More on the news that Mark Hughes has signed a new contact at Stoke.

Hughes told the club website:, external "I'm delighted to have signed a new contract. I think it's exciting times for Stoke City; everyone can see there's more progress to be made and we want to see how far we can take the club.

"I believe we can do even better next season with a little bit more investment. Let's see how far we can go."

Stoke finished ninth in the league last season in Hughes's first season in charge and are currently 10th in the table this term.

Stoke have announced that manager Mark Hughes has signed a new deal with the club through to the summer of 2018.

Welshman Hughes, who previously managed Blackburn, Manchester City, Fulham and QPR, has been in charge at the Britannia since May 2013.

A few more confirmed loan deals to bring you following yesterday's deadline, and Kidderminster Harriers have signed three players on deals until the end of the season.

Birmingham City's 19-year-old defender Nat Kelly returns, having first joined Harriers in January, while fellow Blues youngster James Fry, 20, and Huddersfield Town's William Boyle, 19, also sign.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher says new manager Dick Advocaat has made a positive impact since replacing Gus Poyet.

"It's been really lively since the new coach has come in; he's a lively character and he's brought that into the training sessions," Fletcher told the club's website., external

"He wants us all to give 100 per cent and believes we've got the quality to turn our fortunes around and push up the league."

Image source, Getty Images

F1 team Manor finally saw their car take to the track in Malaysia this morning after more than five months out of the sport with financial difficulties.

Rookie driver duo Will Stevens and Roberto Mehri completed 34 laps in second practice - and team principal John Booth was delighted with that effort.

"We are thrilled to be back on track again, finally seeing all the hard work and determination paying off," he said. "I'm very satisfied with what we have achieved today."

Image source, Getty Images

Sportswear brand Nike are "sending the wrong message" by offering a commercial deal to controversial sprinter Justin Gatlin, says boxer Carl Froch.

Gatlin has served two bans for doping offences.

"It is bad because bottom line he's cheating," said four-time super-middleweight world champion Froch.

But he added: "You can't put it all on Nike. Should the ban be for longer? Should there be stricter rules? There probably should be."

Froch was speaking on BBC Radio 5 live's Sports Panel programme, which you can listen to live right now on the 5 live website.

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Juliette Ferrington
BBC Sport

James McClean and Stephen Ward were back in training with the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their European Championship qualifier against Poland on Sunday night.

Image source, PA

McClean was taken for a scan after he limped out of training on Tuesday with his left ankle heavily strapped.

Speaking after today's training session Martin O'Neill said: "Stephen Ward, who missed a few days, trained today and James McClean has trained so we're fine. They didn't complain at the end - they're not too bad."

Poland sit top of Group D in the qualifying campaign, three points clear of Germany, Scotland and Ireland, who are all locked together on seven points.

Image source, Tottenham FC

Tottenham Hotspur, external on Twitter: "Watch England training, external at Hotspur Way ahead of their qualifier at Wembley Stadium."

Former Scotland manager Berti Vogts is appointed technical advisor to the United States national team.

Vogts, 68, previously worked with US manager Jurgen Klinsmann as a special advisor for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

"His knowledge and experience is a tremendous asset for us," Klinsmann said., external

Image source, Getty Images

Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist Anthony Joshua will make his return from back injury against American Jason Gavern in Newcastle on 4 April.

Joshua, 25, has been sidelined since the start of 2015, when he suffered a stress fracture in his back.

Image source, PA

There's (only!) six and a bit hours to go before England resume their European Championship qualification campaign at home to Lithuania tonight - a 19:45 GMT kick-off.

Are we all suitably excited? Do we think Harry Kane's going to start? Could Wayne Rooney get the four goals he needs to break Sir Bobby Charlton's scoring record? Or has this one got 1-0 (or 0-1 for that matter) written all over it?

Let us know your thoughts using #bbcsportsday, external on Twitter, text us on 81111 (UK only), or drop us a line on the BBC Sport Facebook,, external or Google+ page., external

Image source, Getty Images

Defending Premier League champion Raymond van Barneveld could make an early exit from this year's competition after losing 7-2 to Michael van Gerwen in Dublin on Thursday.

Two players will be knocked out after next Thursday's fixtures in Manchester and the Dutchman is in a perilous position in the table.

Belgium's Kim Huybrechts is bottom of the group, while Van Barneveld, Adrian Lewis, Peter Wright and Stephen Bunting are also in danger of elimination.

Van Gerwen's victory maintained his unbeaten record in the tournament and kept him two points clear of world champion Gary Anderson.

Image source, @lfc

Liverpool on Twitter:, external "Here's a sneak peek at the programme cover for the All-Star charity match at Anfield on Sunday."

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is one of several former Liverpool players who will return to Anfield to play in the charity match, to feature sides led by captain Steven Gerrard and retired vice-captain Jamie Carragher.

Former Reds Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso will be also be involved in the game, organised by the Liverpool FC Foundation.

It's all over in the international friendly between Japan and Tunisia. Second-half goals from substitutes Shinji Okazaki and Keisuke Honda secure a 2-0 victory for the home side, in new coach Vahid Halilhodzic's first game in charge.

Halilhodzic, who guided Algeria to the last 16 of the World Cup last year, took over from Javier Aguirre after the Mexican was fired last month amid a match-fixing scandal, with the Spaniard denying allegations.

Image source, PA

Israel coach Eli Guttman does not believe Gareth Bale will be affected by the criticism he has faced at Real Madrid when Wales play Israel in their Euro 2016 qualifier on Saturday.

Bale has been scrutinised by Spanish media and his car was recently attacked at Real's training ground.

"His situation at Real Madrid will make no difference to how he plays," said Israel coach Guttman. "It will be a very, very difficult game."

Israel lead Group B by one point from second-placed Wales, who are unbeaten in their four matches.

Renault is considering pulling out of Formula 1 following criticism of its engines.

However, the French firm, which supplies engines to Red Bull and Toro Rosso, is also contemplating buying a team and becoming a constructor again.

"We are looking at a lot of options, including getting out of Formula 1 if it's bad for Renault's reputation," said the team's chief, Cyril Abiteboul.

Renault engines powered Red Bull to four successive world championships, before Mercedes won in 2014, but, the manufacturer has come in for criticism since Mercedes dominated the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 15 March.

Arsenal defender Calum Chambers, Southampton left-back Matt Targett and Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli are all set to make their England U21 debuts when Gareth Southgate's side take on the Czech Republic in a friendly in Prague at 19:30 GMT this evening.

"We're looking forward to seeing how they go," Southgate told the FA website., external

"With Jack Robinson now out for the summer and Luke Shaw out injured, it's a chance for Matty to see how he copes with that, and Marcus hasn't had a game for us yet either so it's an opportunity."

England also play Germany in another international friendly at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium on Monday.

Image source, Getty Images

Sporting Lisbon and Scotland midfielder Ryan Gauld says more young players should follow his lead and quit British football in order to develop.

Gauld, 19, who left Dundee United for Portuguese club Sporting last July, says British players can learn more from moving abroad.

"It's a chance to experience a different lifestyle, a different culture and a different style of play," he says.

Image source, Getty Images

England full-back Mike Brown will miss Harlequins' Premiership match with Saracens at Wembley on Saturday after experiencing concussion symptoms following the Six Nations win over France.

Brown felt dizziness at the start of the week and has been stood down until the game with Gloucester on April 11 at the earliest.

Brown was knocked unconscious during England's match with Italy in the Six Nations, missing the defeat by Ireland before returning against Scotland.

Chris Robshaw, Joe Marler and Nick Easter all come back in to the Quins starting XV after international duty.

It's approaching the lunchtime hour so let's have a quick look back over the best of the day so far.

Top story: Lewis Hamilton says his preparations for the Malaysian Grand Prix have been "heavily compromised" by reliability problems with his Mercedes.

Top feature: 'Babies heads' and bouncing bikes' - British sprinter Mark Cavendish gives his seven steps for success in cycling's cobbled classic mini-season.

Top video: Australia cricket captain Michael Clarke is asked about 'tremendous sex' by BBC reporter.