Today's other stories in brief

Messi out until new year

Chelsea's Champions League group rivals Barcelona will likely be without Lionel Messi until well into the new year after he suffered a broken metatarsal during the Spanish league victory over Real Zaragoza on Sunday night.

"Messi has fractured the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. The treatment will be surgical and the expected loss is around three months," said a medical statement on the Barcelona website.

Newell's future in balance

Mike Newell was clinging to his job as Luton manager last night after the club's board demanded a meeting with him for what they described as his "sexist" and "completely unacceptable" criticism of assistant referee Amy Rayner.

The Luton board were expected to make a decision on Newell's future last night after he described the appointment of Rayner to run the line at his side's 3-2 defeat to Queens Park Rangers as "tokenism for the politically-correct idiots".

However, they will not decide which course of action to take until they have spoken to the former Blackburn striker, who also criticised Luton chairman Bill Tomlins in his post-match press conference.

In a statement on the club's official website, www.lutontownfc.co.uk, the Luton board said: "The board of directors met today to consider the comments made by the manager, Mike Newell, in the press conference after Saturday's game against QPR.

"The club disassociates itself totally from the sexist comments made by him, which have no place in this club and are completely unacceptable. Representatives of the board will be meeting the manager as a matter of urgency to ask him to explain his comments and other criticisms."

Earlier yesterday, Newell apologised to Rayner, admitting his comments were "ill-timed and out of order".

Smith no loan star

Manchester United striker Alan Smith will refuse all offers of a loan move to the Championship and instead put himself through a punishing personal training regime in an attempt to get back to full match fitness.

The 25-year-old former Leeds player looked exceptionally tired at the end of extra-time after his return from a severe leg injury when United squeezed through in the League Cup against Crewe last month and then only lasted an hour when his side were sent tumbling out of the competition by Southend.

Championship leaders Cardiff have already made an inquiry, while Dennis Wise, new boss at his former club, has also suggested he would be interested in taking Smith back to Elland Road.

However, the player has informed manager Alex Ferguson he wishes to fight for a first-team place. He will embark on a fitness programme, devised by United's coaching staff, to push him back to the standard required.

Cahill faces long lay-off

Everton have been hit by the news that midfielder Tim Cahill will be out of action for a minimum of six weeks.

However, the fear is that Cahill could be out for much longer, with suggestions of two to three months a possibility. Results of a scan yesterday, taken after Cahill was carried off during Saturday's defeat to Aston Villa following an accidental clash with team-mate Lee Carsley, have produced grim findings for boss David Moyes.

Everton have not officially confirmed the full extent of Cahill's injury yet, but it is believed that although he does not have a cruciate knee problem, it could well be medial damage and that six weeks on the sidelines is a minimum prognosis.

Ronaldo to defy Ferguson

Cristiano Ronaldo seems set to defy Alex Ferguson by playing in Portugal's Euro 2008 qualifier with Kazhakstan tomorrow, which Portugal need to win after making a poor start to their qualifying campaign. The Manchester United winger suffered an ankle injury in his side's Premiership win at Blackburn on Saturday. Although Ferguson released him for international duty, he also stated his wish for the 21-year-old to be excused the game in Coimbra,

However, Ronaldo said he expected to be fit to play."It was just a small knock. I think one day or two will be enough to be back to 100 per cent. The only thing I can say is that, on Wednesday, I will be fine for playing."

Meanwhile, Ronaldo's team-mate Wayne Rooney is to be questioned by police investigating reports of a 5am brawl outside a nightclub last month.

He will be interviewed by Greater Manchester Police over claims a photographer was assaulted outside the club in Manchester city centre last month. Rooney has not been arrested and the photographer did not require medical treatment, police said.