Soccer Digest: Michael Owen is scheduled to undergo a double hernia operation in Germany on Friday. The England and Newcastle United striker's need for surgery, which will almost certainly rule him out of next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia, writes Louise Taylor.
Owen will fly to Munich to be operated on by Ulrike Muschaweck, a leading female surgeon, who has previously dealt with hernias suffered by Alan Shearer, the former Newcastle striker, and Steve Harper, their goalkeeper. One reason why Owen - who had originally hoped to delay surgery until December - has elected to be treated in Munich rather than Bradford is that Muschaweck's world-renowned skill enabled Shearer to return to action just 10 days after being on the operating table in 2005. However, in Owen's case, a 10-day timescale is believed to be over optimistic and sources suggest he may endure around a month on the sidelines. (Guardian Service)
Everton back Johnson to come good
Andrew Johnson has been assured that he retains the full support of the Everton management despite a six-month goal drought that has taken a punishing toll on the England international.
The €12.3 million striker issued a public apology to Everton supporters last week when a troubled campaign reached its nadir with two missed penalties in the Uefa Cup first-round draw against Metalist Kharkiv. Johnson has scored five times in 2007, the last goal coming in the victory over Arsenal on March 18th, did not find the target once in pre-season and was frustrated again on Sunday when he snatched at his only chance against Aston Villa.
However, Johnson, preferred to the €16 million record signing Yakubu Ayegbeni at Villa Park, will be given an opportunity to play his way out of the rut. "We will stick by Andy, he is a terrific player and it was only last week that Sir Alex Ferguson was praising him after the Manchester United game," said the assistant manager, Alan Irvine, yesterday.
Moyes has granted an unexpected reprieve to the troubled Dutch winger Andy van der Meyde, who has been included in the travelling party to Sheffield Wednesday. The 27-year-old was banished from the first-team squad when he missed training after the opening game of the season. His absence, which he blamed on an illness to his new-born daughter, was the latest in a series of indiscretions by the Dutchman since his move from Internazionale and resulted in a fine of two weeks' wages and orders to train with the reserve team. "He trained with us for the first time today," revealed Irvine. "We all want to see the player who starred for Ajax and moved to Inter but sadly it hasn't happened for a number of reasons."
Strachan to appeal reduced ban
There will be no swift conclusion to Gordon Strachan's long-running feud with the Scottish Football Association after the Celtic manager last night decided to appeal against a reduced touchline ban of two matches. Strachan met with the association's disciplinary committee for two hours yesterday, in relation to his sending-off against Hearts in April and a club spokesman said: "Clearly the club is surprised and disappointed with the decision and we will be launching an appeal." In addition Strachan has injury worries for tonight's League Cup game against Dundee with Shunsuke Nakamura, Mark Wilson, Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe, Paul Hartley and Aiden McGeady all set to miss out.
In brief . . .
Coventry City have been ordered to pay Crystal Palace and Southampton an initial fee of €570,000 for Gary Borrowdale and €927,475 for Leon Best. The clubs were unable to agree a fee but because the players are under the age of 24 Palace and Saints were entitled to compensation for training and development. The figure was set by the Professional Game Compensation Committee . . . The Brazilian midfielder Ze Maria will not join Sheffield United after talks with his agent broke down. The 34-year-old was expected to sign for the club after impressing during a recent week-long trial but the Blades have confirmed the move is off . . . England's Under-21 side will play their Euro 2009 qualifier against Bulgaria on November 16th in Milton Keynes at Stadium MK, the English Football Association announced yesterday . . . Aston Villa's deadline-day signing Moustapha Salifou will finally join up with the club after obtaining a work permit. The Togo international, who has signed a one-year deal, has been training with his former club FC Wil in Switzerland until clearance was received.
Tonight's fixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
English League Cup: Third Round: Blackburn v Birmingham (8.00); Fulham v Bolton (8.00); Hull v Chelsea; Man Utd v Coventry (8.00); Sheff Wed v Everton; Tottenham v Middlesbrough (8.00); West Ham v Plymouth; Aston Villa v Leicester.
Scottish League Cup: Third Round: Dundee v Celtic; East Fife v Rangers; Hibernian v Motherwell; Partick v Aberdeen.
Women's World Cup: Semi-Final: Germany v Norway.
Italian Serie A - Catania v Empoli, Fiorentina v AS Roma, Genoa v Udinese, Inter Milan v Sampdoria, Juventus v Reggina, Lazio v Cagliari, Napoli v Livorno, Palermo v AC Milan, Parma v Torino, Siena v Atalanta Bergamo.
Last night's results
FAI Cup, Quarter-final (Replay) - Cork City 4 Waterford United 0.
English League Cup, Third Round - Arsenal 2 Newcastle 0, Blackpool 2 Southend 1 (aet), Burnley 0 Portsmouth 1, Luton Town 3 Charlton 1 (aet), Manchester City 1 Norwich 0, Reading 2 Liverpool 4, Sheffield Utd 5 Morecambe 0, West Brom 2 Cardiff City 4.
Scottish League Cup, Third Round - Falkirk 0 Dundee Utd 1, Hamilton Acd' 2 Kilmarnock 0, Hearts 4 Dunfermline 1 (aet), Inverness CT 3 Gretna 0.
Spanish La Liga - Sevilla 2 Espanyol 3.
