Liverpool hope to be able to confirm Rickie Lambert as their first signing of the summer on Monday.

At the sixth time of asking, Anthony Pilkington has finally been able to answer Ireland’s call.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes the year Andy Carroll spent on loan at Upton Park swayed the England striker’s decision to complete a permanent move from Liverpool.

IF Ireland can overcome Estonia next month, expect Giovanni Trapattoni to run the rule over some new faces for his squad for Euro 2012.

NURSE Rebecca Leighton said last night she had been “living in hell” after more than six weeks spent in custody accused of contaminating saline at a hospital at the centre of a tampering probe.

A pair of British men have spent £50,000 (€56,249) customising their car into a theme of their favourite football club.

PREMIER League footballer Titus Bramble told his brother’s rape trial yesterday that girls who go to footballers’ hotels after nights out were there for sex.

TWO late goals by Portugal brought a disappointing end to a promising Ireland U21 performance in last night’s friendly.

MICHAEL QUIRKE wants to start a Coventry City goalkeeping double for Ireland this evening when he debuts for the U21s in a friendly against Portugal in Águeda (5.15pm kick-off).

Republic of Ireland U-21s boss Noel King has handed first call-ups to Coventry keeper Michael Quirke and Preston midfielder Adam Barton.

All the comings and goings for every Premier League club.

ALEX FERGUSON has admitted Manchester United’s trips to Everton are always “a nightmare” even without taking into account the Wayne Rooney factor.

Michael Carrick has been ruled out for three weeks with an Achilles injury.

English Football League clubs paid out £12.7m (€15.4m) in agents’ fees last season – a rise of £3.9m (€4.7m) from the previous year.

Republic of Ireland hopeful Jon Daly is adamant Dundee United can improve further after capping their highest league placing for 13 years with only the second Scottish Cup triumph in their history.

LEEDS United boss Simon Grayson paid tribute to his players after they came from behind to beat Bristol Rovers and clinch promotion to the Championship on Saturday.

Leeds secured automatic promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship after a tense final day in League One.

TONY MOWBRAY has backed Robbie Keane to double his goal tally before the end of the season.

The weekend's football schedule has been decimated in the UK as the freezing weather conditions tighten their grip.

Jim Gannon‘s brief but colourful tenure at Motherwell ended this morning after the Fir Park board lost patience with his “repeated refusal” to sign a contract.

DEAN KIELY insists he has not quit international football with Ireland and has claimed Giovanni Trapattoni broke an understanding that he would not be called up just to sit on the bench.

Leeds United face an away tie against Oldham Athletic in the first round of the FA Cup.

Tranmere today sacked manager John Barnes and his assistant Jason McAteer.

ROY KEANE’S Ipswich survived a major scare in the Carling Cup first round last night.

LEINSTER RUGBY are facing the possibility of negotiations with a new kit supplier following Canterbury Europe’s slide into administration.

Motherwell have offered Jim Gannon the vacant manager’s job, the club has confirmed.

Football League new boys Burton Albion face a difficult away trip to Coca-Cola Championship club Reading following the draw for the first round of the Carling Cup today.

SWANSEA have admitted their interest in Hamilton’s Republic of Ireland U21 midfielder James McCarthy but have denied making a multi-million pound bid for the player.

Swansea have admitted their interest in Hamilton midfielder James McCarthy but have denied making a multi-million pound bid for the player.

Leicester were crowned League One champions today after a 2-0 win at Southend confirmed their promotion to the Championship.

Roy Keane's Sunderland have been drawn to play Bolton at home in the third round of the FA Cup today.

A LAST-GASP goal from Craig Mackail-Smith gave Peterborough a 1-0 win over Ryman Premier side AFC Hornchurch in the first round of the FA Cup yesterday.

Leeds have been handed a home clash against fellow Coca-Cola League One outfit Northampton following the draw for the first round of the FA Cup.

REPUBLIC of Ireland U21 manager Don Givens will bring an 18-man squad together for the upcoming European Championships qualifying double-header against Bulgaria and Portugal.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has confirmed his club are in talks to bring Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim to Eastlands.

Manchester City will face Celtic in a friendly at Parkhead on August 5.

JIM GANNON’S Stockport made it fifth-time lucky at Wembley but were made to sweat in their Coca-Cola League Two play-off final win over local rivals Rochdale.

BARNSLEY forward Kayode Odejayi made amends for his FA Cup semi-final misery with a double strike in his side’s crucial 3-0 win against promotion-chasing Watford on Wednesday.

The wintery weather conditions across the country have taken their toll on tonight’s Football League programme, with six of the planned 10 matches already postponed.

Carlos Tevez will start for Manchester United at Bolton tomorrow after rejecting Alex Ferguson’s offer of a place on the bench.

LEEDS were shocked in the FA Cup first round last night as they were dumped out by League Two Hereford in an impressive 1-0 replay win.

CHRIS TODD and Danny Stevens both scored twice as Blue Square Premier side Torquay upset League One Yeovil at Plainmoor.

Manchester United captain Gary Neville has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Champions League encounter with Dynamo Kiev after suffering a setback in his recovery from a calf injury.