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After spending a month and a half on the sidelines, Barcelona’s versatile midfielder Andres Iniesta is desperate to make the final game of the year before the league goes into a two-week Christmas break.

The Blaugrana will take on Villarreal at El Madrigal on Sunday in a match that could potentially extend their lead at the top of the table to a massive 11 points over any of their closest rivals, and Iniesta is eager to participate in that game.

According to Barcelona-based daily Sport, the 24-year-old has already been given a clean bill of health from the club’s medical staff. He trained normally with the rest of the squad on Tuesday and he even played in a practice match yesterday. He showed no signs of slipping into a relapse, but at this point his fate rests solely in the hands of coach Pep Guardiola.

The Santpedor-born trainer will have the final say on whether or not to even include Iniesta in the squad list for the trip to Castellon. He had already previously indicated that he would prefer to have the EURO 2008-winning midfielder rested until the start of the new year.

Iniesta has been out of action since November 4, when he suffered a muscle tear in his upper right thigh during the 1-1 home draw with Basel in the Champions League.

Ramón Calderón promised a young striker for Christmas and according to Marca that is exactly what he has delivered this evening.

The Spanish press report that Real Madrid have signed Dutch striker Klaas Jan-Huntelaar and will unveil him in the transfer window.

The 25-year-old has been admired by the top clubs around Europe for a while now and this move has been on the cards, with Pedja Mijatovic declaring just this morning that he was a priority signing for the Spanish side.

The Ajax striker has scored an impressive 75 goals in 90 games for the Dutch side and will be eligible to play in the Champions League for the defending La Liga champions.

The only negative point is that he is injured until January and has never played for a top European side in the past, despite his age.

Huntelaar was made club captain earlier this season by coach Marco Van Basten and appeared at the European Championships for Holland, finding the back of the net against Romania.

Overall for his country he has played eleven times and scored seven goals, ironically struggling to get in the team because of the presence of Ruud Van Nistelrooy, the man he could well now partner at Real Madrid.

AFP – Everton’s Steven Pienaar (Bottom) celebrates scoring the opening goalwith Tim Cahill (TopL) against …

LONDON (AFP) – South African midfielder Steven Pienaar ended his goal drought to give Everton a 1-0 win against Tottenham on Sunday.

Pienaar hadn’t scored for David Moyes’ side for over a year but he finally got back on target with a deflected effort early in the second half at White Hart Lane.

The 26-year-old’s goal was enough to give Moyes victory in his 300th game as Everton boss and handed Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp a first home defeat.

The match started badly for Everton when Nigeria forward Ayegbeni Yakubu, who was leading Everton’s attack on his own, fell awkwardly after a challenge with Ledley King and was forced off, with Louis Saha on as his replacement.

Spurs had their first effort on goal through Tom Huddlestone, who fizzed a drive across Tim Howard’s goal.

The hosts, full of confidence after seven wins from nine matches since Redknapp’s appointment, went close again when David Bentley headed over from Aaron Lennon’s cross.

Everton responded well though and Marouane Fellaini sent in a dangerous cross from the left that required Heurelho Gomes to parry and Jonathan Woodgate to clear.

Spurs came closer when Bentley curled in a free-kick and Phil Jagielka headed just past his own post.

Fellaini then tried his luck twice from outside the penalty area in the same move, with Gomes getting his hands on both attempts.

When Tim Cahill crossed just before the half-time whistle, Saha was given a free header but his finish was straight at Gomes.

Pienaar delayed the start of the second half as he was mistakenly wearing Leon Osman’s shirt, but after a quick change he scored in the 51st minute.

The South African won a free-kick which Mikel Arteta took to Pienaar, whose shot took a wicked deflection off Corluka to wrongfoot Gomes.

The dreadlocked midfielder celebrated wildly and whipped his shirt off to celebrate in front of the travelling Everton fans.

Pienaar was in the mood for a second and Gomes had to save his swerving effort from outside the area as the Spurs defenders backed off.

Saha lasted until the 70th minute before he was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Victor Anichebe.

Roman Pavlyuchenko almost levelled when he was found at the near post but Howard denied the Russia striker before Fraizer Campbell’s effort deflected just wide in stoppage time.

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Barcelona are now so used to winning by large margins this season that their post-match press conferences are becoming quite predictable. On Saturday night, the squad once again stressed the need to avoid getting carried away.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Samuel Eto’o said, “We needed the victory and although it was complicated, we won the game at a difficult ground. At the end of the day, all the games are worth three points just like this one.”

The Cameroonian then spoke of his impact on the game: “I was alive for the goal and when I struck it Palop was badly placed. I want to play not just as a forward but all over the pitch and I enjoy working hard.” Eto’o made seven tackles last night, an impressive number for a forward.

Finally, the striker spoke of his sadness at being suspended for next week’s match against Valencia: “It is a pity but I am going to work hard in training to help my team mates win the game.”

The only consolation for Eto’o will be that his suspension should ensure that he is available to play against Real Madrid, an opponent he loves to score against.

Lionel Messi was the man of the match, and he said, “Sevilla are a great team that made life complicated. I believe that we are in the middle of a great season and we need to continue like this.”

Messi then revealed that the squad knew about Real Madrid’s loss before the match, but stated, “We have to continue winning and if they also lose, then it’s even better.”

Finally, club captain Carles Puyol had his say: “These three points are important because they will give us confidence. If we continue like this then things will work out well.”

Fans of Valencia and Real Madrid will be hoping that the press conferences in the coming weeks are not similar to this one.

The former River Plate star suggested that he could be off to White Hart Lane in the New Year, but the club have stuck a ‘not for sale’ sign up to any club considering their star man.

Triaud does not envisage one of Bordeaux’s leading players making a mid-season move and said: “For us, the question of Cavenaghi’s departure this winter is not even being asked.”

“I have heard no news from his agent since June. And given that we are still on track in several competitions, it isn’t a subject we are thinking about.

“You don’t let a player go in the middle of a season.”

Cavenaghi has hit form after a slow start in France, bagging 23 goals in 2008, and although he is happy at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, he will not rule out a move to north London.

“I feel good at Bordeaux,” he said. “I am playing in every Ligue 1 match, although I am disappointed I don’t play more in the Champions League. But if Tottenham were to double my salary, I am going there. It’s part of the job.”

Udinese began the game brightly and came close early on with with Antonio Floro Flores. The hitman was awarded a free kick but he blasted it wide. The Bianconeri kept on banging at the door and they came close just after 20 minutes when Pasquale crossed in well for Motta but the midfielder sent his header wide of the mark.

Alexis Sanchez was on fire and he led the charge. The Chilean hit-man had a number of chances but he failed to make them count. Reggina were always on the back foot but they came close Costa played in Di Gennaro but the striker scuffed his shot from close range.

Neither side were able to take the lead in the first half as the referee blew for the interval.

Pasquale Marino’s men came out fighting in the second half. Fabio Quagliarella came on for Floro Flores who was suffering from an earlier knock. The former Sampdoria man linked up well with Sanchez after a neat one-two move but he fired the ball straight at Marino who saved well. The Bianconeri man knew he should have done better by the look on his face.

Udinese continued to dominate and Motta tried his luck from distance but his effort was too weak to trouble the Reggina shot-stopper. The Calabrians had the chance to win the tie right at the death after Rakic was fouled in the box by Emanuele Belardi. The referee sent off the former Juventus goalkeeper and awarded a penalty. Halfredsson stepped up and blasted his effort high and wide. It was an abysmal attempt which had coach Nevio Orlandi fuming in frustration.

The game went into extra time as both teams continued to battle. Reggina came closest when a fierce shot from Ceravolo came crashing back off the crossbar. Neither side were able to come up with the magic and to make matters worse, Udinese were later reduced to nine men after Quagliarella brought down for dangerous play. He recieved a straight red but replays show it was rather harsh.

The game went into penalties with Lukovic going first for Udinese and he scored with a decent left foot strike. Tognozzi stepped up for Reggina and he sent Koprivec the other way. Obodo then scored but he was lucky as Marino got his fingertips to it. Ceravolo then took his kick and he made the scores 2-2. Sala made no mistake from his effort as he sent Marino the wrong way. Baril scored for Reggina while Motta had his effort saved and Reggina’s Viola also had his strike parried.

Felipe for Udinese and the Costa made it 4-4. Nef made it 5-4 before Rakic levelled the scores. It was then 20-year-old Asamoah’s turn and he also got onto the scoresheet. Basso then made it 6-6 for Reggina. Pasquale sent his effort over the bar. Halfredsson then stepped up for his second of the night and he missed. Koprivec guessed right to keep his side in the game. The young goalkeeper took his kick and scored. Reggina goalkeeper Marino also made no mistake. Lukovic scored again to make it 8-7 and then Tognozzi missed for the Granata.

Udinese are through to the quarter finals where they will play the winner of Napoli - Salernitana.

The 25-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with Roma and French rivals Marseille.

Fred admitted last week that his priority is to stay with Lyon and the Ligue 1 champions are also keen to prolong the association.

“The chairman talked to him at the end of the match against (Steaua) Bucharest and again on Saturday at Monaco to set up a meeting,” Lyon’s special adviser Bernard Lacombe told Le 10 Sport.

“With the coach Claude Puel, we will meet him to tell him about our interest.”

ARSENAL’S talented youngsters progressed stylishly to the League Cup quarterfinals by beating Premier League rival Wigan Athletic 3-0 on Tuesday.

Arsene Wenger’s side, which thrashed Sheffield United 6-0 in the previous round and showed 11 changes from the team that beat Manchester United on Saturday, advanced with two goals by Jay Simpson and one from Carlos Vela at the Emirates Stadium.

Manchester United also went through as it defeated Championship (second division) promotion chasers Queens Park Rangers 1-0 with a penalty from Argentina striker Carlos Tevez.

“I said it after Sheffield United that this is the most complete team of youngsters we have had,” Arsenal manager Wenger told Sky Sports television. Simpson, one of eight teenagers to start, latched on to a fine pass from 16-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere to open the scoring just before halftime before grabbing his second in the 66th minute.

Nineteen-year-old Mexico striker Vela, who also notched a hat-trick against Sheffield United, exquisitely chipped keeper Chris Kirkland for the third goal after 70 minutes.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce was staggered by their proficiency.

“They were frightening,” he said. “Arsene says it is the best crop of youngsters he’s had and when you think of the young players they have had in the past, that is some compliment.

“They gave us a torrid evening. We’ve gone out of the cup with a whimper really. They created more chances against us than any other team this season.”

Wenger later told reporters that Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky had undergone further knee surgery but should be fit to return for Arsenal in six to eight weeks.

Rosicky, 28, has been out since January.

Elsewhere, Glenn Whelan and Danny Pugh netted as Premier League Stoke City beat League Two (fourth division) strugglers Rotherham United 2-0.

A British football team could take part in the 2012 Olympics without damaging the future of the home nations teams, according to senior minister Jim Murphy.

Scottish football bosses have opposed the creation of a ‘Team GB’ for the London, fearing it could jeopardise the independence of the home nations within international governing body FIFA.

But Scots Secretary Murphy reported today that FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has given him a ‘reassurance’ that a joint UK team in 2012 would have no impact on the Scotland team, or the other three home nations.

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The idea of a British team had plenty of opposition in Scotland

Murphy told BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland: ‘Scottish teenagers of today can be the Olympians of 2012 and can do so safe in the knowledge that the Scottish national team is safe.

‘The proposal is for a UK team as a one-off in the Olympics in London in 2012 for players under the age of 23.’