A round-up of other soccer news in brief...

Park gets back on home ground

PARK Ji-sung is bracing himself for an ear-splitting welcome to Seoul in Manchester United colours today.

Two years ago, Park was meant to be playing for United against FC Seoul but was ruled out with a knee injury.

Despite his absence that day fans present still voted the midfielder as man of the match.

Southgate ready for player exodus

MIDDLESBROUGH manager Gareth Southgate is expecting strikers Mido and Tuncay Sanli to leave the club within weeks.

Neither the Egyptian nor his Turkish team-mate were involved in last night’s 5-0 friendly win at Dumbarton having been left behind by the recently relegated club.

Southgate said after last night’s game: “We know that Mido would like to move on in an ideal world – as would Tuncay – and I’m sure those deals will happen.

“It is something I have to deal with, but while I’m here, my focus is on the players who have come on this trip.”

Redknapp needs men at the back

HARRY Redknapp admits he may have to enter the market for a defender after a series of injuries left him without a fit centre half.

The Tottenham manager concedes that injuries to Michael Dawson, Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King mean a move for a defender has become his priority.

“We weren’t thinking of buying anyone in defence but suddenly this problem has come up,” he said.

Tottenham take on Barcelona in the Wembley Cup today at 8pm, Celtic play Al Ahly at 5.15pm in the same competition. Both matches are live on Sky Sports 1.

Newcastle burnt by friendly fire

THE English FA is to investigate the trouble which flared during and after Tuesday night’s friendly clash between Huddersfield Town and Newcastle.

Match referee Jon Moss has included details of the bust-ups in his report, and disciplinary chiefs are now looking into the matter.

An FA spokesman said: “It has been reported to us and we are looking into it.”

Up to 20 players were involved in a melee at half-time in the game at the Galpharm Stadium after Newcastle defender Habib Beye and Huddersfield counterpart Andy Butler and Peter Clarke became embroiled in a heated exchange.

That incident is understood to have continued in the tunnel, and there were unseemly scenes too on the final whistle between Fabricio Coloccini and Lee Novak.

Healy on verge of move to Ipswich

COLIN Healy was on the verge of joining Championship side Ipswich Town last night in a deal worth around €70,000 to Cork City, writes Emmet Malone.

Ipswich manager Roy Keane said on Wednesday night he had weighed up what he needed for the season ahead in the wake of Sunday’s friendly at Turner’s Cross and decided to make an offer for the midfielder.

That was accepted and the 29-year-old, who had been in talks with Hartlepool, was in Ipswich yesterday to complete his medical and sort out personal terms.

Eto'o move to Inter nears completion

SAMUEL Eto’o is set to put pen to paper on a five-year deal with Inter Milan after agreeing terms with the Serie A champions yesterday.

Inter have been in negotiations with Eto’o and his agent for the past few days after Barcelona had an offer of €45 million plus the Cameroon striker for Zlatan Ibrahimovic accepted. Alexander Hleb will also join Inter on loan.

And, after yesterday’s meeting with the Serie A champions, Josep Maria Mesalles revealed his client will finalise his move to the San Siro shortly.

“There’s complete agreement with Inter,” he said. “The negotiations are complete but it’s not possible to say that the footballer now belongs to Inter because his release from Barcelona has not been resolved yet.”