9am Sport Briefing: Ex-Hibs defender Craig Paterson in skin cancer scare

Published on Monday 11 August 2008 10:53

FORMER Hibs defender and football pundit Craig Paterson contracted skin cancer just weeks after losing one of his friends to the disease, it was reported today.

The 49-year-old BBC analyst, who lives in Penicuik, said he had only just come to terms with the death of Celtic legend Tommy Burns when he received similarly bad news.

He had a mole on his shoulder blade examined after his wife Christine became suspicious and it emerged he too had skin cancer.

Mr Paterson, who also played for Rangers and Motherwell, got the all clear some weeks later, but recalled: "All of a sudden I felt like my world had collapsed around me."

Hearts sign Tullberg

HEARTS have signed Danish striker Mike Tullberg on a one season loan from Italian club Reggina.

Tullberg, who cost the Serie A outfit 800,000 when he joined from AGF Aarhus last summer, watched Hearts beat Motherwell 3-2 in their opening league game on Saturday.

He said: "I am very happy to be here. I think Scottish football will suit my style."

Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has already boosted his squad with the signing of Ugandan utility player David Obua.

Rangers star Cuellar heads to Villa

RANGERS defender Carlos Cuellar is set to follow his English Premiership ambitions to Aston Villa after rejecting the Ibrox club's offer of a longer-term deal and a "substantial" pay rise.

Mr Cuellar asked for a 7.8m clause in his contract to be invoked that allows him to leave Ibrox.

He said: "My ambition has always been to play for my national team and I believe playing in the biggest league in the world for Aston Villa will help me realise that."

MacPherson to appeal St Mirren red cardST MIRREN manager Gus MacPherson is set to appeal a controversial red card shown to Will Haining during Sunday's SPL opener against Celtic.

Referee Eddie Smith awarded a penalty and sent Haining for an early bath after Celtic's Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink went down in the box.

Mr MacPherson has previously criticised Smith following a similarly dubious free-kick awarded to Celtic at Love Street last season.