Football: Cloud hangs over Carbone

THE SHEFFIELD Wednesday manager Danny Wilson believes Benito Carbone is no longer committed to the club.

Carbone is almost certain to be dropped from today's side for the visit of Everton to Hillsborough as Wilson feels the striker is not prepared to give his all for the Owls. The 28-year-old is still in under a cloud with Wilson after staging a dressing room walk-out before the defeat at Southampton two weeks ago.

The Italian was informed he would be a substitute for the game at The Dell and after a confrontation with Wilson caught a taxi to Gatwick, where he flew home to Italy for a holiday.

Wilson fined the player two weeks' wages - which he believes was not enough - and, despite an apology, forced him to train with the juniors upon his return to Sheffield.

Although Carbone is back training with the first team, Wilson admits that an uneasy peace exists between the player and his team-mates - with silence between manager and player.

"I've not spoken to him at all and the reason is we're still waiting for him to come back to us," Wilson said. "He might have returned but I don't think Beni understands the severity of what he did.

"Beni's been punished. He was fined two weeks' wages which I thought was very light in consideration of what he did. But everything has to be for Wednesday's benefit. If we feel Beni Carbone can benefit the football club, then so be it.

"I'm not going to cut my nose off to spite my face. But we've a player there who can do the business, although at the same time we have to make sure he is committed. So it's now down to him. It's whether he's prepared to play football."

Carbone refused to talk to waiting reporters and television cameras yesterday, except to state: "I am ready to play," and "ask the manager" when asked to whether he will resume his Wednesday career.

A huge problem for Wilson is the possible reaction of the players, with the Norwegian international Petter Rudi having asserted that the Italian should never have returned.

"The relationship between Beni and the players is quite strained at the moment," Wilson said. "Again it comes down to commitment. If he is committed, then great. I just want the best players showing 100 per cent commitment. That's all I can ask for. And I can tell by his body language whether he is committed or not - and I wouldn't say it has been the best."

Another player with troubles, the Chilean World Cup defender Javier Margas, said yesterday that he is ready to put his troubles behind him and make a fresh start with West Ham. After a knee injury restricted him to three games last season, Margas went missing in the summer after his family failed to settle in England.

But he has now overcome his knee injury and, after earning rave reviews for his performances in the Copa America during the summer, has sorted his work permit problems and is in the West Ham squad for the home game against Watford.

"I had a lot of problems last season, but I feel a lot better now. I am very happy and have a great friend in [manager] Harry Redknapp. I just want to play."