Japanese J. League Division 1 club Nagoya Grampus (Japanese: 名古屋グランパ) is back in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after a one-year absence. Last season's second-placed J1 finisher is pooled with...

This match saw the welcome return of Captain Coloccini, and also the absence of Yohan Cabaye a victim of trial by television and the London FA earlier in the day. Chris Samba was missing from the Blackburn Rovers line-up following the club's failure to release him during the January transfer window clearly fit [.

Rafael Da Silva has made just three league appearances this season after bad luck with injuries have kept him out of the team. Even when he does get on the pitch, there are plenty of tongue in cheek sweepstakes amongst United fans predicting what time he will be subbed off with an injury.

Rafael has reflected on this bad luck but wonders whether his style of play has an influence on it.

Seven home games without a goal... Here's hoping the end of the transfer window and a few loans might change things. James Bolton reports from the City Ground. The big news as kick off approached was that youngster Jamaal Lascelles would start in the centre of defence in the absence of Luke Chambers through suspension [.

Match Report Video By the numbers

I think we can safely say this morning that's just what the doctor ordered.

Three points, a good performance, and a day which brought no controversy, animosity, angst or worry. For a moment it looked a bit shaky, when Pedersen equalised with Blackburn's first attempt on target, but instead of setting us back it sparked us back into life and withing a couple of minutes we were two goals to the good.

Didier Drogba could not be denied as he made up for a missed penalty by pouring in a brace. Ivory Coast added another through Yaya Toure as they send Equatorial Guinea, the co-hosts, out of the ACN. The Taranga Lions are through to the semi-finals.

Drogba will be missing today's huge showdown with Man Utd, and in his absence, Chelsea is hoping that misfiring Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge, take up the goalscoring slack.

What is it with unusual pitch invaders on Merseyside lately? Last week, a protestor cuffed himself to the posts at Goodison Park to register his disgust with a budget airlines, and tonight a cat found its way onto the pitch during Tottenham's bout with Liverpool at Anfield.

Brad Friedel was visibly freaked out by the impromptu appearance of the misplaced moggy — perhaps he thought Harry Redknapp had sent one of his pets in his absence from the match — and Liverpool fans responded with the inventive chant "a cat, a cat, a cat, a cat, cat.

As Guiseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano's respective ailments take their toll on the Azzurri selection process, the more cynical fans among us will be already preparing the finger pointing when Italy lack the firepower needed to overcome the likes of Spain and the Republic of Ireland, citing the duo's absence [read more]

Oguchi Onyewu's comeback season with Sporting Lisbon has encountered a massive setback.

Onyewu suffered a torn ligament and meniscus in his right knee and requires surgery that will keep him out of action for two months, according to Sporting Lisbon's official website.

Onyewu suffered the injury in Sporting's victory over Pacos de Ferreira over the weekend, needing to be substituted off after 27 minutes.

Have to say that I am really surprised to hear that Carlos Tevez has issued a full apology to Roberto Mancini and the City players, clearing the way for him to re-join the first team squad as soon as he is fit.

A Manchester City statement said:

"Carlos Tevez has today apologised to all concerned for his recent conduct.

Have to say that I am really surprised to hear that Carlos Tevez has issued a full apology to Roberto Mancini and the City players, clearing the way for him to re-join the first team squad as soon as he is fit.

A Manchester City statement said:

"Carlos Tevez has today apologised to all concerned for his recent conduct.

For those who've grown accustomed to seeing my pre-match previews, I apologize for my absence last week. However, it was an excused absence, as I was welcome my first child, a rather adorable little girl (yes, I'm biased, of course!), into the world. The last week has been quite hectic, to say the least, but [.

At the beginning of every summer, a list of free agents is circulated amongst British clubs and managers. Here, Dan Mobbs of the excellent Three Match Ban speaks to a player who unwittingly found himself on last year's register. Unemployment and the anxious search for work are simply not things associated with top flight football, as being a free agent from a Premier League club is ostensibly a financially profitable position to be in; attracting a bumper signing-on fee and an increased wage packet in the absence of a financial transfer lump.

The Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner got a boot in the nose from Angel Rangel when Sunderland played Swansea about a month ago, but the Black Cats have been playing brilliantly in his absence (including two games against his parent club) and Martin O'Neill now says that he will have to fight to regain his place [.

Schalke 04 midfielder Jermaine Jones won't be available for the United States due to a right calf injury, the US Soccer Federation announced on Wednesday. Jones played in the January friendlies for the USA. Jones's absence reduces the US roster to 20 players available for Wednesday's game against Italy (2:30pm ET - ESPN2).

Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid ruled out Eddie Johnson for Wednesday's Community Shield match against Jaguares. Johnson has been nursing a hamstring injury ever since he came out early from his preseason debut on Feb. 22. On Monday, he did not fully participate in practice and trained off to the side.

Sorry for the absence everyone. Trying to balance school and work is tough, so I had to put a few things on the back burner including this blog, but I plan on getting back in the swing of things.
Earlier this week, Paulo Bento announced his first squad of [read more]

Bad news arrived for Aston Villa and potentially England national team as Darren Bent's injury appeared to be really bad as reports claim that the striker would be out until the rest of season.

Having his left ankle ruptured in the game against Wigan on Saturday, apparently could face up until 12 weeks absence, which would pretty much forced him in race to get match fit ahead of the Euro 2012.

Speculation that Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United this summer is mounting, with top clubs in Italy keen to secure the talented youngster. It was disappointing to learn that Pogba is now represented by Mino Raiola, the same agent as Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who doesn't have the best reputation.