Sporting briefs

Donovan: Everton have reached an agreement in principle to bring American international Landon Donovan back to the English Premier League club on a short-term loan from LA Galaxy. The 29-year-old would be eligible to play in Everton’s game against Bolton Wanderers on January 4, with the loan lasting until after the Merseyside derby at Anfield on February 25.

Hearts: Hearts said yesterday their players had been paid for November just as the players’ union prepared to lodge an official complaint with the Scottish Premier League. With December’s pay due today, Hearts said the players’ November salaries had now been paid – 29 days later than scheduled. Hearts are currently fifth in the table but a huge 23 points behind SPL leaders Rangers.

Merkel: Werder Bremen are to begin preparing for next season by trying to lure highly-valued teenage midfielder Alexander Merkel to the club, reports said yesterday. Merkel, born in Kazakhstan to Russian parents with German ancestry, is currently contracted to Milan, who loaned him to fellow Serie A side Genoa at the start of the season.

Copa Sudamericana: Eduardo Vargas scored twice as Universidad de Chile won the Copa Sudam-ericana with a 3-0 home win over 10-man Liga Deportiva Univer-sitaria of Ecuador. It was the first title for Universidad, as they claimed a 4-0 aggre-gate win with the victory in Santiago. Vargas opened the scoring in the third minute, before Liga had Jorge Guagua dismissed in the 68th minute. Lorenzetti netted the second 11 minutes later before Vargas rounded off the scoring late on.

Schweinsteiger: Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger will not return to action until the start of the new year following recent surgery on a broken collarbone. Bayern sporting director Christian Nerlinger said last week he hoped the midfielder would return before the start of the Bundesliga’s winter break. However, coach Jupp Heynckes said: “There’s still too big a risk.”

Friendly: Scotland will face Slovenia in February in a stadium with a capacity of less than 5,000. The Slovenian FA have confirmed that the February 29 friendly will be played at the Bonifika Stadium in Koper, with a capacity of 4,221.