Football: More bad news for Adams

Tony Adams' hopes of proving his fitness for England's World Cup qualifier against Moldova at Wembley on 10 September have been dashed by another injury setback.

The Highbury captain, ruled out of England's summer games because of surgery on his right ankle, made the first steps on the comeback trail in a reserve game against Portsmouth last Tuesday. However, his plans to take part in another reserve game on Saturday came to nothing after he suffered a reaction to a rib problem.

Kenny Dalglish is lining up the Norwegian midfielder Petter Rudi as his next signing for Newcastle. The Magpies' manager hopes to capture the 23-year-old for pounds 750,000 from Molde when the league season in Norway ends in mid-October. Rudi, who scored a spectacular goal for his country in last week's 4-0 World Cup win in Finland, has also been the subject of enquiries from Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton.

Newcastle have also been linked with Massimo Paganin, the Internazionale defender, who could be allowed to leave San Siro for around pounds 5m, while Crystal Palace have been watching Ivano Bonetti, the former Grimsby and Tranmere midfielder, who is now back in Italy with Bologna.

Leicester City have completed the free-transfer signing of the 24-year- old goalkeeper Peggy Arphexad, a former French Under-21 international, from Lens.

Everton's Andy Hinchcliffe is close to returning to action after a nine- month absence with a knee ligament injury.