RIO FERDINAND last night spoke of his devastation at being left out of the England squad to face Turkey on Saturday – a repercussion of the Manchester United defender’s failure to attend a drugs test.

NEWCASTLE boss Bobby Robson yesterday launched a fightback after chairman Freddy Shepherd’s criticism of the under-achieving Magpies players.

BRIAN MCBRIDE, Barry Hayles and Luis Boa Morte booked Fulham a trip to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals with the goals which sunk West Ham in the fifth round replay at Upton Park.

FC PORTO lived up to their billing as potential Champions League winners with a convincing win over French champions Lyon in the first leg of their quarter-final last night.

THEO PAPHITIS insists tomorrow’s FA Cup final is a chance for Millwall to reinvent themselves in a new image and leave the days of football violence well and truly behind.

JOHN O'SHEA will rest as Manchester United face Bayern Munich on Sunday in their opening Champions World series match.

SOUTH KOREAN Park Ji-sung’s move to Manchester United will make him Asia’s most famous soccer player, Asian Football Confederation general secretary Peter Velappan said yesterday.

MANCHESTER UNITED target Michael Ballack will meet Bayern Munich officials later this month even though it is highly unlikely he will commit his future to the Bundesliga giants.

THE curtain goes up this week on the latest twist in the battle for control of Manchester United, as speculation mounts that American tycoon Malcolm Glazer will make a fresh approach to the club's board in the coming days.

FORMER Everton manager Howard Kendall has backed the club to claim a Champions League place and believes David Moyes has put the foundations in place to bring back the glory days to Goodison Park.

NEWCASTLE midfielder Nicky Butt will sit out the club’s next three European games after being banned by UEFA.

ARSENE WENGER says he has been surprised by Thierry Henry’s progression from raw talent to FIFA World Footballer of the Year nominee – but he is now backing the French striker to get even better.

HUNDREDS of Roy Keane’s hometown fans queued outside Cork Opera House yesterday as tickets for the critically acclaimed musical, I, Keano, went on sale.

JOE COLE last night completed his move to Chelsea with Juan Sebastian Veron poised to follow suit today.

ARSENAL star Sol Campbell is believed to be ready to take ‘on the chin’ whatever punishment the Football Association hand out to him today over his clash with Manchester United’s Eric Djemba-Djemba in the Community Shield in August.

ENGLAND striker Wayne Rooney has apologised to Sven-Goran Eriksson for his loss of self-control in Madrid.