News

United lose injured O'Shea

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 22/01/2010
Football betting

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that defender John O'Shea will miss the remainder of the season through injury.

The versatile 28-year-old been sidelined since mid-November with an injury picked up while playing for the Republic of Ireland.

The defender suffered a dead leg during Ireland's World Cup play-off defeat to France and was expected to miss only a few weeks of Premier League action.

However, a complication has led to O'Shea missing United's last 15 games and the likelihood is that his season is now over.

"The problem is that the blood clot became all knotted and when it gets knotted you get calcification so therefore it's a long process to clear that up and he'll probably miss the season now," explained Ferguson.

Will Manchester United successfully defend their Premier League crown this season? - Latest Football Betting

Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs will also not play again this season after suffering complications in his recovery from a metatarsal injury.

Midfielder Mark Davies did not suffer a serious ankle injury after being the victim of a controversial tackle from William Gallas during Bolton's 4-2 defeat at Arsenal on Wednesday night.

Trotters boss Owen Coyle accused Gallas of 'assaulting' his player after his 52nd minute lunge at Davies' ankle went unpunished by the referee.

To rub salt into the wounds, online betting second title favourites Arsenal went on to score an equalising goal with the midfielder lying prostrate on the Emirates Stadium pitch.

However, despite initial fears of a potential broken bone, scans have now revealed that Davies did not suffer a serious injury.

Elsewhere, Portsmouth are facing yet another financial battle after Udinese confirmed they are to take the beleaguered Premier League club to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over their non-payment of transfer fees.

The Italian club are still owed around £3million following their sale of Sulley Muntari to Pompey in summer 2007.

The Ghana international has since moved back to Italy with Internazionale in a deal which earned the Fratton Park club a fee in excess of £12million.

However, Udinese remain out of pocket and have asked CAS to rule on the matter.

In rugby union, Saracens head coach Brendan Venter has been handed a suspended four-week touchline ban after being found guilty of misconduct.

The South African coach was summoned to appear before a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel following a prolonged criticism of referee Dave Rose following his side's Guinness Premiership defeat to Leicester last month.

Venter questioned the integrity of the match official and the panel found him guilty of 'conduct which was prejudicial to the interests of the union'.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £250 and apologise to Rose, which he has done via a statement on the club's official website.

BET NOW