Hi °C | Lo °C Rio Ferdinand is expected to miss Manchester United's Premier League opener against Everton tomorrow amid fears that the former England captain is facing a month on the sidelines with an injury sustained in training.
Ferdinand, who escaped a suspension last week when fined £45,000 by the FA after appearing to endorse a tweet which described Chelsea's Ashley Cole as a 'choc ice', is understood to have suffered the injury injury during Friday's session at United's Carrington training ground. The injury is believed to be a groin problem rather than a recurrence of the 33-year-old's long-term back issues.
Di Matteo gets on with the job
Roberto Di Matteo has vowed not to let his critics get to him as he attempts to prove Roman Abramovich was right to appoint him full-time Chelsea manager.
Despite leading the Blues to their first ever Champions League trophy, Di Matteo is among the favourites to be the first Premier League manager sacked ahead of the start of the season.
Ahead of today's Premier League opener at Wigan, he said: "People write and talk and I respect what people want to say and sometimes it makes me smile. I get on with my job, try to do my best and prepare my team as well as I can. That's the only thing I can influence."
Burnley give Coyle blues
OWEN COYLE endured a tough return to Turf Moor as goals either side of half-time from Martin Paterson and Charlie Austin gave Burnley an opening-day win.
Coyle left Burnley in acrimonious circumstances in January 2010 and got a feisty reception from the Clarets faithful on Bolton's first game in the Championship since relegation from the Premier League. "We used the fans to great effect when I was at the club so I can hardly moan when I leave and they react like that," he said.
Blackburn hit Lowe point
Jason Lowe's own goal capped another week to forget for Blackburn as they started life in the Championship with a draw at Ipswich.
Rovers' pre-match preparations were thrown into disarray when the club's global adviser Shebby Singh told a fans' forum that manager Steve Kean was three straight defeats from the sack.
Another he criticised was winger Morten Gamst Pedersen, but the Nowegian played a part in Colin Kazim-Richards' opener, drilling in a corner which was eventually headed home by the summer arrival. But the home side equalised seven minutes from time when Jason Scotland's cross was put into his own net by Lowe.
Perfect start for Warnock
Neil Warnock's attempts to guide a club to promotion for the eighth time in his career kicked off in the best possible manner as his new-look Leeds side saw off Wolves 1-0.
Luciano Becchio's 18th-minute header gave Warnock the start he wanted, although his players were not greatly tested by newly relegated Wolves, who had Norwegian Stale Solbakken as their manager in a league game for the first time.
"The players loved the atmosphere and playing in front of a big crowd. That was something I didn't think we had about us last year," said Warnock.
QPR line up Campbell exit
QPR striker DJ Campbell could link up with Bristol City after the Premier League club accepted an offer for the 30-year-old.
It is believed the final decision now rests with the player. Blackpool were also given permission to speak to Campbell, who played for the Seasiders between 2009 and 2011, but it is believed his salary proved a stumbling block.
Little proves a lot for Rangers
Andy Little grabbed a hat-trick as Rangers came from behind against East Stirling to claim a comprehensive first win in the Irn-Bru Third Division.
Paul Quinn converted an early penalty for the Shire but the treble from Little, a first Rangers goal on his first start from Francisco Sandaza and Lee McCulloch secured a one-sided victory.
The Glasgow giants' first Third Division match at Ibrox attracted 49,118 supporters -- one of biggest attendances in Britain this weekend.
