Sporting briefs

Beye: Senegal have dropped Newcastle United defender Habib Beye for Friday's World Cup qualifier in Algeria, the Senegalese APS news agency reported. Coach Lamine Ndiaye told reporters Beye had been left out after missing Senegal's friendly in Libya on Aug. 20, when he pulled out of the game citing injury and then played an entire match for his club in the English Premier League against Bolton Wanderers three days later.

Abardonado: French defender Jacques Abardonado has joined Valenciennes from Bundesliga side Nuremberg on a two-year deal, the Ligue 1 club said. The 30-year-old Abardonado, who has played for Olympique Marseille and Nice, had signed for Nuremberg during last season's winter transfer window. He will make up for the absence of David Sommeil, who is in a coma following a heart attack earlier last month.

Sakho: Paris St Germain defender Mamadou Sakho will be out of action for two months because of a groin injury, the Ligue 1 club said. Sakho left the pitch 10 minutes from time in Saturday's 1-0 win at Caen. "It is obvious that his pain is stabilising, not improving. We have to be radical," doctor Eric Rolland said.

Scharner: Wigan defender Paul Scharner is set to return for Austria after being passed fit to play in this month's World Cup qualifying games against France and Lithuania, following an ankle injury. Scharner, who spent two years in international exile after falling out with former Austria coach Josef Hickersberger, was given a late call-up to the national squad yesterday by Hickersberger's successor Karel Brueckner.

Hull: Guinea defender Kamil Zayatte has joined Hull City on a season-long loan from Young Boys, the Swiss club said. The 23-year-old joined Young Boys in 2007 from Lens and has made 41 appearances for the club, scoring one goal. Earlier this summer, Zayatte had a trial spell with Newcastle.

In France: A second-half goal from Karim Benzema earned Olympique Lyon a 1-0 win at arch-rivals St Etienne as the seven-times French champions joined Olympique Marseille at the top of the Ligue 1 standings yesterday. The France striker netted 11 minutes into the second half with a fine curling shot to give Lyon all three points.