VOGTS: Berti Vogts has revealed he once approached Wayne Rooney about playing for Scotland. Vogts, who was in charge of Scotland from 2002 to 2004, said he was made aware of a potential family link when Rooney was a highly-rated 16-year-old with Everton. “I flew from Glasgow to Everton and I spoke to him.” Explaining Rooney’s reaction, Vogts beat his chest theatrically and said: “(Rooney told me) ‘I am English, I am English!’. Okay, sorry.”

MILITO: Inter striker Diego Milito was hit with more injury woes this week when he had to leave training with a pulled muscle. Milito limped out of Wednesday’s session and tests are to determine how serious the injury is. Milito has only just returned after missing the second half of last season with injury.

KEANE: Interim Ireland boss Noel King has rejected a request to release Robbie Keane from his squad after today’s World Cup qualifier in Germany. The 33-year-old striker’s LA Galaxy manager Bruce Arena had asked that the striker be withdrawn from the party to face Kazakhstan in Dublin on Tuesday. However, King declined and Keane will remain with his team-mates for the duration.

MATTHAEUS: Lothar Matthaeus has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Nuremberg job, insisting he is happy in his role as a TV pundit. The Bavarians are sear-ching for a replacement for Michael Wiesinger, who was dismissed earlier this week. “I’ve not met with anybody from Nuremberg. It’s all speculation again,” he said.