You'd kind of guess that professional football in Australia is in its infancy when you hear that young Ben Burgess, on loan from Blackburn Rovers, became Northern Spirit's all-time leading scorer last week upon reaching the 11 mark. The Irish under-18 international helped himself to two goals against Kingz FC, thus breaking the previous record of 10.

Mind you, if Coventry City could find themselves a striker who'd score them 11 goals this season they'd probably rename their stadium after him. Barry Quinn, who captained Ireland to victory at the European youth championships in Cyprus three years ago, has a vested interest in them avoiding relegation this season - he's just signed a new four-year contract with the club and would very much like to do his footballing in the Premiership.

Congratulations, then, to Ben and Barry, who very nearly sound like ice-cream manufacturers, but our player of the week award goes to Paul McCarthy (above). The Wycombe Wanderers captain led his team into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last week by equalising in the last minute of extra-time against Wimbledon, before scoring in the penalty shoot-out that Wycombe won 8-7. It's not often McCarthy outdoes his former Rockmount team-mate - this year Roy Keane will be watching the quarter-finals on telly, McCarthy will be playing in them, away to Leicester.