English Premier League

Beckham trains at Spurs as talks go on

David Beckham trained with Tottenham for the first time on Tuesday as Spurs boss Harry Redknapp expressed his hopes that a loan deal for the midfielder could still be agreed.

The former England captain smiled and joked with Spurs players as he took part in a light session at the club's training ground in Essex.

Redknapp said Spurs were still hopeful the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder could be signed on a short-term deal before returning to the United States for the start of the Major League Soccer season in March.

"There is nothing at the moment, but we will see what happens, who knows?" Redknapp said.

"I am not dealing with that side, but it is good to have him here.

"David is a top player and a fantastic boy.

"Everyone respects David and looks up to him so it was good to have him here today."

Redknapp's assistant coach, Joe Jordan, meanwhile said the mere presence of Beckham in the Spurs dressing-room would be a positive influence as the club prepared for challenges in the Champions League and Premiership.

"David has a wealth of experience and no matter how well you are playing, when you go into the second half of the season and you have got Champions League and Premier League, which is a bit new for us in the same season, I think you need that little bit of nuance," Jordan said.

Spanish La Liga

Real's Higuain out for four months

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain will be out of action for up to four months after having surgery on a hernia in his back, the doctor in charge of the operation said on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Argentine international flew to Chicago in the United States to resolve a problem that has kept him off the playing fields since the beginning of December.

"The operation went very well," Dr Richard G. Fessler said. "The recovery period is four months but to be get back to 100 percent after any operation takes a year.

"Higuain will stay in Chicago for a week for his back to be monitored. He will be able to walk immediately, stretch in a week and to start to run in two or three.

"He will train in two months but he will not play for three or four months."

That news will be a blow to Real, which had hoped to have him back within two months, as it leaves it with one recognized center forward in Karim Benzema moving into the crunch time of the season.

The French international has struggled to shine in Higuain's absence and even though Kaka has just returned to action after five months out following knee surgery, and Cristiano Ronaldo is in fine form, Real may decide to dip into the transfer market.

Scottish Premier League

Celtic boss Lennon given six-match ban

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was given a six-match touchline ban by the Scottish Football Association on Tuesday.

Lennon had hoped to win his appeal against an automatic two-match ban and a charge of excessive misconduct after being sent to the stand during a game against Hearts on Nov 10.

But his appeal backfired as the SFA's disciplinary committee opted to treble his original punishment.

During the 2-0 defeat at Hearts, Lennon reacted angrily to the dismissal of midfielder Joe Ledley, while Celtic was also frustrated when a penalty appeal for handball was turned down - prompting a furious protest from the Hoops chief.

A statement from the SFA read: "Following a meeting of the Scottish FA's Disciplinary Committee at Hampden Park, the Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, was found guilty of excessive misconduct.

"Mr Lennon will serve his automatic two-match ban for being dismissed during the Scottish Premier League match against Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle on Nov 10, 2010, plus an additional four matches for excessive misconduct.

"The sanctions are effective from Tuesday, January 18, and Mr Lennon has seven days to appeal the decision."

With Lennon's suspension beginning next week, he will still be in the dug-out for Wednesday's game at Hamilton and the weekend trip to Hibernian. However, he will be banned for the Scottish Cup fifth-round tie against Rangers at Ibrox.

Agence France-Presse / Reuters

(China Daily 01/13/2011 page22)