Soccer Digest

Today's other stories in brief

Today's other stories in brief

Henry back for Barca

Barcelona striker Thierry Henry has been given the all-clear to play in tomorrow's "clasico" against arch-rivals Real Madrid after recovering from a recurrence of a chronic back injury. The 30-year-old was told to rest for two weeks at the start of the month because of a lower back problem that provokes pain in his pelvis and upper leg.

Real have done well in Barcelona in recent years, losing just once in their last six visits and were only denied victory last season when Lionel Messi completed a virtuoso hat-trick with a last-gasp equaliser to level the game 3-3. A win would give Real a seven-point advantage at the top of the table with just two games to go before the midway point of the season.

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Celtic want Coelho

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan is hoping Brazil defender Coelho will be the man to ease his defensive woes. Strachan confirmed that the 24-year-old Corinthians right-back will arrive in the New Year with a view to clinching a deal with the champions.

In recent weeks Celtic's injury list has lengthened and ahead of the visit of Hibernian, Strachan is without goalkeeper Artur Boruc, defenders Lee Naylor, Mark Wilson, Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe and John Kennedy, as well as midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura. Coelho, who has been capped once by Brazil, could be one of several recruits to boost Strachan's ailing squad when the transfer window opens.

Meanwhile, Rangers striker Nacho Novo has ended speculation over his future by signing a new two-year deal at Ibrox.

Grant attacks Crouch

Chelsea coach Avram Grant has told Peter Crouch he needs to look at himself and his team-mates after the Liverpool striker accused Mikel John Obi of a theatrical reaction to his two-footed lunge at Stamford Bridge. Grant also wants the English FA to take action against Crouch.

Crouch was sent off for his tackle on the Nigerian midfielder during their League Cup quarter-final on Wednesday and has since claimed the Chelsea player was guilty of feigning injury and that foreign stars are destroying the "honesty and integrity" of the English game by diving.

But his comments cut little ice with Chelsea's Israeli coach who said Crouch should take a close look at his own conduct and insisted that Mikel, who is doubtful for tomorrow's clash at Blackburn, was injured as a result of his two-footed challenge.

New deal for RTÉ

RTÉ have won a four-year contract extension for television, radio and online broadcasting rights with the FAI. This contract extension guarantees RTÉ Television and Radio live coverage of all of the Republic of Ireland home internationals in the European and World Cup qualification rounds, up to and including World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

From next season, RTÉ will broadcast a weekly one-hour highlights programme featuring reports and analysis of that week's action in the Eircom League of Ireland. RTÉ Television's coverage of live Eircom League of Ireland matches will also grow over the term of the contract, culminating with 33 live matches (one-per-week) in the final year of the term - the 2013 season.

In brief . .

Negotiations over Nigel Worthington's future as Northern Ireland football manager are unlikely to be concluded before the New Year. Irish FA chief executive Howard Wells said he remained "hopeful and optimistic" that Worthington would agree a new deal . . . Birmingham's home game against Chelsea on Monday, January 21st has been moved back to Saturday, January 19th, with Liverpool's home game against Aston Villa scheduled for the Saturday moving to the Monday evening slot.