Stephen Ireland announced his arrival at Aston Villa yesterday with a parting shot at the club with whom he spent nine years and a warning for the midfielder he replaced at Villa Park. "James Milner might think the grass is greener at Manchester City," said Ireland. "He may be in for a shock."

Michael Carrick has no intention of calling it quits with England.

Fabio Capello's new-look England were reduced to training with just 16 of the 23 players he originally selected as the Three Lions began preparations for Wednesday's friendly with Hungary at Wembley.

Shaun Wright-Phillips returned to training this morning as England continued their preparations for Saturday's Group C opener against the United States in Rustenburg.

Jermaine Defoe is confident England will be prepared for the World Cup opener with the United States despite having problems at high altitude in the warm-up game against Platinum Stars.

No-frills airline Ryanair can't even appoint a non-executive director without swimming into choppy waters. It has signed up Charlie McCreevy, the former European Union commissioner, to join its board. Cue a storm of protest, because Mr McCreevy is very obviously breaking the Commission's code of conduct preventing officials taking up jobs in related industries within a year of stepping down. The Commission itself, however, has cleared the appointment, so Ryanair is in the clear.

England's injury anxieties persisted yesterday when Steven Gerrard failed to complete the squad's latest high-altitude training session at Irdning in the Austrian Alps after suffering a calf twinge.

England manager Fabio Capello is "very confident" Gareth Barry will be fit for the World Cup.

James Milner is ready to slot into the holding midfield role normally occupied by his former Aston Villa team-mate Gareth Barry for the World Cup if asked to by England coach Fabio Capello.