Gus Poyet faces a daunting test in his first home game in charge of Sunderland as they welcome Newcastle United to the Stadium of Light.

Poyet s side sit bottom of the Premier League having taken just one point from their first eight Premier League games.

The Uruguayan, who took over from Paolo Di Canio on October 8, watched his new side fall to a disappointing 4-0 defeat at Swansea City last time out.

He will hope for a better performance against Sunderland s bitter rivals, and should take heart from their 3-0 win over Newcastle at St James Park last season.

Poyet s side will have designs on replicating that result, which also came in Di Canio s second game at the helm.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion boss could have a fully-fit squad to choose from,…

Spanish champions are keeping a close eye on their talented midfielder Alen Halilovic, who is currently on loan at Sporting Gijon.

Having been brought to Barcelona at the beginning of the 2014-15 season, the talented 19-year-old is yet to make an appearance for the senior squad.

Following 22 appearances for Barcelona II, Alen Halilovic was loaned out to Sporting Gijon at the beginning of the ongoing season as Barcelona were keen to grant their starlet a chance to earn valuable first team experience away from Camp Nou.

The Croatia playmaker has managed 20 La Liga appearances this term adding three goals in the process for Gijon who are currently sitting in 19th place in the standings.

reports that Barcelona are willing to listen offers for Halilovic as t…

Tottenham look set to sign Brazilian winger Willian from Anzhi for £30million

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham are believed to be close to agreeing a £30million deal with Russian club Anzhi for Brazil midfielder Willian.

The 25-year-old has also been linked with Tottenham’s Premier League rivals Liverpool this summer, but it seems that it is Spurs who have won the race for Brazilian international.

Money

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas had some cash to spend this summer. However, the Portuguese boss spend has already spent over £40million on Roberto Soldado and Paulinho in a bid to strengthen his team.

As well as the move for Willian, Spurs are being linked with a move for Roma forward Erik Lamela, who is rated in the £30million bracket. …

Valencia have completed the signing of Geoffrey Kondogbia from Inter on a season-long loan deal with the option to buy.

Much was expected of Kondogbia when Inter forked out €30million to sign him from Monaco in 2015.

He made 26 Serie A appearances in his debut season at San Siro and a further 24 last term, but new coach Luciano Spalletti has been keen to remould his squad after Inter finished seventh last term.

The Nerazzurri have signed Borja Valero and Matias Vecino from Fiorentina during the transfer window, pushing Kondogbia down the pecking order in Inter s midfield.

Valencia have consequently made their move, marking a return to LaLiga for the France international after he represented Sevilla between 2012 and 2013.

He reunited with Jeison …

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque says it would be an injustice if Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta retires without winning the Ballon d Or. 

Iniesta put in a man-of-the-match performance as Barca claimed back-to-back Copa del Rey crowns with a 2-0 win over Sevilla on Sunday.

The 32-year-old has now won 28 trophies with the Spanish giants since making his senior debut in 2002, adding to his two European Championships and a World Cup with Spain. 

However, Iniesta has never won a Ballon d Or finishing runner-up to Barca team-mate Lionel Messi in 2010, and then claiming third place in 2012 as Messi won again.

And Del Bosque, who will be banking on Iniesta at the upcoming Euro 2016 in France, believes it is unfair if the midfield maestro never receives the …

LA Galaxy defender Robbie Rogers, notable as the first openly gay player in any of America s major professional men s sports leagues, has announced his retirement.

Rogers initially quit the sport in 2013, aged 25, after leaving Leeds United, and then came out before returning to the sport with the Galaxy in MLS.

The former United States international won the MLS Cup with hometown club LA in 2014 adding to an earlier title with Columbus Crew before calling time on his career for a second time on Tuesday.

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from the game of soccer, Rogers said in a statement.

Having the opportunity to win an MLS Cup in my hometown, with my hometown club as an openly gay man will be something I will carry with me for th…

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is already working towards a career in management when he retires from playing.

The 30-year-old made his Premier League debut for Everton back in 2002 and has made close to 600 appearances in his club career.

But the England skipper has his sights set on prolonging his spell in the game long after he hangs up his boots, telling fans that a coaching career is already on the cards.

I would like to be manager when I finish playing, Rooney said as part of a Facebook Q A session with team-mate Ashley Young.

Football is what I ve done my whole life. I m currently in the process of taking my coaching badges so hopefully when I finish playing I ll have that complete.

Rooney, currently with the United squad in Beij…

Burnley midfielder Jack Cork has been handed a first senior England call-up after a trio of stars withdrew from Gareth Southgate s squad.

The 28-year-old has impressed since joining the Clarets at the start of this season, playing every minute of his side s 11 Premier League games, and an opportunity has arisen at international level after Jordan Henderson, Fabian Delph and Raheem Sterling were all ruled out.

Cork, formerly of Chelsea, Southampton and Swansea City, represented England at youth level all the way up to the Under-21s, while he also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.

The London-born player stated last week he retained hope of playing for the Three Lions, saying of himself and his Burnley team-mates: Maybe one day, if we keep the form goi…

Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand tried to convince Real Madrid s Cristiano Ronaldo to return to Old Trafford in the close-season.

The Portuguese had been a reported target for United, for whom he enjoyed a six-year spell between 2003 and 2009, collecting three Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League in a trophy-laden stint.

But the 28-year-old ended speculation on his long-term future at the Bernabeu by signing a new five-year contract in September and has gone on to score 20 La Liga goals in just 17 appearances so far this term.

Ferdinand believes the opportunity to bring the Portugal international back to the club has now been missed, but believes United would have been his destination of choice had he decided to leave Real.

When asked by…

Manchester City have completed a clean sweep of the Premier League s end-of-season awards after reclaiming the title in impressive fashion.

Pep Guardiola and Ruben Dias have been named the top manager and player respectively for the 2020-21 season, while Phil Foden was chosen as the best youngster in the competition.

City finished 12 points clear of second-placed Manchester United as they reclaimed the title from Liverpool, winning their third league crown in the space of four seasons, albeit an excellent campaign ended in disappointment with a defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League final.

Key to their domestic success was the form of centre-back Dias, who elevated the defence following his arrival from Benfica.

City kept more clean sheets than any ot…