Injury hit Hargreaves trains with QPR

Injury plagued Owen Hargreaves is training with QPR following his release from Manchester City at the end of last season. The 31-year-old midfielder, who has 42 England caps, made only three appearances for City as he continued his struggle for form which persuaded Manchester United to pay Bayern Munich about £17million for him in 2007. They released him at the end of the season before last.

QPR's manager, Mark Hughes, said that although "Owen is training with the group, there is no obligation for either party. He is keen to retain his fitness and we are more than happy to help him by allowing him to train with us and use our facility at Harlington."

Hargreaves is realistic, saying recently: "I don't want to chase something. If I get the right fit I will go for it. But I am not forced to do anything and if I can't get back to the level I used to, I don't want to play."

Financially troubled Portsmouth have been left with only four senior professionals after the winger Erik Huseklepp joined his former club SK Brann.

Rangers have signed the midfielder Ian Black, formerly of Hearts, and re-signed the striker Andy Little after being granted conditional Scottish Football Association membership. Rangers hope full SFA membership will be completed next Friday.

The Ukraine and former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has quit football to start a career in politics.