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The Premier League has insisted that their offer to provide the EFL with a rescue package to help smaller clubs stay afloat is still on the table.

A number of lower league clubs are in significant financial danger due to the continued absence of supporters in stadiums at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

Restrictions designed to contain the spread of coronavirus remain in place across the country, with football forced to continue in a behind-closed-doors capacity for the foreseeable future.

It is feared that a lack of matchday revenue will lead to a number of clubs going bust, but the Premier League have already outlined plans to bailout the football league.

The EFL rejected a £50 million ($65m) package for Leagues One and Two from the top flight on October 16, with the proposal said to have fallen well short of the required amount to provide the necessary support for clubs in need.

However, Premier League officials reconvened to discuss how best to come to the aid of the lower leagues again this week, and have promised to ensure that all clubs in the football league will be protected amid the continued financial uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

The proposal has been outlined despite clubs in England's top division already losing around £700m ($916m) last season and currently sustaining losses of  £100m ($131m) a month due to the pandemic.

"Premier League Shareholders met today to discuss a number of important issues," an official statement released by the top flight on Thursday reads.

"Clubs reiterated that the rescue package offered to the EFL remains on the table for League One, League Two and Championship clubs who are suffering significant COVID-19-related hardship.

"The offer guarantees no EFL club need go out of business as a result of the pandemic in the 2020/21 season, and our intention is to play an active role in helping clubs return to financial stability. The Premier League will engage directly with any EFL club that is suffering severe financial losses due to the pandemic, and will remain in dialogue with the EFL on this important issue.

"The rescue package is on top of solidarity payments totalling £110 million already advanced to the EFL this season, alongside additional financial support for youth development and community programmes.

"Shareholders also discussed the broadcast options of non-UK live matches from round nine onwards following the international break later this month. Discussions with all stakeholders are ongoing and a broadcast solution will be announced in due course."

Victor Osimhen has not been named in Napoli's squad while Kalidou Koulibaly will be starting against Rijeka in their Europa League game on Thursday night.

The Nigeria international has managed one goal and one assist for the Parthenopeans since his big-money move from Lille in the summer.

The forward featured prominently for Gennaro Gattuso’s men in their opening two games in the European competition but yet to open his account for the club in the tournament.

His teammate and Senegal international Koulibaly has been handed his third start and eighth appearance for the Parthenopeans across all competitions in this campaign.

Algeria international Faouzi Ghoulam has been named in the Parthenopeans’ bench and will hope to make his first appearance in the competition this season.

Napoli are currently second behind AZ Alkmaar with three points from two games and will aim to secure their second win in the top European competition.

The Parthenopeans lost against Sassuolo in their last league game and the African stars will hope to help them return to winning ways.

Senegal defender Koulibaly has featured in more than 70 games in European competitions in his entire career.

 Osimhen has made seven appearances in the tournaments, including two in Europa League while Ghoulam has featured in 29 games.

Steven Gerrard says Mohamed Salah will go-ahead to ‘embarrass’ his Liverpool Champions League goalscoring record.

The Egypt international got a goal and an assist as Jurgen Klopp’s team silenced Atalanta 5-0 at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on Tuesday night.

His effort, a calm left-footed finish at the end of a rapid burst forward, was the former AS Roma star’s 21st in the tournament for the Anfield giants. And that moved him on level terms with Gerrard as the Reds' top goalscorer in European Cup and Champions League history.

Delighted to see the two-time African Player of the Year match his feat, the Rangers boss believes the 28-year-old can go all the way in the record books.

“Records are there to be broken, of course, they are,” Gerrard told the Scottishsun.

“I was very proud last night to see Mo Salah equal my scoring record for Liverpool in Europe, it was only a matter of time.

“I honestly think he’ll go on and embarrass my record — and I hope that he does.

“That kind of thing is always there for strikers. Mo Salah and Alfredo go about their business always being hungry for goals.

“My job for Liverpool was slightly different. There’s nothing better than seeing someone going for a record and then smashing it to pieces.”

Salah had expressed his happiness equalling the club’s record.

“I am happy to have equalled Gerrard’s record [with 21 goals in the Champions League], he is a Liverpool legend,” Salah said on Sky Sports.

“It’s an honour for me, but my job is to score to help the team and win games most importantly.

“Unlocking the game immediately gave us confidence and the possibility of creating more chances. Atalanta’s game helped us, but it also helps them.

“They proved it last year, they are a team that scores a lot and also concedes a lot. They are a strong team, that’s for sure. They’ll do well again this year.”

Since joining the Reds for £36.7 million ($45m) in the summer of 2017 from Serie A outfit AS Roma, the Egyptian has been an instant hit for Klopp’s men helping them win the Champions League, Premier League, Super Cup and Club World Cup.

Veteran Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan believes his recent move to Premier League (GPL) side Legon Cities could catapult him back into national team contention.

The 34-year-old sealed a one-year deal to the domestic side on Saturday, bringing an end to a nine-month period without a club and marking his return to the GPL for the first time since 2003.

Currently the most-capped Ghana player and highest scorer of all-time, he has not been recalled to the Black Stars since featuring at the 2009 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

"Somebody might say 'he is about to retire or something', but I am not listening to that and I am just focussing on my playing career and then I will see what happens," he told BBC Sport Africa.

"It [Ghana call-up] depends on how everything goes. I am a new player with Legon Cities and I have to focus on my game.

"Right now I need to get fit and start scoring goals and then we will see where my future lies with the national team. The boys are doing well, it is a new generation right now and I am also focussing on my personal thing and on my playing career.

"I have to do well in the league first, and that is what matters to me. I have to start playing and enjoying my football and it will happen naturally if it is meant to be. Everything depends on me."

Gyan made his Ghana debut in a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Somalia in 2003. He went on to score at the final tournament in a group fixture against the Czech Republic in Germany, which was the West Africans' first-ever World Cup goal.

At the 2010 World Cup, he played a crucial role in helping the Black Stars reach the quarter-final of the tournament, scoring an extra-time winner in a Round of 16 showdown against the USA.

Four years later in Brazil, a goal against Portugal in Ghana's last group game conferred on him the title of Africa's all-time top scorer at the World Cup, beating Roger Milla of Cameroon's previous record of five goals.

Also currently Ghana's second all-time top scorer at Afcon, the former Udinese, Sunderland and Rennes forward has amassed a total of 109 appearances and 51 goals for the West Africans.

Legon Cities begin their 2020-21 GPL campaign against Berekum Chelsea on November 14.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt does not believe that Orlando Pirates played better than them in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-finals, but profited from Amakhosi’s “bad errors” which they will correct in Sunday’s return fixture at FNB Stadium.

Hunt says had they scored first in last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat, “it would have been a different game,” something he is now pushing his charges to do in the second leg to overturn the huge deficit.

Believing that they did not succumb to Pirates’ brilliance but due to their own attacking and defensive frailties, Hunt can see a turnaround in fortunes if they rectify their shortcomings.

“We certainly need to try and take opportunities when we get them and obviously defensively we weren’t good in the first leg, so we have to defend better. It’s pretty basic, you have to take your chances against a team like Orlando Pirates,” Hunt told the media.

“I don’t think we were very good on the day, I don’t think they [Pirates] were very good as well because certainly if you look at the goals conceded.

“But anybody would say that when you concede goals, they were poor goals. They were certainly from some real bad errors committed but in saying that we also had some good chances and if we could have scored first it would have been a different game.

“But we can’t talk about that now. We have to look forward to Sunday and try score the first goal of the game. If you score the first goal of the game I think the match will change complexion a little bit. That’s important, trying to score the first goal.”

In the five games Chiefs have played so far this season, their forwards have struggled to score.

With chief striker Samir Nurkovic out injured, Hunt has placed more hopes on Khama Billiat, and Leonardo Castro.

But none of the attackers is yet to find the back of the net and Hunt has singled out Billiat, pointing out what the Zimbabwean needs to do to finally break his goal duck.

“I think he just has to work a little bit more on the training ground. When you are not scoring you have to try work harder for the team and then goals will come,” said Hunt.

“The most important thing is that the team must come first. He has worked a little bit harder here and there but needs more consistency. What we can’t do at the moment is give him a little bit of a break because of our situation so we have to try and play him through this patch and try to get him to be in the right areas and do the right things.

“We have spoken on numerous occasions about trying to get him understand where he needs to be when the ball is in certain areas, a little bit of self-instinct as well, about wanting to do it. He just have to break the ice a little bit I think.

“In the five games I have been here, he has had some unbelievable chances and he should have taken one or two by now. As long as he keeps on getting in those areas that is the most important thing. He has all my support, I am right behind him and he has to get through this for sure.”

Billiat's task on Sunday is to help Chiefs beat Pirates by a four-goal margin for them to proceed to the final of the MTN8.

With Thomas Partey and Hakim Ziyech both starring in the Premier League this weekend, African Football HQ is putting the continent’s big summer movers under the spotlight in Episode 20.

Certainly, Partey and Ziyech are among the success stories of the window, but which of them is having the bigger impact at their new employers?

Ziyech was influential in Chelsea’s 3-0 dissection against Burnley this weekend, bringing his Ajax form to bear in the Premier League with a performance bubbling over with creativity.

He scored one and assisted another on the day, following up on the goal he scored on his first start for the Blues against Krasnodar.

In scoring in both games, he becomes the first player since Diego Costa to score on his first two appearances for the West Londoners—six years ago—and Frank Lampard must be delighted that the Moroccan is now fit.

His innovation and imagination kept the Burnley defence on the back foot throughout, and with Ziyech in the side, Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner can be confident they’ll have ample goalscoring opportunities this term.

The question for Ziyech now is whether he can maintain the output he demonstrated in the Eredivisie over in England; he’s had a hand in 30 goals in his last 40 appearances in all competitions at club level, and Chelsea are certainly lucky to have him!

At Arsenal, Partey may also stake a claim to be the most successful African mover of the summer, having settled quickly at the Emirates Stadium after leaving Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day.

The powerhouse eclipsed Paul Pogba as the Londoners defeated Manchester United on Sunday, and the comparison between the two midfielders couldn’t have been starker.

Partey delivered a complete display, showcasing both his offensive and defensive qualities, but credit must also go to his midfield partner Mohamed Elneny, who was flawless alongside the new boy.

On this week’s episode, the pod also examine the performances so far of other new signings such as Victor Osimhen, John Obi Mikel, Edouard Mendy, Ademola Lookman, Achraf Hakimi and Ola Aina. Which of them are proving to be the deal of the year so far?

Finally, the pod also assess the homecoming of Asamoah Gyan, who returns to Legon Cities and the Ghana Premier League 17 years after leaving Liberty Professionals to begin his European career with Udinese.

It’s clearly a romantic move, but which of the parties involved will truly benefit from Gyan’s return to West Africa?

 Orlando Pirates defender Ntsikelelo Nyauza says it was important to secure a victory over Bloemfontein Celtic ahead of Sunday's Soweto Derby clash.

The Buccaneers edged out Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 to record their maiden win of the season in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) on Wednesday night.

Pirates had started their league campaign with two consecutive 1-1 draws against AmaZulu FC and Stellenbosch FC.

Nyauza explained that they were keen to collect maximum points against Phunya Sele Sele in order to move up on the league standings. 

“It was very important for us to get the result, so, that we can at least get the three points and climb up the table," Nyauza told the club's social media platforms on Thursday. 

"It will also give us confidence going forward to the next game."

Pirates will take on their arch-rivals Chiefs in the 2020 MTN8 semi-final second-leg clash with the Buccaneers leading 3-0 on aggregate. 

Nyauza, who produced a Man of the Match performance in the clash against Celtic, indicated that Phunya Sele Sele made it difficult for them at Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein. 

“When you are playing an away game against Celtic it’s very difficult. They are an organised team, the same thing applies to us. We are tactical. They are also tactical," he added. 

"So, we had to be organised and focused. We had to play three at the back [and] it was a tactical change so that we can be more offensive and at least get a result.

"That’s what we did, we played [Siphesihle] Ndlovu and he got us [the goal] and we got the three points.”

The victory took the Buccaneers to the sixth spot on the league standings with seven points from three matches their next game in the competition is against SuperSport United on November 21.

However, Pirates have now turned their attention to their eagerly anticipated encounter against Chiefs as they look to reach the MTN8 final for the first time since 2014.

Chiefs will be the hosts at the 2010 Fifa World Cup final venue, FNB Stadium on Sunday. 

Geoffrey Kondogbia is ready to get started with Atletico Madrid, with the African saying he takes “great pride” in becoming the latest player to wear the shirt.

The Central African Republic midfielder completed a €10 million move to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium as a replacement for Thomas Partey who joined Arsenal.

He will wear the No 4 shirt, and the former Inter Milan and Monaco man revealed he feels proud of his new team as he gets ready to begin his Los Rojiblancos career under manager Diego Simeone.

“I’m excited to be here with you, with this club. It really a source of great pride to be able to wear this shirt. I can’t wait to put it on for the first time,” Kondogbia told club media.

“It’s always hard to talk about yourself. I think I can bring hard work and commitment to the club, teammates and fans.

“That’s the main thing. Maybe I’ll be able to bring other things too. I haven’t been able to work with [Diego Simeone] until now.

“From the outside, you can see someone who has been competing at the highest level for many years.

“He shares his values with his players, such as commitment and hard work. These things are very important if you want to reach your goals. Those are the words I think of when I see the coach.”

The 27-year-old is also delighted to reunite with Belgium international Yannick Carrasco in Atletico Madrid as both players were teammates at Ligue 1 side AS Monaco. He also expressed his readiness to play a role in the club’s success.

“Yannick and I have enjoyed great times in the past. Now its time to live the present and future,” he continued.

“I’m happy to have him again as a teammate, because he’s a great boy – personally and professionally.

“The club and its fans have a family feel to it. I also spoke to the president. The first thing that comes to mind is that this is a family-oriented club.

“Its all about hard work and commitment as I said before and humbleness. Those things are very important in football and especially in life. To me, being able to wear this shirt is very special.”

Former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Sam Nyamweya has termed Kisumu All-Stars relegation as ‘death of football in Nyanza’ and has also blamed Nick Mwendwa’s leadership.

The region is known as the major source of talent for both the FKF Premier League clubs and the national team but it is now clear they would not have an original team participating in the top-tier.

Western Stima, that have made Moi Stadium in Kisumu their base, shifted from Kakamega a few years ago.

“Vihiga United promotion to the now renamed FKF Premier League has dealt a major blow to football in Nyanza region,” Nyamweya said in a statement obtained by Goal.

“It is now official that the larger Nyanza region has no team participating in the top tier league in Kenya after the exit of Kisumu All-Stars, and the withdrawal of sponsorship from Western Stima by the sponsors Kenya Power and Lighting Company, the relegation of Sony Sugar, and the disbandment of Chemelil Sugar.

“Once considered as the granary of Kenyan football, the region is now a pale shadow of the former self.”

The former FKF official went ahead and explained the genesis of the problems that teams from the region have faced.

“Poor leadership, sycophancy, misplaced priorities, and hero-worshipping of one Nick Mwendwa has characterised football leadership in Nyanza and its effects have started to manifest and reverberate across the region.

“The buck stops at the doorsteps of the self-imposed football leaders in Nyanza and impostors at Kandanda house whose roots are in Nyanza.

Nyamweya compared the state of soccer during his reign to what has been witnessed under the current football leadership.

“During my tenure as president of FKF the Nyanza region had four teams in the top tier league namely Sony Sugar, Muhuroni FC, Chemelil Sugar and Western Stima.

“In about four years these clubs are out of the top flight football and the future in the region looks gloomy and bleak.

“It is instructive to note that one of my first infrastructure projects as the president of FKF was the laying of the state of art artificial turf at the Moi Stadium, which served to boost football standards in the region

“To regain the lost glory of the region I call on all progressive football stakeholders in Nyanza region to reject the self-imposed, unregistered and unrecognised FKF leadership and join forces with other like-minded progressive football leaders in the counties in advancing the cause for transformation of the football ecosystem.”

Kisumu All-Stars – promoted a season ago – returned to the National Super League after a second leg playoffs defeat to Vihiga United.

Mwendwa was re-elected for a four-year term in an election that Nyamweya declared interest but ended up not contesting for the presidency.

Manchester City’s home date with Liverpool on Sunday “almost decides the season”, says former Blues captain Richard Dunne, with the last two champions of England expected to lead a title charge once again.

Liverpool, who brought their 30-year wait for top-flight glory to a close in 2019-20, have made their way back to the loftiest of perches.

Jurgen Klopp’s side, who have not been at their free-flowing best this season, are once again looking down on the rest of their domestic rivals.

City, who have also struggled for consistency out of the blocks, sit five points off the pace in 10th – although they do have a game in hand.

Many have suggested that the battle for supremacy will be much tighter in 2020-21 than it has been of late, but Dunne still believes that Reds and Blues are the teams to catch and could determine the destination of major silverware when they lock horns.

He told Sky Sports ahead of an eagerly-anticipated encounter at the Etihad Stadium: “It's huge. This game almost decides the season.

“The two teams haven't lost a lot of games over the last few years so they know that the importance of the three points in this one is massive.

“City go into it after beating Liverpool 4-0 last year but they'll know that wasn't the real Liverpool side, they'd already wrapped up the league by then.

“It's going to be very competitive. I think for City, and for Liverpool as well, they'll understand how big it is. They'll understand that everything up to now has sort of been a warm-up for this game.

“It's not just the result of one game this weekend, this could turn the championship and this could give you the belief to go on a run and try to a build a lead, or for City to catch up with Liverpool.

“The players are going to be really up for it and looking forward to it. It's got the makings of a great game.”

Pressed on whether Pep Guardiola’s hosts can take all three points, Dunne added: “City need to win. They're a few points behind Liverpool and I fancy them at the weekend.

“I think they're in good form, Liverpool have a couple of problems defensively and I fancy City to take advantage of that.”

Both sides face some important selection decisions heading into a crunch clash, with untimely injuries working against them, and Dunne feels that Ferran Torres – who impressed as a makeshift striker in City’s Champions League win over Olympiakos – may be asked to lead the line for the Blues.

The ex-Republic of Ireland international defender said: “I've been very impressed with Torres playing centre-forward.

“They signed him to play on the wing but through circumstances he's ended up in a central position. The way he's been playing has been really positive for the team.

“He's been stretching defences in behind and giving them different options. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Torres who started.

“To have [Sergio] Aguero back would be brilliant and [Gabriel] Jesus came back with that goal. Even if you have them two in reserve to come on at some stage in the game, it's a real threat for Liverpool.

“I just think the fitness and the rhythm of Torres points to him starting this weekend.”

RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann expects Dayot Upamecano will eventually learn from his mistake against Paris Saint-Germain but acknowledges these errors are occurring too often.

Highly-rated defender Upamecano gifted PSG the opener in Wednesday's Champions League clash, although Leipzig recovered to claim a potentially vital 2-1 win.

The defender attempted to bring the ball out of defence in the sixth minute before turning back and looking for goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, only to pass the ball straight to Moise Kean, who fed Angel Di Maria to score.

Upamecano - linked with Manchester United - later conceded a penalty, too, before Leipzig started their fightback, but it was the early error that most concerned Nagelsmann as a pattern appears to be emerging.

"The mistakes he's making are all starting the same way," Nagelsmann said. "He wants to pass the ball to the attackers right away once he's won it. That simply does not work all the time.

"I can see a learning curve. Against Hertha, we've had similar situations, the same at the start of the second half against Gladbach, where we end up defending one against two players.

"He has to recognise when he can play the ball forward and when not. He is used to playing the ball forward fast to create a counter-attack.

"He grew up like this during his first year at Leipzig, when this was the main tactic. Now the next step has to come."

Nagelsmann added: "In general, Upamecano is on his way to world-class, but he has to stop these things, obviously. He knows it himself, he is very critical of himself.

"It's a learning curve, he only has good intentions and wants to create attacks for us. He simply needs to recognise the right moment to switch from defence to attack.

"Today he should have played the ball to Peter Gulacsi.

"It's the same when attacking. There are moments where you simply have to get the ball back, and then there are moments that are about scoring a goal.

"Recognising this situation is a learning curve which he will succeed in, simply because he is that talented. I hope he will succeed soon, because then we have less distance to go."

Mauricio Pochettino would take Manchester United to “another dimension” if handed the reins at Old Trafford, says Jamie O’Hara, with the Argentine considered to have worked wonders at Tottenham.

Despite making Spurs top-four regulars in the Premier League and guiding them to the Champions League final, a highly-rated South American was forced out of north London in November 2019.

He has remained without a club since then, but continues to be heavily linked with any prominent posts that open up.

It could be that one is soon available in the North West, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer seeing his position come under threat from ongoing inconsistency from an expensively-assembled Red Devils outfit.

Pochettino has seen a role in Manchester mooted for some time, with many of the opinion that he is the perfect candidate to wake a sleeping giant from its slumber.

Ex-Spurs midfielder O’Hara believes United would be making a wise decision in replacing Solskjaer with a proven coach at the very highest level, with there every reason to believe that he can breathe new life into a faltering side.

“I think you have to give Pochettino massive respect for what he did at Spurs,” O’Hara told talkSPORT.

“He didn’t win anything, and that’s probably the biggest regret that he has got, but where he took that football club with no budget, not signing any players, producing young players, playing an exciting style of football, made him world-class.

“He made Tottenham a guaranteed top-four side every season, and he got them to a Champions League final. On the night they were poor, but as a manager he is unbelievable.

“For me he’s the fourth best manager in England right now, and he hasn’t got a job. The other three? [Jurgen] Klopp, [Pep] Guardiola and [Jose] Mourinho.

“I would have Pochettino in most football clubs – apart from Klopp and Guardiola.

“How can you not say he’s unbelievable? Look what he did at Southampton and look what he did at Spurs.

“Give him Man Utd’s squad and they would go to another dimension.”

A 2-1 defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir has seen Solskjaer fall under ever-increasing pressure at United, with that European reversal coming on the back of Premier League struggles that have left the Red Devils without a home win in the English top-flight season and languishing 15th in the table.

The South African Football Association (Safa) and the Sao Tomean Football Federation (FSF) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing that the former will host the two Cameroon 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on 13 and 16 November 2020.

The two countries mutually agreed that due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, it was in the best interest of the two that they do everything in their power to safeguard the interest of players and officials. Therefore, both parties agreed that the first and return leg matches will all be played in South Africa.

The two nations agreed that this historic arrangement that has since been relayed to Caf, was precipitated by flights restriction within the African continent and health dangers posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Part of the MOU reads that the two Parties agreed to cooperate with each other to assure the good continuity of the qualification phase of the 2021 Afcon and have therefore reached an agreement to play both matches in South Africa.

‘’The Sao Tomean Football Federation undertakes to play its home game in the territory of Second Party and Safa undertakes to host both home and away matches in its territory,’’ read part of the MOU.

In this respect, Safa undertakes to bear the costs of the travel (round trip flight) of the National Team of Sao Tome and its officials.

SAFA also undertakes to bear the costs of the accommodation of the National Team of Sao Tome and its officials during the period deemed necessary.

The MOU also reads that the Sao Tomean Football Federation undertakes to follow any and all of the health protocol rules applicable within the territory of the Second Party (South Africa).

In conclusion, the parties agreed that this MOU shall be ruled and governed by the laws of South Africa.

‘’All disputes in connection with this MOU, including disputes relating to its conclusion, binding effect, amendment, breach or termination, urgent injunctive or similar interim relief, or conservatory measure shall be promptly  settled between the Parties by negotiation,’’ concluded the MOU.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta added his voice to those disappointed by the Premier League's decision not to allow five substitutions this season, suggesting it will lead to "really bad news".

Top-flight clubs in England allowed coaches to make a quintet of changes in each match when the 2019-20 season resumed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The alteration was intended to protect players as a long spell without matches was followed by a frantic schedule.

But while other competitions – including the Champions League – have maintained the same rules for the new campaign, with games still coming thick and fast, Premier League sides voted against continuing the measure.

A host of leading managers – such as Jurgen Klopp and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – have announced their displeasure, although teams further down the division are thought to believe the additional changes unfairly favour the stronger squads.

Arteta is able to make five subs in Europa League matches, but he worries a Premier League injury crisis is looming.

"I would strongly support [five changes in England]," he said. "We are here to give the best possible show. We need the players.

"They are the most important part of that. We have to protect them. It goes on and on and on.

"We're going to have some really bad news with players that we are not respecting."

There is little sign of the calendar easing, too, with three matches in the November international break as national teams build towards the European Championship at the end of the season.

"It's not a coincidence, the percentage rate of muscular injuries," Arteta added. "Intensity is not going to go down, the level of demands, the quality.

"Every match will be so competitive. Players will get injured."

As with most managers at present, Arteta admitted that he will be rotating his squad for Thursday evening's European tie with Molde.

“We'll see some changes tomorrow again,” the Spaniard said. “I believe we have to manage the minutes and exposure we get with the players with the amount of games they have. 

“Now now but in the international week they play three games and at the moment they play every three or four days. We have to think what we need at the present but it's going to get really, really condensed.”

Kodjo Laba says he wants to follow in the footsteps of Togo’s most notable luminaries Emmanuel Adebayor and Mohamed Coubadja by playing and scoring at the Fifa World Cup.

The 28-year-old striker who plays for Al Ain made his international debut for the Hawks in 2016 and has gone ahead to score 12 goals in 24 appearances for the West African nation.

His country’s only outing was at Germany 2006 – where they failed to get past the group stage – with Coubadja scoring their only goal against South Korea.

Inspired by the duo, Laba is keen to get his international career to another level by leading Togo to the 2022 global football showpiece in Qatar as well as finding the net in that competition.

“I was inspired by many players when I was young, but if I were to choose one, it’d be Adebayor. He’s a source of inspiration for all Togolese because he was lucky to play with major clubs in Europe,” he told Fifa website.

“There’s also Coubadja, who scored many goals with the team, particularly the wonderful strike at the World Cup. He’s a big name in Togolese football. And because he was an attacker like me, I always try to emulate him. I’m lucky to have met him a few times as he offered me a lot of advice.”

Coubadja’s influence on Laba is such that the latter reproduces the dance the former national team player performed after scoring against Korea Republic in Frankfurt.

“It’s called the Agbadja dance and it’s well known where I’m from. It allows me to celebrate in the style of Coubadja, like after I scored in the [2019] CAF Confederation Cup final against Egypt’s Zamalek,” he continued.

“First, I’m dreaming of qualifying for the World Cup for the second time in the history of our country. As an attacker, I’ll do everything I can to make my mark on this tournament. If I get the chance to play at the World Cup and to score, I’ll dance the way Coubadja did."

Claude Le Roy's men are zone in Group H alongside Congo, Namibia and Senegal with the group winner adancing to the third round of qualifiers.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden has been included in the senior England squad for upcoming fixtures against the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Iceland, but Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood misses out again.

Two stars of the future for the Three Lions were handed maiden call-ups back in September.

They were both given debuts by Gareth Southgate in a UEFA Nations League clash away in Iceland, but were subsequently removed from the fold after breaching coronavirus protocol.

There was to be no reprieve for either during the October international break, with England favouring other options.

Foden has, however, done enough to force his way back into contention after apologising for his earlier actions.

He will be one of several exciting playmakers at Southgate’s disposal for the latest round of friendly and Nations League dates.

Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish, Chelsea forward Mason Mount and Southampton star James Ward-Prowse have also been given the nod.

Ben Chilwell of Chelsea, his club colleague Tammy Abraham and Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho are selected once again after making further coronavirus breaches during the last break.

The rest of Southgate’s squad is looking fairly settled as the countdown continues to a rescheduled European Championship in 2021.

Promising youngsters Reece James, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Bukayo Saka are all included once again.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s fine form at club level with Everton means that he gets another chance to show what he is capable of on an international stage.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane, who now has 32 England goals to his name, will take the armband whenever he takes to the field, with Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling and Blues defender Kyle Walker among the others to provide a wealth of experience.

The Three Lions are due to face Ireland on November 12, Belgium in the Nations League three days later and Iceland on November 18.

England squad in full

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Reece James (Chelsea), Michael Keane (Everton), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Harry Winks (Tottenham)

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Rhys Williams is only five games into his senior Liverpool career, but the 19-year-old – who has been charged with the task of covering for the injured Virgil van Dijk – is already planning on becoming “irreplaceable”.

Jurgen Klopp has shown considerable faith in a product of the Reds’ famed academy system.

He had been slotted in alongside commanding centre-half Van Dijk for early-season Carabao Cup outings.

Williams is now stepping into the Dutchman’s shoes after an unfortunate knee ligament injury robbed the reigning Premier League champions of one of their most prized assets.

The talented teenager was handed a Champions League start for the Reds against Atalanta and offered enough in a 5-0 win to suggest that he could become as important as Van Dijk in the future.

“Well, I was hoping for an opportunity but I wasn’t hoping for it as good as this!” Williams told Liverpool’s official website when reflecting on his European bow.

“It doesn’t get much better than a 5-0 away win to Atalanta, so I’m over the moon really.

“I’m happy the boss trusts me and I’m going to keep repaying his faith with performances and nights like this, so hopefully I keep getting an opportunity and keep doing everyone proud.

“I want to become an irreplaceable piece of this side. It's a great team with great players.

“I know it’s going to be hard but I’m willing to put the effort in, keep working and hopefully keep putting in performances when I get the chance.”

While Williams can relax slightly after helping Klopp’s side to three points and a clean sheet against Atalanta, he admits to having had trouble sleeping in the build-up to the biggest occasion of his fledgling career.

He added: “I’d say (Tuesday) I found out, that certified it.

“So I was just trying to get myself into the zone all day and thankfully I’ve done that and it’s paid off.

“I tried to go to leep when we had a few hours before the game and it just wasn’t happening for me, so I just tried to chill out and watch a few films.

“I was always going to be a bit nervous but I thought I dealt with it quite well.”

Williams will be hoping to retain his starting berth for Liverpool’s next outing, which is set to see them face fellow title hopefuls Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has confirmed that attacker Gaston Sirino has started light training and should be ready for their Premier Soccer League (PSL) clash against AmaZulu on November 22.

The hosting of Usuthu would be Sundowns’ first match after the Fifa international break and if Sirino is fielded, it will be his first game of the season.

A hamstring injury sustained during pre-season has sidelined the Uruguayan whose absence has been felt by Downs by Mngqithi's own admission previously.

“He should be ready to play the next match after the Fifa break, we were just being cautious because he had a grade two hamstring [strain] and it has taken two and a half weeks now but we are hopeful because he has already started light training, so by the time we come back he will be back with the team,” said Mngqithi as per Phakaaathi.

News of Sirino nearing return to competitive action come at a time when reports of his possible Downs exit are gaining traction.

The attacking midfielder has been strongly linked with a move to eight-time African champions Al Ahly where his former Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane is said to be eager for a reunion.

Reports suggest that Sirino has agreed to join the Cairo giants but the Brazilians are not keen on letting him go.

Sirino arrived at the Tshwane giants in January 2018 from Bolivian side Bolivar and he has already completed two full seasons at Chloorkop.

In June 2020, he extended his Sundowns contract by a further five years amid already reported interest from Al Ahly which is said to have now been heightened by Mosimane's arrival in Egypt.

During Sirino’s absence so far this season, creativity responsibilities have fallen more on Themba Zwane.

“The role that he [Zwane] has been playing is to try and present a little bit of creativity in the team more as a number 10 in attack and assist us defensively,” said Mngqithi.

“We know what he is capable of but we still expect a little bit more from him. We know what he can do and we are hoping that his game will give us better numbers in terms of assists and goals that he scores … him, Gaston Sirino or whoever plays as a number 10, even Haashim Domingo, they must give us something.”

Zwane himself, has also reportedly attracted the interest of Al Ahly.

Wazito FC have suffered a 2-1 loss to 10-man Zoo FC in a pre-season friendly game staged at Kericho Green Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

Boniface Omondi scored the lone goal for the visitors with Collins Neto and Anami Derrick scoring for the tea-leaves farmers.

The Nairobi-based side have made numerous changes in the technical bench and playing unit in preparations for the 2020/21 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League campaign. 

In September 2019, Wazito defeated the Kericho team 2-0 on the same venue and went on to claim a 4-1 win when they met again on March 1, 2020. In the last four matches, Zoo had not won against Wazito; they had lost three times and drawn once.

It seemed the familiar story would repeat in favour of the visitors when new signing Kevin Kimani picked fellow new signing Boniface Omondi in a good area after just 19 minutes, and the former Gor Mahia player had no trouble beating Vincent Misikhu in goal.

It happened to be the only goal in the first half as none of the teams could score another one.

Zoo needed just 12 minutes after the break to be in level terms; it was a reward for their good start.

In a desperate bid to stop the hosts from scoring, Kimani fouled an opponent in the 57th minute. The Referee had no option but to point on the penalty spot giving Neto a chance to convert from 12-yards.

The former Wazito forward rose for the occasion, sending goalkeeper Steven Odhiambo the wrong way. 

Neto could have headed in the second after five minutes, but his header narrowly missed the target with the goalkeeper well beaten. At some point, Wazito looked lost, especially in the attacking front where they missed someone to finish on the created chances.

Kimani had a chance to put his team in front from about 20-yards after the referee awarded them a free-kick following a foul by the defender but the former Mathare United winger missed the target.

In the 68th minute, a reckless pass by Wazito defender at the back fell to Anami just outside the 18-yard area and the towering forward unleashed a powerful shot which the goalkeeper could do little to keep out.

Despite Pascal Ogweno being sent off in the 73rd minute after a second bookable offense, Wazito could not find an equalizer.