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The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has delivered an exciting teaser about Aston Villa’s plans for the summer transfer window.

What’s the story?

Steven Gerrard’s side have just hit a bit of a roadblock in terms of their form in the Premier League, with the Midlands club currently in a run of just one win in their past seven top-flight games.

And now, in a Q&A for The Birmingham Mail, Preece revealed: “14 games remaining, everyone’s playing for their futures. It’ll be another big summer of change. Fascinated to know what NSWE are thinking right now.

“It’s all pointing towards ANOTHER big summer. All eyes on Johan Lange and his recruitment team now. I think we all need to shelve this European talk.”

Exciting summer for Villa

While Villa of course lost Jack Grealish to Manchester City in a big-money move last summer, they did go out on a spending spree themselves, signing a number of high-profile players, not least the likes of Leon Bailey and Danny Ings.

It felt like the club had made the best out of a heartbreaking situation in seeing Grealish finally make his departure, and would no doubt have hoped their new signings could kick on and push the side to bigger and better things.

Sadly, that hasn’t turned out to be the case, and while Gerrard initially oversaw an impressive return to form in his first few weeks in charge, things haven’t been quite plain sailing recently.

After potentially thinking about a European challenge this season, NSWE will surely be looking over their shoulders and clubs like Newcastle who could pose a real threat to their ambitions of breaking the Premier League’s traditional big-six.

It’s exactly why a real big summer of investment is needed at Villa Park, and if the owners can dip into their pockets and splash the cash that Gerrard needs, then Villa will feel confident of taking that next step.

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Preece’s claim that a “big summer” could be on the horizon is sure to excite Villa fans.

Meanwhile, Villa could sign an Idrissa Gueye successor in this star…

Ryan Sidebottom’s fitness will be re-assessed after the first ODI © Getty Images

England left-arm fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of the first one-day international against India at Southampton on Tuesday because of a side strain.Sidebottom sustained the injury during the third Test against India at The Oval and did not bowl in the second innings. He was being treated at Loughborough and will be re-assessed for the rest of the seven match ODI series after the first match.England haven’t called up a replacement to the squad, which leaves the fast-bowling attack in the hands of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett and the returning Andrew Flintoff.Sidebottom took eight wickets at nearly 38 apiece in the Test series against India and was included in the one-day squad even though he had played only one out of three against West Indies. He has also been named in England’s squad for the Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa in September.

Martin Bicknell rocks South Africa at the age of 34 © Getty Images

Martin Bicknell, the Surrey and England fast bowler, has retired. Bicknell, 37, had enjoyed some outings in Surrey’s first team this year, but had always said this was to be his final season and he finally called time on his playing career today, a few weeks earlier than planned. “Physically I was struggling,” he said,”but it just felt like it was the right time.”I’m relieved in a way,” he added, “but also a bit sad. It’s the end of an era.” It certainly is. Bicknell has been with Surrey for the last 28 years, since he joined them at the age of ten. He always wanted to play professional cricket and that dream came true when he was handed his first county contract at the age of 17, following a successful season in the seconds.In all he took 1047 wickets for the county, but he also fashioned something of a batting career for himself, and he’s rightly proud of his 6740 first-class runs. He smiles: “I was almost an allrounder.”He also flirted with the Test stage, although he only had four matches at that level. His debut, in 1993 against Australia, was a most fiery baptism. “I was thinking this is so tough – Allan Border, Steve Waugh, David Boon, all at the height of their careers.” Nevertheless, he had some success, taking four wickets, but injury wrecked his chances of a winter tour.He then waited for a call but that only came a decade later. “I wasn’t selected, it baffled me for a while.” True, he had stiff competition from Andrew Caddick and Darren Gough because he was seen as a new-ball bowler, but Bicknell still finds that perception bemusing. “It’s a bit of a mystery. I was actually most successful on the unresponsive pitches at The Oval.”He just shrugged and got on with being a strikeforce for Surrey, and helped them lift the Championship trophy in 1999, another career highlight. Then came the surprise Test recall in 2003, when he was 34. “I had just gone past my peak,” he admits. “I was very concerned at how I’d get on.” He need not have worried; he took a wicket with his second ball against South Africa at Headingley and then bowled England to victory in the final Test at The Oval.

Very appealing: Bicknell brings up his 1000th first-class wicket © Getty Images

“I had two very good performances and that left a good feeling for me. I had happy experiences of playing Test cricket.” But should he have played more? “People will look back and think I was a bit unlucky. Obviously it would be nice to have played 60 or 70 Tests, but it’s just one of those things. I was lucky to have played Test cricket at all.”Alan Butcher, the manager of cricket at Surrey, added, “Martin Bicknell is one of the true Surrey greats. He was integral to Surrey’s success during the glory years between 1997-2003, and is one of those cricketers who are truly irreplaceable.”Bicknell may have called time on playing, but he intends to maintain his Surrey links, hopefully getting involved with coaching their juniors. “That would be very enjoyable.” And he will be nurturing more youth as Head of Cricket at Charterhouse School, after four successful months with them.When he’s not involved in cricket, Bicknell enjoys his golf – and he has an impressive handicap of 2. He’s back off to India in February for the World Cup of Golf, where former international cricketers compete for the honours, and he hopes to claim the title this year, after Kapil Dev pipped him in the inaugural competition this year. “It’s a lovely day out,” he says of playing golf. “I love the game. I could play every day.”And as for cricket, though he won’t be playing every day, he will look back on his time with happiness. “I’m not leaving the game with any regrets.”

Trevor Bayliss, the New South Wales coach, wants Brett Lee to return from India if he is not picked for the final Test on Wednesday.Lee has not played in a Test since January and Bayliss said it would be better for him to fly home and play for the Blues. “I would have thought there are two or three other young guys over there who could do a decent job running around,” Bayliss told the .New South Wales start their Pura Cup match against Western Australia at the SCG tomorrow and will play New Zealand in a first-class game on November 11.Western Australia will not call for another bowler despite Michael Clark having scans today to determine whether a screw has loosened in his back. Clark, who missed last seasosn with stress fractures of the spine and had a pin inserted into the L4 vertebrae, complained of soreness after fielding in the ING Cup match against New South Wales yesterday.Adam Voges, who scored the fastest century in the competition yesterday with his 62-ball hundred, is likely to be dropped as Scott Meuleman returns from a dislocated shoulder.New South Wales Brad Haddin (c), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Phil Jaques, Jason Krejza, Greg Mail, Stuart MacGill, Matthew Nicholson, Aaron O’Brien, Matthew Phelps, Dominic Thornely, Damian Wallace.Western Australia Michael Hussey (c), Murray Goodwin, Ryan Campbell, Beau Casson, Kade Harvey, Brad Hogg, Steve Magoffin, Scott Meuleman, Marcus North, Adam Voges, Darren Wates, Shaun Marsh.

Marlon Samuels: on the way back from a knee injury© Getty Images

West Indies today named their preliminary 30-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy this September in England.Brian Lara will lead the squad, and there were recalls for the likes of Merv Dillon, Corey Collymore, Daren Ganga, Wavell Hinds and Marlon Samuels, who has been out of action since November 2003 with a knee injury.Joey Carew, the acting chairman of selectors, said the squad contained, in the main, players who have been involved in one-day cricket over the last couple of years, and that it was indicative of the continuity which the selectors felt was important for the stability of the squad.Carew said: “Although in a sense, the selection is purely academic since the final squad of 14 has to be selected by 10 August, it gives an indication of who we have in mind to represent us in this important one-day tournament as we keep our focus on the World Cup.”He added that those players in the squad who were not currently in England must continue practising and playing where possible to ensure that they were fit and ready if selected in the final 14.West Indies preliminary squad
Omari Banks, Carlton Baugh (wk), Jason Bennett, Tino Best, Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Merv Dillon, Fidel Edwards, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Ryan Hurley, Ridley Jacobs (wk), Sylvester Joseph, Brian Lara (capt), Jermaine Lawson, Ricardo Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Adam Sandford, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Dwayne Smith, Dwight Washington, Kurt Wilkinson.

Promising Hampshire YC’s all-rounder David Wheeler is set to play his first Southern Electric Premier League match of the season tomorrow (SAT) – barely a week after having been diagnosed with a stress fracture of the spine.But instead of playing for the Hampshire Academy, whom he helped win the Premier 2 championship last summer, Wheeler is planning a "gentle run out" for New Milton against Hungerford at Fernhill, 1pm.Wheeler, 18, played all his junior cricket for New Milton before joining the Academy and has been given the nod by Hampshire Second XI coach Tony Middleton to return to his roots tomorrow."David is terribly frustrated and desperate to get a bit of cricket in before he undergoes surgery to cure his back problem," said his father Cliff."He hopes it will be a quiet run out with his old New Milton chums, in which he can do a bit of batting and fielding without over-extending himself."That’s unlikely to prevent the big hitting Wheeler from changing his natural game.He scored almost 600 runs for New Milton in 2001 and nearly 400 in the Academy’s Division 2 title success last summer.Paultons expect to build on their opening day success against Hook & Newnham Basics with a win over Hambledon, while strongly fancied Trojans are boosted by the return of Jamie Donaldson, Nigel le Bas and Chris Mitchell at Waterlooville.Title favourites Winchester KS face a difficult test against Ventnor at Steephill.

* England coming sans Stewart, Gough and AthertonEngland have announced their squad for the tour of India. Alec Stewart andDarren Gough have both opted out. Also missing is Michael Atherton whoannounced his retirement from Test cricket on Tuesday.Graham Thorpe though will be coming. Nasser Hussain will captain the Testsquad, which includes two uncapped players, the Essex wicket keeper, JamesFoster, and the Yorkshire off-spinner, Richard Dawson. Also recalled to thesenior squad is Lancashire wicket-keeper Warren Hegg.”Ashley Giles has been included in the Test squad subject to him satisfyingthe selectors of his fitness ahead of the tour departure and he will be oneof three spinners together with Robert Croft and Richard Dawson,” Englishchairman of selectors David Graveney said.Squad:Nasser Hussain (Captain), Usman Afzaal, Mark Butcher, Andrew Caddick,Robert Croft, Richard Dawson, James Foster, Ashley Giles, Warren Hegg,Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond, Mark Ramprakash, Graham Thorpe, MarcusTrescothick, Michael Vaughan, Craig White. Duncan Fletcher (coach)* Tendulkar hopes to be fit for South Africa tourSachin Tendulkar is still having problems with his injured toe but he hopesto be fit in time for India’s upcoming tour of South Africa.”I am not in too much pain, although when I run, my foot gives trouble. SoI decided to get expert advice,” Tendulkar, who is in Durban to consult DrMark Fergussen for his injury, said.Fergussen meanwhile said that he would prescribe a course of treatmentafter running a few more tests. “We are presently looking at some of thesports shoes he will have to wear,” he added.The South African doctor was the man who treated both Javagal Srinath andAnil Kumble. Tendulkar injured his right toe during the triangular One-Dayseries in Zimbabwe and had to miss the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka.* BCCI in a fix about Laloo participationNo one seems to be ready to touch the former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav even with a barge pole these days. Even The Board of Control for Cricket in India.The BCCI has sought legal opinion on whether the President of Cricket Association of Bihar Laloo Prasad Yadav, should be allowed to participate in the Board’s Annual General Meeting. The Board’s decision follows a letter from one Sanjay Singh who claimed he was the genuine representative of the Bihar Cricket Association and not Yadav, according to BCCI sources.Let us see which way the ball rolls…

The narrow minded attitude of the BBC has sparked plenty of criticism over the past month or so as two Football League Shows over the Christmas period were cancelled, suggesting that the show could be scrapped altogether. Rumours were flying about on social networking sites but it is still unclear whether the 72 football league clubs’ supporters will be able to watch action from their teams.

The BBC claim it is in negotiations over whether to recommission the Football League Show, which is in the final year of a three-year contract, but whether they are successful is still to be seen as the Premier League is once again showing its distance between the rest.

A BBC spokeswoman made a statement on the recent cancellations: “The Boxing Day and 2nd January fixtures are outside our contractual obligations,” she said. “Many factors come into play when planning the busy Christmas schedules and we were unable to schedule a programme for New Year’s Eve. To address the shortfall, we will be doing an additional programme later in the season.”

Football League Show host Manish Bhasin attempted to squash any rumours that his show will be no longer after this season is finished.

“Budget decision I’m afraid … but all the goals will be online on the BBC Football website,” he said on Twitter “The FLS has NOT been scrapped! It’s on till May and who knows maybe even longer … but …”

Whatever the decision come May, the nonchalant decision to not show crucial fixtures for waiting fans is a clear sign that the BBC have more interest in the Premier League than ever. The gap between the top two divisions in England is widely thought not to be a great deal in footballing terms, but financially and in people’s priorities it is now huge.

The funding for the Championship sides is decreasing consistently and clubs falling from the top division are finding it harder and harder to compete at the lower level due to financial restrictions and a shock to the system.

It is staggering to think that the Championship, League One and League Two clubs get so little TV time but yet I am confident that West Ham, Birmingham City, Southampton and possibly Cardiff City would not look out of place in the declining Premier League this season. The parachute payments are a ticking time bomb for clubs such as Blackpool who will take a long time to match the heights of Premier League football last season and without excellent owners will have that debt for a long time.

The Football League Show will return this weekend even though the BBC claim that this weeks’ Carling Cup games were more important than the Football League in recent weeks, but the timing of the show usually passes midnight and not all supporters will be able to watch it which once again shows priorities that are not welcomed in modern day football. I am interested in all levels of English football, not just the top 20 teams so why should I not be able to watch the rest because the BBC feel it is less important.

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Do you think the Football League Show is worth keeping on? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard

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Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain hit a hat-trick in their 6-3 thrashing of Valencia in La Liga on Saturday.Jose Mourinho’s side was in devastating form as they held a 4-0 half-time lead at the Estadio de Mestalla, although they failed to make up any ground on first-placed rivals Barcelona, who also had a win.

Higuain was the provider of the first in the 23rd minute as his pass led to Valencia goal-keeper Vicente Guaita palming into the path of Karim Benzema, who hammered home into an empty net.

The Argentine got his first goal of three in the 31st minute with a tight finish, before setting up Kaka for the team’s third six minutes from half-time.

The Brazilian returned the favour twice to Higuain, either side of the interval, as Real Madrid led 5-0 after 53 minutes.

Valencia striker Roberto Soldado pulled a goal back on the hour mark before Kaka completed his brace after an assist from Benzema two minutes later.

Substitutes Jonas and Jordi Alba provided some respectability to the scoreline with goals in the last 10 minutes as the third-placed Valencia crashed to a heavy defeat.

Barcelona maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the table, however, with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Osasuna.

Goals from David Villa and his second-half replacement Lionel Messi ensured Pep Guardiola’s team kept their buffer at the top.

Villa finished smartly in the 24th minute after benefiting from a slick team move that led to a superb pass from Jeffren in his direction.

Messi wrapped up the points two minutes from time with a neat finish after Dani Alves slid him behind the Osasuna defence.

The loss continues Osasuna’s nervous finish to the season, still sitting two points above the drop zone.

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is hoping to strengthen his squad following an injury-plagued start to the new season.

Pulis saw Mamady Sidibe join fellow striker Kenwyne Jones on the sidelines during Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham.

Club record signing Jones was already facing a spell in the treatment room with a knee problem picked up on his debut against Wolves before Sidibe ruptured his Achilles tendon on Saturday.

He is likely to be sidelines for around ten months which has left Pulis short of attacking options.

"Mamady will be out for a year and that's a massive disappointment because the effort and commitment he puts in for us every week is just first class," said Pulis.

"We've already lost Kenwyne Jones for the trip to Chelsea and though it's not going to be the six or seven months we first feared, it's still a ligament injury that could be another two or three weeks.

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"We're looking to bring in another three or four players but this has been our toughest start since we came back up."

Meanwhile, Pulis has laughed off reports linking him with a move for Tottenham's England striker Peter Crouch.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email