Beijing Guoan have given striker Joel Griffiths just two days to attend the birth of his first child. Griffiths' wife Bianca will be induced on April 29 but Beijing have games on both the 27th April and 1st May giving him very little time to return to Newcastle for the birth.

"They had a four-man meeting last night before they would give him permission to come back," Griffiths' manager John Denison said yesterday.

"They have stipulated he must play for his club on April 27 and he can fly out the next day.

"His wife is being induced on April 29 but he has to be back on a plane the next day so he's there for the game against big rivals Shanghai Shenhua (May 1)."