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      Jamie Carragher’s son could swap national teams from England after being granted citizenship

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      JAMIE CARRAGHER’S son could abandon any hope of playing for England after a citizenship ruling.James Carragher spent six years in the Liverpool youth academy before leaving for Wigan Athletic in 2017.Jamie Carragher has reportedly been granted Maltese citizenshipCredit: GettyHis son James could now represent MaltaCredit: GettyCarragher played 38 times for EnglandCredit: AP:Associated PressJames, 22, could now not follow in the footsteps of his father and play for England.Carragher earned 38 caps for the Three Lions between 1999 and 2010.However, his son could now swap his allegiance to Malta after reportedly being granted citizenship to the country.The Times of Malta have claimed that Carragher was first granted citizenship due to his Maltese mother and grandfather.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe defender has played 19 times for the Latics this season and would now be eligible to play for Malta on the international stage.The Malta FA has previously confirmed that talks had taken place with the footballing family.President Bjorn Vassallo revealed that James is “open” to playing for Malta.He said: “We’ve been in talks with James and his father Jamie for the last few months now.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”He [James] is open to it, but we’re still working on it.”We will not shy from signing players internationally; everyone is doing it, so why not us?”Jamie Carragher reveals his wife told him he ‘went too far’ with ‘awful’ joke live on TV James spent six years in Liverpool’s academyCredit: ReutersJames Carragher is proving to be a useful player at Wigan and was handed a new contract in October.He signed an extension that will run until 2027.If he does opt to represent Malta and be called up, he could appear in qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.Malta have been handed a tricky group with tough clashes against either Spain or Holland as well as Poland, Finland and Lithuania. More

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      Bukayo Saka shows off scar from operation as Arsenal star joins team-mates at mid-season Dubai training camp

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      BUKAYO SAKA stepped up his recovery from a hamstring injury last week as he targets a return to action.The Arsenal winger suffered a torn hamstring in December and was forced to undergo surgery just after Christmas.Bukayo Saka has stepped up his recovery in DubaiCredit: GettyThe Arsenal star shared some pictures of himself in trainingIn one of the photos, the scar from his hamstring surgery was visibleWhile he is yet to return to full training, Saka has been stepping up his recovery in recent days as he edges closer to a comeback.In a series of photos shared on his Instagram on Monday morning, the 23-year-old could be seen completing some strength and conditioning exercises in Dubai.The scar from his recent hamstring operation was also visible on his right leg in one of the photos.Arsenal fans could not contain their excitement at the prospect of Saka nearing a return.Read More in FootballOne person took to the comments to write: “It will be like a new January signing…”Another said: “This picture made me happy.”A third joked: “Defenders are shaking.”While another commented: “Starboy is back!”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSSaka is expected to return in early March and could be available for the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League last-16 clash.Ben White is also understood to be nearing a return. Bukayo Saka is spotted on crutches after Arsenal’s win at Crystal PalaceThe defender has been unavailable since November but could make his comeback when Arsenal face Leicester City on Saturday.Mikel Arteta suffered another injury blow last week when Gabriel Martinelli limped off with a hamstring issue against Newcastle.Martinelli is expected to be absent for six weeks.ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Saliba will be having nightmares about Isak as Lewis-Skelly is only Gunners star to show upARSENAL were humbled by Newcastle at St James’ Park as the Magpies beat them 2-0 to secure a spot in the League Cup final.The North Londoners knew they needed to take an early advantage if they were to overturn the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.But Jacob Murphy was on hand to put the Magpies a goal ahead after Alexander Isak’s shot rebounded off of the post and out to him.Shortly after the break, Anthony Gordon doubled the lead to all but confirm a second League Cup final in three years for Eddie Howe.Here’s how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the Gunners.David Raya – 5Stitched Declan Rice right up for the second goal.And that absolutely killed this as a contest for his side.Jurrien Timber – 6Tried to get forward and support the attack early but soon found himself dropping deeper to avoid being caught on the counter.Tough night for the Dutchman up against Gordon in front of the red-hot home crowd.William Saliba – 4Let frustration get the better of him when he got himself booked for grabbing Anthony Gordon’s shirt.And the winger almost embarrassed him again at the start of the second period when he caught the defender sleeping, nicked the ball from him, but could only shoot wide.The usually assured star will be having nightmares of Gordon and Isak.Gabriel Magalhaes – 6Another who struggled to contain Toon’s two pacey attacking threats but did fair slightly better than his usually formidable partner.Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7Another assured performance from the full-back in a raucous atmosphere.Could not be faulted for any of the goals and showed flashes off his potential despite the humbling.Martin Odegaard – 6Everything Arsenal did try came through the skipper.Although he loses a mark as things could have been a very different story if he had finished his first half effort had hit the inside rather than outside of the post.Thomas Partey – 6Plenty of running about but very little to show or product for his efforts.Declan Rice – 6Looked to take a knock late in the first half and continued to struggle on after the restart.Was hung out to dry by his goalie for the second goal and he did keep pushing until the very end.But it was a disappointing night for the England star and his partner Partey as they came up short against Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.Gabriel Martinelli – 5Struggled to get past big Dan Burn during his brief time on the pitch.And his night was brought to an abrupt end when he limped off before the break.Kai Havertz – 4Outmuscled, outbattled and outthought but Svan Botman and Fabian Schar.Produced zilch on an evening when he and his team-mates lacked creativity and ideas.Leandro Trossard – 5Many will have been fancying him to cause some problems for the 34-year-old Kieran Trippier but the veteran had him in his pocket all night.Arteta had seen enough by the hour mark and opted to let Raheem Sterling have a go instead.Subs usedEthan Nwaneri (37 mins for Martinelli) – 6Desperately tried to inject some pace and threat into the faltering Arsenal attack but the task proved too much for the young Gunn.He should have plenty more big occasions to look forward to though in his career.Mikel Merino (70 mins for Odegaard) – 5The game was already done and dusted when he entered the fray for battle.Some nice touches, but like those before him, he couldn’t produce anything for the visitors.Raheem Sterling (61 mins for Trossard) – 4Got half an hour to try and get at Trippier but, just like Trossard before him, he was not given an ounce of joy.Riccardo Calafiori (78 mins for Timber) – 4Was brought on simply to get some minutes in his legs.Jorginho (78 mins for Partey) – 4See above. Little chance to make an impact with the game well and truly over. More

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      FA Cup could see most unlikely winner in years as remaining teams’ staggering waits for a major trophy revealed

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      AN UNLIKELY winner could get their hands on the FA Cup this year after many of the Premier League’s top clubs crashed out.Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool are all out by the fifth round with only Manchester United and Man City from the so-called “Big Six” remaining in the competition. Newcastle’s 1995 FA Cup final winCredit: GettyAston Villa celebrate their 1996 League Cup winCredit: RexNottingham Forest won the League Cup in 1990Credit: RexCardiff City, Doncaster, Burnley, Plymouth, Exeter, Milwall and Preston make up the lower league underdogs in the next round. Meanwhile Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich, Wolves, Fulham, Newcastle, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace are also still in the mix. Amazingly, five of the remaining Premier League teams – Fulham, Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford, and Crystal Palace – have NEVER won a major trophy.And Newcastle have been waiting 70 YEARS for silverware – last winning the FA Cup in 1955. READ MORE IN football Forest are two-time European Cup winners but their last piece of silverware was the League Cup in 1990.Southampton have been waiting nearly 50 years to lift a major trophy – winning the FA Cup in 1976. Everton are also former winners but not since 1995 while Wolves lifted the League Cup in 1980. Cardiff won the Championship in 2013 but it was in 1927 that they last won the FA Cup while Ipswich were Uefa Cup winners in 1981.Most read in FootballThe wait for major trophies Manchester United: One year Manchester City: One year Aston Villa: 29 years Nottingham Forest: 35 years Preston: 35 years Ipswich: 44 years Wolves: 45 years Burnley: 65 years Newcastle: 70 years Cardiff City: 98 years Millwall: N/ABrighton: N/AExeter: N/AFulham: N/APlymouth: N/ABournemouth: N/ADoncaster: N/ACrystal Palace: N/ACASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSBurnley won the Championship as recently as 2023 but had not had major silverware since their top-flight title win in 1960. Doncaster, Plymouth, Exeter and Milwall are also without major trophies in their cabinets. Preston, however, won the top-flight in 1990 and FA Cup in 1889. The FA Cup fifth round draw will take place TONIGHT on BBC’s The One Show.Miron Muslic ‘very emotional’ after Plymouth knock Liverpool out of FA Cup More

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      When is the FA Cup 5th round draw? FREE live stream, TV channel and start time as Man Utd discover opponents TONIGHT

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      THE FA Cup fourth round has produced some huge upsets over the weekend.Most notably, Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle beat Premier League leaders Liverpool 1-0 on Sunday.Ryan Hardie was the hero for Plymouth against LiverpoolCredit: GettyRyan Hardie’s 53rd-minute penalty was enough for the Pilgrims to pull off a huge giant-killing at Home Park.Just two fourth round ties remain to be decided, with Doncaster Rovers taking on Crystal Palace on Monday, February 10, and Nottingham Forest travelling to Exeter City on Tuesday, February 11.But fans don’t need to wait long until the FA Cup fifth round draw!When is the FA Cup fifth round draw?The FA Cup fifth round draw will take place on Monday, February 10.It will be broadcast live on BBC One and available for free live streaming on iPlayer and the FA Cup’s official YouTube channel.It will be conducted at 7.10pm GMT during The One Show.SunSport will also live blog the draw with all the build-up and reaction.When are FA Cup fifth round fixtures?Fixtures are set for the weekend of March 1 & 2.However, like with this weekend, fixtures are expected to be placed in various time slots from Friday to Monday.Both BBC and ITV have broadcasting rights to the competition.FA Cup fifth round ball numbersHere are the all-important ball numbers ahead of the FA Cup fifth round draw:Manchester UnitedMillwallBrightonPreston North EndExeter or Nottingham ForestIpswichWolvesFulhamNewcastlePlymouthBournemouthAston VillaBurnleyManchester CityDoncaster or Crystal PalaceCardiff City More

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      Ex-Leeds boss Neil Redfearn quietly resigns as manager of Britain’s biggest crisis club after THREE WEEKS

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      FORMER Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn has left crisis-stricken Farsley Celtic after just three weeks at the helm.Redfearn, 59, was appointed manager of the non-league club on January 17 amid ongoing turmoil at the Citadel.Former Newcastle coach and ex-Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn has left Farsley CelticCredit: Getty – ContributorHowever, he quietly stepped down from his post last week, the Yorkshire Post has revealed.In Redfearn’s absence, Farsley Celtic suffered a 6-1 defeat to Needham Market on Saturday.The result left the Celts 22nd in the National League North table.Redfearn’s departure is the latest in a long line of blows for the club.Read More in FootballFarsley Celtic are yet to play any games at their home stadium, the Citadel, this season.The pitch was removed at the end of the 2023-24 season but there have been delays in the process of implementing artificial turf.As a result, they have been forced to play their home games 70 miles away at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium in Buxton.Fans have since boycotted several games and accused owner Paul Barthorpe of trying to “ruin” the club.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSFarsley Celtic have not been able to play any games at home this season due to an unplayable pitchCredit: Glen MinikinMany believe he is more interested in trying to sell their home stadium to housing developers.However, Barthorpe has insisted that is not the case.Frank Lampard shows his disappointment after Coventry defeat to Leeds In a lengthy statement, he also opened up about the physical abuse he had received and claimed that irate fans had damaged his property.He said: “People saying I don’t care, I’m destroying the club, I’m not investing in the club, I have ulterior motives which clearly could not be further from the truth!”This has been my life for almost six years and anyone who owns a business and commits everything to it knows the unconditional love you have for it!”If my motivation was to run it into the ground I wouldn’t have kept investing to the levels I have on a weekly basis.”Barthorpe then added: “There have been accusations of a lack of information being shared and a lack of clarity.”The truth is I have had a number of death threats hand delivered to my home address, I have been physically attacked, I’ve had my car damaged three times, my car tyres slashed, items thrown at my house.READ MORE SUN STORIES”And a number of other incidents that have happened directly after club posts or directly after other posts that are damaging and critical and as usual shared across multiple social media sites.”All of this is currently under investigation and we have been therefore advised to keep our posts to a minimum, so as not to escalate these incidents.” More

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      Sky Sports presenter leaving after 43 years on TV as he gives ‘final goodbye’ in emotional statement

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      LEGENDARY Sky Sports presenter Nick Powell is rolling credits on a glittering 43-year broadcasting career.Powell, 65, spent 29 years with Sky and will be retiring later this week on his 66th birthday.Sky Sports presenter Nick Powell is retiring after a glittering 43-year broadcasting careerPowell puts his mic down after 29 years with SkyCredit: GettyThe popular broadcaster has covered some of the greatest sporting events, such as England’s Ashes triumph in 2005, London 2012 and Andy Murray’s Wimbledon win in 2013.The journalist issued a long farewell message on Sky Sports’ website where he also looked back at unforgettable interviews with the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Muhammad Ali and Princess Anne.Powell wrote: “And there you have my job in a nutshell: holiday irrelevant; knowledge, authority and quick reactions essential.”I have built all that up over 43 years of live broadcasting, good and bad.Read More on Sport”The good – being there for England men’s first Ashes win in 20 years at The Oval in 2005, Super Saturday at the 2012 London Olympics and Andy Murray’s 2013 Wimbledon triumph.”The bad – the Bradford fire, the Hillsborough disaster and the premature loss of sportspeople like Gary Speed.”And the surreal – interviewing Archbishop Desmond Tutu and covering a Bruce Springsteen concert on the same afternoon for Yorkshire Television, or explaining The Hundred to viewers of Sky Germany. In German.”Powell looks back at his career very fondly without regretting even the hardest times that saw him working under difficult circumstances.Most read in FootballBut there were also some very pleasant experiences along the way, such as when he covered Liverpool’s first ever Premier League triumph in 2020.Powell wrote: “And now it’s a final goodbye.Premier League giants give update on £300m, 60,000-plus-capacity stadium expansion with area turned into building site”Favourite moment? So many, but as a born and bred Liverpool fan, it’s hard to beat being on air for their first league title in 30 years.”As it turned out, between the final whistle going on Manchester City’s defeat at Chelsea, which meant Liverpool could not be caught, and the start of a special programme fronted by David Jones to mark Liverpool’s triumph, I had precisely 12 seconds.”But that’s live television for you.” More

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      Former Championship star, 38, now a train driver in ‘new career to last the rest of my life’

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      A former Brighton star has swapped the pitch for the train tracks.Jake Robinson made 144 appearances for the Seagulls after coming through the club’s academy.Jake Robinson has hang up his boots to become a train driverCredit: Andrew Gardner. Contact andrew.gardnr@gmail.comThe former striker beat hundreds of applicants to the role at SouthernCredit: Andrew Gardner. Contact andrew.gardnr@gmail.comRobinson made 144 appearances for BrightonCredit: GettyHe became Brighton’s youngest-ever goalscorer when he scored against Reading on the opening day of the 2004-05 Championship season aged just 16.It is a record he still holds to this day and one he is very proud of.Robinson, 38, scored 20 goals for his boyhood club including a hat-trick in just his second FA Cup appearance against Northwich Victoria.He later joined Shrewsbury and played for Torquay and Northampton in the EFL before spending ten years in non-league, finishing his career at Worthing at the end of last season.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAfter hanging up his boots Robinson is now a trainee train driver, having been tipped for a job at train company Southern by his Dad, who saw a job advert go up while working at Brighton station.Robinson once dreamed of playing for England and earning enough to retire on, and although his career did not pan out as hoped he is still proud of what he has accomplished.He told BBC Radio Sussex: “The money never quite went to the level it needed to if that was to be my goal [to retire].”I’m very proud of my career, I wouldn’t change it for the world. All I ever wanted to do was be a professional footballer, I’m lucky I lived out that dream.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”Scored in every league from the Championship down to County One so that is a nice record I have.”Now Robinson will be responsible for transporting fans to and from Brighton’s Amex, something he is eager to do despite the challenges of dealing with thousands of fans on train platforms.Kaoru Mitoma is on fire as he trains with Brighton Asked about taking fans to Brighton, he said: “I believe that is quite likely. Being based in Brighton that is one of my core routes.”It would be like the story being complete for me. “From training there as a kid to now my new career that will hopefully last the rest of my life is taking people there, dropping them off and picking them up again. So almost like full circle.” More

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      Wayne Rooney lands first job since Plymouth sacking amid tug-of-war over Man Utd legend

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      WAYNE ROONEY has landed his first job since being axed by Plymouth Argyle – and he will return to TV screens tomorrow.The 39-year-old left Home Park on New Year’s Eve following a terrible run of results which left Plymouth rock bottom of the Championship table.Wayne Rooney will return to punditry this weekCredit: GettyRooney has since admitted that he would like to return to management one day – but only if the right opportunity comes up.While he is yet to secure a new full-time job, the Manchester United legend will return to TV this week.Amazon Prime has confirmed that Rooney will join the line-up of pundits for Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid tomorrow.It will be his debut on the streaming service.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRooney has already had some experience as a pundit on various channels.The ex-striker has also featured on The Overlap with the likes of Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Roy Keane on several occasions.Rooney is currently understood to be in the midst of a four-way battle among broadcasters.Last month SunSport reported that he was in talks over a punditry role on Match of the Day and could demand up to £200,000-a-year depending on appearances.Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe has also been approached by Sky Sports and TNT Sports as well as Amazon Prime.Sky and TNT are the chief broadcasters of the Premier League in the UK and would be able to offer a busier role.’It must be embarrassing,’ says Wayne Rooney as he opens up on seeing Marcus Rashford on visit to Carrington More