Wayne Rooney could be handed the England captaincy for the May 29 friendly against the Republic of Ireland as national team boss Roy Hodgson looks to boost the star's flagging confidence. Rooney was dropped by Alex Ferguson for Manchester United's final home game of the season last weekend after he handed in a transfer request. But Hodgson said Thursday that he would have no hesitation in handing the England armband to Rooney, 27, following Steven Gerrard's unavailability following shoulder surgery. "He knows he is right up there," said Hodgson.

Wigan were relegated from the Premier League just three days after their FA Cup final triumph as Arsenal seized control of the race to finish in the top four with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday. Roberto Martinez's side had arrived at the Emirates Stadium hopeful that their dramatic upset against Manchester City would prove the springboard for another great escape in the relegation battle.

Wilfried Zaha fired Crystal Palace into the Championship play-off final as the England winger's double sealed a 2-0 win over arch rivals Brighton in Monday's semi-final second leg. Ian Holloway's team will face Watford at Wembley on May 27 with a lucrative place in the Premier League at stake thanks to the perfect leaving present from Zaha. Ivory Coast-born Zaha will join Manchester United at the end of the season after Palace agreed to sell him to the Premier League champions in a £15 million deal in January.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admits he could be facing the sack even if he guides his struggling team to Premier League safety. Newcastle's fate remains undecided going into the final two games of the season and Pardew concedes there is uncertainty over his future after his side failed to build on last year's fifth-place finish. Even a victory at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, which will all but guarantee their top flight survival, might not be enough to extend his two-and-a-half year reign on Tyneside.