Duberry out for eight weeks
The game was just eight minutes old when Duberry was caught in the face by Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel’s boot as the centre-half stooped to head a ball clear.
The former Chelsea defender was taken off immediately and taken to hospital in Dublin for X-rays which showed the fracture.
Peter Reid does have a replacement in Lucas Radebe, who is making good progress in recovering from a minor knee operation, but the former South Africa international will struggle to be fit for Sunday’s season opener against Newcastle. Club captain Dominic Matteo started the Villa game at left-back, but looks certain to be moved back to centre-half alongside new signing Zoumana Camara.
Adrian Mutu is relishing the prospect of joining Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea revolution after his Italian club, Parma, accepted a £15.8 million bid from the Stamford Bridge big spenders.
Mutu is expected in London for talks this week over a projected five-year contract and, if finalised, his move would take Abramovich’s spending to over £75 million. However, the 24-year-old Romanian international admitted it was a tough decision to leave his Serie A club and particularly his coach Cesare Prandelli. Mutu said that he was swayed after talking to his friend and former Blues defender Dan Petrescu.
Mutu said: “Dan Petrescu talked about Chelsea in a good way and I couldn’t refuse the offer they made me.
“I asked my club to consider it and I have to thank the officials. After practically launching me, they have now given me the possibility to go to England.
“There was a big feeling with the coach and my team-mates. From a human point of view, it hasn’t been an easy choice. But now it’s done, so let’s think of Chelsea.”
Chelsea announced last night that they had come to an agreement with Parma over Mutu, rated one of the best striking prospects in Serie A.
Mutu scored 17 league goals last season and four in the UEFA Cup.
Meanwhile, Marcel Desailly has agreed a one-year extension to his current Stamford Bridge contract.
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has admitted he could be tempted into a move for Paolo di Canio and hinted he might have more to report next week, although he denies holding talks with the Italian.
Reports have linked Curbishley with the former Celtic striker, who is a free agent after leaving West Ham at the end of last season, but the Charlton boss insists he has not made any serious attempt to sign him up.
“We’ve not had talks with Di Canio,” Curbishley said.
“Basically he’s in Italy and his agent has been doing the rounds, he’s been phoning everybody I think.
“I think Paolo is desperate to come back to the Premiership and we’re probably as near to his house as West Ham was, but we’ll have to see. Everyone is trying to improve their squads by next week.
Whether or not Di Canio signs, Curbishley is determined to add to his squad before the transfer window closes on August 31.
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