FOUR National League players have been included for the first time by Don Givens in Ireland’s under-21 squad to face Switzerland on Tuesday October 15 in Kilkenny.

Patrick Vieira says his responsibilities as Arsenal captain will help him to keep a cool head in next week’s clash with Manchester United.

ROY KEANE would only be half the player he is if the passion and aggression was taken out of his game. That is the view of Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, who worked closely with the 31-year-old Manchester United skipper during his days as Ferguson’s right-hand man at Old Trafford.

ARSENAL and Manchester United will both avoid favourites Real Madrid in this morning’s draw for the second group phase of the Champions League.

RAFAEL BENITEZ admits winning games in the Premiership has become more difficult compared to last season - but the Liverpool boss has been encouraged by Chelsea’s winning run coming to an end.

DELEGATES to the AGM of the FAI in Dublin today will be told that the aborted attempt to build eircom park cost the association €7.2 million.

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson has admitted the Old Trafford club will probably never see another ‘class of 92’.

PROMINENT Manchester United fans’ groups have called for supporters to boycott Saturday’s Premiership clash with West Brom.

BOOTS may be flying in the Manchester United dressing room but the club’s shares are moving even quicker and starting to turn green.

TWO of Ireland’s greatest sports stars will jet into Cork tomorrow to receive the freedom of their home city.

MANCHESTER United star Wayne Rooney’s dream week continued yesterday after a court overturned a driving conviction.

IRATE Manchester United supporters have accused the club of fleecing fans by widening a three percent ‘ticket tax’ to all match-day applications.

ENGLAND defender Rio Ferdinand has officially started his eight-month ban from football, the day after he appealed against his suspension for missing a drugs test, it was announced by the Football Association last night.

NEWCASTLE striker Michael Owen has admitted the club will have to be patient as they attempt to drag themselves back into contention for major honours.

ALEX FERGUSON and Manchester United will decide today whether to appeal against a two-match touchline ban imposed for abusing match officials.

SPAIN’S Jose Antonio Reyes is hoping England defenders Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand can put domestic issues to one side when the two countries clash tomorrow night.

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger revealed that he lives like a leading professional footballer in a bid to avoid the health problems which have afflicted so many of his fellow managers.

TRY imagining stripping famous people of their wealth and think how they might fare, it can be quite amusing.