Image source, AP

United States captain Tom Watson: "I don't want to make too much of targets but there are obviously some. In our team I think that Bubba is one because he can really get it going and make it happen. I hope that the European team is thinking that each one of us is a target though.

"For Europe, Rory McIlroy is the world number one and we would like to see him on the losing end of a match.

"It is still 12 against 12 though. If you knock off the big dog it gives the team a boost, but you have to win as a team.

"Partnerships are not rocket science. There are certain players who meld very well together and it will be those combinations that we are likely to start with.

"But that can change as the match goes on. I'll want to use the horses who are running strong and I'm sure that Paul will be the same."

Elsewhere around the country - there's been a clatter of wickets.

In Division Two, promotion hopefuls Essex have bowled Worcestershire out for just 84 before lunch.

Meanwhile in Cardiff, fellow promotion chasers Hampshire are 91-5 against Glamorgan.

Follow all the games with ball-by-ball commentary online.

BBC Radio Northampton's Chris Egertonat Northamptonshire v Sussex:

"Northamptonshire have had the better of the morning's play in the final week of a season they will be glad to see the back of.

"Having been easily beaten by Durham last week, they've shown much more obvious commitment with Mohammed Azharullah picking up two wickets in the first three overs, including the in-form Ed Joyce for 0.

"Off-spinner James Middlebrook - whose release from the club was announced this morning - was brought on inside the first hour and removed Craig Cachopa with one that kept low.

"Azharullah returned before the interval to induce Luke Wright into an ill-advised cut, which was snaffled by Adam Rossington behind the stumps.

"One other note - Peter Willey and George Sharp are umpiring in what could be their last game on the first-class list, unless their legal challenge to the ECB's ban on over-65s is successful."

Image source, AP

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini denies that any extension has been agreed to Frank Lampard's loan deal from New York FC.

"In January we will see what is happening and we will make a decision then," he said.

The Chilean confirms that although they will miss the League Cup clash against Sheffield Wednesday through injury, both David Silva and Sergio Aguero will be fit for Saturday's visit to Hull.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC London's Kevin Hand at Lancashire v Middlesex:

"It's been a very even morning but Middlesex need a sizeable partnership soon to back up their decision to bat first.

"The visitors have reached lunch on 86-3, having lost three key batsmen including their prolific captain Chris Rogers.

"Second-bottom Lancashire, who need a win if they're to stand any chance of sending Middlesex down in their place, will know a couple of quick wickets after the interval will put them on top in this innings."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Newcastle's Martin Emmerson at Warwickshire v Durham: "Durham chose to bat on a sunny morning here and on a track which looked decent - but as is so often the way they were Keith Barker-ed.

"He helped himself to four wickets inside his first 6.3 overs as Durham were left reeling on 43-5 inside the first hour.

"He now has 36 wickets against them in the last two years.

"But Durham reached lunch without further loss, thanks to 36 not out from Michael Richardson and four not out from Gareth Breese, who is playing in his final game for the visitors.

"At lunch Durham are 66-5 after 30 overs."

Rob Hodgetts
BBC Sport at Gleneagles

Image source, Getty Images

"Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson and Victor Dubuisson set off down the short par-four first under cloudy skies in Europe's final practice trio on Tuesday.

"The three musketeers - Frenchman Dubuisson is nicknamed D'Artagnan - clad in dark green tartan strides and plain jumpers, stroll off the tee together with nods and grins to the gallery, who are busy warming up their vocal chords with tentative shouts of 'C'mon, lads'.

"Vice-captain Miguel Angel Jimenez wanders along with them. It's a quiet, workmanlike atmosphere as the players feel their way into the week.

"'There's no competitive element to today,' says captain McGinley in his lunchtime news conference. 'Just a chance for the guys to get out there.'"

Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington has been charged with improper conduct by the Rugby Football League after he accused the governing body of leading a "witch-hunt" when it investigated claims full-back Zak Hardaker used homophobic language.

The charge will be heard on Wednesday 1 October.

Sky Sports News report that Frank Lampard's loan from New York FC to Manchester City has been extended to early February, meaning he will be available for City's visit to his former side Chelsea on 31 January.

Lampard, 36, was originally set to return to the United States in January.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's some more #MyCeefaxMemories, external

Matt Donnelly:, external #myceefaxmemories checking the gossip column everyday before school whilst eating breakfast I still remember the number 338

Stu Teare:, external The Twitter of its time! Pages 302,340,370 in that order religiously before school and straight after school. #MyCeefaxMemories

Don't forget to have a go at writing your own Ceefax match report.

Tom Fordyce
BBC Sport at Gleneagles

Image source, Getty Images

"Both teams out practising on a benign if grey day on the Centenary course, with the European grouping of McIlroy, Garcia and Kaymer drawing the early crowds. The hill between the third green and eighth becoming a prized vantage point - swing the head left to watch the world number one roll in putts from distance, swing it right to see Bubba chipping from the fringe."

Europe captain Paul McGinley on former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who will speak to his team ahead of the start of the matches: "He is a guy who I played with at pro-am about 15 years and when I became captain I asked if he would do it.

"He said he would, but asked that we keep it quiet. But then him walking around with [Europe's director of communications] Gordon Simpson is not keeping it quiet! The players don't know yet, though, and we want to keep it a surprise.

"Although I am not a Manchester United fan I always loved the way his teams played. The more I met him the more it seemed a natural fit.

"We have met a number of times over the last few months for lunch. He has asked me a lot of questions, he is a big fan of golf, but not everyone who will be in the room is a Manchester United fan so it should be interesting.

"I wouldn't base too much around today's practice because the three-balls today are partly based around the fact that some of the guys are doing media."

Image source, Getty Images

India Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has been given out "handled the ball" on the opening morning of Derbyshire's County Championship Division Two game against Leicestershire at Derby.

His dismissal in the 20th over left Derbyshire on 62-3, having been put in by their East Midlands neighbours.

The last instance of a player being given out handled the ball in England was Karl Krikken, playing for Derbyshire against India on the same ground in 1996.

Image source, AP

Fernando Santos has been named the new coach of Portugal.

The former Greece coach succeeds Paulo Bento, who left the job following a shock 1-0 defeat against Albania in their opening European Championship qualifier.

Your suggestions for Dan Walker's Tuesday Team News games have been coming in thick and fast on Twitter. This week he is compiling a Ryder Cup XI and you can make your puntastic nominations via #RyderCupXI, external and #TTN., external

I'd Radebe Leeds:, external Paulo Hole-in-wanchope

Robert Spencer: , externalCarlos Valderamma

Chris McKenna: , externalMoussa Dembelly-Putter

Image source, @WIPEOUTWILSON

British boxer Jerome Wilson is out of the medically-induced coma he was placed in after undergoing an operation on his brain last week.

Welterweight Wilson, 29, was knocked out in his defeat by Serge Ambomo on Friday, 12 September and suffered a head injury which required surgery.

Promoter Dave Coldwell told BBC Radio Sheffield: "He's made unbelievable progress these last three or four days. He is out of the coma and each day he seems to be getting stronger. It's all about rehab now and he can't quite move or speak at the moment but he is aware of what people are saying to him."

Today is d-day for Liverpool's plans to extend Anfield with the city's council planning committee taking a look at the site before voting on the proposals.

The Liverpool Echo, external is running a live blog of the day's developments while BBC Radio Merseyside's Alex Dibble is relaying events on Twitter., external

The CIES football observatory, a research group that crunches the game's big numbers, has looked at spending on transfer fees over the last seven summer transfer windows., external

The biggest-spending side across Europe's top five leagues were Spanish giants Real Madrid, who clocked up a total of 750m euros (£590m).

They were closely followed by Manchester City on £733m euros (£577m) with Barcelona third on 611m euros (£480m).

Liverpool (fourth on £366m), Chelsea (fifth on £339m) and Manchester United (sixth on £334m) fill the next three places.

This summer the Premier League accounted for 44.7% of transfer expenditure across the top five European leagues - a larger share than in any of the previous six years.

BBC Radio 5 live

Jim O'Neill, the man who tried to buy Manchester United before the Glazers' takeover, has told BBC Radio 5 Live he's stunned at the club's current transfer spending.

Speaking to Wake Up To Money, the former Goldman Sachs boss said: "I'm as baffled as the next person as to how you can spend nothing for seven-and-a-half years and then suddenly rush out and spend considerable amounts of money on more strikers.

"It seems to be an interesting experiment."

Image source, Getty Images

Fifa will submit a proposal to its executive committee to bring in new measures to deal with head injuries.

Michel D'Hooghe, the head of Fifa's medical committee, outlined the plans earlier this month.

They included a referee being able to stop a game for three minutes in order for a team doctor to carry out an on-pitch assessment.

The doctor will also decide if a player can continue to play.