Josip Ilicic said he will not play for Slovenia again while Srecko Katanec is the coach.

The news was confirmed by Katanec himself who said the Fiorentina midfielder had turned down his offer to return to the team for the Euro 2016 qualifier against England and the friendly with Colombia this month.

“I had Josip Ilicic in the squad but the player decided to refuse the call-up. He did not respond to my calls or messages, letting me know he does not want to play for Slovenia as long as I am there,” Katanec told reporters.

“I am disappointed with his choice, but I have to accept it.”

Alcaraz out for up to five weeks

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has revealed Antolin Alcaraz is set to be out for a maximum of five weeks after it was decided the defender does not require shoulder surgery.

Alcaraz dislocated his shoulder in last week’s 0-0 home draw with Swansea.

In midweek Martinez said, depending on whether or not the 32-year-old underwent an operation, he could be facing between six and 12 weeks on the sidelines.

But, providing an update yesterday, Martinez said: “We decided not to go through surgery. I think the specialist feels that is the best way to approach the injury.

“We will find out soon how he responds, but probably now we are talking three, four, five weeks maximum, which is fantastic news given what we feared earlier.”

Vergini for friendlies

Sunderland defender Santiago Vergini has been added to Argentina’s squad for this month’s friendlies in England against Croatia and Portugal.

Coach Gerardo Martino brought in the centre-back, who won his second cap in the 7-0 win over Hong Kong last month, after World Cup defenders Ezequiel Garay and Federico Fernandez dropped out through injury.

Martino’s team meet Croatia at West Ham’s Upton Park ground in London next Wednesday and face Portugal at Old Trafford in Manchester six days later.

Meyiwa nominated for African award

Murdered South Africa captain Senzo Meyiwa has been nominated for the African Player of the Year award.

The honour is awarded to the best player in Africa and runs alongside the award for African players not based on the continent.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper was shot dead at a house in the Vosloorus township, near Johannesburg.

A suspect was arrested on October 31.

Meyiwa’s name is one of 20 put up for the award. Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor of Togo is on the list, as is current holder Yaya Toure, Manchester City’s Ivorian midfielder.

Mazzarri asks for fans’ backing

Walter Mazzarri thanked Inter’s fans for backing his side throughout a tough Europa League meeting with St Etienne and implored them to pack out San Siro this evening.

A loyal band of Inter supporters travelled to eastern central France to watch their team play out a 1-1 draw that left Inter on the verge of qualifying for the knockout stages.

Coach Mazzarri admitted he was frustrated to lose two points but was enthused by his players’ response to a disappointing 2-0 Serie A defeat to Parma.

“The lads did very well and I’m delighted with the reaction I saw out there,” he said.

“Will we need our fans behind us against Verona? We want to play well and so we hope that the supporters get behind us, because the team deserves it.”

Pellegrini dismisses Yaya Toure exit

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed any suggestions that Yaya Toure could be sold.

Toure, a midfield talisman at the Etihad Stadium since his signing from Barcelona in 2010, has performed below his usual high standards for much of the season.

He was sent off for an act of petulance in the midweek Champions League loss to CSKA Moscow and there have been reports that City are now willing to consider offloading him.

Pellegrini said: “There must be a lot of reports telling (the story) that Yaya will be sold. Maybe (it is) all the other teams that want Manchester City to be a weaker team.

“Yaya is very important. Against CSKA he made a mistake but – never in my mind – I am sure nobody at the club is talking about transferring Yaya Toure.”

Leeds served with winding-up order

Leeds United have been served with a winding-up petition in the High Court over unpaid solicitors fees dating back at least two years when former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates owned the club.

Bates, 82, was in charge at Elland Road until December 2012 when he sold out to GFH Capital before Italian businessman Massimo Cellino bought a majority share in April.

The amount involved is about £150,000 according to a BBC report although Nick Collins of the law firm Ford & Warren Solicitors told Sky Sports it was “substantial.”

The petition is set to be heard in a Leeds court on January 13.

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