WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT
HOT JOHN TERRY
THE Championship is an unforgiving place for old legs and there wasn’t much hope that the former Chelsea captain would have the tools for the drop in grade. But Terry has been magnificent for Aston Villa, playing 32 times in the league. He said he would never wish to face his old club, but if Villa beat Fulham at Wembley a week today, he may have to think again.
STEVE PLAIN
‘ON TOP NOW’ texted the Australian to his sister Tanya from the summit of Mount Everest. Quite a feat for the 36-year-old climber, who has now conquered the highest peaks of all seven continents. Four years ago, Plain was told that he might not walk again after a surfing accident. Tanya described him as a ‘very determined bloke’.
AB DE VILLIERS
THE rest of the cricketing world has done its best to catch up with a guy regarded as one of the world’s best fielders. Standards are incredibly high now, but at 34 the South African is not dropping his and the stunning catch he took to dismiss Alex Hales in the IPL is worth finding on YouTube. Don’t let the screeching commentary put you off.
NOT JOE HART
IT SEEMS strange Gareth Southgate would not want experienced back-up for two young goalkeepers at the World Cup this summer. A senior man to cajole, encourage and support Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland seemed the perfect solution to a goalkeeping problem. One wonders why Southgate did not take this option.
SAM TOMKINS
THE Wigan rugby league full-back was once the box-office star of Super League and will still be one of the top draws at Magic Weekend, which starts today. Interesting, then, that he has decided to leave the Warriors for the relative backwater of the Catalan Dragons next season. Tomkins says he wants his young family to experience a different culture but just one question: What happens if the Dragons are relegated? They are, after all, bottom of the table.
MIKE ASHLEY
SOMETIMES it’s good to look in the mirror. If your manager — Newcastle’s Rafa Benitez — is considering leaving to join one of the Premier League’s basket-case clubs (that’s West Ham for those asleep at the back), what does that say about you?