FOOTBALL: Burnley captain Ben Mee has tested positive for Covid-19 and will miss tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche said the 32-year-old defender was “fine” and that it was an isolated case, but it was not clear when Mee will be available again. 

Dyche also declined to reveal what percentage of his squad are vaccinated against the virus. “I’d recommend it but that’s a personal choice,” he said. “I can’t force anything on anyone else.”

FOOTBALL: Steve Bruce appears to have hung on to his job at Newcastle United long enough to take charge of their game against Tottenham on Sunday.

It had been reported Bruce would be sacked before the Magpies’ first home tie under their new Saudi state-backed ownership, but an operations notice issued today indicated that Bruce would at least attend a media briefing this afternoon.

The club head into the match second from bottom of the Premier League, without a win in their first seven games, and their new paymasters are unlikely to remain tolerant for long.

CRICKET: England all-rounder Ben Stokes has returned to the nets for the first time since taking an indefinite break from the game.

Stokes was absent from the summer’s marquee Test series against India and will also miss the Twenty20 World Cup to focus on his mental wellbeing, but he has also been troubled by a finger injury in recent months.

Now able to grip the bat properly again, Stokes posted videos on social media of what looked like a gentle session in the nets, and said: “Great to be back hitting balls.”