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Andy sixth in the world after Cincinnati triumph
MURRAY THE MASTER
ANDY MURRAY is celebrating his first Masters Series title after victory over Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati on Sunday.
The British No 1 produced a stunning performance to overcome the Serb 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5) in a thrilling final in Ohio.
BLACKPOOL striker Ben Burgess will this season give News of the World readers an exclusive insight into life at one of the country's less glamorous clubs. The Seasiders are famous as the club which gave us legendary winger Sir Stanley Matthews but not even their most ardent fan would claim they are still in the big-time. Ben, 26, is about to start his third season at the club, after spells at Blackburn (where he played three games as an 18-year-old for Graeme Souness), Northern Spirit in Sydney, Brentford, Stockport, Oldham and Hull. Newly married to Kate, he lives in Lytham, drives a BMW, loves playing Pro Evo on the PlayStation and is doing a journalism degree at Staffordshire University. Here he reveals the delights of seeing players on trial.
TRIAL OF STRENGTH FOR ALL OF US
YOU meet some funny people at this time of the year because so many clubs have players on trial.
At Blackpool a couple of seasons ago, we had one guy turn up with a Geordie accent listed both Middlesbrough (believably) and Real Betis (interestingly) among his previous clubs.
NotW columnist Pietersen is England skipper
CAPTAIN K.P
News of the World columnist Kevin Pietersen is the new captain of Test and one-day sides at Lord's it has been confirmed.
Pietersen takes over from Michael Vaughan who chucked the towel in on Sunday.
Tyre trouble sees Hamilton finish fifth
LEWIS FALTERS
LEWIS Hamilton came a disappointing fifth in the Hungarian Grand Prix after tyre trouble dashed his promising pole position start.
The British racing sensation now has a five-point lead in the title race over reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen after Heikki Kovalainen took the top podium place.
"My mind has told me to pack it in"
VAUGHAN QUITS
MICHAEL Vaughan has said a tearful farewell to the England Test captaincy.
Vaughan brought his own future into question after yesterday's five-wicket defeat to South Africa in the third Test at Edgbaston gave the Proteas an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-Test series.
Trotters look set for another relegation scrap
HEAT BACK ON MEGSON
AFTER his Red Adair act last season, Gary Megson has everything to prove again.
An unpopular choice to replace Sammy Lee, Megson ended the protests of those calling for his dismissal by dousing the relegation fires.
Plymouth: Big-money sales will hit survival bid
DEVON AND HELL
THE Devon club appear to have given up the ghost in their pursuit of Premier League football.
Plymouth have raised big money from the sales of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, David Norris, Peter Halmosi and Akos Buzsaky in the last 12 months.
LEAGUE ONE COUNTDOWN
HERE'S our guide to the new season in League One, along with our prediction for where your team will finish. Just scroll down to find your team and then let us know what you think of our verdict.
LEEDS
GOAL-MACHINE Jermaine Beckford is itching to fire resurgent Leeds back towards the big time.
But boss Gary McAllister knows there can be no excuses this time around as he looks to avenge the heartbreak of last year’s play-off final defeat.
West Brom want Blades star Michael Tonge
TONGE CHASE
WEST BROM hope to boost their squad for the Premier League with a £2million bid for Sheffield United midfielder Michael Tonge.
The ex-Manchester United youth star has played almost 300 games for the Blades but is still only 25.
Free-spending Southgate is under the spotlight
CRUNCH TIME FOR GARETH
GARETH SOUTHGATE knows it is time to deliver. And we are not talking about the pizzas he once advertised.
This season, there will be no excuses, no escape route for the manager if Middlesbrough continue to stagnate in the league.
Reading: They look good for top spot
ROYALS CAN RISE TO OCCASION
THE Royals have not been hit as hard as most relegated sides this summer.
The loss of striker Dave Kitson is a blow but the stalwarts of their promotion campaign three years ago — Kevin Doyle (right), Marcus Hahnemann and Graeme Murty — all remain at the club.
Watford: Hornets face huge battle for survival
STINGS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE
THE free-spending of 12 months ago seems a dim and distant memory with tales of the Hornets thought close to administration.
A bad start to the coming season could yet spell the end of Aidy Boothroyd’s three-year reign.
Spanish giants refuse to give up chase
REAL'S FINAL £60m RONALDO BID
By ROB SHEPHERD
REAL MADRID are preparing one final £60million bid to land Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United insist their Portuguese winger is not for sale. But last night Real boss Bernd Schuster confirmed: “The club are working hard to get a solution. We knew it was going to be very complicated.
Southampton: New boss aims for minor miracle
POOR AIMS TO STRIKE IT RICH
JAN POORTVLIET was probably about as recogniseable in Southampton as Rupert Lowe is in the Bronx.
But the 52-year-old former Holland defender has been set the task of steadying Southampton.
Injured for 1,445 days, Kieron's crocked again
DYER STRAITS
By CLIFF HAYES and LUKE NICOLI
KIERON DYER’S long-awaited comeback lies in tatters after his horror injury jinx struck AGAIN.
West Ham’s England midfielder is said to be “devastated” after suffering a stress fracture of the SAME right leg he broke at the start of last season.
MATT POTTS DEAL
STOKE are giving Dominic Matteo a new one-year deal after he proved his fitness.
The former Liverpool defender, 34, missed a large chunk of the 2007-08 season with a foot injury but has sailed through the Potters' pre-season with no problems.
Collingwood shows Pietersen how to do it
FOR PIET'S SAKE, KEVIN
By RICHIE BENAUD, the voice of cricket
PAUL COLLINGWOOD provided one of finest examples of a Test batsman wanting to be on the field at the end of an innings.
In contrast, Kevin Pietersen’s dismissal on Friday at Edgbaston was bizarre.
Spurs won't gel in time to worry teams at the top
JUAN'S BIG FOUR FREEZE
by ROB SHEPERD
SPURS were hailed as the best equipped team to challenge the Big Four after they beat Chelsea in the Carling Cup final.
Then, after a week of parties and laps of honours, they got the sun beds out.
Sheffield Wednesday: Laws can only stand still
OWLS OF DESPAIR
THE Owls’ rise to the Championship three seasons ago was meant to herald a push for the Premier League.
Instead they have stood still.
