Paper Talk: Stevie G's last hurrah?

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A BUMPER edition of Friday <i>Paper Talk</i> features Steven Gerrard's plans to retire from international football, Arsenal's brazen move for a Manchester United star and some of the lines Zlatan Ibrahimovic uses to get under the skin of his opponents.

STEVIE G'S LAST HURRAH?

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers expects England captain Steven Gerrard to call time on his international career after next summer's World Cup in Brazil.

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Gerrard will be 34 by the time the finals come around and the midfielder conceded last year he was considering his future even before Euro 2012.

"Steven probably looks at it as though this is his last international year and after the World Cup that will be all finished and he will have lots of time to rest then," Rodgers said.

"Obviously he and Roy have a good relationship and I'm sure if he needs that breather in these two games he will get that.

"If you go to a World Cup in Brazil at 34 you might not have many more championships left in you. Very few players do.

"It will be Steven's decision but I'm sure now he'll want to maximise every cap, every performance and every minute on the pitch he can."

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GUNNING FOR CHICHARITO

Star Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez has spoken recently of his desire to start more games and if Arsenal get their way, he may soon get that opportunity.

Currently the Premier League leaders, the Gunners are yet to convince many experts that they're a genuine title threat, and their lack of firepower up front - outside in-form Frenchman Olivier Giroud - is one of the main reasons cited by the doubters.

With Nicklas Bendtner on the outer, Arsene Wenger is likely to test the market in January, and his scouting network has kicked into overdrive, canvassing a shock move for the Mexican.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez remains Wenger's dream signing, but Hernandez is reportedly high on the list of alternatives.

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LLORIS MAKES PARLIAMENT

Tottenham manager Andres Villas-Boas has come under fire for allowing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to play on against Everton despite suffering concussion.

And the debate has got so hot it has even reached British parliament, where Commons leader Andrew Lansley Andrew Lansley labelled the incident "horrific".

"(Even non-football fans) will have seen the horrific pictures last Sunday of the Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris being concussed on the pitch and yet being forced to go back on and play," Lansley said in a parliament address.

"Can we have an urgent debate as soon as possible on the dangers of concussion in sport so that we can provide a lead?

"There is real evidence that people, when they are forced to play again after being concussed, can all too easily end up suffering from premature dementia."

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TRASH TALKING ZLATAN

A few of the Anderlecht players have lifted the lid on Zlatan Ibrahimovic's attempt at sledging in Wednesday morning's (EDT) Champions League clash.

The game ended 1-1 after the Swede scored the equaliser for Paris St Germain but Sacha Kljestan told a Belgian newspaper that he had been surprised by some of the comments made after challenges.

"After a perfectly normal challenge, Ibra turned to me and provoked me, making a joke about my moustache, saying: 'That really is terrible,'" a smiling Kljestan told Het Nieuwsblad.

"I responded by saying that he should think about his nose."

And it wasn't just with his mouth that Zlatan was trying to inflict damage according to Luka Milivojevic, who added that Ibrahimovic had tried to catch him in an off-the-ball incident: "He tried to get me when the ball was long gone. Clearly he was not happy to have missed the ball."

It is not the first time Ibrahimovic has annoyed opponents with his comments during a match. In October of last year he was branded "arrogant, dirty and childish" by a player for the Faroe Islands. Zlatan had called them "a bunch of fishermen".

HODGSON WORRIED ABOUT HART

Roy Hodgson has backed Joe Hart to regain his Manchester City place and admitted the woefully out of form keeper's confidence would be crushed if he was axed from the England squad.

Hart was dropped by City manager Manuel Pellegrini following his latest high-profile error in the 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.

England's head coach stood by him but admitted he will only play him in one of the two friendlies against Chile and Germany.

"If I show a lack of faith in Joe it would be undeserving after what he has done for England and it would definitely affect his confidence negatively," Hodgson said.

"I would be a lot more concerned if, in the spring of next year as we are building up to the selection, he was a constant reserve, never getting a game of football.

"That would bother me but I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I firmly believe Joe is such a good goalkeeper that he will get back into the Manchester City team sooner or later."

A concussed Hugo Lloris (R) has been big news this week AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS Source: AFP

BIG SAM COY ON DEFOE

Sam Allardyce has refused to rule out a West Ham return for Jermain Defoe.

The England striker has become frustrated at a lack of playing time at Tottenham and is ready to move on in January. Hammers fans remain divided over the 31-year-old however.

Some have never forgiven him for handing in a transfer request just hours after West Ham were relegated a decade ago.

"I can't really comment on that because don't forget if I comment on having an interest in a player that can be deemed as an approach and they could bring me up on an FA charge.

"Many a manager has been brought up on that over the years. I was flabbergasted when that first charge was made, against David O'Leary, if I remember rightly, saying 'if that player's available I would like to sign him'."

HODGON FORGIVES DRESSING ROOM TREACHERY

Roy Hodgson insists he does not care which player accused him of racism last month - but admitted the "space monkey" controversy had "tarnished" his World Cup delight.

Three Lions chief Hodgson admitted he has become more "cautious" in the aftermath of the storm caused by his use of the punchline to the old NASA joke after one of his players went public with an accusation of racism.

But as he vehemently insisted his "innocent remark" had been "misconstrued" Hodgson made it clear he was not interested in any sort of witch-hunt.

"There is a dressing room code, everyone knows that, but I'm not prepared to discuss it, I'm not prepared to investigate it," he said.

"It's over. It's finished. I'm not interested any more."

Sami Khedira in action against Juventus. AP Photo/Antonio Calanni Source: AP

MOYES STILL WANTS KHEDIRA

Manchester United are weighing up a Pound35million January move for Real Madrid's Sami Khedira.

United are keeping tabs on the Germany international, as manager David Moyes plans to strengthen his midfield options in January.

Moyes sent assistant coach Phil Neville to watch Khedira in action in the Bernabeu side's thrilling 7-3 home win over Sevilla last week.

EVERTON'S SEARCH FOR STRIKERS

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has revealed he is looking to delve into the transfer market to bolster his injury-hit squad in the New Year.

The Blues are reeling from news Arouna Kone could be sidelined for the remainder of the season, after it was announced the Ivory Coast striker would require surgery on his knee.

That leaves Everton's striking ranks paper thin, and heavily reliant on young star Romelu Lukaku.

"Arouna and Darren (Gibson) are two unexpected absences and we need to be as strong as we can be in the final third of the season, so we'll have to look into [signing replacements]," Martinez told the Liverpool Echo.

"We're always looking, and in January we'll have to see where we are. What's important though is we never bring in players for the sake of it.

"It won't be a case of getting someone just to make up the numbers.

"If we find the right players we'll look into it but if not I will look at the U21s and younger players here and make sure someone steps up because I've been impressed in that regard and it's important we keep that in mind."