BRIEF NEWS
Forest defender Neco Williams done for season after surgery
Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams will miss the remainder of the season after breaking his jaw in a midweek game and undergoing surgery. The 22-year-old Wales international was due home from the hospital on Friday but has been ruled out of Forest's last five games as the team fights relegation. "It's a difficult situation for him, he got himself back into the team recently," manager Steve Cooper said Friday. "(He was) playing really well. He had a confidence about him and a spring in his step. It's a blow, really." Williams was carried off the field on a stretcher Wednesday during Forest's 3-1 win over Brighton after taking an inadvertent kick to the jaw from teammate Brennan Johnson when they both tried to clear a cross. The win lifted Forest one point clear of the relegation zone ahead of Saturday's visit to Brentford. Williams tweeted that he's "gutted" to sit out the rest of the season. He made 34 appearances in all competitions this season after joining Forest from Liverpool.
Leeds winger Sinisterra done for season after ankle injury
Leeds lost a goal-scoring threat in its fight for English Premier League survival when Luis Sinisterra was ruled out for the remainder of the season Friday because of an ankle injury. The Colombia winger scored three goals in his last five appearances for relegation-threatened Leeds, which plays at Bournemouth on Sunday. Sinisterra was forced out of Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Leicester just past the half-hour mark, shortly after he headed in Jack Harrison's cross to give his team an early lead at Elland Road. "It's something in his ankle, a ligament," manager Javi Gracia said Friday. Leeds has lacked bite defensively in the absence of midfielder Tyler Adams (hamstring) and key defender Max Wober, who remains doubtful for the Bournemouth game. "It's tough for us to lose key players. I prefer to not complain. I have enough players to compete better and try to work with them," Gracia said. Crysencio Summerville came on for Sinisterra on Tuesday, but Gracia indicated 19-year-old winger Willy Gnonto would be in line for more minutes at Vitality Stadium. Leeds, on a four-game winless skid, is one point above the relegation zone.
Madrid's Modric injures thigh ahead of Copa final, CL semis
Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has a left thigh injury that could make him a doubt for the Copa del Rey final and the club's Champions League semifinal against Manchester City. Madrid said Friday that the 37year-old Modric "had an injury to the back of his left thigh" without giving an estimate for how long he will need to recover. Coach Carlo Ancelotti said he doubts his key playmaker will be able to play the Copa del Rey final against Osasuna in Seville on May 6. The first leg of the Champions League semifinal against City is three days later. Ancelotti said Modric picked up the "small injury" during Tuesday's 4-2 loss at Girona in the Spanish league that left it 11 points behind leader Barcelona. "This is soccer and these things happen," Ancelotti said.