Can Modric and Cahill find motivation after big moves broke down?

By Steve Stammers

Published 11:15 07/09/11

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It might just be worth monitoring the events at Molineux and, a few hours later, at The Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

And in particular, the performances of Luka Modric for Tottenham against Wolves and Bolton’s Gary Cahill against Manchester United. They will be facing the most severe test of their professionalism.

Both players could have been hearing the Champions League anthem next week when Arsenal play Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea play Leverkusen.

Instead, they will be at home watching on TV and they would not be human if they were not doing so with a touch of regret.

Modric made it clear that he wanted to become a Chelsea player during the transfer window and the offer of £40million was on the table. He even put Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp in an unenviable position of having to select a player who asked to be left out of the team just two hours ahead of the clash against Manchester City because his focus "was not right".

Redknapp was short of options and had to play him. Cheers for that one Luka, who was anonymous as City won 5-1.

Still chairman Daniel Levy refused to buckle. “Not at any price,” was the message from Daniel Levy. And to be fair he was true to his word. Modric stayed put – and it will be five months before he can even consider moving again.

That is a long time when he could have been contesting the major prize in European club football and instead will have the Carling Cup and the most disruptive of all competitions – the dreaded Europa League – in his sights.

He has to show why he is worth the £65,000 a week he is being paid in front of fans who give up the best part of a week’s salary to see him play in the continent’s far-flung outposts and a small fortune to go to away matches in the Premier League. Starting at Molineux.

The same scenario applies for Cahill. He comes over as an entirely different character than the Croatian. The collapse of a move to Arsenal was clearly on his mind when he was less than impressive for Bolton in the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.

But his concentration was clearly evident when playing for England in Sofia and he has the insurance of knowing that, come what may, come next May he will be at the end of his contract.

But he remains a Wanderer until then and if there is a lapse on Saturday evening against a United team packed with attacking potential, the scrutiny will intensify. A major examination for both players and it will be interesting to see how they handle the situation.

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One for the future – Charlie Wassmer. He is a central defender with League Two newcomers Crawley Town. Young player with a big future.

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It is usual for the PA announcer to introduce match officials to the public after he has read out the teams. That was not the case before England Under-21s played Azerbaijan at Vicarage Road last Thursday.

A glance at the ref's name probably provides the clue. He hailed from Croatia and was called Domagoj Vuckov. It would not have sounded great, you have to agree.

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