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West Ham United manager David Moyes has questioned the decision of the Premier League to postpone three matches last month because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Fixtures between Newcastle and Aston Villa, Everton against Manchester City and Tottenham versus Fulham were all called off in December following outbreaks of Covid-19 among the squads of some of the teams involved.

Each game is judged on an individual basis with the Premier League making the final decision on whether a fixture should go ahead.

There are no rules directly addressing the postponement of games because of illness among players and club staff, although the 2020-21 Premier League handbook states "permission will not be granted to postpone a league match where the applicant club has 14 or more players listed on its squad list available."

Moyes has therefore questioned whether it was right that the three games over the crowded festive period were postponed, especially as he and two of his West Ham players - Issa Diop and Josh Cullen - tested positive back in September, however none of their matches were rescheduled.

"We understand and we're not bemoaning in any way any of the games because that's the fixtures. They didn't stop the games when me and two players got Covid, but they've chosen now that it's time they would do that," Moyes said at a press conference ahead of West Ham's Premier League clash with Everton.

"I thought you had to have 14 players and the original point was to say that you would go into your academy and get players, so I don't know if those rules have now changed."

Moyes, Diop and Cullen - the latter of whom has since left West Ham to join Belgian club Anderlecht - all tested positive for coronavirus shortly before their Carabao Cup tie with Hull City on September 22.

The players had been named in the starting line-up for the match while Moyes was also at the London Stadium ahead of the game when all three men were told their results. All three immediately left the stadium to self-isolate, and there were no further positive tests.

West Ham are due to face Everton on New Year's Day in the first Premier League fixture of 2021, with the Toffees having not played since Boxing Day after their game with City was called off, while the Hammers played Southampton on December 29, the game ending 0-0.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has aired his surprise at the notable achievements he is posting at Manchester United, with a right-back yet to collect a yellow card this season and bucking the trend when it comes to tough-tackling defenders.

The 23-year-old full-back is not afraid to throw himself into a challenge and has made more blocks (50) in the 2020-21 campaign than any other player in the Premier League.

Wan-Bissaka often finds himself coming up against some of the finest creative talent that the English top-flight has to offer, with tricky wingers occupying his area of the field.

Containing that threat and remaining on the good side of referees is never easy, but a £50 million ($63m) asset at Old Trafford is showing that success can be achieved while adhering to the rules.

Speaking to United Review about his spotless disciplinary record, Wan-Bissaka said: “That’s the first time I’ve heard it. But it’s very good to hear, that I have had no bookings against me this season.

“I know you cannot just dive into any tackle. You’ve got to make sure you time it right. It is a case of always concentrating and making sure you are timing them right as well.”

He added on being the Premier League’s top blocker, with Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters second on that list some seven efforts off the pace: “I reckon it’s probably down to there being situations where I’ve needed to tackle but, in that moment, there have been more situations I have had when I have had to block shots and crosses.

“I know there have been times in football where, if you don’t block a shot, it can go in. So the best thing to do is simply to attempt to block every shot and every cross.” 

Wan-Bissaka’s ability to extinguish the threat posed by opponents will be tested again on Friday when United take in a home date with Aston Villa – with Jack Grealish cementing his reputation as one of the finest playmakers in the business.

“I know he is always up there with getting the most fouls. We all know he’s a tricky player when he's out there on the pitch,” said Wan-Bissaka.

“He is a great player. He’s unpredictable and can go inside or outside with the ball. I played against him last season and just have to be ready to take it as it comes.

“It is another challenge I am more than ready to take on. But he’s not the only player we need to be paying attention to – they have lots of other good players like John McGinn, Ross Barkley, Trezeguet and others. We know it will be a tough game.”

Rasheedat Ajibade has joined former Spanish champions Atletico Madrid on a two-year deal from Norwegian outfit Avaldsnes.

Ajibade arrived at the Spanish club – her second move in Europe – after her contract with Avaldsnes ran out in December 2020.

The Nigeria international joined Avaldsnes Idrettssenter on a two-year deal from Nigerian side Robo Queens in December 2018, helping them to a fifth-place finish, scoring five goals in 2019.

The 21-year-old went on to establish herself in Thomas Dahle's ladies side with eight goals from 18 games and made the Toppserien Team of the Week eight times as they bagged bronze.

On completing Las Rojiblancas switch, the striker expressed joy over the move to Spain and is eager to hit the ground running in the coming days with the Madrid-based outfit.

“It is a great privilege and an opportunity to be here," Ajibade told the club website.

"I am excited to be a part of this team and I hope that together we achieve success. It is a great step in my career and a great challenge for me and I am ready to give it my all.

"I am a versatile, versatile, energetic and hard-working player. I tell the Atléticos that I'm going to do my best so that they and the team can feel proud."

Her move to Atletico will see her become the second Nigeria to play for the Spanish giants after Francisca Ordega's loan spell in 2017.

Her arrival increases Nigerians in the Spanish top-flight to six after Eibar's Charity Adule, Barcelona's Asisat Oshoala, Sevilla's Toni Payne, Madrid CFF duo Rita Chikwelu and Chidinma Okeke.

She is expected to make her debut for Atletico, who are third on the log when they host Rayo Vallecano in their next clash on January 6.

Timo Werner is presenting Chelsea and Christian Pulisic with a problem, claims Tony Cascarino, with the German forward considered to need an Emile Heskey-type player alongside him in order to perform at his full potential.

The Blues invested £47.5 million ($65m) in a proven goalscorer during the summer of 2021, with a prolific presence snapped up from RB Leipzig.

Werner offered early encouragement in English football as he made his way to eight goals for the season, but 11 games have come and gone since he last found the target.

Frank Lampard has looked to move the 24-year-old around in an effort to find his best position, with central and wide attacking berths filled.

Cascarino believes that the jet-heeled frontman needs a physical presence to lead the line with him if he is to fire down the middle, while a role on the left is stunting the progress that had been made by United States international Pulisic.

“It’s a tricky one, because I’ve seen a lot of Werner and when he was at Leipzig he played alongside [Yussuf] Poulsen who is a big centre-forward, and he played off the left of him and thrived,” former Blues striker Cascarino told talkSPORT.

“It’s a bit like Michael Owen; Michael Owen without Emile Heskey was never going to be the same player.

“Michael was blisteringly quick but had not the greatest of touches, but he always fired goals when he had a big lad beside him to take the pressure off him.

“Werner is exactly the same to me; he is blisteringly quick, his touch is not exceptional, he’s technically not bad but not great… he can’t play centre-forward on his own.

“He just can’t, because he can’t lead a line or bring players into play. He has to play off the left side of someone.

“The surprising thing for me on the substitution was when Giroud came off [against Villa], you have to put Tammy Abraham on if you are going to put Werner on, because he has to play off the left side.

“The problem Frank has is that Pulisic was probably Chelsea’s most dangerous forward and he looked very lively and always wanted to get on the left. Pulisic is a better left-sided player than Werner in the way Chelsea play.

“It’s one of Frank’s biggest challenges he has got over the next few games.”

Chelsea, who have taken just four points from their last five Premier League games, need to find a find a spark from somewhere heading into their first outing of 2021 against Manchester City on Sunday.

Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed Everton want to sign on-loan goalkeeper Robin Olsen on a permanent transfer from Roma.

The Swedish international moved to Goodison Park on a season-long deal on the final day of the previous transfer window and has been competing for the Toffees' No.1 spot with England international Jordan Pickford.

Olsen has played three times for Everton - twice in the Premier League in a defeat at Newcastle and an away victory against Leicester, as well as their Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of Manchester United.

His debut against Newcastle ended a run of 120 consecutive Premier League starts for Pickford, whose form has been questioned in recent months despite him currently maintaining his status as first-choice goalkeeper for both club and country.

Ancelotti has now confirmed he wants to sign Olsen on a permanent transfer, in order to have two experienced internationals competing for the goalkeeping gloves.

He told a press conference ahead of Everton's Premier League clash with West Ham United on New Year's Day: “Yes, I think we are pleased to have him [Olsen] here.

“He is a goalkeeper with experience, so I think we are going to talk with him and his agent to find a solution for him to be here permanently. It can be for January or in June.

“The games that he played he did well. He was comfortable, he was calm, he was quiet. I think he gives good support to Jordan also.”

Olsen, like Pickford, is first choice for his country and has made 42 senior appearances for Sweden.

He and Pickford faced off at the 2018 World Cup, where England beat Sweden 2-0 in the quarter-finals in Russia.

Olsen moved to Roma in 2018 from FC Copenhagen as replacement for Alisson, who had moved that summer to Everton's Merseyside rivals, Liverpool. However, he only served as first choice for the Italian side for a single season before being replaced in the summer of 2019 by new signing Pau Lopez.

The 6ft5 Swede was sent out on loan in 2019-20 to fellow Serie A side Cagliari, before the 30-year-old moved to the Premier League for the 2020-21 campaign in October.

Barcelona's new era without Lionel Messi does not need to begin immediately but a clear plan must be laid out for life after the Argentine great, says presidential candidate Victor Font.

Messi will forever be a legend at Camp Nou given his sensational career that has seen him become both Barca and La Liga's all-time leading goalscorer.

But the 33-year-old was part of a well-documented transfer saga in the close season, in part due to a fractious relationship with departing president Josep Maria Bartomeu. And although a move away eventually did not materialise, speculation continues to link Messi with an exit when his contract expires in June.

Asked by AS the objectives for life after Messi, Font replied: "Maintain the ownership model and keep winning titles. "That is, to be competitive by having the club owned by the members when this winning generation no longer exists."

But Font did not agree with the suggestion that now is already the time to usher in a new dawn without Messi.

"Not at all. In fact, our goal is for Leo to continue to be and continue to lead the team on the field as long as he wants to continue playing," Font added. 

"When we were talking about Barca post-Messi, surely the best way to define it is Barca post-unique generation of footballers. And that does not happen from one day to the next. 

"There were Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Carles] Puyol, [Gerard] Pique, [Sergio] Busquets... and this transition is not from one day to the next, it happens in time. 

"That is why it is essential to have a project and be clear about how to do it. This is what Messi told us in August, there is no project here, they are lurching, patches are put on. That was his frustration."

Messi caused quite the stir when, in the aftermath of Barca's humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in last season's Champions League, he revealed his desire to move on.

Another recent interview conducted with Messi saw him air his frustrations from that time and did not categorically affirm his commitment beyond this season.

But Font was encouraged by what he heard, adding: "[I took it] positively, because it is consistent with what we have explained. 

"In the short term, it confirms that if there is a high-level sports project, it can continue. And another, that he openly expresses the desire to make what is so strategic for us a reality. And that the Messi-Barca alliance becomes long in time."

Barca's financial situation has been under scrutiny given the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Font did not specifically say Messi would have to take a pay cut if he stays at Barca, but said some high earners will have to be sold on and other contracts renegotiated to help their money issues.

"We know that the economic situation is very critical and that is why a shock plan has been prepared as part of the government plan that includes both refinancing the short-term debt, because there is no money to pay, and restructuring expenses and the wage bill," he said. 

"In other words, next year we will not have enough income to pay the current staff. You have to change, renew templates. We will have to sell players with high salaries, bring in players who charge less, renegotiate contracts. It is part of this 100-day government plan." 

As part of his plan, Font outlined his desire to bring in club great Xavi as general manager and Jordi Cruyff as director of sport. With Xavi, Font said the aim must be to avoid a situation like with Pep Guardiola, who eventually sought challenges away from Camp Nou.

"We believe that, in the case of Xavi, Barca has a unique asset. A person who has a talent, unique abilities," he said. 

"We have to create the conditions to prevent us from having another Pep Guardiola case with Xavi, who trains, empties, and leaves because he wants to continue being a coach elsewhere. 

"We have to ensure that in the next ten or fifteen years, to say the least, Xavi is part of the club's sporting project. And in this role as general manager, he may have that responsibility."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says everyone at Manchester United is aware that they have not “cracked it” yet despite moving into second place in the Premier League table.

The Red Devils are currently the closest challengers to defending champions Liverpool in the battle for domestic supremacy in England.

Impressive form on the road has aided United’s cause this season, while results are also being dug out at Old Trafford.

Those efforts have Solskjaer’s side sat three points off the pace and still boasting a game in hand up their sleeve.

Many are suggesting that a serious challenge for a first title triumph since 2013 can now be staged in Manchester, but those in the Red Devils’ ranks are aware that there is a lot of hard work to come.

On the benefits of coming back into contention, Solskjaer told the club’s official website: “You know, when you are getting closer, that gives you a boost and it gives you extra focus.

“The good thing about this group is that some of them have won before so they are not going to get too far ahead of themselves. We know that the only way to do it is to take one game at a time.

“I know that is quite a boring statement, but that is the good thing about this group - they are not going to think we have cracked it because in any game in this league, you have got to be at it and that's why we have a big, strong squad.”

United did stumble out of the blocks in 2020-21, leading to more questions being asked of Solskjaer’s ongoing presence, but patience is being rewarded and an ambitious coach believes there is more to come.

“Well we had a difficult start to the season with the late arrival of some players and we missed the pre-season,” Solskjaer added.

“And I think we have shown after the second international break, the one in October, that we have regrouped, come together, we are getting fitter, stronger, the squad is getting better and we just have to take one game at a time, move up the table and improve as a team.

“But we have finished the year strong. I think we have done well since the beginning of February, or end of January, and we have proven to ourselves that we can be consistent over a longer period.”

United will figure in the first round of Premier League fixtures for 2021, with the Red Devils set to play host to Aston Villa on Friday.

Liverpool losing 7-2 at Aston Villa was “not a big deal”, says Ronny Rosenthal, with the former Reds winger of the opinion that heavy defeats are no different to narrow ones and that Jurgen Klopp’s side remain favourites to defend their Premier League crown this season.

The 2020-21 campaign has thrown up a number of surprise results, with the continued absence of supporters from most stadiums helping to level a top-flight playing field.

Supposed heavyweights have been caught by the odd crushing blow from plucky rivals and an intriguing title race has been thrown wide open.

Liverpool still lead the way in that, having brought their 30-year wait for top-flight glory to a close last term, but an air of invincibility has deserted the Reds.

Villa made the most of that during a memorable outing on home soil in early October, as they inflicted a stunning defeat on the defending champions.

Klopp’s men have responded positively to that, and a number of unfortunate injuries, with a gruelling schedule being ticked off one game at a time.

Rosenthal can appreciate why Liverpool’s charismatic German coach has complained about hectic fixture lists at times, but he sees a well-oiled machine ticking over nicely at Anfield.

The former Reds midfielder told Forbes: “I can understand him (Klopp), but it is the same for all the clubs.

“Liverpool still have the quality without Virgil van Dijk. They have one or two young players coming in.

“Here and there they will drop points, but they still have sufficient quality to dominate. A 7-2 can happen.

“Today in the Premier League, anyone can beat anyone, even 7-2! It was a kind of game where everything was collapsing. It was a one-off, a single game in 200 games, so be it.

“To lose 7-2 or 1-0, it is zero points, you know. It is not a big deal.”

While looking to shrug off a historic reversal in the West Midlands, Rosenthal accepts that Liverpool will not have things all their own way in 2021.

He expects the chasing pack to get much closer to Klopp’s side this season, but still sees the Reds coming out on top.

The Israeli added: “It was never expected that Liverpool was going to repeat the last season, finishing with a difference of 20 points.

“It’s clear that they can’t do it again, but they can still win the league because on paper they have the strongest team. 

“The squad, the quality of the players, they are complete. They have quality in every department, that is why they will continue to be the main contender. They are the favourites.”

Liverpool will be back in action on Monday when they take in a trip to Southampton.

Uganda head coach Johnathan McKinstry has explained how they plan to tackle Morocco in the African Nations Championship tournament in Cameroon.

The Cranes are in Group C with the reigning champions as well as Rwanda and Togo but the coach has specifically explained how he hopes to deal with the North African opponents.

“We just have to be in the best conditions because we know North African teams have not done well in Chan,” McKinstry told the Fufa website.

“We expect them to be difficult opponents because their clubs go deeper and feature in the Caf Champions League and Morocco are one of Uganda’s three opponents in Group C of the Chan finals in Cameroon.

“The nature of winning or doing well in Chan is that the number of players get opportunities to go and play outside of their domestic leagues.”

Uganda will engage in a mini-tournament against Cameroon, Zambia and Niger and their first opponents will be against the Indomitable Lions on Friday.

“It is two contrasting preparations [between Uganda and Cameroon],” the North Irish coach stated on their mode of preparations.

“Obviously for us, we got the players a week ago but connectivity needs to be worked on. We also had five Premier League rounds of action while our opponents have not had league action since March but have played four or five build-ups matches in the last three weeks.”

On his part, goalkeeper Nafian Alionzi said his teammates have had enough training.

“As a team, we are ready for the task coming ahead,” Alionzi said.

“We shall take it game per game to get out of the group stage. The energy is good as we have prepared enough and the team is up to the task. With the chances and forces we have as a team, we shall make it through the group stages.”

Uganda will play Cameroon at Ahamdaou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde at 8:00 EAT on January 1 while the Zambian game will be staged on January 4 at 6:00 EAT.

The final game against Niger will be played on January 7 also at 6:00 EAT. McKinstry picked 25 players for the pre-Chan tournament.

Mumbai City have had a 12-day break since their 2-0 win over Hyderabad FC. Now they gear up to face Kerala Blasters in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL) on Saturday.

The Islanders head coach, Sergio Lobera, feels that the break has came when the team was in good momentum with a six-game unbeaten run. However, the break has allowed Lobera to work on implementing his ideas.

"We have got some time to analyse the situation at the club after a long time. When you are in a good momentum, it's not easy to stop playing, but on the other hand, it's good to have more time to work on our philosophy and style of play. This is because we had a very short time in pre-season and time between games," he said.

"Now we had time to work but if I can choose, [I would prefer] not a long break and after that play three games [in 10 days], but this is the situation and we need to adapt in this scenario."

After Kerala, Mumbai face Bengaluru and ATK Mohun Bagan to conclude the first half of the season but Lobera is fixated only on the next fixture.

"I'm only thinking about Kerala Blasters. We need to put our focus on the next game and thinking about the next three games is not good for us because our next game is going to be difficult against a very good team with a good coach (Kibu Vicuna). They have very good players and try to play in a similar style like us.

"It's not easy, especially living inside the [bio] bubble with Christmas and New Year. 12 days is a long time without competitive games but I have a very good squad with very good professionals. For me, it's easy because they (players) want to work everyday to improve their level. I think it's difficult but at the same time, it is easy because I have very good players."

Mumbai City can reclaim the top spot with a positive result on Saturday. They currently have one of the best attacking and defensive numbers in the league. 

"As a coach, you need to work on the offensive and defensive balance. We play attacking football but it's very important for us to work across the pitch. The team understands the situation in transition very well and I'm very happy with the team because they are working very well in this aspect," Lobera mentioned.

Goalkeeper Amrinder Singh, having started in all games so far, has conceded the joint least number of goals (3) with ATK Mohun Bagan's Arindam Bhattacharya. He feels that the break helped the team regroup and expressed his confidence in the coach's plan.

"I think we got this 12-day break at the perfect time to recover all our players from minor injuries. Our last few sessions have been very good with the entire squad and we are feeling confident about ourselves.

"I've always wanted to play with my feet and have always waited for such an opportunity that I got this year under our coach (Sergio Lobera). I'm very comfortable playing in this style of football. We start our attacks from the goalkeeper," he stated.

Working alongside experienced forwards such as Adam le Fondre and Bartholomew Ogbeche has also helped him up his game, claimed the 27-year-old.

"When you train against good strikers everyday, it helps a lot. Both of them (Le Fondre and Ogbeche) are very good strikers and talking to them helps me understand what goes on in a striker's mind. 

"We want to do well in every game. The players' mindset is only to win and this has helped the team a lot. I think we have also understood the plan of the coach and it has made it easier for us to do things on the pitch."

Luka Jovic has been offered a route out of Real Madrid by his former club Eintracht Frankfurt, with Adi Hutter leaving a door open for the Serbian striker in Germany.

A stunning 2018-19 campaign for the 23-year-old frontman saw him attract interest from across Europe.

Jovic hit 27 goals for Eintracht that season, with his stock soaring as leading sides jostled for position at the front of a transfer queue.

Moves to Italy and England were mooted, but Real won the race for a much sought-after signature and added what they considered to be huge potential to their ranks at Santiago Bernabeu.

A dream switch to Spain has become a nightmare for Jovic, however, with regular game time in short supply.

That is because he has struggled to deliver on expectation, with just two goals recorded through 32 appearances.

In addition, unfortunate headlines have been made on and off the field, leading to further transfer talk being sparked in each passing window.

Another has now swung open, with Real weighing up their options, and it could be that Jovic is presented with an opportunity to retrace his steps back to the Bundesliga.

Eintracht coach Hutter would be open to putting an agreement in place, telling reporters when quizzed on the possibility of snapping up a familiar face: “It is something that has not escaped anyone.

“He is getting very few minutes at Real Madrid and, surely, he would have nothing against returning to Frankfurt.”

Jovic has taken in just two La Liga starts for the Blancos this season, while seeing only 149 minutes of top-flight action in total, and looks to be in desperate need of taking on a new challenge.

Interest from the Premier League in his services is said to have been retained, with several sides in the market for another goalscorer, but Eintracht hope emotional ties will work in their favour.

Hutter is, however, prepared to admit that discussions regarding a return for Jovic will not be easy given the size of his salary in the Spanish capital.

He added: “It is correct what has been written about what Luka earns per year.”

A loan deal that sees Real subsidise Jovic’s earnings could be one solution for Eintracht, with talks able to be held now that the winter window of 2021 has opened for business.

Simba SC spokesman Haji Manara has stated winning 4-1 against Yanga SC in the FA Cup semi-finals was one of the best moments in the year 2020.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi met their sworn rivals in the last four of the competition and managed to get their goals through Brazilian Gerson Fraga, Zambian midfielder Clatous Chama, Mozambique international Luis Miquissone and Muzamiru Yassin while Yanga scored their consolation courtesy of Feisal Salum.

The vocal official has also pointed out that winning three titles - the Community Shield, FA Cup and the Tanzania Mainland League, is also one of the best achievements of the concluded year.

"It has been a good year for us because we managed to win three trophies and remember we also played in the Mapinduzi Cup finals [but lost 1-0 to Mtibwa Sugar]," Manara told Azam TV.

"We also defeated Yanga SC 4-1 this year, which is the best ever gift to Simba fans.

"We also won most awards after the conclusion of the league, 2020 Most Valuable Player [Clatous Chama], best goalkeeper [Aishi Manula], top scorer [Meddie Kagere] and also remember we had six players in the team of the year.

"Everything good came from Simba. We were eliminated from the Caf Champions League in 2019, but after then, everything else was on our favour.

"Yes the team is still in transition which I think might go up to 2021, but apart from that, we dominated."

The official is also hopeful of qualifying for the group stage of the Caf Champions League. Simba are trailing by a solitary goal against FC Platinum of Zimbabwe scored by Perfect Chikwende.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi are hopeful of getting a result they need to advance.

"[On Wednesday, January 1] we are playing in the Champions League and have hopes of making it to the group stage," Manara concluded.

The 21-time champions are aiming at winning their fourth league title in a row.

However, they are facing a stiff challenge from Timu ya Wananchi who have started the season on a high. Wananchi are currently unbeaten after 18 games. 

The former champions are on 44 points, nine points more than the reigning champions who have played 15 games.

Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Lyle Lakay says it is imperative for the team to remain focused as the race for the 2020/21 Premier Soccer League (PSL) title resumes. 

Sundowns are set to welcome Orlando Pirates in an eagerly-awaited blockbuster at Loftus Stadium on Saturday afternoon in what will be the first PSL match in 2021. 

Masandawana have had a fine start to their PSL title defence as they are placed at the top of the league standings - undefeated having recorded five wins and three draws.

Lakay, who has been preferred ahead of Tebogo Langerman in the left-back position, said they are determined to retain the league trophy as they prepare for one of their title rivals, Pirates. 

“We have started the league on a good note. Now, we shouldn’t lose focus,” Lakay told Daily Sun. 

“It might still be too early, but I can’t hide the fact that we’re focusing on retaining the league title.”

Lakay and his teammates will be up against a Pirates side which is undefeated across all competitions this season and they are currently enjoying a three-match winning run. 

Pirates are placed fifth on the league standings five points behind leaders, Sundowns, but the former have a game in hand.

Sundowns free-kick specialist Lakay admitted that they are under pressure heading into their mouthwatering encounter with Bucs, who were crowned 2020 MTN8 champions last month.

“There is always pressure to bear but the more you win games," the former SuperSport United academy player added, "The more you gain confidence. That eases the pressure in some way." 

The Cape Town-born player could not travel to his hometown after Sundowns' 2-0 win over Botswana side Jwaneng Galaxy in the Caf Champions League first-round first-leg match on December 22.

Instead, Lakay spent the festive break with his wife and sister in Johannesburg amidst the curfew which has been imposed by South Africa president Cyril Ramaphosa in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country. 

“The family down in the Cape understands the situation we find ourselves in. It's quite scary when you look at the number of people who are dying," he concluded. 

In 2019, Lakay spent his Christmas far away in North Africa as Sundowns travelled to Algeria for a Caf Champions League match against USM Alger. 

After leaving Zambian Super League giants Zesco United, Harambee Stars defender David Odhiambo has been linked with a Lusaka side.

Odhiambo left the Ndola club after his contract expired and barely a day after his exit was confirmed, the defender is said to be on his way to join another Zambian top side.

Calabar, as Odhiambo is famously known, was the first high profile Kenyan to join a Zambian club in 2014 after he had helped Gor Mahia end their title drought in 2013.

His six-year stint saw him establish himself as one of the best foreign talents not only at Zesco United but also in the Zambian league. He went on to win five Super League titles, three Absa Cups, and two Charity Shields.

His great abilities also saw Zesco United establish themselves as regular competitors in the Caf Champions League and in the Confederation Cups.

Odhiambo was part of the general Timu ya Ziko squad that struggled in the 2019/20 season, failed to defend the Super League title and finished fifth. They ended up missing on the continental slots after participating in the last eight years.

“On behalf of the Zesco United Football Club executive, I wish to take this opportunity to thank Odhiambo for his dedication and commitment to duty. We will never forget his contribution towards the growth and success of this football club,” Zesco United Chief Executive Officer Richard Mulenga said as reports now indicate he may soon serve a rival team.

Should Odhiambo complete any move soon, he would be the third Kenyan to change clubs recently in Zambia. Musa Mohamed joined Lusaka Dynamos after his contract with the current champions Nkana FC ended. He was later joined by Duncan Otieno who was also key for Nkana in their 2019/20 pursuit for the league title.

Otieno had initially joined Football Kenyan Federation Premier League side AFC Leopards before he left for Lusaka Dynamos a move that was previously challenged by the Kenyan side.

Otieno and Mohamed are among the Kenyan stars doing trade in Zambia. The others are Harun Shakava and Duke Abuya of Nkana while Zesco United still host Ian Otieno, John Makwatta and Jesse Were.

Shaban Odhoji and Timothy Otieno are at Napsa Stars while Andrew Tololwa is at Red Arrows.

Sead Kolasinac marks “the beginning of the cull” at Arsenal, says Perry Groves, with Mikel Arteta backed to have the rest of the Gunners’ “deadwood” cleared out by the end of the season.

That process has been put in motion at Emirates Stadium, with a Bosnian international defender allowed to link up with Schalke on a short-term loan deal.

With the exit doors in north London now swung open, there could be plenty of footfall heading in that direction.

Several fringe players are said to have been deemed surplus to requirements under Arteta, with World Cup winner Mesut Ozil the most prominent member of that pack.

Offloading the former Germany international will not be easy, but the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos could be moved on.

Groves believes a clean-up operation at Arsenal will drag through to the summer of 2021, but he expects expensive baggage to be dumped on a regular basis along the way.

The Gunners cult hero told talkSPORT after seeing Kolasinac head to Germany: “It’s the beginning of the cull. I think he’s on upwards of £100,000-a-week, so if they are paying a percentage that might free up some money if they are going to get some players in themselves on loan maybe.

“There’s a lot of players like Mustafi and Sokratis, the deadwood players that will be cleared out at the end of the season.

“He hasn’t really kicked on. Everyone thought when he came in the side he’s old school and tough. A no-nonsense left-back; but defensively he didn’t think.

“We’re not short at left-back because [Bukayo] Saka can play everywhere.”

Arteta has admitted that he wants to clear the decks at Arsenal during the January window, with the Premier League heavyweights eager to start afresh after enduring a testing 2020-21 campaign to this point.

A Spanish tactician has said: “We have a large squad and we knew that. A lot of things that should have happened in the summer, we cannot accomplish for different reasons.

“There are some players that are going to go on loan and going to leave and that is the priority at the moment.

“We cannot sustain the numbers that we have in certain positions and we are looking to do that, and then we will see if we have the right opportunity in the positions where we need some more help.”