Chang's 6-2 6-2 4-6 6-3 win keep his name among the American

Chang's 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 win keep his name among the American contenders.One local fellow is having a good run, continuing a family tradition and causing a good deal of excitement in the television commentary box The name is McEnroe. It cost the fifth seed a set when leading 2-0 against Michael Tebbutt, an Australian ranked No 119 in the world.Fortunately for Chang, his opponent was even more erratic, double-faulting 16 times, five of them on break points. Buying shoes was never a problem, it was just that he preferred to go barefoot on the four grass courts his father built on their avocado plantation.Jim Courier showed signs of a revival by defeating the third seed, Thomas Muster, 6-3, 6-0, 7-6, in less than two hours. The No 14 seed now plays Michael Chang, his American compatriot.Chang, who has worked hard to strengthen his serve to combat the power of his rivals, was detained by a double-fault en route to the last 16. Stubbs also met the Blackburn hierarchy yesterday, and Rovers have been his preference since they made their interest known last week..

Tennis JOHN ROBERTS reports from New YorkByron Black, of Zimbabwe, who grew up playing barefoot, became the latest unseeded competitor to stamp on Michael Stich's toes, defeating the former Wimbledon champion in five sets to advance to his first Grand Slam quarter- final at the United States Open yesterday.Stich was the runner-up to Andre Agassi here a year ago. The eighth seed's prospects this time perished under a mound of errors. Black, although caught after leading by two sets, remained steady and was rewarded with a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3 victory after three hours.The 25-year-old from Harare is ranked No 70 in the world. Liverpool started the three-horse race as favourites but must now hope that McAteer follows Stan Collymore's example and puts their prestige ahead of greater wealth elsewhere.McAteer is also a close friend of Phil Babb, his Republic of Ireland colleague, and that may help influence a choice complicated by Arsenal's late arrival on the scene.While McAteer frets over which fortune to choose, his Bolton team-mate, Alan Stubbs, will complete his formalities in the morning. ALAN NIXON Jason McAteer will have to put his heart before his pocket today to make his dream move to Liverpool come true at a price of pounds 4.5m. Bolton's transfer-seeking midfield player was offered lucrative terms by Blackburn Rovers yesterday in a four-hour meeting with Ray Harford and Kenny Dalglish, at which the champions' financial muscle was flexed.McAteer headed off for talks with Liverpool last night and Arsenal today, both clubs having tabled acceptable offers as the transfer auction reaches a climax. Rene Higuita, their goalkeeper, hit the bar from a free-kick against the United States during the Copa America and David Seaman, who regains the goalkeeping spot at a significant time, said: "If he scores against me I'll pack it in."If he does, there will be no shortage of headlines urging Venables to do the same but, whatever the result, there should be enough English promise to ensure he will not.COLOMBIA: Higuita (Nacional Medellin); Santa (Nacional Medellin), Bermudez (America Cali), Mendoza (Junior Barranquilla), Perez (America Cali), Alvarez (America Cali), Gaviria (Deportes Tolima), Rincon (Real Madrid), Valderrama (Junior Barranquilla), Asprilla (Parma), Valenciano (Junior Barranquilla).Colombian showmen, page 25.

Barmby will act as the link man between Alan Shearer and a central midfield pairing of Redknapp and Gascoigne.Barmby, who partly, but not entirely, owes his selection to a knee injury to Peter Beardsley, said he was to play the same role as he had under Venables at Spurs.Though the Colombians are a late replacement for Croatia, they ought to be testing opposition. But we have good technicians and can make them run about, too."Dennis Wise will start on the right flank and McManaman on the left but both will have licence to swap. However, Venables does not believe they are a necessity."Gascoigne will tackle back and Redknapp is good at holding a position," he said "The main thing is everyone hustles as a unit. It will be hard work as the Colombians are experts in retaining possession. Bryan Robson, Venables' assistant, remembers Colombia's last visit to Wembley seven years ago as the hardest game he has ever played in, in terms of the chasing required to get the ball.The only time Venables' England have operated without an anchor, such as Paul Ince or David Batty, Sweden tore through the exposed middle in the 3-3 draw at Leeds.

What it does not appear to threaten, however, are Colombian limbs: there is no recognised midfield anchor.Thus the midfield five will have to demonstrate the desire to cover and chase that Venables believes Matt Le Tissier, the forgotten maestro, lacks. It is a case of whether they are made of the right stuff."However, for all the interest surrounding the youngsters, the attention will be on an experienced player who has not always acted his age - Paul Gascoigne.The Rangers midfielder, who last started an England match in March, 1994, will be the centre-point of a midfield that promises movement and excitement. "Some players are more experienced at 20 than others are at 30. The accepted wisdom is that you cannot win anything with young players but Ajax have shown that you can," Venables added "A lot of their players are only 18 or 19. Intelligent and versatile, they are eager to learn and quick to understand.Barmby was brought up by Venables at Tottenham. The other two have been tutored in the Liverpool way; short passing and support play comes naturally to them.The other young players, Gary Neville and Steve Howey, also come from good footballing backgrounds "They are all grown up for their age," Venables said.