool in January 2011 for £50million.

In 74 league games he has scored just 14 times, which is a shadow of his Liverpool form where he hit 65 goals in 102 Premier League appearances.

The 29-year-old began his career with Atletico Madrid and is still revered by their fans, and now Simeone has refused to rule out a possible return.

"Fernando Torres is currently playing for another team. We have to wait for the season to finish and decide which of the available players could come here and do a good job," Simeone told Onda Cero.

"Fernando knows about the club's history, what it means to play here and I don't need to speak about his ability.

"We were team-mates. I know how important he can be."

Simeone admits he does not know if a deal could be struck, adding: "It's complicated. I wouldn't like to say yes or no. He's a player who always performs and we have to respect his choice."

With Chelsea being strongly linked with Atletico's Radamel Falcao - a player-swap plus cash deal has long been mooted.

Simeone was also quizzed about the future of the Colombian, and said: "I'm not Falcao and I'm not his agent. I'm the manager and have the utmost respect for him, because he gave me so much at River Plate and has done the same here.



"He always gives his all and I really respect players who do that. But everyone makes their own decisions in life. Every person is different, and we have to respect each other. Those who stay are always going to be the best."

Hart: No slip-ups this time

England can take a big step towards qualifying for the World Cup finals in Brazil if they avoid slip-ups and beat Montenegro on Tuesday, says keeper Joe Hart.

Roy Hodgson's men could fall five points behind Montenegro or one point clear at the top depending on whether they win or lose in Podgorica.

England have painful memories of the stadium - 17 months ago Wayne Rooney was sent off and they blew a 2-0 lead in a Euro 2012 qualifier, the hosts forcing a 2-2 draw.

Hart, who was a virtual spectator during Friday night's 8-0 win over minnows San Marino, said: "Tuesday is big, an exciting game for us. We are getting closer to the World Cup finals.

"We've got to perform. Maybe we could be accused of taking our foot off the pedal as we let a 2-0 advantage slip away last time against them when we needed just a point.

"That is not going to be the case this time. We've got a job on our hands in an intimidating arena, but we've definitely got the capabilities.

"We go there with the intention of doing well against a good nation.

"Brazil is a long way off, and I'm not going to get carried away thinking about that, but hopefully with a few wins we can start doing that.

"I treat all games the same. Just because I might have had little to do on Friday, I'm not going to be asleep on Tuesday.

"It's the same build-up, same hype, same adrenalin, whoever you play against."

Midfielder James Milner remembers an intimidating atmosphere in Podgorica, and he says the England players will thrive on that.

He said: "These are the sort of games you enjoy playing in, with the crowd on your back, and when you are getting a lot of stick.

"We will know it well from having been there before. It will be tough. It is never easy qualifying for a major tournament.



"We know Montenegro are a good team and they showed that in their qualifying campaign. But we are thinking positively."

Johnson fit to return

England boss Roy Hodgson has confirmed Glen Johnson will be fit to face Montenegro in their World Cup Group H qualifier on Tuesday.

Johnson was rested as a precaution for the 8-0 drubbing of San Marino on Friday, with Tottenham defender Kyle Walker replacing him at right-back.

But Johnson looks likely to feature in Podgorica, even if he requires a pain-killing injection to help ease a long-standing toe problem that has flared up again.

"In the Euros he had a slight toe problem which we had to look after," said Hodgson. "All of a sudden it has occurred, although not to the same extent.

"There is no doubt he could have played (against San Marino). We could even have had him on the bench.

"But it would have meant an injection and I preferred to continue the treatment so he didn't have to put a boot on.

"We hope it will get better in the next couple of days. If it doesn't it might need an injection but there is no problem.



"It was just a precautionary measure because I felt we had enough players without taking any unnecessary risks."

Gerrard issues warning

Steven Gerrard has urged England to keep their discipline when they face Montenegro in a key World Cup Group H qualifier on Tuesday.

A victory in Podgorica would see Roy Hodgson's side leapfrog their hosts to go top of the table.

But England skipper Gerrard believes Montenegro will try to put pressure on the referee to make "rash" decisions in the hostile atmosphere in the Montenegro capital.

England had striker Wayne Rooney sent off at the same stadium 17 months ago as they surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2, although that proved enough to qualify for Euro 2012, and Gerard is keen to avoid something similar happening again.

"It is important we keep 11 men on the pitch because it is going to be a very difficult game," said the Liverpool midfielder.

"It is going to be a pressure situation and we don't need to give the referee any excuse to send any of us off or any unnecessary yellow cards.

"It is important everyone takes responsibility and stays on the pitch.

"I'm sure everyone knows it before the game but I'm sure the manager (Roy Hodgson) will remind everyone. I'm sure that will be one of the points on the board.

"They will be trying to claim every decision, every foul, and they will be trying to intimidate the ref to make rash decisions.

"I'm sure we will have a good ref in charge who will make sensible decisions but it's important we keep our cool and keep everyone on the pitch."

Confidence is high in the England camp following their 8-0 victory over San Marino on Friday.

But Gerrard has warned of complacency and insists Montenegro will pose a much tougher test.

"Everyone knows you can't compare San Marino to Montenegro. It's the two ends of the scale," he added.

"We know it's going to be a much tougher test on Tuesday, the standard of players we are going to be up against are much better.

"They have got certain individuals in the world class category. We are well aware of the task in hand and know it's a much tougher game.

"I don't know whether crucial is the right word to describe this game but it is certainly a result we need.

"We need to take maximum points from this week to get into the driving seat. There are still a lot of tough and important games to play but we certainly want to make a statement.



"We want to go off in the summer and look at the group being in charge because we don't play for a long time."

Owen accuses Newcastle

Michael Owen has accused Newcastle of lying and insists he was never offered a new contract when his time at St James' Park came to an end in the summer of 2009.

The former England international, who announced on Monday he will hang up his boots at the end of the season, joined Newcastle in a £16million deal from Real Madrid in August 2005.

His four years in the north east were badly hampered by injury, but he still produced a healthy return of 26 Premier League goals from his 71 appearances.

The former Liverpool striker joined Manchester United as a free agent after his deal expired when the Magpies were relegated to the Championship, but many supporters still bear a grudge following his exit.

Owen, now with Stoke after three seasons at Old Trafford, has moved to set the record straight and took to Twitter to explain his version of events.

Owen wrote: "Newcastle fans, plenty of you tweeting me saying you don't blame me for getting injured but for leaving when we got relegated.

"Despite the club saying they did, they didn't ever offer me a new contract despite them putting it in the press that they did.

"How could they when they had just been relegated? It would have been financial suicide.

"I've seen it a million times, a club will blatantly lie to their fans to take the moral high ground leaving the player with no leg to stand on.



"I've taken the stick for years which is fine but you really don't know half of it. All will be revealed one day."

David Villa: 'We need to beat France'

Spain striker David Villa has insisted that his side will not play for a draw when they face France in Paris on Tuesday night.

style="border-radius: 25px 25px 25px 25px; border: 5px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);" width="320" />The world champions fell two points behind France in Group I after they could only draw with Finland, but Villa has revealed that they will not need to change their approach now that they have fallen behind their group rivals.



The 31-year-old told reporters: "This is a very bad result for us and we did not expect to spill points here.



"However, this does not change our approach for the match in Paris. Regardless of the result of Friday's game, we had set our sights on three points against France.



"It is hard to grasp that we lost two points. We all realise that we have to bounce back right away and want to react against France."



The Barcelona striker has scored 53 goals for Spain.