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Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kurt Okraku has revealed the West Africans are aiming high to woo the England-born Brighton and Hove Albion player for a change of international allegiance.

The 20-year-old has been on the radar of the Black Stars since making his first-team breakthrough at Chelsea last season. A series of fine performances for Brighton in the Premier League this term has heightened the chase for his services.

Born to Ghanaian parents in London, he currently represents England at U21 level.

"We are following every top Ghanaian talent you may have seen on your screens," Okraku told Hello FM.

"Someone like Tariq Lamptey. We have been speaking with his family, to make sure that having identified him as a top talent we will bring him to represent our country.

"In the same vein, other people are also talking to him and his family to represent another country [England].

"The national team is for Ghanaians. It doesn't mean only those who reside in Ghana, but every Ghanaian across the world.

"For which reason, it would be suicidal for us not to search everywhere in the world to find the right talents for Ghana."

Lamptey is not the only England-born player in the plans of Ghana as Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has also been approached by the West Africans.

"We've been able to talk to Eddie Nketiah's parents. But even though we've tried, it doesn't mean it's a done deal," Ghana coach CK Akonnor told Starr FM in August.

"Myself and the Ghana Football Association are working hard at it."

Ghana are also currently in the process of completing a nationality switch for former Netherlands youth centre-back Derrick Luckassen and erstwhile France U20 fullback Enock Kwateng who have both agreed to represent the Black Stars.

Last month, both players linked up with the Black Stars for the first time ahead of international friendly games against Mali and Qatar.

Ghana are also trying to persuade Anderlecht winger Francis Amuzu and Ajax Amsterdam young striker Brian Brobbey to take up an international future with the Black Stars, to leave Belgium and the Netherlands respectively. 

Josh Sargent will not be available to U.S. men’s national team coach Gregg Berhalter for the upcoming friendly games with Wales and Panama.

Sargent’s club, Werder Bremen, have decided not to release Sargent for international duty due to coronavirus restrictions in Germany.

The USMNT play Wales at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium on November 12, before heading to Austria to face Panama four days later.

A statement from Werder Bremen said: “The decision has been made due to a regulation from the Bremen health authority, which states that players who are returning from international risk areas must quarantine for five days.”

Sporting director Frank Baumann added: "We spoke with our players and with the various associations. FIFA are releasing clubs from their obligation to make players available for international duty if they have to quarantine upon their return.

“We know that the players would like to join up with their teams, but we cannot take that risk this time, given the overall situation.”

Bremen duo Jiri Pavlenka and Jean-Manuel Mbom will be permitted to leave for international duty as their games for the Czech Republic and Germany Under-21s respectively won’t require them to leave the country.

Provided there are no last-minute disruptions, the games with Wales and Panama will be the USMNT’s first fixtures since before the coronavirus pandemic.

Their only game in 2020 so far was a 1-0 friendly win over Costa Rica. Ulysses Llanez scored the only goal of the game on his senior international debut.

Sargent’s absence will come as a blow to Berhalter, who has put together a fresh-faced young squad for the November international break.

Giovanni Reyna, Konrad de la Fuente, Chris Richards and Yunus Musah are among a number of young players to have been called up to the senior squad for the first time.

“This is a young squad and there are a number of young players plying their trade at the highest level in Europe and other guys who are breaking into squads in second teams, at Bayern or Barcelona. It is exciting,” former goalkeeper Kasey Keller told ESPN.

The average age of the squad is only a little over 21, with some suggesting it is the USMNT’s most talented squad ever put together.

EA Sports acquired the official rights for the Champions League and Europa League in 2018 and since then has made the UEFA competitions a key part of FIFA.

Since FIFA 19, EA Sports has released special Road to the Final cards in FIFA Ultimate Team as well as Team of the Group Stage and Team of the Tournament to celebrate impressive performances in both tournaments.

Road to the Final is back for FIFA 21 with new squads, new objectives and new Squad Building Challenges (SBCs).

What is FIFA 21 Road to the Final?

Road to the Final is a promotional event that begins during the Champions League and Europa League group stage but continues to give benefits right until the end of the season.

Players selected in the Road to the Final squads receive an initial upgrade to their overall rating and then will be upgraded further as they progress through the tournament.

If a team qualifies for the knockout stage, their chosen player(s) will get a points upgrade and then will get another upgrade for reaching the quarter-final and so on until the final itself, with the winner also getting another additional upgrade.

Last season, both Leon Goretzka and Kingsley Coman received 86-rated special cards in the initial squad and these were rated at 95 overall by the time the tournament ended and Bayern Munich lifted the trophy.

When will FIFA 21 Road to the Final start?

The Road to the Final event will begin on Friday, November 6 after the third matchday of the Champions League and Europa League group stage.

A special Road to the Final squad will be released as well as themed objectives and Squad Building Challenges, offering additional upgraded players, kits and packs as rewards.

Additional Europa League players will also be released into packs and through SBCs and Objectives.

Who is in the FIFA 21 Road to the Final squad?

The first Road to the Final squad will be revealed on Friday, November 6 and will be in packs for one week, with a second squad potentially released a week later.

The identities of the first batch of players have not been revealed, but EA Sports began to tease some of the contents from Wednesday, November 4 through the game's loading screen and on their social media accounts.

Isco was the first confirmed player from this year's squad, with a splash screen also indicating that a Bayern Munich player iwith an 85 dribbling rating would be included.

Each squad will be made up of players from this season's Champions League and Europa League group stage, with the majority of players coming from teams in the UCL.

How do I get FIFA 21 Road to the Final players?

Most of the Road to the Final players will be released into packs which can be bought in the store. These players can then be bought and sold on the transfer market.

Some additional players will also be released through Squad Building Challenges and Objectives and are not available in packs or tradeable on the transfer market.

The SBC players will be available for a limited time only, so once the challenge is complete, you will no longer be able to acquire those players for your team.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane insisted he is not thinking about breaking Jimmy Greaves' goalscoring record for Tottenham after hitting his 200th goal for the club on Thursday.

Kane headed home Lucas Moura's corner in the 13th minute of a Europa League clash against Ludogorets to reach his double century for Spurs in 300 appearances across all competitions.

The England international's latest effort set Jose Mourinho's men up for a comfortable 3-1 victory in Bulgaria which saw them move top of Group J after three fixtures.

Kane has scored 121 goals for the Lilywhites with his right foot, 44 with his left and 34 with his head, plus one with another part of his body, with 177 of those coming inside the box and 23 from outside.

The 27-year-old, who has scored 30 penalties but just one direct free-kick, sits third on Tottenham’s all-time scoring list, eight goals behind second-place Bobby Smith and 66 behind Greaves.

"It's not on my mind," Kane told BT Sport when asked if he was thinking about overtaking those two after the win at Ludogorets.

"It's something that you guys will let me know once I pass that. These are all great things. It's kind of hard to take them in when you're playing. Once you finish your career you take them all in.

"Time goes so quick, it feels like yesterday I was scoring that first goal for Spurs. It's a great achievement to reach 200 goals, but for sure hopefully there's a few more left. Let's keep them coming."

Spurs suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Royal Antwerp in their previous Europa League game and Kane says it was important to get back to winning ways in the competition.

"We had to bounce back," he said. "I don't think it was our greatest performance tonight but we got the job done. It's never easy coming away in Europe, as last week showed.

"We put ourselves in a nice position. After the international break we play these again at home, so if we win the next couple it should be enough to get through."

Mourinho added on Kane's milestone in his own post-match interview with BT Sport: "The numbers make him a club legend. What he's achieving is great for such a young guy."

Tottenham will now turn their attention to a Premier League clash away at West Brom on Sunday before taking in a much-needed rest over the international break.

Milan's unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt after 11 games as Yusuf Yazici's hat-trick secured an emphatic 3-0 victory for Lille in the Europa League.

Inspired by the form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who already has eight goals to his name – Stefano Pioli's side have made a wonderful start to 2020-21.

But Ibrahimovic, who was subbed off in the 62nd minute, failed to lift the Rossoneri in a dismal showing at San Siro, with Yazici running the show.

The 23-year-old Turkey international opened the scoring from the spot 21 minutes in, before becoming the first player to score an away hat-trick against Milan in all competitions since Rivaldo in October 2000 with quickfire strikes early in the second half to move Lille one point clear at the top of Group H.

Ibrahimovic crafted the game's first chance, teeing up Theo Hernandez to shoot from a tight angle, with his effort deflected wide. 

Yet Lille had the lead two minutes later – Yazici drilling home from the penalty spot after drawing a clumsy foul from Alessio Romagnoli.

Along with former Lille forward Rafael Leao, Hakan Calhanoglu was introduced at the break, yet it was the latter's compatriot Yazici who delivered a second blow to Milan when Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to keep out his dipping effort.

Milan were all at sea and Lille took full advantage, Yazici curling in his third with a brilliant first-time finish at the culmination of a fast break.

Pioli made the surprising decision to take Ibrahimovic off moments later, though the change nearly paid dividends as his replacement Ante Rebic drew a smart stop from Mike Maignan.

Donnarumma made slight amends for his earlier mistake with a brilliant save to deny Yazici a fourth, but the damage was already done as Lille won consecutive away games in the Europa League for the first time.

What does it mean? Milan's European record tumbles

Thursday's clash provided something of a reality check for Milan, who had only let in three goals in a game on one previous occasion this season. 

It is the first time the Rossoneri have conceded three times at home in a single European game since November 2011, and they sit second in Group H, three points ahead of Sparta Prague, who thrashed bottom-placed Celtic.

Yazici finds his spark

Lille's hat-trick hero endured a difficult first season in France last term, starting just nine Ligue 1 matches, registering one goal and four assists from 18 appearances in total.

However, Yazici has been in scintillating form this term, and has now netted eight times across his last six appearances in all competitions. 

Ibrahimovic heads off early

Despite Milan needing their talisman, Ibrahimovic was taken off following Lille's third goal, much to the veteran campaigner's apparent dismay. He managed two attempts on goal – both on target – and created one chance, for Hernandez, but only two of his 15 touches came inside the area.

What's next?

Milan take on Hellas Verona in their next Serie A outing on Sunday, while Lille – who are second in Ligue 1 – are in action against Brest.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice as Leicester City moved clear at the top of their Europa League group with a 4-0 win over Braga.

Starting in place of Jamie Vardy up top, the Nigerian produced a fine individual performance, netting in either half and setting up substitute Dennis Praet for the third.

Another impressive performer, James Maddison, then rounded off a comfortable victory with a goal late in the second half.

Leicester now hold a three-point cushion at the summit of Group G and look well placed to make the knockout stages with just half of their fixtures completed.

In dipping temperatures at the King Power Stadium, both sides took time to warm up, leading to a scrappy opening quarter of an hour.

And the biting cold will only have enhanced the pain of the knee to the thigh Maddison received early on during a challenge with Ali Musrati.

The Englishman was seen limping as he attempted to run off that blow but looked to be moving well enough by the time he played a beautifully weighted one-two to release Iheanacho in behind.

The Foxes striker still had work to do from a tight angle, but bundled past Matheus with a degree of good fortune before tapping into an empty net.

Braga responded well, with Bruno Viana heading on target before a well-timed Hamza Choudhury slide stopped Abel Ruiz latching onto a delicious Ricardo Esgaio cross at the back post.

But the visitors' failure to capitalise on those chances was punished moments after the restart, Iheanacho grabbing his second with a deflected effort from range.

Leicester's lone striker turned provider with just over 20 minutes remaining, picking out an inch-perfect cross to give Praet a tap-in at the back post.

His reward for that contribution was an early withdrawal, with Brendan Rodgers making the most of generous substitution rules in Europe to give his tiring players a rest.

The hosts did not take their foot off the gas, however, Maddison grabbing a deserved goal 12 minutes from time, jinking through the Braga defence to poke home.

What does it mean? Foxes prove their pedigree

Top of their Europa League group, second in the Premier League, Leicester are making a mockery of suggestions that their poor finish to last season would lead to a hangover.

On this evidence, the Foxes are more than capable of a deep European run and another push for a top-four finish in the league.

Iheanacho shines in Vardy absence

Two goals and an assist are testament enough to the quality of Iheanacho's performance, but there was plenty more to admire.

The 24-year-old completed 100% of his passes, made three key passes, and took four shots in a perfect centre-forward's showing.

Game to forget for Ruiz

It was a different story at the other end of the pitch, where Braga forward Abel Ruiz struggled to influence matters. The Spaniard took just 24 touches, won none of his five duels, and only managed a single shot.

Key Opta Facts

- Leicester have won three consecutive matches in European competition for a second time, also doing so in October 2016 in the Champions League.
- Braga suffered their first Europa League group stage defeat in nine matches (won six, drawn two), with this their first since losing 2-1 to Istanbul Basaksehir in December 2017.
- Leicester scored four goals in a European match for the first time since their first ever match in Europe, when they won 4-1 against Glenavon in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1961.
- Iheanacho has scored in all three of his starts in the Europa League and Champions League, one with Manchester City in the Champions League in December 2016 and in both starts for Leicester this season.
- Maddison registered his first assist in 31 matches in all competitions, last doing so back in December 2019 against Aston Villa.

What's next?

Leicester return to Premier League action on Sunday when they host Wolves at the King Power. Braga, meanwhile, face a trip to second-placed Benfica in the Portuguese top-flight.

Joe Willock capped an impressive display with a late strike after two own goals helped Arsenal fight back to score a 4-1 win over Molde in the Europa League.

Martin Ellingsen's long-range strike gave the Norwegian champions a shock lead at Emirates Stadium on Thursday, but Kristoffer Haugen turned into his own net just before the break.

Substitute Sheriff Sinyan also scored at the wrong end before Nicolas Pepe drilled home, and Willock added a fourth late on as a much-changed Arsenal raised their game in the second half.

A third win out of three puts Mikel Arteta's team six three points clear of their opponents at the top of Group B and well on course to qualify for the knockout stages.

Martin Bjornbak was on hand to clear after Eddie Nketiah dinked an effort beyond Molde goalkeeper Andreas Linde early on, but Arsenal were lacklustre and they fell behind 22 minutes in.

Bernd Leno's casual kick was nodded to Magnus Wolff Eikrem, who picked out Ellingsen with an incisive first-time pass and the unmarked midfielder bent a clinical left-footed strike into the far corner from 25 yards.

Arsenal finally raised the tempo and Nketiah had a goal ruled out when it appeared to be Willock who was marginally offside, but the pair combined at the end of a brilliant rapid counter-attack just before half-time that resulted in Haugen putting the ball through his own net at full stretch.

Sead Kolasinac missed an open goal from close range early in the second half when Linde palmed a cross into his path, but two goals in the space of seven minutes put Arsenal in command.

Sinyan put through his own goal after the lively Willock played a one-two and knocked the ball across the six-yard box, before Pepe fired in first time from just inside the penalty area when Bukayo Saka picked him out.

Pepe then turned provider for Willock, who lashed home a deserved fourth clinically in the closing stage.

What does it mean? Gunners on a roll

That is three wins in a for now for Arteta's men and they look destined to advance from their group with ease.

Molde were well drilled in the first half as the Gunners lacked a spark, but the home side had that extra quality to turn it around in the second half.

With Leno and Willian the only two players staying in the starting line-up from the win at Manchester United last weekend, Arteta's decision to make nine changes did not backfire.

Where there's a Willock, there's a way

Willock has not made a Premier League appearance this season, but the midfielder caught the eye again in Europe, after he was on the scoresheet and provided an assist in a 3-0 win over Dundalk last week.

The 21-year-old was full of energy in the middle of the park and made some probing runs, setting up the third goal before drilling in a fourth that was richly deserved.

He only misplaced three of 41 passes, 28 of which were played in the Molde half. Willock also showed he can be a threat from wide areas, providing five crosses. His four tackles were also more than any other Arsenal player achieved.

Kolasinac left red-faced

It was not one of Kolasinac's better games for the London club and how he failed to score from inside the six-yard box in the second half he will never know. His final ball could also have been much better, with just one of his crosses finding the target.

Key Opta stats

- Arsenal have avoided defeat in 60 per cent of their matches when conceding first under manager Arteta, winning four and drawing two of 10 such games (L4).
- Arsenal have won 15 of their 21 Europa League group stage games (71 per cent - D4 L2), which is at least six more than any other side since the 2017/18 season.
- Norwegian teams have lost 21 of their 23 away games against English sides in all European competition (D2), netting 14 goals and conceding 104 in those games.
- Arsenal were boosted by two own goals in a single game for the first time since beating Swansea 4-0 in the Premier League in January 2017.
- Pepe has had a hand in eight goals in nine Europa League appearances since joining Arsenal (4 goals, 4 assists), scoring in back-to-back games in the competition for the first time.

What's next?

Aston Villa will be Arsenal's next opponents in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium on Sunday, while Molde take on Kristiansund, also on Sunday.

Olanrewaju Kayode came off the bench to seal Sivasspor's 2-0 victory over Qarabag in Thursday's Uefa Europa League outing.

The Nigeria forward scored his third goal in the Europa League this season, two minutes from time after replacing Mali's Mustapha Yatabare in the 59th minute.

Hakan Arslan assisted Kayode to double the hosts' lead at the Sivas 4 Eylul Stadium, after Morocco's Faycal Fajr combined with Caner Osmanpasa to open the scoring in the 10th minute.

Although he is yet to open his goal account in the Turkish Super Lig this season, Kayode who is on a season-long loan from Shakhtar Donetsk, has played a crucial role for Sivasspor in the Europa League with at least a goal in a game so far this campaign.

Mali goalkeeper Mamadou Samassa was also in action for Sivasspor and he kept his first clean sheet having conceded seven goals in the first two matches.

Ivory Coast's Max Gradel was introduced as a 59th-minute substitute and Ghana's Isaac Cofie was thrown into the fray in the closing stages of the encounter.

Qarabag, on the other hand, had Ghana's Owusu Kwabena in action from start to finish but he could not stretch his goalscoring run having contributed a goal in each of his last two outings.

Thursday's result was Sivasspor's first win in Group I after suffering defeats against VIllarreal and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The Turkish top-flight club climbed to third in the standings with three points after three matches, and they travel to Azerbaijan for the return fixture against Qarabag after the international break on November 26.

Sivasspor will hope to build on their victory, which ended a four-game winless run across all competitions, when they host Galatasaray for their next league fixture on Sunday.

Lukas Julis scored a hat-trick as Sparta Prague earned a 4-1 win against Celtic that all but ends their opponents' hopes of qualifying from Europa League Group H.

Pressure was already on Celtic boss Neil Lennon following a run of one win in five games and his team were again below par against a Sparta side who were without a number of regulars due to coronavirus.

Julis opened his account in the 26th minute and doubled his tally on the brink of half-time with a curled finish, the goals coming either side of Mohamed Elyounoussi hitting the bar from a rare Celtic chance.

The hosts were given a route back into the game 25 minutes from time when substitute Leigh Griffiths made an instant impact, but Julis killed off the contest with his third and Ladislav Krejci added a late fourth to pile on the misery.

David Moberg Karlsson crashed an early shot against the woodwork and was denied with another effort by Scott Bain, who also kept out Julis with a brilliant reaction save.

However, Sparta's pressure told moments later as Julis lashed into the roof of the net after David Hancko's glanced header had come back off the frame of the goal.

Celtic orchestrated a chance 38 minutes in, Elyounoussi meeting Ryan Christie's pass and grazing the crossbar with his volley, but Sparta were soon two goals in front through Julis' fine finish into the bottom-right corner.

Michal Sacek was given space to fire a long-range shot against the post as Celtic came within inches of shipping a third, though that let-off acted as a turning point of sorts.

Florin Nita kept out Tom Rogic's shot but Griffiths was on hand to fire the rebound into an empty net against a Sparta side previously without a point to their name.

Just as Celtic had some momentum on their side, Karlsson got away from Shane Duffy and squared the ball for Julis to bundle in.

Substitute Krejci then got on the end of a Borek Dockal cross in the 90th minute to further the pain of Celtic, who have lost three home games in a row in the competition for the first time and sit bottom of their group.

Lennon was keen to take positives out of his side's 2-2 draw away to in-form Lille last week, but he will struggle to find much to be pleased about after this chastening defeat.

Celtic looked leggy and were far too passive up until the point Griffiths temporarily revived their hopes, collectively managing four attempts on target to their opponents' eight.

The Scottish champions are bottom of Group H at the halfway stage, two points behind Sparta and five adrift of Milan, who suffered a surprise 3-0 home loss to new leaders Lille.

Jubilant Julis

The Sparta striker had 35 touches of the ball - the fewest of any player to play the full 90 minutes - yet he managed to find the net from three of his five attempts.

Julis' opener was all about power as he drilled the ball high into the net, the second was more about precision and the third was a case of making himself free for a simple tap-in.

Leigh lifts Celtic

Lennon replaced Elyounoussi with Griffiths on the hour mark and the substitute striker needed just six minutes to do what Elyounoussi could not - find a way past Nita.

The departing Elyounoussi completed just 61 per cent of his 18 passes - the lowest passing accuracy rate of any Celtic starter - with the hosts' best spell coming when two players were fielded up top.

What's next?

Celtic take on Motherwell on Sunday in their final Scottish Premiership outing before the international break, while Sparta travel to Viktoria Plzen the same day.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored twice and provided an assist as Leicester City secured a 4-0 victory over Sporting Braga in Thursday’s Europa League game.

The centre-forward was afforded his second start in the competition and made the most of the opportunity, helping the Foxes to clinch their third consecutive victory in the European tournament.

Iheanacho opened the scoring in the 21st minute of the encounter after he was set up by James Maddison.

The Nigeria international fired home his effort from close range beyond the reach of goalkeeper Matheus.

His effort ensured Leicester went into the break with a 1-0 lead and continued their domination after the restart with the Super Eagles attacker leading the onslaught.

The centre-forward doubled the Foxes’ lead with a well-taken strike, three minutes into the second half after receiving a timely assist from Cengiz Under.

Iheanacho then crowned his outstanding performances by setting up Dennis Praet in the 67th minute before Maddison sealed the victory for Brendan Rodgers’ men.

The forward has now been involved in five goals in two Europa League starts for the King Power Stadium outfit in the current campaign.

The 24-year-old attacker featured for 72 minutes in his third appearance in the competition before making ways for Ayoze Perez.

The victory helped Leicester strengthen their lead atop of Group G table with nine points from three games.

Iheanacho will hope to continue his eye-catching displays when the Foxes take on Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next outing.

The forward will be expected to replicate his scintillating performances for Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game against Sierra Leone on November 13.

Hoffenheim players showed their support for team-mate Ryan Sessegnon during their game against Slovan Liberec on Thursday after the on-loan Tottenham winger was racially abused during the week.

The 20-year-old Sessegnon, who has represented England at four youth levels, posted screenshots of abuse he had received on Instagram.

He wrote: "Honestly unbelievable. The craziest thing is I'm not even surprised anymore. Disgusting."

Sessegnon watched from the bench as his side ran out 5-0 winners in their Europa League game, and saw his team-mates unite to show their support for him.

After Mu'nas Dabbur opened the scoring, the team celebrated by raising their fists together in a show of unity.

Both Spurs and Hoffenheim denounced the abuse after Sessegnon posted the messages.

"Everyone at the club is with you @RyanSessegnon," the tweet from Tottenham's official account read.

"We are proud of the rich ethnic diversity that exists across our communities, fans, staff and players. We are driven by inclusion and equality for all and nobody should have to endure such repulsive abuse."

Loan club Hoffenheim, meanwhile, said: "Today, our player @RyanSessegnon was the target of horrific online racist abuse.

"#TSG stands for tolerance, integration and respect. We reject all forms of racism, discrimination and exclusion and say #NoToRacism!"

The incident has once again raised the issue of whether social media companies do enough to prevent discrimination and punish abusers who use their platforms.

Watford captain Troy Deeney has been a vocal critic of social media companies over the issue of racist abuse.

“If a high-profile black player such as Raheem Sterling is experiencing racial abuse then everyone piles in and that drives traffic, which increases their advertising and profits,” he recently wrote in the Sun.

“If I scroll down my Instagram replies, the tenth one down features a racist emoji — which is not unusual. I follow the protocol, which is to block the user and report the message under the category of ‘hate speech and symbols’.

“Then I am told that an emoji with a monkey and a banana is not considered racist. I’ve even reported being called a ‘black c***’ and been told that isn’t hate speech either.

“They need to change their algorithms to reflect what are obviously racist posts — but do they even want to?”

Didier Deschamps has explained Ousmane Dembele's omission from his latest France squad, insisting It's up to the Barcelona star to "find his full potential".

Dembele returned to action with Barcelona last month after almost a year on the sidelines following surgery on a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old has been dealt a number of serious fitness setbacks since moving to Camp Nou from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017, and has so far been unable to live up to his €105 million (£94m/$124m) price tag.

He was heavily linked with a move away from Catalonia in the last transfer window amid reported interest from Manchester United, but ended up staying put, and has since fought his way back into the Blaugrana's starting side.

Dembele has contributed two goals and one assist in seven outings for Ronald Koeman's side this season, sparking talk of a possible recall to the international stage.

However, Deschamps ultimately decided against including the Barca winger in his latest squad, with France set to play Finland in a friendly on November 11 before preparations begin for a Nations' League doubleheader against Portugal and Sweden.

The Les Bleus head coach has justified his final decision by stressing the need for patience when it comes to Dembele's development as he seeks to rediscover his best form.

“Does he still have a chance? Yes, of course, Dembele is coming back from a major injury. We must give him time,” Deschamps told a press conference on Thursday

“We must give him time. I know what he is capable of. He had physical problems, but now it is up to him to find his full potential.”

Dembele's next chance to shine could come when Barca welcome Real Betis to Camp Nou in a must-win La Liga clash on Saturday.

Koeman's men have slipped to 12th in the standings after six fixtures, nine points behind early leaders Real Sociedad, but they do still have two games in hand. 

James Maddison was disappointed not to be called up to the England squad by Gareth Southgate this week, saying international football is a childhood dream he has only had a taste of.

The 23-year-old helped Leicester continue their positive start to the season with a 4-0 Europa League win over Braga on Thursday.

Maddison registered his first assist since December 2019 – a run stretching 31 matches – as Kelechi Iheanacho opened the scoring, before capping the win with a late goal of his own.

England play Ireland, Belgium and Iceland during the November international break, but Maddison will play no part and apparently needs to do more to work his way back into Southgate’s plans.

Asked on BT Sport if he was disappointed to be left out, Maddison replied: “Yes, if I am being honest. I want to be in the England squad.

“It is dream since I was a kid and I have had a taste of it. I can't control the England squad, I can only focus on my form for Leicester and we are second in the Premier League and three out of three in the Europa League."

Leicester look a safe bet to qualify from Group G with nine points from their three games so far. Thursday’s beaten opponents Braga are in second place with six points; AEK Athens have three, and Zorya Luhansk have zero.

"I think we were good today. I think we were solid,” Maddison said. “The gaffer was not happy with a couple of things at half-time tactically.

"We worked so hard for this last season. It is nights like this we do that for and long may it continue.

"We have a good squad. We have a lot of quality in depth. If you look at the injury list, we have a few key players out. Some are on their way back and I think the manager is going to need to take a paracetamol with the headache he is going to have."

Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers didn’t quite agree with Maddison’s assessment, adding: "There are no selection headaches; the players that have come in have been absolutely outstanding. It is a long season and we need them all.

"James Maddison was excellent tonight. It was good for him to get 90 minutes as well."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stressed Joe Willock's chance to impress in the Premier League will come after the youngster once again impressed in the club's 4-1 win over Molde in the Europa League on Thursday. 

The 21-year-old helped the Gunners overturn an early deficit by forcing two own goals before rounding out the scoring in the 88th minute. 

Willock has featured in all three of Arsenal's Europa League games to date but is yet to make a Premier League appearance for Arteta's side this campaign.

The Gunners boss liked what he saw from the promising midfielder on Thursday, however, and hinted his chance to play on the domestic front again will come in time. 

"Joe Willock could have scored more, he created a goal and a good performance," Arteta told BT Sport post-match. "Keep doing what he is doing consistently and his chance will arrive [in the Premier League].

"I really like the approach that the younger players are having for each game, they want to make the difference, they are playing with a lot of personality.

"It was really important for us to win tonight and go top of the group. We had a convincing victory and the boys tried to go for them from the first minute. We went a goal behind but it was about the reaction, we created lot of chances.

"If they did not score the own goals, we had players there for the tap in. We could sustain attacks and we did not want to let them run on the counter because they are a threat."

Willock, who made 29 Premier League appearances last season, is happy to wait for his chance to impress and is ready to take any opportunity with both hands. 

"I'm just taking it game by game. It's part of my journey and I'm just a kid. I have to keep learning. I'm trying to work hard and when I get a chance in the Premier League, hopefully I can do the same thing," Willock told BT Sport.

On the Molde match and his goal, Willock added: "In the first half they started really sharp and we had to stick with it. We didn't get frustrated. I had a couple of chances earlier in the game but I wasn't making a mistake with that one."

Dani Alves has revealed that he offered to return to Barcelona after his stint at Juventus but claims his old club "didn't have the balls" to re-sign him.

Alves contributed 21 goals and 101 assists to Barca's cause in 391 games between 2008 and 2016, establishing himself as arguably the world's best right-back in the process.

The Brazilian helped the Blaugrana win 23 trophies in total, including six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns, the last of which was won after a 3-1 final victory over Juventus in 2015.

Alves was allowed to leave Barca as a free agent the following year, and was promptly snapped up by the Italian champions on a two-year contract.

The 37-year-old won a Serie A and Coppa Italia double in his only season in Turin, while also playing a key role in Juve's run to another Champions League final, only to be on the wrong end of a 4-1 scoreline against Real Madrid.

He left the Allianz Stadium by mutual consent in the summer of 2017 before joining Paris Saint-Germain, where he added even more domestic silverware to his impressive collection under both Unai Emery and Thomas Tuchel.

Alves made his way back to his homeland after two years in France, and is still going strong at Sao Paulo to this day despite advancing well into the latter stages of his career, but he has now opened up on a failed return to Catalonia which left a sour taste in his mouth.

"I offered myself to Barca to come back. I went to Juve to prove I was still at a good level," the veteran defender told RAC 1.

"I wanted to return to Barca and they needed me, but they didn't have the balls to admit that they were wrong with me. If they had treated me as I thought I deserved, today I would still continue playing for Barca. I love this club ”

Alves is the latest in a long line of players to hit out at the way Barcelona has been run at boardroom level in recent years, as the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar had all aimed public criticism at club president Josep Maria Bartomeu amid a lack of progress on and off the pitch.

Bartomeu resigned last month ahead of an imminent vote of no confidence, but a Camp Nou legend says it will take time for the club to rebuild after losing it's "identity".

"The style of Barca is changing. The club has lost its identity a bit and now has to go through a tough process to recover it," Alves added.

“I think that Barca only wants to be a commercial and business club...buy and sell players. When you do that, you lose your identity. I think that is the problem for Barcelona."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has called on Nicolas Pepe to show greater consistency despite a solid performance in the club's 4-1 win over Molde in the Europa League on Thursday. 

Despite the Gunners going behind in the 22nd minute, Arteta's side rallied with Pepe scoring their third goal before setting up Joe Willock for their final effort late in the game. 

Pepe now has three goals from 11 appearances for Arsenal this season, and like in his debut campaign, has shown patches of brilliance. 

Asked what Pepe needs to do to start for the Gunners in the Premier League again, Arteta declared his star attacker needs to perform more solidly in every aspect of his game. 

"Consistency throughout the game, throughout 90 minutes in every ball, in every action and every time he is on the ball in the final third to make a difference and do it more and more and more," Arteta said in his post-match press conference. 

"The final product has to be better, not just from him, if we want to become a top, top team and score many more goals it’s something we have to put higher demands on at the moment.

"Today he scored a really good goal, another assist and he can do more. But I think he is on the right path." 

Arteta went on to stress he wants his entire side to show greater consistency in the final third with the Gunners boasting just one goal from their past three games in the Premier League.

"I’m talking generally. It’s not just Nico or Willy [Willian], in general consistency wise in the final third with the end product, with the quality that we have we have to finish more things better and we can improve a lot," Arteta said. 

"That goes for every single player. Nico has scored three goals, the aim has to be to score 10 and Willy the same, three assists, he needs 10. If we don’t have that mindset, we won’t become the top team we want to be."

Arsenal have now won three straight games in all competitions and currently sit top of their Europa League group after collecting maximum points. 

England boss Gareth Southgate has revealed details of a phone call he had with Jordan Pickford after seeing him collide with Virgil van Dijk in the Premier League.

Pickford escaped a red card after a flying late tackle on Van Dijk during Everton's 2-2 draw against Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on October 17.

The Football Association also decided against taking any retrospective action against the 26-year-old for the dangerous challenge, which left the Reds' talismanic centre-back requiring surgery on a cruciate knee ligament injury.

Pickford's form between the sticks for the Toffees has been erratic since then, and he was dropped by head coach Carlo Ancelotti for the team's last outing at Newcastle, with Roma loanee Robin Olsen stepping in during the 2-1 defeat.

Despite a turbulent month on and off the pitch for the Everton No.1, he retained his spot in Southgate's England squad ahead of a friendly against Finland and UEFA Nations' League meetings with Belgium and Iceland over the upcoming international break.

The Three Lions head coach has insisted that Pickford remains unopposed as his first choice 'keeper, while offering an insight into a conversation he had with him after seeing the backlash he received following his clash with Van Dijk.

“It was after the Liverpool game. I was just checking in," Southgate told a press conference of how he has handled the Everton shot-stopper's recent struggles.

“I recognised that it had been a very high-profile situation and there had been a lot of collateral fallout in a very public way so I just felt it would be an appropriate call to make to see how he was and if I could help him in any way really.

“When people say I've been loyal to him I mean he's deserved that. His performances have been excellent for us, so that's not been a difficult decision for me.

"We have some competition for places but I'd have to say that there's nobody that I think is challenging seriously at the moment to push him out of that position.

“Of course this has been a very difficult period for him in terms of the spotlight on that particular challenge and because of the profile of the player involved in it as well but it is disappointing to see a player like that miss football.

“But we all know whenever we step over the line as a player, injuries can happen and it is an unfortunate situation but there is nothing Jordan can do about that now. He has to get on with playing.”

Veteran Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan believes his recent move to Premier League (GPL) side Legon Cities could catapult him back into national team contention.

The 34-year-old sealed a one-year deal to the domestic side on Saturday, bringing an end to a nine-month period without a club and marking his return to the GPL for the first time since 2003.

Currently the most-capped Ghana player and highest scorer of all-time, he has not been recalled to the Black Stars since featuring at the 2009 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

"Somebody might say 'he is about to retire or something', but I am not listening to that and I am just focussing on my playing career and then I will see what happens," he told BBC Sport Africa.

"It [Ghana call-up] depends on how everything goes. I am a new player with Legon Cities and I have to focus on my game.

"Right now I need to get fit and start scoring goals and then we will see where my future lies with the national team. The boys are doing well, it is a new generation right now and I am also focussing on my personal thing and on my playing career.

"I have to do well in the league first, and that is what matters to me. I have to start playing and enjoying my football and it will happen naturally if it is meant to be. Everything depends on me."

Gyan made his Ghana debut in a 2006 World Cup qualifier against Somalia in 2003. He went on to score at the final tournament in a group fixture against the Czech Republic in Germany, which was the West Africans' first-ever World Cup goal.

At the 2010 World Cup, he played a crucial role in helping the Black Stars reach the quarter-final of the tournament, scoring an extra-time winner in a Round of 16 showdown against the USA.

Four years later in Brazil, a goal against Portugal in Ghana's last group game conferred on him the title of Africa's all-time top scorer at the World Cup, beating Roger Milla of Cameroon's previous record of five goals.

Also currently Ghana's second all-time top scorer at Afcon, the former Udinese, Sunderland and Rennes forward has amassed a total of 109 appearances and 51 goals for the West Africans.

Legon Cities begin their 2020-21 GPL campaign against Berekum Chelsea on November 14.

Steven Gerrard says Mohamed Salah will go-ahead to ‘embarrass’ his Liverpool Champions League goalscoring record.

The Egypt international got a goal and an assist as Jurgen Klopp’s team silenced Atalanta 5-0 at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on Tuesday night.

His effort, a calm left-footed finish at the end of a rapid burst forward, was the former AS Roma star’s 21st in the tournament for the Anfield giants. And that moved him on level terms with Gerrard as the Reds' top goalscorer in European Cup and Champions League history.

Delighted to see the two-time African Player of the Year match his feat, the Rangers boss believes the 28-year-old can go all the way in the record books.

“Records are there to be broken, of course, they are,” Gerrard told the Scottishsun.

“I was very proud last night to see Mo Salah equal my scoring record for Liverpool in Europe, it was only a matter of time.

“I honestly think he’ll go on and embarrass my record — and I hope that he does.

“That kind of thing is always there for strikers. Mo Salah and Alfredo go about their business always being hungry for goals.

“My job for Liverpool was slightly different. There’s nothing better than seeing someone going for a record and then smashing it to pieces.”

Salah had expressed his happiness equalling the club’s record.

“I am happy to have equalled Gerrard’s record [with 21 goals in the Champions League], he is a Liverpool legend,” Salah said on Sky Sports.

“It’s an honour for me, but my job is to score to help the team and win games most importantly.

“Unlocking the game immediately gave us confidence and the possibility of creating more chances. Atalanta’s game helped us, but it also helps them.

“They proved it last year, they are a team that scores a lot and also concedes a lot. They are a strong team, that’s for sure. They’ll do well again this year.”

Since joining the Reds for £36.7 million ($45m) in the summer of 2017 from Serie A outfit AS Roma, the Egyptian has been an instant hit for Klopp’s men helping them win the Champions League, Premier League, Super Cup and Club World Cup.