FOOTBALL DIGEST

SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON will fulfil a lifelong dream when he takes to the Anfield dugout for a Liverpool Legends charity game against Ajax on March 23. The former England boss, 76, revealed in January that he had ‘best case’ a year to live due to terminal cancer. He said one of his regrets was never managing Liverpool, the club he has supported since childhood, and after calls from fans, it was confirmed yesterday that Eriksson will be granted his wish. He will join a coaching team of Ian Rush, John Barnes and John Aldridge for the LFC Foundation match.

NEWCASTLE are sweating on the fitness of Callum Wilson to face his old club Bournemouth on Saturday after he suffered a pectoral injury. The striker left the win at Nottingham Forest using his shirt as a sling after tangling with a defender and will face a late fitness test this week. Manager Eddie Howe will be praying for good news as his only other striker, Alexander Isak, is also a doubt with a groin problem.

LEAH WILLIAMSON has been named in England’s 23-player squad for this month’s friendlies against Austria and Italy after 10 months out with a knee injury. The 26-year-old replaces Millie Bright, who took up the captaincy in the Arsenal centre back’s absence at the World Cup. Euro 2022-winning captain Williamson has not played for England since a 2-0 friendly defeat by Australia at Wembley last April, eight days before she ruptured her ACL. Sarina Wiegman’s side will travel to Cadiz in Spain to take on Austria a week on Friday and Italy four days later.