Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has no concerns over striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s barren spell as he expects the Swede’s “brilliant” attitude to soon be rewarded with goals.

The 35-year-old has scored just once in his last 11 appearances after he made a bright start to the campaign.

“He (Ibrahimovic) is playing well for the team. He’s creating a lot of chances and missing a lot of goals,” Mourinho said.

“If I remember Stoke, Liverpool, Chelsea, Burnley... he missed a lot of goals but he was fantastic in  his building up for the team.

“His attitude is always brilliant. He’s not a guy afraid of his responsibility, so no problem at all.”

Southgate could turn down full-time job

England’s interim manager Gareth Southgate has cast doubt on whether he will accept a full-time position if it is offered by his Football Association employers.

The former England U-21 boss was put in charge for four matches after Sam Allardyce was sacked in September.

“I think when you are in the position I am in you need to be clear of what is being asked,” Southgate said.

“There is a big difference, for example, between being asked to take the team over the summer or to take the team for three years or take the team for a year-and-a-half.

“I don’t think it is as easy as saying, ‘yes I would like the job’. I would also like to see how it is affecting my family and my health probably,” said Southgate.

Goalkeeper banned for ‘deliberate’ goal

North Korea youth goalkeeper Jang Paek-ho was handed a one-year ban and fined $1,000 for “the deliberate conceding of a goal” against Uzbekistan in September’s AFC U-16 tournament in India.

Both sides had already secured quarter-final slots but the 3-1 defeat allowed North Korea to finish second in the group and avoid Iraq as their next opponents.

When Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper Jasurbek Umrzakov made a long clearance up the field in the 49th minute, Jang ran out of his area while the ball sailed over his head.

He slipped and fell as he attempted to chase back to goal, got up and made a final dive as the ball rolled into the net.

Lovren pulls out of Iceland qualifier

Dejan Lovren has abruptly ruled himself out of Croatia’s World Cup qualifier against Iceland and a friendly with Northern Ireland this month.

Lovren offered no explanation for his decision.

“I will keep to myself the reasons why I asked Cacic to relieve me of my international duties for these two games,” Lovren said.

“I am still here and will make myself available for the upcoming games, hoping to earn another chance with good performances at club level,” he said.

Luis Figo defends Neymar’s style

Former Barcelona and Real Madrid winger Luis Figo has defended Neymar against criticism for the way he expresses himself on the pitch.

There was already an open debate about whether Neymar’s playing style was unnecessarily provocative before he was accused of inciting the anger among Valencia fans which led to a bottle being thrown at several Barca players on October 22.

However, Figo insists there is nothing wrong with the Brazilian’s behaviour.

“That’s Neymar’s way of playing,” Figo said. “If it annoys anyone, that’s their problem.

“He’s trying to be the best he can be, that’s football and that’s his style. Like I say, if that gets to some people, it’s their problem.”

Ozil must stay to be a legend – Wenger

Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil can only become an Arsenal legend if he commits his long-term future to the club in the same way Dennis Bergkamp did.

Ozil, 28, has taken his game to another level this season by becoming a consistent goal scorer for the Gunners.

But with talks about a contract extension dragging out and Ozil yet to sign a new deal, Wenger said the German will only reach the same status as the former Dutch great “if he commits.”

“Bergkamp committed for a long period. He played until the age of 38 at Arsenal... To become a legend at the club you need to stay for a long time,” Wenger said.

Melo urges Inter to get back to basics

Inter midfielder Felipe Melo wants the team to indulge in some old-fashioned hard work to lift the current malaise.

Defeat to Sampdoria last weekend spelt the end of an ignominious 85-day stint for Frank de Boer, and caretaker coach Stefano Vecchi could not lift things on Thursday when the Nerazzurri were beaten by Southampton in the Europa League.

Speaking ahead of today’s visit of Crotone, Melo said: “We just have to knuckle down now and win on Sunday because we have the ability and we need to show it.

“We’re going through a bad spell and we must work hard to get ourselves out of it.”