Soccer Shorts

Liverpool pay price: Liverpool's crippling injury crisis worsened last night as they announced striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle is ruled out for the rest of the season after damaging knee ligaments.

The French under-21 international tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee just three minutes after coming off the bench in the 1-0 League Cup victory at Watford on Tuesday.

He becomes the 11th first-team player to suffer a long-term injury at Anfield this season, following problems for Djibril Cisse (broken leg), Chris Kirkland (back), Milan Baros (hamstring), Xabi Alonso (broken ankle), Harry Kewell (groin), Vladimir Smicer (knee), Luis Garcia (hamstring), Steven Gerrard (broken foot), Antonio Nunez (knee), Steve Finnan (hamstring) and Josemi (knee).

Toure comes clean

Arsenal face Manchester United at Highbury next week without defender Kolo Toure due to a three-match suspension for elbowing Alan Shearer. The Gunners are also set to lose Edu by the end of this month, with the midfielder set to complete his move away from Highbury within the next couple of days.

Toure last night admitted a charge of violent conduct for elbowing Shearer in the back during Newcastle's 1-0 weekend defeat at Highbury after the English Football Association had reviewed video evidence.

He will therefore miss not only Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at home to Wolves, but also United's league visit next Tuesday and the Premiership game at Aston Villa four days later.

Wenger will also have to replace Edu, with the 26-year-old failing to reach agreement over a new contract at Highbury. Valencia are favourites to sign the Brazilian.

Rovers to rescue

Blackburn Rovers yesterday confirmed they want to sign a striker on loan until the end of the season - possibly providing an escape route for Craig Bellamy at Newcastle.

Rovers would be unable to pay the £7 million fee demanded by Newcastle for a permanent move, but a loan deal could suit all parties.

Following the striker's public falling out with manager Graeme Souness at the weekend there was speculation linking him to Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa.

However, Championship side Stoke City have been the only club to make inquiries into a move but Portsmouth are also interested.

Bellamy has been named in John Toshack's first Welsh squad since his return as manager of the national team. Wales play a friendly with Hungary on February 9th, in Cardiff.

Mido makes move

Tottenham have completed the signings of Mido and Mounir El Hamdaoui.

The club have agreed terms with Roma for Egyptian striker Mido to join on an 18-month loan deal with forward El Hamdaoui joining on a three-year contract from Excelsior Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest have said Andy Reid will not be moving to Tottenham as the London club have not improved on their £3 million bid for the Irish international.

Celtic get refused

Celtic have had a £200,000 bid for Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley rejected.

The well-travelled 28-year-old is enjoying the best season of his career and has broken into the Scotland B team.

Celtic's bid for Hartley may have been rejected but their chances of signing Liverpool defender Stephane Henchoz appear to be healthy. The Switzerland international is out-of-favour at Anfield and has been considering a number of offers.

Meanwhile, Celtic's Stilian Petrov insists he has no intention of quitting Parkhead despite interest from both Everton and Roma.

Israel time gets set

The Israel Football Association yesterday announced that the World Cup Qualifier against the Republic of Ireland will kick off at 7.50 p.m. local time (5.50 p.m. Irish time) at the 42,000-capacity Ramat-Gan Stadium, Ramat-Gan, on Saturday, March 26th.

Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Don Givens has named an 18-man squad for the friendly international with Portugal in Alchchete on Tuesday, February 8th.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD (v Portugal): Henderson (Notts County), Deeney (Notts County), Brennan (Newcastle), Kelly (Tottenham), Fitzgerald (Bury), Foley (Luton), Kohlmann (Borussia Dortmund), Painter (Birmingham), Flood (Man City), Potter (Liverpool), Whelan (Sheff Wed), O'Brien (Sheff Wed), Thornton (Sunderland), Tabb (Brentford), Yeates (Tottenham), McAlliskey (Huddersfield), Mehmet (Dunfermline), Bell (Rushden and Diamonds).

In brief . . . .

Manchester City yesterday confirmed they have agreed a loan deal for Dutch midfielder Kiki Musampa from Atletico Madrid and striker Nicolas Anelka's move to Fenerbahce is likely to be completed soon . . . Crystal Palace manager Iain Dowie believes he has won his battle to keep Wayne Routledge at Selhurst Park . . . Southampton have agreed a fee with Portsmouth for the striker Ricardo Fuller . . . Ipswich have bolstered their Championship squad by signing veteran Portsmouth defender David Unsworth on loan until the end of the season . . . Portsmouth are to buy the Russia striker Dmitri Bulykin from Dynamo Moscow

. . . Richard Chaplow's proposed move to West Brom is "dead", according to Burnley chairman Barry Kilby . . . Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech will not face any disciplinary action from the English FA following his outspoken comments about referee Graham Poll after Chelsea's 2-2 draw at Highbury last month . . . Millwall's Irish under-21 international goalkeeper Graham Stack could be out for six weeks after injuring a knee in training.