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Gunners confirm Ramsey worst

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 01/03/2010
Football betting

Arsenal have confirmed that Aaron Ramsey will be out for the rest of the season after fracturing the tibia and fibula in his right leg during Saturday's 3-1 win at Stoke City.

The 19-year-old midfielder was taken to hospital following a 65th minute tackle from Potters defender Ryan Shawcross at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday evening.

Shawcross was sent off following the incident and the Gunners have now revealed the full extent of Ramsey's injury.

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England manager Fabio Capello has included Shawcross in his squad for Wednesday's friendly international against Egypt just hours after the defender was sent off.

Theo Walcott and Stewart Downing have also been included in the 24-man squad but there is no place for Chelsea's Joe Cole.

Shawcross is included as Rio Ferdinand and Gary Cahill are currently injured while John Terry is struggling for form.

Wayne Bridge said on Thursday that he did not want to be part of any future England squad while Ashley Cole has a broken ankle so Capello has handed Leighton Baines and Stephen Warnock the left-back places.

Birmingham City goalkeeper Joe Hart could be given a taste of England action after impressing for the Blues this term.

Ben Foster, Darren Bent and Jermain Jenas miss out while Aaron Lennon and Glen Johnson are injured.

As Ferdinand is injured, Steven Gerrard will be handed the captain's armband.

Meanwhile, Fabio Capello has told John Terry to forget about the possibility of captaining England again during his managerial reign.

Terry was stripped of the international armband by a decisive Capello after allegations emerged about his private life earlier in the month.

In rugby union, team manager Martin Johnson has leapt to the defence of Jonny Wilkinson following England's 20-16 Six Nations defeat by sportsbook second favourites Ireland.

Wilkinson was under the spotlight following a much-criticised performance in the 17-12 victory over Italy two weeks ago and his display at Twickenham has come in for further questioning.

"Some of his critics may have their own agenda and others, who don't know too much, have jumped on it," said Johnson, amid suggestions that the World Cup-winning fly-half was to blame for a lack of attacking ideas.

"I don't have to defend Jonny Wilkinson in the world of rugby. He does what he does and he does it tremendously well."

Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic bounced back from a second-set slump to successfully defend his Dubai Open title.

The dominant Serb led 7-5 2-0 against Mikhail Youzhny when rain forced Saturday's final to be delayed overnight.

However, the delay looked to have played into Youzhny's hands when he restarted in much improved fashion and turned the set around to win it 7-5.

But Djokovic settled his nerves at the start of the third set and won it 6-3 to complete the first ever successful ATP Tour title defence of his career and his first win of the 2010 season.

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