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Sauce Gardner accuses Mac Jones of taking a cheap shot, which is why he shoved the QB to the ground.

Pep Guardiola has joked he may come out of retirement for Manchester City’s Carabao Cup trip to Newcastle. The treble winners are three games into a run of seven matches in three weeks and manager Guardiola intends to make changes for Wednesday’s third-round tie at St James’ Park. However, with injuries affecting the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva, the options for rotation among his main first-team squad are actually limited. That has prompted the former Barcelona midfielder to jest that at 52, 17 years after calling time on a distinguished playing career – and notwithstanding his recent back surgery – he could lace up his boots once again. He said: “Some players who’ve had a lot of minutes are not going to play against Newcastle. “The Carabao Cup is great for all the guys who don’t play regularly. They can play some minutes and that’s perfect. “But for the other players I’m not going to waste one per cent of energy for Carabao Cup. The likes of Kyle (Walker), Ruben (Dias) – playing 90 minutes for us, 90 for the national team, they are exhausted already. “That’s why we are going to play with the guys who need it, the Academy, maybe me. My back is getting better so I might manage a few minutes!” One decision taken out of Guardiola’s hands is the availability of Rodri after his sending off against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Spain midfielder picked up an automatic three-game ban for violent conduct for raising his hands to the neck of Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White in City’s 2-0 Premier League win at the Etihad Stadium. It is unlikely Rodri would have been involved at Newcastle but his absence against Wolves next weekend, and particularly Arsenal on October 8, could prove costly. Guardiola was rather more serious when expressing his anger over the conduct of his key holding midfielder on Saturday. It seems unlikely the club will appeal against his suspension. Guardiola said: “I have to talk with the club but I’m not going to change it. For me it’s not three games, but the rules are the rules. Part of that, he has to learn, and hopefully it won’t happen again.” Rodri’s absence could offer a chance for England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who has found opportunities limited since his arrival from Leeds in the summer of 2022. He played the final 39 minutes against Forest as City reshaped with 10 men. Guardiola said: “He played really well, the type of game that we needed. I’m so pleased for him because he’s an incredible guy. “He’s not fazed about his minutes and he’s a national player with England. With us he hasn’t played much but he’s really helped us.”

Jonny Evans is convinced Manchester United have a “good thing going” under Erik ten Hag despite their shaky start to the season. Things have gone awry after a promising first campaign under the Dutchman, with the Red Devils losing four of their first six matches in all competitions for the first time since 1986. There were some mitigating factors in that poor run but that did not stop the pressure mounting on the Old Trafford giants heading into Saturday evening’s Premier League trip to Burnley. Ten Hag’s troops were far from their best but Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant volley secured a 1-0 win for a side that begin their Carabao Cup defence at home to Crystal Palace on Tuesday. Evans watched February’s Wembley triumph from the stands and is now back at the club he came through at as a boy, with the experienced defender confident about United’s future. “I’ve had some up and down moments at Man United over the years,” said the defender, who won three Premier League titles and a Champions League during his previous spell at the club. “I think you get that if you want to be at the top. You know, it’s going to be very up and down. “You’ve got to be able to deal with setbacks and this club is a fantastic club, always want to be challenging at the top, so it’s all part and parcel of it. “The manager’s got a good thing going here. “I’m a fan of the club so I was able to watch them a lot last year, been at both finals to support. Like I say, I think the manager’s got a good thing going.” Evans made his second appearance of the season and first United start in eight-and-a-half years on Saturday evening. The 35-year-old impressed against Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, scoring a goal that was disallowed before providing an exceptional pass for Fernandes’ volleyed winner. “That was great,” the beaming Northern Irishman said after his 200th United appearance. “I was really looking forward to it all day. “I got the shout yesterday in training that I was going to be starting, so I couldn’t wait for the game, really. “I was more nervous in the pre-season, my first pre-season game, to be honest, playing up in Edinburgh. “I didn’t feel any nerves tonight. I actually felt a lot of excitement going into the game. I couldn’t wait for it and I felt good, I felt ready.” Evans produced an impressive all-round display at Turf Moor, leading captain Fernandes to pass on the man of the match award that he had been handed. The centre-back joked it was just the third of a career he never expected to return to such heights having left Leicester on the back of relegation and an injury-hit campaign. Asked if he ever thought he would get back to this level, Evans immediately responded: “No, definitely not. “It’s not a case of winding down. I think people’s career trajectories kind of end up that way and it’s very difficult for a club when you’re 35 years old to take a chance on you. “I had a lot of injury problems last year as well, so for the club to do that and see the value in me, I’m very grateful to be given the opportunity. “On one side it feels really surreal and then on the other side it just feels completely normal. “It’s quite difficult to get my head around sometimes, but I’m loving it. “For a 35-year-old I suppose to come back in – they wanted me to come back in and provide cover – not many people get to do that. “I know it’s going be a big challenge but hopefully it’s one that I can take on. “I feel like it’s one that was perfect for me at this stage of my career.”

Robert Saleh is going to keep starting Zach Wilson. Which is stupid.

The Minnesota Vikings have gotten off to a dreaded 0-3 start and all hope looks lost. They should trade these players to start it all over anew.

A trade that sends Kirk Cousins to the New York Jets makes sense for both sides, but what kinds of assets could the Minnesota Vikings target in a deal?

Atletico Madrid ended Real Madrid's perfect start to the 2023/24 season with an impressive 3-1 win at the Estadio Civitas Metropolitano. Goals from Antoine Gri

Michael Carter screamed at his coach on the sideline.

The Boston Red Sox are looking to hire a World Series visiting general manager away from his current team.

Mike Williams' knee injury didn't look good.

Sheffield United have no immediate plans to sack Paul Heckingbottom after the club suffered their heaviest league defeat when they were hammered 8-0 by Newcastle. The Blades were put to the sword by a rampant Newcastle to go six games without a win on their Premier League return, but Heckingbottom’s job is currently safe, the PA news agency understands. There has been speculation linking former boss Chris Wilder to a Bramall Lane return, but even this embarrassing defeat will not change the board’s position. When asked whether he will be the manager for the next game, he said: “Yes, 100 per cent. “This might be a theme now by the looks of it. I can’t answer any of that, the game, the players, my department, yeah no problem, but things like that you are asking the wrong man.” Heckingbottom, who guided the club to promotion last season, has overseen a difficult few days following the death of women’s player Maddy Cusack earlier in the week. The midfielder, who also worked for the club’s marketing department, was just 27 and the club were left “devastated”. And the boss admits he will be glad to see the back of a horrible week. There were poignant pre-match tributes to Cusack and Heckingbottom said: “It has affected a lot of people, there were tears on the pitch before the game. “But we were determined to end what has been a really tough week strongly and we weren’t able to do that. It has been a tough week for everyone at the club and one we want over.” The Magpies rewrote the history books, registering their biggest away win and also becoming the first Premier League side to have eight different players score in a game. Eddie Howe’s side, who endured a difficult start to the season, now look like they are clicking and performed superbly on the back of their midweek Champions League trip to AC Milan. They did not take their foot off the gas in the second half as they racked up the goals and that was the most pleasing thing for the boss. Howe said: “It has been a great week for us. That is football for you. “Before the Brentford game, we knew the importance of that game, a massive point in the week and great to see us back to our very best today. “I never doubted us in the final third, we have got some outstanding players, and we have had a very tough start to the season in terms of fixtures, but today we were ruthless and kept looking to score, which is they key thing. “We respect Sheffield United and Paul Heckingbottom and the job he has done here but we just had to do our thing and keep pushing and trying to score goals. “We weren’t aware of anything during the game regarding the records. We were just trying to keep pushing the lads to keep scoring goals, having that mentality and desire that we want in every game. “We want to attack well, we want to entertain and be good value when people come and watch us play. One of our fundamental beliefs is that we are always looking to score. “With top-quality players, results like this can happen, but very rarely, that is why we will enjoy it tonight. “You hope this ignites something in us and we try to repeat, not the scoreline, but the performance on a regular basis. That is our aim, but the Premier League is very difficult.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Sam Hain reveals sleepless night before impressive England debut Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea need to grow up as a team after fresh setback Jurgen Klopp hails ‘massive steps’ made by Darwin Nunez after latest Liverpool goal

VIDEO: Braves mascot stiff arms small child during NFL halftime show.