Declan Rice admits the desire to resume working with Roy Keane endures but helping Ireland’s U21s break their major finals duck is his immediate objective.

Cyrus Christie knows the score. The Middlesbrough defender isn’t harbouring any illusions about a long-term residency on the right side of Ireland’s back four.

While he fervently hopes that any end of era in Irish football is still a matter of months rather than days away, Martin O’Neill has said he expects a “natural exodus” of senior players once his team’s interest in World Cup 2018 is over.

With the changing of the Preston managerial guard which has seen Alex Neil replace Simon Grayson, game time at Deepdale has proved harder to come by for Daryl Horgan this season.

Wales teenager Ben Woodburn has been backed to “thrive” and fill the huge void left by Gareth Bale’s World Cup absence.

A group that provides services for people with brain injuries has commended retired Irish footballer Kevin Doyle for raising awareness of concussions.

Football’s place in the grand scheme of things was made plain again last week with the news of Kevin Doyle’s forced retirement.

John Giles discussed Ireland’s World Cup rescue mission with John Fallon

Wales suffered a blow to their hopes of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup when Gareth Bale was ruled out of the final two qualifiers.

If Ireland are to extract a buzz from their final two World Cup group games, then they’re going to have to search for it within, not in the fact that Gareth Bale will be absent for Wales.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

Two goals and regular starts for Preston in the Championship and a League of Ireland winner’s medal virtually in the post — all Sean Maguire needs now to complete a heady 2017 is to get the nod from Martin O’Neill to play his part in an Irish redemption song as the World Cup qualifying campaign reaches its conclusion.

If Ireland are awarded a penalty against Moldova on Friday night, David Meyler would have no qualms about putting himself on the spot.

Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona beat Las Palmas 3-0 in a game played behind closed doors after the Spanish league refused Barca’s plea to postpone the game on the day of the highly-charged Catalonia referendum.

Irish rugby put its best foot forward this week as it made the case for Ireland to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup, writes Declan Jordan.

Hell hath no fury like a player scorned! Last season Aiden McGeady re-ignited his club career during a loan spell at Preston, finishing the season as their player of the year. That form earned him a permanent move to Sunderland in July.