West Ham striker Dean Ashton is facing a long lay-off and could be out of the game until April to recover fully from an ankle injury. Ashton, 25, picked up the knock in training and has been out since September after undergoing surgery.
"I don't think we will have him back in January or February," manager Gianfranco Zola told reporters.
Zola said he was pleased with Ashton's progress but added he would not be rushed back into the team.
Ashton joined West Ham from Norwich for £7.25m in January 2006.
Real's additions to Euro squad
Real Madrid want to register Lassana Diarra and Klaas Jan Huntelaar for the Champions League next year and intend to launch an appeal at UEFA.
In a statement, Real claimed they have a "different interpretation" of UEFA regulations that state only one player who has already played in Europe this season can be registered.
Dutch striker Huntelaar played for Ajax in the Champions League while Diarra figured for Portsmouth in the UEFA Cup prior to their transfer move to the Bernabeu.
Last week, Marca reported that Real will be forced to choose which of the new signings to add to the Champions League squad for the next phase.
Real will argue before UEFA that the rule should not apply to Diarra as he played in the UEFA Cup.
Dacourt set to leave Inter
Olivier Dacourt, 34, will probably leave Inter next month after failing to win a regular place in Jose Mourinho's squad in the Serie A.
"I am thinking of going," Dacourt, formerly of Everton and Roma, said.
"There are offers on the table and I am ready to leave Inter. I have interest from England and Italy. Age is no barrier when you have a desire to play.
"The fact that I am not playing now is simply because the coach has decided that way... I have no relationship with Mourinho."
Reports in Italy say that Bologna and Genoa are showing interest in signing the Frenchman.
Forest sack Calderwood
Former European champions Nottingham Forest, now languishing at the wrong end of the Championship, sacked manager Colin Calderwood after losing 4-2 to Doncaster Rovers on Friday.
The result left Forest, European champions under Brian Clough in 1979 and 1980, in the relegation zone after winning promotion from League One last season.
"We are grateful to Colin for his efforts but we are in a results business and it is imperative the club stays in the Championship," chief executive Mark Arthur told the team's website.
Ref visit angers Wenger
Arsene Wenger sounded his disapproval at Aston Villa after their assistant manager John Robertson visited the referee at half-time in Friday's match at Villa Park.
Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, said Robertson went to ask official Lee Mason about a first-half decision.
"I know how it works here. At half-time the referee gets stick and then in the second half every little 50-50 decision goes the other way," Wenger said.
"I waited at half-time to see what happened and I was not disappointed."
Asked if he was implying that someone from Villa influenced the referee, Wenger added: "I have nothing to explain more than that."
Villa saved a point with a second-half penalty and a last-gasp goal for a 2-2 draw.
Milan not after Cannavaro
Milan won't be signing Real Madrid veteran Fabio Cannavaro in the winter transfer window, executive chairman Adriano Galliani said. With Cannavaro's contract coming to an end next summer, he could potentially be available for a cheap price next month but Galliani said the club will probably sign another defender.
"Cannavaro won't come," Galliani said.
"He is a Real Madrid player and he can't arrive in the New Year. We'll see if we can find an available stopper who can play as a left-back and also in the centre.
South African to join Fulham
Kagiso Dikgacoi, 24, told reporters he will be joining Fulham. The South Africa midfielder, who plays for Golden Arrows, was poised to join the Cottagers last summer but met with difficulties to get a work permit.
"Fulham are in the process of applying for a work permit for me and I am keeping my fingers crossed that everything will go according to plan, this time," Dikgacoi said.
"It has always been a dream of mine to ply my trade in Europe and I hope that I do get my opportunity in the English Premiership.
"There has been interest from other teams but I would prefer joining Fulham who are aware what I am capable of after spending some time with them in July."