Brazil midfielder Oscar signs extended long-term deal at Chelsea

Brazil midfielder Oscar signs extended long-term deal at Chelsea

Oscar has signed a new contract with runaway Premier League leaders Chelsea.


The Brazilian international will now remain at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2019.

The 23-year-old midfielder has made 15 appearances this season in all competitions, scoring four goals for the Blues who are currently unbeaten and four points clear at the top of the Premier League table .

Oscar told the club's website: ‘I am so happy because I love playing for Chelsea and living in England. I have enjoyed playing here for two years, and now I have five more, so I am very happy.’

The Brazilian joined Chelsea from Internacional in the summer of 2012 and has been a vital member of the first-team since, scoring 11 goals last season.

The second of two goals he scored on his first start for the club, in a Champions League game against Juventus, earned him the club's Goal of the Season award, and he ended his first season as a Chelsea player with a Europa League winners' medal.

Oscar has also amassed 40 caps for Brazil since making his debut against Argentina in 2011 and has scored 11 times, including the only goal in the 7-1 humbling by Germany in last summer's World Cup semi-final.

Linlithgow Rose team up with Prostate Scotland

Linlithgow Rose team up with Prostate Scotland

Linlithgow Rose have teamed up with Prostate Scotland to launch a unique partnership in a bid to promote men’s health.


The community club - four-time winners of the Scottish Junior Cup - will display the Prostate Scotland logo on their shorts for the Scottish Cup third round tie against Raith Rovers on Saturday.

Media presenter Grant Stott, an ambassador for Prostate Scotland, told the Daily Record: “It’s great to see this partnership being formed and it’s a great idea from the club.

“Hopefully it will help to get the message out there about prostate cancer and its symptoms to us men folk who often don’t want to listen or may not have had access to information.

Representing 20 per cent of all male cancers, prostate cancer is the common form of the disease in men across Scotland and that prompted the Rose to get involved in raising its profile.

Linlithgow captain David Ridd said: “We like to think of ourselves as an innovative club and when the idea of this partnership was first talked about it’s something we felt could be really beneficial.

“Some of our players have been indirectly affected by cancer and we wanted to do something to publicise the symptoms and causes of this awful disease.

“We hope that by having the Prostate Scotland logo on our shorts and other marketing materials around the club, it will bring it to the attention of our team and those we play against.

“We have already done some fundraising and have more planned. We also hope to arrange a celebrity football match in Linlithgow at the end of the season.”

Professor Alan McNeill, consultant urologist and a founding Trustee of Prostate Scotland said: “When we heard about this proposal we were delighted to take it forward with the club.

“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Scotland and the more men who are aware of their prostate, what to look out for and how to seek help, the greater the numbers of those who can be treated.”

Three arrested in racism probe

Three arrested in racism probe

Three people have been charged with racially aggravated public order offences in the wake of Port Vale's win at Chesterfield.


Port Vale have confirmed three people have been arrested and charged with racially aggravated public order offences in relation to incidents following the win against Chesterfield on August 30.

The arrests and charges come after the Football Association asked the Spireites to launch a full investigation into alleged racist abuse aimed towards their players on August 30.

The League One fixture was marred by a confrontation between Spireites defender Daniel Jones, a former Vale player, and home supporters at the end of the match.

It was alleged a small section of Vale fans targeted Chesterfield's black players with racist taunts as the players left the field.

"Mindless behaviour like this has no place in football or in the society we live in and it is important to reiterate that this particular incident did involve only three supporters," senior safety advisor Phil Mayer told the official club website.

"Their behaviour should not be allowed to impact on the good name of the overwhelming majority of Port Vale fans who attend games, home and away, without incident."

Break is bad timing for me, says Liverpool defender Glen Johnson

Break is bad timing for me, says Liverpool defender Glen Johnson

Glen Johnson admits the international break was the last thing he needed after just returning from injury.


The Liverpool right-back has been out since August 25, missing seven matches before making his comeback with a 30-minute substitute appearance in Saturday's victory over West Brom.

Johnson will now have to wait a fortnight for his next chance of competitive action when Liverpool's league campaign resumes at QPR.

"I would have preferred the international break to have come next week so I could declare myself fit and available (for England)," he said.

"Obviously with the squad being picked last Thursday I hadn't played for six weeks so I can't be involved.

"Of course I want to go away with the England team and play again for them as well.

"Of course, no player wants to be injured. I feel good and it's about match fitness now.

"The body feels good so I just need some training sessions and I can take it from there."

While Johnson has been out Liverpool won just once in the league as their dip in results coincided with Daniel Sturridge's absence.

"It is frustrating to watch because you want to be out there on the line with the lads and you want to be there even more when it is not going too well," he added.

"The most important thing for me was getting fit and hoping the lads could pull us through while I was not able to help.

"It is difficult when you have bad periods, but you'll get good periods. That is football."

Johnson is in the last year of his contract and talks appear to have reached an impasse with Liverpool wanted to negotiate a reduced deal now the defender has turned 30.

"Very quiet. I am just concentrating week by week and not thinking about it," he said of his situation.

Asked whether he wanted to stay Johnson added: "Of course, yeah. But I worry about this week, and then next week - that is how I live my life." 

Sheffiield Wednesday appoint duo to key roles at the club

Sheffiield Wednesday appoint duo to key roles at the club

Sheffield Wednesday have appointed Paul Bell as chief operating officer and John Redgate as finance director at the club.

Bell was director of commercial affairs for almost five years at Leeds United and Redgate has worked as chief financial officer at Portsmouth. 

Club chairman Milan Mandaric said: “I have always stressed the importance of introducing and working alongside genuine football people at Sheffield Wednesday.

“The additions of both Paul and John will significantly strengthen our off-field operation and I would like to personally welcome them to Hillsborough.

“I wish them every success at our club.”

Manchester United bounced back from last weekend's heavy defeat to Leice...

Bournemouth ease to 2-0 victory over Wigan at Dean Court

Bournemouth ease to 2-0 victory over Wigan at Dean Court

Goals in each half from Yann Kermorgant and Simon Francis gave Bournemouth a 2-0 victory over Wigan in an assured display from the Cherries at Dean Court.

Kermorgant headed the hosts into the lead from a Matt Ritchie cross eight minutes before half-time and Francis started and finished a tremendous passing move in the 70th minute to seal the three points and extend Wigan's winless run to four games.

Midfielder Ritchie orchestrated the majority of Bournemouth's attacks in the first half. He surged down the right in the 16th minute and his dangerous cross was hooked away by Ivan Ramis as the lively Callum Wilson was about to convert.

Wilson had already gone close in the third minute, weaving inside of Wigan captain Emmerson Boyce from the left before shooting narrowly wide.

Bournemouth's strong start continued on 18 minutes as Richie failed to connect properly with a shot from 25 yards out, allowing Scott Carson to make a straightforward save.

He made no such mistake from an identical position after 25 minutes, but his signature strike flashed the wrong side of Carson's post.

Ritchie then turned provider for Bournemouth's opener, picking out Kermorgant with a teasing delivery, and the striker outmuscled Robert Kiernan to head the cross back beyond Carson and into the far corner.

Kermorgant had earlier been denied by an excellent one-handed save from Carson after twisting into space in the area, and his goal gave Bournemouth a deserved lead.

Wigan had come close when Emyr Huws cut into space from the right before sending his shot high and wide and again when Ramis headed a corner onto the roof of the net.

Wilson had a superb opportunity to double Bournemouth's lead on the counter-attack in the 59th minute but was forced wide after his initial effort was blocked by a last-ditch sliding challenge from Ramis and Wigan cleared at the second attempt.

Marc-Antoine Fortune brought a routine save from Artur Boruc, making his home debut for Bournemouth after completing a loan move from Southampton, with a bouncing header from a neat cross by Andrew Taylor.

Wigan manager Uwe Rosler looked to give his side some impetus with a double substitution in the 66th minute, replacing Robert Kiernan and Martyn Waghorn with Leon Barnett and Oriol Riera, but it was to no avail.

Four minutes after the swap, they were undone by an intricate passing move.

Wilson dummied Francis' pass, letting it run into the feet of Kermorgant, who returned the ball into onrushing Francis and the defender tucked the ball underneath Carson first time to secure Bournemouth's first league win in seven games.