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STEVE BRUCE

THE Aston Villa manager began the season by saying he knew a failure to win promotion may spell the end for him at his eighth club. One point from his first three Championship games didn’t bode well but Villa have only lost once in the league since then and Wednesday’s win at Preston took the club up to fifth. Three of their next four games are at home, too.

PAUL McGUINNESS

AS WE look to build on the success of England’s age-group teams at two World Cups, it is more important than ever that good coaches are not lost to the English game. With that in mind it is heartening that former Manchester United coach McGuinness has been snapped up by the FA. If you want to know anything about his CV, just type ‘Paul’ and ‘Pogba’ into Google.

ASHES TOURISTS

IT MADE good newspaper copy to suggest that England’s cricketers had gone back to basics by sharing rooms in Australia but the reality is that they aren’t. They are sharing apartments, with a bedroom each and all attendant mod cons. So if Joe Root (right) and his team can’t beat a mediocre Australia team, their accommodation will not be to blame.