A round-up of today's soccer news in brief
Ancelotti expects quiet January
CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti is not expecting to be active in the January transfer window, though he has admitted he is monitoring Sergio Aguero and Alexandre Pato.
Atletico Madrid forward Aguero, 21, and AC Milan striker Pato, 20, are two of Europe's most sought-after starlets and have both been persistently linked with big-money moves to Stamford Bridge.
There were rumours that Brazil ace Pato was set to follow Ancelotti from the San Siro in the summer, while Aguero was touted as a €45 million target.
Moves did not materialise but Chelsea's manager remains an admirer, though he reckons "Pato will stay with Milan."
He added: "Aguero? All teams follow young talent and he is certainly one of them, like Pato."
But Ancelotti is not planning for a lavish spending spree to maintain Chelsea's place at the top of the Premier League when the transfer market re-opens in 2010, despite their transfer ban being suspended by CAS.
He said: "We have the problem that some players will leave for the African Nations Cup. However, I think that even in January we will remain as we are."
Hand's debut with 'After The Ball'
EOIN Hand last night launched his first CD, After the Ball, at the Brazen Head in Dublin, a pub owned for a spell by his mother, Mincia when he was a child. The disc is a collection of ballads sung live by the former Ireland international with backing from a group of musician friends during a session at John B Keane's in Listowel earlier this year.
Proceeds from sales of the CD will go to Guidedogs for the Blind, except in Kerry where all of the funds raised will go towards the cost of work being undertaken at St John's Theatre in Listowel.
"The whole thing started when my mother asked Pauline (his wife) for a recording of some her favourite songs," said Hand last night. "We did that and then Mickey McConnell suggested that we go on and turn it into a proper album which I'm very happy to say we managed to do with him producing." The CD is accompanied by a collection of photographs from Hands hugely eventful career.
Ronaldo not fit for play-off
REAL Madrid have announced they will not allow Cristiano Ronaldo to play for Portugal this week. Real's doctors have told the player that if he plays for his country after being named in the squad for the forthcoming World Cup play-offs he could suffer a major setback in his rehabilitation from an ankle problem.
Portugal are set to play Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday and again on Wednesday as they attempt to and earn a place in the World Cup finals next summer, but will have to do so without their star performer.
The national team's medical staff have been invited to Madrid to give Ronaldo a series of their own tests to prove that he is injured, and they are said to be considering the option.
Real coach Manuel Pellegrini said: "He has a medical treatment that he is following. He wants to play and it's normal that the coach wants him, but there is a medical issue The doctors are the ones who know in this regard."
Ashley Cole sidelined with depressed fracture of tibia
ASHLEY Cole faces a race to be fit to face his former club, Arsenal, in the Premier League later this month after it emerged he had played the whole of Chelsea's bruising game against Manchester United on Sunday with a fractured leg, reports Dominic Fifield.
The full-back had initially suffered the injury during the 4-0 Champions League group win over Atletico Madrid last month, Cole limping away from that match with a deep gash and a depressed fracture of his tibia.
The defender missed the subsequent victories over Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, in the league and League Cup, but returned to play the entirety of last week's 2-2 draw in the return European tie at Vicente Calderon.
The Premier League leaders do not anticipate the 28-year-old being ruled out for long and would expect him to return to training in about two weeks. Whether Cole would be ready for the eagerly awaited clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on November 29th remains to be seen.
Ferguson's future in doubt
PETERBOROUGH United have refused to comment on reports that they have parted company with their manager, Darren Ferguson.
The 3-1 defeat at Newcastle United on Saturday saw Peterborough slump to the bottom of the Championship and reports are suggesting that the club have decided to look for a new manager.
But the director of football, Barry Fry, and the chief executive, Bob Symms, both refused to comment.
Ferguson, the son of Manchester United's manager, Alex Ferguson, was appointed in 2007 and led Peterborough to promotion from League One last season.
Beckham out of Brazil clash
DAVID Beckham has pulled out of the England squad to face Brazil next week after helping his club Los Angeles Galaxy to the Western Conference final.
The final against Houston Dynamo takes place on Friday night meaning Beckham is unable to join up with Fabio Capello's squad in time for the clash with the Brazilians in Qatar on Saturday.
Darren Bent has been recalled, while Stephen Warnock and Tom Huddlestone are also included.
Ashton to announce retirement
DEAN Ashton is expected to announce his retirement from football after losing a long battle to recover from a broken ankle suffered on England duty more than three years ago.
The announcement is also likely lead to a multi-million euro compensation claim being lodged by the striker's club, West Ham United, who have been deprived of the services of a player who cost them €8.1 million when he signed from Norwich City in January 2006.
Ashton, who will be 26 later this month, has desperately tried to regain fitness but has not played a senior match for 14 months. It's understood that West Ham's insurance claim may be as much as €7.8 million - the amount the player is believed to be covered for.
Ashton, who was marked out by Fabio Capello, as a first-choice for his country, is also considering making a damages claim.
