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When Mesut Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013 he was widely considered among the best players in the world and quickly established himself as a key component in the Gunners team.

Under Arsene Wenger, the World Cup winner helped the North London outfit to three FA Cups and was named the club's player of the season in 2015-16 as they finished second in the Premier League.

However, he has endured an alarming downturn in fortunes at the Emirates in recent seasons, with below-par performances and off-field issues contributing to a somewhat toxic experience for the German.

He has publicly butted heads with the club on a number of occasions in the past few years and has been effectively ostracized as a result, with Mikel Arteta removing him from the official squad list for 2020-21.

Ozil's transformation into a pariah at Arsenal has been a gradual process, with a number of notable incidents helping to accelerate the decline in relations between player and club.

Arteta said: "I tried my best, I tried to give him as many opportunities as I could... I've been patient, given him opportunities and been fair."

Here,  Goal looks at some of the possible reasons why the playmaker the club once broke their transfer record to sign  is no longer playing for Arsenal.

Political controversy

Like many footballers, Ozil has not been shy about using his platform to speak out about issues he feels warrant amplification, but unfortunately for him, his causes have generated a lot of controversy.

It is often said that politics and sport don't mix. The reality, however, is that politics is everywhere but if a sportsperson gets involved or associated in some way, they may find themselves walking a tightrope.

Ozil's friendship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was 'best man' at his wedding, has prompted criticism from many quarters, particularly in Germany - something the player made specific reference to when confirming his retirement from the Germany national team in 2018.

His personal relationship with Erdogan may not have had a major effect on his Arsenal career, but his efforts highlight the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China have certainly caused ructions. 

A diplomatic incident occurred in late 2019 when Ozil used his Instagram page to speak out about the plight of the Uighur Muslim population.

The reaction in China was not favourable and the state broadcaster removed Arsenal's subsequent match against Manchester City from their schedule. Arsenal immediately strained to make it clear that Ozil's comments were made in a personal capacity and did not reflect the club's views.

“Regarding the comments made by Mesut Ozil on social media, Arsenal must make a clear statement," a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo read.

“The content published is Ozil's personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics.”

Ozil's statement after being axed from the Arsenal squad suggests that his outspokenness on political issues is indeed a problem for some within the club, but he remains steadfast in his defiance.

"I can promise you that this hard decision won't change anything in my mindset," he said. "I will continue to train as best as I can and wherever possible use my voice against inhumanity and for justice."

Refusal to take a pay cut

The optics of Ozil refusing to take a voluntary pay cut to his £350,000 a week salary in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic were not flattering but the player is confident that he did the right thing.

Either way, it is likely that standing up to the club on the matter would have ruffled more than a few feathers.

"People who know me know exactly how generous I am and, as far as I’m aware, I was not the only player who rejected the cut in the end, but only my name came out," Ozil said in an interview with The Athletic.

"I guess that’s because it is me and people have been trying for two years to destroy me, to make me unhappy, to push an agenda they hope will turn the supporters against me and paint a picture that is not true.

"Possibly the decision affected my chances on the pitch, I don’t know. But I’m not afraid to stand up for what I feel is right - and when you see what has happened now with the jobs, maybe I was."

The Gunnersaurus incident

In what has become a battle for hearts and minds, Ozil landed a significant blow to Arsenal when he offered to cover the wages of the person who worked as the club's mascot Gunnersaurus.

Jerry Quy, whose job was to don the famous dinosaur suit on matchdays, was made redundant by the club, along with many others, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic but Ozil stepped in on hearing the news.

"I was so sad that Jerry Quy aka our famous & loyal mascot Gunnersaurus and integral part of our club was being made redundant after 27 years," the Arsenal midfielder wrote on Twitter.

"As such, I’m offering to reimburse Arsenal with the full salary of our big green guy as long as I will be an Arsenal player." 

The optics of the scenario are not particularly flattering for Arsenal, particularly when the club, like many others at the highest level are able to find millions for transfer fees and player contracts.

Ozil's public offer will not have gone down well because it will have dipped in to a well of resentment that is felt by some supporters - and ex players.

Former Gunner Paul Merson said that Ozil's move - which was branded a "PR stunt" by another ex-Gunner Ray Parlour - "made Arsenal look absolutely stupid".

"Binning their mascot just shows how selfish and out of touch the people who run the club are these days," Merson told The Daily Star. "You cannot believe how angry I am about this. It is unbelievably shocking at the highest level.

“Arsenal used to ooze class. I don’t think the owners even know what that word means any more. Whoever made the decision to get rid of the mascot needs to take a long hard look at themselves.

“The guy in the suit, Jerry Quy. This bloke loves doing that. He was there when I played for Arsenal. He’s an institution. My kids grew up with him. They would be as interested in the dinosaur as they were in the players. Their faces would light up.

“It absolutely does my head in that they’ve got rid of him just to save money. How many other clubs, ones in the lower leagues who are really struggling, have done that? Even if they bring him back when fans are allowed back in the stadium, it’s a disgrace.”

Merson added: “They’ve just signed Thomas Partey for £45m. If he’s on £150,000-a-week, are you telling me they couldn’t have offered £149,000 and given the rest to the dinosaur?"

Below-par performances

There is an argument to be made that Ozil simply does not merit a place in the team and it is true that his performances have been well below the standards expected of a World Cup winner.

Having regularly chipped in with plenty goals and assists each season - a highlight being the 2015-16 campaign when he contributed 19 assists and six goals in the league - his form dipped in the last two years.

He had a hand in seven goals in the Premier League (five goals, two assists) in 2018-19, which was a sharp drop off and it worsened to just three goals (one goal, two assists) in 2019-20 as game time dried up.

Former Arsenal head coach Unai Emery suggested that Ozil was not particularly suitable for a high-pressing game, telling BBC Sport in 2019: "He has talent that allows other players to be better, but when you want a bit more aggressive pressure he does not have the best qualities for that."

Attitude issues

The issue of attitude has been remarked upon by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, who claimed that Ozil did not demonstrate the requisite levels of commitment.

Emery took over the reins at the Emirates after Arsene Wenger's departure and, while he was an admirer of the player's ability, he was not so impressed by his application.

“I tried my utmost to help Ozil. Throughout my career, talented players have been my favourites and they have played at their best or close to their best with me," Emery told the Daily Mail.

“I was always positive with him in terms of wanting him to be involved, but then the attitude that he adopted, and the commitment levels, well, they weren't enough."

Despite being dropped from the official squad altogether, Ozil has shown his dedication to training in a number of clips where he is training individually on his strength.

Indeed, there are lots of contradictory testimonies regarding Ozil's supposed attitude problems in training and on the pitch, with his team-mates rejecting the reports.

Laurent Koscielny said that Ozil was professional in training, remarking that he was "always on time" for sessions and "undoubtedly at the level demanded" of a Premier League player.

The playmaker's compatriot Shkodran Mustafi has been similarly effusive, saying: "Every time I see him in training he’s doing the best he can.

"He tries to train well and everything else is not in my hands. I’m not the one who makes the decisions."

Georginio Wijnaldum says Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk is ‘going through hell’ with his current injury lay-off, but he hopes he will return in time to represent the Netherlands at Euro 2020.

Wijnaldum has left Merseyside for international duty as the Netherlands look forward to games with Spain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Poland, but he has done so without Van Dijk as a travelling companion.

The towering defender could be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on the knee injury he sustained against Everton in October.

After rediscovering their form under former manager Ronald Koeman, the Dutch were expected to be among the contenders to win the European Championship – but they now face a nervous wait to see whether Van Dijk will be fit in time to contribute.

"Virgil will return with God's will," Wijnaldum told VI.

“It is a difficult time for him; this is the worst thing you can experience as a football player. You go through hell. But I think he is very strong. We FaceTime every now and then and that is very nice.”

Many fans and pundits have questioned whether international fixtures should be going ahead in the coronavirus era, with the extra potential for transmission of the virus and the heavy workload on players.

Many nations are now playing three matches instead of the usual two in each international break, intensifying club managers’ worries about players’ fitness and potential injury issues.

Wijnaldum, however, says he is simply happy to have the opportunity to play for his country once again.

“As a club you never have the guarantee that you will get players back completely fit,” he noted.

“We play three international matches and that takes energy. But as a football player I think it is great to play many matches with the Dutch national team.

“Everyone who is now with the Oranje is happy with these international matches. At the moment I feel very good and very fit.

“But we are only at the beginning of the season. I don't know what it will be like later. Will I get a message from Liverpool? Yes, that I have to come back fit! Nothing more.”

Former AFC Leopards midfielder Francis Xavier has claimed Kenya have a 60% chance to qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.

Harambee Stars will host Comoros on November 12 for the third Afcon qualifier and Xavier said both teams have almost an equal chance of picking a victory in Nairobi given the players from across the sides were affected by the coronavirus pause.

The former Wazito FC team manager also stated, the Zambia friendly which Kenya won 2-1 on October 9, served as the best way to prepare for the qualifier.

“I am sure even Comoros also faced a challenge like our own [the coronavirus related football suspension] but the Zambia friendly gave us a platform to gauge our readiness. We needed to prepare in the shortest time possible to ensure we get the results,” Xavier told Goal.

“The friendly came at a time we needed it most and it helped us a great deal in our preparations because it told us where we are fitness-wise from the last time we played a match.

“We have a 60% chance of qualifying again from what I can see and what we have done before.”

Kenya were majorly tipped to beat Togo in matchday two but ended up drawing 1-1 and Xavier said the draw should not discourage Harambee Stars as they can go on and pick up a win in Lome in the next tie.

“Yes, we drew with Togo at home but that is not a big deal. The last time we faced Togo at their own backyard we had a feeling they were favoured by the match officials,” he added.

“They were simply given ground to enjoy home advantage and we can see a repeat but if we fight harder we can get the results we would want.”

Like many Kenyans, Xavier expected Michael Olunga to be available for the Comoros meeting but since a number of the coronavirus positive tests at Kashiwa Reysol have been confirmed, the striker will not link up with his international teammates.

The former Gor Mahia and Thika centre-forward is in top form having already scored 23 games for the Japanese side and is a clear leader in the Golden Boot race.

Reports have indicated head coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee will summon Zesco United striker John Makwatta in Olunga’s place. Other strikers at the camp are John Avire, Masoud Juma, Oscar Wamalwa and Benson Wamalwa.

South Africa coach Molefi Ntseki has confirmed SuperSport United forward Bradley Grobler has withdrawn from Bafana Bafana’s squad for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations Group C qualifiers against Sao Tome e Principe due to injury.

He has since been replaced by AmaZulu midfielder Siyethemba Sithebe.

Bafana will host Sao Tome at Moses Mabhida Stadium on November 13, before facing the same side at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium where they will officially be the away side.

Grobler is the latest blow for Ntseki who has already lost Thibang Phete, Thulani Serero, Andile Jali, Reeve Frosler and Thamsanqa Mkhize while Abubakar Mobara pulled out due to "medical reasons."

“This afternoon [Monday] after training we got some bad news about Bradley Grobler when he had to go for a scan. The scan results came back differently and we have lost Grobler in the team,” Ntseki told Marawa Sport Worldwide on Metro FM.

“The reason that all this is happening is because of Covid-19. Players started playing not at their best in terms of fitness levels. The games are becoming faster and physical and you have players mentally and emotionally getting involved in matches to win. We will see a lot of muscle problems because players did not have a proper pre-season to prepare themselves to go into the new season."

Grobler gets his injury just on his return to the national fold after being overlooked for last month’s international friendly matches against Namibia and Zambia.

Ntseki says it was easy to rope in Sithebe to replace Grobler because the AmaZulu man impressed him after he featured for 66 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Namibia.

Sithebe joins Orlando Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule, Mosa Lebusa, Thapelo Morena, Cape Towns City's Thabo Nodada and Bloemfontein Celtic centre-back Tshepo Rikhotso who have been called up to replace those who have failed to make it for camp.

“The last camp in Rustenburg was handy because after Bradley pulled out we are in Durban and we have Siyethemba Sithebe who was with us in Rustenburg,” said Ntseki.

“Siyethemba did very well. I did say something about Siyethemba and Thabo Nodada when I announced the team to say, look at the Bafana Bafana level, we compete for positions. At times you compete against some of the players who have been in the team before or those currently doing well at their respective clubs.

“That is why the likes of Siyethemba and Nodada were left out but the unfortunate injuries to some of the players have given them an opportunity to be called up and they will be joining us in camp. Siyethemba will be joining us tomorrow afternoon after going through the Covid-19 tests."

After two rounds of matches, South Africa are placed second in Group C led by Ghana who enjoy a three-point lead. Sao Tome anchor the standings, while Sudan are in position three.

Belgium star Thorgan Hazard has expressed his frustrations with the intense 2020-21 season schedule ahead of his country’s upcoming international triple-header.

The 27-year-old winger is in Roberto Martinez’s squad for Nations League games with England and Denmark, plus a friendly against Switzerland this month, with all three games in the next nine days.

Though Hazard has been limited to just 135 minutes in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund this term thanks to a ruptured thigh muscle, he has become the latest figure in the game to weigh in on the fixture crush.

UEFA has received significant flak for its part in the increasingly busy calendar, as it opted to turn the October and November international breaks into three-match periods instead of sticking with the usual two games, a move it says was made to recover the dates postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's all too much, not just for me," Hazard told reporters on Monday. "Champions League, Bundesliga, Nations League…I don't want to complain too much because we have to do our job, but it is a lot.

"Well, here at the Red Devils, everyone will get playing time. The national coach has selected many players. Playing them in all three matches for 90 minutes would be difficult.

"The players will not burn themselves out. Our coaches also ask us to be careful, not to risk too much.

"We also play with Dortmund every three days. It is a difficult issue – the national coaches also have to do their job. If we don't feel well, let's just say so."

Belgium have already lost three players to injury on Monday, with Leandro Trossard, Alexis Saelemaekers and Hendrik van Crombrugge pulling out – only the latter has been replaced, with Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski called up.

Hazard's brother Eden was already ruled out having recently tested positive for coronavirus, meaning the Real Madrid winger will have gone more than a year without playing for Belgium by the time of his next cap.

"One year is indeed a long time," Thorgan Hazard said of his older brother's absence. "I hope this will be over soon. Both Belgium and Madrid miss Eden.

"He is one of the best players in the world and it is always better to have him in your squad. Madrid lost last weekend without him and the Red Devils were also defeated in England. We all need an Eden at 100 per cent.

"Nevertheless, he feels good. He is in good health and shows no symptoms [of COVID-19]. He is quarantined at home in Madrid and unfortunately he is not here.

"It was really a surprise for him, an unpleasant one. The injury was gone and then coronavirus was showing up. I really hope that next time there is not something again.

"He's really unlucky. These are another two weeks gone. What can he do about it? Nothing."

Sibulele Holweni scored five goals in South Africa's 7-0 thumping of Comoros in a Cosafa Women's Cup encounter on Monday.

Prior to the game, Banyana Banyana had recorded clinical victories in two matches, beating Angola 2-0 before thrashing Eswatini, with the High Performance Centre product scoring the second goal.

The 19-year-old opened the scoring for the hosts after just five minutes and completed her double in the 31st minute.

Four minutes from the half time break, the rampant Desiree Ellis' team added a third of the match through Hildah Magaia's strike.

On return from the recess, Holweni netted her third and the fourth goal of the game for Banyana four minutes into the second half.

Nonhlanhla Mthandi increased the tally to six in the 51st minute before the ruthless former Bantwana captain bagged her fourth and fifth goals inside the final two minutes of the encounter. 

With her five goals, Holweni, who was South Africa's youngest player at the Women's World Cup last year in France, has now scored six goals in three matches in the tournament.

Monday's win saw Ellis' side finish top of Group A with nine points and guaranteed their progress to the semi-final of the competition.

Having advanced to the next stage, South Africa will battle Group B winners Malawi on Thursday for a place in final as they inch closer to a title defence.

Tanzania Mainland League side Namungo FC will play Al-Rabita FC of South Sudan in the Caf Confederation Cup first preliminary round.

The Tanzanian outfit, who are making their debut in the continent, managed to get that chance after reaching the finals of the FA Cup where they fell to league champions Simba SC 2-0. However, Wekundu wa Msimbazi could not play in the Caf Champions League and instead play in the second-tier as well.

As a result, Namungo got that chance and they will have an opportunity to play the South Sudanese outfit who won their domestic competition, the South Sudan National Cup.

Namungo will host the first game with the return leg to be played in a yet to be identified venue.

Uganda will be represented by the 10-time league champions KCCA FC.

The Kasasiro Boys finished second in the Ugandan Premier League (UPL), behind Vipers SC, and the Federation of Uganda Football Associations opted to give them a chance to play in the competition.

The Garbage Collectors have been given a bye from the first round and they will play the winner between Orapa United of Botswana and Rwandan outfit AS Kigali. 

Zanzibar will be represented by Kikosi cha Valantia Zanzibar Sports Club (KVZ SC) who will be playing against Alamal Atbara of Sudan while Ethiopia's Fasil Kenema have been handed a tricky fixture against US Monastir of Tunisia. 

The first leg is scheduled between November 27 and 29 with the second leg to be played between December 4 and 6. 

Kenya did not field any representative in the competition owing to the fact that the FKF Shield Cup, which produces the team to play in the competition, was not played to a conclusion due to Covid-19.

Meanwhile, in the Caf Champions League, Gor Mahia will have to fight and win against Rwandan champions APR if they are to progress to the next stage, first at home, before going to Kigali for the second round.

Just like APR, Gor Mahia have been conducting training sessions for the past month in readiness for the competition even though they have not been in competitive action since March when the leagues were cancelled by their respective federations.

The winner between Gor Mahia and APR will face either Algeria’s CR Belouizdad or Al Nasr of Libya in the second round.

Vipers will be welcomed back in the continental competition by Sudan’s El Hilal and the winner between them will face either Nouadhibou of Mauritania or Ghana’s Asante Kotoko in the next round. The Venoms will welcome the Sudanese side at St Mary’s Stadium before the return leg away.

Tanzania’s Simba have landed Nigerian opponents Plateau United and will host them before travelling west for the second tie.

Domenec Torrent, a former protege of Pep Guardiola, has been sacked as manager of Brazilian giants Flamengo after less than four months in charge.

The 58-year-old Spaniard was dismissed after Flamengo were thrashed 4-0 by Atletico Mineiro, only a week after they lost 4-1 at home to Sao Paulo.

They currently sit third in the Brazilian Serie A, only a point behind leaders Internacional – though Sunday’s win took Atletico ahead of them on goal difference with a game in hand.

Torrent worked under Guardiola from the beginning of his managerial career with Barcelona B , following him to the Barca first team, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

After more than a decade under Guardiola, Torrent left his post in Manchester in 2018 to take up his first full-time managerial job at New York City FC, before moving on to Flamengo in July 2020.

Torrent arrived with the unenviable task of replacing Jorge Jesus, the veteran coach who returned to former club Benfica after overseeing a spell of unprecedented success at Flamengo.

They won the Serie A and Copa Libertadores double – the first side to do so since Pele’s Santos 60 years previous – among numerous other honours, but Torrent was unable to match his predecessor’s success or popularity .

In September, a 5-0 defeat to Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle in the Copa Libertadores proved one of Flamengo’s most embarrassing defeats in recent seasons.

Commentators have noted that Torrent had struggled to implement his Guardiola-esque tiki-taka side with a squad more used to Jesus’ more direct, fluid approach.

“Everyone knows I have a philosophy very similar to that of the coach I have worked with the last 10 years,” Torrent told reporters after his appointment.

“I like to attack. I would rather win 4-3 than 1-0 because it is important to the supporters. I know that for teams like Flamengo it is all about winning, winning and winning, but winning is not everything, it is how you do it as well, and it is important to play nice football.”

Torrent’s core coaching staff have also been dismissed, and the team will be led by Mauricio Souza going into their next fixtures – starting with a Copa do Brasil quarter-final first leg with Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Thilo Kehrer is set to miss between two and three months with a chronic groin lesion, further compounding Paris Saint-Germain's injury woes as they look to repeat last season's exploits at home and abroad.

The defender suffered a recurrence of his long-standing problem during Thomas Tuchel's side's victory over Rennes in Ligue 1 on Saturday, to take the club's injury list up to a round dozen key faces.

The French heavyweights are already without stars such as Neymar and Kylian Mbappe heading into November's international break, with the attacking duo's absence only the tip of the iceberg for the Parisian outfit.

Now, sources close to Goal have confirmed that the Germany international will be out until 2021 at the earliest and likely well into the new year, with the 24-year-old expected to have surgery to correct the problem.

"For Thilo, it's the same pubic injury," Tuchel told reporters at the weekend after his side's victory at the Parc des Princes. "That means it's serious."

Outside of Kehrer, Neymar and Mbappe, PSG are also missing key squad members like Juan Bernat, Mauro Icardi and Marco Verratti, while Julian Draxler and Presnel Kimpembe are also out on the sidelines.

Pablo Sarabia and Idrissa Gueye are two more faces out of action, as are Moise Kean and Alessandro Florenzi.

Tuchel is fortunately still able to call upon talents such as Keylor Navas, Angel di Maria and Ander Herrera, but now faces a two-week period sweating on the fitness of several more stars who will be in action for their country, with some set to play three games in the space of nine days, before they return for a trip to Monaco on November 20.

PSG have seen their fortunes turn in Ligue 1 after a shaky start, having won eight games on the trot following a pair of opening defeats against Lens and Marseille.

They have fared less well in Europe however, with two Champions League group stage defeats to Manchester United and RB Leipzig leaving them chasing the pair for a place in the knockout rounds when the competition returns later this month.

Kakamega Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula has reluctantly dismissed reports that have linked head coach Nicholas Muyoti with Wazito FC.

Wazito parted ways with head coach Fred Ambani and his assistant Salim Babu on Monday and Muyoti – who has enjoyed stable seasons with Kakamega Homeboyz – has been heavily linked with the vacant position.

Shimanyula has clarified the coach is still with the team and has not expressed any desire to leave so far.

“Muyoti is now at the pitch conducting training even though I thought he had left for his father’s burial arrangement but I am surprised he is with the team,” Shimanyula told Goal.

“Wazito approached him that I cannot deny but Muyoti turned their offer down saying he has a contract with Kakamega Homeboyz which he is willing to serve it in full.

“Those are rumours for now but if he decides to leave he is an adult and we cannot stop him from making the move. He is a decent person that if he is planning to leave he would have told me.

“I am not under pressure at all and if Wazito want him even today they can come for him. I cannot panic because of that.

“I know they hungry to snap everything from Kakamega Homeboyz especially that we finished third last season and they think by taking Muyoti will see them succeed as we did.

“Muyoti knows Wazito is not a team to rush and join.”

Shimanyula criticised the manner in which the former National Super League champions have hired and fired coaches, suggesting Muyoti is not ready to suffer the same fate.

“What I know about Wazito is that they can fire anyone after just two games and no one would join them knowing very well that he can be chased like a child anytime,” Shimanyula continued.

“They have had many coaches and Muyoti, I know, is not ready to be on the list of the many coaches who have come and gone so fast.”

Wazito were under the tutelage of Fred Ambani when they earned promotion to the Premier League before he was sacked and Melis Medo was appointed in 2019.

Medo did not last long before he was shown the door after barely a month in charge and the club went for the former Sofapaka and AFC Leopards coach Stewart Hall.

Hall left after the 2019/20 season was cancelled even though he had helped Wazito stabilise and dodge relegation.

After the British coach left, the Nairobi club turned to Ambani again and Babu was appointed as his assistant from Western Stima.

The duo has now left before the 2020/21 season, slated for later this month, begins.

Harry Kane is “a certainty to join Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney in the 200 club” and could go on to net 300 goals for Tottenham and become the Premier League’s all-time leading marksman, says Peter Crouch.

A prolific presence in north London has passed a double century for his current club after a late match-winner in his latest outing against West Brom took Kane onto 201 goals for Spurs, while reaching 150 in the English top flight.

He has some way to go before thoughts can turn towards raising a bar set by Newcastle legend Shearer at 260, however, time is on Kane’s side at 27 years of age and he is showing no sign of slowing down.

A move away from Tottenham has been mooted for some time, with many suggesting that major silverware will be required in order to keep an ambitious performer happy.

Were he to open an exit door, then it could be that a European heavyweight prises him away from the Premier League.

For now, though, the England captain continues to tick over at a remarkable rate in the final third of the field, with Crouch admitting that Kane would be the man he turns to if he ever needed someone to save his life by hitting the back of the net.

The former Spurs and Three Lions frontman told the Daily Mail of a modern-day superstar: “The numbers are staggering.

“He's got 201 for Tottenham now and he could end up with 300 for the club before he finishes.

“He's a certainty to join Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney in the 200 club for the Premier League but beating Shearer's total of 260 will be a tall order.

“Kane is not only Tottenham's best scorer, he's also their best creator. He's like two men rolled into one.

“The best compliment I can pay him is that if you wanted someone to take a shot to score from 25 yards to save your life, I'd pick Kane every single day.”

Kane’s efforts in 2020-21 are allowing Spurs supporters to dream again, with Jose Mourinho’s side sat second in the table – a point adrift of leaders Leicester – while also making positive progress in Carabao Cup and Europa League competition.

Tammy Abraham is “over the moon” to be back in favour at Chelsea, with the striker embracing added competition for places at Stamford Bridge.

A product of the Blues’ famed academy system enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Stamford Bridge in 2019-20.

Frank Lampard’s hand was forced slightly by a transfer embargo, but Abraham showed that he was ready for a step up onto a Premier League stage.

Consistency was always going to be an issue for a frontman still learning his trade, which led to the 23-year-old slipping behind World Cup winner Olivier Giroud in the pecking order at times.

Questions were then asked of his ongoing presence in west London as Lampard dipped into the transfer market over the summer to bring in Germany international Timo Werner.

Injuries, suspensions and rotation are always going to play a part at ambitious clubs, though, and a door has opened up again for Abraham.

He has made the most of that chance, netting in his last two appearances against Rennes and Sheffield United, with a man who is also looking to nail down a place in the senior England squad feeling confident about individual and collective form at Chelsea.

Abraham told the Blues’ official website: “I am over the moon to be back in the team.

“I am playing with great players and the new signings have been a breath of fresh air. We are starting to understand how each other plays and we are getting results.

“We have self-belief now, the belief is back, the confidence is back and we hope we can keep it going.”

Chelsea stretched a winning run to four games with victory over the Blades, and are now unbeaten in six Premier League outings, with Abraham seeing plenty of cause for optimism.

He added on finding the target against Chris Wilder’s side and helping to put down a potential title-chasing marker: “It was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

“I knew what [Mateo] Kovacic was going to do, he was going to pull it back so it was just about hitting the target. I don’t know if I got a bit lucky but I will take them any day.

“A couple of us are used to Sheffield United and their style of play, like myself, I have played against them a few times before so I always knew it was going to be hard to break them down.

“They had the first goal so we had to keep our heads, we spoke and said relax and hopefully the chances will come, and I scored soon after.”

Real Madrid have confirmed that Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde has suffered a broken leg.

Valverde played 76 minutes of a La Liga clash against Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday before being replaced by Toni Kroos.

The Blancos ended up losing the match 4-1, with Carlos Soler scoring a hat-trick of penalties for the hosts, slipping to fourth in the Spanish top flight in the process.

Karim Benzema opened the scoring in the 23rd minute but the visitors fell apart thereafter, with a Raphael Varane own goal compounding a miserable evening for Zinedine Zidane's men.

Madrid have now revealed that Valverde sustained a serious injury during the weekend fixture which could see him sidelined for a significant period, but did not offer a specific timeframe for his recovery.

A statement on their official website reads: "Following tests carried out on our player, Federico Valverde, by Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a fracture in the posterior tibial bone in his right leg.

"His recovery will continue to be assessed."

The Blancos midfielder will almost certainly sit out his country's next round of World Cup qualifiers, with Uruguay scheduled to face Colombia on Friday before coming up against Brazil four days later.

Valverde has played a key role in Zidane's set-up at the start of the season, scoring three goals in 11 matches across all competitions, and has now firmly established himself as one of the most reliable members of the squad.

The 22-year-old has impressed in a holding role alongside Luka Modric, but Madrid may have to make do without a key performer when they return to action after the international break.

Benzema's fitness could also be a cause for concern after he limped off late on against Valencia with an apparent hamstring strain, while Eden Hazard and Casemiro missed the trip completely after testing positive for Covid-19.

Zidane will hope his players can recover quickly over the next fortnight before Madrid take in a tricky away fixture at Villarreal on November 21, with a crucial Champions League clash against Inter at San Siro set to follow that encounter.

Roberto Firmino should not be worried about the presence of Diogo Jota at Liverpool, claims John Barnes, who expects Jurgen Klopp to keep all of his attackers happy with regular game time.

The Reds boss found himself facing a big selection call heading into the crunch clash with fellow title hopefuls Manchester City.

With summer signing Jota thriving and established No 9 Firmino faltering, change was expected in the middle of Liverpool’s front three.

Klopp however had a trick up his sleeve and opted to go with a front four at the Etihad Stadium with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah also included from the off.

The defending Premier League champions are not expected to stick with that system, but it is now an option for them.

The Anfield heavyweights also now boast the strength in depth that will allow them to rest and rotate as required, with Barnes seeing no one position falling under threat.

The Liverpool legend told BonusCodeBets: “I must admit, I didn’t think Jota would get this much air time. I knew he was a good player but I don't think anyone could have imagined he’d do this well.

“Normally, it takes a while for players to fit into their new club, their new surrounding, their new system, but not Jota.

“Every time he's come on he's done really well, and it shows from the recruitment point of view that Jurgen Klopp is spot on in terms of looking at players who he knows can fit into what he wants - but I don’t think Firmino has anything to worry about.

“Firmino and Jota are very different players and just because Firmino hasn’t scored a lot of goals lately, it’s important to remember that he plays a different role within the front three.

“Furthermore, Mane and Salah wouldn’t score as many goals if it wasn’t for the way Bobby plays. It all comes down to incredible team work.”

Barnes added, with further tactical tweaks expected in the weeks to come: “Also, Firmino and Jota play very differently which is a really luxury to have as some games will suit one of them better than the other; or other times, like yesterday [against City], they both play.

“I think Klopp will chop and change this season, and I don’t think it’s a reflection on who he feels is better, it’s more about who they are playing against.

“The good thing about it is Jota and Thiago [Alcantara] can now come into the team and take over from any of the players in midfield or up front and do a great job, and that’s what you want.”

Liverpool will return to action after the international break with a home date against table-topping Leicester on November 21.

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic has claimed he turned down the chance to represent France at international level.

The Blaugrana midfielder, who moved to Camp Nou from Juventus in the summer transfer window, was born in Tuzla, in what was then Yugoslavia, before his family moved to Luxembourg shortly after the outbreak of the Bosnian War.

Pjanic represented Luxembourg's national youth teams during his formative years and signed for Metz at 14, later turning out for Lyon.

And it was while he was playing in Ligue 1 that he was telephoned by then France head coach Raymond Domenech about the prospect of declaring himself available for Les Bleus.

“Yes, I could have played for the France team when I arrived in Lyon, but I said a few days before that my dream was Bosnia," Pjanic, 30, told Canal Plus.

"Domenech called me, but I had already made up my mind. I thanked him of course, but I preferred to be realistic.

"For me, the France team, it was too much [to break into] at that time. And it would have hurt my heart if, on the other side, Bosnia was watching one of its own playing for the France team."

Pjanic is currently preparing for Bosnia-Herzegovina's international friendly against Iran before Nations League matches against Netherlands and Italy.

The former Juve star has racked up 96 caps for his country to date, scoring 15 goals, but has yet to feature in a major international tournament.

The experienced playmaker will be fresh for Bosnia Herzegovina's clash with Iran after coming on as a substitute during Barcelona's 5-2 victory over Real Betis at Camp Nou on Saturday.

That cameo appearance marked his seventh outing for the Blaugrana at the start of the 2020-21 campaign, but he has yet to nail down a regular place in Ronald Koeman's starting XI.

Pjanic's next chance to make an impact could come when Barca take in a trip to Wanda Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid on November 21.

Atletico are currently third in La Liga with two games in hand on leaders Real Sociedad, having won five and drawn two of their opening seven fixtures.

In stark contrast, Barca have slipped to eighth after recording only three wins along with two defeats and two draws, and they cannot afford to lose any more ground when they meet Diego Simeone's men later this month.

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has invited Shehu Abdullahi to replace injured Midtjylland midfielder Frank Onyeka for their 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Sierra Leone.

Onyeka picked up an injury during his side's 4-0 win over FC Copenhagen in a Danish Superliga game on Sunday.

The 22-year-old was initially called for the battle against Sierra Leone after he made his Super Eagles debut in an international friendly outing against Algeria last month.

The setback has made Rohr turn to Abdullahi who was placed on the standby list after his fine start to life in the Cypriot First Division with Omonia Nicosia.

The 27-year-old has played five games across all competitions for Omonia since he joined them as a free agent in September. Last Thursday, Abdullahi made his Uefa Europa League debut in Omonia's 2-0 loss to Granada.

The last time the former Bursaspor midfielder earned a call-up to the national team was in October 2019. He was introduced as a stoppage-time substitute in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Brazil in Singapore.

Onyeka is the second player to withdraw from Gernot Rohr's team after Nantes winger Moses Simon pulled out due to a groin injury a week ago. Simon was subsequently replaced by Genk striker Paul Onuachu.

The Super Eagles head into Thursday's game against Sierra Leone at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium as Group L leaders having won their first two games against Benin and Lesotho.

They are scheduled to play the reverse fixture in Freetown on November 17.

Statistics suggest that Marcelo has become a weak link in the Real Madrid squad, as he is now the only player to have featured in all of Zinedine Zidane's La Liga defeats in his second spell at the club.

Marcelo played the full 90 minutes of Madrid's surprise 4-1 defeat away at Valencia on Sunday - a result which leaves the reigning Spanish champions four points adrift of leaders Real Sociedad having played a game less.

The Blancos were by far the most consistent side in La Liga last season, but their performance levels have dipped significantly in the early stages of the new campaign.

Warning signs were shown during a 1-0 defeat to Cadiz at Santiago Bernabeu last month, which was followed by a loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League at the same venue, but Zidane's men hit a new low point at the Mestalla.

Karim Benzema gave Madrid a 23rd minute lead in the contest, but a Carlos Soler penalty levelled the scoreline before Raphael Varane put through his own net to give Valencia a 2-1 half-time lead.

Soler scored two more penalties in the second period as the Blancos' defence capitulated, with Marcelo putting in another underwhelming display at left-back, giving away one of the spot-kicks while also picking up a yellow card.

The Brazilian has now appeared in all nine of Zidane's top-flight losses since his reappointment at the Bernabeu in March 2019, and Madrid have a much more favourable record when he has been absent.

Zidane hasn't seen his side lose any of the 29 La Liga fixtures he has overseen without Marcelo over the past two years, with his latest showing likely to lead to an increase in calls for Ferland Mendy to take his spot in the team on a permanent basis.

The two men have shared duties in defence since Mendy's arrival at the Bernabeu from Lyon last year, but the Blancos head coach now has a decision to make to try and address an alarming number of goals being shipped at the back.

Madrid will now benefit from a two-week break over the international recess before returning to Liga action away at Villarreal on November 21, with their focus set to switch back to the Champions League thereafter.

Mendy and Marcelo will both be back in contention to feature at El Madrigal and at San Siro four days later, which is where Zidane's men will be looking for a vital three points against Inter to boost their chances of qualifying from Group B.