SAINTS defender Ryan Bertrand has been given the go-ahead by planners to build a new gym complex at his £3million mansion.
The Southampton left back, who played for England in the 2-0 World Cup qualifier victory against Lithuania on Sunday, wants to build a single-storey extension to his home complete with a steam room and seating area.
The four-bedroom house already boasts a tennis court, swimming pool, changing rooms, cinema, TV room, play room, games room and study.
The player was bought by Saints from Chelsea for £10m two years ago after a loan spell.
Planners at Elmbridge Borough Council, in Surrey, gave the 27-year-old’s plans the go ahead as there were no objections from neighbours.
Case officer Awais Awan said: “The proposed development is considered acceptable in terms of scale, bulk, height, massing, spacing and design and there would be no adverse impact on the character of the area or visual amenities of the street scene as a result of the proposals.
“It is considered that the proposal would not adversely affect the residential amenities of neighbouring properties by reason of overlooking, loss of light or overbearing effect.”
The gym will be built on his house near former club Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, Surrey.
SAITAMA – Japan centre-back Maya Yoshida hopes Chanathip Songkrasin can help lift Thai football to greater heights after the Muang Thong United playmaker joins J.League side Consadole Sapporo in July.
Southampton man Yoshida was on target in the Samurai Blue’s 4-0 victory over Thailand in Tuesday’s Group B 2018 World Cup qualifier in Saitama. Despite the scoreline, the defender was not impressed by his side’s performance. Yet he found the time to give Chanathip – fondly known as “Messi J” across Southeast Asia – his best wishes.
“I think it was a really sloppy game for us, but the most important thing is we got three points,” Yoshida told ESPN FC. "We have to improve many things, and we should have done better.
“Thailand have improved a lot. I spoke to Chanathip, who will come to Consadole Sapporo in the summer. I told him he would have to be a leader for his country and show his best form. I wished him the best of luck and I hope that Thailand’s football future is bright.”
Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was also impressed by Chanathip, and the Thailand performance in general as the visitors missed a penalty, and failed to convert several gilt-edged chances.
“I thought Thailand were really impressive because they are physically and technically very good,” Kawashima told ESPN FC.
“We struggled a lot in the first half and I have to say I was really impressed by them. Chanathip and Siroch Chatthong were particularly strong, but the whole team was good. Thailand are much stronger than they were in the past.”
Thailand full-back Tristan Do admits that his side need to find a sharper cutting edge after watching Japan’s Europe-based stars put four past the War Elephants.
Shinji Kagawa, Shinji Okazaki, Yuya Kubo and Yoshida struck the goals in the Samurai Blue’s victory. The Thais had plenty of opportunities of their own, but lacked the clinical finishing touch of their opponents.
“It’s difficult one to explain,” Do told ESPN FC. "We played well, possibly our best performance of the campaign, and ended up losing 4-0. That’s football, and it’s difficult to accept the result, but we have to take positives from our performance, though the score was disappointing.
“Japan has a very good team but they possibly had about the same number of chances as us. But they took their chances and that’s what makes the difference at this level.”
Do’s outstanding all-action display was one of the highlights for the War Elephants. When it was suggested that this might make him a transfer target for J League clubs, he admitted that he would be interested in any move that represented a step up.
“Every player wants to play at the highest possible level, whether it be in Europe or the Thai League,” said Do. “We are all prepared to take our chance to play at the highest level.”
Thailand’s head coach Kiatisuk Senamuang insisted there was no shame in losing to a better side.
“We knew from the start that we were up against a much stronger team, and we have to accept that their finishing was clinical,” said Kiatisuk. "Our build-up play was better in the second half, but we couldn’t take our chances. Overall, it was a good experience and good for the team’s development.
“It was very difficult for the players to recover from the 3-0 defeat to Saudi Arabia last week, but they showed their spirit by fighting until the end. Nobody let their heads go down and we battled all the way. We simply came up against a better side on the night.”
Kiatisuk made several changes from last week’s side, including the pairing of Tanaboon Kesarat and debutant Wattana Playnum in the centre of midfield. Tanaboon had been a regular at centre-back, despite the fact that he plays midfield with Thai League club Chiang Rai United.
“Both Tanaboon and Wattana were playing in their natural positions,” Kiatisuk told ESPN FC. “I think their performances today were excellent, especially Wattana on his debut, so I think that shows promise for the future of this partnership.”
Thailand now have to wait until June 13 to resume their campaign and will hope that an elusive first win comes against the United Arab Emirates in Bangkok.
ARTUR Boruc returns to St Mary’s for the first time this Saturday – with his confidence in a very fragile state.
The 37-year-old goalkeeper last appeared at St Mary’s on the last day of the 2013/14 season on 11 May 2014, when he started for Saints in a 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United.
Later that summer, new Saints boss Ronald Koeman shipped Boruc out on loan to Cherries, who were in the Championship at the time.
He then signed permanently at the Vitality Stadium after winning promotion to the top-flight, and his release from Saints, in May 2015.
But he is yet to return to St Mary’s in Bournemouth colours.
Boruc missed last season’s 2-0 defeat for the Cherries because of injury, with Adam Federici deputising.
The Polish shot stopper, who recently retired from international duties, has played both Premier League matches versus Saints at the Vitality, though.
Last season he kept a clean sheet as Eddie Howe’s side ran out 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Steven Cook and Benik Afobe.
But back in December he conceded thrice as Saints came from behind to beat Bournemouth 3-1, with Jay Rodriguez netting a brace after Ryan Bertrand had equalised following Nathan Ake’s early opener.
Boruc is now preparing to make his comeback and will be feeling a little more confident after his first clean sheet of 2017.
The former Celtic man, who Saints brought in on a free from Italian outfit Fiorentina in September 2012, has often struggled this campaign, with Cherries boss Howe even having looked to replace him in the January transfer window.
But that never transpired and the veteran custodian has managed to keep hold of the number one jersey.
This year so far he has conceded 23 goals in ten games - including letting in six goals in the 6-3 defeat to Everton - but he kept a clean sheet last time out as Bournemouth defeated Swansea 2-0 at home.
In total this term, the Cherries defence have managed just six shut outs in all competitions, with Boruc between the sticks for five.
They arrive at St Mary’s with the third worst defensive record in the top-flight, and have conceded the third most of any away team this term.
Cherries have let in 54 goals in 29 league games, with 31 of them going in on the road.
Things are getting tense at the foot of the Premier League as the battle to avoid the drop heats up as the run-in approaches.
But what does the form guide say and which will be the key games? Where will it be decided and who is really up against it with the fixture list?
Ahead of Swansea versus Middlesbrough live on Sky Sports this Sunday, we take a look at how things stand in the relegation scrap.
A quick reminder. Sunderland are rock bottom of the table and seven points from safety. They are joined by Middlesbrough and Hull - both clubs at risk of going straight back down.
Swansea and Crystal Palace are the two teams above the bottom three who, on the face of it, are most at risk of being dragged into the drop zone.
Even so, things are so congested at the bottom that everyone up to top-half Southampton is within nine points of the relegation places.
That being the case, this is not a good time to be out of form - as Middlesbrough, winless since Christmas, have found to their cost in sliding down the table.
Sunderland have fared little better but Hull have 11 points from nine games since Marco Silva arrived in January. If they can repeat that they will set the mark at 35 points.
Swansea will need to find three more wins to beat that and back-to-back defeats at Hull and Bournemouth in their last two matches suggest that might not be guaranteed.
Still, there are bottom-half sides in worse form. Watford are without a win in four, West Ham haven’t tasted victory in five games and for Burnley it’s a six-game winless streak.
All will feel they need a win or two more. So while Leicester and Palace are closer to the drop, with each having won three in a row they’ll be more confident of finding the points.
Much will hinge on the matches that are to come - the games with the six-point swings - and Middlesbrough’s trip to Swansea this Sunday is clearly a crucial clash.
Boro can close the gap between the two teams to just two points ahead of the midweek away game at Hull, but lose both and they could be eight from safety inside a week.
Some run-ins are kinder than others too. While Hull are among those with only two games remaining against top-six sides, Palace must still play the lot.
With so many teams still in the mix, there are a myriad of possibilities. All could become clearer very shortly - or become murkier still.
There are twists and turns to come in this Premier League relegation battle and perhaps the next big one could come at the Liberty Stadium this Sunday.
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