WEEKEND NEWS

1. Owen Hargreaves appears set to miss Manchester United's trip to Blackburn with a hamstring strain. The England midfielder felt the injury in the aftermath of Sunday"s 2-1 defeat of Arsenal at Old Trafford, and could also be ruled out of United"s Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona on Wednesday. With his side just two points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to risk fielding a weakened side at Ewood Park.


2. Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry will seek assurances from manager Martin O'Neill regarding his summer transfer plans before deciding on his future. Barry is desperate to win trophies after a decade at Villa and believes the current squad needs considerably strengthening if he is to have a realistic chance of achieving that goal. The England midfielder is being linked with a move to Liverpool and knows he is approaching the peak of his career.


3. Fernando Torres has rubbished rumours that Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez could be sacked. Torres said he could not imagine Anfield without his compatriot, and credited Benitez for his fast start in English football. "I have learned a lot with him, he is someone with whom you can learn a great deal," he told Eurosport.


4. Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he is ready to return to management this summer although he has insisted that he is not currently in discussions with anybody. "I will be somewhere next season," he told the Times. "I've not agreed anything but it's a good time for me for many reasons. "I have no contact with clubs. They know where I am. They know the kind of clubs I want, the level of challenge I want. When the leagues finish that's when they make decisions. "I had some good options this month. Some good clubs and some good countries"