Sporting briefs

Toure: Arsenal have defensive problems for their Champions League match against Fenerbahce with central defender Kolo Toure ruled out with a shoulder injury. Toure joins fellow central defender William Gallas (hamstring) and right back Bacary Sagna (knee) on the unavailable list for the Group G match in Istanbul yesterday.

Corluka: Tottenham Hotspur's Croatian defender Vedran Corluka has been given the all-clear after being carried off the pitch unconscious during his side's 2-1 defeat by Stoke City on Sunday. Corluka was injured in a collision with Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. Tottenham said that Corluka had later regained consciousness and X-rays to his head and neck had revealed no damage.

Keita: Barcelona's Mali midfielder Seydou Keita will miss the trip to face Basel in the Champions League after picking up an injury in Sunday's 1-0 Primera Liga win at Athletic Bilbao. Keita was substituted in the 31st minute after twisting a muscle in his right leg.

Petrov: Bulgaria coach Plamen Markov denied yesterday that he had risked Manchester City winger Martin Petrov's health by naming him in the starting line-up in last week's World Cup qualifier against Georgia. Petrov limped off in the first half after aggravating a knee injury which he had only just recovered from. He had played almost 90 minutes against Italy four days earlier but had made only short appearances for his club just before that. "Martin had no complaints before the match," Markov told Bulgarian Darik radio, yetsrday. "I see no logic in not fielding him."

In England: Premier League - Newcastle United 2 (Ameobi 44; Dunne 63 og) Manchester City 2 (Robinho 14 pen.; Ireland 86). League Two - Darlington vs Bradford 2-1.

In Italy: Serie B - Piacenza vs Ascoli 2-0. Serie C1 (A) - Pergocrema vs Cremonese 1-1.

Boxing: Former world champion Bernard Hopkins upset middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik with a unanimous decision in their 12-round, non-title fight last weekend in Atlantic City. There were no knockdowns but the 43-year-old Hopkins defied his age by battering the slower, supposedly stronger Pavlik throughout the one-sided fight.

MFA Division Three: Sta Luċija vs Pembroke 1-0; Sirens vs Qrendi 2-1.