Australia: Australia rebounded from last month’s surprise loss to Jordan to trounce Kyrgyzstan 3-0 in their Asian World Cup qualifier in Canberra yesterday. Despite being below their best and squandering a hatful of chances, the Socceroos were too fast and strong for a stubborn Kyrgyzstan side that remain third in the Asian Group B standings. Australia are second, one point behind Jordan, with three games to go in the second round.

Kompany: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has withdrawn from the Belgium squad for their friendlies against Italy and Spain. The 29-year-old was the subject of a club-versus-country row when he played in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel despite assertions from City boss Manuel Pellegrini that he was unfit because of a calf injury. There will no repeat of those arguments this month, though, after Belgium confirmed he had left the squad.

Meyler: Hull midfielder David Meyler could miss up to two months after sustaining a knee injury while on international duty with Ireland. The 26-year-old has suffered a tear to his medial ligament after colliding with Stoke defender Marc Wilson during training. The club posted the injury update on their official website, with their doctors predicting Meyler will be out for up to eight weeks.

Barnsley: Barnsley have ap-pointed former winger Martin Devaney as the club’s professional development phase coach. Deva-ney, 35, who spent six years as a player at Oakwell, will work alongside lead Under-18s coach Chris Howarth and senior development coach Paul Heckingbottom.

Ferdinand: Rio Ferdinand will no longer be teaming up with John Terry and Ashley Cole for tomorrow’s charity game at Old Trafford. The trio had all featured in the Great Britain and Ireland line-up an-nounced in October for the match against the Rest of the World, which is in aid of UNICEF. But Ferdinand’s name was then missing from an updated list of players to be involved which was released yesterday.