HOT

PATRICK BAMFORD

A YEAR ago the Middlesbrough striker returned to the club where he made his name and vowed to kick-start his career. Since then he has scored only eight league goals so the jury is still out. But, crucially, seven of them have come in the last four games and if Tony Pulis is to edge his team into the play-offs over the next two months, he may need a few more.

KATARINA JOHNSON-THOMPSON

SHE beat a modest field to win the world indoor pentathlon gold and didn’t even have to record a personal best to do it. But the 25-year-old’s greatest problem in the past has been dealing with the pressure of expectation at big events. From that point of view, last weekend’s big win can only propel her forwards to where her talent really should take her.

JUSTIN THOMAS

THE US golfer recently engaged with fans on social media about the thorny issue of shouting ‘Fore’. Not enough pros do it, perhaps aware that a ball that strikes a spectator will often bounce back into play. To his credit, Thomas has pledged to fall on the right side of that particular line and his runner-up finish in Mexico City at the weekend was further proof of the world No 2’s talents.