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Kakakamega Homeboyz have sealed the signing of experienced custodian Samuel Odhiambo from Western Stima.

Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has confirmed to Goal they have acquired the services of the 36-year-old after he agreed to pen a one-year renewable contract.

“It is true, we have signed keeper [Odhiambo],” Shimanyula told Goal on Sunday. “We were looking for experience in that area and I am happy Odhiambo has agreed to sign for us, he is a great addition to our squad and we want to use him effectively in the new campaign.”

The shot-stopper, nicknamed ‘Abawa’, has a special attribute to his goalkeeping skills; he is a goal-scoring keeper. In the 2018/2019 Kenyan Premier League campaign, he hit six goals for Stima while last season after only 11 matches, he had scored four, all from penalties.

He also made his debut for the Harambee Stars at the 2019 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup held in Uganda, playing against Tanzania in a match Kenya won 1-0.

Odhiambo started his career with Tusker FC, winning the 2011 and 2012 league titles with them before moving a division lower to Ushuru FC. He then made another move to upcountry side Chemelil Sugar before eventually crossing over to Western Stima in 2016 where he has been to date.

Shimanyula has further revealed they are still in the transfer market for more quality players as they want to have a strong squad capable of challenging Gor Mahia for the FKF Premier League title.

“We are not done yet,” Shimanyula continued. “We are still talking to a few experienced players who will join us soon.

“We want to be able to challenge for the league title because if you remember well, last season we were almost winning the crown before Covid-19 happened and scuttled our plans, this season we want to go all the way, we have a very good squad and my message to our opponents is very clear, don’t underrate us.

“We have already started training in groups and we hope soon we will be able to play a few friendly matches before the league gets underway, we hope the government will soon allow football to return so that the league can also kick-off as planned on November 20.”

Homeboyz will start the season with a clash against Mathare United on November 20 before returning home to host Sofapaka on November 29.

Bruno Fernandes' "body language is not good", according to Steve McClaren, who says the Manchester United star has got to "get his head up" and start having an impact on games again.

United's worst start to a league season at Old Trafford in 48 years was confirmed after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Chelsea on Saturday evening.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side opened their latest campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace before suffering a 6-1 loss at home to Tottenham earlier this month and were unable to get back to winning ways against the Blues.

The Red Devils came closest to finding a winner, with Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy forced to make two impressive saves to keep out Marcus Rashford, but both sides struggled to carve out clear cut chances over the course of the 90 minutes.

Fernandes had an unusually quiet game in the middle of the park and was eventually shifted out onto the right-wing when Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba were introduced to the action mid-way through the second half.

The Portuguese was also asked to take up an unnatural role during last weekend's 4-1 win at Newcastle, during which he scored a superb late goal, but he struggled to exert the same influence on proceedings against the Blues.

McClaren accused Fernandes of sulking after being moved out of his usual position, with his lack of movement restricting United as they tried to push for a late breakthrough.

“I’ve been watching Bruno Fernandes and he’s disappointed”, the former Red Devils assistant coach said while covering the game for talkSPORT. "He’s disappointed because he’s been taken out of the middle and he’s out on the right-hand side.

“I saw it last week against Newcastle, when he went out wide, and I’m seeing it again now. His body language is not good, he’s not getting involved.

“He needs to be in the game and on that right-hand side he’s not moving from there, he’s got to move from there, he’s got to get his head up and get back into the game and affect the game. At the moment he’s just standing out on the right and he’s making it very easy for Ben Chilwell.”

The result at Old Trafford leaves Solskjaer's men languishing in 15th in the Premier League table after five fixtures, six points behind current leaders Everton.

United will now start preparing for a Champions League group stage meeting with RB Leipzig on Wednesday, which comes four days before they play host to Arsenal.

Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer says his side was “too casual” and were their own worst enemies in Saturday’s 1-1 Premier Soccer League (PSL) draw against AmaZulu at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium.

Frank Mhango thrust the Soweto giants ahead from the penalty spot 18 minutes into the match after a controversial call by referee Abongile Tom.

But Lehlohonolo Majoro hit back for AmaZulu after pouncing on a rebound of his initially saved penalty.

It was a winless start to the season for Pirates as Zinnbauer’s highly-regarded men failed to break down a stubborn Usuthu.

“We know AmaZulu have a good team. It’s not easy [playing against them]. We can't expect to come here and get the three points for nothing,”Zinnbauer told SuperSport TV.

“We have to work on this. For me, the key we had the game, we scored. And after we scored, we were too casual. And that was very hard for us to come back in to the game after the break.

“The second half is the style we wanted, what we have to do, what needed to work on. But we needed more chances, we needed more goals to win the game. First half, not good for me, second half better. And we have work ahead.”

Zinnbauer feels the draw did not come as a result of AmaZulu’s brilliance to contain his star-studded side following some good signings, but says his men were just not up for it.

Even after bringing in five substitutes in the second half, the German says the men he introduced did not give enough.

“The problem was not the opponent, the problem was ourself,” said Zinnbauer.

“We did not have a normal build-up, not enough self-confidence, yes you can lose the ball, but we have too many turnovers and it was too easy. That’s the problem. Second half, we were more concentrated.

“It’s not easy, you have a bad first half and you come back and have a good half. But it's not enough. We have a point, yes, but for me, we didn't have enough chances to win the game.

“We need players on the bench that bring in a freshness, new performance and new ideas and I'm happy we have this but today it was not enough.”

While Zinnbauer is ruing dropping two points, his opposite number Ayanda Dlamini was content with gaining a point.

The youthful coach hailed his side for frustrating Pirates but decried his side’s poor finishing.

“For me it’s a good point. We played very good possession football against Orlando Pirates, they are a quality side. They dominated in some stages but we also had our moments,” said Dlamini.

“I liked the intensity in our attack but I think we did not make the right decisions in the final third. We got so many chances that, had we made the right pass [we could have scored]. But again, I think we kept the ball very well which is what we wanted. If they don’t have the ball, we knew they would be frustrated.

“So we kept the ball and found spaces in between their lines. And also the ball behind their full backs because they are very high up in advanced positions. We got those moments like I said. We we got in the final third we would have made better decisions to get goals.

“We had a few chances from [Luvuyo] Memela, the header which was unlucky to go in. We can take the positives from this game but there is a lot to work on.”

AmaZulu now prepare to visit TS Galaxy in their next match while Pirates host Stellenbosch as they seek their first win of the season.

KMC coach Habibu Kondo has sent a clear warning to Young Africans (Yanga SC), suggesting they are the ones who will beat them first in the Mainland Premier League this season.

The two clubs will come face to face in a league match on Sunday in Mwanza and coach Kondo says they have worked out how to end the Jangwani giants’ unbeaten run of six matches so far this campaign.

“We thank God we arrived safely in Mwanza in readiness for our match against Yanga, we have also got the chance to train at the match venue and we are now ready looking forward to the match,” Kondo is quoted by Sokaletu.

“We are all happy with the weather down here in Mwanza and my warning goes to Yanga that we have prepared well, studied how they played their last match [against Polisi Tanzania] and are ready to beat them, we don’t care nor fear them, we want to end their unbeaten run on Sunday.

“We played against a very tough Ruvu Shooting side while Yanga got it easy against Polisi, it shows you we are much prepared than them, they should not think we are not ready, we are very prepared to beat them.”

Some of the key players in the KMC squad include captain and veteran keeper Juma Kaseja, who has also played for Yanga before, Israel Mwenda, Hassan Kapalata, Reliant Lusajo, Keny Ally Hassan Kabunda, and Andrew Vicent “Dante”.

KMC are currently in the sixth position on the 18-team league table with 11 points from seven matches.

Like KMC, Yanga have also landed safely in Mwanza but will, however, miss the services of defender Mapinduzi Balama, who remained in Dar es Salaam owing to injury which forced him to miss the clash against Polisi Tanzania two days ago.

Yanga team manager Hafidh Saleh has confirmed to Goal that all the players in the squad are fit to face KMC apart from Balama.

The squad is ready and all of them are doing well,” Saleh told Goal. “We only don’t have one player in our travelling squad and that is Balama, who is not feeling well, and the coach requested that he remains behind because he will not use his services until he gets better.”

The Timu ya Mwananchi are second on the 18-team league table with 16 points, five less than leaders Azam FC, who have won all their matches.

The Kenyan football fraternity was thrown into mourning after news came in that former Nairobi Stima and Tusker striker Stephen Owusu had passed away.

The 37-year-old died on Saturday evening after a battle with a long illness that forced him to go back to Ghana for treatment. 

Owusu was part of the Brewers team that won the 2016 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) as well as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Shield Cup in the same year. 

After a poor 2017 season in the Kenyan top-tier, Owusu was among the 14 players released by coach Robert Matano.

Others who were shown the door alongside the Ghanaian were Anthony Ndolo, George Mandela, Moses Ndawula, Victor Ndinya, Luis Tera, Danson Kago, Noah Wafula, and Clifford Alwanga. 

Humphrey Mieno, Allan Wanga, James Situma, and Cercidy Okeyo were also axed.

Kenyans and top clubs in the league have now taken to Twitter to remember the striker, whose last assignment in Kenyan football was in the National Super League (NSL) with Nairobi Stima.

Below is how Owusu has been remembered.

Spartak Moscow's summer signing Victor Moses has dedicated his first Russian Premier League goal to End SARS protesters in Nigeria.

The versatile former Super Eagle opened his account for the Red and Whites in their 3-1 victory over Krasnodar on Saturday.

The 29-year-old fired home a beauty to double his side’s lead after Ezequiel Ponce’s opener, before Jordan Larsson’s strike sealed the victory to render Leon Sabua’s effort a mere consolation.

There have been protests in Nigeria in recent weeks over the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a controversial police unit in Nigeria.

Protesters are also calling for an end to bad governance and poor economic conditions in the country and although the government disbanded SARS a few days after the protest started, it continued.

On Tuesday, men in military camouflage fired at protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos, killing 12 people, according to Amnesty International.

Moses believes Nigerians have the right to express their grievances through protest without having to lose their lives for it, and lent his support to the campaigners by dedicating his maiden goal in the Russian top-flight to them.

“Brilliant win today and delighted to get my first goal for the club,” Moses tweeted.

“I dedicate my goal today to the people of Nigeria. Enough is enough! Nigerians have the right to protest and not be killed for it. Pray for Nigeria.”

Moses has now made two appearances for Spartak Moscow since he completed his loan move to the side from Chelsea.

The forward had previously played for Liverpool, Stoke City, West Ham United, Fenerbahce and Inter Milan on loan since he joined Chelsea in 2012.

Moses had 38 caps for Nigeria before his retirement from international duty in 2018 and was part of the Super Eagles team that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

He will hope to continue his impressive performances when Spartak Moscow take on Rostov in their next Russian Premier League game on October 31.

Wolves star Adama Traore has opened up on his pre-game use of baby oil to ensure rival defenders aren't able to slow him down.

While the winger has starred in the Premier League over the past year, the Spain international initially struggled with the physicality of English football having come through Barcelona's academy. 

Boasting such a big frame, the opposition has plenty to grab on to in any desperate attempt to slow Traore down but have found keeping hold of the speedster increasingly difficult. 

That's because a club doctor at Wolves suggested lathering the wide man in baby oil - a tactic that's worked a treat for Traore, who scored four goals and contributed nine assists in the league last season. 

"The staff here had a very clever idea because they knew I was having problems with my shoulder," Traore was quoted by the Daily Mail.

"Opponents were grabbing my arm for me not to move, pulling my shoulder. If you put on the oil, it’s impossible for them to grab me, especially if I’m moving as well.

"In the first game it was very funny because many players grabbed my arm and they couldn’t catch me. They were asking, 'What happened?' and I kept saying I didn’t know!

"Everyone knows now but it doesn’t matter. It’s important for me because players have to use another tactic. Now I have the oil on my arm, I can slip [away]."

While Traore's blistering pace is hard to miss on the pitch, the Spaniard was quick to stress there's more to his game but welcomes any misconceptions he could potentially take advantage of. 

"For me, it doesn’t matter because I know what I have, I know how I play, I know what I give and if people think my ability only is the speed, ok — no problem," he said.

"Because after, in the game, I can do other things, so it will be a surprise. It doesn’t bother me, I know what I have and also what I’m working for." 

The 24-year-old has had a relatively quiet start to the new campaign and is yet to register a goal involvement after impressing in the final third last season. 

Wolves next face Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday and they will be looking to claim a third consecutive victory after winning their past two games 1-0. 

Zinedine Zidane insisted he was unfazed about silencing Real Madrid's critics after recording a 3-1 Clasico win over Barcelona.

After Ansu Fati cancelled out Federico Valverde's opener, Sergio Ramos scored a 63rd-minute penalty and Luka Modric sealed Madrid's win at Camp Nou.

Zidane was under pressure at the helm after back-to-back losses to Cadiz and Shakhtar Donetsk, but Madrid moved top of La Liga after Saturday's win.

And the Real Madrid coach said he had no interest in trying to respond to critics as he praised his side's ability to break down their rivals 

"That's not what we're here for, to shut them up," Zidane told a news conference.

"We do our job, believing in what we do, being together when we have to be and that's what we did. We did it as a team, I'm very proud of them.

"When it comes to defending we had a compact block. Then with a rival open like Barca, we've found gaps two or three times and in the end, it's about trying to play a good game as a team and that's what we did."

Ramos' controversial penalty proved crucial for Madrid and the defender has now scored each of his past 25 spot-kicks, including shoot-outs, for his club and Spain.

Madrid's overall performance, though, pleased Zidane, as they made it four wins in six league games this season.

"We played a good game, playing against a team that we know is open, that played well," he said.

"I'm happy for the players because in the end it's about that, after the last few days of everything they said. I am happy for them and also to finish with Modric's goal.

"I've seen the team together. I am happy because they're the ones fighting on the pitch. We can enjoy what we did."

Madrid visit Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Huesca four days later in La Liga action.

Barcelona, meanwhile, will look to bounce back against Seria A giants Juventus on Wednesday night with Crisitiano Ronaldo still a doubt to play after recently testing positive for Covid-19. 

Thomas Tuchel praised Moise Kean after the forward scored his first Paris Saint-Germain goals in a 4-0 victory over Dijon.

Kean, who joined PSG on loan from Everton earlier this month, netted a brace on Saturday before Kylian Mbappe came off the bench to also score twice.

A €27.5million signing at Everton from Juventus in 2019, Kean only made six Premier League starts last season.

After PSG moved top of the table, Tuchel was happy with Kean, who made his third appearance for the club, but was quick to keep expectations low moving forward. 

"He brings intensity to our game. It is his strength to bring intensity. He is an athletic player," the PSG coach told a news conference.

"I'm happy that he was able to show that against Nimes and against Dijon. It was more difficult for him against Manchester [United], it was another level.

"He showed that he could help in matches at that level [against Nimes and Dijon]. We can't expect too much from him. He didn't play much at Everton. He has to keep improving."

Kean was replaced by Mbappe in the 73rd minute and the star France international delivered a double of his own.

Neymar assisted two goals and has been involved in eight against Dijon in Ligue 1 (four goals and four assists) – his favourite opponent in the top flight. He was involved in 15 shots (seven attempts and eight chances created), which marked his best in Ligue 1.

Tuchel was pleased with his side's performance at Parc des Princes.

"I'm happy with the intensity. It's never easy, we always play behind closed doors," he said.

"The players always have to find the momentum on their own because we miss the fans. It's completely different with 5,000, it's completely different with 40,000 in the stadium.

"It's hard to always have the spirit, the momentum without the atmosphere. Having the right attitude to attack, to do a high pressing.

"It's more difficult for all players and that's why I'm happy because we never lost this intensity."

PSG next face Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League on Wednesday night before backing up in Ligue 1 against Nantes next Saturday. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has declared Diogo Jota "can be much better" despite scoring the decisive goal in the club's 2-1 win over Sheffield United on Saturday. 

Jota's 64th-minute header handed the Reds all three points after they had gone behind in the first 15 minutes after a controversial penalty was converted by Sander Berge.

The former Wolves attacker has now scored in each of his first two games at Anfield since joining the Reds over the summer. 

Despite that strong start to life at Liverpool, Klopp is adamant Jota still has plenty of room for improvement as he adapts to life at his new club.

"Yes, Diogo scored a super goal and was really involved in the game. He can be much better, 100 per cent, and that’s good news," Klopp said post-match. 

"He is still adapting. In the moment, a lot of things we do are not natural to him but that’s only because Wolves play different – but a lot of things he did for Wolves are exactly what we want him to do.

"Yes, that he is that close already is just a sign how good a player he is. As I said, if he stays fit, he’s 23 and the future is bright, let me say it like this.

"We will need his quality and I am really happy that he settled nicely so far.

"It is not too much about what he’s brought in the team. He is a good player, that’s why we signed him. I said it only a few minutes ago when I was speaking with my coaches that it is so easy – he is such a likeable person and so it is so easy to like him. That makes everything easier.

"Then the player he is: he is quick, he has the physicality, he is strong, he is good in the air, he is good on the ground...a lot of good things. He has exactly the quality we need, so that helps a lot." 

Jota's first two goals at Anfield have come in the absence of fans and that's something the attacker admits has made them a bit less sweet. 

"Like I said before when I scored my first one, I just wish these stands could be full to make it even more special. But I think in the end the most important [thing] was that my goal was important to seal the victory, so I’m very pleased with that," Jota told Liverpoolfc.com.

“We knew how important it was to get back to winning ways after two games without a win in the Premier League and this game was really tough. We needed to come from behind so I think in the end it is a massive three points for us.

“We knew in the second half we needed to come with everything to score the second. We had chances, we had a goal disallowed, but we have to believe until the end and fortunately for us we grabbed the three points."

Manchester United's decision to sign Donny van de Beek has been questioned by Patrice Evra and Gary Neville as the midfielder struggles to cement himself in the side. 

Van de Beek was an unused substitute in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea and is yet to start a Premier League game for the Red Devils since joining from Ajax over the summer. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is blessed with plenty of depth in midfield and has preferred to give more minutes to the likes of Scott McTominay, Fred and Paul Pogba. 

With Van de Beek struggling to force himself into contention, Evra has declared that United simply don't need the Dutchman as things stand. 

"We’re talking about Van de Beek, nothing against the kid, but why have we bought him? He’s watching the game from the stand every game," Evra said via Sky Sports. "We don’t need him, that’s the truth."

The 23-year-old has made seven appearances for Solskjaer's side so far this season but has played just 59 minutes in the Premier League and was only given a two-minute cameo in the Champions League. 

Neville admitting that the Red Devils decision to spend so much money on Van de Beek has yet to be vindicated and that the player himself will be disappointed not to be playing more. 

"What is a little bit of a mystery is the use of Van de Beek since he’s been signed for £40 million," Neville said. 

"He doesn’t seem to be at the forefront of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s plans in every game. It’s a bit of a mystery that one. And the more he doesn’t start, and the more he doesn’t come on, the more you’re thinking, 'Well £40m player, ordinarily you’d get him in the team'. 

"He must be thinking: 'What am I doing here?' at this moment in time."

"Don't worry about that. He'll get his games. Don't worry about that," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "It's easy to say who should be playing and more difficult to say who shouldn't." 

Porto defeated Gil Vicente 1-0 in Saturday’s Primeira Liga encounter, with Zaidu Sanusi getting sent off.

With just 16 minutes to the end of the game, the Nigeria international was shown the way out by referee Helder Malheiro for a second caution.

Having earned a draw against Santa Clara and Tondela, the Roosters went to Estadio do Dragao with the ambition of compounding the woes of the Dragons who had gone on a run of three games without a win.

In a tight first-half, they were able to curtail the hosts’ whose attacking line was anchored by Fabio Vieira and Toni Martinez. For Porto, they had Sanusi and Mateus Uribe cautioned in the 26th and 30th minute respectively.

Four minutes before the half time break, Sergio Conceicao’s Porto took the lead through Evanilson following a good combination between Zaidu and Japan’s Shoya Nakajima.

Nakajima sent a low pass to Evanilson who wasted no time to beat goalkeeper Denis. That was the Brazilian’s first goal for the reigning Portuguese champions since joining from Fluminense.

In the second-half, the hosts continued with their strong attacking display and they almost doubled their lead but Romario Baro’s goal-bound shot was blocked by Ygor Nogueira’s elbow.

Referee Malheiro pointed to the spot as goalkeeper Denis saved a poor penalty taken by the Colombia international midfielder.

Despite dominating ball possession and boasting of more scoring chances, Porto could not add to their tally as they wasted several begging chances. Their lead was threatened in the 74th minute after Zaidu was shown the way out for a second caution.

Notwithstanding the hosts’ numerical disadvantage, Gil Vicente were unable to produce a late comeback as they lost their first game of the 2020-21 Portuguese topflight campaign.

Chancel Mbemba was in action from start to finish, while Malian forward Moussa Marega replaced Jesus Corona in the 90th minute. Senegal's duo of Mouhamed Mbaye and Mamadou Loum plus Guinea Bissau's Nanu were not listed for the game.

For the visitors, Senegal's Souleymane Aw and Nigeria's Ahmed Isaiah were unused substitutes.

Porto are second in the log after garnering 10 points from five games - two points behind leaders Benfica who have an outstanding game. Vítor Oliveira's Roosters are ranked 10th with five points from four games.

David de Gea believes Manchester United would have been more deserving of the victory than Chelsea after the sides played out a dour goalless draw on Saturday.

United's winless run at Old Trafford in the Premier League stretched to a fifth game - their longest such league streak since February 1990 - after failing to find a way through.

Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy produced good saves to twice deny Marcus Rashford, including in the final stages, and also Bruno Fernandes.

In doing so, the Senegal international became the first Chelsea goalkeeper to keep a Premier League clean sheet away at United since Thibaut Courtois in December 2015

And Mendy's opposite number De Gea feels his side were hard done by to take just a point, which leaves them 15th in the table after five games.

"For me, we created enough chances to win the game. It was a tight game against a good team, of course, but I think we deserved a bit more," he told MUTV.

"I think we had two or three big chances, especially with Rashy, but the keeper saves them. That is fine and, like I said before, we deserve a bit more. 

"It was a tough game and now we need to look forward to the next game."

The clean sheet for United was their first in the Premier League this season and De Gea, who had just the one save to make, considers that a big positive to take from the game.

"I think for us it is very important to start to keep clean sheets, especially at home," he said. "Today we defended really well and didn't concede many chances. 

"We always try in every training session to improve, to make the team better defensively, work with each other, and talk to each other. 

"It was important today to get a clean sheet against a top team like the one we played today. That's the way to keep going and the way to win games."

Mendy nearly scored an own goal with one stray early pass but was otherwise impressive in his fourth outing for the club, earning particular praise from Frank Lampard after the game.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also picked out the 28-year-old as the game's key player as he became the first Chelsea keeper to keep a clean sheet in both of his first two league games for the club since Petr Cech in August 2004. 

"There were two good teams on display, with quality at either end of the pitch," he told MUTV. 

"You can see their keeper today, I think he's the match-winner with those two fantastic saves from Marcus. The one in the second half, an unbelievable save. I'm standing just behind it and following it to the top corner. Great finish, great save.

"The first one was well blocked with his right foot. So I think it's an even game. I think we started a bit slow and didn't really put our authority on the game, but after about 20, 25 minutes I felt we took over and built pressure.

"I've just got to praise their keeper because those two saves are fantastic."

Gareth Bale's return to Tottenham has created a huge stir around the club - but he warned he will need time to find his feet again in north London. 

The winger was a huge hit at Spurs in his first spell, making more than 200 appearances and scoring 55 goals in five seasons at White Hart Lane following his move from Southampton. 

That form caught the eye of Real Madrid, who made him the world's most expensive player in 2013 by clinching a deal reportedly worth £85.3 million (€100 million). 

Madrid's faith was repaid with a spell that included two Liga wins and no less than four Champions League titles, but relations with the club ultimately soured and Bale became a near-pariah figure at the Santiago Bernabeu towards the end, culminating in his loan move back to Tottenham. 

And while fans are expecting great things from their returned prodigal son, the Welshman is hoping to take things slowly as he prepares for his latest Premier League match in more than seven years on Monday away to Burnley.

“It’s going to take me a bit of time to get my match fitness and sharpness going," Bale, who made his 'second debut' for Spurs coming off the bench against West Ham last weekend before starting midweek against LASK in the Europa League, signalled to reporters. 

“It's another game towards the process of getting fitter, sharper, quicker. I just enjoyed being out there playing football - that’s what makes me happy.”

Jose Mourinho made a host of changes from the side that drew 3-3 with the Hammers for the European date, but the manager's selection was vindicated as they ran out easy 3-0 winners over the Polish side to start their Europa League campaign in style.

“It was a professional performance, These games can be difficult, if you don’t take them seriously. We took it very seriously," Bale added.

“We have a lot of strength in depth and great players but we’re in a lot of competitions. We’re going to need everyone throughout the season.

“It’s a great squad to be in. Hopefully, we keep pushing each other and can achieve what we want.”

Mikel Arteta's decision to exclude Mesut Ozil from his Arsenal squad has caused a storm, but the Gunners boss has found support from Leicester City counterpart Brendan Rodgers who agrees he cannot afford to carry a player unwilling to put the work in. 

Ozil was a notable absence from the 25-player list released by Arsenal during the week for their Premier League campaign, a move that seems to spell the end of his career at the Emirates Stadium. 

The former Germany international did not take the news quietly, telling his social media followers “Loyalty is hard to come by these days" in an apparent swipe at Arteta.

Rodgers will thus not have to plan how to keep Ozil under wraps when the Foxes visit north London on Sunday, and the manager offered his backing to his opposite number over the controversial omission. 

"I’d be very much like Mikel. Ozil’s a talented player, but it depends on your structure," he told reporters when asked about his opinion on the call.

“We need every player to contribute to the defensive ­aspect of the game as well as the attacking aspect.

"The team have to operate with one brain. They have to function and work together. There will be teams where there is more freedom, but less structure.

“Ozil’s a wonderful talent and very creative, absolutely. He can make the last pass, but it’s about the team. It’s about ­marrying the individual ­qualities of the player into the team and if you feel that player can’t press the game or doesn’t want to press the game, it has an effect on your attacking structure and your defensive structure.

“If one person doesn’t do their job, then you can suffer. He’s a talent, but, as always with talent, you have to be a working talent.

“I always say to my attacking players, ‘Don’t run ­forward if you can’t run back’.

“You have to be able to do the dirty work. This is the ­highest level of the game and, at that level, you have to be able to do both sides. You think of any top team in the world and you think of some of the attacking players.

“If you look at Bayern ­Munich, the current European champions, and you look at Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller, for ­instance, the guys that play down the sides. Look at how hard they work.

“Look at ­Liverpool with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane – the work he puts in. That’s what you have got to do. You can’t carry anyone.

“It’s OK ­having ­talent, but, at the highest level, you have to be working ­talents if you are going to play in the big games for the big teams.”

Leicester and Arsenal currently sit seventh and eighth respectively in the Premier League having both won three and lost two of their opening five games, with the Foxes ahead of Arteta's charges by virtue of their superior goal difference.

Arsenal star David Luiz sympathises with his defensive counterpart Virgil van Dijk, but does not believe the laws of football need changing in order to avoid such incidents. 

Van Dijk saw his season cut short last weekend when he tangled with Everton's Jordan Pickford during Liverpool's 2-2 draw with their derby rivals. 

The Dutchman suffered a cruciate ligament injury, while the Everton keeper escaped any punishment as play was brought back for an offside call in the Toffees box. 

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was left incensed with Pickford's actions and the lack of following sanctions, but Luiz is of the opinion that injuries like that suffered by Van Dijk are part of the game. 

“It’s a game with contact. This is football and it’s always going to be like that," the centre-back explained to reporters ahead of Arsenal's Premier League clash with Leicester City on Sunday.

“When a player goes to try to make someone bad (with a challenge), or do something bad, we can see it.

“But it’s part of our job and sometimes we’re unlucky with some balls - and you can get injured yourselves or hurt someone.

“You must say sorry, be humble, and if you really mean that, everybody will see this.

“But the most important thing is we have to protect football.

“Football is made to make people happy and we must play it like that - but also understand some contact exists.”

Arsenal suffered greatly throughout 2019-20 with defensive troubles, with only Chelsea and Burnley in the Premier League top 10 conceding more than Mikel Arteta's charges. 

The current term, though, has seen Luiz and his partners at the back turn over a new leaf, having shipped six goals in their five matches to date - a record second only to Aston Villa across the league. 

According to Luiz, Arteta's influence has proved key in tightening up the Gunners' rearguard. 

“We’re working hard, we understand what Mikel wants from us, we know how we want to play and have the right mentality and attitude. We want to achieve," the Brazilian added.

“The first defenders are the strikers. They have to do their job, pressing in the right way - and this makes things much easier for us.

“We have a great mentality with Mikel in this way. When we have the ball, we try to enjoy ourselves as much as possible and when we don’t have the ball, we try to regain it.

“It’s not just about defending the last line with the keeper, it’s about the whole team working together with fight and commitment.”

Orlando Pirates midfielder Ben Motshwari admitted that it was difficult to contain his former teammate Luvuyo Memela as the Soweto giants drew with AmaZulu FC on Saturday night.

The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the 2020/21 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season which was played at Jonsson Kings Park Stadium in Durban.

The Buccaneers opened the scoring through Frank Mhango, but Lehlohonolo Majoro levelled matters for Usuthu and ultimately, the two sides settled for a draw.

Motshwari produced a Man of the Match performance as he worked hard to protect the Pirates defence. 

"It was a difficult one. In the first-half, we were not in the game because they were coming at us," Motshwari told the club's social platforms.  

"But it was due to the mistakes we were making as we kept losing the ball. In the second-half, we managed to rectify the mistakes which we committed in the first-half.

"We were pushing for a goal, but unfortunately, we couldn't get one tonight, we created quite a few half chances which we should not convert."

The 29-year-old was tasked with man-marking tricky attacking midfielder Memela, who recently left Pirates for AmaZulu in a surprise move. 

Usuthu were awarded a penalty after Memela was fouled in the box by Fortune Makaringe and former Pirates striker Majoro scored from the rebound after his effort from the spot-kick was saved by goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands

"It was difficult for me especially playing against Memela because I know him. He likes playing in between the lines, making all those runs," Motshwari said. 

"He was making runs all over the pitch [and] joining me on the sides. I had to cover a lot of distance tonight. I did manage him [well] tonight even though he nearly scored in the last few minutes. All is good." 

Motshwari, who won the 2016/17 PSL title with the now-defunct Bidvest Wits, believes AmaZulu have done well in the transfer market. 

"Looking at the AmaZulu squad I think this season they have signed quality players," he added. 

"Coming here, away from home and collecting a point against them I think it is fair a point, even though, we would have loved to get three points tonight." 

AmaZulu have also signed former Pirates strikers Augustine Mulenga and Siphelele Mthembu and ex-Kaizer Chiefs captain Siphiwe Tshabalala.