Rio Ferdinand remains hopeful he will be able to play in the second match of England’s Euro 2004 double-header.

Barclays has reported a 20% surge in 2003 pre-tax profits to £3.84bn (€6.55bn).

Jose Antonio Reyes has won a recall from Spain as new coach Luis Aragones included the forward in his squad for next week’s friendly against Venezuela.

Porto striker Benni McCarthy believes his coach Jose Mourinho could be heading to the Premiership this summer.

Roy Keane made his hugely-anticipated return to international football tonight by winning his 59th cap for the Republic of Ireland against Romania in the friendly at Lansdowne Road.

Birmingham goalkeeper Ian Bennett starts his first game of the season against Aston Villa at St Andrews on Sunday.

The Football Association today revealed they were continuing to sift through documents before deciding what charge to bring against Rio Ferdinand.

Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has been left out of Holland’s 18-man squad for Holland’s Euro 2004 qualifier with Moldova on Saturday.

Rio Ferdinand is doubtful for Birmingham’s visit to Old Trafford tomorrow with a foot injury.

Sammy McIlroy has resigned as manager of Northern Ireland, the Irish Football Association confirmed this morning.

Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has claimed he would never leave Highbury for another Premiership club and has no intention of moving abroad.

The Football Association have brought Alan Smith’s disciplinary hearing next month forward by 24 hours because the original date clashed with Leeds’ Premier League clash with Newcastle on January 7.

Dunfermline chairman John Yorkston has revealed that the Irish Football Association have begun negotiations with his club and assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl over his possible succession to Sammy McIlroy.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew has categorically ruled out selling Jermain Defoe to Arsenal for £5m (€7.2m).

Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer is a target for Primera Liga Levante.

Martin O’Neill has vowed to move quickly to make sure Nou Camp hero John Kennedy signs a new deal.

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s number two Tord Grip believes David Beckham’s move to Real Madrid could benefit England.

David Dunn returned to the Blackburn starting line-up for the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Ewood Park but they are without Damien Duff, who has a hamstring injury.

Wales quintet Ryan Giggs, Robbie Savage, Mark Pembridge, Andy Melville and John Hartson have been cleared to play for their clubs on November 17 after FIFA performed a U-turn on their controversial four-day rule.

Ashley Cole is confident of being fit for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Sheffield United after playing 90 minutes for Arsenal reserves against Coventry last night.