Newcastle defender Daryl Janmaat is convinced new manager Rafael Benitez can lead the club to Premier League safety.
Having worked with Benitez for a little more than two weeks, Janmaat believes the Spaniard is the man to lead the club out of trouble.
“We have a top-class manager now,” he said.
“We have to believe he can get us to stay in the Premier League.
“He has had a positive effect. It has been organised, the way we played at Leicester and against Sunderland. We have to keep doing that and looking up.”
The Magpies return to action with a huge trip to fellow strugglers Norwich City on Saturday.
Pogba pays €10m for his image rights
Paul Pogba ended extensive negotiations with a Luxembourg firm that owned his image rights with reports saying yesterday that the Juventus and France midfielder had to fork out €10 million to settle the issue.
Pogba has just helped France beat The Netherlands 3-2 in a friendly last week while Juventus are inching closer to their fifth successive Serie A title.
However, L’Equipe said the case was affecting his performances for club and country.
The ‘Pogba case’ is now settled, L’Equipe added, with the 23-year-old having to pay the significant amount of money to get his image rights back from Oualid Tanazefti’s firm.
Butland suffers fractured ankle
England goalkeeper Jack Butland looks doubtful for Euro 2016 after a scan showed he had fractured his ankle during Saturday’s 3-2 friendly win against Germany.
“Today’s scan revealed I’ve fractured my ankle, absolutely devastated! I’ll be doing everything I can to get back fit as soon as I can!” the 23-year-old said on Twitter.
The FA confirmed the injury had ruled him out of today’s friendly at Wembley against the Netherlands.
Arsenal’s Ozil still wants league title
Mesut Ozil believes Arsenal can still win the Premier League but admits the Gunners have not been fully focused at times this season.
With just eight fixtures remaining, Arsene Wenger’s side are in third place and 11 points adrift of leaders Leicester, albeit with a game in hand.
“I do not think it is impossible,” Ozil said when asked about hunting down Leicester and winning the league.
“Although there are only a few games left, Leicester have a run against some of the big teams to come. We ourselves must in any case not allow any more slip-ups.
“The hope of the title is still there – we have the players for the title.”
Ibra confirms PLeague interest
Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic hinted at a move to the Premier League.
Speaking to reporters, the 34-year-old was open about his future after Paris St Germain.
“I’ve had four fantastic years with them,” he said, adding that there were no ongoing talks with the French champions about an extension to a contract that ex-pires at the end of the season.
Available on a free, Ibrahimovic said there had been interest from Premier League clubs.
“Yes, there is an interest, I can confirm that. We have to see where it leads,” he said.
Argentine boss lifts English Spurs
Midfielder Eric Dier has credited his Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino for the surge of Spurs players making their mark in the England team.
Dier scored the winner in England’s 3-2 friendly victory over Germany on Saturday after Tottenham team-mate Harry Kane had begun the comeback in a fixture which also featured midfielder Dele Alli and left-back Danny Rose.
“Obviously, we have to be thankful for our manager for putting us in this position by giving us a chance at our club,” Dier said.
“Us Spurs boys know how lucky we are to have him because he’s been brilliant for us.”
The quartet have featured heavily under Argentine Pochettino this term as the north London side battle for a first English league title in 55 years.
Hoolahan decision
Wes Hoolahan has admitted he will consider his international future this summer.
The 33-year-old Ireland schemer had to wait until June 2013 for his first competitive start for his country as then manager Giovanni Trapattoni finally bowed to popular pressure to hand him his chance.
He will go into today’s friendly against Slovakia with 26 caps to his name.
Hoolahan said: “There are a few senior players in the squad and I’m one of them. I’ll be 34 by the time the Euros are played which means when the next World Cup comes around I am going to be 36.
“I haven’t really thought about whether I’ll play on, but I will see how the summer goes and probably make a decision then.”