Sports �n� All � the football season approaches like a tiger creeping up on an unsuspecting antelope�..or something like that

So, Alan Smith has walked away from Manchester United. Well, I say walked, but it seems more likely that was unceremoniously dumped out. �6 million says that he now warms his heels on the Newcastle bench, only coming on for the last 10 minutes of matches when Owen�s injured. Hello and welcome to another edition of Sports �n� All, the only place where you can find Phil Neville-esque sporting flexibility and consistency.

Tevez has been cleared to take his place at United as Smith trudges wearily away and I get the feeling that Ferguson won�t miss him too much. I�m not saying Smith is a bad player, don�t get me wrong. He�s a decent striker and there aren�t many players out there who will work harder for the team. But Tevez has a bit of quality about him and was the 2005 winner of the Bola de Ouro (Brazilian Footballer of the year), which says it all really � you�ve got to be good to be the best player in Brazil.

While all this has been going on the draw for the third qualifying round of the Champions League has taken place. Now I don�t know about anyone else out there but there�s nothing like the Champions League for excitement and a viewing spectacle. The British clubs haven�t exactly got a free ride this year though, with Liverpool in particular getting a tough ride with a game against Toulouse. Celtic have been given the potential banana skin of Spartak Moscow and Arsenal have it a little easier with a game against Sparta Prague. Let�s hope that one of the British teams can make it through to at least the semis. What English football doesn�t need is a return to the dark days when year on year no team would make it anywhere in the tournament.

Good news for fans of England�s cricket team. Freddie�s on his way back! And after the lack of incisive bowling in the games against India this is surely a good thing. Flintoff has returned to first class action and looks promising for Lancashire�s 20-20 semi final against Gloucestershire on Saturday. As you would expect from him he wants to get back in that England squad and let�s hope his injury doesn�t flare up before he has the opportunity to do that.

Another good piece of news�what a week this is turning out to be! Ricky Hatton has finally got the recognition he deserves in America and has been given his shot against Floyd Mayweather. Ignoring the farcical match against Oscar de la Hoya, which was all smoke and mirrors, Mayweather should be another prospect entirely from Hatton�s previous bouts. Add to this that Hatton will have to move up a weight division to welterweight, which was difficult for him last time, and you have the blueprints for a true classic. All I can say is that if Hatton pulls this off he will truly be the best fighter in the world at the moment. The fight is scheduled for December 8 in Las Vegas, so get your diaries out and make sure you reserve your seat in the front row.

So, I�ve reached the end of another Sports �n� All and all that remains is for me to say is that athletics governing body, the IAAF, is to step up anti-doping tests at the world championships in Osaka later this month. Clearly they�re trying to learn from cycling and clear up their act, which is good thing in my eyes. And on that note I will speak to you next week. Have a good�un.