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Martin Odegaard is a “very talented player” says Kevin Campbell, but the former Arsenal striker believes the Real Madrid midfielder remains a “risk” to the Gunners if taken on loan.

A short-term agreement for the Norwegian playmaker is in the process of being tied up at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta, after bidding farewell to World Cup winner Mesut Ozil, is eager to add more creativity to his squad.

Odegaard, who has been tipped for the top since bursting onto the senior stage at the age of 15, would tick that box for Arsenal. The 22-year-old is, however, an unproven quantity in English football and Campbell says there is no guarantee that he would be a success story in north London.

The ex-Gunners frontman has told Metro: “We’ve got enough experience in the squad to last a lifetime, we need to bring that age group down within the squad. Odegaard was on loan for the last season with Real Sociedad and did really well, went back to his parent club in Real Madrid and it hasn’t quite worked out for him.

“You’re thinking to yourself the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, they’re going to start to hit the buffers but Modric has been unbelievable this season, Kroos is still a world-class player. So he’s found chances limited.

“He’s not the type of kid who wants to just sit around, he wants to play, he’s a very talented player. “It is a risk because I don’t know how he would react to playing in the Premier League but one thing I do know is he’s got the talent.”

While Arsenal wait on a potential deal for Odegaard, they have been showing considerable faith in academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe over recent weeks.

Campbell has been impressed by the 20-year-old, but accepts that competition needs to be brought in alongside him as Arteta seeks to add greater depth to his ranks.

“The fact that Smith Rowe has done great is a bonus, but you can’t build on the fact that the kid’s played a handful of games and is 20 years old,” added Campbell.

“He’s going to hit the buffers at some stage - we don’t want him to, but the fact of the matter is when you look at the Crystal Palace game for instance, Smith Rowe wasn’t as effective as he could be, but that’s down to the way the opposition play.

“If you’re going to get somebody more a bit more experienced, they’ve got a little bit more know-how on how to unlock a defence.

“The key is to get flexible midfield players in, who can do different things. So maybe another midfielder with a Smith Rowe and a [Thomas] Partey makes a difference. It’s not necessarily Smith Rowe in or out, I think Arsenal need to revamp that midfield.”

Arsenal have signed Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Mat Ryan on loan until the end of the season.

The Gunners were looking to sign an experienced stopper to provide competition for established No 1 Bernd Leno, with summer signing Runar Runarsson having failed to impress.

They have brought in Australian international Ryan, who had fallen down the pecking order at Brighton having been dropped by manager Graham Potter.

The 28-year-old was Seagulls No 1 after being signed by Chris Hughton following promotion to the Premier League in 2017, making 121 appearances in the competition, however he has lost his place in the starting XI to Robert Sanchez, and will now provide back-up at Emirates Stadium instead.

Brighton manager Potter told his club's official website: “Mat has been a great servant to the club in the Premier League, and he has played no small part for the club at this level. 

“We have incredible talent and competition at this club for just one position, and understandably, as Australia's No 1, Mat wants the chance of more regular opportunities.

“Mat is a pleasure to work with, a consummate professional and someone who works incredibly hard at his game. We wish him well at Arsenal and will be watching his progress there.”

More to follow.

Trent Alexander-Arnold remains “one of the best full-backs in world football”, says Dominic Matteo, but the out-of-sorts Liverpool star has been told that he needs to learn how to defend.

A 22-year-old Anfield academy graduate is seeing his value questioned for the first time in his senior career.

The England international has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence since bursting onto the scene as a talented teenager, with Champions League and Premier League crowns captured.

Alexander-Arnold is considered to embody what a modern day right-back is all about, with his stock rising on the back of a steady stream of assists from the flanks.

End product has started to dry up in 2020-21, though, with Jurgen Klopp seeing standards on Merseyside dip across the field.

Alexander-Arnold has become wasteful in possession, while often being caught out of position, and Matteo believes he needs to go back to basics and improve in the areas that matter most.

The former Liverpool defender told Stadium Astro after witnessing a 1-0 defeat to Burnley: “When you have got players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, it’s very difficult to leave those two out.

“These are two of the fittest players in the league. If you put their stats up against anyone, they are so fit. The one thing I genuinely believe is that both of them need to do better – more so Trent.

“It’s not having a dig at Trent all the time here, but just on his defensive duties – Jamie Carragher has pulled it up a few times – it’s that sometimes he is getting forward a little bit too soon. Sometimes you need to take a few steps back and be in a better defensive position.

“A few times when Burnley got in it was because Trent was out of position. If you are out of position, even against the Burnleys, they will punish you.

“That’s one thing we need to get better at, defensively when Trent is in those areas. He doesn’t get a lot of support when he’s forward-thinking.

“You don’t have to bomb on every single game, but that seems to be the way football is being played at the minute. Just slow things down and you will find you have more time on the ball.”

Pressed further on whether Klopp needs to be considering changes to his favoured starting XI, Matteo added: “I don’t think Trent has been poor enough to be left out.

“Neco Williams is a good young player and he’s had some opportunities. He will get more opportunities, but Trent is a good player. It’s just a conversation about his positional play.

“I think Trent is probably one of the best full-backs in world football – the awards he has won and everything he has achieved. But, I still think there is a place for him to improve on his defending.

“If that is where you are going to play, as a right-back, then you have to be able to defend as well.

“It’s a specialist position now because they are so forward-thinking. The other side of it is that you have to be able to defend.

“Can he defend brilliantly? At the moment he’s not doing that great. I’m sure the improvement will come, it’s just about making the right decisions in certain games.”

Alexander-Arnold has taken in 21 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions this season, with two assists contributed in the Premier League and another couple in the Champions League – with the last of those coming on December 19 in a 7-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Rwanda coach Vincent Mashami has confessed they face a tough African Nations Championship match against Morocco in Cameroon on Friday.

The East African nation will face their North African counterparts in their second Group C match at the 30,000-seater Stade de la Réunification seeking to get a win and keep alive their hopes of making it from the group stage.

Rwanda started the tournament with a 0-0 draw against neighbours Uganda while Morocco beat Togo 1-0 to take control of the group.

Amavubi coach Mashami has now admitted they will face a tough game against Morocco whom he said are very strong from set-pieces.

“It will be a tough game,” Mashami said as quoted by New Times. “Morocco have good players who are comfortable and very dangerous in their playing style. They are also strong in set-pieces, but we have studied their game and we are well-prepared for any situation.”

Mashami is, however, confident they will be playing for a win and will approach the game as a final.

“Win for us is very important,” Mashami continued. “We will be playing to get all the points, so we have to approach the game as the final.”

Rwanda are yet to beat Morocco in their previous three meetings, with their last win against them coming in 2008 when they won 3-1 during the 2010 World Cup qualifier staged in Kigali.

The two teams have also met in this competition, at the group stage in 2016, when the Atlas Lions hammered Rwanda 4-1.

Ahead of the clash, Rwanda have suffered a blow after it emerged midfielder Eric Nsabimana has been ruled out of the competition after suffering a muscle strain injury during the opener against Uganda.

The injury was confirmed by the team’s doctor Patrick Rutamu, who told the same publication: “Nsabimana has suffered a muscle strain in his right leg and he will be out for at least two weeks. It is not a bad injury but we don’t think he will heal and be part of the team even if they go very far.”

His absence will see the likes of Rachid Kalisa, Olivier Niyonzima, Eric Ngendahimana, Martin Fabrice Twizeyimana, and Jean Bosco Ruboneka get a starting role against Morocco.

Arsenal are hopeful of signing Martin Odegaard on loan in the coming days.

Talks are ongoing with Real Madrid over a deal for the attacking midfielder and Goal can confirm that the north London club are growing in their belief that they are on course to land their man until the end of the season.

It had looked like the Norway international would be returning for another loan spell with Real Sociedad, following on from the successful year he spent in San Sebastian during the 2019-20 campaign.

But Arsenal have now moved to the front of the queue for Odegaard, who requested permission to leave Real Madrid this month in order to get more regular game time.

The 22-year-old, who can operate as a No.10 or on the right wing, has made just nine appearances for the Spanish champions this season and only three starts in La Liga - two of which came in the opening week of the campaign.

Arsenal have been in the market for a new attacking midfielder this month to help take the burden off Emile Smith Rowe.

The 20-year-old has been exceptional in recent weeks, but Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff are aware that the youngster - who has had injury problems during the past two years - needs help.

Arsenal’s priority this month has always been on reducing the number of players in his squad, with Mesut Ozil, Sean Kolasinac, William Saliba and Sokratis all being allowed to leave.

But Arteta confirmed on Thursday that the focus now has shifted too bringing players in.

"We are in that process right now," said the Gunners boss. "We've done the first part (trimming the squad), more or less, and now we are focusing on the second phase.

"Obviously this market and the context makes it really difficult but we are looking at options and we will see what we can do."

When asked about a move to Odegaard, Arteta added: "I cannot comment about players that play for other clubs.

"We are looking at various positions because the movements that we've made in this transfer window with some players leaving the club leaves us a little bit short in certain areas.

"If we can then we will do it, if we can't then we will just keep going with what we have."

Sources at Arsenal say there is still work to be done before full agreement is reached over Odegaard, with reports in Spain suggesting there will be no purchase agreement included in the deal.

Discussions are ongoing between Arsenal and Madrid, but the Gunners are hopeful that the young attacker will soon be part of Arteta’s squad.

Liverpool midfielder James Milner has called on his team-mates to "fight our way back" after the Premier League champions fell further from the title race this season following a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Burnley on Thursday evening.

The Reds lost their long unbeaten record at Anfield after spurning several chances, before Ashley Barnes tucked away a late penalty to leave Jurgen Klopp's side in fourth place, six points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United with 34 out of 19 games played.

Milner was not involved in the Burnley defeat, but issued a rallying cry to his fellow players not to mope or complain, but to fight back to try and defend the English top-flight crown, having won the domestic title for the first time in 30 years last season.

The veteran midfielder wrote on Twitter: "You’ll Never Walk Alone is more important than ever right now. No good comes from feeling sorry for ourselves and excuses won’t help. It’s on us, all of us, to fight our way back. We’re at our strongest when we are one force - players and supporters, TOGETHER."

The defending Premier League champions surrendered their 68-game unbeaten home record on Thursday, and have now gone four successive league games without scoring for the first time since May 2000.

The Reds looked on course to retain the Premier League trophy after a 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace on December 19, but subsequent draws with West Brom, Newcastle and United along with a loss at Southampton allowed the chasing pack to overtake them.

Klopp concedes he is no longer even thinking about winning the title again after their latest setback, saying: "Everything, all the English words, massive, massive punch in the face or whatever, it's my responsibility, that's the easy explanation.

"We had the ball a lot, created some and didn't finish the situations off. That keeps the game open and then they get the penalty - Alisson told me he didn't touch him, but I didn't see it back.

"It's a tough one, not easy to explain, These boys are not the kind of person after a 7-0 to think we'll go like this, they worked tonight hard and it didn't happen, if something doesn't work you have to try harder, more often, longer. It was not easy to lose that game and we did it.

"We can't imagine the title race at the moment."

Uganda U20 captain Gavin Kizito has stated they are ready to conquer the upcoming African Cup of Nations in Mauritania and qualify for World Cup.

Head coach Morley Byekwaso picked a provisional squad of 38 players who have already started preparations for the upcoming tournament and Kizito has stressed they are all ready to fight for success.

“We have started preparing for our Afcon 2021 tournament which is going to take place in Mauritania,” Kizito said as was quoted by Sports Nation.

“I am sure we are going to conquer and qualify for the World cup because we are all in good shape and the players are prepared.”

The team started training on Thursday at the Omondi Stadium in Lugogo but both Bobosi Byaruhanga and Abdul Aziizi Kayondo are still unavailable as they are currently in Cameroon with the senior national side engaging in the African Nations Championship.

“We are all training very well despite this being only our second training,” Kizito added. “As the players, our main target is to play at the World Cup even though we are first going to play at Afcon," he added.

Uganda U20 Provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Komakech Jack (Ascent SA), Kiberu Ronald (Synergy FC), Oyo Delton (Busoga United FC), Ssenyondwa Denis Kaala (SC Villa), Ochama Daniel (Boro Boro SuperSport FC), Kato Peter (Super Cubs FC)

Defenders: Kizito Mugweri Gavin (SC Villa), Semakula Kenneth (Busoga United FC), Kayondo Abdu Aziizi (Vipers SC), Musa Ramathan (KCCA FC) Kafumbe Joseph (KCCA FC), Kitabalwa Robert (Vipers SC), Begisa James Penz (UPDF FC), Baligeya Simon (Kibuli SS), Bbosa Richard (Express FC).

Midfielders: Mugulusi Isma (Busoga United FC), Yiga Najib (Vipers SC), Sserwadda Steven (KCCA FC), Byaruhanga Bobosi (Vipers SC), Lutalo Umar (Aspire Academy), Alou John Kokas (URA FC), Okur Swamadu (Kataka FC), Eyamu Ivan (Mbarara City FC), Kawooya Andrew (KCCA FC), Asaba Ivan (Vipers SC), Ssekajja Davis (Bright Stars FC), Wabyoona Faisal (Big Talent SA).

Forwards: Bogere Ivan (Proline FC), Ssenyonjo Samuel (KCCA FC), Kakooza Derrick (Police FC), Basangwa Richard (Vipers SC), Odokonyero Nathan (Lincoln City FC U18-UK), Kitaka Samuel Moses (Loughborough University-UK), Bukenya Joseph Kizza (KCCA FC), Onyai Raymond (Mbarara City FC), Mulindi Ashiraf (Kataka FC), Mukisa Emmanuel (Kataka FC), Ssali Alpha Thierry (Proline FC).

Former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain star George Weah said Cristiano Ronaldo is not the best player in the world but he is still working hard to attain that feat.

On Wednesday, the 35-year-old led Juventus to win the Italian Supercup with a goal in their 2-0 victory over Napoli.

Weah, who is currently the President of Liberia, likened Ronaldo’s hard work and passion to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s influence in Stefano Pioli’s team.

The former Sweden star is leading AC Milan's charge for the Scudetto with 12 goals in eight matches so far.

“Ibra is strong and confident, but there is more behind this. Milan signed him because he can be every useful for young players. He is an example and an inspiration for them,” Weah told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“He is always focused and he gives everything for his passion. If you work hard and don’t lose your passion, then age is just a number. Think about Pietro Vierchowood, Franco Baresi or Paolo Maldini, they all played at high level until almost 40 years of age.

“Ronaldo is also testimony to how combining hard work and passion can bring unexpected results. He is not the best in the world, but he trained so much to become the best. I am a fan of Ronaldo because he remained humble and he earned everything he achieved. He fought to get where he is now."

The three-time African Footballer of the Year also described Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku as a more complete striker in Italy but he thinks the Belgium international is not getting the praise he deserves, a situation he compared to his own career.

Lukaku scored 23 goals in the Serie A last season and he has returned 12 goals so far in 17 league appearances this term for Antonio Conte’s side, who are second on the league table.

“He is proving how strong he is, he didn’t always get the credit he deserved and his story is similar to mine,” he continued.

“When I left France to move to Italy, people thought I would not make it, because Serie A was such a strong league. I did very well instead, and I think Lukaku is doing the same, he is improving, he is a more complete striker now.”

Paul Pogba is becoming a “game-changer” for Manchester United, says Dimitar Berbatov, with the France international playing with a smile on his face again as exit talk at Old Trafford begins to fade.

It appeared at one stage as though the World Cup-winning midfielder was destined to head for the exits.

Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, has claimed that he considers his client’s stint in England to be “over”, with it only a matter of time before a new challenge is sought elsewhere.

The talented 27-year-old has, however, played his way back into form since those comments were made, with match-winning performances being produced on a regular basis.

Vital goals have been delivered in meetings with Burnley and Fulham, allowing United to take up a standing at the top of the Premier League table.

Pogba is finally looking like an £89 million ($122m) asset, with Berbatov pleased to see undoubted potential being unlocked in a player who has faced plenty of criticism across a second spell in Manchester.

The former United striker told Betfair: “For me, in a team performance, some players can shine. It could be Pogba or Bruno Fernandes, but it is the mindset of the team as a whole to overcome results.

“People were criticising Pogba but now they should be praising him. Everyone would like to see Pogba playing like this as much as possible. If he is 100 per cent fit, happy and settled in his environment with his focus only on football then his performances can be decisive.

“Back in December his agent said he was unhappy and there was talk of him leaving, look at him now! The truth is out there somewhere - you know that film!

“You hear whispers and rumours. I say it as a joke, but you look at Pogba now and do you see someone who is unhappy? I see someone enjoying his football, scoring goals and intercepting the ball. He looks happy playing for the team.

“Maybe in December there were other factors, maybe it was an injury or other factors. However, for now, if he continues like this with the game he is showing, the quality is there to be a game-changer.

“He is playing for one of the biggest teams in the world and is one of the game's biggest stars. He must be happy because his body language looks like he is happy, fit and healthy. That is great for him and the team.

“He looks happy most of the time. Sometimes critics can affect you and your performance, but at the moment, he should be happy with himself.

“Pogba is a bigger superstar than I was and the spotlight is bigger on him. The pressure on him is worse. He needs to perform and carry the team. When you are producing games like this you want to yell back at the critics and say 'do you see me now, this is what I can do'.

“Of course you are going to have bad games. All players go through this phase. At the moment, he should just be very pleased with himself. His qualities are game changing when the team needs them.”

Gabadinho Mhango has become the latest Orlando Pirates player to be struck down with injury.

Mhango missed the first few months of the season to injury and only returned to the side in December.

He had been making his way back to full fitness with several substitute appearances and a few starts here and there.

Against Golden Arrows on Wednesday, a 0-0 draw, the former Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtic marksman came on as a substitute for Thembinkosi Lorch on the hour mark.

At some point in the game he was seen clutching at his upper leg, and it has now been revealed that he’s suffering from a quad issue.

“The first team has been dealt a blow ahead of their DStv Premiership clash against Maritzburg United with Gabadinho Mhango ruled out of the match due to injury,” read a statement on the Pirates website.

“According to the Bucs medical team, the Malawian international picked up a quad strain in the goalless draw against Golden Arrows on Wednesday and is expected out for up to two weeks. Mhango joins an ever-growing list of injuries in the team which now increases to five players.”

The statement went on to detail the injury list as follows:

Tshegofatso Mabasa (foot): Continues to undergo rehabilitation with the strength and conditioning team. Expected time to return to full training: 3-4 weeks.

Abel Mabaso (ulna): Removed cast earlier this week and has started to begin range movement and strength exercises. Expected time to return to full training: 4+ weeks.

Zakhele Lepasa (ankle): Undergoing rehabilitation with the strength and conditioning team. Expected time to return to full training: 4+ weeks.

Paseka Mako (knee): Continues with rehabilitation. Expected time to return to full training: 1-2 weeks.

Josef Zinnbauer’s Pirates side will be looking for their first win in three games when they face Maritzburg at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

Bucs’ recent stuttering form has seen dropping off the pace – with 18 points from 12 matches they are eight adrift of the joint log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Swallows FC.

Sundowns host Swallows at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Rhulani Mokwena is wary of the threat posed by Swallows FC ahead of injury-hit Mamelodi Sundowns's clash with Brandon Truter's side on Saturday.

Like Sundowns, Swallows are unbeaten so far this term, picking up 26 points from their first 12 Premier League matches this season, and are joint top with the Brazilians.

After failing to win, nor score in their two previous encounters - the first time Sundowns have gone two matches without scoring since December 2018 - Masandawana will be expected to secure all three points in Atteridgeville this weekend and despite being hampered by injuries, coach Mokwena believes they will be able to adapt.

''Without the key players, our preparations have been tough, but we've got enough within the squad [although] we are a little bit thin at the moment with regards to the defensive line, medically,'' Mokwena told the media.

''We are without Ricardo Nascimento, medically we are without Lyle Lakay, without Soumahoro Bangaly, and for medical reasons we are without Mudau [Khuliso].

''It leaves us very, very thin in that department, and then we were dealt with a huge blow by losing Brian Onyango, with a grade two thigh injury.

''That sets us back a bit and we have to see how we improvise and be creative in how we solve that situation, maybe play a back three, maybe we play with inverted full-backs, may is to play like Swallows and only play two at the back.

''We don't know how we are going to do this, but we will find solutions, we've got enough within the team to be able to adapt.

''Unfortunately, at this moment in time we got a huge hospital ward, but these are problems that every club is facing, and we have to do the best under the circumstances.''

The defending champions' co-coach also took time to detail the opposition's approach and reiterated that they will not be taking the Birds lightly.

''The opposition is good, the team has winning momentum,'' he added.

''If you win the NFD [National First Division], and come to the PSL, you come to the PSL with a winning feeling, the winning momentum which you carried through from your campaign in the National First Division.

''So, you come in with good momentum and with winning experience and that's very important, that feel-good momentum and the experience of winning football matches, and winning trophies.

''It's a game that we understand clearly that we must play very, very well to win. We must work extremely hard to win. Without playing well or being extremely strategic, we know we got absolutely no chance.

''Because they've got nothing to lose and that is why they are playing with so much freedom, with so much bravery and that's why the coach makes so many decisions that are courageous and brave.

''And as they say, the universe will favour the brave and the courageous.''

This will be the first meeting between these two sides since 2015. 

Has Alex Iwobi ever been this good at any point in his career? Frankly, yes but you may have to go back to his breakout season at Arsenal through the following 12 to 18 months to really find the Nigeria attacking midfielder playing his best football.

As always, the appropriate context is required. There’s a different sort of pressure when you’re still a teenager at 18 or 19 from whom little is expected. At that age, you’re mostly a breath of fresh air, with observers and supporters pleased by the progression of an academy player into the first team.

Iwobi largely thrived within that atmosphere but hit a roadblock when fans and pundits demanded more. Where were the goals and assists? Why was he struggling to consistently churn out quality, reliable performances for the Gunners?

That was a bump in the road the West African never really overcame at the Emirates Stadium, eventually leading to his departure in summer 2019, and equally became a stick to beat him with in his first season at Everton.

Observers’ constant urge for goal contributions made them ignore his obvious strengths in ball-carrying, link-up and combination play. The Nigerian’s ability to strike amazing relationships with the overlapping full-back was greatly underrated, too; still, there was a sense what really frustrated was the unsustained consistency in his performances.

The recent evidence, however, shows the 24-year-old is reaching a level in his evolution that’s finally making critics appreciate his talent and skill set once again. How he’s reached this point equally adds to the gratifying feel to this story, having forced his way into the Everton squad after a frustrating start to the campaign where appearances were at a premium.

While Iwobi’s goal on Tuesday was only his first of the season and a further two assists place him joint-sixth for combined goal involvements, the restlessness to see him scoring or setting up others regularly has reduced due to being reliably good in performance and quality in recent months.

He’s steadily looked more inspired and purposeful since the autumn and his goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers during the week was perhaps a perfect representation of this renewed drive.

Iwobi received possession from Yerry Mina wide on the right and fed it to James Rodriguez in the inside-right channel. Rather than hold his position in admiration of the Colombia playmaker, the West African recognised the vast space ahead of the South American and made an angled run from the right wing into the box.

James sent a well-weighted cross-field pass to Lucas Digne and the returning left-back set up the Nigeria international for a well-taken side-footed finish that went in after a slight deflection off a Wolves man.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured, Ancelotti’s team had started the game at Molineux without a natural number nine and Iwobi tended to make darting runs into the penalty area to offer options in Wolves’ defensive third. He ought to have had a second on the day after a fine exchange with Rodriguez but could only finish tamely into Rui Patricio.

What makes the attacking midfielder’s run of performances all the more pleasing has been the sheer effort, desire and evolution to become a valuable member of Ancelotti’s team. For someone who began the season out of the side and had to make do with sporadic appearances for the Toffees, the fact observers will question the ex-Chelsea manager if Iwobi is dropped from the team is proof of his recent growth.

Gaining the trust of the experienced Italian wasn’t painless, however. A swathe of injuries to players in the side, especially to full-backs Digne and Seamus Coleman, meant the ex-Arsenal man had to moonlight at wing-back against Fulham and Leeds United before featuring at right-back against Burnley.

Aside from that Leeds display, where the 24-year-old was exposed playing at left wing-back, Iwobi adapted satisfactorily as a wide defender aiding the side with his ball-carrying and penchant to deliver quick crosses into the area.

The return to a four-man defence has seen the Nigeria star restored to the attack and he’s mostly thrived on the right flank. While it remains to be seen how Ancelotti makes it work when Richarlison is fit to start and Calvert-Lewin eventually returns, Iwobi has shown enough throughout a tough period for Everton to not be a pushover when the regulars make their comebacks.

Having combined usefulness in the final third — he sits second to James for shot-creating actions per 90 — with progressive ball-carrying and a willingness to actually put in the hard yards defensively, the former Arsenal man is becoming one of Everton’s appreciated stars.

This newfound consistency and application are, without a doubt, music to everyone’s ears and Iwobi’s motivation to make the most of what was initially perceived as disadvantageous in wide defence has turned out to be opportune. Only he deserves credit for that and long may it continue!

Kaizer Chiefs have provided an injury update ahead of their league fixture against Stellenbosch FC at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday evening, a 17:00 kick-off.

The players in question are centre-back Ramahlwe Mphahlele and midfielders Lebogang Lesako and Nkosingiphile Ngcobo.

All three players picked up injuries or knocks in Chiefs' most recent outing, a 3-0 win over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at the FNB Stadium.

"Player Injuries," the club wrote on their Twitter page. "Captain Ramahlwe is undergoing a late fitness test after a hamstring injury. Lesako will be out for 3 of 4 weeks after a knee injury. Speed recovery! Ngcobo is available for selection after limping out before the match ended on Tuesday."

Lesako has not been a regular this season and was making a rare appearance against TTM. Mphahlele has been one of Amakhosi's best and most consistent defenders this term and is seemingly thriving with the responsibility of the captain's armband.

Ngcobo has been in scintillating form in midfield of late and has scored two goals in his last two appearances for the Soweto outfit.
 

Still out with long-term injury for Gavin Hunt’s side is Khama Billiat. The Zimbabwean has a cracked bone in his leg and it was announced by the club on January 12 that he would be out for around two months.

Based on that, he may only be available for Amakhosi’s Caf Champions League clash with Petro de Luanda on March 16, which means missing another 11 matches.

Chiefs will be looking for a fourth consecutive league win when they take on Stellenbosch on Saturday, following victories over AmaZulu, Cape Town City and TTM.

This has seen them move up to the seventh position on the table with 16 points from 12 games. They remain, however, 10 points adrift of the joint log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns and Swallows FC.

Amakhosi will also be without Bernard Parker for their match against Stellies – the veteran forward is suspended for one match after picking up a fourth yellow card of the season during the win over TTM in Johannesburg earlier this week.

Sofapaka midfielder Lawrence Juma has explained the reason he left FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia for Sofapaka.

The midfielder joined K’Ogalo from Nzoia Sugar in 2017 and went on to play for the side for four years before his contract ran down at the end of the 2019-20 season.

The 28-year-old, who has so far scored four goals for Batoto ba Mungu in the top-flight for the current campaign, has now revealed his decision to leave K’Ogalo was not motivated by money, only that he wanted a new challenge.

“I left Gor Mahia to try a new challenge because I had won three consecutive league titles with the club, so, why should I regret leaving them?’’ Juma said as quoted by Standard Sports.

“My contract was running out and I even wrote a letter to the management, but they didn’t respond to it. What could I have done if nobody was talking to me and nothing was being put on the table. If they had engaged me, maybe we would be talking about different things.

“By the way, all my moves have been unexpected and I’m not the kind of person who voices my views to the press each and every time. But as a player when your demands are not met, you have no option but to move.

“Unless you are comfortable and everything else is working out for you, there is nowhere it is written that you will play for one team forever. This is football and you never know what happens next, these are big decisions that people have to make with a lot of consultations. The move happened and life has to go on.”

Juma has also apologised to the team and the fans after he was red-carded during their last league match against Nzoia Sugar which they lost 2-1.

“I would like to apologise for the red card, it’s just a moment of madness from my end; things happened so fast that day. But it’s not lost yet and I urge my teammates to try and bounce back in the next game against [Nairobi City Stars]," he added.

On whether Sofapaka are in the race to win the title, Juma said: “The season is not over yet, we need to continue pushing for more points, work hard and be consistent.

“Becoming a champion is a journey and it takes a lot to win the title. But looking at the quality of players we have here and the commitment, I think we can challenge for the title.

“I can’t say everything here is 100 percent but we are heading there. For the short time I have been here, I have seen a lot of progress and I believe we will be there soon. It’s a process of which with commitment and dedication the mission will be achieved.”

Sofapaka are currently placed 12th on the 18-team table with seven points from seven outings.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino can have few complaints at the criticism being aimed in their direction, says John Aldridge, with Liverpool’s front three looking “a pale shadow of the players we know they can be”.

The reigning Premier League champions drew another blank in their latest outing, a fourth in a five-match winless run, with a 1-0 defeat to Burnley seeing the Reds hit a new low.

A sequence of 68 unbeaten outings at Anfield has come to a close, with Jurgen Klopp’s side now sweating on the defence of a crown that they worked so hard to capture in 2020.

Few could have predicted that struggles in the final third would contribute to Liverpool becoming stuck in a rut, with one of the most fearsome attacking units in world football pieced together at Anfield.

Salah and Firmino were dropped out of the starting XI for a meeting with Burnley, before being introduced in the second half, but they, along with Mane, were unable to sparkle as expected.

Aldridge is among those to have aired concerns regarding a lack of firepower, with the former Reds striker telling the Liverpool Echo: “The front three are getting fingers pointed at them and quite rightly so because you’re paid to score goals.

“You’re on a lot of money to score goals and you have to do it. Centre-forwards have to score one in every two games basically and they’re not doing it.

“It dumbfounds me. A team that is free-scoring the way Liverpool are, to go from one extreme to the other. We were all worried about the defence but the defence have been brilliant.

“It’s the attacking part and the front three have lost their mojo.

“Mane looks a threat, more so than Salah or Firmino. They look a pale shadow of the players we know they can be. The ball isn’t falling for them and the confidence isn’t there.

“It just shows when the confidence is down, the play isn’t great, that you snatch at things as well. It’s really worrying. For whatever reason, they're not creating chances.

“We never looked like scoring against Southampton. Newcastle, no.

“That’s the worry. If you’re missing sitters and hitting the woodwork and the goalkeeper is pulling off magnificent saves, but I can’t really remember many in the last couple of games.”

Nick Pope was called into action during a meeting with Burnley, while Divock Origi hit the crossbar when clean though on goal, but Klopp is being forced back to the drawing board ahead of an FA Cup fourth-round clash with Manchester United on Sunday.

Kenya international Francis Kahata could remain at Simba SC at the expense of Ghanaian Bernard Morrison, who Wekundu wa Msimbazi are considering letting go.

The reigning Tanzania Mainland League champions signed Zimbabwean Perfect Chikwende from FC Platinum but for him to play, space has to be made in the squad since the Msimbazi-based side had reached their limit of foreign players as allowed by the TFF.

Initially, the champions were contemplating omitting the Kenya midfielder from their league squad. But rumours have it that they have now decided to keep the 29-year-old after weighing several options.

"Some Simba key players are playing in Chan and usually, when they report back from such competitions they come back with injuries," a source from the club stated.

"As the Simba management, we are cautious with the condition of our players after the competitions. Kahata is in a good shape and will fit in well in case we have a problem. 

"It is not the case with Morrison [who is suffering from hernia], he will not be helpful to the team. We also have players like Karim [Ntikubuka] who we are in the final stages to sign, but he is also playing Chan.

"It is for those reasons that we have decided to keep Kahata in the team and release Morrison."

Meanwhile Yanga SC women's assistant coach Mohammed Hussein faulted Simba for the decision they took to sign Chikwende in the mini-transfer window.

"In my opinion, for Simba to sign Chikwende is a good decision but it is not beneficial to the team especially in the need and mistakes that are seen within the team’s backline," Hussein said earlier.

"It looks like the front line has a strong offensive line and on the wing side, it has a lot of potential players who score and create chances so it will be difficult for him to build a new kingdom.

"What Simba needed to sign was a good central defender who will strengthen the backline and help the midfielders but bringing a winger [in Chikwende] at the moment, I feel it is a decision that should not have been made at the moment."

Ilaix Moriba said he could not sleep before making his Barcelona debut in their 2-0 victory over Cornella in Thursday’s Copa del Rey encounter.

The 18-year-old was handed a spot in the Blaugrana's starting XI and he played for 74 minutes before he was replaced by Sergio Busquets.

Ilaix gave a good account of himself in the middle of the park as goals from Ousmane Dembele and Martin Braithwaite in extra-time secured Barca's passage to the Round of the 16.

Although he has been a dominant fixture for the Barcelona B side, the Guinea descent first made Ronald Koeman's matchday squad on January 9 but he was an unused substitute in their 4-0 La Liga win over Granada.

After Thursday’s memorable outing in Cornella, he described his emotions and his readiness to take each opportunity step by step.

“It’s an amazing feeling. Since the coach told me I was going to be in the side today it’s been good. I got home and I couldn’t sleep,” Ilaix told Sport.

“I am really happy at the club, especially with the coach, very grateful, and also with all my teammates who made it possible for me to play well.

“I just take it day by day. It’s the club who tell me up [first team] or down [B team]. I have to do my own thing and be aware that I am a B team player, with Pimi, who I am very grateful to, also to Catena, Franc, Marc Serra.”

Ilaix turned 18 on Tuesday and he described his appearance at the Campo Nuevo Municipal de Cornella as the perfect birthday gift.

He added: “This is the best present I could have and I am so grateful to Koeman."

He has played for Spain U17 and U18 teams but he is still eligible to play for his country of birth - Guinea or his father's country, Liberia - on the international scene.

Orlando Pirates midfielder Fortune Makaringe has featured in every single match for the Soweto giants this season.

Head coach Josef Zinnbauer has generally mixed things up when it comes to team selection as he has tried to keep his players fresh while also taking into account injury, illness and lack of form.

Makaringe, though, has been an ever-present and the former Maritzburg United midfield playmaker has paid back his coach with three goals in all competitions, already two more than he got last season.

Zinnbauer believes that it's Makaringe's ability to open up defences, as well as his energy and drive, which makes him such an important part of the Buccaneers side.

“Fortune is a player that can run for 90 minutes, it is the same with Ben Motshwari," Zinnbauer was quoted saying by the Citizen.

"But at the moment we need both players on the field. The pass to Deon Hotto came from Fortune (Makaringe provided Hotto with a goal-scoring opportunity in the 0-0 midweek draw against Golden Arrows).

"He had a lot of good opportunities to release the final pass and he also had an opportunity to score. He is a player who gives you everything. He can play different positions and this is important for us."

The silky-skilled Makaringe will now be looking forward to a trip to his former stomping ground – Pirates face Maritzburg United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Sea Robbers will be searching for what would be just their second win in six matches since the start of 2021.

Pirates began the season on a positive note by winning the MTN8 title, which brought to an end a six-year wait for a trophy.

Bucs’ league form has, however, tapered off rather alarmingly and they are in sixth position on 18 points, already eight points adrift of league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Swallows FC.

The Buccaneers are also still competing in the Caf Confederation Cup.