Thieves stole the boots of Sporting Braga players from their changing room as they prepared for their Europa League match at Olympique Marseille, police said.

Marseille had to buy 46 pairs of new boots and even offered to charter a special flight to bring footwear from Portugal after the disappearance, according to an AFP report., external

The Portuguese side left their boots in their dressing room at Marseille's Stade Velodrome stadium after training there on Wednesday night.

"I find this incredible. No door had been forced, how did the boots disappear?" said Braga's president Antonio Salvador Rodrigues on Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

Just waking up? Shame on you. But if you want an interesting read early doors, check out Tom English's dissection of what went wrong for Celtic on Thursday as they lost 1-2 to Molde in the Europa League.

Hard luck if you haven't seen the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day, but I'm sure you'll get the gist. Read it here.

Image source, Reuters/Getty Images

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was never in doubt that strikerHarry Kanewould return to goal-scoring ways after a slow start to the season.

The England international, who put his side ahead in the Europa League on Thursday, had scored just one goal in 13 games in all competitions but has bagged five in the last eight.

Pochettino said: "We never had any doubts about him. Always the top players sometimes have times when they struggle to score. We are very pleased with him, very happy he has started to score again and I think we deserved to take the three points."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Manchester

BBC Radio Manchester are offering a once-in-a-lifetime chance to sit with Ian Cheeseman at a Manchester City home game as he commentates on a game. 

You’ll get to meet his summariser, which could be Shaun Goater, Paul Lake or David White and will get to see the press facilities, the pre-match food and who knows what else.

The competition has just been launched so call 0161 836 0066 pronto if you want to have a chance of winning.

Image source, AP

Quick on the draw, Jake. I'd say it's controversial but I'd be kidding myself.

Jake Carden: I think Ashley Young would be good at certain watersports. Diving, maybe?  

Tell us which other careers would suit some of our most famous sports stars and why. Tweet #bbcsportsday or post on the BBC Sport Facebook, external page.

So, Arsene Wenger's dabble with modelling has got us thinking about sporting career changes...

Which sportsperson would switch to what career and why?

Let us know at #bbsportsday and the BBC Sport Facebook page, external

Having spent years watching Arsene Wenger wrestle with the zip of that dreadful padded jacket of his, it came as some surprise to note that the Arsenal manager has taken part in a fashion shoot for French newspaper L'Equipe.

The pictures are sensational..., external

Image source, L'Equipe

Bath Rugby release a statement to confirm - almost a day after media outlets revealed the news - that Sam Burgess has left the club to return to rugby league. 

They said: "The club has remained committed to Burgess’s ongoing development as a rugby union player since his move to the West Country, but now recognises that, for personal reasons, he no longer sees his future in the 15-man game.

"Having settled on agreeable terms within the last 24 hours, Bath Rugby are therefore releasing Burgess with immediate effect."

Burgess switched codes to join Bath last year but will now head back to Australia to play for NRL side the Rabbitohs, his former club.  

Image source, PA

Mark Regan
BBC WM Sport

Tony Pulis has "one or two" injury concerns ahead of Saturday's game.

The West Brom boss also disclosed that he intends to further reshape his squad in January. "We need a few more players to get the balance right," he said.  

Should be interesting when January comes round.

That's everything from Mr Pulis today...

Mark Regan
BBC WM Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Tony Pulis has arrived and is asked about his £8,000 FA fine for improper conduct. The West Brom manager admitted having a "bit of a go" at referee Anthony Taylor in the tunnel after the Baggies were beaten 3-2 by Leicester on Saturday.  

"I'll be writing to Greg Dyke [FA chairman] to ask where my money is going," he said. "I'm sure I'll get a great reply because he's been spot on with transparency so far."

Image source, @NorwichCityFC

Alex Neil has also confirmed that Andre Wisdom is fully fit and available after a knee injury. Dieumerci Mbokani has recovered from illness but has only trained once. 

That's all from Alex Neil and the Norwich news conference.

Winger Matt Jarvis will be absent from the match against Swansea on Saturday and is gutted not to be stepping out for the low-flying Canaries, who are currently 16th in the league on just nine points.

That's everything from Arsene Wenger today, the main line being that right-back Hector Bellerin will not feature in Sunday's north London derby - no word on why, we'll do some digging though.

The good news is that Laurent Koscielny may well return after sitting out the Champions League midweek as a precaution.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

After a costly error in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, Norwich manager Alex Neil is asked about John Ruddy's place in the squad - he's less than equivocal...

"Every player's place is under threat."

We'll bring you the best of it as we get it...

Pleasantries aside, the more serious matter of Arsenal's 5-1 loss at Bayern Munich is addressed.

Arsene Wenger unsurprisingly says: "I want to stay in the Champions League and will do absolutely everything to stay in it."

And of the title race: "It is too early. We want to be in the fight and will do absolutely everything to do it."

If the praise was faint for Tottenham, it's stark for goalkeeper Petr Cech. Arsene Wenger says: "He is one of the greatest goalkeepers you have ever seen in this country."

Even after letting in five against Bayern Munich, it's hard to disagree.

Harry Kane is receiving some kind words as well, as Wenger concedes the Tottenham striker "has great qualities and will make a great career".

Image source, Getty Images

The first line out of the Arsenal news conference is the announcement that right-back Hector Bellerin will not feature in the north London derby on Sunday.

However, fellow defender Laurent Koscielny may be back after missing the midweek Champions League tie against Bayern Munich as a precaution.

Arsene Wenger has some cautious praise for his rivals on Sunday, saying: “They have done well. They have lost only one game. They have a few draws.”

Five of each in the last 10 games, to be precise.

Image source, Reuters

While we wait for word from this morning's early football news conferences, here's a look at the live sport coming your way on Friday, starting with radio commentary of Andy Murray v Richard Gasquet at the Paris Masters from 13:00 GMT.

Image source, .