After a breakout season with Championship side Reading, defender Michael Hector is looking to carry his form into his first international appearance for Jamaica.
Despite having never been to the island nation, Hector, 22, is about to form a big part of their defence at the Copa America.
Hector, whose family all live in London where he has been tied to Reading since 2009, said he was still a proud Jamaican despite never travelling there.
It s a big part of my family, the centre-back said, via the Jamaica Football Federation.
Since I was young, I was always in a Jamaica shirt. I ve always wanted to do my family proud, and I knew that playing for Jamaica, that would make my family proud.
While his family hails from Kingston, Hector packs a hea…
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho unleashed a stunning attack on Real Madrid counterpart Rafael Benitez, whilst poking fun at the latter s weight.
Benitez s wife, Montse, caused a stir when she claimed her husband is always tidying up after Mourinho, having coached Inter, Chelsea and now Real.
Montse s comments provoked a response from Mourinho, who was quizzed by reporters following Chelsea s 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Barcelona in the International Champions Cup on Tuesday.
Mourinho pointed to Benitez s record with Inter just months after the Portuguese boss guided the Milan club to a historic treble in 2009-10 as he shot down Montse s claims.
Benitez was sacked six months into a two-year deal.
The lady is a bit confused, with all respect, Mour…
Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier is happy to bide his time as he searches for his first Premier League appearance with the London club.
Trippier, 25, made the move from Burnley in the off-season but he is yet to play any minutes in the league.
The right-back has played just three games so far this season two in the Europa League and once in the Carling Cup.
Kyle Walker is Trippier s competition at right-back, with the two friends having played together when England made the final of the European U19 championships in 2009.
Trippier defended his decision to move to Tottenham, claiming he could have easily gone somewhere where he was guaranteed a starting spot.
I m looking forward to playing in the Premier League and making sure that when …
Journalist Matteo Moretto has reported on that Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona. The journalist has claimed that Villa and Barcelona have negotiated a loan deal until the end of the season, adding that it will be done soon.
Coutinho muy cerca de volver a la Premier, Barça y Aston Villa negocian una cesión hasta junio. Confirmado lo que salió en estos minutos. Sí, puede concretizarse pronto.
Matteo Moretto (@MatteMoretto)
Coutinho has been on the books of Barcelona since 2018 when he joined from Liverpool. The 29-year-old Brazil international attacking midfielder had a loan spell at Bayern Munich in 2019-20 and is now back at the Catalan giants. Coutinho has made five starts and seven substitute appeara…
John Herdman hopes Toronto FC s bad run is behind them and a playoff push on the horizon as they prepare to meet Inter Miami, who are still bristling at suffering their joint-record defeat last time out in MLS.
Toronto staged a second-half comeback to beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1 on Saturday, snapping a seven-match losing streak across all competitions.
The Reds had been winless in nine ahead of their victory over the Union, which dragged them up to eighth in the Eastern Conference, three points adrift of the top seven.
With a number of players returning from injury and confidence restored, Herdman hopes that result can be something of a turning point.
We can go into that match now against Miami with one of my best starting XIs for the first time sin…
Sebastien Haller has given a positive update on his tumour treatment, but the Borussia Dortmund striker says it will be a few months before he can consider a playing return.
His diagnosis followed a July move to the Bundesliga heavyweights, after a superb 2021-22 season with Ajax saw Haller finish as the Eredivisie s top scorer.
Hopes of a flying start in Germany were checked after a testicular tumour was found, with the 28-year-old forced to step back from the field to undergo chemotherapy. Dortmund have since signed Anthony Modeste as back-up.
Former West Ham player Haller has said he is in good spirits and does not feel his body has been significantly affected since starting his course of treatment.
I walk every day and check my body, Haller told …
England manager Sam Allardyce praised Michail Antonio for his outstanding form after calling the West Ham man up to the national team.
Antonio is the only uncapped player in the England squad for the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Sunday.
The 26-year-old has scored two goals in three Premier League games this season, continuing his form after a fine 2015-16 campaign.
Allardyce, whose squad was his first, said he was simply unable to ignore Antonio s performances.
I think he s in outstanding form, he told the FA s website.
This is another lad with a great journey it s a fantastic journey that he s been on, from non-league to now an international call-up.
He scored nine goals in his first season and he s a terrific athlete, a goo…
Rangers are interested in signing Lawrence Shankland from Heart of Midlothian in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Rangers are on the hunt for a new striker following the departure of Alfredo Morelos, and that Gers manager Michael Beale personally wants to bring Shankland to Ibrox.
Shankland joined Hearts in the summer of 2022 and signed a three-year contract with the Scottish club. The 27-year-old Scotland international was superb for his team this season. Shankland made 33 starts and four substitute appearances in the Scottish Premiership for Hearts this season, scoring 24 goals and providing four assists in the process.
Rangers will be aiming to win the Scottish Premiership title next season and will also look to book their place …
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Rodrigo De Paul from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2023, according to . The report has claimed Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte is a fan of the Argentina international midfielder and followed him closely during his time in Serie A.
De Paul has been on the books of Atletico since the summer of 2021 when he joined from Italian club Udinese. The 28-year-old has failed to make a huge impact at the former La Liga winners, who are willing to cash in on him and want to recoup the €35 million they paid for him.
The Argentine star has made four starts and two substitute appearances in La Liga for Atletico so far this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist in the process. De Paul has also made two substitute appearance…
Manchester City s reportedly imminent capture of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland will set new levels , according to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Pep Guardiola s City and Klopp s Reds have emerged as the dominant forces in the Premier League since the 2018-19 season, when they finished on 98 and 97 points respectively in an enthralling battle for top spot, with each team winning one league title apiece since City s triumph that year.
Their rivalry has been stepped up again this season, with City currently three points clear at the top of the league with just three games remaining.
Meanwhile, Liverpool remain in the hunt for a remarkable quadruple after winning the EFL Cup, reaching the Champions League final, and eliminating City in the FA Cup s last…