Sporting briefs...

Atletico Madrid: Strikers Fernando Torres and Mateja Kezman are likely to miss three of Atletico Madrid's remaining five league games because of injury. Spanish international Torres sustained a knee ligament strain after scoring the winner in Sunday's 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Serbian Kezman spent the night in hospital on Sunday after falling awkwardly and is suffering from heavy bruising to his lower back.

Messi: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina to continue treatment on his injured thigh muscle yesterday and said he hoped to be ready for the end of the European season. The 18-year-old has been out of action since early March when he tore a thigh muscle in his right leg during the second leg of Barcelona's 3-2 aggregate victory over Chelsea in the first knockout round of the Champions League. "I'm doing the treatment which Barcelona have recommended and I want to be back playing as quickly as possible," he said.

Shearer: Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd is not hopeful that record scorer Alan Shearer will regain fitness to play the last three games of his career. The former England captain, due to retire at the end of the season, suffered a knee ligament injury against Sunderland on Monday. "It's not very hopeful but you can never say never with Alan Shearer," Shepherd said. "He's going to have a scan in a couple of days when the swelling goes down and we'll take it from there."

Carsley: Everton midfielder Lee Carsley has appealed against his sending off against Chelsea, the FA said. Carsley was shown a straight red card two minutes after the re-start for a foul on Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba in Monday's Premier League game. His case will be considered by the FA's Disciplinary Commission tomorrow.

UEFA Appeal: UEFA has appealed against its disciplinary body's decision to find Rangers fans not guilty of discriminatory chanting in both legs of their Champions League tie with Villarreal. European soccer's governing body said yesterday it was appealing against Thursday's decision by its disciplinary body. The body said the nature of the chanting "related to a social problem in Scotland". It said the sectarian chant "Billy Boys" had been sung for years without Scottish football or government authorities being able to intervene and had somehow become tolerated. Rangers have a large Protestant following.

Cech: Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is confident of being fit for the title run-in despite having 10 stitches in a leg injury. The Czech international was injured in an accidental collision with team mate William Gallas during Monday's 3-0 win over Everton that left Jose Mourinho's side one point away from retaining their league title. "I had quite a big cut on my leg and I had 10 stitches," he said. "It was painful but there is nothing serious so it is good news for me. Everyone is positive about it and I think I will be ready for the next game."

In England: Premier League - Wigan 3 (Bullard 25; Camara 56, 60) Aston Villa 2 (Angel 53; Ridgewell 67). Playing today - 8.45 p.m. Birmingham vs Blackburn. The Championship - Sheffield United vs Leeds United 1-1. League One - Huddersfield vs Chesterfield 1-2. League Two - Shrewsbury vs Rushden 4-1.

In Scotland: Division Two - Dumbarton vs Gretna 0-2.