The Screamer... It's the talk of football

The Nigeria forward was fined £80,000 and left out of the squad for Saturday's win over Reading after going AWOL following his country's quarter-final exit in Ghana.

Manager David Moyes was fuming with the 25-year-old and is believed to have wanted to impose more serious sanctions on him.

But senior members of the squad persuaded their boss not to take further action.

Goalkeeper Tim Howard said: "We love The Yak. He's been a hugely positive influence on us, not just with the number of goals he has scored for the team but in the dressing room as well.

"Yes, these things happen but it has been dealt with and the manager has taken care of that.

"Now we all get on with it. Yak has spoken to us and the sooner we get past it the better."

South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar had fitness tests on his injured ankle but has not recovered sufficiently to make the trip.

Leeds still want their points back

Ken Bates last night urged the High Court to reach a quick decision on Leeds' legal challenge to the club's 15-point deduction.

Chairman Bates, who revealed a four-year deal with kit suppliers Macron worth £1m a year, said a delayed ruling could plunge League One into chaos.

Chelsea chase Rafael van der Vaart

Chelsea have stepped up their interest in Hamburg's £20million-rated Holland midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

Stamford Bridge technical director Frank Arnesen has held talks with the player's agent and Chelsea's German scout, Rainer Bonhof, watched Van der Vaart, 25, in action at the weekend as he capped an outstanding display with Hamburg's goal in their 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen

Bowyer tackles ban

West Ham have appealed to the FA to overturn the red card shown to Lee Bowyer by referee Mark Clattenburg for a foul on Birmingham's Damien Johnson on Saturday.

Replays of the tackle suggested Bowyer was unlucky to receive a straight red. His appeal will be heard by a three-man disciplinary committee today.

They will also study Joey Barton's off-the-ball clash with Shaun Maloney during Newcastle's defeat at Aston Villa and decide whether to charge him with violent conduct.

West Ham's Craig Bellamy may undergo surgery this week to cure a groin problem that is also giving him pain in his abdomen.

Bellamy would be sidelined for six weeks.