Sportsday - rolling sports news

1. Sacking Mourinho would be foolish - Ferguson
2. FBI probes Blatter role in £100m bribes scandal
3. Sri Lanka's Kusal Perera fails drugs test
4. Man Utd's Rooney & Schneiderlin miss Wolfsburg

Farewell

It is time to close down the Sportsday doors for today but in a seamless transition you can join our live text commentary to incorporate Louis van Gaal's news conference in Wolfsburg coming up from 18:30 GMT and the eagerly awaited FA Cup third round draw, which is also on BBC Two from 19:00 BST. 

Don't forget 5 live Sport from 19:00 BST for live commentary of Everton v Crystal Palace, but, from us, it is goodbye. Cheerio now.

Schurrle plans aggressive approach

More from former Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle, whose Wolfsburg team entertain Manchester United tomorrow night.

"It's going to be difficult to get the ball so we have to be very aggressive," he says. 

Asked about the criticism of United's style he said: "It's a little bit surprising because they have great players, great offensive players. 

"They are third in the league. But we know we will get our chances and if we take them we can have a great game."

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'We're both better'

Nigel Clough believes both he and Burton have improved during their seven years apart.

Facing the media as Burton boss for the first time since January 2009 - replacing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink following his departure for QPR - Clough said: "It is quite emotional to be back, I never thought this would happen.

"The club has definitely moved on a lot and improved, but so have we as a management team.

"Andy Garner and Gary Crosby will be joining me again. We have a lot more experience now and that is a key asset." 

Burton are currently top of League One - the highest position in the club's 65-year history.

Schurrle sympathy for Chelsea

Former Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle, who will line up against Manchester United for Wolfsburg on Tuesday, expressed his sympathy with the plight of Jose Mourinho's side.

"Chelsea are my former club and it's really disappointing to see that it's going like this," Schurrle said. "But that's football, you have to give everything at the top and even for a big team like this, it can happen. 

"I feel a little bit sorry for what's happened there but I'm sure they have a great team, a great manager and I'm sure they will get out of this misery." 

Mooney makes way

Ireland all-rounder John Mooney hasretired from international cricketto pursue business interests. The 33-year-old Dubliner won 182 caps in a 14-year Ireland career, scoring 2,650 runs and taking 144 wickets.

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FA Cup round two preview

Grimsby Town captain Craig Disley faces his former club when the National League Mariners play Shrewsbury, 19th in League One, in tonight's FA Cup second round tie at Blundell Park.

"I feel I have a little bit to prove to the fans there and it is a big game for us all," said the 34-year-old, who joined Grimsby in 2011 and has made more than 200 appearances for the club. 

Tonight in the Premier League

If you're not attending you can listen to it in the warmth of your favourite armchair, or wherever you like to take in the radio, on BBC Radio 5 live, with build-up from 19:00 GMT.

Champions League preview

Former Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle, who will line up against Manchester United for Wolfsburg on Tuesday, expressed his sympathy with the plight of Jose Mourinho's side.

"Chelsea are my former club and it's really disappointing to see that it's going like this," Schurrle said. "But that's football, you have to give everything at the top and even for a big team like this, it can happen. 

"I feel a little bit sorry for what's happened there but I'm sure they have a great team, a great manager and I'm sure they will get out of this misery."

Champions League preview

Jones claims bronze

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British fighter Jade Jones won bronze at the World Taekwondo Grand Final as team-mate Bianca Walkden secured Team GB another spot at next year's Rio Olympics.

Jones, 22, beat Swede Nikita Glasnovic in the third-place fight-off in Mexico.

The London 2012 gold medallist had already secured a -57kg place for Britain at Rio 2016.

Walkden lost in the quarter-finals, but earned enough points to guarantee Britain an Olympic +67kg berth.

Mercedes decision was 'emotional'

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Interesting stuff from Jenson Button today,who claims Lewis Hamilton's decision to join Mercedes was "emotional" and not based on knowledge of the team's potential.

Hamilton decided to join Mercedes after the 2012 Singapore Grand Prix, in which he had to retire his McLaren car while in the lead.

His then team-mate Button said: "Lewis is one of the quickest guys ever in an F1 car but he did not know [they would be so quick] when he signed.

"We're all emotional, he took it emotionally, but it has paid off."

Hamilton, who has won the past two titles, has always insisted the decision was based on Mercedes' plans for the future, after several weeks of persuasion from then team boss Ross Brawn and non-executive chairman Niki Lauda.

5 live Sport

Tonight's 5 live Sport with Kelly Cates at 19:00 GMT has a round-up of all the day's main sports news and features live commentary of the Premier League match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park. Steve Bower is your commentator, with summaries from former Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane. 

Big Sam is back online

He HAS had a lot to contend with in fairness.

Terry hoping for Robertson inspiration

UK Championship winner and Chelsea fan Neil Robertson, who made a maximum 147 en route to winning the trophy on Sunday, revealed that Chelsea skipper John Terry sent him a text during the match, hoping the Australian could inspire the Blues in the Champions League against Porto on Wednesday.

"JT texted me after I made the max and said, 'Just keep concentrating and bring the trophy on Wednesday'," Robertson said.

"He's maybe asked me to do that to motivate the boys, so I'll definitely take the trophy to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, that's the next thing I'm excited about."

AP

Wolves can push for top six - Batth

Rex Features

Captain Danny Batth says Wolves are ready to step up another level as they bid to get back into the Championship play-off race.

Batth, 25, scored the winner - his first goal of the season - in Saturday's 2-1 victory at Rotherham to take Wolves to within five points of the top six.

"We have to follow it up in the next game with a result," Batth told BBC WM 95.6. "There's certainly work to do but there are players in the dressing room who can all go to that next level."

Tonight in the Premier League

Tonight's 5 live commentary match at Goodison will test Crystal Palace's impressive away record. 

The Eagles have won four of their six matches on the road in the Premier League this term and earned more points away from home than at Selhurst Park.

They have conceded an average of a goal a game in this season's Premier League, only Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal have tighter defences.

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Get Involved - Sporting returns

All day we've been asking for your favourite sporting returns. Thanks for joining in - these are the last two of the day.

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Hunt out in front

BBC Radio 5 Live racing and swimming commentator John Hunt has been named Broadcaster of the Year - winner of the Sir Peter O'Sullevan trophy - by the Horserace Writers & Photographers Association.

Take the day off lads

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Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has leftGareth BaleandLuka Modricout of his squad for the visit of Swedish champions Malmo on Tuesday.

The Spanish giants already assured of their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Madrid's better head-to-head record against Paris Saint-Germain means the 10-time winners will finish on top of Group A no matter what happens in the final round of games.

With a crucial league clash away to Villarreal to come on Sunday, Benitez said: "It is a day to rotate, albeit still with the idea of winning."

Lottery winners help favourite club

Partick Thistle have revealed lottery winners Colin and Christine Weir were among the investors who helped the club wipe out their debts.

The Firhill club owed the Bank of Scotland £1.5m but announced last month they had struck a deal to settle their arrears.

Now it has been confirmed the club were able to climb out of the red with the help of the Weirs, who became the UK's biggest lottery winners when they scooped £161m in 2011.

Partick chairman David Beattie said: "As genuine Partick Thistle fans, they have allowed us to start a new chapter in the history of the club."

Colin Weir and his wife handed Thistle a £750,000 cheque to help establish a youth academy in 2011.

Cas to hear Platini appeal

Michel Platini's lawyers will appear at the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday as part of his appeal against his suspension from Fifa, with a decision due by Friday.

No Monk announcement on Monday

Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has told BBC Wales Sport there will be "no" announcement on the future of under-fire manager Garry Monk today.

Tonight in the Premier League

More on tonight's 5 live commentary match between Everton and Crystal Palace at Goodison, which kicks off at 20:00 GMT, with Everton looking for a third successive home league win.

The Toffees also like a Monday night game, unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games played on the first day of the week, winning seven and drawing eight.

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Get Involved - Sporting returns

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'Promotion is the aim'

A little more from Les Ferdinand on the new manager.

"Jimmy has earned his stripes at Burton. I'm confident he will do that too at QPR," said Ferdinand.

"We've got a team capable of challenging for promotion to the Premier league. I'd be lying if that wasn't the aim."

And that is that. Jimmy and Les are done and QPR fans hold their breath to see what happens next.

'We were unanimous'

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Sat alongisde Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is Les Ferdinand, QPR's director of football.

He is asked how the appointment of the new manager came about.

"We went through a thorough process," says Ferdinand. "We were unanimous that Jimmy was the man to take us forward."

Hasselbaink, who inherits a team 12th in the Championship with 26 points from 19 games, faces Burnley on Saturday in his first game in charge.

'An exciting kind of football'

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is certainly talking a good game in his first official appearance as QPR boss.

"I like to get to know the players and get that honesty from them. That's very important," said the gaffer.

"It's a squad that excites me. We need to work together and trust each other. There's work to be done  .

"We know the fans want to see a successful team play an exciting kind of football. That's what we have to try to bring."

'Part of the QPR family'

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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is talking to the media for the first time since his appointment last week.

"I'm going to bring honesty, stability and hopefully some excitement," said 

"I'm very excited and very privileged to be getting this opportunity. I'm very happy to be head of the QPR family."

Football

BBC Sport

Tonight in the Premier League

Now let's have a look towards tonight's Premier League contest at Goodison between Everton, in 11th, and Crystal Palace, three places but only one point ahead of them in eighth.

Palace have won on three of their past four visits to the Toffees, winning the past two matches 3-2.

Everton, who let slip a 2-0 lead at Bournemouth in their last league outing, give a late fitness test to midfielder James McCarthy.

There is full live commentary of the match on BBC Radio 5 live from 19:00 GMT.

Norwich chairman Bowkett steps down

Norwich confirm that Alan Bowkett has stepped down from his position as chairman and director.  

Get Involved

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Ever wondered what’s the key to being a good manager? To handling a difficult dressing room? Is there a secret to a match-winning substitution?

BBC Radio 5 live is putting together a special Managers’ Question Time show and as part of that will be putting your questions to Tony Pulis and Sean Dyche.

So ask away, using the hashtag #bbcsportsday.

And you might just hear your question asked when the show goes out at 19:30 GMT on Thursday.

Vieira tipped for Man City hot seat

Former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira is being groomed as a future City manager, the club's football administration officer Brian Marwood said.

Vieira, 39, took up his first managerial appointment in November, signing a three-year contract in the United States with City's sister club New York City. 

"I think it is exactly the next step he needs," Marwood said. "Hopefully, at some point, he'll come back and manage Manchester City, that's the ambition for him and that's the ambition for us. But he has to go through this learning curve." 

Hexham waterlogged

Those of you thinking of going to Hexham races in Northumberland tomorrow please think again, if you hadn't already - it has been abandoned because of a waterlogged track, with over 81mm of rain falling on the course since last Sunday.

A Question of Sport

Here's the answer to the snooker question we asked you earlier. The three other players to win the UK Championship more than once since 2000 are John Higgins, Ding Junhui and Ronnie O'Sullivan. 

Carlisle suspend tickets

For those of you not in the north of England wondering exactly how bad the flooding is in Carlisle....fair to say there is no groundstaff who could get a game on here for a while...

BBC Sport

Get Involved - Sporting returns

And continuing the subject of returns (for those of you who read this upwards as opposed to down), more of your favourites...

Chicken Talha Masala: Jonas Gutierrez. Overcame cancer, came back to Newcastle. Assisted and scored on the final day last season to save Newcastle.  

Poch: My favorite sporting return was Fabrice Muamba's return to White Hart Lane  

Andy: What about Mike Hailwood, 11 year absence from mainstream motorbike racing, returned in 1978 to win Isle of Man TT at 38yrs old.

Vlaar returns to AZ

Former Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar, 30, signs a contract until the end of the season with AZ Alkmaar, where he began his career. 

Ward back with Terriers

Sporting birthdays

Chelsea have not had much to celebrate recently, but it is their captain John Terry's 35th birthday today. The Premier League tweets that no defender has more clean sheets in League history (209).

Former world number one golfer Luke Donald turns 38 today and ex-Blackburn and Scotland defender Colin Hendry is the big 5-0. (And still not to be messed with, no doubt)

No point sacking Mourinho - Ferguson

More from Sir Alex Ferguson, who claims it would be "bad management" for Chelsea to sack Jose Mourinho.

The champions are 17 points behind leaders Leicester but Ferguson says: "There is no point in sacking one of the best coaches of all time; he's won the European Cup twice, he's won the league in each country he's managed in. 

"It would be foolish to take that step to sack him. That would be bad management. It's not leadership."

Perera sent home from Sri Lanka tour

Sri Lanka have sent wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera home from their tour of New Zealand after he tested positive for a banned steroid.

Clough back at Burton

Stubbs denies Royals rumours

Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs insists he has not been contacted by Reading over their managerial vacancy.

"As far as I am concerned it's speculation. I'm firmly focused on my job here and that will never change," said Stubbs, whose Hibs side are currently second in the Scottish Championship.

Carlisle ticket news

Not sure that is the current state of the playing surface at Brunton Park.

'We need to get behind Qatar' - Beckham

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David Beckham believes the 2022 World Cup should be held in Qatar despite uncertainty over its hosting rights.

Swiss and US authorities are looking at claims of corruption in the bidding for both the 2018 (Russia) and 2022 events.

In the Radio Times' Christmas issue, Beckham said: "Whether it's corrupt or not, those countries have been chosen. People need to get behind that.

"It's about bringing football to new countries. They should stick with it. They'll make it work."

Nigel Clough back at Burton

Nigel Clough prepares for his return to Burton. A little bit less scrutiny than a Fifa press conference.

Sanchez scoops fans' award

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez has been named Player of the Year by the Football Supporters' Federation. 

The 26-year-old forward scored 20 goals in 2015 and topped the fans' vote ahead of runner-up Jamie Vardy, with Sergio Aguero, David de Gea, Harry Kane and John Stones also on the shortlist. 

PA

Gray to take over at Fulham?

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Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Stuart Gray took training at managerless Fulham today, according to PA Sport.

The club is yet to find a replacement for Kit Symons, sacked a month ago.

Fulham initially agreed terms with Steve Clarke, only for the then Reading manager to pull out.

Birmingham manager Gary Rowett and Rangers boss Mark Warburton have also been sounded out, but now Fulham's chief football officer Mike Rigg belatedly appears close to naming Symons' successor.

Gray has been considered for a role overseeing coaching at the Cottagers or as their new manager.

Making friends

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New Valencia coach Gary Neville has taken a step towards endearing himself to the club's fans by allowing supporters to watch his first full training session in charge.

Neville was appointed on Wednesday but watched on from the stands at the weekend as Valencia salvaged a 1-1 draw against European champions Barcelona under the caretaker charge of Voro and Gary's brother Phil.

Open training sessions which the fans can attend are a long-running tradition in Spanish football, but many clubs have scaled back the practice in recent seasons seeking greater privacy to prepare for games.

Indeed, Valencia hadn't had an open training session for nearly a year and the news was warmly welcomed by fans on social media. 

In touch with his feminine side...

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Of all the things you don't want to happen when you sign for a new rugby club overseas it is possibly this ... to mistakenly circle “female” when filling in your immigration document.

Tomas Cubelli, who starred for Argentina during the World Cup, was supposed to begin training with Australian club ACT Brumbies last month.

But when immigration officials noticed that Cubelli’s passport listed him as a male - as opposed to the female his management team had mistakenly circled - they blocked his entry to Australia while investigating the blunder on his immigration form.

Full story in the Australian Daily Telegraph.

We sincerely hope the PA people at Brumbles play a bit of Shania Twain before Cubelli's first game, perhaps Man, I Feel Like A Woman...

Klopp revolution worries Ferguson

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Sir Alex Ferguson has been quizzed this morning, and he is candid on the subject of Jurgen Klopp at rivals Liverpool. 

"I'm worried about him because the one thing United don't want is Liverpool to get above us," said Ferguson, whose former club have 20 league titles, compared with Liverpool's 18.

"I know him quite well from the coaching seminars. He's going to make a difference at that club with his personality, drive and knowledge. Things are looking up there." 

Bookies preparing for Monk exit

A leading bookmaker suspended betting on the next Premier League manager to be sacked amid a rush of wagers on Monday that Garry Monk would be dismissed by Swansea. 

Reuters

Get Involved - Sporting returns

With Nigel Clough returning to Burton as boss, we're asking for your favourite sporting returns.

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A fine choice.

Abidal underwent surgery on a tumour in his liver while at Barcelona in March 2011 and returned 13 months later, when he replaced Gerard Pique for the last 20 minutes of a 5–0 home win against Mallorca.

Manchester City news conference

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A final word from Manuel Pellegrini.

"We are going to find tomorrow a difficult team – not only because they beat Bayern but their results over the last two months," says the Blues boss.

"It’s important for the team to at least do their task and we’ll see what Juventus do versus Sevilla."

And that's that.

Remember, Man United boss Louis van Gaal will be speaking later too, but that press conference won't start until 18:30 GMT - it is in Germany ahead of the Reds crunch game against Wolfsburg.

Manchester City news conference

Manuel Pellegrini says the weekend defeat to Stoke "is gone".

Which is, of course, correct. It happened about 44 hours ago.

But we know what he means.

"We were disappointed on Saturday as we didn’t perform as we wanted but we want to come back now play as a strong team," he adds.

Pellegrini reveals that centre back Martín Demichelis has a problem in his tendon. "He should be OK in 2-3 days," he says.

Manchester City news conference

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Manuel Pellegrini confirms midfielder Yaya Toure is fit and in the squad for tomorrow's encounter.

"The players missing today (from training) are Kompany, Demichelis, Nasri, Zabaleta and Fernando," says the Blues boss.

"We don’t have many players to rest tomorrow – maybe there will just be two or three changes."

Manchester City news conference

Man City defender Bacary Sagna hopes the team will rally following Saturday's surprise 2-0 defeat at Stoke. "We were disappointed on Saturday as we didn’t perform as we wanted but we want to come back now play as a strong team," he says.

Manchester City news conference

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Manuel Pellegrini and Bacary Sagna have arrived to speak to the media ahead of Manchester City's Champions League tie tomorrow - and he kicks off with bad news about star striker Sergio Aguero.

"Sergio has an injury which means he can't work. He needs time to recover - it's not serious, it's a pain injury," says the boss. 

Aguero has been struggling with a hamstring injury since October.

Neville starts work

Valencia have tweeted a video of Gary Neville arriving for his first day at work.

We'll be honest, it's not the most enthralling video. It basically shows Neville, new boss of the La Liga club, walking purposefully towards a door marked 'Oficines', which - we're taking a punt here - is possibly Spanish for 'office'.

If you want to see Neville walking purposefully towards an exotically-named office, then this is the video for you.

Bieber the Shrimper

Things you never thought you'd see happen, part one.

After discovering that Southend have been inspired by his music before matches, Canadian crooner Justin Bieber receives a Shrimpers shirt.

Get Involved - Sporting returns

With Nigel Clough returning to Burton as boss, we're asking for your favourite sporting returns or comebacks, good or bad. A few from the BBC Sport Facebook page...  

Neil Hockey: Personally it's local lad Dean Windass returning to Hull and scoring the play-off final winner in 2008. UTT. 

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Andre Emmanuel: Jose Mourinho. He never should have returned to Chelsea. Now he is undoing all the good work, and the goodwill he had built with Chelsea fc supporters round the world. Mourinho must accept his limitations as a manager. he can't succeed in the third year managing the same club.

Anthony Armstrong: Joe Kinnear at Newcastle United first as manager then returrns as Director of Football two brilliant appointments by Mike Ashley! 

'I deliberately lost'

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World champion Gary Anderson has revealed he deliberately lost a Premier League match against Adrian Lewis at Glasgow's SECC in 2011.

Scot Anderson, 44, led the match 3-0 but, with Lewis suffering "disgraceful" abuse, allowed the Englishman to reel off eight legs in a row to secure an 8-3 victory.

Asked if he intentionally lost, Anderson told BBC Scotland: "Yes. I didn't want to win a game where that happened. I thought it was a disgrace."

Lewis, 30, had beer thrown at him during his entrance to the arena, and coins were thrown onto the stage during the match.

Toure boost for Man City

Manchester City face Borussia Moenchengladbach in the Champions League tomorrow and midfielder Yaya Toure, who missed the weekend defeat at Stoke, has trained this morning.

Sergio Aguero, skipper Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis and Fernando all missed the session, however.

City have qualified for the knockout stages but to top the group they must defeat the Germans and Sevilla must beat Juventus. 

EPA

Free to host football again

Sierra Leone is able to host football matches again after the African football confederation (CAF) lifted a ban put in place in August 2014 because of the Ebola epidemic. "International football matches and CAF competitions can again be organised in the West African country," CAF said in a statement.

England fall short

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England Lions have been beaten in the first of their five T20 matches against Pakistan A in Dubai, despite a debut half-century from Dawid Malan.

The Middlesex left-hander hit three sixes as he made 51 from 44 balls, while Sam Billings chipped in with 31 from 21.

But Pakistan A reached a target of 145 for six with seven wickets and six balls to spare, Iftikhar Ahmed and Babar Azam hitting half-centuries after they had been reduced to 25 for three.

The second game in the series is on Thursday, the first of three under floodlights at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Broad-minded

"And coming in from the Pavilion End, it's Dr Broad..."

The good news keeps coming...

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Leicester are having a good day.

After earlier announcing that Ben Youngs has signed a new contract with the Tigers, fellow England man Manu Tuilagi has agreed a new deal as well.

It's good news for the club with Tuilagi heavily courted by clubs in both England and France.

Get Involved - Sporting returns

With Nigel Clough returning to Burton as boss, we're asking for your favourite sporting returns or comebacks.

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'Serious character'

New setback for Trotters

As if cash-strapped Bolton needed anything else to go wrong, now this...

Clayton was carried off last Monday in Bolton's 1-1 draw with Brentford and will miss up to four months after having surgery on a hamstring injury.

Arsenal tribute to legendary fan

Arsenal have paid tribute to a "legendary" 90-year-old fan of the club, Ernie Crouch, who died after he was blown by the wind against a bus in north London on his way to Saturday's match with Sunderland.

Arsenal tweeted: "Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is saddened to learn of the passing of lifelong fan Ernie Crouch. May he rest in peace."

According to fans on social media, he had supported Arsenal since 1934.

Holm goes home

Holly Holm, conqueror of champion Ronda Rousey, has arrived back in her home city of Albuquerque...

AP

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Holm goes home

You may recall the name Holly Holm.

She was the American who floored Ronda Rousey to win the mixed martial arts championship in Melbourne last month.

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It was a massive shock as Rousey was thought unbeatable after going undefeated in her first 12 mixed martial arts fights, with 11 of those wins in the first round.

The reason for mentioning all this? Holm has arrived back in her home city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the reaction was quite something...

Get Involved - Sporting returns

With Nigel Clough returning to Burton as boss, we're asking for your favourite sporting returns or comebacks. A few from the BBC Sport Facebook page...

Michael Barnsfield: Ronnie O'Sullivan coming back after a year without playing Snooker and winning the World Championship. Not once but twice.

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Keaton Shaw: Scholesy. Retires, comes out of retirement, wins league. Only one of the best midfielders to ever grace the league could do that. 

Andrew Webb: Nigel Pearson at Leicester - mid table finish in his first season back - then got us to play-offs to lose in dramatic style to Watford. Season three the championship title, and season four survival in the Premier League despite being bottom for so long.

Ferguson backs Mourinho to lead Chelsea fightback

Sir Alex Ferguson is in no doubt Jose Mourinho will revive Chelsea's flagging fortunes. The reigning champions have lost eight of their first 15 games and languish in 14th place but Ferguson said: "There are signs he is getting back to a balanced level although they lost on Saturday. 

"I think all good leaders will eventually find a solution. I know the guy and I know the work he has done in football and I can't see it lasting long, I can't see it."

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Ramshackle

While searching for images of Stuart Pearce to accompany the previous entry, we came across this, from 1995, of the Forest full-back blasting a free-kick through what may well be the worst constructed defensive wall of all time. 

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Take a bow Wimbledon, the makers of that wall.

Get Involved - Sporting returns

With Nigel Clough returning to Burton as boss, we're asking for your favourite sporting returns or comebacks. 

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That's got to hurt

We're no experts but we reckon Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown may regret the way he celebrated his touchdown against Indianapolis Colts.

BBC Sport

After running the length of the pitch to score his third touchdown of the match, Brown flung himself legs wide apart against the post in what, for most men, would be an eye-watering moment.

The officials were unimpressed by his choice of celebration, handing him an unsportsmanlike penalty for "using the goalpost as a prop".

You can watch a clip of the touchdown and celebration here.

Man Utd head for Germany

Wayne Rooney and Morgan Schneiderlin are not with them but Manchester United head off for their key Champions League game with Wolfsburg.

Get Involved - Sporting returns

With Nigel Clough returning to Burton as boss, we're asking for your favourite sporting returns or comebacks.

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Young signs new deal

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England scrum-half Ben Youngs has signed a new contract at Leicester.

He joins Freddie Burns and club captain Ed Slater in today committing to the Tigers. 

It's a boost for Leicester and ends speculation that Youngs might have been tempted by a switch to Bath.

Question time

A Question of Sport Teaser

PA

Today's teaser from our Question of Sport colleagues.

Neil Robertson became the fourth player to win snooker's UK Championships twice since 2000. Name the other three.

No actual prize for getting it right, just the smug satisfaction of knowing you're really clever.

Answers later this afternoon. 

Moses faces scan

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West Ham's on-loan winger Victor Moses will undergo a scan on Tuesday to discover the extent of his hamstring problem, after limping off during the goalless draw at Manchester United on Saturday. 

Get Involved - Sporting returns

With Nigel Clough returning to Burton as boss, we're asking for your favourite sporting returns or comebacks.

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Coming up later...

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A couple of things to look out for today.

Manuel Pellegrini will be facing the press at 12:45 GMT, when the Manchester City boss fields questions about the Blues final Champions League group game against Borussia Monchengladbach - a club whose name you should never attempt to spell after drinking.

United manager Louis van Gaal is also holding a news conference later. His gets under way at 18:30 GMT.

The squad - and the injuries

United take on Wolfsburg tomorrow at 19:45 GMT in a match crucial to their chances of qualifying for the group stages.

Double blow for Man Utd

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Bad news for Manchester United.

They have confirmed that Wayne Rooney and Morgan Schneiderlin will miss tomorrow's vital Champions League visit to Wolfsburg.

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Get Involved - Sporting returns

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Right, we've done all the work so far so it's about time you did your bit.

Today's debate is inspired by Nigel Clough, who has returned to Burton Albion seven years after he was last in charge.

We want to know this... What are the most memorable sporting returns, good or bad? Whether it's someone coming out of retirement or sports people returning to former clubs, let us know.

Get in touch at #bbcsportsday or at the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Immortalised

Billy Bremner has, quite rightly, gone down as a Leeds legend.

Here's the statue of the Scot outside Elland Road

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Death of a legend

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Bremner, far left, and his Leeds team-mates salute the Elland Road crowd in trademark style before a match in 1974

Today marks a sad anniversary.

It was on this day in 1997 that former Leeds and Scotland midfielder Billy Bremner died at the age of 54.

Bremner played for Leeds from 1959 to 1976, and helped the club win the First Division twice, the FA Cup, League Cup and Charity Shield.

Bremner died of a suspected heart attack at his home in Doncaster two days before his 55th birthday.

Buttler's relief

Daily Telegraph

Interesting story in the Daily Telegraph today, with Jos Buttler revealing he was glad to be dropped by England during the Test series against Pakistan.

Talking to former England skipper Michael Vaughan, Buttler says: "I was not performing and mentally I got to a stage where I was not concentrating and did not want to be there."

Things are now a bit brighter for Buttler, who returned to form with a 52-ball 116 in the fourth one-day international against Pakistan.

Not a job for the faint-hearted

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Some 60% of football referees say they experience verbal abuse on a regular basis, according to a new survey.

More than 2,000 referees - mostly from grassroots levels - took part in the survey carried out by academics from Loughborough, Portsmouth and Edge Hill Universities.

Although they acknowledge problems are rare, many have encountered aggression and 19% said they had experienced physical abuse.

Watch this Radio 5 live clip about the problems.

Cup round-up

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Want to see every single second round goal?

Thought so. Click here and your wish will come true.

'Wow'

Needless to say, Whitehawk are pretty pleased with their FA Cup heroics.

Whitehawk are one of four non-league teams represented in the third round draw.

Salford City, Eastleigh and Grimsby Town are also dreaming of drawing a big name.

Up for the Cup

It was a busy weekend of FA Cup action, with National League South side Whitehawk battling their way into the draw for the third round of the FA Cup in dramatic style.

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An injury-time equaliser from substitute Jordan Rose denied League Two side Dagenham a first home win of the season and set up a replay in Sussex.

Whitehawk dominated for long spells and deserved their late leveller.

The draw for the FA Cup third round takes place at 19:00 GMT and is live not only on the BBC Sport website but on BBC Two to boot.

Slow demise for South Africa

Spieth stays top of the world

There is no change in the top four of the new golf world rankings, American Jordan Spieth remaining at the top. Swede Henrik Stenson moves up to fifth following his second place in Sun City. Spain's Sergio Garcia remains 12th - the powers that be obviously don't rate the Ho Tram Open very highly.

Garcia back to winning ways

Spaniard Sergio Garcia landed his first title in two years yesterday when he won a four-way play-off at the Ho Tram Open in Vietnam on the Asian Tour.  

Relive the moment

We mentioned Neil Robertson's UK Championship success earlier - and that en route to the title he became the first player to score a maximum 147 break in the final.

BBC Sport

It was a stunning break and you'll be delighted to know that you can relive the moment right here, thanks to this BBC video. Enjoy.

FBI investigate Blatter

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Back to Sepp Blatter.

Panorama reporter Andrew Jennings has seen a letter obtained by America's Federal Bureau of Investigation which casts doubt on Blatter's denial about knowing of bribes.

The letter, apparently written by former Fifa president Joao Havelange, talks about the payments he received from sports marketing company ISL. It says Blatter had "full knowledge of all activities" and was "always apprised" of them.

The letter is included in an FBI request to the Swiss authorities for help with their investigation. They ask for the file of an earlier Swiss investigation into the ISL bribes and they say "among other things, the prosecutor is investigating Havelange's statements implicating Blatter".

You can see the full programme -Panorama: Fifa, Sepp Blatter and Me - on BBC One at 20:30 GMT on Monday, 7 December and available to watch later via BBC iPlayer.

India wrap up 3-0 series win over SA

India have won the final Test by 337 runs for a 3-0 Test series victory after bowling South Africa out for 143 on the final day in Delhi. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed 5-61 and seamer Umesh Yadav a remarkable 3-9 in 21 overs.

AP

FBI investigate Blatter

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Another day another Fifa story...

The FBI is investigating the role played by Fifa president Sepp Blatter in a $100m (£66.2m) bribes scandal, a BBC investigation has discovered.

Sports marketing company ISL paid a total of $100m to officials including former Fifa president Joao Havelange and ex-Fifa executive Ricardo Teixeira.

In return, ISL was granted lucrative television and marketing rights throughout the 1990s.

Blatter denied knowing about the bribes and took no action.

Even more lonely

Which leads us to recall this ... the lowest ever crowd at a Premier League match.

It happened in January 1993, Wimbledon v Everton at Selhurst Park.

The attendance was a paltry 3,039, 1,500 of whom were Everton fans. The Toffees won 3-1.

If you were there, well done - you've claimed a small part in footballing history. Though on the downside you probably had a really boring evening.

Lonely in here

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On this day in 1990 a slightly remarkable thing happened.

The smallest crowd ever to watch a Football League match - 625 people -  turned out to see Scarborough take on Wrexham in what was the old Division Four.

It remains a record to this day, albeit an unwanted one.

'Dream come true'

"As a kid, you always want to make a 147 on the BBC so it was a dream come true," said Robertson after claiming a second UK triumph and the 11th ranking title of his career.

"In the end, it was about digging in and nicking frames."

The final featured two left-handers with contrasting personalities: the measured world number three Robertson and eccentric Chinese opponent Liang Wenbo, who frequently played to the crowd and often slapped himself in the face.

PA

Surprise finalist Liang, who has now moved into the top 16, added: "There was pressure and I don't know why, I didn't concentrate. The pressure shots I didn't play very well." 

Winning in style

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Take a bow Mr Neil Robertson.

The Aussie is celebrating today after winning the UK Championship, becoming the first player to make a maximum 147 break in a final as he beat Liang Wenbo 10-5.

Robertson made the perfect break in the sixth frame of the match in York - the third 147 of his career.

The pair traded century breaks in the first session leaving Robertson with a 5-3 advantage at the interval.

The next four frames were shared to make it 7-5, but Robertson won three in a row to take the title.

Oh dear

Martin Skrtel would have never forgiven us if we hadn't mentioned this. Possibly.

Liverpool's Slovakian defender is now joint-second alongside one of his former Anfield team-mates in a very important table...

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At a loss

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No rhyme or reason

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Is it the most unpredictable Premier League of all-time?

Champions Chelsea are down in 14th. Leicester, bottom at Christmas last year, are top.

There are just six points between top side Leicester and fifth-placed Tottenham - it's only been that close one other time in the past 10 seasons.

Last season's top two of Chelsea and Manchester City have lost a combined total of 12 games this term - the highest over the past 10 seasons. 

Read this rather fine article to check out just how unusual this season has been. 

How it stands

Which leaves the Premier League table, much to the delight and, perhaps, disbelief of Leicester fans, looking like this.

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The week(end) that was

Newcastle's 2-0 win over Liverpool result capped off a crazy weekend of results, which, if you need your memory jogging, looked a little like this.

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'We didn't do it'

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As for Jurgen Klopp, it's back to the drawing board.

"We were not really in the game. We were not aggressive enough or close enough. There were good moments for pressing but we didn't do it," he said.

Following Liverpool's 6-1 win at Southampton in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday, Klopp's reputation at Liverpool had reached new heights.

But his decision to make six alterations, including the omission of Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, who scored five goals at St Mary's between them, seemed to backfire.

There's not much time to dwell on defeat - Klopp's men are at FC Sion in the Europa League on Thursday and host West Brom on Sunday.

Moving on up

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Victory moved Newcastle above neighbours Sunderland into 18th place in the Premier League, and they are in the bottom three only on goal difference.

No wonder Steve McClaren was rather chipper afterwards.

"It's absolutely huge, absolutely massive," said the boss.

"Once or twice we've taken ourselves to the brink of crisis and clawed our way back and that's what we've done today."

McClaren had come under increasing pressure after Newcastle lost to 3-0 to Leicester and 5-1 to Crystal Palace in their previous two games.

Turn up for the books

Another weird and wonderful weekend of Premier League action ended with Newcastle putting Liverpool to the sword.

Prior to kick-off, Jurgen Klopp was being hailed as a genius, a messiah and a miracle worker all rolled into one, a man tipped by some to lead Liverpool to the title.

Erm, not so fast.

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Instead it was opposite number Steve McClaren who earned the plaudits from the pundits as Newcastle pulled off a fine and much-needed victory, inspired by Georginio Wijnaldum.

The Dutchman's shot was deflected off Martin Skrtel's knee to give the Magpies the lead before the Dutchman added a second in injury time.

Blast from the past

And for no other reason than it's always nice to start a new week with a spot of nostalgia - well, we reckon so anyway - here, second left, is a young Nigel in the early 1970s with dad Brian, then Nottingham Forest manager, and Forest assistant boss Peter Taylor.

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Not a bad way to spend your early years...

Look who's back

Nigel Clough- son of the legendary Brian - is back in football, confirmed as the new manager of League One leaders Burton Albion... nearly seven years after he left to take over at Derby County.

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Clough in 2001, during his first spell in charge at Burton

The 49-year-old, sacked by Sheffield United in May, succeeds Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who has taken over at Championship club QPR.

Chairman Ben Robinson said: "We have had a great start to the season. Nigel is the ideal man to continue that.

"He has a tremendous track record in football, as a player and a manager."

Mourinho under pressure

Then again, The Mirror reports that Chelsea could sack Mourinho whether or not they beat Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, The Sun says owner Roman Abramovich may act if the Blues lose to Porto and then against leaders Leicester in the Premier League next weekend.

Who knows what the real story is but one thing's for sure, Mourinho has to be feeling the heat.

Monday's papers

The Times

An interesting story on the back page of The Times, claiming Jose Mourinho has one more game - Wednesday's Champions League clash with Porto - to save his job.

Mourinho, says the paper, must guide his Chelsea team to the knockout stages of the tournament or he will get the boot.

Monday's papers

Daily Mail

Monday's papers

Daily Star

Monday's papers

The Mirror

Monday's papers

Independent

Monday's papers

The Sun

Weird weekend

So then, what an odd weekend that was in the Premier League. Again.

Newcastle, Bournemouth and Stoke beat Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. Meanwhile, mighty Leicester march on towards the title...

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Is it the most unpredictable top-flight season ever?

Very possibly. We'll be looking at that over the course of the day, as well as bringing you all the breaking news.

Welcome to another Sportsday, here are the morning papers.