Briefs

Saka will miss ‘more than two months’

LONDON:

Bukayo Saka is likely to be sidelined until at least March following surgery on his hamstring, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

Arsenal moved up to second place in the English Premier League with a 1-0 home win against Ipswich on Friday, their first game without Saka after the England winger tore his right hamstring in a 5-1 win against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Arteta had previously said the 23-year-old Saka would be sidelined for “many weeks”, but speaking after his side saw out a win that keeps the pressure on leader Liverpool, Arteta gave an even worse time frame.

“He has had a procedure and everything went well, but unfortunately he will be out for many, many weeks,” Arteta said. “It will be more than two months. I don’t know exactly how much longer. It will depend on how the scar tissue starts to heal, the first week or so, and the mobility of that. It is very difficult to say.”

-AP

Rutherford fails but Thunder win

CANBERRA, Australia:

West Indies batsman Sherfane Rutherford failed to shine with the bat, but his Sydney Thunder still registered a comfortable 18-run win over the Melbourne Stars when the Big Bash League continued here on Saturday.

Rutherford managed just two runs from four balls before being caught behind attempting a pull shot off fast bowler Joel Paris, as the Thunder finished on 182 for eight from 20 overs.

Sam Billings scored 72 from 39 balls with nine fours and two sixes, and Jason Sangha chipped in with 33 to help them get up to a competitive total.

Beau Webster took 3-42, while Usama Mir and Peter Siddle took two wickets each for the Stars.

Wes Agar then ran through the Stars’ middle order, snagging 3-25 from his four overs to limit them to 164 for eight in 20 overs, despite a fighting 67 from 49 balls by Ben Duckett.

-CMC

Duran’s red card stands

BIRMINGHAM, England:

Aston Villa says it has failed in an attempt to have Jhon Duran’s red card at Newcastle overturned on appeal.

The 21-year-old Colombia international was sent off 32 minutes into a 3-0 defeat in the English Premier League at St. James’ Park on Thursday after appearing to stamp on defender Fabian Schar, prompting a furious reaction from Villa head coach Unai Emery, who later indicated that the club would appeal.

However, Villa said on Friday night that their bid was unsuccessful and the forward will now serve a three-match ban for violent conduct.

“Aston Villa can confirm that our decision to appeal Jhon Duran’s red card in our match with Newcastle United has been rejected,” a statement on Villa’s official X account read. “The player will now miss our next three matches.”

Duran will miss Premier League games against Brighton and Leicester, followed by Villa’s FA Cup third-round match with West Ham on January 10.

-AP