Aston Villa are expected to step up their move for Roberto Di Matteo after Chinese businessman Tony Xia completed his takeover. Villa confirmed in a statement that former owner Randy Lerner’s reign had finally come to a close following the deal with Xia’s Recon Group.

Connacht’s Eoghan Masterson is the perfect endorsement of a player who is reaping the rewards for his indefatigable determination to play for Ireland.