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. But 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 United. Dalglish hopes to capture the highly rated 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 watched by Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday.

Everton's Andy Hinchcliffe is close to returning to action after a nine- month absence with a knee ligament injury. Hinchcliffe was given further cause for cheer when Glenn Hoddle's assistant, John Gorman, rang to tell him he still figured in England's plans. Hinchcliffe was in the England team before his injury and will compete with Chelsea's Graeme Le Saux for Hoddle's favour.

Bolton's pounds 1.5m signing from Middlesbrough, Neil Cox, is facing a month out of action with a strained hamstring.

Sunderland's Scottish midfielder Alex Rae has asked for a transfer after being dropped from the first team. The 27-year-old cost pounds 1m when he moved from Millwall last summer.