Football: Gascoigne to make decision on future today

PAUL GASCOIGNE'S future will be resolved today when the player decides whether to stay at Rangers or head south. Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace have each had pounds 3m offers for the England midfielder accepted by the Glasgow club.

Gascoigne played as a second-half substitute for Rangers in their 2-1 home win over St Johnstone on Saturday. At the end of the match, he made no farewell gesture to supporters despite them chanting his name.

Gascoigne's advisor, Mel Stein, said yesterday: "We will come to some kind of conclusion tomorrow."

Despite fears that he would be out of action for a month, Peter Schmeichel is confident he will be fit to face Wimbledon at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Manhester United's talismanic goalkeeper sustained a hamstring injury against Arsenal 10 days ago. He ruled himself out of Denmark's friendly with Scotland tomorrow, but said: "Missing the international is not really important. What is important is that I get fit for Wimbledon. I am optimistic."

Sheffield United have called off their proposed transfer of Ian Rush. The veteran striker faces either spending the rest of the season at Newcastle United scrapping for first-team outings or a swift search for a new club.

Rush has been with Sheffield United for a month and was sounded out before Nigel Spackman resigned as manager about making the move permanent. Although Rush played for United at the weekend, he was told yesterday by the club's secretary that they could only offer him a loan deal until the summer. Rush had been expecting a contract taking in next season.

Neil Ruddock's wish to leave Liverpool could be granted. Ray Harford, the Queen's Park Rangers manager, is keen to bring the tough-tackling centre-back to west London to help halt QPR's slide down the First Division. Ruddock has turned down a couple of similar offers,

Georgi Kinkladze can carry on playing for Manchester City as they fight to avoid relegation from the First Division this season. The Georgian midfielder had his trial on charges of dangerous driving put back to 18 May at Trafford Magistrates Court yesterday.

Newcastle United hope to sign the promising young striker Paul Robinson from their neighbours Darlington in a pounds 1m deal. Tottenham are also said to be interested in the 18-year-old who has scored some spectacular goals in the Third Division this season. Darlington want a large payment up front plus instalments to take Robinson's total value to seven figures.

Sasa Curcic, out of favour at Aston Villa, could yet stay in England after his marriage to his English fiancee, Lisa, brought forward to last week, solved the problem of his losing his work permit for not playing enough games for Villa. The midfielder has until 5pm on Thursday, the transfer deadline, to decide whether to agree a pounds 1m move to Crystal Palace, or follow up on a reported offer to help Second Division Fulham to fulfil their ambitions.

Tunisia, England's opening opponents in this summer's World Cup finals, suffered a setback yesterday when they learned that their key forward, Hassan Gabsi, will be out of action for six months because he needs an operation on knee ligaments.