Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has been ruled out for six weeks with a broken metatarsal. The France international picked up the injury in the Premiership defeat to Arsenal earlier this month.
He becomes the latest member of the United squad to suffer such a setback, following on from the likes of Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney.
It means the former Inter Milan star will not be available again until mid-November, although at least manager Alex Ferguson has ready-made alternatives for the left-back role in Gabriel Heinze and Patrice Evra.
Wayne Rooney was the last player off Manchester United's training ground yesterday as he seeks a remedy for his first slump in form in his two years at the club. Rooney asked for an extra 30-minute session to practise his finishing and improve his fitness and Carlos Queiroz, Ferguson's assistant, acknowledged the player's confidence may have been affected by his recent performances.
"Wayne finished training then stayed a while to work alone because he knows he needs to do something," said Queiroz. "Game by game, it will start to come right for him. The confidence will build up and I am sure he will be better against Newcastle (at Old Trafford tomorrow)."
Rooney has been disappointing by his usual standards since returning from a three-match suspension and Queiroz suggested the 20-year-old might have been trying too hard. "Sometimes with young talents like Wayne, they want to prove everything in every minute of every game." he said.
Pavel Srnicek has returned to Newcastle as goalkeeping cover until January. The Czech goalkeeper, now 38, spent much of the 1990s at St James' Park where he established himself as a crowd favourite.
He has been without a club after leaving Beira Mar of Portugal last season. With Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Shay Given recovering from bowel surgery and Tim Krul only 18 years old, Glenn Roeder wanted an established goalkeeper to understudy Steve Harper, Given's deputy.
Newcastle had originally hoped to sign Ronald Waterreus, the former Rangers and Holland keeper, but the 36-year-old told him that he had lost too much fitness since leaving Ibrox at the end of last season.
"In the modern day when everyone is talking about players wanting money, that was very honest," said Roeder.
Ben Thatcher will not face criminal charges for the forearm challenge which hospitalised Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes.
The Manchester City full-back was suspended for eight games by the English FA a fortnight ago, with a further 15-match ban suspended, following the August 23rd incident which left Mendes unconscious and needing hospital treatment.
City had already banned the 30-year-old for six matches and fined him six weeks' wages for the challenge during the goalless draw at Eastlands.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) investigated complaints about the incident but have decided against charging Thatcher.
Mendes's wish for the matter to be handled solely by the FA appears to have played a part in the local force reaching their decision.
A GMP statement read: "Officers from GMP have spoken to the relevant parties involved in an incident during the Manchester City versus Portsmouth match on August 23.
"In consultation with the injured player, the clubs and the Football Association, GMP have been informed the player would like to pursue a complaint and have asked for it to be dealt with by the FA, not the police.
"In light of this, GMP will not be investigating the incident further and consider the matter to be closed."
Thatcher is still being investigated by Lancashire Police over a clash with former Blackburn player Ralph Welch during a reserve game at Ewood Park in February.
... Guardian Service
