Arsenal's Shaaban breaks leg in training

The Arsenal goalkeeper Rami Shaaban will be out of action for several months after breaking his leg in training on Christmas Eve.

Shaaban, who has fractured both the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg, underwent surgery in the evening. A club spokesman said: "It is a terrible blow for both Rami and the club as the 27-year-old has settled in well since joining Arsenal earlier in the season. The players were visibly upset following the incident as Rami is both a team-mate and a friend. Everyone's thoughts are with Rami and his family, and we wish him a full recovery."

Shaaban has played just five times for the Gunners this season, twice in the Champions' League and three times in the Premiership, the last of those coming in the 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford earlier this month.

With Stuart Taylor out of action after breaking a finger, 18-year-old Craig Holloway will be on the bench in Shaaban's place for the match against West Bromwich Albion today.

Holloway has come through the youth development system at Arsenal and is a regular in the under-19 side. This will be the first time he has been called up to the first team squad for a competitive match, although he did join the squad for their pre-season training camp in Austria in July.

The Birmingham defender Oiliver Tebily will not miss his club's FA Cup third-round clash against Fulham on 5 January after a mix-up over the number of bookings he has received this season.

Tebily was thought to be on five yellow cards and was expected to miss the game at Loftus Road. However, the Ivory Coast international is now available after the Football Association confirmed he had only been given four cautions.

Tebily's availability is a boost for the Birmingham manager Steve Bruce who will be without striker Geoff Horsfield for the Cup game.

The former Everton striker Joe-Max Moore has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer with Kansas City Wizards. The American did not have his work permit renewed and his Goodison Park contract was terminated at the start of December.

With 10 goals from 64 Everton appearances Moore, who has been capped over 100 times by his country, attracted interest from several Nationwide clubs. However, he now looks likely to return to football in his native country following the interest expressed by the Wizards.

Bournemouth have signed a second goalkeeper in as many days after securing the services of Southampton's Alan Blayney on a month's loan.

The Cherries manager Sean O'Driscoll had agreed a month-long deal with former Brighton goalkeeper Andy Petterson 24 hours earlier but he moved quickly to strengthen his squad further following a serious injury to regular number one Gareth Stewart.

The Kilmarnock striker Gary McSwegan has signed an extension to his deal with the club which will keep him at Rugby Park until the end of the season.