Jack McMillan sets sights on Premiership return with Partick Thistle

Jack McMillan dropped down a division when he signed for Partick Thistle to get more game time and become a better player, but his goal was always to put that improvement to use back in Scotland’s top flight.

The 25-year-old has already achieved the first part of the plan he made when he left Livingston last summer, his performances in the cinch Premiership play-offs so far being evidence of that.

The right-back has scored three of Thistle’s 16 goals in their four matches to date, the latest a header against Ayr in his 50th appearance of the season.

This week he gets the chance to complete the other half of his target when Thistle take on Ross County for a place in the top division.

McMillan said: “I enjoyed my four years at Livingston, it was a gre…

Chelsea and Germany goalkeeper Berger reveals cancer has returned

Chelsea and Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has revealed she has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer for a second time and will begin treatment this week.

Berger was initially diagnosed in November 2017 during her time with Birmingham City, but made a full recovery and was subsequently named in the PFA Team of the Year.

However, the 31-year-old said on Tuesday that after four years being cancer-free, a recurrence has been detected in her thyroid.

I ve said before that as a sportsperson, you have to fight every day to be the best you can be and that s something I will continue to do, she said in a statement.

I hope by sharing my journey I can help others that find themselves in a similar situation.

I am working closely with my club doctor…

Fernandes makes me tear my hair out but Man Utd need his X factor – Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer paid tribute to Bruno Fernandes ability to change games for Manchester United, even if the midfielder s exuberance sometimes frustrates his manager.

Fernandes was once again pivotal for United on Saturday as they drew 2-2 at Leicester City, the Portugal international setting up Marcus Rashford for the opener and then scoring the visitors second.

In finding the net, Fernandes became the first Portuguese player to score 10 goals in a single Premier League season since Cristiano Ronaldo did so for the Red Devils in 2008-09.

Since making his Premier League debut in February, Fernandes has had a hand in over half of United s goals (31/60), scoring 18 and setting up a further 13.

Fernandes has quickly made himself indispensable for United a…

Players’ fight for fairness means Women’s World Cup arrives at critical moment

The phrase ‘bigger and better’ has become a bit of a cliche, but it is still perhaps the most authentic way of describing the ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup at a moment of reckoning in women’s football.

Australia and New Zealand are co-hosting the 2023 edition, which for the first time will feature 32 nations, 20 more than the inaugural 12-team tournament held in China in 1991.

Eight teams – the Republic of Ireland, Vietnam, Zambia, Haiti, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines and Portugal – are making their debuts in a World Cup organisers are hoping will attract a record two billion viewers.

We can t wait to see all of you again soon!

Which nation are you repping for the ?

— FIFA Women s World Cup (@FIFAWWC)

The …

´It is he who decides´ – France chief hopes Deschamps stays on after World Cup

Didier Deschamps will decide whether he remains France head coach after Qatar 2022, according to French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet.

Deschamps took over as France boss in 2012 and has since led Les Bleus to a World Cup title as well as the Euro 2016 final, having previously won 103 caps during his playing career.

His France team beat England on Saturday to reach the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar, keeping alive their hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the trophy.

Deschamps contract is due to expire after the tournament, with rumours persisting that former Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane could be in line to take over the role.

La définition d un homme

— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance)

Klopp was looking to find an excuse for Tottenham draw, says Conte

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was looking to find an excuse or alibi when criticising Tottenham s style of play following Saturday s 1-1 draw at Anfield, according to Antonio Conte.

Spurs became just the second side to stop Liverpool winning in their past 15 Premier League games, and the first at Anfield since Brighton and Hove Albion in October.

Luis Diaz s deflected 74th-minute strike cancelled out Son Heung-min s opener, but the draw inflicted a potentially fatal blow to the Reds title hopes as they now trail leaders Manchester City by three points with three games to go.

Klopp took aim at Spurs approach after the game, stating he could not coach Conte s defensive style as he implored Tottenham to do more with their talented world-class players .

The G…

United-bound Varane bids farewell to Real Madrid after ´wonderful´ decade in LaLiga

Raphael Varane has posted a heartfelt goodbye to Real Madrid ahead of his transfer to Manchester United.

It was announced on Tuesday that the Red Devils had agreed a deal in principle to sign the France centre-back, who had a year left on his contract with LaLiga giants Madrid.

United are reported to be paying a fee of £42.7million (€50m) to secure the transfer, with the player set to travel to England this week, where he will undergo a period of isolation before completing a medical.

Varane visited Madrid s Valdebebas training ground on Friday for the final time before departing the club where he won four Champions Leagues and three LaLiga titles among a host of trophies following his arrival from Lens in 2011.

These past few days have been charged …

Tottenham 3-0 Crystal Palace: Kane strikes as Spurs cruise to victory after Zaha sees red

Harry Kane continued his fantastic Boxing Day scoring record as Tottenham eased to a 3-0 win over 10-man Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Goals from Kane and Lucas Moura in quick succession put Spurs in command, the England captain netting in his sixth consecutive Boxing Day fixture to match Robbie Fowler s Premier League scoring record of nine goals the day after Christmas.

Wilfried Zaha was then dismissed before half-time for two bookable offences and Son Heung-min added a third goal after the interval as Spurs cruised to three points at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Victory means Spurs are unbeaten in six top-flight games since Antonio Conte s arrival, moving further into contention for a Champions League place with games in hand on those around them …

Manchester City 4-0 Bournemouth: De Bruyne steers champions to easy win

Kevin De Bruyne pulled the strings for Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday as he guided the champions to a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth.

The Belgium international bagged one goal and assisted another as Pep Guardiola s hosts delivered an imperiously composed performance at the Etihad Stadium in their first home match of the season.

Phil Foden matched the playmaker s involvement with a double goal contribution of his own, while Ilkay Gundogan also got in on the act against an outclassed Cherries side, who helped City out with an own goal to complete the scoring.

Scott Parker s men got their first season back in the top flight off to a winning start against Aston Villa last weekend, but this represented a significant step up.

A relentless st…

Manchester United linked with Inter Milan’s Marcelo Brozovic

Manchester United are interested in signing Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023, according to . The report has claimed that Premier League giants United could make a bid for the Croatia international next summer, with former Serie A champions Inter open to selling the 29-year-old defensive midfielder at the right price.

United, though, are not the only European powerhouse who are keen on signing Brozovic. Former Premier League and UEFA Champions league winners Liverpool want to sign the 29-year-old next summer, and so do last season’s Ligue 1 winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Brozovic has been on the books of Inter since 2015 and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Serie A. The Croatia international won the Serie A, the Coppa Itali…