Former England manager Steve McClaren has called for Wayne Rooney to make up for his sending off against Montenegro.

The Manchester United striker is set to return to the Podgorica City Stadium for the first time since he was red carded for a petulant kick on Miodrag Dzuzdovic in the 2011 meeting between the two sides.

And McClaren says the 27-year-old and his team-mates must show emotional control to overcome a similarly hostile atmosphere in Tuesday s World Cup qualifier.

Of course they can win the game, without a shadow of doubt and they’re capable of doing that, McClaren told Yahoo!

It s a great test of their mentality, combating the outside elements like the atmosphere, fans and the on-field intimidation from playing these big European teams.

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Corinthians midfielder Paulinho has confirmed reports linking him with a summer move to Giuseppe Meazza.

Recent reports suggested that Inter were keen on the highly rated midfielder and the speculation has now been confirmed by the player himself.

The 23-year-old says that Inter have already contacted his agent and that they are expecting an official bid from the Neroazzurri.

“Inter Milan have already had talks with my agent and they will probably make an official offer next week,” Paulinho said to Radio Bandeirantes.

“We are talking about Inter Milan, so it obviously affects me, but Corinthians are my preference.”

Paulinho joined Corinthians from minnows Bragantino in 2010 and quickly developed into a key player for Timao.

The mi…

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has been linked with the vacant post with the Brazil national team.

Goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, whose Manchester City side are seen as Real s fiercest competition in the Champions League this season, joked on the subject in a press conference ahead of Brazil s friendly clash with Morocco on Saturday, saying he would do his best to knock Real out in order to get Ancelotti to make the switch as soon as possible.

I was talking with Casemiro, with Vini, and with Militao about the big possibility of Carlo Ancelotti coming.

Ederson hopes the potential outcome of Manchester City beating Real Madrid in the Champions League would lead to Ancelotti becoming Brazil head coach

— Football Daily (@footballdaily)

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West Brom sit at the top of the Championship after Charlie Austin s double helped them to a 3-2 win over Birmingham City in Saturday’s early game.

Leeds United looked set to reclaim first place later in the day but threw away a three-goal lead at home to Cardiff City to draw 3-3.

Preston North End are now 10 points behind Marcelo Bielsa s side after a 2-1 win over Luton Town, while Brentford leapfrogged Fulham into fourth with a slender 1-0 win.

At the other end of the table, rock-bottom Barnsley registered a remarkable 5-3 win over QPR but Middlesbrough slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Swansea City.

AUSTIN INSPIRES BAGGIES COMEBACK

Charlie Austin took his tally for the season to eight with a brace to help West Brom record a vital win at B…

Real Madrid host Granada in La Liga on Sunday, with a rejuvenated Gareth Bale set to feature in attack.

A nine-game goalless run saw Bale draw the ire of Real s supporters, which turned to fury when the Welshman failed to sparkle in their Clasico defeat to Barcelona before the international break.

However, Bale was back to his best for his country on Saturday, scoring twice as Wales secured a mightily impressive 3-0 win in Israel to move top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group B.

Bale spoke after the game of having nothing to prove to his detractors, and club president Florentino Perez reiterated just how crucial the former Tottenham man is to their plans in the face of rumours linking the player with a return to the Premier League.

We shall never listen to a…

Competition: French Ligue 1
Market: Marseilles to win against Toulouse
Odds:

Olympique de Marseilles welcome Toulouse to the Stade Vélodrome in tonight’s French Ligue 1 clash, and are favourites to pick up all three points to get off the mark in their opening game of the new season.

Marseilles finished 13th in the French Ligue 1 last season, picking up 48 points from the 38 games, and struggled for wins on home soil. L’OM won just three games at the Stade Vélodrome in 2015/16, but they only lost five, drawing 11.

They’ll be looking to get their home form back on track this season, and will fancy their chances of getting a result against Toulouse today as a result of the visitors’ poor form in the last 12 months.

Toulouse finished …

Serbia forward Danijel Ljuboja has been suspended by his Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart until the end of the season on disciplinary grounds, it was announced on Thursday.

He has not behaved in the way you expect from a professional player, said Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel.

This is his second infringement in a short period of time.

The Stuttgart coach refused to give any details over what the 30-year-old, who has 19 caps for Serbia and is out of contract in June, had done.

Danijel had the chance to leave the club during the winter break, but he did not take it, there was always a problem, said Stuttgart s director of sport Horst Heldt.

Since his arrival in Stuttgart in 2005, Ljuboja has been disciplined on several occasions and after his firs…

Spanish midfielder Jose Maria Gutierrez has announced this retirement from football at the age of 35.

The veteran midfielder has been a free agent since leaving Besiktas in November 2011, but he was hoping to continue his career.

However, after almost a year without action, the Spaniard has decided to call it quits on his playing career.

The decision has been made, Guti . I have received offers but I ve decided to stop. I can now spend more time with my family.

I m going to train to become a sporting director or a coach and I d like to train youngsters. I d really like to coach the Real Madrid youth team. That s my dream.

The highly rated midfielder began his career at Real Madrid and was handed a first team debut in December 1995.

The…

Seattle Sounders 13-game unbeaten streak to start the 2021 MLS season is over after conceding late in a 1-0 defeat away to Minnesota United on Sunday.

Finnish midfielder Robin Lod tapped home from Niko Hansen s deflected cutback for the 81st-minute winner.

The Sounders had enjoyed a spectacular start to the season, but have now only managed one win from their past four games.

Seattle remains top of the Western Conference with 29 points from 14 games, but second-placed Sporting KC are three points behind with a game in hand after winning three in a row. Minnesota moves up to sixth with the win.

United had two good first-half chances from set pieces, with Emanuel Reynoso s free-kick going marginally off target and Bakaye Dibassy s flick from a corner going …

Everton have completed the signing of former Leicester City winger Demarai Gray from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

In a deal reportedly worth around £1.7million, the Premier League winner has signed a three-year deal at Goodison Park.

Gray will therefore be contracted to the club until the end of the 2023-24 season, with Everton having an option to extend that by a further year.

The 25-year-old joins Andros Townsend and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic as the first arrivals ahead of the 2021-22 season under new manager Rafael Benitez. 

— Everton (@Everton)

I m delighted to be back in the Premier League at such a big club and I m excited to play with the team and get to work, Gray said to Everton TV.

Speaking to the manager …