Football: Sterland setback

THE Makita International tournament, fast supplanting the Charity Shield as the curtain-raiser to the English League season, will kick off at Elland Road tomorrow with Mel Sterland missing from the Leeds United team who play VfB Stuttgart in a dress-rehearsal for their European Cup meeting.

The former England full-back, who had an operation on his right ankle in March, expects to be out until the end of August. 'It's a big setback,' Sterland said. 'Things were going well, but I think training on hard grounds hasn't done the ankle much good.'

Leeds will also be without their captain Gordon Strachan, who had back surgery in the summer, so the club's pounds 2m signing David Rocastle seems certain to play in midfield. Nottingham Forest take on the holders Sampdoria in tomorrow's first match.

Tottenham have agreed to Lazio's request to postpone the clubs' friendly in Rome on 17 August, in order that Paul Gascoigne 'can be at his best'. A new date has been set for 23 September, even though Spurs are scheduled to play a midweek Rumbelows Cup match in the same week.

Terry Venables, the Tottenham managing director, conceded yesterday that attempts to sign Teddy Sheringham, the Nottingham Forest striker, to replace Gary Lineker had failed after an apparent about-turn by the Forest manager Brian Clough.

The former England midfielder Graham Rix, 34, last night joined Dundee after several seasons with the French clubs Cannes and Le Havre. He is expected to make his Premier League debut at home to Falkirk tomorrow.

In other moves Leicester City are set to complete the signing of the Sheffield United defender Colin Hill for pounds 200,000, while the West Bromwich Albion manager Osvaldo Ardiles has given striker Gary Bannister a free transfer - the 11th player released since Ardiles took over as manager in May.