Royal Mail employees have kept services operating in the midst of a crisis. So it is surprising Back has chosen, since the shutdown began on March 23, to hunker down with his family abroad.

Georgieva scratched at an old wound when she said that the UK should seek an extension beyond the transition period for leaving the EU. Brussels gave the Bulgarian her job and she has not forgotten.

The mud-filled rain fell on Melbourne on Wednesday evening after a dust storm was pushed over the city. Commentators claimed it was the first time a dust storm had caused a delay in play.

HELEN CAHILL - CITY CORRESPONDENT: Saudi fund boss Yasir Al-Rumayyan is in the final stages of taking over as chairman of Newcastle United, sources told Sportsmail.

England cricket legend Andrew Flintoff has recalled how Newcastle boss Steve Bruce once bailed him out of a sticky situation at a restaurant after his credit card had maxed out.

Newcastle United are reportedly prepared to make Mauricio Pochettino one of the best-paid managers in the world, should the impending takeover go through.

The Magpies are the subject of a £300million takeover bid backed by Saudi's Public Investment Fund, and if that is ratified the club would become one of the richest in Europe.

The striker's immediate future at Old Trafford is one of uncertainty with United understood to be open to selling him. Inter Milan have expressed an interest but United want to recoup £75m on him.

Roberto Martinez took over the reins with Belgium back in 2016 and led them to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup after losing the semi-final to eventual winners France.

A black cab driver, who was pictured outside the Savoy Hotel in central London with a licence plate that threatened to 'Kill Uber' is being investigated.

When Nigel Pearson talks about what it takes to be successful in the fight against relegation, he does so from a position of considerable knowledge.

West Bromwich Albion manager Slaven Bilic has predicted there will be widespread change to football finances after the coronavirus crisis comes to an end.

Norwich face tough opposition at the Molineux on Sunday as the Black Country club are 8th in the table and thrashed Espanyol 4-0 in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Norwich manager Daniel Farke will ignore the Premier League's coronavirus edict and shake hands with Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder on Saturday.

EXCLUSIVE: The threat comes as the SPFL consider a plan to crown Celtic champions and call final positions based on league standings in order to make relief payments to clubs deprived of revenue.

The president of the Spanish league, Javier Tebas, said he believed LaLiga could return as early as the end of May, warning that not playing out the rest of the season could mean £880m losses.

Made In Senegal charts Mane's rise from humble beginnings in Africa to becoming one of the best players in world football, which culminated with him winning the Champions League last summer.

INTERVIEW: Johnson's career really took off when he signed for Chelsea from London rivals West Ham back in 2003 as Roman Abramovich ushered in a bold new era at Stamford Bridge.

Stoke manager Nathan Jones admits is he is running out of time after a dismal start to the season in the Championship.

Stoke have made a formal approach to the Irish FA and are ready to pay the £650,000 compensation figure included in the new contract Michael O'Neill signed in February 2018 to bring him to the Potteries.

The Potters sacked Nathan Jones a week ago after he failed to point them back in the direction of the Premier League, and they have now turned to the highly regarded O'Neill.

Cardiff City boss Neil Harris is interested in a reunion with Stoke City forward Lee Gregory after their success together at Millwall.

Bowyer, 42, claimed after his side's 2-1 loss that 50/50 refereeing decisions had not gone their way, with two second-half penalty appeals waved away by referee Peter Bankes.

The Gunners dismissed Unai Emery a week and a half ago after a difficult start to the season and put their former midfielder Freddie Ljungberg in charge of the side on an interim basis.

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.

The 56-year-old finished after the Rugby World Cup and was succeeded by his fellow New Zealander Wayne Pivac, who will take charge of Wales for the first time against Gatland's Barbarians.

The three-time Six Nations Grand Slam-winning coach, who left Wales after 12 years in charge after the World Cup, is coaching the Barbarians against his former team on Saturday.

England could find themselves in treble trouble after Eddie Jones slammed the 'rubbish' refereeing at Twickenham and Joe Marler grabbed Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones by his genitals.

The Welsh Rugby Union announced on Tuesday that they had to take further measures to reduce costs with no money incoming with postponed indefinitely during pandemic.

James Lattimer, 51, was accused of kissing the woman and allegedly 'grabbed her bum cheek' during the England v India test match on 9 August 2018.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington saw his side's dreadful away record continue but lauded the performance of rookie Corry Evans.

France national team boss Didier Deschamps has warned his players they are in for a tough ride ahead of their post-season international friendlies against Belgium and Albania.

EXCLUSIVE: The plan is for the former England captain to start training full-time with his new team-mates on Monday, after making his first match-day appearance at Pride Park.

Swansea are confident of securing the loan signing of Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster next month. The European champions are ready to let the striker leave Anfield temporarily in January.

Birmingham starlet Jude Bellingham will not be given the chance to test himself against Premier League opposition in the FA Cup fifth-round clash with Leicester on Wednesday.

QPR have announced 'a number of staff' have been placed on furlough leave while non-playing employees at the club - including manager Mark Warburton - have taken a voluntary pay cut.

The experienced defender played for Manchester United and Sunderland during a decorated career, and has now taken his first steps into coaching with his final club, Reading.

SAFC chairman Stewart Donald said: 'This is a decision that has been made with a heavy heart.' The Black Cats sit in sixth place in League One, four points behind second-placed Wycombe.

Kevin Phillips went on to score 189 career goals - 93 of those in the English top-flight - while Jeffers managed a measly tally of four strikes in three years for the Gunners.

Phil Parkinson is poised to become the new manager of Sunderland. The 51-year old, who resigned as manager of crisis torn Bolton in August, is expected to be confirmed within 24 hours.

The Black Cats have appointed former Bradford boss Parkinson on a two-and-a-half year deal after he left Bolton Wanderers in August - he took the squad for training on Thursday.

New manager Phil Parkinson has told Sunderland to forget their Premier League past as they attempt to drag themselves out of League One.

Former Manchester United defender Phil Bardsley admits he still gets the 'hairdryer' treatment from old boss Sir Alex Ferguson - a dozen years after being sold by the Old Trafford side.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY IAN LADYMAN: There was a time when Mick McCarthy thought football was straightforward -but it didn't last very long into his career.

The Arora Group said it lodged appeal papers in the Supreme Court in a bid to 'put Heathrow expansion back on track' as the airport's owner also stated it will appeal.

MARTIN KEOWN - INSIGHT: They may have dropped points at Old Trafford in October but Liverpool could strike back with their most emphatic performance of the season on Sunday. 

Ryan Giggs' Wales side now trail Group E leaders Hungary by six points after defeat in Budapest, albeit with a game in hand, and are three adrift of Slovakia and Croatia in the race for a top-two spot.

Since completing his big-money move from Spurs in 2013, Bale has been routinely criticised for not fully immersing himself into Spanish culture, with many claiming the winger cannot speak the language.

Ryan Giggs has claimed Daniel James was 'acting' despite TV cameras appearing to show the winger knocked unconscious against Croatia on Sunday night. 

A day after qualifying for Euro 2020, the whole squad suited up to visit Pope Francis, presenting him a personalised Italy football shirt, with Francis' actual surname 'Bergoglio' on the back.