BARRY FERGUSON has backed Scotland to handle the heat in their World Cup qualifying opener against Macedonia on Saturday.

JOHN WARK believes Scotland are crying out for a goalscoring midfielder – and insists Darren Fletcher could be the man for the job.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba insists he won´t rush back from the knee injury which has forced him to miss the start of the season.

LONDON (SW) – Chelsea’s manager Luiz Felipe Scolari was clearly a bitter man yesterday after it was announced that the player he had been targeting since his arrival at the club, Robinho, had moved to Manchester City instead.

Following the violence and destruction caused by Napoli fans in Rome on the opening Serie A weekend of the season, AC Milan and Fiorentina supporters will be banned from travelling to their club´s next away matches.

LONDON (SW) – Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan was having talks with the club today about his future.

Scotland manager George Burley believes Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot should be saluted for forcing his way into the national squad despite having "limited ability".

LONDON (SW) - Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba is set to return to the Congo line-up for the first time in almost two years in a key Group 10 qualifier at home to Mali on Sunday.

AC Milan´s teenage striker Pato said the Italian giants´ next match away to Genoa is a win or bust game.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp fears the increase in foreign ownership of Premier League clubs could reduce managers to little more than puppets for their mega-rich employers.

Scotland manager George Burley believes Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot should be saluted for forcing his way into the national squad despite having "limited ability".

Genoa´s new Argentine forward Diego Milito said he made the right choice in opting to come back to Italy instead of joining Juande Ramos at Tottenham.

LONDON (SW) – According to the LMA (League Managers’ Association) Kevin Keegan has not resigned as manager at Newcastle United.

Brazilian coach Jorvan Viera was back at the helm of Iraq´s national football team on Wednesday after lifting them to the Asian Cup champions title last year.

English Premiership outfit Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni will captain Nigeria against South Africa in this weekend´s 2010 World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier in Port Elizabeth, officials disclosed on Wednesday.

Kevin Keegan´s future as Newcastle United manager remained in the balance on Wednesday after the English Premier League club admitted that talks are continuing between the warring factions.

Scotland manager George Burley´s plans for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Iceland suffered another blow on Wednesday as three more players withdrew from his squad.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy claims he had no option but to sell Dimitar Berbatov to Manchester United on transfer deadline day.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has rubbished reports that he tried to sign Newcastle midielder Joey Barton on transfer-deadline day.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is on course to be fit for his side´s clash against Premier League rivals Manchester United later this month.