Newz Forum: SOCCER: Football News 06/04/04

Middlesbrough defender Gareth Southgate has sustained a knee injury in training.Southgate went to hospital for a scan on his knee on Tuesday afternoon and although the club claim the problem is not a serious one, the timing could hardly be worse.Southgate is expected to be part of England's Euro 2004 squad in June, but any prolonged injury absence at this stage of the season could tempt Sven-Goran Eriksson to look elsewhere.The results of the scan have yet to be confirmed.



German defender Markus Babbel has stressed his determination to keep Blackburn in the Premiership - despite dreaming of a return to Liverpool.Babbel moved to Ewood Park on a season-long loan after falling out of favour at Liverpool, where he had a lengthy spell on the sidelines after being struck down with Guillain-Barre syndrome.




Real Sociedad winger Javier de Pedro wants to play in the Premiership next season.De Pedro is out of contract in the summer after rejecting a new deal at the Spanish club.The player's agent Francis Martin said: "England is his preferred choice, although some teams in Spain are interested in him.De Pedro has been linked with a move to Manchester City, but Francis said: "We are a bit mystified as to where these reports have come from.




Southampton captain Jason Dodd has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.Dodd was carried off during the second half of Southampton's 4-1 Barclaycard Premiership win at Molineux on Saturday following a late challenge by Wolves striker Henri Camara.Initial fears were the 33-year-old could be facing a career-threatening injury, but scans revealed a tear of the medial ligament which will put the full-back out for between six and eight weeks.




PSV Eindhoven's interest in Fulham and Holland goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been confirmed by the player's agent.But a summer move is a long way from being inevitable, according to agent Rob Jansen.PSV are keen to sign a top-class goalkeeper to replace Ronald Waterreus, who will leave the club in the summer.Van der Sar's contract at Fulham expires at the end of next season.