Injured AC Milan centre-back Alessandro Nesta returned on Thursday from a two-month stay in Miami to say he hoped to be back playing for the club in a month.

Nesta travelled to Florida in early November to see a specialist about a back problem that has been troubling him since July. The 32-year-old has yet to play for Milan this season and he has been sorely missed in an ageing rearguard that has often been exposed. But now the former Lazio defender is ready to return to training at Milan's Milanello complex.

"I'm going to Milanello to start working and when I'm ready, I'll play," he said upon his return at Milan's Linate airport. "I can't wait to get back but I want to do so in a good condition, at my best. "When? Soon I think, maximum one month but I need to work hard physically, I haven't played for eight months and we'll see how I react physically."

Nesta was part of the Italy squad that won the World Cup in 2006 and has played 78 times for his country. He has won the UEFA Champions League twice with Milan and Serie A once each with Milan and Lazio.

Manchester City have signed Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong from German side Hamburg for an undisclosed fee, the English Premier League side announced on Wednesday

The 24-year-old, capped 29 times by his country, has signed a four-and-a-half year contract with City, now transformed into one of the world's wealthiest sports clubs under the ownership of Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour.

City, rebuffed on Monday in their bid to sign Brazil's Kaka from AC Milan for a reported 108 million pounds (100 million euros) - a world record deal if it had gone through - have seen two players join this week with de Jong following former West Ham striker Craig Bellamy to Eastlands.

De Jong missed much of the first half of the Bundesliga campaign with a knee injury but recently returned to training. He had been with Hamburg for three years after joining from Ajax.

Tottenham have finally won their battle to wrest highly-rated Honduran midfielder Wilson Palacios away from Wigan after the two clubs agreed a fee believed to be around £14.

Wigan had turned down a £10 million offer earlier this month but manager Steve Bruce had been resigned to losing the 24-year-old in the event of Spurs coming back with a higher bid. Palacios followed Bruce from Birmingham to Wigan last year and has since enhanced his reputation with the Lancashire club establishing itself firmly in the top half of the Premier League table.

A statement on Tottenham's website confirmed: "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement for the transfer of Wilson Palacios from Wigan Athletic.

"Personal terms have been agreed and a medical completed, we now await the Honduran international receiving his work permit before completing his registration."

Strikers Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe scored deep into extra-time to break Burnley hearts and ensure holders Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester United in the League Cup final.

With less than three minutes of extra-time left at Turf Moor, the second-tier side were on course to go through to a 1 March meeting at Wembley with world champions United on the away goals rule. At that stage the tie was all square at 4-4 on aggregate, with the Clarets 3-0 ahead in the second leg courtesy of goals from Robbie Blake, Chris McCann and Jay Rodriguez. However, Pavlyuchenko edged Spurs in front overall before Defoe's 120th-minute effort made sure Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who won the FA Cup with Portsmouth last season, would be heading back to Wembley after a dramatic 6-4 aggregate success.

Ben Alnwick made his Spurs debut as first-choice goalkeeper with Heurelho Gomes missing for the top-flight strugglers through injury, along with Ledley King, Vedran Corluka and Aaron Lennon. Meanwhile Pavlyuchenko, who has now scored in every round of the competition, was dropped to the bench along with Gareth Bale. The Clarets were themselves weakened through the absence of suspended captain Steven Caldwell and cup-tied striker Steve Thompson, with Wade Elliott and Blake filling in respectively.

Tottenham almost scored first when Jonathan Woodgate - one of just two survivors, along with Didier Zakora, from the Spurs side that beat Chelsea 2-1 in last year's final - headed over from David Bentley's corner. But instead it was Burnley who broke the second-leg deadlock. They were awarded a free-kick for Woodgate's foul on Joey Gudjohnsen and from fully 25 yards out, Blake beat Alnwick at the keeper's near post with a superb curling effort.

Clarets manager Owen Coyle had said beforehand his side would need "to scale Everest and beyond" to reach the final, but now the summit was in sight. Midway through the second half, Tottenham had the chance to draw level in the second leg when Defoe pounced on an error by Clarke Carlisle but Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen moved smartly off his line to deny the England striker.

Burnley continued to press forward and in the 73rd minute a cross from Blake was turned in at the far post by McCann. Spurs' advantage was erased with two minutes of normal time left when, after Alnwick fumbled Blake's free-kick, substitute Rodriguez scored. At the end of normal time, Martin Paterson's first-leg goal for Burnley, which had seemed as if it would be a mere footnote, meant the Clarets were still in the tie.

Now, however, they had a position to defend and the character of the match changed with Spurs making the running in the first half of extra-time. But Burnley did not concede and were in sight of a first League Cup final appearance when Pavlyuchenko, who came on for Luka Modric midway through the second half, scored from six yards in the 118th minute. And moments later Defoe grabbed another goal to make sure of an all top-flight encounter with United, 4-3 aggregate winners over Derby County yesterday.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late penalty to secure Manchester United's place in the English League Cup Final as they survived a late Derby rally to seal a 4-3 aggregate win at Old Trafford.

Tuesday's 4-2 second leg victory was secured when Ronaldo, a second-half substitute for Ryan Giggs, netted from the spot after Carlos Tevez had been felled by former United goalkeeper Roy Carroll in the closing stages. But although United ultimately cruised to the victory, the sight of Anderson being stretchered off at the end of the game took the shine off the result for Sir Alex Ferguson's English, European and FIFA world champions.

United's uncharacteristically poor showing at Pride Park in the first-leg ensured the Championship strugglers arrived at Old Trafford with a 1-0 advantage courtesy of a Kris Commons wonder strike. Few gave Nigel Clough's team any hope of holding onto that lead and booking a place at Wembley for the final on 1 March. But United's youngsters have displayed fallibility in cup competitions in recent seasons, with the likes of Exeter, Southend and Coventry all inflicting embarrassment on Ferguson's team, so Derby had something to cling to. Clough had urged his players to take the game to United after warning that defensive tactics would merely encourage the home team to attack at will and they almost profited from their ambitious approach as early as the sixth minute when Commons went close to scoring again.

The breakthrough goal came in the 16th minute when Portuguese winger Nani, whose future at United has been placed in doubt following reports of a move for Wigan's Ecuadorian midfielder Antonio Valencia, levelled the aggregate scores with a stunning strike from 25 yards. United still needed to get their noses in front in the tie, however, and they were able to do that six minutes later when poor Derby defending allowed John O'Shea to score from 12 yards after he had been teed up by teenage striker Danny Welbeck.

Derby were now faced with a damage limitation exercise, but United continued to pour forward and Ferguson's men looked likely to score at every opportunity. Carroll denied Welbeck from close range before the inevitable third goal arrived in the 34th minute when Tevez headed in Rafael's cross from six yards to claim his ninth goal of the season. It was also Tevez's sixth goal in the League Cup this season, which reflects his increased involvement in this much-maligned competition.

The fans might want him to stay beyond the expiry of his loan deal at the end of the campaign, but whether Tevez is content with a diet of League Cup outings and a substitute role when the big games come around is another matter. Tevez's goal all but secured victory for United although late penalties converted by Derby's Giles Barnes and Ronaldo, plus an injury-time free-kick by Barnes ensured a lively finale.

Tim Cahill denied Liverpool top spot in the Premier League after the Everton player pounced four minutes from time as a thrilling Merseyside derby ended 1-1 at Anfield on Monday.

Steven Gerrard, captaining his club for the 250th time in his career, thought he had sent Rafa Benitez's side back to the summit after breaking the deadlock with a superb long-range finish in the 68th minute, the England international's 14th goal of the season. But Australian international Cahill had the last say as he pounced in the 86th minute after the Liverpool defence had failed to deal properly with a set-piece.

Everton's success this season has been built on a backs-to-the-wall, hard-to-beat mentality which has served them well in the absence of injured strikers Yakubu and Louis Saha. They arrived at Anfield boasting one of the best away records in the top-tier and, despite their lack of firepower, it took just 35 seconds for Moyes's side to show they were not at Anfield to make up the numbers as Victor Anichebe forced a full-stretch save from Jose Reina.

Benitez had outlined his intentions on the teamsheet by naming one of his most attacking sides of the season, Torres starting for the first time since November 26 alongside the recalled Robbie Keane. Yet it was Reina who continued to be the busier of the two keepers, the Spaniard kept on his toes by Cahill's 26th minute header following a dangerous cross by the industrious Anichebe.

Torres, with his injury problems behind him, was looking to become the first Reds player in the history of the club to net four in a row against Everton having scored his side's last three in Merseyside derbies. The Spanish striker went agonisingly close to achieving that feat after Sami Hyypia had carved open the visitors defence in the 28th minute soon after Torres had been felled by Steven Pienaar which earned Everton's South African midfielder a booking. Perhaps Torres was feeling rusty after his recent lay-off but his effort, to Everton's relief, shaved the outside of the post and the home side's best chance of the opening 45 minutes was gone.

Having started the half confidently, Everton were relieved to hear the half time whistle as Albert Riera dispatched a ferocious long range effort narrowly wide of Tim Howard's post two minutes before the break. Liverpool continued to probe the visitors defence at the break, Howard spilling Gerrard's 55th minute effort only for Sami Hyypia to smash the rebound high into the Kop. Everton began to visibly tire with Benitez's side winning a string of corners yet they were unable to force home an advantage from the set-pieces.

Torres went close again from just outside the area but Liverpool appeared to be heading for another night of frustration before Gerrard had the last say. Soon after Webb had waved away Everton claims for a penalty when Anichebe went down under a challenge by Martin Skrtel, Liverpool's second half pressure paid off when Gerrard let fly from 25-yards, Howard beaten by the ferocity of the effort. But Liverpool's celebrations were cut short as Cahill pounced to give Everton a deserved point.

Chelsea FC and England midfielder Joe Cole will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a serious knee ligament injury.

Cole ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament during Chelsea's FA Cup replay win at Southend United FC in midweek and on Saturday had successful reconstructive surgery. Chelsea have confirmed his absence for the remainder of the campaign.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "I am very sad for Joe to have suffered this injury and I am disappointed to have lost a very important player for me and the club at such a vital moment in the competition. However, I believe that with his spirit, Joe will come back to Chelsea even better than before."

Cole had made 20 appearances in all competitions this term, scoring three goals. The London club sit third in the Premier League and will play Juventus in the UEFA Champions League first knockout round on 25 February and 10 March.

West Ham United have accepted a bid of about £14m from Manchester City for their Wales international striker Craig Bellamy who is believed to be travelling to Eastlands for a medical.

The former Liverpool and Newcastle forward has been given permission to speak to the City manager, Mark Hughes, after the club's bid was accepted. A matching offer from Tottenham had been rejected. Bellamy, 29, asked for a transfer to Spurs on Friday but West Ham were unwilling to sell to local rivals and have been angered about the publicity that preceded Tottenham's formal approach.

Bellamy was left out of the West Ham squad that defeated Fulham yesterday when, Gianfranco Zola said, the player was "not in the right frame of mind" to play.

Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 1 Portsmouth

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe silenced the jeers of the travelling Portsmouth fans after scoring a vital equaliser against his old club in a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane here Sunday.

The point moved Spurs off the bottom of the English Premier League table and out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, facing Pompey for the first time since his October switch to London, would have been disappointed after seeing his side miss a host of chances. Both teams stretched their winless league run to six games but remain firmly involved in the relegation dogfight.

Defoe, booed relentlessly by the Portsmouth fans, spurned a golden opportunity to put one over his old club but screwed his finish wide after being put in the clear by Pompey midfielder Sean Davis's wayward pass. Pompey's attacks were fleeting but they came close to breaking the deadlock in the 11th minute after poor goalkeeping from Spurs's Heurelho Gomes. The Brazilian could only parry Glen Johnson's weak long-range shot but made amends by flicking the ball away when it appeared England striker Peter Crouch was certain to score.

The match continued at breakneck pace as the home team continued to press but they could not force the ball into the goal, Defoe the guilty party twice in quick succession. First he got in the way of Roman Pavlyuchenko's goalbound header and then Defoe, given a free-header himself, could only direct it at James although the ex-Liverpool keeper still had to pull off an acrobatic save. Gomes made up for his nervy start when he denied David Nugent but the England forward should have given him no chance after being sent clear by Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar. Spurs came close again shortly before the hour mark but James was again on top form to keep out Lennon's deflected effort.

The significance of the save was magnified a minute later when Nugent atoned for his earlier miss with his first Premier League goal for Pompey. French midfielder Armand Traore made a typically forceful run which was cut short by Corluka's tackle. The loose ball fell to Nugent on the edge of the penalty area and his low shot, aided by a slight deflection off Gareth Bale, gave Gomez no chance.

The visiting fans wasted no time in reminding Redknapp, who guided Pompey to the FA Cup last season, of the score. But their cheers were soon cut short when Defoe scored his first goal since returning to White Hart Lane. Midfielder Didier Zakora passed to Croatia playmaker Luka Modric and his lay-off found the former West Ham striker who planted a low left-foot shot beyond James's despairing dive. Spurs substitute Darren Bent had a glorious opportunity to win the game with 10 minutes left but directed his free header wide of the target.

West Ham United 3 - 1 Fulham

At Upton Park, Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola left Bellamy out of his squad for the clash against Fulham after the former Liverpool star stormed out of training on Friday following the club's decision to deny him permission to speak to Tottenham.

Bellamy is determined to leave the east London team and could seal a move to Manchester City instead later this week, but Zola and company won't need to shed too many tears judging by this emphatic victory. David Di Michele was drafted into the side as Bellamy's replacement and scored West Ham's opener before making their third goal for Carlton Cole.

Mark Noble's penalty had put the hosts 2-1 in front following Paul Konchesky's stunning equaliser for Fulham as the Hammers extended their unbeaten run to five matches and moved up to.

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Real Madrid came from a goal down to cut Barcelona's lead at the top to 12 points with a hard-fought 3-1 home victory over basement boys Osasuna on Sunday and end a week of boardroom infighting on a high.

In contrast to Barcelona's dazzling 5-0 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, Real were fortunate to survive two strong penalty claims as they laboured to a win that lifts them into second above Sevilla on goal difference.

Osasuna went ahead through Iranian international Javad Nekounam's 19th-minute header but gifted Real an equaliser early in the second half with goalkeeper Roberto allowing Sergio Ramos's tame shot to creep in. Argentine Gonzalo Higuain struck his 12th goal of the season just after the hour mark to turn the game in Real's favour and Arjen Robben added a third they scarcely deserved.

Real's preparations for the Osasuna match had been far from perfect with president Ramon Calderon resigning on Friday, creating more unstability at the club who only axed coach Bernd Schuster before Christmas. Real almost scored after 24 seconds with Higuain showing a great turn of pace to get into the penalty area only to have his shot saved.

Osasuna had almost beaten Barcelona last weekend, conceding two late goals to lose 3-2 and took a 19th minute lead on Sunday when Jaroslav Plasil got down the byline and whipped in a great cross for Nekounam to head home. It was the first goal Real had conceded since the 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in mid-December. Ramos thought he had equalised in the 37th minute but the goal was ruled out for offside.

After the break the Spanish international got his goal with his speculative shot fumbled by keeper Roberto who allowed the ball to loop over his body. Robben then set up Higuain for a simple tap-in and scored himself in the dying seconds. Real had been let off the hook six minutes from time when Pepe appeared to foul Juanfran in the penalty area. The referee waved away the appeals and Juanfran, already booked, was sent off for diving.

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