MATT HUGHES - AHEAD OF THE GAME: Stoke City's new manager, Michael O'Neill, may be forced to sell players in January to help club avoid falling foul of EFL's profit and sustainability rules.

EXCLUSIVE BY MIKE KEEGAN: A small section of fans of the home club were heard to sing songs including the words 'f*** the Pope and the IRA' and 'f*** the IRA' a number of times.

O'Neill was installed as Stoke City boss last week but it was confirmed that he will take charge of the final Group C qualifiers against Holland and Germany, as well as a potential play-off.

The 28-year-old Rangers understudy is being considered as Middlesbrough brace themselves for an offer from West Ham for current number one Darren Randolph.

Stoke want £15million for Allen, 29, who is on around £65,000 per week, yet West Ham are looking to pay closer to £8m. Stoke had interest from Burnley in the summer who remain admirers.

JASON MELLOR AT THE RIVERSIDE STADIUM: Lewis Wing added to his collection of stand out strikes to put the brakes on Stoke's bid to climb out of the Championship drop zone.

PETER CROUCH: It's the final Saturday of the decade, so what better time to reflect on the 10 years just gone? I wanted to look back on the highs and lows I've experienced in football.

Aston Villa are poised to step up their search for a goalkeeper and a striker with the club expecting Wesley and Tom Heaton face significant spells out of action.

The charge relates to chants heard during the Sky Bet Championship clash between Barnsley and Stoke at Oakwell on November 9, which the Potters won, in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday.

SIMON JONES: Manager Garry Monk is having to work on a tight budget but wants to strengthen his goalscoring options as he strives to make an impression on the play-off places.

The 27-year-old joined Stoke for a club-record £18.3m from Porto in 2016 but struggled to make an impression and has been out on loan at Italian side Lecce who held an option to buy at £3.5m.

He was forced off at half-time after an awkward landing having tripped over Hull's Daniel Batty and will miss the rest of the season before sitting out this summer's tournament in addition.

James McClean has attempted to defend his controversial Instagram post in which he appeared to mimic the IRA in a home schooling session with his children. 

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY IAN LADYMAN: Instead of the intensity of a survival fight and the anticipation of a Euro 2020 play-off game, O'Neill is living his life in suspended animation.

Dykes, who is 6ft 2ins tall and quick, has been followed by a number of Championship sides but Stoke hope they can strike a bargain ahead of rivals once the transfer window opens this summer.

Shaqiri has been a peripheral figure at Anfield having played just 256 minutes of football all season and the Reds are open to bids for the winger but may have to accept a lower fee.

The clamour for Mohamed Sankoh is growing after an impressive campaign at Stoke's academy, scoring nine goals and registering nine assists in his 16 appearances for the club's Under-18 side

Benik Afobe has opened up on having to bury his baby daughter last year after kissing her goodbye, and the outpouring of love his family has received since the tragic event.

It's a busy night of Carabao Cup action as the leading Premier League clubs enter the competition at the third round stage. Join Sportsmail's ADAM SHERGOLD for all the goals as they go in.

Caulker's performances at Tottenham earned him an England call up from Roy Hodgson in November 2012 and he even managed to grab a goal in a 4-2 friendly loss to Sweden.

Swansea City's owners are looking to sell the club for £38 million, but could increase their asking price by £!5m if they're promoted to the Premier League at the end of this season.

Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie has been charged with drink driving offences. The Scotland international was arrested in west Yorkshire on Friday morning.

The 19-year-old was diagnosed with the disease in February, immediately undergoing chemotherapy and responding well to treatment before returning to training in September.

Swansea City have condemned the 'disgraceful' actions of some of their own fans after they printed vile boarding passes that mocked the death of Emiliano Sala.

Swansea City's highly-rated coach Cameron Toshack is attracting interest from clubs in Portugal and the Championship. The coach has been hailed for developing young players.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY KIERAN GILL: What made Ben Wilmot's winner even more impressive was the England Under-21 international was making his first Championship start for Swansea.

Dan James admits he is still coming to terms with being a Premier League star at Manchester United and has to remind himself: 'I'm here for a reason'.

Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Leeds and Swansea have all joined the race to loan Liverpool starlet Rhian Brewster this January.  Jurgen Klopp has said he is happy to let the striker go looking for minutes.

The youngster returned to training in September following his brave battle against the disease and featured for the club's U23 side the following month in a 4-1 win over Swansea.

During a Premier League tie with Swansea City at Old Trafford, Young is seen barking orders at his United team-mates, before an object appears to enter his mouth, believed to be from a bird flying over.

The 21-year-old enjoyed his short stint at Swansea where he netted seven goals in 23 games for the Swans. Eddie Howe is hoping the youngster can help them during the club's difficult period.

Since arriving from Swansea last summer, James has settled into life well at United but admits he often does his best to 'avoid' the Argentine centre back during training.

Chelsea starlet Marc Guehi is due to complete a loan move to Swansea that will see him reunited with his former England under-17 boss Steve Cooper and team-mate Rhian Brewster.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY MATT BARLOW: When Steve Cooper pulls on his runners and lets the morning air of the Welsh coast declutter his mind, his thoughts drift back to the thrill of his first derby.

Oli McBurnie showed his true loyalties to Swansea on Sunday by cheering on his former team-mates in the away end during the South Wales derby against bitter rivals Cardiff.

The 23-year-old was spotted among the travelling fans at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday as he supported his old team Swansea during the South Wales derby.

The 31-year old is a free agent after leaving Swansea City last season and fellow Championship outfit West Brom have invited him in to train with their squad.

Frank Lampard opted to recall his young star, who has been training with the first team, but now he looks likely to be shipped out to the Championship again with promotion contenders Swansea.

Leicester City midfielder Andy King has agreed to join Huddersfield Town on loan. The 31-year-old, who has spent his entire career at the Foxes, is out of contract in the summer.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has come out in defence of Oli McBurnie after the striker was spotted taunting Cardiff fans while watching Swansea on Sunday.

Renato Sanches must have truly felt on top of the world after Portugal lifted the Euro 2016 trophy. But an assent to the lofty heights of the game can often be followed by a plummet to the bottom.

Midfielder Ki Sung-yueng has left Newcastle after his contract was torn up by mutual consent, the Magpies have confirmed. The 31-year-old has made just four appearances for the club this season.

On loan Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster had an eventful afternoon on Saturday as Swansea drew 1-1 at Preston. He had fans in fits of laughter when he showed the referee a yellow card.

The 22-year-old Wales international has returned to Steve Cooper's starting line-up in recent weeks after recovering from an ankle injury that had sidelined him since October.

Ryan Giggs has backed Manchester United youngster Dan James amid growing concerns that the winger is suffering from burnout this season after a dip in form over the past few months.

Renato Sanches has lifted the lift on his disastrous loan spell at Swansea during the 2017/18 season and revealed he did not want to join the club in the first place.

As a result of his support, Michu reached out to the Borussia Dortmund star to send him a signed Brugos jersey with Haaland's name on the back. 'Wow what a legend!!' Haaland responded.

When your father has left Cardiff City to become Liverpool's centre forward and managed the great Real Madrid twice, it's fair to say taking on a challenge is in your blood.

He is currently on loan at Swansea where he had kick-started his career, before football's coronavirus-enforced suspension, after a serious ankle injury that kept him out for 16 months.

The Wales international joined the Red Devils last summer from Swansea for £15million. James has made 37 appearances in all competitions during his first season at Old Trafford scoring four goals.