Phelan forgiven by McCarthy

The Everton defender Terry Phelan will not be punished by the Republic of Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy, for going missing prior to the World Cup qualifier with Liechtenstein in Dublin in May.

Phelan, who was in the squad named yesterday to face Lithuania in another qualifier at Lansdowne Road on 20 August, had suffered a broken bone in his hand and thought his club had informed McCarthy that he would not be available.

"Terry has since apologised to me," said McCarthy, who is without the Sheffield United goalkeeper Alan Kelly and the Wimbledon striker Jon Goodman, both injured, and the suspended Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer. Two players are dropped - the Oldham goalkeeper Gary Kelly and the Millwall midfielder Dave Savage.

The Middlesbrough manager, Bryan Robson, will hold more talks with the former England captain David Platt next week to persuade the Arsenal midfielder to move north. A pounds 1.5m fee has been agreed, but Robson said: "I have not yet discussed personal terms. David has a few things to sort out and we decided not to rush it."

Middlesbrough have been fined pounds 25,000 by the Football Association for their poor disciplinary record last season.

Leicester have sealed the pounds 1.1m transfer of the 23-year-old forward Graham Fenton from Blackburn, while Wolves have completed the pounds 200,000 signing of the Finnish international striker Mixu Paatelainen from Bolton.

The Everton striker Duncan Ferguson has signed a new five-year contract, tying himself to the club until 2002.