Departing David Wotherspoon thankful for ’10 magnificent years’ at St Johnstone

Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny is refusing to bemoan his luck as he prepares to take on the might of France without his emerging star striker.

Irish fans were licking their lips in anticipation when 18-year-old Evan Ferguson plundered a Premier League hat-trick for Brighton against Newcastle on Saturday evening just days before he was due at the Parc des Princes for a showdown with the World Cup runners-up.

However, a knee injury has forced his withdrawal from the squad for the game and the home clash with Netherlands which follows it on Sunday, much to the disappointment of Kenny, whose reign has been punctuated by misfortune ever since he lost frontmen Adam Idah and Aaron Connolly to what proved to be false positive Covid-19 tests in the run up to their Euro 20…

Gareth Southgate s decision to remain as England manager has left his players absolutely delighted , according to Kieran Trippier.

The former Middlesbrough boss considered walking away from the post he has held since 2016 after his side were edged out in the World Cup quarter-finals by France.

With a semi-final appearance at Russia 2018, and a runner-up finish at Euro 2020, there had been questions over whether Southgate could depart before the end of his contract, which runs through to Euro 2024.

The subsequent confirmation he is staying has been positively received by his players, with right-back Trippier indicating the 52-year-old has the full backing of the squad he took to Qatar 2022.

We are all absolutely delighted about it, Trippier told the i new…

Jurgen Klopp believes Diogo Jota will get even better for Liverpool after his winner against Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Jota headed in a 64th-minute winner at Anfield, where the champions came from behind, needing Roberto Firmino to cancel out Sander Berge s early penalty.

Signed from Wolves in September for a reported £41million, Jota became the first Liverpool player since Sadio Mane in 2016 to score in each of his first two Premier League home games for the club.

Klopp started Jota and his usual front three – Mane, Mohamed Salah and Firmino – and the Liverpool manager was happy with the 23-year-old.

He s such a likable person. It s so easy to like him and it makes everything and the player is quick here, he told reporter…

Market: Over 1.5 goals

Odds: 4/11 @

Looking to make another Premier Division statement on Friday night, Dundalk will travel to Dalymount Park when they meet a struggling Bohemians.

Starting with the hosts, while some in Bohemians’ camp might still be dreaming of a shock late-three charge, Declan Devine’s men are in the midst of what has quickly become an extended wobble. Last seen putting in a nightmare performance as they slumped to a routine 3-1 drumming at the hands of Sligo Rovers, the Dublin-based outfit have managed to muster just a single win from any of their previous nine meetings against Premier Division opposition a run that stems all the way back to a 5-0 romp against Cork City on May 1st. Likewise, heading into the international break with a 2-1…

It can always get worse, but things surely look like they ve reached a place as low as it can be when Liverpool are concerned. On Saturday at the Molineux, Wolverhampton Wanderers took full advantage of their situation, with an own-goal by Joel Matip, a strong finish from close range by Craig Dawson and a counterattack finished off by Ruben Neves secured a 3-0 victory for the home side.

While Matip s own-goal can be put down as bad luck, the second was a direct consequence of miscomunication between Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker and defender Joe Gomez, and the third was the result of Thiago Alcantara, who played an uncharacteristically poor match, failing to track Neves s run into the box as Adama Traore broke down the right flank and squared the ball for his midfielder t…

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao have announced they will continue to challenge LaLiga s agreement with CVC Capital Partners. 

LaLiga last month struck a €2.7billion (£2.3bn) deal with CVC that will see the private equity firm acquire 10 per cent of the commercial business. The other 90 per cent of the investment was earmarked to boost cash-strapped clubs in the top two tiers of Spanish football as they deal with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Madrid and Barca allege the agreement impacts all clubs audiovisual rights for the next 50 years, with Los Blancos announcing legal action, including against LaLiga president Javier Tebas, last month. 

The deal was overwhelmingly passed by the LaLiga assembly on August …

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker:

Looking to finish off the job and extend on their Europa League qualifying adventure on Thursday night, Olympiacos will travel to Belgium when they meet Genk for their second-leg showdown.

Starting with the hosts, while Genk might have put in a gritty first-leg performance while on foreign soil last week, Wouter Vrancken s men would have been frustrated by their close-fought 1-0 loss. However, although Racing might have made a crucial return to winning ways over the weekend as they landed a 1-0 victory away at Cercle Brugge while on domestic duties, the Belgium giants have struggled with their consistency since opening the 2023/24 campaign. Despite edging past Swiss outfit Servette earlier in the month following a nail-biting penaltie…

Barca want Klopp to replace Xavi

Shockingly announcing his Liverpool retirement plans last month, is desperate to sign off his Anfield fairytale with another Premier League crown.

However, while it might have been suggested that the 56-year-old is keen on an extended break, there is speculation that Spanish icons Barcelona are desperate to bring Klopp over to Catalonia.

With it confirmed last week that will be leaving the Nou Camp at the end of the season, the Barca hierarchy have reportedly identified the German tactician as their number one candidate.

Klopp has become one of Liverpool’s most iconic managers after leading the Reds to both and domestic success during his nine-year spell in charge at Anfield.

With suggestions that Klopp had held ini…

Pep Guardiola concedes Manchester City s defensive injury woes could cost his team when they face elite opposition.

City were made to work for a 3-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa on Saturday, where Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan were all on target after half-time.

Guardiola s side ended the game with 10 men when Fernandinho was set off for a second bookable offence.

The veteran midfielder has been deployed as an emergency centre-back of late, much like Rodri – who pulled a hamstring during the 5-1 midweek win against Atalanta in the Champions League.

John Stones made his first Premier League start since September against Villa, having endured an injury-hit start to the campaign, while fellow centre-back Aymeric Laporte will not fe…

Ansu Fati made history on his first start and Sergio Ramos scored twice as Spain coasted to a 4-0 victory over Ukraine in Sunday s Nations League contest in Madrid.

Barcelona star Fati, who made his senior international debut off the bench in Thursday s 1-1 draw with Germany, made it 3-0 in fine fashion prior to half-time at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano to become Spain s youngest goalscorer at 17 years and 311 days old.

Fati had earlier won the penalty from which Ramos opened the scoring and the Real Madrid great doubled the lead at a familiar venue, which is part of Los Blancos Valdebebas training complex.

Ferran Torres got off the mark for La Roja with a well-controlled finish six minutes from time as Spain moved to four points from two matches to sit top of Grou…