QPR shirt: Queens Park Rangers said yesterday they would be retiring the No.31 shirt worn by Ray Jones. The teenage striker was killed in a car crash in London at the weekend.

Sunderland: Sunderland have agreed a £2.5 million fee with Stoke City for the transfer of defender Danny Higginbotham. Roy Keane, the Sunderland manager, has also agreed the sale of Swedish midfielder Tobias Hysen to IFK Gothenburg.

Newcastle: Newcastle United defenders Stephen Carr and Peter Ramage both face a spell on the sidelines with injuries sustained in Sunday's 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough. Full-back Carr could be missing for between four and six weeks with a hamstring injury while Newcastle fear Ramage suffered a potentially long-term knee injury.

Match abandoned: Leicester City's League Cup tie at Nottingham Forest was abandoned yesterday after City defender Clive Clarke collapsed in the dressing room at half-time, British media reported. City did not name the player but said he had suffered a "serious illness" during the break and that both clubs had taken the decision to abandon the east Midlands derby.

Inter get Pele: Inter have signed Vitor Hugo Gomes Passos, also known as Pele, from Guimaraes. The Portuguese U-21 midfielder, who turns 20 next month, has penned a five-year contract and will wear the number 30 shirt.

Veron: Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is expected to be out of action for another two weeks after limping out of Estudiantes's championship match against San Lorenzo at the weekend, club doctor Raul Zamponi said. The former Man. United and Lazio player pulled up with a problem in the back of his right thigh in the 33rd minute of Saturday's game.