some snow flurries across northern parts. more likely to be mild with grey conditions further south. a reminder of our top story... uk has recorded more than 100,000 covid cases in one day. that's all from the bbc news at six , so it's goodbye from me , and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are. hello and welcome to sportsday. i'm jane dougall. liverpool captainjordan henderson speaks out on concerns for player's welfare as the fixtures stack up and so do the covid figures. this match is going ahead, we'll be at the tottenham hotspur stadium ahead of the fifth round of the league cup. and, it can still be turned around. a hopeful mark wood tells us what england need to do ahead of the third ashes test in melbourne. also coming up in the programme... empty gyms and pools could spell disaster for the leisure industry, and with no government grant, what could it mean for our health and fitness? plus, she's got hockey gold, but helen richardson—walsh says it wasn'tjust her body she had to get in shape to win her medal. your mind controls everything so it's very important to think about how you can get the most from what's going on inside your head. hello and welcome to sportsday. "nobody takes player welfare seriously". the words of liverpool captainjordan henderson, who has added his voice to the growing concern from managers about congested fixture lists and the pressure of coronavirus on their depleated squads. the situation has already caused ten matches to be postponed in the premier league, adding to the backlog of games. possibly because of that, the premier league has said no to pausing fixtures over the festive season, and henderson is worried it could take players to their breaking point. adam wild reports. in these most intense moments of the season. english football for now goes ahead and because i had with the full crowd. it's not a question of funds and supporting their teams. it's also a question of how football supports its players. the captain has raised concerns about what has been asked of players. now with the added anxiety of covid—19 he expresses concern that nobody really takes fair welfare seriously. obviously the player welfare from a covid—19 situation i think everyone in general trying to protect himself in general trying to protect himself in their own families but also from a football point of view to deal with the situation when you are going into a game on the 26th and 28th of december with two games it in such a short space of time and you are worried for their welfare from a football point of view as well. we have a situation where one of the players was reluctant to get out of his car because he had some symptoms and he's got a young family so totally understand the situation and how he felt at the time and we've got a major responsibility to listen to the players and deal with every situation as it comes your way. every situation as it comes your wa . ~ ., , ., way. while there will not be a break in diplomatic— way. while there will not be a break in diplomatic for _ way. while there will not be a break in diplomatic for now, _ way. while there will not be a break in diplomatic for now, the _ way. while there will not be a break in diplomatic for now, the facts - in diplomatic for now, the facts surrounding covid—19 continued to speak for themselves. last week there were 90 positive tests amongst players and staff. more than half of the weekend matches were postponed. we have to listen to the players because they are the ones that have to be there. and the other ones that have to perform. they have to do it and when they start to say something like that i think we have to really listen with open ears because we don't want to damage the product and the incredible lead that we have. football for now continues but in this traditionally hectic time so does the calls to slow down. well, as we mentioned, the premier league decided a few days ago not to postpone fixtures over the festive period, despite calls for a firebreak amid rising covid—19 cases. this is what prompted jordan henderson to speak out, and the professional footballers association say decisions on players welfare shouldn't be taken without consulting them. their opinion needs to be heard because it a valuable opinion in terms of the game because what has been clear over the last few months is the only piece which can never miss other players. without players there is no game because ultimately you cannot continue playing 70 games per season. a players average career is eight years and if you play 70 games per season at some stage we are talking about human beings here. those are people who know they are privileged and not being able to be a footballer is a pressing and equally they have shown how much they wanted and what we would like is to be a part of that conversation to make sure all the angles are covered and the welfare of the players is part of that conversation. we understand the importance of continuing praying and we are understand the few possible games in a very congested fixture. the players are understand that struggles that it entails postponing games and cancelling games etc so not above the reality. how can it be that the need to go out there and we have families as well and how can it be that they are made without taking that into consideration. with all of those issues rumbling on — games are still being played. three fixtures in the league cup tonight. liverpool take on leicester, a west london derby at brentford who host chelsea; and another london derby, tottenham playing west ham. john murray is at tottenham hotspur stadium for us. i spoke to him earlier and asked what the reaction had been to jordan henderson's comments? (tx vt)>> i think when it comes from someone as influential as deliverable captainjordan henderson, i think it adds to the feeling that something has to give and clearly we have heard from premier league manager at the premier league manager on the subject and of course all of the teams in the premier league will play three matches or do to play three matches from boxing day on rates through until that first weekend in january so that rates through until that first weekend injanuary so that is where this all comes from. the feeling that there is just too much of a part of fixtures and notjust that there is just too much of a part of fixtures and not just that into the new year throughout the course of 2022 right until the world cup so these are the comments and we are going to continue to hear from this sort of thing from figures like jordan henderson until something that's finally gave. figs jordan henderson until something that's finally gave.— that's finally gave. as we said this much is going _ that's finally gave. as we said this much is going ahead _ that's finally gave. as we said this much is going ahead and - that's finally gave. as we said this much is going ahead and it - that's finally gave. as we said this much is going ahead and it could l much is going ahead and it could be quite tasty because putnam coming off the back of that incredible toy with liverpool and less time of already knocked out manchester city without conceding so this could be pretty good. the without conceding so this could be pretty good-— without conceding so this could be re aood. , . ., ., , ., pretty good. the expectation is that these two teams _ pretty good. the expectation is that these two teams tonight will - pretty good. the expectation is that these two teams tonight will be - these two teams tonight will be relatively unaffected by covid—19. but for these two teams this is a really important match because of the fact quite simply they had not won a trophy for such a long time. it's well over ten years since tottenham last one at a major trophy and they have not won a major trophy for decades. at end the format they in the season now they are coming into it and both of them have to think they have gotten opportunity in this competition set to get through tonight in the semifinals is important in the context of their seating. there's full commentary of that match on five live withjohn alongside matthew upson. updates from brentford v chelsea and commentary of liverpool against leicester is on five live sports extra. in scotland there have also been calls for a circuit breaker over the festive period, with premiership clubs being asked to vote on when the winter break should be introduced. it comes after first minister nicola sturgeon announced scottish football would effectively be played from behind closed doors from boxing day. that's prompted clubs to ask for the winter break to be brought forward. well, there are three matches in the premiership tonight. hibs host aberdeen; stjohnstone play ross county and st mirren are at home to celtic. that's where bbc scotland reporter kheradine idsan is. with scottish sport effectively fan free for three weeks from boxing day, scottish football has a decision to make. what to do about the festive fixture. there have been some decisions made already. the lower leagues, the championship, leagues one and two will continue to play on as scheduled. but that top—flight has a big call to make. whether to bring forward the winter shutdown. there will be some fixtures this evening more on that in a moment. the top—flight flight clubs have been asked to vote on three options. the status quo to continue as normal or to play the boxing day fixtures and then shut down or to shut down immediately after tonight fixtures and pray three rounds of fixtures sometime in the new year and go to a very early winter shutdown. we should get a decision on that evening. that is expected or certainly hope for and in the meantime we do have football tonight here at the celtic. it's on this fight and having a big covid—19 outbreak. the question is in terms of the top—flight will the last match is played this year if they all decide to bring forward the winter shutdown immediately until tomorrow? let's take a look at some of the other sports news stories making the headlines. manchester city have agreed a deal to sell forward ferran torres to barcelona. it's understood barca have agreed to pay 46 million pounds with a further 8.5 million potentially in add—ons. number 13 seed joe cullen is through to the third round at the pdc world darts championship — having come from behind to beat jim williams of wales, by three sets to two. and mitchell marsh hit an impressive 86 offjust 53 balls in the big bash, as the perth scorchers kept their unbeaten streak going. they stay top of the table after a 21—run victory over the melbourne renegades. there was a "very honest chat" after england lost their second test against australia, according to bowler mark wood. he told the bbc that the players — including captainjoe root and vice captain ben stokes — had gathered to talk about how things could get better and agreed that their ashes display hadn't been good enough. england are 2—0 down and head to melbourne needing a win to keep their hopes of regaining the ashes alive. wood told the bbc�*s henry moeran he did think that was possible. if we don't have that believe we might as well go back now so we've got to believe that we can turn this around. we have ensured our best yet and we know that australia have been playing really well. if we can match them and we believe we can win test matches here so we have got a couple of days to stop thinking about cricket and get every in melbourne and enjoy this lead up to christmas and enjoy this lead up to christmas and retrain on the 24th and we hard that day, no backward steps and we have to go into this game and we must win. so we have to go forward and try to do some punches first rather than reacting when things happen. we rather than reacting when things ha en, ~ ,, .," rather than reacting when things hauen.~ ,, ., rather than reacting when things hauen. ,, , happen. we speak about christmas and how bad it will — happen. we speak about christmas and how bad it will be. _ happen. we speak about christmas and how bad it will be. it _ happen. we speak about christmas and how bad it will be. it will _ happen. we speak about christmas and how bad it will be. it will be _ happen. we speak about christmas and how bad it will be. it will be an - how bad it will be. it will be an unusual one. what other plans on christmas — unusual one. what other plans on christmas day?— christmas day? there is a lot my family is here — christmas day? there is a lot my family is here now— christmas day? there is a lot my family is here now and _ christmas day? there is a lot my family is here now and for- christmas day? there is a lot my i family is here now and for different players people have come over from england to melbourne and about ic and family for the first time here and family for the first time here and we will have it as a group together the training in the morning on christmas day and a night session and being quite secret santa private everyone in the group and then will be off for christmas lunch together as a group and we will filter out those. as if you are the lads that haven't got there is a few other lads that haven't got there so i imagine we'll have a game here or there are maybe a home game to try for the rest of the day to switch off before the big match. away from the ashes and cricket has been in the spotlight for the wrong reasons in recent months over its handling of the racism scandal at yorkshire county cricket club. azeem rafiq's allegations against the county rocked the top level of the game, but the issues have also existed at grassroots level. our sports reporter james burridge has been to visit a local club in luton. three cricketers who between them played here for decades. a proud diverse club which boasts players from all backgrounds. they have enjoyed some memorable matches here but they also continue to receive racist insults.— but they also continue to receive racist insults. the term view lots nets racist insults. the term view lots gets branded _ racist insults. the term view lots gets branded quite _ racist insults. the term view lots gets branded quite a _ racist insults. the term view lots gets branded quite a bit - racist insults. the term view lots gets branded quite a bit and - racist insults. the term view lots gets branded quite a bit and like | racist insults. the term view lots| gets branded quite a bit and like i said it makes you feel not part of the team. not a part of the sport and when someone from another club or another player goes all you will not, it's i don't know it makes you feel like an outsider. and i don't think that will be the case for a pair, a white player to be fair. we got to a position where enough is enough and why do we need to keep facing this season and season how does it make you feel sterile? it's hard because we don't want we work quite closely with the cricket board and different organisations and i like to think we have a really good relationship with them and didn't want to upset anyone in the all of this game and we all want to play this game and we all want to play this game and i think there was that certain fair this game and i think there was that certainfair of if this game and i think there was that certain fair of if we do make a real fuss about this would there be any backlash towards us and our club? osborne millis has been part of them for 30 years and he's now a coach and an empire. he season he was involved in an incident with a fellow empire during a game. he came off and said that's _ fellow empire during a game. he came off and said that's it _ fellow empire during a game. he came off and said that's it i've _ fellow empire during a game. he came off and said that's it i've had _ off and said that's it i've had enough. and he goes so i said to him we are umpires. and he said no, i have enough of you lot. you don't know the game. i'd had enough of you anyway. and he walked off. i would've thought after all these years that this attitude would have been gone. but the attitudes are still there. and unfortunately the people who are administrating the game has still got this attitude. that's why i believe nothing at all has been cited.— that's why i believe nothing at all has been cited. opportunity is also a ma'or has been cited. opportunity is also a major concern _ has been cited. opportunity is also a major concern for _ has been cited. opportunity is also a major concern for those - has been cited. opportunity is also a major concern for those playing l a major concern for those playing the game. it's where he began his journey and many of his club feel talent is not being spotted or recognise. talent is not being spotted or recognise-— talent is not being spotted or recoanise. , . ., ., recognise. the percentage of them -la in: recognise. the percentage of them playing cricket _ recognise. the percentage of them playing cricket was _ recognise. the percentage of them playing cricket was 30, _ recognise. the percentage of them playing cricket was 30, 4096 - recognise. the percentage of them playing cricket was 30, 4096 for - playing cricket was 30, 40% for sure. how many of those percentage filter through a county level. that 30% filters from less than 1% i think that county level. that's got to be something wrong. so that's what it is. they need to look at that. it established a plan to improve diversity in the game and say they are connected to stamping out all forms of discrimination. it was shaken by the allegation and club cricket deck appears to be facing similar problems. a quick look at some more of the sports stories making the news around the world... australian open organisers say they're still not sure if novak djokovic will defend his title next month. djokovic is on the entry list but has refused to disclose his covid vaccination status. all players and staff must be jabbed or have a medical exemption granted by an independent panel. the national hockey league has said it will not send its players to compete in the men's ice hockey tournament at the beijing winter olympics. that's after the regular season schedule was disrupted due to a surge in coronavirus cases — the games take place in february. and england international jess breach is set to return for harlequins, in their match against wasps on monday just two months after breaking her back. many of us have neglected our fitness over the past 18 months, understandable — but it's led to gyms, pools and leisure centres suffering financial difficulties with a 50% drop in new memberships and up to a 70% reduction in people using city centre facilities. some feel the leisure industry has reached crisis point, particularly after the government yesterday omitted gyms, pools and leisure centres from the grant support financial package. earlier i spoke to huw edwards, the ceo of uk—active and began by asking him why these facilities need financial support when they're still open. my my members are very frustrated and angry and anxious after the announcement and they facing similar financial problems that have been faced by the sectors and up to 70% of your seeing dropped by 50% and that's going to have an impact on the revenue going into january. if we don't get financial support in the next few weeks these facilities both public and private two will hit the wall. and go to the wall and we expect closures in the coming weeks on the financial support provided by the government. and furthermore yesterday's announcement really hit to set a very hard and that was a real drop in confidence in the support and protection we expect from our government especially for a sector that supports tens of millions of people to be active every week and supporting their physical and mental well—being so the support especially at this time of year in the crisis we have seen is paramount to get that level of support in order to support these facilities. , , . facilities. the presented evidence ofthe facilities. the presented evidence of the government _ facilities. the presented evidence of the government asking - facilities. the presented evidence of the government asking for - facilities. the presented evidence of the government asking for this j of the government asking for this financial funding of the government asking for this financialfunding but of the government asking for this financial funding but obviously they did not feel the evidence was strong enough to provide it. so where do you think the difficulty is? where the disparity is? you you think the difficulty is? where the disparity is?— the disparity is? you want to be supporting _ the disparity is? you want to be supporting facilities _ the disparity is? you want to be supporting facilities that - the disparity is? you want to be| supporting facilities that support health of communities across the country so that government to answer the question of why they have not given the necessary support and defend the position we provide over the last days and we want to see change and we are hoping and work with the government to find that resolution but it needs to happen as a matter of urgency. you resolution but it needs to happen as a matter of urgency.— a matter of urgency. you have used the phrase — a matter of urgency. you have used the phrase health _ a matter of urgency. you have used the phrase health crisis. _ a matter of urgency. you have used the phrase health crisis. you - a matter of urgency. you have used the phrase health crisis. you are . the phrase health crisis. you are not talking about covid—19 at the rest of the country you are talking about inactivity in the country. how bad do you feel this issue is? we are bad do you feel this issue is? - are seeing lamentable figures around physical activity right now impacted and exacerbated by the covid—19 crisis and understandably so. we support tens of millions of people irrespective of age are background every week to be active and we need to see greater leadership and clarity over the coming weeks especially when we expect further restrictions next week and we need the government to promote and support the fact that we are both safe and essential at this time. they say to be a professional athlete you have to push your body to extremes, but there's also a growing belief, that you need to be incredibly mentally fit too. when olympic gold medallist helen richardson—walsh retired, she completed a masters in psychology and is now a performance psychologist at her girlhood club, tottenham hotspur. bbc women's football reporter jo currie went along to watch her in her new role. welcome. this is where you are? amazing. i think many people will remember you as a very successful international hockey player. how did you and appear? it’s international hockey player. how did you and appear?— you and appear? it's a club close to m heart. you and appear? it's a club close to my heart- after— you and appear? it's a club close to my heart. after finishing _ you and appear? it's a club close to my heart. after finishing playing . my heart. afterfinishing playing hockey i qualified as a psychologist and started to think about what i might want to do with that qualification and working within a sports team seems like a good fit and they were open painted idea and it went from there. what and they were open painted idea and it went from there.— it went from there. what is a performance _ it went from there. what is a i performance psychologist, what it went from there. what is a - performance psychologist, what did the day today? it’s performance psychologist, what did the day today?— the day today? it's “0b is to try and net the day today? it's “0b is to try and get the h the day today? it's “0b is to try and get the most _ the day today? it's job is to try and get the most out - the day today? it's job is to try and get the most out of - the day today? it's job is to try - and get the most out of everybody and get the most out of everybody and we are as human beings capable of much more than we think we are in your mind controls everything. so it's very important to think about how you can get the most from what's going on exaggerated head. when you are an athlete yourself. you experience _ are an athlete yourself. you experience the _ are an athlete yourself. you experience the highest but also some of those along the way as well. how do you use your own personal experiences working with the football now? my own experience comes into play all the time as an athlete. , . , . ., ., athlete. in'ury and selection are re athlete. injury and selection are pretty much _ athlete. injury and selection are pretty much guaranteed - athlete. injury and selection are pretty much guaranteed and - athlete. injury and selection are| pretty much guaranteed and you athlete. injury and selection are - pretty much guaranteed and you have to go through selection and injury is unfortunately very common and for me as struggled with my mental health through some of those difficulties and that's a really key part of where i see my role here. for me, performance includes well—being if people are well mentally and physically in every sense they will perform at their best. it's a much more accessible and visible but with that comes expectancy and pressure and its working with the players on. these players want to play in the big very nice with massive crowds but with that comes pressure and there are some players who take to that arena and it's if it's not natural to you you can't learn to thrive in that environment and that's the role of the psychologist to try and help out. ., ., out. he retired after the rio olympics- — out. he retired after the rio olympics- how— out. he retired after the rio olympics. how important i out. he retired after the rio i olympics. how important was out. he retired after the rio - olympics. how important was it for you to find a role that not only pay big bills but you are really passionate about as well. for me and gave my life to hockey and when that start did i knew i needed something that was going to try and replace that. having that purpose was incredibly important and being amongst the team again i feel the same emotions when i am watching the game. although i can't do anything about it. but i think accepting that all athletes train find. at the weekend, ian poulter took his son, josh to the pnc championship to watch tiger woods with his son charlie. so it's obviousjosh loves golf, taking after his father. but, he had to have been hoping the postman would live up to his nickname here. don't worry, this isn't a golf ball he's aiming at his son's face. ian poulter thought it might be fun to use a marshmallow and try to hit it intojosh's mouth, which he did succeed in doing — don't know how many times they tried it. maybe he has a large mouth, who knows. please don't try that at home. don't forget he's a professional if perhaps in trouble with his wife. thank you for watching, goodbye. good evening. outbreaks of rain moving north to east overnight could lead to icy stretches across northeast england and scotland here in the air is still cold but south mark crowd is building a name that means a mild start in comparison to wednesday morning. certainly much milder out of the west. there will be outbreaks of rain moving to scotland and northern ireland in northern england with heavy bursts at times. a lot of crowd around and some light rain from time to time. here a mild afternoon with 11 or 12 degrees as the high. still cool in the far north of scotland and they will be a spell of rain which pertain to snow into the night during the early hours of friday morning. it is christmas eve and behind it we have got some clear skies and again it's going to be a relatively mild start in comparison to wednesday morning with overnight lows of two to 10 degrees. hello, i'm kasia madera, this is outside source. the uk has recorded its highest ever daily number of coronavirus cases in the pandemic. more than 100,000 people tested postive for coronavirus in the last 2a hours. but as cases rise — there's more evidence the omicron variant is less likely to put people in hospital. many countries are bringing back restrictions. spain is making masks mandatory outside again, while in china, 13 million people are in lockdown. israel is the first country to offer a fourth covid—19 vaccine, as countries expand their booster programmes, prompting this warning. blanket booster programmes are