WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: During the first half of the pre-season fixture, Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross went to clear the ball on the byline under pressure from Marc Albrighton.

Stoke City are waiting to find out the severity of an ankle injury sustained by captain Ryan Shawcross in Saturday's pre-season friendly against Leicester.

The 31-year-old centre-back sustained the injury in a friendly against Leicester at the weekend. He has undergone surgery, but Jones refused to put a date on the defender's potential return.

Jonathan Walters poked fun at his former team-mates as he posed with Peter Crouch drinking beers in Portugal.  Walters, who last player for Burnley, retired in March.

Stoke boss Nathan Jones admitted his much-changed side were 'nowhere good enough' after they crashed out of the Carabao Cup to League Two Crawley.

PETER CROUCH: On the opening day of last season, when Tottenham headed to Newcastle with a dark cloud hanging over, I made a firm prediction. Mauricio Pochettino was the reason for that call.

PETER CROUCH: During a freak football accident, I knocked out a fellow pro. It was one of the scariest incidents I experienced on a pitch. For this reason, I know exactly how Son Heung-min must feel.

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.

Excellent strikes form Anthony Knockaert and Harry Arter saw Fulham overcome Aston Villa in the third round of the FA Cup while Watford blew a 3-0 lead at home to Tranmere Rovers.

The nickname was a reference to a former team-mate who, rather than having a drinks break with the rest of the squad, would instead have a chat with the manager and coaching staff.

PETER CROUCH: This week, Crouchie reflects on the time he scored with his hand against Arsenal, his plans for when the lockdown is lifted and why Jamie Redknapp was livid with him at Southampton.

Crystal Palace are interested in signing Liverpool youngster Rhian Brewster on loan when the transfer window reopens in January. 

Our scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. This week they bring you the lowdown and verdict on Swansea's Joe Rodon.

The Welsh face an unbeaten French side in Cardiff on Saturday. Wayne Pivac's side come into the game on the back of a defeat in Dublin to the Irish - their first Six Nations loss since 2018.

The former Wales international Jamie Roberts had been playing for Super Rugby side Stormers in South Africa but flew home to the UK to help after the rugby season was put on hold.

NASSER HUSSAIN AT OLD TRAFFORD: Rory Burns strikes me as the kind of lad who goes away and looks at his issues. He works with a coach he trusts and solves problems.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT OLD TRAFFORD: Archer finished Australia's first innings with figures of none for 97, returning to earth with a bump after taking 13 wickets in his first two Tests.

BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Josh Hazlewood has put Australia in complete control of the fourth Ashes Test after grabbing three quick wickets late on during the third day at Old Trafford.

England have abandoned plans to rest senior players from the two-Test series in New Zealand that begins this winter as they start to again prioritise the ultimate format.

Australian cricketer David Warner has given a quick thinking response to a fan after being sledged in England during the Ashes test. 

Steve Smith was already the pantomime villain for England fans but he has riled them even more following Australia's celebrations after they retained the Ashes on Sunday.

Jimmy Anderson will consider changing his diet in a bid to prolong his Test career after the disappointment of missing the Ashes through injury - and has looked at the possibility of going vegan.

MIKE DICKSON: The Oval is no stranger to farewells, and this final Test will be the valedictory appearance of both David Gower (left) and Sir Ian Botham (right) on the Sky commentary team.

Mick Jagger cut a casual figure as he watched England take on Australia in the Ashes on Thursday.

When Sam Curran ran in at Mitch Marsh at a packed Oval yesterday it was somewhat different to their first cricketing encounters.

PAUL NEWMAN AT THE OVAL: What a way to end England's longest season and what a catch from the flying figure of Joe Root to complete a victory that sees the first drawn Ashes since 1972.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT THE OVAL: Joe Root hailed a 'phenomenal' summer of cricket after England squared the Ashes at 2-2 almost exactly two months after England's World Cup win.

Joe Root knows England have 'something special' on their hands in Jofra Archer but has already started the job of managing expectations around the breakout star of the summer.

Archer took 47 wickets in his first season of international cricket, including 22 at just 20 apiece in the Ashes , leaving new-ball partner Broad to lavish praise on his 'incredible attributes'.

Joe Root has declared his desire to continue as England Test captain despite a failure to win back the Ashes from Australia after a drawn series.

Stokes struck an unbeaten 84 in the final against New Zealand on the way to England's maiden World Cup title and then crashed a barely-believable 135 not out to keep the Ashes alive at Headingley.

The Ashes star was seen with his hand in wife Clare Stokes' face at the Professional Cricketers' Association Awards Anniversary party in London last Wednesday.

EXCLUSIVE BY LAURA LAMBERT: Sky is being investigated by Ofcom for three separate incidents of the word 'f***' being audible during its cricket coverage this summer. Sky declined to comment.

Ben Stokes has revealed being sledged relentlessly by David Warner was the motivation behind his stunning match-winning century against Australia at Headingley in August.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY RICHARD GIBSON: England's greatest ever bowler Jimmy Anderson is fit again and is targeting the 2021 Ashes series which begins in November that year.

Amy McGlade, from Adelaide, spent her life watching families struggle with what to do with the leftover embryos through her career as a midwife.

With another year's end came another installment of SPOTY, as England cricket star Ben Stokes picked up the honour. Sportsmail went behind the scenes to capture the special moments on reel.

Sky Sports breached Ofcom's broadcasting rules on swearing during their cricket coverage this summer, but have been cleared over David Gower using the f-word in his final Test.

Siddle, 35, made his debut in 2008, took 221 Test wickets at an average of 30.66 apiece, and played his last Test in the fifth and final match of this year's Ashes series in England, which England won.

The change has long been debated by cricket pundits and fans but traditionalists have so far been able to resist calls for modernisation. But there is an ever-increasing workload on players.

Stokes' incredible performances in the World Cup, not least in the Lord's final, and his unforgettable match-winning century in the Ashes Test at Headingley saw him land the prestigious prize.

Companies rising out of the ashes to avoid paying tax, wages and other debts will face a crackdown when regulators get increased powers.

A large crowd of English cricket fans were seen taunting the Australian team as they boarded their bus during the Ashes tour in 2019.

The singer turned radio presenter, 32, was positively bowled over as she joined her sportsman beau, 33, and pet pooch Alfie for another game of garden cricket on Thursday afternoon.

Dan Garrett, 30, of London, who founded Farewell, a UK will writing and death specialist, told FEMAIL direct cremations are 'here to stay' and will surpass traditions dating back 'hundreds of years'.

Sian Lloyd was complaining about her journey from Swansea to Neath and said it was the 'worst ever' after it had taken her longer than usual to reach her destination.

Witnesses said the man, thought to be in his 20s, fell onto the Victoria Line at Oxford Circus in Central London amid a chaotic rush hour bustle on the platform at about 5.30pm.

Matt Gutman (left), chief national correspondent for ABC News, was reporting live from the scene of the crash when he incorrectly said Kobe Bryant's other daughters (right) were on board the doomed flight.

Portugal may have been without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo but it was not less of a shock as they slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at home to Albania in their Euro 2016 qualifier. 

Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates were all smiles on Thursday as they took to the training ground ahead of Friday's clash with France and Monday's game against Albania.