Football news

Wes Brown is likely to be sidelined for eight weeks due to a knee injury. The Sunderland defender damaged a knee during Sunday’s 1-1 FA Cup fourth round draw with Middlesbrough, and it was at first feared that his season could be over.

However, a scan has revealed that the damage may not be as extensive as was first thought.

Manager Martin O’Neill said: “We don’t think he needs the operation, but he will be two weeks in a brace, two weeks elsewhere and you are looking at probably about eight weeks before he is back.

“But at one stage, it looked like a season-ending injury.”

Serie A games brought forward

Italian Serie A matches involving the two Milan teams this weekend have been brought forward to try to stave off the possibility they will be postponed due to snow.

Roma-Inter, set for 8.45 p.m. tomorrow, and Milan-Napoli, set for the same time on Sunday, have both been brought forward to 3 p.m. kick-offs.

The Cesena-Catania clash due for 6 p.m. tomorrow has also been moved to the earlier kick-off time.

It means all weekend games, except for Genoa-Lazio (12.45 p.m. on Sunday), will kick off at the traditional 3 p.m. slot.

Zanetti warns against injuries

Javier Zanetti reckons playing football in freezing temperatures is dangerous and could lead to players getting injured.

The Inter captain made the claim after the 4-4 draw with Palermo, played in wintry conditions at the San Siro late Wednesday.

“It’s true that there were no injuries, but it was a huge risk on a pitch that is bad even when the weather conditions aren’t as severe as they were on Wednes-day,” he noted.

“The pitch influenced things a lot. I don’t know how many teams could have played this type of game, but the referee, in particular, decided we had to play.”

Jol’s a Pav-lover

Fulham manager Martin Jol believes new signing Pavel Pogrebnyak can fill the void left by Bobby Zamora who left for QPR on transfer deadline day.

Jol believes the Cottagers will recover from Zamora’s departure and backed Russia international Pogrebnyak to shine after his late move from Stuttgart.

“He has got a good record,” said the Dutchman.

“He had a good spell at Stuttgart and has 45 caps for Russia.

“His coaches Dick Advocaat and Guus Hiddink were complimentary of him. They said he was a good boy who works hard for the team so I was really happy to get him in.”

Motta achieves childhood dream

Thiago Motta said his move to Paris SG from Inter was a childhood dream.

Motta, who was born in Brazil but represents Italy at international level, joined the Ligue 1 leaders on Tuesday for a fee in the region of €10 million.

“I’m very motivated by this new experience,” said the 29-year-old.

“Since I was young I’ve dreamed of being here, where great players like Rai, Leonardo and Ronaldinho have played. I have lots of desire and lots of ambition.”

In Paris, Motta will be reunited with Alex, Maxwell and Nene, alongside whom he once competed in a match for Brazil’s Under-21 team.

Cisse sure of QPR survival

Striker Djibril Cisse is “100% confident” QPR will survive in the Premier League after scoring on his debut in the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa Wednesday night.

Cisse only obtained clearance to play 90 minutes before kick-off but needed just 12 minutes to break the deadlock.

Mark Hughes’s £4 million capture from Lazio said: “It is a good thing for us that we have signed Bobby Zamora. The objective is to stay in the Premier League.

“We need good strikers and Bobby fits into that category.

“But, from what I saw against Villa, I was really impressed and 100% sure we will stay up.”

Africans mourn Egypt dead

A minute of silence will be observed at the Africa Cup this weekend in memory of the scores killed and hundreds injured when rival fans clashed in Egypt on Wednesday.

“African football is in a state of mourning,” said Issa Hayatou, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Hayatou, in Equatorial Guinea for tomorrow’s Nations Cup quarter-final between Zambia and Sudan, said CAF had sent a message of condolence to the Egyptian FA.

In a statement, CAF recalled that it had close ties with Egypt as Cairo has served as the headquarters of African football’s governing body since its inception in 1957.