EXCLUSIVE: Rooney KO? United striker suffers head injury and is a major doubt for Moyes on eve of Liverpool clash

EXCLUSIVE: Rooney KO? United striker suffers head injury and is a major doubt for Moyes on eve of Liverpool clash

Wayne Rooney has given Manchester United a scare ahead of Sunday's clash with Liverpool.
The England international suffered a head injury in training this morning and left their Carrington HQ with a bandage wrapped around his head.

Committed: Waynre Rooney (right) challenges Ashley Cole after coming on as substitute in Monday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea

The 27-year-old is now a doubt ahead of the pivotal clash at Anfield but will be determined to prove his fitness depending on doctors' advice.
Rooney was outstanding for United against Chelsea on Monday as he shrugged aside doubts over his Old Trafford future.

Selection problem: David Moyes' team selection has been hit by Rooney's head injury

Afterwards, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho called on him to make it clear whether he wanted to leave the Premier League champions but Rooney responded by posting a message on his Facebook page that laid tribute to United's fans for the reception they gave him.
Rooney's injury will prompt a re-think for manager David Moyes who is determined to break his duck at Anfield, having never won there during his tenure at Everton. 

Fans' favourite: The Old Trafford faithful applauded Rooney after the Chelsea game for his display

Rooney has been in good form despite an unsettled summer playing a pivotal role in the 4-1 win at Swansea and was unfortunate not to be on the winning side against Chelsea.
Veteran Ryan Giggs could step back into the line-up with Danny Welbeck ready to partner Robin van Persie.
Tottenham target Javier Hernandez has also trained.

He scored last night, but Torres has lost it and must still get out of Chelsea... he's not the player I knew

He scored last night, but Torres has lost it and must still get out of Chelsea... he's not the player I knew
I remember the day Fernando Torres first whacked me. It was during a typically competitive training session at Melwood, just after he had become Liverpool’s record signing.
We both went for a high ball but such was his determination to win the header, nothing was going to stop him. He didn’t think twice about leaving me on the floor. Had the roles been reversed, I’d have picked him up and apologised for being overly exuberant.
But Fernando didn’t bat an eyelid and carried on regardless. Do you know what? I thought it was brilliant. Here was a winner, someone who wanted to go to war. He cost Liverpool  £26million but, in the summer of 2007, he was everything we were looking for.

Good old days: Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres while they were both at Anfield

   

Strong, fast and clinical, Torres was not the most technically gifted striker I have played with but he came alive on match day. With big open spaces to run into, he terrified defenders. He was fearless, too. On his Anfield debut against Chelsea, he laughed off John Terry’s attempts to intimidate him. 
One game away to Marseille in December 2007 stands out. We needed a win to progress in the Champions League but the outcome was never in doubt once Torres waltzed past a couple of defenders to score a superb solo goal. 
A little more than six months later, Torres  conjured up the winning goal for Spain at Euro 2008. He had cemented his burgeoning reputation. If a goal needed scoring, you would look no further than Fernando.
Which brings us to Monday night at Old Trafford. When Torres was left out of the  Chelsea line-up against Manchester United, I immediately said: ‘That’s the end’. To be overlooked for Andre Schurrle, simply because the German winger has more mobility, was a damning indictment.
Being on the bench for big Chelsea games is nothing new for Torres — think about the Champions League final in 2012, the trip to Juventus that cost Roberto Di Matteo his job —  but this feels like he has reached the point of no return at Stamford Bridge.
The Torres you see now bears no similarity to the one who dazzled during his first two seasons at Anfield. Consider this: in 102  Premier League appearances for Liverpool, he scored 65 goals. For Chelsea, 94 games have yielded a meagre 15. However, he has been a regular scorer in Europe — as he stylishly proved again on Friday night.
Yet it goes deeper. We knew when Torres left Liverpool in January 2011 that Chelsea were not getting a £50m striker. Injuries had started to take a toll on him — he suffered significant groin and knee problems during the 2009-10 campaign — and he had lost a yard of pace.

Hero to zero: From goalscoring machine at Liverpool, Torres now struggles for game time at Chelsea

There were other things. His attitude, for instance, dropped alarmingly. You could tell from his body language in a pre-match warm-up what type of performance you were going to get. If Fernando was going through the motions, a few of us would look at each other and say: ‘Here we go again’.
If he then started arguing with the referee after a couple of minutes, you knew you would be in for a four out of 10 performance from him. The days when he was at least a nine out of 10 became increasingly rare.
As the night in Marseille stood out for all the right reasons, a trip to Goodison in October 2010 was memorable for all the wrong reasons. The minimum expected of a Liverpool player against Everton is total desire and commitment but Fernando wasn’t interested.

Not interested: Torres looked like he would rather be anywhere else in the world as Liverpool lost to Everton

I played a couple of balls into space for him in the first half. They were not great passes by any means but, as I was under pressure, I needed him to give me an option. He made no attempt to chase them. 
That was the final straw. I lost my temper and we ended up exchanging words. Whether he was frustrated with the state of the club — we had just been close to administration and failed to qualify for the Champions League — or whether he felt he was too good for us was impossible to know. It always felt like he was an outsider.
So when he eventually left, I had no particular wish to see him do well but I do respect he has lifted the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League with Chelsea and added another European Championship to his World Cup winner’s medal.
Something, however, has never felt right about his time there. Torres has seen off four managers — Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas-Boas,  Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez — but there is little chance he will do the same to Jose Mourinho.

Haul: Torres has won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup with Chelsea

Chelsea's Fernando Torres, from Spain

Mourinho’s decision not to play Torres at Old Trafford, coupled with his signing of Samuel Eto’o, should leave nobody in doubt about his place in the pecking order. Surely now Torres has to think about  salvaging his reputation.
There is only one way to do that. This has been a summer when  players have pressed for moves, so wouldn’t it be refreshing if Torres actually said to Chelsea: ‘This hasn’t worked, I need to leave. I need to play.’
If he were to join Valencia, Atletico Madrid or Sevilla, just to become a regular starter, I’m positive people would have great respect for him. Should he end up staying at Chelsea, though, one thing is certain: more miserable nights beckon.
This is not about Chelsea cutting their losses. This is about Torres forcing a move to revive his career.

Return? Torres could rejuvenate his career with a move back to Spain with Atletico Madrid

Everton and Moyes can still become friends re-united

Everton are right to have adopted a strong stance in the face of Manchester United’s attempts to sign Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini.
No club should ever be pushed around in the transfer market but Everton would also do well to remember the good relationship they have enjoyed with United down the years.
United may have taken Wayne Rooney and David Moyes from Everton in the last decade but Phil Neville, Tim Howard, Louis Saha and Darron Gibson all went the other way and have been important players at Goodison Park. Moyes and Bill Kenwright had a great relationship when they worked together and that could yet end up working in Everton’s favour in the long run in terms of player trading.

Will they stay or will they go? Leighton Baines (left) and Marouane Fellaini are wanted by Manchester United

There are clearly tensions between the clubs but Roberto Martinez spoke wisely in his press conference this week when he said he did not want to get embroiled in any more discussions about United.
I am not saying Everton should cave in and sell their best players but, while these discussions continue, they should think about the bigger picture.

Five players... I hope will move before the deadline

THOMAS INCE — He has come on in leaps and bounds since he left Liverpool but, for his career to progress, he needs to test himself in the Premier League. Everton have been interested in Ince, so have Swansea.

Pen to paper: Will Thomas Ince sign for a Premier League club before the transfer window closes on Monday?

JACK BUTLAND — If he is to have realistic ambitions of going to the World Cup with England, he needs to get some game time. It is going to be difficult for him to dislodge Asmir Begovic at Stoke but West Bromwich Albion need a keeper after Ben Foster’s injury. Butland would do well at The Hawthorns.

JERMAIN DEFOE — He gave a reminder of his finishing ability on Thursday night in the Europa League. He is too good a player to sit on the bench and maybe a switch to Newcastle, who could do with a striker, would serve a purpose.
RYAN BERTRAND — It doesn’t appear he will be ousting Ashley Cole as Chelsea’s left back any time soon and, as a Champions League winner, he really should be playing regularly. He would certainly do a job for someone if the opportunity arose.

Benched: Ryan Bertrand (right) will struggle to dislodge Ashley Cole from the left back spot at Chelsea

JACK RODWELL — This is a big year for Rodwell. He has always had a big reputation but, again, Rodwell has not played anywhere near as much as he should have done.  Will he get opportunities at Manchester City? It is looking doubtful. He could do worse than return to Everton on loan if they sell Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United.

Trying to stay cool? Kate Hudson displays her bra strap in slinky cut-out maxi dress on set of I Wish I Was Here

While it was appropriately light attire for the hot summer day, Kate Hudson's ensemble may have proved a little more daring than she bargained for on Friday.
The actress' slinky yellow maxi dress prominently displayed her lacy white bra strap as she arrived on the Los Angeles set of her new movie I Wish I Was Here.
However, the confident show of skin did not affect her seemingly laid back attitude as she made her way to her trailer looking relaxed with her blonde tresses in a messy pile over her bare shoulders.

Glowing: Kate Hudson looked stunning in a yellow maxi-dress which complimented her tan on the set of 'Wish I Was Here' in Los Angeles

Quite the entrance: Kate Hudson arrived on the Los Angeles set of I Wish I Was Here wearing a skimpy summer dress, on Friday

The 34-year-old sported red toenail polish as she wore a pair of leather flip flops.
Keeping the bright desert sun out of her eyes, the Almost Famous star donned a pair of large black sunglasses.
And in keeping with her beachy vibe, Kate toted an intricately tribal printed cloth bag for her day of work.

Summer style: Kate was shown to her trailer by a crew member as clutched an ornately printed bag

Kate looked like a true California girl with her bronzed skin and wild blonde curls as she stood outside her trailer.

Her movie, I Wish I Was Here, is directed by Zach Braff, who also stars as a struggling actor attempting to find the purpose of his life.
The film, which began shooting earlier this month, has been primarily funded through crowd-funding site Kickstarter.

Star treatment: The Almost Famous actress looked prepared for her long day in the hot California sun

Handsome in blue: Director Zach Braff looked good in a denim Levi shirt and mid-blue denim jeans

Lady in black: Ashley Greene filmed scenes with Kate for Zach Braff's kickstarter funded indie flick

Zach - who won acclaim on his 2004 directorial debut Garden State - raised $3.1 million on the site before beginning filming.
Meanwhile, Kate's personal trainer and Pilates instructor Nicole Stuart has opened up about the star's fitness regime.

Nicole, who has worked with the actress for 15 years, said Kate devotes a lot of her time to Pilates, but also mixes it up with other types of exercise.

On the hunt: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell looked at property developments in Brentwood, California, on Friday

Making a day of it: The long-time partners appeared to be enjoying their day of perusing

'We do Pilates for an hour, three times a week,' Nicole told Shape magazine. 'If she’s prepping for something it will be more.
'We always combine cardio - like a mile run - before a Pilates class. On off days, she’ll meet me for yoga or a spin class.'
But Kate wasn't the only one out and about on Friday, as her mother Goldie Hawn and stepfather Kurt Russell were out in Brentwood shopping for new houses.

Quite the change: Kurt had finally shaved his big greying beard, which he was seen sporting in July (R), and looked back to his old self

Goldie, 67, looked in top form as she sported a tight exercise vest and black pedal pusher leggings.
And her long-time beau Kurt looked to have freshly shaven after a prolonged stint with a bushy beard.
The 62-year-old looked to be back to his leading man days with his strong jaw finally denuded of his greying scruff.

Looking fit: Goldie, 67, was in top form in exercise gear

Bayern Munich 2 Chelsea 2 (aet, 5-4 on pens): Lukaku's misses decisive penalty as Guardiola continues hoodoo over Mourinho with Super Cup win

Bayern Munich 2 Chelsea 2 (aet, 5-4 on pens): Lukaku's misses decisive penalty as Guardiola continues hoodoo over Mourinho with Super Cup win
Roman Lukaku's penalty miss handed Bayern Munich victory in the Europa Super Cup final after a 5-4 shoot out win in Prague.
Fernando Torres had put the Europa League winners ahead with a superb first-time strike after eight minutes, but Franck Ribery, a constant threat for Bayern, equalised just after half-time with a long-range drive.
Ramires was sent off late on in normal time for a second bookable offence, before Hazard scored to make it 2-1 to Chelsea in the third minute of extra-time.

Strike: Hazard scored his first goal of the season in the 93rd minute, driving low past Neuer

Ahead: Hazard put Chelsea 2-1 up in extra time in Prague

Off you go: Ramires was sent off late in normal time for a second bookable offence

Javi Martinez equalised for Bayern in the final minute of extra-time after the ball fell kindly to him in the area to send the game to penalties.
Munich pressed late on, but two magnificent saves from Petr Cech kept Chelsea ahead.

MATCH FACTS

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Rafinha (Javi Martinez 56), Dante, Boateng, Alaba, Muller (Gotze 70), Lahm, Kroos, Ribery, Mandzukic, Robben (Shaqiri 95).
Subs: Starke, Van Buyten, Contento, Shaqiri, Pizarro.
Booked: Ribery
Goals: Ribery (47)
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, Torres (Lukaku 97).
Subs: Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Terry, Essien, Mikel, Mata, Lukaku.
Booked: Cahill, Ramires, Luiz, Torres
Sent off: Ramires (84)
Goals: Torres (8), Hazard (93)

Thomas Muller found Ribery in a dangerous position early on but the Frenchman hooked his shot painfully wide.
Torres put Chelsea ahead after eight minutes, and it was a goal to send a message to all his doubters.
Eden Hazard made the break from the halfway line, sending the ball out right to Andre Schurrle before the German's powerful cross found Torres, who smashed the ball home first time.
The Champions League winners nearly responded 10 minutes later, but Ribery's shot from the edge of the area was tipped wide by Petr Cech.
Ribery then send an effort just wide of Chelsea's goal after turning his man near the edge of the area, with the Frenchman being the main port of call for Bayern's attacks.
Torres nearly doubled Chelsea's lead after 30 minutes, linking up well with Schurrle before striking a venemous shot only for Neuer to tip over the bar.
Ribery caused more danger on the flanks shortly after, but his effort on goal went wide.

In behind: Ashley Cole of Chelsea and Arjen Robben battle for the ball

Great strike: Torres wheels away after putting Chelsea 1-0 up

Level: Franck Ribery scored just after half-time for Bayern with a 20-yard drive

And he finally scored just after half-time, striking from the edge of the area past Ceck with his right foot, though the goalkeeper could have perhaps done better having got a hand to the shot.
Chelsea nearly regained their lead on 64 minutes, with Oscar finding himself in a golden position inside the Bayern box after Dante slipped.
And the Europa League champions hit the bar after Branislav Ivanovic hit the bar with a header from a Frank Lampard corner.

Fanatics: Bayern supporters paint Prague red before the game

Momentum: Mourinho was looking to continue his unbeaten start as Chelsea boss

David Luiz then came close to snatching a winner with six minutes remaining, but his header was well saved by Neuer from eight yards out.
Ramires was given a second yellow for a foul on Mario Gotze, with the ban carrying through to the Champions League group stages.
Chelsea took the lead in extra-time through Hazard, cutting inside two Bayern defenders before striking low past Neuer.

Man manager: Ribery went straight to Bayern boss Pep Guardiola after scoring the equaliser

New venue: Stadion Eden in Prague was the stage for the final, which is usually held in Monaco

'The British aren't coming!': US media mock Cameron's failure to deliver on promise to back Obama in strikes against

'The British aren't coming!': US media mock Cameron's failure to deliver on promise to back Obama in strikes againstritain’s standing on the world stage has suffered an unprecedented blow, with David Cameron mocked on both sides of the Atlantic for failing to back President Obama in intervening in Syria.
Urgent calls were made to the White House last night soon after the government defeat amid claims by one Whitehall official that Britain had ‘handed back its deputy sheriff badge’.
But US newspapers were united in their view that the 'normally reliable Brits' had 'balked' at the prospect of a new conflict in the Middle East, leaving Mr Obama to go it alone.
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Damning: Barack Obama has been forced to go it alone in launching a military strike on Syria without his closest ally in Britain because David Cameron could not persuade MPs to back him

 

Cameron: No need to apologize to Obama

Chancellor George Osborne warned Britain must undertake ‘national soul-searching’ about its place in the world as Defence Secretary Philip Hammond warned the special relationship was now under ‘strain’.
Diplomatic experts also voiced deep concerns that the repercussions for Britain’s standing on the world stage would be long-lasting.

The New York Daily News front page today was the most striking in the States today, featuring a glum picture of Mr Obama with the headline: The British aren't coming! The British aren't coming!'
The Wall Street Journal said 'US prepares for solo strike on Syria after Britain balks' while the New York Times said Mr Cameron had suffered a 'stunning parliamentary defeat' which was a 'sign of Cameron's weakness'.
The Henry Jackson Society said last night's Commons vote has damaged Britain's reputation as a major global power and also sent a worrying message to dictators, while the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) said it was an embarrassment.

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY: HOW UK LEFT THE US TO GO IT ALONE

The Wall Street Journal front page read: 'US prepares for solo strike on Syria after Britain balks'

The Washington Post said: 'White House: Obama can go it along on Syria'

The Boston Globe front page read: 'In face of resistance, Obama is ready to act alone'

The New York Times said: 'Obama set for limited strike on Syria as British vote no'

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said the defeat in the Commons had left the UK a ‘hugely diminished country’.
The influential Tory grassroots website ConservativeHome said Mr Cameron had suffered 'the worst foreign policy defeat in modern times'.
Mr Cameron had promised Mr Obama he would stand should to shoulder with the US in taking military action against the Assad regime after the devastating chemical weapons attack in Damascus last week.
But he now faces the prospect of attending next week's G20 summit in St Petersburg as a much diminished figure, unable to make commit Britain's military might while sitting around the negotiating table with the world's most powerful leaders.
To add further embarrassment, French president Francois Hollande said his country was prepared to stand alongside America and 'punish' Syrian leader Bashar Assad.
He said: ‘The chemical massacre at Damascus cannot and must not remain unpunished. Otherwise, we take the risk of an escalation that would normalise the use of these weapons, and threaten other countries.
'Each country is free to choose whether to take part in such an operation or not. That holds true for Britain and France.'
Prime Minister David Cameron recalled Parliament to stage an emergency vote to endorse UK involvement in missile strikes.
But MPs voted by 272 votes to 285 to reject Mr Cameron’s motion backing British intervention in principle.
It is the first time that Parliament has voted against the government on a matter of war and peace since 1782, and raises the prospect of the US having to go it alone.
Mr Hammond said: ‘It’s certainly going to place some strain on the special relationship.’
He said the Americans ‘have been surprised by the scale of opposition in Parliament, and perhaps they will struggle a bit to understand the very special reasons that there are for that view in Parliament’.
Downing Street sources stressed that there had been ‘understanding’ from the White House about the outcome of the vote.
But there was acknowledgement that it permanently altered the assumption that Britain and the US would act together in military operations around the world.
Chancellor Mr Osborne insisted the relationship with the US is a ‘very old one, very deep and operates on many layers’ and there had been 'a bit of hyperbole' about the impact of the vote.

But he suggested the UK was now at a crucial crossroads in deciding the role it plays in global politics.
‘I think there will be a national soul-searching about our role in the world and whether Britain wants to play a big part in upholding the international system, be that big open and trading nation that I'd like us to be or whether we turn our back on that,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
‘I understand the deep scepticism that my colleagues in Parliament many members of the public have about British involvement in Syria.
‘I hope this doesn’t become the moment where we turn our back on the world’s problems.’
White House officials cautiously suggested Mr Obama was prepared to launch strikes against Syria without British support.
But asked if the US would go it alone, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said: ‘The opinion of others in this situation matters.’
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said America still wanted to secure international backing for any military intervention.
Speaking during a trip to the Philippines, he said: 'It is the goal of President Obama and our government ... whatever decision is taken, that it be an international collaboration and effort.
'Our approach is to continue to find an international coalition that will act together. And I think you're seeing a number of countries state, publicly state, their position on the use of chemical weapons.'

Humbling of Cameron: Vote on military strike against Syria

Debate: A chastened Mr Cameron was forced by Labour leader Ed Miliband to pledge not to deploy any UK military forces without first staging another Commons vote

But Robin Wright, a Middle East analyst for the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson Centre, told The Times that the vote ‘complicates life and this has bigger implications about the nature of the relationship between the United States and its closest ally’.
Dr Alan Mendoza, executive director of the trans-Atlantic think tank the Henry Jackson Society, said: ‘If not reversed, this vote means the UK will join the rank of third-rate nations, condemned to be the prisoner of events and with no power to shape them.
‘This is a shameful result which will not be readily forgotten by our allies. We can be certain that more atrocities will follow in Syria.’
RUSI director general Professor Michael Clarke said the decision not to go ahead with military intervention would prove an embarrassment for Britain on the international stage.

Ally: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters during a visit to the Philippines that America would still consult Britain

Alarm: Defence Secretary Philip Hammond (left) said the Commons vote put the special relationship under 'strain' while Chancellor George Osborne warned Britain against turning its back on the world

Lord Ashdown, who appeared in front of Lib Dem MPs with leader Nick Clegg yesterday in an attempt to persuade rebels to back the government, wrote on Twitter: ‘In 50 years trying to serve my country I have never felt so depressed/ashamed. Britain's answer to the Syrian horrors? none of our business!’
Labour leader Ed Miliband insisted that the UK-US relationship 'remains strong' despite last night's vote.
He said: 'I do think there's a lesson for Britain, though, which is that we must lead in the right way for Britain from our national interest and indeed our global interest.
'Now sometimes that will mean agreeing with what America is doing and the way it's going about things, and sometimes it will mean doing things in a different way.