Owen Hargreaves drove out of Bayern Munich's training ground yesterday afternoon but remained tight-lipped on his potential move to Manchester United.
Hargreaves had been expected to offer his version on reports Bayern had fined him for his comments in a German magazine last week which suggested he was keen to take up an offer from the Old Trafford outfit.
The 25-year-old has steadfastly refused to commit his future to the Bundesliga champions over the last few days even though he only recently signed a contract extension which should keep him at the club until 2010.
After missing Tuesday night's friendly with Barcelona and Sunday's league clash against Bochum with a flu virus, Hargreaves spent 90 minutes at Bayern's training ground having a medical assessment before being told he was still not fit enough to resume training.
Hartson to be left at home Striker John Hartson has been omitted from the Wales squad to play the Czech Republic in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Teplice on September 2nd. Hartson (31) made himself available again after last season's international retirement but this squad was deemed too soon for a comeback.
WALES: Jones (QPR), Brown (Blackburn), Garner (Orient), J Collins (West Ham), Gabbidon (West Ham), Delaney (Aston Villa), Duffy (Portsmouth), Edwards (Wolves), Nyatanga (Derby), Partridge (Bristol City), Ricketts (Hull), Crofts (Gillingham), Davies (Everton), Fletcher (Palace), Robinson (Norwich), Ledley (Cardiff), Vaughan (Crewe), Bellamy (Liverpool), Giggs (Man Utd), Earnshaw (Norwich), Parry (Cardiff).
Doubts surround Given
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given may miss Saturday week's Group D Euro 2008 clash with Germany through injury.
It is very unlikely he will play in Newcastle's Uefa Cup qualifying clash with Ventspils tonight.
Given only made the 2-1 Premiership win over Wigan last Saturday after having a pain-killing injection for a back muscle problem, and is set to be replaced by Steve Harper.
No way out for Juventus
The Italian football federation (FIGC) wrote to Fifa yesterday saying it would impose extra sanctions on Juventus if the club turn to a civil court to try to overturn their relegation after a match-fixing scandal.
The letter said FIGC would not "hesitate to launch the sanction process" if Juventus lodge an appeal with the regional Lazio court, as they previously said they would.
In brief . . .
Manchester United and Chelsea target Carlos Tevez is refusing to play for his club Corinthians as he continues to be linked with a move to Europe . . . Ireland's international advisor Bobby Robson was recovering in hospital last night after surgeons removed a small brain tumour. . . Blackburn have completed the signing of Holland defender Andre Ooijer (32) from PSV Eindhoven for around £2 million . . . Aston Villa have reached an agreement with Levante for the sale of midfielder Mathieu Berson (26) . . . AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani was in Madrid yesterday hoping to sign Real striker Ronaldo . . . Sources in Spain have claimed Atletico Madrid are set to rival neighbours Real for the signature of Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes . . . Senegal striker Henri Camara has signed a new three-year contract with Wigan . . . Mexico's World Cup coach Ricardo La Volpe has been named coach of Argentinian side Boca Juniors.
Today's Fixtures
(7.45 unless stated)
UEFA CUP: Second qualifying round, second leg: Ameri Tbilisi v Hertha Berlin (6.00); Atvidabergs FF v SK Brann (6.30); Auxerre v OFK Belgrade (7.00); BATE v Rubin Kazan (5.30); Beitar Jerusalem v Dinamo Bucuresti (7.00); Brondby v Flora Tallinn; Club Brugge v FK Suduva (7.30); Derry City v Gretna (7.30); Dinamo Minsk v Artmedia Bratislava (5.00); Domzale v Hapoel Tel-Aviv (5.30); Drogheda Utd v IK Start; Ethnikos Achnas v Roeselare (4.00); FBK Kaunas v Randers FC (5.00); FC Sion v SV Ried (7.00); FC Vaduz v Basle (6.30); Grasshoppers v Videoton FC Fehervar (6.30); Hajduk Kula v CSKA Sofia (7.30); Kayserispor v SK Tirana (5.00); Levadia Tallinn v FC Twente (7.00); Liteks Lovetch v Omonia Nicosia (6.45); Llanelli v Odense BK; Lokomotiv Sofia v Bnei Yehuda (6.30); Maribor PL v Partizan Belgrade (8.00); Marseille v Young Boys; Metallurg Zaporizhzhya v CSF Zimbru (6.00); Newcastle v FK Ventspils; Rapid Bucuresti v FK Sarajevo (5.30); Skonto Riga v Molde (5.00); Slavia Prague v Karvan Evlakh; Trabzonspor v Apoel Nicosia (6.45); Wisla Krakow v SV Mattersburg (7.30); Wisla Plock v Chornomorets (4.30).
CARLING CUP: First round: Leyton Orient v West Brom.
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