Sporting briefs

Walcott: Theo Walcott is a doubt for leaders Arsenal against Middlesbrough today because of a thigh injury sustained in a behind-closed-doors match against Colorado Rapids. The 18-year-old winger missed the 0-0 draw at Wigan Athletic last week, Arsenal's third league draw in a row and manager Arsene Wenger is not confident that he will return to face Boro.

Favre: Hertha Berlin will have coach Lucien Favre on the bench when they travel to Hansa Rostock after the club launched a formal challenge against a two-match suspension after his dismissal in their 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund last week. Favre was ejected for protesting against a red card for Marko Pantelic that was rescinded moments later when the referee admitted he had made a mistake. Hertha's challenge to the suspension will be considered on Tuesday.

Eguavoen: Former Nigeria coach Austin Eguavoen has taken over at bottom placed South African Premier League club Black Leopards. The former international full back has eight games in which to save the club from relegation. Leopards lie last in the 16-team league with 15 points from 22 games, six points away from safety.

Lualua: Newcastle United's 17-year-old winger Kazenga LuaLua has been included by the Democratic Republic of Congo in a list of almost 50 players they are seeking to call up for two friendly matches in France later this month. The Congolese football federation FECOFA yesterday included LuaLua, whose elder brother Lomana LuaLua has captained the team, in a list of 40 European-based players plus one from Asia and eight based in Africa for proposed matches against Algeria and Gabon.

Agger: Liverpool central defender Daniel Agger will miss the rest of the season with a foot injury, the Premier League club said yesterday. Manager Rafael Benitez said the Dane, who has not played since September, will have surgery on a metatarsal injury next week. "It's a blow for Daniel but we want to get his problem sorted," Benitez said.

Foster: Goalkeeper Ben Foster will play his first game for Manchester United today almost three years after signing for the club, manager Alex Ferguson said. The 24-year-old will make his debut at bottom club Derby County because Edwin van der Sar has a groin injury and Tomasz Kuszczak is suspended following his sending off in last Saturday's FA Cup defeat against Portsmouth.