NOTTINGHAM, England -- After seven years in international football coaching, former England defender Stuart Pearce is returning to club management after agreeing to take charge of his old team Nottingham Forest from July 1. . Pearce played for Forest from 1985-97 and enjoys cult status at the City Ground, where he picked up the nickname "Psycho" for his tough-tackling approach that made him a fan favourite. Forest, a two-time European champion, is currently seventh in Englands second-tier League Championship -- two points outside the playoffs as it seeks a return to the Premier League for the first time since 1999. Pearce, who succeeds the fired Billy Davies, was Englands under-21 coach from 2007-13 and also spent time as assistant coach of the countrys senior team and managed Britain at the London Olympics in 2012. . Kalish got his first hit since Sept. 11, 2012, when he rapped an RBI triple in the first inning Sunday in the Chicago Cubs 8-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Chris Johnson says his surgically repaired right knee is feeling "good," but it will likely keep the New York Jets running back from participating in organized team activities and minicamp the next few weeks. Johnson says Thursday that he started running straight ahead this week and is "close to 100 per cent." Signed by New York to a two-year, $8 million deal in April, Johnson had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee in January. . . He played through the injury with Tennessee last season, but expects to be ready in time to fully participate in training camp. Johnson says he needed "a fresh start" after six seasons with the Titans, and "most definitely" is looking forward to the teams game at Tennessee on Dec. 14. ' ' '