We take a look at the top stories dominating Thursday's headlines.
Barnes bags new deal
Ashley Barnes was an outside bet to make Gareth Southgate's England, but despite missing out on that he's netted a new deal at Burnley until summer 2021.
The 28-year-old is in sparkling form for the seventh-placed Clarets, having scored in each of their last three matches.
"I think I am playing some of my best football but I've still got a lot to come," he said.
"I'm still learning. I learn every day on the training ground. I knuckle down and try to do the right things and keep taking on information from the staff and it's paying off.
"The club is only going in one direction and that's up and I'm privileged to be part of it. Come the end of the season who knows where we'll be and if we can still be where we are now that would be huge credit to all the lads.
"This has capped off a good year, with eight games still to go, and I'm delighted it's done."
Burnley are 5/6 to finish seventh in the Premier League with Sky Bet
Messi magic
Lionel Messi netted his 100th Champions League goal as his double helped Barcelona book their place in the last eight of the Champions League.
They will be in Friday’s quarter-final draw after beating Chelsea 4-1 on aggregate, with Messi – who had never scored past the west Londoners in eight appearances – netting three of those and assisting the other.
Watch: Lionel Messi's double v Chelsea
After a stunning performance against the reigning Premier League champions, Messi was praised by Blues boss Antonio Conte, who left the Camp Nou pitch with his arm around the Argentina playmaker.
"When you have the opportunity to make a great compliment to Messi, I think it's right," Conte said.
"I'm very pleased to have the opportunity at the end of the game to give him my compliments. We are talking about an extraordinary player, the best in the world.
"I think we are talking about the player that can move the final result for every team that he's playing for.
"This type of player, (there is) one player born in 50 years."
Messi struck after 126 seconds, netting through the legs of the hapless Thibaut Courtois, and reached his century in Europe’s top competition, again shooting through the Chelsea goalkeeper's legs.
It means Chelsea are out of another competition, with the FA Cup their only hope of silverware, with the focus also on a top-four finish in the league.
They face an away trip to Leicester in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and a defeat could see the Italian back under pressure.
After Wednesday’s defeat he is 7/1 with Sky Bet to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post.
Next Premier League manager to leave (via Sky Bet)
Alan Pardew – 1/6
Antonio Conte – 7/1
No manager to leave before May 13 – 10/1
David Moyes – 14/1
Arsene Wenger - 18/1
Click the image below to see the list in full…
Hughes confident Saints can avoid relegation
New Southampton manager Mark Hughes is confident he can make an immediate impact and steer the club away from the threat of relegation.
The Welshman, who made 60 appearances for the Saints, has signed a contract until the end of the season to become the sacked Mauricio Pellegrino's replacement.
His one target is to secure the 17th-placed club's top-flight status. It is understood he is on a bonus of about £1million to keep the club up.
"First and foremost I think it's about coming in and maybe being that different voice, that different message from myself and the staff, that will enable the players to recognise and focus on what needs to be done in this key period of the season," said the former Wales, Stoke, Manchester City, QPR, Fulham and Blackburn boss.
"The objective clearly is to remain in the league and make sure we're a Premier League club next year.
"That's where this club needs to be, that's where it should be, and that's our intention to make sure it remains there.
"I bring experience of the Premier League. I understand what it takes in this league to win games.
"It's a challenge I'm excited by. It's a great opportunity to come back to a club I know well, and a club I've got real affinity with, and I couldn't turn that down."
Hughes will take his first training session on Thursday as the side prepares for an FA Cup quarter-final at League One high-fliers Wigan.
Jack Wilshere in line for England call
Jack Wilshere is set for an England recall when Gareth Southgate names his squad for the pre-World Cup friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy on Thursday.
The 26-year-old has not played for his country since the embarrassing Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland but has impressed after winning back his club place with Arsenal.
Wilshere's likely return comes amid concern over Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who will be sidelined until next month after preliminary assessments showed damage to the lateral ligaments in his right ankle.
Kane aside, Southgate's attacking options have increased with the fine form of Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, as well as Danny Welbeck's return to the Arsenal front-line.
Among the uncapped players looking to land call-ups are Callum Wilson, Glenn Murray and Ashley Barnes, while Joe Hart's lack of Premier League game time this season has led to calls in some quarters to elevate the in-form Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope.
In case you missed it…
Trending on Sporting Life Football
- All-time XI: Footballers managed by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona
- Thursday's Paper Talk
- When is the draw for the Champions League and Europa League quarter-finals? Teams, TV, date, time and more details
- Mark Hughes named Southampton manager
- Free football betting tips, odds and match previews: Arsenal v AC Milan at the Emirates Stadium
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Last updated at 1010 GMT 15/03/2018.