COBH RAMBLERS must cope with the inevitable contrast between the high excitement of a game against Roy Keane’s Manchester United selection and a less glamorous contest with Limerick if they are to advance in the FAI Carlsberg Cup at St. Colman’s Park tonight (8 pm ko).

DAVID SEAMAN could sign a new one-year deal at Arsenal after all – provided the veteran England goalkeeper receives assurances he will be given every opportunity to prove he is still Highbury number one next season.

ROY Keane could be back in the green of Ireland by the end of the month after he sensationally announced his return to international football.

ARSENAL chairman Peter Hill-Wood yesterday admitted he is “becoming irritated” by Real Madrid’s repeated attempts to hijack Gunners skipper Patrick Vieira.

GEORGE BEST yesterday got out of his hospital bed and spoke to friends and family as doctors admitted he could leave intensive care within days.

CELTIC’S biggest shareholder is believed to be close to selling his stake in the club.

BARCELONA could exact ironic revenge on Manchester United by snapping up £10million-rated midfielder Ronaldinho from Paris St Germain.

AC MILAN and Roma joined Juventus at the top of Serie A after securing comfortable 3-0 victories at home to Lecce and Ancona, respectively.

Chelsea 0 Paris St Germain 0

Newcastle Utd 1 Manchester Utd 4

FULHAM boss Chris Coleman has backed neighbours Chelsea to be crowned Barclays Premiership champions after Manchester United’s slip-up.

TOTTENHAM’S England midfielder Michael Carrick has hailed striker Robbie Keane for leading the side towards a place in next season’s Champions League.

STEVEN GERRARD will use Liverpool’s two Champions League matches against Chelsea to dispel any lingering doubts about where his loyalties lie after the two English clubs were paired in the group stages.

STUART PEARCE is ready to wrap Andy Cole in cotton wool to ensure he is fresh enough to spearhead Manchester City's bid for Europe.

UEFA are to investigate possible links between Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and Russian side CSKA Moscow after both clubs were drawn in the same group of the Champions League yesterday.

ONE of the letters sitting on my desk on my return after a couple of weeks spent with the Republic of Ireland squad in Dublin had a Cork postmark, contained a cutting from the Star newspaper and no cover note.

RIO FERDINAND yesterday pleaded his case in front of Football Association chiefs as he was left to await a decision on whether he faces a misconduct charge for failing to take a drugs test.

THE blond youngster already knew what he wanted to be when he grew up.

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER will meet up with old pal Henning Berg next week, with the Champions League ‘Battle of Britain’ uppermost in their minds.

DISGRACED Newcastle midfielder Lee Bowyer looks likely to face further punishment in the wake of his on-pitch brawl with team-mate Kieron Dyer.