Gary Lineker not presenting Match of the Day on Saturday but will return to BBC screens

However, the England legend and broadcaster will be back on BBC screens this weekend for the first time since his row over impartiality, to present live coverage of the FA Cup.

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The 62-year-old will make his first TV appearance since he was told to step back from his MoTD presenting role to host the FA Cup quarter-final between Man City vs Burnley.

Lineker will be back in the studio alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards - who both refused to work last weekend out of 'solidarity' with their colleague.

He will not be back in his usual Match of the Day hotseat though, with Mark Chapman due to host the highlights show on Saturday evening.

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MoTD will have a presenter and pundits back this weekend after last week's stripped down show - Saturday's show lasted just 20 minutes, while Sunday's show was even shorter at 15 minutes - as a result of the BBC's pool of talent walking out over the Lineker row.

There were no intro packages to games, studio analysis or even commentary, as the highlights were played simply with stadium noise in the background.

The former Leicester, Tottenham, Barcelona and England striker - who has presented Match of the Day for over 20 years - was taken off air last week for a tweet comparing the language used to launch a new Government asylum seeker policy with 1930s Germany.

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He was later reinstated after a huge backlash, with BBC director-general Tim Davie patching things up with Lineker and issuing an apology, before releasing a statement explaining the corporation has commissioned an independent review of its social media guidelines, particularly for freelancers.

Mr Davie apologised for what he acknowledged had been 'a difficult period for staff, contributors, presenters and, most importantly, our audiences' and described the BBC's commitment to freedom of expression and impartiality as a 'difficult balancing act'.

He added: "The potential confusion caused by the grey areas of the BBC's social media guidance that was introduced in 2020 is recognised. I want to get matters resolved and our sport content back on air."

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After the official BBC statement was published, Lineker tweeted that he was 'delighted' to have navigated a way through the row after a 'surreal few days'.

He added: "I have been presenting sport on the BBC for almost three decades and am immeasurably proud to work with the best and fairest broadcaster in the world. I cannot wait to get back in the MoTD chair on Saturday."