TORRES RELISHING SPAIN TRIP

Fernando Torres is keen for as much international playing time as possible despite Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's concerns over his injured striker who has recently returned from a lengthy lay-off.

Benitez will be hopeful Torres returns from Spain duty without picking up any new knocks in the European champions' friendly against France on Wednesday.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has denied falling out with the Liverpool boss after naming Torres in his squad and insists he will monitor the amount of time the forward is on the pitch.

But Torres claims Benitez's worries are of little concern to him.

"Rafa has enough to deal with with what he's got," he told reporters as he arrived at Spain's training camp.

"It's normal that he's thinking about his interests but he knows that all the players want to go to the national team.

"For us it is an honour to be here, to play as much as possible and to return as fit as possible to our teams.

"Luckily I recovered in time. To be in the national squad is a prize for me.

"I have the good fortune that the coach called me up after playing just two games since I recovered."

Torres marked his first start since January 13 with the winning goal in the bruising 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Anfield on Sunday.

The 25-year-old has now scored 13 goals in 17 Barclays Premier League appearances and despite having missed nearly six weeks after a knee operation he is still the club's top scorer.

Torres will be hoping to replicate that form on Wednesday against France, with La Roja wanting to avenge their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Les Bleus which saw them knocked out of the last World Cup.

"I'm tired after playing nearly 90 minutes after two months of not doing so," he said. "But I'm ready for as much as the coach thinks is right.

"These games are always special for Spain. We can't wait to play against them, especially after they knocked us out of the last World Cup.

"We always have it in for them."
TORRES RELISHING SPAIN TRIP

NO ITALY RETURN FOR NESTA

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has revealed Alessandro Nesta will not be coming out of international retirement.

Nesta made his last appearance for Italy against Georgia in October 2006 before injuries forced him to officially call time on his international career the following August.

There have been widespread calls for his comeback thanks to the AC Milan defender's impressive form this season.

However, Nesta rejected former Azzurri boss Roberto Donadoni's attempts to get him back into the national team and the 33-year-old has given Lippi the same response.

"Nesta told me he doesn't feel like it," he said. "And I believe it's definite.

"I tried to explain to him how much he meant to us, it would have even been a shock, but I respect his choice."

Lippi was more tight-lipped over Amauri's Italy future.

The Brazilian is to finally be awarded Italian citizenship on Wednesday - the very same day as the Azzurri's friendly against Cameroon.

However, Lippi refused to comment on whether that would be too late for the Juventus striker to figure in his World Cup plans.

He said: "I'll talk about it in a few days."
NO ITALY RETURN FOR NESTA

RAMSEY COULD RETURN IN SIX MONTHS

Aaron Ramsey will be out of action for between six and nine months, according to reports.

The Welshman will not appear again this season after Ryan Shawcross broke his leg in two places during Arsenal's win at Stoke on Saturday but a relatively-optimistic update on his condition has been delivered by The Daily Mirror's John Cross, the Fleet Street journalist who is arguably closest to the North London club.

'Devastated Ramsey has been told his leg break is not as bad as team mate Eduardo suffered two years ago because it was well above the ankle. Medics hope he will play again in between six to nine months,' he reports.

'Ramsey, 19, has had both bones pinned and will now been transferred to London for further surgery and treatment by the same specialists who treated Arsenal striker Eduardo after his leg break two years ago.

'The young Welshman's injury happened further up his leg than Eduardo's horror break and a full recovery is expected.'

Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has been quoted describing Shawcross's tackle as "out of control, terrible and totally mad."

"To be honest, I don't care about my goal and the win. Aaron is one of my best friends and all my thoughts go to him. It is a totally horrifying injury," said the Dane.

"I was standing right next to Aaron, when it happened, and immediately there was no doubt at all, that he broke his leg. It was a terrible, totally mad tackle from Ryan Shawcross, and he is really smashing hard into Aaron.

"I don't believe, that anybody would try to intentionally to make an injury on another player, a fellow professional, but the way he is going into the tackle is out of control, and that doesn't belong anywhere.

"As far as I saw on the pitch, all the players from both teams were shocked, and so was I, because everyone could see, how awful it was. Thomas (Sorensen) came up to me, and we were both really shocked.

"Afterwards we were told, that Aaron will be out for at least 6-9 months, and I feel, that it is just so sad for him. Aaron is so young.

"I think about, how bad I felt, when I was out for three months with my groin injury, and this is just so much worse for Aaron."

"But now we will go and win the title for Aaron."
RAMSEY COULD RETURN IN SIX MONTHS

PALERMO LEAPFROG JUVE

Palermo beat Juventus 2-0 in Turin to leapfrog the Bianconeri into fourth in Serie A.

Fabrizio Miccoli opened the scoring for the visitors on the hour mark before Igor Budan came off the bench to double his team's advantage nine minutes from time.

The outcome marked Alberto Zaccheroni's first defeat as coach of Juve and sees his team drop to fifth in the standings, two points behind Palermo, who now hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

Juve dominated the encounter but their failure to finish their chances cost them dearly.

The hosts went into the game in buoyant mood having reached the last 16 of the Europa League after a 2-1 aggregate win over Ajax.

Bolstered by the return of French forward David Trezeguet from injury, the Bianconeri were determined to clinch their third league win in a row.

Juve enjoyed a strong start and had a chance to break the deadlock early on.

Felipe Melo's header from Diego's cross went over the bar.

At the other end, Juventus goalkeeper Alex Manninger made a fine save from Antonio Nocerino's right-footed strike from the edge of the area.

In the 18th minute, Giorgio Chiellini nodded form Alessandro Del Piero's cross but his effort was cleared by Palermo's defence.

The hosts should have broken the deadlock in the 24th minute.

Trezeguet's powerful header from Chiellini's cross went inches wide of the post, much to the relief of Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.

On the half-hour mark, Antonio Candreva served Del Piero on the edge of the area and his right-footed strike went wide.

Juve continued to press forward and Felipe Melo tried his luck from the distance but his effort went high and wide in what was the last chance of the first half.

The visitors showed more determination after the restart and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute.

Miccoli fed Javier Pastore inside the area and his right-footed strike towards the far post was met by a fine save from Manninger.

It did not take long for Palermo to break the deadlock.

Fabio Liverani served Miccoli at the edge of the area and his right-footed shot beat Manninger and struck the top right corner.

Juve thought they had equalised three minutes later only for the referee to disallow Fabio Cannavaro's goal for offside.

The hosts twice had the opportunity to restore parity.

Chiellini's bullet strike from 30 yards went just wide of the far post, while shortly after, Del Piero wasted a good chance with his direct free-kick going over the bar.

With 15 minutes remaining, Edison Cavani should have doubled his team's lead.

Cavani got behind Miccoli's great assist but struck high over the bar from 15 yards.

Shortly after, Miccoli wasted another good chance for the Sicilians.

The Italy international did well to control Mattia Cassani's effort but struck wide from inside the area.

With 10 minutes remaining, Palermo coach Delio Rossi brought in Budan in place of Miccoli and the substitute had an immediate impact.

Budan intercepted Zdenek Grygera's back-pass towards Manninger and struck his team's second from close range to kill Juve's chances of a comeback.
PALERMO LEAPFROG JUVE