Sporting briefs...

Shevchenko: Dynamo Kiev president Igor Surkis has not given up hope of persuading Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko to return to his former club in Ukraine. "I've told him that he wouldn't be able to play there the way he can because in Chelsea they don't trust him," Surkis was quoted as saying. "I think the change of clubs will only help him. He just needs to hold on to his place in London until the summer and then think about his future. I hope to work out a deal for him to come back to Dynamo."

Totti threat: Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet says he will pay special attention to Francesco Totti when his side take on Roma at the Olympic Stadium today. "Totti is a phenomenon and he is very humble," France keeper Coupet said. "I know I will have a lot of work to do. We all have a lot of respect for him and, as a goalkeeper, he is someone I fear a lot."

Iraqi player dies: Iraqi first division player Ihab Kareem has died as a result of injuries sustained in a bombing in Baghdad last week. The Al Sena midfielder was seriously injured in an explosion last Monday that killed more than 80 people at the Al Shourjah commercial area of the Iraqi capital. His team-mate Ahmed Naser lost a leg in the explosion and remains in critical condition.

Lovenkrands: Bundesliga leaders Schalke 04 will have to do without Danish striker Peter Lovenkrands for up to six weeks because of an ankle ligament injury. Lovenkrands was forced out during the second half of Saturday's 2-2 draw against Wolfsburg and a subsequent scan confirmed he had suffered a serious injury.

Pumpido resigns: Argentina's 1986 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Nery Pumpido resigned as coach of struggling Newell's Old Boys after they lost their first two games in the Clausura championship. Pumpido, who had been in charge of the Rosario-based club since October 2005, became the first coaching victim of the tournament.