Ben Smith
BBC Sport at the Manchester Central Convention Centre

"Former Arsenal Chief Executive David Dein's among the delegates at Soccerex, external today.

"He's called for a winter break to be introduced in the Premier League from next season.

"'I think we have to introduce it to improve the England team', he said. 'The players deserve the break. It's a long, hard season where more injuries occur in the second half when compared to the first'."

Nigeria have avoided a ban from international football after Fifa were satisfied the African champions had complied with a directive about its leadership., external

The world governing body said it welcomed the fact that ousted president Aminu Maigari and his executive committee had been able to return to work and as a result lifted the threat of sanctions.

Manchester United defender Rafael, who has not featured yet this term due to a groin injury sustained in pre-season, writes on his Instagram account: "Back in training ready to help. Let's go."

Ben Smith
BBC Sport at the Manchester Central Convention Centre

"Soccerex pauses for breath and for lunch, a liquid lunch in the case of many here. Steve McMahon, Peter Reid and Bryan Robson are recalling memories of their titanic midfield battles just a few feet away from me and the great hall here in Manchester Central is abuzz with the great and the good of the game networking and trying to get business done, which is what the Soccerex conference is really all about.

"Later this afternoon we will hear from Qatar 2022, as they attempt to brush aside widespread criticism of their bid but explaining why they expect their World Cup to the best we have ever seen. A hard sell? Certainly. But should be interesting."

Image source, Getty Images

Adrian Harris at Hove:

"A good morning for Sussex who having won the toss have reduced Lancashire to 99-4.

"Usman Khawaja (above) provided the main resistance before being caught behind on the stroke of lunch for 45.

"Sussex skipper Ed Joyce took one of the catches of the season low one handed at third slip to dismiss Karl Brown."

From BBC Radio Northampton's Chris Egerton at Edgbaston:

"Northants 90-3. Despite the odd alarm, Northants have batted nicely through the morning session despite being put in by the home side. Stephen Peters and James Kettleborough followed up their century stand against Somerset last week with some crisp boundaries, mostly from an ineffective Chris Woakes.

"But Peters fell when they reached 63 to the impressive Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Kyle Coetzer followed soon after. Rob Keogh chipped Westwood to midwicket off Keith Barker just before lunch but Kettleborough remains on 43."

Mark Church at Worcester: "A fascinating morning at New Road - the hosts won the toss and batted first but five wickets between Matthew Dunn and Jade Dernbach have left them in trouble.

"In between the wickets the runs have flowed particularly from the bat of Moeen Ali who caressed his way to 59 before falling to Dunn."

Image source, Getty Images

Lizzy Ammon, at Trent Bridge:

"Yorkshire, who can win the County Championship this week if they beat their hosts Nottinghamshire, have had as good a start to this match as they possibly could have.

"Although a couple of chances of gone down - one from the gloves of Chris Read and one from Riki Wessels at short leg off Gary Keedy - Yorkshire have gone to lunch 118-0 with half centuries for the two exciting young batsmen Alex Lees and Adam Lyth (pictured).

"It is 39-year-old Keedy in his first home County Championship match for Nottinghamshire who looked the most like taking a wicket on a pitch that is taking spin. A brilliant first session for the visitors and they'll be looking to bat for a long time first innings."

There is live commentary of this match on BBC 5 live sports extra

BBC Newcastle's Martin Emmerson at Lord's:

"Durham chose to bat on a green top and captain Paul Collingwood was probably regretting it seven overs in as his side were being Murtagh'd.

"Tim Murtagh took three wickets in four overs for just 16 runs as Keaton Jennings went for a second-ball duck and Mark Stoneman and Michael Richardson made only four each.

"But Scott Borthwick and Ben Stokes then came to the rescue with a partnership of 90 for the third wicket to take Durham to 114-3 at lunch. Borthwick has 53. His 5th half century of the season came in 92 balls and included nine fours. Stokes will resume on 48."

Former Milan player and current youth team Coach Stefano Eranio has backed ex-Liverpool and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres, 30, to succeed at the San Siro.

"Torres is a very humble player, he has great technical and human qualities," Eranio told Football Italia., external "But he is a diesel, he needs to play to find his form. He needs the confidence of the coach and to make the most of his surroundings. I would always want someone like Torres in the team."

We're asking you if Wales can end their qualifying misery of recent generations and secure a place at Euro 2016.

Please let us know via #bbcsportsday,, external the BBC Sport Facebook, external page or Google+, external

Nedin Dzeko:, external We can finish third, but won't rule out second! Most confident I've been for years, we can do it! Just keep Bale and Ramsey fit!

Chris Ward:, external I genuinely think Wales have a chance of qualifying. They have some good players and (bar Belgium) a good group.

Image source, PA

BBC Wales football correspondent Rob Phillips in Andorra:

"In the absence of a recognised centre-forward playing regular club football, star man Gareth Bale is set to start up front.

"Aaron Ramsey will be expected to provide support, probably alongside Andy King, with Joe Allen and Joe Ledley - barring fitness concerns - providing stability.

"George or Jonathan Williams could provide pace out wide while at the back Swansea defender Neil Taylor looks poised to get the left-back berth ahead of former team-mate Ben Davies.

"Hull's James Chester will make his competitive debut. Chris Gunter and goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey will hope for a relatively quiet time in a defensive unit led by Ashley Williams, who would see qualification as the pinnacle of his career."

Image source, Marca

Spanish sports newspaper Marca's, external headline reads "The Spain We Want" after the hosts thrashed Macedonia 5-1 in their opening European Championship qualifier to record their first win since the World Cup.

Manchester City's David Silva was among the scorers.

Northern Ireland Under-21 defender Luke Conlan has rejoined Burnley, external on a one-year contract. The 19-year-old was released by the Clarets over the summer but has recovered from a knee problem.

BBC Radio 5 live

Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill tells 5 live about Ed Slater's knee surgery: "It's pretty horrific for Ed and pretty average for us. It happens. It's disappointing he did it on tour [of New Zealand] goes away fit and comes back injured.

"He's had his surgery, he's started his rehab, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later that he's back on the field, but we just have to deal with it as we always do. He'll come back fitter and fresher than ever, hopefully that will be by this time next year."

Although Wales have not travelled to a major finals since 1958, they were part of the 1976 European Championships. At the time, only four countries could play the final tournament which meant that there were only the semi-finals, the final and the third place match in the host country, Yugoslavia, the last tournament to have the rather unusual format.

Wales topped qualifying Group Two, also containing, Austria, Hungary and Luxembourg, winning five of their six matches, before losing 3-1 on aggregate in the last eight to Yugoslavia. You can read about the "forgotten campaign" in Jimmy Smallwood's feature from the BBC website.

Ben Smith
BBC Sport at the Manchester Central Convention Centre

Image source, PA

Former England striker Michael Owen says he believes the country has lost faith in the national team. Speaking at Soccerex, the former Liverpool and Manchester United forward said consistent failures at major tournaments were to blame.

"Everyone in this room, the fans, us, we have all lost belief in the national team," he said. "I don't think we will get that back until we do something significant at a major tournament."

Owen said that while the 2-0 victory over Switzerland in last night's Euro 2016 qualifier was encouraging, one result was not enough to turn the tide after the summer's World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill confirms that captain Ed Slater will be out for between seven and nine months after knee surgery.

Slater was part of England's elite player squad last season and captained the side in the midweek match against the Crusaders on the summer tour of New Zealand.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC World Service's Steve Crossman at Soccerex in Manchester:

"Former Chelsea striker Gianluca Vialli was a surprise visiter to Soccerex today. He's told me that Chelsea will win the Premier League this season, 'no doubt'.

"He's also expecting them to at least go close to winning the Champions League too."

London Irish full-back Tom Homer, 24, is ruled out for at least two months because of a grade two knee sprain suffered in the 20-15 defeat by Harlequins at Twickenham last weekend.