Kagisho Dikgacoi has angrily denied asking for a loan move away from Fulham in January to help his hopes of making the South African World Cup squad.

Reports surfaced in the local London press – and were repeated in yesterday’s News of the World – with quotes from Dikgacoi suggesting that he should be one of Roy Hodgson’s first choice midfielders and that a loan move would now be essential if he was to play a part in his home World Cup in the summer. But Dikgacoi has told African football website Kick Off that he didn’t make any of the comments attributed to him.

There is absolutely no truth in what has been said there. I have not mentioned anything of that sort to any journalist.

I have played in two of our last two matches as a substitute and feature in midweek games for the Reserve side as well.