Monsoreau woe for Sochaux

FC Sochaux Montbéliard

Torn thigh muscle
The 23-year-old limped out of last weekend's French League Cup final win against FC Nantes Atlantique during the extra-time period. He had earlier scored to bring Sochaux back into the game at 1-1 before their victory on penalties. Tests have subsequently confirmed he has a torn thigh muscle and so will sit out Sochaux's remaining seven Ligue 1 matches.

De Groot woe
The season is also over for FC Utrecht striker Donny de Groot after it was revealed he faces between six and nine weeks out with a cruciate ligament injury. The 24-year-old hurt his knee just a minute into last weekend's match at SC Heerenveen but heavy swelling meant he had to wait for the MRI scan which confirmed the extent of the problem. De Groot, who has scored five goals this term, must look for a new club in the summer as his Utrecht contract expires at the season's end.

Saavedra signs
Staying in the Netherlands, ADO Den Haag have completed the permanent signing of Spanish defender Alberto Saavedra from Spanish Segunda División side CD Numancia. Saavedra, 22, joined Den Haag on loan during the winter break and has now agreed a four-year contract with the club. "I really like it here at Den Haag and am very glad to be able to play here for a longer period." Saavedra spent only a few months at Numancia after joining from Real Oviedo last summer.

GAK lose Aufhauser
Austrian international Rene Aufhauser is sidelined for three weeks after pulling a thigh muscle in Grazer AK's 3-1 Austrian Cup win over SK Rapid Wien yesterday. The midfield player will miss not only Austria's friendly against Luxembourg next week but also key matches in the Bundesliga title run-in, starting with second-placed GAK's trip to leaders FK Austria Wien on Sunday.

Good health
All clubs in Belgium's top flight have received their playing licences for next season - the first time since this has happened since the system started in 2001. "The clubs have all adjusted their budgets to their income. They all have done their best to meet our standards," said the league's licensing committee chief, Germain Landsheere. "Belgian clubs are more healthy now than a few years ago."

Ricardinho released
Middlesbrough FC have released Brazilian midfield player Ricardinho after he failed to break into the first team at the Riverside stadium. Boro manager Steve McClaren said the 27-year-old, who joined on a short-term deal in February, was unhappy with a lack of opportunities. "He hasn't had the chances he'd hoped for so we've mutually agreed he should move on," he told the Premiership club's website.

Norwich promoted
Finally, English first division leaders Norwich City FC returned to the Premiership last night after a nine-year absence. The Canaries won promotion without playing as Sunderland AFC, the only team who could have denied them a top-two finish, lost at Crystal Palace FC.