Football: Stein aims to face Wolves

MARK STEIN, the Chelsea striker, may be able to lead the attack in Sunday's FA Cup sixth round against Wolverhampton Wanderers - despite leaving the Old Trafford pitch on a stretcher during his side's 1-0 Premiership win last Saturday.

Glenn Hoddle, Chelsea's player-manager, feared that his top scorer had suffered a broken ankle, but the verdict is that the pounds 1.6m signing from Stoke has suffered nothing worse than sprained ligaments. He is under intensive treatment before Sunday's cup tie.

Ron Atkinson, the Aston Villa manager, has denied making a move for Sheffield Wednesday's former England midfielder, Carlton Palmer, but he did finalise a signing of modest proportions yesterday: paying the Highland League club, Fraserburgh, pounds 35,000 for a 19-year-old striker, Scott Murray, who scored a 12-minute hat-trick for Villa's reserves last week.

Birmingham City completed the pounds 180,000 signing of the 20-year-old Benfica winger, Jose Domingues, yesterday - despite opposition from Blackburn Rovers. 'I spoke to Blackburn, but I decided Birmingham was a better move,' he said.