Hull City forward Greg Luer has joined Scunthorpe United on an initial one-month loan until 8 March.

The 21-year-old has scored twice in six appearances for the Tigers this season.

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Scotland will play Italy and France in a friendly double-header as preparation for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Gordon Strachan's Scotland will be based in Malta for a summer training camp and will take on the Italians at Ta' Qali National Stadium on 29 May. 

It was announced yesterday that Strachan's side will also provide a warm-up game for the Euro hosts France in Metz on 4 June, six days before the competitions starts.

A Question of Sport Teaser

On the back of Paul O'Connell's retirement from rugby...

Since 1989, who are the only three players to have won more Lions test caps than Paul O’Connell?

Answers later in the day.

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Burnley manager Sean Dyche was on good form on BBC Radio 5 live last night.

He was asked about Gary Neville's transition from punditry to touchline: “When you’re sitting with your box of tricks on TV after the event, most people can give a good opinion. When you’re standing on the sideline, you’ve got seconds to make a decision. It’s a completely different thing.

“If he comes back to punditry, I would imagine there will be question marks.”

Not much else to add, is there?

Listen to more.

Leaders of the Paris bid to stage the 2024 Olympics have secured about 8 million euros (£6.2m) in sponsorship deals with four major French groups.

Paris, which hosted the Olympics in 1900 and 1924, is competing against Budapest, Rome and Los Angeles for the games. The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city in September 2017.

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TheIndependent, external is reporting that Wojciech Szczesny, 25, will return to Arsenal this summer after Roma told manager Arsene Wenger they do not want to sign the goalkeeper permanently.

Chris McMinn: Foreign owners, foreign players, and soon only rich foreign spectators. Stopped being beautiful a long time ago!

James Pegler: How do you keep up with the demand for world class players by fans and clubs not want to make a profit?

Thomas Martin: Gone from Play-off finalists to relegation candidates, relying on loans & free transfers, fan of broken Swindon.

Image source, Getty

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle's £12m purchase of Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey was the best-value signing of the January transfer window, according to a study.

Analysis from the CIES Football Observatory, external says the 23-year-old England international is worth £23.5m.

Its data suggests Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande paid £18.43m too much when they spent £31m on Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez.

Bournemouth are said to have overspent on £7m Norwich striker Lewis Grabban.

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Here's some stats on that potentially decisive third ODI...

• South Africa have won 13 of their last 18 (L5) ODIs played at SuperSport Park, Centurion; including the last three.

• England have the opportunity to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in Centurion; they will go four bilateral ODI series unbeaten versus South Africa if they are successful (W3 D1).
• South Africa may record their first home defeat in a bilateral ODI series since 2013 (Pakistan), if they lose this match; they had won three in a row heading into these fixtures.

Remember - we will have online text commentary right now (click here if you want go there and leave us, sob) as England take on South Africa in their third ODI match at Centurion and victory will clinch the series for Eoin Morgan's side with two matches to spare.

The action is also on Radio 5 live sports extra.

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Following the news that Dimitri Payet is in contract talks with West Ham United, with the club denying media reports that the French 28-year-old midfielder has made demands over a new contract....

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Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made two changes for Sunday's Six Nations clash against England in Rome.

Flanker Robert Barbieri and wing Andrea Buondonno have been brought in after tests carried out on back David Odiete, lock George Biagi and flanker Jacopo Sarto.

Italy's lost 23-21 to France in Paris in their Six Nations opener on Saturday, while England beat Scotland 15-9 at Murrayfield.

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Sam Clarke: Villa broken at the moment. Years of under investment, no signings, fans singing about celebrating when Lerner dies.

Kim Salabim: Leicester City. Beautiful. Say no more. That new #premierleague logo though? It's god awful. Broken.

Hamza Darby: West Brom having one shot every five games. Setting up to defend against teams below us. Top scorer on the bench. Yep, broken. 

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Barcelona forward Lionel Messi missed training on Monday to have tests on his kidneys.

The Argentina international sat out December's Fifa Club World Cup semi-final after being diagnosed with renal colic, a type of abdominal pain commonly attributed to kidney stones.

He was able to play in the final three days later, and has played in all of Barca's league games since.

A club statement, external said Messi, 28, will return to "normal duties" tomorrow.

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2006: Ron Greenwood died at the age of 84 after a long illness. Greenwood managed West Ham and was also in charge of England at the 1982 World Cup finals.

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Sale Sharks flanker David Seymour has agreed a new two-year contract with the club. The 31-year-old has made 160 appearances since joining them from Saracens in 2009.

No, not West Ham's Billy Bonds nor Liverpool's Billy Liddell, external (OK, so we had to look that one up) but, as the two Premier League sides prepare to meet in the FA Cup fourth-round replay tonight, here's the story of Billy Morrison - in the people's version of the FA Cup.

From playing on a wasteland to competing in the Coventry Leagues and the FA People's Cup - "The kids have inspired me to get over barriers," he says.....

Following the news that Middlesex have re-signed Australian Test batsman Adam Voges for the 2016 season...

West Ham United

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West Ham have released a statement about playmaker Dimitri Payet:"Following reports, external in today’s media, West Ham United would like to clarify that at no time have Dimitri Payet or his agent made any demands to the club over a new contract.

"However, the Club can confirm that due to Dimitri’s outstanding impact since his arrival at the Boleyn Ground, they have initiated amicable and productive talks about an improvement and extension to his contract. Those talks are progressing well and it is hoped they can be concluded shortly.  "Dimitri would like to make clear that he is very proud to play for West Ham United and he appreciates the support he has received from the board, manager and fans since he joined the club in the summer."