Today's Banter: Sissoko steamed over omission, John Barnes helps out Sunderland, Besian to return early, & more

It appears Momo Sissoko's days at Liverpool are numbered. The 23-year-old lashed out in frustration after being omitted from the traveling squad to face Marseilles today. Being that his family is from France and would have a rare chance to see him play, the defensive midfielder felt he should have at least been included. Sorry, Momo, but you're wrong. Your form has been relatively poor this whole season and the only person you have to blame is yourself. Lucas may not get to play much either, but his attitude doesn't get in the way of his performance. At this point, I can't see Momo being kept around through the January window. It's disappointing, but he's not mentally capable of being in a rotated squad and it has obviously affected his play.

The legend who is John Barnes will be lending a helping hand of sorts to Roy Keane and the Black Cats by doing some pseudo-scouting for the Premiership club. The former winger will be running clinics in the Carribean and if upon seeing a player with the potential to benefit Sunderland, he'll be sent across the pond to trial under Keane. Barnes was born and raised in Jamaica before moving to England as a 13-year-old.

Besian Idrizaj, who was doing all of nothing on-loan to Crystal Palace, has been given permission by Neil Warnock to cut his year-loan early and return to Liverpool. Thank God, but like Craig Lindfield, the 20-year-old Austrian is going to find slim pickings when it comes to playing time, especially with the very recent emergence of Krisztián Németh. I guess we'll see if he'll be sent out on loan again, which would probably be best for everyone.

Finally, Rafa has stated that today's match will have no ramifications either way on whether or not he'll receive promised transfer funds in January. If they don't win today, I honestly don't know if Benitez will be around anyhow. Players and fans talk big, but I just can't see either wanting to leave LFC, except for Mascherano and maybe Xabi, but no one else will be going anywhere.

Kids watch: Anderson returns, Leto back for mini-derby, Threlfall returns to Anfield, & more

Paul Anderson is expected to be back on the pitch for Swansea today when the Swans take on Northampton in a League One fixture. The 19-year-old winger suffered a slight knock on the knee against Hartlepool last Tuesday and missed his club's FA Cup draw at Horsham last Friday. The Swans still sit atop the League One table though by game-in-hand, Nottingham Forest could overtake them with just a draw and Carlisle United both could surpass them with a win. The Cobblers currently sit in 17th place, 12 points off the pace.

Every other fit, on-loan kid currently playing in the Football League could see action today as well. Godwin Antwi and Hartlepool host Tranmere, Lee Peltier and Yeovil welcome Bournemouth, Adam Hamill and George Burnley's side take on Sheffield Wednesday at St. Mary's, Besian Idrizaj probably won't get on the pitch for Crystal Palace as the Eagles travel to Loftus Road to take on QPR, Craig Lindfield and Notts County will look to put their FA Cup woes behind them when Peterborough United come to town, and finally, Ryan Flynn may or may not get his debut with Hereford, as the Bulls play Wycombe at Adams Park. Speaking of Hereford, Robbie Threlfall has returned to Anfield to undergo treatment for his ankle injury and is expected to be out until the new year.

Finally, the Reserves take on Everton at Halliwell Jones tonight. Sebastian Leto, who I guess was out with a knock, will return. The starting line-up is expected to be:
Dean Bouzanis
Emiliano Insua
Mikel San Jose
Ronald Huth
Martin Kelly
Sebastian Leto
Damien Plessis
Jay Spearing
Nabil El Zhar
Jordy Brouwer
Krisztian Nemeth

Subs:
Peter Gulacsi
Stephen Darby
Daniel Pachecho
Ray Putterill
Francisco Duran

Interesting to see Martin Kelly starting over Stephen Darby. I haven't seen Kelly play much, but Darby is a more than adequate Reserve right back. Hungarian wonderkid Krisztian Nemeth gets another start, that's good, but any speculation that he'll break into the first team any time soon is simply laughable. Physically, he's got to get stronger and not lose pace in the process, and also when a player is that young (he's 18), if they're either good enough for the first team right away (like a Michael Owen), then they rarely play for the reserves except for a running out. Cheers.

Kids watch: Anderson unfit, Antwi vs Threlfall & Flynn, U18s take on Man U, & more

Paul Anderson didn't travel with the Swans this evening as the club headed to Atspeed Stadium to take on Horsham in second round FA Cup action. His injury is now being described as 'dead leg', which for some reason conjures images of Peter Jackson's Braindead. I'll let you work that one out. Anyhow, Swansea's next match is a League One tie Tuesday at home against Northampton, hopefully Anderson will make his return then and there'll be no zombie babies in the crowd. Had to, sorry.

In another FA Cup match, Godwin Antwi's Hartlepool travel to Edgar Street on Saturday to take on Hereford where Robbie Threlfall and Ryan Flynn are currently breaking in their boots. Both Antwi and Threlfall are expected to start for their respective clubs, while there's a good possibility Ryan Flynn could make his debut for the Bulls.

In the Daily Echo today, there's an article about our own Adam Hammill amd his recent trials and tribulations at Southampton. While the author of the piece seems to think that Hammill played a great match at Ipswich last Tuesday, the comments appear to tell a different story. I guess slagging off a 19-year-old who has hardly had a chance to play is the status quo when it comes to the class of the average Southampton supporter. The Saints travel to Leicester on Saturday where Hammill is expected to start.

Other on-loan kids who could see action includes Craig Lindfield, who's Notts County have a second round FA Cup tie at home against Conference South side, Havant & Waterlooville. In all likely-hood, Lindfield will get the starting nod, but as for Besian Idrizaj at Crystal Palace, who knows? The Eagles are home against West Bromwich, but whether or not our on-loan Austrian will even make Neil Warnock's bench is yet to be seen. In Spain, Xerez is at Deportivo Alaves on Sunday, but these days, Besian appears to have a better chance of playing than Miki Roque.

Finally, the Academy kids take on Man U in a rematch of last year's FA Youth Cup final, though only our Swedish behemoth, Astrit Ajdarevic, Steven Irwin, and Sean Highdale remain from the winning side. The Saturday morning match is apparently being held at Old Trafford. The kids are hoping to make manager Hughie McAuley forget their last outing, a 0-3 loss to Man City. Cheers.

Kids recap: Paul Anderson injured as Swans go top & Németh nets brace in Reserves victory

The news out of Swansea is that Paul Anderson had to leave the match with Hartlepool United today in the 53rd minute due to a knee injury. No word on the extent of the knock as of yet, but he was able to 'limp off' the pitch. Despite losing the speedy, young winger, the Swans were able to win 1-0 on an 82nd minute strike from Spanish defender Angel Rangel. It was Rangel's first goal for the club and put his side atop the League One table with 31 points and a +11 goal difference. As soon as I hear anything about the fitness of Anderson, I'll be sure to mention his status in a post.

Also in that match, Godwin Antwi started and played the full ninety for the Monkey Hangers, so I guess he's back in the good graces of manager Danny Wilson. As for our other on-loan boys, Adam Hammill got a rare start for Southampton and played the full match, but failed to be a factor in the Saints 0-2 loss at Ipswich. Besian Idrizaj wasn't even on the Crystal Palace squad who beat Preston North End 2-1 at home. Neil Warnock and Liverpool aren't exactly on the best of terms dating back to the Gérard Houllier days and leading up to last year when Warnock blamed Liverpool for playing weak sides that essentially assisted in Sheffield United's relegation. I hope Idrizaj isn't suffering the brunt of Warnock's Liverpool disdain since the young striker signed with club on a one-year loan back before Warnock became their manager. Hopefully Rafa is keeping an eye on the situation.

Finally, our Reserves side notched a 3-2 win at Man City to go third on the Barclays Premier Reserve League North table. A brace from Hungarian debutant Krisztián Németh along with a strike from Jordy Brouwer with three minutes in regulation supplied the goals. It's got to be encouraging that a side missing three of it's more important players can go on the road and beat a quality side like City. The Reserves next match is scheduled a week from today when Everton visits Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Kids watch: It's Anderson vs Antwi, Hungarians to make Reserves debuts, Third-straight FA Youth Cup peril, & more

In League One action today, Hartlepool travel to the Liberty to take on Paul Anderson and the Swans. Godwin Antwi is on-loan to the Monkey Hangers and though he played the full ninety on Saturday, his inclusion in the starting XI is nothing definite. The 2-1 loss at Gillingham was the first time in over a month that the Ghanaian-Spanish centre back/defensive midfielder has played in a League One match for Hartlepool. Once again Swansea has a shot to top the League One table with a win.

Hungarian striker Krisztián Németh and keeper Péter Gulácsi are set to make their Reserves side debut tonight at Man City. Oddly enough, Sebastián Leto and Jack Hobbs were excluded from the side. Does that mean they'll play a part against Porto tomorrow? I can definitely see Leto playing in some sort of capacity and Hobbs on the bench as a precautionary measure, especially with Agger still apparently unavailable. I guess Lucas is now rightfully considered a member of the first team. I'll be particularly curious to see how Németh does for us tonight. If I have the time, expect a review, but with our match tomorrow, don't hold your breathe.

The chance of our youth side winning a third straight FA Cup took a huge blow when we drew perennial teenage powerhouse Wycombe. The young Wanderers have strung together an alarming run of results to start their season, which has them undefeated in 12 matches (8-4-0) with a stunning goal difference of +26. That includes a pair of 8-0 thrashings of Hereford United and a 5-0 win over Dagenham and Redbridge. All the aforementioned results were played at Adams Park, where this upcoming FA Cup battle will be played out as well on December 12th.

Other on-loan players who could see action today are Besian Idrizaj at Crystal Palace, as the Eagles host former player Neil Mellor and Preston North End, and Adam Hammill at Southampton, as the Saints travel to Ipswich.