FIYAKO TOMORI has been called up by Gareth Southgate for the upcoming Andorra and Hungary games.
The AC Milan defender has been recalled while Jude Bellingham has been rested for the matches.
Meanwhile his former side Chelsea lost a crucial Champions League group game at Juventus after Federico Chiesa scored the winner in Turin.
The Blues have now lost two straight games without scoring a goal and will look to bounce back against Southampton on Saturday.
Meanwhile on the transfer front, Chelsea and Liverpool are interested in Newcastle winger Allan Saint-Maximin, who has continued to impress this season.
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ENGLAND SQUAD RECAP
Gareth Southgate has announced his England squad for the upcoming fixtures against Andorra and Hungary.
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale.
Defenders: Conor Coady, Reece James, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice.
Forwards: Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Ollie Watkins.
JADON SANCH-WOE… STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Jadon Sancho has gone from assist king and useful goal-grabber for Borussia Dortmund to blank stats since his £73million summer arrival at Manchester United.
The England winger, 21, has yet to score or register an assist in his eight United games this season.
OptaJoe point out he notched five goals and five assists in his final eight matches for Dortmund.
SPAIN RECALL ALONSO
Marcos Alonso is back in the Spain squad after THREE YEARS out.
In-form Alonso has kept the Chelsea left-back spot ahead of England’s Ben Chilwell this season.
But the 30-year-old won the last of his three caps in a 3-2 Nations League defeat by England in October 2018.
Now a mini injury crisis has opened the door for a return to the national side.
Regulars Alvaro Morata, Gerard Moreno and Thiago Alcantara are out while PSG new boy Sergio Ramos is yet to recover from a thigh strain.
Spain face Italy in the Nations League semi-finals next Wednesday.
And there was also a surprise place in the 23-man squad for Barcelona’s Gavi.
KIT MONEY TO BURN
Burnley shirts are the cheapest in the Premier League while Tottenham fans are forced to cough up £25 more for a replica shirt.
Clarets supporters appear to get the best value, while Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool followers pay more than 50 PER CENT extra.
Burnley’s £45 shirt is the best value in England’s top flight with Brentford (£48), Crystal Palace (£50), Norwich (£50) and Brighton £52 completing the cheapest five list.
WHY I AXED JUDE AND GREENWOOD
Gareth Southgate admits axing England’s teen whizkids Jude Bellingham will surprise many – but is worried about “overloading” them.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham, 18, and 19-year-old Manchester United striker Greenwood have begun the season brightly.
Southgate, though, said: “They don’t come as a pair but they are in similar situations. They are young players with a heavy load.
“I have spoken to both players. Jude has had a high level of matches. He is playing Champions League, Bundesliga.
“We have to remember these lads are still physically growing.
“We think they can be exciting players for the future but we don’t want to overload them.
“I can understand why people may raise their eyes.”
OLLIE GOOD ATTITUDE
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate praised recalled striker Ollie Watkins’ attitude.
Aston Villa’s three-cap striker, 25, only missed out on the England squad early this month through injury.
And Southgate said: “He was close to making the squad for the Euros. He is still close to getting back to full fitness. I love his mentality.”
SOUTHGATE HAILS TOMORI PACE
Gareth Southgate has explained why AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori is back in his England squad.
He said of the former Chelsea starlet, 23: “I thought Tomori finished last season well and started well.
“He plays for a club where this is an expectation to win every week so there is pressure.
“He played well against Liverpool and the game was Juventus so has had big matches.
“I like Fikayo in terms of his aggressive defending. Because of his speed he can defend on the front foot.
“Milan have been delighted with him and ended up buying him.”
KOEMAN AXE ‘WON’T SOLVE ANYTHING’
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong believes changing the manager – Ronald Koeman – won’t do anything.
Speaking after yesterday’s bitterly disappointing 3-0 loss to Benfica, he said: ” “I can’t talk about Koeman, it’s not for me to say.
“I don’t think changing the coach can solve anything.
“We are trying everything, working hard in training, we are trying our best on the field but today was not our day, that is clear.”
GAME DAY
The Foxes are in action against Legia Warsaw tonight.
ENGLAND SQUAD
Gareth Southgate has announced his England squad for the upcoming fixtures against Andorra and Hungary.
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale.
Defenders: Conor Coady, Reece James, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice.
Forwards: Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Ollie Watkins.
HOLY SHIRT
Tottenham fans are forced to fork out more than any of their Premier League counterparts for their team’s replica shirt, writes WILL PUGH.
And Burnley supporters get best value for money as research shows English kits are the cheapest on the whole across Europe’s big five leagues.
MOTM & POTM
The nominations for both the Manager of the Month and Player of the Month for September have been confirmed.
Manager of the Month nominees:
- Mikel Arteta, Arsenal – P3, W3, L0, GD+4
- Pep Guardiola, Man City – P3, W2, D1, L0, GD+2
- Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool – P3, W2, D1, L0, GD+6
- Graham Potter, Brighton – P3, W2, D1, L0, GD+2
- Dean Smith, Aston Villa – P3, W2, D0, L1, GD+1
Arsenal boss Arteta looks to be the frontrunner with his team winning all three league games in September.
Player of the Month nominees:
- Joao Cancelo, Man City – P3, W2, D1, L0, A1, CS3
- Cristiano Ronaldo, Man Utd – P3, W2, D0, L1, G3
- Antonio Rudiger, Chelsea – P3, W2, D1, L1, G1, CS2
- Allan Saint-Maximin, Newcastle – P3, W0, D2, L1, G1, A2
- Mohamed Salah, Liverpool – P3, W2, D1, L0, G3
- Ismaila Sarr, Watford – P3, W1, D1, L1, G3
You’d expect the race to between Ronaldo and Salah.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES GRAV THAT
Barcelona are interested in signing Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, according to reports.
Gravenberch has made a name for himself at Ajax, becoming a first team regular.
And as a result of his performances, Fichajes are reporting that Barca are interested in signing him within the next year.
The reported fee to sign the midfielder – who has three years left on his current deal – is 75 million Euros.
WORK-SHY KAI
Peter Crouch singled out Chelsea’s Kai Havertz for criticism after his ‘disappointing’ performance in their Champions League loss to Juventus last night, GEORGE MOORE.
The 22-year-old played all 90 minutes but struggled to make an impact as Chelsea failed to break down a well organised Juve team, who took the lead just eleven seconds after the restart.
Despite dominating possession, Chelsea were unable to find an equaliser and were beaten 1-0, with both Romelu Lukaku and Havertz missing golden opportunities to level it up in the second half.
In his post-match analysis for BT Sport, Crouch, 40, said: “I thought Ziyech and Havertz were very disappointing. I think Havertz reminds me of Ozil.
“He does things where it comes easy to him and he looks technically brilliant.
“But he can also look lazy and laboured at times and he can frustrate you and I thought tonight they were frustrating.”
POG TOP
Man Utd’s Paul Pogba has incredibly registered seven assists in the Premier League so far this season.
His nearest competitors are on three.
GAME DAY
There’s action in both the Europa League and Europa Conference League containing British teams.
Here’s who is playing and WHEN:
- Legia Warsaw vs Leicester City, 5.45pm KO
- Sparta Prague vs Rangers, 5.45pm KO
- West Ham vs Rapid Wien, 8pm KO
- Celtic vs Bayer Leverkusen, 8pm KO
- Tottenham vs Mura, 8pm KO
HAMMERS POSSIBLE LINE-UP
Here’s how West Ham could possibly line-up against Rapid Wien in the Europa League.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong believes changing the manager – Ronald Koeman – won’t do anything.
Speaking after yesterday’s bitterly disappointing 3-0 loss to Benfica, he said: ” “I can’t talk about Koeman, it’s not for me to say.
“I don’t think changing the coach can solve anything.
“We are trying everything, working hard in training, we are trying our best on the field but today was not our day, that is clear.”
UNDERDOGS
Champions League freshman Sheriff Tiraspol have more points than Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan.
REIN ON THE PARADE
Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has said Cristiano Ronaldo’s stoppage time winner shouldn’t have counted.
Jesse Lingard – who assisted Ronaldo – was in the goalkeeper’s view, says Reina.
He said on Twitter: “Offside all day long…”
Responding to a fan that claimed it wasn’t offside, he added: “Enabled by who? It is in the line of the goalkeeper clearer impossible.”
‘THANK YOU’
Eight-time Olympic gold medal winner and Man Utd fan, Usain Bolt, thanked Sir Alex Ferguson for bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club.
Bolt was in attendance for last night’s Champions League win over Villarreal.
Speaking to the MEN after the match, Bolt said: “He [Ronaldo] helped to build the club and it was wonderful when he was here, the energy. So I’m happy he’s back.
“I just saw Alex Ferguson inside and I thanked him for bringing Cristiano back, so I’m happy about it.”
DOUBLE TROUBLE
West Ham’s Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have formed one of the best midfield partnerships in the Premier League.
But how do their numbers compare to each other?
Both have completed 540 minutes of football in the league this season, making it a fair contest.
The Hammers are in action tonight, taking on Rapid Wien in the Europa League at the London Stadium.
NOT THE RON
Lionel Messi is ‘still the greatest player in the world’, according to Joe Cole, writes ETIENNE FERMIE.
The Argentine scored a stunner for Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night as Mauricio Pochettino’s side beat Manchester City 2-0.
Old foe Cristiano Ronaldo also sparkled 24 hours later, bagging a last-gasp winner as Manchester United squeaked past Villarreal 2-1.
But despite both still excelling on the biggest stage, Chelsea icon Cole still firmly prefers Messi.
Appearing as a pundit on BT Sport following the Argentine’s latest stunner, the 39-year-old said: “It was only a matter of time, it was a beautiful goal.
“He was going to turn up in a big game against Man City.
“You still get some people saying, ‘would he be able to do it in England?’
“Well he’s scored goals against the best team in England at the moment.
“What he does so well… to do that at that pace, he’s being leant on, and to get a nice connection and reverse it into the top corner is unbelievable
“For me he’s still the greatest, still the best in the world, I’m just so excited to see what he can do with this PSG team.”
CAV THAT
Edinson Cavani was an attacking option for Real Madrid in August.
According to El Nacional, Real Madrid saw Cavani as an option to bolster their attacking options.
The interest was believed to be driven by club president Florentino Perez.
Real were looking for are looking for a reliable back up to Karim Benzema, with Luka Jovic proving unreliable.
And the LaLiga giants failed to land No1 target Kylian Mbappe, but are expected to return for the Frenchman with his contract at PSG due to expire at the end of the season.
STRONG BOND
Arsenal summer signing Albert Sambi Lokonga has said the tough start to the season – which saw Arsenal lose their first three games to Brentford, Chelsea and Man City – has brought the team together.
The Gunners have won their last three league games, including beating north London rivals Tottenham 3-1 at the Emirates.
Lokonga told Sport Foot magazine: “You are going to tell me that it is a cliche answer, but I believe that it is when we are in the hard times that we strengthen the links in a team, in a staff.
“Here, now, we are all looking in the same direction. We all want to move the ship forward. We know we have to make further progress. In particular, we must learn to become meaner.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
