Osman: Everton midfielder Leon Osman has been ruled out for up to six weeks with an ankle injury. Osman suffered the problem in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Goodison Park and is not expected back before December.
Blackburn: Blackburn Rovers signed French midfielder Herold Goulon on a free transfer yesterday. Goulon agreed a two-year contract with an option for a further year’s extension after a successful trial with Sam Allardyce’s team in September.
Stankovic: Dejan Stankovic will be absent from Inter’s match against Sampdoria tomorrow after suffering an injury in the match against Tottenham on Wednesday. Tests revealed a subsequent groin problem caused by the foot injury.
Leicester: Leicester have signed Manchester City teenager Greg Cunningham on loan until January. The left-back goes straight into Sven-Goran Eriksson’s squad for the today’s game at Swansea today.
Appeal: Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier appeared in front of an appeal board in an attempt to have the ban on their fans travelling to next month’s match at PSG overturned. The French league put a ban on away supporters at both Ligue 1 fixtures between the two clubs this season because of recurring violent episodes over recent seasons.
Japan: Japan will field their strongest possible team at the Asian Cup in Qatar in January, including their Europe-based stars, despite a clash with European league calendars. “Manager Zaccheroni wants to take along the best members as a matter of course,” the Japan FA said.
MFA Div. Three: Sta Venera vs Attard 1-2; Qrendi vs Sta Lucija 1-2.
The Championship: Bristol City vs QPR 1-1.
Awards: Wallabies flanker David Pocock won the 2010 John Eales Medal, Australian rugby’s most prestigious award. The Western Force back-rower polled 269 votes among his team-mates, ahead of Matt Giteau (193) and Quade Cooper (146). Pocock joined other openside Wallaby flankers George Smith (2002, 2008) and Phil Waugh (2003) as a John Eales medallist. The awards were voted on by every Wallaby team member over the last 15 Tests.
Alpine Skiing: Three-time defending champion Lindsey Vonn will lead the US charge when the 2010-11 World Cup season gets under way at the Austrian resort of Soelden this weekend. Vonn will be one of four US racers who won Olympic golds at the 2010 Vancouver Games turning out for a season bissected by the Feb. 8-20 World Championships. Also taking to the slopes will be Julia Mancuso, Bode Miller and Ted Ligety.
Rugby Union: Strong sales for Samoa’s Test against England at Twickenham next month showed the resurgent team still retained its “X-factor”, Samoan Rugby Union head Peter Schuster said. The RFU this week confirmed tickets sales for the match had already reached 50,000 – the equivalent of more than a quarter of the Pacific nation’s 180,000 population. “We’re always a threat,” Schuster said. “Samoa possess the X-factor, which draws fans.”
Cricket: New Zealand chiefs ordered the Black Caps to step up in an upcoming Indian tour after a humiliating one-day series loss to Bangladesh. NZC chairman Chris Moller said his board had “robust” discussions with captain Daniel Vettori after the 4-0 whitewash, Bangladesh’s first series win against a top nation. But Moller said the board decided against im-mediate action because next month’s Indian tour was imminent.