Sir Alex Ferguson insists calling time on Roy Keane's Manchester United playing career was a tough task.

Former champions Bayern Munich and the four English Premier League clubs in the UEFA Cup have all been handed comfortable ties in the first round, the draw for which was made here on Friday.

Aston Villa on Friday signed West Bromwich Albion defender Curtis Davies on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent transfer.

(corrects name in 3rd para)

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has lost his trusted assistant after Paco Ayesteran decided to quit Anfield.

Former Manchester
United skipper Roy Keane will get a warm welcome when he brings
his Sunderland side to Old Trafford on Saturday, according to
United manager Alex Ferguson.

Serbia coach Javier Clemente
has named the following 21-man squad for their Euro 2008 Group A
qualifiers with Finland in Belgrade on Sept. 8 and Portugal in
Lisbon on Sept. 12.

(Removes references to groups which are to be drawn after the
first round)

By Simon Stone Special to PA SportsTicker

France coach Raymond Domenech's appeal against a one-match ban will be heard on September 4, four days before Les Bleus face World Cup final rivals Italy in a Euro 2008 qualifying clash.