Soccer Digest

A round-up of today's other soccer stories in brief

Yorke 'gutted'

Dwight Yorke embarked on his journey from Sydney to Sunderland last night but, before boarding the plane, Roy Keane's first signing did not sound entirely overjoyed at swapping Australia's A League for Wearside and Championship football, writes Louise Taylor.

"I'm gutted and completely devastated to be leaving," Yorke told the Sydney Morning Telegraph. "I sat by the phone waiting for someone from Sydney FC to say they didn't want me to go. But that call never came and I'm very emotional about it. I'm absolutely gutted to say the least."

Yorke revealed he was prepared to back out of his £200,000 move to Sunderland at the 11th hour to remain at the A League club but the club are having financial difficulties and have sold Yorke to balance the books. Guardian Service

Owen upbeat

Michael Owen flew to the United States yesterday and is scheduled to have potentially career-saving knee surgery in Colorado this week, writes Louise Taylor. The England and Newcastle United striker was originally due to have the damaged anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee repaired two months ago but, when Owen arrived in America in July, Dr Richard Steadman, his surgeon, discovered that the injury was complicated by collateral cartilage damage.

After having minor surgery to clear up the cartilage problem, Owen - who hurt his knee during England's 2-2 World Cup draw with Sweden in June - returned to England where he has had physiotherapy while awaiting the operation. "I'll be having the operation done in a couple of days and I'm confident that, with positive thinking, I'll be back and as good as ever," the 26-year-old said before flying out. Guardian Service

Mendes back

Pedro Mendes will return for Portsmouth against Wigan on Saturday if there is no reaction in training to last month's infamous forearm smash by Ben Thatcher which left him unconscious in hospital. "I am feeling good and the scans show no problem," said the former Tottenham midfielder. "I am pleased Manchester City have suspended the player but I want to put it behind me. My neck was sore last week but the pain has gone and I am happy training again."

Facchetti dies

Former Italy and Inter Milan captain Giacinto Facchetti has died, the Serie A club said yesterday. The 64-year-old Facchetti, who was Inter's president, had been suffering from a serious illness for several weeks.

'He won four league titles and two European Cups during his career at Inter where he made 476 Serie A appearances. Facchetti made 94 appearances for the Italian national team, 70 of them as captain, won the European Championship in 1968 and was a runner-up in the 1970 World Cup.

In brief . . .

Fernando Torres will sign a 12-month extension at Atletico Madrid which ties him to the club until 2009 once he returns from duty with Spain in Northern Ireland. Marcos Senna, the 30-year-old midfielder linked with Manchester United, has agreed a three-year extension at Villarreal.