Antonio Conte has said he was following the “club line” after he dropped Tanguy Ndombele for the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Chelsea.The Frenchman was absent as Antonio Rudiger’s first-half goal gave Chelsea a 1-0 win on the evening and a 3-0 aggregate overall as they booked a place in next month’s Wembley final against Liverpool or Arsenal.Ndombele was booed o...Full Story »

Cristiano Ronaldo says wearing a disguise to a night club on New Year's Eve was one of the best nights of his life because he "felt free". The five-time Ballon d'Or winner was playing for Real Madrid at the time when he decided to go out and celebrate with his best friend Ricardo. Of course, Ronaldo had one of the most recognisable faces in the world at the time so in a bid to go undetected,...Full Story »

Manager Xavi Hernandez has said Wednesday's Spanish Supercopa semifinal against Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia could serve to kickstart Barcelona's season. Barca have shown signs of improvement since Xavi replaced Ronald Koeman as coach in November, climbing to within one point of the top four in LaLiga, but have yet to find any sort of consistency. They go into the Clasico on the back of a disap...Full Story »

The furious Clarets did not want to sell their Kiwi striker but were powerless after the Magpies triggered his release clause. Chris Wood is due on Tyneside for a medical TONIGHT Credit: Reuters Personal terms have already been agreed with Wood, 30, to become the second signing of the Saudi era following Kieran Trippier’s arrival. Newcastle’s interest in the New Zealand internat...Full Story »

Lincoln boss Michael Appleton was delighted to see Chris Maguire’s hat-trick earn his side their first back-to-back victories of the season.Having seen off Oxford at the weekend, Lincoln followed up with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.Maguire claimed a treble against his former employers, having left the Black Cats after his contract was not renewed in the summer.And...Full Story »

Ecstatic Forest Green boss Rob Edwards admitted he got lost in the moment when celebrating with the fans after his table-toppers opened up a nine-point lead in League Two with a 2-0 win over Colchester.Edwards celebrated in a manner reminiscent of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after goals in each half from Jamille Matt and Josh March made it 51 points from 23 games for the runaway leaders.“T...Full Story »

Mansfield boss Nigel Clough believed his side’s 3-2 home victory over play-off rivals Swindon was their most important win of the season.The Stags were pipped at the death in Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough but bounced back to make it five Sky Bet League Two wins in a row and eight in nine.“I thought that was our most important win of the season on the back of the FA...Full Story »

Chris Long is available for Crewe’s Sky Bet League One clash with Charlton on Wednesday night.The striker, who has scored three in his last three appearances, has missed the last six games having been a close contact to a positive Covid-19 case.A new, unnamed member of David Artell’s squad will miss the Addicks fixture for a similar reason while a combination of an ankle knock and il...Full Story »

Tottenham are reportedly confident of sealing a transfer deal for Wolves winger Adama Traore in the next few days. A report from The Athletic claims Spurs are growing optimistic that they're closing in on the signing of Traore, who is expected to cost between £18-20million. The Spain international has been a key player for Wolves in the last few years, and his exciting performances have...Full Story »

Toni Kroos has announced Real Madrid will be his last club. His current deal is due to expire in June 2023, but Kroos is determined to earn an extension which would put him in a position to end his career in the Spanish capital. "I deliberately chose the contract period when I last extended, because then I would be 33 and it be a good age to think about how to continue," Kroos told Sky Sport...Full Story »

Liam Shephard is a major doubt as Salford welcome Tranmere to the Peninsula Stadium on Tuesday night.The Welsh full-back was forced off just after the half-hour mark in Salford’s 2-0 win at Newport at the weekend and was replaced by Tyler Golden, who seems set to start against Rovers if Shephard is ruled out, as expected.Fellow defender Corrie Ndaba and striker D’Mani Mellor returned...Full Story »

Sunderland will be without defender Corry Evans for the visit of Lincoln in Sky Bet League One.Evans was knocked unconscious in a collision with goalkeeper Anthony Patterson during the second half of Saturday’s 3-3 draw with Wycombe.Aiden O’Brien could return after being sidelined due to Covid-19 but the game is likely to come too soon for Bailey Wright.Luke O’Nien, Jordan Will...Full Story »

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough has three injury doubts as the Stags prepare to resume their League Two promotion charge against Swindon.Stephen McLaughlin, Ryan Stirk and George Lapslie are all nursing minor problems following the FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday.Tyrese Sinclair and Farrend Rawson will both miss out due to illness but Clough hopes Rawson will be back in contention for ...Full Story »

Former Bradford players Jordan Gibson and Omari Patrick both scored against their old club in Carlisle’s 2-0 win at Brunton Park.It was a third League Two victory on the bounce for Keith Millen’s side as they moved six points clear of the relegation zone.Bradford had the better of the early exchanges and right-back Oscar Threlkeld fired over from Lee Angol’s low cross.But they ...Full Story »

ARSENAL will take a stand against knife crime by donning an all WHITE kit for their FA Cup clash against Nottingham Forest. The bespoke shirt will kick off the club's 'No More Red' campaign against youth violence in the capital. Arsenal will wear the unique all-white kit in a stand against knife crime The Gunners are linking up with kit sponsors adidas to build on work being done with young p...Full Story »

BARCELONA defender Gerard Pique has hit back at claims he is earning £450,000 per week by posting a bank statement on social media. The 34-year-old centre-back was one of three players whose wages were supposedly leaked by Spanish TV3 programme Onze - with Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba also reported to be on huge salaries with the cash-strapped club. Pique has denied reports he is earnin...Full Story »

Wolves boss Bruno Lage is expected to make some changes for their FA Cup tie against Sheffield United.John Ruddy is likely to deputise for Jose Sa in goal while the likes of Ki-Jana Hoever and Fabio Silva could also be handed rare starting places. Rayan Ait-Nouri is fit again after a groin problem and the French defender could get his first outing for a month on Sunday.Lage, a former assistant m...Full Story »

Accrington boss Jon Coleman could be forced to make changes ahead of their clash with MK Dons.Coleman told the club website that his squad have fewer cases of Covid but there is some sickness in the camp.Midfielder David Morgan is undertaking light training and is edging closer to a return.Captain Seamus Conneely and Joe Pritchard are also doubtful as they continue to return to fitness.Troy Parr...Full Story »

Steven Fletcher is the latest to be ruled out for Stoke ahead of their FA Cup game with Leyton Orient.The striker has a hip injury to join Nick Powell (cracked fibula), Jordan Thompson (knee), Joe Bursik and Romaine Sawyers (both quad) on the sidelines.Harry Souttar is hoping to return in pre-season after suffering cruciate ligament damage while on international duty with Australia in November.A...Full Story »

Newcastle will head into Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against League One Cambridge with Covid-19 still having an impact on their squad.The Magpies’ Premier League fixtures against Everton and Southampton were postponed because of an outbreak within the camp and while he did not identify the players involved – defender Ciaran Clark and midfielders Joe Willock and Matt Ritch...Full Story »