Newcastle's Luque faces 10 weeks out with injury

The 27-year-old Spaniard tore a hamstring during the first half of Saturday's 1-1 Premiership draw with Fulham at St James' Park, and Souness later said that he could be out for six weeks.

However, it was revealed yesterday that a scan had shown the damage to be worse than first thought and he could be out for 10 weeks.

That would mean sitting out the league games against Blackburn, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Wigan, Sunderland, West Bromich and Birmingham, as well as the club's League Cup third-round match against the champions Chelsea on 19 November.

* Watford have signed the former England striker Les Ferdinand and agreed a loan deal for the Wales midfielder Carl Fletcher. Ferdinand, 38, had been training with the Hornets since pre-season.