http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23630749-5003460,00.html
Milligan set to join Gunners
OLYROO captain Mark Milligan is poised to join English Premier League club Arsenal after impressing manager Arsene Wegner in a secret trial.
Speaking on Total Football on Fox Sports last night, Milligan confirmed he was poised to sign with the Gunners and quit Sydney FC subject to obtaining a British work permit.
An Arsenal source said that Wenger saw Milligan as a potential straight replacement for French international Matthieu Flamini, who is bound for AC Milan next season.
But Milligan's decision to head to the UK in a bid to secure his footballing future has not impressed his Olympics coach Graham Arnold, who was expecting him to join his Beijing-bound team-mates in camp in Townsville, North Queensland.
Milligan was the subject of transfer talks at the start of the last A-League season when his manager Craig Nettlebeck had the dashing young left back ready to sign with then newly promoted French club Metz.
But negotiations broke down when Sydney FC management refused the rising star's clearance to France.
Meanwhile, pending fatherhood could rule out Socceroos Lucas Neill, Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns and Josh Kennedy from playing in crucial World Cup qualifiers next month.
Australia coach Pim Verbeek yesterday revealed the four players' partners are all expecting "some time" in June with Australia due to contest four crucial matches in three weeks against Iraq in Brisbane and in neutral Dubai, then Qatar (away) and China in Sydney on June 22.
"It is a tricky situation. Obviously I have to make allowances," Verbeek said.
"It is no state secret all four boys' wives or partners are due to give birth in June around the time we have big games scheduled. I will plan my squad around them."
In addition to the pending births, Verbeek yesterday ruled out for the next group stage Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill and Patrick Kisnorbo because of injury.
Viduka, in a purple patch of form with Newcastle United, is troubled by an achilles problem which will require surgery.
Cahill (Everton) and Kisnorbo (Leicester City) both face lengthy spells on the sidelines with long-term foot and knee problems.