* Walter Smith is still hopeful that Darren Fletcher will travel with Scotland to Japan for the Kirin Cup next month: "I thought Darren had suffered a bad knee injury but I am led to believe that he is back in training now and he could actually come to Japan with us."
* The Times claim that Everton will ask if Tim Howard can be loaned to them next year. The same paper report that Fergie has considered Lukasz Fabianski, Legia Warsaw's goalie (which has been rumoured for some time), but now favours a 'more experienced candidate to cover Van der Sar.'
* The Guardian and The Times report that Felipe Scolari is to be offered the England job. Brian Barwick flew to Lisbon yesterday to see him apparently.