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General Sports News

United dominate PFA awards

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 14/04/2009

Five Manchester United players have been nominated for this year's PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

Last year's winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, again heads the list of nominees and is the clear favourite with sportsbooks.

He iis joined by United team-mates Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs.

The only player not on the Old Trafford pay-roll that is in contention for the prize is Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

United also provide two of the candidates for the Young Player of the Year honour - Jonny Evans and Rafael da Silva.

Also on the short-list are Aston Villa duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland and Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has stated that interim head coach Guus Hiddink will definitely be leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.

The Dutchman has impressed since joining the Blues following the shock exit of Luiz Felipe Scolari, but has always maintained that he will return to his main job with Russia's national team in the summer.

That line has been reiterated by Buck, who has confirmed that the search for a new permanent appointment is underway.

Birmingham City defender Liam Ridgewell's season is over after he suffered a broken leg in Monday's 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle.

The 24-year-old former Aston Villa star picked up the injury midway through the first half in a challenge with Pilgrims striker Jamie Mackie.

Hamburg boss Martin Jol has expressed his annoyance at stories linking him with the managerial position at Manchester City.

The former Tottenham boss has moved Hamburg into contention for the Bundesliga title this term and steered them to an impressive 3-1 victory over City in last week's UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg clash at the Nordbank Arena but insists he is happy at Hamburg.

In Italy, relegation-threatened Bologna have sacked Sinisa Mihajlovic and brought in the experienced Giuseppe Papadopulo.

Mihajlovic replaced Daniele Arrigoni in November but the 4-1 home defeat against Siena at the weekend was Bologna's fourth successive loss and left them entrenched in the relegation zone.

Club president Francesco Menarini met with Mihajlovic on Tuesday before announcing his decision.

Papadopulo guided Lecce to promotion last season and has now been handed the task of lifting Bologna out of the drop-zone.

In cricket, Simon Jones' knee injury has ruled him out of Worcestershire's first County Championship game of the season.

The former England star was forced to have an operation on the troublesome knee problem at the end of last season and has still not made a full recovery.

In rugby union, former England star Lawrence Dallaglio believes Paul O'Connell should captain the Lions on their summer tour of South Africa.

Brian O'Driscoll led the Lions on the ill-fated tour of New Zealand four years ago but Dallaglio has urged head coach Ian McGeechan to appoint O'Connell this time.

Meanwhile, Saracens have signed three English players in readiness for next season.

Michael Horak, Richard Skuse and Kevin Barrett have all been added to new director of rugby Brendan Venter's squad as Saracens prepare to challenge for honours next term.

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