Arsene Wenger says that he will not be involved in the appointment of his successor when the time comes to leave Arsenal.
"I have a very strong relationship with this club," said Wenger. "But I always believe the most important thing in the club is that everybody does what he is paid for and not the rest. If they consult me I will give an opinion but I certainly will not name the next manager because that's not my job and I wouldn't like to do anything other than my job. When I leave this club one day I would like to leave it in fantastic shape and give the (new) manager an opportunity to do better. (I want to) leave a team behind that has potential, not a team where nobody is there anymore."

 Emile Heskey has admitted he will consider leaving Aston Villa in January in a bid to secure his place in the England squad for next summer's World Cup. The striker, who only joined Villa from Wigan Athletic at the start of the year, has started just one Barclays Premier League match this season. The former Liverpool forward is aware his lack of matches for his club could harm his chances of getting picked in the squad for South Africa. "I'm happy to be playing for England and, obviously, not playing at club level is difficult," he said. "It's something I will have to look at when I get back and try to address it. I will have to sit down and think about my next move. I don't know whether I can get a World Cup place if I'm not playing for Villa. The manager (Capello) hasn't really spoken to me about it. I just have to keep performing well in training and keep going. But you always wonder about those kind of things, whether it will affect my chances. I will just have to try to address it when the time is right."   

 Young defender David Joyce has signed for non-league side Brackley Town on a short term loan. The 19-year-old right-back has joined the Zamaretto League Premier Division outfit until the end of November. The move will give the Republic of Ireland Under-19 international the chance for valuable first team experience.  

 Midfielder Vince Grella is a doubt for Sunday's eagerly anticipated derby against Burnley after he came off in Australia's friendly against Holland with a thigh injury.   

 Ivan Klasnic wants to repay Gary Megson's faith in his abilities by starting to find the net regularly. The striker, who has joined the club on loan from Nantes, said: "English football is much stronger, faster and for that reason I believe I am the right player for Bolton. My job is to score goals and that is what I am aiming to do. Everyone at Bolton concentrates solely on football and winning matches. And I hope my goals will help."     

 Graham Alexander intends to play on to for some time yet after the Burnley man celebrated his 38th birthday last week. Alexander - the oldest outfield player in the Barclays Premier League - has started every one of the Clarets' eight league matches this season, scoring from the spot in the 3-1 win over Sunderland at Turf Moor. "When we played Manchester United, me and Ryan Giggs were joking when we came out," said Alexander. "He said something about us being the oldest captains ever, which was nice, but I am probably not well known enough to have any ribbing or that sort of thing. Playing in the Premier League is something I have looked forward to all my career. I have got this chance and I really want to take it and give it everything I have got. It's a great fillip for me to have towards the end of my career - but hopefully not the end. I am loving it and hopefully I can play at this level for a couple more years yet."  

 Michael Ballack is confident his injury suffered against Russia on Saturday is not as bad as first feared. The Chelsea midfielder went down after taking a blow to the ankle from Chelsea team-mate Yuri Zhirkov in the first-half of Germany's 1-0 win in Moscow. It was thought at the time he would have to be replaced but the 33-year-old played through the pain to complete the 90 minutes. Ballack admitted that his ankle felt uncomfortable during the match but was confident he could recover in time for Wednesday's encounter with Finland. "It is not as serious as we had thought," he said. "During the match it was pretty much aching, but afterwards it was not. It is pretty fine now, though. I believe I could be ready for the match on Wednesday, thankfully it was not a big thing." 

 Having cemented his place as a regular in a successful Everton side, Tim Howard is happy that things are going equally well on the international front. The former Manchester United man believes he's at the peak of his own powers and is thrilled to have the opportunity to demonstrate that on the biggest stage after the US qualified for the World Cup at the weekend with a win over Honduras. "I was relieved, I was thankful," Howard said of qualification. "I feel like I'm in the prime of my career and the thought went through my head this week that I certainly didn't want to miss this opportunity. It was important for me as an individual as most of these guys in here will tell you, young and old. But personally for me it was a chance I didn't want to go to waste."   

 Fulham winger Damien Duff has rejoined the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of Wednesday night's final World Cup qualifier against Montenegro. The 30-year-old was in the stands at Croke Park for Saturday night's dramatic 2-2 draw with Italy which saw the Republic clinch a play-off spot. Duff spent the latter part of last week back in London having treatment on the calf problem which ruled him out of the match, but returned to training in Malahide on Sunday morning. Manager Giovanni Trapattoni said: "Damien Duff is with us and he said to me the injury has gone." 

 Striker Jozy Altidore is happy to bide his time at the KC Stadium. The 19-year-old USA international, signed on a season-long loan from Villarreal, has been left out of the starting line-up for the Tiger's last three matches. Altidore, currently on international duty, said: "I think it will come together well, with the amount of games left, how I'm starting to gel with the guys. A lot of different scenarios could happen, but for right now, I think it's going to be a good deal."

 Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has assured Rafael Benitez he will not risk Fernando Torres against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday if there is the slightest doubt over the striker's fitness. Torres has had some problems in his adductor muscle over the past week but still played 53 minutes of Spain's victory over Armenia on Saturday. "Torres is in very good hands here," Del Bosque said. "Sunday he stayed at the hotel and did not train because we went to a pitch in which there was no stretcher." He added: "He stayed at the hotel with the physios. (Liverpool manager) Rafa Benitez has called me and I reassured him. We will care very much for Torres, like the rest. I told him (Benitez) that we will treat Torres as if he was at Liverpool. If the boy is well and wants to play, he will play against Bosnia. And if he has any problem, he will not play. It's that simple."    

 Yossi Benayoun's agent maintains the midfielder is happy at Liverpool and not planning a summer exit to Manchester City. Claims that the Eastlands club are trailing the Israel captain have cast more doubt over the player's long-term future at Anfield. Benayoun only signed a new four-year contract in the summer, and agent Ronen Kastav said: "Naturally a player playing well at Liverpool will always have other teams interested in him. It is a great compliment that there is interest from high level teams across Europe, but Yossi is very happy at Liverpool and only in the summer agreed a new four-year contract." 

 Wayne Rooney has pulled out of the England squad for their final World Cup qualifier against Belarus at Wembley on Wednesday with a calf injury. Rooney played the entire 90 minutes of the 1-0 defeat to Ukraine on Saturday and was described as "incredible" by England coach Fabio Capello. But he has been sent back to Manchester after consultation with the England medical team. United will be hoping the injury does not rule him out during a crucial week that sees United entertain Bolton on Saturday before travelling to CSKA Moscow and Liverpool. It's one United player out, and another in as Ben Foster was recalled to the squad ahead of Wednesday's match. Foster was initially ruled out after sustaining a chest injury against Sunderland. But after Robert Green's red card in Ukraine, and subsequent suspension, Foster has been drafted in to play understudy to David James.

 Defender Mike Williamson is not concerned about his lack of first-team action. The 25-year-old is yet to make his debut for Pompey since signing from Watford on transfer deadline day but believes he will make the breakthrough sooner rather than later. He said: "I never expected to join a Premier League team and walk straight into the side. This is a brilliant opportunity for me to prove myself on the big stage. I'm enjoying myself here and I'm looking forward to making my debut. I work as hard as I can in training to impress the manager and show him what I'm all about. I'm playing with guys I used to watch on Match of the Day so I still need a reality check now and again but I will get there sooner or later."

  Liam Lawrence says he will not need a rest when Stoke City entertain West Ham United this weekend, even if he follows up his impressive display against Italy by playing for the Republic of Ireland again on Wednesday. The 27-year-old has only started four of Stoke's eight league matches because of tactical changes and injury problems, but after steroid injections in his back and glucose injections in his ankle two weeks ago, the midfielder says he is fit to play for club and country. "It would be nice to get myself in the side at Stoke. I've been in and out of the team since we beat Sunderland in August," Lawrence said. "I am at my best when I am playing every week. If it was up to me, I would play 50 or 60 matches a season, like we did in the Championship. I've never wanted a rest and I'm looking forward to the West Ham game this Saturday, if I am involved."  

 Midfielder Andy Reid has warned his team-mates not to let their intensity drop as they prepare for a tough visit from Liverpool next weekend. The Black Cats were just minutes away from beating champions Manchester United on their last Barclays Premier League outing but still claimed a highly creditable 2-2 draw at Old Trafford. Reid said: "I think we're progressing, we're moving forward, but it's vital we don't rest on our laurels and think we've cracked it after a great result. We can't say we're aiming for this or that, we just want to carry on the way we are because we're doing all right and picking up points. If we can stay in the top half everyone will be happy. But it's easier said than done - there's a lot of tough games coming up, none tougher than Liverpool." 

 Robbie Keane admitted Italy's last-gasp equaliser in Saturday's World Cup qualifier was a massive blow for the Republic of Ireland. Captain Keane and his team-mates looked set for a famous win against the world champions when Sean St Ledger headed them into a 2-1 lead just three minutes from time at Croke Park. But the joy soon turned to pain when substitute Alberto Gilardino struck in injury time - guaranteeing Italy top spot and a direct route to next summer's World Cup Finals, consigning the Republic to a place in the play-offs. Victory for the Republic would have left them one point behind Italy and taken Group Eight to the wire with Ireland up against Montenegro and Italy at home to Cyprus. Keane said: ""If it (the equaliser) was the 60th minute or something, it's a bit different, but the last few minutes, it's a bit heart-breaking. We are in the play-offs now and everyone always expected us in the play-offs. But when you are that close, who knows? Italy could have drawn on Wednesday. You never know. To be this close, it's obviously difficult. But we have to pick ourselves back up. It's done now."   

 England Under-21 forward Zavon Hines believes West Ham are being rewarded for their faith in youth. The 20-year-old netted twice for Stuart Pearce's young Lions in their 6-3 Euro 2011 Group Nine qualifier win over Macedonia at Coventry. Hines feels his progress is testament to the Upton Park youth system, which has produced many England regulars down the years. "Not a lot of clubs are producing young players, but every year West Ham produce one or two," he said. "I just know that West Ham have got belief in their young talent so they will always give you a chance, it just depends whether the young players take it or not." 

 Roberto Martinez has welcomed the "different option" striker Jason Scotland offers his side. Signed from Swansea in the summer, Scotland made six substitute appearances in the league before being handed his full debut. Scotland's presence in the side means fellow striker Hugo Rodallega, who has scored three goals this season, has to be accommodated in a wider role but Martinez is confident the pair can work together. "They are completely different players and they give you different options and dimensions," said the Latics manager. "We needed to play in a different way to try to hurt Chelsea and it is important we have those different dimensions. Too many times as a team you have one dimension and that is a little bit dangerous in the Premier League. Jason and Hugo have played together up front but in different positions because we never play 4-4-2."  

 Summer signing Ronald Zubar believes he will be ready for his first Barclays Premier League match when he gets the call from manager Mick McCarthy, with Saturday's return to action against Everton in his sights. Zubar, a summer signing from Marseille, has impressed for the reserves and is closing in on his first Barclays Premier League outing after featuring for the first team in the Carling Cup win over Swindon Town. "I've been trying really hard in training to get sharp enough to play in the first team," Zubar said. "For me, I'm ready now. I've spoken with the gaffer and he's happy with me. I play centre-back, but I can also play right-back or left-back or even midfield. I've spoken to the gaffer and to Terry Connor a lot and now I understand English more too, I understand what they want. I speak to them before and after training and I've got a good idea of what is expected of me to progress into the first team. If I'm picked for Everton, I'll be ready."