Football: Keane could miss title run-in

MANCHESTER UNITED are facing a struggle to get Roy Keane fit in time to make any further contribution to their League season. Keane suffered an ankle injury during his side's 1-0 win at Middlesbrough on Sunday, a victory which took them back to the top of the Premiership on goals scored.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder, who was taken off after 25 minutes on Teesside, saw a specialist yesterday morning and spent all day in the treatment room. He seems certain to miss at least one of this week's two closing Premiership games - at Blackburn tomorrow and at home to Tottenham on Sunday.

United's assistant manager, Steve McClaren, feels it is too early to give Keane a target for his return, but confirmed that nothing was broken. "He had X-rays this morning and they're clear," McClaren said. "Now it's a case of assessing the injury, getting the swelling down and putting a time scale on how long he will be out."

Ryan Giggs is hoping to make his comeback at Blackburn, having recovered from an ankle injury which has hindered him out since 14 April.

The England coach, Kevin Keegan, last night insisted he will reach agreement with the Football Association over a new contract. Keegan's current deal, which was for four matches, expires after next month's Euro 2000 qualifiers against Sweden and Bulgaria.

But Keegan has had talks with the FA about a new deal after revealing last week that he wants the England job full-time.

"We've sat down and talked and we will come to a deal," Keegan told Sky Sports.

The Football League says Scarborough have no chance of winning any appeal against relegation to the Conference,

The North Yorkshire club were angered over the manner in which Carlisle stayed up at their expense, after it emerged the Cumbrian side's keeper Jimmy Glass, who scored his side's dramatic winner, had been signed after the transfer deadline.

Scarborough had suggested they may appeal because of the situation surrounding Glass, who moved to Carlisle on loan from Swindon after they sold Tony Caig to Blackpool in late March.

However a Football League spokesman, Chris Hull, said: "We would like to make it clear that Carlisle United were operating fully within the present regulations."

Kevin Davies will be one of the first players to leave Blackburn Rovers if their relegation is confirmed against Manchester United tomorrow. Southampton head the chase to bring the pounds 7.5m striker back to The Dell for a knock- down pounds 2m deal. The Saints manager, Dave Jones, has made an offer for Davies, who seems unlikely to figure in his new manager Brian Kidd's future plans.

Chris Sutton may be another major casualty of the clear-out Kidd is likely to embark upon, although he has still to prove his fitness after a miserable season.

Everton are preparing to transfer-list several of their players to help reduce the club's estimated pounds 20m overdraft.

The Goodison manager, Walter Smith, has vowed that he will not let go any of the team that have played together well in recent weeks, saying: "There are going to have to be changes but I'm looking to lose players from around the fringes."

That means the likes of Paul Gerrard, Tony Grant, Marco Materazzi, Michael Branch, Gareth Farrelly, John Oster, Danny Williamson, Slaven Bilic and John O'Kane could find themselves being told they are surplus to requirements.

The unsettled Olivier Dacourt has already indicated he no longer wishes to play for the club and is almost certain to leave with several clubs reported to be interested.

But while Smith was considering the future, the club were still looking at ways in which they might raise sufficient funds to keep the on-loan forward Kevin Campbell at the club.

Derspite Campbell's successful spell on Merseyside, Everton seem unlikely to be able to afford the pounds 3m transfer fee that his Turkish club Trabzonspor are asking, with much of the cash Smith raises from his summer sales going to ease the financial crisis.