Rodgers hails improving Henderson

Michael O’Neill believes Northern Ireland still have everything to play for in their bid to reach Euro 2024 even as injuries hit hard during the qualifying campaign.

With a trip to Denmark and a home match against Kazakhstan up next, O’Neill has named a 28-man squad that includes five uncapped players and a total of 15 with fewer than 10 caps.

Although Jonny Evans returns from the hamstring injury that prevented him from adding to his 100 caps in March, Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Liam Boyce, Josh Magennis, Conor Washington and Shane Ferguson remain sidelined, forcing O’Neill to rely on youth.

When O’Neill returned to the Northern Ireland job in December there was an opportunity to capitalise on a favourable qualifying draw, and although tha…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has compared his long-awaited move to Manchester United with Floyd Mayweather Jr s fight against Manny Pacquiao.

Ibrahimovic finally agreed his switch to Old Trafford on Friday after weeks of speculation, reportedly signing a one-year deal with an option of a further 12 months following the expiry of his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

The 34-year-old Sweden International kept fans and the media alike guessing with his next destination, but it soon became clear that a move to United and a reunion with Jose Mourinho, with whom he worked at Inter, was the obvious choice.

Ibrahimovic stated the decision was an easy one to make and says his move will be worth the wait, just as boxing fans were finally appeased when Mayweather and Pacquiao met in the …

Atletico Madrid have announced the signing of promising teenager Diogo Jota from Portuguese outfit Pacos de Ferreira.

The 19-year-old winger joins the Vicente Calderon club for the next five seasons in a fee reportedly close to €7million.

Jota was named the Portuguese Primeira Liga young player of the month twice in 2015-16 after scoring 12 goals in 31 appearances.

He has represented his native Portugal at various youth levels and is expected to be named in the 18-man squad for the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

To be part of this great club has made me feel very proud, Jota said.

He is a young player, very fast and vertical, carries the ball very well and has a great run, Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero added.

Former Juventus striker Daniel Fonseca has urged the Serie A champions to sign Liverpool striker Luis Suarez this off-season.

Edinson Cavani has been a long-term target for Massimiliano Allegri s side but Goal.com revealed last Thursday that Juventus could pull out of a deal for the Napoli forward after growing frustrated with the potential length of negotiations.

But Fonseca said his former side should scrap plans to land Cavani this summer and instead opt for his Uruguay strike partner from Liverpool.

Suarez is more powerful and killer than Cavani. Both are confirming as two great strikers in last years. Everyone should sign. Juventus will be a good choice, Fonseca told Tuttosport.

Suarez and Cavani would be easy to fit in the Juve system, they are d…

Villarreal boss Unai Emery has acknowledged the Yellow Submarine may be forced to sell young winger Yeremi Pino, amid reports linking him with a move to Arsenal.

The Gunners have reportedly been in the market for another versatile attacker since top target Raphinha opted to join Barcelona earlier in the transfer window, while the Spanish press has also touted Liverpool as potential suitors for Yeremi.

The 19-year-old played a key role as Villarreal made the Champions League semi-finals last season, making 40 appearances for Emery s team in all competitions.

Yeremi recorded seven goals and four assists in a strong campaign, also creating 32 chances for LaLiga s seventh-placed finishers.

But Emery told reporters on Friday the club may be powerless to ke…

Liverpool s Club World Cup semi-final opponents Monterrey will have to up their game when they face Jurgen Klopp s Reds, the Mexican side s head coach Antonio Mohamed has said.

Monterrey beat Xavi s Al Sadd 3-2 in Qatar on Saturday to seal a last-four clash against Champions League holders Liverpool.

Leonel Vangioni scored a stunning goal, Rogelio Funes Mori made it seven goals in his past five matches and Carlos Rodriguez also found the net, yet Mohamed was not pleased with the level of performance.

Abdelkarim Hassan scored Al Sadd s second goal after Baghdad Bounedjah got their first  to give them hope and Mohamed insisted a similar performance against Liverpool in the semi-final will result in defeat.

It was a difficult match and we have to flip the…

Rafael Benitez warned Napoli fans that Michu will take time to settle into his new surroundings, but has backed the Spaniard to prosper.

The forward arrived on a season-long loan from Swansea City with a view to a permanent move a fortnight ago, and has linked up with the squad at their training camp in Trentino.

Michu enjoyed a prolific debut season in the Premier League with Swansea, scoring 18 goals during 2012-13, but an injury-plagued campaign last time out meant the 28-year-old scored just twice in 17 appearances.

Benitez, who led the club to a third-place finish last season, believes the attacker will need time to adjust to his new role.

He played in midfield for Rayo [Vallecano] and has scored many goals in many positions, he said.

At Sw…

David Silva has called on his Spain team-mates to remain focused as the newly-tagged favourites look to secure a third straight European Championship. 

Spain headed into the tournament as double defending champions but a less-than-impressive performance at the 2014 World Cup meant Vicente del Bosque s side were not the clear favourites. 

But after solid showings in their opening two group games 1-0 and 3-0 wins over the Czech Republic and Turkey respectively Spain have staked their claim at Euro 2016. 

Silva believes the side can cope with being favourites, but insists they must stay focused if they are to secure Euro glory once again. 

At this stage it is normal that they make you favourites. We have won the last two European Championships and als…

AC Milan-linked David Beckham could match Bobby Moores England appearance record next week should manager Fabio Capello follow up on a hint to field him now he is playing regularly.

Capello is putting the final touches of the jigsaw to his squad to face Spain in a friendly in Sevilla on February 11 and Beckham s good form for the San Siro outfit has put him into the frame for possible selection.

Should Beckham play, he would equal 1966 World Cup-winning captain Moore s outfield player record of 108 caps, before possibly breaking it against Slovakia at Wembley on March 28.

Although he has only played three matches for the Serie A giants since arriving on a short-term loan, the former England skipper has been a revelation.

Each start has brought more prais…

Serie A giants SS Lazio are preparing a new and improved contract for star midfielder Hernandes, according to Il Messaggero.

The 27-year-old developed into a key player for the Biancocelesti soon after arriving to Olimpico from Sao Paulo and has seen his name linked with a number of Europe’s top sides.

Hernanes further established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in Serie A with some impressive showings at the start of the season.

Lazio officials are now keen to ward off interest from clubs like Tottenham, Milan and Barcelona by offering the player a new contract at Olimpico.

La Messaggero claims the Biancocelesti are prepared to increase the Brazilian’s salary from €1.8m to €2.5m as well as insert a €50 million release clause i…