Football in Brief: Hammers suffer injury blow over Parker

Gianfranco Zola will take West Ham to Arsenal tonight without the injured Scott Parker. The midfielder has been in fine form recently but is out with a leg strain, though it is hoped that he will be fit for the home game against fellow strugglers Wolves on Tuesday. "Everybody knows how important Scott is to my team," Zola said. "Scott felt tightness in the leg, I can't risk anything because we have another game on Tuesday."

Jones hopes Ledley will be back for play-offs

Cardiff City manager Dave Jones is hopeful that Joe Ledley will return from injury before the end of the season, in April, six weeks earlier then expected. The Welsh midfielder underwent hip surgery after the game against Bristol City in January. Ledley will meet with a specialist on Monday where he will be told if he can start mild training again. "Once he can start running we are looking at two to three weeks if everything goes well," Jones said. "It will be great to have him back for the play-offs."