BOLTON manager Sam Allardyce yesterday snapped up Brazilian striker Mario Jardel, and then received a further pre-season boost from another of his foreign stars, when Jay-Jay Okocha announced he will only play in competitive matches for Nigeria.

ARSENAL have been given a major boost ahead of their do-or-die Champions League second leg clash with Bayern Munich this week, after prolific Dutch striker Roy Makaay was ruled out due to a thigh injury.

CHELSEA hero Arjen Robben has warned Arsenal that Jose Mourinho’s side can handle the pressure which comes with being top of the table.

CYCLING legend Seán Kelly has been selected as Waterford’s greatest ever sporting hero. He came out top in the poll run by Waterford radio station WLR FM in conjunction with Anglo Irish Bank.

ARSENE WENGER admits the speculation surrounding Patrick Vieira's future is overshadowing Arsenals' pre-season preparations, but will continue talks with the French midfielder in a bid to keep him at Highbury.

ARSENE WENGER has warned Arsenal not to risk their title chances by resting on the laurels of their 16-game unbeaten league run against Chelsea this afternoon.

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson wants Kleberson to fill the void left by Juan Sebastian Veron’s departure to Chelsea.

ENGLAND international Nicky Butt completed his move to Newcastle from Manchester United yesterday.

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan will not be handing Hungarian trialist Peter Halmosi a full-time contract.

BRITISH soccer star Dwight Yorke yesterday scored a legal victory when the High Court overturned a speeding fine.

RACING tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus have played down speculation of a takeover bid for Manchester United, despite spending nearly €12 million yesterday, increasing their stake to 24.14%.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is picking himself up off the floor again - and this time the devastating body blow has been delivered by one of his most important players.

CHELSEA striker Mateja Kezman was last night handed a three-match domestic ban by the Football Association following his sending off against Roma during last week’s pre-season friendly in America.

LEEDS star Harry Kewell’s future will be resolved by the end of the month.

ON the night before the 1992 general election, a group of us working on the campaign arranged to travel down to Longford where the then Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, was holding his traditional eve-of-poll event.

A LEADING sports lawyer has claimed that Rio Ferdinand faces the loss of several key sponsors as a result of his eight-month drugs ban.

IT IS so long since Liverpool were the dominant force in British football that recently they’ve taken to flying a banner as if to remind a new generation of fans.

STEPHEN CARR admits it is high time Tottenham lived up to expectations.