England’s Tuchel Hopes Rashford Can Realize Potential 

13 October 2025, Latvia, Riga: England head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a press conference at Daugava Stadium, ahead of Tuesday's FIFA World Cup European Qualifier soccer match against Latvia. (dpa)
13 October 2025, Latvia, Riga: England head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a press conference at Daugava Stadium, ahead of Tuesday's FIFA World Cup European Qualifier soccer match against Latvia. (dpa)
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England’s Tuchel Hopes Rashford Can Realize Potential 

13 October 2025, Latvia, Riga: England head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a press conference at Daugava Stadium, ahead of Tuesday's FIFA World Cup European Qualifier soccer match against Latvia. (dpa)
13 October 2025, Latvia, Riga: England head coach Thomas Tuchel attends a press conference at Daugava Stadium, ahead of Tuesday's FIFA World Cup European Qualifier soccer match against Latvia. (dpa)

Marcus Rashford has shown in training that he has all the tools to become one of the world's best players, but the forward must improve his numbers on the pitch if he is to live up to his potential, England coach Thomas Tuchel said.

Rashford moved to Barcelona on loan in July after falling out of favor with Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim, who had called his work rate into question.

The 27-year-old, who has 18 goals in 64 appearances for England, has had a promising start to life in Spain, scoring three goals and registering five assists in 10 appearances.

"The limit for him is very, very high. Maybe higher than for others," Tuchel told reporters on Monday. "He has the potential, but potential is a dangerous word with high-level sports. You have to reach your personal best on a regular basis.

"It's not a question of talent, it's a question of whether he can prove the point at club and international level ... He can be one of the best in the world. The quality I see in training, the finishing with both legs and with the head.

"He is explosive, he is fast, he is strong in the air so where are the limits? There are no limits, but the numbers don't reach the potential. He needs to push himself into goal involvement."

Group K leaders England play Latvia in a World Cup qualifier in Riga later on Tuesday, where a win would secure a place at next year's finals in North America.



Bellingham and Foden Back in England Squad 

Football - Euro 2024 - Round of 16 - England v Slovakia - Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 30, 2024 England's Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in action. (Reuters)
Football - Euro 2024 - Round of 16 - England v Slovakia - Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 30, 2024 England's Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in action. (Reuters)
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Bellingham and Foden Back in England Squad 

Football - Euro 2024 - Round of 16 - England v Slovakia - Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 30, 2024 England's Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in action. (Reuters)
Football - Euro 2024 - Round of 16 - England v Slovakia - Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany - June 30, 2024 England's Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in action. (Reuters)

England head coach Thomas Tuchel recalled Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Manchester City's Phil Foden when naming his squad on Friday for next week's World Cup qualifiers at home to Serbia and away against Albania.

Both players missed out last time as England sealed their passage to next year's finals in North America with two games to spare following a 5-0 victory over Latvia.

There was no place once again for Everton winger Jack Grealish despite his impressive start to the season and Tuchel also overlooked Brighton & Hove Albion's veteran striker Danny Welbeck who has scored six Premier League goals this season.

In all, Tuchel has made six changes to his last squad in October with Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins the most notable absentees.

There was a first call-up for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, while Manchester City full back Nico O'Reilly, who replaced the injured Reece James in the last squad, retains his place. Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton also returns.

The 22-year-old Bellingham's absence from the last squad was a major talking point as Tuchel said he wanted to reward the players who had impressed him in qualifying wins against Andorra and Serbia in September.

Bellingham struggled with injuries at the start of the campaign and was only just back from a shoulder problem when Tuchel named his last squad. He has scored three goals in his last four appearances for Real Madrid though.

Foden has also returned to form with Manchester City after struggling last season and scored twice in the Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund this week.

Bournemouth's Channel Islands-born Scott has been one of the stand-out players in the south-coast club's great start to the season and was selected ahead of the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

England have a 100% record in Group K and face third-placed Serbia on Thursday and then Albania, who are second, on Sunday.

Squad: Goalkeepers - Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United)

Defenders - Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)

Midfielders - Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Alex Scott (Bournemouth), Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) Forwards - Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)


Slot Urges Patience as Isak Returns to Training with Liverpool

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot brings in Milos Kerkez during the Champions League soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot brings in Milos Kerkez during the Champions League soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
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Slot Urges Patience as Isak Returns to Training with Liverpool

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot brings in Milos Kerkez during the Champions League soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot brings in Milos Kerkez during the Champions League soccer match between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Liverpool, England, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Alexander Isak will return to Liverpool training on Friday ahead of this weekend's showdown against Manchester City but manager Arne Slot has pleaded for patience with the club's record signing.

Isak, who signed in September from Newcastle for a British-record fee of £125 million ($164 million), has not played since coming off at half-time of the Champions League win in Frankfurt last month.

"He will train for the first time today with the team again, after being three weeks out," Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

"I know that I said three weeks ago that his pre-season has ended so now it's time for us to see where he is.

"But I have to come back to those words, because if you are three weeks only with the rehab, that doesn't bring you back to the levels he was three weeks ago."

Swedish international Isak has played just eight games for his new club since arriving at Anfield on transfer deadline day, and is yet to score a Premier League goal.

Slot said Isak, 26, would need time to get match fit.

"You cannot compare rehab with games of football or training sessions with the team," said the Dutchman.

"As much as we try to replicate it, that's simply not possible. So, again I have to say, give him some time."

Slot also said he expects goalkeeper Alisson Becker to be available again immediately after the international window that follows the match with City.

City and Liverpool have dominated English football over the past decade but this year both clubs are playing catch-up with Arsenal, who are six points clear of Pep Guardiola's second-placed team.

Champions Liverpool are a further point behind after a win against Aston Villa last week ended a four-match losing run.


Manchester United Out for Redemption in Clash with Tottenham, Says Yoro 

Leny Yoro. (Getty Images)
Leny Yoro. (Getty Images)
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Manchester United Out for Redemption in Clash with Tottenham, Says Yoro 

Leny Yoro. (Getty Images)
Leny Yoro. (Getty Images)

For Leny Yoro and his teammates, Manchester United's game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday will not just be another Premier League fixture -- it’s a chance to rewrite the narrative that began with heartbreak in last season’s Europa League final.

United's season, already their worst in the Premier League, hit a new low with their 1-0 defeat to Spurs in that final in Bilbao that denied them a spot in this season's Champions League.

"Everyone knows what happened in the final, so I think this game can be a good game for us to prove that maybe the final (could have had) another result," Yoro told reporters.

The 19-year-old center-back, who joined United amid high expectations, admitted the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, but added that it had a faint silver lining in that their lighter schedule has allowed much-needed training time.

"Of course everyone wants to play Champions League," Yoro said. "(But) we have one game a week now, so I think it helped us a little bit to work more on the things that were not good last year. We have more time to work now."

United head into the weekend unbeaten in four consecutive games and sit eighth, two points behind second-placed Manchester City, in a congested Premier League table.

"We’re still in good momentum," Yoro said. "This game against Tottenham will be important for us... to be (around) the top of the league."

Despite the sting of last season’s 15th-place finish, Yoro said he never doubted his decision to join United from French club Lille in the 2024 close season. "I never had this feeling of regret," he said.

The extra training time this season has included adapting to tactical tweaks under manager Ruben Amorim, who frequently rotates his center-backs.

"We get used to it now," Yoro said. "It’s not a problem for us."

He has also taken on extra defensive responsibility, with the attack-minded Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo in front of him on the right-hand side.

"When I play with Amad and Bryan, I know that Amad likes to attack a lot," Yoro said. "It's good for me also to have two guys in front that can really attack. I'm here also to help them to have the freedom to attack and stay at the back to protect."

Yoro credited the club’s culture shift for helping foster a more unified dressing room.

"We don’t want any bad things in the team," he said. "So, be focused on the team, don't do any drama. Speak with everyone, have a good relation. We cannot build something with bad energy or bad atmosphere or bad characters. I think the club is doing well with this."

The defender is determined to help guide United back into Europe this season.

"When you’re in Manchester United, you need to play in Europe," he said. "It’s really important for us this year to achieve this, and this is in the mind of everyone."