SOCCER SHORTS:CELTIC have confirmed that Beram Kayal will miss the rest of the season after the midfielder underwent ankle surgery.
Manager Neil Lennon admitted last Friday that Kayal could face a lengthy spell out and the news was confirmed by the surgeon.
Celtic said in a statement yesterday: “Beram Kayal underwent surgery last night on his injured ankle and the club can confirm that, unfortunately, our worst fears have been realised and Beram will be out of action for at least four months.”
Meanwhile, Rapid Vienna striker Hamdi Salihi would welcome a move to Celtic. Lennon has admitted interest in the Albania international (27) who is out of contract in the summer.
Salihi scored 46 goals in his first two seasons with Rapid but eight of his 11 league appearances this term have come off the bench.
He was quoted as saying: “Celtic is a club with a great name, this could be a good step for my career.”
Financial assurances given to Hughes before QPR deal
MARK Hughes left little doubt QPR’s ambitions matched his own yesterday after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract to manage the west London club.
Having quit Fulham at the end of last season because he did not believe they shared his vision, Hughes predictably sought assurances on that front before committing himself to Loftus Road until 2014.
The 48-year-old former Manchester City and Wales manager was clearly won over by the plans of Malaysian tycoon Tony Fernandes, who sacked Neil Warnock on Sunday after seeing Rangers slump to within a point of the Premier League relegation zone.
Reports suggest Fernandes is ready to bankroll a January recruitment drive which could see between €25 to €35 million of new talent arrive at Loftus Road.
Hughes, who took charge of first-team training for the first time yesterday afternoon will be joined at QPR by assistant manager Mark Bowen.
Barmby gets full reins at Hull
FORMER England international Nick Barmby brought the curtain down on his 21-year playing career when he was named as the permanent manager of Hull City yesterday.
Barmby (37) who joined Tottenham as a 16-year-old in 1990, also appeared for Everton, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Leeds United and Hull during a long playing career.
He originally took charge of Hull on a caretaker basis in November.
Barton tweets abuse at Holland
JOEY Barton has launched a scathing online attack at former Republic of Ireland international Matt Holland and lashed out at English-born players who declare for Ireland. The QPR midfielder began his offensive after taking exception to comments made by Bury-born Holland on TalkSport.
“Tell him to pipe down. If he was relevant, I’d probably give him a bit. Trying to keep his face in, has to talk about someone,” tweeted Barton.
“Sh*t players talking sh*t, the bain of my life. Go and live life away from football, stop being so bitter, twisted and sad. Its boring.
“If ur English, u play for England. If ur English and sh*t, u pretend ur Irish grand parentage matters to u and play for Ireland.
“I’d rather have my 1 England cap and be forever yearning more than take somebody from that countries chance away because my nans from their and I’m not good enough to play for the country I’m from.
“Bore off. Play for the country ur from, if ur not good enough like me, work harder.”
Guangzhou deny Drogba link
CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba will not be joining China’s Guangzhou Evergrande after the defending national champions ended speculation over a transfer swoop.
“We have (had) no contact with Drogba whatsoever, nor . . . authorised anyone to contact him,” the club said in a statement on their official website. “The recent Drogba reports are pure speculation, he is not in our plans.”
Drogba could now be closer to joining Chinese rivals Shanghai Shenhua after they signed his Chelsea striking partner Nicola Anelka last month.
Former French international Jean Tigana is to take over as Shanghai coach and the club have declared their interest in bringing Ivory Coast international Drogba in too.
Promoted Dalian Aerbin have also been linked with Drogba (33) who is entering the last six months of his current contract with Chelsea.
Palace one step closer to Wembley
ANTHONY GARDNER put Crystal Palace on course for their first major Wembley final since 1990 with the only goal in last night's English League Cup semi-final first leg against Cardiff.
Former Tottenham defender Gardner netted for the first time in more than a year to spark jubilant scenes at Selhurst Park and leave Palace fans dreaming of their first semi success in four attempts.
Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller had an equaliser controversially disallowed for Cardiff, who will need to show more cutting edge in two weeks' time to turn the tie around. Palace struck two minutes before the break. Tom Heaton tried to claim Darren Ambrose's free-kick but was beaten by Mile Jedinak, whose flick-on was nodded into an empty net by Gardner.
