Sport

Breen extends his stay at the Stadium of Light

Sunderland captain Gary Breen has signed an extension to his contract which will keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2006

Tue Dec 07 2004 - 00:00

Sunderland captain Gary Breen has signed an extension to his contract which will keep him at the Stadium of Light until 2006. The Republic of Ireland defender's original deal was due to run out at the end of the season and Breen has agreed a one-year extension with an option of a further year. "Now I can continue to focus on getting us promoted," said Breen.

Manager Mick McCarthy added: "I think he has been my most influential signing. Not only is he a quality defender, but also he's a great leader on and off the field and brings a tremendous amount of experience to our side."

Ruud van Nistelrooy is definitely out of Manchester United's Champions League clash against Fenerbahce tomorrow. Van Nistelrooy sat out Saturday's 3-0 victory over Southampton at Old Trafford with a calf injury, and will now miss the final Group D game in Turkey.

Alex Ferguson appears poised to ring the changes again, just as he did for last week's League Cup triumph over Arsenal. "We'll rest a few of Saturday's team," added Ferguson. "The boys who played in the Carling Cup against Arsenal on Wednesday will get a chance."

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Newcastle will discover for sure today whether they must take on Yeading on the minnows' home patch in the FA Cup third round.

The Ryman Premier League side initially wanted to switch next month's tie to St James' Park, home of their Premiership opponents, but are now planning to host the tie.

The match, to be played on the second weekend in 2005, will be at The Warren unless the Football Association are forced to switch the tie on grounds of safety.

There were suggestions that the tie could be moved to the west London club's Football League neighbours Brentford or Queens Park Rangers. But given that each club must meet requirements to enter the competition, it seems unlikely the tie will be switched.

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has admitted a charge of improper conduct and has requested a personal hearing with the Football Association.

McClaren confronted referee Phil Dowd at half-time during the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane. Dowd had given Boro full-back Franck Queudrue a red card for a two-footed lunge on Noe Pamarot five minutes before the break.

A player in Switzerland's top division has been left without a finger after a goal celebration went horribly wrong. Servette midfielder Paulo Diogo was forced to have his left ring finger amputated on Sunday after catching it on a perimeter fence during his side's 4-1 win at Schafthausen.