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Frank Lampard thinks N'Golo Kante might have to change the way he manages himself after a spate of injuries this season has often left him unavailable for selection.

The 29-year-old had been the only Chelsea player to line up for every minute of his side's return since the coronavirus-enforced stoppage in the Premier League.

However, he is now out of the upcoming trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace, while he is also unlikely to be fit to face Sheffield United at the weekend.

After his fourth injury of the season, Lampard explained how Kante might need to adjust his preparations as he gets into the senior stages of his playing career.

“Take the small injury he has now out of it slightly, because all players can get that in this period because we’re asking a lot of them in games,” Lampard said in a press conference on Zoom.

“The story of the season being he had a pretty bad injury in the Europa League final and when we came back for pre-season, I wasn’t sure what the situation was and it turned out he wasn’t near fit with that injury.

“And now we end up with a slight domino effect that took us through the season which means he played pretty much fifty per cent of the games as we went into lockdown. I like to think that we’re through that patch and that this injury now is pretty unrelated.

"One of the things that looks different for me is that when you do get a few injuries, when you are in your mid-twenties you see things differently and you have to maintain yourself slightly differently and N’Golo certainly buys into that and I think that will help too.”

Still, Lampard has a big squad to select from - and that's despite also seeing Mateo Kovacic miss out in midfield during the midweek round of fixtures.

Jorginho and Billy Gilmour are vying for a start as the latter is still yet to play a single minute since the restart in late June. Along with those two, Ross Barkley continues to be in a good run of form, adding goals and assists to his game.

Meanwhile, Mason Mount had success in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Watford in a more withdrawn role. Lampard spoke of how he makes decisions on his midfield and praised Mount's ability to both attack and defend well.

“I spoke of it the other night after the game about teams with low blocks who make it difficult for you,” the head coach added.

“To be able to get players who can arrive with technical ability high up the pitch and around the box and find a pass and take someone out of the game with a skill or finish... It’s big in those games if we feel like we’re going to have a lot of control. 

“Generally, with the midfield, I do like midfield players who can perform, not all the roles but can play high, can play on the side, can do the defensive duties and Mason really has that.

“His work off the ball is fantastic for us and if I feel like getting him high up the pitch to put more pressure on the other team if they want to play out, that can help us off the ball.

“Sometimes I’ll ask him to do a slightly different role with the ball where he comes deeper to make sure he’s not missing out on the ball because he’s a good player and needs to be on the ball deeper. Himself and Ross [Barkley] can perform that kind of role. 

“Kovacic can perform that kind of role. Ruben Loftus-Cheek can perform that kind of role. N’Golo Kante can perform that kind of role. Billy Gilmour can. Jorginho also can but his role predominantly in his career has been from a deeper position.

“I had those good problems within the team. I like to work on the midfield, making it as fluid as it possibly can be so we give teams problems. 

“Some performances recently, Watford being one the other day, Everton before lockdown I saw a real fluid movement of the midfield which I really liked. We have to continue to work on that.”

Mikel Arteta says he would be open to keeping Dani Ceballos at Arsenal but says the situation is not in the Gunners' hands.

The Spain international arrived on loan from Real Madrid last summer and is due to return to the Spanish capital at the end of the season.

Arsenal do not have an option to turn his move permanent and the expectation has been that Ceballos would only spend the one season in the Premier League before heading back to his homeland.

But Arteta has now raised the prospect of bringing the midfielder back to the Emirates at the end of his loan, if another deal with Madrid can be done.

“We are talking to the club,” said Arsenal’s head coach. “Obviously we don’t own the player, he’s not in our hands, so the clubs will need to have a communication and see what we can do.”

Having had to battle for his place in the starting XI after Arteta’s arrival in December, Ceballos has become an increasingly influential player for Arsenal under the Spaniard. 

He has started seven of Arsenal’s last eight games in the Premier League and has formed an encouraging partnership alongside Granit Xhaka in the heart of the midfield.

“I’m really happy with him,” Arteta said ahead of Tuesday night's home game against Leicester. “The way he’s evolving and I love how much he likes to play football – the passion he puts into every training session, and in every game, you just have to see his celebrations.

“Whether he’s on the pitch or on the bench, the way he celebrates [shows] how much he puts into it. Again, I’m really happy with him, I think he’s evolving in the right way and he’s becoming a really important player for us.”

Meanwhile, Arteta says Arsenal would be ‘open’ to potentially swapping players during the forthcoming transfer window in a bid to land key targets.

With money expected to be limited due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as well as what looks set to be another season outside of the Champions League, Arteta is aware that transfer funds will be tight.

There have been suggestions that Arsenal could be willing to offer Alexandre Lacazette or Matteo Guendouzi as a sweetener for targets such as Thomas Partey at Atletico Madrid.

And although he wouldn't be drawn on any specific names, Arteta admits swap deals are likely once the window opens.

“We have to be open to different situations,” he said. “I think the market will give us the opportunity to do certain deals like this but at the moment I cannot comment on any of that.”

Frank Lampard has insisted that Tammy Abraham's goal drought isn't a result of his current contract situation, with his deal now having less than two years left to run.

The 22-year-old is on a nine-game goal drought and is the only homegrown player not to sign a new deal recently, having seen the likes of Mason Mount, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James all penning new terms this season.

Abraham remains Chelsea's top scorer this season with 15 goals but the majority of those came earlier in the season, with Olivier Giroud now often selected ahead of him.

The England international has had an ankle injury that disrupted his run in the team and Lampard has told his No.9 to ignore talk around his contract and to focus on training well to score again.

“I think on Tammy’s contract we’re not at a critical level with it and I’ll leave that between him and the club to discuss that side of it,” Lampard told reporters on Zoom. “I don’t think it’s something in his mind now. It certainly shouldn’t be.

“What needs to be in his mind now is these games we have coming up and how much he can give us on the pitch, whether he’s coming on as a sub or starting games. He has had a really good season.

“He hasn’t scored so much in the second half of the season and as a young player, it’s always clear that when you have those periods there’s only one way out of it and that’s work and repetition in training and trying to make the most out of every moment you get.

“I just think that’s where Tammy’s at. The contract will hopefully look after itself. It’s between him and the club. He just needs to focus on giving us that Tammy that we had earlier in the season, which was giving defenders so much of a problem in games and scoring regularly.

“It all came from how he was training and working through the week. You could see it through his demeanour in the week, which meant he could perform on the matchday. That’s what he has to sustain all the time.

“Not just Tammy. It’s a general rule. We get very excited with young talent - and rightly so. We’ve seen it this season and that’s why I’ve tried to stay pretty grounded when I get asked a lot about the youth, particularly earlier in the season, because I felt it coming.

“It’s really hard to come into the Premier League, at the level it’s at, and sustain performances or be in the side all the time. There’s competition, games are hard.

“Whether it’s Tammy, whether it’s Mason, whether it’s Fikayo, whether it’s Reece, they’ve all had periods of real input and playing regularly and periods where it’s maybe not quite so much, in their own different ways.

“That’s something we all have to be a bit calm with from the outside and expect that. 

“The main thing from working behind the scenes is that they understand that and that they will have those little moments and not lose confidence. I’m always there to support them on that. But also they need to continue the work.

“That’s the message for all young players, not just mine. I’ve been there, I know how hard it is to break through, but when you break through it’s possibly harder to sustain it and move on to a different level, which top players do. 

“All these younger players here potentially have it. A lot of it is in their hands at this point."

Aduana Stars director Kofi Manu has hit out at fans of the club for petitioning the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over the side's snub for the Caf inter-club competitions next season.

Last week, the football governing body's Execute Council named Asante Kotoko and Ashanti Gold as Ghana's two representatives for the Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively after prematurely terminated the 2019-20 domestic football season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Aduana led the table of the cancelled Ghana Premier League (GPL) which was truncated at the matchweek 15 stage. Some fans of the club believed the side should have been offered a 2020-21 spot in Africa partly because they topped the table and partly because they were the last club to win the Premier League.

“I was really sad when I heard that our own supporters wrote a letter to the GFA expressing their displeasure about Kotoko and AshantiGold representing Ghana in Caf [competitions]," Manu told Happy FM.

"These supporters are disgracing Aduana stars, a club that I am a part of. Disgracing us like this is bad. Even the regulations they quoted are against them.

“If we are to go by their letter and argument, then no club can go to Africa, not even Aduana Stars. How can you write a letter without understanding it to disgrace the club?

"Aduana stars people were quiet when the Normalization Committee [who led the administration of football in Ghana between 2018 and October last year] wrote to Caf for Kotoko and AshantiGold to represent us.

“A whole me, Kofi Manu, a club that I am a director of can write such a letter and will not even contact me. This is just shameful.

"We can’t declare any club as a leading club on the table because we have not finished our first round. Clubs haven’t played the same number of games so they’re not equal and we can’t use that [to determine who represents Ghana in Africa]."

Kotoko and AshGold similarly represented Ghana in this season's African campaign where they both got eliminated in the first round.

Ordinarily, the winners of the Premier League are awarded the slot for the Caf Champions League while victors of the FA Cup earn the Confederation Cup spot. 

Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez says he feels safe guarding the posts behind David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi, despite frequent criticism of the pair.

The defenders often find themselves as the butt of the joke for opposition fans, with neither being strangers to a high-profile error.

While there have been more setbacks this season, there have also been signs of progress under Mikel Arteta.

On Saturday, a back three of Luiz, Mustafi and Sead Kolasinac restricted in-form Wolves to just a single shot on target at Molineux as Arsenal won 2-0.

"Now, we have structure, we have a gameplan, we have game management and the defence looks stronger and stronger," Martinez told Sky Sports.

"Believe me, David and Musti are top players. David has been at the top for so many years and it's the same with Musti.

"Sometimes when you make mistakes at big clubs you get punished. With Arsenal, people always seem to blame the defence for defeats. But I feel really safe behind them.

"They have experience and they are constantly talking through the whole game. When you play behind them, it's not like what people say. It's not, 'Oh, they make mistakes, they don't know how to play football'.

"I feel really safe, and now that we've kept three clean sheets on the bounce in the Premier League, people are starting to say that the defence is actually solid."

Arteta is making an impression on Arsenal’s squad already, though there is clearly a long road ahead as he looks to rebuild the club.

Nevertheless, Martinez says he and his team-mates have been hugely impressed with their former midfielder’s coaching ability.

"We knew Mikel would be a good manager when he signed here, but we didn't know he would be this good," he said.

"He is incredible. He knows how to deal with experienced players, with young players. He gives us a gameplan against anybody and gives us hope when we do the training sessions.

"He knows what position you have to be in in every department, whether you are a goalkeeper, a striker or a left-winger.

“And then, when we go into the games, those scenarios we worked on in training actually happen, so we start believing in every word that he says.”

Tottenham bounced back from their defeat to Sheffield United in underwhelming fashion as a Michael Keane own goal earned a 1-0 Premier League win over Everton.

Spurs' Champions League hopes were left hanging by a thread after they slipped to a limp 3-1 defeat at Bramall Lane last time out.

Jose Mourinho's men were not much better in the more familiar confines of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday, but Keane's moment of misfortune proved enough to see off a dismal Everton side and secure the Portuguese's 200th Premier League victory.

Captain Hugo Lloris was involved in a half-time flare-up with Son Heung-min and an unconvincing triumph that moves Tottenham within seven points of fifth-placed Manchester United will do little to improve the mood in the camp.

Tottenham struggled to break down their visitors in the opening stages but a 21st-minute effort from Lucas Moura almost brought about the opener as his 25-yard effort skimmed the left-hand post.

Just three minutes later Tottenham were ahead as Giovani Lo Celso's effort took a very fortuitous ricochet off Keane that left Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford helpless.

Despite their half-time advantage, there were clear signs of discord in the Tottenham dressing room as an argument between Lloris and Son threatened to boil over as they left the pitch.

The pair had to be separated by their team-mates and only the reflexes of Pickford prevented Son from putting further distance between Spurs and Everton after the restart, the England goalkeeper twice denying the South Korea star.

Spurs had no problem protecting their lead but the prospect of them catching in-form United with five games to play looks an extremely unlikely one.

What does it mean? Win doesn't paper over cracks for Tottenham

Tottenham may be back to winning ways, but it was a victory claimed in uninspiring fashion and the frayed tempers Lloris and Son displayed at the interval suggest all may not be well for a team clinging on to faint hopes in the race for Champions League football.

Son sparked into life

The heated exchange with Lloris did not appear to have a negative impact on Son, who was the only player to offer a genuine threat of scoring in the second half.

Toffees toothless

Spurs' may have been punished for their malaise on another day, but Everton offered next to nothing as Lloris went largely untested. 

Key Opta Facts

- Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has become the fifth manager to reach 200 Premier League victories, with only Alex Ferguson (322) doing so in fewer games than the Portuguese (326).

- Tottenham are unbeaten in 15 Premier League games against Everton (W8 D7), their longest run without defeat against an opponent in the competition.

- Everton have lost exactly half of their Premier League games in London (78/156), with only Newcastle United (79) losing more in the capital than the Toffees.

- Tottenham have kept a clean sheet in two of their last three Premier League games – as many as they had in their previous 14 in the competition.

What's next?

Spurs travel to Bournemouth on Thursday, when Everton host Southampton.

The Referee Committee of the Swedish Football Federation has found Martin Strombergsson guilty of using an inappropriate and offensive statement towards Ostersunds goalkeeper Aly Keita.

According to reports, Keita reported Strombergsson to the Allsvenskan authorities after he told him “to shut up and go back into his goal so bananas could be thrown at him” during a top-flight game last season.

Following a thorough investigation, the chairman of the referees committee in Sweden, Peter Ekstrom announced that the 43-year-old official has been banned from officiating matches for the rest of 2020 as punishment.

“Martin Strombergsson regrets that he had no racist intentions with what he has said,” Ekstrom told Swedish Football Federation website.

“We have no reason to doubt this, but still consider it to be a very inappropriate statement, and it must be obvious that it can be perceived as offensive.

“Based on what has happened, it is not appropriate for Martin Strombergsson to judge any matches in the league series during the remainder of 2020.”

In his reaction, the Secretary General of Swedish football governing body, Hakan Sjotrand backed the judgement and praised Keita for reporting such an incident.

“I completely share the Judiciary Committee's view on the matter. What has happened is very serious, and is contrary to the values ​​of Swedish football - regardless of the intentions Strombergsson had,” Sjostrand said.

“The Swedish Football Association, as employer, will give Martin Strombergsson a reminder and work free. It feels good that we have thoroughly investigated the incident and talked to everyone involved - it makes us feel secure in our judgement.

“It is good and important that Aly Keita talked about his experience. We must dare to talk about these issues in Swedish football.”

On Monday evening, Keita was in action for Ostersunds in their 1-0 loss to Mjallby and could not prevent them from conceding their fourth defeat after six games in the Allsvenskan this season.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper was part of the Guinea squad to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, and he made an appearance before their round of 16 exit. He played against Madagascar in a group game that ended in a 2-2 draw.

Former Northern Ireland international Keith Gillespie says Sir Alex Ferguson acted as an impromptu agent to quintuple his wages as he left Manchester United for Newcastle.

Gillespie came through the youth ranks in Manchester but left seeking first-team football in 1995, with David Beckham eventually breaking into the team ahead of him.

Joining Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle, he got his wish and was a regular for three years on Tyneside, before moving on to Blackburn in 1998.

And, according to Gillespie, his time in the North-East was made even more enjoyable by a cheeky intervention from Ferguson.

“We got to the hotel, got on the hotel phone and I rang home,” Gillespie told the UTD Podcast. “My mum answered and I explained the situation and the manager comes on to her and said: ‘Look, is it OK if I do the deal and act as his agent?’

She said she was happy enough with that. And I remember the manager said to me: ‘When we go in here, don’t say a word.’

“We were on £230 a week and the contract was going up to £250 a week the next year, but I remember sitting at a big round table with Sir Alex, Kevin Keegan, Freddy Shepherd, the chairman, Freddie Fletcher, the chief executive.

“I was sat with my head down and remember Sir Alex going: ‘Well, Keith’s on £600 a week at the minute and we want you to double it to £1,200.’

“I sort of looked up and he said [again]: ‘£600,’ and gave me this look as if to say: ‘Don’t say a word here.’ And Newcastle agreed to it right away.”

Perhaps inspired by Ferguson, Gillespie is now working as an agent, having retired from football in 2013 after dropping down the leagues.

He will hope to have learned from his own unpleasant experiences, after saying he was ripped off by an agent early in his career.

“Because you’ve played the game you know what a player expects from an agent. I only had two agents in my career,” he said.

“The first one I had at Newcastle tried to rip me off when I moved to Blackburn, so I changed agent and had the same one for the rest of my career and he became like a friend.”

Luke Shaw says Mason Greenwood should “ignore the hype” around himself at the minute – but also that he can become a Manchester United legend.

Greenwood has emerged as one of the world’s most promising youngsters this season, hitting 17 goals in all competitions so far.

United legend Andy Cole has praised the 18-year-old’s “freakish” finishing ability, and Shaw thinks he has what it takes to make good on his obvious potential.

"The growth that Mason has made in the last year and a half he has been in and around the first team is amazing,” Shaw told Sky Sports.

"For me personally, I feel like he has turned from a kid to a man in such short time and now he's understanding what this league is about.

"He has grown in size, he has got stronger and he is not fragile anymore. [Before, he] could be pushed off the ball.

"The most important thing I would say for him is ignore the hype, ignore what people are saying, just focus on yourself, keep doing what he's doing and there is no reason why he can't become a very important player for Manchester United in the future.

"He can become a United legend, no doubt about it."

Following their 5-2 thrashing of Bournemouth at the weekend, United have now scored 14 goals in five games since football resumed and are pushing for Champions League qualification.

According to Shaw, January signing Bruno Fernandes has been key in their transformation in recent months.

"For me, Bruno is a massive part of the change, the culture that is now going on at United," Shaw said. "He pushes that day in, day out.

"[He is] an amazing guy off the pitch, he's funny and he has massive confidence in his own ability, which none of us doubt. He's been perfect on the pitch.

"The whole team has changed I believe. The injuries we had also - Paul [Pogba] and [Marcus] Rashford have also come back and hit the ground running in this part of the season. Everyone is pulling their weight and doing a great job."

United have today been boosted by the news that in-form midfielder Nemanja Matic has signed a new contract at Old Trafford.

Lille forward Victor Osimhen is set to make a decision about a potential move to Napoli this week after meeting manager Gennaro Gattuso and club chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, his agent Osita Okolo has revealed.

The Nigeria international has been heavily linked with a transfer to the Serie A club after his outstanding debut campaign in France that earned him the award for the best African player in Ligue 1 this year .

Osimhen was in Italy last week to meet the leaders at Napoli and receive the club’s offer, however, his agent has disclosed that the final decision will be made by the player this week.

“Victor went to Naples with his representatives. We talked and exchanged views on the city: the impressions were good, to tell you the truth,” Okolo told Calcio Napoli 24 .

“Victor isn’t always shy, although he would’ve preferred to make an important decision with less media exposure.

“After meeting De Laurentiis, Giuntoli and Gattuso, he told me he needed some time to make a decision, without any pressure.

“Later this week he’ll drop his concerns and confirm his decision, whether he decides to accept Napoli’s offer or not.”

Osimhen who scored 18 goals in his first season at Lille, is believed to be concerned about racism incidents in Italy .

Okolo claimed Gattuso has assured the 21-year-old of his faith in him as he hopes to avoid a repeat of the experience he had at Wolfsburg where he played 14 Bundesliga matches, with only three starts across two seasons.

“We’re waiting. [His decision] may come not long after today. The coach made him feel wanted. He believes a lot in [Osimhen’s] ability and what he can do," he continued.

“Victor told me there was an agreement on everything but that there was still a couple more things to iron out before the final decision: the announcement should be made by tomorrow.

“I think it’s important for him to have a starting place, to grow further, even if there are no guarantees in the world of football.

“At Wolfsburg they promised him several things, then they moved the goalposts. Victor doesn’t want to get this decision wrong.

“I think Napoli would be the right place for him to grow, but he has the final say.”

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Warren Lewis says he doesn’t think Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt can manage Kaizer Chiefs because he will not get the freedom to choose his players.

The retired Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu anchorman is of the view Amakhosi will need a coach that will be prepared to listen to management when it comes to signing players.

Hunt’s future remains the subject of speculation after the club was sold to Tshakhuma Tsha Mdzivhandila (TTM) and the National First Division side (NFD) recently claimed they can’t afford the four-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) winner.

“Gavin [Hunt] is ready to coach a big team but the management or the owner of the club must be able to give him the freedom to sign his preferred players,” Lewis told Isolezwe.

“If Kaizer Chiefs can give him the freedom to sign the players that he wants, then we can see the results. Chiefs is a big club and we all want to see a strong Chiefs in South African football.

“If a club chooses players for him that will become a difficult situation for him. Gavin wants certain players, players that can play according to his requirements and he can get the best out of his players.

“However, there are people that will tell you how things must be done and who will be signed whilst you are a coach and that still happens in South African football.

“He has been successful at Wits and at SuperSport United because he was given the freedom to choose his players and do things according to his wish.”

Meanwhile, the Students' manager has recently confirmed he has not received offers as yet whilst explaining that he was not approached by the Thohoyandou-based club.

On the other hand, the Telkom Knockout Cup and MTN8 winner with the Clever Boys has been reportedly linked with a possible return to Matsatsantsa but the club’s CEO Stan Matthews was quick to downplay the reports.

While he said it would be the first time since 1981 where he would have to spend the pre-season at home, the manager’s name has also been linked with a move to Cape Town City.

As things stand, the Braamfontein-based outfit was scheduled to face Amakhosi when the season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Wits are also set to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals once the season resumes.

Following in the footsteps of the World Championships and the African Championships, the annual Championship, which kicks off on the 20th of July, will be held online to counter the impact of the Covid-19 virus. The event is hosted by the World Freestyle Football Association (WFFA) who have partnered with Goal in South Africa to determine this year’s South African Freestyle Champion.

There are over R11,000 worth of prizes and vouchers from Hi-Tec to be won and, of course, the bragging rights and opportunities that come with being the South African Freestyle Champion 2020.

South African freestylers will be able to enter the competition through their own social media accounts using the hashtags #ZAFreestyle #hitecsa #GoalZA and showcase their talents and skills. The judging panel includes Asian Pacific champion Ibuki Yoshida and four-time Finnish Champion Alexander Wessberg.

Goal Africa’s Managing Editor Steve Blues said: “Freestyle football is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and a great fit with Goal. The innovation, style and creativity that defines a champion freestyler are exactly the characteristics we value here at Goal.”

“I can’t wait to see what the South African freestyle community has to offer,” he added.

The tournament is open to all ages and genders. Under-18's are required to get written consent from their parents/guardians. One can enter the championship by posting their videos which are no shorter than 40 seconds and no longer than 60 seconds on their own Facebook or Instagram account using the hashtags: #ZAFreestyle #hitecsa #GoalZA

From the top 16, videos are submitted to the WFFA on Whatsapp and winners will be announced on Goal and WFFA platforms. 

Click here for more information on how to enter and the terms and conditions. 

Asante Kotoko goalkeeper coach Sampson Appiah believes club captain Felix Annan has his job cut out in his effort to reclaim the No.1 spot.

First-choice at the start of the recently-ended season, Annan lost his starting spot for good to Ghana U23 goalkeeper Kwame Baah after taking time off to tie the knot with his girlfriend.

The situation led to speculation about bad blood between the two goalkeepers while other reports say Annan is considering a move away in his search for regular action.

"Felix used to be our first-choice goalie before his wedding ceremony but Kwame Baah grabbed the opportunity and did very well without conceding in most matches so how can you drop him?" Appiah said on Kweku Osei TV.

"The supporters would kill us if Annan underperforms if given the nod. There's no personal hatred for him but [we are just] following the rules of the game.

"Hard work will be the secret of him regaining his position devoid of any envies."

Annan’s recent peripheral role at club level has seen him lose his place in Ghana’s national team squad.

He was appointed Kotoko captain in August last year following the departure of defender Amos Frimpong.

At the time, current Ghana coach CK Akonnor was leading the Porcupine Warriors.

“All my years at Kotoko and my playing career, I have been fighting for positions,” Annan told Kotoko Express App on the situation in April.

So far as I'm in the club, I'm going to fight and give my best every minute I step onto that field.

“For me, [being out of favour] is not a problem at all.

"It's all about keeping on with my training and I will keep on fighting until I am no more in the club.”

Annan joined Kotoko from Feyenoord Academy in 2014.

"It is technical decision-taking from all the coaches in the team a night before a game,” Kotoko coach Konadu explained to Kotoko Express App.

“We gave Kwame Baah a chance after Felix Annan had excused himself for his wedding and he didn’t disgrace himself and it was okay with us.”

Enter the South African Freestyle Championship 2020 by posting your 40-60 second freestyle videos to your own Facebook or Instagram account using the hashtags:  #ZAFreestyle #hitecsa #GoalZA. 

The entry period starts on the 20th July and ends at 23:59 on 24th July 2020. 

The tournament is open to South African citizens only, irrespective of age or gender. 

Entrants will be judged on the following criteria:

Difficulty - Technical difficulty of the tricks and combinations,
All-round performance - General ability to perform all parts of sport the best way possible,
Originality - Performing with individual style, creativity and variety,
Flow - Ability to move the ball around the body without hesitation,
Style - How good looking the tricks are being performed,
Dynamics - Strength and speed of movements,
Control - The way the whole performance with the ball is controlled, and
Mistakes - Dropping the ball or creating a mistake.

Winners stand to win: 

1st place (R2 500 Hitec Voucher + R2 500 cash)
2nd place (R1 500 Hitec Voucher + R1 500 cash)
3rd Place (R1 000 Hitec Voucher + R1 000 cash)
4th Place (R1 000 Cash)

Terms and Conditions Apply. 

Simba SC defender Shomari Kapombe's season is as good as over after confirmation he will be out for a month owing to an injury.

The defender was injured in the FA Cup quarter-final 2-0 win against holders Azam FC. He was stretchered off after a reckless tackle by Frank Domayo and the incident should now put him out until the 2020/21 season.

The 28-year-old injured his knee in the process and will take some time before he is involved for Wekundu wa Msimbazi.

"You all know we have Kapombe as the only injured player in the team," Simba head coach Sven Vandenbroeck said as quoted by Mwanaspoti.

"He will be out for four weeks meaning he might not have a chance to play again this season."

Kapombe's absence is an opportunity for either Erasto Nyoni or Haruna Shamte to step up and stake a claim in the team.

The 21-time champions will be playing Namungo FC on Tuesday in the Tanzania Mainland League match and camp in Mtwara in preparations for their Kariakoo Derby on Sunday against their sworn rivals Yanga SC.

The two teams will meet in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

"We are preparing for two important matches and we have to be on our best shape," Vandenbroeck added.

"What we are doing now is not purely on the match [against Namungo] but preparations for Sunday's game. We will use Tuesday's game to get our tactics right for our Cup game.

"We will camp in Mtwara and continue preparing; we will leave on matchday for Lindi to play Namungo and return to continue with our preparations for the semi-final game."

Simba won the initial meeting 3-2 and the hosts will be aiming at avenging the loss.

It will be the third time the two teams are meeting in all competitions this season. The first one ended in a 2-2 draw before a Bernard Morrison strike handed the Jangwani based side a 1-0 win over the league champions.

Simba will represent the country in the Caf Champions League next season and Yanga are desperate to win the FA Cup to earn the right to play in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Crested Cranes striker Juliet Nalukenge believes Uganda have what it takes to qualify for the U17 World Cup in India.

The global junior tournament has been scheduled for 17 February - 7 March 2021 and Uganda, after thrashing Ethiopia 5-1 and Tanzania 6-2, are on course fighting for a maiden appearance.

They will have to beat Cameroon's Les Lioness if they are to book a ticket.

“It would mean a lot for us if we managed to earn a qualification,” Nalukenge told 

The Premier League has confirmed there were zero positive coronavirus cases in its latest round of testing.

A total of 1,973 players and club staff were tested between June 29 and July 5, the league announced on Monday.

In the previous round of testing, there had only been one positive result.

It means there have been 19 positive results from the 16,280 tests carried out since May 17.

England's top-flight returned from a three-month suspension amid the pandemic on June 17.

The Premier League season will finish on July 26, with the FA Cup final scheduled to take place on August 1.

August will then see a revamped Champions League knockout stage, with the tournament halfway through the last 16 when the football season stopped.

The top-flight table has already seen some significant changes since the season resumed.

Liverpool have been confirmed as champions and been beaten 4-0 in the space of a week, while the fight for European places is looking tighter by the week.

Leicester have struggled for form since their return and find their previously safe-looking third-place finish increasingly in danger.

The Foxes are just a point ahead of Chelsea in fourth, with Manchester United two points further back and Wolves another three, following their lifeless defeat at home to Arsenal on Saturday.

Clubs are still waiting to find out whether fourth place or fifth will be enough for Champions League qualification, with Manchester City's appeal against their European ban from UEFA still yet to yield a result.

Things are just as tight at the bottom of the table, with at least five clubs still in serious danger of the drop.

Brighton have moved nine points clear of the bottom three but West Ham are only four points clear and Watford just one above the drop zone.

Aston Villa and Bournemouth are level on points, while Norwich look certain to go down bar an end-of-season miracle from Daniel Farke's side.

Coronavirus testing is carried out on players and club staff throughout the week, with aggregated results released each Monday.

Anybody who returns a positive test goes immediately into self-isolation.

Gonzalo Higuain “needs pampering one day and beating against a wall the next,” according to Juventus head coach Maurizio Sarri.

Sarri has managed the Argentina forward at three different clubs, having previously had him at both Chelsea and Napoli.

While his goalscoring numbers have dropped in recent seasons, Higuain has played some of his best football under Sarri, scoring 36 goals in 35 Serie A games in 2015-16, his final season at Napoli.

From Sarri’s description, it seems as though the pair enjoy a unique working relationship.

“I always read that I fight with everyone, when actually the only person I fight with is Higuain,” Sarri told a press conference.

“I don’t know why that is, but it’s always been the case. Maybe it’s because he needs a rather aggressive counterpoint to bring out the best in him.

“Mentally he’s fine but physically I don’t know how much he can take because he’s been on and off lately.

“He needs pampering one day and beating against a wall the next! When he’s feeling down, he needs caring for.

“When he’s on a high, he must be brought down a peg because he can get too carried away.”

Juventus are closing in on yet another Italian title, seven points clear at the top of Serie A with eight games to play.

Their next fixture sees them take on an AC Milan side on a high following their 3-0 away win against second-placed Lazio at the weekend.

“Tomorrow’s a difficult game for us,” Sarri said.

“Milan, who have already created problems for us this season, are in great physical and mental condition and are playing at high levels.

“At a time like this, the mental aspect is very delicate and mistakes are only around the corner. The lads know it’s going to be a tough month, so they can’t lose focus.

“Our lead at the top shouldn’t make us relax. We’re at a time when games are all difficult and messing one up is extremely easy.

“We’re just focusing on tomorrow’s game. We’re not even looking at who we’re facing next.

“I haven’t made any [personnel] decisions yet. We’ll see what happens, but the obvious solutions seem to be Rugani and Higuain.

“Everyone’s been talking about how big our squad is, but right now we don’t have that many options to choose from.

“Chiellini and Alex Sandro had their first proper training sessions yesterday. Higuain’s getting better. He’s training non-stop now and mentally he’s ready.”

When Trabzonspor's team news for their visit to last year’s champions Galatasaray was revealed, the inclusion of injury returnee Anthony Nwakaeme stood out. The upshot of the forward’s two-game layoff, absent against Alanyaspor and Ankaragucu, was four points dropped for Huseyin Cimsir’s side.

As a result, the Super Lig title-chasers were usurped at the top of the table by Istanbul Basaksehir, whose 2-0 win over Antalyaspor on Saturday took them five points clear at the top. Trabzonspor had to get the better of Fatih Terim’s side a day later if they wanted to keep pace with the leaders who threatened to run away with the title in the final weeks.

They claimed a 3-1 win over the Yellow-Reds, with Nwakaeme only featuring briefly after entering the contest with four minutes of normal time to play.

While the fact they picked up their first win in three over the outgoing champions with little involvement from their Nigerian forward may invalidate his importance to the side, there’s some context: Galatasaray were dominant at the Turk Telekom Stadium until Sofiane Feghouli received his marching orders in the 32nd-minute.

The Algerian’s sending off left his team in the lurch for the rest of the game, and it told as the game wore on. Nine minutes after the wide midfielder’s dismissal, the away side opened the scoring and took the game by the scruff of the neck after edging ahead.

Their dominance didn’t bear more fruit until Filip Novak doubled the visitors’ advantage with 20 minutes to play, and even though Jean-Michael Seri halved the deficit three minutes into stoppage time, the Black Sea Storm made sure of the points when top scorer Alexander Sorloth made it 3-1 two minutes later.

Just how the game would have panned out had Feghouli stayed on remains to be seen, but being able to call upon Nwakaeme’s contribution in the final third going forward will please Trabzonspor boss Cimsir.

In his absence, they played out to draws against out-off-form Alanyaspor and cellar-dwelling Ankaragucu, sides they were expected to beat. Cimsir played Ghanaian Caleb Ekuban (twice) and Brazilian Guilherme in those games the 31-year-old inside-forward couldn’t feature, to little success.

Ekuban, typically a right winger (or second striker) struggled on the opposite flank, while the South American plays at his best in attacking midfield or on the right. The Trabzon-based club not only missed their second-highest scorer’s goals but his ball-carrying skill to drive past opponents and the ability to fashion out chances for teammates.

He’s behind Sorloth for goals (21 to 11) as well as total goal contributions (29 to 17), still, he leads the way as the team’s top dribbler and comes in at second behind Jose Sosa as Trabzonspor’s top creator (2.7 to 1.7 key passes per game).

Nwakaeme’s six assists put him behind only the experienced Argentine playmaker and prolific Dane, who have set up eight apiece this term, while the underrated knack for scoring low-percentage efforts has been useful for the title hopefuls this season.

Interestingly, per FBref, the Trabzonspor attacker sits sixth for goals and assists per 90 with 0.73. When penalties are excluded, he rises two places to fourth in the entire division, truly emphasising his usefulness to the team. Only Sorloth, who tops both, posts a better average for the title challengers indicating that both are essential to Trabzonspor's attacking influence in the final third.

Not having your team’s second-best forward and statistically, the fourth-best in the entire division will affect any side, a realisation that dawned on Cimsir in successive gameweeks.

Another statistic that sheds more light on how much Trabzonspor lean on the Nigerian attacker is revealed in their failure to pick up three points in recent games before the lockdown where he neither scored nor assisted.

Case in point was against Gaziantep and title challengers Basaksehir in March, where both games ended 1-1 and in recent games he missed through injury. In the former, Nwakaeme missed a gilt-edged scoring opportunity while teammates didn’t make the most of the five chances he fashioned out vs the current league leaders.

Nevertheless, this isn’t to suggest Trabzonspor are a one-man team. Cimsir’s troops have no less than four players who have carried the can this term: Sorloth, Nwakaeme, Sosa – arguably the division’s best player – and Guilherme, while the supporting cast led by Ekuban and the released Daniel Sturridge have played a part in this season’s title charge.

However, the brief loss of what the Nigerian brings to the side’s play, not limited to just goals and assists, was sorely missed in the games preceding Sunday’s 3-1 defeat of Galatasaray.

With Nwakaeme back healthy, Cimsir will look to the Nigerian and his teammates as Trabzonspor strive to supplant Basaksehir with four games left and bring home the club’s first Super Lig trophy in 36 years.