Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard could become "one of the best players in the world" if he gets protection from referees, according to former Blues star Pat Nevin.

Hazard, 24, who has signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract at the club, is the most fouled player in the league this season, with opposing players being penalised 74 times.

Image source, Getty Images

"If he's going to last his five-and-a-half years he's got to get a bit more protection than he's getting just now," Nevin told BBC Sport.

"If he gets that then he could turn out to be one of the best players in the world. If he gets that, then he would be right on the coat-tails of Messi and Ronaldo."

Sam Allardyce successfully wound up Louis van Gaal with his "Manchester United play long ball" comment after the 1-1 draw last weekend, but was it said with tongue firmly in cheek, or was he serious?

"The first thing I want to say is I have every respect for Louis van Gaal," Allardyce writes in the London Evening Standard., external "However, speaking from the experience of years of criticism that teams managed by me always play the long-ball game, I felt it was right after our match against Manchester United to make the comments I did.

"It was, to a certain extent, tongue in cheek but I believe I was also making a factual point. The fact was I saw United play, for a time against us last weekend, in a way I have never seen them before."

A little more from Southampton manager Ronald Koeman, who says big teams are becoming scared of his in-form fourth-placed side.

"Maybe they thought it would be very difficult for Southampton to keep that spirit, but we are fourth in February," Koeman, 51, told BBC Radio Solent.

"They now take us seriously. They are a little bit afraid now, I think."

Saints remain in the Champions League qualification places and are just one point behind third-placed Manchester United.

John McEnerney:, external Watching Ireland v France in the 6Ns live on the Beeb on the balcony in sunny Barcelona! Love it

Dale Bradley:, external Valentine's Day? My Valentine IS The FA Cup.

Andy Pitt:, external Spending Valentines watching West Brom v West Ham with my Dad, not sure how either of us have got away with it!

Ronald Koeman has been speaking after winning the Premier League manager of the month award for January.

"It's a great feeling," said the Southampton boss. "It's also a big compliment to the whole team.

Image source, Getty Images

"It's a reward for the manager, but it's for the rest of the team as well. We are doing this together and we are working hard.

"The win against Arsenal (2-0, on New Year's Day) gave the players confidence. It was then an unbelievable feeling to win at Old Trafford."

Salford Reds owner Marwan Koukash tweeted "I have had enough" after watching his team lose 52-6 to St Helens.

Image source, SWpix.com

Saints scored 10 tries as they cruised to back-to-back wins in defence of their Super League crown.

The champions arrived at Salford having won the last nine meetings between the clubs, and having weathered an early spell of pressure they eased clear.

Image source, Liverpool Echo

Mamadou Sakho has been busy rebuilding, not the Liverpool defence, but a house in Bootle.

Image source, Liverpool Echo

The Liverpool defender helped a local charity, external renovate a house earlier this week for those at risk of homelessness.

Credit where it is due.

Not that I am in anyway trying to influence your Valentine's Day plans, but this weekend there will be hours and hours of live sport on BBC television and radio.

First up, there is New Zealand v Sri Lanka on 5 live sports extra from 21:45 GMT tonight, and then England v Australia at 03:15 tomorrow morning.

A quick nap before FA Cup rewind gets under way on BBC Two, followed by Football Focus on BBC One. BBC Radio 5 live then has full match commentary on West Brom v West Ham from 12:45 GMT - the first of six FA Cup commentaries.

Sports Extra has commentary on Blackburn v Stoke at 15:00, while Final Score is on for all the 15:00 action on BBC Red Button, before Crystal Palace v Liverpool (17:30 GMT) is on 5 live. You can also watch Six Nations action on BBC One as England play Italy at 14:00, before Ireland host France, also on BBC One.

Check the full list of BBC coverage on the website.

A final word from Mark Hughes before he heads off to take training and it's about the romance of the FA Cup.

"I've always prioritised cup games," he says, words you don't always hear from a Premier League boss. "We are in three competitions and there are two we can realistically win - the FA Cup and the League Cup.

"We are taking a sell-out following to Blackburn and we would have taken more if we had been allowed.

"The fans are obviously excited, so we are giving the fixture the respect it deserves.

"If we can overcome Blackburn we can start getting excited but first and foremost we have to overcome a good Championship side who will raise their game."

Image source, Getty Images

We are asking how will you be spending Valentine's Day? Somewhere romantic or watching sport? Let us know via #bbcsportsday, external

Daniel Whiteside:, external "I'm taking @AndrewJohnson91 to watch Blackburn Rovers against Stoke City in the #FACUP #MagicOfTheCup #MatesBeforeDates

Stacey Smith:, external "Me & the bf are going to watch Bristol City beat Sheffield United.

VMC:, external Weekend to Brighton with the BF, but it's all about the 6 Nations!

Hughes has an update on Bojan Krkić, following the forward's cruciate knee ligament injury.

Image source, Getty Images

"He had an operation earlier this week which is great news for him, and of course for us. He has a rehabilitation programme to go through now," said the boss.

Hughes says striker Jonathan Walters could be back for the Blackburn game.

He adds: "I don't have too many options at the moment to be perfectly honest. Jack Butland will come in and play, and I am more than happy to make that change because he has shown that he is a top class goalkeeper.

"Hopefully Jon (Walters) is fit, and if so, then he will probably come into the side. Other than that, I don't envisage too many other changes from the team we put out against Manchester City on Wednesday."

Mark Hughes has arrived at the Britannia and gets straight down to business, talking about returning to Blackburn, the club he used to manage.

"When I was there we had a chance to beat Chelsea in the semi-final in 2007," said Hughes. "We also got to the semi-final of the League Cup too, but came up against Manchester United.

Image source, Getty Images

"We always seemed to play one of the big big sides at the last four stage which was frustrating.

"I had a great time at Blackburn and it was a shame to see them slip out of the Premier League. Thankfully now Gary Bowyer looks like he is turning it around and that's great."

Cheltenham Town have parted company with manager Paul Buckle.

"Paul has departed from Cheltenham Town by mutual consent and with immediate effect," read a statement on the club website.

Image source, Empics

"Neither party will be making any further statement on this issue"

Cheltenham are 22nd in League Two, a place and a point above the relegation zone.

Image source, Getty Images

Love is in the air, everywhere I look around.

Or is it?

It may be Valentine's Day tomorrow but it is also the start of a weekend jam packed with sport. From the FA Cup to the Six Nations and Cricket World Cup, it is all going on.

What is your cunning plan to ensure you don't miss a thing, while making sure you don't upset the better half? Or will sport come out on top of romance? How have you overcome such a dilemma in the past?

Let us know via #bbcsportsday, external

Bolton boss Neil Lennon stops short of ruling himself out of the running for managerial vacancies elsewhere.

According to some reports,, external he is on a shortlist to become the new Aston Villa boss, but Lennon said is his news conference this morning: "There is nothing in any of the links to other clubs. It's just speculation. It's flattering but there is nothing in it."

Sam Allardyce cracks on with previewing Saturday's FA Cup tie with West Brom.

"Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble are back with us," he says. "Andy is missing, Doneil Henry is back and Guy Demel is back in training.

"Our run in the FA Cup up to now has been very good, it's given us a lot of joy. We'd hope to be in a better position squad-wise, but players will have to get through the games as best we can. We're still producing good performances.

"The West Brom game is about winning, so we have to go there and try to win."

Southampton's Ronald Koeman is named Premier League manager of the month for January.

Image source, Getty Images

Koeman led his team to victories over Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle during an impressive month as the Saints consolidated their top four position.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane, not surprisingly, is the Premier League's player of the month. The frontman bagged braces against Chelsea and West Brom, displaying the kind of form which will almost certainly earn him a place in Roy Hodgson's next England squad.

A final line from Arsene Wenger's chat with the media, and an important one too for Gunners fans.

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey will be out for two weeks. The Wales midfielder was a substitute for Tuesday night's Premier League defeat of Leicester, but was replaced after only nine minutes due to a hamstring problem.

"There's no obvious reason why he should have muscular injuries," said Wenger, before adding: "But it's not a major injury. It's a grade one."

Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin), Mikel Arterta (ankle) and Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) remain out and will miss the Middlesbrough game.

Ah, he is here now.

First up, Sam Allardyce talks about Andy Carroll, who suffered a knee injury in Wednesday's draw with Southampton, and it does not look like good news.

"A full diagnosis on Andy is yet to come and we should have that today but it looks like a few weeks," says Allardyce. "The medial ligament on the inside of his knee has a little tear from a fairly innocuous collision with the defender

"If we're lucky it could be four to six weeks. It's a big blow for him and us but one we've got to cope with."

Image source, Getty Images

Still waiting for Big Sam to rock up for his morning news conference. The West Ham presser was supposed to start at 9:30 GMT, maybe he is printing off some pamphlets crammed with stats...