Bramble out with badly swollen leg

Newcastle United FC's Titus Bramble is out of action until the new year due to a calf injury which has left the defender in hospital with a badly swollen leg.

'Doubled in size'
The 25-year-old former Ipswich Town FC centre-back hurt his calf during Newcastle's goalless draw at Eintracht Frankfurt in UEFA Cup Group H on 30 November. Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder said: "Titus has spent eight days in hospital because of the swelling in his calf, and you cannot imagine how large the swelling had become. Half of the bottom of his leg had doubled in size. He's probably three weeks away from being fit, which could take until the new year." Bramble has made nine Premiership appearances for Newcastle this season, his fifth with the north-east club who have won Group H.