Other soccer stories in brief

Fenlon on the attack

Shelbourne boss Pat Fenlon has criticised title rivals Derry City and the club's manager, Stephen Kenny, over the position adopted by the Northerners to the disputes that have cast a shadow over this season's championship campaign, reports Emmet Malone.

"I've had a belly-full of Stephen's comments in the paper about things being won on the pitch," Fenlon said while speaking on Newstalk 106.

"If he's serious about that, well then he needs to look at the big picture where he gained points on us in the Dublin City fiasco they're complaining about us making a complaint against Jason McGuinness playing, yet they were willing to go down the same road to get Sean Hargan off suspension, so there's a case here of stones and glass houses, and they need to be very careful what road they want to go down." Fenlon was reacting to comments that it would be a "scandal" if Shelbourne get a replay against Bohemians in which McGuinness played while suspended.

Kewell out for months

Liverpool's Australian midfielder Harry Kewell said he will be out of action for at least another four months as he recovers from foot and groin surgery. "It's going to be a while, we're looking past February," he told local media during a visit to his former school in Sydney. The 28-year-old was initially diagnosed with gout but further tests revealed he was suffering from an arthritic condition in his foot and he is still sore from the surgery undertaken last week.

Setback for Lauren

Arsenal full-back Lauren has suffered a further setback in his long battle with a knee injury and has been ruled out for a further two months. The 29-year-old Cameroon international has been sidelined since January when he underwent surgery. "I don't think you will see Lauren in the team before January," manager Arsene Wenger said.

Beckham 'will stay'

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon remains confident that David Beckham will sign a new contract with the club despite reports the former England captain may leave the Primera Liga side.

"I believe that Beckham will stay, I'm almost certain and I form part of the agreement," Calderon said.

In brief . . .

Defender Olof Mellberg has told Aston Villa he is ready to pledge his long-term future to the club . . . Honduras have said they want former Argentina captain Diego Maradona to coach their national side . . . Belgian club Racing Genk want Hearts banned from the transfer market for failing to pay for the signing of Mirsad Beslija. They say they are still due 80 per cent of the of the £835,000 fee agreed when the Bosnian winger joined the Jambos in January.