Football: Ferguson out for six weeks after surgery

DUNCAN FERGUSON, the Newcastle United striker who joined the club six weeks ago, is expected to be out for six weeks after undergoing surgery yesterday.

The pounds 7m signing from Everton had an operation on an injured groin - a long-standing problem aggravated in the 4-2 defeat at Liverpool last month. "Duncan had an operation this afternoon in London and will be out for about six weeks," a club spokesman confirmed.

The man who is filling Ferguson's role at Everton, Ibrahima Bakayoko, is set to miss his club's home FA Cup fourth-round tie with Ipswich on 23 January. The Ivory Coast striker is expected to be called up for their African Nations Cup game with Namibia scheduled for the following day. The Everton manager, Walter Smith, said: "Fifa regulations state that he must be released."

The Celtic striker Marko Viduka is expected to announce the relaunch of his Parkhead career today. He plans to join the team at their training camp in Spain next week.