McFadden out of match with Croatia after keyhole surgery

SCOTLAND striker James McFadden will miss Scotland's friendly with Croatia on Wednesday after undergoing keyhole surgery on his knee yesterday.

The news will come as a blow to new national manager George Burley who had been impressed by the form of the Birmingham City striker in recent weeks. The absence of McFadden, who has scored four goals in six starts since his move from Everton, increases the likelihood of Hibs striker Steven Fletcher winning his first cap.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish said last night: "James had a small tear in his knee. He had keyhole surgery this morning, and we'll miss him for two more matches. It happened after the Newcastle match. We were not concerned at first, because we thought it was just a knock. But over the past few days the physiotherapist thought it might be a tear in his knee – and so it proved to be."

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic looks set to stay in charge for their 2010 World Cup campaign, despite being linked with a ?5m move to Hamburg. Bilic, who is under contract until the end of Euro 2008, said he wanted to stay on for the 2010 finals, assuming Croatia qualify, while the head of the Croatian football federation indicated a new deal would be offered. "My wish is to stay with the national team," Bilic said. "The only issue here is whether the soccer federation wants me to stay. If that is so, I will sign another contract."

Beckham 'in on merit'

FABIO Capello insists he has not given David Beckham the chance to win his 100th England cap this week for sentimental reasons. The England manager believes the 32-year-old midfielder has a role to play in England's future, starting with Wednesday's friendly against France in Paris.

And he refutes any suggestion that he had been put under pressure by the Football Association to pick Beckham to sell tickets.

Speaking through an interpreter, Capello said: "It's not my style to call someone up to do them a favour. I call up players who I believe are important to the team. I believe he is going to be useful.

"Good players are good players whether they play in the US or England or in Spain. On top of that I believe David Beckham is probably fresher than other players at the moment because he has just started his season."

Jermaine Jenas and Shaun Wright-Phillips, who scored in Capello's first match in charge, have not been included in the final 23-man squad to face France. But there was good newss for goalkeeper Paul Robinson, recalled in place of the injured Scott Carson.

Bain counters Lawwell

RANGERS chief executive Martin Bain believes Celtic's veiled plea to the Scottish Premier League not to extend the season to ease the Ibrox club's congested fixture list was based on their fear of losing the title.

Bain's Parkhead counterpart, Peter Lawwell, turned the pressure on the SPL on Friday by suggesting that an extension to the season would "threaten the integrity" of the competition.

Walter Smith's side are facing a fixture pile-up and there has been talk of them being forced to play four games in eight days with an extension to the season the only other viable possibility. Asked his view on why Lawwell came out with his statement, Bain said: "It's probably more to do with the fact that there is a points difference at the moment. Why would we want to play eight games in four days? Our preference is to extend the season if it comes to that.

"I'm not prone to comment on others' comments but what I would say to you is that to ask this football club to play four games in eight days, when we could be possibly competing in European competition, is not something that I think the SPL would do to be quite frank."

Driver misses out

HEARTS winger Andy Driver's season-ending thigh injury also denied him the chance of joining England's Under-21 squad. Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce had called Driver to invite him to meet and train with the squad ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Poland, with a view to a possible future call-up.

Hearts forward Marc McCusker, 19, has joined relegation-threatened Clyde on loan until the end of the season.

Former Aberdeen goalkeeper Ryan Esson has signed an emergency deal with Hereford United. Esson, 27, had been without a team since being freed by Shrewsbury in January.

Italy leave out Del Piero

ALESSANDRO Del Piero's Euro 2008 hopes suffered a fresh blow last night when Italy coach Roberto Donadoni left the striker out of his squad for Wednesday's friendly in Spain. The 33-year-old Juventus captain has not played for Italy since his poor performance in a goalless Euro 2008 qualifier against France in September when Donadoni played him on the wing.

A Christian Panucci goal gave 10-man AS Roma a 2-1 home win over strugglers Empoli. Max Tonetto gave Roma the lead and Sebastian Giovinco levelled for Empoli before Roma had Simone Perrotta sent off in the 57th minute. Panucci headed Roma's winner six minutes later.

Toni double for Bayern

BAYERN Munich stretched their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to seven points with a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen. Luca Toni struck in the 17th and 59th minutes before Leverkusen netted in the 83rd through Dmitriy Bulykin.