Eye surgery for Balotelli

Italian striker may miss Manchester City's next match after minor operation

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli could miss the Premier League champions' next match against Stoke after undergoing laser-eye surgery in Italy.

Balotelli, 22, returned back to his homeland for Wednesday's minor operation, which he needed after suffering from conjunctivitis associated with wearing contact lenses.

Balotelli's surgeon suggested he could return "in around 10 days" meaning he faces a race against time to be ready for City's trip to the Britannia Stadium on September 15th.

"He had a few problems with contact lenses some years ago," surgeon Emanuele Scuri told Sky Sport Italia.

"We waited for the defect to stabilise over the last four years and this was the right time to have the operation. His eyes did not tolerate the contact lenses and had problems at the start of the season.

Paparazzi

"I think in around 10 days he should be ready to play again. Already this morning he asked if he could drive and I suggested he should get a lift until Thursday.

"We brought the operation forward by a day to avoid paparazzi. This surgery will enable Balotelli to see very well."

City waited until the international break to book Balotelli in for the procedure, which has ruled him out of Italy's World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta.

Should Balotelli fail to return in time for the Stoke match he could be available when City open their UEFA Champions League campaign against Real Madrid three days later.

Moxey calls for patience

Chief executive admits it will take time for Wolves to rebuild

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey has warned disgruntled supporters that things may get worse before they get better, as the club opens a new era.

After suffering relegation out of the Premier League last season, the Molieux outfit are struggling to get to grips with life back in the Championship.

They are, however, working under a new boss in Stale Solbakken and have seen influential figures such as Matt Jarvis and Steven Fletcher head through the exits.

Returning stability to the ranks and bringing about an improvement in performances on the field is now the order of the day, but Moxey admits that will take time.

He told the Express and Star: "It may need to get worse before it gets better and maybe people need to understand that.

"We have to be realistic about what we can achieve given the scale of change. We have seen that some foreign players take longer to settle compared to their British counterparts, and that is natural.

"I wouldn't say we are relaxed about the situation because we are never relaxed when we lose."

Difficult

Another change to have occurred at Molineux is the removal of Terry Connor from the coaching staff.

After 13 years at the club, which included a spell as manager last season, the services of a highly-respected figure have been dispensed of by Solbakken.

The Norwegian tactician told the Birmingham Mail: "It was not a conversation I wanted to have. It was one of the most difficult decisions.

"But I have to do what I think is right for the club. I can't sit here in two or three months' time having not done what I think I should do.

"I'm the one who has to make the decisions to bring us forward and this is not a decision you want to take but it is a decision I felt was very right."

Saints eyeing Donnelly deal

Lomas looking to line up move for midfielder

The 24-year-old is available as a free agent after being released by the Swans over the summer.

He has spent much of the last two seasons on loan at Wycombe having found it difficult to make an impact in South Wales.

Trial spells at Bradford and Southend were taken in following his exit from the Liberty Stadium, but he remains without a club.

St Johnstone boss Steve Lomas could, however, be about to offer the former Queens Park Rangerstrainee a route to Scottish football.

Lomas was at Loftus Road with Donnelly as he graduated out of the academy ranks and is well aware of what the goalscoring midfielder could add to his squad.

Distin - Toffees can compete

Stopper hails quality in Toffees squad

Everton defender Sylvain Distin feels the club are in a good position to 'compete for something interesting' this season.

Manager David Moyes started his summer business early, bringing in Steven Naismith and re-signing Steven Pienaar.

He added £6million forward Kevin Mirallas last month and brought in Bryan Oviedo, 17-year-old Kilmarnock winger Matthew Kennedy and midfielder Vadis Odjidja-Ofoeon loan late on.

Strength

The Toffees are still waiting for FIFA to rubber-stamp the latter's move from Club Brugge as the deal was completed so close to the deadline but are hopeful that confirmation will come later this week.

And despite the departures of midfielders Jack Rodwell and Tim Cahill, with defender Joseph Yobo finally completing his move to Fenerbahce after two seasons on loan, Distin believes the squad has plenty of strength.

"When you see new players coming in you know everything is moving in the right direction and that is what every single player wants," said Distin.

"It's a bit early to say this is the best squad during my time here.

"We need a bit of time for players to adapt and see how well they are going to do but I rarely remember the squad having so much quality.

"We have enough quality to compete for something interesting this season."

Unusually for Everton they got off to a flying start, winning their first two matches, although defeat atWest Brom clipped their wings somewhat.

However, Distin believes there is a different mood around the club this season.

Good feeling

"We are not used to this and it is a good feeling," he told evertontv. "We have started well and the squad is only going to get better and bigger.

"We want our team to get better and for there to be more competition between the players.

"But we should never expect too much too soon. It is a good start, which is very positive, but we are so far from the end [of the season]."

Feeney blow for Millwall

Lions winger faces two months out with ankle injury

Championship side Millwall have suffered an injury blow with winger Liam Feeney ruled out for eight weeks.

Feeney, 25, injured his ankle during Saturday's 3-1 win againstMiddlesbrough at the Den.

He suffered damaged ligaments after replacing James Henry as a 83rd-minute substitute in the Lions' first home win of the new campaign.

"Liam suffered significant ankle ligament damage and he will be out for a minimum of eight weeks," saidLions physio Bobby Bacic.

But there was better injury news for boss Kenny Jackett as skipper Paul Robinson and midfielderTamika Mkandawire made their much-anticipated returns this week.

Step

Mkandawire has been sidelined for almost a year with a knee injury, but played 90 minutes for Millwall'sUnder-21 Development side against Barnet on Tuesday.

"I'm glad to come through unscathed," he told the club's official website.

"The plan was to play 60 minutes and take it from there, but I played the full game and I'm glad I did. It's a massive step for me."

Defender Robinson, yet to feature this season after a hernia operation, also completed 90 minutes in the 3-1 win.

Fergie could call on Bolt

Olympic sprinter invited to play in charity match

Sir Alex Ferguson has offered Olympic champion Usain Bolt the chance to play for Manchester United in their annual charity match against Real Madrid legends.

A lifelong Manchester United fan, Bolt has already been to Old Trafford since his triple gold medal-winning exploits, telling the crowd ahead of last month's 3-2 win over Fulham that they needed to persuade Ferguson to sign him.

That is clearly not going to happen.

However, Ferguson has raised the possibility of Bolt fulfilling his dream in a rather different way.

"He's been to Carrington a couple of times and he did help Ronaldo with his sprinting," Ferguson toldInside United.

"He's a bit of a character and a big United fan. But it's interesting he says he would like to play in a charity game.

"It could be brilliant, and next year, when we play Real Madrid's Legends again, there could be opportunities to bring him in and see how he does."

Bet

Ferguson certainly owes Bolt a favour after he took a rather personal interest in the Jamaican's stellar performances at London 2012.

"I must thank him because that was my biggest bet," he said. "Bolt was 4/5 to win each of them, the 100m and 200m, a week before the tournament started.

"It was a brilliant bet. I couldn't believe it.

"He's the fastest man in the world and the others would have to have taken half a second off their running to beat him. He is phenomenal."

Barker extends Rams stay

Injured skipper commits to club until 2015

Derby captain Shaun Barker has signed a year-long contract extension to keep him at Pride Park until the summer of 2015.

Barker, who has made 105 appearances for the Rams since his arrival from Blackpool in July 2009 for an undisclosed fee, will miss the whole of the current campaign with a serious knee injury he sustained in March.

The 29-year-old centre-back dislocated his right kneecap and also suffered ligament damage during a 1-0 home win over East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest towards the end of last season.

"Shaun remains very much part of our plans and it's important for him to know that, and we're very pleased he has extended his contract," Derby boss Nigel Clough told the club's official website.

"We've strengthened the defence in Shaun's absence with the arrival of Richard Keogh, and the availability Jake Buxton, while Mark O'Brien, Valentin Gjokaj, Tom Naylor and James O'Connor provide us with quality and experience.

"Shaun is a true leader and while we're missing his qualities on the pitch, we're not missing out off the field. He is playing a pivotal role in the changing room with the lads, which we knew he would do.

"He has a huge part to play this season despite not being available for selection and he's making steady progress. As we said when the injury was announced, we're going to be with him every step of the way."