Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/358967
21 Sport maltatoday, Wednesday, 6 august 2014 Pepe Reina set to sign for Bayern Nadal recovering well from wrist injury Liverpool's Pepe Reina is set to complete a £2 million switch to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich Last seaso, Reina was on loan at Napoli where he made 30 league appearances to help Napoli finish third in Serie A and qualify for the Champions League. However, it appears as though Liv- erpool manager Brendan Rodgers deems the former Villarreal man as surplus to requirements with Si- mon Mignolet set to continue as the Merseyside club's number one. Despite boasting world champion Manuel Neuer as their number one, Bayern have struggled with depth in the goalkeeping position, with Tom Starke the only other senior shot- stopper in the squad. If one or both are injured or suspended, the club have to look to their amateur team for cover. It seems an odd move for Reina, though, as he will play second fid- dle to Neuer, widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world. However, it gives the Spain inter- national the opportunity to earn a high wage, with his reported salary of £110,000 per week off-putting to most clubs. BRITISH number one Andy Mur- ray says he can train at "100%" again following the back operation he had last year. The 27-year-old had surgery in September 2013 and was out for three months before returning in December. "I wasn't able to train as much at the beginning of the year because of my back," said the 2013 Wimble- don champion, who will play in the Rogers Cup in Toronto this week. "Now I can start training again 100%, not holding back." Murray's appearance in Canada is his first outing since the defence of his Wimbledon crown ended at the quarter-final stage in July. He has been given a bye into the second round of the Rogers Cup and will play either Santiago Gi- raldo or Nick Kyrgios. Murray will be using the tour- nament to help improve his world ranking, which has dropped to nine, and as preparation for the US Open, with the final major of the year starting on 25 August. "I felt maybe what I was missing was just some physical strength," said the Scot. "When you come back on the tour it is a bit of a recovery process. "Over the French Open and Wim- bledon my back felt very good. Physi- cally, it was fine." Murray said on Sunday he wanted former Wimbledon champion Ame- lie Mauresmo to remain his coach for the "foreseeable future." RAFA Nadal's recovery from a wrist injury that ruled him out of two US Open tune-up events is on track, the Spanish tennis federation (RFET) said on Tuesday after the world number two underwent tests. Nadal sustained the injury dur- ing practice late last month and the 28-year-old Majorcan left-hander has been training with a cast on his right wrist. He was forced to withdraw from this week's Rogers Cup in Toronto and next week's Cincinnati Open, putting in doubt his title defence at the year's final Grand Slam at Flush- ing Meadows in New York starting at the end of this month. "Following a scan and clinical evaluation, his progress is on track, although he will still have tests from time to time," the RFET said on their website. Nadal on Monday posted a picture of himself working on court with his uncle and coach Toni in which a black wrist support was clearly visible. Injury may keep Tiger Woods out for rest of the season AMERICA'S Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson admitted on Monday he was deeply concerned about Tiger Woods's prospects of being fit for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in September. However, his agent Mark Steinberg revealed that the American could wait until Wednesday before deciding on his participation in the final major of the season - this week's USPGA Championship. The former world No 1 was forced to pull out midway through Sunday's final round at the Bridgestone invitational after injuring his back. The USPGA Championship starts in Kentucky on Thursday - but as it stands Woods is scheduled to play despite his breakdown at the weekend. Steinberg confirmed no decision has been made while Woods is being treated by a team of specialists near his home in Jupiter, Flor- ida to evaluate the injury before making a decision. Woods has 14 major championships to his name, but has not won a major tournament in six years. Jack Nicklaus, whose record haul of 18 majors Woods is chasing, once went six years without winning one before his remarkable 1986 Masters victory, aged 46. But Woods is still on course to match Nicklaus. Aged 38, he has the same number of majors as Nicklaus did at that age, with the lat- ter winning his 15th before his 39th birthday. FOOTBALL Tennis GOLF Pepe Reina Andy Murray back to training Alvarez to stay put at Inter INTER midfielder Ricky Alvarez insists he wants to stay at the club despite the fierce competition for first team places. The Nerazzurri already boasted Mateo Kovacic and Hernanes as midfield options before this sum- mer's transfer window, and they have since brought in Yann M'Vila to further boost the squad. They are also on the verge of signing Gary Medel. Alvarez, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham, said "I'm only thinking about Inter, I can't say any- thing about anything else." "Things that are said on the out- side don't interest me. All I can say is what I think and I want to stay here." Andy Murray Rafael Nadal Tiger Woods