World Football News: Gary Cahill dismisses future speculation as Scotland prepare to face Faroe Islands
Gary Cahill, the English international defender has dismissed all speculation related to his future at Bolton Wanderers as the defender has admitted that he is happy to be playing for the Premier League side. Cahill’s future at the Reebok
stadium had come under focus as Bolton’s chairman had come out and admitted that the club might part ways with the centre back in the January transfer window if a big club came in with a lot of money for the player who has impressed thus far for the Lancashire
side.
The former Aston Villa defender has been linked to several big sides in the English league thus far but was adamant about staying at the club as he stated, "I'm contracted to Bolton Wanderers and I'm enjoying my football and my time here.
It [the speculation] goes over my head and is out of my control so really it's a bit repetitive and if it's spoken about, it's spoken about. The whole reason why I left Villa was because I needed to play games and the only way I was going to improve was by
playing. I'm a much better player than I was then. I've cut out mistakes and things I used to do like going to ground in tackles in the box. I just need to keep my head down and keep focused on the job I've got to do at Bolton. It's a real joy to be part of
the team at the moment."
On the other hand, Craig Levein, Scotland’s national team manager has turned his team’s focus on their upcoming friendly match against Faroe Islands regardless of the fact that his team face Pittodrie in a friendly before they line up
against Faroe Islands. Craig has added David Goodwillie, Wilson and Barry Bannan from the Scottish U-21 setup to his senior team line up for the friendly as regulars such as McGregor and Miller have been left out.
The likes of Chris Burke, Kris Commons and Kyle have also been added to the senior team setup for Scotland’s upcoming international matches. Scotland’s manager has stressed the fact that their friendly against Faroe Islands will be taken
as a dress rehearsal for Scotland’s qualification encounter against Lichtenstein in early 2011.
Levein told the press, "We want to win the game first and foremost. If you look through the squad you will see a lot of guys who have figured in the last few competitive matches. There is a strong core and I've added some guys who have
hit a bit of form and also some young ones. I said before the Liechtenstein game there aren't any teams in Europe just now that we can take for granted.”
Speaking about Faroe Islands, Scotland’s manager went onto add, “They have got a very good manager who understands the British style of play. They are very well organized. I wasn't surprised at all that they managed to get a point against
Northern Ireland. This will be a tough match for us. I know a lot of people will think this will be an easy fixture but I can assure you it won't. When I took this fixture on it was with one eye on the game against Liechtenstein. They're not exactly together
in the rankings but they're kind of a similar standard and I think it serves a purpose. I go back to the start - we want to win and that will be my primary concern."
Scotland is placed in a tough EURO 2012 qualification group which includes the likes of Lichtenstein, Spain and Czech Republic. Nonetheless, the men in blue are one of the favourites to qualify from the group for the competition which
is scheduled to be held in Poland and Ukraine in two years time.
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