Biglia: Lazio midfielder Lucas Biglia is set to miss the next three matches after a thigh strain during international duty for Argentina in a World Cup qualifier against Ecuador last week. Lazio said tests have confirmed a tear to the left thigh muscle so Biglia will be out of action for at least two weeks, skipping the league matches against Sassuolo and Torino and Rosenborg in the Europa League.
Krul: Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious knee injury, the club have confirmed. Assessments yesterday revealed the 27-year-old had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Holland’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Kazakhstan on Saturday. The news is a serious blow for Magpies manager Steve McClaren, who is already without second-choice keeper Karl Darlow due to a foot injury.
A-League: Newcastle Jets, last year’s bottom side, beat Wellington Phoenix 2-1 away yesterday to complete an impressive first weekend of the new season for the A-League’s wooden spoon candidates. David Carney headed the opener and set up Milos Trifunovic’s winner for the Jets, who won only three times in 27 matches last term.
JP Trophy: League One highflyers Gillingham have been handed a home draw against Yeovil in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy quarter-finals. Gillingham take on the League Two strugglers at Priestfield next month after seeing off 2008-09 winners Luton Town 2-1 last week to reach the last eight. Justin Edinburgh’s Gills are looking for their maiden trophy victory and the draw has handed them a good chance of progressing to the final in April.
Armero: The much-travelled Pablo Armero could make a return to Udinese following loan spells elsewhere that took him to Napoli, Milan, West Ham and Flamengo. The Colombia international joined Udinese in summer of 2010 from Brazil’s Palmeiras. At present, the 29-year-old left-back is playing for Flamengo but he’s not keen on making his move permanent and that opens the way for him to return to Udinese in the next transfer window.
UEFA Under-21
Group One: Moldova vs Latvia 0-3.
Standings: Belgium 9; Malta 5; Czech Republic, Latvia, Montenegro, Mol-dova 4.
Serie B
Ascoli vs Pescara 3-1; Bari vs Lanciano 1-0; Cagliari vs Cesena 3-1; Como vs Brescia 1-3; Livorno vs Avellino 1-1; Modena vs Latina 0-2; Perugia vs Entella 0-0; Salernitana vs Trapani 0-1; Spezia vs Ternana 1-0.
Standings: Cagliari 16; Crotone, Spezia, Bari 14; Livorno, Trapani, Cesena 13; Vicenza 11; Ascoli 10; Latina, Brescia, Pescara 9; Salernitana 8; Perugia, Entella, Modena 7; Lanciano, Novara 6; Avellino, Pro Vercelli, Como 5; Ternana 4.
Lega Pro
Group C: Ischia vs Melfi 1-0; Akragas vs F. Andria 0-2; Catania vs Catanzaro 4-1; Foggia vs Lecce 4-0; Messina vs Matera 2-1; Benevento vs Monopoli 2-1; Cosenza vs Casertana 2-1; Martina vs Juve Stabia 2-0.
League Two
Exeter City vs Stevenage 3-3; Notts County vs Plymouth Argyle 0-2.