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General Sports News

Barry ponders Villa future

Author: Rose Young
Date: 31/03/2009

Aston Villa and England midfielder Gareth Barry says he will make a decision about his future with the Premier League club at the end of the season, with a top-four finish his top priority.

Barry, who continues to be linked with a move to Liverpool after coming close to joining the Reds last summer, said: "What happens in the summer if Villa don't finish fourth? These are the sort of negative comments being thrown at me."

Barry is preparing for England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, but Spurs frontman Darren Bent will miss the game after suffering a knee problem during training.

Elsewhere, AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has again pledged his future to the club after renewed speculation linking him with Chelsea, with online betting experts tipping him to leave in the summer.

The 49-year-old is under contract at the San Siro until the end of next season and Ancelotti insists that his preferred option is to remain in charge of the Rossoneri.

He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "My wish is to remain at Milan. That is, as long as we finish third to qualify for the Champions League."

Meanwhile, Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has emerged as a major contender for the vacant manager's job at Schalke.

The Gelsenkirchen club have been plagued by off-field unrest in recent weeks, with general manager Andreas Muller having left the club just before coach Fred Rutten was also shown the door.

That has led to an approach for Bilic, who remains committed to seeing out his country's World Cup qualifying campaign before a possible move into club football.

Gavin Henson could be set for another spell on the sidelines after sustaining an ankle injury at the weekend.

The Wales centre has had a scan to determine the extent of the problem he sustained in the Ospreys' EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat against Gloucester.

Meanwhile, the Ospreys are confident the hip injury Ian Gough suffered in the same game will not keep him out of the Heineken Cup quarter-final against defending champions Munster on 12 April.

Saracens hope to play two fixtures at Wembley Stadium next season.

The Guinness Premiership club are close to finalising a deal to play one match in November 2009 and a second in April 2010.

In rugby league, Bradford Bulls' season shows no sign of picking up after it was confirmed that Glenn Morrison faces three months on the sidelines.

The second row forward sustained a ruptured ligament in his wrist in Sunday's dramatic defeat at Castleford Tigers.

Beleaguered Bulls coach Steve McNamara told the club's official website: "I'm desperately disappointed for Glenn because he's been playing really well this year.

"It's a blow for us, but these things are part and parcel of the game and Glenn's injury will give an opportunity for someone else to step up."

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