Football briefs: MacGregor | Gerrard | Balotelli

ROY MacGregor believes that Ross County and St Johnstone can still broker peace in the Richard Brittain affair.

The two SPL clubs have been embroiled in a war of words since County captain Brittain signalled his wish to tear up a pre-contract deal signed with the Perth club.

County chairman MacGregor said: “I have spoken to St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown over what is a difficult situation. We felt we should take it away from the glare of the limelight and try to re

solve it chairman to chairman. I am sure that will happen [soon].”

• Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard will undergo shoulder • surgery this week that will rule him out of the last two games of the season.

The 32-year-old, who has been ever-present in this season’s league campaign, is now likely to miss England’s friendlies against Ireland at Wembley on 29 May and away to Brazil on 2 June. “The captain’s injury has progressively worsened in recent weeks and requires an operation to cure it,” said a club statement yesterday.

• Manchester City could be reunited with former striker Mario Balotelli during their summer pre-season programme.

City have announced they will feature alongside Balotelli’s current club AC Milan in the four-team Audi Cup in Munich in July and August. Bayern Munich and Brazilians Sao Paulo are the other clubs involved.