Real may recall Woodgate.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon has hinted that Jonathan Woodgate could be asked to return to the Bernabeu at the end of the season.

Woodgate moved to Middlesbrough on a season-long loan deal in the summer, and has impressed in his opening four appearances.

Gareth Southgate has already hinted he will look to sign the England international on a permanent deal in May, but Calderon confirmed Real are continuing to monitor his progress with a view to offering him a return to Spain.
continued...

"We wish the best for him," said Calderon. "He had a very bad moment here. He had a very difficult injury.

"We know that now he's playing very well. We don't really know if he wants to come back here. We'd like him to if he decides that."

l With Rory Delap on the verge of a loan move to Stoke, Nyron Nosworthy has pledged to make the Sunderland right-back spot his own.

Nosworthy, who missed the first month of the season with a stomach injury, made his first start of the campaign against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

After returning from the Black Cats' training base in Portugal late on Wednesday night, the former Gillingham defender is hoping to kick-off an extended run in the team with an appearance in next weekend's game at Preston.

"Like everyone in the squad, I want to be in the side every game," said Nosworthy. "The gaffer's made a few changes while he's been here and everyone is aware that they aren't guaranteed a game.

"You only get what you are prepared to work for and, if your performances dip, you're out. So far, so good for me. I'm pleased to have played in an important win for us.

"Now, I'll be waiting for the next teamsheet to come out and hope I'm on it."

* Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent Athole Still insists there has been ''absolutely no contact'' between the former England manager and the would-be Benfica president promising to bring the Swede to Lisbon for a third time.

Carlos Alberto Quaresma announced as part of his election campaign that the 58-year-old ''will be my coach. It is a place where he has some great friends''.

But Still has dismissed the Portuguese businessman's claims as a vote-winning publicity ploy, and is adamant that Eriksson, who has had two successful spells with the Lisbon club, is not on the verge of returning to management.

Still said: ''Sven and I have had absolutely no contact at all with him (Quaresma).

''It's the same as when anyone is entered in these elections that they make promises to get them elected, and they mention a few names to get some hype.

''Sven is forever linked with jobs here, there and everywhere. This time there is definitely nothing in it.

''Sven could return to football next week, you never know. At the moment we are not holding discussions with any clubs, but Sven is happy to bide his time and wait for the right job.''

Benfica are holding presidential elections this month and Quaresma had said: ''I am going to win then Eriksson will be my coach.''

The Lisbon side are currently coached by Fernando Santos, and are seventh in the domestic league with one point from their first two Champions League group games.