Football: Youngsters save Ardiles a fortune: United at full strength

(First Edition)

SOL CAMPBELL and Stuart Nethercott have persuaded Ossie Ardiles, the Tottenham manager, to abandon his quest for an expensive defender after apparently losing out to Liverpool in the race for Coventry's Phil Babb. They are part of an unchanged Tottenham line-up at Ipswich tonight.

Ardiles has agreed that Teddy Sheringham can continue taking penalties after his second successive miss on Saturday. 'Teddy is happy to go on taking them,' said Ardiles, 'so I'm happy to let him.'

The Bulgarian striker Boncho Genchev is pleading for the chance to help cause another upset for Jurgen Klinsmann after his country beat Germany in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Paul Goddard, the Ipswich coach, said: 'We've got a nice selection problem now with Boncho playing so brilliantly. It is just what we want.'

In tonight's other Premiership games, Crystal Palace attempt to keep their revival going at home to Leeds. Since being savaged 6-1 by Liverpool on the opening day of the season, newly promoted Palace have taken points from Norwich City and Aston Villa.

Their goalkeeper, Nigel Martyn, puts the improvement down to hard work. 'The gaffer has had us in every day working overtime to put things right,' he said. Andy Preece is added to the squad. Howard Wilkinson, the Leeds manager, sends South African Philomen Masinga out at Selhurst Park, hoping the striker can continue his excellent start in English football. The 25-year-old scored his first Premiership goal with a thumping header against Chelsea on Saturday.

Wilkinson is expected to keep faith with his goalkeeper, John Lukic, despite his costly blunder in a 3-2 defeat. Gordon Strachan, Brian Deane and Tony Dorigo could all challenge for a recall if they recover from injuries.

Mike Walker, the Everton manager, has threatened changes but may be forced to keep the same team against Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park. Everton's new signing Daniel Amokachi, the Nigerian World Cup striker, is still waiting for a work permit, so Tony Cottee and Paul Rideout look likely to retain their places. Eric Cantona and Roy Keane are set to bring the champions, Manchester United, up to full strength for the first time this season against Wimbledon tomorrow.

But their manager, Alex Ferguson, is more worried about the fitness of his full-back Paul Parker, who will be out for at least a fortnight after aggravating an old ankle injury. Wimbledon, meanwhile, have doubts over Dean Holdsworth, Robbie Earle and John Scales. Time for Le Tissier, page 38