Guys, it's nearly the weekend and the sun is shining (in Stoke anyway). All we need now is today's betting editorial to make it a perfect day

UK

Football

Friedel joins Tottenham

Tottenham - 3/1 to finish in the top four next season with bet365 - have snaffled Brad Friedel from Aston Villa to add to their list of goalkeepers.

The 40-year-old United States international's contract at Villa Park was due to finish at the end of this month and he decided that a move to north London was more desirable than to continue in the Midlands.

It now means that Spurs will have Heurelho Gomes, Carlo Cudicini and Friedel to chose from next season when they look to regain entry into Europe's elite Champions League competition.

The White Hart Lane-based club stand an outside chance of winning next season's Premier League - 50/1 with bet365 - and boss Harry Redknapp is pleased by the new arrival, saying: “It means we have competition for places, particularly with the number of games we'll hopefully face next year.”
　
Golf

Donald succumbing to fatigue

New world number one Luke Donald - 10/1 to win the US Open with bet365 - is feeling the strain of his rigorous round the world schedule after winning the BMW PGA Championship last weekend.

The Englishman, who beat compatriot Lee Westwood in a play-off to clinch the title, had a poor first 11 holes at The Memorial Tournament - where he is competing at the moment - but managed to card a 70 following a good back nine.

Speaking after his round he said: “I felt better than I thought I would. It's going to be a tough week, obviously, to balance the physical side. I certainly don't have as much energy as I'd like, but to be honest I felt pretty decent today considering.”

The 33-year-old has finished in the top ten in 14 out of his last 15 tournaments, and is still 14/1 with bet365 to win The Memorial Tournament.

He added: “I played pretty solid all the way around, just the mistakes I made were careless short-game mistakes, just not very sharp around the greens.”

Football

Hart upbeat over Three Lions

England - 4/11 to beat Switzerland with bet365 - keeper Joe Hart believes that the national squad are moving forward following a dismal World Cup last year.

Speaking ahead of their Euro 2012 qualification with Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday, the 24-year-old has said there is a good atmosphere within the England camp and a positive vibe.

He said: “It was a tough summer and some of the players who are still here from that have helped the new people coming in. There is a good atmosphere and a good vibe around the squad now which perhaps there wasn't all the time last summer.”

The Manchester City goalkeeper also reckons that a "new generation" of players are coming through and paid particular compliments to Arsenal's Jack Wilshere.

England - who are 8/1 to win Euro 2012 - will be without Wayne Rooney on Saturday through suspension, and Jermain Defoe will miss the game through injury.

It appears that Fabio Capello is likely to start Darren Bent up front as a lone forward.

Australia

AFL

Saints pair shrug off injuries

Brendon Goddard and Sean Dempster have responded well to treatment for their injuries, and are set to make the St Kilda team to face Collingwood, with the Saints available at 6/5 with bet365 to score first.

The pair were hurt against Fremantle last week, and were both hospitalised. Goddard hurt his neck and Dempster his head in the game.

Goddard took an accidental hit from team-mate Zac Dawson, but assistant coach Steven King said he had had the all-clear.

“He felt a little bit of a crack in his neck. He wasn't sure what that was and he felt some pins and needles down his arm; it was more nerve-related. He had the X-rays and scans in Perth and it all came back pretty positive,” King said.

Michael Gardiner, who has missed the first half of the season with a knee injury, should be ready by round 15, according to King.

Rugby Union

Gill flies back to solve Reds problem

Flanker Liam Gill has been released from the Australian under-20s squad at the Junior world Championship, and returned to the Reds, who are 1/12 with bet365 to beat the Brumbies on Saturday.

Gill, who flew out last Sunday, is needed as cover after Beau Robinson was injured.
Though he will not be considered against the Brumbies, because of having done so much travelling, he could play next round.

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) agreed to the Reds’ request quickly, according to managing director and CEO John O’Neill.

“We said when the squad was first selected that if injuries occurred at the Super Rugby level we would look at assisting the provinces by releasing players back to them from the Under 20s squad,” he said.

“Clearly the Reds were in that situation following the unfortunate injury to Beau Robinson and we moved quickly to ensure that Liam Gill would return from Europe immediately.”

It’s a match where the Reds can break the Brumbies’ hoodoo – they’ve won on six of their last seven visits to Brisbane.

Rugby League

Hayne not worried about Origin

Jarryd Hayne says he is not concerned with being selected for Origin II by the Blues, who are 7/2 with bet365 to win the series.

The fullback says he just wants to help the Eels improve their fortunes, and though he has spoken to NSW coach Ricky Stuart he is not too concerned whether he plays against the Maroons on June 15.

The Blues missed Hayne in the first game, with Brett Morris having an unconvincing outing.

Morris now has a hamstring strain, so Hayne could earn a spot on the wing.
”I'm ready to play for the Eels and we'll go from there,” Hayne said.

Asked if he'd heard from Stuart in recent days, Hayne responded: “I spoke to him the day after (game one). (But) that's all just confidential.
“I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to talk about anything that hasn't been established yet.

“I'll just focus on the Eels and play some good footy for them and whatever happens, happens.”

Canada

Baseball

Rangers take first of weekend series

The Texas Rangers, 13/1 with bet365 to win the World Series, will send unbeaten Alexi Ogando to the hill to face the Cleveland Indians as the battle of division leaders continues at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The Indians, 20/1 to take the World Series, will counter with five-game winner Justin Masterson who failed to win in the month of May after a stellar April.

Baseball

Huff goes deep three times in Giants win

The San Francisco Giants, 18/1 with bet365 to win the World Series, return home for a 10-game home stand after a successful road trip that saw the defending world champions take four of seven in games against the Milwaukee Brewers and St Louis Cardinals. Aubrey Huff was the hero as the Giants took the finale of their set with St Louis, 14/1 to win the World Series.

Basketball

Mavericks win one for the ages

Those that do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. A
lesson the Miami Heat, 5/7 with bet365 to win the NBA finals, might take under advisement after the Dallas Mavericks, 6/5 to take the title, came back from a 15-point deficit, for the second time this post-season, to stun Miami and tie the finals at one game apiece.

Baseball

Twins make multiple moves

Lumbered with the worst record in baseball, the Minnesota Twins, 250/1 to win the World Serries with bet365,were forced to make a number of roster moves due to the injuries. Top prospect Ben Revere returns and will look to improve upon his earlier disappointing promotion to the Big Leagues as the Twins continue their series against the Kansas City Royals, 200/1 to win the World Series.

Thanks and have a great weekend - Nigel