Briefs

Banega: Everton are set to sign Ever Banega on a season long-loan from Valencia after securing a work permit for the Argentina midfielder yesterday. The 21-year-old is expected to arrive on Merseyside shortly to complete the deal and Everton manager David Moyes is looking to employ Banega in a similar role to Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta, who is currently sidelined with a knee ligament injury.

Ashley: Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will make an announcement tomorrow on whether he intends to sell the Championship club or hold onto it for another season. Sports retailer Ashley bought the club for £134.4 million in 2007 but following the club's relegation from the Premiership he has been seeking a deal to sell on for £100 million as local businessman Barry Moat and two other consortia jockey for position.

Nigeria: Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obafemi Martins of Wolfsburg have not been picked by Nigeria for next month's crunch World Cup qualifier against Tunisia in Abuja. Nigeria coach, Shuaibu Amodu, who announced Friday a 21-man squad for the Group Two qualifier on September 6, said he left out both strikers because they are yet to attain full match fitness after recovering from injuries.

Ramadan rule: Paris Saint Germain coach Antoine Kombouare has said he will not select any players for match days who decide to respect the holy Muslim observance of Ramadan. "I have a very simple rule that I've used wherever I've coached: during the week I can accept it but on match days, it's forbidden," said Kombouare, a former France international who played at PSG. "Whoever wants to respect Ramadan on match day can stay at home."

Zaragoza: Real Zaragoza have agreed to sign Serbia left-back Ivan Obradovic from Partizan Belgrade. The 21-year-old is set to sign a five-year contract after undergoing a medical in the next couple of days. Zaragoza were promoted after finishing as runners-up in the second division last season.

Ice hockey: Hockey Canada will insure the contracts of every player participating in this week's Olympic orientation camp in Calgary, avoiding a possible disruption to the team's training session ahead of the Vancouver Winter Games. Hockey Canada did not say how much it paid for the policy to insure the 46 players' contracts, which according to estimates are worth $500 million.

Golf: The US made a confident start to their Solheim Cup defence on Friday, Paula Creamer winning both her matches before the hosts ended the first day leading Europe by 4-1/2 points to 3-1/2. One point ahead after the morning's fourballs, the Americans split the afternoon's foursomes encounters with the visitors to stay in overall control at Rich Harvest Farms, Illinois. Europe, who have lost the last two Solheim Cup matches, are bidding to win for the first time on American soil. The US lead the series 7-3.

Cincinnati Open: World number one Roger Federer beat holder Andy Murray 6-2 7-6 yesterday to reach the final of the Cincinnati Masters. The Swiss broke serve twice in the first set and then saved two set points in the tiebreak to secure a final against former world number one Rafael Nadal or fourth seed Novak Djokovic.

Cricket: Australia have kept faith in the same players currently looking to retain the Ashes in England by naming a familiar-looking squad for this year's Champions Trophy in South Africa. The national selection panel resisted the temptation to blood some of the country's exciting youngsters and has stuck with the bulk of the senior players to defend their title. The 15-man squad features nine players involved in the fifth Ashes test, with six of the players in their 30s and just two under the age of 25.

Tennis: Injury-prone Thai Paradorn Srichaphan plans to return to top-flight tennis next year, putting paid to media speculation that he was planning to announce his retirement next month. "I'm not retiring but I don't think I'm fully fit for competitions this year," the former world number nine said. "I'd rather prepare myself to return next year." Paradorn, 30, has been sidelined with a wrist injury since March 2007.