Sporting briefs

STERLING: Liverpool and England winger Raheem Sterling has been charged with assaulting a woman and the case will go to court later this month. The 18-year-old was summonsed to Liverpool Youth Court yesterday on a charge of common assault. The Jamaica-born teenager did not attend the hearing and lawyer Mick Hogan appeared on his behalf.

CUENCA: Barcelona winger Isaac Cuenca, who has recently returned from a lengthy lay-off after a knee operation, will play the rest of the season on loan at Ajax. The promising 21-year-old, brought into the Barca first team by former coach Pep Guardiola last season before having surgery on his right knee at the end of the campaign, will join Ajax on a five-month deal, the club said.

HOLLAND: Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben have been left out of the Netherlands squad for next week’s friendly against Italy because they have failed to play regularly at club level, coach Louis van Gaal said yesterday. “It was difficult to follow our criteria but only in the case of Robben was there a temptation to call him,” Van Gaal said.

GUEYE: Everton midfielder Ma-gaye Gueye has joined Brest on loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old was given the nod to switch to the French club following an approach before the deadline. Gueye has made just six appear-ances for the Toffees this term.

KING’S CUP: Atletico Madrid claimed a 2-1 victory over Sevilla in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Thursday. Two spot-kicks from Diego Costa sandwiched a penalty from Alvaro Negredo as Atletico earned a narrow lead ahead of next month’s second leg. Three men saw red, Se-villa’s Emir Spahic and Fernando Navarro, and Atletico’s Diego Godin.

GIBBS: Arsenal left back Kieran Gibbs will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a thigh strain. The 23-year-old England international picked up the injury during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League.

IN ENGLAND: The Championship – Sheffield Utd vs Coventry 1-2. League Two – Bristol R. vs Barnet 2-1.

MFA DIV. TWO: Siġġiewi vs Żebbuġ 0-2.