Charlie Austin, who has signed for Southampton, in a deal reported to be £4m, had been linked with a move to Newcastle last summer.

Austin said: "As soon as Southampton showed an interest that was the one club I wanted to go to.

"You see the progression from when I was playing against Southampton for Swindon. For me, it was important to come to a club that's on the up and that's what I've got here."

Image source, Rex Features

Nigel Pearson
Former Leicester manager on BBC Radio 5 live's weekend preview show

Image source, Getty Images

Spurs striker Harry Kane scored two goals in 15 games during a loan spell with Nigel Pearson at Leicester in 2013.

"I'm very surprised at how well he's done. He hasn't half improved. He did OK with us. We had a difficult period as a team. He came into a team not performing very well. 

"At that point he was a couple of years younger. Maybe it helped to toughen him up. Players won't do well everywhere they'll go. He did fine for us but didn't quite find his levels of performance. I'm pleased for him."

A high bar has been set for sporting action already this morning. A Stuart Broad-inspired England are currently ripping through South Africa - you can follow that here.

Thankfully, we've got a lot of interesting fixtures on our hands in the Premier League, including the first of the day, Tottenham v Leicester...

Here is what QPR Director of Football, Les Ferdinand, had to say to www.qpr.co.uk, externalabout Charlie Austin's move to Southampton... 

“It’s no secret that Charlie is out of contract in the summer so this is a decision made in the best financial interests of the club.

“Charlie has had a significant impact on this football club in his time here and we are hugely grateful to him for his contribution during his spell with us. 

“Whilst we are sorry to lose Charlie, once he expressed an interest in moving to Southampton, we could not stand in his way.''

Image source, PA

Southampton have signed QPR striker Charlie Austin in a deal reported to be worth £4m.

So, Charlie Austin has departed the Championship to join Southampton on a four-year contract. Seems a good deal at £4m, even though he was out of contract in the summer. The 26-year-old has shown he is a Premier League striker and will be an asset to Ronald Koeman. The move has already got you talking on Twitter...

Tottenham make three changes from the side that lost to Leicesteron Wednesday. Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier replace full-backs Ben Davies and Kyle Walker, and Mousa Dembele comes in for Tom Carroll in midfield.

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Kane

Image source, BBC Sport

Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce hands 21-year-old goalkeeper Jordan Pickford his Premier League debut, with Vito Mannone dropping to the bench. The Black Cats make one other change from their midweek win over Swansea, with Danny Graham - a transfer target for Blackburn - replacing Fabio Borini up front. 

Sunderland XI: Pickford, Jones, van Aanholt, O’Shea (c), Brown, Johnson, Lens, Cattermole, M’Vila, Defoe, Graham.   

Image source, BBC Sport

Cheers Alan. Fine work, sir.

While the cat is away, the mice can play. With Premier League leaders Arsenal not playing until tomorrow, this Saturday is the perfect chance for Leicester or Manchester City to seize outright top spot for themselves, while also giving Tottenham and West Ham the opportunity to close the gap.

However, there are a trio of clubs at the bottom who are facing some of these title wannabes and will have a very different idea of how this afternoon will play out. 

Luckily, we can all sit back and watch them slug it out. Let's start with some Tottenham v Sunderland team news...

Image source, Rex Features

And as Charlie Austin joins Southampton, we welcome Phil Dawkes to take you through the afternoon's football. Cheerio from me.

It's official. QPR striker Charlie Austin has joined Southampton after agreeing terms and passing a medical at St Mary’s.

Image source, PA

The game of the day in League One sees leaders Burton travel to fourth-placed Coventry. The former are seven games unbeaten, while the latter have not lost in five. A draw would suit Gillingham and Walsall, who are sandwiched between them and are at Doncaster and Bury respectively. Fifth-placed Wigan host Chesterfield.

Bottom club Crewe will be hoping to end a run of four games without a win at Swindon, while Colchester, who haven't won in 11 games and are a point better off in 23rd place, will be hoping they don't. The U's host Sheffield United. John Sheridan says trying to keep Oldham up is "the toughest challenge of his career". He starts that at Bradford. Elsewhere, Peterborough host Southend, Blackpool take on Scunthorpe and Barnsley travel to Shrewsbury.

Rochdale's game against Fleetwood has been called off.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

BBC Radio Solent are also reporting that QPR striker Charlie Austin is heading for Southampton...

Would Charlie Austin be a good signing for Southampton? Let us know using #bbcfootball., external

The Daily Telegraph are reporting that Charlie Austin is to join Southampton today.

Despite playing in a QPR team that were relegated, he had a goalscoring fine record in 2014-15.

Graham in Bath via text 81111 (Uk only):

As a skinny 15- year-old, making my debut for my dad's men's team. I found a) the smallest shorts (green) were huge on me and I'd forgotten appropriate sports underwear. As a result I spent all game pulling up oversized football shorts and loose-fitting boxer shorts. Despite this, I scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 win! 

The Daily Telegraph's chief football writer Sam Wallace is reporting that QPR striker Charlie Austin will sign for Southampton today for £4m.

Here's the story., external

Football Focus

Former England defender Chris Powell and ex-England winger Trevor Sinclair join Dan Walker to preview the weekend's action.

Rare guy: No kits. Opponents played in singlets. We played shirtless. Our player scored and mimicked pulling off a jersey to celebrate.

The classic shirts (or singlets in this case) and skins.

Image source, Siem de Jong

Newcastle midfielder Siem de Jong won't feature in today's game against West Ham but that will be a minor concern after what happened to him in training this week. 

De Jong feared he could lose the sight in his right eye after he was accidentally poked in it on Wednesday.

Magpies boss Steve McClaren explained: "He went down screaming, so they said 'Let's have a look at your eye' and there was blood pouring from it."

Asked whether there was a fear De Jong could have been blinded, McClaren replied: "Yes, yes, a massive danger, a big danger."

While he faces up to two weeks out, a relieved De Jong has been told he should make a full recovery.  

This is the scene at a frozen Spotland Stadium which caused Rochdale's match against Fleetwood to be called off.