Free kicks

You may or (more likely) may not recall us reporting in October on the long-term injury sustained by former Toon loanee and current AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu while on international duty for the USA. Back then, I alluded to the parallels between the American's plight and that of another player formerly of this parish.

Well, it's now transpired that "Gooch" has signed a one-year extension to his Milan contract - a year for which he'll play for free as a mark of gratitude to the club for continuing to pay him a salary during his rehabilitation. For their part, Milan have stated: "This is an exemplary gesture that deserves our sincere congratulations". Would that Little Saint Mick had had the generosity of spirit to do the same...

In other old boy news, commiserations to Lee Clark and Terry Mac, whose high-scoring Huddersfield were dumped out of the League One play-offs by Millwall. The whole concept of Clarkie as a manager (let alone a successful one) continues to baffle me...