Wayne Rooney will miss Manchester United's clash against Bolton today after suffering a calf injury on England duty. Rooney sustained the problem during England's World Cup qualifying defeat against Ukraine last weekend.

United boss Alex Ferguson believes Rooney could be available for Wednesday's Champions League trip to CSKA Moscow, although he may be saved for the crucial Premier League match at Liverpool on October 25.

"Calf injuries can be troublesome," Ferguson said.

"We are trying our best to get him fit for Wednesday but I have my doubts on that. But Wayne should be fit for the Liverpool game."

Sunderland sign winger Zenden

Sunderland have signed the much-travelled former Holland winger Boudewijn Zenden until the end of the season. The 33-year-old who played for PSV, Barcelona, Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Liverpool, has been a free agent since leaving Marseille at the end of last season.

Sunderland are now awaiting international clearance to allow Zenden, who has 54 senior international caps, to go into the squad for today's Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Zenden will provide cover in midfield for Sunderland, who also have the option of extending his deal until the summer of 2011.

De La Red still hoping to return

Real Madrid midfielder Ruben de la Red still does not know the cause of his collapse in a King's Cup match last October but said he has not given up hope of playing again.

"Nobody can tell me: this is what it is and this is what causes it," the 24-year-old told Spanish radio.

"I am not losing hope of playing again but there have to be enough tests so that both the doctors and myself make the right decision."

The former Spain international was running back towards the halfway line in a match against Real Union when he fell face first and lay motionless. He regained consciousness in the dressing room but has not played since.

Yeung plans to spend big

Birmingham City's new owner Carson Yeung has pledged to spend up to 40 million pounds on players in the January transfer window to help the Premier League strugglers avoid relegation.

"My first plan is to support the club for about 20 to 40 million pounds for players and wages in January," Yeung said.

"In the short term I just care about January. But in the future there will be more money.

"Longer term we believe there is a major opportunity to build Birmingham's fan base in China and to generate new sources of revenue for the club.

"But for this to happen, our first priority must be to establish Birmingham as a Premier League club," he added after City's third promotion to the top flight in eight years.

Beckenbauer stands by Van Gaal

Bayern Munich president Franz Beckenbauer has given the club's coach Louis van Gaal his full backing.

Although Bayern have made a poor start to the season under the Dutchman, Beckenbauer believes no comparison can be made between him and his predecessor Juergen Klinsmann.

"He was different," Beckenbauer said of Klinsmann.

"For all the many good ideas he brought, these were simply not enough for FC Bayern.

"Van Gaal is an expert and a teacher of football. We just need to leave Van Gaal in peace and give him faith and then things will work."

Capello hungry for Brazil challenge

Fabio Capello cannot wait to test his growing England side against the team he regards as the best in the world next month.

After completing their World Cup qualifiers with a three-goal triumph over Belarus, the Three Lions only have four friendlies to play before they launch their quest to lift the sport's greatest prize next summer.

But the first, against Brazil in Qatar on November 14, promises to give Capello a useful guide as to where his present charges are in their development.

"It is a strong test," he said.

"It will be really important because it is the first time we will have played against a South American team. Not only this, they are the best in the world."

Kroenke buys more Gunners shares

American billionaire Stan Kroenke has increased his share in Arsenal to 28.9%.

The businessman, who joined the club's board in September last year, has purchased 90 additional shares at £8,500 each to add a further 0.2% to his existing holding.

A club statement read: "Stan Kroenke has a beneficial interest in, and controls voting rights over, 17,957 ordinary shares in the Company - representing 28.9% of the company's issued ordinary shares."

The Denver Nuggets basketball team owner is the Gunners' largest shareholder, with Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov also holding a share of more than 25%.

If Kroenke reaches a 29.9% threshold it will trigger a formal takeover bid.

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