Gareth Southgate criticised the wide-reaching nature of Ivan Toney’s eight-month betting ban and told the suspended England striker he can still make next summer’s Euros. The 27-year-old made his international debut as a substitute against Ukraine in March’s Euro 2024 qualifier but the Brentford star will not be able play for club or country again this year. Toney was charged with 262 betting offences at the end of 2022 and was last week hit with an eight-month Football Association ban after admitting 232 breaches. The striker starts the suspension by watching the end of the campaign and England’s June qualifiers from afar, with Southgate raising concerns about the sweeping impact of the ban. “I have spoken with him,” the England boss said. “I don’t know if that’s allowed, by the way, but f it isn’t then they can ban me and not add to his. “Look, the ban is the ban. It is what it is. I think he recognised and accepted the punishment. “What bothers me is we’ve got to look after people. He’s injured at the moment, what does he do about getting fit? What does he do? I don’t like the idea that we just leave somebody, so that they are not allowed to be a part of the football community. Gareth Southgate “How do we give him some structure over the next few months that he can develop himself or be a better person at the end of it? Or have experiences that he might not experience? “I don’t like the idea that we just leave somebody, so that they are not allowed to be a part of the football community. “I don’t think that’s how we should work, I don’t think that’s how the best rehabilitation programmes would work. “But he knows that we picked him because we felt until there was a charge, he should be allowed to play. “When he comes back, if he plays well then we’ll pick him. “It won’t have any bearing but I think he’ll have additional motivation through what he is experiencing. I think he is a resilient guy with great character and we are here to support him.” Toney is prohibited from training until September 17 and cannot play football again until January 17, 2024. There is only four-and-a-half months between the striker’s return and the Euros kicking off in Germany, but Southgate says the door remains open for him. Asked if Toney can still make the tournament in Germany, the England boss said: “Yeah, without a doubt. “It is not ideal because he is going to miss a large chunk of the season and you don’t know after that sort of period out how physically he’s going to adapt and how he’s going to play. “But it’s possible for him. There would still be time. “He’s really impressed us with the way he’s played. “I like personality, I like his belief and the way he goes about his job, so everything is still possible for him I think.”

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Newcastle midfielder Joelinton has revealed he received racist messages following last month’s Premier League defeat to Arsenal. The 26-year-old spoke about the subject while on international duty with Brazil, saying “many things need to be changed”. Newcastle were beaten 2-0 by the Gunners at St James’ Park on May 7. “It’s an important moment to speak about racism,” Joelinton told a press conference. “We have been talking about it for a long time. “Still, many things need to be changed. We talk about a combat against racism but we didn’t have much of a change. “This (racism) is not something happening now, but for a long time. “And, in the 21st century, we still see things like that. It’s hard to accept and believe that we are evolving when things like that still happen.” Asked if he had suffered racist abuse, the player replied: “Not on the pitch, no. “But after that match against Arsenal playing at home, I have received some messages with racist insults. But it’s gone, it didn’t affect me.” Joelinton, who is in line to win his first cap for his country in upcoming friendlies against Guinea and Senegal, received a message of support from his club. A post on Newcastle’s official Twitter account read: “There is no room for racism. Anywhere. We’re with you, Joe.” Read More Arsenal forward misses out on fourth World Cup after being cut from squad The lesson Qatar has learnt as Manchester United takeover bid enters final stages ‘He’s like a rat’: Wales boss Rob Page gives verdict on Wrexham star Paul Mullin

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It had taken Tottenham more than 70 days to appoint a new manager but a candidate who emerged from far down the shortlist made a flying start. He was manager of the month for August. September brought a North London derby. It went terribly and he was sacked on the first day of November. For Nuno Espirito Santo read Ange Postecoglou? Obviously not; the similarities are superficial and, unlike in 2021, there are plenty of reasons to believe a haphazard process has produced the right man. But the fixture list does feel familiar: for the third year in a row, Tottenham visit their neighbours at this early stage of the season. It was their seventh league game last season and Antonio Conte’s previously unbeaten side lost 3-1. It was their sixth in 2021 and, after three straight wins had earned Nuno the August prize, another 3-1 reverse was a third successive defeat. Nuno’s felt the more damning defeat, partly because Spurs were 3-0 down after 34 minutes and partly because his midfield was a mess. And yet it proved the less damaging setback; if it helped foster the impression that the Portuguese was miscast as a Tottenham manager, his departure facilitated a surge to fourth place, at Arsenal’s expense. Two years on, Arsenal are a barometer of Postecoglou’s progress, the rivals who look role models. They have effected their own transformation from unhappy, underachieving club to a united camp and an increasingly successful team. In 2021/22, Arsenal were not in Europe. Now, in a week when the Gunners have ended their six-year exile from the Champions League, Tottenham have had more time to prepare: for the first time since 2009/10, their schedule has not included continental competition. If the second half of last season, the unravelling of Conte’s reign and the interim spells under Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason prompted the question of how bad tTottenham were; now the phrasing is more welcome: how good are Tottenham? The second best side in the country, a team likely to earn a top-four finish or one who may slip from their current lofty position? A seven-day spell containing meetings with Arsenal and Liverpool could bring a more definitive answer. Thus far, they have been sufficiently impressive to take 13 points from five games. The fixture list has looked favourable, however, and even the Australian’s flagship win, 2-0 against Manchester United, may have an asterisk applied because of the problems at Old Trafford. But that is scarcely his fault. Where he can be judged, he has passed tests: late goals and impactful substitutions are often signs a coach is exerting an influence and Spurs have had both, particularly last week against Sheffield United. Postecoglou’s sympathetic man-management of Richarlison – perhaps it is unfair to a couple of his recent predecessors to suggest they would have been less supportive of the Brazilian – has added to the positive impression, as does introducing a style of play that feels in keeping with Tottenham’s past. Jose Mourinho, Nuno and Conte could be called the three pragmatists, but there was little pragmatic about some of their defeats. The Italian and the Portuguese, in particular, played too passive a brand of football. Postecoglou has been bolder and, a couple of weeks ago, James Maddison reflected that he is the kind of footballer Tottenham have not had since Christian Eriksen, which highlighted a lack of flair in their recent past. It added to the huge burden Harry Kane shouldered, too, and Postecoglou has navigated the England captain’s departure with the minimum of fuss. They were never going to acquire a player of his calibre as a direct replacement but, shorn of their 280-goal record scorer, they have struck at least twice in each of their five league games. Kane’s reliability may have made him a crutch but, as the years went on, it scarcely guaranteed Tottenham glory. This game is a case in point. Kane has scored more goals in the North London derby than anyone else, with 14, but he only tasted victory at the Emirates Stadium once, and then as a substitute in the Carabao Cup in 2018. Another talismanic figure for Tottenham, Hugo Lloris, was culpable for goals in both derbies last season. Meanwhile, Postecoglou has sidelined one pillar of the side, in Eric Dier, and redeployed another, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, as a substitute. It may prove that only Cristian Romero and Heung-Min Son start for Spurs at the Emirates both last season and this. There was a case for a break with the past and, perhaps, it is again shown by Arsenal, though Mikel Arteta’s fallouts with Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were more explosive than Postecoglou’s decision to move on without Dier. Thus far, he has made change look easy. In the rejuvenated Yves Bissouma, the precocious Destiny Udogie and the influential Maddison, he is shaping a new side with a different ethos. But Spurs could nevertheless be forgiven for travelling the four miles to Arsenal with some trepidation. The Gunners have exposed delusions before, made fine starts to seasons look false dawns. Now Tottenham have more grounds for optimism but, as previous managers can testify, things can go wrong on their shortest trip of the campaign. Read More Son Heung-min believes Arsenal should fear in-form Tottenham Arsenal are back in the Champions League — and they look like contenders too What is wrong with Manchester United’s defence? 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Inter Milan blew a two-goal to drop points at the top of Serie A as Bologna earned a 2-2 draw at the San Siro. Inter looked set to move clear at the summit of the table after they burst into a 2-0 lead after just 13 minutes as Francesco Acerbi and Lautaro Martinez scored. But mid-table Bologna hit back, with Bendetta Orsolini scoring from the penalty spot before the break and Joshua Zirkzee earned a point after the break. The result was a big boost for Inter’s city rivals AC Milan, who play at Genoa later on Saturday and go three points ahead with a win. Although the hosts made a fast start, it was Bologna that almost drew first blood as former Aberdeen midfielder Lewis Ferguson hit the post in an open start to the match. But it was the hosts that soon took control as Acerbi headed home from Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner in the 11th minute. Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Martinez doubled the lead in style, rocketing a 25-yard shot into the top corner for his 10th goal of the season, becoming just the third Inter player in history to reach double figures in the opening eight matches. Bologna were shell-shocked, but they responded well and were awarded an 18th-minute penalty when VAR spotted an infringement at a corner, with Martinez ruled to have fouled Ferguson. Orsolini converted from 12 yards, though Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer may be disappointed after he got a hand to it. Inter should have restored their two-goal lead eight minutes before the break as both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Calhanoglu found space in the area but could not get a shot away. Bologna responded well after the break and levelled seven minutes after the restart. Zirkzee got the ball on the edge of the area and wrong-footed Sommer, shooting into the near post to make it 2-2. Inter thought they had regained the lead on the hour when Sanchez converted Carlos Augusto’s cross, but it was ruled out for offside. Boss Simone Inzhagi’s frustration boiled over and he received a yellow card in protestations at refereeing decisions. His mood did not improve as Martinez then flashed a header just wide from a corner as they pushed to regain the lead. The pressure mounted in the final 10 minutes with Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski beating away Augusto’s shot before the same player headed over at the death. Read More We haven’t achieved anything – Ange Postecoglou stays calm as Spurs go top Sheffield United earn fitting win at Bramall Lane as Maddy Cusack is remembered Liam Marshall hat-trick leads Wigan to Grand Final with big win over Hull KR Pep Guardiola does not think Arsenal clash will have major bearing on title race Erling Haaland says Premier League goal record ‘something you can’t think of’ Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to bring City losing streak to an end

Diogo Dalot believes the stunning late turnaround against Brentford can be a watershed moment in Manchester United’s season. Erik ten Hag’s men were staring down the barrel of a third Old Trafford defeat in eight days as Saturday’s Premier League match headed into second-half stoppage time. Mathias Jensen capitalised on a comedy of errors to put Brentford on course for a famous victory that would have ratcheted up the already intense pressure and scrutiny on out-of-sorts United. But, unlike their previous defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray, the Red Devils found a way to fight back as super sub Scott McTominay’s brace sealed a remarkable 2-1 triumph. Trailing at 92 minutes 46 seconds, this was United’s latest ever Premier League comeback and Dalot echoed manager Ten Hag’s view that Saturday must be “a turning point” in their season. “I think it means a little bit more than three points for us after these last couple of weeks,” the Portugal right-back said. “I think the way that we won – obviously I didn’t mind scoring a few goals earlier than the 90 minutes – but I think it shows we are here to fight, we are here to suffer together. “I think the fans were behind us every step of the way and I think this can be a turning point for us. We want to look at this as a turning point and we know it’s going to be difficult. “That’s how it’s meant to be to be as a Manchester United player and today I think was proof we can fight until the end.” I think it shows we are here to fight, we are here to suffer together Diogo Dalot United dug deep at Old Trafford, where after the game Ten Hag bemoaned a lack of hunger during their meek, error-strewn start to the season. Those issues were clear in Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League defeat at home to Galatasaray, increasing the external focus on Old Trafford that Dalot has previously called a “killing machine”. “We did a lot of things together, everyone getting together,” he said of the build-up. “We focused on what we have to do tactically. “We always do that, but especially coming into the game, feeling like we had to be a proper team. “Obviously we controlled the game, we created chances, we could have scored goals, but the most important thing for me was the way we fought until the end, the way the fans showed the support for us and that shows they are with us. “They have been with us all the way and we have to give (back) like this.” Dalot said it was clear to see the team “gave everything” on Saturday afternoon as McTominay’s 87th-minute introduction sparked a scarcely-believable comeback. The 24-year-old says he sees a lot of himself in the selfless, hardworking midfielder, who was linked with a summer move but stayed to fight for his place at his boyhood club. “When Scott comes in, with all the energy that he has, the mentality, that shows that we are a proper team and I’m very happy with the result,” Dalot said. “I think if you’re a Manchester United fan you know that Scott will always love the club and will always fight for his place. “I don’t know what was in his head (over the summer), but I’m sure that once he decided that he has to stay I think he will give 100 per cent. “Now we just have to help him to get along every day with us and be together as a team.” While United went into the international break on a high, Brentford were left reeling from a last-gasp gut punch and even later knockout blow. Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt said: “We played a very good game and at 90 minutes we were leading at Old Trafford. “Then, in five minutes, they turn around the game and win 2-1. “We have to finish a counter or a set-piece to make it 2-0, that’s the only thing I would say we can do better. “It’s nice to have a good performance but obviously we want the points. “Sometimes I don’t care if we play s***, as long as we get three points. We can turn it around together.” Read More Rookie Jimmy O’Brien ready to take on New Zealand if injuries bite for Ireland Learning how to win ugly a sign of England’s progress – Ben Earl Johnny Sexton: Facing All Blacks out for revenge ‘biggest challenge in rugby’ Jonathan Humphreys: Wales mood took hit following injuries in Georgia victory Sione Tuipulotu left frustrated after Scotland knocked out of World Cup Spurs pay tribute to ‘amazing, outstanding’ Cristian Romero after Luton win

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