Sporting briefs

SLOVAKIA: Michal Hipp has been promoted from assistant manager to take temporary charge of the Slovakia national team after Vladimir Weiss stepped down. As assistant to Weiss, Hipp worked with the Slovakia squad that reached the World Cup finals for the first time in 2010.

DERDIYOK: A cut foot caused by a broken toothbrush holder has ruled Bayer Leverkusen forward Eren Derdiyok out for three weeks, including a Champions League clash with holders Barcelona. The 23-year-old was in his bathroom when a glass holding his toothbrush fell and shattered, cutting the Swiss star’s foot and obliging him to have seven stitches inserted at a Cologne hospital.

LYON: Two 16-year-old Chinese footballers will enrol at Lyon’s academy in July as part of an agreement between the French heavyweights and the Chinese Football Federation (AFC), the club revealed yesterday. The two players will be selected at a trial that will take place in China in February in the presence of Lyon head of recruitment Florian Maurice.

PASTORE: Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentine playmaker Javier Pastore could return from his left thigh injury in time for the table-topping clash with Montpellier on February 19, PSG coach Carlo Ancelotti revealed yesterday. “He’s doing well,” said the Italian. “He’s back in training, he’s running, he’s working well. He should able to train with the team the week after.”

ZAMORA: Bobby Zamora is in line to make his QPR debut against Wolves today. The England forward, who joined Rangers from Fulham on transfer deadline day, is set to form a new-look strike partnership with Djibril Cisse.

MFA DIV. THREE: Kirkop vs Luqa St Andrew’s 3-1.