TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016 SPORTS Struggling Genoa looking for derby boost

MILAN: Genoa host Sampdoria in the break and we’re determined to go out Sampdoria have endured struggles “We had time during the holidays to Ricardo Alvarez on a six-month deal city derby hoping to show their cur- and show we don’t deserve to be of their own, only ending a run of four recharge our batteries so we’re looking from Inter following a loan spell rent struggles are temporary as where we are in the table right now,” defeats with a draw away to Lazio and for a positive start to the new year. with Sunderland in England’s Premier resumes today following a two-week Rincon told Sky Sport. a 2-0 home win over Palermo in the Mentally, we’re ready,” Montella said. League. The remainder of the mid- festive break. “The derby is a special game that is week before Christmas. “To win this game we’ll need determi- week fixtures will be held on ’s men have totally different from all the others, That mediocre run of results led nation, but it won’t be enough. We Wednesday when Inter travel to slipped to 17th in ’s top flight to because there’s only only thing that some to question the club’s decision to need to be lucid and have full respect Empoli looking to protect their one- sit just two points above third-from- matters and that is victory.” Genoa’s sack coach at the start of for our opponents. “Genoa are a top point lead over Fiorentina, who are bottom Frosinone after a run of disas- last win at home came against November and replace him with ex- side and at the start of the season away to Palermo. trous results leading up to Christmas. Sassuolo at the end of November and Fiorentina handler . were one of the more complete squads Napoli, who sit in third also one Before then, Genoa had enjoyed a since then Gasperini’s men have suf- in the league before they suffered due point off the pace, host Torino while strong run which had left them firmly fered home defeats to struggling Carpi ‘RECHARGE BATTERIES’ to a number of injuries.” While Genoa champions Juventus, in fourth at three in the top half of the table and and Bologna while conceding defeat at Montella said the festive break has are hoping AC Milan striker Alessio points behind Inter, host Verona. Colombian midfielder Tomas Rincon title challengers and Roma. given him time to reflect on their strat- Cerci will reply positively to their offer Elsewhere, fifth-placed Roma are away believes a win on Tuesday will show In the first Serie A game of 2016 and at egy for the second half of the season, of a move to the club during the win- at Chievo while AC Milan, in sixth at their league position is misleading. the clubs’ shared Luigi Ferraris stadium but admits Samp won’t be taking ter transfer market, Samp on Monday eight points behind Inter, are at home “We’ve had a good rest over the festive today, sparks are expected to fly. Genoa lightly. welcomed Argentinian midfielder to Bologna. —AFP Leicester sign teenager Gray

LONDON: Leicester have signed promising me it’s an ideal place for me to improve. Birmingham winger Demarai Gray from “Meeting all the staff here, it seems like Birmingham for an undisclosed fee, the a nice family place, so I think that’s perfect club announced yesterday. for me. “You can see how well the team has England Under-20 international Gray, been doing this year and I watch a lot of 19, agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract football so I can see that the way Leicester with the Foxes after emerging as one of the City play suits my style. “I only hear good brightest young talents in the things about Leicester and I’m looking for- Championship. ’s side have ward to starting.” climbed to second in the top-flight table, Gray’s signing came just hours after just two points behind leaders Arsenal, after Leicester confirmed star striker Jamie Vardy a superb run in the first half of the season. is set to undergo a minor groin operation. Ranieri is keen to maintain Leicester’s The 28-year-old, the joint-leading scorer in momentum by adding depth to his squad the Premier League, requires surgery to and Gray fits the bill after catching the repair a long-standing problem but he is Italian’s eye with a string of fine perform- only expected to miss one match. ances in the second tier since making his The procedure will rule Vardy out of the Birmingham debut aged just 17. FA Cup clash at Tottenham on Sunday, a “It’s been my dream to play in the game he would likely have been rested for Premier League since I started playing foot- anyway. The England international should ball so I’m very happy to join the club,” Gray be fit again when the Foxes return to White told Leicester’s website. “It’s a great club. Hart Lane in the Premier League three days The facilities are great and for a player like later. —AFP Prolific Vardy can reach the top: Elliott

LONDON: Jamie Vardy is “something the January transfer window having been exceptional” who can play at any level and linked with a big-money move to NEW YORK: Jason Spezza #90 of the Dallas Stars scores a third period on Thomas Greiss #1 of the New York Islanders skates against the Leicester City have yet to see the best of Manchester City. New York Islanders at the Barclays Center on Sunday in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders defeated the Stars 6-5. —AFP the prolific striker who will have an “amaz- ing career”, according to former Foxes cap- GOLDEN ERA tain Matt Elliott. Elliott, who played nearly 300 games for Vardy, playing minor league football Leicester between 1997 and 2005 and was three years ago, has taken the Premier part of the club’s golden era under now Jagr scores two goals, League by storm with his goals turning Ireland manager Martin O’Neill, does not Leicester, in their second season back in the believe they need to sell their top striker. top-flight after a 10-year absence, into “I don’t think Leicester need to sell, in unlikely title contenders. Thai-owned terms of financial value, because what’s it Panthers beat Wild 2-1 Leicester have been the surprise of the sea- going to cost to replace Jamie Vardy?,” he son, carrying on the momentum from last said. year when they pulled away from relega- “It’s a pointless exercise for me. If their SUNRISE: Jaromir Jagr scored two goals, tion danger by winning seven of their final hand gets forced and he puts the squeeze including the game-winner in the third peri- NHL Results/Standings nine games. on and he goes then ok. They need to have od, and Al Montoya made 38 saves as the They surprisingly axed manager Nigel some reinforcements lined up.” streaking Florida Panthers beat the Minnesota Florida 2, Minnesota 1; Anaheim 4, Winnipeg 1; Chicago 3, Ottawa 0; NY Islanders 6, Dallas 5. Pearson, replacing him with Claudio Leicester sit second after 20 games, two Wild 2-1 on Sunday. The victory was the ninth Ranieri, and England international Vardy points behind Arsenal, but Elliott, an in a row for Florida and seventh straight at Eastern Conference Western Conference has flourished under the Italian who has uncompromising centre back who lifted home, both franchise records. The nine-game Atlantic Division Pacific Division deployed the 28-year-old in a more central the League Cup in 2000 after scoring twice winning streak ties Montreal, Washington and W L OT GF GA PTS Dallas 28 9 4 144 107 60 role with a license to roam. “He’s got the in the final in a 2-1 win over Tranmere the New York Rangers for the longest in the Florida 23 12 4 106 85 50 Chicago 23 13 4 111 97 50 quality to pretty much play at any level Rovers, said Ranieri needed to bolster his NHL this season. Dmitry Kulikov had two MontrÈal 22 15 3 116 99 47 St. Louis 23 14 4 101 100 50 with the ability he’s got,” Elliott told Reuters. squad to stay in the mix for a top-four fin- Detroit 19 13 7 100 106 45 assists for the Panthers (23-12-4). The 43-year- Minnesota 20 11 7 101 90 47 “We’re yet to see the best of him and I don’t ish. “In my mind there are one or two areas Boston 20 13 4 116 102 44 Nashville 19 13 7 103 102 45 old Jagr has 735 goals, six behind Brett Hull Tampa Bay 19 16 4 100 95 42 think even Leicester city utilise him to strengthen and if they did that it would Colorado 18 18 3 109 110 39 for third on the league’s career list.Jason Ottawa 18 15 6 111 118 42 enough. I don’t think he gets enough of the really show their intent,” he said. “Jamie Winnipeg 18 19 2 104 114 38 ball,” he added. Vardy needs support around the attacking Zucker scored for the Wild. Toronto 15 15 7 99 103 37 Buffalo 15 20 4 91 105 34 Central Division “He’s something exceptional with the areas, a little bit of extra quality there, and Los Angeles 25 11 2 104 83 52 BLACKHAWKS 3, SENATORS 0 Metropolitan Division natural footballing ability he’s got. perhaps in the central defensive area as Washington 28 7 3 121 83 59 Arizona 18 16 4 107 122 40 Intelligence in a football sense... he’s just well... just back up.” Corey Crawford made 26 saves in his NHL- NY Islanders 22 13 5 113 99 49 Anaheim 16 15 7 73 90 39 got god given talent that not many pos- Should they make one or two additions leading sixth shutout this season to lead NY Rangers 21 14 4 112 103 46 Vancouver 15 15 9 95 110 39 sess. He’ll go on and have an amazing Elliott, who won 18 international caps for Chicago past Ottawa for its third straight win. New Jersey 20 14 5 93 94 45 San Jose 18 17 2 101 106 38 career.” Scotland, is confident Leicester can push Duncan Keith and Artem Anisimov scored for Pittsburgh 19 15 4 91 93 42 Calgary 18 18 2 101 121 38 Last month Vardy became the first play- on, although landing their first ever English the Blackhawks, who got an empty-net goal Carolina 16 17 6 92 110 38 Edmonton 16 21 3 101 122 35 er to score in 11 successive Premier League top-flight league title will be hard. from Andrew Desjardins with 48 seconds left. Philadelphia 15 15 7 79 102 37 Note: Overtime losses (OT) worth 1 pt and not included Columbus 15 22 3 103 127 33 matches and despite a three-game goal “They can achieve what many people Crawford wasn’t tested consistently, but he in loss column (L). drought in which Leicester have failed to consider to be nigh on the impossible,” he was sharp when needed in earning his 18th win, The speedy forward may have to said. “I think they can stay in the top region. career shutout in his 300th game. Ottawa’s undergo minor surgery, British media Winning it is a long shot. Champions Craig Anderson stopped 27 shots, but the reported, but he is certain to be a target in League is a possibility.” —Reuters Senators lost their third straight and fifth in their last six.

ISLANDERS 6, STARS 5 Kyle Okposo had two goals and an assist, Cal Clutterbuck scored twice and New York beat the NHL-best Dallas Stars. Anders Lee had a goal and an assist, and Mikhail Grabovski also scored to help the Islanders win for the fourth time in six games and improve to 4-0-1 in their last five against the Stars. Thomas Greiss finished with 36 saves. New York trailed 2-1 in the first period before scoring the next four goals and then held off Dallas in the third to improve to 12-4-1 against Western Conference teams. Valeri Nichushkin had two goals for Dallas. Vernon Fiddler, Patrick Sharp and Jason Spezza also scored, and Kari Lehtonen stopped 38 shots. The Stars, coming off an overtime defeat at New Jersey the previous night, lost consecu- tive games for the first time this season. Dallas was the last remaining NHL team without back-to-back losses.

DUCKS 4, JETS 1 Kevin Bieksa and Ryan Kesler each scored a power-play goal, and Anaheim earned at least one point for the sixth consecutive game by defeating Winnipeg. Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry also scored, and John Gibson made 19 saves for the Ducks as they opened an eight- game homestand vital to their playoff hopes in the jumbled Pacific Division. Tyler Myers scored for the Jets, and Michael Hutchinson stopped 31 shots. After sweeping the Jets in DUBAI: South Korea’s Ku Hyun Jun, right, runs towards the goal followed by the first round of last year’s Stanley Cup play- ANAHEIM: John Gibson #36 and Hampus Lindholm #47 of the Anaheim Ducks look back for the Mohamed Surour Masoud of the in the final minutes of a offs, the Ducks won the first meeting this sea- puck during a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets at Honda Center on Sunday in Anaheim, friendly match in Dubai, yesterday. — AP son. — AP California. — AFP