UK Roundup

Liverpool's Hamann ruled out until November

LONDON (Reuters) -- Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann will be out of action until November after suffering a recurrence of a shin injury, the club said Wednesday.

The German international thought his shin problem was behind him after surgery in the close season but it flared up again on his return from the English premier league club's Far East tour this week and he had another operation in Germany on Tuesday night.

Manager Gerard Houllier told the Liverpool website: "It is a blow for the player and for the club. Things like this show why it is so important we have a strong squad."

Djorkaeff likely to miss start of season

LONDON (Reuters) -- Bolton Wanderers forward Youri Djorkaeff is likely to miss the start of the Premier League season after suffering a suspected fractured cheekbone in Tuesday's 2-1 friendly win over Birkirkara in Malta.

The Frenchman, who joined Bolton from Kaiserslautern last year, had to be helped off the pitch after a clash as he scored the second goal and could be out of action for up to six weeks.

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce told the club's Web site: "He will go for further tests, so that we can assess how long he'll be out for.

"It is difficult to say how long he will need in rehabilitation. It could be two, four or even six weeks.

"Initially, we thought he could have been out for a while, but the x-rays show that it wasn't as bad as we originally feared."

Camara set to sign for Wolves

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) -- Senegal's World Cup star, Henri Camara, is close to signing with Wolves, the English club said Wednesday.

Camara is in Wolverhampton for a medical and to discuss personal terms, Wolves said on its Web site. Wolves have agreed an initial fee of 1.5 million pounds ($US2.43 million) with French club Sedan for the striker.

Camara led relegated Sedan in scoring last season with 14 goals.

"If everything goes to plan, then he will be a fantastic addition to the squad," Wolves manager Dave Jones said. "He has lightning pace, and that's going to be a massive asset for us in the Premiership."

Camara sparkled in last year's World Cup for Senegal, which surprisingly reached the quarterfinals.

Keegan blasts Berkovic transfer request

MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Manchester City midfielder Eyal Berkovic's decision to hand in a transfer request was a "big mistake," according to manager Kevin Keegan.

The Israeli international made the request Monday, when City returned from a preseason tour of Denmark.

"I think he is making a big, big mistake," Keegan said on the club's Web site Wednesday. "I wouldn't say that the request surprised me, it disappointed me. But we will get over it. I don't know what he has got on his mind, it is difficult to know."

Berkovic, who joined from Celtic two years ago, won't be sold for a reduced fee, Keegan added.

"He will not go on the cheap. I can promise him that," he said. "If he thinks he can come in, slap in a transfer request and just walk out on Manchester City, then he doesn't know this club. It needs to be done right, and if there is a club out there, and I guess there is, then they have to come and put the money down for a player of his quality."

City lost another creative midfielder, Ali Benarbia, last week. He left to play in Qatar.

Savage happy in blue -- at Birmingham or Everton

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) -- Midfielder Robbie Savage says he's happy at Birmingham but wouldn't mind joining Everton if he had to leave.

Everton has been linked with the Welsh international, Birmingham's player of the year last season.

"There's no club I'd rather join (than Everton)," Savage was quoted as saying in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday. "If Everton want me, it's up to them to agree a price with Birmingham, but until then I'm happy to stay at St. Andrews."

Birmingham chairman David Gold said he didn't want to lose Savage but would sell him if he had to.

"We don't want Robbie Savage to leave Birmingham. He's a big favorite with the fans, and I count myself as one of them," said Gold. "I don't welcome any bid -- but I accept things like this go on in football. I am not going to stand here and say there's no way we will ever sell Robbie because the fact is every player has his price."

 

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Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.