Rumours...

Newcastle fans can brace themselves for another extraordinary move by manager Kevin Keegan, if the Sunday Mirror and News of the World are not barking up the wrong tree. Both report a move by Liverpool boss Roy Evans to trade transfer-listed Neil Ruddock plus cash for Les Ferdinand, with Keegan keen to take unsettled Stan Collymore as part of the bargain. The People, meanwhile, believes Liverpool are paving the way for Kenny Dalglish to return to Anfield, not in place of the highly-regarded Evans but as director of football, a role in which the former manager thinks he could be useful in spite of his experience at Blackburn. The Mail on Sunday and News of the World agree that former Maine Road manager Howard Kendall has followed George Graham in rejecting the advances of Manchester City, who are considering an approach to Terry Venables.

Red card

PAUL GASCOIGNE

Take a bow

STEVE CRAM

Missing person

GEOFF THOMAS (Wolves)

A year to the day since his last first-team appearance - and 18 months since he last started a senior match - the former Crystal Palace midfielder, whom Graham Taylor elevated to England status, still hopes to make a full recovery from a cruciate ligament injury sustained three years ago. After eight operations, the 32-year-old is hoping to be fit for Christmas.

Watch out for...

ALAN MAHON (Tranmere Rovers)

But for injuries to senior players, a place on the bench might still be the height of ambition for the 18-year-old Dublin-born midfielder. But a goal on his full debut against Port Vale last week confirmed John Aldridge's high opinion of the youngster, underlined by after another performance of poise and quality at Bradford on Saturday.

The Good...

THE PREMIERSHIP'S LEADING SCORERS

KEVIN CAMPBELL

(NOTTM FOREST)

Premiership 3; Coca-Cola Cup 0; FA Cup 0; Other 0

FABRIZIO RAVANELLI

(MIDDLESBROUGH)

Premiership 3; Coca-Cola Cup 0; FA Cup 0; Other 0

2= Chris Armstrong (Tottenham); Dean Sturridge (Derby County); Dennis Bergkamp (Arsenal); Duncan Ferguson (Everton); Emile Heskey (Leicester City); Richie Humphreys (Sheffield Wed); Tommy Johnson (Aston Villa); Steve McManaman (Liverpool); Niall Quinn (Sunderland); Alan Shearer (Newcastle Utd); Guy Whittingham (Sheffield Wed).

DOWN WITH BALL: clubs that have been relegated with Alan Ball at the helm

Blackpool 1980-81 Div 3 to Div 4

Portsmouth 1987-88 Div 1 to Div 2

Stoke City 1989-90 Div 2 to Div 3

Exeter City 1993-94 Div 3 to Div 4

Man City 1995-96 Prem to Div 1

WORLD CUP RED CARDS

Belarus' Radislav Orlovski sent off against Estonia...

Turkey's Sergen Yalcin sent off again Belgium...

San Marino's Pier Angelo Manzaroli sent off against Wales...

NOISES OFF...

"I've been told off for smiling when I show the red card"

WENDY TOMS, the first woman to referee a professional match in Britain, confessing to which part of the job she most enjoys

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"I cannot stop people linking me with jobs. They can link me with Cindy Crawford if they like. I think that my wife might have a laugh about that"

DAVE BASSETT, reacting to speculation that he might leave Crystal Palace to take over at Manchester City

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"What worries me is that Francis Lee and Alan Ball seem to be blaming everybody else but themselves for what is going on at City"

KEITH CURLE, recently departed skipper, on troubled times at Maine Road

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"When Glenn asked me I didn't have to think twice. He said: 'Do you want the job?' and before he'd got to 'job' I'd said yes"

ALAN SHEARER, who went on to describe the England captaincy as the greatest honour of his career

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"It's only a game. I'm not going to be hung, drawn and quartered if we lose"

GLENN HODDLE, before his debut as England manager, displaying extraordinary faith in the tabloids changing their spots

"I just can't understand it, since I was the fans' player of the year last season"

Oyvind Leonhardsen, on his demotion to the bench by Wimbledon