Di Canio:Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has been fined £8,000 after admitting a charge of misconduct following his sending-off during the 3-1 Premier League defeat to Arsenal, the FA said yesterday. The Italian was sent to the stands by Martin Atkinson during Saturday's match after the referee had denied bottom-of-the-table Sunderland a second equaliser at the Stadium of Light.

Okore: Aston Villa’s Danish defender Jores Okore could be out for up to nine months with a knee injury. “Following clinical examination and the results of an MRI scan, the club can confirm that Jores Okore sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee in the game against Newcastle on Saturday,” Villa said.

Webb: World Cup final referee Howard Webb will take charge of Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium. It will be the first time the Yorkshireman has officiated at a derby since the 2010 Carling Cup semi-final second leg, when Wayne Rooney scored a last-minute winner to seal an aggregate win for United.

Macheda: Doncaster have signed Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on an initial one-month loan deal. Macheda, in the final year of his contract at United, watched Rovers’ goalless draw with Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield from the directors’ box at the John Smiths Stadium on Saturday and reported for training at the Championship club’s Cantley Park yesterday.

La Liga: Elche vs Valladolid 0-0.