أعلن بيتسو موسيماني المدير الفني لفريق الكرة بالأهلي، عن إصابة لاعب جديد خلال مباراة الوداد المغربي مساء أمس في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعد مروان محسن.

وحقق الأهلي فوزًا مهمًا على حساب نظيره الوداد، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما في ذهاب دور نصف النهائي بالبطولة القارية بهدفين دون رد سجلها محمد مجدي أفشة وعلي معلول.

وقال موسيماني في تصريحات للموقع الرسمي للنادي: “سعيد بعودة بعض اللاعبين من الإصابات كما حدث مع أحمد الشيخ ومحمود وحيد، وقريبا محمود كهربا الذي تعرض للإصابة في مباراة بيراميدز”.

طالع | كاف يختار أفضل لاعب في مباراة الأهلي والوداد بدوري أبطال إفريقيا

وأكمل: “لكن علينا التأكيد أيضًا أن مباراة أمس شهدت تعرض محمد مجدي أفشة لكدمة في أحد الضلوع خلال المباراة، إلى جانب مروان محسن الذي تعرض للإجهاد في عضلة السمانة”.

واختتم: “من ثم نسعى لإعداد أوراقنا بشكل جيد لمباراة العودة من أجل تحقيق هدفنا والصعود للمباراة النهائية من البطولة”.

وكانت قناة الأهلي قد كشفت أمس عن إصابة مروان محسن بشد خفيف، وأشارت إلى أنه سيخضع لعمليات استشفاء ليعود للتدريبات في الأيام المقبلة. 

يذكر، أن الأهلي يواجه الوداد المغربي في مباراة إياب نصف نهائي أبطال إفريقيا مساء يوم الجمعة المقبل على استاد القاهرة الدولي.

Liverpool could be without star player Sadio Mane next season as he reveals his lofty future ambitions.

Senegal international Sadio Mane has been absolutely sensational these past few weeks dragging Liverpool back to the top of the table with nine goals and 10 games – and it has not gone without notice.

Of course, it would be oversimplifying the monumental qualities of Mane by simply suggesting that his recent goalscoring exploits are the only attractive facet of Mane’s multi-dimensional game – for there are many – and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has reportedly been a long-term admirer.

According to a report from Spanish media outlet El Chiringuito TV a while ago, Real Madrid were in pole position to sign the player last season, after impressing them in the Champions League final, but were foiled at the last when Mane decided to stay in Merseyside. Indeed, some reports from France have gone as far to suggest that the deal was agreed in principle before the plug was pulled (France Football). So it is hardly surprising that rumours about the player’s potential future away from the club is resurfacing.

Zidane returning to Madrid as manager following a brief hiatus from the capital will surely be a turning point in the saga, as will Liverpool’s position at the end of the season.

According to France Football, Mane has spoken about his desire to win football’s most prestigious individual award, the Ballon d’Or, and as far as we are concerned Real Madrid is one of the few clubs in the world that can provide the perfect environment in which is can be won.

Reason to be worried for Liverpool fans.

Liverpool fans, do you fear the potential exit of Sadio Mane? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

West Brom fans are in need of some good news, with their club, seemingly, no closer to appointing a new manager following the dismissal of Darren Moore two weeks ago.

A return to fitness for, Tosin Adarabioyo and Kieran Gibbs — two of the Baggies’ key players — this season could provide them with something positive to talk about for a change.

The pair have played a big role in Albion’s season to date, and the extra week off for the international break has helped minimise the impact of the pair’s injuries.

Fans had hoped to be heralding a new manager during the break, but hearing that defensive duo should be available for their next game, a derby against rivals Birmingham, is a timely boost for them.

Albion’s head of science and medicine, Andy Leaver, told the club’s official website: “Kieran (hip) and Tosin (hamstring) are now back in training. They’ve worked hard over the break.”

Former Arsenal full-back Gibbs, who opted to stay at the Hawthorns following relegation, has played in 31 of the Baggies’ Championship games this season, before missing the last four, and weighing in with three goals and four assists this season, is the perfect fillip for caretaker manager James Shan.

Manchester City loanee, Adarabioyo, has been similarly impressive during his spell at the club, but with Albion managing clean sheets in both games that the 21-year-old has missed, it remains to be seen if Shan will alter things in the heart of his defence.

We think the duo’s return is a massive plus for West Brom’s run-in, but it is Gibbs’ return that is sure to please fans most.

He has been one of Albion’s most consistent players this year, and although his defensive performances have been solid, it is the added attacking threat that will help the Baggies on their likely road to Wembley, through the play-offs.

If the pair find their way back to the starting lineup, and help cement another win or two, the Albion board will almost certainly hand the manager’s job to the current caretaker boss.

Albion fans, is the return of your defensive pair good news for you during this drawn-out period of uncertainty? Let us know your opinion…

Manchester United’s bane this season has been their shambolic defending.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might’ve slightly improved their defensive strength during the early stages of his previously interim period, yet reality’s hit him hard after being handed the job permanently.

For the second time in as many weeks, the Red Devils fell to a disappointing defeat at Molineux. Granted, Wolves have been their “bogey team”, to whom they drop points to almost regularly, doing so in the midst of a crunch top-four battle was unexpected.

Clearly, the Red Devils started the game with a storm and should’ve scored three goals in the first half-hour. That must be the most frustrating thing for the fans reading this right now, the fact that they’ve looked good enough to win the game, only to have it thrown away.

Under Jose Mourinho, there was no hope to cling onto. Under Solskjaer, it simply slips through their fingers.

Their inability to seal the deal struck them hard, mostly due to individual errors. Wolves sensed their defensive instability and pounced on them, exposing the weakness of the inconsistent Chris Smalling and Ashley Young. If this defeat proved anything, it’s that United need to work on strengthening their defensive quickly.

In the summer, their top-most priority should be bringing in quality defenders. They have some on their radars in Raphael Varane and Kalidou Koulibaly (as per the Independent), along with Aaron Wan-Bissaka (talkSPORT), and unless multiple world-class defenders are brought in, the similar cycle of despair will continue. Smalling and comedy partner in crime Phil Jones are too error-prone and simply not good enough to challenge for a title.

Elsewhere, neither Ashley Young or the departing Antonio Valencia are absolutely not captaincy material.

If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is to take United back into the promised land, he needs to remove the liabilities constantly letting him down and Ed Woodward needs to replace them with big names. There’s the saying that defenders win titles and it’s one which couldn’t be more apt for the Red Devils in such troublesome times.

United fans, which defenders would you want to sign in the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below. 

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Jack Ross could make himself a Sunderland hero in the final months of the season with victory in the Checkatrade Trophy and a successful promotion bid, and he has made it clear that he will need to maximise his resources to see both jobs through.

What’s the word?

Sunderland look set to be boosted by the return of Bryan Oviedo and Chris Maguire during the crucial final weeks of the season.

Of his current injury problems Ross admitted that “Bryan is the one who’s closest”, per Northern Echo, but his broader assessment on the situation suggests that both Oviedo and Maguire will have key roles to play.

“I think they all understand they’re going to get opportunities between now and the end of the season because of the schedule we have.”

Following the EFL Trophy final, Ross will have nine games left to navigate to take the Black Cats back into the second tier. The dynamism from Maguire and the experience of Oviedo could be vital in achieving the club’s primary objective for the season.

Big roles to play for Maguire and Oviedo?

Sunderland’s schedule is looking hectic to say the least, with ten fixtures set to be played in the space of little more than a month.

That run starts at Wembley against Portsmouth in less than a fortnight’s time, and the relentless fixture list strongly suggests that Ross’ resources will be stretched at the end of a long season.

The former Everton man’s return will offer Ross the opportunity to rotate his full-backs, easing the physical burden which his absence would place on Reece James, while Maguire can ensure that Sunderland’s attacking unit remains fresh and unpredictable.

Duncan Watmore has unfortunately been ruled out for the season, but Ross’ latest admission suggests the players who are set to overcome their injury problems will be vital in the promotion race.

Modern football is a disaster, and Tottenham Hotspur are the evil purveyors of all things wrong in our game.

Picture this: the year is 2030 and the final reasonably priced blocks at *insert any Premier League stadium* have been replaced by cheese rooms, cinema screens, hotel suites, theme parks and gyms. Football has ceased to be about watching the sport and has devolved into a corporate playground within which the fans have become secondary to complimentary drinks and gift bags.

An array of all things sanitised have exploded onto the beautiful game stripping away the pure, unadulterated essence of what makes football so great.

Spurs’ new stadium may be a thing of beauty, and believe us, it is, but it has become a flagship for everything disastrously wrong in the modern game.

The “Tottenham Hotspur Stadium” – until it is otherwise named after some sort of deodorant, coffee brand, energy drink or airline company – boasts a number of pointless gimmicks.

Consisting of a cheese room, a “tunnel club” – where fans can gawp at players through a glass pane like a zoo, a microbrewery because, hey, clubs love fans drinking at games, an in-house bakery (?), a sky-lounge, and the feature we all have not been waiting for: USB ports bedded into the seats – ideal for those wanting to document their experience on social media.

Yes, Tottenham’s new project has become a hotbed for modern ploys. The stuff average lifelong fans never asked for but must suffer the consequences of.

According to TalkSport, most matchday tickers at £10 more than they were at Wembley, whilst Category B and C tickets are 30 to 50 per cent more expensive than they were at White Hart Lane. Fans being priced out of the game. Again.

If the aforementioned did not shock you enough, however, brace yourself for Spurs most recent announcement.

The Sun have reported that Tottenham are keen on hosting the Super Bowl and want to be ‘home the first NFL team outside the US’

“From the start we’ve had NFL  in mind,” said the club’s head of business development Aidan Mullally.

“The anchor tenant is Tottenham Hotspur, but this is designed to be a permanent home for the NFL outside the US.”

But why? What benefit will this bring to the lifelong fans of Tottenham? What will the average supporter gain from their increased ticket price? Why are Tottenham so utterly obsessed with satisfying the needs of other fans before their own?

There are so many questions that need answering.

Tottenham fans, what do you make of the NFL news? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

Among all the surprising developments at West Bromwich Albion this season, little attention’s been given to their academy’s terrific work.

Some amazing young talents are rising through the ranks, with Louie Barry looking the likeliest to make the biggest impact in the near future.

The 15-year-old, who rose up the ranks after scoring 10 goals in five games for England U-15’s in a tournament last year, has been impressive with his goal-scoring continuity in the youth team, making waves. Excitingly, he’s shined for the Baggies in youth level, scoring quite a few goals in the U-18 divisions. Barry recently bagged a goal against Liverpool’s U-18 and also scored a brace for England U-16’s last month, looking like one of the most exciting things to come out of the Hawthorns in years.

Barry’s fantastic goal-scoring record’s gained a lot of attention, with La Liga giants Barcelona keen on signing him (via Express and Star). He’s that good. Well, at least he could be.

The striker’s sharp work in front of goal and stunning development has impressed those at the Camp Nou, surely a sense of pride for those working behind the scenes in the Midlands.

However, the Baggies cannot allow their unearthed gem to leave this soon.

He’s doing a great job under Mike Scott’s guidance, slowly turning into a promising striker who looks primed to break into West Brom’s team in a couple of years. After witnessing academy stars Rakeem Harper and Kyle Edwards’ great work, Barry could be the next big thing for the Baggies, helping propel the team forward.

Clearly, things have gone stale at the club in recent years, leading to their eventual relegation from the Premier League, so they must look to the future to start a new project, one capable of keeping the club in the top tier for a prolonged period of time.

If West Brom are serious in proving themselves are more than mere talent feeders for other clubs, they need to keep Barry with them. The brilliant wonderkid has a bright future ahead of him and can take them to new heights once he comes of age.

Baggies fans, do you think Barry should be preserved for future success? Join the discussion by commenting below. 

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Tottenham Hotspur secured the first-leg Champions League quarter-final win they would have been desperate for after Son Heung-Min’s late goal saw them beat Manchester City 1-0 in north London on Tuesday night.

Spurs welcomed the Premier League champions to the capital in a much-anticipated European tie, and they certainly had Hugo Lloris to thank for keeping the scoreline level early on as he saved Sergio Aguero’s penalty.

With the game seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Son then stepped up to the plate with a neat finish on a special night in Tottenham’s new stadium, but the victory wasn’t without its negatives.

Harry Kane injury

Let’s start with the obvious one.

The England captain launched into a needless tackle with City’s Fabian Delph on the touchline in the second half and instantly reached for his ankle, limping down the tunnel and never returning.

Mauricio Pochettino suggested post-match that the news wasn’t good and with Spurs chasing a top-four finish in the Premier League and looking to advance through to the semi-finals of the Champions League, this is the last news they needed.

Not a big enough advantage

Without Kane next week in the return leg Tottenham ideally needed a bigger advantage against a City side that are so strong at home, but they didn’t get it.

At least they do have one, but it is difficult to see 1-0 being enough against Pep Guardiola’s men given they boast the likes of Aguero, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane – to name but a few – in their attack.

The last time Spurs visited the Etihad in 2017 they were beaten 4-1, and they will have to perform much better than that if they want to get the result they need to progress to the last four of Europe’s elite club competition.

Check out the latest hilarious video by 442oons in the video below…

They may have got the victory, but they have still left themselves with an uphill task.

Eriksen and Alli must improve

If Kane is to miss the rest of the season, then Pochettino and Tottenham need these two to really be at their best in the next few weeks.

Yes they had their fair share of neat touches here and there on Tuesday, but Dele Alli only put in a performance where he almost got things right.

That can’t be the case next week at the Etihad or in the Premier League, and it is the same story for Christian Eriksen.

The Dane may have provided the assist for Son’s goal, produced some decent passes and got through a lot of running, but he also wasted a lot of opportunities when in possession and didn’t have that sharpness when in space on other occasions.

A big improvement from the duo is a necessity if Tottenham are to achieve their goals this term.

حدد مدافع نادي ليفربول الأسبق، جيمي كاراجر، البديل المناسب لتعويض غياب فيرجيل فان دايك عن صفوف بطل الدوري الإنجليزي لفترة طويلة.

وتعرض فان دايك لإصابة في أربطة الركبة اليسرى خلال مباراة إيفرتون الماضية على ملعب “جوديسون بارك”، بعد تدخل قوي من طرف حارس الفريق المنافس، جوردان بيكفورد.

ووجه كاراجر نصيحة لإدارة ليفربول بسرعة التحرك من أجل تعويض فان دايك الذي سيستمر غيابه تقريبًا حتى نهاية الموسم الحالي وهو ما قد يقلل من فرص الفريق بمنافسة على البطولات نظرًا لأهمية المدافع الهولندي.

اقرأ أيضًا.. لامبارد يُعلق على إصابة فان دايك مع ليفربول

ووضح جيمي وجهة نظره في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الكتالونية، وقال: “صفقتنا الكبيرة في الصيف المقبل كانت تجب أن تكون في خط الدفاع”.

وتابع: “لكن بسبب الوضع الحالي بعد إصابة فان دايك، على النادي تقديم موعدها إلى الميركاتو الشتوي في 1 يناير”.

وأضاف في النهاية: “هناك لاعب اسمه أوباميكانو، ربما ليس بنفس مستوى فان دايك ولكن إذا كان ليفربول يحتاج لاعب مثله عليهم بدفع شرطه الجزائي ويحضرونه إلى أنفيلد”.

ويلعب دايوت أوباميكانو في الوقت الحالي ضمن صفوف نادي لايبزيج في الدوري الألماني، ويقدم مستويات فنية مميزة جعلته ينضم أكثر من مرة لمنتخب فرنسا في الآونة الأخيرة.

Sheffield Wednesday full-back, Liam Palmer is in line to make his debut for Scotland in Kazakhstan on Thursday — seven years after last pulling on his national side’s under-21 jersey.

Palmer has been in brilliant form for the Owls, and has played every minute of Championship football for the side since the arrival of Steve Bruce.

Speaking to the Sheffield Star, the defender said his thoughts would be firmly on his late grandmother, if he gets the nod tomorrow, and it is through her Lanarkshire roots that the 27-year-old is eligible to represent Scotland.

Referring to her influence on him, he said: “My nan was a massive part of my life. She lived on the road opposite the school I went to as a little boy so every day after school I went there until my mum finished work.

“She loved football and she loved sport. If I had a game for the school she used to walk up the road and come and watch and then get me some food after and things like that.

“She never saw me play for the Scotland youth teams. She passed away just before that. My family on my mum’s side are all obviously really proud and she would have been really proud as well.

“I will definitely think of her. It was a shame towards the end. I went every day to visit her in intensive care. But it would be a great moment if I did make my debut.”

Like the rest of the Sheffield Wednesday side, Palmer has had a resurgence of confidence in the current unbeaten run that the Owls find themselves on and topping it all off with a Scotland cap is thoroughly deserved for the hard-working former academy graduate.

That Wednesday players are being recognised for their scintillating form in the Championship is thanks to the Bruce effect, but the Geordie manager will be hoping that his right back comes through the international break unscathed with such an important stretch of games ahead.

What do you think of your latest international player Wednesday fans? Join in the debate below…