and at the top of serie a in italy, tiny sassuolo are alongside ac milan at the top. milan are a force again, nine years since they last won the league. they have 39—year—old zlatan ibrahimovic up front. but how much should we read into it? are there any trends across the continent that mean this strange year is bringing different leaders? for a lick of the fact that milan is such a young squad and you have soft will know who play beautiful football. i think sometimes not having the crowd, the italian crowds can be very critical. and he can really put you off your game if you are somebody who is sensitive. for milan right now who are just thrilling in every match, to see zlata n thrilling in every match, to see zlatan being the spiritual and physical leader of the group, i think they like being able to work

with the group and see the instructions that you can lift because there is no fan noise. they are just working their way in developing slowly without too much abuse being handed to them. i think it is actually a different reason for different leaks. yeah, this is a year when unusual things are happening for many reasons at different clubs. as we mentioned, barcelona way off the pace in 12th in la liga and very much going through a transition period under new manager ronald koeman. manchester city, despite having pep guardiola sign a new contract, are 13th in the premier league. and schalke, who were runners—up two years ago, are bottom of the bundesliga right now. for tottenham fans, though, and most definitely for rangers fans in the scottish premiership, jane, they'll be hoping those trends continue. i think the rest of glasgow might have been to say about that but thank you very much.

burnley is ahead early tonight. and later wolverhampton hosts southampton. they could have their captain after a recent macro —— covid—i9 scare and so that it could have james ward—prowse back for that game. all the updates at 8pm on it radio five live. to concussion in football. today, the sports world governing body ifab say trials around concussion. concussion subs trials to begin "as soon as possible" with approval considered at next meeting on 16 december. the former luton town striker mick harford says he "fears" developing dementia because he headed so many balls during his career. the 61—year—old, now assistant manager with the hatters, was renowned for his heading ability during a playing career that spanned 20 years.

he says he thinks he can feel the effects. mick harford was a luton town legend. a force in the 80s and 90s and he was often up in the air. a skill he says came at a cost. and he was often up in the air. a skill he says came at a costlj and he was often up in the air. a skill he says came at a cost. i can definitely remember heading balls and blocking out for a few seconds when the ball because it was so happy. then he progress in professional football and you were in the gm heading balls for four professional football and you were in the gm heading balls forfour or five minutes. did you feel concussed to any time? did you develop any symptoms? every saturday i was concussed. you would get fans on the end and you are notjust hitting the ball, their elbows and bashing heads and knees as you down to the ground. you will get need in the head. that's the way it was years ago. you gaveit that's the way it was years ago. you gave it out and took it as well.

yes, there were lots of times in my career when i was concussed. 100%. you just got up and got on with it and follow the game and never really given any thought of the actual consequences. are you worried about suffering from dementia in your long term for future? i do have memory lapses. i speak to the mates of mine and we chat and reminisce about things and i'll be honest, i cannot reverse some of them. i think is at my age or heading balls but for the majority of my life since i was a young boy? so i don't know. so i do fearfor young boy? so i don't know. so i do fear for having that dementia, having that illness when i think back. if you asked me again i will not want to take the risk. but something has to be done to find it there is a connection with heading there is a connection with heading the ball and if it is causing this terrible illness. mick harford

talking to james burridge. the first round of the snooker uk championship is under way in milton keynes, with some tasty match—ups already on the horizon. ding junhui is the reigning champion, butjudd trump and seven—time champion ronnie o'sullivan are the men in form. shabnan younis—jewell is there for us. we will get to the action in a moment. but we had some withdrawals to the covid—i9. moment. but we had some withdrawals to the covid-19. two players had to pull out today. ryan day in anthony hamilton both tested positive and they are all tested regularly before these tournaments which are being held at the marshall arena in milton keynes this season. it was hoped that the uk championships, some will be held at the home in new york but that has not been possible so at the marshall arena which has been a secure bubble environment. the players have been staying there as

well. accommodation on site for them but they are allowed to go home in between matches and in between tournaments as well which puts them at risk so two players have test deposited today. they redo to play today on the opening day so their opponents had been given by us to round two. it's the opening day, what's been the highlight, or do you think that's still to come? there been no huge shocks or anything today. mark williams is multiple champion and has gone through. he beat his opponent 6—0. mark salvi the former world number one has had quite a battle on his hands against the welshman michael white. it was 3—3 at one point in their match but mark did manage to wind 6—4. the biggest upset so far has been probably number 23 tom ford beaten 6—4 by the world number 109. a young chinese player who turned pro only this year. that i think has

been the biggest upset so far. however the day is not over yet and first—run action continues tonight. we have gotjohn higgins in action, three—time winner here in one of the big names to watch and he plays the irishman for the o'brien and also barry hawkins inaction has dropped out of the top exhibit is a very consistent player who likes to do well in these major tournaments and he gets campaign under the dash under way against riley parsons. thank you for the update. for those of you who play football manager or have a fantasy football team, will know that it would be a dream job to manage a football team, especially your football team. well, toby hall is starting young. at nine years old, he decided he would be the best person to succeed phillip cocu at derby and applied for the job. but he wasn't given the brush—off, he got an interview. and he seemed to impress. he is spoken to add it. so, tell me why

you decided to write this letter. to melt morris. i wanted to be the derby manager because a like football a lot and i like design information that i think i'm quite good at it. what would you say to him if you got the chance to meet him? what would you say? actually hold on, toby, wait. mr morris is actually about to join us. laughter. idid not actually about to join us. laughter. i did not think he would even reply to the letter. thanks so much for finding time in your busy school schedule because i know how difficult that can be. how would you handle some of the very high profile players? we feel comfortable telling wayne rooney what he needs to do?|j

would wayne rooney what he needs to do?” would say probably he might need to improve on your striking... i don't really know because he is so good. how are you going to manage the school schedule? we how are you going to manage the school schedule ? we are how are you going to manage the school schedule? we are keen to make sure your education does not suffer. but of course we hope you do the job and it is important to us. how will you manage that? i will probably get a tutor to teach me, maybe so i could do matches as well as being tutored. we actually have a couple of tutors in the academy anyway. maybe we could actually make that work for you quite well. beat it to move home. we will not allow a manager to live miles away. so sort ata manager to live miles away. so sort at a house for you and all those things if you were to get the job. how would you feel about moving to derby? my nana and granddad live like ten miles away, no less than

ten miles away from the ground so maybe we can go there. you have givena maybe we can go there. you have given a lot of thought of this, i can tell. whatever i was with the thrill you today can be got an answer for each and every one so it's great to see. we have a lot of high—profile candidates sol it's great to see. we have a lot of high—profile candidates so i think i'm asleep we're going to consider some of those as well. but you should be proud that you've got this far to be so quickly into the process. once again really want to say thank you for finding the time for us and police to say thank you to your mother and father as that was incredible for the pr side. and see you when you stay with your grandmother and granddad in the near future when you get fans in the stadium as well. thank you for coming on this call to see me. a bright future ahead of that boy cannot remember the name toby hall. that's all from sportsday. we'll have more throughout the evening. a reminder coming up on bbc one in a couple of minutes, a special programme with huw edwards

as the prime minister prepares to hold a press conference after his latest annoucements around lockdown. have a nice evening. it may have been a fine or chilly evening and eastern parts but tonight it will turn milder and milder conditions will dominate. rain at times in the west but later as things turned drier more extensive frost and fire will return. at the moment we have some westerly winds alt to the south of this weather front which is buckling ina way this weather front which is buckling in a way of developing towards a southwest and that means the front shifts southwards and eastwards in the rainjust shifts southwards and eastwards in the rain just runs along shifts southwards and eastwards in the rainjust runs along it northwards and eastwards so the same areas affected by the rain throughout the night. parts of northern ireland and scotland especially. clear in the far north of scotla nd especially. clear in the far north of scotland with the temperatures

dropped a single figures but the breeze picks up across england and and plenty of cloud with drizzle in the west it turns mild is mostly in the west it turns mild is mostly in the figure start tuesday morning. here is a big chart for tuesday with little change to how we are at the moment with the weather front still there waiting across the northwest of the uk so northern ireland and south and west scotland with more rain to come to an occasional rain to the west of wales in northwest england. part of the skull and will bea england. part of the skull and will be a bit brighter than today and a little bit cooler but elsewhere with the winds coming in for mates of the lee direction in a breezy day for england and wales it will be a warmer day. the temperatures could hit around 13 or 1a especially if we see more in the way of sunshine developing to east anglia in the southeast later. finishing tuesday into tuesday night in front will start to push southwards and eastwards and another wave buckling down wind and that will delay departure from the south and east of milderair departure from the south and east of milder air holding on for a bit longer but notice our temporary blast of northerly winds will bring colder air blast of northerly winds will bring colderair in blast of northerly winds will bring colder air in place and that will just sit for the rest of the week.

wednesday almost tradition day as the weather front is still with us across the south and east with the rain and drizzle at times may be the odd heavier burst. the north and west midlands him up a lot more sunshine around compared to the start of the week but a bit of a northerly breeze bring colder air in place and he temperatures to single figures. then with colder air pushing off of the night and into thursday morning, a more widespread frost around and a frosty night so you have to get use to his use of the weekend and most places dry by day but could become quite murky and when the fog lingers temperatures three or 4 degrees but as you see most will be sitting single figures.

good evening, and welcome to our special coverage here on bbc one and bbc news on the day scientists at the university of oxford announced their new covid vaccine, which is at least 70% effective, and will be widely available in the yearahead. the prime minister borisjohnson is about to give a news conference in downing street, to give more details on england's return to the three—tier system when lockdown ends on 2nd december.