Bent on selection

Sunderland striker Darren Bent considered quitting England after being left out of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

But the 26-year-old has decided he is not prepared to give up on his international career just yet.

"You can't burn your bridges like that," he said. "I'm not going to give up on England because of what happened this summer. I'm going to keep working hard, keep playing well and keep knocking on that door."

Di Stefano ill

Real Madrid says football great Alfredo Di Stefano, who is honorary president at Madrid, has been readmitted to hospital with a heart problem.

Building bridges

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has reassured left-back Wayne Bridge he still has a future at Eastlands despite the arrival of direct competition in the form of Serbia's Aleksandr Kolarov.

Mancini said he was trying to build a stronger squad. "I want two top-class players for each position."