TRANSFER-listed Newcastle United defender Alain Goma has been sidelined for six weeks with a broken hand.

The French centre-back suffered the injury in United's 3-1 defeat at Chelsea six days ago and is not expected to play again until Middlesbrough visit St. James' Park on March 17.

Goma's hand was trodden on by an opponent at Stamford Bridge and a scan on Friday revealed the full extent of the damage.

The hand was put in plaster and the latest injury blow to hit the Magpies means that transfer-seeking Spanish defender Marcelino must plug the gap until Goma is fit.

Manager Bobby Robson, who has been without an entire team this season through injuries, is still waiting for strike duo Alan Shearer and Carl Cort to return from long-term lay-offs.

Key schemer Kieron Dyer would have probably been pressed into Sunday's postponed home game with Southampton, despite continued worries over his shin problems.

Midfielder Robert Lee and defender Aaron Hughes faced fitness tests, while striker Kevin Gallacher and goalkeeper Steve Harper were unavailable.

Robson is now keeping a tight rein on skipper Shearer, whose hopes of an early comeback in next Sunday's match at Charlton have been scuppered by the United boss.

Shearer, who underwent knee surgery at Christmas in a bid to cure tendinitis, said: "I hope to get back in full training on Wednesday or Thursday and take it from there.

"Everything is fine - there are no problems with my injury.''

But Robson insisted: "He says he wants to play at Charlton, but it's still too soon. He'll travel with us, but we can't risk him."

l Out-of-favour ex-Newcastle winger David Ginola played out of position at sweeper as Aston Villa reserves were defeated 3-1 by his former club last night, writes JACK LESLIE.

It was a far cry from his days on the wing at St James' Park and the Frenchman looked uneasy in his new position.

An incident on the brink of half-time summed up Ginola's night when he did well to tidy up a loose ball but then gave away possession with an unnecessary backheel.

Lomano Lua Lua, Stuart Green and Gary Caldwell scored to put United 3-0 up before a spectacular 89th-minute volley from substitute David Berks gave Villa their consolation goal.

l Lazio are taking legal action against Fabio Capello, the coach of city rivals Roma.

New England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's former club blame Capello's weekend remarks that clubs who have fielded players with bogus identity documents should be docked points for the fall in value of their shares.

Lazio's Argentinian midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron and president Sergio Cragnotti are currently the subject of a judicial probe into allegedly fraudulent naturalisation papers for the player.

Although Lazio, now coached by Dino Zoff after Eriksson resigned to become England manager, beat Lecce 3-2 yesterday the value of their shares fell by 3.55 per cent.