Fired: Dinamo Bucharest’s Flavius Stoican has become the 13th coach to quit or be sacked in less than four months in the 18-team Romanian league. The 37-year-old yesterday left the 18-times champions after being in charge for under 14 months. Dinamo said they had reached an amicable agreement to cancel Stoican’s contract.
De Jong: Holland midfielder Nigel de Jong will miss Sunday’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Latvia and is doubtful for the Milan derby on November 23. The Milan player was forced to pull out of the squad ahead of last night’s friendly against Mexico with a hamstring injury. De Jong got hurt during Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Sampdoria and will also miss this week-end’s match against Latvia in Amsterdam.
Podolski: Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski said he will consider his options in the winter if he does not get more playing time at Arsenal. The Germany international has yet to start a game for the Gunners in the Premier League this season, making just four substitute appearances. “Of course I’m not happy when I’m not playing,” Podolski told reporters in Berlin yesterday. “I want to be playing and enjoying my football. We’ll have to see what happens this winter. I’m going to seek talks with my club then, but there’s no pressure.”
Naughton: Tottenham’s Kyle Naughton has lost his appeal against his red card against Stoke, the FA has announced. The full-back will serve an immediate two-match ban after the appeal was dismissed by an independent regulatory commission hearing on Tuesday. Naughton tripped Victor Moses as the Stoke forward raced through on goal during Tottenham’s 2-1 Premier League loss on Sunday. He was sent off for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Carrick: England midfielder Michael Carrick has been forced to withdraw from the squad to play Slovenia and Scotland after sustaining an injury in training, the English FA said yesterday. The 33-year-old Manchester United midfielder, who has amassed 31 caps since his debut against Mexico in 2001, has not featured for England since a 2-0 World Cup-qualifying victory against Poland in October 2013.