Manchester United captain Roy Keane is the English Premiership player of the month for December.

In that month Keane scored twice and helped United to victories over Everton, West Ham and Bradford City.

Kevin Keegan and his colleagues on the awards panel said: "Keane's form in December totally vindicates the importance Sir Alex Ferguson attached to guaranteeing his captain's long-term future at the club."

A suspected drug dealer disguised as a doctor was caught trying to sneak into the hospital room in Buenos Aires where Diego Maradona is recovering from cocaine abuse.

"Yesterday (Thursday) we detected the entrance of a false doctor who had a stethoscope, hospital clothing, et cetera. From all the information I gathered it was a (drug) pedlar," said cardiologist Carlos Alvarez.