Russia to field speedy wild card

RUSSIA will introduce to international football a player said to be quicker than Michael Owen when they play Ireland today in the opening match of the European Under-21 Championship in Moscow.

He is Alex Doniskevsky, 17, a striker with Spartak Moscow, whose name was not on the squad of players given to Ireland by Russia. Perhaps they were planning to surprise the visitors.

"He will become a huge international star," said Areg Oganessian, Moscow's leading football writer, "his development has been carefully monitored and now Russia expects him to announce his arrival in spectacular fashion against Ireland."