2014 Four Nations: England waiting on captain Sean O'Loughlin ahead of Australia showdown

Sean O'Loughlin: Skipper yet to be ruled out of England's clash with Australia

England coach Steve McNamara has named an unchanged side for Sunday's Four Nations match against Australia - but has not yet ruled out injured captain Sean O'Loughlin.

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The Wigan loose forward missed out England's opening 32-26 win over Samoa in Brisbane on Saturday because of a quad muscle injury that he suffered in his club's Super League Grand Final defeat by St Helens earlier this month.

McNamara says O'Loughlin is continuing to make progress in his recovery and could yet be drafted in for the match at Melbourne's AAMI Park.

England are monitoring scrum-half Matty Smith and hooker Daryl Clark after they picked up knocks against the Samoans, but have followed protocol by naming their team early in the week.

"It is really difficult to name a team earlier in the week. A firmer decision will be made towards the weekend, when we arrive in Melbourne."

Steve McNamara

They do though have the right to change it and McNamara said: "We have named the same 17 as last week. A few of our blokes haven't been able to train fully during the early part of the week.

"Even though we have named the same side, there could be a change or two at the back end of the week.

"Those that were unable to train are making decent progress. Sean O'Loughlin is definitely improving and we will continue to monitor him throughout this week.

"It is really difficult to name a team earlier in the week. A firmer decision will be made towards the weekend, when we arrive in Melbourne."

History

England have stayed at their base on Queensland's Gold Coast following their opening match and will travel to Melbourne on Thursday to complete their preparations for a victory bid which, if successful, would take them through to a first Tri or Four Nations final in the southern hemisphere.

England's last victory against Australia was the 1995 World Cup opener at Wembley Stadium, when the hosts won 20-16, although Brian Noble's Great Britain beat the Kangaroos 23-12 in the Tri-Nations Series in 2006 in Sydney.

O'Loughlin is the only member of the 24-man squad to have ever tasted success against Australia, having played in 2006.

James Graham: Ready to lead

If he fails to make the line-up, James Graham will lead the side, as he did against the Pacific Islanders, who twice held the lead and pushed England all the way at Suncorp Stadium.

"It was a hard-fought win for us against Samoa," McNamara said. "There is room for improvement within our game. We had to overcome a very talented and tenacious team with limited preparation in extreme heat.

"I was pleased with the way we dug in and found a way to win in extreme circumstances. We will have to show that same resolve this week."

The organisers have decided not to go with neutral referees, appointing Australian Gerard Sutton for Sunday's game while New Zealander Henry Perenara will be in charge of the Kiwis' clash with Samoa in Wharangei on Sunday.

England: S Tomkins (New Zealand Warriors); J Charnley (Wigan Warriors), K Watkins (Leeds Rhinos), M Shenton (Castleford Tigers), R Hall (Leeds Rhinos); G Widdop (St George Illawarra), M Smith (Wigan Warriors); G Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), J Hodgson (Hull KR), J Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs, capt), L Farrell (Wigan Warriors), J Tomkins (Wigan Warriors), J Westerman (Hull FC)
Interchange: D Clark (Castleford Tigers), B Ferres (Huddersfield Giants), T Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), C Hill (Warrington Wolves)

Scottish Championship: Mike Ashley takes control of Rangers as chief executive Graham Wallace resigns

Mike Ashley's Rangers loan has been accepted

Mike Ashley has effectively taken control of Rangers following the resignation of chief executive Graham Wallace.

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The London Stock Exchange has confirmed that Ashley's £2million emergency loan offer has been accepted.

One of the conditions of the loan was the resignation of Wallace and Ashley's deal will allow him to choose two directors to replace Wallace and Philip Nash, who also left the club on Friday.

The Stock Exchange statement said: "Rangers announces that Graham Wallace, chief executive officer, has resigned as a director and employee of the company and its subsidiaries with immediate effect.

"The directors would like to thank Graham for his contribution to the club during a difficult period.

"The board has commenced the search for a chief executive officer. A further announcement will be made in due course."

Ashley, owner of Premier League Newcastle, already owns an 8.92 per cent stake in the club and will now enjoy greater influence within the club. His £2million offer is believed to include a zero interest facility, with the potential to draw down unlimited funds. 

Mike Ashley now has effective control of Rangers after his emergency loan was accepted by the board - one of the conditions was Wallace's resignation

On Friday, the board of Rangers FC voted to accept the offer of an emergency loan from Ashley, thus rejecting one from Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy.

Kennedy, who was a member of the Blue Knights consortium which failed to stop the club from sinking into liquidation in the summer of 2012, had made a last-gasp £3million counter offer.

Last week, former director Dave King failed to reach an agreement with the Rangers board over a proposed £16million cash injection into the Scottish Championship club.

King has already returned to South Africa after talks broke down without an agreement. Backed by former Blue Knight Paul Murray and wealthy fan George Letham, King was looking for a controlling stake at Ibrox in return for a cash injection.

Graham Wallace: Resigned as Rangers chief executive

However, this required the approval of Sandy Easdale, the club's football-board chairman who controls around 26 per cent of the shares.

The SFA are expected to contact Rangers this week to ask for clarity on Ashley's role at the club. Ashley has an agreement with the SFA that restricts him from owning more than 10 per cent of Rangers' shares and from having undue influence in boardroom affairs, as a result of his ownership of Newcastle United.

Sky Sports News reporter Charles Paterson reported on Friday that the club is thought to have a major funding shortfall, followed by the loss of around 15,000 season ticket holders, coupled with high staffing costs, which has left a huge financial hole.

Rangers’ most recent interim accounts in March of this year showed losses of £3.5million for the final six months of 2013, with the same amount available in cash reserves.

In September, the club belatedly repaid two £1million loans from Easdale and Letham.

Premier League: Newcastle come from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 at White Hart Lane

Ayoze Perez: Celebrates his winner for Newcastle

Sammy Ameobi and Ayoze Perez scored their first Premier League goals as Newcastle came from behind to win 2-1 at Tottenham.

Alan Pardew's half-time substitutions inspired Newcastle to a much-needed victory.

Pardew: A massive result

The Magpies are now up to 14th place in the table after recording only their second top-flight win of the season, while Spurs drop to 11th.

Emmanuel Adebayor put the hosts in front in the 18th minute at White Hart Lane with his first goal since August.

After Nacer Chadli and Christian Eriksen both had close-range shots blocked, Ryan Mason's cross from the left was headed home by Adebayor at the far post.

Best of the Match

• Man of the Match: Sammy Ameobi had only been on the pitch for around eight seconds when he equalised and he was impressive for the rest of the second half too.
• Goal of the Match: Ameobi's superb equaliser - a shot rifled across Lloris from left to right after Colback's pass through - was his first in the Premier League.
• Moment of the Match: Midweek hero Harry Kane sent a ball across the face of goal late on but no Spurs player was able to turn it home.
• Talking Point: Could Newcastle jump above Tottenham in the table next weekend? The Magpies host an out-of-sorts Liverpool while Spurs go to Aston Villa.

Pardew threw on Ameobi and Remy Cabella at the start of the second half.

And within eight seconds of kick-off, Jack Colback sent the ball through for Ameobi to latch onto in the left channel and he finished brilliantly across Hugo Lloris. 

Then on 58 minutes, the Lane was stunned into silence as Perez - on his full Toon debut - rose to head in Cabella's cross to put the away side ahead.

Despite late pressure from Spurs, the visitors held on to take all three points - a timely shot in the arm for under-fire Pardew, who built on their maiden win against Leicester with a first away victory for seven months.

Taylor: Newcastle delivered

It had looked unlikely after Adebayor deservedly put Mauricio Pochettino's side ahead in the Bill Nicholson anniversary match, marking 10 years since Tottenham's great former player and manager passed away.

But it was Newcastle, a club Nicholson represented as a guest during the Second World War, who ultimately secured victory.

Spurs were dominant, if uninspiring, in the first half and they appealed for a spot-kick against Daryl Janmaat inside the opening two minutes.

Pochettino: Spurs deserved more

Jan Vertonghen, Eriksen and Ryan Mason all failed with long-range efforts, before Newcastle left-back Paul Dummett missed an audacious attempt of his own from 40 yards.

Colback wasted a fine opportunity when the normally-reliable Lloris unconvincingly punched away a Moussa Sissoko cross, before a rare moment of class led to an 18th-minute breakthrough.

Last-ditch blocks kept Chadli and Eriksen at bay, but Mason showed impressive ingenuity to clip in a cross for Adebayor to direct home.

Erik Lamela: Battles for the ball with Fabricio Coloccini

It was an impressive header which proved the only difference at half-time as Spurs failed to create any further shots on target.

Danny Rose was unable to keep an effort down after an impressive Erik Lamela prod put him through, before the left-back saw a hopeful appeals for a spot-kick rightfully waved away.

Chadli wastefully blazed over a volley at the end of an uninspiring first half in which Newcastle looked poor.

Emmanuel Adebayor: Headed Tottenham in front

Cabella and Ameobi were brought on in a bid to change things, but Pardew could not in his wildest dreams imagined their impact.

Five touches and around eight seconds was all it took for Newcastle to pull themselves level, with Eric Dier caught napping from a fine Colback pass which substitute Ameobi rifled home.

Pochettino and many of the Spurs substitutes were not even back at their seats when the goal was breached - a shock to the system Spurs could have recovered almost immediately had Fabricio Coloccini not impressively denied Eriksen turning home a squared ball from Rose.

Ameobi: Mobbed by team-mates after equaliser

That block saw Newcastle remarkably turn the match on its head.

Despite having looked to receive a pass from Sissoko in an offside position, second-half introduction Cabella sent in a cross which full debutant Perez headed home.

The visitors' relief was clear by the wild celebrations which would have been repeated had Cabella ended a solo run by squeezing his effort inside the near post rather into the side-netting.

Pardew: Joy for Newcastle manager

It was a let-off the home faithful thought they had capitalised on in the 66th minute when Eriksen caught out Tim Krul directly from a corner, but the Newcastle goalkeeper's blushes were saved by linesman indicating the cross had gone out of play before curling back in.

Harry Kane, fresh from coming on, could not beat Krul with his first attempt of the afternoon as Spurs upped the ante, with Aaron Lennon failing to hit the target.

A low, driven cross from Kane somehow evaded his team-mates and Roberto Soldado had an effort blocked as a leveller proves beyond them.

Premier League preview: QPR welcome Aston Villa to Loftus Road for Monday Night Football

QPR will be looking to lift themselves off the foot of the Premier League when they welcome Aston Villa to Loftus Road in Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports.

Harry Redknapp’s men have not enjoyed their return to the top flight thus far, with a return of just four points from their opening eight matches seeing them rooted to the bottom of the league.

Ed Chamberlin previews the Monday Night Football offering of QPR versus Aston Villa

Defensive concerns have been the crux of the problem for the R's. Redknapp’s men have the worst defensive record in the division, and crucial mistakes have cost them dear.

Eduardo Vargas twice got Rangers back on level terms late on against Liverpool last week, but on both occasions poor defending allowed the Reds to sweep down the other end and get themselves back in front.

Even at this stage of the season, a win over a fellow struggler can be a huge boost to a survival bid, and with Villa in freefall after a positive start, this could be QPR's chance.

Three wins from their opening four matches of this new campaign saw Paul Lambert’s men riding high in the Champions League qualification spots - form which led the Villa hierarchy to offer Lambert a new deal.

Opta facts

• QPR have four points from eight games, one more than they did at this stage two seasons ago.
• QPR have conceded at least two goals in each of their last five Premier League games (13 goals in total).
• Andreas Weimann has scored two goals from two shots on target this season and they have both been winners.
• Aston Villa are the only team not to score in the closing 15 minutes of games this season.

However, since the Scot put pen to paper, the Villans have not won a single point from their subsequent four matches, and not even scored a goal in that time.

Incredibly, at this juncture of the season, Villa have only mustered a measly 12 shots on target in their eight games – fewer than three individual players after eight matchweeks (Sergio Aguero, Diego Costa and Graziano Pelle).

The capital has not been a happy hunting ground for the Midlanders. Villa have lost nine of their last 10 Premier League games against London sides.

Team news

The Sunday Supplement panel believe Harry Redknapp's relationship with Adel Taarabt is damaged beyond repair

Adel Taarabt could be offered the opportunity to prove himself to Redknapp when QPR host Villa.

Taarabt and Redknapp had a public disagreement this week when the QPR boss accused the Morocco playmaker of being overweight.

Defender Nedum Onuoha hopes to shake off a hamstring problem sustained against Liverpool while midfielders Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch could be fit again after recent hamstring trouble, but Alejandro Faurlin (knee) is a long-term injury absentee.

Visitors Villa are hopeful of a couple of returns in their defence after conceding 11 goals in the space of four games, while also scoring none in that run.

Ron Vlaar discusses Villa's recent form

Philippe Senderos (thigh) will face a late fitness check with the view of placing him back in the heart of the back four alongside captain Ron Vlaar, who overcame a calf injury to make his comeback against Everton last week.

Nathan Baker (hamstring) is also a doubt for the clash, having limped off in last week's defeat.

Paul Merson's prediction

Harry Redknapp: Knows his side must get back to winning ways

If QPR can get anywhere near the standard they played to last Sunday against Liverpool, then they will have a good chance.

I wasn’t impressed with their defending and organisation at the end of the game, but the way they went forward - Bobby Zamora in particular - did impress me.

I think they will beat a Villa team which is struggling at the moment. I worry about the way Villa are losing games because they don’t look like scoring a goal. If QPR are up for it, then they can win this - and then you worry about Villa because they’ll be on that slippery slope.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0

Marussia have entered administration and are withdrawn from the United States GP

A statement released by the administrators, FRP Advisory LLP, said that with current owner Andrey Cheglakov no longer able to provide investment, the team had tried unsuccessfully to find backing elsewhere.Marussia have entered administration and will miss this weekend's United States Grand Prix, it was confirmed on Monday.

The administrators have refused to rule out a return at either the Brazilian or Abu Dhabi GPs but added that Marussia's re-appearance - not to mention the futures of nearly 200 employees - depends on whether a buyer can be found.

The statement, made by joint administrator Geoff Rowley, added that only a "very limited window of opportunity" exists for talks.

"Whilst the team has made significant progress during its relatively short period of operation, the highlight of which included securing two constructors championship points in the current F1 season, the position remains that operating a F1 team requires significant ongoing investment," said Rowley.

"With the Marussia F1 Team now in administration, the joint administrators have assessed that, given the current financial circumstances of the Group, it is not viable for the Marussia F1 Team to participate in the next race, the 2014 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, due to take place this weekend in Austin, Texas."With the existing shareholder unable to provide the required level of funding, the senior management team has worked tirelessly to bring new investment to the team to secure its long term future, but regrettably has been unable to do so within the time available. Therefore, they have been left with no alternative but to place the Company into administration.

"The Company will continue to operate while the joint administrators assess the longer term viability of the Company in its present form.

"Following Austin, there are two further rounds of the 2014 championship remaining, in Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi, and the team’s participation in those races will depend on the outcome of the administration process and any related negotiations with interested parties in what is a very limited window of opportunity.

"No redundancies have been made following the Company's entering into administration and all staff have been paid in full to the end of October. The ongoing staff position will however be dependent on whether the Company can secure new investment in the limited time available.

"We remain highly focused on engaging with interested parties."

One such is understood to be British-Indian brothers Baljinder Sohi and Sonny Kaushal. A report in Monday's Daily Telegraph said that the pair, who have amassed a fortune in the steel industry, have made a £55m offer for the team.

“We are very close to a deal,” Sohi was quoted as saying. “But it has to be the right price. We have put in a serious offer and we will see what happens.”

Marussia were originally known as Virgin Racing but were subsequently taken over in order to promote the Marussia sportscar company owned by Cheglakov.

However, their plans to manufacture supercars never came to fruition and the company was wound up earlier this year.

Although any buyer would have to take on debts estimated at £30m, Marussia are set for a cash windfall at least equivalent to that amount next season, provided they can finish in the Constructors’ Championship top ten.

They are currently ninth after Jules Bianchi finished ninth in May’s Monaco GP and with rivals Caterhamnow also in administration and set to miss the next two races, it seems more than likely they'll manage it.

Marussia are still coming to terms with Bianchi’s horrific accident in the Japanese GP earlier this month. The Frenchman remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Premier League: Phil Jones insists Manchester United are not out of the title race

Phil Jones: Manchester United defender reckons the team are still in the title race this season

Manchester United defender Phil Jones insists the team are not out of the running in the Premier League title race this season.

United play league leaders Chelsea at Old Trafford today, and go into the match trailing Jose Mourinho’s side by 10 points.But Jones believes United should be targeting league success, as he reckons the team will come good when the new players settle at the club.Jones told Sky Sports News HQ: “I think we've got to try and aspire to do that. I mean, some people will probably look at that and think ‘well, how can you say that?’ but you know we believe in what we’re doing. We believe in the philosophy the manager always drums into us. “When things are going bad at Manchester United, everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon because ultimately we’ve been that club that everyone’s aspired to be in recent years, so when it’s not going so great, it’s difficult.“But we have to try and brush that aside, and that’s not going to stand in our way in moving forward. And we’re improving. It’s not going to happen overnight. We’re not foolish enough to say ‘we’re going to click our fingers and it’s going to be as good as new’.“We’ve got a lot of new players in the squad. It is going to take time, but we feel we’re improving game by game and we’ve got to keep improving and keep going forward in the right direction.”

First Test: Pakistan made to work to beat Australia in opener

Zulfiqar Babar: Five wickets for Pakistan

Zulfiqar Babar took five wickets as Pakistan beat Australia by 221 runs in the first Test in Dubai.

Australia, set an unlikely 438 to win, were finally bowled out after tea on the fifth day for 216 as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Left-arm spinner Zulfiqar took 5-74 and and leg-spinner Yasir Shah 4-50 as Pakistan finally broke down Australia's resistance after an attritional day.

Mitchell Johnson made 61 while Steven Smith scored 55 to delay Pakistan's win, which came with just 21.5 overs left.

Australia came into the series needing to win both games to displace South Africa at the top of the Test rankings, but will instead head to Abu Dhabi later this week hoping to avoid a first series loss to Pakistan since 1994.

Pakistan had won just two Tests against Australia in the intervening period - at one point losing 13 in a row - and while they were without mystery spinner Saeed Ajmal following his ban for an illegal bowling action, their slow men led the way to a memorable success.

Zulfiqar completed the job, and his first five-wicket Test haul at the age of 35, when Peter Siddle squeezed a bat-pad catch to Azhar Ali.

Zulfiqar and debutant Yasir claimed 14 wickets between them in the match to leave Australia in a spin ahead of the second Test.

Lurched

The tourists lurched to 105-7 in the morning session before Smith and Johnson half-centuries offered the merest hope they might fight out a draw.

Smith's wicket was the only to fall during the afternoon session, after he dug in for 55 from 175 balls, before he fell victim to Yasir.

Smith had expertly used his feet to the slow men but after skipping down to the leg-spinner he popped a catch to short-leg with the umpire review confirming he had to make a slow walk off.

Johnson then teamed with Siddle in a 43-run stand that took Australia into the final session of the match until he overstretched attempting to smother Yasir's spin.

It was a close call that went Pakistan's way as TV umpire Nigel Llong ruled Johnson's back foot was still on the crease as wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed removed the bails.

Siddle then survived a reviewed lbw call by the barest of margins before Zulfiqar had him caught pressing further forward to finish with seven wickets for the match.

The second Test starts in Abu Dhabi on October 30.