Sunderland striker Defoe handed England recall

Jermain Defoe is in line to win his first England cap since 2013 after being called into Gareth Southgate s squad to face Germany and Lithuania.

Injuries to Tottenham striker Harry Kane and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney have left Southgate short in attack – leading to a call-up for the 34-year-old Sunderland man.

Former West Ham and Tottenham forward Defoe has been in prolific form for Sunderland this season, despite David Moyes side languishing at the bottom of the Premier League, scoring 14 times in 27 top-flight outings.

The last of his 55 international appearances came as a substitute in a November 2013 friendly loss to Chile at Wembley. 

Defoe made his debut for the Three Lions in March 2004 versus Sweden and has 19 goals at internation…

Lampard: Havertz needs time to show his ´undoubted talent´

Frank Lampard says some context is needed over Kai Havertz s early struggles at Chelsea as he backed the attacking midfielder to show his undoubted talent once he fully settles.

The Germany international has struggled to transfer the form he showed at Bayer Leverkusen since joining Chelsea in a reported £72million (€80m) deal in September.

Havertz has just one goal and one assist in 14 Premier League appearances and has been named among the substitutes for the Blues last three outings.

However, Lampard insists the 21-year-old is still finding his feet after moving to a new country, a period of adaption not helped after being laid low by coronavirus earlier in the season.

Just as Kai was just coming to terms with the Premier League and he had some re…

Cameroon axe Seedorf and Kluivert after Africa Cup of Nations

Cameroon have sacked coach Clarence Seedorf and his assistant Patrick Kluivert after the Indomitable Lions last-16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations. 

The 2017 AFCON champions produced a weak defence of their title in Egypt, exiting courtesy of a 3-2 loss to Nigeria having won just one of their three games in Group F. 

That has resulted in former AC Milan and Netherlands stars Seedorf and Kluivert losing their jobs less than a year after being hired. 

Seedorf was in charge for 10 games, winning three, drawing four and losing three. 

A statement from the Cameroon Football Federation s president Seidou Mbombo Njoya said: In the wake of the premature elimination of Cameroon from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the Cameroon Football Federation,…

Rosenior pens new Hull deal

Liam Rosenior has pledged his future to Hull ahead of the club s Premier League return by signing a new two-year contract.

The full-back has been with the promoted side since 2010 and has made over 100 appearances for the club.

The 28-year-old was a regular starter under Steve Bruce last season as Hull secured a return to top flight for the first time since 2010 and has been rewarded with a two-year extension to his deal at the KC Stadium.

Rosenior will remain at the club until 2015 and is delighted to return to the Premier League having not played in the division since he was relegated with Reading in 2008.

I ve been waiting for four or five years to get back to the Premier League and prove that I can play at that level, he told the club s website. If I can get…

Newcastle could bid for Chelsea star Christian Pulisic

Newcastle United could make a bid for Chelsea attacking player Christian Pulisic in the January transfer window, according to journalist Dean Jones in .

The well-known and well-respected journalist has claimed that Newcastle wanted to sign the USA international, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger, in the summer of 2022 and remain keen on bringing the 24-year-old to St. James’ Park in the middle of the season.

Jones said about Newcastle and Pulisic: “He is still someone that they’d be willing to consider. I think he does fit with where they’re headed in terms of recruitment.

“He wouldn’t be considered as a superstar coming in and that’s important. I think he would be a good fit for the style of play too.”

Blackpool confirm Fuller deal

Blackpool have signed Jamaica striker Ricardo Fuller on a twelve month deal, .

The 33 year old was without a club having been released by Charlton Athletic, where he scored five goals in thirty-one appearances during his one and only campaign with the club.

The Tangerines, who are one of just three Championship clubs to have won their opening two games of the season, are the eighth English club of Fuller’s career.

He began his career with Kingston-based side Tivoli Gardens before signing for Crystal Palace in 2001.

He then moved on loan to Hearts of Midlothian before spells with Preston North End, Portsmouth, Southampton, Ipswich Town and Stoke City, the latter of whom he helped achieve promotion to the Premier League in 2008, before going on to r…

Arsenal re-sign Flamini

Mathieu Flamini has re-signed for Arsenal, after agreeing a three year deal worth around £50,000 per week, .

The midfielder, who can also play at full-back, originally left the Emirates for AC Milan back in 2008, but was released at the end of last season.

He has been training with the Arsenal squad for the past few weeks as to keep up his fitness, and could now be named in the squad to face rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

His arrival will be welcomed by Arsene Wenger, who currently has no less than seven first team players currently side-lined by injury.

The 29 year old made over one hundred and fifty appearances for the Gunners during his first spell with the club, and was part of the squad that won the 2005 FA Cup, the clubs last p…

Madrid can win at Camp Nou – Alonso

Barcelona have yet to lose at home in La Liga this season, but Xabi Alonso is confident former club Real Madrid can earn the bragging rights in Saturday s eagerly awaited Clasico showdown.

Luis Enrique s Barca are top of La Liga, 10 points clear of third-placed Madrid, and have dropped just two points at Camp Nou from 15 home league matches this term.

Barca also battered Madrid 4-0 in November s reverse contest and many fancy the hosts to come out on top again on home turf.

However, Alonso who spent five years at the Santiago Bernabeu insists form goes out the window in El Clasico and pointed to Madrid s success at Camp Nou under Jose Mourinho in the 2011-2012  season en route to winning the title with 100 points.

[Madrid] have won a few times in Camp …

Real Madrid sign Illarramendi; Jeremy Helan to Wednesday

Real Madrid C.F. have completed the signing of Spain Under-21 midfielder Asier Illarramendi from Real Sociedad on a six-year deal after agreeing to meet his release clause of €32,190,000, according to the club s official website, .

Illarramendi, 23, will join fellow new signings Daniel Carvajal, Casemiro and Isco at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu next season.

The 23-year-old midfielder is expected to be the long-term replacement for Xabi Alonso, who continues to be linked with a summer move to Chelsea F.C.

Illarramendi was an important figure at Sociedad last season, propelling the San Sebastián-based club into the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2003/04 season.

It hasn t been an easy decision, said the Spain yo…

Being outspent by the competition? Should Bayern Munich be concerned?

Recently, Robert Lewandowski made waves by openly criticizing Bayern Munich s transfer policy.

It was not the first time the Polish striker has voiced his frustration with the Bavarian titans. At the end of last season, he failed to retain his top scorer s title, and through his ever-outspoken agent, complained about not receiving enough support from his teammates as he was pipped to the prize by former colleague Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

Given that Bayern Munich has a whole bunch of ex-players who act as unofficial ambassadors , or those who are more than happy to share their opinions about the club whether they are even asked or not, one can be certainly assured that the Pole s opinions did not go down well in Bavaria. He predictably was slammed for those comments, a…