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Festive return for Neville

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 18/09/2009
Football betting

Everton have confirmed that club captain Phil Neville will not be able to return to first-team action until Christmas.

The former Manchester United star suffered a knee injury in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Fulham and had the problem assessed by a specialist on Wednesday.

Because of Neville's injury, David Moyes is hoping to sign Australia international Lucas Neill.

The 31-year-old, who has been a free agent since leaving West Ham United at the end of last season, has been linked with a host of clubs in the last few months.

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Rumours linking Valencia star David Silva with a transfer to Manchester United have intensified after the Spain international hinted that he would welcome the chance to move to Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old midfielder was linked with last season's Premier League champions and Liverpool for much of the summer only to eventually remain with the cash-strapped Mestalla-based side, who are one of the online favourites to win this season's Europa League.

Newcastle United have won the race to sign Blackburn's Georgia international defender Zurab Khizanishvili on loan.

Middlesbrough had also been chasing the 27-year-old, who moves to St James' Park on a three-month emergency loan deal.

The former Dundee and Rangers star has spent the last four years at Ewood Park but has failed to start a Premier League game since March.

Meanwhile, Hull City manager Phil Brown has allowed Caleb Folan to join Boro on loan.

The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international striker has secured a three-month loan deal on Teesside.

It is anticipated that Folan will seal a permanent £2million switch to the Riverside Stadium in January if the loan agreement is a success.

In rugby union, Sale Sharks scrum-half Dwayne Peel faces a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a groin injury.

The number nine will face a race against time in a bid to be fit for Wales in their autumn internationals as the early prognosis of the injury suggests a minimum absence of three weeks.

Although Wales do not take on the All Blacks until November 7, Peel will miss a significant amount of game time with his club to stake a claim for the jersey ahead of British & Irish Lions representative Mike Phillips.

Props Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins, flanker Martyn Williams, centres Gavin Henson and Tom Shanklin and lock Ian Evans are also expected to be absent for Wales through injury.

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