PIETERSEN A DOUBT FOR ASHES

England batsman Kevin Pietersen’s involvement in this summer’s Ashes is in doubt as he struggles to recover from injury

England batsman Kevin Pietersen is unsure whether he will be fit for this summer’s Ashes series against Australia.

The 32-year-old South African-born was ruled out of the two-test series against New Zealand with a knee injury.

Pietersen, who plays for Surrey has not represented England since the second test against the Kiwi’s in March when he sustained bruising on his knee.

It has already been confirmed that he will miss next month’s ICC Champions Trophy, but it was expected that he would have made a full recovery ahead of the first test which gets underway at Trent Bridge on 10 July.

England’s bowling coach David Saker said: “He was really excited about the Ashes, but he said he is still not sure.

“I just asked him if he thought he would be all right, and he said he thinks he will.

“It was probably the only answer he could give.

“He doesn’t know – and until he knows he can run around and it doesn’t flare up he can’t have an answer on that.

He added: “He hopes he will be ready.”

England face New Zealand in the second test on Friday at Headingley. They lead the two-test series 1-0 after they dismantled the visitors inside four days at Lords last week.

Words: Adam Grice

DICKOV APPOINTED NEW DONCASTER BOSS

Former Oldham Athletic boss Paul Dickov has been appointed the new manager of Doncaster Rovers

League One champions Doncaster Rovers have confirmed former Oldham Athletic manager Paul Dickov as their new manager.

The 40-year-old led Oldham on an impressive FA Cup run which saw them knock out Liverpool at Boundary Park.

“It is an honour for me,” Dickov said.

“It is a step up but a step up that I am ready for. I am enthusiastic about the challenge ahead.”

Dickov tendered his resignation at Boundary Park just six days after the 3-2 win over Brendan Rodgers’ side.

The Latics also knocked Rovers out of the cup in the second round before they overcame Championship side Nottingham Forest in the third round before taking Everton to a replay in the fifth round following his departure.

Under Dickov, Oldham had a poor start to their League One campaign winning just one of their opening matches, but three wins out of the next four at the star of October got the Lactics back on track.

Oldham went on to only win three more league matches before Dickov “stepped aside” on 3 February. His reign ended the day after a 3-1 away loss to Walsall. That brought a dismal run of just one point from a possible 27 to an end.

The Lancashire club saw a drop in their league form as a result of the cup run and that saw them come close to relegation to League Two.

Brian Flynn won the League One title with Doncaster last season, but has returned to a director of football role ahead of next season’s campaign

Dickov, who played 10 times for Scotland, succeeds Brian Flynn who won League One with Doncaster last season, after the former Wales and Swansea boss chose to return to a director of football role.

The former Latics boss moved to Boundary Park in 2010 and he won 43 of his 141 games in charge before leaving earlier this year.

Throughout his two-and-a-half year stay in Lancashire Dickov led the Latics to final League One positions of 17^th and 16^th.

Doncaster were relegated for the Championship at the end of the 2011-12 season after Dean Saunders failed to keep the club in the second tier of English football for a fifth successive season.

Saunders then put the South Yorkshire side in a commanding position for an instant return to the Championship before he left for struggling Wolves early in the New Year. However, Flynn who worked as Saunders’ director of football and chief scout finished the job off in dramatic style of the final day of the season to ensure they beat Bournemouth to the summit of the league.

Dickov started his playing career at Arsenal where he made 22 appearances during a six-year stay, which saw him also join both Luton Town and Brighton on loan. He then moved north to join Manchester City where he remained until 2002.

The Scottish born striker scored 35 times for City before enduring a two-year stay with Leicester City where he netted 32 times.

A further two years away from Manchester saw him join fellow Lancashire side Blackburn Rovers before he returned to Eastland’s for a second spell.

This time he struggled at Manchester City as he failed to score in 16 appearances for the club. Dickov then retraced his routes again, as he signed for Leicester where he scored twice in two years, whilst also scoring the same amount of goals during a short loan spell at Pride Park with Derby.

As his career was drawing nigh Dickov signed a two-month contract with Leeds United before leaving at the end of the season to join Oldham.

He played twice for the Latics before retiring from the game to take over the managerial seat at Boundary Park following the departure of Dave Penny, who managed Rovers between 2001 and 2006.

Michael Appleton just missed out on the job after making the final two in John Ryan’s 

short-listDickov, beat off strong competition from a host of high-profile managers to clinch the hot seat at Doncaster, most notably former Portsmouth, Blackpool and Blackburn manager Michael Appleton, who managed all three of those club’s last season.

Words: Adam Grice

Photos: Getty Images, The Guardian and The Mirror