Xavi is set to return to Barcelona as their new permanent head coach following the sacking of Ronald Koeman. Koeman's 14-month reign came to an end following Barca's 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano on October 27, with the Dutch boss failing to convince. Barca have now turned to another club legend in an effort to steady their ship, with World Cup winner Xavi leaving Qatar-based club Al Sadd as ...Full Story »

Dean Smith is confident he can turn around Aston Villa’s fortunes if he is afforded time.Villa slumped to a fifth straight defeat as Adam Armstrong’s early strike was enough for Southampton to earn a 1-0 win at St Mary’s on Friday night.If results go against Smith’s side this weekend they could go into the international break in the Premier League bottom three.The 50-year...Full Story »

Adam Armstrong’s early strike was enough for Southampton to earn three points against Aston Villa and inflict a fifth consecutive loss to increase pressure on manager Dean Smith.Villa have not collected a single point since winning at Manchester United on September 25 and this 1-0 reverse will only fan the flames of speculation regarding Smith’s position.The travelling supporters at ...Full Story »

Matty Taylor should continue to lead the line when former club Bristol Rovers pitch up at Oxford for Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie.The 31-year-old has not missed a League One game all season, scoring five goals in his last seven matches.Cameron Brannagan will be back in the squad after illness.The midfielder missed last weekend’s 3-1 win over Morecambe.Striker Brett Pitman will m...Full Story »

Jordan McGhee is unlikely to be available for Dundee’s cinch Premiership game against Celtic at Dens Park on Sunday.McGhee will have a knee injury assessed but boss James McPake expects it will require a tidy-up.Cillian Sheridan is out with an Achilles injury, while Alex Jakubiak remains on the sidelines following surgery on a dislocated shoulder and Leigh Griffiths is unable to play again...Full Story »

Portsmouth will be without midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe for the visit of Harrow in the FA Cup first round on Saturday.After he was forced off during the recent victory over Bolton, it has been confirmed Tunnicliffe will be set for a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.Captain Clark Robertson (hip), Ellis Harrison (ankle) and Jayden Reid (knee) remain on the treatment table for Pompey.P...Full Story »

On-loan forward Nathan Broadhead is set to continue his comeback from injury as Sunderland face Mansfield in the FA Cup.Broadhead was sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury but came on as a late substitute in the midweek loss at Sheffield Wednesday.Saturday’s game comes too soon for defender Arbenit Xhemajli to be involved, although he could return for the Papa John’s Trophy t...Full Story »

Ipswich manager Paul Cook insists his team selection will show just how seriously he is taking the FA Cup.Cook would not reveal any details of possible changes to the starting XI, but intimated he would not be making wholesale changes following the 4-1 win at Wycombe.Cameron Burgess will hope to continue in defence after coming on for the injured Hayden Coulson at Adams Park.Janoi Donacien will ...Full Story »

Everton midfielder Fabian Delph could make his first start of the season against Tottenham after playing the second half of Monday’s loss at Wolves on his return from injury.Yerry Mina (thigh) remains out but fellow defender Lucas Digne, who missed the Wolves game, has trained this week and is expected to be available.Striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh) and midfielders Andre Gomes (calf)...Full Story »

Shayden Morris could start for Fleetwood as they prepare to take on Burton at Highbury Stadium.The 19-year-old has missed a handful of games this season through injury but has come off the bench in Fleetwood’s last two fixtures, scoring the equaliser against Wycombe last week.Conor McLaughlin and Anthony Pilkington are in line to feature on the weekend for Simon Grayson’s side.James ...Full Story »

Manchester United have defensive issues ahead of their Premier League derby clash with Manchester City at Old Trafford.Raphael Varane faces four to five weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury suffered during the Champions League game against Atalanta, while Victor Lindelof faces a fitness test on the knock that forced him to miss Tuesday’s 2-2 draw.Paul Pogba serves the second game...Full Story »

Mason Mount could still feature in Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Burnley despite struggling with infected wisdom teeth.Marcos Alonso will miss out with an ankle problem, but Christian Pulisic and N’Golo Kante should be in action.Mateo Kovacic (thigh), Romelu Lukaku (ankle) and Timo Werner (thigh) are all still sidelined.Burnley winger Aaron Lennon is a doubt due to a bout of il...Full Story »

High-flying West Brom will be without defender Kean Bryan for Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship meeting with Middlesbrough.Bryan suffered a knee problem during Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Hull, with Baggies boss Valerien Ismael saying it appears to be a “bad injury”.Defenders Darnell Furlong and Kyle Bartley return to contention for third-placed Albion after serving one-match ...Full Story »

Hearts striker Liam Boyce has a good chance of returning for Saturday’s cinch Premiership visit of Dundee United after missing the last two matches with a calf injury.Andy Halliday is suspended following his red card in last weekend’s defeat at Aberdeen.Everyone else is expected to be available to manager Robbie Neilson.Dundee United could have an unchanged squad for the trip to Tyne...Full Story »

Crawley will be without suspended defender Joel Lynch for Saturday’s FA Cup first-round tie with Sky Bet League Two rivals Tranmere.Lynch was sent off during last weekend’s 4-1 loss at home to Port Vale.Striker Ashley Nadesan returns to contention after serving a two-match ban.Crawley are still missing defender Jordan Tunnicliffe due to injury.Tranmere have no fresh selection concern...Full Story »

Wimbledon boss Mark Robinson has vowed to name his strongest possible side for the FA Cup first-round clash with non-league Guiseley.The Dons head into the game on the back of two straight League One losses and Robinson is determined to use the tournament to turn his side’s season around.Experienced striker Ollie Palmer is pushing to start after returning off the bench in Saturday’s ...Full Story »

Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass has no fresh injury worries to contend with for the cinch Premiership encounter with Motherwell at Pittodrie.Declan Gallagher, Jack MacKenzie, Calvin Ramsay, Andrew Considine, Mikey Devlin and Matty Kennedy are all still absent.Midfielders Dylan McGeouch and Dean Campbell will be hoping to keep their places after their recent return to the starting line-up coincide...Full Story »

St Albans defender Tom Bender is battling to prove his fitness for the National League South side’s live TV date with his former club Forest Green in the FA Cup first round.Bender was carried off on a stretcher during the fourth qualifying round replay against Corinthian Casuals last month but the injury was not as bad as feared and he has an outside chance of featuring.Fellow defender Mic...Full Story »

Peterborough will be without suspended defender Nathan Thompson as they welcome in-form Fulham to the Weston Homes Stadium.The 30-year-old picked up his fifth booking of the season in the 1-1 draw against Huddersfield in midweek and will serve a one-match ban.Joel Randall and Ricky-Jade Jones are still not available for boss Darren Ferguson but could return after the international break.Long-ter...Full Story »

Nathan Jones will welcome former club Stoke to Kenilworth Road without midfielder Henri Lansbury.The 31-year-old picked up a fifth booking of the season during Tuesday night’s 3-1 win over Middlesbrough and will serve a one-match ban.Amari’i Bell missed the midweek fixture with a dead leg and will be assessed ahead of kick-off on Saturday.Harry Cornick was substituted with 10 minutes...Full Story »