The shortlist for this year’s UEFA European Club Footballer of the Year awards is dominated by Premier League players.

A FIFA-appointed judge has confirmed clubs are obliged to release players aged 23 and under for next month’s Olympics football tournament in Beijing.

MANUEL NEUER was FC Schalke 04’s hero, capping an outstanding performance with two penalty saves as the Bundesliga side won through to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of ten-man FC Porto.

Arsene Wenger believes the arrival of Jens Lehmann will help make Arsenal “competitive” again as they seek to reclaim their Barclaycard Premiership crown.