England Premier League Media

Bolton have terminated the contract of Nigerian defender Danny Shittu.

The 30-year-old signed a three-year deal with the Trotters when he moved to the Reebok Stadium from Watford for a reported 2m fee in August 2008.

Shittu made 12 appearances in his first season at Bolton, but he did not feature for the first team last season.

However, the centre-back was still named in Nigeria’s 2010 World Cup squad and played in all three of their Group B games in South Africa.

The centre-back, who began his career as a trainee at Charlton, moved in 2002 to QPR on

a permanent deal financed by supporters

after he impressed during a loan spell.

Shittu played more than 160 games for the R’s before moving to Watford for 1.6m in the summer of 2006.

He has recently

set up a competition

that will see one Nigerian footballer win a contract with Belgian first division side Royal Charleroi.

Rio Ferdinand is ready to play for the Manchester United first team, according to reserves boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ferdinand has been sidelined since suffering a major knee ligament injury the day after the England World Cup squad arrived in South Africa in June.

The 31-year-old made his comeback by playing 45 minutes against Oldham’s second string on Wednesday.

“Today was about distances and getting tighter to the ball. He is available for selection again,” said Solskjaer.

In addition to missing out on the chance to captain his country at the 2010 World Cup, Ferdinand has been on the sidelines for United’s opening three Premier League matches.

But Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson will have the centre-back at his disposal for the visit to Everton on 11 September which comes ahead of games against Rangers and Liverpool.

“Rio is always the same player,” added Solskjaer. “It is a while since he has played but he was still calm.

“He has got through an important 45 minutes, straight after two very hard training sessions yesterday and the day before so we are delighted with him.”

Ferdinand picked up the knee injury in a collision with Emile Heskey as England began training in South Africa and is eager to make up for lost time.

Solskjaer, who took Ferdinand off with the game scoreless, continued: “It was always planned that he would play 45 minutes. I am not sure he needs any more games. Rio is a naturally fit lad.”

Italian striker Federico Macheda sealed a 2-1 win for United’s reserves as Brazilian midfielder Anderson managed all 90 minutes as he returns from a cruciate ligament operation.

Ferdinand’s comeback is too late for England’s opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria on Friday, 3 September and Switzerland on Tuesday, 7 September, but it will be a welcome bit of good news on the injury front for manager Fabio Capello.

Meanwhile, Manchester United chief executive David Gill has revealed the club have failed to reach their target of season ticket sales this summer.

In July, United were forced to take the unusual step of placing 4,000 Old Trafford season tickets on general sale, having only sold 50,000.

Gill said the number of season tickets sold was now 51,800 compared to the target of 54,000, and that executive seat sales were “on track”.

The club sold 64,000 season tickets two years ago, of which 8,000 were all-important premium tickets, and only 500 fewer last season.

United’s season-ticket sales have been conducted against a backdrop of a campaign by fans’ group the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) urging a boycott in the hope of persuading the American owners, the Glazer family, to sell the club.

Everton defender Joseph Yobo has joined Turkish side Fenerbahce on loan.

The 29-year-old, who has made more than 250 appearances for Everton since joining in 2002, passed a medical and agreed personal terms on Wednesday.

Fenerbahce will have the option of signing the player on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign.

Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin are Everton’s first choice centre-backs, while John Heitinga and Jack Rodwell are also able to play in that position.

Yobo, who captained Nigeria at the World Cup this summer, has not featured for the Toffees this season.

The 29-year-old played down reports that he was forced out of Goodison Park, saying that his desire for regular football was the reason for the move.

“I’m a fighter, I hate to sit on the bench and get paid,” Yobo told BBC Sport.

“As a professional footballer I want to be on the pitch as long as I am fit to play.

“I spoke with the coach [David Moyes] and he understood my position.

“It was better for both parties that I seek first team football elsewhere.”

Yobo also spoke highly of Moyes who signed him during his first full season in charge of the Toffees.

“I have never had any problems with the coach, he is great man and I am a professional footballer fired up by challenges,” he said.

However, a reported bust-up with Moyes following his decision to travel for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in January saw him slip down the pecking order at the club.

He insisted though, that there are no bad feelings attached to his departure from Everton.

“Everton will always be in my heart, the supporters, players, chairman and everyone at the club were always brilliant with me,” he said.

“I leave knowing there is always a reunion in the future but the chance of playing in Turkey is very exciting.

“Fenerbahce provides another challenge for me and I want to give everything to the club during my time here.”

“They have a very good project, a fantastic fan base and talented players and I hope to bring my experience and ability into the project here.”

Yobo’s contract with Everton runs until 2014.

Mikel Arteta’s hopes of playing for England look likely to end in failure because of a little known Fifa rule.

Born in Spain, the 28-year-old Everton midfielder had hoped to qualify for England after completing five years residency in the United Kingdom.

However, because Arteta has played for Spain at junior level, he would have had to have held a British passport at the same time in order to be eligible.

“Our understanding is he is ineligible to play,” say the Football Association.

Article 18.1.a within the Fifa statutes outlines that any player who has represented their country in an official competition, at whatever level, would at that time need to have held a passport for the country they later wish to play for in order to be permitted to make the switch.

Arteta played for Spain in the Under-16 European Championships and then in the FIFA World Championships at Under-17 level.

Areteta joined Everton on loan in 2005 from Real Sociedad in Spain before signing permanently a year later. He also had a two-year spell at Rangers and started his career at Barcelona.

Only last month Arteta, who has never played for Spain at senior level, said he would consider a call-up to play for England.

Earlier this week, the FA stressed they had not been asked to investigate the matter by England manager Fabio Capello, although it was thought the England coach had spoken briefly to Arteta.

Everton’s Mikel Arteta says their clash with Manchester United is a “must win game” after the Toffees’ poor start to the Premier League season.

They go into this weekend’s international break with just one point from three games and face United at Goodison Park on 11 September.

“It’s a must-win for us now,” Arteta told BBC Radio Merseyside.

“We can’t drop points at home and we know how important it is to get some consistency at Goodison Park.”

The 28-year-old midfielder added: “We’re now looking to prepare, rest some players, hope the international players get back fresh and start winning.

“To be honest, we’re not happy with the start of the season. We wanted to start bright and we wanted to start winning.

“We haven’t done it and it puts more pressure on us because we want to get our first three points.”

Jonathan Woodgate’s future is further in doubt after Tottenham left the 30-year-old defender out of their 25-man Premier League squad because of injury.

Manchester United have included injury-plagued midfielder Owen Hargreaves, while striker Roque Santa Cruz makes Manchester City’s roster.

Stoke have omitted forward Mamady Sidibe, who snapped an Achilles tendon.

Arsenal have not listed any Englishmen but Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are among the English under-21 contingent.

Michael Kightly has also been left out of Wolves’ squad for the first half of the season because of knee problems.

The 24-year-old winger has not played since November 2009 and is likely to be sent out on loan once he is fully fit.

Hargreaves has made only a solitary substitute appearance in the last two years for Manchester United as he battles tendinitis.

Santa Cruz figures in City manager Roberto Mancini’s

25-man Premier League squad,

despite much speculation that the Paraguayan striker would not.

Santa Cruz joins up with Mario Balotelli, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo in a fearsome array of firepower which will be at Mancini’s disposal.

The new Premier League rule required clubs to name a squad of 25 senior players by 1700 BST, 1 September, with only players under the age of 21 allowed to supplement that line-up until January.

The Premier League says the new rules are designed to increase the number of young “home-grown” players in the Premier League, with a long-term aim of giving more options to the England manager.

In August Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said Woodgate might be forced to retire unless he underwent surgery on his injured groin.

“He’s been all around the world, he’s seen two specialists and he’s going to get one more opinion,” said Redknapp.

“No-one could have tried harder but he just can’t find a cure for it. The operation seems a last chance.”

Former England defender Woodgate made only three appearances last season and has not played since November 2009.

Also omitted from the Spurs squad submitted to the Premier League today was goalkeeper Ben Alnwick, with new loan signing Stipe Pletikosa now providing back-up to Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini.

Winger Kightly has made a big impact since joining Wolves from non-league Grays Athletic in 2007.

However, he was plagued by injury for the last year, suffering a broken foot, an ankle problem and then a knee injury that has sidelined him since November.

“It will take as long as it takes, and there’s no time limit on it,” manager Mick McCarthy told the club website.

“When he’s ready we’ll be able to discuss the possibility of going out on loan, which he can do before we have a chance to revise the squad in January.”

Stephen Hunt, who is recovering from foot surgery, has been included along with new recruit Marcus Bent, a deadline day loan signing from Birmingham, who has now joined his 14th team.

The 32-year-old says he thinks he can still make an impact at the highest level.

“Once you stop believing in yourself you might as well hang up your boots,” he said.

“As a footballer, you try and push yourself every day to achieve more and more. I’ll never stop learning. I might be one of the older members of the squad here but I can still get better. I am sure the boys will teach me some stuff and hopefully I can teach them some stuff.”

Italian Serie A club Juventus have signed defender Armand Traore on a season-loan deal from Arsenal.

The Frenchman, who has had limited opportunities at Arsenal, also spent a season on loan at Portsmouth in 2008.

“Juventus have strengthened their left flank with the arrival of Traore. The player arrives on loan for the 2010-11 campaign,” said a club statement.

The 20-year-old, who joined the Gunners from Monaco in 2005, made nine league appearances for Arsenal last term.

Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Nacer Barazite has joined hometown side Vitesse Arnhem on a season-long loan.

Barazite previously spent the entire 2008-09 campaign on loan at Derby.

Michael Kightly has been left out of Wolves’ 25-man squad for the first half of the season because of knee problems.

The 24-year-old has not played since November 2009 and is likely to be sent out on loan once he is fully fit.

“It will take as long as it takes, and there’s no time limit on it,” manager Mick McCarthy told the club website.

“When he’s ready we’ll be able to discuss the possibility of going out on loan, which he can do before we have a chance to revise the squad in January.”

Winger Kightly has made a big impact since joining Wolves from non-league Grays Athletic in 2007.

However, he was plagued by injury for the last year, suffering a broken foot, an ankle problem and then a knee injury that has sidelined him since November.

Stephen Hunt, who is recovering from foot surgery, has been included along with new recruit Marcus Bent, a deadline day loan signing from Birmingham, who has now joined his 14th team.

The 32-year-old says he thinks he can still make an impact at the highest level.

“Once you stop believing in yourself you might as well hang up your boots,” he said.

“As a footballer, you try and push yourself every day to achieve more and more. I’ll never stop learning. I might be one of the older members of the squad here but I can still get better. I am sure the boys will teach me some stuff and hopefully I can teach them some stuff.”

Wolves 25-man squad:

Marcus Hahnemann, Wayne Hennessey, Carl Ikeme, Kevin Foley, Ronald Zubar, Richard Stearman, Jody Craddock, Christophe Berra, Steven Mouyokolo, George Elokobi, Stephen Ward, Jelle Van Damme, Karl Henry, David Jones, Michael Mancienne (on loan from Chelsea), Dave Edwards, Greg Halford, Nenad Milijas, Adlene Guedioura, Matt Jarvis, Stephen Hunt, Kevin Doyle, Steven Fletcher, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Marcus Bent (on loan from Birmingham)

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has secured a loan move for striker Marcus Bent from fellow Midlands club Birmingham City.

McCarthy loaned forward Andy Keogh to Championship side Cardiff and 32-year-old Bent’s arrival until 4 January will help bolster his attacking options.

“Marcus is an experienced striker,” Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey told the club’s website.

“He has played plenty of Premier League football and scored goals.”

Bent has struggled to force his way into the first-team reckoning at Birmingham and was loaned out to QPR and Middlesbrough last season.

“People still talk about whether we’ve got enough Premier League experience, and Marcus will add to that,” added Moxey.

“He’s also a different type of striker to what we have in that he’s a physical presence.

“We needed someone after the departure of Andy Keogh and Marcus can do a job for us.”