Cech out of hospital
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech left hospital yesterday, 10 days after fracturing his skull in a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt. Cech needed emergency surgery to insert two metal plates in his head after the clash in the first minute of Chelsea's game at the Madejski Stadium and is now expected to be back at Chelsea's training ground in Surrey, south-east England, next week to begin his rehabilitation.
The 24-year-old Czech international goalkeeper has been told it will be three months before he trains again.
Eto's dreams of an award
Cameroon and Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o said he dreams of winning the European Football of the Year Award while recovering from knee surgery. "At the moment it is obvious that if I were the fortunate chosen one, it would fill me with pride and joy," Eto'o told magazine France Football in an interview published yesterday.
Becks misses Man United
London - Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham has admitted how much he misses Manchester United as his career in Spain hangs in the balance.
It is expected the 31-year-old will turn down a new two-year contract at Real if he is unable to win back a regular place under coach Fabio Capello.
Valencia face the stick
Valencia could be punished after an assistant referee was hit on the head by a stick of licorice thrown from the crowd on Sunday. The assistant suffered "a slight graze" behind his left ear in the 86th minute of Valencia's 1-0 league victory over Osasuna at Mestalla stadium, referee David Fernandez Borbalan said.
Adriano takes a break
Inter Milan striker Adriano departed for his native Brazil yesterday for a break the club hopes will help him regain his focus. Adriano has not scored for Inter in any competition since March 29.
Lippi eyes Mexico job
Mexico City - Marcelo Lippi, who led Italy to its fourth World Cup title in July, is one of four candidates to take over Mexico's national team, according to a Mexican soccer federation official. Decio de Maria said Lippi was on the four-man short list in an interview published in the Reforma newspaper yesterday.
Marco wants to meet Zizou
Marco Materazzi, the Italy international head-butted by Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup final, says he is perfectly prepared to meet up with the retired France star. "When the time comes to meet there'll be no problem. I know that like me he made a mistake," the Inter Milan defender told French radio station RTL in an interview set to be aired today.
Larsson rejects Villa rumours
Rumours circulated last week that Villa might be lining up a move for the former Celtic hero in the January transfer window.
Larsson is currently back playing in his native Sweden with Helsingborgs after leaving Barcelona at the end of last season.
O'Neill played down the prospect of signing Larsson earlier this week and now Larsson has moved to reject the reports.
"I have said everything I have to say about that matter," Larsson told Expressen.
"Martin O'Neill is a fantastic coach and I have got fantastic memories together with him, but I will stay at Helsingborg."
- Sapa-AFP/AP/Reuters
