Roy Keane's long awaited comeback for Manchester United is likely to be delayed by an ankle injury. The Republic of Ireland midfielder was due to play his first game for 10 months after recovering from a knee ligament injury at Birmingham today, but he is now expected to sit out the friendly.
United manager Alex Ferguson claimed the new injury was not serious and that he would definitely play in the first match of the three game tour of Scandinavia in Oslo on Monday. "He has got a wee knock in training and he's unlikely to play tomorrow," he said.
Ferguson refused to comment on reports that Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke was finally joining United in a cash plus Andy Cole deal.
John Gregory continued with his preparations for Aston Villa's Premiership and UEFA Cup campaigns yesterday when he made West Ham's David Unsworth his third signing of the close season. The 24-year-old left-sided defender, who agreed to a four-year deal, joins Fabio Ferraresi, a free-transfer capture from Cesana, and Alan Thompson, who the manager signed from Bolton for £4.5 million at the end of last season.
Unsworth, who played once for England, under Terry Venables, is expected to fill the void in the Villa defence created by Steve Staunton's recent return to Liverpool under the Bosman ruling. The former Everton player had insisted that he would not ask West Ham for a transfer, but he also made no secret of the fact that he would prefer to move nearer to his and his wife's native North-west.
"I was desperate to keep him but he wanted to get back nearer home and he can travel from there every day now," said Harry Redknapp, the West Ham manager. "I was very happy with West Ham on the football side," Unsworth commented. "We were a successful team, particularly at home. But I am also happy about joining Villa. They pipped West Ham for Europe and this is another reason why I am pleased to be joining."
Gregory was also delighted with the day's business. "I've followed David Unsworth's progress for a number of years and what I like is that he is keen and ambitious," he said. "Another good point, so far as I was concerned, was that it was a quick trouble-free signing, giving yet another indication of David's character."
West Ham, who picked up Unsworth and £1 million from Everton last August in an exchange deal involving Danny Williamson, will now step up their chase to sign cover, with Javier Margas and Neil Ruddock top of the list.
"David came for four or five years and I thought `great, that's my left side sorted out for four years'," said West Ham's manager Harry Redknapp. "Now I'm going to lose him, but that's the way it can be these days. But I'm sure I will bring the right people in. I've got one or two in mind and we might have some reinforcements by next week."
Ruddock, now 30 and looking for a return to his native London after free-falling down the pecking order at Liverpool, is available on a free transfer. Last season he had a loan spell at QPR but the Loftus Road club could not meet his wage demands.
West Ham also have the first option on Margas, the Chile international who appeared in France 98, and the 29-year-old is expected to sign from Universidad Catolica for £2 million once he is granted a work permit.
"There is every chance both players will be on board before the start of the season," Redknapp added. "It has been a good summer in terms of quality signings, as we have already attracted Ian Wright, Shaka Hislop and Marc Keller to the club."
Rangers, meanwhile, were last night finalising their seventh signing of the summer, the Romanian central defender Daniel Prodan who is available for £2.2 million from Atletico Madrid. The 26-year-old international flew into Glasgow for talks yesterday and subject to a work permit being granted, will be paraded by the club on Monday.
Gordon Durie, one of the few Scotsmen still likely to command a first-team place at Ibrox, has signed a two-year extension to his present deal, which had a year to run. He is now contracted until 2001.
Liverpool's new management duo of Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier were happy men after they marked their first game in charge with a 3-1 win over Crewe. Liverpool trailed to a first-half goal from Mark Rivers at Gresty Road, but hit back after the interval with three goals in four minutes from Danny Murphy, Dominic Matteo and Bjorn Tore Kvarme. Arsenal have benn given official permission to play their European ties at Wembley by the English FA after earlier obtaining clearance from the stadium owners and Europe's governing body UEFA.
