Former Manchester United full-back Mikael Silvestre hopes out-of-favour forward Anthony Martial does not leave Old Trafford like Paul Pogba, urging the Frenchman to remain patient.

Martial burst onto the scene at Old Trafford last season, however the 21-year-old has been handed a reduced role at manager Jose Mourinho this term amid uncertainty over his future.

The France international, who was United s leading goalscorer in 2015-16 with 17, has only started nine Premier League fixtures this season, missing the past three matches.

Silvestre a five-time Premier League winner and Champions League victor during his nine years at United has called on his countryman to bide his time in Manchester and not follow in the footsteps of Pogba, who left for Juventus in 2012 o…

Lieke Martens looks set to play through the pain barrier again when Netherlands face Sweden in the Women s World Cup semi-finals.

Barcelona forward Martens aggravated a toe injury when celebrating her last-16 winner against Japan and, though she did not train prior to the quarter-final clash with Italy, she completed 90 minutes as the Euro 2017 winners reached the last four.

Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman noted Martens problem has not become worse so hopes the woman voted the best player in the world two years ago can be called upon once more on Wednesday.

Lieke has had this injury for quite a long time but after the match facing Japan, she had more problems with her toe, Wiegman explained.

She was able to play against Italy and the toe is injured but…

Otto Addo confirmed he is leaving his role as Ghana coach as he predicted the team will continue to improve after a promising World Cup campaign.

Addo was appointed as interim boss of the Black Stars in February, but has been juggling the role with his job as a talent coach for Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund.

Ghana would have progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup in Qatar with a win over Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium on Friday, but ultimately finished bottom of Group H after a 2-0 defeat.

Andre Ayew missed a first-half penalty, with Giorgian de Arrascaeta s quickfire double putting Uruguay in control, albeit the win was not enough to send Diego Alonso s team into the knockout round.

In his post-match news conference, Addo announced he would be st…

Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu says Manchester City are not good enough to capture the signature of Fernandinho.

Speculation in the English media on Tuesday linked the 27-year-old with a move to the Etihad Stadium, with City expected to overhaul his squad after missing out on the title.

Lucescu insisted Fernandinho will only be sold if his release clause is met, and he feels a move to City would be a step down for the midfielder.

If City want to (sign Fernandinho), the clause is 50 million euros, Lucescu told PRO TV.

If our players receive offers from teams higher than Shakhtar, we do everything possible to help them. Currently, I think Manchester City are not at our level.

The five-cap Brazil international is contracted to the Ukraini…

Luis Garcia feels Diego Simeone has no need to leave Atletico Madrid in the near future, insisting the Argentine coach is already at a big team who are moving in the right direction.

Simeone has won La Liga, the Europa League and the Copa del Rey since taking charge at the Vicente Calderon in December 2011, while he also steered the team to the Champions League final – where they lost after extra time to Real Madrid – in 2014.

His work at Atletico has seen him linked with vacancies abroad, particularly in the Premier League, despite him signing a new long-term contract in March 2015.

However, Garcia – who spent a season playing for Atletico – feels Simeone is happy in the Spanish capital and does not necessarily need to move on to enjoy further s…

Spain captain Sergio Ramos insists the squad are together following Julen Lopetegui s shock sacking as coach on the eve of the World Cup.

Loptegui was removed from his post on Wednesday following Tuesday s announcement he is to take over as Real Madrid coach.

Fernando Hierro has been drafted in as replacement for the tournament, with Spain s first Group B match taking place on Friday against neighbours Portugal.

But Ramos has moved to quell any notion that La Roja s chaotic preparations for the World Cup have had an impact on the unity in the camp.

He posted on Twitter: We are the national team, we represent a shield, the colours, the fans, a country.

The responsibility and commitment are with you and for you. Yesterday, today and tomorrow, tog…

Southampton attacker Moussa Djenepo is hoping to become the next Sadio Mane as he uses the Liverpool star as inspiration.

Djenepo, 21, joined the club for a reported £14million from Standard Liege last year, and had scored two goals and provided two assists in 18 Premier League games before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mane spent two seasons at St Mary s before joining Liverpool in 2016 and the Senegal international has developed into one of the world s best attackers.

Djenepo is using Mane as inspiration and the Mali international hopes he can exceed what the Liverpool star has achieved.

Sadio is a big inspiration for me. I like him, he s a very big player, he told talkSPORT.

But I think I can be better [than him] …

None of the top four sides in the Championship won on Saturday, meaning Leeds United remained top of the table despite a disappointing 1-1 home draw with Derby County.

Bristol City and Swansea City, who started the day third and second respectively, played out a 0-0 draw, while Charlton Athletic suffered a second straight defeat, going down 2-0 at Wigan Athletic.

Preston North End, QPR and Nottingham Forest all gained ground towards the top of the standings with victories, while Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City and Hull City were also among the winners.

Sheffield Wednesday drew 1-1 with Fulham and Stoke City moved off the bottom of the table after a goalless encounter at Brentford.
 

FRUSTRATION FOR LEEDS

Other results meant Leeds stayed top even…

AC Milan are set to complete the signing of Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea on a permanent basis, according to .

The Canada-born defender is a product of Chelsea s academy. He previously had loan spells with Hull City and Derby County, before a transfer ban in the summer of 2019 forced Frank Lampard, newly appointed as the manager at the time, to include him in his plans of the following season. However, the 23-year-old wasn t able to compete against Thiago Silva, Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen during the first half of 2020-21, which prompted the club to send him out to Milan on loan this January.

Since then, Tomori has impressed in Italy, making a total of 22 appearances and scoring a vital goal for the Rossoneri, and the seven-time European champions were keen to turn …

Nick DeLeon s stunning late goal led Toronto past defending champions Atlanta United 2-1 and through to the MLS Cup final.

With 12 minutes remaining in Atlanta on Wednesday, DeLeon produced a thunderous long-range effort that beat Brad Guzan and secured Toronto s spot in the November 10 final.

Toronto will travel to Seattle Sounders in a rematch of the 2017 decider, which the Canadian side won 2-0.

After Los Angeles FC s shock defeat to Seattle on Tuesday, there was another upset as Frank de Boer s Atlanta were dethroned on home soil.

Just sit back and admire it. |

— Toronto FC (@TorontoFC)

Julian Gressel gave Atlanta a fourth-minute lead after a selfless pass from team-mate Gonzalo Martinez at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

However,…