REDS WALKER RUMOUR

Neil Sullivan`s wife is expecting a child and the former Wimbledon man may be given compassionate leave at the weekend, causing him to miss the FA Cup tie with Stockport.

After keeping two successive clean sheets, the 29-year-old voiced his displeasure at having to play second fiddle to Sullivan, as he seeks first team football.

A loan move appeared to be Walker`s answer to the situation, but that avenue looks to have been blocked by the club, and the fact that many of the European transfer windows have now closed.

"I was going in to see George (Graham) to ask him about the possibility of going out on loan," Walker told the official Spurs website. "But I spoke to Hans (Segers) about the situation and he told me not to waste my time as the manager would not let me go.

"It is very disappointing, but we will just have to wait and see what happens now."

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports in the capital are indicating that Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is keeping tabs on the experienced goalie.

Rumours persist that the Frenchman is unconvinced that Sander Westerveld is the right man to keep goal for the Merseysiders over the next few years, as The Reds have been linked with a number of different keepers.