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Facial surgery for Cech

LONDON: Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech had surgery on Sunday following a trainingground accident that left him with cuts to his lip and chin, the Premier League club said on Monday.

"Petr will begin his rehabilitation immediately and we hope to have him back playing as soon as possible," the London club said on its website (www.chelseafc.com).

The Czech Republic international has not played since March 1 because of an ankle injury, with Italian Carlo Cudicini standing in.

Last season, Cech was out of action for three months after suffering a fractured skull from a collision with Reading's Stephen Hunt. He now wears a rugby-style protective skull cap whenever he plays.

Totti out of United clash

ROME: Francesco Totti has been left out of AS Roma's squad for Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg at Manchester United, the Serie A side said on Monday.

Totti missed the first leg last week with a thigh problem and there had been conflicting reports over the weekend about the striker's availability for the Old Trafford leg, with Roma trailing 2-0.

The forward, however, was not included in a squad list published on the club website (www.asroma.it).

Roma boss Luciano Spalletti had said after Saturday's 3-2 win over Genoa that it might be better for Totti to miss the United game and fully recover for next weekend's league clash at Udinese.

Ferdinand still doubtful

LONDON: Manchester United received a boost ahead of its Champions League quarterfinal, second leg at home to AS Roma with the news on Monday that defender Rio Ferdinand has not broken a bone in his foot.

The England defender is still doubtful for Wednesday's match at Old Trafford, however, with United's medical staff not confirming how long he might be out of action.

"Rio went for a scan on Monday and we can confirm that he has not suffered any break," a club official told United's website (www.manutd.com).

Wenger voices confidence

LIVERPOOL: Arsene Wenger tried to bolster Arsenal's faltering confidence by insisting on Monday it can still win a Premier League and Champions League double.

Wenger's side is six points behind in the league with five games left and traveled to Liverpool yesterday after drawing last week's Champions League quarterfinal first leg 1-1 at home.

Arsenal has won just two of its last 11 games, but after leader Manchester United was held 2-2 at Middlesbrough on Sunday, Wenger was positive about his side's chances of pulling off an unlikely double.

"I still believe we can finish as champions in the league," Wenger told a news conference.

Stricker: Woods too tough

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Tiger Woods arrived at Augusta on Monday with fellow American Steve Stricker saying the four-time Masters champion will be unstoppable if he is in form.

The world No 1 launches his bid for a fifth green jacket and a 14th major title on Thursday having triumphed in nine of his last 11 starts.

"Obviously he's the favorite coming in here," world No 4 Stricker told reporters after practice on Monday.

"I mean, the course, and his play, the way he's played this year, there's no question he's the odds-on favorite to win here."

Woods has been virtually unstoppable this year, winning his first four tournaments before finishing fifth at last month's WGC-CA Championship in Miami.

"How many has he won here already, four? That shows you something right there. You realize that he's the guy to beat," the PGA Tour's 2006 and 2007 comeback player of the year added.

(China Daily 04/09/2008 page22)