Spain goalie to miss World Cup

Barcelona's goalkeeper Victor Valdes reacts after being injured against Celta Vigo. Source: Manu Fernandez / AP

BARCELONA goalkeeper Victor Valdes will miss the rest of the season and Spain's defence of the World Cup having been sidelined for seven months after knee surgery.

"Victor Valdes underwent surgery on his torn anterior cruciate ligament on Monday morning with doctors Ulrich Boenish and Ricard Pruna in Augsburg, Germany," Barcelona said in a statement on Monday.

"They made an incision in the internal meniscus of the right knee and the surgery was completed in a satisfactory manner.

"The estimated time out will be seven months."

The 32-year-old had been primed to push Spain captain Iker Casillas for his place in goal at the World Cup in Brazil later this year given the Real Madrid man's lack of first team action this season.

Instead, Manchester United's David de Gea is likely to go as back up to Casillas and Napoli's Pepe Reina.

It is expected that Valdes has also played his last game for Barcelona when picking up the injury in a 3-0 win against Celta Vigo last week after declaring his intention to leave the club when his contract expires in June.

Valdes has been linked with a number of clubs including Monaco and Manchester City, but has made no official announcement on where he will play next season.

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‘Batsmen lack strategy for spin’

Cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq in action in 1999. Source: News Limited

A LACK of strategy in batting against spin has contributed to slow-bowling success at the World Twenty20, former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq said Monday.

"The tactics are changing and the batsmen don't seem to have the kind of strategy they used to have to face spin bowling,'' said Saqlain, a spin consultant for the West Indies team. "I feel the mentality of spinners has changed and they are also getting help from pitches here."

Saqlain is seen as an important member of the team management for defending champion West Indies, which has done well in the conditions to emerge as one of the top contenders.

The West Indies faces Pakistan in the last Group 2 game on Tuesday to decide the second qualifier behind unbeaten India.

Saqlain is credited with inventing the "doosra," or the off-spinner's concealed away-going delivery. He said the shortest format of the game was now settling well with both fast and slow bowlers finding success.

"I feel the format is now more balanced. There are fast bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India, Umar Gul of Pakistan and Krishmar Santokie of the West Indies who are doing well here. Spinners are, of course, getting wickets and it's up to the batting coaches to think, try to bring in something to counter spinners,'' Saqlain added.

Saqlain praised the Indian pair of legspinner Amit Mishra and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who have bagged two man of the match awards each to help the 2007 champions complete four straight wins.

Shane Watson gets bowled during the World Twenty20 match with Bangladesh. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

"They're bowling with great control. If you see, nine of the top 10 bowlers in T20 rankings are spinners and we've the top two spinners in our team,'' he said in reference to off-spinner Sunil Narine and legspinner Samuel Badree.

The 37-year-old Saqlain, who bagged 208 wickets in 49 tests and 288 in 169 ODIs, fancied defending champion West Indies' chances against Pakistan.

"We've some good spinners, but I'd still expect the whole team to back them and it's not just the spinners who'll always win you matches,'' said Saqlain, who was the fastest in the world to take 100 ODI wickets but never played Twenty20 internationals.

Saqlain said he was also helping the West Indian batsmen devise ways of facing up to the Pakistan spin attack led by Saeed Ajmal.

"Ajmal has been playing for a long time. Technology gives all the information nowadays but when the batsmen come to me asking about Ajmal, about the kind of deliveries he bowls, I obviously give my tips since I have seen him over the years in Pakistan,'' Saqlain said.

West Indies captain Darren Sammy conceded that his team needed to face up to Pakistan's spinners better.

"We've to rotate the strike," Sammy said. "In our game against India, which was spin-oriented, 60 per cent of the balls we played were dot balls. It's a difficult game against Paksitan but it's a step we're ready to take."

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Buzz: Let’s start a revolution

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An expanded 18-team competition with two new teams and two new conferences would bring back tribalism and blockbusters to the NRL almost every weekend of the footy season.

It would also allow the NRL to produce a fairer and more equitable season draw, replacing the current lopsided schedule with 25 rounds of football and stand alone Origin weekends.

New clubs from Brisbane and Perth would not only provide an extra game and more television revenue but allow all nine Sydney teams to go into their own conference.

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BUZZ: DRAW DEBACLE ROBS TOP TEAMS

Almost every week would become a heritage round with more derbies and traditional-rival showdowns.

It would give Sydney clubs the chance to attract more away-team fans, unlike now when they host the Titans, Cowboys, Warriors or any of the out-of-town teams in front of 10,000 to 12,000 fans.

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Clubs in each conference would play each other twice for 16 games before meeting clubs from the out-of-town conference once for nine games.

The top four clubs from each conference make up the top eight.

The Penrith Panthers are a good example of why the game needs to revamp the schedule.

Here's a club trying to fight off the AFL threat and desperately working to build on sluggish crowds from recent years.

The Storm warm up at nib Stadium in Perth. Source: Getty Images

Yet they host only five Sydney teams this season at Sportingbet Stadium.

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Glamour clubs the Roosters and Sea Eagles plus the exciting young Wests Tigers don't play at Penrith at all.

The conference idea has the support of influential figures including super coach Wayne Bennett and the game's longest serving CEO, Shane Richardson.

It saves all the Sydney clubs, maintains tradition and guarantees four Sydney clubs make the finals each year.

State of Origin should be given a stand-alone weekend, writes Phil Rothfield. Source: News Limited

It ensures national and regional exposure from four out-of-town clubs in the finals every year.

The other benefits are less travel and accommodation costs for Sydney clubs.

The Perth team would open up new timeslot for TV broadcasters.

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The second Brisbane team ensures we don't have to watch the Broncos every Friday night and also stops the Broncos from having such a huge commercial monopoly.

Stand-alone Origin weekends could be used to play the Nines and City-Country to keep the broadcasters happy.

The NRL's head of football Todd Greenberg says expansion will be discussed in the off-season.

Todd Greenberg says possibly the NRL will be discussed but queries whether the depth is strong enough. Source: News Limited

"I get where you are going," he said, "The problem is whether we can sustain two new clubs in those markets.

"Is there enough talent to go around for another two teams? But you're right to be exploring it.

"As for conferences, it's important to maximise the attendances by having our big Sydney clubs playing against each other.

"We're still trying to find the right balance. Everyone at the NRL is working very hard and we're open to all suggestions."

Embattled owner of the Newcastle Knights Nathan Tinkler. Source: News Limited

Premier coach Trent Robinson argues there is enough players to support two new teams.

"This is a good debate to have," he said, " I think Brisbane having a second team and Perth is vital for the future of our game.

"We've got to back ourselves to produce more players.

"I disagree we don't have enough. In Australia and New Zealand, there is enough talent there.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson supports a second team in Brisbane and a side based in Perth. Source: News Corp Australia

"We've got enough good coaches out there to put good systems in place at two new clubs."

Souths boss Shane Richardson supports the idea of a Sydney conference.

"It would certainly build sustained rivalries in the Sydney market and enable the NRL to build marquee events such as our Heritage round at the SCG and Good Friday at ANZ stadium on an annual basis with more of the clubs," he said.

"The artificial way we conduct the draw at the moment needs a revamp at the very least."

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NRL shattered by McKinnon diagnosis

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FORMER Newcastle great Matthew Johns said on Monday night that all of sport and not just rugby league will be in total shock today at the news young Knights forward Alex McKinnon is facing life as a quadriplegic.

The 22 year backrower, still in a critical condition in a Melbourne hospital, has only limited feeling in his left arm and faces the heartbreaking likelihood of never being able to walk again.

Alex McKinnon is tackled by Trent Merrin, Beau Scott and Nathan Fien. Source: News Limited

Johns told Fox Sports last night the tragic news, reported on Channel Nine last night, will reverberate through all sport in Australia.

BENNETT: ALEX IS LIKE A SON TO ME

A CITY STOPS FOR WOUNDED HERO

"Everyone in sport, not just rugby league are in total shock," Johns said.

"It was always a chance it was going to be this type of terrible news but everyone was praying that it wouldn't be.

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"Then you get the news come through of this young boy who is so universally liked and respected in rugby league may not walk again."

The NRL, caught by complete surprise by the report, responded cautiously in a statement:

"I understand this has been reported on Channel 9 but we've not received this advice by the Knights or Alex's family in regards to these reports," NRL spokeperson Sandy Olsen said.

"Out of regard for Alex and his family, it is not appropriate to comment at this time.

"Our thoughts continue to be with Alex for his recovery. The NRL and the Knights are providing all the support we possibly can at this time."

The Newcastle team in a huddle before the clash with the Sharks in a tribute to Alex McKinnon. Source: Getty Images

Newcastle fans show their support for Alex McKinnon. Source: News Corp Australia

The Newcastle Knights were also left largely in the dark by the news.

"The club will continue to liaise with Alex's family and issue the appropriate update. At this stage, we have no further update," their spokesperson said.

McKinnon was brought out of an induced coma on Sunday and hopes of a recovery were raised when it was revealed he was breathing on his own without the assistance of a ventilator and communicating with his family.

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But according to Channel Nine, the prognosis for McKinnon is grim.

"McKinnon and his family have been told he is a quadriplegic," the report stated.

"He is in rehab and care and will hopefully recover. His spinal cord is not severed.

"Not surprisingly, he is struggling with the news."

McKinnon was due to get a visit today by Knights teammates including captain Kurt Gidley but only coach Wayne Bennett made the trip down to Melbourne.

Alex McKinnon has touched plenty of hearts at the Knights. Source: News Corp Australia

Bennett did not want to comment on the report when asked by The Daily Telegraph.

Director of St Vincents Hospital Emergency Department Professor Gordian Fulde would not comment on the McKinnon case last night but described the diagnosis of quadriplegia as "a life sentence".

He said the injury would renew the tackle debate.

"I think this is going to stimulate the whole matter of how people are tackled because the neck vertebrae in a human are very fragile, "he said.

He said the outlook for McKinnon wouldn't be able to be known for at least a year.

"You don't give the final ability until at least twelve months because of the ability of a young body to compensate and there are also a whole lot of scientific advances," he said.

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Giggs: United are not underdogs

David Moyes, right, and Ryan Giggs at the press conference on Monday. Picture: Jon Super/AP Source: Jon Super / AP

MANCHESTER United veteran Ryan Giggs said that his side will not consider themselves underdogs when they tackle all-conquering defending champions Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.

While Bayern have gone from strength to strength under new coach Pep Guardiola, successfully defending their Bundesliga title in record time, United have endured a torrid season under their new manager, David Moyes.

United are currently 17 points off the pace in the Premier League and probably need to win the Champions League to qualify for next season's competition, but Giggs said on Monday that they are undaunted by the prospect of facing Bayern in Tuesday's first leg at Old Trafford.

"Bayern are a fantastic team,'' said the midfielder at Monday's pre-game press conference.

"They are the holders and Pep Guardiola has taken over and added a few new players, and they are a very strong team.

"They're the favourites in most people's eyes. But we are Manchester United and at Old Trafford we have had so many great nights.

"We don't see ourselves as underdogs; we see ourselves as Manchester United playing at home. It is going to be tough, but it is always is in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. We are looking forward to it.''

Giggs, 40, is the only surviving member of the United team that famously stunned Bayern with two injury-time goals in the final of the 1999 tournament in Barcelona.

He has now taken up a player-coach role, but when he was asked by a journalist if he could ever see himself succeeding Moyes, he was prevented from answering by the United press officer.

United's struggles have seen Moyes's position come under scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly in the light of 3-0 losses at home to both Liverpool and Manchester City.

However, the Scot was bullish when asked about the prospect of taking on Guardiola, who led former club Barcelona to victory over United in the final in both 2009 and 2011.

"I am really looking forward to coming up against him,'' Moyes said.

"It is the first time I have done, but I have no doubt I will be doing it many times in the future.''

Giggs, seated beside Moyes in a suite at Old Trafford, also sought to play down media speculation that he had fallen out with the former Everton manager.

The Welshman's appearance in the 3-0 win over Olympiakos in the last 16 was his first start in seven weeks, but he said that he was happy to be used sparingly.

Asked about his relationship with Moyes, he said: "The relationship is good. Of course, as a player you want to play all the time.

"I normally play every two or three weeks to get the best out of me. The last game was probably my first for seven weeks, but you are not sulking. You just have to be ready to play your best for the team.

"There is no problem with the manager. I don't know where that came from.''

Giggs is the oldest player to have scored in the post-1992 incarnation of the Champions League, having found the net against Benfica in September 2011, and he said that he had not decided whether this will be his last season in the competition.

"I don't know. I'll tell you after tomorrow (Tuesday)!'' he joked.

"I am just trying to enjoy this season and then at the end I will take stock and see what I want to do.''

Moyes, meanwhile, gave short shrift to a question about Bayern midfielder Toni Kroos, with whom United have been linked in the British media.

"I don't know where you have your information from, but I think Bayern Munich have a lot of good players; not just Toni Kroos,'' he said.

United have injury doubts over Rafael and Tom Cleverley, both of whom missed Monday's pre-match training session, while Juan Mata is cup-tied and Robin van Persie has been sidelined by a knee injury.

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