No keepers: Champions Montpellier must pick a debutant goalkeeper for today’s game at Ligue 1 leaders Lyon with first choices Geoffrey Jourdren and Laurent Pionnier out through injury. Jourdren has been sidelined for 10 days with a rib problem and his number two Pionnier suffered a minor injury in training yesterday.

Dempsey: Martin Jol insists there was nothing he could have done to persuade Clint Dempsey to stay at Fulham and even told the American he loved him before his departure. “We did everything we could do so there are no regrets,” Jol said. “He wanted to be appreciated financially and he wanted a bigger club, a Champions League club, and that is what he got with Spurs.”

Bent: Aston Villa coach Paul Lambert said that the club have received no offers for striker Darren Bent. Bent has made 47 league appearances since joining Villa and has not been named in their squad for the last two matches. “Have there been any enquiries for Bent? No. Has he asked to be put on the transfer list? No,” said Lambert.

Banned: Senegal were banned from playing in the Dakar stadium where last month crowd trouble blighted their Africa Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast. The punishment was handed down by the Confederation of African Football which had already disqualified Senegal from the 2013 Nations Cup.

Diaz: Ramon Diaz has been reappointed coach of fallen Argentine giants River Plate. The 53-year-old replaces Matias Almeyda, who was sacked earlier in the week following poor results. A former River Plate striker, Diaz later coached the club twice before winning five Argentine titles.

Frimpong: Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has been given the green light by FIFA to represent his native Ghana. Frimpong last year expressed his desire to play for Ghana although he has British nationality. The 20-year-old has already played for the England U-16 and U-17 sides.

In England: The Championship – Birmingham vs M’Boro 3-2. FA Cup, second round – Bradford vs Brentford 1-1.