The League Managers Association have launched a scathing attack on Leicester owner Milan Mandaric's decision to sack Paulo Sousa after less than three months in charge of the club.

Manchester United have found themselves under scrutiny for their Carling Cup selections on a number of occasions but never before has the name on the top of the teamsheet proved the most controversial.

Tomasz Kuszczak has admitted he will be forced to look for a Manchester United exit route if he does not play often enough.

Paul Scholes has given the Carling Cup an unqualified thumbs up, even though it could be one of the reasons why England perform so badly at major tournaments.

The Italian striker Federico Macheda, who burst on to the scene with two goals vital to Manchester United's last Premier League title, is expected to partner Michael Owen in the Carling Cup third round at Scunthorpe tonight, as Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to feel that his presence was vital to Dimitar Berbatov's hat-trick against Liverpool on Sunday.

Scunthorpe caretaker manager Ian Baraclough is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Neil Warnock, the QPR manager, praised his team's hard-working performance after they won 2-0 at Leicester on Saturday to extend their lead at the top of the Championship. Jamie Mackie, a £145,000 close-season buy from Plymouth, struck twice as Rangers moved five points clear at the top of the table, as Cardiff lost.

Two goals from Jamie Mackie extended Queens Park Rangers' lead to three points at the top of the Championship last night as they beat Ipswich 3-0 at Portman Road while Cardiff in second lost 2-1 at Leicester City.

Roy Hodgson has admitted that his main task is to keep the Liverpool squad together until new owners take over the club and give him money to spend on new players.