DARREN Williams may need surgery as a result of his clash with Arsenal's Patrick Vieira on the opening day of the season.

Arsene Wenger blasted the Sunderland defender for play-acting when Vieira was shown the red card for elbowing the Sunderland defender.

Wenger claimed at the time: "The Sunderland player got up without a mark and got what he wanted. I would have sent him off as well."

But Williams has now hit back with proof that the French midfielder struck him in the face during the Wearsiders' 1-0 victory.

He said: "I've seen the doctor about it because I've been in a bit of pain and he says the cartilage under my nose is damaged and it might need an operation."

Williams was subjected to trial by television over the incident, with most pundits claiming the former York City man had taken a dive.

The 23-year-old admitted: "I was a bit disappointed by that because when you see the clip they showed on TV it does look a bit suspect - Vieira hits me on the side of the head and I go down holding my face.

"But what they didn't show was the couple of seconds beforehand.

"I was chasing Vieira and he swung out and hit me full in the face, which caused the injury I've got now. The adrenalin kept me going and it was only when he whacked me a second time that I went down."

Sunderland are in the middle of an injury crisis with ten senior players on the sidelines and Williams is hoping to delay the operation until the end of the season.

He added: "I can put up with the discomfort and I don't want to miss out on being available for games, so I'll probably wait before I have anything done."

Boss Peter Reid has been given a timely boost by Swedish midfielder Stefan Schwarz's return to training after six months out with an Achilles problem.

Schwarz, a £3.75m signing from Valencia 13 months ago, was given the all-clear by a Swedish specialist and should begin full training next week.

Reid said: "It's great news for us and great news for the lad.

"He has shown top-class professionalism in the way he has gone about the business of coming back from what was a very serious injury.

"The final stages are always the hardest but Stefan has shown exactly the sort of desire and determination I would expect of him. He's an example to anyone."

l Leeds United have made another £15m bid for Rio Ferdinand, according to West Ham boss Harry Redknapp.

The Elland Road club moved for the England youngster just a couple of weeks after failing with an identical offer.

But the Londoners have again told Leeds that Ferdinand is not for sale although Redknapp admitted he was tempted to cash in.

''They won't give up, will they?'' said Redknapp.

''Leeds have come in with another massive offer for Rio - £15m. That is an incredible amount of money.

''Everyone knows how much I rate him. He is a great defender and could easily end up the best in Europe if he continues along the path he is going.

''But Leeds just won't give up, they know how great a player he is and they know just what a great signing he would be for them.''

Redknapp admitted that he considered taking the money for Ferdinand and using it to boost his squad with two or three new players.

He said: ''It is difficult to turn down that sort of money for a player, especially with transfers set to be quashed.

''At times, I think about how many players I could bring in with the money from it but I am desperate not to lose Rio because it would be a real blow if he left us.''

Redknapp claimed that Leeds had made their latest inquiry through an agent.

''It seems a bit strange as to why Leeds have come in with another offer just days after their original bid was turned down,'' he said.

''It is the same offer. Maybe they think if they keep trying they will get some joy.

''Or maybe they are receiving some encouragement from elsewhere, although I know it wouldn't come from Rio, because he has told me how happy he is here.

l New Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri, who believes his side needs an ''English backbone'', has reportedly had an £8.5m offer for a Danish international turned down.

According to agent Vincenzo Morabito, Ranieri made a bid for Jesper Gronkjaer of Ajax but the 23-year-old midfielder rejected the move, saying he wanted to stay at the Dutch club at least until the end of the season.

Morabito, who also brokered Ranieri's move to Stamford Bridge, told onefootball.com: ''Chelsea are looking for a new left-sided midfielder or striker and Gronkjaer is top of their list.

''But Jesper wants to stay at Ajax and Ajax don't want to sell.

However, I have kept Jesper informed about Chelsea's current interest.'