Sheringham loaned to Darts

Dean Saunders is looking to the loan market to bolster his Wolves squad for the relegation run-in having suffered a triple injury blow last weekend.

First-choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme could well miss the remainder of the season after breaking his hand punching a dressing room tactics board at half-time in Saturday's 2-1 win over Bristol City, having earlier conceded a bizarre own goal.

To make matters worse, Saunders had already lost star winger Bakary Sako (hamstring) and midfielder Dave Edwards (metatarsal) against the Robins, both of whom are now facing at least six weeks on the sidelines.

Dorus De Vries will stand in for Ikeme, while Aaron McCarey has been recalled from his loan spell at Walsall as back up, but Saunders is keen to bring in further players for the remaining eight games of the campaign as Wolves aim to secure their Championship status.

"We're looking to do something, especially with the three injuries," the Welshman told the club's official website.

"I might have to look at the goalkeeping situation as well."

The Bees will leave their home of 106 years at the end of the campaign for the Hive, and celebrated their last game under the lights with a 2-0 win over Fleetwood.

But while the former Holland international will always have a soft spot for the stadium, he is adamant the club's decision to move is the right one.

"I think that Underhill is a special place, especially when you come here for the first time," he told the Barnet Times.

"They have the hill which is uncommon and I think that the charm of that aspect will live long in our memories.

"Sometimes it is time to move on. We have a great opportunity and we have to take it.

"If that means we can develop quickly then as a football club you need to take it with both hands.

"That is why it is very important to stay up. Not only because of the new stadium but also because of the ambitions we have, the academy we have and philosophy that is behind the new plan.

"Going into a lower league would delay that but I am confident even if that did happen we would overcome it."

The Stoke striker and his team-mates left Dublin en route to their qualifier against Sweden at the Friends Arena in Stockholm on Friday evening before Austria's visit to the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday.

In reality, all three sides are battling for second place in Group C behind current leaders and favourites Germany, with a play-off berth up for grabs.

The Swedes, who drew 4-4 in Berlin in October, currently lead the way with seven points, one more than Giovanni Trapattoni's men, with the Austrians a further two points adrift, and Walters knows what happens in the next two games could prove decisive.

He said: "If we go there and we are beaten by Sweden and we don't turn up against Austria and are beaten there, we are not going to get second place, are we?

"We need to go and get the points, so it will be a pivotal week for us. We will know more come Tuesday night.

"We have got to go and get the results we need and if we don't, we all know the consequences of that.

"Germany are way above most teams in the world and I think the group is theirs, so a lot of teams are fighting now for second place."

Ireland launched their campaign with a good away victory in Kazakhstan in September, and were successful on the road the following month when they returned from the Faroe Islands with three more points after a 4-1 victory.

However, what happened in between set the alarm bells ringing and came close to costing Trapattoni his job.

On October 12, Germany tore the Republic apart in Dublin, trouncing them 6-1 to illustrate the gulf in class between the sides.

Asked if Ireland are a better team away from home, Walters said with a smile: "We have had Germany at home, haven't we? Let's be honest, they are a mile ahead of a lot of teams in the world.

"You have got to pick your points up where you can. It's going to be a difficult test for us, but they are two major games we are going into and we need to get the points out of them."

Walters seems likely to start from the bench in Sweden with Shane Long favourite to partner skipper Robbie Keane.

However, the 29-year-old will be delighted simply to be on the plane after, for a few moments at least, fearing he had suffered a nasty injury in a training ground collision with the West Brom man yesterday.

Walters said: "I have had bad ankle injuries in the past and ruptured it, and that pain was up there above them, so I thought it was going to be worse that it was.

"But it was fine after about an hour."

The Reds cannot win any silverware this season, and their seventh-place position, nine points off the top four, all but rules out Champions League qualification.

An extended absence from Europe's elite competition - Liverpool have not played in the Champions League since 2009-10 - causes further issues in relation to the recruitment and retention of players.

Agger, though, foresees a bright future at Anfield.

"It is a club that will have trophies, I think it goes without saying," said the centre-back.

"I believe it will come, of course. It will not be this year, because we are changing the style of play as we have not got the results we would have wanted but we have played well.

"There have been a few worries and it has something to do with stability and we must also have a bigger squad.

"These are the things we need to work towards next season.

"If we can keep the same level in more matches than we do this year it will look better for next season."

Agger credited Rodgers with having a positive impact on his fitness, which has allowed him to have his best run in the side.

The 28-year-old has started 29 of Liverpool's 30 Premier League matches, missing one only because of suspension.

Agger has made just four other appearances in the Europa League as Rodgers has sought to manage the defender both on and off the pitch.

"For me it's about being fit and I've been the fittest in years," the Denmark captain, preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Czech Republic and Bulgaria, told Danish website Sporten.

"I have not missed a game because of an injury and I think that is the first time in my career.

"Brendan Rodgers is undoubtedly the reason I have played all the matches without injuries this year and I cannot be anything but pleased.

"I must give the new coaching team great credit for it, but especially the new manager gets the greatest credit for this.

"It is not I who can take these decisions, it is he who has decided to adjust my training specifically for me.

"The new coaching team have come up with a form of exercise taking into account the individual, and it is something I have needed.

"My training volume is scaled down and then I have an increased recovery period."

The former England star was being treated in Arizona during a two-month stay as he fought against his latest personal problems.

But while he admits he cannot be certain whether he will never drink alcohol again, Gascoigne accepts responsibility.

"I don't know if I'm going to touch a drink again. I just know that I'm not drinking today," he told Sky Sports News on Wednesday.

"I always remember lying on my bed and hearing the doctor saying, 'I don't think this guy is going to make it'.

"I panicked and got off the bed and said, 'please don't let us die. I need to water my plants' and boom I was out of it."

However, he insisted his health was improving and the biggest issue facing him now was cutting out destructive "binges".

"I'm much better now, coming up to six weeks. Over 11 years, I've only drunk for four months of it. Just five little binges. I've got to stop them binges.

"I've just got to stop picking up a drink. The press, what they wrote, it pulled me out of myself and it will hopefully help other alcoholics, seeing how close I was to passing away. Hopefully my story can help them."

Brian McDermott was last week relieved of his duties at the Madejski Stadium helm after a run of four successive league defeats left the Royals in serious danger of an immediate return to the Championship.

Reading's Russian owner Anton Zingarevich is believed to be in the country as the search for a replacement continues, with Poyet the latest favourite for the job.

After links to former Swindon boss Paolo di Canio and ex-Southampton manager Nigel Adkins, the odds on the Brighton boss replacing McDermott have shortened to as low as 1/10 with some bookmakers.

It is understood tentative talks have taken place regarding a move to Reading but that it is by no means a done deal, with Poyet's Brighton side upwardly mobile.

They are seventh in the Championship after a 3-0 derby defeat of Crystal Palace and Poyet has previously stated he has ambitions to go to one of England's elite.

However, should the Uruguayan plump for a move to the Royals, skipper McAnuff believes he would be joining a club that could still beat the drop.

"No one's giving up," the midfielder told the club's official website.

"We're got eight massive games left now and it doesn't matter who we've got, we'll show our pride and see if we can pick some results up.

"For us it's about believing that we're good enough to be here. We really do believe that - we're here on merit.

"We've earned the right to be here and we just want to make sure we give it a good crack between now and the end of the season and do our best to make sure that we stay up.

"Credit to Eamonn [Dolan, caretaker manager], the staff and the players - it was a tough week but in football you've got to roll with the punches and get on with it, and I thought we did that on Saturday."

That match saw Reading fall to champions elect Manchester United, with Wayne Rooney's first-half goal proving the difference.

The Royals remain second from bottom and seven points adrift of safety, although McAnuff was proud of the performance his team-mates put in at Old Trafford.

"Obviously lots happened in the week and it was nice to get out there and do what we're here for and play football," he said.

"As usual, it seemed as if the game was won before we had even got there.

"There were some pretty ridiculous predictions before the game but we came up and once again showed what we're about."

The son of Liverpool manager Brendan will help the Grecians' promotion bid as he seeks regular first-team football.

Rodgers, 20, has made one senior appearance for the Seagulls, coming on as a substitute in the club's 1-1 draw against non-league side Wrexham in the FA Cup third round.

He could make his debut for his new side against Exeter's promotion rivals Rotherham at the weekend.

The son of former England international Teddy has been sidelined for 14 months after fracturing his foot on Boxing Day 2011.

He made his first appearance in a Hampshire Senior Cup tie against AFC Totton earlier this month and will now look for first-team football with the non-league outfit, where he will remain until April 20.

The 24-year-old joined the Cherries from Dartford in October 2011 and scored once in seven appearances before his injury.

His previous spell with the Darts yielded 30 goals in 46 appearances.