Decision day for Cantona

Eric Cantona is expected to decide today whether he will stay at Old Trafford. His agent and lawyer, Jean-Jacques Bertrand, is meeting the Manchester United chairman, Martin Edwards, for a second round of contract talks.

Edwards and the United manager, Alex Ferguson, have already indicated they want Cantona to remain at the club, even though his world-wide ban does not end until 30 September.

Although Cantona was thought to be worried about the reception he would get from opposing fans should he continue his career in England, United feel he is warming to the idea of staying, after being overwhelmed at the response he has had doing community service.

While Paul Gascoigne's omission from Lazio's starting line-up on Sunday sparked speculation in English newspapers that his days in Italy were numbered while his coach, Zdenek Zeman, was praised at home for leaving him out.

However, Terry Venables, the England manager, is convinced that Gascoigne will stay in Italy, despite reported interest from several English clubs. Venables said yesterday that Gascoigne, a big crowd favourite in Italy, still felt he had a point to prove to the fans and himself, following his lengthy lay-off with injuries.