Colback: Newcastle midfielder Jack Colback has been ruled out for six weeks after he sustained a knee injury in Sunday’s 3-0 loss to city rivals Sunderland. The 26-year-old has started nine of the 10 league games so far and his injury will come as a big blow to Newcastle, who are looking to get their season back on track after slumping to second from bottom.

Borriello: Carpi striker Marco Borriello was handed a three-game ban for an attempt to headbutt Danilo Soddimo, of Frosinone, in a league match on Wednesday. Both players were given a red card but Borriello will miss three games for “attempting to hit an opposing player with a headbutt”. Soddimo has only a one-match ban. Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini, Felipe Melo, of Inter, and Empoli’s Assane Diousse have each received a one-game ban for their respective red cards.

Richards: Aston Villa captain Micah Richards has accepted an English FA charge of misconduct, an FA spokesman confirmed yesterday. It followed an incident in the tunnel at the end of the Premier League defeat by Swansea last Sunday. Any sanction is unlikely to take effect before Monday’s match away to Tottenham.

Carneiro: Lawyers acting on behalf of Eva Carneiro have served notice of a claim of constructive dismissal against Chelsea after the club’s former first team doctor failed to agree a severance package. The legal papers will trigger an employment tribunal unless the club can agree an out-of-court settlement with Carneiro before a hearing takes place, reports said.

Arter: Harry Arter is in line for his first Premier League start of the season in tomorrow’s fixture at Southampton after playing 71 minutes of Bournemouth’s League Cup defeat at Liverpool. The midfielder’s return is a timely boost to manager Eddie Howe, who remains without long-term absentees Callum Wilson, Max Gradel and Tyrone Mings.

In England: The Championship – Brentford vs Queens Park Rangers 1-0. League Two – Cambridge vs Bristol Rovers 1-2.