SOCCER SHORTS

A roundup of today's other sports news in brief

Flood set to stay in Scotland

AFTER another sparkling performance for Dundee United in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Celtic, Willo Flood looks set to make his loan move from Cardiff to Scotland permanent this week and admits that playing for one of the SPL's Old Firm outfits is, along with playing his way into the Republic of Ireland set up, a long-term goal, reports Emmet Malone.

"It would be a dream to play for one of the big boys but it is a long way away at the moment," he says. "Over the last year and a half, Craig (Levein, manager) has made me a better player and staying here another year or so would help me realise my full potential."

Attracting the interest of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is another ambition. "It would be a dream come true to play for my country one day and fingers crossed it might happen. But I don't think Trapattoni knows my name or even knows about Dundee United Football Club! If I am being honest, I don't think he has ever been to a game I've played in or knows I exist."

West Ham confident Upson will stay

WEST Ham are confident they can resist overtures from Arsenal for the central defender Matthew Upson. The Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, is in the market for reinforcements at the back, with Kolo Toure tipped to complete an €8.5 million move to Manchester City, and he has targeted Upson, who spent part of his early career at Highbury.

Wenger, who signed Upson from Luton Town in May 1997 for €2 million and has spoken admiringly of his development, would be willing to sweeten any deal during the current transfer window with the striker Nicklas Bendtner as a makeweight.

But West Ham will fight to keep all of their established stars. Gianfranco Zola, the manager, will trim his squad by a handful of fringe players, as he seeks to work with a group of 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers.

Blackburn scrape through

CHILEAN midfielder Carlos Villanueva saved Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce further misery in the north-east of England as Blyth's latest FA Cup fairytale very nearly lived on.

Villanueva curled home an superb 59th-minute free-kick to finally break Spartans' stubborn resistance on a night when Allardyce's squad players were given a real test. Indeed, had substitute Andrew Wright's 85th-minute shot been directed six inches more to his right, he and his team-mates would have been heading for Ewood Park and a replay their bravery deserved. A crowd of 3,445 at Croft Park was on tenterhooks until the final whistle as the majority dared to believe a repeat of their club's famous march to the fifth round in 1978 was a possibility.

Wigan line up Colombia striker

MEXICAN club Necaxa claim striker Hugo Rodallega is set to join Wigan later this month.

Necaxa have revealed that a deal for the 23-year-old Colombia international has been done, although they refused to disclose any details. Club spokesman Rosendo Duhart said: "It is a fact. Hugo is joining Wigan on January 15th. I'm afraid I cannot say much more as the board are in Mexico City at the Mexican Football Federation headquarters because the transfer window is closing, but I was told and I can say the transfer has been set."

Rodallega scored 15 goals in 36 games for Necaxa last year and has previously represented Mexican sides Monterrey and Atlas.

Nolberto Solano is returning home to Peru to finish his playing career with Universitario.

The 34-year-old former Aston Villa, Newcastle and West Ham winger is leaving Greek club Larissa to link up with new Universitario boss Juan Reynoso.

 Bouba Diop out for months

PORTSMOUTH midfielder Papa Bouba Diop has been ruled out for three months with a knee injury.

The Senegalese strained ligaments in his right knee while attempting to make a challenge in Pompey's Premier League defeat at Arsenal on December 28th. And after visiting a consultant, head physio Gary Sadler confirmed yesterday that the former Fulham enforcer will be out for a minimum of 12 weeks.

Hughes fearful of losing dressingroom

MARK HUGHES has identified a small but influential group of Manchester City players he fears are trying to lead a dressingroom mutiny against him. There has already been one meeting at which the ringleaders shared their grievances, and a fringe player has complained about Hughes to the club's executive chairman, Garry Cook.

Hughes, the latest Premier League manager to face speculation about a prospective sacking, is said to be dismayed but unsurprised by the unrest. He has been comforted by the fact he retains the backing of the majority of his squad but he has also had prolonged difficulties with some of the players he inherited from Sven-Goran Eriksson, most notably the Brazilian midfielder Elano. His relationship has also deteriorated with two of the players who were bought to the club under his management but entirely on the say-so of the former owner Thaksin Shinawatra, Tal Ben Haim and the Brazilian striker Jo.

• Guardian Service