Sporting briefs

Kezman: Serbian Mateja Kezman has signed for Hong Kong-based club South China FC. The former Partizan, Chelsea and Fenerbahce striker left French side Paris Saint Germain last November after spending over a year on loan with Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.

Welbeck: Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has been left with a shortage of strikers following an injury to Danny Welbeck following the sale of Darren Bent to Aston Villa. Welbeck has been sidelined for up to eight weeks after surgery to repair a torn knee cartilage. Bruce has only one fit striker,Asamoah Gyan, for the trip to Blackpool.

Genoa derby: The Genoa derby between Sampdoria and Genoa postponed in December has now been set for February 16. The derby was postponed because of bad weather.

Laczko: Sampdoria have signed Zsolt Laczko, the Debrecen left-back and a Hungary international, for less than a million euros. His arrival effectively frees up Reto Ziegler for his January transfer, probably to Milan.

Adriano: Roma’s striker Adriano faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after fracturing his shoulder in an Italian Cup clash. The forward had to come off at half-time in Wednesday’s Rome derby in the Italian Cup – Roma beat Lazio 2-1 – after suffering the problem. Roma said he will not need an operation but needs at least a month to recover.

Everton: Everton pair Victor Anichebe and Seamus Coleman have both signed new four-and-a-half-year contracts, the club have announced. The duo are now committed to Goodison Park until the end of the 2014-15 season.

Wheater: Bolton have completed the signing of Middlesbrough defender David Wheater for an undisclosed fee. Wheater, 23, has agreed a three-and-half-year deal.

Coppa Italia: Last 16 – Milan vs Bari 3-0.

Cycling: A top South African cyclist was killed on Wednesday when she was hit by a truck during a training session, national cycling officials said. Carla Swart, a 23-year-old who came eighth in a 112-kilometre road race at the Commonwealth Games last year, lost her cycling computer while riding and turned into the path of an oncoming truck in a bid to retrieve it.

Cricket: Veteran Australian batsman Mike Hussey’s chances of playing at the World Cup will remain shrouded in uncertainty for at least two more weeks. A month from Australia’s first match of their title defence, Hussey is battling to be fit for the showpiece event after suffering a severe hamstring injury in Sunday’s six-wicket win over England at the MCG.

Basket, NBA: Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said he had pulled the plug on the long drawn-out talks to bring Carmelo Anthony from Denver to New Jersey. Prokhorov, the Russian billionaire who bought the Nets last year, said he was unhappy with how the potential multi-team trade played out in public, that it took too long, became too costly and distracted his team.

Tour Down Under: HTC-Highroad’s Matthew Goss reclaimed the leader’s ochre jersey at the Tour Down Under as fellow Australian cyclist Michael Matthews romped to victory on stage three yesterday. Goss started the 129km stage in the Adelaide Hills on the same time as overnight leader Robbie McEwen. He now leads defending champion Andre Greipel by two seconds.