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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce insists Fraizer Campbell is “mentally tough enough” to bounce back from his latest injury setback.The Black Cats striker is set to be out for 12 months after surgery on Wednesday to repair knee ligament damage and an Achilles tendon.

The 23-year-old has already missed most of this season after picking up the injury during a 1-0 win over Manchester City in late August.

He aggravated the problem during training earlier this month, and news of a further year on the sidelines have raised doubts over the likelihood he will fulfil his potential.

Bruce, however, is confident Campbell has the “strength of mind” to overcome the injury.

“Fraizer gets operated on today, he’ll be out for 12 months,” Bruce said.

“He was out on the training ground yesterday having a bit of banter with the players. He’s taken it OK because he’s strong mentally.”

“We’ve missed him. He came in at the start of the season and even the back end of last season and he was terrific.”

“When you’re up against it you want people like him in the team.”

“Thankfully, with his strength of mind we think he’ll be okay, I hope he will be. If there’s anyone mentally tough enough, it’s him.”

With Danny Welbeck rated only 50-50 to return against Wigan Athletic on Saturday following a hamstring strain, Bruce added: “The injuries to Welbeck and Campbell have killed us.

“Up front is the one area of the pitch where, for me, we were better than most at the start of the season with Darren Bent, Asamoah Gyan, Welbeck and Campbell.

“To go from what we started the season with to only having one striker now has made it really difficult.

“We’ve got to try and overcome that as well as we possibly can. It also puts a bit more pressure on us for next season.

“Going forward as a club we have to look to get over it because in the summer we’ve got one striker.”

Campbell’s operation is the second a Sunderland star has required this week, with Craig Gordon having also undergone knee surgery on Monday.

Bruce had hoped the 28-year-old could avoid going under the knife and revealed Gordon now faces up to six months out of action.

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But the Black Cats boss has no fear that Belgian keeper Simon Mignolet can continue to deputise despite his mistake for Birmingham City’s first goal in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat.

“Simon’s done fantastically well in his first season,” said Bruce, who has recalled Trevor Carson from a loan spell at Brentford to provide cover for Mignolet.

“He made a mistake. Outfield players have been making mistakes for weeks. When you’re a goalkeeper, it gets highlighted.

“But I’ve watched him in training all week, I’ve worked with him now for eight months and he’ll be OK.

“He’ll have to recover but I think he’s strong enough to deal with it.”

Blackpool have confirmed the signing of midfielder Andy Reid from Sunderland for an undisclosed amount.

The English Premier League club have been one of the big movers on Monday’s transfer deadline day, swooping on Reid and reportedly fielding offers from Liverpool and Manchester United for captain Charlie Adam.

The Lancashire club are also believed to be close to a deal for James Beattie, with the former England and now Rangers striker reportedly undergoing a medical at Bloomfield Road.

Republic of Ireland international Reid has signed a contract for the remainder of the season, having made 78 appearances for the Black Cats following a move from Charlton Athletic in January 2008.

The 28-year-old could make a valuable contribution as a creative playmaker in Ian Holloway’s side – especially if Blackpool lose Adam – and the Tangerines boss was thrilled to have snared his man.

“I’ve just met him and had a chat with him,” Holloway said of Reid.

“I think he will be perfect for us, a little dinky-do football player and we’ll have him and it won’t take me long to get him going.”

“I think he has gone for about 12 million pounds in the past, so that is not a bad take for us, I don’t believe.”

Holloway also hinted Blackpool could be making further moves before the transfer window slams shut at 2300GMT.

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“The wheels are on the go but I can’t really disclose that yet,” Holloway said.

“They can change direction very quickly and end up going somewhere else on this crazy day because everybody wants a bag of carrots and they might be a bag of carrots, if you know what I mean.”

“We have managed to grab one, thanks Andy, that’ll do. As far as I’m concerned there are two more definitely travelling down, definitely, but that could end up horribly.”

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has revealed that Wigan equivalent Roberto Martinez has apologised to him over Antolin Alcaraz’s spitting incident.

The Paraguay international was sighted spitting at Molineux captain Richard Stearman in the dying moments of last Sunday’s Premier League clash, and has been handed a three-match ban by the FA.

McCarthy has criticised the South American for the act, but revealed that Martinez has apologised on behalf of the DW Stadium club.

“What happened is unacceptable. I have spoken to Roberto and he apologised on behalf of the club. I don’t think it is indicative of Wigan, of Roberto or Dave Whelan. They are lovely people, a lovely club, and I think he [Alcaraz] has just made a mistake,” McCarthy told The Guardian.

“I don’t know where it came from but he’s made a stupid mistake and got punished with a ban, and we all think that is right.

“Personally, I’d rather have a smack in the mouth than be spat upon. It’s the worst thing you can do to a fellow professional. He will be regretting it now and will have to take the consequences,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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LDU Quito booked their place in the Copa Libertadores last 16 with a 2-0 win over Godoy Cruz on Tuesday, while Independiente fell short.Quito, the reigning Ecuadorian champions, finished on top of Group Eight with 10 points courtesy of second-half goals to Luis Bolanos and Hernan Barcos.

Bolanos struck two minutes after half-time on a swift counter-attack, the former Internacional striker making no mistake after being picked out at the far post.

Barcos, who scored 22 goals in his 32 appearances in his first campaign with Quito last season, made it 2-0 with a bit of individual brilliance 11 minutes later.

The Argentinean collected the ball at midfield, sprinted up the left flank and somehow bullied his way around two defenders before firing into the roof of the net on a tight angle.

Godoy Cruz midfielder Carlos Sanchez saw a straight red for his tackle on Ezequiel Gonzalez in the 62nd minute, leaving the Argentinean club with no hope of claiming the win they needed to advance to the quarter-finals.

Elsewhere, Argentine giants Independiente saw their slim hopes of progressing in the South American tournament fade despite a 1-0 win at Uruguayan side Penarol.

Striker Facundo Parra nabbed the lone goal in the 33rd minute for the visitors and then spent a nervous seven minutes in goal after Independiente goalkeeper Fabian Assmann was dismissed for pushing Penarol striker Juan Manuel Olivera.

Assmann’s foul was prompted by Olivera head-butting Ivan Velez, for which the striker was also sent off.

Independiente needed to score eight goals in Uruguay and hope that LDU Quito and Godoy Cruz drew in order to reach the next round.

Instead, Penarol will progress after finishing second in Group Eight with nine points.

Finally, Chilean outfit Colo Colo moved to the top of Group Five with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Deportivo Tachira.

Edgar Perez-Greco put the visitors ahead with a goal on four minutes, but a brace to 17-year-old striker Diego Rubio ensured Colo Colo would move within a point of clinching their last-16 berth.

Rubio has scored five goals in his past three appearances for Colo Colo.

It promises to be a busy weekend with the FA Cup 4th round and the final days of the transfer window. It is fair to say that the perennial silly season hasn’t really got going this season with the transfers of Darren Bent and Edin Dzeko the only transfers of any note.

In the papers this morning there has been a mixed bag of stories that includes Fabio Capello looking to give Jack Wilshere the Makelele role; Keys and Gray already lined up for TV return, while Blackpool would reject Holloway resignation.

*

Sky rotates roster as it seeks new anchor – Guardian

Keys and Gray already lined up for return to TV – Mirror

Man Utd cut list of goalkeeper options to three – Guardian

Fergie may not need Roo after all – Sun

Capello to audition Wilshere in ‘Makelele role’ – Daily Telegraph

Liverpool turn down Chelsea’s £35m bid to sign Torres – Guardian

Niang admits Liverpool lure – Sky Sports

Sort out your private life, Capello warns Manchester City star Johnson – Daily Mail

Inter to make £40m raid for Bale – Guardian

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Blackpool would reject Holloway resignation – Daily Telegraph

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Artificial pitches could be on their way back, more than 20 years since they were banned. Wycombe Wanderers and Accrington Stanley have raised the idea in an attempt to reduce costs and it seems that many others would be happy to follow suit.

They were a major feature of football in the 80’s with QPR and Luton using them as well as Oldham and Preston, but they were banned in 1988 after complaints that they were causing injuries because they were solid and it was affecting the quality of football on show.

Pitches were set on top of concrete which made it very difficult to move about in comparison to traditional grass but thanks to the advancements in technology the current plastic pitches have padding underneath which makes the experience similar to grass, offering a softer experience under foot and in the tackle as well as a smooth surface that is not guaranteed outside of the country’s top grounds. Rubber pellets are also on the pitch to act like mud and increase movement.

Accrington owner John Heys said that it will cost about £500,000 to install but the savings on maintenance will make it worthwhile. He added: “There is an income to be gained from hiring the pitch out and money to be saved in maintenance costs and the fact that you can train on it.

“The community benefit is that you can get people down to the ground seven days a week rather than just 23 times a season for home fixtures.”

Opinion is divided on the issue, with people saying that it is unnatural and will cause injuries and others favouring the idea of having smooth, all-weather pitches and there is no reason why the game should not bring them back.

Admittedly it would take a while to get used to. Players might not be too keen to make the sliding tackle because of the surface but that is part of the settling in process. It would not cut the skin like they did before and after training on the pitch players would become more comfortable with it and be able to play their natural game. The fear that they may get injured turning or by getting their foot stuck in the ground is still the same as it is on grass and is an unfortunate part of football whatever surface is used.

Mick Rathborne, who played on the plastic pitch at Preston and worked as Everton physio after retiring said: “The new third generation pitches are light years away from the old plastic pitches.

“The new pitches with the millions of rubber balls are soft to run on, you can stop and turn very easily so there could be implications with preventing those types of injuries.”

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Introducing artificial surfaces is necessary to football because although clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea have an abundance of cash, many clubs in the lower leagues are struggling for funds and an opportunity to make savings should be welcomed. Wycombe owner Steve Hayes said that to maintain the grass pitch currently installed at Adams Park costs around £75,000 a year and although clubs would have to shell out to make the change, it would see a huge chunk of that money stay in the kitty. Rather than heating the pitch to prevent it being icy or covered in snow, a blanket would be all that is required and instead of cutting the grass it would only require sweeping every so often to get rid of some of the rubber. And take away the cost of replacing the turf once it gets cut up beyond repair and your team is already onto a winner.

And after the problems last winter with games being called off for frozen and snow covered pitches, a plastic surface would put an end to that so no longer would fans be travelling to the match only to hear it has been cancelled.

It would also mean that the team could train and play at the stadium rather than finding a traditional training pitch which again saves money and when the club are not using it other groups could get involved, creating possible opportunities for community groups and sport centres which could in turn lead to more people coming to the ground, meaning more money.

And for the traditionalist, who wants sexy football from one side and tough tackling from the opponent. The new surface would not have patches that cause the ball to bobble or bounce differently so that in itself will encourage passing football rather than the long-ball game that everybody loves to hate. Players will be more comfortable playing the ball along the ground because they know there is less chance for an unlucky break and slide tackles will still be possible on the natural-feeling pitch, so a non-contact game is not on the horizon.

Top-flight clubs in Italy, France, Switzerland and Russia use them without major problems and there is not a noticeably higher rate of major injuries in their leagues. Our players have experienced them in Europe and World Cup qualifying. Do not think of the old plastic pitches because they are as ancient as the Romans, plastic is the affordable and effective way forward.

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Do you want a plastic pitch at your club? Comment below or follow me on Twitter @jrobbins1991.

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For someone who has, in the past, always been so careful with their money in terms of transfers, this season it seems that something has come over Arsene Wenger, and he is indulging in what the rest of us call panic buying.

Firstly there was the mass buying spree right at the death of the summer transfer window after high profile departures, and now comes the January transfer window, where Wenger says he will buy if ‘something comes up.’

For a man normally so careful and frugal with the money he has, just why has Wenger’s approach to spending changed so much?

The first explanation is clearly the fact he needed both cover for the players who had left in the summer and also to show fans that he was willing to buy and take Arsenal forward, and as the January window approaches, it seems that in order to convince their star man to sign a new contract, Arsenal need a big signing to show RVP that they really mean business and can fulfil his ambitions both in terms of taking the club forward and winning trophies.

It cannot be denied that the Londoner’s are in dire need of cover for RVP, if not only to lighten the burden on the player, also as a back-up should he succumb to injury problems yet again. The players they currently have, such as Chamakh are nowhere near the level they need, and Wenger is fully aware of this.

The drive and urgency to succeed may also be playing a hefty part in Wenger’s dip into the transfer market, with the gap between the top couple of teams and Arsenal only growing, and Wenger knows that should the club fail to convince Van Persie to sign a new contract, they will have virtually no hope of competing with the likes of City, and may struggle to fund a replacement in the same league as the Dutch man.

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Arsenal and Wenger are in a difficult position, they clearly need a second striker who can actually score goals, and will lose players when the African Cup of nations starts, yet is panic buying the answer? Only Arteta of the summer signings has made any real impact, and the history of silly money flop transfers in January is one that grows every year.

Arsenal have never really been ones to enter into panic buying and waste money – yet the urgency to both succeed and keep hold of their main man may well see them major players this window. How far this will help them however is another matter entirely, and for a man who in seasons gone by would criticise other managers for doing exactly what he is now, how times have changed for Wenger.

Stoke have pulled themselves out of their own run of poor results with arguably their hardest fixtures of the season to date. Whilst their draw at Tottenham was a little fortuitous, the home win against Liverpool had the confidence of a side thoroughly at home in the top flight. All this with Champions League winner Eidur Gudjohnsen sitting on the bench.

West Brom are now four games without a win- and will be anxious to get back to winning ways here. Disappointingly for Roberto Di Matteo, points dropped against sides expected to struggle have taken the polish over away performances against Arsenal and Manchester United. Goals have certainly not been in short supply, but a lack of clean sheets have beset the Baggie’s attempts to push on from their strong autumn.

This is the sort of fixture that West Brom will have earmarked as crucial for Premier League survival. That Di Matteo would probably accept a point here shows the strong start the Baggies have made to their season. Stoke, happily heading in the right direction are happy to stockpile points ahead of the Christmas period.

Prediction: 2-2

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Tottenham Hotspur have tabled a £22 million bid for Valencia’s left wing starlet Juan Mata. Should the diminutive winger for some reason choose Tottenham over Arsenal, what would this mean for Gareth Bale? And what would Mata bring to the north London club?

Finally, Tottenham have dared to do something. This bid is the first exciting move that Spurs have made in this transfer window. Not only does chasing Mata signal the ambition of the club. The attempt to hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of the player adds spice to the offer.

Juan Mata is a player with a growing reputation and no doubt a growing price tag. He was an outstanding performer for Spain at the European Under 21 Championships this summer and has cemented himself a first team slot in the Valencia side after three very impressive seasons there. Last season he provided 12 assists and scored 8 goals in La Liga, he is quick and creative with an eye for goal. He is small, only 2 inches taller than Aaron Lennon, but does not shirk from the physical side of the game and should be perfectly capable of playing on a cold night at the Britannia stadium. It is easy to see how he could cause problems and sharpen Spur’s attack.

Redknapp has consistently talked of his intentions to push Gareth Bale deeper, into the left back position and Tottenham’s interest in Mata suggests that Redknapp could be ready to make that step. When the Welshman’s terrific vein of form last season catapulted him into the limelight, the Spurs manager astutely noted that Bale’s successes came when running from deep and using his pace and stride and overall speed over distance to rip apart defences. When his concentration improved, Redknapp said, he could be pushed back and then he could get a really good head of steam up.

With Bale charging past Mata on the overlap the potential for goals from the left hand side would be greatly increased, although defensively Bale is definitely not the finished article. As a combination though, it could work. Mata likes to cut inside, vacating the space for Bale to surge into and both are more than capable of scoring goals whilst Mata’s record for providing was second only to Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez last season.

Even though the likelihood is that Mata will choose Arsenal over Spurs, does Tottenham’s bid indicate that Redknapp is willing to make the tactical leap of pushing Bale back to left back? It would be a progressive and attacking decision irrespective of who plays in front of him.

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Where would you play Bale and could VDV be a success on the left of midfield? http://twitter.com/#!/philipwroe

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Mauro Zarate could make a return to the Premier League following interest from QPR, says the Daily Star.

Zarate has thus far failed to make an impression at Inter Milan, who have loaned the striker from Lazio for the season.

It’s reported that Zarate would like to get games under his belt away from the San Siro and would welcome a chance to return to England.

Mark Hughes is eager to establish QPR as a Premier League club and could use the combined efforts of Zarate and fellow South American target Henrique to fulfil those ambitions.

Zarate scored four goals during his time at Birmingham in 2008, but the Argentine is yet to score in the league for Inter and limited playing time could add weight to speculation of a move away.

Zarate was linked with a move to Arsenal last summer and is also being tracked by Bolton and Newcastle.

With a number of Premier League suitors watching his situation, Lazio will be keen to drive his price up as much as possible.

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