Best and Agger are ruled out for rest of season

LEON BEST and Daniel Agger were ruled out for the rest of the season on Wednesday.

Newcastle striker Best has missed the Magpies' two games since scoring their goal in a 2-1 home loss to Everton early in March with an ankle injury.

And his absence leaves Alan Pardew with three fit forwards in Shola Ameobi, Shefki Kuqi and Nile Ranger for Saturday's trip to Aston Villa.

Liverpool centre-half Agger Agger limped off in the first half of Saturday's 2-1 loss to West Brom with a knee injury.

The Reds will also be without full-backs Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly for the next month with hamstring injuries and while Fabio Aurelio has returned to training, it may take time for him to regain fitness rather than be ready for Monday's Anfield showdown with Manchester City.

Midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has also returned to training at Liverpool but skipper Steven Gerrard is still awaiting full assessment of a groin injury.

Hereford and Torquay have ben handed points deductions after both clubs were found guilty of fielding an ineligible player for last month’s League Two clash at Plainmoor.

Hereford won the match 3-1 but the unauthorised involvement of midfielder Rob Purdie has persuaded FA Chiefs to deduct the points they earned that day.

Torquay did not benefit from their decision to field ineligible Shrewsbury forward Jake Robinson but they have been hit by a one-point deduction and layers eased their promotion odds to a best-priced 5-1.

The Gulls remain in seventh place but only goal difference separates them from Gillingham in eighth.

Hereford’s sanction drags them  from 19th to 21st place – just five points above the drop zone.

The Bulls are as big as 9-1 to go down but their next three games are against teams in the current top ten positions.