Wilmots: Marc Wilmots has extended his contract as Belgium coach by four years until 2018, the Royal Belgian FA (URBSFA) said yesterday. “Marc Wilmots and the URBSFA have found an agreement to extend their collaboration for four more years,” it said. “He will therefore be leading our Red Devils for the Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup campaigns.” Wilmots, 45, was named Belgium head coach in 2012.

Willems: Netherlands full-back Jetro Willems will miss the World Cup after picking up a knee injury in PSV Eindhoven’s league defeat by Feyenoord at the weekend, his club said yesterday. The 20-year-old, the youngest player to appear at a European Championship tournament two years ago, suffered a cartilage tear, PSV said. A scan on the knee revealed damage that will keep him out for “several months”.

Toure: Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure will be out of action for two weeks due to a muscle injury, manager Manuel Pellegrini said yesterday. The Ivorian will miss today’s home Premier League game against bottom club Sunderland after sustaining the injury early in the 3-2 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday. “Maybe it’s not as bad as we thought at the beginning but he needs at least 10 days or two weeks to recover,” Pellegrini said.

Ireland: Midfielder Stephen Ireland has signed a three-year contract to remain at Stoke. Ireland has revived his career at the Britannia Stadium after joining the Potters on a loan deal from Aston Villa at the start of the season. Stoke made the move permanent during the January transfer window and have now tied down the 27-year-old until the end of the 2016-17 season.

Barkley: Everton boss Roberto Martinez laughed off speculation of a bid from Liverpool for midfielder Ross Barkley. Reports have suggested Liverpool could offer £38 million for Barkley, but, with tongue in cheek, Martinez said: “In terms of the speculation, we already turned down a £50m bid from (Manchester) United so we’re not going to take £38 million from Liverpool.”