Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has been voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association (FWA).
The 29-year-old has scored 22 goals to help fire his team from 5,000-1 outsiders to an historic Premier League title this season.
Vardy, who built his career away from the spotlight at Stocksbridge, Halifax and Fleetwood Town, became the first player to score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches earlier this season.
Vardy, who won 36 per cent of the vote, is the first Englishman to win the award since Scott Parker in 2011 and the first Leicester player to win it since it was started in 1948.
Mane must be more consistent – Koeman
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has urged Sadio Mane to show greater consistency after the striker scored a hat-trick to guide his team to a 4-2 victory against Man. City on Sunday.
The Senegal-born striker has endured a mixed season for Southampton, scoring 10 league goals so far, but failing to find the back of the net in 19 appearances between November and March.
Koeman said the inconsistency was down to his youth.
“Sadio is a little bit unpredictable sometimes,” the manager said.
“He’s still a young player, and young players they need sometimes to be more consistent.”
Goalkeeper dies after lightning strike
A teenage Australian goalkeeper has died three weeks after being struck by lightning during a training session with his club in Malaysia.
Stefan Petrovski, an 18-year-old reserve keeper for second tier side Melaka United, had been in a coma in intensive care since being struck by lightning when standing near goalposts.
“On behalf of the Australian football community, FFA sends their deepest condolences to the Petrovski family, friends and team-mates,” governing body Football Federation Australia said.
Drinkwater to escape extended ban
Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater has escaped an extended ban, British media reports said yesterday after he reacted angrily to being sent off in the 1-1 draw at Man. United over the weekend.
Drinkwater is suspended for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Everton but faces no further action because Sunday’s incident was not mentioned in referee Michael Oliver’s report.
The England midfielder collected a second booking near the end of the match at Old Trafford for bringing down United winger Memphis Depay on the edge of the area and only left the field after squaring up to Oliver.
Montolivo set to pen new Milan deal
Riccardo Montolivo has reached an agreement in principle to sign a new three-year contract with Milan, reports said.
The Italy midfielder’s contract with the Rossoneri expires at the end of the season and speculation was rife that the former Fiorentina player could seek pastures new.
However, Sky Italia reported that the Milan captain has reached an accord to extend his stay for another three seasons.
The report said that an announcement is expected to be made in the coming days.
Fracas may threaten Ukraine’s Euro hopes
Ukraine team-mates Andriy Yarmolenko and Taras Stepanenko have been involved in a club fracas that could undermine their country’s chances at the Euro 2016 next month.
Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Stepanenko was blatantly kicked by his international colleague on Sunday for kissing his club’s badge and staging a provocative goal celebration in front of Dynamo Kiev fans in a domestic derby match.
Dynamo winger Yarmolenko is likely to receive a lengthy ban for his reaction during Shakhtar’s 3-0 league win over the Ukrainian champions.
“We will spend lots of time together preparing for the (Euro 2016) games. We have to sort this out so it does not affect our mission,” national coach Mykhaylo Fomenko said.
Practice pays off for Townsend
Andros Townsend has revealed the free-kick which dragged Newcastle out of the Premier League relegation zone was honed on Tottenham’s training pitches.
Just a few months ago, the 24-year-old was out of favour at White Hart Lane and training with the second team.
But in January he joined Newcastle for £12 million, and his most telling contribution yet came on Saturday when he smashed a 58th-minute free-kick past Crystal Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey to clinch three priceless points.
Townsend said: “At the back end of last year, I used to stay out for hours practising free-kicks, left foot then right foot.
“It was frustrating, but all that hard work on the training field eventually pays off.”