Brighton have extended Gavin Hoyte`s loan deal from Arsenal until the new year. The young full-back has impressed for the Seagulls following his arrival in October, making six appearances in League One. Brighton manager Gus Poyet told the club`s official website: "It will give us the time to see him properly. I think he will help us. He's young, he's happy here. This is a confident step in his career. He's come here and he's got stronger. I know he's willing to learn, and I know he can help us."

 Stephen Warnock says Villa's back four are having a scream - literally. The impressive left-back says the key to Villa's backline success has been the communication between the defensive quartet. Warnock joined Villa at the same time as Richard Dunne and James Collins and has been delighted with the way they have all gelled together. He said: "I have been happy with my form and things have gone well as a unit at the back. We all joined at the same time and I think we've settled in well - that's been shown by our performances so far. It took a little while for me to get used to the rhythm of the team. It was a different style of play at Blackburn and I just had to become accustomed to the way the manager wanted me to play here. Richard and James have done well too and we've gelled well as a unit. Communication has been important for us. I am sure everyone can hear us on a matchday - the amount of screaming that goes on is impressive. We demand a lot of each other and it gets the best out of us." 

 Barry Ferguson has successfully adapted his style of play to suit his team-mates' strengths according to Alex McLeish. Although Blues put in a superb performance to earn themselves a 2-2 draw in their last outing against Liverpool it was clear that the midfielder was missed because of his assured displays in the centre of the park. The former Scotland international was forced to sit out the encounter as he served out a one match suspension following his sending off against Manchester City, but will return to the squad for this Saturday's home match against Fulham. "I think I said a couple of weeks ago that Barry makes us play," said McLeish."In the early part of his introduction to the team he had some short passes and I thought 'you need to be careful with these ones because a lot of our boys are not used to that kind of football with little give and goes in tight areas'. But because Barry is used to taking the ball, he can take it in any company and he can take it in tight areas. He expects everybody to be like him but a lot of our players have different strengths and he's quickly learned about their strengths and he's adapted really well to that and he'll keep the ball for us." 

 AZ Alkmaar midfielder Rasmus Elm has brushed off rumours that he is being lined up to join Blackburn Rovers in January. "I am definitely not," Elm said when asked if he would be signing for Blackburn in January. "That's totally made up. I like it a lot in Alkmaar."

 How would you like to lead Bolton Wanderers out on to the field before a home game at the Reebok Stadium? Once again for season 2009/2010 we are pleased to offer this chance in a lifetime opportunity for all matches at the Reebok Stadium. Visit the Chairman's suite, mix with the players in the dressing room before kick-off, get autographs, have photos with your favourite players then lead the team out of the tunnel before taking your place with the captains and match officials for the official match photograph. Mascot VIP Packages are £400 and available for youngsters aged 5-14 years of age. Bolton have mascot VIP places available for the matches against Arsenal (Sunday, January 17 2010) and Burnley (Tuesday, January 26 2010). To book or for more information please call 01204 673770. 

 The Clarets' reserve-team derby against Blackburn Rovers scheduled for next month has been postponed because of FA Youth Cup commitments. Burnley were due to face Rovers in the Barclays Premier Reserve League North at Accrington Stanley on Wednesday 9th December. But with Blackburn playing Blackpool in the Youth Cup on the same night, the reserve-team fixture has been postponed. No new date has yet been arranged. The Clarets' FA Youth Cup tie at Scunthorpe United will be played at Glanford Park the previous evening. Admission prices for the third-round match on Tuesday, 8th December (kick-off 7pm) are £3 for adults and £1 concessions.  

 Carlo Ancelotti insists he has no plans to take charge of Italy next summer. The Blues chief is one of a host of big names already linked with taking charge of the Azzurri after the World Cup finals with current coach Marcello Lippo expected to step down after the finals in South Africa. But he said: "I won't be Azzurri coach next year. I'm Chelsea coach, and we I want to see how this beautiful adventure will end."

 Tony Hibbert is hoping Everton can record an Old Trafford victory - so he can give some banter back to Wayne Rooney. Hibbert was at Everton when Rooney emerged on the scene seven years ago and the two remain friends. And while the Toffees triumphed in the most recent meeting of the two sides - the unforgettable afternoon at Wembley in April - the last time they took a point in Manchester was in 2005. "It's Old Trafford. It's a great stadium, a great team and they're up there fighting for the league every season," Hibbert said. "We haven't had the best of runs and hopefully one day we can change it around." The full-back has been at Everton for his entire career and knows what to expect at United's Old Trafford home - both on and off the field. "The stadiums you play at week in, week out are unbelievable and United have got one of the best stadiums in the world," he opined. "You go to Old Trafford expecting what you always get; it's hostile, the fans are all going to be up for their players. But you just have to get your head down and play. There's always banter with Wayne and I talk to him a lot throughout the games. He always gives a lot back. It's a good laugh."  

 Bjorn Helge Riise is hoping his performances in the UEFA Europa League will help earn him a place in Roy Hodgson's Barclays Premier League starting eleven during the busy festive period. "I have to take every chance that I get, so if it's the Europa League or a training match, I just have to play my best in the chances I get," he explained. "I'm going to work hard in training and then the Manager will pick out the best team. That's part of the team game, when you play with so many good players like you do at Fulham, you just have to train hard, do your best and at some point you will get your chance - and then you have to take it.

 The Tigers face a big few days with Barclays Premier League home matches against West Ham United and Everton coming up in the next week. While tickets for the match against the Hammers on Saturday have now sold out, you can still play your part and get behind the team when Everton visit next Wednesday. Tickets are currently on general sale and can be bought online by clicking here or by calling the KC Stadium Ticket Office on 01482 505600. The encounter with the Toffees rounds off a run of three consecutive home fixtures for Phil Brown's side and having got the sequence off to a positive start with a win against Stoke, the Tigers will be looking to add further points to their tally and gain ground on the sides above them. 

 Liverpool have paid an undisclosed fee for Luton youngster Dave Moli. Fourteen-year-old forward Moli had been part of the Hatters' under-15 side but will now move with his family to Merseyside, where he will continue his schooling and train at the Reds' academy. Luton's youth development officer Gregg Broughton said: "We never like to lose talented players, but it is important that we do not stand in the way of young players' development." Liverpool have intensified their search for young players following a restructuring of the reserve and academy set-up, and manager Rafael Benitez is impressed by the changes that have been made. The Spaniard said: "It is much better now. The players can see the difference and I am sure it will be easier for them to progress. It is always important to develop your own players. Local players have passion and desire and I think that is the key if you want to be consistent and stay at the top - you have to produce your own players. When you make changes it can take time, but we all have the same plan, everybody is following it and we try to do the same things here at Melwood (the first-team training complex) and at the academy." 

 Gennaro Gattuso's agent has played down talk linking the AC Milan midfielder with a move to Manchester City. "There is no truth in the Manchester City link," said Andrea D'Amico. "I have had no contact with Manchester City at this moment. Gennaro is coming back from injury and he is okay at Milan."

 Nemanja Vidic is in line to return to the Manchester United defence for Saturday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Everton. The centre-half has started just seven matches for United this term, and has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a calf injury. But manager Sir Alex Ferguson discussed Vidic's fitness with Serbia coach Raddy Antic on Tuesday night and the 28-year-old was given the green light to play 70 minutes in Wednesday afternoon's World Cup warm-up against South Korea at Craven Cottage. Vidic's return will provide Ferguson with a huge boost as defensive partner Rio Ferdinand is still missing with a back problem, while the Red Devils have slipped five points behind leaders Chelsea. 

 Paul Hart has looked ahead to the bombardment Pompey will face at Stoke and told his men: Deal with it. Hart warned his team they have to stand up and be counted in the face of an aerial onslaught at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday. That comes after they wilted under the weight of Blackburn's second-half charge at Ewood Park last time out. He said: "I certainly stewed for a while after Blackburn, but we have to get over it and move on. You can pick things up from every game. Basically, we got done on set-pieces. It's a salutary lesson. Stoke are very big, strong and direct, although maybe not quite as direct as Blackburn. We have to set up properly. We try to cover all bases. Their style of play is obviously a threat because they get it from back to front very quickly. Stoke have done very well over the past few years. They play on set-pieces and long throws and have two big lads up front. They have kept the same team together and are settled. They have played the same way for two to three years."

 Stoke City have extended a special ticket offer to their Save and Support Account holders after confirming that Sunday's televised Barclays Premier League match against Portsmouth is now sold out for home supporters. The excellent response to the offer of two tickets at £5.00 each for Save and Support Account holders has contributed to the fact that the Potters will be roared on by even more home support when they take on Paul Hart's side. Therefore, the Club has decided to allow those account holders who were unable to purchase tickets for the Portsmouth match to use their voucher to claim tickets for the Premier League match against Fulham in the New Year. "There has been a phenomenal response to the offer and we are delighted that so many Save and Support Account holders have wanted to come to a game at the Britannia Stadium," commented City's Chief Executive Tony Scholes. "We have therefore decided to extend the offer to the Fulham game, and so anyone who wasn't able to purchase a ticket for the Portsmouth match can use the voucher to claim their two £5.00 tickets for that particular match." The Club's Save and Support Account is the most successful of its kind in the country with 18,000 account holders helping to generate almost £7m in commission since it was first introduced 12 years ago. 

 Steve Bruce says Michael Turner's excellent form almost earned him an England call-up. The 26-year-old central defender has settled in well at the Stadium of Light since his summer move from Hull. Team-mate Darren Bent played in England's mnatch against Brazil at the weekend, and Bruce revealed Turner was also close to making the trip. "Michael has been great for us since he got here and I know Mr Capello was impressed with what he saw of him (when Sunderland played Spurs) at White Hart Lane," he said. "I know Michael has been on standby for England in the past and he was on standby this time too. He was close."

 Dean Parrett was among the goals as England Under-19s defeated their Turkish counterparts 3-1 in a friendly at Glanford Park, Scunthorpe on Tuesday night. It was the midfielder's second goal at this level on this his fifth cap, and he was joined on the scoresheet by Aston Villa pair Nathan Delfouneso and Gary Gardner. The match also saw John Bostock make his England Under-19 debut, following on from his two-goal performance for Brentford at the weekend. Steven Caulker and Ryan Mason were also involved as Noel Blake's men made it five wins out of five this season. Danny Rose, meanwhile, was involved in England Under-21 action as Stuart Pearce's men took on Lithuania in European Championship qualifying in Vilnius. The midfielder played the full 90 minutes but could not match his goalscoring heroics of the weekend as the Young Lions were held to a 0-0 draw. The result leaves them still two points behind leaders Greece, who suffered defeat in Portugal on Tuesday night, after five matches with a game in hand. 

 West Ham have maintained there has not yet been any new formal takeover bid for the Barclays Premier League club. There have been reports both David Sullivan, who recently sold his stake in Birmingham, and the London-based Intermarket Group were ready to launch a move to buy the Hammers, who like most clubs have a high level of debt. However, despite current owners CB Holdings - a company arm of Icelandic investment bank Straumur - being open to potential offers, which would have to be in excess of £100million, as yet an immediate takeover is not currently on the agenda. A West Ham source said: "There have been no significant developments at all, and no formal offer from any party. The club still envisage the sale will be a medium to long-term initiative."

 With the international break over and not to return until March 2010 Roberto Martinez reflected on the work done by his team and the players since the 1-1 draw against Fulham, and how he hopes the following month or two will see the team find the consistency that has so far been missing. "We always look to try and make the best out of the international break situation. It's been good to look back at the Fulham game, and the other eleven games we've played so far in the first third of the season," said the gaffer. "It allows us to see many good things that we've done well and other areas that we need to correct. So it's been a productive time, the players have been given a kind of mental break and now we're preparing for an exciting game at White Hart Lane on Sunday. The international breaks so far have challenged us as a squad. Our players have been covering many miles to play for their countries and a lot has been demanded of them. Now we can get the squad together and concentrate on the Premier League and making sure we are consistent. We've already shown this season how good we can be which hasn't been easy, and now the next step is to produce those performances regularly." 

 Goalkeeper Matt Murray is waiting on the results of a scan on his injured left knee. The shot-stopper had been out for almost a year after rupturing his patella tendon while on loan at Hereford, and lasted only 23 minutes on his comeback from injury in a reserve match against Birmingham. Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is hoping the results are positive, with Murray having had a torrid time with injuries in recent seasons. "He's been for a scan on his knee but I haven't had the results of that yet," McCarthy said. "There's no long term fears as far as I'm aware, but we haven't had the results yet. I'm not going to try to second guess it - let's get the results first from the experts. I need to speak to the physios and see what's happening, so he won't be playing tonight."