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Eddie Howe has insisted an “emotional” Sandro Tonali has a future at Newcastle as he awaits the outcome of an investigation into alleged betting breaches. The 23-year-old Italy midfielder, who joined the Magpies from AC Milan in a £55million summer move, could face a lengthy ban as the club considers its options. However, Howe has vowed to offer all the support he can to a player he believes can play a major role in his team. Asked if Tonali has and wants a future at St James’ Park, he said: “That’s not even been discussed because that’s a yes on both sides. “We will support him and back him and we see him being part of our team for many years, and I know that’s the same back from his side to us. “There are some things I feel you don’t have to say. We are committed to him long-term.” Howe added: “The most important part of this whole incident is Sandro and his welfare. It’s very easy for people to forget how young he is, the changes he’s had in his life coming from Italy to England. He's been obviously emotional, but handled himself with respect and dignity Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe “That’s hard enough to deal with, and now he has, of course, this situation, so we as a football club straight away, it was throw our arms around him and protect him and try to give him the love and support that he needs to find solutions to the problems that he’s had. “That’s what we’re endeavouring to do with a lot of conversations, a lot of communication with him and his family, because it’s not just Sandro, it’s the people around him that are going to be so important to him as well. “I have to say, he’s handled himself superbly well. He’s been obviously emotional, but handled himself with respect and dignity.” Tonali, along with Italy team-mate Nicolo Zaniolo, is subject to investigation by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in relation to illegal betting activity. His agent Giuseppe Riso has claimed the player is dealing with a “gambling addiction” with reports from Italy suggesting he had bet on former club AC Milan winning games. Howe said: “I got a phone call from (sporting director) Dan Ashworth during the international break and it was a total surprise to me, to him, to everybody. “But these are things that can happen and my immediate thought process was for Sandro and making sure he’s okay so yeah, a difficult period for him.” Howe, who revealed Tonali has trained this week and is under consideration for Saturday’s Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace on Tyneside, was more reticent when asked about the deal which brought the player to the club, and the relationship between football and gambling. When asked if the club was exploring the intricacies of the deal, he added: “I’m sure the club will be doing what the club needs to do. But from my side, I can’t comment on that because I’m not party to those conversations. “That is one for Dan and people above me to answer.” Tonali’s situation has once again highlighted the links between sport and gambling. Newcastle currently have partnerships with three betting companies, FUN88, BetMGM and Sportsbet.io. Asked if that was a concern, Howe said: “That’s a difficult one for me to comment on. My job is to coach the team, manage the team and that’s what I’ll do. It’s probably best that I stick to those subjects.” Read More The World Cup final beckons: talking points ahead of England-South Africa Mikel Arteta hails career-long support of ‘big brother’ Mauricio Pochettino Emma Raducanu to keep ‘provoking and asking questions’ of coaches on her return Rugby World Cup: How England fared in their previous semi-finals 5 past Rugby World Cup meetings between England and South Africa New England captain Jack Welsby keen to banish World Cup heartache against Tonga

Fantasy Premier League managers will have experienced another weekend of frustration or elation after some surprise results and plenty of eye-catching performances. With the international break on the horizon and plenty of injuries to key players from the first part of the season, now could be the time to think about a wildcard to bring in some in-form players and rebalance your squad. Here are five players we think could help you in gameweek 9 and beyond, regardless of whether you are thinking of a whole-squad overhaul or just a small differential gamble to catch up with your rivals. Ollie Watkins - Aston Villa, forward (8.1 m) While Villa’s three-match winning streak may have come to an end after a 1-1 draw with Wolves, Unai Emery’s star striker continued his impressive form with another assist. The 27-year-old has earned a recall to Gareth Southgate’s England squad and it’s easy to see why with four goals and four assists in his last four games. After the international break, Villa have an enticing run of fixtures against West Ham, Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Fulham - three of which are at home - and the English striker should be highly coveted by many managers. Antony Gordon - Newcastle, midfielder (5.6m) If you’re looking to fund a move for Watkins in attack, the Newcastle winger could offer a budget-friendly option in midfield. Gordon sat out the Magpies’ clash with West Ham having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and so should be well rested by the time gameweek nine rolls around. Home fixtures against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth lie ahead in the next four and with one goal and three assists in his last three starts, it’s clear that Gordon is beginning to show the kind of form that warranted his big-money move from Everton last January. Tyrick Mitchell - Crystal Palace, defender (4.5m) Palace’s backline wracked up their third clean sheet in a row in gameweek eight and statistically are the fifth-best defensive side, conceding just 10.35 expected goals so far this season, a figure better than league leaders Tottenham and Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Tyrick Mitchell has shown his capabilities going forward already this season - with an assist in the 3-2 win against Wolves - and could be a good long-term rotation option in defence. Tricky fixtures against Newcastle and Spurs are on the horizon in the next two gameweeks but the following home games against Burnley and Everton could offer the potential for returns. David Raya - Arsenal, goalkeeper (4.8m) With four Premier League starts in a row, it’s clear that Raya has usurped Aaron Ramsdale in the pecking order at the Emirates. The Spaniard has made a promising start to life in an Arsenal shirt with three clean sheets in his first four games and is the cheapest starting goalkeeper out of the clubs currently occupying the top five spots in the league. Home fixtures against Sheffield United and Burnley feature in their next four games and with just 3.4% of managers owning the Arsenal shot-stopper, he could represent a smart differential pick for the weeks ahead. Pedro Neto - Wolves, midfielder (5.7m) After an upset victory over Man City and a well-deserved point against Villa, there are signs that Gary O’Neil may be beginning to find his footing with this Wolves side. A large part of that has been the form of Pedro Neto who has one goal and six assists in his last six games. The Portuguese international set up Hwang Hee Chan’s opener on the weekend and currently has the ninth-highest number of points out of all midfielders in the game, putting him above much-fancied assets like Moussa Diaby and Kaoru Mitoma who are both around 1m more expensive. Games against Bournemouth and Sheffield United - two of the league’s bottom three - await in Wolves’ next three fixtures so the in-form winger is certainly one to consider if you’re looking for an outside-the-box pick over the next few weeks. Read More FPL GW9: Watkins, Gordon and five players to consider for transfers How Sean Dyche turned Everton into a better attacking team than Liverpool Eddie Howe reveals Sandro Tonali availability amid betting investigation How Sean Dyche turned Everton into a better attacking team than Liverpool Eddie Howe reveals Sandro Tonali availability amid betting investigation Mikel Arteta hails career-long support of ‘big brother’ Mauricio Pochettino

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hailed Mauricio Pochettino as a “big brother” and believes he is already turning things around at Chelsea. The pair played together for a year at Paris St Germain, both arriving in 2001 and striking up a friendship that lasts until the present day. They have since gone on to become top coaches – but their meeting at Stamford Bridge on Saturday will be the first time they have faced off as opposing managers. Pochettino, 51, is 10 years older than Arteta and while they may have signed for PSG at the same time, the Arsenal boss credits the Argentinian for taking him under his wing. “First of all, it was my first professional opportunity in Paris and we arrived at the same time and lived together in a hotel for three months,” Arteta explained. “He was critical, has been one of the most influential people in my career. Firstly as a player, he took me under the arm and looked after me like a little child, a little brother, and he was a big part of the success I had in Paris. “It was because of him because he really looked after me, gave me a lot of confidence and a lot of advice. “He has been a role model for me since that day, not only when I was a player but as a manager as well, when I had to make the decision to leave playing and start my coaching career he had a big say on that and I will always be grateful.” Arteta has been in charge of Arsenal since December 2019, just a month after Pochettino was sacked as head coach at north London rivals Tottenham. Pochettino returned to the Premier League when he took the reins at Chelsea in May and, despite a turbulent start, Arteta feels his old colleague is starting to turn things around. Asked if he felt Pochettino could rise to the challenge, he replied: “Yes, you can see already that something has changed very quickly. “It’s a big game and there is a big history between the two clubs. We know the types of games we’ve played together with them in the past but this is a different one. I’ve been really impressed by Chelsea. “I think they deserve much more than what they’ve got in the table. What Mauricio has done in a short time is phenomenal. We’ll be have to be at our best.” Arteta also revealed the best advice Pochettino had offered after he had hung up his boots: “’Don’t go into coaching — it’s too hard’! “That is the first thing. I knew he was going to be a coach and I followed him very closely because as a player he was already a leader. “The way he understood the game was phenomenal. I used to have him at my back and he was constantly coaching me. Very proud of what he has done and the way he has done it through his coaching career.”

Harvey Elliott insists he is ready to take his game to the next level as he eyes Euro 2024. The Liverpool midfielder captained England Under-21s for the first time on Monday, leading the Young Lions as they slipped to a late 3-2 defeat to Ukraine in Slovakia. He returns to domestic action this weekend, looking to force his way into the Liverpool line-up for Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton. Despite a frustrating lack of starts for the Reds this term, Euro 2024 remains a real goal for Elliott, after England’s 3-1 win over Italy on Tuesday booked their place in Germany, and he is primed to take his chance. He said: “Absolutely, I’ve felt ready for a while now. It’s just about making sure I keep applying myself to be the best possible player and person I can be. “It’s a nice goal to reach and aim towards. The tunnel vision is there, it’s taking it game-by-game, and if the opportunity comes I’ll be the happiest kid in the world. “The Under-21s is my main focus, make sure I’m applying myself and being the best possible person and player for myself. “If you’re not doing that there’s no change. You have to do the basics right, set a good example, and if the opportunity comes it comes. If not, you have to keep working and, hopefully, one day it will come.” Elliott has started just once in the Premier League this term but came off at half time in the 2-2 draw at Brighton just before the international break. Jurgen Klopp’s summer midfield refresh has seen Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, Naby Keita and Fabinho leave Liverpool, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch joining. The competition has restricted Elliott to 164 minutes in the Premier League and he is under no illusions about the challenge at Anfield. He said: “I’m just trying to take everything from Hendo and Milner, big characters in the dressing room who have left. I’m not trying to be the next Hendo or Milly but be the best version of myself and the leader I’ve learned to be off them. “I always knew the season was going to be like this. Liverpool, being a world-class team, are always going to attract unbelievable players and that’s exactly what they’ve done. “It’s healthy competition. Not everyone is guaranteed to play, and when you get your chance you have to make sure you take it. The quality is there, it’s about applying it on the pitch. “I feel I can do a job wherever I’m put. The most important thing is putting that red shirt on and playing. I’m working as hard as I can to get into the team. “It’s down to me to make sure I apply myself and not only show the boss but show the world I’m good enough to play wherever I’m put.” The former Fulham youngster also cherishes his relationship with Mo Salah as he learns off the forward. “He’s always helping me out. We have a great relationship when we play. Off the pitch we’re always talking and I’m always trying to learn off him,” said Elliott. “For me to look up to him, he’s the best possible player. As well as play with him, I’m trying to be as good as him, if that’s possible. “He’s a great guy and an unbelievable player. To look up to him and everyone else in the team is great, I’m grateful to be playing with these guys.” Read More This is a special game – Maro Itoje confident England can defeat South Africa Leah Paul helps Ireland seal convincing win over Scotland to level ODI series Premier League looking at club wage caps to aid competition – Steve Parish New Zealand head coach Ian Foster dismisses ‘favourites’ tag against Argentina Marcus Smith ruled out of England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final with concussion Charity urges players to take stance against link between gambling and football

With the Michigan sign-stealing scandal just being now being investigated, could this impact the Wolverines' chances of making the College Football Playoff for a third year in a row?

Casemiro will miss Manchester United’s trip to Sheffield United on Saturday after sustaining a “small issue” while playing for Brazil, the club have said. The midfielder was in action for his country in World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela last Friday and then Uruguay five days later. In an update on players on United’s official website following a session at their training ground on Thursday, the club said: “Casemiro was absent, having remained in Brazil, on the club’s advice, to recover as swiftly as possible from a small issue picked up while playing for his country. “He will be unavailable for Saturday’s game with the Blades but is expected back at Carrington early next week to resume training, although he is suspended for the Champions League encounter with FC Copenhagen at Old Trafford (on Tuesday), after being sent off in the defeat to Galatasaray.” United also revealed Raphael Varane was working with the squad again after being absent for the 2-1 win over Brentford prior to the international break. Fellow defender Jonny Evans, who picked up a knock while playing for Northern Ireland, was also involved on Thursday. And the same applied to Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat – Reguilon has been sidelined for United’s last four games, while Amrabat sat out Morocco’s matches against Liberia and Ivory Coast. Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are others who have been out of action due to injury, while Jadon Sancho has been training away from the first team “pending resolution of a squad discipline issue”. Read More Casemiro blow leaves Manchester United with another injury headache Exposed, isolated and bypassed: What has happened to Casemiro? England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane and who has work to do?

Thursday afternoon's bombshell about an emerging sign-stealing scandal involving the Michigan Wolverines has the college football world on edge. It reacted accordingly.

Earlier today, Yahoo Sports reported that the NCAA is investigating Michigan football for allegedly violating rules that prohibit teams from scouting, in-person

England players have only four more international games in which to impress Gareth Southgate before the manager names his squad for Euro 2024. Southgate’s team qualified for the tournament, which will be hosted by Germany next summer, with a stylish 3-1 win over reigning champions Italy at Wembley Stadium, the venue for that agonising shootout defeat by the Azzurri in 2021. Now England can look ahead to the Euros, with two final qualifiers against Group C minnows Malta and North Macedonia to come in November, before two friendlies at Wembley in the spring. Competition for places is fierce, made even more so by Uefa’s announcement that squads will return to containing 23 players, after 26 had been allowed for the Covid-affected Euro 2020 and at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Here is a closer look at who is heading to Germany and who might miss out. On the plane Harry Kane England’s captain remains their talisman on the pitch, both with his leadership and with his goals as he continues to add to his record tally. Kane has hit the ground running at Bayern Munich, and the 30-year-old has talked up the virtues of the Bundesliga’s winter break and playing one fewer domestic cup competition. Southgate will hope Kane is fit and fresh when the Euros come around. Jude Bellingham The 20-year-old has quickly elevated himself to be one of England’s essential players. He is consistently producing outstanding performances both for his country and his new club, Real Madrid, racking up goals and assists after driving runs from midfield. Southgate likes Bellingham as a No 10 off Kane, and this could be the start of a fruitful partnership between England’s current captain and his likely successor. Declan Rice Rice has made a good start to life at Arsenal, and his importance at international level has grown immeasurably over the past few years to the point where he is crucial to how England play. John Stones The Manchester City defender has been a stalwart for Southgate over the years, integral to deep runs at the 2018 World Cup and the last Euros. Only Kane and Harry Maguire have won more than Stones’ 56 caps since the manager took charge in 2016, and the lack of centre-back alternatives only strengthens his position in the squad. Kyle Walker Experience, recovery pace and ability to play on the right of a back three all make the Manchester City defender an essential part of Southgate’s plans. Jordan Pickford The Everton goalkeeper has been England’s No 1 for a long time and that position looks safe, particularly given the challenge Aaron Ramsdale now faces to keep his Arsenal place against competition from new arrival David Raya. Bukayo Saka Saka is a popular and trusted member of the current group who is becoming a senior player, with 11 goals in 30 appearances, despite being only 22. His versatility down both the left and right flank, and ability to play as an attacking wing-back, is handy for a manager who likes to chop and change systems. Phil Foden Foden is often still talked about in terms of potential, but he will be 24 when the Euros come around and is becoming increasingly essential to Pep Guardiola’s City team. His velcro control is unique in the England squad and Southgate’s only conundrum is how to fit his best attacking talents into the same team. Marcus Rashford The Manchester United forward is the third highest goalscorer of the Southgate era, with 15, behind only Kane and Raheem Sterling. His pace and direct runs towards goal from the left wing complement Kane’s preference to drop deep and link play, and he can also offer an option as a No 9 should it be needed. Jack Grealish The City winger took time earning Southgate’s trust but, at 28 and with a treble on his CV, is now a regular squad member. The only question is whether the manager sees him as an important part of the first XI or a game-changing finisher off the bench. Kieran Trippier One of Southgate’s favourites, Trippier is a certainty to be part of the squad for his experience, versatility to play full-back on both sides and his set-piece delivery. He may find himself on the bench when England play a back four, but tends to start at wing-back when Walker joins the back three. Nearly there Harry Maguire The Manchester United defender is one of Southgate’s most trusted players and he was given another vote of confidence with a start against Italy in Euro 2024 qualifying. But a lack of playing time for his club will bring scepticism from fans and the media as the tournament nears. Aaron Ramsdale The goalkeeper is battling for a starting place at Arsenal with David Raya, but Mikel Arteta’s messaging suggests that the Spaniard has arrived to share rather than steal the gloves, and so long as Ramsdale continues to play and play well, he will be on the plane. Luke Shaw When fit, Shaw is the preferred left-back in this England team, bringing attacking threat on the overlap as well as long-standing relationships with both Maguire and Rashford at Manchester United. He has been out with a leg injury since mid-August and will need to reestablish himself amid competition from Ben Chilwell and Trippier. Kalvin Phillips Like Maguire at United, Phillips is a firm favourite with the manager but there is a growing issue around his lack of game time for Manchester City. Phillips has admitted he might need to make a decision over his future, but he remains a leading option in a shallow pool of central midfielders and now has plenty of major tournament experience. James Maddison The midfielder struggled with an injury at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which prevented him from making an appearance, but his early-season form for Tottenham has demanded a place in recent squads and Maddison is poised to travel as deputy to Bellingham in the No 10 role. Ben Chilwell The Chelsea left-back didn’t play a single minute at the last Euros and watched on as Shaw (and occasionally Trippier) filled that spot. He has been sidelined with a hamstring injury this season but a fit and firing Chilwell should be on the plane. Jordan Henderson The midfielder was booed by England fans in recent internationals at Wembley following his move to the Saudi Pro League, but that only seemed to strengthen Southgate’s loyalties to the player. The manager values Henderson’s professionalism, experience and leadership in a youthful squad. In contention Raheem Sterling Southgate has talked up Sterling’s chances of figuring in his plans to the media, but the Chelsea winger has not been involved in recent camps and faces a fight against Rashford and Grealish, among others, to figure on the left side of England’s attack. Sam Johnstone The Crystal Palace goalkeeper has overtaken Nick Pope in the running to be England’s third-choice goalkeeper and played well in a recent friendly with Australia. Lewis Dunk Brighton’s captain had to wait five years for his second international cap but has done well with the opportunities presented to him in recent months. Dunk’s aerial dominance and ball-playing ability, honed at Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi, are valuable traits at centre-half, one of England’s most uncertain positions. Reece James The full-back is one of the best in the world when fully fit but his lack of reliability is a concern, particularly with the smaller 23-player squad this time around. What’s more, James is fighting for a place against a competitive field of Walker, Trippier and Alexander-Arnold. Marc Guehi The Palace defender is highly rated by the England coaching team and, at 23, could be a future cornerstone of the back line. Centre-back is a position that’s up for grabs at Euro 2024 and Guehi has a real chance. Conor Gallagher Gallagher has been bright and energetic in his cluster of England caps and is clearly valued by the manager, but other central midfielders are well-established internationals who will be tricky to usurp. Ollie Watkins Watkins is in pole position to play the role of Kane’s deputy at the Euros, with a consistent stream of goals and assists since Unai Emery took over at Aston Villa… Callum Wilson …But Wilson is not far behind and when the Newcastle striker stays fit, the goals usually flow. Work to do Mason Mount Like Sterling, Mount has found himself pushed out of the England team by emerging talent and his own unconvincing form for new club Manchester United – although injuries have interrupted his season. Needs some goals and assists to earn a recall. Fikayo Tomori Southgate criticised the Milan defender last year for making too many mistakes, but Tomori has shown good form in Serie A and earned an autumn recall to the England squad. James Ward-Prowse The West Ham midfielder is in form for his club but out of favour for his country, having just missed out on the past two major tournaments and having been excluded from recent squads. There have been calls for him to usurp Henderson in midfield, but Southgate remains as yet unmoved. Nick Pope The goalkeeper has lost his place as England’s third-choice keeper and needs a strong season for Newcastle to win back his spot. Jarrod Bowen Another West Ham player in form. Bowen has showed bright attacking intent in his five caps to date, but faces stiff competition in the winger roles. Ivan Toney The Brentford striker will return from a betting ban in January with five months to prove himself to Southgate. He will need to hit the ground running. Levi Colwill The Chelsea defender has established himself in Mauricio Pochettino’s team and has the ability to play both centre-back and left-back. Aged 20, this tournament may come just too soon with more established players ahead in the pecking order. Outside bets Curtis Jones Liverpool’s 22-year-old midfielder had earned a regular place in Jurgen Klopp’s team earlier this season before injury struck. If he can impress regularly at Anfield, he will give Southgate something to consider. Ben White The Arsenal defender left the 2022 World Cup for personal reasons and has not returned to the England setup. It is unclear whether White would want to, but continues to perform to a high level for one of the best teams in the Premier League. Eberechi Eze The Palace midfielder has a couple of international caps but will need a stellar season to break into the Euros squad. Morgan Gibbs-White Gibbs-White worked up through the England age groups but is still to be recognised at senior level. Played a big part in England’s success at the Under-21 Euros in the summer. Dominic Calvert-Lewin Once seen as the natural understudy to Harry Kane, Calvert-Lewin has struggled with form and primarily fitness and has fallen down the pecking order behind Watkins and Wilson. Ezri Konsa Konsa is a vital part of an improving Aston Villa team under Unai Emery, but is yet to earn a senior international call-up. Eddie Nketiah England Under-21s’ record goalscorer has only made one senior appearance so far and he would need a special season for Arsenal to break into the Euro 2024 squad. Predicting England’s Euro 2024 squad Goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Johnstone. Defenders: Walker, Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Guehi, Stones, Dunk, Maguire, Shaw, Chilwell. Midfielders: Rice, Phillips, Henderson, Maddison, Bellingham. Forwards: Saka, Foden, Rashford, Grealish, Kane, Watkins. Read More Declan Rice reveals how Rugby World Cup has helped England’s ‘mentality’ Jude Bellingham’s latest masterclass has got the whole world talking England reveal the flaws of Italy’s high-risk Spallettiball Jude Bellingham once again proves he is the key for England’s Euro 2024 hopes England have qualified for Euro 2024 — now it’s about winning it England player ratings as Marcus Rashford shines but Kalvin Phillips struggles

Vinicius Junior has lamented his recent performances for the Brazilian national team after a win-less October international break.

Aaron Ramsdale feels it is “strange” how much attention is being paid to his battle with David Raya to be Arsenal number one – but admits he fears for his England future if he does not win it. The 25-year-old signed a new contract last season but has found himself on the bench after summer signing Raya broke into the side and has started just once – a Carabao Cup win at Brentford – since mid-September. Ramsdale picked up his fourth senior England cap in the 3-1 friendly win away to Scotland last month but was an unused substitute in the recent victories over Australia and Italy. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been asked about the goalkeeping situation ad nauseam since Raya was signed, initially on loan, from Brentford and television cameras are now constantly trained on Ramsdale as he sits on the bench during matches. The former Bournemouth goalkeeper was mocked by Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher after applauding a save from his counterpart during the 2-2 draw with Tottenham. “I think because it’s one of the first times it’s happened with the situation it has been difficult,” admitted Ramsdale. “There are times where you’re doing the right thing, but it’s the wrong thing and if you don’t do it, it’s the wrong thing. So it’s a double-edged sword. Whether it is me or David who plays we need to be able to just focus and play but at the same time, it's a strange, big headline Aaron Ramsdale “There’s a lot of attention and it’s a position which is famously said; ‘if you’re not spoken about means you’ve done a good job’, and there’s a lot of talk at the minute. “Whether it is me or David who plays we need to be able to just focus and play but at the same time, it’s a strange, big headline…we have to deal with it and that is what we are doing.” In a recent interview, Raya said the pair were “mates” who had a good relationship, a sentiment echoed by Ramsdale. “If we didn’t get on it wouldn’t work. We work professionally really well together,” he said. “There’s days where I come in and I’m down because of the situation and he picks me up and for whatever reason there might be a day where he’s down and even though I’m suffering and hurting for not playing I have to stand up and be able to push him.” Ramsdale’s father, Nick, posted a social media response to Carragher’s comments, labelling the ex-Liverpool defender a “disgrace”. “This isn’t the first time my name has been in the press and it has been more negative stuff so I have drowned it out before,” added Ramsdale. I know there’s a lot of noise but it doesn’t affect me. It doesn’t help that my dad does it – but it was on a golf trip in Spain with 19 other lads from the local pub. “I wasn’t too mad at him, he didn’t say anything out of turn, it just wasn’t helpful for the situation, he knew that. He obviously just had a few too many on the golf course!” Ramsdale is all too aware that his place in Gareth Southgate’s squad could come under threat if he remains sidelined at Arsenal. “For me I need to get back into my club team to keep getting picked (for England) and keep giving the manager a headache because if I’m not, then that’s an easier decision for him,” said Ramsdale. “It is (a worry), it is the first time I have found myself in this situation. The (England) manager is brilliant, he trusts the players he’s worked with before as we’ve seen in different types of ways. “You’ll see Kalvin (Phillips) and Harry (Maguire) haven’t played the most minutes but when they step up for England and are given the opportunity, they perform.” Read More Revolutionising the women’s international rugby landscape – what is the WXV? On this day in 2007: Andrew Strauss dropped from England Test squad Conor McGregor won’t face sexual assault charges, lawyer says Las Vegas Aces seal back-to back WNBA titles Mohamed Salah calls for Gaza to be given humanitarian aid immediately Man Utd miss chance to secure Champions League football after losing in Paris