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      England boss Gareth Southgate looking at Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford shows how far Leeds have come, says Bielsa

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      MARCELO BIELSA believes Gareth Southgate’s interest in Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford shows just how far Leeds have come. A regular at Elland Road in their first season back in the top-flight, the Three Lions boss has been keeping tabs on the Whites duo. 
      Patrick Bamford is set for an England call-up with Luke Ayling narrowly missing outCredit: Reuters
      Marcelo Bielsa feels England’s interest proves how well Leeds are progressingCredit: Reuters
      While right-back Ayling looks set to miss out when Southgate names his squad tomorrow, Bamford is in line for a first call up. 
      The third-highest English scorer with 13 goals, Bamford could take the Whites’ contingent to two alongside midfielder Kalvin Phillips. 
      In the early 2000s, Nigel Martyn, Jonathan Woodgate, Rio Ferdinand, Alan Smith and Danny Mills were all regulars in the national set up. 
      And Bielsa said: “It’s recognition for the players first of all. Second, it’s recognition for the project of the club, the structure of the squad to compete in the league. 
      “Competing in the Premier League is what opens up possibilities. 
      “So it’s an achievement that makes the players proud and shows the proposition that the club put forward is the correct one.” 
      Ayling’s versatility put himself on Southgate’s radar. 
      And Bielsa added: “He’s one of the players that has shone the most in our team.
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      “He’s a player that can play out wide or in the center, in a back four or back three.
      “He has the capacity to attack and good aerial game. He has a good management of the ball and first pass.
      “All of this analysis, anyone who watches him regularly can make.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Man Utd ‘register Raphinha transfer interest with Solskjaer planning move for 24-year-old Leeds winger in summer’ More

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      Gary Lineker to get checked for dementia as he calls for heading ban in training

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      GARY Lineker has said he will get extra checks for dementia and wants heading banned from training at all levels.The Match of the Day host, 60, revealed co-stars Alan Shearer and Ian Wright fear the effects after years of playing.
      Gary Lineker called for heading to be banned from training at all levelsCredit: Getty
      Research shows ex-pros are 3.5 times likelier to die from a brain disorder than the general public.
      Lineker scored more headed goals for England than any other player.
      He said: “I’ll have my triannual test this summer and ask if there’s anything they can establish around the brain.
      The Match of the Day host revealed he and co-stars Alan Shearer and Ian Wright fear the effects of dementiaCredit: BBC
      Lineker scored more headed goals for England than any other playerCredit: Getty

      “Because I don’t see how, given the circumstances, any footballer wouldn’t be worried about it.”
      He added: “If I’d known what I know now, I would have certainly limited the amount of heading I did.
      “It’s hard to imagine the game without heading, but maybe it’s worth trialling.”
      Gary Lineker suffers from such bad arthritis that he’s been forced to quit golf as he can’t hold a club
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      Chelsea strikers running out of time to hit goal trail, warns Tuchel ahead of Atletico Madrid showdown

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      THOMAS TUCHEL has warned his struggling strikers they are running out of time to start delivering goals.Chelsea have scored just 13 times in the 12 games since the German took over as boss — with six of those coming from midfielders Mason Mount and Jorginho.
      Thomas Tuchel has warned his misfiring strikers that the clock is tickingCredit: Getty
      It will be the ideal time for Timo Werner to step-up for the BluesCredit: Andy Hooper-The Daily Mail
      Both are suspended for tonight’s Champions League last-16 second leg with Atletico Madrid, meaning it would be the perfect time for goal-shy Timo Werner to step up.
      Tuchel, whose side lead 1-0 from the away leg, said: “We create enough chances and half- chances to win games. 
      “We had by far enough chances, touches in the box and deliveries against Leeds to win this game comfortably with two goals.
      “If you arrive at elite football at the highest level then there is no time to perform. The time simply doesn’t exist.
      “You are simply in a competition with other players in your team.
      “There is no time to get four or five matches in a row to score regularly. That simply does not exist.”
      Chelsea’s strikers have scored just three times between them since January, with £48million man Werner managing just two goals in his last 26 games.
      And their attacking problems deepened with Tammy Abraham ruled out of tonight’s clash at Stamford Bridge through injury.
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      Tuchel insists every other department in his squad is firing on all cylinders, helping Chelsea climb to fourth in the Premier League on the back of a 12-game unbeaten run including Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Leeds.
      He has rejigged his strikers to try to find a solution and admits it may have hindered rather than helped.
      Tuchel said: “Then it is clearly my fault and I take responsibility for changing.
      “At the same time, if we put the goalkeeper in goal, we expect him to perform in that match.
      “If we put the defensive line-up, then we expect the line-up to have a clean sheet and not just one in every three matches.
      “We try to put them in a good mindset.
      “We are pushing them and they’re working hard against the ball with the whole team, so this is also a point.
      “We did some changes because we needed to adapt.
      “The results are not crazily bad. We need to be more precise and focus better on our decision-making, the technique, how to finish — and these are the points that we work on.
      “Our strikers are very aware of that and they have the highest demands of themselves. We are not pointing fingers to make this clear.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid – Watch LIVE for FREE, channel info and kick-off time More

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      Jude Bellingham’s England call-up set to be blocked by Dortmund but FA hopeful stance will change

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      DORTMUND last night warned the FA they will block Jude Bellingham from linking up with the England team.Midfielder Bellingham, 17, was set to be selected in Gareth Southgate’s senior squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland.
      Jude Bellingham is still waiting to discover whether he can link-up with EnglandCredit: Getty
      Gareth Southgate desperately wants the 17-year-old Dortmund star in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiersCredit: PA
      The England camp were on Monday assured by officials at Dortmund that they would be okay to pick Bellingham.
      They believed he would not have to quarantine for 14 days when returning to Germany after the three matches.
      But after speaking to their local health officials, Dortmund have altered their stance.
      And they insisted they would not allow Bellingham to join up with the England squad or Gio Reyna with the United States.
      However, Southgate could still select Bellingham in the squad.
      The FA believe the situation is fluid and could change in their favour.
      In Germany, there is not an overall countrywide ruling over quarantine.
      Each region decides on its own health laws.
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      Southgate names his squad on Thursday for the qualifiers.
      Bellingham has 22 starts for Dortmund since his £30million move from Birmingham last summer.
      He made his senior Three Lions debut in November’s 3-0 friendly win over Ireland.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Borussia Dortmund players in tears laughing at Jude Bellingham’s awful singing for initiation to new club More

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      Dillian Whyte cashes in on Alexander Povetkin bout as Gibraltar government commission £2 coin

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      DILLIAN WHYTE is already bang on the money for his Gi-brawl-tar rematch with Alexander Povetkin.To commemorate the bout, the Gibraltar government has commissioned a £2 coin featuring the pair that was minted on Tuesday.
      The Gibraltar government have commissioned a £2 coin with Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin minted on one sideCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      The two heavyweights are the only boxers to feature on any sterling currencyCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      Dillian Whyte’s former maths teacher Isaac Awuley attended at Tower MintCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      The two heavyweights are the only boxers to feature on any sterling currency — and Jamaica-born Whyte is the first black person to receive the honour.
      Whyte was unable to leave his Portugal camp to attend the striking of the first coin.
      But his former head teacher and a handful of pupils from his old school, Lilian Baylis in South London, did attend at Tower Mint.
      Whyte, 32, lost the August clash against the Russian after a brutal fifth-round KO.
      But he demanded a rerun from promoter Eddie Hearn the second that he regained his consciousness.
      The bout has since been postponed three times as 41-year-old Povetkin, a former world and Olympic champion, recovered from Covid-19.
      Whyte is looking for revenge after being brutally KO’dCredit: Mark Robinson
      Dillian Whyte endured defeat when the pair first met in AugustCredit: Mark Robinson

      The pay-per-view clash was moved from Wembley to Gibraltar when travel restrictions between Portugal and the UK would have forced Whyte to quarantine for ten days in a designated hotel before the must-win clash.
      To boost Whyte’s camp, he has added Harold ‘The Shadow’ Knight to his training team.
      The American coach helped Lennox Lewis exact rematch revenge on Oliver McCall in 1997, and then Hasim Rahman in 2001 — as well as being in his corner during a string of world- title defences.
      Dillian Whyte says he’s going for the knockout and isn’t considering a loss against Alexander Povetkin More

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      Liverpool’s £50m training ground is hated by players who wish they could quit ‘Windy Harbour’ for Melwood

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      JURGEN KLOPP and his Liverpool players have now got used to their new £50million training ground in Kirkby.It boasts three full-size pitches, two gyms, a full-size sports hall, pool, hydrotherapy and specialist rehabilitation suites.
      Liverpool players want to move away from their new £50million complex and back to the former Melwood training groundCredit: Getty
      A dining room has a balcony overlooking the pitches. There is even a beach volleyball area which the players joke is in tribute to the Brazilians Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino.
      But there is one problem with the new HQ — the players hate it. They would rather be at the famous old Melwood site. There is nothing wrong with the facilities. It is just windy. Really windy.
      Even worse than St George’s Park, where former England coach Fabio Capello used to moan about the blustery weather.
      The area is known as Windy Harbour and Sunday League players in Merseyside hate playing there.
      Yet the gales still failed to drown out the sound of arguing in Klopp’s office in January, when he was unhappy with the club’s transfer dealings.
      Klopp had a winning combo with Melwood and Anfield. In the last 13 games between the venues Liverpool won ten, drew two and lost one — to Atletico Madrid.
      In the 13 games so far between Kirkby and Anfield, Liverpool have won four, drawn two and lost seven.
      For the players there is no place like home. That was Melwood.

      THE departure of Chris Wilder from Sheffield United was not a great surprise.
      But the arrival of former Bournemouth manager Jason Tindall to help interim boss Paul Heckingbottom is a bit of a turn-up.
      Tindall, when Eddie Howe’s assistant at Bournemouth, met members of the Blades’ board during a pre-season trip to Marbella.
      They were impressed by Tindall’s coaching style and man-management — and in terms of personality, he is the opposite to the more placid Howe.
      Jason Tindall has taken up a role to help Paul Heckingbottom at Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty
      THE Welsh national team is struggling, not only because boss Ryan Giggs will not be taking charge for the World Cup qualifiers.
      When the squad was released this week, the list stated Chris Gunter is on 90 caps. He is actually on 99 and their most-capped player.
      Also, Jonny Williams was down as playing for Charlton although he joined a new club in February… ironically, Cardiff.
      Chris Gunter is Wales’ most capped player with 99Credit: Action Images – Reuters

      EXPECT a massive number of French players to be arriving in the Premier League next season.
      All Ligue 1 teams, other than Paris Saint-Germain, are in financial crisis because of a collapsed TV deal and are making it known that most players are available to move.
      Those who have played regularly will not have problems getting work permits despite the new Brexit regulations.

      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are allowed up to ten directors at matches — but it seems West Brom have already given up.
      Only two officials have been attending some of their away matches.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp rules himself out of Germany manager job to replace Joachim Low More

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      Rui Patricio collision highlights why delayed offside rule must be changed, claims ex-ref Mark Halsey

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      MARK HALSEY has called for delayed offside flag guidelines to be changed — before a player is seriously injured.Rui Patricio’s head collision with Wolves team-mate Conor Coady in Monday’s 1-0 home loss to Liverpool came as a result of new Premier League rules  to enable VAR checks.
      Former prem ref Mark Halsey has called for the delayed offside flag rule to be scrappedCredit: Getty
      Wolves keeper Rui Patricio suffered a nasty blow to head on Monday after the assistant referee delayed raising his flag due to the new rulesCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail
      Mo Salah was offside as he raced through to score, only for the flag to be raised once the ball found the net.
      The Portugal keeper, 33, followed concussion protocols yesterday but appeared to emerge unscathed, despite going off on a stretcher and needing oxygen after a 15-minute delay.
      Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said the use of the delayed offside flag “needs to be looked at” and former Premier League referee Halsey also demanded  a review.
      The SunSport refereeing expert said: “I have had major concerns with the protocol all season, it’s been an accident waiting to happen.
      “Rui Patricio was lucky because the incident looked very serious. If this protocol is not changed now I fear more serious injuries.
      “I remember other incidents when Ben Mee and Eric Bailly have suffered injuries  trying to recover to make a last-ditch challenge.
      “In those cases the flag did not go up but the  forward was later deemed to be offside.
      “Player safety is paramount and we need to learn from what happened to Patricio.”
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      Mark Halsey was speaking exclusively to Sun SportCredit: PA
      Assistant referees have been told to keep their flag down, even if they think there is an offside, until the passage of play is complete.
      Only once a goal is scored or the chance has gone will the assistant raise their flag.
      That is so if a goal is scored, VAR can review the offside call.
      But Halsey has a solution to try to cut out incidents such as Patricio’s.

      Halsey,  a Prem referee for 14 years from 1999, added: “I understand why the protocol was introduced because everyone in football doesn’t want goals to be ruled out for tight offsides.
      “My solution is any offside from the 18-yard line to the goal-line should result in the assistant referee  keeping their flag down.
      “In those cases there is a great chance of a goal.
      “If the offside takes place outside the penalty area up to the halfway line then the on-field officials should be making the call.
      “Back when I was an assistant referee, I was told to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacker but I’d always make the call.
      “That’s what we need to revert back to.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Rui Patricio ‘conscious and aware’ after Wolves No1 needed oxygen in Liverpool clash following Conor Coady collision More

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      England eye Jude Bellingham call-up for World Cup qualifiers despite Germany’s strict coronavirus rules

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM is set for an England call despite strict German travel restrictions.
      Gareth Southgate names his squad on Thursday for the World Cup qualifiers at the end of this month.

      England hope to call-up Jude Bellingham despite potential quarantine problemsCredit: Getty

      Gareth Southgate will name his squad for the World Cup qualifiers on ThursdayCredit: Rex

      At this stage, the FA are confident Bellingham will be able to feature and return without undergoing a 14-day quarantine.
      Bellingham, 17, has 22 starts for Dortmund since his £30million move from Birmingham last summer.
      He made his senior Three Lions debut in November’s 3-0 friendly win over Ireland.
      And he is still wanted in Southgate’s set-up.

      All UK arrivals in Germany face a two-week quarantine but the FA believe Dortmund players will be let off by their local health authority if they are tested regularly.
      Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho looks set to miss out due to an injury.
      Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd, who named his squad yesterday, explained Bellingham’s omission.
      He said: “There are no problems at all with Jude.

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      “Gareth will name his squad later on and you’ll be able to get a lot more info than I can give you.
      “Jude will not be with us but very likely he and Reece James will be with Gareth, I’d imagine.”
      England host San Marino a week on Thursday then head to Albania before a home clash with Poland.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Jude Bellingham trains with England squad for the first time More