Blanc: Laurent Blanc will be on the sidelines for Paris St Germain’s Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen next week after his one-match ban for late kick-offs was suspended on appeal. Last month, Blanc was handed the ban and a fine of €10,000 after being held responsible for PSG’s final Group C game against Benfica starting late in Lisbon on December 10. UEFA’s Appeals Body yesterday agreed to suspend the ban for one year, while the fine stands.

Ferdinand: David Moyes has branded speculation that Rio Ferdinand would not go on Manchester United’s winter break to Dubai and would quit at the end of the season as “complete nonsense”. It had been claimed Ferdinand would miss the short warm weather training camp. “I can only tell you what was written was a load of rubbish,” said Moyes. “Complete nonsense.”

Fernandinho: Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has been named in a 16-man group of international-based players called up by Luiz Felipe Scolari for Brazil’s friendly against South Africa on March 5. The 28-year-old Fernandinho has only five caps for his country but has been hoping to use his strong form in his debut Premier League season to force his way into the World Cup picture. Despite missing City’s last two games with injury, he has taken a huge step towards earning a call-up.

Dortmund: Pierre-Emerick Au-bameyang’s header seven minutes from time booked 2012 German Cup winners Borussia Dortmund a place in the last four of this season’s competition. The Gabon inter-national clinched a 1-0 victory for Dortmund over Eintracht Frankfurt just when the game appeared to be heading for extra time.

Mitroglou: New recruit Kostas Mitroglou will not be making his Fulham debut against Liverpool tonight due to injury. The Greek striker is struggling with a knee problem.