Looking for Soccer News?

Frank Lampard admits that Callum Hudson-Odoi is playing better than ever as calls grow ever louder for him to become a regular starter at Chelsea.

The 20-year-old winger has only started two of Chelsea's league games this season but he has produced a goal involvement every 64 minutes since Boxing Day.

The homegrown star's goals and assists come amid a run of poor form at Chelsea that has seen them stumble from first place to seventh in the league.

Fresh off a 1-0 win over Fulham, next up is a trip to the King Power Stadium to face third-place Leicester City and Lampard addressed the calls to pick Hudson-Odoi with Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic all out of form.

“He’s definitely playing well and improving and I think it’s a little bit of a lazy stat, the one about where we are scoring when he’s on the pitch, but he’s directly involved in goals, assists and scoring,” Lampard told reporters.

“I think those are good stats. But he is, for me, making assists and scoring goals, he is playing at a really high level where we saw him last year, recovering from an injury. I think his confidence visually to beat his man, go one-versus-one, which he has to be about, wasn’t quite there.

“We have to understand that because he’s young and he’s come off the back of a really bad injury. Now we're seeing that come back and we’re seeing him run behind the line, hence when he scores against Morecambe - I know it’s Morecambe, but he breaks the line and scores a goal.

“He’s doing that much more regularly now, which is what I ask from him. So his progression is there and he’s getting his chances and he will get more chances.

“At the end of the day, and I’ve said this after the game the other night, Christian Pulisic came to the club and had, in the end, a really good record of goals and assists - the best in his career - by the end of the season.

“Hakim Ziyech has come in and had a really good patch for us. Callum’s raised his game, so Callum will get his opportunities. There’s no doubt about that because he’s playing well, he’s playing better than I’ve seen him play for us and really contributing.

“That’s from his own hard work and natural talent. It’s good to see.”

Like the rest of the Premier League, the Blues are adapting to increased measures to combat the spread of coronavirus across the division, with a new and more contagious variant of the disease having emerged across society.

The lack of goal celebrations and interactions with the opposition came under the spotlight, with the UK Government putting pressure on English football to change.

One such measure that has been communicated to players is not to swap shirts, but Chelsea defender Thiago Silva was pictured throwing his jersey to a Brazilian worker at Fulham's Craven Cottage Stadium on Saturday.

Lampard will remind the 36-year-old defender of the regulations on behaviour despite his heart being in the right place to ensure a fan earned a valuable souvenir.

“I'll speak to Thiago. This happened when Everton played at Fulham and Richarlison gave his shirt to the same member of staff who asked for it,” Lampard continued. “Thiago got asked for it after the game.

“The players are very aware of the new restrictions about players not swapping shirts, not about staff, that’s players not swapping shirts, which I think everyone adhered to.

“Now I'll speak to Thiago very clearly just about swapping shirts with anyone, at the moment it's not what we want to do because obviously we're in this Covid environment. But these rules are changing a lot and it was very much an innocent thing. I'll have a word with Thiago.”

Frank Lampard says that he believes personal issues have set Danny Drinkwater's Chelsea career back, while adding that he hopes the midfielder plays as much as possible at Kasimpasa.

The 30-year-old was signed from Leicester in a £35 million ($47m) deal in 2017, but has gone on to play only 12 Premier League matches for Chelsea.

After that, he went on two loan spells at Burnley and Aston Villa and played only a further five times last season. For the last six months, he has been training with Chelsea's Under-23s team.

Alongside that has come a spate of off-field issues, including a drink driving charge, being attacked in a nightclub and an incident that saw him headbutt his Villa team-mate.

When asked whether Drinkwater would play for Chelsea again, Lampard says that he just told the midfielder to simply focus on playing well at Kasimpasa.

"The important thing now for Danny is to think of the short term," Lampard told reporters. "I’m not being negative there but I'm just saying to go and play some games because I think that will paint a picture of how we move forward from there.

"If he plays games, plays regularly, he’ll feel better, then we can cross that bridge when it comes to the end of the season about where that takes us forward for Danny and for ourselves.

"There's been some difficult circumstances for Danny, for himself, just some things have been the situation around him, which has not always been in his hands either. Some things he takes responsibility for, some things are not right on both sides.

"So let's try and probably use this as a catalyst and look forward. It’s a positive move that he is going to play football and then we’ll see where we are at.

"Hopefully he can get some games behind them because at the moment he's not been getting games, it’s not a great situation. So let’s hope we can improve that situation for him first and foremost."

Goal first revealed the surprise move last week and Chelsea will pick up the majority of the midfielder's £100,000-a-week wages.

Drinkwater admitted that he is keen to build up his fitness and focus on his football upon joining the Istanbul outfit.

"It has been a long time coming but I am glad I am finally here," he told the club's website. "The club worked very hard [to sign me] and I can't wait to get started. It will be a good new experience with a lot of new things for me to get used to like the language and culture but it is an experience and I am excited about it.

"The facilities are great, I had seen photos but in real life it is lovely. The goal is to get back playing, I need fitness and I am here to help Kasimpasa and I am hoping to finish in the Europa League places and see where we go from there."

Frank Lampard has pointed towards the characters and legends of Chelsea's past to explain why several of his top players have stopped scoring regularly.

Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech have just two goals between them since November 1, while Timo Werner is on a 10-game goal drought in the Premier League.

That drying up of goals has become a factor in why Lampard's side tumbled down the table over the winter period, having briefly been top in early December.

Ahead of a match against Leicester, who sit four places above the Blues, Lampard spoke about how even in a league where big teams are dropping points, Chelsea don't have the experience of being winners.

“People were touting us as title challengers, [but] we have a squad that's young in composition - especially in forward areas. We don’t have the players in those areas that this club has had before, that are goal machines or assist machines that win you games,” Lampard began telling reporters.

“We haven’t got Eden Hazard contributing 50 per cent of goals or assists. We haven’t got a [Diego] Costa scoring 30 goals. We are developing those players and I believe in them strongly. We are not quite there where other teams around us maybe are at the front end of the path.

“For us there could be tough times. So it’s important for me and the players to keep working but also stay patient and calm.”

Thomas Tuchel is among those linked with Lampard's job, while Brendan Rodgers has been linked with a return to west London - where he began his coaching career in Chelsea's academy. 

While managing Swansea, he said he would never take the Chelsea job because the club hires and fires their managers too quickly. Lampard, however, thinks that patience has grown at Stamford Bridge since those comments were made.

“We as a Chelsea team are not the Chelsea when I think Brendan made those quotes,” he said. “But I am presuming they were made at a time when Chelsea had [Didier] Drogba, [Petr] Cech, [John] Terry – I am not going to name myself - [Claude] Makelele. It would have been a team that was always challenging and the benchmark was different.

“At the moment, we are not a team that has Costa, [Cesc] Fabregas or Hazard, to mention the players who came slightly after that. We are a team that when we rely on players at the front end of the pitch, it's clear that they new to the Premier League.

“So maybe the benchmarks are changing. I can't consider it too much. I can say it to you, because it's the truth, and then just keep working. If I can get success, how success is considered now, that is all I can ask in the short-term for myself.

“We have to think short-term in this job. Not just myself, by the way, and let's not make just Chelsea out to be like this. We have seen a couple of big clubs and big managers be questioned within one, two or three weeks of a couple of results this year and that is the modern world.

“I am not crying about this, because it is the Premier League. We all have different expectations. If we are seen to be not getting to them, then the pressure comes. That is why we are in this job - to handle that.”

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has rued his side's injury situation as he is set to be without Ghanaian defender Mohammed Salisu and a host of others in Tuesday's FA Cup clash with Shrewsbury Town.

Aside from the young centre-back, The Saints will have to do without Will Smallbone, Danny Ings, Jannik Vestergaard, Oriol Romeu, Nathan Redmond and Moussa Djenepo for the third round cup fixture at St. Mary's.

On the search for his debut since sealing a four-year transfer from Spanish outfit Real Valladolid, Salisu has been in the treatment room since making the bench for a 0-0 draw with West Ham United in December.

“Not on Tuesday [against Shrewsbury], definitely not, but maybe on Saturday,” Hasenhuttl said of the possibility of having his injured men in the FA Cup tie, his club's official website reports. “The earliest return will be Ingsy, then Moussa maybe, with Ori and Reddy also in this group.

“Then maybe Jannik, but that can be in February, and Salisu is still longer out with a muscle injury.

“We have some problems at the moment with muscle injuries and there are some reasons I think that are responsible for this.

“We are in a fantastic building here but we cannot use anything [due to Covid-19]. We cannot use our cryo chamber, the sauna, the pool, nothing, and we still have the same games with the same intensity.

“We are also limited in eating here together, so everything is not what we normally do in professional football, and there are reasons why we do it normally, so it’s not so surprising in some moments you have more injuries.

“It will be a mixed group tomorrow – some guys who have to play, because there are not a lot of alternatives, and some young guys will have to step in and show what they have shown in the sessions: that they are developing their game and deserve to get a chance to play.”

Salisu made Southampton's matchday squad for the first time during the December clash with Brighton & Hove Albion and went on to make five further bench appearances during the month.

His delayed debut has been due to injury and match fitness concerns.

After sealing the transfer in August, he joined Southampton’s pre-season training a month later, in the week of commencement of the Premier League. It would take him three more months to make a matchday squad.

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang continued with his impressive goalscoring run against Newcastle United thanks to his double in Arsenal’s 3-0 triumph on Monday evening at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners’ skipper has either scored (five) or assisted (two) in six of his seven games against the Magpies in all competitions, finding the net in each of his last four outings against the St James' Park giants.

In his 400th appearance in European League football (Arsenal 102, Borussia Dortmund 144, St Etienne 87, Monaco 19, Lille 14 and Dijon 34), the Gabon international’s second-half brace helped Mikel Arteta’s side return to winning ways against Steve Bruce’ men after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace their last time out.

After a goalless first-half, the former Borussia Dortmund man put the Gunners ahead in the 50th minute after beating Emil Krafth down the left before powering the ball into the top left-hand of Karl Darlow’s net.

With Bukayo Saka doubling the hosts’ advantage 11 minutes later, the 31-year-old found the net the second time in the 77th minute thanks to an assist from Cedric Soares.

Aside from losing their eighth game of the 2020-21 campaign, Newcastle United extended their Aubameyang-related misery to hold a dubious distinction of being one of the African’s favourite opponents in England since his move from the German elite division.

After an impressive shift, the striker was replaced in the 80th minute by former Chelsea star Willian. Ghanaian star Thomas Partey was substituted for Mohamed Elneny in the 67th minute, while English international of Nigerian descent Bukayo Saka was on parade from start to finish.

However, Cote d’Ivoire international Nicolas Pepe and Anglo-Ghanaian Edward Nketiah were unused substitutes.

This result extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run to six games as well as move them up to 10th in the English topflight log after garnering 27 points from 19 games. They will now shift their focus to the FA Cup on Saturday, as they face either Southampton or Shrewsbury Town.

On the other hand, Bruce’s Newcastle remain 15th having gone nine games without a win and they would be hoping to end their awful run versus Aston Villa next time out on January 23.

Fourth placed Hyderabad, with 16 points from 11 games, are set to face Odisha in their reverse fixture of the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) at the Fatorda stadium in Goa, on Tuesday evening.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

TEAM NEWS

Hyderabad Possible XI:

Injured - Nikhil Poojari, Fran Sandaza, Subrata Paul
Doubtful - Souvik Chakrabarti
Suspended - None

Key Players - Aridane Santana, Joel Chianese

Odisha Possible XI:

Injured - None
Doubtful - None  
Suspended - Shubham Sarangi

Key Players - Diego Mauricio, Jerry Mawihmingthanga

“The situation is very simple,” Edu told AS. “Arsenal are concerned about Torreira, first and foremost, his happiness, that he plays and that he is happy. 

FIFA confirmed the terms of Trippier’s ban on Monday, but the club will continue to contest it and for the moment the England international remains available for selection.

-

Arsenal and Atletico Madrid are continuing talks over the future of Lucas Torreira.

The midfielder is on loan at Atletico and the Liga leaders want to keep him as cover as they bid to win a first league title since 2014.

Arsenal are concerned by his lack of playing time and are considering the option of sending him elsewhere, with a host of clubs - notably Valencia - keen to give him a home in the second half of the season.

Gunners technical director Edu is taking the lead in the negotiations and has insisted that the player’s best interests will be the driving force behind whatever decision is made.

“The situation is very simple,” Edu told AS. “Arsenal are concerned about Torreira, first and foremost, his happiness, that he plays and that he is happy. 

“We want to know about him, how he feels and, after that, what Atletico thinks. For us, Lucas and his happiness is what’s most important. 

“If everyone is happy, we will continue as we are now. If Lucas is not happy, we will look for a change because there are many teams that are calling me to ask about the player's situation.”

AS claims that, as well as Valencia, Edu has fielded calls from Serie A sides Fiorentina, Lazio and Torino - the latter of whom sacked their manager Marco Giampaolo on Monday.

The Spanish outlet suggests Valencia is the most likely destination for the Uruguayan midfielder.

It’s highly likely that Torreira would secure regular playing time at Valencia, but by swapping Liga clubs he would be giving up a title challenge for a battle against relegation.

Atletico have plenty on their plate at the moment. As well as the future of Torreira and a title challenge to plan for, the club confirmed they will take their appeal over Kieran Trippier’s 10-week ban for breaching betting rules to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

FIFA confirmed the terms of Trippier’s ban on Monday, but the club will continue to contest it and for the moment the England international remains available for selection.

Atletico Madrid travel to Eibar in La Liga on Thursday.

Uganda and Rwanda opened their 2021 Chan campaign with a goalless draw at Stade de la Réunification in Douala on Monday night.

The two East African nations were meeting in the competition for the first time, but despite the many chances created, none managed to get the ball in the back of the net.

In the sixth minute, Rwanda had the first chance when the defenders let loose APR forward Jacques Tuyisenge just outside the 18-yard area. The skipper took a shot but Charles Lukwago was not troubled.

Amavubi settled earlier and their passes and patterns looked to trouble their opponents who looked to rely on counter-attacks earlier on.

The 2019 Cecafa champions were then pushed to an early substitution. Milton Karisa was injured in the 12th minute, and KCCA FC striker Brian Aheebwa, who is leading in the Ugandan Premier League with seven goals, replaced him.

Tuyisenge, once again, came close in the 20th minute, this time around heading the ball, from a corner, narrowly wide as the defenders slept on the job.

Cranes, finally, made a serious attempt in the 22nd minute when substitute Aheebwa unleashed a fierce strike from outside the 18-yard area, but it was deflected out for an unfruitful corner.

Once again it was Amavubi who came closest in the 30th minute. Muhadjiri Hakizimana picked a good ball about 30 yards from the goal and with the defenders reluctant to shut him down, he unleashed a rocket which came off the crossbar with Lukwago well beaten.

Amavubi were hungry for an opener, with Tuyisenge the tormentor-in-chief on the opposition danger zone. In the 40th minute, he beat both the defenders and the goalkeeper once again, but his header hit the outside of the woodwork for a goal kick. 

Both teams improved their game after the break, attacking and defending in equal measure to stand a chance of winning.

Despite chances being created, there was no one to take them owing to lack of composure in the danger zone.

Earlier on, defending champions Morocco defeated Togo by a solitary goal at the same venue.

The lone goal for the Atlas Lions came in the 27th minute from a penalty scored by Yahya Jabrane. 

The North Africa nation lead Group C with three points followed by Cranes and Amavubi who are on a point each. Togo are at the bottom with no point.

Uganda XI: Charles Lukwago (GK), Paul Willa, Mustafa Mujuzi, Patrick Mbowa, Aziz Kayondo, Shafiq Kagimu, Joachim Ojera, Bright Anukani, Abdul Karim Watambala, Milton Karisa, Vianney Ssekajugo.

Rwanda XI: Olivier Kwizera (GK), Fitina Omborenga, Ange Mutsinzi, Thierry Manzi, Emmanuel Imanishimwe, Olivier Niyonzima, Rashid Kalisa, Bertrand Iradukunda, Muhadjiri Hakizimana, Dominique Savio Nshuti, Jacques Tuyisenge.

Fenerbahce defeated MKE Ankaragucu 3-1 in Monday’s Super Lig game with Mbwana Samatta and Mame Thiam finding the net.

Coming into this encounter, the Yellow Canaries had gone on run of five consecutive wins in all competitions – with their last outing a 1-0 triumph over Kasımpasa in a Turkish Cup game where Samatta scored the only goal.

Against the visitors struggling visitors, they extended their blistering form as they stepped up their bid for a 20th league diadem.

Senegalese forward Thiam handed Erol Bulut’s men the lead at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium after 28 minutes with a simple tap in after goalkeeper Ricardo Friedrich had fumbled his first shot.

It was the turn of Tanzanian star Samatta to find the net six minutes later. Profiting from a pass from Thiam, the striker who is on loan from Aston Villa outclassed two of his markers before turning the ball into Friedrich’s net.

Bulut’s men were in firm control of the tie as they dominated ball possession to take a two-goal advantage into the half-time break. Before heading for the tunnel, Thiam was cautioned by referee Arda Kardesler for a careless tackle.

In the second-half, they continued from where they stopped - getting a third goal in the 67th minute through Enner Valencia to halt Mustafa Dalci’s side ambition of launching a comeback.

Ankaragucu pulled one back through substitute Emre Gural who beat goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from close range in the third minute of added time.

Samatta who now boasts of three league goals in the 2020-21 campaign was on parade from start to finish alongside Congolese defender Marcel Tisserand, while Thiam was substitute for compatriot Papiss Cisse in the 73rd minute. Whereas, Moroccan midfielder Nabil Dirar was not listed for the game.

For the visiting side, Ghana international Joseph Paintsil saw every minute of action while Congolese forward Jonathan Bolingi - who is on loan from Royal Antwerp - was taken off for Gural in the 58th minute. Senegalese midfielder Assane Diousse was an unused substitute by manager Dalci.

Thanks to this result, Fenerbahce are now joint leaders with Besiktas after accruing 38 points from 18 fixtures, while Ankaragucu are 19th in the log with 15 points from same number of matches.

Gary Neville has defended Manchester United for their performance against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The Red Devils travelled to Merseyside at the top of the Premier League and faced with a Liverpool side on a poor run of form and without any established central defenders.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer selected the defensively astute Victor Lindelof alongside Harry Maguire, as opposed to the more flamboyant Eric Bailly, and it was an indicator of a careful approach to the game that ended 0-0.

The game lacked sparkle, although United did miss two decent chances in the second half through Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.

Had one of those chances gone in, it would have been viewed as a tactical masterclass from Solskjaer.

As it was, the Norwegian was asked to justify his team selection and why his side did not go on the attack.

Neville believes the approach was correct at a ground he says the Red Devils have historically struggled at.

“I can never think of once when we went to Anfield - Sir Alex Ferguson may ring me tomorrow and say I am talking rubbish - but I can’t think of once where we went to Anfield and we were able to dominate the ball,” the former Manchester United man told Sky Sports.

“We were back up against it for the first hour of every single match I ever played. Even at 1-0 up with 25 minutes to go you could never go for it. 

“Only [with] Louis van Gaal a few seasons ago did I see Manchester United dominate at Liverpool and thought ‘wow, that’s a performance’.

“Every other year that I have watched us at that ground I have seen us struggle until the last minute.

“So yesterday with 20 minutes to go I was thinking ‘what are you going to do Ole?’ He could maybe have put [Mason] Greenwood on 10 minutes earlier, Fernandes could have played better. They got the two biggest chances in the game and that plan worked other than the chances that were missed.”

The point kept United top of the table and Neville felt the Red Devils would have gone home empty handed had Solskjaer changed approach in the final 20 minutes.

He added: “The only thing I would say is that if Manchester United had put [Juan] Mata on or [Donny] Van de Beek on and gone for it, what would have ended up happening is that front three of Liverpool would have won the game and United would have lost.

“Liverpool are still a dangerous outfit even when they are not playing well, so to rewrite history and say Manchester United can go to Liverpool and dominate the ball... [Paul] Scholes and [Roy] Keane could not do that at Anfield playing against average players, let alone players who have won the Premier League and Champions League.

“I have been critical of this Manchester United team in these last four or five years, so I am not going to sit here and defend them when I don't need to.

“But yesterday at Anfield they were playing against a top Liverpool team and are establishing themselves in a place in the league where no one thought they would be. 

“I understood why it was not a bit gung-ho towards the end, even though part of me during the game thought 'if they are a bit further ahead in their development, their journey and their experience they’d have gone for it'. They are not.

“Seven weeks ago the manager was getting sacked; the players were getting booted out.

“They were all over the place.”

The Football Association of Zambia has suspended Forest Rangers goalkeeper coach Charles Chileshe for urination or simulation of urination during Saturday's Super League fixture against Prison Leopards.

In a letter dated January 18, FAZ has stated the tactician’s behaviour brought the game into disrepute and thus the tactician has been suspended from the ongoing season.

“The Football Association of Zambia has suspended Forest Rangers Football Club goalkeeping coach Charles Chileshe for unsporting conduct during a Super Division Week 13 fixture between Prison Leopards and Forest Rangers at President Stadium in Kabwe,” the federation’s letter addressed by deputy general-secretary Joseph Chimpampwe stated.

“Chileshe’s action of sprinkling an unknown substance in goal and urinating or simulation of urinating against one of the goalposts acted in a manner that is not consistent with the values and integrity of football as espoused by Fifa, Caf and FAZ.”

The Rangers coach will now be forced to sit out until his case is been investigated by the disciplinary committee. The secretary-general affirmed the federation will in no way tolerate such unsporting acts and gave no indication when the investigation over the matter is expected to be ruled upon.

“His actions have without doubt brought the name of the game into disrepute and therefore we have no option but to suspend Chileshe’s registration for the 2020/2021 season and his case shall be decided by the appropriate FAZ judicial body," the statement added.

“This means that Chileshe cannot function as an official for your club in any capacity until his case is disposed of.”

The Rangers-Leopards game was part of the actions that were played over the weekend.

On Saturday, Green Buffaloes defeated bottom-placed Kabwe Warriors 2-0 courtesy of Aubrey Chlla’s brace. Indeni FC went down 1-0 to Buildcon FC as Brian Mwila’s goal separated them while Lumwana Radiants and Kitwe United drew 0-0.

Nkwazi FC and Lusaka Dynamos also drew 0-0 while a 2-2 scoreline was registered by Napsa Stars and Red Arrows with James Chamanga and Joseph Phiri scoring for Red Arrows when Emmanuel Manyuka’s brace for Napsa Stars was enough to produce the draw for the game.

Francis Zulu and Kobe Chipeta scored for Prison Leopards against Rangers in a game that has now been surrounded by controversy.

On Sunday Zesco United got a 2-1 win over Nkana FC through Thabani Kamusoko and Winstone Kalengo’s goals. Ronald Kampamba was Nkana’s scorer.

Ben Chilwell has revealed that he and Chelsea team-mate Reece James have been bitten by the chess bug.

England defender Chilwell has admitted things are extremely tough at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic restricting people’s movements and interactions, and impacting on their daily lives.

He admits to being in a fortunate position as his job as a professional footballer allows him to go to training every day and interact with friends and team-mates.

While footballers are in a fortunate position, they too are living under Covid-19 restrictions and Chilwell says he is doing different things to ensure his mind remains stimulated.

Chess is one activity that has captured Chilwell’s imagination. While the standard is unlikely to be on a par with Beth Harmon of The Queen’s Gambit, it appears the defender and fellow Chelsea star James take it pretty seriously.

"Obviously it's a very tough time at the moment," Chilwell told the Premier League's website. "I'm in a very fortunate position where I am able to come into work and see my friends and do what I enjoy, but there are a lot of people not in that position and are stuck at home with nothing to do.

"There are a few things I've found to keep myself busy [after training] ... activities that are really going to challenge your brain and keep you interested through very tough times.

"Me and Reece James play online chess against each other quite a lot. He wins a few, I win a few. We played a game on the way back from Russia in the Champions League. I think it was one game, but it took four hours - the whole flight!

"I actually asked my mum for some chess books and a chess board for Christmas! That has obviously helped me."

While there isn’t another trip to Russia on the horizon for James and Chilwell to sharpen their chess games, Chelsea do travel to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on February 23 - which should hand them the opportunity to play.

The focus this week for the pair is a trip to Premier League title contenders Leicester on Tuesday.

Glenn Hoddle has urged Gareth Bale to go out and earn his opportunity at Tottenham, but is unsure if the Welshman can do it as he has described him as looking "tentative" and "fragile".

Bale returned to Tottenham on loan from Real Madrid earlier this season, and there was hope that he would bounce back to his sensational best in north London.

However, the 31-year-old has proved to be a bit-part player under Jose Mourinho and speculation has swirled as to whether Spurs will send him back to the Spanish capital.

Mourinho has insisted Bale’s future has not been a topic of conversation, but with him making only 12 appearances so far it is understandable that questions are being asked.

Hoddle was delighted to see Bale return to the club last year, but feels he needs to do more to secure a long-term stay in the Premier League.

“I’m disappointed that he hasn’t had enough opportunities, but to get the opportunities he has to earn it,” Hoddle told talkSPORT. “He came on against Brighton and scored the header that got them the three points.

“He affected the game there but it’s been stop-start for him.

“He just looks a bit tentative to me and looks like he’s not prepared to put a good sprint in like we know he can do.

“He’s not going to be like yesteryear but he’s got to put his foot in a bit more when he goes to beat people. He just looks a bit fragile.

“It may be a mental thing but [hopefully] he can break through and contribute for Tottenham in a big way this season.

“He’s just got to get on the pitch to do it and at the moment it seems Jose’s reluctant to give him any minutes.”

Provided Bale stays injury free, he is likely to get chances in the second half of what has been a congested and extremely busy season.

Spurs are still in the hunt for four trophies, having advanced to the Carabao Cup final alongside Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup challenges.

Up next for Tottenham is a trip to Wycombe in the fourth round of the FA Cup next Monday.

Jack Wilshere will resume his career at Bournemouth after rejoining the Championship side on a deal until the end of the season.

The former Arsenal and England midfielder was a free agent after his West Ham contract was terminated last October.

Wilshere spent the 2016-17 season on loan with the Cherries and has been handed a contract, having been invited to train with Jason Tindall's promotion hopefuls.

The 29-year-old, who has been badly blighted by injuries in his career, told the club's official website : "It feels great to be back and I can't wait to get started.

"From the minute I walked through the door three weeks ago, it felt natural and like I had never been away.

"I know a lot of the players and staff here and I'm pleased they allowed me to train initially, and then it just went from there.

"I've been impressed by the coaching staff, the way they work and the ambitions of the club to get back in the Premier League.

"We all share the same ambitions and I'm looking forward to playing my part in helping achieve those."

Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake is thrilled to bring the player to the club following spell with the Cherries in 2016-17. 

“I’m delighted that Jack has returned to the club on a permanent contract,” Blake said, “He is a fantastic footballer whose quality has been evident since breaking into the Arsenal first team as a 16-year-old.

“We loved having him here on loan in the 2016/17 season, he loved being here and he had a huge impact on the club both on and off the pitch.

“In the three weeks he has been training with us we have seen hunger and desire to match his undoubted talent, and he will add some great attributes to our midfield over the coming months.”

Bournemouth are third in the Championship, eight points adrift of leaders Norwich City, after being relegated from the Premier League last season.

The Cherries travel to Derby on Tuesday, and it remains to be seen if Wilshere features in the squad.

Given his injury record and the fact he has made only one appearance this term, West Ham's EFL Cup win over Hull in September, boss Jason Tindall will be mindful to manage the midfielder’s workload.

Shkodran Mustafi has paid an emotional tribute to Arsenal team-mate Mesut Ozil ahead of the midfielder’s move to Fenerbahce.

Ozil is in Turkey to put the finishing touches to his move to Fener, following confirmation that he had reached agreement with Arsenal to terminate his contract six months early.

The former Germany international will leave Arsenal with fans divided on their feelings about the former Real Madrid man.

When at his best, Ozil was one of top players ever to perform in the Premier League - but he also had spells when games passed him by without making any positive contribution.

His most ardent supporters will feel his exit is a huge loss for the Gunners, who they will think have wasted his talents by not picking him since March.

But there will be others who feel the time has come to sever ties and allow manager Mikel Arteta to mould a future Arsenal side in the way he sees fit.

Mustafi has been a team-mate of Ozil for five years, while they have graced the national stage for Germany together - and won the World Cup in 2014.

With his team-mate on the brink of leaving Arsenal, Mustafi has paid tribute to a player he describes as the assist king.

“Bro, you have been the most unselfish player on and off the pitch I have ever shared the dressing room with,” Mustafi wrote on Twitter. “You will be always remembered as the #AssistKing.”

Ozil has been on the sidelines at Arsenal since March, and was not included in their Premier League squad for the current campaign, and it appears that is a source of regret for Mustafi.

He added: "Unfortunately we as a team haven’t been able to assist you when you needed us the most. All the best.”

While Arsenal have not benefited from Ozil’s creativity this term, as they did in previous campaigns.

In the 2015-16 season, Ozil created 146 chances for team-mates and that is still the most in a single Premier League campaign since statisticians Opta began crunching the numbers in 1996.

No other player has hit the 140-chance mark, with Manchester City’s creator supreme Kevin De Bruyne second best on 136.