Wenger wants Walcott to pen new deal but Gunners boss won't guarantee England international a start

Arsene Wenger wants Theo Walcott to sign a new Arsenal contract - but warned the forward he is not guaranteed to start every week.

Walcott’s current deal expires at the end of next season and talks have begun over a new contract.

However, it is unclear whether he sees his long-term future at the club given how little he has featured.

Walcott has started just four times since returning from a knee injury in November and first-team prospects are likely to be central to talks.

The 25-year-old, who earns close to £100,000 per week, is also likely to expect a pay increase. 

Wenger said: ‘Will his lack of playing time have an impact? Of course. I want him to stay and be a regular player but no matter where you go, if it is a big club you have to compete for your place.’

Captain Mikel Arteta returned to training on Friday after four months out with calf and ankle problems.

The Spaniard, who is three weeks away from playing, is out of contract in the summer but is expected to sign a new 12-month deal.

Wenger also confirmed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will miss four weeks with a hamstring injury. Jack Wilshere is nearing fitness following minor ankle surgery.

If Manchester City don't get their hands on silverware, star striker Sergio could follow Bale and Suarez

Over the past two summers, the Premier League has had to wave goodbye to two of its best players. Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez moved on after their clubs could not fulfil their ambition. Sergio Aguero could be next. But City could end the season without a trophy, losing in the last 16 of the Champions League and failing to make a domestic final or retain their Premier League crown.

If Manchester City are not careful, Sergio Aguero could be next.

The Argentinian has been brilliant this season and carried City at times. Before his injury at the start of December, he was in the form of his life. He looked fit and healthy, which has been a major problem for him with his muscular frame, and he had 19 goals in 20 games. That is some record.

But City could end the season without a trophy, losing in the last 16 of the Champions League and failing to make a domestic final or retain their Premier League crown.

So you could forgive Aguero for being tempted to move to one of the big two clubs in Spain or to Bayern Munich; somewhere he might feel he has a better chance of winning the Champions League.

City must do everything they can to stop this happening.

Since arriving in 2011, he has been City’s most consistent player. Vincent Kompany is enduring a rough spell, Yaya Toure has issues with his temperament and David Silva is consistent but not a match-winner. Aguero is their main man.

Despite injury problems, he has averaged 24.5 goals a season in England — a better rate than Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney — and his title- winning goal in 2012 made him a club legend.

The best strikers often play with an edge, just look at Diego Costa this season, but Aguero is so well balanced, mentally and physically. But it is because of that slightly quieter personality that City cannot afford to take him for granted.

They will hope he has the hunger to drive the club forward and fire them to future Champions League glory. Aguero seems the type to commit for the long haul but there are no guarantees.

Success is always much sweeter when you have been with a club for a longer period — you learn to take the rough with the smooth. But modern footballers are globetrotters.

At Arsenal, we lost key players such as Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit after less successful periods. City will be desperate the same doesn’t happen to them.

When City were struggling, he was the one dragging them through games. That hat-trick against Bayern Munich gave the team the belief they so desperately needed to get out of their Champions League group. It is certainly not Aguero who has been letting the side down.

When City lost the Community Shield to Arsenal, I sensed complacency in their game. People say it is a friendly, but it is one where you can lay down a marker. They have been playing catch-up ever since.

Of course there are reasons to stay at a club beyond success on the pitch. Since Sheik Mansour took over, it is not just players they have invested in. Vast sums have been spent on infrastructure and facilities and, having been given a tour by Kompany, I could see that their new training ground is out of this world. The philosophy of the club is strong and core values are spread from the top down.

From the owner and the chairman down to every member of staff, there is a real integrity about the place. Aguero is well-rewarded financially and the fans adore him, so there are plenty of reasons for him to stay.

But for all City’s efforts off the pitch, any truly ambitious player will care deeply about results on it. The club might be building for the long term but most players are only interested in the short term. Unless performances improve and quickly, their star striker might think about leaving

Premier League stars are casting their vote for player of the year award... so, who would our writers pick if they had to vote today?

Voting for the Players' Player of the Year award has already begun 

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez won the gong last year after 31 league goals 

Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic, Alexis Sanchez, and Harry Kane are among the stand-out performers this season 

There may still be 10 games and more than two months to go until the curtain falls on this season's Barclays Premier League action. 

But, somewhat farcically, voting for the Players' Player of the Year award, has already begun.

Luis Suarez, who scored 31 league goals for Liverpool last term before his £75million summer move to Barcelona, currently holds the title. 

Sportsmail's team of top writers give their verdict on which player they would want to follow in the Uruguay international's footsteps if they were asked to cast their vote today.

Nemanja Matic 

Jose Mourinho’s current Chelsea team is perhaps the most physically imposing he has ever assembled and Matic stands out as a giant among men. 

A superb reader of the game, Matic can pass the ball well, too. He would get in just about every team in Europe and that says it all.

Harry Kane  

Chelsea have been the best team with immense consistency from Nemanja Matic and Eden Hazard. But no-one has made a greater individual impact than Harry Kane. 

He’s transformed the mood at White Hart Lane with his energy and desire, deflected attention from the big-money flops and offered hope for the future as a flag-bearer for the youth system. Not to mention 26 goals, and an anticipated England call-up. 

He must finish the season and kick on, but Kane seems capable of that. Each time he seems about to fade, he hits back.

Who deserves to be voted Player of the Year today? Here’s my answer to the question: No-one. It’s too early.

It’s a nonsense that the players have to vote so soon and shows why the Footballer of the Year award, voted by members of the Football Writers’ Association, has more credibility. I'll save my vote until then, thank you. 

But among the contenders: John Terry, Harry Kane, Philippe Coutinho, Alexis Sanchez, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Danny Ings, David de Gea and Charlie Austin. Voting now is like deciding a Wimbledon champion before the quarter-finals are played. 

I want to see how they fare at the business end of the season.

Eden Hazard

It's close between Hazard and Sergio Aguero but the brilliant Belgian shades it thanks to his remarkable injury-free record. Already this season Hazard has pulled on a Chelsea shirt 41 times and has again been superb. 

Aguero's susceptibility to various issues stops him from becoming Manchester City's first winner of the award.  

Harry Kane 

He deserves it for the surprise element more than anything else - nobody could have predicted his impact at Tottenham this season. He lives for the game, thriving on the responsibility of scoring goals for the club and enjoying his relationship with Spurs supporters. Next week he will be rewarded with a call into the England squad.

Nemanja Matic

I reserve the right to change my mind in the next few weeks, as Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez have both been superb. Hazard could become one of the game’s greats. 

But I’m close to settling on Matic, because his position is often under-acknowledged and because he has provided balance to a Chelsea team that had collected flair players while eschewing midfielders who can defend. 

He is a throwback to Patrick Vieira: the aggression, the superb distribution, the instinctive reading of the game and, most of all, those longs legs extending to whip the ball away from an attacking player who thinks he is clear on goal. 

Because he is so good defensively, his passing and creativity in forward areas are often overlooked. I’m expecting the more glamorous players to win the awards but I don’t think any player contributes more to their respective teams than Matic.

Harry Kane

There is nothing dark about the art of Kane and a victory for the Spurs striker would be a victory for football and all of the reasons why we should love the game. 

There are no elbows, no spitting, no intimidating referees - he scores goals for his boyhood club and does so with a smile on his face. His brilliant enthusiasm aside, Kane is a worthy winner on footballing merit alone and has consistently been the division's best striker this season. 

His goals have invariably been match-winning and his breakthrough campaign should be crowned with a clean sweep of the annual awards.

David De Gea  

He almost certainly won't win it but David De Gea deserves some representation for Player of the Year based purely on the fact he has single-handedly and often stunningly rescued Manchester United and kept them in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Branislav Ivanvoic 

This is one of the toughest to call because the obvious stand-out performers -  Diego Costa, Eden Hazard and Sergio Aguero - have missed games or been inconsistent. So in a very even field I'd vote for Branislav Ivanovic because he's typified best why Chelsea will be champions

Eden Hazard  

Chelsea aren’t winning too many friends at the moment but it does look like they will win a Premier League and Capital One Cup double, and no-one will have contributed more than last season’s PFA Young Player of the Year. 

A supremely gifted footballer, Hazard deserves the main award this season ahead of Sanchez, Costa, Coutinho and Kane.

David De Gea

Nobody goes to football matches hoping for clean sheets but the United goalkeeper has produced saves of wonder this season, genuinely entertaining and worthy of repeated replays as much as any goal. This award should go to a player who has impacted his team significantly, clearly lifting them higher. So far, De Gea has done that. 

Harry Kane named Barclays Premier League player of the month for February

Harry Kane has been named the Barclays Premier League player of the month for the second successive time.

The Tottenham striker scored four goals, including a brace against north London rivals Arsenal and the equaliser against West Ham.

Kane is only the fourth player to win the award twice in a row, joining Cristiano Ronaldo, Dennis Bergkamp and Robbie Fowler.

Kane, who has been tipped to win his first England call-up later this month, said: 'I'm very happy, very pleased. It’s an honour. To win this award once, let alone twice in two months is special. 

'Against Arsenal, winning 2-1, and getting both the goals was a special day for myself, for my career and for the club itself.' 

The 21-year-old his sights set on becoming the first man to win the award three months in a row.

He said: 'To make history would be something very special. Obviously I’ve scored a couple so far this month.

'Still a few more games to go, so hopefully I’ll get a few more goals and we’ll see what happens, but I’m looking forward to the games ahead.' 

PLAYERS WHO HAVE WON THE AWARD TWICE IN A ROW 

Robbie Fowler  (Liverpool) 

- December 1995 and January 1996 

Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal) 

- August and September 1997

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) 

- November and December 2006

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) 

- January and February 2015 

It has been a remarkable rise for Kane who only scored his first Premier League goal at the end of the season but is now third in the race for the Barclays Golden Boot with 16 goals.

Kane said: 'It's happened quite fast but I have always said I had belief in myself. It was just waiting to get the chance and being patient and being ready to take it. I've been able to do that.

'I have loved every minute of playing and have loved my football so much at the moment, playing with my mates, in a great team and a great squad. I am looking forward to the rest of the games.'

Woods rules himself out of Arnold Palmer Invitational as former world No 1 bids to make Masters

Tiger Woods is still hopeful of competing at the Masters after announcing he will miss next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. He made the announcement via his personal website.

The 14-time major winner has been out of action since the beginning of February when he withdrew midway through his first round at the Farmers Insurance Open due to back pain.

The 39-year-old then decided to take an indefinite break from the game although he insisted his back was not an issue and he wanted to concentrate on getting his game 'tournament ready'. 

And he has now confirmed that he will not be teeing it up at Bay Hill, where he has won eight times, just three weeks before the year's first major at Augusta.

'I spoke to Arnold today and told him that I will not play in his tournament this year,' he said in a statement on his official website. 'I'm sorry I won't be in Orlando next week, but I know it will be a really successful event.

'I've put in a lot of time and work on my game and I'm making strides, but like I've said, I won't return to the PGA Tour until my game is tournament ready and I can compete at the highest level.

'I hope to be ready for the Masters, and I will continue to work hard preparing for Augusta.

'I want to thank everyone again for their support.'

Woods' absence in Orlando means that if he is to return to action before the Masters begins on April 9, the Valero Texas Open and the Shell Houston Open will be his only opportunities to play tournament golf.

Should he not take part in the Texas swing, Woods will have played just 47 holes on Tour this season going into his campaign for a fifth Green Jacket.

Woods missed the cut in his season opener at the Waste Management Phoenix Open after firing a career-worst 82 in the second round before his withdrawal at Torrey Pines. 

The world can't miss this fight: Mayweather ready for $300m showdown but Pacquiao's trainer Roach warns, 'we're gonna kick your ass' as two rivals go head-to-head in LA

The carpet was red. Not in memory of all the Oscar winners who walked it down the Hollywood years but for the bad blood soon to be spilt by the two greatest boxers in the world. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao took this starry detour en route to their appointment with destiny in Las Vegas on May 2.

The Academy Awards have outgrown the Nokia Theater now but this landmark still plays host to those who dream of immortality.

 Ultimate stardom can bring out the best or worst in fighting men and Pacquiao had said that it would be good for boxing if can defeat Mayweather, who he sees as bloated with arrogance by success and wealth.

So the man who calls himself Money presented himself in a quiet suit and a modest demeanour, speaking with admiration of his challenger as the best pound-for-pound man in the ring.

Even though he does expect to win the richest fight of all time.

And although he dubs himself The Best Ever, he was full of respect for the legends who preceded him in the lighter-to-middling weight divisions.

‘When I saw Thomas Hearns versus Marvin Hagler I thought to myself there would never be a bigger fight, ever. They were great. Yet here we are today. Getting ready to make some history.’ 

There was no trash-talking. Floyd said of Manny: ‘It is all about the best fighting the best and Pacquiao is one of the best fighters of this era. 

'He’s a great fighter. To reach where he has in the sport of boxing, to be here now, he has to be doing something right. This is part of the fascination of this fight.

‘I can always figure out an opponent instantly and I will have to do it again.’ 

He also predicts – in addition to ‘my emerging victorious yet again’ – that this event will live up to it’s gigantic hype. He says: ‘I’m excited. He’s excited.

 It’s gonna be exciting. This is a fight the world can't miss. It is an unbelievable match-up

‘Styles make fights. I’m not psychic so I can’t tell you exactly how it play out. But I can’t wait. Manny is a very interesting fighter but I’ve only seen him fight live twice in the last five years – I’m more of a football and basketball fan these days – but I will find the key to Mr Pacquiao. Just as we’ve beaten all the other top guys.

'He wants to win just the same way I want to win. But one thing I do know about any sport, when you lose its in your mind. If you’ve lost once its in your mind, if you lost twice its in your mind.'

Nor does he accept the widespread perception that, with him aged 38 and Pacquiao 36 – that the fight has come five years too late.

He says: ‘Everything is always in the timing. When we met each other for the first time at that basketball ball game the other night and then talked man to man in his hotel room, the time was right to make this fight.

‘We’ll see if we’re too old. I feel good. I look forward to looking good.’ Of his alleged vulnerability to southpaws, of which the Pac-Man is the prime example, Mayweather says: ‘I’m eight wins in a row against southpaws in my 47 victories to date. For me it’s business as usual.’

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum questioned that: ‘When Floyd was with me Floyd Snr (his trainer and father) used to say, "No Southpaws. No Southpaws".’

Nevertheless, Mayweather denied there had ever been serious differences between himself and Arum: 'There's never been animosity. It was just that the time had come for me to be my own promoter and to gain that experience.’

While Mayweather talks of ‘just continuing to do what we’ve always done,’ Pacquaio admits he has been preparing mentally for this during the seemingly ever-lasting negotiations.

He says: ‘It’s been five years and I’ve been thinking about it all that time. Running it through my mind. Now I can put all that to good use.’

Pacquiao draws on that to sustain his own belief that he will win: ‘I am 100 per cent confident I will win. In truth I was more worried about boxing Oscar De La Hoya – very good boxer – and Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito (both bigger men and very hard punchers) – than I am about this fight.’

Equally well-dressed and just as courteous, Pacquiao stressed the importance of victory not only to himself but his country, where he is an elected Congressman: ‘If you take a video camera to the Philippines on May 2 you will see that everyone in my country watching the fight – and their amazing reaction when I win.’

Pacquiao added: 'I want to let the people know that God can raise someone from nothing to something - and that is me. I came from nothing to something and I owe everything to God.' 

Freddie Roach, meanwhile, said: 'This is the biggest challenge of my life and I've been looking forward to this for a long time. We are in the toughest fight of our lives, we are fighting the best fighter in the world. But we are going to kick his ass.' 

Mayweather has demanded, as is his custom, home advantage in his adopted city of Las Vegas.

But he insists there could be ‘no better stage in the world’ for an event of this magnitude.

Ever the showman-cum-salesman, he set the scene perfectly: ‘Lights, camera, action.’

Those lights, cameras – and of course the music – then turned up to dazzling glare and deafening blast as they strode down the aisle of the Theater and onto the stage for the big-sell.

This rehearsed razzamataz was beamed around the world via satellite by the two giant cable TV networks in America, who are sharing the $350 million to half-billion dollar bonanza.

Arum put the size of the fight into context by saying: ‘We are used to seeing events like the Olympics get this sort of attention but it rarely happens in boxing. Now Mayweather v Pacquiao will be watched by pretty much everyone in the world. These are two great fighters and what they are doing will be great for boxing.'

Murray confident Bjorkman can find his feet as part of his new look coaching set up

Andy Murray is not sure about Jonas Bjorkman's dancing but is confident the Swede will prove a valuable addition to his coaching team. The 42-year-old is to join Murray for a trial week at some point in the next month with a view to working with the Scot on a permanent basis alongside his main coach Amelie Mauresmo. The exact timing of that week is up in the air because Bjorkman is currently competing on Let's Dance, the Swedish version of Strictly Come Dancing. 

Murray, whose mother Judy was a high-profile contestant on the last series of the British show, told BBC Radio Five Live: 'I haven't seen him dance yet but apparently he's one of the favourites to win so he must be all right.'

With Mauresmo only committed to working with Murray for 25 weeks a year, the world number four has made finding an additional coach a priority.

The role had been filled under Ivan Lendl and then Mauresmo by his long-time friend Dani Vallverdu until the pair went their separate ways at the end of last season.

The aim will be for Bjorkman to travel with Murray during the weeks when Mauresmo is unavailable, while they will also work together at certain times of the year.

Murray said: 'We've agreed for him to work with us for a week just to try and see how it goes. Normally when I've started working with coaches I've done that.

'I know him very well from when he played. He was one of the older guys when I came on the tour and he was very good to me. He's a very nice person, good sense of humour. And he was an exceptional tennis player who made the most of his ability.

'A lot of Swedes turn out to be good coaches. They've got a good mindset, they're very calm individuals and extremely hard workers. Hopefully when we try it out together it works well.'

Bjorkman reached number four in the singles rankings and number one in doubles, winning nine grand slam titles.

Since retiring in 2008 he has worked in the media, as a coach with Sweden's Davis Cup team and behind the scenes at the ATP tournaments in Bastad and Stockholm.

He becomes the latest Swede to take up a high-profile coaching role in men's tennis after Magnus Norman, who guided Stan Wawrinka to the Australian Open title last year, and Roger Federer's part-time mentor Stefan Edberg.

Bjorkman agreed with Murray's assessment of Swedish strengths but also said he hoped to bring energy and fun to training sessions.

Recalling how he became friends with Murray, Bjorkman said: 'I always spent quite a lot of time around Tim (Henman).

'When Andy came along, he was going to be the new superstar, I met him straight away and we connected well.

'He's a great guy, great sense of humour. Both of us like to have a little bit of a trash talk, we are interested in other sports. The only negative was he beat me twice. But I'm really looking forward to it.'

Bjorkman revealed he has been speaking to Mauresmo on the phone and believes they are singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to Murray's game.

'It feels great,' he said. 'I really like the way she believes Andy should play and how they've been working.

'Andy's in a great situation now, he played phenomenal tennis in Australia. The match against (Tomas) Berdych I believe was the best since his injury. He's at his prime with his age and has some interesting years ahead of him.'

Murray and Mauresmo are currently in Indian Wells for the first Masters tournament of the season, where he will begin his campaign this weekend against Canadian Vasek Pospisil.

The Scot, meanwhile, has also committed to playing at the ATP tournament in Washington in August as part of his build-up to the US Open. He reached the final on his only previous appearance nine years ago.

Lack of world class keeper has held Arsenal back... if Chelsea want £10m, Cech is a must

 
Cech could be an important member of Arsenal's side if he switched clubs 

Jose Mourinho says Cech can leave Chelsea if he wishes, but only for big money as he rates him one of the top three goalkeepers in the world.

So here's the question. If Petr Cech, at 33, is available in the summer, and Arsenal have a chance of buying him, what should be Arsene Wenger's best offer? 

Cech cannot command such a fee at his age. A better marker may be the £9m Liverpool paid for Simon Mignolet. Is Cech better than Mignolet? Yes. So if Chelsea asked for £10m for a 33-year-old reserve, should Arsenal be tempted? Yes again. 

The absence of a world class goalkeeper is holding Arsenal back. Cech could easily last another four years at the top, making him value at £10m. 

Pat Jennings was 32 when he switched from Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal in 1977; he played his last game for the club in 1985 at the age of 39. There has never been a question over his worth and Cech could be as important.

Bolt takes inspiration from Ali as he puts in the hard yards ahead of return to the track

Usain Bolt is putting in the hard yards ahead of a busy summer on the track as he builds up to the world championships in Beijing, as shown in his latest post of his training regime on social media.

Six-time Olympic champion Bolt posted a glimpse of his training progress at his base in Jamaica on Instagram on Thursday with footage of a block start in slow motion.

Bolt explodes out of the blocks in the baking sun and drives a few steps before slowing up in the post accompanied by an inspiration quote from one of his heroes Mohammad Ali.

'I hated every minute of training, but I said, “Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion”,' Bolt’s social media profile said with the vine video.

After missing the majority of last season due to injury, the 100 and 200 metre world record holder is leaving nothing to chance in 2015.

He’s locked in dates in Paris where he’ll run in the 100m on July 4 and the following week at the Athletissima Diamond League in Switzerland where he’ll compete in the 200m.

The later event is one which hold special significance for Bolt who has said he’s keen to attack the elusive 19 second mark – his world mark stands at 19.19.

In an interview with Sportsmail’s Matt Lawton last month Bolt outlined his aim to become the ‘greatest sportsman ever’ and emulate his heroes including Ali, Michael Jordan and Michael Johnson, whose 200m mark he overtook.

His major target in the short-term is the world championships in Beijing in in August.

But Rio de Janeiro and his bid to win a third consecutive treble in the 100m, 200m and 4x100 relay is the holy grail. Just – and in Bolt’s case it is just – winning a third 100m title would put him in the history books.

De Bruyne has more goals and more assists than Fabregas... so, did Mourinho make a mistake letting the Wolfsburg wonder go?

Kevin De Bruyne or Cesc Fabregas? Jose Mourinho knows who he'd choose. The Chelsea boss made a brave decision when he shipped the former off to Wolfsburg, basing the spine of his team on £30million man Fabregas. But could it have been the wrong choice? This season, De Bruyne has racked up more goals and more assists than Fabregas, while Mourinho's current midfield maestro searches desperately for his first goal since December.

De Bruyne is in the process of establishing himself as one of the biggest talents in the Bundesliga, helping Wolsburg cement their place in the top echelons of German football.

Typically, the pair play in slightly different positions. Fabregas is more suited to a defensive midfield role, while De Bruyne roams further forward. 

Despite this, for £30m you would expect Fabregas to be firing on all cylinders, chipping in with more goals than he has been. 

De Bruyne was signed for just shy of £7m in 2012, but mostly consigned to a place on the Stamford Bridge bench, starting just two Premier League games in two years at the club.

He was criminally underused in the league, especially if this season's stats hint at his ability. 19 assists to Fabregas' 18, 13 goals to Fabregas' four.

Indeed, it is the goal count that is most worrying for Chelsea.

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD 

	CESC FABREGAS	KEVIN DE BRUYNE
LEAGUE APPEARANCES	23(1)	24
EUROPEAN APPEARANCES	8	9
LEAGUE ASSISTS	15	14
LEAGUE GOALS	2	8
EUROPEAN ASSISTS	3	4
EUROPEAN GOALS	2	5
TOTAL MINUTES PLAYED	2745	2957
TOTAL ASSISTS	18	19
TOTAL GOALS	4	13

They have not been desperate for scorers, admittedly - Diego Costa and Eden Hazard have that covered - but their side could surely have been improved with the talents of the Belgian midfielder.

At the start of the 2013/14 season, De Bruyne was given a fleeting chance to impress, before the door slammed shut on his Chelsea career. His final two starts in the Premier League.

First up, Hull. As assist for Oscar, and an impressive performance that warranted praise from Gary Neville. 'The surprise of the season,' he was tipped as.

Following that, he was entrusted with a place in the starting XI against Manchester United. 60 minutes, zero goals, zero assists.

And from there, zero starts. His only further Premier League appearance came against Fulham a month later. Five minutes at the end, when the game was already won.  

He was shipped out on loan to Werder Bremen in January, where he impressed. Perhaps it was the change of surroundings, perhaps slightly easier opposition, but German rivals Wolfsburg later decided that his performances were enough to be worthy of £18m.

He scored 10 goals in 33 appearances on loan in Germany, and has continued where he left off this season. A brace against Inter Milan on Thursday is his latest story of success.

Wolfsburg are now in a commanding position in their Europa League last 16 tie, and that is mainly thanks to De Bruyne.

When he wasn't scoring, he was setting them up, and he earned deserved praise from all corners.

Fabregas, on the other hand, could not do the same against Paris Saint-Germain. Another level of competition, yes, but it is worth considering whether De Bruyne would have been able to make an impact.

Stifled by Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta, the Spain international was largely anonymous.

There is no questioning Mourinho's eye for talent. He has produced them time and time again, but everyone makes mistakes.

De Bruyne may not have impressed week in, week out in a Chelsea shirt, but he was only 20 years old when he joined.

Three years later, he has matured into an impressive footballer. Still baby-faced, but far from it with the ball at his feet.  

England avoid final humiliation at World Cup as Bell brushes aside Afghanistan

England will leave a World Cup they can hardly be said to have graced having at least avoided another catastrophe in their final pretty meaningless match. When you have been as desperate as England in this tournament any win is a good one so they will be relieved to have avoided what would have been the most embarrassing defeat of them all. A gloomy, miserable Sydney day matched the mood and turned this dead rubber into a damp one, with England winning a truncated contest with ease.

It will mean little to them but at least England avoided statistically their worst World Cup of all, their victories over Scotland and now Afghanistan matching their miserly returns of 1996 when they could defeat just Holland and the United Arab Emirates. This, though, feels much worse.

The statistics, if we can dare mention them, will say that Afghanistan could only manage 111 for seven in the 36.2 overs that the weather allowed them before the third of three rain breaks brought their innings to a premature close.

Then England, set 101 to win in 25 overs by Duckworth-Lewis, cruised home while losing just one wicket with 41 balls in hand, helped by a quite shocking fielding performance from Afghanistan.

Alex Hales was dropped twice, both by Najibullah Zadran off the bowling of Shapoor Zadran, but showed the hitting he is capable of in reaching 37 before Afghanistan finally held on to a chance.

And Ian Bell, playing in his 161st and surely his last one-day international for England with a new era about to dawn, signed off with an unbeaten 52. 

Now England will slink off home on Saturday with much to contemplate if they are ever to have a chance of catching up with the big-hitters of this tournament who have simply left them behind in 50-over cricket.

What cricket there was on Friday went England’s way, as it should against a team who have only been playing official cricket for the last 14 years.

England had little to gain in their final group game and even more to lose against an Afghan team who have proved themselves here to be more than capable of causing some anxious moments for the established teams.

But Afghanistan struggled against the moving ball and under leaden Sydney skies after Eoin Morgan had won an important toss in what might be the last game of his short reign as England’s one-day captain.

Morgan is one of a number of senior England players who will have to wait and see whether they have a future in limited-overs cricket if the selectors take their only feasible option of starting from scratch with a new, young team.

Two others who may be told to just concentrate on Test cricket in future are the established opening bowling pair of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad but both proved more than a handful for the inexperienced Afghan batsmen. 

Neither Anderson nor Broad have been at their best here, one of the many reasons why England have struggled, but at least they will be pleased with how they finished, both picking up a wicket and conceding just 18 runs each.

England were without the injured pair of Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali and the men who stood in for them could also be satisfied with their work.

The decision to leave out Ravi Bopara on the eve of the tournament to replace him with Gary Ballance is one of many to backfire on England and here he showed that he is more than capable of doing a decent job in the field.

Bopara picked up two wickets and took an outstanding catch in the deep to give himself something to remember if he too is playing his last England game.

James Tredwell has suffered because of the rise of Moeen as an off-spinner but he was as steady as ever here while the pick of the England bowlers was Chris Jordan, something for them to cling to as they ponder the future.

The World Cup, which has confirmed that 50-over cricket is very much alive and kicking in the Twenty20 era, will now go on without England and the sad truth is that they will not be missed at all. They have to start all over again now. 

I'm back, boss! Arteta returns to Arsenal training with a handshake for Wenger... and he's set for new contract

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta is back in full training after recovering from an ankle problem. The 32-year-old underwent surgery in January to remove a bony spur which had been causing him inflammation and discomfort since November. His last Premier League appearance came against Manchester United that month but he is now expected to be fully fit at the start of April.

Arteta is out of contract at the end of the season but he is expected to agree a new one-year deal.

Arsene Wenger, who was pictured shaking hands with the former Everton man in training at London Colney on Friday, has confirmed that he wants his skipper to remain at the Emirates.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's game with West Ham, the Frenchman said: 'Normally I would like him to stay on, yes. 

'He has a huge experience and is very important in the squad.'

Arsenal's players appeared in good spirits after seeing off Manchester United earlier in the week to progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Francis Coquelin were among those pictured laughing and joking at London Colney as the Gunners prepared for the visit of London rivals West Ham.

Sterling casts doubt over Liverpool future after forward puts talks over new deal on hold with Bayern and Madrid circling

Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling has shelved contract talks until the end of the season. The development casts further doubt over the England international's long-term future at Anfield. Sterling has been locked in talks over a contract extension for several months but the 20-year-old has told club officials he wants to focus on the remainder of Liverpool's Premier League season and on winning the FA Cup.

he news will be met with anxiety by club chiefs, who are desperate to secure Sterling on a long-term deal and the next round of talks, when they recommence in the summer, will be critical, with his existing £35,000-per-week deal expiring in 2017.

Given Sterling’s status as one of Europe’s top emerging talents, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are watching on closely.

Likewise, Premier League clubs will also enter the race if it becomes clear Sterling is available.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claims Sterling has been offered an ‘incredible deal’ — which is understood to be close to £100,000-per-week.

Rodgers has previously insisted Sterling is close to putting pen to paper, but as it stands there is no agreement.

The Anfield boss has called the Jamaican-born forward the best young player in Europe and is under increasing pressure to ensure the club keep their jewel in the crown. Whether Liverpool finish in the top four is likely to be a factor in Sterling’s decision.