Goal-booting Welliton eyes Russian cap

The Brazilian forward, who plays for Spartak Moscow, wants to be a member of the Russian national team and may get the chance.

The Brazilian forward Welliton, who plays for Spartak Moscow, wants to be a member of the Russian national team and may get the chance after scoring hat-tricks in consecutive matches. Welliton scored three goals in six minutes against Tomsk yesterday and could take advantage of newly relaxed rules regarding foreigners taking up Russian citizenship. He led the league with 21 goals last season and already has 13 this year. If his ambition is realised, he would become the first footballer born outside the former Soviet Union to represent Russia.

Meanwhile Paulo Henrique Ganso, the young playmaker, will miss the rest of the season for Santos because of a knee injury that will require surgery. Ganso tore a ligament in his left knee during his club's 2-1 victory over Gremio in Porto Alegre and medical tests showed he needs surgery that will leave him sidelined for about six months. The midfielder, 20, is one of the most promising stars in Brazilian football and many fans wanted him to be included in Brazil's World Cup team in South Africa earlier this year. Along with Santos teammate Neymar, he made his debut with the national team in a 2-0 victory over the United States in a friendly in New Jersey earlier this month.

The Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax have fired their coach, Jean-Michel Aeby, after only four months in charge. Neuchatel said on their website that Aeby was fired because of poor results, with the team losing four of their first six matches to be one place off the bottom of the Swiss league. Aeby was in his second spell in charge at Neuchatel, who have fired their coach seven times in five years. Neuchatel, who last won the league 23 seasons ago, said they hope to appoint a new coach within a week. * Agencies