Ban reduced for Chelsea Talented Star

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Chelsea youngster Slobodan Rajkovic has successfully appealed against a one-year suspension from football, although the on-loan FC Twente defender will still be banned for international games.

Rajkovic was handed the punishment after being seen to spit at referee Abdullah Al Hilali during an Olympic tie between Serbia and Argentina in Beijing on August 19.

A trip to Zurich to appeal against the ruling has been successful though and Rajkovic is now eligible to feature in FC Twente’s Eredivisie games.

The defender, who agreed to join Chelsea from OFK Belgrade in November 2005, has welcomed the decision although he is still disappointed at being prevented from playing for his country.

“I am very pleased with this ruling,” Rajkovic told the club’s official website. “I look forward to playing in competitions for FC Twente.

“It is good that I have always been training in recent months and can now join the group.

“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone at the club for their support at this difficult time.

“It remains, of course, extremely annoying that I have no matches to play next year for Serbia.”

Rajkovic made 13 appearances whilst on loan with PSV Eindhoven last season and FC Twente coach Steve McClaren is now keen to hand him his long-awaited debut in Enschede.

“First of all I am obviously very happy for Slobodan personally,” said McClaren. “He has put a very difficult and unpleasant time behind him.

“FC Twente can now have this talented defender again.”

Pompey send striker Sahar back to Chelsea after unsuccessful loan spell

Ben Sahar will return to Chelsea in January after Portsmouth decided not to extend the striker’s six-month loan agreement at Fratton Park.

The Israel international arrived during the summer but has failed to appear in a competitive match for Portsmouth.

Sahar has not even been included in the squad for most matches. With Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Kanu and David Nugent ahead of him Sahar has been unable to break into the team.

And despite having the option of extending the loan, both parties have decided a parting of the ways is best.

Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie confirmed: ‘Ben will go back in January. It has been a mutual decision.

‘He’s not been involved but the coaches feel he’s not at that level and that he will be better in the Championship. He’s had injuries and needs to play somewhere but I think at the moment that would be in the Championship.’

John Terry is the complete footballer, says his Chelsea team-mate Deco

Chelsea midfield ace Deco has hailed skipper John Terry as the ‘complete footballer.’ And he believes the timing of his arrival in London has been perfect because he’s mature enough to have settled in quickly.

The Portuguese star said: ‘For me Chelsea have the strongest midfield in the world. That is the strongest area of the team.

John Terry

Terry’s gold: The Chelsea captain is football’s most complete player, according to Deco.

‘However, the player that has impressed me most is John Terry because he is a strong character, he is a great footballer and a very complete footballer.’

He added: ‘I have found it easy to adapt despite the difference in the Spanish and English styles of play.

‘I think that’s because I came here at a stage of my career when I already had a lot of experience.

‘I accepted the differences and was more mature about my surroundings.’

Deco gave an insight into Jose Mourinho’s managerial style as opposed to Phil Scolari, having of course played under both.

He said: ‘Scolari talks more to the players on a daily basis whilst Mourinho prefers to concentrate on match preparation and will only speak to you personally when it is necessary to do so.’

MM has first-team future - Blues

Chelsea’s latest England star, 20-year-old defender Michael Mancienne, has been told he has a first-team future at Stamford Bridge.

Mancienne, who is in England’s squad to face Germany on Wednesday, had recently hinted he might have to quit the club in order to gain regular first-team football.

He is currently on loan at Wolves having spent much of the previous two seasons at QPR.

But Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said: “He is a very good young player and we look forward to him at some point making it into the first team.

“Unfortunately, we have lots of good players who play in the same position so in the last couple of years we’ve sent him out on loan to gain experience.”

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