Arsenal turn to Krystian Bielik transfer after twin injury blow January 15, 2015 Arsenal are poised to complete the signing of 17-year-old Polish midfielder Krystian Bielik after captain Mikel Arteta and defender Mathieu Debuchy were both ruled out for three months. Bielik is expected to fly to London today for a medical, after his club Legia Warsaw confirmed the Gunners had seen off rival interest from Hamburg with [...]
Bucks dispatch Knicks as London hosts NBA glitz January 15, 2015 THE MILWAUKEE Bucks soundly beat the more celebrated New York Knicks last night in the NBA’s latest glitzy visit to the O2 -– another step towards a permanent franchise affiliated to the American basketball league in the capital. Shooting guard OJ Mayo’s 22 points helped the Bucks beat the out-of-form Knicks, who boast the NBA’s [...]
Federer lurking for Murray after Scot draws qualifier in first round January 15, 2015 Britain’s Andy Murray will face a qualifier in the first round of the Australian Open, which gets underway in Melbourne on Monday. Murray is seeded sixth for the competition and faces a potential repeat of last season’s quarter-final against Roger Federer after featuring in the same quarter of the draw as the Swiss, while Rafael Nadal [...]
Steeplechase star Sprinter Sacre cleared to end year-long hiatus January 15, 2015 TRAINER Nicky Henderson believes Sprinter Sacre can reprise the form that saw him become steeplechasing box office when he returns from a 13-month absence tomorrow. Sprinter Sacre won 10 times from his first 10 starts before a heart murmur saw him pulled up at Kempton in December 2013, and Henderson has not been happy to [...]
Sport Comment: Constrasting fates of England prospects explains Defoe deal January 15, 2015 WE’RE halfway through January and I’m sure I can hear Sky Sports’ Jim White gargling with Dettol (why does he shout into the camera lens whereas Des Lynam rarely registered more than a purr?) Yes, the end of the transfer window is in sight. This week saw a typical January story unfold. Jermain Defoe’s return [...]
Definitely no international return for Pietersen, insists new skipper January 15, 2015 ENGLAND one-day skipper Eoin Morgan has quashed the notion of maverick batsman Kevin Pietersen earning a surprise international recall by insisting there will be no change in selection policy. Pietersen suggested earlier this week that England’s newly-installed captain wanted to end his international exile, which dates back to February when the controversial 34-year-old was sacked [...]
Spurs dispute set for court January 15, 2015 PROPRIETORS of the solitary business blocking Tottenham’s £400m plans for a new stadium have launched a High Court battle to remain in their current premises. The owners of Archway Sheet Metal Works are challenging a compulsory purchase order that could force them to make way for Tottenham’s new 56,000-capacity stadium complex. The case will be [...]
Somersby the each-way call on Sprinter’s return January 15, 2015 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND RACING THERE are just under eight weeks to go until the tapes go up for the Betway Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and thankfully the star of the show is set to hit the Ascot stage tomorrow. Sprinter Sacre, Betway’s 2/1 favourite for the two mile [...]
Road to Cheltenham January 15, 2015 EVERY Friday between now and the start of the Cheltenham Festival, I’ll be taking a look at the feature races and will attempt to identify some value in the current ante-post markets. The first race we are going to look at is the Racing Post Arkle Chase, where the betting is currently headed by the [...]
City can see off challenge of visiting Gunners January 15, 2015 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS MAN CITY V ARSENAL AND NEWCASTLE V SOUTHAMPTON MANCHESTER City are the form team in the Premier League after 12 games unbeaten and will be disappointed not to be top. Having been level on points with Chelsea on New Year’s Day, courtesy of seven straight wins, their lack of available strikers and [...]