ROBERTO MANCINI has called for more medical screenings for footballers following Fabrice Muamba’s cardiac arrest at White Heart Lane on Saturday.
The City manager says that Premier League players should have two medical screenings each year, and believes that current health assessments are better in Italy – where regular screenings are mandatory.
The Barcelona forward has broken the club's all-time scoring record at just 24-years-of-age
Premier League Chief Exec, Richard Scudamore, has confirmed there will be a review of medical procedures following Muamba’s collapse.
The Bolton Midfielder remains in a serious but stable condition at the London Chest Hospital and Bolton’s scheduled home game against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday is expected to go ahead, although a decision will be made today.
Ladies looks out. Danny Cipriani, famous ex-boyfriend of Kelly Brook but whom you may also know for occasionally rustling about in the grass with big chaps, has signed for Sale Sharks.
The former England fly-half, who split from model Brook in 2010 and subsequently fled to Australia, will make his return to the English top-flight next season on a three-year deal with The Sharks.
The 24-year-old, who has not played for England since 2009, hopes the move the reignite his international career at the top level of celebrity dating, and possibly rugby.
Bury’s winless streak was extended to twelve games after they were held to a 0-0 drawn at home to Scunthorpe in League One last night – despite playing against ten men for more than an hour.
Mark Duffy was sent-off for The Iron for an elbow on Partick Cregg, but The Shakers could only find the woodwork in their quest for a decisive goal.
Oldham snatched victory up at Hartlepool in their League One fixture last night, despite missing eleven players through injury and suspension.
Jean Yves M'Voto deflected in Chris Taylor's free-kick after eight minutes, and The Lactics managed to hang onto all three points with a solid defensive display.
Rochdale couldn’t follow up their derby victory over Oldham on Saturday with more vital points, as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat to a resurgent Tranmere Rovers last night.
James Wallace and Jake Cassidy grabbed the goals to leave The Dale five points from safety in League One.
Macclesfield’s woes continued after returning boss Brian Horton oversaw a 4-2 defeat at Rotherham last night.
The Silkmen were never ahead in the match, as goals from Matt Smith and Lewis Chalmers both prompted deflated comebacks.
Macclesfield remain poised just outside of the relegation zone in League Two – only a better goal difference than the bottom two, Hereford and Dagenham & Redbridge, keeping them afloat.
Finally, we have to tip our hats to a young man who has very little to do with Greater Manchester, but a lot to do with scoring goals - Lionel Messi.
The Barcelona forward has broken the club's all scoring record at just 24-years-of-age, and they’ve had a few decent strikers at the Nou Camp over the years too.
Barcelona record-breaker, Leo Messi
Messi, who started last night’s La Liga game against Granada just one shy of the record of 232, crossed the line in emphatic style with his eighth hat-trick of the season.
Barcelona legend Paulino Alcantara holds and unofficial record of 369 goals in 357 games for the club, but only 137 of them were scored in official matches – a bit like Pele’s goals record, although he’s often reluctant to admit it.
With Messi currently scoring at an outrageous rate of more than 50 a season, he’ll surpass just about everybody’s goals record, including all the goals that Alcantara scored in his daydreams, by the time he’s 30.
Simply the greatest ever.
You can follow David on Twitter @DavidPMcCourt
