Cole: QPR boss Harry Redknapp has admitted he would be interested in signing Joe Cole if the Liverpool midfielder is available. The January transfer window is now open and a host of big-name players have already been linked with QPR as Redknapp looks to keep Rangers in the top flight. “I have got a lot of time for Joe Cole as a player and a person,” he said. “I would like to bring him here if we could but the deal has to be right for the club.”

Osvaldo: Roma will probably have to do without striker Pablo Osvaldo for their Serie A match against Napoli on Sunday after informing his club that he’s down with flu and unable to join the team from his short Christmas break in Argentina. Osvaldo was scheduled to re-join his team-mates yesterday but instead he sent a medical certificate to say that he is sick.

Ono: Two cracking goals from Japanese star Shinji Ono lifted newcomers Western Sydney Wanderers above Melbourne Victory into third spot in Australia’s A-League yesterday. Ono, 33, was the difference as Wanderers leapfrogged twice champions Victory with a 2-1 win at home before almost 14,000 fans at the Parramatta Stadium.

Riesgo: Osasuna goalkeeper Asier Riesgo is set to be missing for up to three months with a broken foot. Riesgo sustained the injury in his left foot during training yesterday and, according to Osasuna’s official Twitter feed, the 29-year-old is set to be out for “between two to three months”. The former Spain Under-21 international is the back-up for Andres Fernandez at Osasuna.

Maresca: Veteran Sampdoria midfielder Enzo Maresca will be out for a month after pulling a muscle during training. “I will have to be out for 20-30 days due to a problem with the femoral bicep... it’s a shame I won’t be able to help the team,” the player said in a message on his Twitter account.