Erik Durm has suffered yet another injury blow, having recently returned to first-team duty with Borussia Dortmund.
Durm, yet to feature in the Bundesliga this season, was named in the Dortmund squad for a 0-0 draw against Wolfsburg on Sunday after recovering from hip surgery.
But the 25-year-old is set for a further spell on the sidelines after Dortmund confirmed he sustained a torn ligament in his right ankle in training on Wednesday.
The team has already wished him a speedy recovery, Dortmund said in a statement on Thursday.
Durm previously had knee surgery in August 2016, restricting him to 13 appearances in the Bundesliga last season.
The Germany international, who has won seven caps for his country, also underwent a knee operation in Septe…
Alan Hutton believes that Aston Villa will try to sign Josh King from Bournemouth before the summer transfer window in England closes on October 16.
The former Villa and Scotland international defender does not think that the Premier League club will pay over the odds for the Norway international striker.
Hutton, though, believes that 28-year-old former Manchester United prospect will be a good addition to Dean Smith’s side.
According to , Villa who are rated at 13/10 by to finish in the top 10 are interested in signing King from Bournemouth, who are playing in the Championship this season after getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.
“The window’s open to the 16th, something like that. He’d be a great addition. If …
The vast wealth in the Premier League meant Leicester City could afford to turn down Manchester City s bid for Riyad Mahrez, according to a football finance expert.
On a hectic transfer deadline day, it was widely reported that the leaders had tabled a final offer of £65million plus a player for the Algeria international.
However, the move is said to have broken down amid suggestions Leicester were holding out for something closer to the region of £95m.
Mahrez was left out of the Foxes side for Wednesday s 2-1 defeat at Everton, after which manager Claude Puel said the winger was disappointed not to conclude a switch, but that he would be welcomed back into the squad.
20+ Riyad Mahrez (31 goals, 21 assists) is one of only three players to have scored 2…
Belgium kicked off their 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar with a narrow 1-0 win against Canada on Thursday evening.
Roberto Martinez’s side have been placed alongside Croatia, Morocco and Canada in Group F.
The Red Devils ave one of the best and strongest teams at the 2022 World Cup and are expected to go far in the competition.
Belgium got off to a good start, at least results-wise, with a 1-0 victory over North American side Canada.
Former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, now at Fenerbahce, scored the only goal for the European team in the 44th minute.
It was not a particularly great performance from Belgium, and former Everton boss Martinez is aware of that.
Martinez : Canada deserved to be better than us in the way they played. I thin…
Roberto Mancini is planning to make changes to Italy s starting line-up for their next match after his tired side were held to a goalless draw by Switzerland on Sunday.
The Azzurri created a number of chances and saw a Jorginho penalty saved by Yann Sommer, who made seven saves in total at St. Jakob-Park.
It is the second stalemate in the space of three days for the recently crowned European champions, having also drawn 1-1 with Bulgaria in this week s World Cup qualifiers.
Despite dropping more points, Italy made it 36 games unbeaten to equal Brazil s all-time record, set between 1993 and 1996.
Mancini was once against disappointed with his side s profligacy in front of goal, however, as his side failed to find the net for the first time in 18 matches ov…
Chelmsford City sprung a surprise in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday, beating Colchester United 3-1, as Coventry advanced.
A brace from Donovan Simmonds earned hosts Chelmsford a 2-0 lead at Melbourne Stadium, before Michael Rose pulled one back for League One visitors Colchester.
But the unheralded hosts were not to be denied, Jamie Slabber netting in the 89th minute to see the team from the Conference South the fifth tier of English football progress to the second round.
Of the fallen giants in action, 1987 FA Cup winners Coventry City defeated Arlesey Town 3-0 and Sheffield United came from behind to win 2-1 away to Bristol Rovers.
Preston North End, whose last FA Cup triumph came in 1938, saw off visiting Yeovil Town 3-0.
But 2008 F…
Steven Pienaar is adamant that team-mate Marouane Fellaini will not leave Everton in the upcoming January transfer window.
The 25-year-old joined the Toffees from Standard Liege in 2008 for a club record fee of 15 million pounds and has since established himself as a fan favourite at Goodison Park.
Felliani has scored eight goals in 15 games this season and been linked with a big-money move away from Merseyside.
However, Pienaar believes his Belgian team-mate will stay beyond the upcoming window.
He s enjoying his game at the moment so I don t think he ll want to disturb that progress, Pienaar said.
He s clever enough not to go.
I don t think he will go in January. I’m sure the manager will keep hold of him.
There’s a lo…
Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Pinto will extend his stay at Camp Nou in the coming weeks, the club have announced.
The 37-year-old, who joined the Catalans in 2008, has agreed to a new deal that ties him to the La Liga giants until 2014.
A statement on Barcelona s official website read: FC Barcelona have reached an agreement with goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto to extend his contract until June 30, 2014. The player s contract will be signed in the coming weeks.
Pinto has made 52 appearances for Barcelona since joining from Celta Vigo.
He has represented the side in both La Liga and the Champions League, but the majority of his performances have come in the Copa Del Rey, in which he has started 34 times.
…
Bastian Schweinsteiger says he was close to leaving Bayern Munich for another top European club in 2008.
The Germany international has previously said playing outside the Bundesliga once his contract expires in 2016 could be a tempting prospect.
And the 28-year-old, who has been a mainstay of the Bayern midfielder since making his debut in 2002, he has once more said he would be open to leaving Germany.
I was close to a transfer in the summer of 2008. I could have joined an international top club, Schweinsteiger told Playboy.
I have an ongoing contract with Bayern and intend to fulfil it. However, a move abroad remains tempting, and you never know what happens.
…
UEFA is extremely disappointed by the FIFA ruling to suspend its president Michel Platini from all football-related activities for eight years and will support his right to due process.
FIFA s Ethics Committee announced on Monday that Platini and FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter have been hit with eight-year suspensions in relation to a payment of two million Swiss francs (£1.3million) made by world football s governing body, and authorised by Blatter, to Platini in February 2011.
Blatter and FIFA vice-president Platini claimed this related to work carried out by the former France captain for FIFA between 1999 and 2002, citing a gentleman s agreement , but the Ethics Committee rejected their assertions.
UEFA responded with a statement of its own later on Monday…