Glut of foreigners — Keegan fears for England’s future

London, August 8: Kevin Keegan fears for England's prospects in World football after it was revealed that the Premiership's top six clubs ...

London, August 8: Kevin Keegan fears for England’s prospects in World football after it was revealed that the Premiership’s top six clubs have signed just one homegrown player between them this summer.

“There is a danger in this country that all the key positions in all the big sides are taken by foreign players and the next England manager might find himself with no creative players.”

But the England coach sympathises with club bosses who, he feels, are just trying to buy the best players available — English or not.

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“At the end of the day do you think honestly that any of these managers would be buying foreign players if they could buy young England players or young English players who were that good?”

When asked if he would support a limit on foreign players coming into the Premiership, he told BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday: “Yes I would.

“When I went to Germany to play for Hamburg there was two foreign players and nine German players in every side and that was fine in Germany.”

Ferguson’s fear

LONDON: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson fears the English Premier League’s new refereeing rule could lead to confusion, British tabloids reported on Tuesday.

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Ferguson fears the interpretation of the new guidelines will vary from one referee to another and will not be applled consistently.

Clubs will face fines, points deductions and player bans for a variety of offences.

The Football Association wants to punish players who harass or argue with match officials and has accordingly introduced new rules.

McManaman up for sale

MADRID: Real Madrid have put English International midfielder Steve McManaman up for sale, Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Tuesday.

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McManaman, 28, is considered surplus to requirements following the record signing of Portuguese star Luis Figo from Barclona for $56 million and Frenchman Claude Makelel from Celta Vigo.

With McManaman earning a reported $4 million a year, he would be an expensive luxury on the substitutes’ bench for a club with debts amounting to $241 million and Real need to offload him to help cut their wage bill.

“I’ve informed Steve of the situation and that he has very few chances of playing this season,” Real coach Vincente del Bosque told Marca.

Even though he still has four years of his contract to run and has made it known he would be happy to stay, McManaman would prefer to stay in Spain than return to England.

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But news of his availability is likely to interest his former club Liverpool and rivals Manchester United.