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Juan Mata believes Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney deserves respect rather than the scrutiny and scorn of late. The 30-year-old has enjoyed a record-breaking start to the season, but becoming England's all-time top scorer has not failed to take attention away from a clutch of underwhelming displays. SEE MORE: Memphis needs United's patience, not supporters' ridicule. […]

Mark Hughes is hoping Jack Butland's England recognition can pave the way for Ryan Shawcross to join him in the national set-up. Stoke boss Hughes has consistently pushed Shawcross' international cause, but so far Roy Hodgson has overlooked the Potters defender. Shawcross has made only one appearance for England, which came three years ago when he […]

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has withdrawn from the Belgium squad for their friendlies against Italy and Spain. The 29-year-old, who was not involved in full training with his country on Tuesday or Wednesday, was the subject of a club-versus-country row during the previous international break when he played in a Euro 2016 qualifier against Israel […]

Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas insists manager Jose Mourinho has the full backing of his players despite the Blues' dismal start to their Barclays Premier League title defense. Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Stoke was Chelsea's seventh league loss and saw the London club head into the international break 16th in the standings, with just 11 points […]

Manchester City striker Wilfried Bony has been ruled out of Ivory Coast's World Cup qualifying doubleheader against Liberia. Bony limped off in City's 0-0 Barclays Premier League draw at Aston Villa on Sunday because of a hamstring injury, with Blues boss Manuel Pellegrini saying afterwards he did not think the 26-year-old would be able to […]

Everton defender Leighton Baines is set to take another step towards a first-team recall but admits he does not yet know when he will be ready to return. The 30-year-old left-back has not featured at all this season after sustaining an ankle injury just before the campaign kicked off. He will play in a behind-closed-doors […]

Manchester United winger Memphis Depay has hit back at questions over his attitude, stressing he is a team player who is working hard on "getting back to the top". After a big-money move in the summer from PSV Eindhoven — with whom he finished 2014-15 as the Eredivie's top scorer with 22 goals — Depay […]

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has reported good progress as he works his way towards a return to action against Liverpool a week from Saturday. Aguero has not played for City since scoring five times in the 6-1 demolition of Newcastle on Oct. 3, sustaining a hamstring injury soon after while on international duty with Argentina. SEE MORE: […]

Arsene Wenger has warned Chelsea and Tottenham they could struggle if and when they move to temporary homes. Chelsea may have to play their games away from Stamford Bridge if their proposals to redevelop the ground come to fruition, while Spurs will need to relocate from White Hart Lane when it is rebuilt. SEE MORE: Arsenal were […]

West Ham and Chelsea have been fined £40,000 and £50,000 respectively by the Football Association following last month's Barclays Premier League clash at Upton Park. Both clubs admitted misconduct charges of failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion during West Ham's 2-1 win. The two clubs have also been severely warned as to their […]

Wayne Rooney stole the show at a WWE wrestling event on Monday night by 'slapping' Wade Barrett after he goaded him from inside the ring. Barrett, a Preston fan, has had a feud with Rooney ever since he accused the Manchester United and England captain of diving to win a penalty against North End in the […]

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is convinced manager Louis van Gaal will bring success to the club and urged fans to show patience. Supporters have begun to show dissent at the style of play the Dutchman has brought in at Old Trafford, and chants of "attack, attack, attack" were in evidence during Saturday's 2-0 win […]

Swansea have parted company with Spain forward Michu by mutual consent. The move had been expected since last summer when manager Garry Monk confirmed that the once-capped Spain international would not play for the Barclays Premier League club again, but talks over terminating the player's contract had dragged on until now, with both parties seeking to […]

Arsene Wenger believes the way Arsenal's depleted squad battled back to secure a 1-1 draw in the North London Derby showed they have the character needed to mount a sustained Barclays Premier League challenge this season. The Gunners, thumped 5-1 away to Bayern Munich in their midweek Champions League tie, missed the chance to head into […]

Fabian Delph believes Manchester City fans protected him after his first return to Aston Villa. The midfielder ran the Villa Park gauntlet in Sunday's 0-0 draw as he faced his former club following his controversial summer move. Delph initially rejected the chance to join City before producing a dramatic U-turn and signing for £8 million. It came […]