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Ljungberg aims to return for Arsenal run-in

Alan Nixon
Friday 02 May 2003 00:00 BST
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Fredrik Ljungberg has set his sights on returning for the final two games of Arsenal's title run-in. The Swedish international said he initially thought he had broken his leg at Bolton last weekend following a clumsy challenge by Jay-Jay Okocha, but a scan has revealed no bone or ligament damage.

The Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is already without Patrick Vieira this weekend against Leeds and must also assess Gilberto Silva after his return from an exhausting midweek international trip with Brazil to Mexico.

Wenger will therefore be relieved to find that Edu, who feared that he would be ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury, has made a quicker-than-expected recovery.

Vieira, and Chelsea's Emmanuel Petit will not play for France in this summer's Confederations Cup. The French coach Jacques Santini confirmed that long-standing injury problems would rule both out.

John Terry has taken over as Chelsea's players' union representative to fill the role left vacant when Graeme Le Saux stood down following a series of rows over bonuses.

The Everton striker Duncan Ferguson is set for trial by video for his alleged elbow on Joey Gudjonsson of Aston Villa. The Football Association has confirmed the matter has been referred to its video panel.

Middlesbrough, who are likely to be rebuffed in their efforts to sign Geremi from Real Madrid, are setting up a £3m deal for the Ghanaian midfielder Derek Boateng, who plays for Panathinaikos.

The Blackburn Rovers manager Graeme Souness wants Millwall's Republic of Ireland winger Stephen Reid in a £2m summer move to replace the out-of-contract Keith Gillespie.

Portsmouth are in talks with the Croatian World Cup goalkeeper Stipe Petikosa – also linked with Manchester City and Birmingham City – about a £2m move from Croatia Zagreb.

Sam Allardyce has gone to watch the Egyptian Ibrahim Said as he plans for next season. The Bolton manager flew to watch Said, who has just left Everton after an extended loan spell, when his country took on France in Paris on Wednesday. Allardyce is also ready to sign the striker Jay Bothroyd from Coventry in a bargain deal. The former Arsenal prospect is going to train with Bolton and play for them in a trial match next week.

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