Manchester City’s injury concerns are easing with the Blues set to welcome back another two players from injury

Pep Guardiola could have Jeremy Doku and Savinho back in time to face Newcastle next week as Manchester City’s injury problems ease. Savinho has been out since New Year’s Day while Doku went down later in the month to leave the Blues short of wide players despite the arrival of Antoine Semenyo.

City were poor in beating League Two side Salford City on Saturday, with Guardiola putting the team’s struggles down to poor build-up and reading of the game. He was adamant that using wingers would have seen a better performance, but didn’t want to overload new signing Semenyo.

Savinho could have featured after stunning the manager in training this week but it was decided not to throw the Brazilian straight in. He should be in contention for Newcastle though, and Guardiola remains excited by the winger’s potential.

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“He’s [been] injured for six to eight weeks, two months is a lot of time,” he said. “He could play a few minutes but we didn’t want to take risks and step by step. Training two days ago with us, it was like wow. He played so good in training. When Savinho will learn to make the finished product in terms of assists, he will be an unbelievable winger on both sides.

“We know how important Doku is to break teams like Salford or teams who defend deep – proper guys who have the ability to drop them and dribbles help us a lot in the way we want to play. I’m more than delighted with how the team behave.”

Doku has not yet returned to training but is ‘close’ to a return and could also be back as soon as next week. Those two comebacks will leave Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol as the only long-term absentees in the squad, and Guardiola said on Friday that Kovacic is back on the grass as he enters the final stages of his recovery.

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Savvy Hallie sparked a minor sensation in the 2026 Light Fingers Stakes by kicking away from $1.50 pick Apocalyptic and grabbing the Sydney carnival’s first three-year-old fillies prize.

Building on her spring Princess Series dominance, Apocalyptic was a short-priced favourite with Savvy Hallie pegged as the $3.70 main opponent.

Trained by Brad Widdup, the market’s number two delivered in style, seizing control early in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) and beating Apocalyptic by three-quarters of a length despite pressure.

Tommy Berry aboard Apocalyptic remarked on the challenge created by Savvy Hallie’s unchallenged front run.

“It was always going to make it hard from the home turn onwards,” Berry said.

“The leader got a picnic there in front. That was always a possibility.

“I like the way she hit the line late. She will be better suited at the 1400 metres.”

All smiles for Widdup, who hailed Nash Rawiller’s proactive ride that kept foes at bay.

“Good, positive ride. That’s why we put these guys (top jockeys) on,” Widdup said.

“I haven’t used Nash a lot for no other reason than we can’t get him, so it was nice to get him.”

Plans are set for Savvy Hallie’s initial 1400m raid in the Group 1 Surround Stakes, pitting her against Apocalyptic and Tempted, who toppled colts and geldings first-up in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).

Rawiller admitted leading was unplanned but he took charge upfront, trusting Savvy Hallie to fire early in the run home and make opponents labour.

“I had enough confidence in her not to wait for them,” Rawiller said.

“I thought, gee I’ve had all the favours here, I can afford to go before topping the rise and make them chase me down.

“A few of them may have looked like they were coming at some stage of the race but she was always going to be able to find something over the last hundred.”

The racing betting markets for the Light Fingers Stakes offered plenty of value for sharp punters.

The post Savvy Rawiller pinches Light Fingers Stakes on Hallie first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

Wayne Rooney has been out of football management since leaving Plymouth Argyle over a year ago

Wayne Rooney has doubled down on his willingness to take on a coaching role at Manchester United under Michael Carrick if the opportunity arises.

Carrick took the reins as United’s interim manager last month, stepping in for the remainder of the campaign. Prior to Carrick officially being announced, Rooney went on record to say he would happily help out his former team-mate as part of his backroom team.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney said: “Of course I would. It’s a no-brainer. I’m not begging for a job here by the way. Just so everyone knows, if I was asked to go in of course I would. Appointing the manager is the most important thing.”

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Rooney, who made 559 appearances for the club, scoring a club record of 253 goals, has now reiterated that stance. So far, Carrick, who remains undefeated after five matches in the dugout, hasn’t called upon the England legend for support.

When asked again on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast about a potential return to management, Rooney responded: “I would go back if the right opportunity came up. I’m not in a rush.”

When former Premier League boss Sam Allardyce asked whether he’d consider the role of assistant, Rooney replied: “100% yeah. I got asked this a few weeks ago about whether I’d go back to United in a different role.

“Of course I would. Probably the only two clubs I’d go back to [not as a manager] are Everton and United because they’re the two clubs which are close to my heart.”

Following his retirement as a player at Derby County, Rooney swiftly stepped into management at the club, successfully steering them clear of relegation before suffering Championship relegation the following 2021/22 campaign after a 21-point penalty.

He resigned and took charge of MLS side D.C. United from 2022 to 2023, failing to qualify for the playoffs two seasons in a row.

The 40-year-old returned to English football in October 2023 when Birmingham City appointed him as their manager. However, he was dismissed in January 2024 having secured just two victories from 15 fixtures, with Birmingham ultimately suffering relegation that season.

In May 2024, he accepted the same position at Plymouth Argyle but struggled to get results, particularly away from home. He left by mutual agreement in December 2024.

Since then, Rooney has stepped back from management, instead working as a pundit for broadcasters such as TNT Sports and the BBC, while featuring on several podcasts. Rooney was seen sitting next to Carrick in the Old Trafford Directors’ Box last month as the pair watched their sons in action in the FA Youth Cup for United.

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The curling competitions at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, were mired in controversy this weekend after some athletes accused each other of cheating by illegally “double-touching” the stones as they were released down the ice.

The most recent case came in a game between Britain and Germany on Sunday, with Scottish curler Bobby Lammie being accused of double-touching with his team eventually winning 9-4.

How did the Winter Olympics’ curling controversy start?

The issues began on Friday night when Sweden‘s men’s team accused their Canadian opponents of the infraction, triggering a heated clash between players and a subsequent media frenzy.

On Saturday, World Curling deployed additional officials to monitor the so-called “hog line” — the point at which curlers must let go of the stones during delivery — resulting in Rachel Homan of Canada‘s women’s team having a stone disqualified against Switzerland after she allegedly touched it twice.

Curlers insist the double-touching infraction has never been called out with this level of intensity in past competitions, saying it can be difficult to tell if someone is guilty of it.

Canada slam ‘despicable’ decision, ‘untrained’ officials

Canadian men’s captain Brad Jacobs said he believed he and his compatriots were being unfairly targeted following the initial Swedish complaints.

“What happened with [Homan’s] rock was despicable,” he said. “I felt immediately as Canadian curlers we ​were targeted. To go out and pull her rock like that, I think it was a tragedy.”

Canadian coach Paul Webster questioned World Curling’s decision to set officials at the hog line who he said were not adequately prepared for the role.

“I think ​we have untrained people doing things ⁠that they’ve never done before,” he said. “I ⁠have a lot of respect for people ​that are here volunteering their time but we’re not at some bonspiel in Saskatchewan just trying things out,” he said in reference to regular curling tournaments, “we’re at the Olympics.”

British stone removed vs. Germany

World Curling reversed its decision to ramp up officiating on Sunday but ⁠not ​before even more controversy, as British curler Bobby Lammie also had a rock removed from play against Germany.

Asked about this incident, Canada’s Jacobs said: “If he threw that rock ​that way against us, personally I would never ever want that rock to be removed. He did nothing wrong in my opinion.”

But he at least felt it wasn’t just the Canadians being targeted — “which is good,” he said.

Curling: should referees use video replays?

Meanwhile, the controversy has launched a debate about the use of video replays in curling.

“If they bring that in, I think it probably disrupts the speed of play,” said Sweden’s Johanna Heldin. “We’ve always been a sport that tries to play by the rules and have a high level of sportsmanship, so hopefully we can figure that back out.”

Tara Peterson of the United States had a different view, saying she would “absolutely” support video replays. “There are instances where an instant replay would be huge,” she said.

Edited by: Alex Berry

Marcus Rashford has been on loan at Barcelona this season but could face an awkward comeback if he returns to Manchester United in the summer

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A lot has changed at Manchester United since Marcus Rashford was loaned to Barcelona at the beginning of this season. And it potentially sets the scene for an uncomfortable reunion if the England international returns to his home club.

With only about four months remaining on Rashford’s loan agreement at the Camp Nou, speculation is rife as to where he will be playing next season. In the event he does return to Old Trafford, a discussion with those in charge of assigning shirt numbers might be one of his first tasks.

This comes after summer recruit Matheus Cunha was given the No. 10 jersey Rashford had worn for seven consecutive seasons before his exit. However, it’s worth noting Cunha has also shown an affinity for that number over the years.

The 26-year-old wore the No. 10 at Wolves after it was finally relinquished by Daniel Podence. He also chose the iconic digit during his stint at Hertha Berlin, which was the most productive period of his career outside the Premier League.

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Rashford, 28, had little chance of being assigned Barca’s No. 10 upon joining last summer. This was not only due to the possibility of him only being in Catalonia for less than 12 months, but primarily because it already belonged to Lamine Yamal.

Consequently, the England forward faced an uphill battle if he hoped to dislodge arguably the world’s most prized footballer from his favoured position. However, the situation back at Old Trafford is not quite so conclusive.

Interim United manager Michael Carrick has reportedly informed the decision-makers in Manchester he wishes to offer Rashford another opportunity. The striker has notched 10 goals and 13 assists in 34 appearances for Barcelona, sufficient evidence for Carrick that he merits a second chance.

United aren’t in a position where they can afford to overlook talent that still offers value to the squad. Despite his previous disagreements with Carrick’s predecessor, Ruben Amorim, the same friction need not exist under the new management.

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Much hinges on whether Carrick secures the United manager role permanently. The Champions League-winner remains unbeaten in five matches overseeing his former club, though more time is required before the club commits to a long-term appointment.

Former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge of United under comparable circumstances in late 2018. He won 14 of his opening 19 fixtures to secure a permanent position, with Carrick now aiming to replicate (or surpass) that feat.

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Rashford hasn’t let an unfamiliar shirt number hinder his performances at the Camp Nou. Should he make a return to United, the No. 14 he’s excelled in at Barcelona is still available at Old Trafford.

Nevertheless, part of Rashford may want to assert himself by reclaiming his former number. That said, Cunha might be reluctant to relinquish it, having looked extremely impressive since adopting the jersey previously worn by club legends such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, David Beckham and Roy Keane.

The NBA All-Star Game is officially back. After years of embarrassing efforts, even by exhibition game standards, the players finally delivered a showcase that they, and the league, can be proud of — even if the championship game of the new Team USA vs. Team World format was a bit of a dud. 

The USA Stars, the younger roster of American All-Stars, destroyed Team Stripes, to more veteran American group, 47-21, in the championship to lift the trophy after a thrilling round-robin series. Anthony Edwards, who poured in 32 points across Team Stars’ three games, was named MVP, becoming the first Minnesota Timberwolves player to earn the honor since Kevin Garnett in 2003. 

After a fun night of action inside the Intuit Dome, here’s a look at the winners and losers from the 2026 All-Star Game. 

Winner: Victor Wembanyama

In the lead up to Sunday’s showcase, the French phenom made it clear that he was not happy with what the event had turned into in recent years, and was going to do his best to change it. 

“I want to push the great players of this sport to play in the All-Star game just as hard as I will,” Wembanyama said in January. “We’ll see how it goes, but if they don’t play hard, I’ll do it without them.”

He expanded on those thoughts on Saturday. “Exclamation-point plays, playing in a solid manner and sharing the ball with energy,” Wembanyama said, when asked how he planned to set a competitive tone. “If you share that energy, people feel like they have a responsibility to share it back to you.”

Wembanyama walked the walk right from the opening tip of the first game. Within the first two minutes, he threw down a huge slam, scored the first seven points for Team World and swatted a Jalen Duren attempt into the crowd. When Team World lost the opener in overtime because of a bad defensive rotation, he threw his hands up and stormed off the court like he had just lost a playoff game. 

Everyone else followed suit. 

“I ain’t gonna lie, Wemby set the tone,” Anthony Edwards said. “He came out and played hard, so it’s hard not to match that.” 

Winner: The NBA

Between all of the tanking discourse, some of Adam Silver’s comments during his Saturday press conference and a disastrous All-Star Saturday Night, the league was facing more public criticism than it had in a long time. As an entity, the last thing the NBA needed was another lifeless All-Star Game. 

Instead, the players delivered the most memorable mid-season showcase since 2020, and one of the most competitive events ever. 

The first three games of the round robin format were awesome and all went down to the wire. 

• Team Stars defeated Team World in overtime of Game 1 on a game-ending 3-pointer by Scottie Barnes
• Team Stripes defeated Team Stars in Game 2 on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by De’Aaron Fox
• Team Stripes defeated Team World in Game 3 on a last-second 3-pointer by Kawhi Leonard

The championship turned into a rout, as the much younger Team Stars cruised past the veteran-filled Team Stripes, who seemed to be out of gas. The last few minutes of that contest looked a lot like the previous All-Star Games. But even though the night ended on a low, the overall product was much better than anyone expected, and spared the league another wave of criticism. 

Loser: The championship game

As mentioned, the new All-Star Game format pitting the best American players against the best international players was working to perfection through the round robin format, thanks to a big assist from Wembanyama. 

The two American squads, Team Stars and Team Stripes, advanced to the championship, and everything was set up for a thrilling conclusion to the best All-Star Game in years. So, of course, we got a blowout. 

The younger Team Stars had way more juice left in their legs, and they jumped out to an early double-digit lead. Team Stripes briefly gave itself some hope with back-to-back 3s from LeBron James and Jalen Brunson to cut the deficit down to nine with seven minutes to play, but never got closer. 

While the night was an overall success, the way it ended was definitely a bummer. 

Winner: Kawhi Leonard

Leonard has had a strange six months. 

During the offseason, Leonard was the subject of an investigative report by Pablo Torre that alleged the Clippers star had received $28 million via a fradulent marketing agreement that allowed his team to circumvent the salary cap. The NBA’s investigation into the matter has not yet concluded. 

Shortly after the season got underway, Leonard was forced to the sidelines for nearly three weeks with ankle and foot sprains. The Clippers went 2-8 without him, part of a disastrous start to the season for the team, which was expecting to get back to the playoffs. 

A few days before Christmas, Leonard began one of the best stretches of his career, which included three 40-point outings in the span of five games, including a career-high 55 points in a win over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons. The hot streak kicked off a stunning turnaround for the Clippers, who went from 6-21 to 26-28 in the span of two months to climb into Play-In Tournament position in the Western Conference. 

Despite an incredible last few weeks, Leonard wasn’t initially named to the game, but eventually made it as an injury replacement. He proved to be a wise pick by Silver, and put on an incredible show in front of the Clippers fans on Sunday, as he helped Team Stripes reach the championship game. In Game 3 of the round-robin format, Leonard poured in 31 of Team Stripes’ 48 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field, including a 6-of-7 effort from 3-point range, and hit a game-winning triple over Karl-Anthony Towns (more on that later) in the closing seconds. 

Leonard’s 12-minute bonanza was one of the best parts of the night, and was yet another reminder that when he’s healthy, there are few better players in the world. 

“It was great. Happy that Adam [Silver] let me in. That’s what the home crowd wanted to see. I’m glad I was able to do something in that game,” Leonard said. 

Winner: Anthony Edwards

Earlier this weekend, Edwards was blunt when asked for his thoughts on the state of the All-Star Game (“It is what it is at this point”) and whether the new format would make a difference (“No”). 

But by the end of the first game, Edwards had changed his tune. 

“I ain’t gonna lie, Wemby set the tone,” Edwards said. “He came out and played hard, so it’s hard not to match that.” 

Edwards can at times appear aloof and “too cool for school” during press conferences, but on the court he’s one of the league’s most fierce competitors. It’s unlikely that he went into Sunday night with a plan to play hard, but once Wembanyama had laid down a marker, he couldn’t help but respond. 

“Yeah, [Wembanyama] set the tone, man, and it woke me up, for sure,” Edwards added after the game. 

Edwards had 13 points in Game 1, 11 points in Game 2 and eight points in the championship, for a total of 32 on the night, and was named All-Star MVP for his efforts. 

Loser: Karl-Anthony Towns

Towns spends all season hearing about his defensive deficiencies, and how they might prevent the New York Knicks from winning a championship. All-Star Weekend is supposed to be a respite from that sort of talk, but somehow Towns found himself on the receiving end of even more criticism. 

Game 1 between Team World and Team Stars went to overtime, and instead of putting any time on the clock, a winning score of five points was set. Team World was up 3-2, and should have been playing a no-3s defense, but Towns for some reason rotated into the paint to try and stop Jalen Duren, which left Scottie Barnes wide open from behind the arc. Duren found Barnes for the game-winning shot. 

In Game 3 between Team World and Team Stripes, the score was tied in the closing seconds when Towns got switched onto Leonard. Towns actually played pretty good defense, but Leonard drained a game-winning 3 right in his face. 

Poor Towns. The first time anyone has been expected to show any sort of effort on that end of the floor in the All-Star Game and he immediately finds himself on a defensive lowlight reel.

The 2026 NFL Draft Combine is about one week away, but we asked VikingsTerritory writers to identify one “draft crush” apiece before the party gets started. Our contributors could pick any player from any round — here’s what they came up with.

Vikings draft season is already warming up, and a few early names feel like clean fits based on talent and long-term trajectory.

The Vikings will have at least nine draft picks in 2026, much more than last year when the cupboard was barren.

Eight Names We Want for Minnesota’s 2026 Draft Board

Our dream fits for the purple team.

1. Pat Coogan | Center, Indiana
Crush Holer: Sean Borman

Watch this guy’s playoff tape, then tell me you don’t like watching offensive linemen play football.

2. Malachi Fields | WR, Notre Dame
Crush Holder: Brevan Bane

A mountain of a man at 6’4, Fields could fill a need if the Vikings let Jalen Nailor walk. In a hopeful scenario, Jefferson and Fields could be the boundary receivers with Addison (status on the team TBD) working primarily out of the slot. Fields is a “go up and get it” type of receiver, something the Vikings have been lacking for a while.

3. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Crush Holder: Tony Schultz

Everyone will be staring down that 1st-Round pick at 18. Will the Vikings stay put? Move up? Move down? There are so many directions the team could go player-wise alone, and then add in being saddled with a new decision-maker (makers?) with the recent firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

Rob Brzezinski is a “money” guy and may try to find a young replacement for an aging position at that point. I’m looking at Day 2 at the earliest for a guy I don’t want the team to miss out on. Dillon Thieneman is a guy I hope they have in their sights as a replacement for Harrison Smith.

He comes from a strong program and has decent size for a safety. More importantly, he is smart. Some have described him as an extension of the defensive coordinator on the field, and that’s a guy Brian Flores will covet. If he’s there in the 2nd Round, I hope the Vikings grab him.

If he lasts until their 3rd-Round pick, they should sprint to the podium. Reading the experts’ opinions, he matches Smith in their draft breakdowns in almost every way.

4. Akheem Mesidor | EDGE, Miami
Crush Holder: Kyle Joudry

Once upon a time, I played defensive line myself. I therefore enjoy watching great defensive linemen. Seeing Canadian edge rusher Akheem Mesidor get drafted would be fine by me.

5. Mansoor Delane | CB, LSU
Crush Holder: Ali Siddiqui

The Vikings have multiple needs, and CB is definitely one of them. Delane could be gone by no. 18, but if available, they should definitely take him. Isaiah Rodgers is in the final year of his deal.

6. Jermod McCoy | CB, Tennessee
Crush Holder: Steven Hoikkala

The Vikings need to upgrade their secondary, and McCoy would help solidify the backfield going forward. With Mansoor Delane likely off the board when Minnesota picks, McCoy will be a top CB target in this draft if Minnesota decides to upgrade the defense at No. 18.

7. Nick Singleton | RB, Penn State

How would you feel about a running back who just turned 22, is 6’0″ tall, weighs 220 pounds, has 4.39 speed, marked 23.6 mph in game speed at one point on the field last season, and catches the ball out of the backfield? That’s Singleton. He can also get-got in Round 3 or 4. Sign me the hell up.

t8. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Crush Holder: Adam New

The Vikings need help in the secondary, but adding Caleb Banks, an interior defender with the skillset to thrive in both run defense and pass rush, would give them a great young duo in the middle of the DL, along with Jalen Redmond. Already strong on the edge, this formidable defensive front is the stuff of my dreams.

t8. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Crush Holder: Janik Eckardt

The Vikings lack a massive human being in the running game. Banks brings that to the table and can be a real difference-maker in the ground game. He pairs that frame with nice short-area quickness, giving him an intriguing ceiling. With Jalen Redmond already in the building, the Vikings could form the interior duo for years to come by picking up the projected 1st-Round talent.

t8. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Crush Holder: Wes Johnson

Vikings addressed the trenches last offseason and injected youth into the offensive line via the draft. This year, they focus on youth on the defensive side and double down on the trenches. Banks had a phenomenal Senior Bowl and will be a projected riser come the draft. Pegged as an early 2nd Round pick before the Senior Bowl, he’s now cracked the back end of the 1st round.

t8. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Crush Holder: Josh Frey

I want to say Mansoor Delane, but I think he will go sooner. The big spending on DT in free agency last offseason didn’t exactly pan out for the Vikings, so it’s time to get a really disruptive presence on a rookie contract. Banks can be exactly that as a massive player at 6’6″ and 330 pounds. Injury cut his 2025 season short, but when healthy, he’s proven he can impact a defense both as a run stopper and a pass rusher.

Brad Keselowski called out Riley Herbst for causing the final lap pileup during Sunday’s Daytona 500. Keselowski didn’t hold back in his assessment and called it a ‘pretty stupid’ move on Herbst’s part.

Heading into the final lap, the top-5 consisted of race leader Chase Elliott, eventual winner Tyler Reddick, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Joey Logano, and Zane Smith. Herbst came to Reddick’s aid and pushed him on the inside lane, while the rest faded on the outside.

When Reddick dropped out of Elliott’s draft, Herbst followed suit and was poised to overtake on the outside. However, the No.35 driver was moving into Keselowski’s path, resulting in a contact that took out every frontrunner on the chase.

Reflecting upon the wreck, Keselowski had some choice words to say.

“Oh, the 35 just wrecked me out of nowhere for no reason. That was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen. He had no chance of blocking my run. I had a huge run. I don’t know if I could have got the 45 or 47 but I would’ve liked to found out because my run was coming fast and the 35 just wreck us and himself. Pretty stupid,” he said via X/Kelly Crandall.

Brad Keselowski ended up with a fifth-place finish, while Riley Herbst finished three spots behind. The result marks Herbst’s first top-10 result in three years.

Following Tyler Reddick’s maiden Daytona win, former winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was credited with the runner up placing. Meanwhile, Herbst’s misstep derailed Chase Elliott’s chances at the Harley J. Earl trophy.

Brad Keselowski finds positives despite Daytona near miss

During a post-race interview, Brad Keselowski rued a disastrous end to his Daytona bid, but found a silver lining amidst the chaos. Notably, the RFK Racing driver is returning from a leg fracture that sidelined him from the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

“Tore up the 9, tore up the 22, a bunch of cars that didn’t deserve to be wrecked, so that was a big bummer and really stupid. Still a decent day for us to come home with a top 5 and to be competitive and have a shot to win,” Keselowski said while reviewing the final lap footage.

Brad Keselowski’s teammate, Chris Buescher, finished seventh on the final order. The No.17 driver had rallied from a tail end start and even led four laps, further underscoring the team’s momentum. The team hoped to field Corey LaJoie with their No.99 entry, but he got collected in a late-race crash during the duel qualifier.

However, the Clash was a momentus occasion for RFK Racing, as Ryan Preece won his maiden Cup race in a rain-affected event. Preece’s Daytona outing didn’t do him any favors, as he finished as the last driver on the lead lap.