England beat South Africa A by an innings and 91 runs earlier today.

Meanwhile, Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink has been instructed to give more first-team action to the Blues' most talented youngsters, according to the Daily Mail., external

The paper states that there was major frustration within the Chelsea hierarchy about the lack of academy players that made the breakthrough during Jose Mourinho's reign and this was one of the factors that led to the Portuguese's sacking.

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois says new manager Guus Hiddink can get the Blues back up the table.

Chelsea lie 15th and sacked manager Jose Mourinho last week.

But Courtois told the club's website:, external "Hiddink was here before, he did very well and I think he’s a very good manager.

"Hopefully together we can climb back up the table and we’re looking forward to starting working with him.

"We know we have to react, we’ve started well and have to move forward. Whatever has happened stays in the past and now we want to work hard with the new manager to get a good result against Watford."

Christmas Day 1995. Such a happy time to be a Newcastle United fan. Little did they know of the heartbreak to come.

On 25 December that year, Kevin Keegan's men held a 10-point advantage over Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. They actually extended that to 12 by mid-January.

Then the wheels came off in spectacular fashion and a run of five defeats in eight games between 21 February and 8 April gave Sir Alex Ferguson's United the chance to overtake them, which they did. One of those defeats was the 4-3 away defeat at Liverpool, widely regarded as the best game in Premier League history.

Newcastle finished the season second, four points behind the Old Trafford club.

Image source, Getty Images

According to the Guardian,, externalAlan Pardew is to be rewarded for his good work over the past year by being offered a new contract at Crystal Palace.

The Eagles have been soaring since former player Pardew returned as manager and find themselves sixth in the table. In his 35 league matches in charge so far, Palace have won 60 points.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Essex have announced James Foster is no longer their club captain after five years leading the Division Two side. 

However the 35-year-old has been offered a contract extension at Chelmsford.

Foster, who made his debut for the county in 2000, became vice-captain in 2007 before taking on the captaincy from Mark Pettini in 2010. 

"The club would like to thank James for his service as captain and look forward to him being a major part of Essex's future," a club statement said.

Image source, Rex Features

Nottingham Forest left-back Daniel Pinillos is likely to miss the rest of the season after rupturing knee ligaments.

The 23-year-old Spaniard suffered the injury in Saturday's 2-1 victory over MK Dons.

Pinillos has started 19 of Forest's 22 Championship games this season after joining them from Cordoba in the summer.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Manchester United’s under pressure manager Louis van Gaal addressed players and staff and called for unity during the club’s Christmas lunch at their Carrington training ground.

After a run of three consecutive defeats in all competitions, which included Champions League elimination, the Dutchman said he hoped 2016 would be better.

I am told he spoke from the heart and was applauded warmly afterwards.

United face Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Boxing Day with speculation, external that sacked Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho could be set for Old Trafford if Van Gaal suffers another damaging defeat.

Hassan Anfield: Arsenal to win the league. Leicester City 2nd. 3rd and 4th place are up for grabs. MCFC, MUFC, TOT, LFC or even CFC.

King Sal: Backing Leicester to do the unthinkable.

John McEnerney: A few smart buys (experience, versatility) in January and Wenger can set AFC up for the title. A closer and two decent utility men needed.

A 'closer', John? It's not Glengarry Glen Ross!

Saj Chowdhury
BBC Sport

Tottenham will have to wait until mid-January before they get the green light to begin work on the £400m redevelopment of White Hart Lane to make it into a 61,100-seater stadium.

Haringey Council gave its approval last week, but the club must have the plans rubber-stamped by London mayor Boris Johnson, who is set to make his assessment next month. The mayor is in favour of the construction.

Work will begin in Spring 2016 once the club receives full permission.

Tottenham intend to play away from their home ground for the 2017-18 season "to enable a faster construction of the new stadium" before opening it in time for the 2018-19 campaign.

Image source, Tottenham

Image source, 1

Right then, time for you to have your say.

Who's going to win what looks like ti might turn out to be one of the most exciting Premier League campaigns in years.

Leicester are flying, Arsenal look genuine contenders, but Man City will still fancy their chances.

Then there's improving Tottenham, and Man United if Van Gaal (or Mourinho if the papers are to be believed ) can revive the Reds fortunes.

Let us know who you're backing by voting now.

Jeremain Lens is not a very happy man at the moment. The 28-year-old Holland international midfielder is considering his options after failing to nail down a starting spot at the Black Cats since joining last summer.

Lens told Fox Sports:, external "It's definitely annoying. I am not playing and I did not come to the Premier League to sit on the bench. Something will have to change anything. What, we will see though. 

"A transfer in the winter? That could happen. Once the window is open, we will see what will happen." 

Image source, AP

Tour de France organisers have announced that the 2017 edition of the race will begin in Dusseldorf in Germany.

London turned down the chance to host the 'Grand Depart'. It will be the fourth time Germany hosts the start of the Tour and the 22nd time in total that the 'Grand Depart' has taken place outside of France. 

It will also be the third time in four years that the world's most prestigious cycle race begins outside of its homeland following 2014 in Leeds, England and 2015 in Utrecht, Netherlands. 

It's all over in Pietermaritzburg, where England have beaten South Africa A by an innings and 91 runs. 

Moeen Ali took 6-77 in South Africa A's second innings to wrap up victory.

England begin the Test series against South Africa in Durban on Boxing Day.

How long ago does Christmas Day 1998 feel for Aston Villa fans right now? Villa currently prop the rest of the Premier League up, five points adrift. But on 25 December 1998 they led everyone by three points.

However, a spectacular downturn in form in 1999 meant John Gregory's side fell from the top and tumbled down to sixth by the end of the season, a whopping 24 points behind winners Manchester United.

Leicester, you have been warned.

Image source, Getty Images

Can Aston Villa avoid relegation, Remi Garde is asked. They are currently 10 points adrift of safety.

Garde says: "Leicester were in a similar position to us last season. I must look at how and why they've done that. I'm working on that. I still believe we can do it.

"We need the crowd behind the team. I've already said that it's difficult for the fans to get behind the team when we're not playing well or don't score the first goal at Villa Park. Without the support of the fans it will be more and more difficult."

Remi Garde says he will be making the Aston Villa players train on Christmas morning.

"The players will train and then spend some time with their families," he says.

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde is asked about Saturday's opponents, West Ham.

He says: "West Ham are a solid side. They're very efficient away. They don't concede a lot of goals. They defend very well and are dangerous on the counter-attack. It will be tough. 

"We'll need to find the balance of playing the home game with some good attacking play but wary of the counter-attack. Beating West Ham would be the best Christmas gift for myself and the players."

Remi Garde says: "In terms of bringing players in in January it is not as easy as that. I have some ideas. We need to be in a better situation than the one we're in today.  

"It's hard to say how many points we'll need. I think 10 victories. That might not be enough. We must keep working hard."

Aston Villa manager Remi Garde is in the hotseat at the club's Bodymoor Heath training ground, ready to face the media ahead of the Boxing Day game against West Ham...

Image source, Aston Villa FC