Walcott omitted from Under-21 side as Moses and Delfouneso earn call-ups
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Your support makes all the difference.The Arsenal midfielder Theo Walcott has been left out of Stuart Pearce's squad for next Wednesday's European Championship qualifier with Greece, increasing speculation the 20-year-old could feature for the senior side against Egypt at Wembley on the same night.
Fabio Capello names his squad for the match with the Africa Cup of Nations holders on Sunday. Pearce has handed two players their first call-ups for the match in Doncaster – Wigan striker Victor Moses and Aston Villa forward Nathan Delfouneso. "Victor has the ability to go past a player and be a match-winner," Pearce said.
"While Nathan has got a great commodity in his pace." Everton's Jack Rodwell, who scored in the 3-1 win against Manchester United last week, returns to the squad after injury, as does fellow midfielder Lee Cattermole, and loanees Danny Welbeck and Jack Wilshere. England remain the only side unbeaten in the group, having won three of five games. Greece are two points clear of England at the top, although England have a game in hand. The sides last met in September, when they played out a 1-1 draw.
Bruce handed fine for tirade after loss at Manchester City
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has been fined £2,500 by the Football Association for improper conduct following comments made after the 4-3 defeat at Manchester City in December. The 49-year-old described referee Andre Marriner's decision to show centre-back Michael Turner a red card as "obscene", "a joke" and "an outrage". Turner was dismissed at Eastlands after elbowing City midfielder Gareth Barry in an aerial challenge. "The commission took into consideration Bruce's admission of the charge and his previous exemplary record in relation to media comments," read an FA statement. Turner's appeal over the sending-off was dismissed by the FA the following week, who extended his ban to four games owing to a "frivolous appeal".
McGregor and Ferguson remain in Scottish wilderness
Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor has had a potential return to the international scene delayed after manager Craig Levein left him out of the squad for next Wednesday's game with the Czech Republic. The 28-year-old Rangers keeper misses out after sustaining an eye injury during a late-night incident in Glasgow last weekend. McGregor and midfielder Barry Ferguson, who was also left out, have not played for their country since April after being dropped for a breach of team discipline, but were hopeful of being considered for selection after Levein succeeded George Burley. Rangers duo Kris Boyd and Lee McCulloch have both been recalled for the Hampden Park game following previous fall-outs with Burley.
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