Bournemouth

Apologies Bournemouth fans.

The Cherries weren't on our morning list and boss Eddie Howe has already started talking ahead of Saturday's trip to Chelsea.

He said: "From our perspective, we are meeting Chelsea at a good time. We are in a good place at the moment.  

"We're building momentum in terms of performances. Of course, ideally, you'd like to rubber stamp those with wins."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is due to be speaking around 09:00 GMT. We will bring you updates...

West Brom boss Tony Pulis will also be speaking around then.

Norwich City

Norwich boss Alex Neil will be speaking to the media very shortly ahead of his side's trip to Watford on Saturday.

We will bring you what he has to say when we have it.

So what is going on in Spain then?

The Spanish Football Association was to blame for Real Madrid fielding an ineligible player in the Copa del Rey, says club president Florentino Perez.

Winger Denis Cheryshev, 24, scored in Wednesday's 3-1 win over Cadiz, but reports suggest the Russian should have been serving a one-game ban.

Perez said Real were not told of the ban by the association (RFEF), and will fight any sanction imposed on the club. "If we didn't know, the sanction cannot stand," said Perez.

Image source, Reuters

British number one Johanna Konta says cuts to her Lawn Tennis Association funding put her career at risk.

She spoke out after Andy Murray said talking to the LTA about the future of British tennis was a waste of his time.

Konta has risen more than 100 places to 48th in the world rankings since the LTA reduced her funding last December.

"If anyone's livelihood, career or dreams are jeopardised, I don't think that is ever a healthy position to be in," she told BBC Sport.

AS and Marca also concentrate on Real Madrid's latest woe...

Talk about kicking a club when they are down... We would never do that in the English media...

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Gary Neville hardly makes a dent on the back pages in Spain...

Unsurprisingly, they concentrate on Real Madrid reportedly fielding an ineligible player in the Copa del Rey.

"A horrible year" is the Sport's, external headline... 

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A shift in topic in the Daily Mirror..., external

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren probably won't be reading this newspaper today. They claim the two next two games will decide his fate, while they also have a picture of Chelsea's players at their Christmas party... No fancy dress sadly.

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Can you walk the walk 'El Nev'?

Can you? Can you? Yes, more Neville chat on the back of the Daily Express., external

They do also have a rather cute picture of a wolf - in relation to potential new England coach Paul Gustard.

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More Gary Neville chat on the back of the Independent, external talking about his credibility being on the line if he hadn't taken the Valencia job.

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Gary Neville's surprise appointment as Valencia manager is still making the back pages, as seen above in today's Sun., external

'El Gary' appears to have been renamed...

As a lover of knitwear, I'm a big fan of the Christmas jumpers Manchester City's players are sporting...

Now onto the back pages...

Before we get going, what are the top headlines so far?

Fifa crisis: US charges 16 more officials after earlier Zurich arrests.

New QPR manager?: Hasselbaink set for QPR

Cycling: Chris Froome hopes released blood data answers doubters.

If you are a fan of Premier League managers being put through the ringer, you are in the right place. Twelve news conferences ahead...

08:45 GMT Norwich, 09:00 Arsenal, 09:00 West Brom, 12:00 Chelsea, 12:00 Everton, 12:15 Man Utd, 12:45 City, 13:45 Palace 14:00 Liverpool, 14:00 Southampton, 14:30 Stoke.

They may not be strictly on time... you know what these managers are like...

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome.

Anyone got that Friday feeling? 

In a few hours time, for many the working week will be over, a weekend of fine sport looms large and the weather will be glorious (maybe I made the last bit up).

But if you weren't 'feeling it' before, stick with us and you soon will be.

Premier League news conferences, FA Cup build-up, gossip, sporting breaking news, the best of social media and plenty of debate. What better way to gear up for the weekend?

Today is heading in one direction... Upwards.