Hand injury rules out Man City defender

Manchester City's unsettled French defender Laurent Charvet will be out of action for several weeks after breaking his hand in an accident at home.

The 29-year-old former Newcastle player made only three appearances for the Maine Road outfit last term and has yet to take the field this season after City's promotion to the Premier League.

It had been thought Charvet might have returned to his native France before the transfer deadline but although his agent tried to instigate a deal with Second Division Lorient, nothing transpired.

"An agent did come on with a possible move for the defender but in the end it did not work out for whatever reason," admitted City boss Kevin Keegan.

It had been reported in the press earlier this week that Keegan was furious with Charvet for not accepting the move to Lorient and had warned him he would not play for the first team.

Charvet for his part was not willing to take a large pay cut to join Lorient, who were relegated from the French First Division last season.