Raffael: Borussia M’Gladbach attacking midfielder Raffael is set for a spell on the sidelines after twisting his knee at the weekend. The 32-year-old Brazilian, who has scored eight goals in 27 appearances this season, sustained the injury during Saturday’s 3-2 Bundesliga victory at Cologne and has undergone a scan but no timescale has yet been set regarding his return.

Iraq: Iraq’s Radhi Shenaishil became the third coaching casualty of Asian World Cup qualifying Group B when he was sacked yesterday. The 50-year-old was shown the door after defeat to Saudi Arabia in Jeddah at the end of last month all but ruled the country out of contention for a place in Russia next year.

Football League: League One and League Two clubs will vote next month on whether to revise the format of the Checkatrade Trophy or scrap it entirely. The options, which also include reverting the competition to English Football League clubs only, were spelled out by EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey at a meeting of the 48 clubs yesterday, with his preference clearly being a continuation of this season’s 64-team competition involving 16 category one academy sides.

Coleman: Everton boss Ronald Koeman and captain Phil Jagielka have visited Seamus Coleman at home in Ireland. The full-back had surgery two and a half weeks ago on the horrific double leg break he suffered on international duty with the Republic. Coleman is spending his initial period of recovery in his home town of Killybegs in County Donegal, and was visited yesterday by Koeman, Jagielka, fitness coach Jan Kluitenberg and head of medical services Matt Connery.

In Scotland: Championship – Dundee United vs Dunfermline 1-0; Morton vs St Mirren 1-4.