De Zerbi: Kulusevski will like 'a new signing'
The eagerly-anticipated return of playmaker Dejan Kulusevski will be like a "new signing" for Tottenham, according to head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Kulusevski has not played for Spurs since the end of the 2024/25 campaign due to a right patella injury, which has essentially put the career of the Sweden international on hold for 19 months and ruled him out of the summer World Cup.
There finally appears to be light at the end of the tunnel after Kulusevski returned to full training this week.
He first returned in August only to suffer a small setback, but the 26-year-old is back and whilst he is not ready to face Aston Villa on Saturday, a first comeback appearance could be on the horizon in October or November.
"We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, with the medical staff, physical staff, but it's a great thing for us," De Zerbi said.
"He's a good player, he's a good guy and he deserves to play again.
"We have to work day by day, also for Deki it's important the international break because when he will be at the top of condition and pass over the injury, I think it's a great signing. A new signing for us, another new signing."
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Iraola: Barcola in a good place
Andoni Iraola is confident Bradley Barcola will soon get up to speed for Liverpool.
The Frenchman is yet to play a full 90 minutes since a big-money move to Anfield from Paris St Germain at the end of the summer transfer window.
Iraola said: "With Bradley, the more times he plays the better he will become.
"He has come straight in without pre-season minutes but in a good shape and, like all the signings coming from other leagues, he will need some time to adjust to the rhythm of the Premier League.
"But he is very used to playing in high-level games and I see him in a good place."
'Not on my radar' - Carrick dismisses speculation over Man Utd future
Manchester Utd head coach Michael Carrick dismisses questions about his future at the club saying it is not even in his thinking.
Carrick: Gabriel situation will work itself out
Man Utd boss Michael Carrick asked for a JJ Gabriel update:
"I think he's a young boy, JJ, and I think it's important that we certainly don't play anything out here.
"I think with the exposure and the scrutiny and everything that you've got to be careful, be sensible, and think of him as much as anything.
"So the situation will work itself out, or whatever way it's going to work itself out. Make sure he's okay."
Summer signing Westley 'desperate' for Dundee return
Dundee striker Joe Westley has made himself available for Saturday's Premiership home game against Motherwell to help ease boss Steven Pressley's injury crisis.
Westley, who joined Dundee from Burnley in August last year, left the field on a stretcher after fracturing a cheekbone in the recent 2-1 defeat at Hearts.
The London-born 21-year-old opted not to have surgery to repair the damage and trained on Wednesday in a protective mask.
Pressley, without six first-team players through injury and suspension, told a press conference: "He could potentially make the game. He's desperate to play.
"Joe has the type of personality where he could have gone for an operation to ensure everything was alright but he would have missed the game.
"He would have been back for the next one, but that's not Joe. He just wants to play. He doesn't want to miss any minutes, so he chose the secondary option, which was not to get an operation and potentially be fine for the weekend.
"He messaged me on Sunday, pretty much telling me he was ready to go."
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Steven reaping rewards of loan spell by making mark at St Johnstone
Taylor Steven is a prime example of a young Scottish player who is benefiting from game time after establishing himself in the Premiership 12 months after being sent on another loan.
The wide player already featured on loan for Civil Service Strollers, East Fife, Alloa and Cliftonville while featuring in the Saints first team from the age of 17, but was sent on another temporary spell early last season to St Johnstone's Championship rivals Arbroath.
Steven had played 14 times in the Premiership the previous season but he used his time at Gayfield to take his game to a new level.
"I enjoyed every minute at Arbroath and we had a really good season," said Steven, who turned 22 this week.
"Just playing loads of minutes last season really, really helped me to kick on."
The Scotland U21 international returned to Perth in January and helped Saints win the Championship and he has started the last three games after getting the trust of manager Simo Valakari.
"Me and the gaffer have a good relationship and we've had a few conversations and I just said to him I want to play football and he's given me that chance and I think I've taken it," he said.
"I'm just going to keep on pushing and do as well as I can in the next few games to come. For everyone really as a footballer you just want to play football."
Gallardo: Coaching Ecuador 'a life challenge'
Argentine coach Marcelo "Muneco" Gallardo said that his first experience coaching a national team will be "the challenge of a lifetime."
Amid high expectations, the Ecuadorian Football Federation introduced Gallardo to the media and presented him with a "La Tri" jersey bearing his name and the number 2030, a reference to the year his contract will run until.
"For me, this isn't just a sporting challenge-it's also a life challenge," ex-River boss Gallardo said, acknowledging the enormous task of "connecting with a country so that it feels represented by its national team."
Aware of Ecuador's potential, Gallardo revealed: "I have a clear picture of Ecuadorian players and their strengths; we need to get to know each other, and they need to understand that the head coach and the coaching staff are here to help them continue to grow."
His first test will come on September 24 against South Korea as part of a friendly tour of Asia that includes a game against Japan, in addition to the 2028 Copa Amrica and the qualifiers for the 2030 World Cup.
