Steve Clarke launches a Cats counter-attack

Nov 4 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

“He then committed a two-footed tackle on Guillermo Franco in the centre circle which the referee knew he couldn’t give as a free-kick as he would have had to send him off.

“And then after that he persistently fouled, another two-footed lunge in the second-half.

“You know it is easy to speak about other teams and other teams’ players. I don’t agree with it but if people are going to have a go at our players then I’m going to have a go back, I’m sorry.”

Sunderland are likely to ignore Clarke’s comments – and are not ready to get embroiled in the controversy over Michael Turner’s transfer from Hull in August. Hull chairman Adam Pearson yesterday revealed that the Tigers received just £2.8m for the player – their cut of just the £4m that Sunderland had to pay. He was speaking in the wake of the Premier League announcing its intention to investigate the fee, after complaints from Brentford and Charlton, who are owed money from sell-on clauses after Turner left them.

“Under no circumstances was it a financial necessity to sell Michael Turner,” he said. “I can only second-guess what people were thinking, but there was probably a feeling that the player wanted to go, and that was the best possible deal.

“All I can say is that there’s no requirement to sell players we want to keep. It’s not incremental, the total amount of cash we will receive for Michael Turner is £2.8m.

“Those are the facts. The cash generated from that deal after paying Brentford and Charlton is £2.8m, and in light of what we’ve been spending on players, I would suggest that it’s a disappointing return for the player. With hindsight, I’m not sure August 31 was the best time to sell Michael Turner, and certainly not at that price. We’ve had to pay a transfer fee for Paul McShane of £500,000, but that’s a separate deal.”

Sunderland duo George McCartney and David Healy have been named in the Northern Ireland squad for the friendly against Serbia in Belfast on Saturday week. Doncaster midfielder Dean Shiels has been recalled, Dunfermline striker Andy Kirk retains his place while Manchester United defender Jonny Evans should feature after missing the final World Cup qualifier with the Czech Republic.

NORTHERN IRELAND SQUAD: M Taylor(Birmingham), A Mannus (Shamrock), J Tuffey (Partick); G McAuley (Ipswich), A Hughes(Fulham), J Evans (Man Utd), S Craigan (Motherwell), G McCartney (Sunderland), C Baird (Fulham); N McGinn (Celtic), G McCann (Scunthorpe), M O’Connor (Scunthorpe), S Davis (Rangers), C Brunt (West Brom), D Shiels (Doncaster), P McCourt (Celtic); D Healy (Sunderland), W Feeney (Cardiff), K Lafferty (Rangers), A Kirk (Dunfermline).