Sporting briefs

DI MARIA: Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria is facing two weeks on the sidelines because of a hamstring injury. The 25-year-old Argentine picked up the problem during Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Manchester United and was substituted towards the end of the first half at Old Trafford. Tests since have confirmed a hamstring strain which will keep Di Maria out of the upcoming Primera Division matches against Celta Vigo and Real Mallorca.

MARCELO: Real Madrid fullback Marcelo has been fined €6,000 for driving without a valid licence, court authorities in the Spanish capital said yesterday. The Brazilian was pulled over on the afternoon of Feb. 12 on the M-12 highway and it was discovered he had previously been stripped of all his points, rendering his licence invalid.

COLOCCINI: Newcastle centre back Fabricio Coloccini will be out for up to seven weeks after breaking bones in his back, manager Alan Pardew said yesterday. The 31-year-old defender has returned to his native Argentina after sustaining the injury when he fell awkwardly during the club’s 4-2 Premier League win over Southampton on Feb. 24. Coloccini pledged to stay with Newcastle until the end of the season after seeking a move away in January.

ROLFES: Bayer Leverkusen captain Simon Rolfes has extended his deal with the Bundesliga club by two years until 2015. The 31-year-old former Germany midfielder has been at Leverkusen since 2005 and his contract was due to run out in June. “The mix of experienced players and young talented ones is just right at the club and I want to play my part so we can achieve things in the future,” Rolfes said in a statement.

RUSSIA: Former Russia captain Andrei Arshavin and experienced striker Pavel Pogrebnyak have been overlooked again by coach Fabio Capello for this month’s World Cup qualifier away to Northern Ireland. Capello, however, kept faith in striker Fyodor Smolov and midfielder Oleg Shatov, naming the young Anzhi Makhachkala duo in his 27-man squad yesterday for the Group F match in Belfast on March 22.

TABB: Reading midfielder Jay Tabb has agreed to join Championship outfit Ipswich on a one-month loan deal. Both clubs expect the necessary paperwork to be completed this morning in time for the 29-year-old to make his Town bow against Peterborough tomorrow. Tabb has been pushed down the pecking order at the Madejski Stadium since the Royals’ promotion last term, featuring just 12 times in the top flight.