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German defensive midfielder Joshua Kimmich was voted as the best player in the world in his position, beating out strong opponents becoming the sixth player to cement his position in the Goal's Top eleven powered by FIFA 21 as we attempt to identify who you think are the best footballers around the world.

Kimmich led the table with 69% of the votes (+21000) beating out the rest. Casemiro came in second with 20% of the votes (+6000) followed by Kante, Fabinho and Henderson with 1600, 870 and 820 votes respectively. 

Stay tuned to this space as we ask for your help to identify the best midfielders in their respective positions globally.

Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama inspected the ongoing construction of his proposed sports academy in Busia County on Thursday.

The construction work of the academy structures that sit on a 20-acre piece of land is still at the primary level.

According to the Victor Wanyama Foundation, the academy is expected to revolutionise sports, training and education in the country while at the same time providing key sporting infrastructure for the country.

The foundation has a long term vision of constructing an ultra-modern sports complex that will also have both indoor and outdoor sporting arenas.

The design works for the academy were completed one year ago and later paved way for the construction of the key infrastructure.

The foundation has not only limited its work to the western region as it has sponsored football activities aimed at nurturing talent in Nairobi.

They have also sponsored needy students for secondary education after excelling in their primary examinations.

“I feel honoured to be the ambassador for the foundation and I am really impressed with the work they have already achieved and the positive impact these efforts will have had on the various communities in the slum regions of Nairobi,” Wanyama said when he launched the foundation earlier.

“Football has a way of bringing people together and gives young people a focus and a strong sense of community, discipline, and respect. 

"I am looking forward to working with the foundation in its ongoing efforts to encourage young boys and girls in the slum areas of my home country on how through football they can gain inspiration and hope.”

The academy is expected to be one of the kind in the western region that is known as the bedrock of Kenya’s football talent.

The region, alongside Nyanza and Nairobi, has produced most notable talents from the past including Wanyama’s father, Noah Wanyama, who played for AFC Leopards and later became an official.

The region has also given birth to talent for other disciplines that include rugby and cricket.

Wanyama is still in the country after participating in the African Cup of Nations double-header qualifiers against Comoros on November 11 and 15.

Kenya drew 1-1 in the first match in Nairobi before they went on to lose 2-1 in the reverse fixture in Moroni. The results mean Kenya’s chances of earning another Afcon slot are slim, especially after Egypt defeated Togo away.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) have claimed only time will tell whether midfielder Clatous Chama has signed a contract extension to stay with rivals Simba SC.

The Zambian midfielder has been in the news for the last two months with Yanga keen to sign the player when his contract comes to an end in June 2021.

However, three days ago, Simba chairman Mohamed Dewji revealed Chama had signed a two-year contract extension to stay at the Mainland Premier League champions.

But in a quick response, Yanga through their official Antonio Nugaz, have now said that fans will have to wait and see whether Chama will remain a Simba player as they have claimed.

“Time will tell, because they have already said and put it very clear he has signed a contract extension, for now, we cannot say anything but time will tell the truth of the matter,” Nugaz said as quoted by Sokaletu.

On confirming Chama had signed a two-year extension, Dewji said as quoted by Azam TV: “There has been a lot of noise concerning [Clatous] Chama and [Meddie] Kagere's futures and a number of other players but let me confirm, as Simba we have plans and we cannot do things that we might react later on when things have gone wrong.

“Simba are always proactive. “Chama has not left for anywhere. We have signed a deal with him already and the speculation doing the rounds that he has left for Yanga is not true.

“What is true is that Chama has signed a new contract with us and will remain with Simba until the end of the 2022 season. So, he has got a half-season and another two years to play for us.

“So, let us end the speculation and as the chairman, I have never lied. Chama is a done deal and has signed a binding contract with Simba.

“I want to urge our members and fans to know that we have officially reached an agreement with Chama. Period.”

The chair also stated why they had to move with speed and tie down the former Lusaka Dynamos star, who won the Most Valuable Player award last season despite strong links with their Kariakoo rivals.

“Chama loves Simba, and we as the officials, fans, and members love him too. He is a good player who has won five trophies with us, he has been an MVP and given his importance and his stay we could not have let him go,” he added.

Chama signed for Simba from Lusaka Dynamos of Zambia.

Simba SC have included midfielder Bernard Morrison in their squad to face Coastal Union in a Mainland Premier League match on Saturday.

The Ghanaian midfielder has missed three matches, including the Kariakoo derby against rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC), after he was banned and fined by the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF)

Morrison was suspended and fined Tsh500, 000 after he allegedly fought a Ruvu Shooting player in a match Simba went on to lose 1-0.

The midfielder, who signed for Simba from Yanga, also missed matches against Mwadui FC and Kagera Sugar.

Morrison has now been named in the squad which left for Arusha on Thursday in readiness for Saturday's match, with coach Sven Vandenbroeck hinting at giving him a starting role in the away match.

“It is every coach’s happiness to have your full squad available and I am happy to have Morrison back for the match against Coastal Union,” Vandenbroeck told reporters.

“I don’t know if he will start but I have him in the squad and we have forgotten about the past now, he is in the squad, and who knows, maybe he can start for us.”

However, one player who will miss the clash against Coastal Union is winger Garson Fraga, who is still nursing a knee injury sustained during their league match against Biashara United.

In a recent interview, Vandenbroeck admitted that his absence has affected his plans not only in the race to retain the league title but also for the Caf Champions League match against Plateau United FC.

“Fraga was in my plans for the Caf competition but unfortunately he is not recovered yet,” Vandenbroeck is quoted by Sokaletu.

“He is among the players I wanted to use in the competition because he has the experience to play in the biggest stage and I want to admit his absence has forced me back to the drawing board.

“We will not have him for the two-legged encounter but we are also looking at the other players we have in the squad to see how they can fit in and fill his void.”

Simba qualified for the Caf competition for the third straight campaign after winning the 2019/20 title with seven matches to spare, but they were eliminated in the preliminary stage by Mozambican champions UD Songo at their own turf when they went down 1-0 in August 2019.

Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has elaborated on what he meant by saying that the club is a family business.

It was all the way back in 2011, when Motaung, incensed by criticism from the supporters, lashed out:

“As for those who dream that Bobby Motaung must step down, that Bobby Motaung must go, it is a dream! Bobby Motaung goes nowhere. I’m not elected here. I was not appointed by ANC or IFP… I will be here as long as this company exists,” Motaung was quoted saying by KickOff at the time.

“I didn’t apply with a CV for the job, so that must be clear to those that have a dream that Bobby Motaung must step down. We have an organisational structure that we must respect."

Motaung is, of course, the son of Kaizer Motaung, chairman and founder of South Africa's best-supported football club.

Those words have never been forgotten by many of the team's supporters. Now, nine years after those comments, and with the club struggling in the middle of a five-year trophy drought, Bobby Motaung has further elaborated on what he previously said.

He said he was talking about the Chiefs football family.

“Family business, my brother, is about people that are around the team. It’s not my mother, my father, my uncle. No no no, I was talking about the Kaizer Chiefs family.” Motaung reportedly told SAFM, as quoted by the South African.

“It’s about the players, the supporters. They all our family. I think those comments were just misplaced because of what I was saying on the day. I was raising a different point. I was not meaning it’s my business."

“[So] don’t break the Kaizer Chiefs family. Don’t break the supporters and players. The coaches and players were criticised and ridiculed including myself.

"In the context of family, we are a family. The Amakhosi family was built by our chairman. It’s a huge family. I would have been stupid to say it’s my family business.”

Amakhosi have endured a tough start to the new season under coach Gavin Hunt and have won just two of six matches in all competitions.

They next take on Golden Arrows in Durban in a league match on Saturday afternoon.

After an engrossing international break, attention returns to La Liga this weekend, as Real Madrid travel away to Villarreal.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the biggest matches Zinedine Zidane and his side will face between now and the end of the year, a period which will surely prove crucial in their bid to win a record-extending 35th Spanish title.

After appearing to turn their form around with the 3-1 victory away at Barcelona in October’s Clasico, Real have a point to prove once again after they were humbled 4-1 at Valencia earlier this month.

In this sense, the international break came at a bad time, denying them the chance to rebound quickly, but Los Merengues will be champing at the bit to respond strongly when they go away to Villarreal on Saturday.

It won’t be an easy fixture, with the Yellow Submarine currently second in the top flight.

Unai Emery is busy rebuilding his reputation in Castellon following a testing spell at Arsenal, and he’s currently getting the best out of a talented group who can certainly hurt opposition defences.

The ex-Gunners boss, however, has a poor record against Real and Zidane, having lost all three matches against them—either with Sevilla or Paris Saint-Germain.

Real definitely need to improve at the back if they’re to keep a clean sheet away from home, with Villarreal’s passing game among the most refined in the league so far this season.

Last term, Los Merengues’ backline held firm to get them over the line as Barcelona threw the title away, but so far this season, it’s been an area of concern for Zidane.

It’s not too much to say that it’s imperative Real use this weekend’s Estadio de la Ceramica showdown to reaffirm their standing as title favourites and reassert themselves in the race for the championship.

Despite suffering a muscle injury during the Valencia defeat, Karim Benzema should be fit enough to be involved against Villarreal, having returned to the gym on Wednesday.

He will be a massive boost, having scored at least one goal in each of his last four games in all competitions—five in total. He hasn’t scored in five consecutive matches since April 2019, but can he replicate that impressive feat this time around.

The news is much bleaker for Fede Valverde, who suffered a broken leg against Valencia and will be out of action for several months, while Ferland Mendy could be considered at left-back if Zidane looks to reshuffle his backline after the defeat last time out.

How Mendy—or Marcelo—fares against Villarreal’s right-winger Samuel Chukwueze could be one of the defining duels of the match.

The Nigeria international has reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe’s bigger clubs in recent transfer windows—including Manchester United—and he’s previously demonstrated the potential to raise his game for the big fixtures.

It remains to be seen whether Eden Hazard and Casemiro will be available, having missed the Valencia fixture due to Covid-19, and if they play, it may give Real the advantage in the midfield battle.

Villarreal’s midfield trio—Vicente Iborra, Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo—is an area of strength, but can they keep Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Martin Odegaard at bay?

Encouragingly for Real, Villarreal are without a win in this fixture since Roberto Soldado inspired them to a triumph in the 2015-16 season, while the champions’ last three trips to the Ceramica have all resulted in 2-2 draws.

Last term, Gareth Bale was the hero, netting twice to salvage a point for Real, but Zidane will need another star man to step to the fore this time around.

After an engrossing international break, attention returns to La Liga this weekend, as Real Madrid travel away to Villarreal.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the biggest matches Zinedine Zidane and his side will face between now and the end of the year, a period which will surely prove crucial in their bid to win a record-extending 35th Spanish title.

After appearing to turn their form around with the 3-1 victory away at Barcelona in October’s Clasico, Real have a point to prove once again after they were humbled 4-1 at Valencia earlier this month.

In this sense, the international break came at a bad time, denying them the chance to rebound quickly, but Los Merengues will be champing at the bit to respond strongly when they go away to Villarreal on Saturday.

It won’t be an easy fixture, with the Yellow Submarine currently second in the top flight.

Unai Emery is busy rebuilding his reputation in Castellon following a testing spell at Arsenal, and he’s currently getting the best out of a talented group who can certainly hurt opposition defences.

The ex-Gunners boss, however, has a poor record against Real and Zidane, having lost all three matches against them—either with Sevilla or Paris Saint-Germain.

Real definitely need to improve at the back if they’re to keep a clean sheet away from home, with Villarreal’s passing game among the most refined in the league so far this season.

Last term, Los Merengues’ backline held firm to get them over the line as Barcelona threw the title away, but so far this season, it’s been an area of concern for Zidane.

It’s not too much to say that it’s imperative Real use this weekend’s Estadio de la Ceramica showdown to reaffirm their standing as title favourites and reassert themselves in the race for the championship.

Despite suffering a muscle injury during the Valencia defeat, Karim Benzema should be fit enough to be involved against Villarreal, having returned to the gym on Wednesday.

He will be a massive boost, having scored at least one goal in each of his last four games in all competitions—five in total. He hasn’t scored in five consecutive matches since April 2019, but can he replicate that impressive feat this time around.

The news is much bleaker for Fede Valverde, who suffered a broken leg against Valencia and will be out of action for several months, while Ferland Mendy could be considered at left-back if Zidane looks to reshuffle his backline after the defeat last time out.

How Mendy—or Marcelo—fares against Villarreal’s right-winger Samuel Chukwueze could be one of the defining duels of the match.

The Nigeria international has reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe’s bigger clubs in recent transfer windows—including Manchester United—and he’s previously demonstrated the potential to raise his game for the big fixtures.

It remains to be seen whether Eden Hazard and Casemiro will be available, having missed the Valencia fixture due to Covid-19, and if they play, it may give Real the advantage in the midfield battle.

Villarreal’s midfield trio—Vicente Iborra, Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo—is an area of strength, but can they keep Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Martin Odegaard at bay?

Encouragingly for Real, Villarreal are without a win in this fixture since Roberto Soldado inspired them to a triumph in the 2015-16 season, while the champions’ last three trips to the Ceramica have all resulted in 2-2 draws.

Last term, Gareth Bale was the hero, netting twice to salvage a point for Real, but Zidane will need another star man to step to the fore this time around.

After an engrossing international break, attention returns to La Liga this weekend, as Real Madrid travel away to Villarreal.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that this is one of the biggest matches Zinedine Zidane and his side will face between now and the end of the year, a period which will surely prove crucial in their bid to win a record-extending 35th Spanish title.

After appearing to turn their form around with the 3-1 victory away at Barcelona in October’s Clasico, Real have a point to prove once again after they were humbled 4-1 at Valencia earlier this month.

In this sense, the international break came at a bad time, denying them the chance to rebound quickly, but Los Merengues will be champing at the bit to respond strongly when they go away to Villarreal on Saturday.

It won’t be an easy fixture, with the Yellow Submarine currently second in the top flight.

Unai Emery is busy rebuilding his reputation in Castellon following a testing spell at Arsenal, and he’s currently getting the best out of a talented group who can certainly hurt opposition defences.

The ex-Gunners boss, however, has a poor record against Real and Zidane, having lost all three matches against them—either with Sevilla or Paris Saint-Germain.

Real definitely need to improve at the back if they’re to keep a clean sheet away from home, with Villarreal’s passing game among the most refined in the league so far this season.

Last term, Los Merengues’ backline held firm to get them over the line as Barcelona threw the title away, but so far this season, it’s been an area of concern for Zidane.

It’s not too much to say that it’s imperative Real use this weekend’s Estadio de la Ceramica showdown to reaffirm their standing as title favourites and reassert themselves in the race for the championship.

Despite suffering a muscle injury during the Valencia defeat, Karim Benzema should be fit enough to be involved against Villarreal, having returned to the gym on Wednesday.

He will be a massive boost, having scored at least one goal in each of his last four games in all competitions—five in total. He hasn’t scored in five consecutive matches since April 2019, but can he replicate that impressive feat this time around.

The news is much bleaker for Fede Valverde, who suffered a broken leg against Valencia and will be out of action for several months, while Ferland Mendy could be considered at left-back if Zidane looks to reshuffle his backline after the defeat last time out.

How Mendy—or Marcelo—fares against Villarreal’s right-winger Samuel Chukwueze could be one of the defining duels of the match.

The Nigeria international has reportedly caught the eye of some of Europe’s bigger clubs in recent transfer windows—including Manchester United—and he’s previously demonstrated the potential to raise his game for the big fixtures.

It remains to be seen whether Eden Hazard and Casemiro will be available, having missed the Valencia fixture due to Covid-19, and if they play, it may give Real the advantage in the midfield battle.

Villarreal’s midfield trio—Vicente Iborra, Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo—is an area of strength, but can they keep Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Martin Odegaard at bay?

Encouragingly for Real, Villarreal are without a win in this fixture since Roberto Soldado inspired them to a triumph in the 2015-16 season, while the champions’ last three trips to the Ceramica have all resulted in 2-2 draws.

Last term, Gareth Bale was the hero, netting twice to salvage a point for Real, but Zidane will need another star man to step to the fore this time around.

Mumbai City FC midfielder Hugo Boumous has admitted that facing former side FC Goa in the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) will be an emotional affair.

"It's a special game because I spent the last three seasons there. We won trophies and it was nice. Of course, it will be a bit emotional but not that much. It will be nice to play against a few former team-mates but most of the players and the coach (at FC Goa) have also changed. So it will just be another game to win and we have to be very focused on that," he told Goal.

The Frenchman joined the Goan ISL franchise, who at the time had Sergio Lobera as head coach, during the January 2018 transfer window. Since then, he has improved in every season and helped the Goan club win the 2019 Super Cup and also be the first team to win the ISL League Winners' Shield which guaranteed the club a spot in the AFC Champions League group stages. 

With 11 goals and 100 assists last season, he was awarded the Hero of the League award and it must be noted that no player has won this gong consecutively. 

"I don't think about that (winning the Hero of the League award again). This is not what I'm focused on," he stated. "I'm focused only to do the best for the team as I can and help my team-mates in the best possible way to play nice football and get the best possible results. This is because we have great ambition at Mumbai this season."

The 25-year-old started his career with the youth team of French side Laval and was subsequently promoted to the senior team. Thereafter, he joined Moroccan club Moghreb Tetouan where Sergio Lobera was the head coach. He spent one season under Lobera before the Spanish coach decided to join FC Goa. Less than six months later, Boumous was in Goa to join his former coach. After Lobera parted ways with FC Goa before the end of the league stage last season, the former Las Palmas coach was snapped by Mumbai City FC and it wasn't surprising to see Boumous follow in his footsteps.

"We have built a strong relationship from our time together but what makes the difference is that he gives me a lot of freedom to express my game in my position. The fact that he gives me a lot of confidence which allows me to express myself on the pitch in the best possible manner. This is the best for me and also the team, because my first target is to help my team shine."

Coming to Mumbai City, he had nothing but praise for City Football Group (CFG) who have recently taken over the ISL franchise. He mentioned that the aim of the club is not just win trophies but also to play an attacking brand of football which would be attractive to Indian fans.

"The City Football Group put the team in the best possible condition. They provide us with all what we need.  Of course, City Footbal Group wants to play a certain football with a certain philosophy," he said.

"We want to play beautiful football and I think that this is what we will try to achieve with our coach Sergio Lobera and my team-mates. This is what we are working on in the pre-season."

Mumbai City, before their game with FC Goa where besides Boumous, Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall and Mandar Rao Dessai will be reunited with their former side, face NorthEast United in their season opener on Saturday.

"It can be a big test against NorthEast because it's the opener and we didn't get a lot of time to prepare ourselves. The pre-season has been very special (unique) with the restrictions (staying in the bio-bubble). 

"At the same time, it has been a short time to work together. I think we have 19 new players. So it's difficult, in a short time to know each other very well - to create competition on the pitch is also very important. 

"So we don't know what we can expect but one thing we can be sure of is that we will be ready. We will be 100 per cent motivated to get the three points," warned Boumous.

Ferran Corominas will not be part of the seventh edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).

The Spaniard, ever since he joined the Gaurs' outfit in 2017, took the league by storm. Having scored his first goal 25 minutes in his FC Goa debut in the 3-2 win against Chennaiyin FC, he made it a habit to score goals and was certainly an important cog in the club’s ambition to play a beautiful brand of attacking football.

The former Espanyol forward signed off with 48 goals from 57 matches to become the league's all-time top scorer. He scored a total of 55 goals in 64 appearances for the club in all competitions and also holds the record for most number of goals (18) by a player in a single edition of the ISL. He also has won back-to-back Golden Boot awards along with the Hero of the League award when helped Goa reach the 2018-19 ISL final and won the 2019 Super Cup.

Corominas was one of the most consistent performers as he achieved double figures for three consecutive seasons, a feat no player has been able to match. He also has scored the fastest hat-trick in the ISL (seven minutes) in a 5-2 win over Kerala Blasters.

Following Corominas' statement in an interview with Goal that the Goan club "hasn’t valued" him for his performance, he went on to join Segunda Division B side Atletico Baleares.

FC Goa, it must be said have done a commendable job in signing Igor Angulo, who scored 88 goals in 154 games for Gornik Zabrze in Poland. Certainly, they have replaced a top player like Corominas with another player who knows how to score goals consistently.

In one of his first interactions after penning a deal with the Gaurs, the 37-year-old didn't show any signs of pressure of having to replace Corominas. It must be noted that Angulo has previously shared the dressing room with Corominas at the U-21 Spain national team.

"I know that I am going to replace Coro (Corominas) because he has scored so many goals for the club, but I'm used to having this kind of pressure. In the last four years, I had the pressure to be the best for the team," Angulo stated.

Having represented Athletic Bilbao in the La Liga early in his career, he later joined Ejica and the top scorer in the  2009-10 Segunda Division B with nine goals from 19 games.

Angulo’s best performance in Spain was for Real Union where he scored 13 goals from 32 appearances.

Then in Greece, he represented Apollon Smyrnis and Platanias before moving to Polish side Gornik Zabrze in 2016 where he would eventually be included in the club's Hall of Fame.

Angulo played a vital role in Gornik Zabrze gaining promotion to the Ekstraklasa - the Polish top division - as I Liga runners-up in his first season as the club's top scorer (17). He then became the league's second highest goalscorer with 23 goals besides helping the team qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League. He subsequently went on to win the Golden Boot with 24 goals from 37 games.

Having helped Gornik Zabrze qualify for the UEFA Europa League after a gap of 23, the 36-year-old scored in the Polish club's first tie that ended in a 1-0 win over Zaria Balti in the European competition via a glancing header from around the edge of the box to make his European debut a memorable one.

This season at FC Goa as well, just as Corominas had started bagging goals in Spain during the club's pre-season friendlies ahead of ISL season four in Spain, Angulo has also scored in each of the three friendlies Goa has played so far.

Certainly a good start and FC Goa fans would hope that he produces the goods on his debut for the club against Bengaluru FC on Sunday. 

England manager Gareth Southgate has declared his side are 'better off' after Euro 2020 was delayed until next year. 

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the tournament has been pushed back to June 2021 with the Three Lions drawn in Group D alongside Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic. 

Since international football resumed this year, England have enjoyed mixed results and most recently bounced back from a 2-0 defeat against Belgium to smash Iceland 4-0 in the Nations League.

That big win saw Manchester City prodigy Phil Foden highlight his potentially bright future at international level and Southgate believes his relatively young side will be more ready to compete at Euro 2020 next year. 

“We’ve got this strange split where half of the squad from Russia have drifted away really,” Southgate said.

“They’re not playing with their clubs or have retired from international football so we’ve got a lot of guys who were the base of the team against Iceland - [Kieran] Trippier, [Kyle] Walker, [Eric] Dier, [Harry] Maguire, [Jordan] Pickford - who have good experiences and have started to build a lot of caps. 

"But then we have this younger group who are really innocent at international level in terms of the number of caps and experiences and a lot of them are so young as well.

“We’ve got to keep improving and they’ve got to learn from all the experiences they’ve had but I think we are definitely in a better place than we would have been after last autumn because those games weren’t the challenge we needed to improve.

“This autumn’s games have and so we’ll be better placed for next summer, whether we will be far enough ahead only time is going to tell. But we feel happier about the depth we’ve got from last Autumn, we feel very excited about the young players coming through and that is going to be for now but even more so two, four, six years time. We think England are in a good position for the future.

“And we’re looking forward to working with everyone in March to see what we can progress then.”

England are currently scheduled to play two World Cup qualifiers in March 2021 before Euro 2020 kicks off in June. 

One of the most notable foreign recruits of NorthEast United FC this season is Ghanaian international Kwesi Appiah who will play for his 28th professional club this season.

Yes, you heard that right. Before joining NorthEast United, the 30-year-old man had played for 27 different clubs in a decade-long career. He has changed clubs almost every single season and, in some seasons, has played for multiple teams.

The longest commitment he had ever made was with his last club AFC Wimbledon where he had spent three years.

After graduating from the youth system of Ebbsfleet United, Appiah was promoted to the club’s senior team in 2008 and made his professional debut in the fifth division of England at the age of 18.

He plied his trade for numerous clubs in League Two, League One and the Championship in England before signing for Premier League outfit Crystal Palace in the 2011-12 season. Unfortunately, the striker never made a league debut in the Premier League and had to remain content with League Cup and FA Cup appearances.

Though his contract with Palace lasted for four and a half years, Appiah could play only six matches for the club and spent most of his time on loan to other clubs in the lower divisions.

His best season was in 2013-14 when he scored 10 goals in 14 appearances for Cambridge United in the Conference league.

Interestingly, the NorthEast United FC will only be his second club outside England with the first being Viking FC in Norway. He made 12 appearances for the Norwegian club and could muster only three goals.

It has been a long and somewhat colourful ride for ‘Journeyman’ Appiah who is nearing the twilight of his career. He has come to India for a new challenge and will hope to have a successful season with the Highlanders.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has admitted he's considering making training changes to combat growing concerns about football and dementia. 

England legend Sir Bobby Charlton was recently diagnosed with dementia, while Nobby Stiles sadly passed away last month after battling the illness. 

Recent research has suggested that players are more likely to develop dementia later in life as a result of heading the ball but clubs are yet to be told to make any changes. 

Lampard feels strongly about the issue and suggested he may personally make some tweaks to his training at Chelsea to ensure the safety of his players. 

"The rules need to be stronger to make sure we're not making younger children head it if they don't need to. In the development game, that's more than possible," Lampard said on Thursday.

"We have to start with youth football. When children are developing, we can control the levels of training. Anything we can do to make things safer, we should.

"I think we can work up the pyramid. Already, I'm certainly considering it in terms of how we train here because of the seriousness of the issue.

"At the professional level, the small gains are huge and we need to make sure we're working under the same guidelines and trust each other that we are. At the moment, there are no guidelines. It has to be something that goes across the board."

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is just as worried about the link between football and dementia having seen first hand just how debilitating the disease can be. 

"I think it's a question for a wider debate until we have the full science data about heading the ball," Smith said.

"I was a defender and my game was about heading a football. Yes, it is a concern. If the data comes out and shows a correlation. We'd need to change something.

"I recently lost my father through Covid but he also had dementia and he was not a footballer. Dementia and Alzheimer's is more prevalent throughout the world now unfortunately but I think if there is a correlation between heading a football and dementia then we need to do something.

"There's a lot of people putting in money and intelligence to find out if there is a correlation between heading and dementia. The balls were heavier back then. We are all saddened about the former players who are suffering with dementia at the moment."

Daniel James says he's "sticking in there" as he continues to battle for a regular spot at Manchester United.

United forked out £15 million ($20m) to bring James to Old Trafford in the summer of 2019.

James made a blistering start to life in Manchester, scoring three goals in his first four Premier League appearances, impressing with his blistering pace in the final third and direct style of play.

The 23-year-old was not able to sustain that form, however, as he embarked on a 32-game scoreless run which left supporters questioning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's faith in the Welshman.

James' first season at Old Trafford was still deemed a success as he featured in a total of 46 matches during United's run to a third-place Premier League finish and three semi-finals, but he has fallen down the squad pecking order at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

With the summer arrivals of Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani increasing competition for places in attacking positions, the ex-Swansea star has been restricted to just three cameos from the bench for the Red Devils in the top flight to date.

James had the opportunity to get some regular minutes under his belt with Wales during the international break, and scored a stunning goal in a 3-1 Nations' League win over Finland on Wednesday, but he insists he doesn't enjoy playing for his country more than his club at the moment.

"I wouldn't say it's a release," the mercurial winger told BBC Sport when discussing his work with the Dragons over the past week.

"Man United is my club and I love it there. Whether I am playing or not, I'm proud, as proud as I am to play for Wales.

"There are obviously times where I played a lot last season. I may not have played as much this season, but I am sticking in there and always in and around it.

"I feel really good at the moment. When I do play, I give my all. I bought into everything we wanted to do and thankfully I got that goal and assist."

Wale secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations' League by beating Finland, and James is looking forward to pitting his wits against the best teams on the continent in both that competition and next summer's European Championships.

"After we qualified for the Euros we wanted to make sure we made another achievement, we knew it would be tough coming into this group with some tough games," The United starlet added.

"Qualifying for the Euros was such a massive achievement and we've got that to look forward to.

"Having qualified it put us in a great position in this group to push on and see what we could do next.

"To compete with the best teams in Europe in League A is where we want to be. We're really looking forward to that."

Jurgen Klopp has expressed his belief that Premier League clubs need five substitutions in order to ensure the welfare of the players over the course of a shortened 2020-21 campaign.

Top-flight clubs were given permission to make five substitutions per game after returning to action following the coronavirus lockdown in June last season.

The new rule gave managers the chance to rotate their squads amid a congested fixture list, and a proposal for the initiative to continue was put forward ahead of the new season, which was reduced in length by four weeks by schedulers due to the coronavirus crisis.

However, Premier League clubs ultimately voted against keeping the five-subs system in place, with the original format of three changes per game subsequently reinstated.

Unfortunately, the early stages of the current campaign have been significantly disrupted by injuries, and Liverpool have been among the worst-hit clubs having seen the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined.

Klopp believes the time has come for football's top officials to start prioritising player safety, with it his belief that they are being unnecessarily pushed to their limits.

"We fought hard for a winter break in the normal season. One week after the season’s most intense period. One week where you don’t have to think about football, don’t have to train, don’t have to get up in the morning and think, ‘How will I play tonight?’ We fought so hard for one week less," he told ex-Reds midfielder Jamie Redknapp during an interview for the Daily Mail.

"But this now is not a normal season. This now is a season which is four weeks shorter but with the same amount of games. This is a very special time, not only for football but for the whole world. All of us have to dig in and fight hard to get through it. In football, it’s like this. It looks like the whole world changed but the two things which stayed were the fixture list of the Premier League and three subs.

"These are the two things we have to talk about. We have to talk to the broadcasters. People need to understand football players. People say: ‘Oh, but they earn this much.’ It’s not about that. They earn that much because they are so special. 

"There are actors who are brilliant but will never be James Bond. But as a James Bond, you earn more than others. With football, it’s the same. So many people play football and the best of them earn more. But that doesn’t make them more robust for everything in life. On Wednesday we had a meeting between all of the managers and it was so important."

Asked if he felt the five substitutions experiment had been a success earlier in the year, Klopp responded:  "Yes. Before the season, some people thought it would be an advantage for us, the people who said we should stick to five substitutions.

"But it was never — and I can promise you this, I’m a Christian — it was not for one second about having an advantage. All the other countries did it. Italy — Juventus, Inter Milan, they have the biggest squads, but still the other clubs said, ‘We need five subs.’

"Yesterday six managers changed their minds. We need it. For the players, not the clubs. December and January in a normal season is brutal. We know that. But this year, for the Champions League and Europa League clubs, October is like December. November is like December. December is still December, then January, then February.

"It’s not about me. It’s not about Liverpool. It’s about player welfare. Nothing else. The problem is if you ask the players, they say, ‘I’m fine!’ Because players — and you were one yourself — always want to play. Always. Until they are injured. They are not the best source.

"The PFA should not ask the players, ‘What do you think?’ It’s common sense. The LMA don’t have to ask the managers what we think because the problem is clear. Make the decision. Five or three? The best solution is five. Do it."

Jose Mourinho has opened up on his newfound success as an Instagram star, with the Tottenham boss offering some advice out on how to keep it real on the social media platform.

The Portuguese has emerged as something of an unlikely influencer in the digital world since his arrival in north London, with the 57-year-old offering an inside glimpse of his regime previously only speculated at by fans.

Having previously deleted the app during his time at Manchester United, Mourinho has since revived it and helped build a 1.1 million-strong audience, assisted by a striking emoji game amongst other things.

In a tongue-in-cheek video posted to the club's own social media channels, the manager has admitted that he does not know why he has amassed such a significant online following, while dispensing a collection of key tips to keep followers hooked on content.

"I have no idea," he quipped when asked why people should follow him. "It's just about being real."

Making reference to several of his more popular posts, Mourinho pointed to a shot of him sequestered on a plane with a tablet to watch a film, adding; "[You need to] take your followers on a journey.

"I was watching Legend, with Tom Hardy. The message is that I am relaxed before matches. Of course, a nice movie needs good popcorn [too]."

Other suggestions made in the four-minute clip saw Mourinho imploring followers to "engage your audience", "embrace the moment" and "keep it fresh", while in reference to a now-iconic image taken after a Europa League defeat in Antwerp where he sat stoically on an empty bus, he stressed the need to "be real in good times and bad times".

"One of my assistants took the picture and I think the picture says everything," the former Real Madrid and Chelsea supremo added. "It was a bus of silence and later on it became a plane of silence. Many, many times, silence is better than many words."

Tottenham will return to action following the November international break this weekend with the visit of Manchester City, as Mourinho prepares to resume his long-standing rivalry with Pep Guardiola.