That's it for another edition of Sportsday, we will return at 08:00 GMT for another day filled with Premier League news conferences and the latest news.

Stay across the BBC Sport website for Thursday's Europa League matches.

Goodbye.

Speaking to the Stoke Sentinel, external, Ibrahim Afellay has been gushing with praise for club-record signing Giannelli Imbula:

"He's an incredible player. I'm very happy to play with this kind of player – he's the kind of player who makes your team," said Afellay.

"In football language you speak with your feet and your legs and he's already showing us he's a fantastic talent.

"It's a privilege to have players like that in your team because they make the difference."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Acting Fifa president Issa Hayatou believes this week’s presidential election and reform measures can “signal a new dawn” for the beleaguered organisation.

Speaking to representatives from 41 CONCACAF member countries at a Zurich hotel he said:

"The eyes of the world are on this week after some of the most challenging times in our shared history. 

"This is our opportunity to show that we are united in building a stronger Fifa.

“I urge each of you to support the reforms in full here this week, and then to implement them in their entirety at home. It is crucial that we all unite behind the successful candidate after the election." 

Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge all start for Liverpool.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Getty Images

The issue of Friday night rugby can be quite a thorny one in Wales, with all five of the Six Nations' matches played on a weekday evening featuring the Welsh. The visit of France will be the sixth.

A packed Principality Stadium under a closed roof makes for a crackling atmosphere but for supporters who live outside Cardiff, it makes getting to and from games difficult.

But according to Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde, the players simply have to "get on with it".

He added: "We thrive on the atmosphere but it's a double-edged sword because sometimes the opponents thrive as well," he said. "If you speak to any rugby player, everybody enjoys playing in the Principality Stadium and the atmosphere plays a huge part in that."

Luuk de Jong has backed his brother Siem to “show his qualities” at Newcastle United:

“He’s (Siem’s) had some injuries and for him it’s not been so good at Newcastle but now he’s fit again,” De Jong told the BBC World Service.

“Siem wants to prove himself also for the team and to show his qualities.

“He’s always a professional guy who will always put the team and won’t think only about himself.

“If he gets the chance hopefully he can show the manager that he has to play more often, of course.” 

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Chris Smalling has been ruled out of Manchester United’s Europa League last-32 second-leg tie with FC Midtjylland with a shoulder injury.

Smalling suffered the injury when he slid into an advertising hoarding at Shrewsbury on Monday.

The 26-year-old was one of the United players who did not train yesterday.

It means Daley Blind will probably be partnered by Paddy McNair in central defence as Louis van Gaal said yesterday that defender Marcos Rojo could only play for 20 minutes following his recovery from shoulder surgery.

United trail 2-1 from last week’s first leg.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have made a £22m bid for Fiorentina winger Federico Bernardeschi.

Sir Alex Ferguson once labelled the 22-year-old as a "smart investment" and the Italian could finally be heading to Old Trafford, report Gazettta World., external

On-loan Barcelona forward Cristian Tello believes the former West Ham player Mauro Zarate will be "vital" if Fiorentina are to progress in the Europa League this evening:

“Mauro Zarate is really fired up for this game and has already proved himself to be a very good player. He knows about English football – he will be vital.  

"It is a very complicated match, like the first leg. If we manage to score a goal, then we’ll have a very good chance of progress."   

Image source, AFP

Van Gaal has commented on the similarities between FC Midtjylland and his own team, in the build up to the Europa League encounter at Old Trafford:

"I think Midtjylland has a very good organisation, very detailed and the players want to perform that organisation.

"They play with diagonal pressing. I do that also with my team.

"Not many teams are doing that. And when I see the data of Midtjylland they have always won against English opponents." 

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Kane was injured in the FA Cup fifth-round loss to Crystal Palace.

"We expect and hope he will be available on Sunday [to face Swansea]," Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said on Wednesday. "Today he wasn't here as he is seeing a specialist about his nose." 

Image source, Getty Images

How much will Antonio Conte earn if he becomes Chelsea boss? BBC Sport takes a look at the latest gossip surrounding the club.

Manchester United are unbeaten in nine European home games (W7 D2) since a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in the 2012-13 Champions League.

For more statistics and all of the team news, head to the match preview.

Image source, Reuters

Tottenham are unbeaten in eight European home games (W6 D2) while Fiorentina are unbeaten away from home in Europe this season (W2 D1).

Latest team news and more statistics in the match preview.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, SNS

It started with a statement from Livingston...

The Scottish Championship club claimed, external that the delay in starting the second half of their game with Raith Rovers on Saturday was because staff from the Fife club could not find the key to unlock their dressing room, leaving them outside for 10 minutes.

However, Raith have responded, telling Fife Today, external that "an unstripped member of the Livingston party seems to have snibbed both away dressing room doors five minutes before half-time so they couldn’t be opened from the outside".

Magnificently daft stuff.

Image source, Getty Images

Gonzalo Higuain will have plenty of offers in the summer, says Napoli coach Mauricio Sarri.

The striker is the leading goalscorer in Serie A this season with 24 goals, and has been linked with a move, external to Premier League sides Arsenal and Chelsea.

BBC Humberside Sport

Hull City's FA Cup replay with Arsenal at the KC Stadium will take place on Tuesday, 8 March at 19:00 GMT.

That means Hull's Championship game with Brentford, originally set for 8 March, will have to be rearranged.

Who's the toughest oppenent Jamie Vardy has faced? BBC Sport takes a look at the latest gossip surrounding the club.

Richard Conway
BBC Radio 5 live sports news correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

This truly is an "extraordinary" Fifa congress. There's no musical act, just serious business. 

Nothing beats Grace Jones performing in 2011. Grace got, er, up close and personal with an elderly Fifa Exco member during her act. You can trace Fifa's troubles back to that point...