Liverpool have confirmed that Fernando Torres sustained ankle ligament damage during the 2-0 defeat at Stoke on Saturday.
The problem is only thought to be a strain and Torres is still set to meet with Spain ahead of their friendly with Portugal this week.
Liverpool have already been in touch with Spain’s medical team and they have confirmed he will travel to Lisbon next week.
A Liverpool statement read: “Fernando Torres sustained an ankle ligament strain during Saturday’s clash with Stoke City – but the striker will still join up with the Spain squad for their international with Portugal.
“Torres will have the injury further assessed by the Spanish medical staff ahead of the friendly in Lisbon on Wednesday.”
Rooney set for United return
Alex Ferguson revealed that Wayne Rooney will return to Manchester United on Monday after praising his side’s gutsy 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday.
United’s unbeaten run in all competitions was extended to 26 games after two goals in the last nine minutes from Federico Macheda and Nemanja Vidic rescued a point at Villa Park.
Ferguson admitted: “Wayne had a good week. He’s trained very hard. He’s been doing two sessions a day and he has achieved what we wanted him to achieve.”
Turning his sights on the match at Villa Park, Ferguson said: “We are a club that never says there is no way back. We brought people on and they changed the game.
“Another five minutes and we would have won the game, there’s no doubt about that. There was only one team going to win it from then.”
Lahm hints at overseas move
Philipp Lahm said yesterday he wants to one day play abroad, despite having signed a contract with Bayern Munich until 2016.
“When my contract expires in 2016, I will be 32 years old and playing abroad then could be an issue for me,” Lahm, 26, said.
“I decided to stay in Bayern, because the club is part of me, I live for Bayern and I like Bayern, so why should I leave?
“They are one of the top five clubs in the world, we are building something here.”
Del Piero unsure over retirement
Veteran Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero, whose contract with the Italian side expires in 2011, said yesterday he still does not know when he will retire from football in an interview published in Spain.
“I honestly don’t know. Physically and mentally I am still well. It could be the latter that truly decides things,” the 36-year-old said.
Del Piero – set his sights on scoring 200 league goals for Juventus after becoming their outright top marksman of all time when he bagged his 179th Serie A goal during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Milan on October 30.
Lippi linked with Ukraine job
Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi could be in charge of co-hosts Ukraine in the 2012 European Championship, reports said yesterday.
Lippi, who led Italy to the world title in 2006, has said he is ready to return to work and had been linked with the benches at Roma, Juventus and Milan.
It was reported yesterday that Ukraine have set up a meeting to offer Lippi the job of leading their team.
Ukraine currently have only an interim coach, Yuri Kalitvinsev, who could be axed after Wednesday’s friendly with Switzerland.
According to Italian newspapers, a meeting with Lippi is planned in Geneva this week and he would begin work in February 2011.
McClaren facing sanctions
Wolfsburg coach Steve McClaren could face punishment for criticising the referee at the end of his side’s 2-2 draw against Schalke yesterday.
McClaren and the Wolves’ managing director Dieter Hoeness followed referee Wolfgang Stark down the tunnel at the end of the match, complaining about the quality of his refereeing and in particular the way he missed a blatant handball by Klaas Jan Huntelaar as he scored Schalke’s equaliser.
“30,000 people in the stadium saw it, only the officials didn’t,” said the English coach afterwards. “That is what made us react so angrily.”
The Dutch striker admitted that he had used his hand and that “normally, a foul would be given”.
Wright-Phillips frustrated at City
Shaun Wright-Phillips would consider going out on loan in January – but wants to finish his English career at Manchester City.
The England winger has only made three Premier League appearances for the big-spenders this term, leading to speculation regarding his long-term future.
He said: “Well I’m never going to be able to say how frustrated I am, some people might never understand but obviously I know it is part of the game I’m working hard in training and I just have to keep going.
“Obviously it’s very important (to be playing first team football) but I know everybody’s time comes and goes and it will always come back again and my time’s going to come back again and I know what I’m capable of, so I just have to be patient and just be ready when my run of games comes.”