Sporting Digest: Football

Sporting Digest: Football

Richard Hall, Southampton's England under-21 central defender, has undergone surgery to repair a groin injury but is expected to be fit for the start of the new Premiership season.

Alexei Lalas, the American international defender, will join Major League soccer when it begins operations in the States next year. "The fans here deserve professional soccer," said Lalas, who signed a contract with the league at undisclosed terms. "This is a great day for me." Lalas will remain with Italian team Padova for the 1995-96 season.