Newcastle midfielder Ralf Keidel is looking forward to playing alongside fellow German Dietmar Hamann on Tyneside.

Hamann will complete his £5.25 million deal with the Magpies next week and Keidel, who joined Kenny Dalglish's troops in November from German Third Division outfit FC Schweinfurt, believes he can learn a lot from the former Bayern Munich star.

Keith Branagan will miss the start of Bolton's Division One campaign because of injury, leaving manager Colin Todd with a goalkeeping crisis.

The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, sidelined since the start of pre-season, has had a scan on his knee and has been ordered to rest well into the new season - at least the first month.

"Keith doesn't require surgery and doesn't have to go into plaster," said Todd. "It is just a case of taking some rest."

Warring neighbours Eritrea and Ethiopia will play their African Nations Cup preliminary round match on a neutral ground, the Confederation of African Football said yesterday. Just one game would be played between the two countries, who have been involved in a bloody border dispute since May, to decide who goes through to the group phase of the qualifying competition. The match would probably take place in Cairo, said CAF press officer Viken Djizmedjian.

Ian Wright has backtracked on quotes attributed to him this week which suggested boss Arsene Wenger had forced him out of Highbury by breaking a promise. Wright feels his comments were taken out of proportion and insists he left Arsenal with nothing but "pure love" for the club and its manager.