NEWS ROUND-UP

Kieran Richardson conceded the crucial penalty as England Under-21s lost to France in the UEFA Championship play-offs.

Richardson was adjudged to have fouled substitute Lassana Diarra just five minutes from time and Jimmy Briand converted the spot-kick to give his side a 3-2 play-off victory on aggregate.

It was the final drama of an ill-tempered clash in which coach Peter Taylor accused the host nation of trying to get his players into trouble with Italian referee Matteo Trefoloni.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said on Monday injured duo Roy Keane and Gary Neville would not be fit for the trip to Charlton on Saturday.

Neville had hoped to make his first appearance since August in a friendly at Burton Albion on Monday.

“Gary was due to play and pulled out because he is not feeling 100% but it is not a blow. Roy's back in light training but his injury is hard to assess. He's on the way back, I think two or three weeks.”

Alex Ferguson has tipped Darren Fletcher to become an outstanding player as he continues his fightback from recent criticism.

Fletcher was one of the men reportedly mentioned by skipper Roy Keane in his frank assessment of the current United squad.

“The only area we have to wait on Darren is his physique. He's a tall, thin boy. He's gangly and I think he's still got to get muscle formation.

“Once he gets that strength, he'll be an outstanding player.”