Daniel Sturridge and Benjani Mwaruwari could return for Manchester City at Arsenal on Saturday, with Michael Johnson and Martin Petrov not far behind them to give the Blues a timely lift.

Aston Villa strikers Gabriel Agbonlahor and Luke Moore are expected to be fit for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 0 England Under-21 3

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gave youth a chance to impress in tonight’s Carling Cup third-round tie against Newcastle at Emirates Stadium.

Everton have agreed a fee with Wigan for England Under-21 defender Leighton Baines.

STEVE COPPELL continues to insist Reading are the L-plate brigade. Much more of this and the only instructor his players require will be the one who ushers them into Europe for the first time.

Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has warned want-away midfielder Joey Barton there will be no more money on the table in any fresh contract negotiations.

Leeds are poised to sign Preston striker Richard Cresswell after the clubs agreed a fee of £1.15m (€1.7m).

Manchester City skipper Sylvain Distin claims there is no point ‘crying’ over Richard Dunne’s self-inflicted three-month injury absence.

Spain Under-21 1 England Under-21 0

England sevens skipper Simon Amor has made a rapid recovery from ankle trouble and will line up in Gloucester’s final pre-season friendly against Italian side Calvisano tomorrow.

London Irish have announced four new signings by the club, including a Scottish international.

England Under-21s 27 Ireland Under-21s 19

Celtic midfielder Alan Thompson insists he will not play for Scotland even if England continue to snub him.

Lens striker Daniel Moreira has claimed Arsenal are trying to sign him, but any transfer hinges on whether Arsene Wenger can off-load one of his forwards.

Relegated West Ham announced today that they are releasing 10 senior players, including Paolo di Canio, Lee Bowyer and Nigel Winterburn.

Graham Taylor has admitted Aston Villa have under-achieved this season and he is blaming the club’s wayward finishing, which is officially the worst in the Premiership.

Steve Ogrizovic believes Liverpool‘s Chris Kirkland will take his chance and stake his claim to be the next England goalkeeper.

Promotion contenders Leicester and Derby made winning starts to life in Division One but it was Rotherham who provided the biggest shock on the opening day of the season.

West Ham’s French striker Frederic Kanoute is fit again after missing four matches with a hamstring injury.

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has reassured his Southampton counterpart Rupert Lowe that the Elland Road club are not mounting a £4m bid for highly-rated Saints defender Wayne Bridge.

Sven-Goran Eriksson names his first England squad today, with perilously little time in which to make his mark before next week's friendly against Spain.