Soccer Shorts

Owen's injury jinx strikes: Three weeks before the start of the season Michael Owen is once again injured, the 27-year-old Newcastle United striker having aggravated a slight thigh strain during shooting practice yesterday.

Owen is out of the friendly at Carlisle United this afternoon and the club's manager Sam Allardyce indicated the player will also miss the visit of Celtic to St James' Park on Thursday night.

Newcastle then host Juventus tomorrow week and Allardyce said former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Owen "should be fit" to play against the Italians. "We hope this won't last longer than ten days," said Allardyce.

Kroenke considers bid

American businessman Stan Kroenke is considering an official bid for Arsenal within days. Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE) currently has a 12 per cent holding in the club after initially purchasing a 9.9 per cent stake in April. Kroenke needs to reach 30 per cent before being obliged to launch a takeover bid. He has already met Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood and managing director Keith Edelman for exploratory talks.

Dudek completes move

Jerzy Dudek yesterday swapped one bench for another when he joined Real Madrid from Liverpool.

Dudek said the future is always uncertain and that "you never know if I will be number one or number two" but there was a recognition he will not dislodge Iker Casillas from Madrid's first team. "Everyone has their own ambitions," Dudek said. "Maybe I will just try to help the team by being very professional. I respect Iker very much. I am here to offer my experience and I must be ready if I am needed."

FA unease over Tevez case

The English Football Association will urge Fifa to address the issue of third-party player ownership quickly to ensure the Carlos Tevez affair is not the first of many to hit English football. The FA met the new British sports minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, on Wednesday and has government support in requesting Fifa to regulate the practice.

Mido set for Birmingham

Birmingham City have agreed a €8.92 million fee with Tottenham Hotspur for the Egyptian striker Mido, with the 24-year-old former Roma player now set to discuss personal terms with the English midlands club.

Birmingham have already recouped a portion of the fee likely to be spent on Mido by selling DJ Campbell to Leicester City for a fee which could rise to €3 million.

Everton sign Pienaar

Everton have signed the South African midfielder Steven Pienaar on a season-long loan from Borussia Dortmund. The 25-year-old is now awaiting a work permit, a decision on which should be reached early next week.

Dortmund signed Pienaar from Ajax last summer. He made 25 appearances for the club but has failed to impress three different coaches at the German club.

Young moves to Middlesbrough

Charlton have agreed to sell defender Luke Young to Middlesbrough for €3.7 million and have sold winger Dennis Rommedahl to Dutch club Ajax for €1 million

Totti quits

Francesco Totti has announced his retirement from international football.

Roma captain Totti made his full debut for Italy in 1998 and scored nine goals in 58 appearances.Totti finished as Serie A's top scorer last season with 26 goals, an achievement which earned him the golden boot.