Swansea striker Wilfried Bony's new contract shows he has bought into the direction that the club wants to take, says boss Garry Monk.

Bony, 25, has agreed a new deal until 2018 after staying in south Wales in the summer, when he was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool.

"It's great news for the club," says Monk, whose side are fifth in the Premier League. "I've spoken a lot about what Bony has brought to the club not just on the pitch but off it as well.

"These types of players are ones that we do our best to keep at the club for a long time. But it's also important that we see commitment from that player towards the club, his team-mates and the fans."

Image source, Getty Images

Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony has signed a one-year extension with the Premier League club.

The Ivory Coast international, 25, is now tied down to a deal until 2018. He has scored four goals for the Swans this season after netting 25 times in his debut season last year.

GP3 title hopeful Dean Stoneman says this weekend's Championship decider holds no fear for him - having fought back from testicular cancer two years ago.

The 24-year-old is second in the standings, 48 points behind Alex Lynn with 49 points available this weekend. He has secured four victories in GP3 this year, including in Sochi last weekend.

"It's great to be back on the podium after fighting testicular cancer," Stoneman tells BBC South Today. "That was the biggest race of my life.

"I'm still struggling with side effects, that's the way it is," he said. "Driving the car is tough, but I have to deal with it and keep pushing on. "

Reading midfielder Hope Akpan is ruled out for three months with a dislocated shoulder.

Akpan, 23, suffered the injury during Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over Congo on Saturday.

"It now looks like he will miss the Africa Cup of Nations which is due to take place in January in Equatorial Guinea," said a club statement., external

David Ornstein
BBC Sport

"Wigan have written it into Malky Mackay's contract (as is usually the case with all staff and players) that if he is found guilty by the FA, the club are entitled to terminate his contract."

Mackay, who was appointed Latics boss earlier today, is still being investigated by the Football Association following allegations he sent texts of a racist, sexist and homophobic nature while manager of Cardiff City.

Championship side Sheffield Wednesday sign Watford midfielder Lewis McGugan on loan until 1 January.

The 26-year-old former Nottingham Forest man has made seven appearances for the Hornets this season but has only featured twice since 16 September.

"I want to score goals and help add points on the board," says McGugan.

Ahead of tonight's 'Inside the Dressing Room' programme on BBC Radio 5 live, we have been asking for your 'clean' #dressingroomtales.

Joe Wedgwood:, external Stormed into dressing room as captain, laid into players for losing 2-1, only to find out we'd actually drawn 2-2!!

Football anti-racism group Kick It Out criticises, external the appointment of Malky Mackay as Wigan manager.

"The Football Association began investigating in August alleged racist, antisemitic, sexist and homophobic comments made by Malky Mackay and Iain Moody," says a statement.

"We are still yet to hear whether this is near to reaching its conclusion almost three months on. Where does the case now lie and how close are we to seeing whether the FA will take the appropriate action?

"Wigan Athletic have disregarded the ongoing investigation being undertaken by the FA, and any potential punishment Mackay may face, by taking the decision to appoint him.

"We need to see leadership, and a respect for the processes in place, shown by football club owners to demonstrate how seriously they take tackling issues of exclusion, prejudice and discrimination."

England fly-half George Ford's first Test start against Samoa is an exciting prospect for head coach Stuart Lancaster.

"Coming into this series, he was playing well for Bath but it was a big step to face New Zealand," says Lancaster.

"He has been in the camp for two weeks and has been bossing the show, which is what you want from a fly-half.

"It is a really exciting selection. We are all really looking forward to seeing him play."

Image source, AP

Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player, announces his retirement.

The 35-year-old played 22 games with the Brooklyn Nets last season but was not on the squad this season.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster says Bath fly-half George Ford "deserves his opportunity" ahead of his first Test start.

Ford, 22, starts at number 10 ahead of Owen Farrell, who moves to inside centre.

"We would have liked to play him before now," says Lancaster. "We had him pencilled down to start in the first Test against New Zealand in the summer but unfortunately he got that shoulder injury and prevented him getting that experience."

Image source, PA

England head coach Stuart Lancaster on making five changes to his starting XV for Saturday's match against Samoa: "On the back of the previous two games (New Zealand and South Africa) I want to look at some of the other options.

"Some of the lads have been close to playing and have been showing good Premiership form going into the Tests.

"I think this is the right time to give them the opportunity, for the Samoa game and the Australia game (on 29 November) as well."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has rejected FA chairman Greg Dyke's call to publish ethics investigator Michael Garcia's report into allegations of corruption in World Cup bidding.

Blatter has replied to a letter from Dyke, saying publishing the report would break Fifa's rules and Swiss law but every person in the report would have to give consent to publication.

"Fifa would violate not only its own rules and regulations but also Swiss law by making public the report in question," said Blatter

"We have been advised that publication of the report might be permissible if the persons and entities included in the report consent to such publication and waive any legal action they might be entitled to bring."

England XV: 15 Mike Brown; 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May; 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs;

1 Joe Marler, 2 Rob Webber, 3 David Wilson, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 James Haskell, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 8 Ben Morgan.

Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 George Kruis, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Marland Yarde.

Image source, Getty Images

The breaking news is arriving thick and fast - here's the England XV to face Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday...

Bath fly-half George Ford will make his first Red Rose start as head coach Stuart Lancaster makes five changes from last weekend's defeat by South Africa.

Ford takes the number 10 jersey from Owen Farrell, who moves to inside centre in place of Kyle Eastmond.

Hooker Rob Webber, blindside flanker James Haskell, No 8 Ben Morgan and scrum-half Ben Youngs replace Dylan Hartley, Tom Wood, Billy Vunipola and Danny Care respectively.

Liverpool have confirmed that striker Daniel Sturridge suffered a new thigh injury in training on Tuesday.

The club says he will remain unavailable for selection but will be monitored and assessed during his recovery.

The 25-year-old, who scored 25 times last season, has played just three Premier League games this term and only returned to full training last week.

He suffered a thigh strain while with England in September before picking up a calf strain in training in October.

"We are able to announce that Jules has made an important step," say Philippe and Christine Bianchi.

"Jules is no longer in the artificial coma in which he was placed shortly after the accident, however he is still unconscious. He is breathing unaided and his vital signs are stable, but his condition is still classified as 'critical'. His treatment now enters a new phase concerned with the improvement of his brain function.

"We are thankful that the next phase of Jules' treatment can continue close to home, where he can be surrounded and supported by his wider family and friends."

The family of Jules Bianchi have released a statement saying that the driver is no longer in an artificial coma but he remains unconscious and in a critical condition following his crash at last month's Japanese Grand Prix.

They add that the 25-year-old Marussia driver has been moved from a hospital in Japan to Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (CHU) in France.

Former Cardiff boss Mackay is still being investigated by the Football Association after claims he sent texts of a homophobic, racist and sexist nature while at the Welsh club.

"I'm very proud the chairman has given me the honour of managing his football club," says the 42-year-old.

"I am very respectful of the FA investigation and transparent going forward. I have apologised for my mistakes."

New Wigan manager Malky Mackay is facing the press after his appointment was confirmed earlier....