Clarets boss displays Bergkamp-esque brilliance

Last night, a spritely young 43-year-old named Owen Coyle played for Burnley’s reserves as they faced Liverpool’s second string at Prenton Park. Rafa Benitez and Sammy Lee witnessed the Clarets gaffer, who was apparently forced to play up front due to injuries and international call ups. A puzzling excuse when you consider the fact that he was substituted after 72 minutes.

Coyle didn’t get on the scoresheet in his side’s 1-0 defeat, but we thought it was a jolly good excuse to show the brilliant goal he scored against Accrington Stanley last April.

Italian ladies man steals the show at Old Trafford

After seeing his side steal a last minute winner against Fulham on Saturday, Rafa Benitez was enjoying his Sunday evening a little more more than usual, thanks to Manchester Utd’s imminent slip-up against Aston Villa. But just when the Spaniard thought he had gained two points on his bitter rivals, a 17-year-old reserve team striker whipped in a fantastic curling winner. “Who is this guy?” asked Benitez, nearly choking on his paella. Here’s The Spoiler’s guide to Manchester Utd’s latest sensation, Federico Macheda:

• Macheda was born in Rome on 22 August, 1991, which makes us feel incredibly old.

• He started his career playing for Lazio, but signed for Utd shortly after his sixteenth birthday.

• After joining the Red Devils in 2007, he became the Under-18 side’s top scorer, with 12 goals in 21 appearances.

• He may use more hair gel than Cristiano Ronaldo.

• On his seventeenth birthday, he signed his first professional contract, and made his way into Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s reserve team.

• Ferguson recently said of him: “The young boy Macheda is progressing

  

Martin Hansen dents chances of ever making Reds’ first team

It seems we awarded the Tame Goal of the Week Award to Manchester City’s Nedum Onuoha a little prematurely - the real recipient should be Scott Spencer for his tepid effort in the Everton/ Liverpool reserves derby on Tuesday night.

The Toffees forward returned the ball to Liverpool reserve keeper Martin Hansen after an injury stoppage, and the Danish keeper displayed some Scott Carson-esque control. Quite why he didn’t pick the ball up is anyone’s guess.

Thanks to Spoiler reader Mo for the tip