Looking for Soccer News?

Harambee Stars goalkeeper Arnold Origi has left Finland top-flight side HIFK Fotboll.

Origi, who joined the Scandinavian club in March 2019 after a deal to the Premier League side Crystal Palace did not materialise in the last minutes, leaves after more than a year with them.

“HIFK thanks Arnold Origi for two memorable seasons, all the great victories, numerous top defences, singing the pride chant of 'IFK Stad' after the game with the winners, and above all the great moments during our joint journey,” HIFK Fotboll said in a statement.

In the just-ended season, the Kenya goalkeeper kept seven clean sheets as HIFK Fottboll finished the campaign eighth with 28 points. Overall, Origi started in 33 games for the Finnish club and received a red card which led to a bitter social media reaction from journalist Pekka Holopainen.

Holopainen had claimed the goalkeeper was involved in a match-fixing incident when he was red-carded as HIFK Fotboll played and lost 3-2 to Inter Turku on August 14, 2020.

The red card incident, consequent reaction from the Finnish writer and the armistice between the parties would go down as Origi’s most remembered moment in the country

“It was important for me to meet Pekka Holopainen face to face. When I heard the news of what he had said, I was very disappointed and angry,” Origi said in a statement then.

“There are many people who just make an apology without really meaning it, because it belongs and because you should not lose face in public.

“We have all made mistakes and said stupid things, which you later regret. He regretted his mistake and thus I could forgive him.

“There is a lot in our society today that is about spreading false rumours and hanging out with other people on social media after they have made a mistake.

“I do not want to be a part of this and have even made mistakes myself several times. If someone disappears, but then is genuinely remorseful and apologises, you can talk through the situation together and then move on to the next chapter.

“Holopainen and I have met, said what we have to say to each other, and now we can forget what happened and move on.”

His exit means there is only one Kenyan remaining at the club - Sydney Lokale, who was signed from Kariobangi Sharks.

The former Mathare United and Tusker goalkeeper has also played for Kongsvinger, Sandnes Ulf, Ullensaker Kisa IL, Fredkistad, Moss and Lillestrom.

Ayub Timbe is among the first professional players who have reported to the Harambee Stars camp as they prepare to face Comoros in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header.

Timbe, who is currently unattached after announcing he had parted ways with Chinese club Beijing Renhe, was among the first foreign-based stars to arrive for the team’s residential training on Saturday night, alongside striker John Avire, who turns out for Tanta SC in Egypt, and Ismael Gonzalez of UD Las Palmas in Spain.

“It is a good sign to have the professionals coming in,” Kenya coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee told Goal after the trio reported to camp.

“You know how difficult it is for several nations to get their players considering the Covid-19 situation, so I am happy they have arrived and we now wait and see if the rest will make it.

“It is important to have your full squad around so you can plan properly, we need all our foreign-based players to come so we can pick the best squad to face Comoros.”

Other foreign-based players expected in camp include striker Michael Olunga, captain Victor Wanyama, Eric Johanna, Brian Mandela, keeper Arnold Origi, Joseph Okumu, and Johanna Omollo.

However, Goal understands Olunga might not travel for the match as the Kashiwa Reysol camp has been hit by three coronavirus cases, including their coach, and recently Japan's Professional League (JPL) confirmed the match between Kashiwa and Vegalta Sendai had to be rescheduled.

Olunga’s head coach Nelsinho Baptista was among the confirmed members of the team who had contracted the virus but the identities of the other people who tested positive have not been made public yet.

On Friday, Harambee Stars were taken through the laws of the game at Safari Park Hotel ahead of their Afcon clash.

Under the tutelage of Fifa referee Dr. Peter Waweru, the course was aimed at putting the players and the members of the technical bench up to date on the ever-changing laws of the game.

Gor Mahia midfielder and captain Kenneth Muguna was particularly impressed with the knowledge he gained in the session, saying it will go a long way to keep them abreast with constant changes of the game.

“As a player, such a forum is important to me in that I get to keep abreast with the laws of the game that are constantly changing,” Muguna told the FKF official website.

“This session will go a long way in helping me to know what to do and what not to do in a game situation.”

The Comoros qualifiers - set for November 11 and 15 - offers Kenya a chance to fight for a first group win since they drew 1-1 against both Egypt and Togo in the first two games.

The Harambee Stars are in the hunt for back-to-back Afcon qualification since they took part in the 2019 edition but were eliminated in the group stage.

William Troost-Ekong has expressed his delight after scoring his first goal for Watford in their 3-2 victory over Coventry City in Saturday’s Championship game.

The 27-year-old teamed up with the Hornets in the summer from Italian club Udinese and was afforded his fifth appearance at Vicarage Road.

The Nigeria international shone in the encounter, scoring to help Vladimir Ivic’s men secure their sixth win of the season.

The centre-back powered a fine header past goalkeeper Marko Marosi from James Garner’s well-taken corner.

Troost-Ekong is pleased with his contribution in the game and hopes the Hornets will continue to utilize their set-pieces.

“James Garner put a fantastic ball in and made it easy, I just had to run on to it,” Troost-Ekong told the club website.

“It was an important moment and set-pieces are so important in this league, you see how they can change games. It’s been going against us so far this season so to score from a set-piece is massive.

“I’m happy I managed to contribute like that today and hopefully we can get some more during the season.”

Watford took the lead through Andre Gray’s effort but conceded two goals in the space of one minute before Troost-Ekong ignited their comeback and Senegal international Ismaila Sarr scored the winner.

The Hornets have now registered 14 goals in the division so far and conceded nine, winning their last two games.

The Super Eagles defender is happy with his side’s performances in front of goal but wants them to improve on their defence.

“The goals for are really important. We have to do a bit better, we’ve been conceding too many in the last few games but there’s so much we can still improve and I think this team has so much potential,” he continued.

“We just have to keep going and keep working, keep the goalscoring going and hopefully we won’t concede as many goals from set-pieces as we have done.

“The first half we were dominant but just missing a goal. We played well in possession today, we moved the ball better than we did in the previous games and it’s always nice when we score the first goal.

“We lost ourselves for a minute when they got the two goals back, but we showed great character to come out with the three points.”

Victory over Coventry City has ensured the Hornets moved to the second spot on the league table, one point behind leaders Reading and Troost-Ekong believes the position will boost their confidence.

“If you’re looking at the target for the rest of the season, we need to stay on course, so it’s important we stay up in the table, but everyone knows how close it is,” he added.

“If we’d lost today we might have dropped five, six or seven places, so I don’t think you can really look at the table yet, but it’s important for the feeling and for the momentum.”

Troost-Ekong will hope to replicate his impressive performances for Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying games against Sierra Leone on November 13 and 17.

Theo Bongonda was Genk’s hero after scoring twice in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat of St. Truiden in a Belgian First Division A fixture.

Bongonda, 24, found the net on two occasions as unbeaten John van den Brom’s men cruised to their sixth win of the 2020-21 top-flight campaign.

Four minutes into the game, they took the lead through the winger of Congolese descent, who fired an angled shot past goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt following a corner kick from Japanese forward Junya Ito.

A few minutes later, Joakim Maehle was on course to double the visitors’ advantage but his effort was saved by Schmidt.

St. Truiden drew level in the 28th minute courtesy of Yuma Suzuki after being played in by Alexander Filippov. The visitors suffered a momentary setback as star player Dries Wouters was substituted for Kristian Thorstvedt due to an ankle injury.

A minute later, Bongonda completed his double with a sublime lob past the goalkeeper as the Canaries’ defenders were caught flatfooted.

The second half produced little spark owing to the scarcity of goals. Nigeria international Paul Onuachu was presented with a chance to hand his team a two-goal advantage in the 55th minute, but his header was saved by goalkeeper Schmidt.

Despite pouring attacks from Kevin Muscat’s side, who were reduced to 10 men following the expulsion of Steve De Ridder for a second caution, they were unable to produce a comeback as they lost their sixth game of the ongoing season.

While Bongonda saw all minutes of action, Onuachu saw 86 minutes before making way for Cote d’Ivoire’s Eboue Kouassi with Nigeria’s Cyriel Dessers an unused substitute.

For the hosts, Guinea's Ibrahima Sankhon was handed a starter's role but he was replaced in the 68th minute by Tatsuya Ito, while South Korea's Seung-Woo Lee came in for Samuel Asamoah with nine minutes left to play.

Morocco's Samy Mmaee, Guinea's Mory Konate and Angola's Jonathan Buatu were not listed for the derby.

Thanks to this result, Genk sit in third place with 22 points from 12 games, while St. Truiden occupy the 15th spot having garnered nine points with a game less.

Despite representing Belgium at U19 and U21 levels, Bongonda is eligible to represent Congo DR at senior level.

Odei Onaindia is expected to lead the backline for Hyderabad FC in the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL). 

The Nizams have got a new manager in Manuel Roca to guide them after a disappointing debut season. They have made wholesale changes to the squad and have roped in six new foreigners.

Onaindia is a no-nonsense defender with plenty of experience of playing in the Spanish Segunda B Division. His aerial prowess will be a threat to opposition defence during set-pieces. 

Jersey Number: 16

Youth Career and Professional Debut

Born in the Basque region of Spain, he started honing his football skills at a local club called Lekeitio FT. In 2007, he joined the developmental side of Athletic Bilbao and stayed there for a season. 

In 2008, he joined Tercera Division side Basconia. But soon he was loaned out to CD Elgoibar where he made his professional debut.

Senior Career

Onaindia has established himself as a key figure in defece during his various stints with Tercera sides. In 2010, he joined SCD Durango and made 34 appearances and scored two goals. After a year, he joined SD Amorebieta in Segunda B and spent two seasons with the club. He missed only one game in his two seasons and started in all matches. 

He has represented various Segunda B sides like Barakaldo CF, Burgos and UD Melilla. In 2018-19 he joined CD Mirandes and helped the side gain promotion from Segunda B to Segunda Division. He made 31 appearances in that season and racked up more than 2500 minutes. 

In 2019-20, Mirandes had a brilliant run in the Copa Del Rey as they reached the semi-finals of the tournament. He played every minute of the campaign until his side was defeated by Real Sociedad. On the road to the semis, they had vanquished some top teams of La Liga like Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Villarreal. He even scored against the Yellow Submarines at home in a comfortable 4-2 win.

He also scored a late injury-time goal against FC Cadiz in the league to earn a late point for his side in a thrilling 3-3 draw. After his contract ended with Mirandes in 2020, he joined ISL side Hyderabad FC. 

Mumbai City FC seem to be one of the stronger teams, at least on paper, as we inch ever closer to the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season. 

They have revamped their foreign contingent, bringing in former FC Goa manager Sergio Lobera and a host of star players who shone at FC Goa in Hugo Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall and more. 

They have, however, brought in three new faces to the ISL in Hernan Santana, Adam le Fondre and Cy Goddard. Le Fondre is expected to carry the burden of scoring goals and will be Lobera's trump card in attack. 

The 33-year-old striker is a fairly well-known name in England and has experience of playing in the Premier League before moving to Australia. 

Let's take a closer look at his career so far.

Debut at Stockport and excellence at Rochdale

Adam le Fondre made his professional debut after progressing through the ranks at League Two outfit Stockport County. In fact, he scored on his debut, in a 3-1 win over FC Bury in 2004. He moved to Rochdale on loan in January 2007 where he caught the eye with some impressive performances. 

Once again, he scored twice on his debut for Rochdale and even scored four goals in a game against Wrexham. It was no surprise that Rochdale made the move permanent in the summer. He played every single game for the club in League Two, helping them reach the play-offs in the 2007-08 season, ending as the club's topscorer. His form did not wane in 2008-09 as he ended up scoring 21 goals. 

Fellow League Two side Rotherham United splashed the cash for Le Fondre in August 2009 and he promptly scored on debut for them. He finished the season with 30 goals, establishing himself as a fan favourite, helping Rotherham reach the play-off final. He also featured in the League Two Team of the Year in 2009-10. After continuing his form in the 2010-11 season, Championship side Reading came calling for Le Fondre. 

He scored 12 goals for Reading in the Championship in the 2011-12 season, playing a key role in the club securing the title and gaining Premier League promotion. In fact, he scored in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace in April, the point that secured the title for Reading. 

Premier League experience

He scored on his Premier League debut in 2012-13 season, a 90th-minute penalty that secured a 1-1 draw against Stoke City in August. In November, he scored a brace to help Reading beat Everton 2-1 and win their first Premier League game of the season. He also scored in a losing cause against Manchester United that season. In fact, in 34 matches, he scored 12 goals and also notched the record for most Premier League goals in a season as a substitute. 

He was named the Premier League player of the month in January 2013 for scoring five goals during the month. He was also named Reading's Player of the Season though the club could not avoid relegation. 

In the 2013-14 season, he scored only 15 goals in the league for Reading before moving to Cardiff City. But after a slow start to life, he was loaned out to Bolton Wanderers (also playing in the Championship) in January 2015. He finished with eight goals for Bolton and was the club's topscorer. However, he was loaned out again at the start of the 2015-16 season by Cardiff, this time to Wolves. 

He struggled at Wolves and when he came back to Cardiff in 2016 summer, he was deemed surplus to requirements. He would end up joining Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers on loan before joining the latter on a permanent deal in 2017. 

But after a year, he left for Sydney FC in the A-League where he spent two seasons. 

International football

Adam le Fondre has not featured for the English national team at any level. 

Last stint

Le Fondre was at Sydney FC for two years after signing in August 2018. He made an instant impact at Sydney, scoring 16 goals to end up as the second-highest goalscorer behind Roy Krishna. But his goals powered Sydney to the title. He scored twice in the 6-1 semifinal win over Melbourne Victory and scored from the spot in the penalty shootout which determined the winner in the final.

In the 2019-20 season, he stepped it up a gear. He scored 20 goals this time around, including a hat-trick, as Sydney FC won the title again. Once again, he scored in the 2-0 semifinal win against Perth Glory. 

Fulham manager Scott Parker admitted he was disappointed and angry after seeing Ademola Lookman's failed Panenka attempt in a 1-0 loss against West Ham on Saturday. 

After David Moyes' side had taken the lead via Tomas Soucek in the 91st minute, Fulham were awarded a penalty just before full-time after VAR spotted a foul on Tom Cairney. 

Lookman, on loan from RB Leipzig, stepped up to the spot but opted for a poor Panenka attempt that was easily saved by Lukas Fabianski. 

The Cottagers have now collected just four points from their first eight games back in the Premier League and Parker didn't mince his words when asked about Lookman's penalty. 

"I'm disappointed and angry," Parker told BBC's Match of the Day. "You can't take penalties like that and he knows that. He's a young player and he's learning.

"The boy has made a mistake. Ade is the first to understand that. When you're young and you're learning you have to learn quick. He is disappointed and rightly so. This is part and parcel of football, of growing as players and as a team. We'll get around him now.

"Ade has been fantastic since he's been in. He'll need to dust himself down. When you're young you make mistakes."

Despite Lookman's costly mistake, his team-mates rallied around him at full-time and were quick to look forward. 

"Ademola is devastated, apologetic," Cairney said."He's a young man who has had a good start here and is a big player for us. We'll get around him and pick him up, he knows he could have got us a point."

Midfielder Harrison Reed adding: "He has apologised so we will brush it under the carpet and move on. He's gutted in there, we all are."

Lookman has scored one goal across six appearances for Parker's side this season after failing to strike at all for Leipzig during his limited involvement in their 2019-20 campaign. 

Premier League great Ian Wright slammed the young attacker's decision to attempt a Panenka at such a vital moment for his new club. 

“That is as unprofessional as I’ve seen for a long time,” Wright said post-game. “I don’t know what he’s thinking. It’s poor. It’s unprofessional. You have to score that penalty or you have to make the goalkeeper save it." 

Eight-time winners Perak began their 2020 Malaysia Cup campaign in style, thumping minnows Kelantan United 4-0 in their first round match on Saturday.

The Bos Gaurus had Leandro dos Santos to thank; the Brazilian midfielder's hat-trick (7', 21', 48') helping them overcome the second-tier club. Careca sealed the win with an injury time goal.

In the post-game interview with the match broadcaster, Perak boss Mehmet Durakovic told that his side need to be more clinical with their finishing. 

"What we wanted to do was to pressure and pressure [United] and it paid off, so I'm very happy with the outcome of the game.

"I told my boys to take their chances; we had so many chances in the first half it could have been four or five. At the end of the day, if you don't score when playing against a good team, you'll get punished. We led 2-0 at halftime but if my team had put their chances away, it could have been four or five!" explained the Australian.

He was also full of praise for the night's hat-trick hero Leandro.

"I'm not surprised [that dos Santos would get a hat-trick]. I've known him for a long time; he plays the full 90 minutes and never ever gives up. I'm very happy for him and his family." 

Diego Simeone played down the importance of Atletico Madrid's upcoming clash with Barcelona after they moved top of La Liga.

Atletico extended their unbeaten run in La Liga to 23 games – the most in their history – with a 4-0 thrashing of Cadiz on Saturday.

Joao Felix scored a brace and goals from Marcos Llorente and Luis Suarez at the Wanda Metropolitano moved Atletico onto 17 points from seven league games.

Simeone's men will host Barca after the international break, but the Atletico coach said it would not be a decisive clash as they prepare for a prolonged title charge.

"They know us, they know that beyond happiness we do not depend on what is going to happen in the game against Barcelona," he said. 

"There are 15 days left, players leave with the national team, we will have to wait for the time we have and we do not move away from that. It is our way of thinking and we live in the next game. 

"We will see when the players return in what conditions we see them and we will form the teams accordingly."

Since being humbled 4-0 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last month, Atletico have won four of five games.

Simeone praised the form of his side, who are joined by Real Sociedad – who have played one more game – on 17 points at the top.

"What generates enthusiasm and enthusiasm for me is what has happened since the draw against Huesca or Villarreal or the defeat in Munich," he said. 

"I see the team well, with dynamics, enthusiasm, strength, desire to do things and see how we evolve in training. What makes me happy is that those players who had fewer minutes like [Mario] Hermoso, [Hector] Herrera or Llorente last year, today are being very important in the team. 

"There is an improvement far beyond today's result. We play with four midfielders who can occupy many places. I think we have a balanced squad. 

"Let's wait for the return of those who are out – [Sime] Vrsaljko will replace [Kieran] Trippier, Vitolo, [Diego] Costa, [Yannick] Carrasco."

Jurgen Klopp is fearful that coronavirus could run through his Liverpool squad when his players return from international duty.

Liverpool face Manchester City in a blockbuster Premier League clash on Sunday, after which a chunk of his squad will depart to link up with their respective international teams.

While admitting no one is safe with coronavirus infections high in the UK at present, Klopp - who said that the title battle is not a two-horse race - feels Liverpool have procedures in place to limit risk.

However, he does not know what protocols are in place with the international teams and would be in favour of being allowed to keep his players from leaving if the club were not satisfied with the arrangements.

"Yes I am concerned,” Klopp said, according to the Mirror. “But I am concerned anyway at the moment with all these things.

"For us it feels safer when we are all together here at the training ground.

“We have had some cases, not many but some – though not for a while which is good – but it can happen because of the time we are living in.

“But the problem when they go on ­international duty is we have no power.

"We tried to find out what all the protocols are with all the different FAs but it’s up to those individual FAs to answer or not.

“They don’t have to – and FIFA so far is not really involved in that.

“It would be a massive help that if you don’t get a reply from an FA, for example, then you don’t send the player. And then I’m certain you would get 100 per cent replies and you’d know that the protocols are all fine.

“But with some we don’t know and there is nothing we can really do.”

After the clash with City at the Etihad on Sunday, Klopp will see a host of his players disappear for around 12 days.

As well as the time away, Klopp is concerned about the fatigue factor. Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum, for example, could be involved in three games in the space of seven days as the Dutch have a friendly with Spain on November 11, followed by Nations League matches with Bosnia & Herzegovina and Poland on the 15th and the 18th of the month respectively.

“I am concerned not just about Covid but also that playing three games in nine days is massive,” Klopp said.

Angel Di Maria wants to end his European adventure at Paris Saint-Germain, but suggested the club need to show willingness in contract negotiations.

Di Maria returned to the PSG domestic side in some style on Saturday, scoring twice and crafting another goal for Moise Kean in a 3-0 win over Rennes in Ligue 1.

It was the Argentina international’s first appearance in Ligue 1 since September 28, having been handed a four-match ban for spitting at Marseille defender Alvaro during a bad-tempered clash.

Di Maria has turned out for some giants of the European game since moving over from Rosario Central in 2007, but he does not want to add to his stable of European clubs - which includes Benfica, Real Madrid, Manchester United and PSG - as he feels at home in the French capital.

“I want to end my European career here, but it's not only up to me,” Di Maria told Canal +. 

Di Maria’s current contract is up at the end of the season, and he is doing his best to earn fresh terms.

The 32-year-old added on his current form: “It's good. I am happy about it. It's a club where there is a lot of affection towards me. I am doing my best.”

Coach Thomas Tuchel is under pressure to deliver at PSG, after their agonising Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich last season. 

The German has the backing of Di Maria, who said: “Yes, we still support Tuchel. He is a great coach, who led us to the final of the Champions League. He did the maximum for us, and we are giving the maximum for him. He has our full confidence. And he trusts us too."

The win over Rennes did not erase the memories of the loss to RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday, and Tuchel bristled at questions over his team selection - particularly the role of Marquinhos who has been deployed both in defence and midfield this term.

"You [journalists] lack respect for the players we have and for what the team has to do,” Tuchel said. “And it is very sad. I am very happy with the team and proud of its performance.

"The result is better, but we didn't play better than Wednesday. We had a great fight and the mentality was exceptional. 

“The guys have been amazing despite the new injuries. I am very happy and proud. It's one of the best wins since I've been here.”

Erling Haaland has admitted he must be more clinical in front of goal despite scoring in Borussia Dortmund's Klassiker defeat to Bayern Munich.

Dortmund went down 3-2 to the Bundesliga champions at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday, with Haaland netting the final goal of the game - his sixth of the season in the league.

But the 20-year-old might have struck long before that late effort in a wasteful display, missing the target with his prior three shots.

"I have to score more goals," he said. "If we don't put our chances away at this level, then we won't win."

It was Haaland's decision-making that was as much a problem as his profligacy.

While the Norway international attempted four shots, missing one of his two big chances, he also passed up a host of opportunities by mistiming a run or misplacing a pass.

Haaland was caught offside on three occasions, having been flagged only twice across his prior five games this term combined.

Despite repeatedly looking for a team-mate when a shot might have been on, the ex-Salzburg striker also played fewer passes into the final third (seven) than he had in previous matches. Just 42.9 per cent of these balls were completed - another season low.

This inaccuracy meant, for the first time in the Bundesliga this season, Haaland failed to create a chance, unable to add to his tally of two assists.

"[Bayern] are the best team in the world and we have to work harder to take the next step to be as good as them," Haaland said.

Taking heed of the opposition, he will surely look to emulate Bayern's ex-Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski, who showed his class once again.

The Poland star scored with one of his two shots, had two more efforts disallowed for marginal offside calls - the only occasions on which he was flagged - and created Bayern's third goal for Leroy Sane.

It was the sort of display Haaland has shown he can similarly produce - just not yet in the biggest game in German club football.

Dortmund Dortmund will look to regroup during the international break, before hitting the ground running when they face Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on November 21.

Pep Guardiola has no intention of resting ‘exceptional’ Raheem Sterling, saying the forward is “one of the most fantastic players I ever had in my career.”

Manchester City are short of attacking options, with their problems at the top of the pitch heightened by an injury to Sergio Aguero.

Sterling has been filling in at the tip of the attack, and he will be in the side when they face his old club Liverpool at the Etihad on Sunday.

“He will be there again,” Guardiola said, per the Guardian. “There will be a moment when he takes a rest but he is so important for us. That is why we cannot [leave him out]. 

“He is an exceptional player. With his physicality he plays all the minutes. He is one of the most fantastic players I ever had in my career.”

Sterling arrived at City from Liverpool in 2015 and there is no doubt he has improved as a player under the guidance of Guardiola.

Guardiola believes the 25-year-old is only scratching the surface of his potential, but does not want to add pressure on Sterling’s shoulders.

“He is a better player than when he arrived,” Guardiola said. “He’s exceptional. I am pretty sure of his mentality and desire to win and improve a lot. He deserves a lot. I wish in three, four, five years he will be a much, much better player than he is today.

“Will he be one of the best in the world if he carries on improving? My advice, I would say to him don’t think about this. It makes no sense. Just enjoy the life; focus and destiny will dictate who he becomes as a player. It depends on him.”

City have made a stuttering start to the season, with three wins, two draws and a loss to their name from six games, but a win over champions Liverpool on Sunday would catapult them up the standings ahead of the international break.

A loss would leave them in the bottom half of the table and their first game back after the internationals is a trip to Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham.

Tottenham star Harry Kane sees no reason why his team cannot challenge reigning Premier League champions Liverpool and push for the title in 2020-21. 

The north Londoners have recovered from a slow start to the season to win on their last two outings, a run that has lifted them up to sixth place. 

Victory on Sunday away to West Brom would lift Spurs above current leaders Southampton and Liverpool for at least a handful of hours, with the Reds visiting Manchester City later in the day. 

A second-placed finish behind Chelsea in 2016-17 is the closest the club have come to glory in the Premier League era, but Kane warned that they have everything it takes to fight for silverware this time round. 

“When you look at the ability of our squad, you would definitely say that we’ve got enough to win a title," the striker told reporters ahead of Sunday's game at the Hawthorns.

“But I’d also say that we’ve been close over the last four, five years and haven’t quite got over the line. So, it’s not as easy as just having a good squad - and winning a few games - to challenge for the title.

“But this is a season where I don’t think one team’s going to run away with it - like Liverpool last year. There’s going to be opportunities for other teams to put good runs together and get right up the table.

“We’ve got to make sure we don’t get carried away either. We know we’ve been playing well - and the last two games have been good for confidence, to grind out results and get ugly wins. That’s what we’re going to need.

“There have still been points dropped from winning positions. But so far so good. If we can win on the weekend, we’ll be around the top of the table going into that international break. We’d have taken that before the start of the season.”

Spurs' recent upturn in form has eased the pressure on Jose Mourinho, who has endured mixed fortunes in the role since succeeding Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.

“It’s never easy for a manager to come in half way through a season and stamp his authority on a team,” Kane added.

“Especially with the lockdown as well. It’s been a difficult time. But since we’ve come back, we’ve signed some new players. We have a nice, big healthy squad and it allows Jose to stamp his identity on the team.

“It’s great to have the likes of Gareth [Bale] and Joe Hart, who’ve won the biggest trophies around the world, in the squad, on the pitch and in the dressing room.

“It’s a bonus to have a great team of leaders. That’s what we need to push all the way. We’ve a lot of experience and we tell each other how it is.

“We have a manager who does the same. It’s a long way to go but we’re feeling confident.”

Manager Roy Hodgson has commended Eberechi Eze’s display in Crystal Palace’s 4-1 defeat of Leeds United in Saturday’s Premier League encounter.

The 22-year-old was handed his third start in the ongoing English topflight campaign, and he repaid his manager’s trust in him by providing one goal and an assist.

Thanks to his effort, he improved on his personal record of scoring and assisting in a single game for the fifth time.

For Hodgson, the England youth international had a great goal apart from his stunning free-kick that left goalkeeper Illan Meslier with no chance.

"I think apart from the free-kick, I thought his whole performance was very good," the 73-year-old told club website.

"I don’t think you could fault him in any way; I don’t think you could fault his defensive work – certainly couldn’t fault anything he did on the ball, and of course the goal for me was the icing on the cake."

"I thought it was a highly competitive game. I thought we played well and I thought we were good value for our victory," he continued.

"That’s a good victory because we are playing a team that started the season so well and have got a style of play that is a bit different to the style of play that we are normally used to seeing in the Premier League.

“Not only did we deal well with it defensively, I thought in terms of our attacking play we were a constant threat."

One the undesirable side for Hodgson is the fact his team’s energy will be reshaped by next week’s international break.

"I am a little bit disappointed that players are going to go as far as Africa to play matches," he added.

"I don’t know that in this Covid world and environment in which we live, it is really great news to be sending your players to places like Sudan and Mauritius.

"But it is something that we probably have to do, but I am just hoping this time the countries that they go and play for will look after them well because the last time we lost Jordan Ayew for two weeks."

Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin has been called up to the Spain squad as replacement for Jesus Navas.

Bellerin last appeared for Spain in 2016, but is in line to play in the friendly with Netherlands on November 11 and Nations League games with Switzerland and Germany on the 14th and 17th of the month respectively.

He has been beset by injuries, but is currently enjoying an extended run in the Arsenal side and it will not be lost on Bellerin that the place in the Spain squad opened up on account of the injury to Sevilla’s Jesus Navas.

The Spanish FA confirmed Bellerin’s recall, and the defender will link up with the rest of the squad on Monday.

The federation also confirmed coach Luis Enrique is considering whether to call up a replacement for Barcelona’s Ansu Fati who picked up an injury in the Catalan side's 5-2 win over Real Betis on Saturday.

While Navas and Fati will be reeling from their injuries, it is a great moment for Bellerin. The 25-year-old’s career took a serious backward step when he suffered a knee ligament injury in January of 2019.

It has been a long road to recovery, and there were times when it appeared he would not be able to scale the heights predicted of him earlier in his career.

However, he has worked extremely hard on his fitness and is now a regular in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.  His performances have clearly caught the eye of Luis Enrique, who has handed him a recall for the first time since 2016.

Should he appear in any of the three games in November, it will add to the trio of caps Bellerin has to his name, and it could be the friendly with Netherlands is his best chance of making it back on the international stage.

His debut came against Bosnia and Herzegovina in May of 2016, while he was an unused member of Vicente Del Bosque’s Spain squad at the European Championship later that summer.

Spain currently top Nations League Group A4, but both Germany and Ukraine are just a point adrift so any slip ups against the former or Switzerland could see them fall out of contention.

Luis Suarez claimed his 29th La Liga scalp on Saturday as the veteran Atletico Madrid forward showed once more that his instincts around the net remain as sharp as ever. 

The Uruguay ace lined up in attack alongside Joao Felix to take on La Liga newcomers Cadiz, with the chance to join Real Sociedad at the top of the table with a win. 

And it proved a routine evening for Diego Simeone's men, as Felix hit two goals to take his league tally to five, while Suarez and Marco Llorente also netted to down the visitors 4-0. 

Suarez's strike was Atletico's third, coming just after half time as the striker converted in typical fashion from close range. 

He has long been the scourge of La Liga defences since joining Barcelona from Liverpool in 2014, and now boasts another victim in the Spanish top flight. 

Cadiz became the 29th team to concede from Suarez in his six years in Spain, out of a possible total of 29, although despite defeat the newcomers remain in sixth place thanks to their positive start to the season. 

The forward's strike-rate also stands out as he continues to show his ruthless side in front of goal. Saturday's goal took him to five for the season in La Liga, tying with Felix as the division's top scorer so far. 

Those strikes have come from just eight shots on target, moreover; in comparison, former team-mate Lionel Messi has needed no less than 16 to reach his current league tally of three, with two of those coming from the penalty spot. 

Suarez's attentions now turn to international duty, with Uruguay taking on Colombia and Brazil in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. 

When he returns to club duty, however, a rather special reunion is on the cards. Atletico host none other than Barcelona in their first game back from the break, in a La Liga clash scheduled for November 21. 

Should the Uruguayan get the better of his former team-mates and find the back of the net he will take his list of league victims to 30 and maintain that perfect record of scoring against every opponent he has faced.