"Don't worry, I'm a different golfer from two years ago," the new Donald confirmed.We can only hope so, because the old Donald shot a 76 and a 79 on that Kent coast, continuing a dismal Open record that now reads "five championships, five missed cuts". Nevertheless, when Nick Faldo was asked to tip a successor to him as England's last winner in 1992, he had no hesitation in nodding towards Donald.That seemed odd as the 48-year-old has also been telling all who would listen in this run-up that he, himself, is capable of making an incredible return to the winner's enclosure he so graced in 1990. But as Luke Donald nervously steps out at 7.47am on Thursday morning, in his pursuit of becoming the first Englishman to win in a nearly decade and a half, and as the expected record crowds hoot, holler and swarm around the player still considered the greatest of all, a very small part of the 27-year-old may consider that honours do not come any more dubious. Not that the boy from High Wycombe was doing anything other than beaming when the news was relayed to him yesterday, even though many suspected that as he shares the same sponsor with Nicklaus and as he all but confessed on Sunday that he knew who he was playing with, yesterday's draw for the first two rounds did not come as too great a shock "I'm so thrilled," he said "It will be an experience to remember forever. It's going to be a historic occasion and I'm delighted to be a part of it."But as Donald will also be in the company of one Tom Watson Esq, it was perhaps worth recalling that when Donald was last asked to appear in the glare of the Open spotlight at Sandwich with Tiger Woods in 2003 - he was a startled rabbit and startled rabbits have never been much cop with a driver in their hands. Club officials have rejected the notion that Chelsea are giving them time to put together a package of new signings to appease supporters in the event of Wright-Phillips being sold.Chelsea were expecting Hernan Crespo to return to training yesterday after recalling the Argentinian from his year's loan spell at Milan. As golfing honours go, they do not come any more privileged, illustrious or indeed memorable than being asked to play alongside Jack Nicklaus on the Golden Bear's grand farewell from the Open and, almost definitely, competitive golf.
The club are also optimistic about signing Lyon's Michael Essien and will present their £8m Athletic Bilbao signing Asier Del Horno to the media today.. Though their debts of around £62m are often presented in apocalyptic fashion, the core £44m deficit is structured in a manageable system of repayments.City have already drawn up two plans for their summer transfer activities, contingent on whether Wright-Phillips stays or leaves. With Wright-Phillips just one year into a new four-year deal there is no suggestion that the player will press City to leave this summer.It is the strong relationship between City and Wright-Phillips that gives the club cause for confidence. The player is the most popular squad member among staff and officials and his commitment to the club's community work, as well as his ambivalent attitude towards leaving, has given City optimism that he would not force them to sell at an unsatisfactory price.Wright-Phillips is aware that if City were offered a price around £25m, payable immediately rather than over the course of his contract, then it would be difficult for the club to reject it However, they are not in a position where they have to sell. City were informally made aware of Chelsea's interest in the 23-year-old around two weeks ago but have heard little else since that time. There has been no hint from the player himself that he wants to leave City this summer and the club are adamant that Chelsea's first tentative enquiry - around £18m - will have to be dramatically improved to succeed. For a deal to be struck this week, a bid would have to be accepted before Wright-Phillips and City leave for Thailand on Sunday where they will stay for a week for games against Bolton and Everton.Although the initial discussions between the two clubsmade it clear to Chelsea that their first offer would have to be, at the very least, more than £20m, there has only been the briefest of contact since then and no new offer. But he has told Newcastle that he will only do so if the deal is right otherwise he will remain at St James's Park.The arrival of Spector, 20, is a coup for Curbishley, who has persuaded Sir Alex Ferguson that Charlton is the best place for theAmerican full-back to gain experience.Powell, meanwhile, has returned to Charlton - who he first joined in 1998 - on a one-year deal.
The former England left-back is keen to go into coaching and is likely to be offered eventually a role by Curbishley.. There has been no limit to the speculation swirling around Shaun Wright-Phillips' future, but Manchester City have still not received a formal bid from Chelsea for the England winger and plan to take the player to Thailand on Sunday for their pre-season preparations. Despite private confidence at Stamford Bridge that Wright-Phillips' arrival is imminent, officials at City have indicated that the two clubs are still no closer to concluding a deal that would be contingent on Chelsea meeting an asking price of around £25m. Their opening European game of the season, the first leg of their third-round tie against the Slovakian side FK ZTS Dubnica, takes place on Sunday.The winners of that tie advance to play either Deportivo or the Croatian side MK Slaven Koprivnica.The Newcastle manager, Graeme Souness, might be relieved his side avoided the likes of Valencia, Hamburg, Borussia Dortmund and Lens at the draw in Nyon. But he could hardly have been presented with a tougher proposition and refused to look too far ahead."I am not thinking beyond the first game in Slovakia on Sunday because it would be wrong to do so," Souness said.
