Soccer Capsules: Gonzalez tears knee ligament
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — American defender Omar Gonzalez tore a knee ligament during his first practice with Nuremberg of Germany's Bundesliga and is returning to Los Angeles.
Nuremberg says Gonzalez tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a tackle Thursday at the club's training camp in Antalya, on the Turkish coast. He collided with American defender Timmy Chandler. The injury was confirmed by a scan in a Turkish hospital on Friday. He is expected to have an operation next week and will miss much if not all of the MLS season.
"Still in shock that this happened," Gonzalez said Friday in a post on Twitter. "Your support and well wishes will carry me through a strong (and hopefully quick) recovery!"
Gonzalez had just joined Nuremberg's camp Thursday on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy and was hoping to play in the Bundesliga during the Major League Soccer offseason.
"That's really bitter for Omar," said Martin Bender, Nuremberg's chief operating officer. "He wanted to show us what he is capable of and we had great hopes for him. The important thing is for Omar to get healthy again. In the 24 hours he spent with us we got to know him as an interesting personality and player. We wish him all the best."
The 23-year-old Gonzalez was voted the MLS defender of the year in 2011 and helped the Galaxy win the championship.
Acuna joins U.S. soccer Olympic training roster
CHICAGO (AP) — Midfielder Isaac Acuna is among 22 players who will train with the U.S. Under-23 team this month as it prepares for the start of Olympic qualifying.
The other players selected Friday by coach Caleb Porter all were at either a November camp in Germany or a December camp in Florida. The Under-23s will gather from Jan. 8-25, scrimmaging against the national team on Jan. 13 and 17 at Carson, Calif., before traveling on Jan. 18 to San Jose, Costa Rica, for two matches against clubs.
Acuna, a native of Calexico, Calif., made his debut for Club America in Mexico in April 2010 and is on loan to Merida.
The U.S. plays Cuba (March 22), Canada (March 24) and El Salvador (March 26) in North and Central American and Caribbean qualifying, with all games at Nashville, Tenn. The top two teams in the group advance to the semifinals on March 31 at Kansas City, Kan., and the semifinal winners qualify.
Toronto FC hires former U.S. U20 coach Rongen
TORONTO (AP) — Toronto FC has hired former U.S. Under-20 coach Thomas Rongen as director of its soccer academy.
The 55-year-old most recently served as coach of the American Samoa national team, which beat Tonga 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier in November to win its first international soccer match after 30 consecutive losses over 17 years. Coach Aron Winter confirmed the hiring Friday on the Major League Soccer team's Twitter account.
Rongen was selected MLS coach of the year in 1996 after helping Tampa Bay to a league-best 20-12 record. In 1999, Rongen guided D.C. United to victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy for his first MLS Cup title. The move came about a month after Stuart Neely's resignation from the position.
Rangers reject Sochaux bid for Edu
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Rangers manager Ally McCoist says the club has turned down an offer from French club Sochaux for American midfielder Maurice Edu.
McCoist says the bid, which he didn't disclose, "was so far away that I would be very surprised if they came back in."
Sochaux was hoping to add Edu to a roster that already includes American forward Charlie Davies, who spent last year on loan to Major League Soccer's D.C. United. McCoist added Friday "I can tell you that I want Maurice Edu to sign a new contract rather than go anywhere."
Rapids sign defender Freeman
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rapids have signed defender Hunter Freeman, who previously played with the Rapids in 2005 and 2006. Contract terms weren't disclosed Friday. He is the first player to join the club under new head coach Oscar Pareja.
Freeman played two seasons with the Rapids before being traded to the New York Red Bulls. He later joined Toronto FC in 2008 before playing two seasons in Norway. He returned to Major League Soccer in 2011 with the Houston Dynamo.
The Rapids selected him in the MLS re-entry draft last month.
Mexico Soccer
Noyola named top women's college player in U.S.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mexican World Cup veteran Teresa Noyola has won the Hermann Trophy as the United States' top women's college football player.
Midfielder Noyola, the third straight Stanford University winner following Kelley O'Hara (2009) and Christen Press (2010), scored the winning goal in the College Cup final against Florida State to lead the Cardinal to their first national championship. She had nine goals last season. Noyola played for Mexico last year in the Women's World Cup.
Duke University forward Andrew Wenger won the men's award.
League Capsules
Carrick warns City of United backlash
LONDON (AP) — Shunning talk of a crisis inside Old Trafford, Michael Carrick insists Manchester City should be wary of a backlash from his Manchester United team when the two rivals meet in the FA Cup this weekend.
After losing back-to-back matches in the Premier League, against Blackburn and Newcastle, United heads into Sunday's third-round match looking to avoid three straight defeats for the first time since 2001.
City will be the favorite, however, after winning all 10 of its league matches at Etihad Stadium to storm to the top of the standings during a campaign in which the team has already beaten United 6-1 away in October.
"The reaction outside is as though the whole world has caved in," Carrick said. "We are disappointed and we are feeling it, but we are not feeling sorry for ourselves.
"We tend to overcome setbacks pretty well here. Hopefully we can do the same again this time."
The clubs will go head to head for the third time this season — United won the Community Shield 3-2 at Wembley in August — in what is rapidly emerging as England's most high-profile matchup.
With another Premier League game scheduled for April 28 and the potential for an FA Cup replay as well as a meeting in the knockout stage of this season's Europa League, the neighbors could be seeing a lot more of each other in the near future.
"The way we and our supporters should look at it is that we may as well get used to it because they are not going to go away," said Ferguson, whose team is three points behind City in the league.
"We have to get used to the fact that City are going to be challenging for competitions along with us. There's every chance we're going to meet at some point ... on average it's going to be pretty regular."
This may well be a good time for United to take on Roberto Mancini's team.
City — the FA Cup holders — will be without its two main holding midfielders, with Gareth Barry suspended and Yaya Toure joining his brother and teammate Kolo in linking up with the Ivory Coast squad in Paris on Saturday ahead of the African Cup of Nations.
Yaya Toure, who scored the winning goal in City's 1-0 victory over United in last season's FA Cup semifinal, has arguably been the team's most consistent player this season.
Mancini is also without Mario Balotelli (ankle) while fellow striker Edin Dzeko is nursing a knee problem.
"I have one striker and two midfielders," claimed Mancini, whose team plays Liverpool on Wednesday in the first leg of their League Cup semifinal.
United will also be desperate to make up for its back-to-back defeats in the Premier League which have left the team three points behind City at the top of the standings.
"The atmosphere will be good, we'll take a load of fans there and hopefully we can get back to winning ways," United midfielder Ryan Giggs said.
Ferguson said on Friday that he has no fresh injury worries after the 3-0 loss at Newcastle on Wednesday, with defender Chris Smalling not yet recovered from a bout of tonsillitis.
There is plenty of opportunity for major upsets in the competition this weekend, with many of the Premier League teams entering the draw at the third-round stage facing teams low down in English football's league pyramid.
The biggest shock would come at Goodison Park if non-league team Tamworth can beat Everton. Fourteenth in the fifth tier, Tamworth is the lowest-ranked side left in competition.
"We all need to look at ourselves and get dusted down and get on with it against Tamworth because they will be right up for it," said Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, who scored a freak 100-yard (meter) goal in his team's 2-1 loss to Bolton on Wednesday.
"It is a big game for them and it is a big game for us because we need to give our fans something to cheer about. We need to make sure we are up for it."
The other non-league team still involved, Fleetwood, hosts local northwest rival Blackpool, which is seventh in the League Championship after dropping down from the Premier League this season.
"The distance between (the clubs) ... and the fact that we share a lot of fans, for those reasons I don't think we could have got a better tie," Fleetwood manager Micky Mellon.
"If Manchester United came, of course it would be massive ... there would be a lot of hype, but would they send a full-strength side? I think when we play Blackpool, it will be a proper head to head."
Seventy places lie between Tottenham and fourth-tier team Cheltenham ahead of their match at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
-- Steve Douglas
Gerrard scores as Liverpool beats Oldham in FA Cup
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Steven Gerrard scored on his first start in more than two months as Liverpool came from behind at Anfield on Friday to beat third-tier club Oldham 5-1 and advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Following three substitute appearances after his recovery from an ankle infection, Gerrard dispatched a penalty just before halftime to put his team in front against opponents 52 places below Liverpool in the league.
The match was overshadowed by police later opening an investigation after Oldham defender Tom Adeyemi appeared to be the target of crowd abuse from Liverpool fans. Adeyemi, who is black, was visibly upset after something was shouted from The Kop.
Merseyside Police said there had been no arrests "on suspicion of racially aggravated behavior" but "the Force and Liverpool Football Club are investigating following an incident that occurred during the second half of the game."
Oldham's Robbie Simpson gave the visitors a 28th-minute lead through a spectacular half-volley from 30 yards, but a deflected equalizer by Craig Bellamy within two minutes drew the hosts level.
Jonjo Shelvey struck his first Liverpool goal in the 68th minute, before substitutes Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing wrapped up the victory late on.
"The scoreline is a bit flattering really," said Liverpool manager Kevin Dalglish. "Oldham did their club and their manager proud. They created one or two threatening situations for themselves, especially in the first half, so getting back as quickly as we did with the equaliser helped us.
"But the scoreline does not reflect the distance between the two teams on that performance."
Gerrard also scored in October in his first start after six months out following a groin operation. But he will be hoping history doesn't again repeat itself as he played only one more game before picking up the ankle injury which sidelined him until Boxing Day.
The team is sixth in the Premier League standings and needs Gerrard to help fill the void left by the suspended Luis Suarez ahead of the two-legged semifinal against Manchester City from next week.
It was only Liverpool's fifth win in all competitions at home this season following a disappointing run at Anfield in which numerous points have been dropped in the league, and an upset looked possible when Simpson smashed the ball into the top corner.
After receiving a pass, Simpson took one touch before unleashing a left-footed half-volley which flew past goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
But Bellamy's lucky leveler and Gerrard's penalty put the Reds on the way to retaining their unbeaten home record this season.
Shelvey cut in from the right and speculatively aimed for the far post only for the shot to take a huge deflection off Bellamy's chest and leave goalkeeper Alex Cisak helpless.
Gerrard put his side ahead just before the interval when, after Maxi Rodriguez was pushed by Adeyemi, he converted only the second of six penalties the Reds have been awarded this season.
Bellamy, Dirk Kuyt and Martin Kelly all had chances early in the second half before Shelvey smashed home Bellamy's cross.
In the 89th minute, Carroll smashed in a low shot from outside the area two minutes after coming on, before Downing also found the net.
"For us there were a lot of positives to come out of it: Stewart Downing scoring, Andy getting a goal, Jonjo scored and Steven got a penalty," Daglish said. "They just need games. Every single one them will be better for it."
Atletico coach Simeone faces tough debut at Malaga
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone faces a difficult debut on Saturday as his team looks for its first away win of the Spanish season at Malaga.
The former Atletico midfielder has inherited a squad in 10th place and 10 points adrift of fourth-place Levante, which holds the last spot to qualify for next season's Champions League.
"We are very excited for the game against Malaga so we can have the best fresh start possible," said Atletico midfielder Eduardo Salvio. "We know the adversary is very tough and that it has good players, so it is going to be a test of fire for us."
Under former coach Gregorio Manzano, Atletico managed to earn only one point out of 21 in seven away games.
Malaga, meanwhile, has only lost once at La Rosaleda Stadium after undergoing a €60-million ($85-million) squad overhaul this offseason.
"It's clear that (Simeone) is a great motivator," said fellow Argentine Martin Demichelis, whose Malaga has slipped into seventh place after going winless in its last three league games.
"We have to try and go out on the pitch with the same intensity as they are going to bring and look to take the game to them."
Demichelis' main task at center back will be keeping tabs on Radamel Falcao, Atletico's leading scorer with nine goals in league play.
While the Colombia striker may be supported by Adrian Lopez in attack, he won't be able to count on the playmaking skills of Jose Antonio Reyes, who Atletico transferred to boyhood club Sevilla on Thursday.
League leader Real Madrid receives Granada earlier Saturday aiming to extend its three-point advantage over Barcelona ahead of the defending champion's game at crosstown rival Espanyol on Sunday.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho was critical of his team's performance midweek in the Copa del Rey when it had to come from behind to beat Malaga 3-2. The Portuguese manager said that most of his starting 11 had spent the holidays slacking off.
Madrid captain Iker Casillas tried to play peacemaker between coach and squad by saying "the Christmas holidays are for resting, spending time with the family and later also for football."
Regardless of its form, Madrid is still favored against the promoted Andalusian side.
Granada has risen from the drop zone to sit 12th after losing just once in its last seven league matches, but it has scored a league-low 10 goals, exactly half of Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo's league goal tally this season.
Barcelona has demolished its last eight opponents in all competitions by a combined score of 37-1 since its 1-0 defeat at Getafe in late November. Even so, Espanyol traditionally gives a spirited fight in the Catalan capital derby.
"(Espanyol's) ground is one of the most toughest (in Spain)," said Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. "They are a great team. They pressure high up the pitch. They are young, and even though they have sold players they still have a great squad."
Two more coaches will direct their first games following a tumultuous holidays for a number of struggling clubs.
Manolo Jimenez takes his place on the sideline for last-place Zaragoza as it travels to 19th-place Racing Santander on Saturday in a meeting of the teams with the league's worst records, and coach Francisco Molina makes his debut for Villarreal when it welcomes third-place Valencia in a regional derby on Sunday.
"Our games against Valencia are always good ones," said Villarreal forward Marco Ruben. "It is an important match since it is a chance for the team to respond. Whenever there is a coaching change it provides some psychological peace for the team."
Also in round 17, it's: Levante vs. Mallorca, Real Sociedad vs. Osasuna, Rayo Vallecano vs. Sevilla, Getafe vs. Athletic Bilbao, and Real Betis vs. Sporting Gijon.
-- Joseph Wilson
FIFA Capsules
FIFA rejects Warner's claims over $1 WCup TV deals
ZURICH (AP) — Former FIFA vice president Jack Warner peddled "inaccuracies and falsehoods" when he claimed last month that he got World Cup television rights for $1 in exchange for supporting Sepp Blatter's presidential campaigns, soccer's governing body said Friday.
FIFA confirmed Warner's claim that he received Caribbean broadcasting rights for $1 per tournament, though from 1986 and not — as Warner said — from 1998 when Blatter was first elected.
"Such rights were ceded in order to provide an additional source of revenue for football development in the CFU (Caribbean Football Union)," FIFA said in a statement. "This had nothing to do with the 1998 or 2002 election campaigns, or with any other election campaign.
"To imply the contrary is completely false," FIFA said.
FIFA said that, until 1998, World Cup rights were often sold for nominal sums to maximize coverage in developing nations, and provide soccer bodies with extra revenue from reselling rights to broadcasters.
Warner was expected to raise money for his home Caribbean region, which he led for more than two decades until resigning all his soccer duties last June to avoid a FIFA investigation into alleged election bribery.
FIFA said Warner detailed a television deal involving "his private company JDNG and Kirch Media" at executive committee meetings in late 2001. German media giant Kirch had acquired World Cup rights months earlier after FIFA's former marketing partner, ISL, collapsed into bankruptcy.
"Jack Warner explained that he then resold the rights to the Caribbean Football Union, subsequently ploughing the money back into football development in the Caribbean area," FIFA said in an extract of meeting minutes released in Friday's statement.
Warner continued to control Caribbean World Cup television deals beyond 1998, and held the 2014 rights until his resignation.
In October, FIFA revealed it had sold rights "across the Caribbean" for 2014 to broadcaster IMC after it terminated the long-standing agreement with Warner.
Warner made his claims last month, days after FIFA paid for Caribbean soccer leaders to attend a summit in Zurich aimed at rebuilding the CFU's reputation and structures after the turmoil caused by the bribery scandal.
After years of backing Blatter, Warner had switched sides ahead of last June's presidential election to support challenger Mohamed bin Hammam.
The two invited Caribbean voters to a May meeting in Warner's native Trinidad where delegates were offered $40,000 cash in brown envelopes.
Whistleblowers alerted FIFA to the conspiracy, and bin Hammam and Warner were provisionally suspended from soccer three days before the vote, allowing Blatter to win unchallenged.
Bin Hammam is challenging his life ban imposed by FIFA in a proceeding at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The scandal also revealed the CFU's financial problems, despite years of apparently benefiting from Warner's World Cup TV deals.
A presidential election conference to replace him last November was postponed because the CFU could not afford to stage the event in Jamaica.
Real Madrid's Ronaldo, Mourinho to skip FIFA gala
MADRID (AP) — FIFA player of the year candidate Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Jose Mourinho will skip Monday's awards gala because of team commitments, Real Madrid said Friday.
Neither Portuguese nominee nor players Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos will be in Zurich because the team is traveling to Malaga for the return leg of their Copa del Rey series on Tuesday. Former Madrid players Zinedine Zidane and Emilio Butragueno will represent the Spanish club.
Ronaldo, who won the award in 2008, is up against Barcelona pair Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez for the individual prize after scoring 53 goals last season. Mourinho is vying for a second straight coach of the year award with Barcelona counterpart Pep Guardiola and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.
Mourinho, a former Chelsea and Inter Milan coach, does not expect to win the prize, anyway.
"(Guardiola) deserves it," Mourinho said Friday. "I just hope they don't take too long to get it to Pep because I won it (...) and I'm still waiting to receive it."
Three journalists decline to join FIFA reform process
GENEVA (AP) — Three investigative journalists who specialize in corruption allegations involving FIFA have declined invitations to take part in Sepp Blatter's reform program.
Jens Weinreich, Andrew Jennings and Jean-Francois Tanda say the process is designed to protect Blatter rather than genuinely unearth wrongdoing and change football's scandal-plagued world governing body.
The three writers claim that the so-called "solutions committee" created by Blatter to recommend reforms is not truly independent.
They issued a statement explaining why they rejected an invitation to meet with Swiss anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who chairs the committee.
Weinreich, Jennings and Tanda outlined 20 steps FIFA and Blatter should take to prove they are serious about reform and fighting corruption.
FIFA lifts threat to suspend Switzerland
ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has lifted a threat to suspend Switzerland from world soccer after the national association disciplined FC Sion in a dispute over ineligible players.
FIFA says its emergency committee decided that the Swiss FA met its demand to deal with Sion by Jan. 13. Swiss club FC Basel is cleared to play Bayern Munich in the Champions League round-of-16 next month, and the national team will host Argentina in a Feb. 29 exhibition.
The Swiss FA deducted 36 league points from Sion for fielding six players this season in breach of a transfer embargo. The club is appealing the sanction. FIFA has asked Swiss officials to keep the governing body "informed on any future developments."
Elsewhere
Commentary: At Arsenal, nostalgia is a dangerous thing
Not only is nostalgia not what it used to be, its beguiling powers of deception can be dangerous, too. The desire to relive emotions long faded can make one do foolish things — like going to see Deep Purple in concert, a mistake I've made, or believe that Thierry Henry and Arsenal are still a match made in football heaven.
Often, the outcome is disappointment. Listening to rock's one-time loudest band reheat "Smoke on the Water" in Paris in 2010 for what must have been its umpteenth time provided only an empty aftertaste of the musical feast I could only imagine Purple must have served up in its heyday in the 1970s.
Likewise, nothing truly good can come from Arsenal's greatest player pulling on its red and white shirt again, likely as early as next Monday against Leeds in the FA Cup third round. Just as Purple now sounds infinitely better recorded than live, the only genuinely satisfying way to appreciate Henry these days is by watching YouTube videos from when the French striker was in his prime, running rings around defenses in his eight glorious years at Arsenal until he moved to Barcelona in 2007.
Fabulous memories. To single out any one of Henry's club-record 226 goals is to do an injustice to the others, although, if pressed, I'd chose his back-heel through the legs of Charlton defender Jonathan Fortune and past 'keeper Dean Kiely in 2004, in the penultimate game of Arsenal's record unbeaten run of 49 matches. Such audacity, improvisation, quick-thinking and upper-body strength from Henry as Fortune clambered all over him. Sublime.
But flashbacks from yesteryear are no substitute for smart planning. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is borrowing Henry for six or so weeks from Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls because he has got his recruitment policy all wrong, being too tightfisted with the London club's money and leaving himself short-handed.
Henry's return will doubtless wring a few happy tears from nostalgic Arsenal fans, but leaning on a 34-year-old, however fondly remembered for his previous 370 club appearances, for help in a league so damagingly physical and intensely competitive is a sign of weakness, not strength. It's an SOS, not a last hurrah.
You wouldn't catch Alex Ferguson bringing back the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals for him, because the Man United manager makes sure that he doesn't need to. Chelsea's squad is sufficiently stocked with players who can find the net that manager Andre Villa-Boas felt comfortable letting Henry's former France teammate Nicolas Anelka transfer this month to Shanghai Shenhua in China.
Wenger, of course, spun this positively.
"We will have Thierry for January and in February. Then he will go back to the United States. I am sure during these two months he will be a massive asset to the team in the dressing room and on the pitch. He can be relaxed, not under too much pressure and be a tremendous help to the team," said the Frenchman who first recruited Henry from Juventus in 1999.
The scorer of 14 goals, the second-highest MLS total, for the Red Bulls last season may still be able to conjure up a useful strike for Arsenal here and there. In the process, Henry may help show that the gulf in standards between MLS and European football isn't that huge, after all, as American midfielder Landon Donovan also proved this week by slotting straight into Everton's starting lineup in the first match of his latest loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, before the MLS starts a new season in March.
Aside from Ferguson's United, who visit Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Jan. 22, the London club's Premier League opponents over the next five weeks include newly promoted Swansea, relegation zone clubs Bolton and Blackburn, and mid-table Sunderland — the only one of those four to have scored more goals than it has conceded this season.
Those lesser teams will know that Henry still has enough quality and intelligence to cause them problems, although it's more of a stretch to imagine that Ferguson will be unduly worried, even with his squad shot with holes by injuries.
Arsenal also hosts London rival Tottenham on Feb. 26, which could be an emotional send-off for Henry if his stay lasts that long, but that has yet to be decided. In announcing the loan, Arsenal said Friday the duration was guaranteed for the moment only until the team's Champions League trip to AC Milan on Feb. 15.
Henry, wisely, sought to dampen expectations and stuck to the Arsenal party line that he will only be filling a short-term gap left by forwards Gervinho of Ivory Coast and Marouane Chamakh of Morocco, while they represent their countries at the Africa Cup of Nations.
There wasn't a peep, of course, in Arsenal's statement about why Wenger has failed to buy a reliable, long-term understudy for Robin van Persie, his top-scoring Dutch striker whose past injuries generate concerns he could break down again if overused.
"I am not coming here to be a hero or prove anything. I am just coming here to help. People have to understand that," Henry said. "I'll be on the bench most of the time. If I can make the bench that is!"
If not, well, there are always those highlight reels to watch and rewatch. To be enjoyed with a Deep Purple soundtrack.
Ahhhh, those were the days.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester@ap.org.
Henry rejoins Arsenal on loan
LONDON (AP) — Thierry Henry attempted to dampen expectations among Arsenal fans after finalizing a two-month loan to the English club where he is among its most beloved players.
The French forward could begin his second spell with the Gunners in Monday's FA Cup third-round match against Leeds. He scored a club-record 226 goals for Arsenal in 370 appearances between 1999-07.
He is held in such high esteem by the club's fans that he was voted the team's greatest player in a poll on its official website in 2008. There also is a bronze statue of Henry outside Emirates Stadium but the 34-year-old warned supporters not to expect the same player who terrorized defenses in his first stint.
"I am not coming here to be a hero or prove anything. I am just coming here to help. People have to understand that," Henry said. "I'll be on the bench most of the time. If I can make the bench, that is."
Henry had to wait a week to secure the temporary switch while Arsenal finalized insurance agreements with the New York Red Bulls, his club in Major League Soccer. He will return to the United States for his team's MLS opener at Dallas on March 11.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is turning to Henry to fill the gap in his strikeforce left by the departure of Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh for the African Cup of Nations.
"It is unreal to be honest. But when it comes to Arsenal, my heart will always do the talking," Henry said. "I always said I was never going to come back and play in Europe again, but when the team you love and support asks you back, it's kind of hard to say no."
Henry will be available for January and most of February. He could appear in six league games, including the home match against Manchester United on Jan. 22.
There is a chance he could also feature in the north London derby against Tottenham on Feb. 26, although he said may choose to return to New York before then to prepare for the MLS season.
"Even if it is just five seconds, one second, or just talking in the dressing room, I will give my best whatever it is," Henry said.
Without a major trophy since 2005, Arsenal (11-6-3) is fifth in the Premier League, 12 points behind leader Manchester City (15-2-3) and one behind Chelsea (11-5-4), which holds the fourth and final Champions League spot.
"I am sure during these two months he will be a massive asset to the team in the dressing room and on the pitch," Wenger said. "He can be relaxed, not under too much pressure and be a tremendous help to the team."
Henry will act as one of the backups to Robin van Persie, who has taken over the Frenchman's mantle as Arsenal's star attacker and scored 17 league goals this season.
In 2011, Van Persie scored 35 times in the league, one more than the previous club record for a calendar year set by Henry.
"Right now Robin is flying. I can be around and talk to him but he is doing what he does best — scoring goals," Henry said. "When the boss spoke to me about coming back, I wanted to make sure I didn't disturb the team that was in place. That was important to me."
-- Steve Douglas
Police investigating Anfield crowd abuse of player
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Police are investigating an incident in which a black Oldham player appeared to be the target of abuse from Liverpool fans during an FA Cup third-round match Friday.
Oldham right back Tom Adeyemi was visibly upset late in the game at Anfield after seemingly taking offense from something shouted from the Liverpool-supporting area known as The Kop.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, teammate Dirk Kuyt and Oldham players tried to calm Adeyemi, who looked close to tears. A discussion then followed between the fourth official and a police officer down by the tunnel.
Merseyside Police said there had been no arrests "on suspicion of racially aggravated behavior" but "the Force and Liverpool Football Club are investigating following an incident that occurred during the second half of the game."
Liverpool released a statement saying it "will continue to work with the police to establish the details of what actually happened."
The incident comes two days after Liverpool forward Luis Suarez issued a partial public apology following his eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
The Uruguay international was also fined $62,000 for calling Evra a "Negro" or "Negros" in October during the 1-1 draw at Anfield. Suarez apologized Wednesday for causing offense but again denied that his conduct amounted to a racist act.
Oldham manager Paul Dickov had yet to speak to Adeyemi about what happened but said his reaction was instructive.
"I know the kid and something has been said," Dickov said. "For him to react like that it is obvious something has been said but what has been said I don't know.
"He is fine now. He has calmed down. He is a laid-back kid who just gets on with business. Our players went and calmed him down and the Liverpool players did as well, which was fantastic and is why they are top professionals."
Liverpool won the match 5-1 after goals from Steven Gerrard, Craig Bellamy, Jonjo Shelvey, Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing.
McClaren says he is aiming for Dutch title
AMSTERDAM (AP) — Former England coach Steve McClaren says returning to the club he led to its first Dutch league title was an "easy decision" and he hopes to guide FC Twente to its second title this season.
McClaren spoke at Twente's stadium in Enschede on Friday after signing a 2½-year contract to replace coach Co Adriaanse, who was fired this week.
McClaren said he "had no hesitation" in returning to Twente, despite the high expectations created by his first spell in charge.
"FC Twente are one of five teams who can win the title," McClaren said at a press conference. "We want to do that every year and be in Europe, that's why I'm back."
Twente is third in the Eredivisie, behind leader AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven and is still in contention in the Dutch cup and Europa League.
After winning the title in 2010, McClaren was lured to the Bundesliga by Wolfsburg, but he was fired after a poor start and then lasted only 10 matches before quitting his next coaching job, at Nottingham Forest.
McClaren expects to fit in quickly at Twente this time around.
"Last time it took me six months to adapt to the vision, the culture and the environment but once we'd set that I was OK," he said. "I think it's still there and the vision carries on."
McClaren signed his new contract shortly after the Twente squad left for the Spanish island of Gran Canaria for a training camp in the Dutch league's winter break. He will fly to join them on Saturday and his first competitive match is on Jan. 21 against RKC Waalwijk.
After serving as an assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, McClaren started his coaching career at Middlesbrough in 2001, winning the League Cup in 2004 and reaching the final of the UEFA Cup two years later when his team lost to Sevilla.
He became England coach in 2006 but lasted only 18 months before being fired after the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
Returning to the eastern Netherlands brings McClaren back to a club where he has almost exclusively happy memories.
"One of my best days here was with 80,000 fans in the car park, holding the (Dutch league) trophy," he said.
-- Mike Corder
Burkina Faso drops second player over eligibility
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — Burkina Faso dropped a second player from its African Cup of Nations squad after doubts over his eligibility as a hearing began into the team's place at the tournament.
Burkina Faso Football Federation spokesperson Abi Ouattara said on Friday that defender Stephane Agbre was not with the squad at a training camp because the player's eligibility was not finalized.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport also began hearing an appeal by Namibia on Friday after Cameroon-born defender Herve Zengue played for Burkina Faso against the southern Africans in qualifying matches.
Namibia wants Burkina Faso thrown out of the Jan. 21-Feb. 12 continental championship because of Zengue.
Agbre, who was born in Ivory Coast, was named in coach Paulo Duarte's initial Cup of Nations training squad in December, when the controversial Zengue was left out. But Agbre has not traveled with the squad to a camp in Cameroon.
"Stephane is not with us because the procedures for his Burkina Faso nationality have not ended," Ouattara said by telephone from Cameroon. "We do not want to take a risk."
Namibia failed with two appeals to the Confederation of African Football after it lost 4-0 and 4-1 to Burkina Faso in Cup of Nations qualifying last year, when Zengue was in the Burkinabe team. It then took its case to CAS.
Namibian officials believe Zengue, who got a Burkinabe passport after marrying a local woman, does not meet FIFA eligibility rules to play for his adopted country. Namibia finished second behind Burkina Faso in their group and wants to take its place at the continental showpiece.
CAS has not said how long the Namibia appeal will take but a fast-track case is likely with the African Cup kicking off in two weeks.
-- Brahima Ouedraogo
Chamakh, Taarabt in Morocco squad
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Coach Eric Gerets has named Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh and fellow English Premier League player Adel Taarabt in his final 23-man squad for the African Cup of Nations.
Nadir Lamyaghri of Casablanca club WAC was one of just four home-based players in the group after the goalkeeper returned from injury to make Gerets' final selection.
Chamakh and Queens Park Rangers' Taarabt were joined by defender Mehdi Benatia of Udinese, Badr El Kaddouri of Celtic, experienced midfielder Houssine Kharja of Fiorentina and forward Youssef Hadji of Rennes.
Morocco will prepare for the African Cup at a training camp in Marbella, Spain. The 1976 African champion is grouped with Tunisia, co-host Gabon and debutant Niger at the Jan. 21-Feb. 12 tournament.
Rooney, United deny striker will quit Old Trafford
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Wayne Rooney issued a joint statement with Manchester United denying he's set to leave the Premier League champions.
The action was prompted by a story in Saturday's edition of the Independent claiming that there are cracks in the relationship between Rooney and United manager Alex Ferguson.
The statement says "any suggestion that Manchester United and Wayne Rooney are to part company is complete nonsense" and that the England striker and Ferguson "have always had and retain the utmost respect for each other and look forward to working together in the coming seasons."
The 26-year-old Rooney tweeted: "The independent are talking absolute rubbish," before reiterating his commitment to United.
Switzerland forward Mehmedi joins Dynamo Kiev
ZURICH (AP) — Switzerland forward Admir Mehmedi has left FC Zurich to join Dynamo Kiev.
Zurich says in a statement that the 20-year-old Mehmedi has signed a contract which ties him to the Ukrainian club until June 2016. The transfer fee was not disclosed.
Mehmedi, who was of Albanian descent and was born in the former Yugoslavia, has played seven internationals for his adopted country.
He made his debut last June as a substitute when Switzerland drew 2-2 with England at Wembley in a 2012 European Championship qualifier.
Mehmedi then featured in the Swiss team which lost in the final of the Under-21 European Championship against Spain.
Jagielka out for up to six weeks, says Moyes
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Everton manager David Moyes says defender Phil Jagielka could be missing for up to six weeks after damaging medial ligaments in his right knee in the Premier League loss to Bolton.
The England international limped off in the first half of Everton's 2-1 defeat on Wednesday and left Goodison Park on crutches. Moyes says Friday "to lose him is a massive blow to us because he is an integral part of the defense and very important to us."
Jagielka could miss as many as six Premier League matches but should be fit to return in time for England's friendly against the Netherlands on Feb. 29.
Everton is 11th in the 20-team standings.
Shakhtar coach Lucescu has car accident
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A Bucharest medical official says Mircea Lucescu, the Romanian coach of Shakhtar Donetsk, has been hospitalized after a car accident in the city.
Bogdan Oprita, chief of the capital's paramedics, says the 66-year-old Lucescu was conscious but suffered chest injuries in Friday's accident. Oprita says a passenger in the car Lucescu was driving was also hospitalized. Romanian media says Lucescu's SUV was hit by a tram and pictures showed the vehicle badly damaged on the left side. Sports online publication Gsp.ro said Lucescu had three broken ribs.
Lucescu, who guided Ukraine's Shakhtar to the 2009 UEFA Cup, is one of Europe's most experienced coaches. His previous teams include Inter Milan, Galatasaray and Romania's national side.
Vietnam fires Gotz
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The Vietnam Football Federation has fired German coach Falko Gotz after the country's Under-23 team's dismal performance at the recent Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.
Gotz told a news conference in Hanoi he was surprised to see his two-year contract terminated early. He has been in the job for seven months.
Vietnam was defeated by host Indonesia in the semifinal of the SEA Games and suffered a humiliated 4-1 loss to Myanmar in the bronze medal match in late November. Gotz defended his players saying they had done their best for the country.
Much of Gotz's long playing career was spent with Bayer Leverkusen and Koln before he moved into coaching.
