Nick Cavell
BBC Africa Sport

Former Wigan and Ivory Coast defender Steve Gohouri is still missing, 11 days after he was last seen.

A spokesman for fourth-tier TSV Steinbach told the BBC that they have not heard from the 34-year-old since he attended his German club's Christmas party on 11 December after which he was due to head to see his family in Paris. 

The club said the Ivory Coast embassy in Germany has been in touch as well to ask for updates. Steinbach are currently on their winter break and so Gohouri has not missed any training or matches with the squad due back on 6 January.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien has signed a new three-year contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union that will keep him at Leinster until after the 2019 World Cup.

O'Brien made his debut for the three-time European champions in 2008 and won the first of his 41 caps a year later and has made two Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions.

Remember that image of David Beckham, Prince William and David Cameron in their best blazers, hopes high of England being the host country for World Cup 2018?

Well, you'll also remember then that it all went pear-shaped, no one voted for us - and a cheesed-off English FA said they would not bid again while Blatter remained president.

Image source, Getty Images

But in the last few minutes, FA chairman Greg Dyke has said that Blatter's eight-year ban from Fifa has removed a significant barrier to another England bid.

"There is nobody who wouldn't love to have the World Cup in England but the process has to be done in a fair, honest and transparent way, not carved up by a bunch of crooks which is what happened last time," added Dyke.

"I think it's the end for Blatter whatever happens in the appeals process. The important thing is that we never get anyone with the same sort of power that Blatter had again."

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Davis Cup captain Leon Smith says Great Britain can build on their success and inspire a new generation of players.

GB won the team of the year award and Andy Murray was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year on Sunday.

Murray has previously said that talking to the Lawn Tennis Association about the future of British tennis was "a waste of time".

But Smith said: "We've had really good discussions with everyone at the LTA recently to really take it up a gear. On the court, we need to keep winning but off the court we have a great chance to do something."

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A final word from Mark Hughes, and it's on the contract situation with Erik Pieters and Marko Arnautovic.

"We are still talking to them both and hopefully we will be able to come to a conclusion," he tells the media.

"We have made progress with Erik so hopefully we can get that sorted out sooner rather than later."

And that's it, all over here.

Big game this on Saturday. If Stoke win - and until defeat by Crystal Palace last time out they were going along great guns - then the pressure on Louis van Gaal will be immense. We shall see what happens...

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Back to the Britannia - that's the beauty of Sportsday, from Italy to Stoke-on-Trent in the blink of an eye (or a bit of typing on a keyboard) - and Potters fans will be interested in Mark Hughes' next answer.

He's asked about possible activity in the January transfer window.

"We will certainly have a look at who is out there but there is certainly no urgency on our part to get anything done," said Hughes.

"I have a good quality, healthy squad at my disposal so I don't foresee anything too drastic.

"Of course, if something crops up which is attractive to us then we will look to act, but it has to be somebody who will enhance us. We are looking now and we will have further discussions in the coming weeks I am sure."

He's given away precisely nothing there.

Image source, Getty Images

We'll break off from Stoke matters for a moment for some interesting news from Italy with a touch of the Eric Canona about it.

Inter Milan midfielder Felipe Melo has been banned for three matches for aiming a kung-fu kick at Lazio's Lucas Biglia.

The Brazil international received a straight red card for the 90th-minute incident that came moments after he had given away a penalty for a foul on Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on Sunday.

The penalty was missed but Antonio Candreva scored on the rebound to secure 10th-placed Lazio a 2-1 win over table-topping Inter.

"Unfortunately Melo did two stupid things," said Inter coach Roberto Mancini.

Image source, Getty Images

Next a bit of team news from the gaffer.

"Geoff Cameron will be touch and go right up until the two games at the end of the week," says Mark Hughes.

"It's more likely that he will miss the games at this moment I would suggest, but we will have a look at him at the end of the week.

"Peter Crouch is training again but he isn't ready yet.

"Stephen Ireland will be missing until the New Year as he is struggling a little bit with his hamstring.

"Other than that we are OK but there are still a few days until the match so we will reassess things further down the line."

Image source, Getty Images

More from Mark Hughes on his old club.

"Manchester United will know themselves that they are in a period of transition and are in a different cycle now," he says, with all the diplomacy of a seasoned politician.

"Things are changing and sometimes things can take a while before you become successful again.

"We are certainly taking nothing for granted because we are fully aware as to how difficult a challenge they will pose to us on Boxing Day.

"I am looking forward to the game though, it is a great fixture for Boxing Day."

Big game at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day, when Louis van Gaal's United visit Mark Hughes' Stoke.

It's the latter manager who has arrived to face the media, taking questions on the game.

"They are a huge club and they have a very good squad of players there," says Hughes, who had two spells at United in the 80s and 90s.

Image source, Getty Images

"I have been asked whether this is a good time to play them but I am always wary of that because these sort of clubs more often than not bounce back emphatically.

"The players there are representing a global brand and the players have a responsibility to produce the goods more often than not, so they will be desperate to get back on track at the weekend."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

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If Gus Hiddink does play more of the promising Chelsea youngsters (see 11.42) he could do worse than 19-year-old Belgian Charly Musonda – a YouTube hit fordoing keepy-uppies with a rolled up sock, external.

One of the most highly-rated members of the Blues back-to-back FA Youth Cup-winning squad, Musonda signed a four year contract with Chelsea in March.

But he is yet to make his first-team debut and has been linked with permanent moves to Manchester United and Manchester City, ahead of the January transfer window.

A number of scouts have also watched Liverpool teenager Jerome Sinclair. The 19-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, played in Monday night’s 0-0 Under-21s draw at Norwich.

Image source, Liverpool Ladies

The second Women's Super League transfer of the day has seen Chelsea's Laura Coombs move to Liverpool Ladies on a season-long loan.

The 24-year-old, who has won two England caps, said: "I had a great year with Chelsea Ladies last season winning the double but this is a brilliant move for me." 

A home draw with struggling Aston Villa last time out prevented Newcastle making it three wins out of three, but Steve McClaren is determined for his side to be positive against Everton.

"The draw was frustrating. We'd have taken seven points before the Liverpool game but it's gone now and we move on to Everton. They are tough opponents; a very good team. They have great balance and Roberto Martínez has done a terrific job.

Image source, Getty Images

"It's about us and that's what we've focused on. Working hard, matching our opponents. We have players who can cause teams problems."

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last three games and host Everton on Boxing Day and their manager Steve McClaren is speaking to the press. First, some injury news...

"We're assessing Papiss Cisse as to the severity of his injury but he's a struggle and a doubt for the weekend. Jamaal [Lascelles] trained this morning, Rolando [Aarons] will by the end of the week and Emmanuel Riviere next week. Steven Taylor is coming along well."

Still wondering what to get the missus for Christmas? Looking for a big gift to immortalise your love?

Look no further. Former Spurs striker Roberto Soldado, now at Villarreal, has unveiled this delightfully tasteful portrait of himself and Mrs S.

Will the novelty of having giant images of themselves watching over them as they enjoy a TV dinner ever wear off? It's not for Sportsday to say...

He's a nice fella is Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri. Here he is saying nice things about Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp...

“I appreciate Klopp a lot. I watched him in last season’s winter break and saw how he worked. Liverpool have a very good manager.”  

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri: “We have [Riyad] Mahrez, but Liverpool have two of Mahrez in [Philippe] Coutinho and [Adam] Lallana.”

That is very modest of you Claudio, but I think I'd rather have your boy on current form!

Table-topping Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri is the man of the moment and he is currently speaking to the press ahead of the Boxing Day match at Liverpool.  

"I’m proud of my players and our fans. The fans are dreaming and I don’t want to wake them up," says Ranieri. "We must enjoy, play free and without pressure. If the world are speaking about you then you enjoy and continue to play.”

BBC Radio 5 Live

At 21:00 GMT tonight, BBC Radio 5 live will be look back at the top ten moments from the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where the home nations suffered heartache and failure, and the southern hemisphere dominated with New Zealand taking the Webb Ellis trophy.

Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho has told the club's website that the Reds will end their trophy wait in 2016.

"We're in a very good position," Coutinho said. "It's the goal of everyone involved, we're all focused on fighting for the trophies and I think we have a great chance in the competitions we're in this year.

"We're going to fight for that and I hope we win a trophy this year."

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