• Defender was injured in November on international duty
• ‘He’ll probably miss the season now,’ confirms manager

John O’Shea is likely to miss the rest of Manchester United’s season with an injury, the manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed. The defender was injured during the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off defeat to France in November and has not played since.

The injury, first thought to have been a dead leg, is worse than originally feared and complications, including a blood clot, mean O’Shea is unlikely to play again this season.

“He’s got a terrible injury at the moment,” Ferguson told the Irish Independent. “It’s one of those sorts of injuries that are unusual. It’s like a dead leg except a dead leg usually [lasts] only three or four days.

“The problem is that the blood clot became all knotted and when it gets knotted you get calcification so therefore it’s a long process to clear that up. He’ll probably miss the season now,” he added. “It’s a bad blow for the boy and for the team because he can play anywhere.

“When you look at all the problems I’ve had with the back four this season, he could have played every single one.”

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The best images from day four of the Australian Open in Melbourne

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• More than 30 competitors have had results cancelled
• Video footage found evidence of cheating

More than 30 competitors at the Xiamen International marathon earlier this month have had their results cancelled because of cheating. It was reported that some runners hired impostors to run for them.

All the runners were ranked in the top 100 of the men’s race at the event, according to the Jiefang Daily newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Shanghai Communist Party.

Organisers found video footage that revealed that some runners had carried the time-recording microchips of others so that one runner would register two or more results on passing the finish line, the report said.

Others made their way around at least some of the course in vehicles, while some hired impostors, it added.

The motivation for the cheating was not necessarily just for prestige, the report suggested, noting that most of the cheats had times under two hours 34 minutes. That is the minimum standard required for high school students to get extra credits for China’s highly competitive college entrance examinations.

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• Mali striker scored 23 goals in 38 appearances for country
• Sevilla player has already returned to his club

Frédéric Kanouté has retired from international football following Mali’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday. The Sevilla striker, who scored 23 international goals in 38 appearances since his debut in 2004, confirmed his decision after Mali beat Malawi 3-1, a victory that was meaningless as the Eagles bowed out of the competition.

“That’s life,” he said. “I’m sorry I couldn’t succeed in helping my team go further at the Nations Cup, which now marks my retirement.”

The 32-year-old former West Ham and Tottenham striker scored twice in Angola – in the 4-4 draw against the hosts in the opening game and in the win over Malawi – and was already back in Spain with his club late last night.

Kanouté, who resumed training with Sevilla today, added: “I can’t find the words to describe how upset I am, it really hurts me. After we were knocked out in 2008 we really wanted to do well here.

“For my last appearance in this competition I wanted to go as far as possible. We will now take stock of our team.”

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• Defender to undergo surgery on foot fracture
• Injury has failed to heal sufficiently since November

The Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs is to undergo surgery on his foot injury which will rule him out of the rest of the season.

Gibbs suffered a depressed open fracture to his first metatarsal on his left foot, after a challenge with Eliaquim Manga during Arsenal’s Champions League match against Standard Liège in November.

The fracture failed to heal satisfactorily and Gibbs will now have a bone graft to help ensure a full recovery.

The 20-year-old’s rehabilitation is expected to take around five months. “Needless to say I’m gutted – there’s just no other word,” said Gibbs. “The other option to surgery would have been to wait and let the bone grow in my foot, but we didn’t want to do that because I’d have to wait another six weeks just to have another scan. I’d run the risk of it carrying on into next season, and we don’t want to do that.

“I’m now just looking to recover from the injury, work really hard and be ready for next season.”

The left-back had been suggested as a potential member of Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad this summer before his injury.

Arsenal have cover in the position with the French youngster Armand Traoré backing up the first choice Gaël Clichy.

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• Fast bowler has wanted to leave since last season
• Kabir Ali the latest to join exodus from New Road

Worcestershire’s fast bowler Kabir Ali has been released from the final year of his current contract. The former England player is now expected to join Hampshire and link up again with his former county colleague Simon Jones.

Kabir expressed his desire to leave New Road at the end of last season, but at that stage Worcestershire were looking for compensation of around £60,000. He failed to report for pre-season training at the start of January and now the club have agreed to his release.

It is a another blow for Worcestershire after the departure of their opener Stephen Moore to Lancashire and their wicketkeeper Steve Davies and the spinner Gareth Batty to Surrey.

“Worcestershire CCC has released Kabir Ali from the final season of his contract with the Club,” the club confirmed in a statement.

The county’s chief executive, Mark Newton, said: “Kabir has been with the club for 10 years and we are very sorry to see him go. During that time he has emerged as one of the best seam bowlers in English county cricket and has played for England.

“He has taken 429 first-class wickets for us at 26.85 and has one of the best strike rates in domestic cricket. This has been a difficult decision for both the club and Kabir.

“However, we have taken what we believe to be a pragmatic decision and we wish him well in his future career as he seeks to regain his England place. He will always be welcome at New Road.

“The club is happy with the final outcome. Under director of cricket Steve Rhodes the squad can now prepare for the new season knowing what the situation will be.”

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• Geoffrey Mujangi-Bia joins until end of season
• Attacker can play on either wing or centrally

Wolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed the loan signing of Geoffrey Mujangi-Bia. The attacking midfielder has joined from the Belgian club Charleroi until the end of the season and Wolves have an option to sign the player permanently at the end of the season.

The 20-year-old Congo-born player has two caps for Belgium and arrived in Wolverhampton last Saturday, where he has been training since the game against Wigan.

“We’ve very pleased to have signed Geoffrey,” said the club’s manager, Mick McCarthy. “He’s a player who [we have] been tracking for a while and will add some creativity and firepower to our squad. He’s an attacking midfielder who can play on the right or the left as well as centrally.”

Mujangi-Bia can also play as a striker and has scored seven goals in 48 appearances in the Belgian First Division with Charleroi. Wolves are hoping he will make his debut in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace.

“I first heard about the interest a couple of weeks ago and am very happy to have signed,” said Mujangi-Bia. “I’ve played in England once before with the Belgium Under-21s and it’s been my dream to play in the Premier League. It was good to meet the manager this week and I’m looking forward to playing for him.”

Wolves’ chief executive officer, Jez Moxey, added: “We are very pleased to have Geoffrey. He comes to us with excellent credentials and because he is only 20 years, he has enormous potential.

“He is highly respected in Belgium and regarded as one of their most talented young players. This has been a difficult transfer window so far but we hope at least one or maybe two players will follow this signing.”

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• Royal Mix offers good value for Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham
• There is still no stand out candidate for this year’s race

Less than two months remain before the start of the Cheltenham Festival, but ante-post betting for the Triumph Hurdle remains in a state of chaos.

There was an intriguing throwaway comment from Nicky Henderson last week. He thought that there was a very good chance that the Triumph winner had not even been seen over hurdles yet. Could Henderson have been referring to According, a useful performer on the Flat for Freddie Head? He is in the ownership of the syndicate responsible for last year’s winner, Zaynar, and has attracted attention in the betting in recent days, being backed down to 14-1 and shorter with most firms.

However, the renowned bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley, who was responsible for the first and second in last year’s race, was yesterday unable to shed much light upon the picture.

“According was gelded after he came to Britain and I believe that he is still at the pre-training yard at present – there’s a long way to go before he is even a runner in the Triumph Hurdle, let alone the winner,” he said.

Bromley instead highlighted the claims of another of his buys, the Paul Nicholls-trained Royal Mix, available at 16-1.

“He was only quite a workmanlike winner on his debut, but the runner-up, Me Voici, made that form look a lot better when beating Sang Bleu at Chepstow,” he said. “Although it looks like there is no stand out candidate for this year’s race, I’m not sure if there is much still to come and the recent bad weather won’t have helped.”

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The latest news and best bets in our daily horse racing blog, plus our weekly tipping competition

Today’s best bets, by Will Hayler

Congratulations to William Buick, who has been appointed as first jockey to John Gosden after the Newmarket trainer’s split with Jimmy Fortune. I was able to speak to Fortune last night, who still seemed in a bit of a state of shock about it all having been given the news by his boss only a few hours earlier, but he was determined to be upbeat about the situation and that attitude will surely help him to find new opportunities.

Year on year, Fortune’s strike-rate for Gosden has considerably exceeded his overall record, and his no-nonsense riding style has made him popular with punters.

I’m not expecting to become too popular by napping a 1-5 chance today, although in my defence when I looked at the early betting for today’s 1.30 at Taunton last night – Ghizao (1.30) was trading at around the 2-5 mark and I thought I might even consider backing him if he remained at that sort of price.

He was a leading candidate for Sandown’s Tolworth Hurdle until that race fell to the weather and down at this lowly level, this talented six-year-old looks to have an easy task on his plate. Connections felt he may have been in front soon enough when second to General Miller last time and it would be no surprise to see him given the typical treatment by Timmy Murphy and held up to make a delayed challenge.

Rather than making cheap jokes about Harry Skelton riding Escort’men in the opener at Taunton, I’ll give a mention to Benfleet Boy (3.00), who looks a fair each-way price at around 12-1. He was staying on steadily and wouldn’t have been far away in the void race at Doncaster last month and then fared quite well when fifth at Kempton last time. I wonder whether more positive tactics might pay dividends.

Handsinthemist (1.20) is another selection whose odds have noticeably shortened since betting opened on Betfair last night, but I still think there is value to be found at 4-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill.

She picked up a couple of events over course and distance off a similar mark last season and shaped as if she was right on the way back to form when third to Thoughtsofstardom last time. Just as importantly, her trainer Paul Midgley has been in sensational form in recent days with three of his five runners last week winning.

She’s no world-beater, but she’s tough and largely consistent – a comment which cannot be applied to this race’s favourite Lujiana – and I’d be surprised if she is far away at the finish.

Tipping competition, day four

Our competition was sullied yesterday by the introduction of all-weather action, made necessary by the abandonment of Newbury. Still, Brochdoll won’t be complaining after being fired to the top by 8-1 Lingfield winner Mister Green!

Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 2.20 Southwell, 3.00 Taunton, 3.30 Taunton.

This week’s prize is a copy of Eclipse by Nicholas Clee, the much-praised story of one of the most brilliant racehorses in the history of our sport. It’s “the story of a rank outsider who went on to become a national celebrity; and of the horse that became a national icon, and whose influence is transcendent 200 years later,” says the blurb.

As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not yet joined in, you are welcome to do so today, but you must start on -9.

For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!

Standings after day three

Brochdoll +13.88

Cairo +11

Smidster +10

Viejo +5.88

cloudy75 +4.50

fatdeano +3

leviticus67 +3

Harchibald +2.88

notgethithatonharry +2

MillieJ +2

chris1623 +2

sangfroid +0

SussexRH -1

millreef –1.62

TeddyFrost –2.62

tiznow -3

TheVic -4.50

chiefhk -4.50

goofs -4.50

coma88 -4.50

Gogledd -4.50

keepitdusty -4.50

sandiuk -4.50

hawkins12 -4.50

emmapathak -4.50

mike65ie -6.12

johnny909 -6.12

xwireman -6.12

tom1977 -9

melonk -9

gashead1105 -9

Renzofan -9

FinsburyPark -9

suckzinclee -9

JDK1 -9

slackdad38 -9

diegoisgod -9

WalthamstowLad -9

Shrewdette -9

Harrytheactor -9

lasramblas -9

johne5knuckle -9

MatthewHargreaves -9

23skidoo -9

Moscow08 -9

zanno -9

Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.

Click here for today’s latest odds.

And post your racing-related comments below.

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• Swiss No1 seed through to Australian Open third round
• Lleyton Hewitt fuels feud with young compatriot

Roger Federer, having faltered ever so briefly against Igor Andreev in the first round, made tennis look easy again in dismissing the Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 today to assert his authority on the Australian Open.

He hit 52 winners and made just 17 unforced errors against the clay-court specialist. The aura lingers. While he was rarely under pressure in the 99 minutes it lasted, it was masterful stuff. The Spaniard Alberto Montañés will be readying himself already for a serious examination of his resolve on Saturday.

“He’s a good player,” Federer said of Hanescu, “maybe a bit more accustomed to clay. He was playing on the baseline which [is why] I was able to hit a lot of winners today.”

Federer was calm, disciplined and played within himself, the very qualities that have set him apart from the herd for most of his career.

Presuming he beats Montañés – and it is safe to start presuming again about Federer’s matches – he is headed towards either Lleyton Hewitt or Marcos Baghdatis after that. This is not a schedule that will fill him with dread, even if he has occasionally in the past two years looked like a thoroughbred on three legs – but what a thoroughbred.

The world No1 barrelled through the first set here without sweating, even in the humid atmosphere of the Rod Laver Arena, which again lacked championship atmosphere. It is more a cathedral than a slaughterhouse.

Federer spent 34 minutes over that session, a minute less in easing through the second set and Hanescu could only play witness to greatness in the third.

The rest of the men’s singles field is thinning out pretty much according to script. Also through to the third round are Novak Djokovic and Nikolay Davydenko – double D threats of the highest order – Hewitt, carrying the hopes of a nation again, and, of course, Andy Murray, who is in the same invidious position.

After beating the 20-year-old American Dan Young in straight sets, Hewitt weighed into the debate over his young compatriot Bernard Tomic, who complained of his late finish the night before.

“I think it’s part of learning,” said Hewitt, no great friend of the teenager, who once refused to hit up with him because he thought he was “not good enough”. And he maintained that Tomic is still not ready to play Davis Cup. It’s a feud that will rumble for a little while yet.

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