Manchester United's Concerns Prevent Liverpool Physio Working With England

Liverpool physio Dave Galley will not be fulfilling his usual duties with the England national team next month, after Manchester United's chief executive David Gill felt that it could lead to the Red Devils' title rivals gaining an unfair advantage.

Galley will revert to the job he has done for much of the last decade, and work with the England Under-21s rather than the senior squad, to which he was promoted to assist senior physio Gary Lewin for the friendly with Holland earlier this month.

"Dave has reverted back to the Under-21s after one game," an FA spokesman told The Liverpool Echo.

"There should be no questions against his professionalism. We must be clear that there is an agreed board policy that has nothing to do with Manchester United that the medical staff should be independent.

"Franco Baldini (England coach Fabio Capello’s general manager) and Rafael Benítez discussed the matter yesterday and it was explained we wanted to see Dave working with the team in the friendly this month.

"We refute any suggestion that we have been pressurised by Manchester United."

Gill, according to The Echo, apparently drew attention to a policy brought in last year by the FA that means only non-affiliated medical staff can work with the national side, in order to avoid clubs gaining inside information about their rivals.

Lewin is now England's full-time physiotherapist, and was appointed in August last year after spending the majority of his time working with Arsenal. The same applies to England team doctor Ian Beasley, who was appointed four months later.

Manchester United challenge Liverpool with plan to lure Ryan Shawcross back to Old Trafford

Sir Alex Ferguson could thwart Liverpool's interest in former Manchester United central defender Ryan Shawcross by taking him back to Old Trafford.

The United manager is aware Liverpool have been in contact with Stoke City about the 21-year-old Chester-born six-footer and is keeping a close watch on developments.

But the Merseysiders'hopes of signing Shawcross were dashed when they discovered United had retained first refusal on any possible future deal involving the player, who first joined Stoke on a six-month loan in August 2007.

The deal was made permanent in the following January when Stoke agreed to pay £1million with a further million if they achieved promotion.

Since then Shawcross's value has soared after impressive performances helped them consolidate their Premier League status last season.