Wilcox operation a blow for Rovers

Blackburn, the Premiership leaders, learned yesterday that Jason Wilcox requires a cartilage operation that is likely to rule him out for a further month. Wilcox was one of four regulars who missed Sunday's 3- 1 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday.

Kevin Pressman, the Wednesday goalkeeper, is to receive a four-match ban after his dismissal for handling the ball outside his area. The referee, Peter Jones of Loughborough, has classified the offence as serious foul play, which carries a three-match penalty. An extra game will be added on because it was Pressman's second dismissal of the season.

The Vitesse Arnhem winger Glenn Helder said yesterday that he was "90 per cent sure" he would join Arsenal later this week. Arsenal will pay £2m for the 26-year-old player, who is thinking over personal terms.

Port Vale, turned down last week by Garry Parker, have agreed a £250,000 fee for Steve Thompson, the Leicester midfielder ousted by Parker's subsequent move from Aston Villa.

Fifa, the world governing body, has yielded to pressure from Nigeria and said it will reconsider its decision to cancel next month's World Youth Championships on health grounds.