England score World Cup Qualifier: Belarus 1 England 3

England have played 4 and won 4 in Group six now after a professional 3-1 victory in Minsk against Belarus. England started steadily and played good containing football. Steven Gerrard opened the game up quite early however with a wonderfully crafted 20 yard shot. However Belarus managed to string together some good passing sequences and managed to equalise wth Sitko (28). In the second half England then took the lead again with a counter attack from Emile Heskey setting up Wayne Rooney to score from close range in the 50th minute. Rooney then added a superb second strike with a wonderful passing move with Gerrard involved in the build up (74). Gerrard said after match: "Playing for England you've always got a point to prove. As long as I've got a place in this team then I'm happy. There have been lots of times that I have felt that I haven't hit the heights that I can do but I always keep going."

Rio Ferdinand added: "The key was to make sure we were a tight unit firstly and we did that. I'm delighted for Gerrard, he's been over critical of his play but we've seen him do it for Liverpool and we've seen him do it for England so I was really pleased for him."

Editor's note 15/10/2008 SAN SIRO SIZZLER!

As I am a very fortunate man, my partner has arranged for a weekend away in Milan for my birthday. I was delighted to find out on my birthday that we will be going to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, or better known as the San Siro. AC Milan take on the mighty Sampdoria (lying in 17th after the first six games) and I cannot wait to go to one of the great football grounds in the world. Boasting an 82,000 capacity, the San Siro has a carnival atmosphere with history going back over 80 years. I feel fortunate that on this trip our timing co-insides with a game; when I was in Madrid a few years ago there was no game at the Bernabeu but I went on the tour anyway. This was a fantastic experience in it own right and you can do the same with the san siro stadium and these tours are hourly on match days with regular coaches to take advantage of.

If its good enough for Ronaldinho its good enough for me...

O'Neill working on keeping Young

At the end of the current 2007/2008 premiership season Ashley Young will have 2 seasons left but already Martin O'Neill is putting in place a plan and some type of remuneration package to retain the player.

When questioned by the Birmingham Mail O'Neill: "We are making progress. There's nothing untoward about it.

"I would have liked by now to have been able to report something and maybe by the end of the week I might be able to.

"With a bit of luck the contract should reflect the progress that he has made and where he is positioned.

"He has just won the Player of the Month again, which is great."

2008 African players award contenders

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that 4 premiership players - Amr Zaki, Emmanuel Adebayor, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba have been shortlisted for the 2008 African Player of the Year award.

THE CONTENDERS...

Zaki
What a year 2008 has been for Zaki. The striker scored 4 goals in the African Nations Cup in Ghana this February for Egypt in their successful defence of this trophy.

Didier Drogba
The Ivory Coast striker is a big face in the Premiership. Drogba has already won the award in 2006 and has been in the top 3 over the last 5 years. Drogba has a distinct achievement in that he is the only professional footballer to have scored in 3 League Cup finals, in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Michael Essien
Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien finished second last year to Sevilla striker Fredi Kanoute and has made the top three for the last three years. The Ghanian midfielder is nicknamed 'the Bison' and has played for Chelsea for 3 years having moved from Lyon in 2005 for £24m.

Emmanuel Adebayor
Togo striker Adebayor is in his second season at the Emirates and made a big impression in te 2007/2008 season by coming joint second with Fernando Torres for the Premiership golden boot.

The results of the African players award will be announced in December after 53 managers of the international associations have voted.