South Africa’s all-time leading goalscorer Benni McCarthy was today left out of the Bafana Bafana squad for the World Cup finals.

Sheffield United are to take Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Esrom Nyandoro on trial after the club were recommended by former Blades star Peter Ndlovu.

ASHLEY COLE, who doubted whether he could ever play for Arsenal again in the aftermath of last month’s ‘tapping-up’ inquiry, yesterday signed a one-year contract extension.

Tottenham appear to have entered the race to sign Julio Baptista after Sevilla today claimed they have received a bid of more than £13.8m (€20m) for the forward.