Sporting Digest: Football

STAN COLLYMORE'S Nottingham Forest comeback has been delayed until later this week. Out for almost two months with a torn hamstring, he was hoping to return yesterday in a friendly with Lincoln, but will now have to wait until Thursday's friendly against Chelsea.

DIEGO MARADONA was yesterday named in Argentina's squad for a friendly against Brazil in Recife on 23 March, despite last month's dismissal by his most recent club, Newell's Old Boys, and his imminent court appearance to face an assault charge.

LEEDS UNITED'S Elland Road pitch is to be relaid for the 1996 European Championships. The surface has been criticised this season, and Leeds City Council, which owns the ground, will foot the bill, which is expected to cost up to pounds 250,000. Work will start immediately after the club's last home game of the season, against Everton on 30 April.

ARGENTINA SQUAD (Friendly international v Brazil, Recife, 23 March): Goycochea, Islas; Diaz, Borelli, Craviotto, Ruggeri, Vazquez, Caceres, Chamot, Perez, Monserrat, Cagna, Gorosito, Maradona, Redondo, Simeone, Rodriguez, Batistuta, Ortega.

NORTHERN IRELAND UNDER-21 SQUAD (Friendly international v Romania, The Oval, Belfast, next Tuesday): Devine (Omagh), Collins (Distillery), O'Hara (Leeds United), Hunter (Wrexham), McGibbon, Gillespie (both Manchester United), Beattie (Linfield), S Morrow (Arsenal), J Morrow (Rangers), Patterson (Crystal Palace), Glendinning, Magee (Bangor), O'Neill (Hibernian), Lennon (Crewe), McBride (Glentoran), Robinson, McMahon (both Tottenham), Quinn (Blackpool). (Squad includes over-age players).