Snippets II: Cole Birthday & Returns Home...Blackstock Cautions...Southampton Injury Update...O'Neill Excited...Gorkss Latvia Game...Nardiello Waiting

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QPR Goalie, Jake Cole turns 23 today: Born September 11, 1985 - Cole/Profile


Oxford United - Cole returns to QPR
Jake Cole has ended his loan with the U's and returned to QPR
The keeper, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today, did very well during the five games he played for The U's during his loan, but injured his groin in his last appearance at Ebbsfleet. The injury will take him to around the same time that his loan was scheduled to end, and he returns to Loftus Road with manager Darren Patterson's blessing:
"I can't praise Jake enough for the way he has come in here and been a total professional. I'd like to thank everyone at QPR, especially Ian Dowie and Tim Flowers, for agreeing to him coming here. I'm sure Jake has enjoyed his time with us. Unfortunately he picked up a niggling injury in pre-season which kept him out of the first game, and when he did come back that injury came back to haunt him after a while. But he showed what a good keeper he is, very commanding and a good shot stopper, with an absolutely outstanding attitude. I have no doubt he can play at a higher level and we wish him well back at QPR.
"We are very fortunate to have Ben Hinchliffe here as well, and Ben gets better with every game. He has a first class attitude and is learning all the time, and with Billy Turley not too far away we will soon have serious competition for the goalkeeping position." Oxford Un


QPR Official Site - BLACKSTOCK: WE CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THEM
Dexter Blackstock insists Rangers can't underestimate his former side this weekend - and expects the Saints young guns to prove a few people wrong this season.
Blackstock made 35 appearances in all competitions during a three year spell on the South Coast and grew up with a lot of the Southampton youngsters currently plying their trade in the First Team.
Whilst Rangers' fortunes have changed dramatically since Blackstock's move from Southampton, the South Coast Club have also undergone a recent period of significant transformation.
Dutchman Jan Poortvliet is now at the helm - and with the Total Football philosophy firmly at the fore-front of his thoughts, the Saints youngsters are being given the chance to shine.
"I know most of the young lads there and they're a very talented group of players," he said.
"They didn't get a look in under the previous regime, but they're starting to show people what they're capable of now.
"I still speak to a few of them and they speak very highly of the Manager. He wants them to get the ball down and play total Dutch football and I think they'll surprise a few people this season.
"We can't afford take them lightly and that goes for the rest of the sides in this division too."
*You can read a full interview with Dexter Blackstock in Sunday's Hoops matchday programme.
Available in and around the ground for £3, the award winning programme is a must-read on matchdays. QPR


SOUTHERN DAILY ECHO/Adrian Kajumba - Saints hit by double injury
SAINTS captain Michael Svensson will sit out Sunday’s Championship clash with QPR.
The Swedish defender has made a remarkable return this season following the best part of four years out and five operations on his knee injury.
Svensson’s problem is even more untimely with Wayne Thomas also a major doubt for the game, leaving Jan Poortvliet to pick from teenagers Oliver Lancashire or Jack Cork.
The Swede is one of TEN ever presents in the league after four games, but has sat out both of Saints’ midweek Carling Cup ties against Exeter and Birmingham.
Head coach Poortvliet has revealed that Svensson reported a slight problem with his knee when the players returned to training this week and said he wouldn’t be fit to resume action following the international break at Loftus Road.
Saints have carefully managed Svensson’s comeback this season and, not wishing to push him too far too soon, he has yet to play two games in a week.
Both Svensson, who is currently working on a weights programme to strengthen the muscles around the knee, and Poortvliet hope he will be available to face Ipswich at St Mary’s next Wednesday.
But Poortvliet will give the 31-year-old the final say on when he is ready to make a return. “Michael will be not playing on Sunday,” Poortvliet said. Daily Echo


Birmingham Mail/Nick Davis - Martin O'Neill excited by Aston Villa fixture rush
MARTIN O’Neill insists he is excited about the gruelling prospect of seven games in 21 days as Villa prepare for Monday’s trip to Tottenham.
That White Hart Lane clash marks the start of a hectic period as O’Neill’s men do battle on three fronts: the Premier League, UEFA Cup and Carling Cup.
But the boss, who will not welcome his international stars back until tomorrow morning, is undaunted. He said: “The players playing last night won’t be in until tomorrow morning but we have got the weekend.
“We are trying to get ourselves prepared but when you think about it, in the next couple of weeks we have Monday night at Tottenham, we go Thursday in Bulgaria, we go Sunday (Albion).
“Then we go Wednesday (QPR), we go Saturday (Sunderland), we go Thursday (Lovech at home) and then we go Sunday (Chelsea) and that’s even if we haven’t made it through against QPR or against Lovech.”
After an early return to competitive action, some members of O’Neill’s newlook squad have taken the opportunity for a breather in the first international break of the season.
But O’Neill added: “Ironically, the players who have suffered the most from it are the players on internationals. We have come back early for pre-season, we had to hit competitive mode early on.
“The Carews, Milners, Agbonlahors and Petrovs – the internationals is not a break for them because they are away on duty. It’s a different type of training, so it’s stop-start.
“We have set ourselves the target of European football. If we can get through this tie (against Lovech) it gives us a wee bit of respite.
“But we might not make it or we might not make it through against QPR – all the big teams have been able to cope Saturday-Wednesday, Saturday-Wednesday and now it is up to us to try and do that.
“You don’t know what is around the corner, you could build up your squad and then get injuruies, but I am excited about it.” Birmingham Mail


Danny Nardiello at Blackpool
Blackpool Gazette - Nardiello's desperate for Pool chance
DANIEL Nardiello destroyed Blackpool on his Barnsley debut – now he's begging for a chance to turn the tables.
The Seasiders striker finally got the chance to show Tangerine fans what he is capable of by scoring a cracker in last night's 2-0 reserve team victory over rivals Preston.

And afterwards he immediately declared himself ready for the weekend visit of the Tykes.

He's desperate to play against his old club and if boss Simon Grayson believes in omens, then he won't hesitate to give Nardiello a run-out.

On his debut for Barnsley four years ago, the 25-year-old scored a brace and created the other in a 3-0 win … against Blackpool.

"I remember that game very clearly and obviously for me it was a great afternoon," said Nardiello.

"I hope I can repeat it on Saturday, though with Blackpool getting the benefit this time."

For the moment, Nardiello is simply delighted to have finally got his Seasiders career off and running.

He has been at the club since July after signing from QPR but prior to last night had played just seven minutes – limping off shortly after coming on as a substitute in a pre-season friendly at Tranmere.

But he has worked hard to overcome the back problem that's been keeping him sidelined, and proved he's not too far away from a first team call up by playing 75 minutes of Pool's 2-0 win over North End.

He also proved he can finish, firing a sizzling shot into the top corner from 20 yards early in the contest to set up victory and get revenge for the reserves' 7-1 drubbing by Preston only last week.

The frontman's impressive performance has catapulted him into the frame for a first team place against Barnsley.

And how he'd love to get the nod.

"I would be absolutely delighted to play a part in the game," admitted Nardiello.

"I was at Barnsley a long time and I have a lot of friends there.

Obviously it was a good time for me because we got promoted to the Championship and then managed to stay up.

"I had a brilliant time at the club and I was settled there. In the end it was just time for me to move on and go on to different things.

"The only thing important to me now though is Blackpool FC. I really want to prove myself here and score some goals.

"It has been a nightmare start so far in terms of getting injured straight after joining.

"But I've settled in now, I've watched all our games and felt we've played really well. I'm just hoping I can push my way into the first 11 and hopefully I'll be involved, either from the start or from the bench on Saturday.

"Playing for the reserves, and staying on the pitch for quite a while and scoring a goal, has given me a decent chance of doing that.

"I'm glad to have played last night and to have got some minutes on the pitch under my belt.

"I've no problem at all playing for the reserves. I wanted to play last week but because I had only trained for a few days they said it was too soon.

"I feel sharp and I feel fit and I'm looking forward to making an impact at Blackpool now, that's my next aim."

With Ben Burgess and Steve Kabba likely to keep their places up front, Nardiello will probably have to settle for a place on the bench against Barnsley. Blackpool Gazette

- Vital Football QPR re Gorkss Played for Latvia