Wilkinson: Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson was charged with violent conduct by the FA yesterday following a clash with Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli. Wilkinson was involved in an altercation with the Italian during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium which was not seen by the match officials but was caught on video.
Gomez: Bayern Munich forward Mario Gomez has said he cannot set a comeback date after undergoing ankle surgery in August. Gomez has been replaced in the starting line-up by Mario Mandzukic who has already scored three goals in three league games so far. “I do not know myself when I can fully use the ankle and train with the team again,” Gomez said. “I am impatient but I cannot estimate it. I do not know how far I am.”
Johnson: QPR striker Andrew Johnson will miss the majority of the season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in Saturday’s goalless draw with Chelsea. The 31-year-old moved to Loftus Road at the start of the summer after failing to agree a new deal at former club Fulham but now looks set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
Lippi: Marcello Lippi leads China’s Guangzhou Evergrande into one of the biggest matches in their history today when they take on two-time winners Al Ittihad in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. The World Cup-winning coach, under instructions to bring Asian glory to the Chinese champions on their tournament debut, takes a team brimming with foreign talent to Jeddah, where they will face the competition’s most successful club.
Bastos: Lyon are waiting to learn the seriousness of a back injury suffered by Michel Bastos at the weekend. The 29-year-old wide man suffered what the club described as a “spinal trauma” in a statement issued yesterday. Bastos will have further tests this week before a timescale is put on his return.