GARETH SOUTHGATE has announced his England squad for the upcoming internationals against Albania and San Marino.
But there is no place in the 25-man list for Man Utd trio Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Jesse Lingard.
Meanwhile Erling Haaland could be out until Christmas as the Dortmund forward continues to struggle with a hip problem.
And we’ve the very latest from St James Park as talks progress between Newcastle and Eddie Howe.
Get all the latest football news, updates and transfer gossip below…
TAKING THE NICK
Nick Pope was shocked and disappointed at failing to make the latest England squad, after proving he is back to his best following knee surgery.
The Burnley stopper seemed to be pushing Jordan Pickford hard for the England No 1 spot before being forced to undergo a cartilage operation in May – on the day Gareth Southgate named his squad for Euro 2020.
Pope was not too surprised at failing to earn a recall for England’s first round of matches a month ago, as he was still feeling his way back to full fitness.
But he was in superb form in Bunrley’s 3-1 win over Brentford last Saturday, and had high hopes of a recall.
He said: “I’m obviously disappointed to be left out – more disappointed than I was last month. But that’s not my decision. It’s the manager’s decision, it’s out of my hands.
“It’s unfortunate. I think over the last three years I’ve performed at a really good level. So to be dropped from a squad six games into a season, and again now, is something that wasn’t ideal. But that’s how football goes, how life goes.
“Now it’s about moving forward and getting on with it. I’ve got a really important role to play here at Burnley in a really exciting squad. So I’m looking forward to playing my part in that.”
ROWE YOUR BOAT
England boss Gareth Southgate has revealed why Emile Smith Rowe has not been named in his World Cup squad.
He said: “I think Emile, Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi, in particular, are all playing very well with their clubs but we’ve got depth.
“To put those in, we’ve got to leave some of those on the sheet out. I think it’s not a bad thing that we’re starting to get a very strong under-21 team because you want that depth.
“We fast-tracked lots of young players quickly and the majority of them are still in this squad now. A lot of them played a big part in the Euros.
“We’ve also had some come up and then when you put them back with the under-21s it’s a lot more complicated so we want to get the timing of that right.
“The boys I’ve just mentioned are on a really good path, we like them, we get to see them with the under-21s as well as their clubs.
“At the moment, we think it’s a little early for some of those guys to come in, we could put them in and they would be absolutely fine by the way, but we think the players we’ve picked are just a little bit ahead at the moment.”
WALK IT OFF
Man City have an injury worry over defender Kyle Walker ahead of Saturday’s derby at Old Trafford.
And England boss Gareth Southgate will also be waiting for news of the defender’s foot problem – but for the moment has included him in the squad.
Walker was hobbling during the second half of City’s 4-1 Champions League win over Club Brugge on Wednesday night.
He was replaced by youngster Cole Palmer with 10 minutes to go and was booked in for checks at the Etihad Campus on Thursday.
Manager Pep Guardiola said: “We are going to review the players – some of them. Especially Kyle because he got a big kick on his foot.
“We are going to see on Thursday and Friday but I’m sure that at 12.30pm on Saturday we’ll be there at Old Trafford.”
RED ALL OVER
Suspended Antoine Griezmann sent a cheeky cryptic tweet after watching his team-mate pick up another red card against Liverpool.
Felipe was sent off for Atletico Madrid in a fiery first half of Champions League football for hacking down Sadio Mane.
Griezmann, who was watching on from home due to suspension, tweeted his displeasure following his own red card at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in the reverse fixture two weeks ago.
The French international’s tweet translates in English to “Yellow in Anfield…” followed by a ‘raised eyebrow’ emoji.
There was little doubt Griezmann, 30, deserved a red card for kicking Roberto Firmino in the face during Atleti’s 3-2 loss to the Reds – a classic European encounter.
WORLD CUP SQUAD
Gareth Southgate has named his England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino.
And the big news is that Man Utd trio Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Jesse Lingard have NOT been included.
Neither has Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe, who has been in five form this season.
Though Gunners goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been included, along with Bukayo Saka.
Look at the full list below.
HAALAND BLOW
Erling Haaland faces almost eight weeks on the sidelines after picking up a hip injury, his dad has claimed.
The Dortmund striker has been out of action since his side’s 4-0 battering by Ajax in the Champions League last month.
He had been in typically fine form this season with 13 goals in 10 games so far.
But now dad Alf Inge says his son could be out of action until Christmas as he struggles to shake off the hip problem.
Alf Inge told Norwegian channel TV 2: “He’s doing relatively well considering the situation, but he’ll be out for a little while.
“It would be a bonus if he gets some games before Christmas, but it’s rather unlikely.”
HOWE ABOUT THAT?
Newcastle’s talks with former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe are ‘intensifying’, according to reports.
Howe left his post at the Cherries before the start of last season after they were relegated from the Premier League.
But talks over a return to top flight management are heating up, with Newcastle interested in appointing Howe as manager.
According to Sky Sports reporter Pete Graves, Howe is the ‘preferred candidate for some members of consortium’.
The Englishman has turned down opportunities to return to management as he’s been ‘waiting for right opportunity’, and newly mega rich Newcastle with a ‘hugely impressive’ vision for the club could be it.
The Magpies turned to Howe after Europa League serial winner Unai Emery turned them down.
COAST NOT CLEAR
Wilfried Zaha has asked not be called up to the Ivory Coast this month and is considering his international future, according to his national boss.
The Elephants chief Patrice Beaumelle claimed Crystal Palace’s superstar feels he returns “sick” after each call-up to his country.
Zaha, 28, missed Palace’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal last month through illness following a victory over Malawi for his country.
Beaumelle said: “He asked not to come because he comes home sick at each meeting. He wants to reflect on the rest of his international career.”
Zaha won two caps for England before switching allegiances in 2016 to the country of his birth, for whom he has 21 caps and five goals.
HUMM DINGER
Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has not held back after his bizarre sending off against Ajax in the Champions League.
Hummels was sent off in the 29th minute after a seemingly innocuous sliding challenge on winger Antony.
He fumed to DAZN: “I have no idea how you can give a red card there.
“I stayed on the pitch. When he showed me the red card, I was in disbelief. That was an absurdly bad decision.
“You shouldn’t ignore the diving of my opponent. It’s grossly unsportsmanlike conduct. He [Antony] came to me and said himself that it was not a red card.
“This is a farce, this is ridiculous. He’s a super footballer, but he still needs to learn how to be a sportsman.”
JOR DROPPING
Jordan Henderson has blasted FIFA’s plan to hold a World Cup every two years.
Henderson, 31, highlights the welfare of the players as the main reason for it not to happen and believes that the “physical demands on athletes today are just too great”.
The England and Liverpool midfielder told GQ: “It’s not for me. With the amount of games that players have, it’s just too much.
“The physical demands put on athletes today are just too great and it feels, to me, that there’s not really anybody looking out for players’ welfare.
“Playing more games is all about money, television rights, and I don’t really see the need for another World Cup.”
The greedy plan is to introduce a two year World Cup cycle – led by Arsene Wenger, Fifa’s Chief of Global Football Development.
BEL TOLLS
Arsenal are reportedly keen to bring Torino striker Andrea Belotti to the Emirates in January.
The 27-year-old is in the final year of his contract in Turin and has rejected the club’s offer of a new deal.
And according to Calciomercato, the Gunners will look to sign the Italy international on a cut-price deal.
Torino are desperate to avoid losing him to a Serie A rival with AC Milan understood to be keen to secure his services.
And they will attempt to offload him to a team outside of Italy to avoid losing him on a free transfer.
An offer in the region of £8million could be enough to sign the Euro 2020 winner.
OLYMPIC DREAM
PSG star Kylian Mbappe will reportedly demand a clause in his Real Madrid contract that will allow him to play in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The 22-year-old is widely expected to seal a move to Los Blancos at the end of the season when his contract at the Parc des Princes expires.
According to Spanish outlet AS, he would like a ‘guarantee’ from the Bernabeu outfit to let him represent his country at his home Olympics.
Mbappe published a letter in French newspaper L’Equipe last week as the nation marked 1,0000 days until the start of the games.
And he stated he wants to be part of it and play for France after being refused permission to do so at the recent Olympics in Tokyo.
He wrote PSG ‘cut the grass from under my feet’ and didn’t allow him to jet out to Japan in the summer.
Real Madrid will inevitably be reluctant to allow the clause with the Games scheduled to take place just weeks after the conclusion of Euro 2024.
NOU DEAL
Ousmane Dembele looks set to turn down a blockbuster Premier League move and take a pay CUT to stay at Barcelona.
The France international is out of contract at the Nou Camp next year.
And Manchester United and Chelsea are reportedly tracking the 24-year-old.
But Mundo Deportivo reports Dembele feels indebted to Barca and would even be willing to take less money to stay in Spain.
The forward suffered a horror run of injuries after his mammoth £110million move from Dortmund back in 2017.
Club officials have kept faith in him and he shone on Tuesday when coming off the bench against Dynamo Kiev.
Now he is set to accept a new three-year deal with a lower base salary but improved personal and team-related bonuses.
PERMISSION GRANTED
Antonio Conte is set to take charge of Tottenham in the Europa Conference League after securing his visa.
The Italian will be in the hot seat for the visit of Vitesse Arnhem after being given the green light to work in the UK.
He was appointed Spurs boss on Tuesday after the north London club sacked the under-fire Nuno Espirito Santo.
The 52-year-old has been handed a whopping £15million-a-year deal to take over at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
And with the paperwork now complete, he will lead his new side in Thursday’s European outing.
ONE IN ONE OUT
Tottenham are lining up a move for midfielder Franck Kessie that could see Tanguy Ndombele join Barcelona in January.
Antonio Conte and Spurs are big fans of AC Milan man Kessie – having both previously tried to sign him.
According to Spanish outlet Sport the Catalan giants are in the market for a midfielder with Ndombele, 24, reportedly ‘within reach’.
And with Spurs in talks for Ivorian Kessie, 24, the door could be open for Ndombele to move on.
He is said to have been keen on an exit back in the summer with Barcelona long-time admirers of the Frenchman.
Ndombele was previously earmarked as a ‘priority’ target by Ronald Koeman, and despite the Dutchman being sacked the club remain eager to sign him.
JOR DROPPED
Rio Ferdinand is ‘baffled’ that Chelsea midfielder Jorginho is among the favourites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The BT Sport pundit said: He said: “The Jorginho one baffles me. He’s not the best player at Chelsea and he’s not the first name on the team-sheet with Italy either.
“He’s a very good player don’t get me wrong and I’m not trying to be disrespectful at all, but I don’t see how he gets on the list with those players – with the levels that these guys have been playing at.
“If you look at Chelsea, in their run to winning the Champions League, I think (N’Golo) Kante was man of the match in five of their last six games.
“It baffles me. He’s won two of the big trophies, I get that.
“But when you’re putting him up against those other four players there, it doesn’t make sense to me.”
VAN DE BABY
Donny van de Beek is expecting a child with his partner Estelle Bergkamp – daughter of Arsenal legend Dennis.
Things may not be going van de Beek’s way on the pitch but off it they seem to be going just fine.
In an Instagram post this morning the Dutchman posted a picture of himself alongside the smiling Estelle, with the pair holding an ultrasound of their child.
And he captioned the picture: “Happy to announce that we’re expecting a little one.”
The stunning Estelle, 25, also took to Instagram to celebrate the news, posting a different picture of the pair.
And she kept the caption short and sweet like van de Beek did, simply saying: “Happy to announce that we’re expecting a little one.”
PART AND PARCEL
Arsenal star Thomas Partey was left furious after being clattered by youngster Tom Akinola in training, according to reports.
The Ghanaian has been plagued by injuries since joining the Gunners from Atletico Madrid in 2020.
He most recently missed four games earlier this term due to an ankle injury sustained against Chelsea in pre-season.
So when eager Akinola flew into a 50-50 tackle with Partey in training, the 28-year-old was less than enthused.
Football.London claim that he initially reacted angrily towards the youngster, who was participating in first-team practice.
But he later softened towards the former Huddersfield academy midfielder, even offering up a few kind words.
Partey is claimed to have told Akinola that he is the ‘strongest’ player he’d played with.
MOY BIEN
Former Man Utd boss David Moyes’ first league win as a manager brought him to the edge of tears — and he still feels like crying now every time he secures a victory.
Moyes will send his West Ham side out for a Europa League group-stage clash at Genk on Thursday evening, marking his 1,000th game as a boss.
Qualifying for the knockouts would be a far cry from where it all started on a damp night at Macclesfield in the Auto Windscreens Shield 23 years ago.
But Moyes has given a glimpse of the sheer emotion involved in taking charge of a team.
And how he might have jacked it all in and ended up running a boys’ club in Scotland had he not got that first win for Preston at Bournemouth in February 1998.
Read more HERE.
TOON OUT
Unai Emery turned down Newcastle after learning of a ‘termination clause’ in his proposed contract, according to reports.
The former Arsenal boss emerged as the Toon’s preferred candidate to succeed Steve Bruce this week.
Such was Newcastle’s confidence in their pursuit, that they believed Emery would be in place by the time they face Brighton this weekend.
But they have been left stunned after the 49-year-old decided to stay at Villarreal.
According to the Mirror, Emery was unhappy with a clause in the deal offered to him that would have enabled Newcastle to sack him if they were relegated this season.
The Magpies are currently second bottom of the Premier League and are winless in ten games this season.
MORNING, FOOTBALL FANS
Liverpool have secured their place in the Champions League last-16 after easing to a 2-0 win against Atletico Madrid.
First half goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane proved to be the difference against the visitors, who were reduced to ten men following Felipe’s sending off in the 36th minute.
Manchester City have one hand in the knockout stages after outclassing Club Brugge at the Etihad.
The Citizens beat their Belgian opponents 4-1 after going into the break a goal apiece.
Meanwhile, Unai Emery has confirmed he won’t be joining Newcastle while pledging his future to Villarreal on Instagram.
Emery was one of the favourites to take on the vacant Toon role but after having talks with the club’s new owners the Spaniard opted to stay in Spain.
The Magpies may now look to bring in Eddie Howe, who could return to management after departing Bournemouth in 2020.
In other news, Tottenham are facing a transfer war with West Ham and Southampton over West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, reports suggest.
Johnston’s deal with the Baggies expires at the end of the season and the Championship outfit is trying to convince him to stay.
According to Sky Sports, the club is planning to ramp up negotiations with the 28-year-old in January while Spurs, the Hammers and Saints continue to keep tabs.
And finally, Carlos Tevez has revealed he has no plans to return to football yet after cutting short his third spell at Boca Juniors.
The 37-year-old departed his boyhood side in June after stating he was mentally ‘not ready’ to be playing competitive football, despite being physically fit.
HAARD SELL
Man Utd and Chelsea have been warned Erling Haaland’s £64million transfer could actually cost more than a QUARTER OF A BILLION pounds.
The Norwegian is set be the hottest property in the summer transfer window – but his wages and Mino Raiola’s agent fee may mean the buying club have to cough up more than £250m.
He has a cut-price £64m release clause that kicks in at the end of this season.
But Timo Werner’s agent Volker Struth reckons Haaland will be nothing like the bargain some people seem to think.
He told Bild: “Haaland has a release clause. The entire package with five-year salary and commission for the agent will probably be on the border of €250-300m [£254million].
“Even if Bayern Munich had the money, they would not do it. All hell would break out if a player in Germany [was paid] €50million.”
FULL-TIME RESULTS
Manchester City showed their class in the second half as they beat Club Brugge 4-1.
And Liverpool proved to be too good for the ten men of Atletico Madrid to qualify for the knockout stages.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have won all four of their group stage matches.
Here are the results from all of tonight’s clashes below.
GUNNER STAY
Arsenal are reportedly set to trigger a contract extension for youngster Daniel Ballard.
The centre-back, 22, has never played for the Gunners but is well regarded at the club and has represented Northern Ireland ten times.
And after impressing on loan at Millwall this season, Arsenal are keen to keep Ballard at the club beyond next summer when his current contract comes to an end.
According to Football.London, Per Mertesacker and Edu have decided to trigger a clause in Ballard’s deal to keep him with the Gunners.
It is believed the clause will extend his stay by a further two years.
Ballard has started all but one league game for Millwall this term and has looked comfortable with the rigours of the Championship.
HALF-TIME RESULTS
Here are how the half-time results look in the Champions League.
Man City have work to do in their clash against Club Brugge, while Liverpool are beating Atletico Madrid.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
