Robinho raring for Milan return

Mark Milligan said the Socceroos will target winning the Asian Cup on home soil after the progress made under Ange Postecoglou.

Melbourne Victory captain Milligan has been a key member of the national team set-up under his former club coach, starting at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil before succumbing to a hamstring strain.

The Socceroos finished bottom of their group and came home winless from the tournament, but were able to hold their heads high after producing competitive performances against Chile and the Netherlands.

In January, Australia will host the Asian Cup, a competition they reached the final of in 2011 under Holger Osieck.

And with the popular, progressive Postecoglou at the helm, Milligan said the team should be aiming to go one step further …

Reading have completed the signing of Jamie Mackie on a season long loan from Championship rivals Nottingham Forest, .

The 28 year old, who moved to the City Ground just twelve months ago, made forty-nine appearances in all competitions last season scoring five goals.

Prior to his switch to the East Midlands side, the winger spent three seasons with Queens Park Rangers while he has also turned out for MK Dons, Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle.

Internationally, he has been capped eight times for Scotland, scoring his only goal on his debut – a 2-1 victory over Cyprus in November 2011.

The move comes twenty-four hours after the Royals re-signed forward Simon Cox, who himself has spent the past two seasons at Forest.

Nigel Adkins’ side begi…

According to a report from Sky Italia, Inter Milan are considering the possibility of signing Leicester City’s Adrien Silva. The midfielder has received interest from a series of different clubs around Italy, but there have been no official offers made just yet. It was recently reported that the Foxes were actively trying to block any move away from the club by the 29 year old.

Silva made the move over to the King Power Stadium last year, but he has failed to make a substantial impact with the former Premier League champions up to this point. He made the jump over from Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, where he had spent the previous 15 years of his career.

Silva is a known international with the Portuguese senior team, playing a part in their Euro 2016 success as well…

Wayne Rooney arrived at Everton s Finch Farm training ground on Saturday as he closed in on a return to his boyhood club.

Manchester United s all-time top scorer is on the verge of ending a decorated 13-year stay at Old Trafford, with Everton striker Romelu Lukaku set to move in the opposite direction for £75million.

Captain for club and country, the 31-year-old was reduced to a bit-part role under Jose Mourinho at United last season and also lost his place in Gareth Southgate s England squad.

Rooney joined United from Everton for £27m on the back of stunning displays at Euro 2004 and went on to win five Premier League titles, four League Cups and the 2015-16 FA Cup on his way to a personal tally of 253 goals.

He starred as United won their third Champi…

Birmingham City are set to sign Jack Clarke from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, according to . It has been reported that the Championship club are closing in a season-long deal for the 19-year-old former Leeds United winger.

Clarke joined Tottenham on a permanent contract from Leeds in the summer of 2019, and, as part of the deal, he was sent back to Elland Road on a season-long loan. However, midway through the 2019-20 campaign, the teenager was recalled from the West Yorkshire club, and he was subsequently sent to Queens Park Rangers in the Championship on loan for the remainder of the season.

Clarke is very young and raw, and it would make sense for him to play another season in the Championship. Birmingham manager Aitor Karanka …

Samir Nasri has joined West Ham on a free transfer until the end of the season after finishing a doping ban, the Premier League club have announced.

Nasri had been training with the club since November and a deal had long been mooted, as the Frenchman looks to kick-start his career after a difficult spell.

The 31-year-old was given an 18-month backdated ban after receiving a drip treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in 2016 while on loan at Sevilla, and is free to play again from January 1.

UEFA said the treatment contravened rules laid down by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and an appeal against an initial six-month suspension resulted in an extension, which was backdated to July 1 2017.

Nasri last featured in a competitive match in November 2017 duri…

Diego Simeone does not care what Atletico Madrid s fans think of him following their Champions League exit, insisting he is only focused on the future.

The Rojiblancos crashed out of Europe s premier club competition with 2-2 draw against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, in which Yannick Carrasco missed a late penalty.

Third-placed Atleti also trail LaLiga leaders Real Madrid by eight points ahead of a trip to Cadiz on Saturday.

While Simeone acknowledges he needs a response from his side this weekend, the Atleti head coach does not concern himself with the opinions of supporters over his future.

I feel that we have to play a great game tomorrow, that we have to continue working and giving everything since we arrived, he stated.

I don t think abou…

Former England international Kieron Dyer must undergo a liver transplant after being diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

The Ipswich Town Under-23s boss revealed he has been managing problems with his liver over the past couple of years.

Ex-Newcastle United and West Ham winger Dyer underwent hospital tests earlier this week having suffered a collapsed lung while competing in the reality television show Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins last month.

And the 42-year-old, who also played for Ipswich, QPR and Middlesbrough, expressed his gratitude for the support he has received.

The Club can confirm Town U23 manager Kieron Dyer has been diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

The best wishes of everyone at Ipswich Town Football Club rema…

Last season s beaten finalists Arsenal will welcome Owen Coyle s Bolton side to the Emirates in the fourth round of the Carling Cup.

Liverpool return to Britannia Stadium to face Stoke, having lost to Tony Pulis men in the English top-flight a fortnight ago.

Other Premier League ties see Blackburn welcome Newcastle at Ewood Park, Chelsea travel to Everton and Wolves host Manchester City.

Manchester United, winners of the 2009 and 2010 version of the knockout tournament, were awarded an easier draw, with Sir Alex Ferguson s men scheduled to visit the EBB Stadium, home of League Two side Aldershot.

Premier League hopefuls Southampton travel to Crystal Palace, while the other all-Championship encounter pits Cardiff at home to Burnley.

The ties are…

Mauricio Pochettino is setting his sights on second place in the Premier League but insisted Tottenham s focus is not on Arsenal, even though a draw at relegated Newcastle United on Sunday will ensure they finish above their rivals.

Despite a three-match winless run, Spurs are two points clear of the Gunners going into the final game and have a significantly superior goal difference, meaning a point at St James Park will be enough to finish as runners-up even if Arsene Wenger s men win against Aston Villa.

Tottenham have not finished above Arsenal for 21 years but Pochettino, who ended speculation linking him with Manchester United when he signed a new five-year contract this week, is only interested in what second spot means for his club.

The supporters and the…