Ricksen: Rangers' troubled midfielder Fernando Ricksen will return to training today following his spell in a London clinic. The former captain was sent home three weeks ago from a pre-season tour of South Africa after an incident on the flight when he reportedly threw water at a flight attendant. Dutchman Ricksen booked into the Sporting Chance Clinic set up by ex-Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams to help sports people with addictions.

Simao: Valencia are still hopeful of signing Benfica's Simao Sabrosa, despite failing to clinch a deal last weekend. Spanish media had reported that relations between the two clubs were broken when the player arrived to sign a contract with the Primera Liga side on Saturday, only to fly home the next day after failing to reach an agreement. The 26-year-old winger has won 50 caps for Portugal.

Gurpegi: The Spanish high court have rejected an appeal by Athletic Bilbao's Carlos Gurpegi and imposed a two-year ban on the midfielder after he tested positive for nandrolone in 2002. Gurpegi, who has always denied knowingly taking a banned substance, tested positive for a metabolite of the banned steroid nandrolone, in the first match of the 2002-03 season.

Israel: UEFA Cup second qualifying round first-leg matches cannot be played in Israel and must be staged in a neutral country, UEFA said on its Web site last night. European soccer's governing body added that the matches should be moved due to the security situation in the region. Hapoel Tel-Aviv play their home tie against NK Domale of Slovenia on Aug. 8 and Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv are at home to PFC Lokomotiv Sofia of Bulgaria on Aug. 10. (See also opposite page).