By Chris Wright

I'm willing to bet your gut reaction to the news that Sergio Busquets got well and truly knobbled in a challenge with Real Sociedad's Carlos Martinez during the home side's 2-1 win at the Nou Camp last night was somewhere along the lines of 'what goes around, comes around' but that doesn't make the deep laceration that the Barca midfielder suffered any less grotesque.

We've all made jokes about Sergio Busquets' habit of falling down and clutching his face for no good reason, but this time it was his knee and he wasn't faking.

A mere seven minutes after entering Barcelona's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad in the 76th minute, Busquets was accidentally stepped on by Carlos Martinez, opening up a deep gash under his right knee.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish thought the Reds fully deserved their victory after coming from behind to beat Newcastle.
The visitors took a 25th minute lead through Daniel Agger's own goal, but the Reds hit back via a Craig Bellamy brace and a Steven Gerrard effort.
The win was only the second in six matches at home after a proliferation of draws and Dalglish was delighted to get the three points despite not dominating as much as they had done in some of their previous stalemates.

Gillingham winger Chris Whelpdale is suffering a sore end to 2011 after limping out of his side's Boxing Day match against Crawley Town with a split scrotum. The injury was sustained late in the match after a very high challenge by Crawley's David Hunt. Whelpdale's manager Andy Hessenthaler told BBC Radio Kent: "It's a horrific [.

Cardiff City will have to wait and see whether or not they will have Kenny Miller available to them for this week's Carling Cup clash against Burnley. The Scottish striker was forced from the field during his side's 5-3 thrilling victory against Barnsley at the weekend with a head injury, following an unfortunate collision with team-mate Ben Turner.

Cristiano Ronaldo could be looking at a suspension from UEFA for his harsh criticism of the officials during Real Madrid's Champions League game against Dinamo Zagreb. The Portuguese forward suffered a hard tackle that required stitches on his right ankle and was fumed after the game that no call was made.

By Chris Wright

That looks quite painful there, Cristiano lad.

After the game, Ronaldo (who had to have stitches in the wound after the game if Marcelo is to be believed) was seething with the official in charge, Norway's Svein Moen, telling the Madrid website:

"I hope we never have this referee again, he was shameful.

Canadian striker Junior Hoilett was knocked out for several minutes after a collision with Fulham keeper Mark Schwartzer at the end of their 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage yesterday. He was strechered off and needed stitches to the side of the head after the incident in which Schwartzer was yellow carded for.

Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni saluted Richard Dunne and Shay Given for their heroic performances in a precious 0-0 draw in Moscow.
Dunne produced two superb blocks and ended the game with four stitches in a head wound as Ireland managed to cling on for their first ever point in Russia.

Who threw all the pies? Can't shoot, can't throw. Bari's Salvatore Masiello is now likely to be transfer listed after throwing a plate of salad at a colleague during a squad dinner. Although team-mate Alesandro Crescenzi blocked the missile with his arm, the plate shattered and he was required to have 40 stitches in the [.

photo courtesy of Mike Kuhn
So I thought I'd be able to avoid discussing this issue in depth, but things that have been around today have just made me want to write about it. For those that have been living in a cave the last 24ish hours, last night after Sporting KC's first goal by Graham Zusi, two "fans" in the south stand threw the heads from the Omar Bravo bobble head towards the field.

photo courtesy of Jarred Donalson
With Brisket Bob outside the Members Club last night cutting up brisket each time the Wizards scored last night, the team did not disappoint, scoring 3 times as they defeated the Portland Timbers 3-1 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Sporting KC's own Z-Man, Graham Zusi, led the way scoring a brace, and Soony Saad scored a birthday goal on his professional debut.

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By JOSE M. ROMERO

Sporting Kansas City experienced both an odd and a Saad night on its home pitch Wednesday night, with Graham Zusi scoring twice and Soony Saad adding the team's third goal in a 3-1 win over the Portland Timbers.

Stuart Holden, the Bolton and United States midfielder, was having a stellar season until March when he collided with Manchester United's Jonny Evans. The injury damaged his knee, required 26 stitches and ruled him out of action for six months....
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Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi has been handed a measly 5 week ban for his assault on Northampton's Chris Ashton which left the English International needing stitches.

The video of Shawn Thornton's injury is difficult to watch. If you are brave enough, scroll down to see Shawn Thornton get kicked in the face with a skate. Luckily for him, the skate missed his eye and he was able to be put back together with 40 stitches. And like a true hockey player, he brushed off the injury after the game.

Lots of small bits of news already going down today. First the sod for Livestrong Sporting Park arrived during the night from Colorado and is currently being laid out at the new stadium. Watch the progress on the webcam and enjoy as we get one more "visual" step closer to completion. The next visual step, seats.

With about 15 minutes remaining in Bolton's 1-0 loss to Manchester United on Saturday, Holden and Jonny Evans both went for a loose ball, sliding to the ground at the same moment. Holden's upper leg and Evans' studs clashed in a gruesome meeting.
The result for Evans was a straight red card.

photo by Chris Brunskill/ISIphotos.com

Stuart Holden's first full season with Bolton Wanderers has been going as well as he probably could have hoped for, but that season has prematurely come to a close.

Holden will be sidelined for about six months with the knee injury picked up in Bolton Wanderers' weekend loss to Manchester United, Bolton announced on its website on Monday.

Stuart Holden, Steve Cherundolo and Zak Whitbread have been pulled from the U.S. national team roster for the upcoming friendlies against Argentina and Paraguay due to injury.

Holden received 26 stitches near his left knee after suffering an injury in Bolton Wanderers' loss to Manchester United on Saturday.

After Jamie Carragher's assault on Nani at Anfield, our winger was seen lying on the pitch crying. Today he has revealed the reason why.

"When I saw my leg for the first time, I thought my season was finished," he said. "That is why I was crying. "Afterwards, the doctor saw my leg and said I had been lucky because it just needed stitches and I would be out for two or three weeks.

Gary Neville has attempted to calm the row between Manchester United and Liverpool over Jamie Carragher's tackle on Nani.
Neville - famed for his open disregard for bitter-rivals Liverpool - played down the tackle that left his Portuguese team-mate needing stitches.
Sir Alex Ferguson labelled the over-the-ball challenge a "disgrace" but Neville, speaking at the opening of a football academy in Portugal, refused to be dragged into a war of words.

On February 15, 2003 the Manchester faithful lay in shock after United were eliminated from the FA Cup in the fifth round to Arsenal (2-0). But what was more shocking was seeing David Beckham exiting the locker room with stitches over his brow.

After the match, a livid Fergie exploded some pent-up frustration on his team brought up by their on-field form, or lack thereof.

It's the bare bones, if ‘Arry is to be believed, a dry carcass with not a scrap of meat adorning it.

Such heady nights as these do juggle with the emotions somewhat, for what other explanation can there be for going into a game against AC ruddy Milan half wishing that Jenas were available?

By JOHN BOSCHINI

Chivas USA forward Justin Braun and Dallas defender Ugo Ihemelu have been released from the U.S. National Team camp due to injuries and will miss the team's upcoming friendly against Chile on January 22.

Braun is out for a week after four stitches were required to close a cut on his Achilles' tendon and Ihemelu was unable to shake off nagging hip and groin injuries.

With the United States preparing for the January 22nd friendly against Chile, it was announced on Wednesday that two players have been excused for medical reasons. FC Dallas defender Ugo Ihemelu has a nagging hip injury and has been released back to his club. Chivas USA's Justin Braun required stitches to close a cut on his ankle on Tuesday.