Blues get good news on Waite injury

It may have looked bad but Jarrad Waite's injury is only a bone bruise. Source: Quinn Rooney / News Limited

CARLTON is breathing a huge sigh of relief after scans have cleared Jarrad Waite of a serious knee injury.

The Blues had feared the worst when Waite limped off in the first quarter of Friday night's loss to Collingwood after his left leg was caught awkwardly in a tackle by Nathan Brown and Ben Reid.

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But despite concerns inside and outside the club that the athletic forward had ruptured his ACL, scans showed Waite had escaped with bone bruising.

"Club doctors will monitor Jarrad's knee over the coming days to see how it settles before determining his availability for next week's game," a Blues spokesman said.

It was a welcome change of luck for Waite, who has managed only 161 games in 11 injury-plagued seasons. His long-term absence would have been catastrophic for a Carlton side desperately short of key position forward options.

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On a dirty night for the Blues, Eddie Betts, Andrew Walker and Mitch Robinson were all forced to play through pain.

Betts, who suffered a hip pointer injury, would have been subbed out of the game had Waite not gone down.

The goalsneak was sore at recovery on Saturday, but the club is hopeful that by easing him through the week he will play against St Kilda next weekend.

Robinson copped another knock to the left shoulder he badly injured against Hawthorn in round 12, but the Blues say he will battle on, while Walker continued after a hit to his right knee.

Carlton captain Marc Murphy, who coach Mick Malthouse lauded for his return from a fractured cheekbone, was downcast over the heavy defeat.

"It was extremely disappointing and probably the first game this year where we've let a side really get away from us," Murphy said.

"We didn't fight hard enough."

Andrew Carrazzo described the loss as "a bit of a disaster''.

"'Waitey' going down was obviously a big loss for us, it through out our structure a little bit. We just got annihilated around the ball,'' Carrazzo said.

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Gambling man Lowndes falls short

Will Davison ... hunts down Craig Lowdnes in the opening race in Townsville. Source: Mark Horsburgh / AAP

TAKING the soft option almost paid off for Craig Lowndes but in the end he became a hard luck story as Ford's Will Davison claimed victory in the opening 200km V8 Supercars event on Saturday.

A bold plan to be the only driver to start on the faster soft compound tyres initially paid big dividends for Lowndes, jumping from 12th on the starting grid to the lead by No.9 of the 70-lap event.

At one stage the five-time Bathurst champion was 22 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.

And he held his nerve after finally switching tyres with 39 laps left, regaining the lead ahead of a pursuing pack led by Davison.

However, Lowndes was finally overwhelmed by Davison by lap 58 as his hard tyres - and hopes of a podium finish - went up in smoke.

"We had to do something different. We opted for softs early and had a great start,'' Lowndes said.

"But the hards went away faster than I thought.''

Instead of taking a big chunk out of Holden teammate Jamie Whincup's series lead, Lowndes had to settle for fourth spot.

He now trails Whincup by 135 points.

Davison claimed his second win of the season, finishing more than four seconds ahead of Ford teammate Mark Winterbottom and Holden's Fabian Coulthard.

Overall, it was a frustrating day for Lowndes' Holden team.

Whincup started outside the top 10 on a race grid for the first time this season after clocking only the 16th fastest time.

Despite winning five of the last eight Townsville races, Whincup could not regain his Midas touch up north and finished seventh.

Another ruing his luck was Shane van Gisbergen.

The pole sitter had Lowndes in his sights after switching to softs but copped a drive-through penalty for a pit lane infringement after 39 laps.

Wily veteran Russell Ingall marked a record 226th race start - but failed to finish.

The second and final 200km race will be held from 1535 AEST on Sunday.

Meanwhile, former MotoGP champion Casey Stoner's frustrating run in the second-tier Dunlop Series continued when a punctured tyre ensured he finished last in an incident packed 14-lap race.

The 11th fastest qualifier, Stoner tangled with Taz Douglas on lap nine in a squeeze that developed when the race re-started after Sam Walter's Holden found the wall.

Stoner's best finish in his six races to date is 14th.

Pole-sitter Steve Owen hung on to win - his first in three years.

Stoner's Holden team Triple Eight Race Engineering boss Roland Dane revealed on Saturday he was not tempted to ask his star charge to feature as an endurance co-driver for either Whincup or Lowndes this season.

"It was totally his call whether he did that or not and he has not said anything,'' Dane said.

"I would say he has got enough to do at the moment.''

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Boof keeping England guessing

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Australia coach Darren Lehmann is keeping his cards close to his chest. Source:AAP

AUSTRALIA is deliberately refusing to release its side ahead of the first Test at Trent Bridge to keep England guessing.

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"I think that's a real advantage for us," new coach Darren Lehmann said.

The only guide has been Lehmann claiming that Shane Watson and Chris Rogers would open the batting but captain Michael Clarke even refused to confirm that.

Clarke may move up from number five, where he has been most successful, to number four, where he has impressed in both lead-up games, scoring 124 from just 98 balls against Worcester. 

"We've spoken about five and four but where he bats, that's his decision," Lehmann said.

Clarke made it clear he was happy to move around the order for team balance.

"I don't think I've ever said I'd prefer to be at five," said Clarke. "I've batted four my whole career in first-class cricket, batted five for Australia the past couple of years and had a bit of success there, but I've said for a long time I'll bat wherever suits the team, and this series will be no different."

The batting order is in a state of flux, with the only player who appears to be out of contention Usman Khawaja after he was overlooked for the most recent tour match against Worcester. 

David Warner is being talked up by Clarke and Lehmann despite missing a month of cricket through suspension and it appears the volatile left hander is likely to bat at number six to move him away from the new ball.

Steve Smith, who was brought into the Ashes squad as a reserve a fortnight ago, is also now in the frame after batting well in the drawn tour match against Worcester, which ended on Saturday morning (AEST).  

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The most likely batting order is for Ed Cowan to be at number three, where he made a half-century in the first innings against Worcester, Clarke at four, Phil Hughes at five and Warner at six.

However Lehmann made it clear that Cowan has certainly not nailed down his position.

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"He got some runs in this game. You'd love him to make hundreds and put his position beyond doubt," said Lehmann.

"He's made some runs and we'll just have to sit down and work out whether he's in that top six or not."

The better option would appear to be Hughes at three with Smith and Warner at five and six.

Hughes struggled badly against the ball turning away from him in India and he is more likely to be exposed to clever England off-spinner Graeme Swann early if he bats at five.

Smith is a good player of spin who had a good tour of India and Swann has a lesser record against right handers.

Lehmann admitted the way Australia played in India was poor.

"We didn't play their spinners very well in India full stop so we've done a lot of work on that," Lehmann said.

"We're not hiding from that. We've got to learn from that experience. That's a thing I wanted to bring to the table. We want to play a certain way against that type of bowling."

Lehmann also made it clear that more Australian players had to make centuries more often.

"That's a big thing for us," Lehmann said. "I don't think we've made enough hundreds for a long period of time as a batting unit.

"There have only been a couple in the last few Test series and Michael (Clarke) has made most of them."

Likely team: Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Ed Cowan, Michael Clarke (c), Phil Hughes, Dave Warner, Brad Haddin, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon.

My team: Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Phil Hughes, Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, Dave Warner, Brad Haddin, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon.

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Watch every ball of the 2013 Ashes series, starting with the first Test from Trent Bridge on July 10, LIVE and in HIGH DEFINITION on Fox Sports.

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Flores joins Mariners from Victory

Marquee man ... Marcos Flores (C) may have played his last game for the Victory. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

FORMER A-League player of the year Marcos Flores has signed a one-year deal with the reigning champions Central Coast just hours after being released by Melbourne Victory.

The 27-year-old had been heavily linked to a move to the Mariners with the club confirming the speculation in a statement on Friday.

Flores, who was a marquee player in his one season at the Victory, will take a pay cut to play with the Mariners, fitting under the salary cap at his new club.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold is looking to rebuild his squad after losing the likes of Bernie Ibini (Shanghai East Asia), Mathew Ryan (Club Brugge), Oliver Bozanic (Luzern) and Pedj Bojic (Sydney FC) in the off-season.

The coach plans to slot Flores into the playmaker role vacated by young star Tomas Rogic, who made the move to Scottish club Celtic in the January transfer window.

"We are excited to have signed such a talented player as Marcos Flores," Arnold said.

"It is well known that Marcos was Victory's marquee player last year, so for us to not only sign him but fit him inside the salary cap is a fantastic coup for the club.

"We are sure Marcos will be a great addition to the team."

Flores had an injury-interrupted year at the Victory, playing 22 times and scoring four goals but never really hitting the heights of his previous A-League stint at Adelaide United.
But he vows his best is yet to come.

"I am so happy to be able to play again with a smile on my face," Flores said.

"I am ready to eat the world for the Mariners.

"They are the champions, they are always successful and it is exciting to join Arnie as he wants me to be his number 10.

"I have been good in the A-League before but, with the Mariners, I will be better."

The Argentine attacker claimed goal-of-the-year honours last season with the Victory for his wonder strike against Wellington Phoenix, in which he worked a neat pair of one-twos with teammate Gui Finkler.

But as the club's international marquee, Flores' move frees up an important spot for the Victory to secure a high-profile player.

Victory have been chasing Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis.

The 36-year-old ex-Fulham and Panathinaikos midfielder would be an ideal fit for the marquee position if his wage demands could be met.

Speculation is growing that Flores's departure will pave the way for the club to sign Giorgos Karagounis, though recent media reports from Greece are claiming the national team captain will remain at EPL outfit Fulham.

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A-League Transfer Centre

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Ins and outs ... keep on top of your club's signing news. Source:FOX SPORTS

A-League teams have commenced their long and torturous pre-seasons as they look to topple Central Coast Mariners at the top of the pack.

Alessandro Del Piero, Shinji Ono and Emile Heskey have been joined by Harry Kewell in the headline stakes, but there has already been plenty of movement in rosters across the country as clubs strengthen ahead of a highly anticipated A-League season.

Return regularly over the next three months for your one-stop-shop for A-League signings, which we'll update throughout the pre-season. 

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ADELAIDE UNITED

Gains: Jordan Elsey (Adelaide United Youth Team), Awer Mabil (Adelaide United Youth Team)

Losses: Tomi Juric (Western Sydney Wanderers), Iain Ramsay (Melbourne Heart), Fabian Barbiero and Evan Kostopoulos are both out of contract.

BRISBANE ROAR

Gains: Corey Brown, George Lambadardis (both signed senior contracts), Liam Miller (Perth Glory), Diogo Ferreira (Victory), Dimitri Petratos (Kelantan, Malaysia). 

Losses: Matt Jurman (Sydney FC), James Meyer (released), Stefan Nijland (loan expired), Massimo Murdocca (Heart), Mitch Nichols (Victory), Ben Halloran (Fortuna Dusseldorf)

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

Losses: Pedj Bojic (Sydney FC), Patrick Zwaanswijk (retired - transitioning to coaching role with club), Oliver Bozanic (FC Luzern), Mat Ryan (Club Brugge), Bernie Ibini (Shanghai Dongya F.C), Daniel McBreen (loan at Shanghai Dongya F.C until 30/10/2013)

MELBOURNE HEART 

Gains: Harry Kewell, Massimo Murdocca (Brisbane Roar), Iain Ramsey (Adelaide United), Rob Wielaert (Roda JC, Holland), Stefan Mauk (promoted from youth team)

Losses: Clint Bolton, Simon Colosimo, Matt Thompson, Fred, Marcel Meeuwis, Jamie Coyne (released), Josip Tadic (HNK Rijeka), Eli Babalj (AZ Alkmaar)

MELBOURNE VICTORY

Gains: Mitch Nichols (Brisbane Roar)

Losses: Marcos Flores (released), Marco Rojas (Stuttgart, Germany), Daniel Mullen (Dalian Aerbin, China)

NEWCASTLE JETS

Gains: Joeys Gibbs (Western Sydney Wanderers), Zenon Caravella (mid-season to Adelaide United), Andrew Hoole (mid-season promoted from youth team to first-team contract)

Losses: Bernardo Ribeiro (contract not renewed), Dominik Ritter (contract not renewed), Marko Jesic (contract not renewed), Jack Duncan (Perth Glory), Tiago Calvano (released mid-season to Sydney FC), Jobe Wheelhosue (parted ways mid-season), Ryan Griffiths (mid-season transfer to Beijing Baxy)

PERTH GLORY

Gains: Isaka Cernak (Wellington Phoenix), Cameron Edwards (Melbourne Heart), Jack Duncan (Newcastle Jets), Matthew Davies, Riley Woodcock, Daniel De Silva (all from youth squad)

Losses: Dean Heffernan, Storm Roux, Nick Ward, Evan Berger, Billy Mehmet (mid-season), Sebastian Van Den Brink (mid-season), Jesse Makarounas (mid-season), Liam Miller (Brisbane Roar), Neil Young (part of coaching staff)  

SYDNEY FC

Gains: Matt Jurman (Brisbane Roar), Nick Carle (Bani Yas – returns from loan), Pedj Bojic (Central Coast), Tiago Calvano, Corey Gameiro (Fulham) 

Losses: Fabio Alves (released), Nathan Sherlock (released), Adam Griffiths (released), Paul Reid (released), Trent McCLenahan (released), Kruno Lovrek (released), Yairo Yau (released), Terry Antonis (Parma) 

WELLINGTON PHOENIX 

Gains: 

Losses: Tony Lochhead, Alex Smith, Dani Sanchez, Jimmy Downey and Lucas Pantelis (all released), Mark Paston (retired), Isaka Cernak (Perth)

WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS

Gains: Tomi Juric (Adelaide United)

Losses: Joey Gibbs (Newcastle Jets), Tarek Elrich, Dino Kresinger and Rocky Visconte (all released)

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LIVE: Tour de France, Stage 7

Can the Aussies do it again and retain the yellow jersey, which GreenEDGE cyclist Daryl Impey wears tonight. Source: JOEL SAGET / AFP

JOIN cycling expert Reece Homfray from 10pm as the Tour de France enters the hills, with some decent intermediate climbs that are certain to put the sprinters on the back foot.

Join our live chat from 10pm for stage from Montpellier to Albi in the window below.

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Rumour Mill: Bale staying at Spurs

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Rumour Mill ... Bale staying for now, Rooney talks on hold, Higuain close to Gunners. Source:AP

Today's Rumour Mill features plenty of the world's top strikers, and the small matter of Real Madrid giving up their relentless pursuit of Gareth Bale ... for now.

ROONEY TALKS ON HOLD

Wayne Rooney is yet to hold talks with new manager David Moyes over his future at Manchester United, Sky Sports reports.

The pair have both reported to the club's Carrington facility but discussions are yet to commence after the striker verbally requested a transfer at the conclusion of last season.

A host of clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are rumoured to be interested in securing the England striker's services.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/8803903/Transfer-news-Manchester-United-s-Wayne-Rooney-talks-on-hold

TOTTENHAM HOLD OFF REAL ... FOR NOW

Real Madrid have given up their relentless pursuit of Tottenham superstar Gareth Bale … for now, Spanish paper Marca claims.

Before Spurs' fans take to the streets in jubilation, the paper is claiming Madrid will be back next season with a much stronger bid for the 23-year-old Welsh wonder.

Madrid officials will be hoping history repeats itself, as was the case with their capture of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 after a two-year pursuit of the then Manchester United ace.

PSG THROW HAT IN CAVANI RING

Paris Saint-Germain's new boss Laurent Blanc has spoken of his admiration of Edinson Cavani, after reports emerged the French champions had lodged a £43million bid for Napoli's in-demand striker.

The Italian club are adamant they won't sell for anything less than Cavani's whopping £53.9million buyout clause, a figure Manchester City, Chelsea and now PSG are refusing to commit to.

Here's Blanc's view on the lethal frontman: "I would be very happy (to sign him)."

"He is a player that I love, like a lot of people.

"I saw him play several times with Naples and Uruguay, and should he be part of the Parisian team, I would be very happy."

HIGUAIN TO SIGN FOR GUNNERS THIS WEEK!

Fox Sports Argentina is claiming Gonzalo Higuain's move to Arsenal will be completed this Friday.

Jack Wilshere better get the WAG wonderwall ready, sources claim a fee of £23m has been agreed and the Argentine joins Theo Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen as the club's top earner.

Arsene Wenger still needs to plug a couple of gaps, but a frontline featuring Higuain, Walcott, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud is looking good heading into 2013-2014.

CITY SET SIGHTS ON NEGREDO

It's been quite a couple of weeks for Manchester City in the transfer market, who started in a blaze of glory with the captures of Jesus Navas and Fernandinho.

After missing out on Isco, and most probably Cavani, the Citizens now have their sets on Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, Sky Sports sources claim.

Carlos Tevez's departure has left a sizeable hole in City's frontline, and City boss Manuel Pellegrini sees Navas's former teammate Negredo as the perfect man to fill it.

The 27-year-old was in fine goal-scoring touch last season, banging in an impressive 25 goals to trail just Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Radamel Falcao in La Liga.

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11679/8804607/Manchester-City-are-lining-up-a-move-for-Sevilla-striker-Alvaro-Negredo

NANI COURTED BY HOST OF CLUBS

Roma have entered the race for Manchester United winger Nani, the Daily Mail is reporting.

Touted as "the next Cristiano Ronaldo", Nani has shown flashes of brilliance at Old Trafford but hasn't been able to produce his best on a consistent basis.

The Red Devils are holding out for a fee of £12m, but Roma face competition for the Portuguese winger's services, with Galatasaray and Monaco also sniffing about.

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NEYMAR SECURED, ALVES SETS SIGHTS ON THIAGO SILVA

Having acted as an unofficial agent in Neymar's move to Barcelona, Daniel Alves will now attempt to convince compatriot Thiago Silva to join the Catalan giants.

Here's the Barca right-back's pitch for PSG's world class centre-half: "Silva would be coming to the best club in the world if he were to join".

"I have described the club to him and told him all the advantages he would find at Barca.

"We need to strengthen the squad considering all the competitions we have to play in."

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HULK STAYING PUT

Brazil star Hulk has admitted other clubs are chasing him but that he is happy to stay at Zenit St Petersburg.

The likes of Chelsea, Tottenham and big-spending Monaco have been linked with moves for Hulk this summer as they looked to boost their attacking options.

Those approaches [by other clubs] do exist," Hulk told TV Paraiba. "There are clubs interested in me.

"But if I am to move, it has to be to a better place, with a better team in a better competition."

"I will be happy too if I stay. Zenit are a great club."

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Craig firm on Demons job criteria

His terms ... Neil Craig says 'rigid conditions' would need to be in place for him to take the job full time. Source: DAVID CROSLING / AAP

Interim Melbourne AFL coach Neil Craig says there would have to be rigid conditions in place for him to take on the role permanently.

Early in the season, Craig was adamant he wasn't interested in a return to a head coaching position, but he appears to be warming to the idea since last month's axing of Mark Neeld.

The Demons' players are helping the cause by delivering a stirring three-point win over the Western Bulldogs last round, only their second victory of the year.

Craig boasts a 1-1 record with the 17th-placed Demons, who are 2-11 in 2013.

"I was pretty clear in my mind when I left Adelaide that was it for me as a senior coach,'' Craig said on Thursday.

"There would have to be some fairly rigid conditions for me to be a senior coach again.

"I'm not saying that's impossible. I'm just saying that's the way I operate.''

Craig didn't want to publicly divulge what such conditions were.

He said the ball was in Melbourne's court and the Demons need to first form a coaching selection panel and decide what kind of coach they actually wanted.

"It's absolutely important, first and foremost, that the Melbourne football club have got to decide what their next coach needs to look like and the skill set that he needs,'' Craig said.

"Because that might be poles apart from what I've got, the skills I've got or how I see the game.''

Demons co-captain Jack Trengove spoke after their win over the Bulldogs about a new sense of freedom at the club.

Craig said he hadn't given the players any special instructions and believed the freedom came from playing without pressure.

He said the same thing happened in 2011 when he resigned from Adelaide after a heavy loss.

"When the senior coach is continually criticised and is in the press and is under some pressure, everyone in that football club experiences that and it can weigh people down,'' Craig said.

"What happens is when the senior coach goes ... it's not so much that the problem is gone, it's the fact that sort of attention leaves the football club.

"That itself is a relief for people.''

He felt the players were reaping the rewards of Neeld's coaching.

The Demons face a huge task to go back-to-back, facing fourth-placed Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.

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Not A-League, Wanderers All Stars

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Western Sydney-dominated ... the Wanderers feature four players in the All Stars. Source: Marianna Massey / Getty Images

So much for showcasing the best of the A-League. The All Stars team to take on Manchester United is all about showcasing the best of Western Sydney Wanderers.

Ante Covic, Michael Beauchamp, Mark Bridge and Youssouf Hersi were the Wanderers foursome named in the All Stars team on Wednesday. They join Brett Emerton, Thomas Broich and Nikolai Topor-Stanley in the inaugural blue-and-yellow strip for the July 20 match.

Only Emerton (Sydney FC) and Broich (Brisbane) ply their trade outside of western Sydney.

The Wanderers were the unlikely stars of the A-League last season, so it's little wonder the club's players feature so prominently in the team.

"The Wanderers players built up a great partnership last year and we're continually growing as teammates," Wanderers captain Beauchamp said.

"We're looking forward to stepping out on the field together, especially against a team like Manchester United.

"It's a credit to the Wanderers squad and the season we had how many players we've had picked in the All Stars side and we probably could have had a couple more.

"It's a great achievement, not only by Wanderers players, but all the players that are in the squad having been selected by the fans and coaches and we're all looking forward to the challenge."

Beauchamp's teammate Shinji Ono was voted into the team by fans, but the Japanese star won't be available for the match as revealed exclusively by the Daily Telegraph.

And neither will the A-League's highest profile player, Alessandro Del Piero. The Italian legend's pre-season scheduled trip to Japan clashes with the All Stars match.

Their absence is disappointing for fans and does leave the team lacking a bit of star quality, but it's nothing the Barclays Premier League champions can't make up for.

The Red Devils are expected to bring their strongest side to Sydney, which includes the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie and Ryan Giggs.

The game will also be David Moyes's second match in charge of Manchester United and all eyes will be on him to see how he prepares his team for life after Sir Alex Ferguson.

All Stars coach Ange Postecoglou will name the rest of his team over the next week, but he's already set to be without Mark Milligan, Archie Thompson and Trent Sainsbury, who are likely to be on Socceroos duty in the East Asian Cup.

Manchester United are expected to arrive in Sydney on July 13, where they will hold a week-long camp leading up to the sold-out match at ANZ Stadium.

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Ashes player profiles: Phillip Hughes

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Advice ... Phil Hughes is confident heading into the Ashes. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Like Mitchell Johnson, Phillip Hughes is a favourite of the Barmy Army for all the wrong reasons – from an Australian perspective at least.

Hughes burst onto the Test scene in 2009 with twin hundreds in just his second Test, dismantling the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel in South Africa with his highly unorthodox technique.

This enhanced his already-glowing reputation in Australia, where he had just plundered almost 1000 first-class runs in a season opening the batting for New South Wales, and led to predictions of a long and storied Test career.

But just a few months later Hughes was out of the Test side after he was found out against the likes of Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff in England.

Another short-lived stint in the Test side was brought to an end in December 2011, and it seemed that Hughes was destined to spend a long while in the Test wilderness.

But a much-vaunted reworking of his batting technique, coupled with a fresh start with South Australia, saw Hughes return to the runs and earn a third shot at Test cricket.

He took full advantage during the home series against Sri Lanka, and despite serious struggles against spin in India, looks set to take his place at No.3 in the Ashes.

Opinion remains divided on the frailties of Hughes's technique – Mark Waugh believes he will struggle against quality swing bowling, while former Test selector Jamie Cox expects Hughes to shine in England.

Just about the only guarantee is that the little left-hander from Macksville will do things his own way, as he always has.

And perhaps the Barmy Army might see a side to Hughes the Aussie fans are all to familiar with.

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