CHELSEA’S Frank Lampard is one of three names on the shortlist for FIFA’s world player of the year award.

US and Iraqi troops battled house-to-house with insurgents today, the third day of a major offensive against al-Qaida insurgents in a town near Iraq’s border with Syrian, and the US command reported the first American death in the operation.

US and Iraqi troops battled militants in house-to-house combat today, the third day of a major offensive against al-Qaida fighters in a town near the Syrian border.

US troops battled insurgents holed up in houses and driving explosives-laden vehicles in a second town near the Syrian border, killing 28 in an expansion of their two-day-old offensive chasing al Qaida fighters along the Euphrates River valley, the military said.

A joint US-Iraqi offensive has killed some 50 insurgents so far in battles that raged today around a blistering hot frontier town in the American military’s latest campaign to stop foreign fighters from pouring through neighbouring Syria.

The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek has lashed out at claims his late bandmate Jim Morrison was bisexual - insisting he never saw him getting intimate with a man.

Rock legend Jim Morrison was abused as a child, according to the author of a shocking new expose into the tragic The Doors star's life.

The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek has rubbished claims in a new book that the band's late frontman Jim Morrisson was bisexual.

Rock legend Jim Morrison was bisexual and enjoyed sexual experiences with both men and women, according to a new biography of the late Doors star.

Controversial rock biographer Stephen Davis insists he has conclusive proof that Jim Morrison was bisexual - and he's revealing all in a new book about the tragic rock icon.

SUPER BOWL berths are at stake tomorrow when the Indianapolis Colts try to avenge a November loss to New England and the jinx-plagued Philadelphia Eagles seek their first title game since 1981.

THE Green Bay Packers scored a sensational over time interception touchdown last night to beat the Seattle Seahawks in the National Football League playoffs.

PEYTON MANNING became the first quarterback in 12 seasons to throw six touchdown passes in a game as the Indianapolis Colts routed the New Orleans Saints by 55-21.

SPECIAL teams were very special for Carolina, but another overtime home opener was less than memorable for the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL on Sunday.

BRAD JOHNSON threw two second-half touchdown passes and Tampa Bay defenders intercepted Brett Favre four times as the Buccaneers beat Green Bay 21-7 in a showdown of American football’s most successful teams.