Junior Hoilett started and was a major factor in Blackburn's 3-1 thrashing of Liverpool at Ewood Park, rewarding manager Steve Kean’s faith in the winger.

Heck no, he won’t go. That has to be the message that Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp receives from MLS headquarters and the Los Angeles Galaxy front office in regards to David Beckham’s request to be loaned out… again. Twice, the man who was supposed to be the face of MLS’ Designated Player program was loaned out to AC Milan. The first time, he remained till the end of the Serie A season, which had him miss a large chunk of the 2009 MLS season. While on loan last season, he ruptured his Achilles playing for the Rossoneri, and missed all but the last month of the 2010 MLS season.

The indoor Edmonton Drillers will act as a proving ground for some FC Edmonton prospects. Antonio Rago, a former member of the Vancouver Whitecaps residency, and 16-year-old keeper Matt Preston were in the lineup for the Drillers’ indoor season-opening 7-6 loss in Calgary on New Year’s Eve. “Preston’s a player who has got a bright future,” said FC Edmonton general manager Mel Kowalchuk. The Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League (CMISL) is an amateur circuit, so no player with a professional contract with FC Edmonton, which kicks off its inaugural NASL season in April, is eligible to play with the Drillers. But Rago and Preston currently retain their amateur status, so they can play in the indoor circuit.

Several Dutch media outlets, including De Telegraaf — which isn’t a blogger speculation site but a reputable news organization — are quoting former Dutch national teamer Aron Winter, claiming he has a three-year deal with Toronto FC in place to take over as the new technical director of the club. But the reports also suggest that this will mark the …

The identity of Dwayne De Rosario's agent has been revealed. Wednesday's Scottish Sun quoted agent Dave Baldwin, stating his client was simply training with the club, not trialing. Toronto FC was publicly embarrassed when it claimed the club's all-time leading scorer was trialing with Celtic without the approval of the Reds' front office. But Baldwin said there is a distinction between "trainee" and "trialist." “One thing that has to be stressed here is that Dwayne is NOT on trial at Celtic as has been stated in some quarters.

As the Dwayne De Rosario-to-Celtic drama plays on, it’s time to address the elephant in the room. And that’s the work permit. If Celtic was to make arrangements with Toronto FC and MLS to bring the Reds’ captain to the Bhoys, even though TFC is claiming that De Ro is in Scotland without the club’s permission, there is no guarantee that a 32-year-old Canadian forward would be quickly granted permission to work in Glasgow by the U.K. government.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was quoted in The Telegraph today, confirming that Toronto FC’s all-time leading scorer, Dwayne De Rosario, could be in Glasgow for a trial — and might sign with the Hoops in time for the next Old Firm derby against Rangers. De Rosario, TFC’s leading scorer in 2010, could join former Arsenal star and MLS Designated Player Freddie Ljungberg, who is already in Glasgow.

I don’t know of another team that fans the flames of speculation around the club quite like Stoke City. While so many other clubs distance themselves from newspaper reports and blog-fuelled rumours about transfers, Stoke embraces them. This week, the club’s transfer speculation page highlighted a report from the Daily Mail that suggested Stoke could be where American striker Edson …

If, despite Sporting Kansas City’s protests, Stoke City does sign Teal Bunbury after he finishes his week on what the Potters are calling a “trial,” there could be a chance that Canadian soccer fans could forgive the striker. Could is the key word. Is it coincidence that Bunbury received a look-see from Stoke manager Tony Pulis just weeks after he made his debut for the Stars and Stripes — after famously deciding against playing for Canada — in a friendly against South Africa?

When FIFA names the winner of the female World Player of the Year, Christine Sinclair doesn’t even have to bother going to the ceremony. Marta, her teammate with the 2010 WPS champion FC Gold Pride, will likely walk away with her fifth win in a row. And, FIFA has already stated that the other two contenders for the award are …