HOT

MATTHEW SOUTHGATE

DURING his five-under-par front nine at the Scottish Open on Thursday, Southgate was greeted with several cries of ‘Nice shot, Gareth’. Typical of the golfer’s attitude to life, he took the joke in good heart, although he stopped short of appearing on the first tee yesterday in a waistcoat. More seriously, Southgate is a cancer survivor with a growing career. He was tied sixth in The Open last year and may be worth a few quid next week at Carnoustie, where he is a member.

CORNER KICKS

THE long-forgotten skill is back and it’s not just England who have been at it. Russia did it, France have done their bit and so have the other finalists, Croatia. In fact a staggering 44 per cent of goals in Russia have come from set-pieces or penalties, beating the 1998 record (36 per cent). So one question: Why can nobody in the Premier League do this?

WEST HAM UNITED

MANUEL PELLEGRINI and the board have moved swiftly this summer to do a lot of notable transfer business very early. It should set them in good stead for the season — but that’s what we were saying about Everton 12 months ago.