IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Soccer

Chelsea forced to use third-choice keeper

LONDON: England's club Chelsea has goalkeeping concerns going into the busy Christmas schedule with first-choice Petr Cech and Carlo Cudicini out injured.

Cech was forced off in the 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers on Sunday and is still troubled by the hip injury sustained in a collision with Roque Santa Cruz. "Scans today have shown bruising around Petr's hip and side," Chelsea, who face Aston Villa on Wednesday, said in a statement.

"Carlo Cudicini also continues to make progress from his rib injury and, again, we hope to have him available as soon as possible." Third-choice Portuguese keeper Henrique Hilario, who made his first appearance this season as a substitute on Sunday, is next in line to take his place between the posts.

Schmeichel returning for Manchester City

MANCHESTER, England: Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is returning to Manchester City in January after a loan spell at Cardiff City, manager Sven-Goran Eriksson said.

The son of former Manchester United keeper Peter, Schmeichel began the season in goal for City but has slipped behing Joe Hart and Andrea Isaksson in the pecking order. "Kasper is coming back from January 2. I think his last game is the day before. He's here today training, as always, he comes here training twice a week with us," Eriksson said.

Struggling Metz appoints Pouliquen as new coach

PARIS: Yvon Pouliquen was appointed coach of struggling Ligue 1 club Metz on Monday, the club said on its website (www.fcmetz.com).

A former professional player, Pouliquen, 45, replaces Francis De Taddeo, who was sacked on Sunday following a string of poor results which have left Metz bottom of the league.

Metz has picked just seven points from 19 matches and is heading towards Ligue 2.

Everton rejects Celtic's bid for McFadden

LONDON: Everton has rejected an approach by Scottish league leaders Celtic for striker James McFadden.

Celtic made a formal approach for the Scotland international over the weekend, but despite not being a regular starter for Everton the Premier League club says he is staying on Merseyside.

"The fact is Celtic made a request to us on Saturday and it was immediately rejected out of hand," Everton chief executive Keith Wyness told the club's website (www.evertonfc.com).

"It is absolute nonsense to suggest that James McFadden will be joining Celtic on loan."

McFadden has enhanced his reputation this season after a string of impressive displays in Euro 2008 qualifiers, including a stunning winner in Scotland's 1-0 triumph in France.

Amor cleared to leave hospital after car accident

MADRID: Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Guillermo Amor has been cleared to return home after being badly injured in a car crash, medical staff at the Verge de la Cinta Hospital in Tortosa, Tarragona have said.

The 40-year-old had been taken there suffering from serious injuries to his chest, stomach and pelvis.

His car left a road and crashed down an embankment while he was returning home in the early hours of December 16, after commentating on a league match between Valencia and Barcelona.

Amor was a member of Johan Cruyff's highly successful Barcelona "Dream Team" in the early 1990s and went on to play for Fiorentina and Villarreal.

(China Daily 12/26/2007 page24)