Cole Palmer, a Chelsea midfielder, will be out for up to three weeks as he recovers from a persistent groin injury.
After the issue resurfaced during the shortened two-week pre-season following Chelsea’s win of the Club World Cup in July, Palmer was forced to leave in the first half of last weekend’s defeat at Manchester United.
Before the October international break, Enzo Maresca’s side square off against Benfica and Brighton in the Premier League and Jose Mourinho’s side in the Champions League.
“Yes, we made the decision to protect a little bit of Cole in order to prevent his injury from worsening,” said Maresca.
We made the decision to rest him until the following international break in order to see if he can fully recover and be in good health afterward.
Palmer missed England’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia earlier this month because he has only started three of Chelsea’s seven matches so far this season.
Five days after the Three Lions’ friendly against Wales on October 9 will take them to Latvia for a World Cup qualifying match.
Following mixed reviews of ticket sales during the pre-sale on Thursday, Take That added two more dates to their Circus Live Tour 2026.
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Take That adds extra dates to Circus Tour amid ‘extraordinary demand’(Image: Jason Hetherington)
Take That have revealed two additional dates for their highly anticipated Circus Live Tour 2026 due to “extraordinary demand” during Thursday’s pre-sale.
Tickets for the new summer tour went on general sale this morning, with a rush expected from the Manchester manband’s loyal fanbase.
Mixed success was reported by fans who registered for the pre-sale on Thursday, leading to the decision to add more dates, announced by the band’s team this afternoon.
In cities like Manchester, Glasgow, Sunderland, Cardiff, Coventry, and Dublin, the tour currently has 14 stadium dates scheduled for May and June 2026.
READ MORE: Take That Circus Live tour: Fans fume and ask ‘how is this allowed’ over ticket sale flawREAD MORE: Take That’s Jason Orange nearly replaced by Coronation Street star after shock exit
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of Take That announced last week that they would be reviving their record-breaking Circus Live Tour from 2009 in its entirety in 2026, much to the delight of fans.
A new date for Wednesday’s meeting at Glasgow’s Hampden Park had already been made public.
On Sunday, June 21, they added an additional night at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium and Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, May 30.
Take That have added an additional night to their Circus Live Tour in Southampton and Manchester as a result of extraordinary pre-sale demand, according to a new statement from the band, which was released on Thursday afternoon.
The band will perform three nights of music at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium on June 19 and 20 and on two nights at Southampton St Mary’s Stadium on May 29 and 30.
With over 600,000 tickets sold in under five hours and over one million fans attending the sell-out shows across the UK and Ireland, The Circus Live broke records for the fastest-selling tour in history.
More than 17 years later, Take That are ready to recreate one of the most innovative live performances in British pop history in a bigger and bolder way for both audiences who were there for the first time and for those who were there!
Robbie Williams, Jason Orange, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, and Howard Donald were the group’s original five-piece in 1989.
Before breaking up in 1996 following Williams’ departure, they continued to release chart-topping hits like Pray, Babe, and Everything Changes.
The group’s other four members reunited in 2005 before Orange left in 2014, with Barlow, Owen, and Donald continuing to produce music, including albums III and and Wonderland in 2017.
Continue reading the article.
The band’s upcoming 10-studio album, which is scheduled for release in late 2026, is the subject of the summer tour announcement.
Nikki Sanderson, a Hollyoaks star, was shocked after cutting her chin open after falling off her treadmill. She was then taken to the hospital to treat her serious injuries.
Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson was rushed to hospital after suffering a serious accident during a workout on her treadmill. The 41 year old soap star, who first found fame while on Coronation Street back in 1999, fell off her treadmill at full speed causing serious injuries to her face and body.
Nikki shared the moment “several layers of skin” was ripped from her body on Instagram and at one point, fans saw blood dripping down from her chin.
According to the popular star who is currently dating fellow Hollyoaks actor Anthony Quinlan, she lost her footing on the exercise equipment and smashed her face on the walking pad.
She said, “TW (trigger warning) Epic treadmill fail… this one hurts wait for it… A trip to the hospital with one glued chin and several layers of skin completely removed from my arms and knees,” moving closer to the camera to give fans a no-holds-barred shot. Children, please don’t try this at home. Take a look at…”
She continued, “It was entirely my own stupidity, not the treadmill’s.” #epicfail #treadmill #instagramvsreality #funnyvideos #funnyreel #explore
Her boyfriend Anthony made light of the situation by saying, “Awww… bless you.” I’m so divided about watching this because it’s funny but I don’t want to see you hurt.
What were you thinking, and is the treadmill okay, her co-star Jessica Fox said? Lucy Jo Hudson, the actress, remarked, “Oh s**t nik! I initially began to wet myself, but “Jesus must have hurt x”!”
In the brief video, Nikki jumps up and places both feet on either side of the moving walking pad while casually exercising.
But she completely lost her balance and failed to control herself, striking her face on the walking pad as she attempted to turn to the side and continue walking.
One fan eluded the comment section and wrote, “I feel your pain, I once did the exact same thing running at home with patio doors open at night, couldn’t see anything, and it flipped me into a pancake back of kitchen [laughing emojis] it looked like I had been in a crash xxxx.”
At least you showed us some humor, another fan wrote. When Nikki responded to the post, Nikki said, “Love a good epic fails… even when it’s me]laughing emoji]”.
Her strict exercise regimen, which she recently showed off in a bikini snap, has undoubtedly helped her.
And fans flocked to the platform to post congratulatory remarks, with one user calling her post “unreal” and another.
After playing Maxine Minniver for 12 years, Nikki left Hollyoaks earlier this year. Her main character had compelling stories, including those about miscarriage and domestic violence.
She recently told the Liverpool Echo, “It’s the weirdest feeling because it’s the end of an era,” when describing her departure from the soap. It’s both very exciting and very depressing. How I feel about it is beyond me. It will be a lot different, and I’m starting to get used to it, I suppose. For me right now, this is a different normal.
According to reports, Nikki made the decision to leave the TV show after turning 40, a milestone for the TV star.
She met with her bosses and informed them of her leave date, according to a source who spoke to The Sun. She had just turned 40 and thought it was time to say goodbye to Maxine. She is eager to look into other opportunities and “get back out there.”
Along with her career choice, Nikki’s three- and-a-half year relationship with Anthony seems to be growing stronger.
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She recently stated, “I don’t like talking too much about my personal life, but I’m the happiest I’ve ever been, Anthony is incredible. Let’s see what the future holds because my relationship is wonderful and happy. Anthony is truly my rock, and he has been incredibly patient with me as I made the difficult choice to leave Hollyoaks.
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For many fighters, the hardest battle is not in the ring but knowing when to walk away.
History is littered with boxers who could not resist one more shot, one more fight, one last chance to silence the doubts.
Olympic gold medallist and former two-time IBF super-middleweight champion James DeGale is no different.
On Saturday in Manchester, the 39-year-old will step into one of the most brutal arenas in combat sports: bare-knuckle boxing.
He meets Australian Matt Floyd at the AO Arena, six years on from the punishing loss to Chris Eubank Jr that ended his career – a memory that still gnaws at him.
“The way I went out against Eubank, it plays in my head every day,” he says. “I want to go out with a good win and show people how injured I was.”
DeGale knows his decision will raise eyebrows but believes attention and redemption could pave the way back to traditional boxing.
“The last couple of years of my career I was riddled with injuries,” he tells BBC Sport.
“I need to right the wrong and have a couple more fights just to show how handicapped I was.”
Although world titles are behind him, DeGale feels the modern boxing landscape – shaped by crossover shows and influencer bouts – offers new opportunities.
“Boxing at the very top and winning world titles again, that’s done,” he says.
“But boxing has changed. There’s [YouTuber KSI’s promotional company] Misfits, shows in Qatar, money everywhere.
‘It impacted me a lot’ – DeGale on ADHD
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DeGale made history as Britain’s first boxer to win both Olympic gold and a professional world title, capturing the IBF super-middleweight crown in 2015 and defending it against top names.
But injuries and underwhelming performances took their toll. Defeat by Caleb Truax in 2017 was salvaged by a messy rematch win, while the Eubank loss in 2019 felt final.
DeGale says towards the end of his career he discovered he was neurodivergent.
One in five people are neurodivergent, an umbrella term for the range of differences in how our brains function, which includes ADHD, autism, dyslexia and synesthesia among others.
“At the end of my career, I got diagnosed with severe ADHD. Proper ADHD,” DeGale says.
“It impacted me a lot. I used to worry about what people would think, what they would say.
“I was probably a bit mentally weak at that time.”
ADHD challenges vary from person to person, but they can include hyperactivity, impulsivity and difficulty regulating focus.
DeGale believes ADHD contributed to poor decisions he made, but with medication and experience, he now feels grounded.
“I didn’t want to take that year and a half out of the ring to repair and heal,” he says.
‘Boxing with no gloves’ – why bare-knuckle?
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DeGale left boxing with his health intact and has no desire to fight into his 50s.
Yet a comeback still called to him and bare-knuckle offered a route.
“I had such a good career, people said, ‘James, leave it, you smashed it’. There weren’t many opportunities, but then this came up,” he says.
“This is a way to get attention. Come back in the most brutal sport in the world and put on a performance.”
His immediate task is Floyd, a Perth fighter with a 15-2 professional record and a past as a former gang member who served time in prison.
The fight headlines a card for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
“It’s boxing but with no gloves,” DeGale explains.
“There are some different rules: when you’re in a clinch you can hold the back of their neck and punch.”
Preparation has meant adapting familiar routines. Sparring bare-knuckle would be too damaging, so he has leaned on experienced specialists to guide him.
“I’m training with bare-knuckle fighters giving me all kinds of tips. I’ve been strengthening my hand and forearm,” the Londoner says.
“You don’t realise how weak your hands are until you start punching the bag and pads bare-knuckle.”
DeGale knows this comeback is a gamble for a man who has already achieved so much.
But for a fighter whose career ended with regret, this “organised straightener”, as he puts it, might allow him to walk away on his own terms.
The most difficult battle for many fighters isn’t in the ring, but knowing when to leave.
Boxers who couldn’t resist one more fight, one more shot, or one last last doubtless have a history of success.
James DeGale, an Olympic gold medalist and former IBF super-middleweight champion, is no exception.
The 39-year-old will practice bare-knuckle boxing on Saturday in Manchester, one of the most brutal competition sports.
Six years after the humiliating defeat of Chris Eubank Jr., which ended his career, he encounters Australian Matt Floyd at the AO Arena, a memory that still nags at him.
He claims that Eubank plays in his head every day because of how he played it. “I want to leave with a positive outcome and demonstrate my injuries to others.”
DeGale is aware that his choice will raise eyebrows, but he thinks that gaining public support and retribution might lead to a return to traditional boxing.
He tells BBC Sport, “The last few years of my career I was plagued by injuries.”
“Just to show how handicapped I was, I need to correct the mistake and conduct a few more fights.”
DeGale believes the contemporary boxing landscape, which has been shaped by crossover competitions and influencer fights, offers fresh opportunities.
He claims that his work has been accomplished by winning world titles and boxing at the very top.
“Boxing has, however, changed. Misfits, shows in Qatar, and money are everywhere, according to [YouTuber KSI’s promotional company].
DeGale on ADHD: “It impacted me a lot”
Images courtesy of Getty
DeGale won the IBF super-middleweight title in 2015 and defend it against top competitors, making history as Britain’s first boxer to do so at the Olympic and professional levels.
However, accidents and subpar performances caused pain. A messy rematch victory saved Caleb Truax’s defeat in 2017, while Eubank’s 2019 defeat felt final.
DeGale claims that he realized he was neurodivergent toward the end of his career.
Neurodivergent, a term used to describe the range of brain function differences, including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and synesthesia, accounts for one in five people.
I was given a severe ADHD diagnosis at the end of my career. “Proper ADHD,” DeGale claims.
It had a significant impact on me. I was concerned about what people would say and think.
At the time, I was “probably a little mentally sluggish.”
Individuals with ADHD experience a variety of difficulties, including reluctance, impulsivity, and poor concentration control.
DeGale believes that his poor judgment was caused by ADHD, but he now feels grounded thanks to medication and experience.
He claims that he didn’t want to repair and heal the ring after the year and a half.
Why bare-knuckle when boxing without gloves?
Images courtesy of Getty
DeGale has no desire to fight into his 50s and left boxing with his health intact.
Yet a comeback persisted, and bare-knuckle offered a solution.
People said, “James, leave it, you smashed it,” because I had such a successful career. He claims that there weren’t many opportunities before this one emerged.
“This is a method for getting attention,” Rejoin the most brutal sport in the world and deliver a performance.
Floyd, a Perth fighter with a 15-2 professional record and a history as a former gang member who spent time in prison, is his immediate target.
The event features a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship card.
DeGale describes boxing as “boxing but without gloves.”
“When you’re in a clinch, you can punch someone with the back of their neck,” they say.
Adapting well-known routines has become a necessity as a result. He has relied on knowledgeable experts to help him because it would be too harmful to spare his bare-knuckle.
“I’m getting bare-knuckle fighters, and they’re giving me all kinds of advice. The Londoner claims that she has been strengthening her forearm and hand.
“You don’t realize how shaky your hands are until you start slamming the bag with your bare hands.”
DeGale is aware that a man who has already accomplished so much is taking a chance on this comeback.
However, this “organised straightener,” as he puts it, might allow a fighter to leave on his own terms for a fighter whose career ended in regret.
There is information and assistance on BBC Action Line if you have been affected by the issues raised in this article.
