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Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Bernard Parker is not worried that the absence of forward Samir Nurkovic could haunt Amakhosi during Saturday’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) season opener against Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium.

The two giants renew their rivalry after Sundowns pipped Chiefs to the 2019/20 league title on the final day of the season.

But Chiefs go into this battle without their injured key man Nurkovic who was their top goal-scorer last season with 13 league goals. The Serbian will be out of action for the next six weeks.

But Parker feels that coach Gavin Hunt is spoilt for choice in selecting players who could step up to claim Nurkovic's responsibilities.

“The coach has options,” said Parker as per Phakaaathi.

“Leonardo Castro came on and made a difference in the last match, and he will be better this week than last week, he is getting sharper. [Lazarous] Kambole is coming up, he is showing he can play, can add a lot of value, and don’t forget [Dumisani] Zuma.

“The coach … has to work around what he has got now and see how he can get combinations and working relationships … among the attackers in the best possible way. [Lebogang] Manyama is back as well, and there is exciting young talent also adding a lot of value. [Happy] Mashiane and [Nkosingiphile] Ngcobo are showing they are ready to play as well.”

Lebogang Manyama is back from suspension together with midfielder Willard Katsande after missing last weekend’s MTN8 quarter-final triumph over Maritzburg United.

Midfielder Siphelele Ntshangase also returns after recovering from injury.

After lasting the entire match against Maritzburg, Parker is enjoying his game under Hunt whom he says has redeployed him as a number 10 than on the wings he was playing under former coach Ernst Middendorp.

“Everyone is working to be more effective. I am playing now in a familiar role, where I have played throughout my career,” said Parker.

“Being a number 10, supplying and also linking play between midfield and attack. It has been working, not only for me, but also for the other guys. It is what the coach wants now, for everyone to play according to his strengths,” Parker said. 

The last time Mamelodi Sundowns and Chiefs met was in the PSL bio-bubble, with Downs edging their rivals 1-0, a result which had a big say in their title triumph.

Kaizer Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has hailed his captain Itumeleng Khune for putting in the extra effort in training as he works towards getting back to his best. 

Hunt’s tenure has started with Khune in goal. The gloveman begins this term on the backdrop of a difficult spell where despite his return to fitness, he had lost his starting spot to Nigerian star Daniel Akpeyi.

Now, Hunt has given assurances he will bring the best out of the South African.

“We have a huge difference in age and experience in the team. There are players who have been around for a long time like Bernard [Parker], [Willard] Katsande, Eric [Mathoho], the same as Itu [Khune],” Hunt told Mawara Sport Worldwide on Metro FM.

“I said to him, I will show that he is a fantastic goalkeeper. I think last season he had a lot of injuries. When I came here I looked at him and he seemed fine. I said to him the most important thing is that he still has the hunger to play, to succeed.

“The thing about football players, when they succeed so much and have won a lot, they lose the hunger and desire to do it. So he said to me that he wants to do it and prove people wrong again and I said, ‘It could be your rebirth, so why not?’”

Hunt has urged Khune to first focus on his Chiefs role before the South Africa national team, where SuperSport United’s Ronwen Williams currently has the number one jersey.

“I said the first thing you have to do is get your form back for the club and then the national team. If he is fit and he wants it, that would be a great opportunity,” said Hunt.

“The platform is there, he is training well. Yes, he hasn’t played for a long time but that can be worked on at the training ground. He is doing some extra work, I have seen it. So let’s go and work because that’s what we can do at this point in time.”

Khune is expected to start in goal when Chiefs face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premier Soccer League opener at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

Egypt senior national team coach Hossam El-Badry has invited five foreign-based players for November’s 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Togo, with Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah the pick of the selections.

The Pharaohs who are seven-time African champions have made an unacceptable start in the race to Cameroon 2022, despite being zoned against Kenya, Togo and Comoros in Group G.

With consecutive draws against the Harambee Stars, and the Les Coelacantes, the North Africans are third in the log having accrued just two points.

In a bid to rescue their qualification campaign, however, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) had disclosed that foreign-based professionals will be included in El-Badry’s squad against the Hawks – who sit at the base of the group.

Salah leads the quintet that includes Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny, West Bromwich Albion’s Ahmed Hegazi, Aston Villa’s Mahmoud Trezeguet, and Ahmed Hassan Kouka who represents Greek elite division side, Olympiacos.

Right-back Ahmed Elmohamady was snubbed while Amr Warda remains frozen out of the squad following the controversy that surrounded him during the 2019 Afcon.

After featuring in Egypt’s opening day defeat of Zimbabwe, the midfielder was expelled from the team’s camp.

Middlesbrough star Sam Morsy, Yeni Malatyaspor’s left-back Karim Hafez, as well as New York Red Bulls defender Amro Tarek were all overlooked by El-Badry.

The Pharaohs host the first-leg in November with the reverse fixture at Lome's Stade de Kegue eight days later.

The 33rd edition of the biennial tournament was due to begin in Cameroon on January 9, 2021, but has now been pushed back to January 2022 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic across the continent.

After winning the competition between 2006 and 2010, the North Africans have struggled to impress in the tournament since then. Despite hosting the 2019 edition, they were kicked out in the Round of 16 by South Africa.

Thembinkosi Lorch’s 85th-minute strike saw them bow out at the Cairo International Stadium.

Sergio Reguilon claims “world-class manager” Jose Mourinho played a big part in his decision to shun interest from elsewhere and swap life at Real Madrid for that in north London with Tottenham.

The highly-rated left-back completed a £28 million ($37m) move to England during the summer transfer window.

His stock had soared on the back of a productive loan spell at Sevilla in 2019-20 which presented him with a shop window to the world.

Various clubs expressed interest in taking Reguilon off Real’s hands on a permanent basis, with Spurs eventually emerging victorious as the talented 23-year-old embraced the opportunity to work with Mourinho.

“He is a world-class manager and he was very important in my decision to come,” Reguilon told Sky Sports.

Spurs faced plenty of competition when it came to securing a much sought-after signature and pulled off quite the coup in bringing a Spain international onto their books.

“There was a broad market but as soon as I heard of Tottenham's interest, it was simple,” Reguilon added.

“It was a big deal to leave my country, my league and my family, but it has worked out well.

“Since I arrived here, the truth is the club has surprised me in a very good way. The training facilities, my team-mates, everything. The stadium is insane. I have really enjoyed it so far.”

While looking to make his mark at Tottenham, Reguilon admits that he has a lot to thank Real for – despite making only 22 senior appearances for the club.

“Real Madrid is the club where I was made, the club where I grew up, and I would be nothing without them,” he said.

“Leaving was a difficult step to take but it's one you have to take at one point or another and, for me, I think it was the right time. It's tough to leave your family and everything, but this league, for me, is the best in the world and I am very happy here. Now I just want to focus on trying to help this club win trophies.”

Reguilon has been joined in north London by a familiar face, with Gareth Bale completing a season-long loan move to Spurs from Madrid, and the promising defender is confident that the right pieces are being gathered to deliver tangible success.

He added: “I spoke with Bale when I was in Madrid.

“He told me what it was like at Tottenham. It was helpful for me to come here with someone who was already a team-mate. I could ask him things, like how certain things were going to work.

“The truth is he helped me a lot and so have the others. Since the first day, all my team-mates have welcomed me very nicely. They are always coming to me asking if there's anything I need, or if there's anything they can do, and they have helped me on the pitch too.

“Bit by bit, I am getting to know them more as people, not just as players I know from the PlayStation or the television. Now, they are all in contact with me and I know them better. That really helps.”

French elite division outfit Brest have revealed why they turned down the chance to sign Manchester City legend Yaya Toure.

The former Cote d’Ivoire captain, a free agent after leaving Chinese side Qingdao Huanghai last November, is not ready to hang up his boots just yet despite his achievements in the beautiful sport.

According to reports, the four-time African Player of the Year has approached the Pirates during the latest transfer window, however, he was rejected.

In a chat with SportMania, the Brest’s sporting director Gregory Lorenzi disclosed why the four-time African Player of the Year was not handed a contract.

"Yaya Toure was not necessarily what we were looking for," said Lorenzi.

"I spoke with people who saw this idea as interesting because it could make people talk about Brest. But I was wondering, facing my coach, if a player like that could be easy to handle in the dressing room.

"With regard to the other [squad] players, it could have been complicated so we preferred not to follow up."

With this development, the 37-year-old will try his luck elsewhere in his bid to return to action.

Yaya had been linked with Brazilian elite division side Botafogo, however, he decided not to join the Serie A side owing to family reasons. A decision that enraged vice-president Ricardo Rotenberg.

“Vasco’s offer proves Yaya doesn’t want to play football, because he agreed to play just next year," said Rotenberg as per Globoesporte.

"He’s a guy whose word means nothing. He had an attitude from those who have no character. He could just have said he didn’t want to play here.

“Now I don’t want to see him. As Heleno de Freitas [a Botafogo’s idol] said, Botafogo is not a team for cowards.”

After spells at Beveren, Metalurh Donetsk and Olympiacos, the midfielder spent three seasons with Barcelona. There, he won the Spanish elite division title as well as the Champions League.

He moved to City in 2010 and inspired the Citizens to three English topflight crown, two League Cup successes and one FA Cup triumph – with his goal in the 2011 final getting the Etihad Stadium giants on the trophy trail.

Manchester United may have found the perfect role for Alex Telles in deploying him as a wing-back, says Owen Hargreaves, with the buccaneering Brazilian considered to be “not great” defensively.

The Red Devils moved to snap up the left-sided 27-year-old on transfer deadline day, fully aware of what he could offer to their squad.

An impressive return of 26 goals and 57 assists across four years at Porto proved that Telles is more confident on the front foot than he is a back one.

He is, however, able to fill a natural left-back position and may be asked to do so throughout a spell at Old Trafford.

Getting him further up the field would appear to hold greater benefit, though, with a lively debut against Paris Saint-Germain showcasing what he is all about.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lined up with three at the back in that contest, with Axel Tuanzebe catching the eye alongside Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw.

Telles was freed to raid down the flanks, with Hargreaves of the opinion that a system has been found which plays to United’s strengths.

The former Red Devils midfielder told BT Sport of Telles: “He is a good player, a great attacking player.

“He gets assists, works up and down, he's probably more suited to playing as a wing-back because defensively he's not great.

“In terms of assists, his numbers are off the charts. He's great on set pieces, he's a good addition to United, a modern full-back. When Luke Shaw was at his best last season it was when he played left on a back three, which might suit all parties.”

Solskjaer had to make several changes for a meeting with PSG, but it may be that he sticks with some of those forced upon him.

Tuanzebe has certainly staked a serious claim for a more regular role, with the versatile 22-year-old showing on his first start of 2020 that he is ready to see more minutes.

Hargreaves added on the former England Under-21 international, who was providing cover for club captain Harry Maguire: “I love him. Good luck getting this guy out of the team.

“To be fair he is a good athlete, he makes good decisions, physically he has a presence, he wasn’t fazed by [Kylian] Mbappe or Neymar, I think he grew into the occasion.”

United will be back in Premier League action on Saturday when taking in a home date with Chelsea.

Arsenal are seeing opponents shut off the supply line to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, admits Kevin Campbell, with Mikel Arteta needing someone else to step up and provide moments of match-winning inspiration.

The Gunners have been leaning heavily on their club captain in that department for some time.

Aubameyang has tended to deliver, with an impressive return of 72 goals through 115 appearances earning him the armband at Emirates Stadium and a lucrative new contract.

The 31-year-old has, however, failed to find the target in his last four outings and Campbell feels Arsenal need to start piecing together a Plan B.

The former Gunners striker told Gentingbet: “Opposing teams are cutting off Aubameyang’s supply.

“Opposition are challenging Arsenal to beat them without Aubameyang, because they’re ensuring all roads to Aubameyang are cut off.

“Arsenal need to be beat teams with someone other than Aubgameyang. The moment you start beating the teams with someone other than Aubameyang, then the opposition stop singling him out so much.

“I understand that other teams are scheming to stop Arsenal in this way, so they need to come up with a smart game plan and that’s something that Arteta needs to work out himself.”

Arsenal have enjoyed a positive start to the 2020-21 campaign, collecting nine points from five games and reaching the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Campbell believes they could end up in the hunt for the most prestigious of prizes, with the ex-Gunners frontman saying of an unpredictable Premier League: “Arsenal have an outside chance at the title this year, no team has really taken a grip of the Premier League so far other than Everton and Aston Villa, who have surprised everybody.

“However, we do know that after 10 games or so the league will start settling down and the usual suspects tend to find their form and just keep picking points up.

“So, it is key for Arsenal to stay up there, get the points in the bag and stay up where they need to be. Then, they can see how things go after Christmas and into the New Year.

“I truly believe they have an outside chance, with the quality that they've got at the moment.”

Campbell also believes that continental glory can be chased down, with Arteta’s side due to open their Europa League campaign away at Rapid Vienna on Thursday.

He said: “Arsenal should 100 per cent be expected to win the Europa League this season.

“With every tournament they go into, Arteta says that they go into it to win it, which is what every Arsenal fan wants to hear.

“They went out of the Europa League last season with a whimper, they lost the final the previous year, so you think this year... why not?

“This is a prestigious trophy to win and it would give them a Champions League qualification.”

Having shown improvements at Belgian First Division A side KV Kortrijk, Malaysian teenage star Luqman Hakim Shamsudin is embarking on another first this weekend.

The 18-year old striker has been selected to join the club's matchday squad for their league encounter against Anderlecht this Saturday, October 24, with kick-off time at 2:45 am Malaysian time.

The news was revealed by his club through their social media and website on Friday.

After nine rounds, Kortrijk are currently in eighth place with 14 points, while Anderlecht are just one spot below, tied on points. Anderlecht are currently managed by former Manchester City star Vincent Kompany.

Since Luqman's arrival at the club back in August, he has scored for Kortrijk's U-21 team in a friendly match and an official encounter, while his participation with the senior team has seen him score for them in a friendly match.

READ: Luqman Hakim reaches another milestone at Kortrijk

Being handed a matchday squad selection is another step in the youngster's European journey, but a league appearance on Saturday will make it a huge leap. If he does get playing minutes against Kompany's charges, the Mokhtar Dahari Academy graduate will make his name as the first Malaysian to play in a top European league.

Arsenal have handed a trial to the son of club legend Dennis Bergkamp.

Mitchel Bergkamp, 22, has spent the week training at London Colney with Steve Bould’s Under-23s side.

The midfielder has been a free agent since the summer having left Dutch second tier side Almere City, where he progressed through the youth ranks.

Arsenal have been taking a look at him during the past few days as they continue to shake-up their U23s set-up at the club.

The Gunners have sent large swathes of their young players out on loan this summer, while also adding to their ranks with a host of new additions - from both at home and abroad.

They are, however, short of supply in experienced U23s players, with only nine of those in Bould’s current group unable to also play for the U18s.

That saw several players with first-team experience drafted into the side that drew 3-3 against Manchester United at the weekend, with Cedric Soares, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and William Saliba all starting.

So the potential addition of 22-year-old Bergkamp could be an appealing option, despite him having never played at the top level in his homeland.

Mitchel grew up in London and was on the pitch with his father for his testimonial against Ajax in 2006, which was the game that officially opened Emirates Stadium.

And although he left England 14 years ago, he still holds Arsenal close to his heart.

“My father also played for Internazionale and Ajax, two wonderful clubs, but Arsenal feels like home,” he said during an interview with ELF Voetbal last year.

“Whether I choose the Emirates or Highbury? I would have preferred to play at Highbury. There are the memories of everything my father has done for the club.”

Dennis made 423 appearances for Arsenal during his glittering 11-year stay in north London which stretched from 1995 to 2006.

The 51-year-old scored 120 goals for the Gunners and won three league titles alongside four FA Cups. He was named the Premier League Player of the Season in 1998 and his total of 94 Premier League assists remains an Arsenal record.

He retired in 2006 before returning to former club Ajax, where he took his coaching qualifications and began working in the academy. In 2011 he was named as assistant to first-team manager Frank de Boer, but took a step back following the appointment of Peter Bosz.

Bergkamp eventually left Ajax in 2017 and has recently been been helping out in a technical capacity at Almere City, where Mitchel had been playing.

He was linked with a possible role on Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff following the departure of Freddie Ljungberg in the summer, but sources at Arsenal insisted at the time that there hadn’t been any contact.

AC Milan defender Simon Kjaer says that he is raring to go in the Europa League group stages with a clash against Celtic, though the occasion will be spoiled by the lack of fans.

Kjaer, who earned his 100th Denmark cap in a 1-0 win against England earlier this month, has tasted the European atmosphere at Parkhead previously while playing with Fenerbahce and rates it among the most impressive in the world, adding that the empty stadium will make for a strange experience.

Nevertheless, the centre-back, who was the only player to score two penalties in the marathon shootout victory over Rio Ave to help the Rossoneri reach this stage, says that his side will be targeting the three points.

“Celtic are a great club with a great history, everybody knows that. And Celtic Park is really something special,” he told Goal while on international duty. 

“I have played there once with Fenerbahce, and I can honestly say that even after 500 games in top football, where I’ve been at all the biggest and most legendary stadiums, then still Celtic Park is special with an amazing atmosphere. I will definitely miss the full experience of the Scottish fans though, and just like playing in our own San Siro, it makes you think. 

“Football is for the fans. We play to entertain, to make the fans happy - and to interact with them during games. Playing in a ghost stadium just isn’t the same, but we all have to adjust to this strange situation and hit the right psychological level of tension and focus - and we do that as professionals. 

“Motivation has to come from within yourself. But the feeling around the games is just not the same. I miss the passion of people in the stands, and I can’t wait to play in a full stadium again.” 

Kjaer’s record with Milan is remarkable, having lost just once in the 26 matches he has played with the club, including a 21-game undefeated sequence in all competitions. Little wonder, then, he is optimistic about the chances of Stefano Pioli’s side.

“We have had a good start in Serie A and now we also want to get a good start in the Europa League,” he said. “It’s two completely different things. People talk about how we finished last season in great style following the break, but I actually believe that it goes further back than that. 

“We have been on a great journey of development for the whole of this year and if we can continue playing like we have played so far in 2020 - which has been as one of the best if not the best team in Serie A - then I see no reason why we should not aim for the top of the league.

“There is a lot of potential in this young group of players and we have been improving week by week. Our coach is not only a great coach but also a great person - that is something I really appreciate. 

“We have a huge appetite for success and we all work hard to bring AC Milan back where the club belongs - at the top in both Serie A and international football. We always enter any game to win it and now when we enter the Europa League, our goal must be to win the trophy.”

Meanwhile, the 31-year-old former Wolfsburg, Lille and Sevilla star feels he has additional responsibility in the team due to his status as a senior player.

“The future of AC Milan looks exciting. We have a very, very young team with just a few of us older figures to add some experience,” he said. “When the club came for me, they told me that they wanted my experience and skills as a leader, which they had noticed with my clubs and as captain for Denmark. 

“Personally, I feel that I am in a very good place in my career. Reaching 100 internationals for Denmark at Wembley, while having been the captain of my country for a few years now, is something special - a milestone That makes me very proud and motivates me a lot. 

“I am playing some of the best football in my career and 2020 has been amazing for me - arriving at this huge club and then a lot of victories since then. But I mean -  AC Milan - just have a look at the history, the results, the passion of the global fan base, the legends. 

“For me it is a dream come true to play in this jersey. I am at the perfect place and I believe that I am entering the most exciting years of my career.”

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel launched the promo of a three-part documentary series on Indian football legend I.M Vijayan on Thursday. 

The president shared the promo of the documentary on his official Twitter handle.

Patel's tweet read, "Happy to release the promo of 'I. M. Vijayan Unplugged', an exclusive documentary on the Indian Football Legend himself, whose career is a saga to pass on to the next generation of footballers.

"The three-part documentary series focuses on the extraordinary life and football career of the legendary I.M.Vijayan and takes a candid look at his impeccable skills and brilliant performances."

The documentary series, produced by The Week, focuses on the career and life of the legendary footballer who hailed from Kerala.

Vijayan is widely considered as one of the greatest ever footballer to don the Indian national team jersey. He played for clubs such as Kerala Police, Mohun Bagan, FC Cochin, East Bengal, Churchill Brothers and JCT. He was an integral part of the JCT side which won the inaugural edition of the National Football League in 1996-97 season.

At the international level, he won the SAFF Championship thrice, 1993, 1997 and 1999. He had scored a goal against Bhutan during 1999 SAFF Championship within 12 seconds of kick-off which is one of the fastest goals ever scored in the history of football.

Vijayan has won the AIFF Player of the Year award three times, 1992, 1997 and 2000 and was awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India in 2003.

Harry Kane is “next level sh*t” and occupies a talent pool just behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, says Dimitar Berbatov, with the Tottenham striker morphing into a cultured No.10.

The England international has forged his reputation as one of the most devastating No.9s in world football.

A prolific strike rate has lifted him to the very top of the global game, with any number of sides willing to buy into his end product if an exit door were to be thrown open in north London.

Spurs continue to benefit from that ability in the present, with Kane showing in 2020-21 that he is much more than a predatory finisher in and around the box.

Assists have been added to his game, with Heung-min Son being the main beneficiary of those, and Berbatov is among those to have saluted a change that promises to make a 27-year-old frontman even more destructive in the final third.

“After Messi and Ronaldo, Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski are two of the best talents in our sport,” former Spurs striker Berbatov told Betfair.

“Kane's assist at the weekend [in a 3-3 draw with West Ham], that's next level sh*t, you expect that from Kevin De Bruyne.

“The Spurs man is consistently proving that he can be that number 10, not just be up front poaching goals.

“Kane and Son are a joy to watch, two magnificent players who know each other perfectly.

“They remind me of me and Keano (Robbie Keane), they are almost telepathic. They understand that football isn't a selfish game, that when you try to set up your team-mate and play for them, you end up playing better yourself and it helps the team.

“Right now, they are just having fun playing together, it's the perfect partnership.”

Gareth Bale is another to have been added to a star-studded attacking pot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the Welshman up and running during a second stint with Spurs.

Berbatov believes his former team-mate can thrive alongside Kane and Son, with the 31-year-old still having plenty left in the tank after enduring a difficult few years at Real Madrid.

“Gareth Bale will have been emotional making his second debut against the Hammers, and even though the result was not the perfect one, and he missed that chance, he will still be happy to be back,” added Berbatov.

“Of course, he will have been nervous, even without fans, but it will be easier going forward for him.

“He will have loads of time to score goals, make assists, and play lots of minutes. The most important thing for him is to stay injury free, and hopefully Spurs can help him with this.”

Adrian admits it feels “strange” to play behind a Liverpool back four that does not include Virgil van Dijk, but the Spanish goalkeeper is confident that the Reds can contend with untimely injury blows.

Jurgen Klopp has been forced to shuffle his pack over recent weeks after seeing key men ruled out.

First-choice keeper Alisson is closing in on a return to action, but he has been stuck on the sidelines since the end of September.

Van Dijk has joined him in the treatment room, with the commanding Dutch centre-half suffering knee ligament damage in an eventful Merseyside derby clash with Everton.

Liverpool were able to emerge victorious in their first outing without the Netherlands international defender at their disposal, with Ajax edged out 1-0 in the Champions League.

Adrian is among those taking plenty of positives from that contest, with the Premier League title holders proving that they can overcome adversity and remain competitive.

He told the club’s official website: “It's a big win, a massive one – three points in the Champions League and a clean sheet.

“It was a little bit different, strange, we missed some good players.

“I think we deserved another result in the derby but I think we reacted really well and the team showed the strong mentality that we have, a winning mentality.

“As a goalkeeper, keeping a clean sheet is a massive thing and the last few games we conceded many goals, some cheap goals. It was good keeping a clean sheet and scoring one goal to get us three points.”

Fabinho was the man asked to provide cover for Van Dijk against Ajax, with the Brazilian earning plenty of plaudits for the performance he produced when dropping back from midfield.

It could be that he offers a long-term solution to Klopp, with Adrian confident that Liverpool can cope without the big-money additions that are being mooted for the January transfer window.

He added: “Fab played a few times there last season and the more games playing together, everyone is going to get more confident, for sure.

“We've known each other for a long time and it's not just the centre-backs and the goalkeeper, it's the whole team defending and it was a very good job from everyone.

“Obviously we know we are going to miss Virgil and it's a big loss for us, but it's how to react. We have many good players who can play in this position – Fabinho did great with Joe [Gomez].

“We have a great squad and we have shown at different times last season, when anyone is not playing, another one comes from the bench to do the same and even better. 

“We are going to miss Virg, for sure, but I thought we did good from the defending side.”

Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum says that Fabinho looks like he's been playing as a centre-back for his “whole life” after the Brazilian stepped up to fill the void left by Virgil van Dijk in the Reds' Champions League victory over Ajax.

The Merseyside outfit ran out eventual 1-0 winners in Amsterdam but Jurgen Klopp went into the match without his defensive rock, with Van Dijk having found himself on the wrong end of a wild challenge from Jordan Pickford in their previous game against Everton.

Having sold Dejan Lovren to Zenit St. Petersburg without bringing in a replacement, coupled with Joel Matip being prone to injuries, questions had been raised over whether Liverpool had enough depth at the back following Van Dijk's lengthy lay-off.

Fabinho has thus far deputised capably, highlighted by a heroic goal-line clearance in Wednesday's European showdown, and Wijnaldum believes that the Anfield side are in safe hands duo to the Brazil international being a natural at the back.

“Fabinho does great as a centre-back,” Van Dijk's Netherlands team-mate said after the match. “I think in the games that he's played there we didn't concede any goals. And also, the way that he's playing... it's like he's been playing there his whole life.

“It's great to have a player who can play in different positions. He does it well in all of the games he plays [at centre-back], so it's a good thing for the team.”

Lining up next to Joe Gomez at the heart of defence – far from a regular occurrence – Fabinho made four tackles, nine clearances and four interceptions, prompting additional heavy praise from his head coach.

“This combination with Joey and Fabinho, I don't think they played together before if I'm 100 per cent right. Maybe once but I don't really know,” Klopp told the press. 

“So they need to get used to each other, they need to get used to the verbal demands in that position – what you have to say there to help the midfielders and all these kind of things.

“Fabinho can play the position, he likes playing it actually. If I would have asked him to play right-back I don't think he would enjoy it as much as he's enjoying the centre-half position. 

“In our situation in the moment we have to keep those boys fit and then they can of course help us a lot. I'm not surprised he plays well in the position otherwise we would have thought about a different solution, even when that would have been properly tricky.”

Kenya have moved three positions up in the recent rankings released by world football organizing body Fifa on Thursday, October 22.

The East Africa charges are now placed in position 103, up from 106 with 1205 points from 1199.

Harambee Stars, who had been dormant since December 2019 just like most countries owing to Covid-19, returned to action on October 9 with an international friendly against Zambia in which they won 2-1.

Cliff Nyakeya's strike and an own goal by Tandi Mwape handed Francis Kimanzi’s side the victory while a late goal by Emmanuel Chabula denied the East Africans a home clean sheet. 

Despite leading Kenya to that win, Francis Kimanzi fell out with his employers and was eventually replaced by Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee who will now have a huge task of helping Kenya get past Comoros in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers doubleheader scheduled for November.

Despite not getting involved in the recent international week, Uganda Cranes have moved up by a position.

Cranes have retained their 1321 points, but are now placed in the 76th position globally. 

The Johnathan McKinstry-led charges camped in Dubai during the international week, in preparations for their November Afcon qualifier double-header against neighbours South Sudan.

However, Tanzania have stagnated in the 134 position despite going down by a solitary goal at home to Burundi in their recent international friendly outing.

Saido Ntibazonkiza's strike late in the second half was enough to hand the visitors a 1-0 win over Taifa Stars in an international friendly staged at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam on October 11.  

The loss, however, had no impact on the Fifa standings for the Etienne Ndayiragije-led team. They have remained in the same positions but their points have dropped from 1086 to 1081. 

The Swallows have moved a position higher to 148 with 1058 points, six more than their previous tally.

Sudan, who are on 1110 points, are placed in the 128 position while Rwanda are in 133 position with 1089 points. Ethiopia have retained position 146 with 1061 points with South Sudan down in the 168 position after managing 983 points.

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Roger Feutmba believes the club have made a rod for their own back by allowing their squad to grow so large, and has urged the Brazilians to make some cuts.

Downs boast of a 39-man squad after signing at least 12 new players in this transfer window, but forward Jose Ali Meza has since joined Maritzburg United, while midfielders Lucky Mohomi and Aubrey Ngoma have left Chloorkop, signing for Super United and Cape Town City respectively.

The trio of Sammy Seabi, Nicholus Lukhubeni and Gadinkame Modise have also been sent out on loan to other Premier Soccer League clubs.

However, Feutmba still feels that Sundowns have far too many players, and risk struggling if they can't find buyers for some of their fringe names.

“Having about 40 players is a hard way to do things. If you buy more players you must let some go on loan." Feutmba told Sowetan Live. "I like [Anthony] Laffor, he’s a good person, we always chat, but I don’t think him leaving will be a problem,’’ 

Besides 35-year-old Laffor who has struggled with injuries in the past two seasons, Feutmba is keen to see Tiyani Mabunda and Phakamani Mahlambi following him through the exit door.

“In fact, all those players [such as Mabunda and Mahlambi] can go and be replaced," he added. "Some of these players have won it all and the club must look to the younger ones. It’s not possible to work with 40 players … it can confuse players."

Former coach Pitso Mosimane initiated the mass acquisition of players, justifying the action by saying he needs a big squad to rotate players amid the demands of Caf Champions League and domestic competitions.

Of Sundowns' new signings, only two, Haashim Domingo and Peter Shalulile, started in last weekend’s MTN8 quarter-final 1-0 defeat by Bloemfontein Celtic.

Two others, Kermit Erasmus and Aubrey Modiba, were introduced in the second half, while ex-Kaizer Chiefs star George Maluleka was an unused substitute.

Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has already hinted at a mass clearing out of players, with most going out on loan.

It is yet to be seen how many of the new signings will feature in Saturday’s league opener against Kaizer Chiefs.

Jordan Pickford is “really sad” to have forced Virgil van Dijk under the knife, says Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, with a knee-high tackle on the Liverpool defender considered to have been nothing more than “mistimed”.

The Toffees’ England international goalkeeper clattered into the Dutch defender early on at Goodison Park.

Van Dijk did get back to his feet, but he was in no position to continue and is now facing up to several months on the sidelines with cruciate ligament damage.

Pickford has seen his wild lunge widely condemned, with many bemused as to how he avoided any form of punishment, but Ancelotti insists there was no malice on the part of his player and that Liverpool were merely the victims of an unfortunate sporting incident.

The Italian has told evertontv: “To be clear, we are really sorry for the injury of Virgil van Dijk. Every one of us hopes he can recover soon and well.

“There was this contact with Jordan Pickford: it was mistimed contact. But the fact the Premier League is so fast, it is not so difficult to arrive a little bit later.

“Jordan arrived a little bit later but his intention was to try to reach the ball. It was not to hurt Virgil van Dijk.

“To say it was premeditated, and this and that, in my opinion, is too much. Virgil van Dijk knows this.

“Jordan is really sad, really disappointed [that he is injured]. It was a strong contact, maybe mistimed, but sometimes in football, it can happen.”

Ancelotti’s opinion is not shared by everyone, with Liverpool legend Graeme Souness among those to have condemned Pickford for a rush of blood that has become all too common in the 26-year-old keeper’s game.

He told Sky Sports: “I guarantee you, every single professional who has ever played the game, semi-professional, maybe the guys on Hackney Marshes, when you look at that, the focus is not on the offside, their focus is on one thing: the assault on the player.

“It's outrageous. For me, as an ex-player, it's 'wow!'. These people who make these decisions, who sit in Stockley Park, can look at that and think, 'that's offside', I just don't get it. They just don't know what they're talking about.

“I've been to Stockley Park, it's nigh-on impossible to make a mistake with the technology they have, the time they give themselves, and they can still get it wrong. That wasn't a tackle, that was an assault!”

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that Everton will be without James Rodriguez when they face Southampton on Sunday, with the Colombian nursing a knock suffered against Liverpool.

An untimely injury suffered by Reds defender Virgil van Dijk was considered to be the most notable fitness issue to emerge from an eventful Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

The Dutch centre-half was, however, to catch James during an early tussle for the ball before being forced from the field himself.

That coming together has left an in-form Toffees star stuck on the treatment table, with Ancelotti not expecting the 29-year-old summer signing from Real Madrid to come into his thoughts for a trip to St Mary’s Stadium.

“Unfortunately, James had a problem during the game [against Liverpool],” Ancelotti told evertontv.

“He had a mistimed tackle with Virgil van Dijk at the beginning of the game and I think he will not be available for the game against Southampton.”

Everton will also be without club captain Seamus Coleman against the Saints, but Allan is available after avoiding any recurrence of the groin complaint that he carried into a meeting with Liverpool.

The Toffees will be looking to stretch their unbeaten start to the season when heading to the south coast, with Alex Iwobi looking to make what would be just his second league start of the 2020-21 campaign.

On his selection decisions, Ancelotti added: “We have to put in other players who have the desire to play.

“We are working this week on this and I think we are going to choose a good line-up for the game against Southampton. Alex is a player who works hard. He is fast and with his quality he can help the team be better in certain situations.

“He [potentially] has an opportunity to play but also we have Bernard and Anthony Gordon. We have a lot of opportunities to replace Richarlison and James. We are already moving on.”

The Toffees will also be without Brazilian forward Richarlison, with the former Watford star having been sent off late on in the Merseyside derby for a challenge on Thiago Alcantara.