England lock Joe Launchbury is hopeful of making his comeback in Wasps' Premiership clash with Leicester on 9 May.

Launchbury has been sidelined since October because of a nerve problem caused by a bulging disc in his neck.

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"I'm approaching six months out of the game, so it's been a long time. Now I'm approaching sort of the crunch time of the rehab." Launchbury said.

If fit he is a certainty to make England's World Cup squad. "The World Cup has been the biggest carrot throughout this injury," the 24-year-old added.

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Daily Mirror, external: Stoke striker Peter Crouch, 34, is wanted by Australian club Newcastle Jets. Crouch, out of contract in June 2017, has scored seven Premier League goals for the Potters this season.

The draw for the qualifying phase of the 2017 Women's European Championship in Netherlands has been held.

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England, who are ranked sixth in the world, will play against Belgium, Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Estonia.

Wales's group includes 2013 runners-up Norway, while Northern Ireland will have to play a Switzerland side that has qualified for the 2015 World Cup.

Scotland's opponents include Iceland and Belarus, with Republic of Ireland in the same group as Spain and Finland.

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood has already begun the mind games ahead of the FA Cup Final, claiming all the pressure will be on Arsenal.

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The teams meet on 30 May at Wembley and after two defeats at the hands of the Gunners this season - losing 3-0 and 5-0 - Sherwood said: "We will be the underdogs. The pressure is on Arsenal as they are the holders.

"It'll be a great occasion for the football club but nothing is won yet. We need to secure our safety and then come back and take the game to Arsenal."

The FA bans Jill Scott for three matches following her head butt on Arsenal defender Jade Bailey.

Image source, The FA

Scott will miss Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final v Chelsea on 4 May, as well as league fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea.

She will now not play a competitive match before this summer's World Cup which starts on 6 June. However, England have a friendly against World Cup hosts Canada on 29 May which Scott will be available for.

Portsmouth chief executive Mark Catlin says there is "significantly more interest" in the managerial position at Fratton Park compared to their last search for a new boss in 2013.

However, he confirmed they may wait until the end of May to appoint a successor to Andy Awford.

"Personally I think it would be worth waiting a few weeks to get the right man," Catlin told BBC Radio Solent.

Sheffield Steelers have sacked coach Gerad Adams despite the Canadian leading them to the Elite League title.

The 36-year-old also guided Steelers to the Challenge Cup final and play-off showpiece last season, losing to Cardiff Devils and Coventry Blaze respectively.

Matthew Selt has just tweeted, external after losing to Barry Hawkins in Sheffield:

Image source, @MattSelt

Selt came back from 9-4 down to draw 9-9, but 2013 runner-up Hawkins wrapped up the first-round win in the deciding frame.

Barry Hawkins has been speaking to BBC Sport about his narrow 10-9 first-round win over Matthew Selt at the World Championship:

"Fair play to Matt, he played some great stuff and put me under pressure but I don't feel like I was squandering chances.

"To come through like that is a great feeling and I am delighted.

"There is nothing worse than when someone is coming back at you like that and they are growing in confidence. It is a horrible place to be. I was pushed all the way but played some good stuff."

The results are in.....

This should cheer Brendan Rodgers up: more than half of you reckon he'll still be in the Anfield hotseat next season.

A quarter of you think it'll be Jurgen Klopp. Wishful thinking, Liverpool fans?

Thanks for voting.

A record 40 managers across the top four English divisions had been dismissed by the end of March, according to new research published by the League Managers Association.

The highest previous figure up to the same point in the season was the 36 dismissals in the 2012-13 campaign. The total of 16 dismissals in this season's Championship was four up on the previous high of 12, also during the 2012-13 season.

The LMA says that if the trend continues the previous record of 46 for a full season, set in 2006-07, will be exceeded.

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Mark Robins was the first manager to lose his job this term - sacked after ONE game when Huddersfield lost 4-0 to Bournemouth on the opening day.

Ferrari are playing hard to get with driver Kimi Raikkonen.

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They are holding off signing a new contract with the Finn, to ensure he stays motivated this season.

Raikkonen's deal runs out this year and Ferrari have an option to retain the 35-year-old alongside Sebastian Vettel in 2016.

Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene said: "He has demonstrated he's a great driver so if you're asking now if he deserves to renew the option, I'm going to say yes.

"But if I'm going to say yes, I don't want a driver to fall asleep."

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Unbelievable. After Matthew Selt showed unbelievable pluck and courage to fight back from 9-4 down to 9-9, he's fallen at the final hurdle ... Barry Hawkins winning the final frame (75-7) to pinch an epic match 10-9.

A brilliant, valiant effort from Selt though - what a game.

Scottish referee Willie Collum has been handed one of the biggest appointments of his career after being told he will take charge of Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final between Monaco and Juventus.

The 36-year-old Glasgow official works as a religious education teacher.

Image source, PA

Matthew Selt is having a stormer in Sheffield. He's gone from 9-4 down to 9-9 against Barry Hawkins in the World Championship first round.

Selt, from Nuneaton, has just notched a 94 break and it's now into the deciding frame.

You can watch all the action on the BBC Sport website and red button.

Steven Gerrard has accused his Liverpool team-mates of letting nerves affect them in their lacklustre FA Cup semi-final defeat against Aston Villa.

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Reds captain Gerrard, who joins LA Galaxy in the close-season, and had been hoping for a victory to set up the prospect of a fairytale farewell in the final on his 35th birthday next month, told Talksport: "We didn't play, we looked very nervous for some reason.

"We're a team that's built on passing and playing it quickly but we were very disappointing in that aspect and they were much better than us.

"I thought Aston Villa were much better than us and that's the overriding feeling after the game."

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Now that we've got through all the lunchtime updates, it's probably a good time to remind you you can listen to live ball-by-ball commentary of every County Championship game on the BBC Sport website and via the BBC Sport app.

BBC Radio Solent's Kevan James watching Warwickshire v Hampshire:

"This morning has very much belonged to Hampshire, after they claimed five wickets for 78 in two hours.

"The catching behind the stumps has been exemplary, led by keeper Adam Wheater, who took a low one-handed diving catch to get rid of Chopra (24) for the first wicket of the morning.

"Andre Adams also chipped in with his first Hampshire wicket on the stroke of lunch. The home side need 170 to avoid the follow on."

BBC Radio Kent's Matt Cole watching Essex v Kent:

"The morning belongs to Essex. Firstly digging themselves out of a huge hole at 69-7 to end up 164 all out. Graham Napier (57) and Jaik Mickleburgh (46) putting on a game-high 80 for the eighth wicket.

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"Kent took a first innings lead of 29, but after being subjected to a nervy half-hour batting before lunch on a feisty pitch in the sunshine, they find themselves 12-2.

"Sixteen wickets fell on the first day, it won't be a surprise if the same happens today."

BBC Sport's George Riley, external on five-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan, who starts his 2015 World Snooker Championship campaign on Tuesday against qualifer Craig Steadman: "Ronnie O at the Crucible today. V relaxed, care-free and chatty over lunch just now. Some good running tips too #bbcsnooker"