No show from Yeboah

Football

George Graham, the Leeds United manager, looks set to press on without his Ghanaian striker Tony Yeboah, who has failed to report back for pre- season training.

A resigned Graham confirmed: "I got a call from one of his agents to say he will not be coming back. I inherited the problem with Tony so it's not come as a surprise. I want conscientious people committed to Leeds United."

But, despite his frustration - and reports that Yeboah is attracting interest from Spanish League clubs, and contemplating retirement - Graham is not totally writing off the player's future at Elland Road.

Leeds' owners, Caspian, have intimated that they may be prepared to cut their losses and let Yeboah leave.

Chris Akers, the Caspian boss, said: "The reality is that we have over 50 players on our payroll at the moment, and, though we are keen to add to the squad, at the same time we have to be realistic to fund acquisitions of up to pounds 7m. So we need to let one or two players go."

Yeboah, a pounds 3m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt in 1994, had several disagreements with Graham last season but has been advised by his agent in England, Drew Tiffney, to return to Leeds and sort out his future.

Tiffney said: "He is acting against our advice and the advice of his German agent. We have told him he should come back and sort it out face to face."

There is better news for Graham regarding his Swedish international Tomas Brolin. He has returned for pre-season training, albeit a day late after a bird flew into his windscreen while he was on the way to the airport.

Brolin said yesterday: "I went to the training ground later and said hello to everyone, met the manager and there was no problem. I am keen to do as well as everyone else."

Manchester City have agreed a fee of around pounds 1.5m for Sunderland's Craig Russell. The 22-year-old striker is due to have talks with City last night and could complete his move today.

Sean Dyche, who captained Chesterfield on their run to the FA Cup semi- finals last season, yesterday signed for Bristol City.

The 26-year-old central defender has signed a three-year contract with a fee to be settled by a tribunal. City's manager, John Ward, said: "I have signed a leader of people."