With respect, absolute nonsense. If you’re asked a question that is simply not true and a 100% made up internet rumour, you deny it profoundly.

Maybe Austin's massive ego prefers the passport story to being dropped and has asked the club to stick with that one

Maybe the club's poet laureate wasn't available to provide such a profound response.

This is where you fail to understand the media.

If you say "no" their follow up question would then be "So how long is left on Austin's passport, which other players passports expire and when, (or maybe even, is Wane going to be you're next manager, if not who is..)..etc"

It gives them scope to dig for a story that started perhaps from a made up nothing, whilst a "no comment" shuts it down by giving a clear signal that you're not prepared to engage any further.

There is a difference however, when people use "no comment" when presented with some clear evidence, where it might be actually beneficial to say something else.

Beginning to sound like an episode of the Bill ,innit ?

or "UK Border Force...." but, more often that not with these 'sources' it's , "Jackanory".

Well, if true and we move Ratchford we'll probably get to see where Ashton is at in terms of development as a full back. He'll be up against Tomkins who is by far the form full back in the competition at present.

Weather conditions will be perfect for displays of speed and fancy footwork, it's just a case of whether we shift the ball or stick it up the jumper 5 times in a row. I'm guessing it'll be the latter so I'm going into the game ready for a disappointing loss, with a faint glimmer of hope of some champagne Widdop and Ashton stuff.

Yeah I’m glad Austin isn’t playing. He needed dropping anyway. Looking forward to seeing at least one of Ashton or Thewlis at fullback hopefully. Both amazing potential.

No Austin is an opportunity for Ashton, or Thewlis, but I've got a feeling we'll be disappointed in SP's team selection.

This. More likely yo see Jason Clark at 6!

They have changed the rules on passports recently and you do need longer on them than you used to, though I think this is temporary for some reason. Maybe they got caught out. But surely, that’s somebody’s job to keep an eye on...

Well, there you go, sky have just said, he was dropped

Ah, course he was.

Probably the individual AND the club.

"Have you all got passports, and are they appropriate for where we're going"

"Yes"

He was dropped.
He deserved to be dropped
How he reacts is up to him

We move on