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Rasheedat Ajibade put up another fantastic display as her goal inspired Avaldsnes 3-1's comeback victory over Lillestrom in Friday's Norweigan Toppserien encounter.

The Nigeria striker grabbed her sixth league goal of the season with the opener in Avaldsnes' 1-1 draw at Lyn before a brace in a recent 5-0 Norwegian Women's Cup triumph over Amazon Grimstad.

The Super Falcons star earned her 14th league start this season in Friday's encounter and her strike was enough to help her side subdue the defending champions for a ninth win of the season.

The titleholders made a bright start to the contest when Tonje Pedersen fired the hosts in front from distance off a brilliant pass from Emilie Haavi in 23rd minute to break the deadlock.

After the break, the visitors staged a fightback but only found a breakthrough when Hanna Dahl set up Ajiade to notch the equaliser with a fine strike in the 71st minute.

Nine minutes later, the visitors gained the lead thanks to an own-goal from Justine Vanhaevermaet before Holmfridur Magnusdottir teed up Elise Thorsnes to seal the victory four minutes from time. 

Ajibade played for the duration of the encounter and has now scored seven goals in 14 league matches and 10 in all competitions this season for Avaldsnes.

The result moves Avaldsnes to second on the log on goal difference despite being tied on 31 points from 14 matches with leaders Valerenga.

Following the win, they will continue their Norwegian Toppersein title pursuit against Rosenborg in their next outing on October 31.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice as depleted Paris Saint-Germain cruised to a 4-0 victory at 10-man Nimes to go top of Ligue 1. 

PSG had a long list of absentees, including Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Mauro Icardi at Stade des Costieres on Friday, yet they eased to a fifth consecutive victory. 

Loick Landre gave the champions a helping hand when he was sent off against his former club for catching impressive debutant Rafinha with a high boot just 12 minutes in. 

Mbappe opened the scoring in the first half and added his fourth goal in as many Ligue 1 games late on after Alessandro Florenzi nodded in the second, with Pablo Sarabia rounding out the scoring in the closing stages. 

Florenzi also struck the woodwork twice, while Moise Kean hit the crossbar and ought to have marked his debut with at least one goal during a game that saw Baptiste Reynet prevent Nimes from suffering an even bigger hammering. 

Leandro Paredes was forced off after he was caught by a Lucas Deaux, who was perhaps fortune to only be booked, so Ander Herrera made an early appearance off the bench.  

Nimes were a man down soon after, though, when Landre was dismissed by busy referee Clement Turpin for rashly catching Rafinha.  

Reynet produced a magnificent save to palm Herrera's downward header wide, but Mbappe rounded the keeper superbly before slotting home 32 minutes in after he was picked out by Rafinha.  

Kean had already passed up a couple of opportunities before Reynet tipped his tame effort around the post when the striker should have scored, while Idrissa Gueye and Mbappe had headers saved before the break. 

Nimes were chasing shadows and Florenzi volleyed against the post before nodding against the woodwork after Rafinha was replaced following an impressive bow. 

Florenzi was on hand to head in a second from close range 13 minutes from time, though, and Mbappe clinically added a third before Sarabia drilled home to complete an emphatic victory.

What does it mean? PSG looking ominous, Rafinha catches the eye 

There will obviously be tougher tests to come for PSG, but they also have a host of key men to bring back into the squad. 

Thomas Tuchel's side had 76 per cent possession as they toyed with Nimes, Rafinha catching the eye in his first appearance since arriving from Barcelona. 

The Brazilian midfielder made three key passes and set up Mbappe for the opener before being replaced, perhaps with an eye on a Champions League clash with Manchester United next week.

Mbappe simply unstoppable 

Mbappe was a constant menace to the Nimes defence with his pace, power and trickery - had it not been for the outstanding Reynet, he would have had a hat-trick.

The France intnernational has now been involved in 91 Ligue 1 goals since arriving from Monaco in September 2017. He has scored 68 times and provided 23 assists, a combined tally that is 21 more than any other top player over the same period. 

Landre loses his head 

Defender Landre may not have intentionally left his mark on Rafinha's chest, but he could have no complaints at seeing referee Turpin reach for the red card. 

Deaux had probably been lucky to only be shown a yellow card for a nasty challenge on Paredes earlier before Landre's early exit, with Nimes showing a real lack of discipline. 

What's next? 

PSG start their Champions League campaign at home to United next Tuesday, while Nimes' next assignment is a trip to Bordeaux a week on Sunday. 

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says that he was impressed by Reece James' first two appearances for England and admits he doesn't hold it against the defender that he was sent off for an incident with the referee.

The international break was a difficult one for Chelsea as Edouard Mendy picked up a minor thigh injury and is out for the upcoming match against Southampton, while Thiago Silva travelled back too late from Brazil to be in the selection.

Ben Chilwell and Christian Pulisic are fit, while the international break also saw James' stature grow as a footballer as he made his first two appearances for England. 

However, James was sent off on his full debut against Denmark on Wednesday after a moment of dissent with the referee after the final whistle.

Lampard was impressed with the right-back despite the incident and was not surprised to see him named the man of the match against Denmark by some of the pundits watching on.

"I agree on his performance that he was very, very good," Lampard said in a Zoom press conference ahead of his side's return to Premier League action.

"I expected that because I always expect it of Reece. Maybe you can't always expect it on a full debut but he was good in his other match against Wales before that.

"He was very comfortable and he looked like he had been playing at that level for a long time. I did have a word with him about the end and how he got involved with the referee. Listen, we are all human and I have been there and done it maybe as a manager and as a player.

"So none of us are saints in that regard but it is one for him to learn from that when you have a performance of that level like he did for his country, that he will get a lot of plaudits. There was no need for him to get involved with the referee after. It was a pretty simple conversation and he will definitely take it on board."

Lampard also revealed that he has been working on how to get Hakim Ziyech match fit and that his call up with Morocco saved the Blues from arranging a behind-closed-doors friendly for the new signing.

Ziyech's £37 million ($47m) move was announced as far back as February, with the Dutch season then ending in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

That, along with an injury setback in the club's only pre-season friendly, has meant that the 27-year-old has been without competitive football for seven months.

As a result, Lampard was happy to see Ziyech called up by Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic ahead of his debut for the club.

“No, I was actually pleased with it," he added. "It was an open conversation going into it where Hakim spoke to me and I know he had close conversations with their manager.

"If he was going to stay behind I was looking at getting him minutes in a game behind closed doors. Behind closed doors is difficult for us because of the bubble we have at the moment.

"So the ideal result was that he played 30 minutes for his country, which was exactly what he needed at that time, and then came back and did some more training with us. It worked out well for us, no problems.”

Lampard had agreed to recall Ziyech early from international duty and he will now start on the bench against Ralph Hasenhuttl's side on Saturday ahead of a full debut in the coming weeks.

Jurgen Klopp insists he has no concerns over Roberto Firmino’s lack of goals at Liverpool ahead of Saturday’s derby clash with Everton.

The Brazilian is yet to find the net in five appearances so far this season and has scored just twice in his last 24 appearances for the club in all competitions.

He did, however, score twice for Brazil in their World Cup qualifying win over Peru on Wednesday, and when asked about Firmino’s form ahead of the trip to Goodison Park, Klopp said he had no complaints regarding the 29-year-old.

“I don’t know when it becomes a problem for me,” he told reporters. “It’s not even close to becoming a problem.

“These are the times when I have to be different to the outside world. If I would judge moments as much as you have to, a second or a game or two games or a period, then what would happen?

“For me, it’s about how important he is, how influential he is for the team. We lost the last Premier League game, but before that we won the rest of the Premier League games. Bobby didn’t score, but he was incredibly influential.”

Firmino did set up a goal, albeit a late consolation, for Mo Salah in Liverpool’s last game, the 7-2 thrashing at Aston Villa, and assisted Sadio Mane’s opener at Chelsea.

And Klopp says the No.9’s contribution cannot simply be measured by raw numbers.

He said: “It was always clear that with a player like Bobby, if he’s not scoring then you start focusing on that. And then you realise that even he gives the ball away from time to time, so you add it on: ‘He doesn’t score and he loses balls'.

“Then all of a sudden you speak about ‘is this really Bobby Firmino?’ Yes it is! I was in training, he scored twice for Brazil, he is in top shape and he will play as long as he can.

“We discuss performances, individual and team, but not in the same way as you do obviously. We want him to score, to come into positions where he can score. 

“He could have scored for example at Villa, early, twice for sure. I know that. He doesn’t like that he didn’t, and I don’t, but it isn’t the only thing I think about when I think about Bobby.”

Klopp will make a late decision on whether to start Firmino, as well as fellow Brazilian Fabinho, against Everton. The pair returned to Merseyside late on Thursday, with the Reds boss left irked by the scheduling of such a high-profile fixture on the back of a gruelling international break.

There is better news with the return of Thiago Alcantara and Sadio Mane following their positive COVID tests, while captain Jordan Henderson should also return to the starting XI having picked up match fitness with England during the past fortnight. 

Naby Keita will miss the game, however, Klopp confirmed at his Friday afternoon press conference. 

Raheem Sterling had no doubts that Mikel Arteta has what it takes to be a successful manger after making a big impact in his short time in the role at Arsenal.

The Gunners boss returns to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, returning to a place where he spent more than three-and-a-half years as the assistant to Pep Guardiola.

Arteta has already secured his first silverware, beating City on the way to FA Cup final success to claim the club's first trophy in more than three years.

The Spaniard had a big impact during his spell with City, and was a popular figure with the players, and Sterling is not surprised he has shown his tough side since taking over in December 2019.

"He's a person that had a lot of say here," Sterling said. "The manager trusted him here and he had a lot of influence on the players here and the team as well.

"So I knew once he went into Arsenal that it would be a great opportunity for him but also he would definitely implement what he wanted to bring in.

"And he's a person that will put his foot down and not let things slide as you can see with the boys at Arsenal. They know if they don't run they are most likely not going to play.”

Sterling says that Arsenal have always had a strong side but Arteta has challenged them to match their skill with work rate.

"You can see the change that he's brought in there, you can see the energy, you can see how much he's put into them with their off-ball work," the City forward added.

"We all knew before Mikel got in how much good football they could play, how technically good they were but probably off the field they weren't as aggressive as they are with Mikel.

"They run their socks off now, you can see why they benefited with some good results recently.”

City are already five points behind the Gunners, although they have an extra game to play. Guardiola's side have had a mixed start, winning away at Wolves before being thumped 5-2 by Leicester in a shock home defeat.

“I think the most important thing is that we know the start we have had," Sterling said. "The game against Arsenal is a great game to kick start the season and get a good result.

"Nothing changes, this is football, you've seen the results already from the opening games in the Premier League.

"We know it's going to be a long season, without the fans, but it's one that we are relishing the challenge.”

Sterling pulled out of England's internationals in the past fortnight as a precaution after a hamstring problem.

But the 25-year-old is ready to return handing Guardiola an injury boost with Kevin De Bruyne set to be ruled out for the "next matches".

"Coming back from Portugal then starting with the national team before the season started with the Premier League, not having a great pre-season... I think we probably had three or four days, probably a week, maximum a week and I was straight back into it," he said.

"I wasn't in the best of conditions and I had a little niggle with my hamstring and I'm getting back to full fitness.

"I should be okay and I feel fine to play against Arsenal.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has taken full responsibility for Manchester United’s poor start to the season as he tries to instil a siege mentality in his players.

Solskjaer’s side have picked up just three points in their opening three league games and head into Saturday's match against Newcastle off the back of a 6-1 hammering by Tottenham before the international break.

There has been plenty of criticism around the performances, individual players and also Solskjaer, with reports suggesting Mauricio Pochettino is already being sounded out as a replacement should things continue to go wrong at Old Trafford.

Goal understands Solskjaer’s position isn’t under threat but the Norwegian can understand why the spotlight is on him after a poor few weeks for the club.

“The spotlight should be on me because I’m the manager and I’m responsible,” Solskjaer said. “I hold my hand up."

Despite Man Utd's poor start to the season, with their only league win coming at Brighton thanks to a late Bruno Fernandes penalty, Solskjaer insists his team and staff have the mentality to fight through the criticism.

“If you are part of Man Utd as player or staff you’re used to this and you have to be mentally strong and for me this period is another chance to prove and tell the players how much we believe in them,” Solskjaer said. “It’s about being focused for the next game because I know they’re capable of getting results and moving up the table.”

Solskjaer also hit back at reports that suggested there was a rift between himself and Bruno Fernandes after the Portuguese was brought off during the defeat to Spurs. The United manager blamed the rumours on people from outside the club wanting to create division.

“It’s always external pressure. For me we need to stick together, we are a group and we stick together. When you lose a game the first thing you need to do is bounce back in the next one and we’ve got a chance to do it versus Newcastle,” Solskjaer explained.

“I don’t know who ‘we’ are or ‘they’ are but false stories come out. I don’t know who started them, but you can see Bruno’s reaction as well. He’s clearly not happy with them but then welcome to Man Utd, you are everyone’s favourite target if something goes wrong.”

Sadio Mane has shifted his focus to Liverpool’s Premier League game against Everton on Saturday after winning the club’s Player of the Month award for September.

The 28-year-old was in scintillating form for the Reds, scoring three goals to help his side secure nine points in the month under review.

Mane bagged a brace against Chelsea which was enough to hand Jurgen Klopp’s men all three points in the encounter, before inspiring their comeback victory over Arsenal.

The forward’s impressive display saw him win the individual accolades ahead of Egypt international Mohamed Salah and Fabinho, who finished second and third respectively.

The Senegal international is delighted with the recognition and hopes to stir the Reds back to winning ways after losing against Aston Villa last time out.

 “Thank you, I’m really happy to be named Player of the Month. I think it has been a fantastic couple of weeks for us – me and my teammates. It’s really important for the team," Mane told the club website . 

“We finished by losing against Aston Villa, which was a little bit of a disappointing result but it’s part of football. We just have to deal with it and prepare for the game tomorrow and try to do our best and win the game.

 “I just want to say thank you to all the fans and to just say the hard work will begin now and as a team, we do everything possible to make them proud – by starting tomorrow.”

Mane also picked his Chelsea game as his best moment in the month, where he scored a header and a fine finish past goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

“At the end, we finished by winning 2-0, which was well deserved for us and we were really happy to get these three points and [for me] especially to score two goals,” he added.

Mane recently recovered from the coronavirus and missed Senegal’s international friendly against Morocco.

The 28-year-old, who bagged 18 Premier League goals last season, will hope to continue his eye-catching performances in their remaining games for the 2020-21 season.

The forward has 69 appearances for Senegal and played a prominent role for the Teranga Lions as they finished as runner-up in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Jose Mourinho believes that Gareth Bale will be able to recapture his best form from his Real Madrid days as soon as he gets up and running at Tottenham.

Bale rejoined Spurs on a season-long loan in September, having left in 2013 for Madrid in a then world-record transfer.

After recovering from an injury the 31-year-old is in line to make his second Tottenham debut on Sunday when they take on West Ham.

Though his seven-year spell in Madrid ended with Zinedine Zidane freezing him out of the side, Bale won four Champions League titles and two La Liga championships with the Blancos and was devastating when at his peak. 

Mourinho is of the opinion that when he gets up to speed in north London, Bale still has the ability that once made him the world's most expensive footballer.

“When he reaches his continuity and when he reaches his normal intensity and dynamic, I think he can be the player that people saw, being decisive when he went to Real Madrid in a very similar position,” Mourinho said.

Bale wasn't the only player to arrive at Spurs from Real Madrid this summer, with Sergio Reguilon joining him in making the move. Mourinho said the left-back has given him positive signs about Bale's state of mind.

“It’s great to listen from Sergio Reguilon, who shared the dressing room with him in Madrid, that Gareth looks a different guy,” Mourinho said. “So if he’s happy with us then he goes home and he can share that happiness with family; it’s the best thing that can happen to him." 

Though Bale has the ability to play a variety of attacking positions, there is one spot that Mourinho said the Welshman prefers.

“One of the first questions in my first conversation with Gareth was ‘What’s your favourite position?’ I wanted to start from there and he answered," Mourinho continued. "Does that mean he will always be used there? No. Because he will play where the team needs him to play.

“But he was very clear by saying that his favourite position is on the right. It’s not as a No.10, it’s not as a striker, it’s not any more on the left side like he did in the first years of his career at Southampton and Tottenham. His favourite position now is on the right side."

David Moyes has admitted there was a "chance" for Gareth Bale to join Manchester United at the start of his Old Trafford tenure, but said the Welsh superstar made the right decision to join Real Madrid.

With Bale set to make his second Spurs debut against Moyes' West Ham side on Sunday, the Scottish manager spoke about his pursuit of the Wales international while he was manager at the Theatre of Dreams.

Moyes revealed Bale was the first signing he tried to make at Man Utd and that he thought the club had an opportunity to beat Real Madrid to the player's signing.

But Bale ultimately followed through on a move to the Bernabeu - where he won four Champions League titles - and Moyes feels the attacker clearly made the right decision.

"Gareth Bale was probably the first name I thought of when I got the job,” Moyes said. "I thought Gareth Bale was a Manchester United player. He was the right type.

"United have a great history of wide players with George Best up to Ryan Giggs and a whole lot of other brilliant ones in between.

"I wanted Gareth Bale to be my first signing at Manchester United. But it was already down the road a bit with Real Madrid. I tried to hijack it. I tried to get him. Manchester United offered more money than Real Madrid. They offered more money to the player.

"We did everything we could to try and get the player. We even had a helicopter at the training ground to take him and bring him back. We thought we had a chance. But he chose real Madrid and he made a brilliant decision because he went on to win four Champions Leagues. He’s had a brilliant career."

Bale joined Tottenham on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid last month but has yet to make an appearance as he attempts to build his match fitness.

He spent six years at Spurs from 2007 to 2013 after developing and playing his first professional season with Southampton.

After moving to Real Madrid in 2013, Bale won two La Liga titles, a Copa del Rey and two UEFA Super Cups - in addition to his quadruple of Champions League triumphs.

Jurgen Klopp insisted concern for football was at the heart of the Project Big Picture proposals rejected by Premier League clubs this week. 

The Liverpool boss is glad reform was discussed after the Reds and Manchester United led wide-ranging suggestions that were unanimously rejected , though a bailout for League One and League Two teams was agreed at a virtual meeting. 

Changes to Premier League voting rights, a reduction of the top flight to 18 teams, the abolition of the Carabao Cup and alterations to existing funding models for lower league clubs and the Football Association (FA) were all up for debate. 

"It is really important we speak about it because I can't remember the last time we did – the space for improvement in football," Klopp said ahead of Liverpool's derby with Everton on Saturday. 

"A lot of times in life there must be a crisis to start talking. I'm happy people are talking. Yes, competitive [football is] positive, no one wants to change that. 

"I am not really involved. I was informed. What I can say, all the people involved are concerned about football. If you want to understand the idea behind it, you listen, if you do not, you just knock it down.  

"There are things to improve in football and that is what these people tried. The process keeps going and the people are talking and that is positive."

The subject was also raised at a host of other managerial news conferences ahead of the weekend's Premier League action. 

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "It's a definite that we, as one of the bigger clubs, have a responsibility to protect the football pyramid or smaller clubs.  

"We have seen lately the impact this pandemic has had on many smaller clubs. For me, a key thing is that we want to get the fans back into the stadiums, which will help the other clubs.  

"I'm very glad we're looking into trying to help and the talks have started - let's make the powers that be decide how we're going to do that." 

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Chelsea's Frank Lampard also had their say on the topic. 

"I want the best for football," said Guardiola. "I didn't listen to the hypothetical suggestions, I'm a big fan of the low categories, but honestly I don't know what the situation is.  

"I remember being with Barcelona and here in England arrived the Premier League. There was an incredible amount of criticism about the Premier League, that it wouldn't be good and what was before should've stayed.  

"And after look what happened with the Premier League, it's now maybe the best league in the world.  

"I just want the best for football, making the Premier League as strong as possible – now it's not possible in this pandemic - but also for the low categories, because the old towns and little villages love their teams and that is the point."  

Lampard, who was asked if it is was a mess at the top of football, said: "I won't use the word 'mess' but I think if you look across society and what Covid has done to the world, we're all in difficult, difficult times, so I don't want to be too critical of that.  

"People are trying to find solutions all the time. With the actual football picture, I haven't paid enough attention to give you details but Chelsea have remained - I think since the lockdown - [doing] some of the great work we did. 

"We're certainly intent on making sure we're involved in conversations around protecting the football pyramid, and grassroots all the way up through the EFL and to the Premier League. 

"We'll be very involved in those conversations when needed, as we always are, and try to do the best."

Hoffenheim winger Jacob Bruun Larsen says he had an "extreme experience" when he had a trial at Liverpool at the age of 13.

The 22-year-old was invited to train at several top European teams as a teenager, including Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and PSV.

The Denmark international says he found his time with the Reds daunting initially and feels he made the right choice in signing for Dortmund.  

"I was 13 years old and invited to each club twice. The first trip was to Liverpool. I was there for a week and also took part in a few test matches," he told Goal.

"It was an extreme experience for me at first. Everything felt very big, also later in Eindhoven and Dortmund. I got to know a small part of great European football there.

"In the end, I was free to choose where to go. My gut feeling said Dortmund. I hadn't played a test match there, but it was absolutely the right decision."

Bruun Larsen made the move to Germany months before Jurgen Klopp's departure at the end of the 2014-15 campaign and the winger has pleasant memories of the coach.

"I got to know him during my trial because I was still watching the professionals," he added.

"Kloppo came over to us because he knew my advisor. He immediately made some funny comments that I didn't understand at the time.

"My first impression was that he is very friendly and a very respectful, empathic person - and that has been fully confirmed in the years that have followed."

Bruun Larsen made his competitive debut for Dortmund as part of the starting XI in a 4-1 win against Union Berlin in the DFB-Pokal in October 2016.

And the winger says he is indebted to then-coach Thomas Tuchel for what he taught him.

"I was 16 and only three months in Dortmund at the time, when Tuchel took a couple of young players and me to a friendly against St. Pauli. I was very surprised," he said. 

"We were then also allowed to go to the training camp. So the idea was there early on that one day we would reach the top. 

"The time under Tuchel was ultimately my first step towards the professional level. I owe him a lot, I learned a lot under him. 

"I still remember exactly what he said to us before my debut in the cup against Union Berlin.

"He predicted exactly what ultimately happened. He recommended that we play over the two central playmakers because there will be a lot of space and we will then move forward quickly. The same thing happened at 1-0, in which I had a small part. 

"I felt very well prepared by Tuchel and knew exactly what to do on the field. That was really fascinating."

The winger, who earned his first cap for Denmark last season, joined Hoffenheim in January and made 12 appearances for the club last season.

Express FC have finally confirmed the signing of defender Murushid Juuko.

The Uganda left-back has been on the radar of the Red Eagles for the most part of the ongoing transfer window and he was officially unveiled on Friday after putting pen to paper a one-year contract.

Express have confirmed his acquisition by stating on their official website “The wait is over, experienced Uganda Cranes centre-back Murushid Juuko has joined the Red Eagles.

“Juuko brings a lot of experience having featured for Tanzanian giants Simba SC and African giants Wydad Casablanca.”

The 26-year-old has revealed the club’s rich history and current progress lured him to the Wankulukuku.

“Firstly I want to appreciate the CEO [Isaac Mwesigwa] and the head coach [Wasswa Bbosa] for making this happen, am happy to be here, Express is a big club and its current progress speaks for itself and I am sure we going to win silverware this season," he said.

Coach Bbosa was delighted about securing the services of the player saying he was a good addition to the squad, who are keen to wrestle the Ugandan Premier League (UPL) title from Vipers SC.

“We’re glad to have Murushid [Juuko] on the team, his experience speaks for itself without a doubt, his discipline will help the youngsters in the team to become better," the coach noted.

Juuko becomes the 16th signing for the six-time league champions ahead of the new season set to kick off on November 20, 2020.

The news of Juuko signing for the Red Eagles started after he returned from Morocco, where he ended his contract with Botola Pro side Wydad Casablanca after they disagreed over payment.

After returning home, Juuko became a transfer target for both Express, Vipers SC, and KCCA FC but he opted to sign for Express on a one-year deal, but he was yet to be unveiled as he was waiting for the green light after petitioning Fifa over his former side.

The arrival of the player will be a great boost to coach Wasswa Bbosa, who is expecting a competitive 2020/21 UPL season.

Many teams are buffing up their squads in preparations for the new campaign and the tactician stated he is already aware of what to expect from opposing teams.

Juuko was part of the Johnathan McKinstry-led side that defeated Malawi 2-0 in the 2021 African Cup of Nations qualifying match played at Namboole.

The six-time league champions finished the abandoned league in the ninth position with 31 points, after managing nine wins, four draws, and 12 defeats.

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has swat aside reports of an imminent move to Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko but fails to rule out the possibility completely

Local reports say the ex-Ghana international is considering making a return to active football, over a year after prematurely retiring from the beautiful game due to persistent injury challenges.

He last played for Ermis Aradippou in Cyprus, after which he hanged up his boots at the age of 27 in March last year

“At the moment if I’m being honest, it's far from the truth and there is nothing concrete," Frimpong told TV3.

"You are never ready unless you are tested. At the moment obviously I have been away from the game for so many years and it is going to take me couple of months to get back to the fitness I think is required to play.

“The football brain is always going to be there but at the moment, if that was the case then I would have to work on my fitness.

"That’s the most important thing but I do go to the gym and do run a lot and don't feel any pain in my knee, so if the opportunity comes and I feel like I was good I will take the opportunity to play.

“I do support Kotoko and if I had the opportunity it would be one of the biggest days of my life."

Born in the Ghanaian city of Kumasi - the same town where Kotoko are based - Frimpong moved to the United Kingdom at the age of four where he joined Arsenal's academy at the age of nine.

He progressed to represent the Gunners at senior level, moving on to play for the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Charlton Athletic and Fulham, all on loan.

In 2014, he permanently cut ties with Arsenal to join English lower-tier outfit Barnsley and subsequently moved to Russia to play for Ufa and Arsenal Tula.

Swedish side Elkilstuna signed the midfielder in 2016 for a short spell before he transferred to Ermis Aradippou in Cyprus.

The 28-year-old represented England at U16 and U17 level before switching international allegiance to make his Ghana debut in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sudan in 2013.

Kotoko, arguably Ghana's biggest club and the most successful side in the history of the Premier League, have been active in the transfer market ahead of the 2020-21 domestic football season which commences in November. 

Milan boss Stefano Pioli says Zlatan Ibrahimovic is raring to go after recovering from coronavirus ahead of what he believes will be a "spectacular" derby against city rivals Inter.

Ibrahimovic tested positive for Covid-19 on September 24, three days after he had scored a Serie A double in the 3-0 win over Bologna.

Milan confirmed last week the striker was clear of the virus after having two negative tests, allowing him to leave a period of self-isolation that had caused him to miss four matches.

That put the 39-year-old in contention to play at least some part in Saturday's crunch Serie A clash, with the two Milan clubs looking as good as they have for many years.

"Zlatan has been smiling and is in a positive and determined frame of mind," Pioli told reporters as Milan look to win their opening four league games for the first time since 1995 under Fabio Capello.

"He has only been training for a week but is feeling fine. He had a problem, but I have found him to be the same as always.

"He is ready to play, but we still need to assess how many minutes he has got in his legs.

"Our start to the season with three league wins and going through in Europe was important and what I hoped for - now Zlatan's return is an additional boost going into the derby."

Milan are unbeaten since March – a run of 19 games in all competitions – while Inter are two points behind them after finishing second and reaching the Europa League final in Antonio Conte's first season.

Except for Atalanta (56), Milan (54) and Inter (47) are the two teams who have gained the most points in Serie A in 2020. 

Pioli added: "I am expecting a spectacular game. We will be facing a side with a system that sees players occupy precise positions on the pitch. 

"Inter are very strong, but, like all teams, also have weaknesses. We need to remain composed and understand when it is necessary to press and when we need to bide our time. 

"We will be intense and will not hold off. This will also apply to them but we have our own identity and way of playing out on the pitch.

"For us, the tests never stop: we know that this will be an important and difficult test, but we have prepared well in the little time we had available and feel ready."

Inter only finished one point behind champions Juventus last season, with Conte now looking to become the first Inter coach ever to win their first three Milan derbies.

Pioli added: "Unfortunately, there won’t be a crowd, but we’ll take to the pitch aware of the importance of this match and what it means. We feel the rivalry and it will be a heartfelt match.

"Our journey began a year ago, but I can also say that we’re still in the early stages. We still have plenty of room for improvement and will be facing the side everyone is tipping to win the title.

"But we are going to take to the pitch with the objective to be better than them. They are doing well, so beating such a strong side would give us enthusiasm and even more confidence in the qualities we have."

The new 2020/21 season gets underway this weekend with the MTN8 quarter-final matches scheduled to take place across South Africa. 

Eight Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs will battle it out once again with the first piece of silverware of the campaign firmly in their sights. 

These are the teams which finished in the top eight on the PSL standings last season and qualified for the lucrative MTN8 competition.  

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic will see a delayed start of the new campaign after the late completion of the previous term in a bio-bubble in Gauteng. 

However, the new season will be played at the home venues of the clubs, after the government opened up inter-provincial travel, but fans are still not allowed to come to the stadiums.

What's At Stake

While the runner-up and other six clubs get the same participation fee of R800 000 hence the tournament has become well known as 'Wafa Wafa', the winner takes all.

SuperSport United are the defending champions and they will start their title defence against tournament debutants, Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), who will be at home in Thohoyandou on Saturday afternoon.

Orlando Pirates will then host their hoodoo team Cape Town City in Soweto on Saturday evening, while record-15 time MTN8 champions Kaizer Chiefs are set to welcome Maritzburg United in Nasrec, Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon.

Reigning PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns will square off with Bloemfontein Celtic in Tshwane on Sunday afternoon in a repeat of last month's Nedbank Cup final. 

This winning teams are expected to advance to the two-legged semi-finals where the winners on aggregate will progress to the final. 

Bogey Teams 

Chiefs had a frustrating record against Maritzburg last season, failing to defeat coach Eric Tinkler's side in their three meetings across all competitions.

Maritzburg secured two wins over Amakhosi, including the Telkom Knockout semi-final victory, while the other game ended in a draw with Daylon Claalsen missing a penalty which could have handed Tinkler's side the win. 

On the other hand, Cape Town City have proved to be Pirates' hoodoo team and they are enjoying a six-match unbeaten run against the Buccaneers.

The Citizens have recorded two wins and four draws in their last six meetings with Bucs, including a 1-0 win in their most recent clash which was a league game two months ago.

Furthermore, City have lost just once against Pirates across all competitions since the club's inception in 2016 with the two teams having met nine times in the last four years. 

New Coaches & Players 

Mamelodi Sundowns have been very active in the transfer market having brought in some exciting new players such as Kermit Erasmus, Aubrey Modiba and Peter Shalulile - making them one of the favourites to win the MTN8.

However, the sudden departure of coach Pitso Mosimane has seen the club appoint Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena as co-coaches and they will be assisted by Steve Komphela.

The decision to bring in an experienced coach like Komphela to work under Mngqithi and Mokwena has surprised many and it will be interesting to see how the trio will work together.

Sundowns' Gauteng rivals, Chiefs, are banned from signing and registering players, but they are awaiting an outcome from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following their transfer ban appeal hearing.

Amakhosi parted ways with Ernst Middendorp last month after he failed to win the PSL title and the club's decision to replace the German tactician with Gavin Hunt has been hailed as a masterstroke.

Hunt is one of the most successful coaches in the PSL era and he will be hoping to lead Amakhosi to a MTN8 title triumph in order to ease the pressure on himself and also end the club's five-trophy drought.

Do Pirates Have The Edge?

However, Pirates' stability gives them the edge over their rivals with the club having kept their faith in Josef Zinnbauer, who revived the team after taking charge in December 2019.

The German tactician guided the Buccaneers to a third-place finish in the league and they seemed to have finally found the winning formula as the team ended the recent season with a three-match winning run.

Pirates' top performers from last season, Wayne Sandilands, Happy Jele and Frank Mhango, remain part of the team as the Soweto giants look to end their six-year trophy drought. 

The club's shrewd transfer business has improved Zinnbauer's squad with Thulani Hlatshwayo, Thabang Monare, Deon Hotto and Terrence Dzvukamanja having arrived at the Houghton-based giants as new signings.

The former Bidvest Wits players have brought some needed experience in key areas like defence and attack and their winning mentality could help propel the Soweto giants to a MTN8 triumph.

Tottenham have announced the signing of defender Joe Rodon from Swansea City in a deal worth a reported £11 million ($14m), which could rise to £15m ($19m) with add-ons.

The Wales international joins up with the north London outfit on a contract through 2025 and will wear the No.14 shirt with the club.

Rodon, 22, worked his way up through Swansea's youth academy and made his debut during the beginning stages of the 2018-19 season. 

The centre-back has also become a regular for Wales, starting all three of his country’s matches during the recent international break to bring his total caps to seven.

Rodon will link up with his international team-mates Ben Davies and Gareth Bale at the club, with Bale closing in on his second debut for Spurs after joining from Real Madrid last month. 

With the deadline for transfers involving English Football League clubs now having passed, Tottenham bring down the curtain on a busy transfer window that has seen the club add seven new players.

Along with Bale and Rodon, Spurs landed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg from Southampton, Matt Doherty from Wolves, Sergio Reguilon from Real Madrid, Carlos Vinicius on an initial loan from Benfica and Joe Hart on a free transfer.

At his press conference on Friday ahead of Sunday's match against West Ham, Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho saluted the work his side has done in the transfer market.

The Portuguese manager was especially full of praise for Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, whom he called a "genius" in how he managed to make signings happen.

"It is a great opportunity to publicly thank my boss, my board, Mr. Levy, the structure, [head of recruitment] Steve [Hitchen] because what they did for the team was amazing," Mourinho said. 

"In such a difficult period where I always believed we were not able to reach some of the targets, the club did an incredible effort.

"Mr. Levy showed once more that when he wants, when he is really involved, he is a genius in the way he makes deals happen and I can only publicly thank them for what they gave to the team."

Ghana defender Daniel Amartey will be out of action for "a number of weeks" following an injury picked up just before the international break, club manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed.

In his third game since making a return from a two-year fitness layoff, the 25-year-old suffered another setback as he upset his hamstring in a Premier League encounter against West Ham United.

He was forced off the field in the 55th minute in the match week four tie at King Power Stadium.

"Obviously, Daniel Amartey is out with his hamstring for a number of weeks, so the international break hasn’t been too kind for us," Rodgers said in his team news on Friday ahead of Sunday's league tie against Aston Villa, his club's official website reports.

"We think that Cags [Caglar Soyuncu] will most definitely be out with an abductor strain, so we’re waiting on the scan on that.

"We think that he is definitely out for a number of weeks, but until we get the final scans, that will determine the length of time.

"I’ve got no qualms about [new club signing] Wesley [Fofana] coming in to play. He's fit and fine. He’s been playing in the early part of the season and gone away and played for the France Under-21s as well.

"We’ve brought him in because he’s a big talent and he’s ready to come in and play now. He’s such a young player, but if I have to play Wesley, I have no qualms about that.

"We’ll see how Wes Morgan is also and then we’ll assess it over the next 24 hours. Wes has had some issues with his lower back, but we're hoping, if he's required, he'll be available to play."

In 2018, Amartey picked up an ankle injury while in action against West Ham United, a setback that would only allow him back in action in September this year, just ahead of the commencement of the season.

He featured in a pre-season draw with Blackburn Rovers and made his competitive comeback in a League Cup tie against Arsenal.

After impressing on his first league appearance of the term - against Manchester City - the defender was rewarded with a third straight appearance against West Ham.

He joined the Foxes from Danish outfit FC Copenhagen in 2016.