Striker Harry Kane is confident he will rediscover his knack for scoring goals after failing to find the back of the net for Tottenham or England since May.
Despite failing to score in his first six league games last campaign, Kane, 23, returned to form and ended the season as the Golden Boot winner with 25 goals.
“Unfortunately there was a lot of talk last year and I managed to prove a lot of people wrong,” Kane said.
“I am confident in my ability. I know that if I continue doing what I am doing the goals will come, that is all I can do.”
Rise in football discrimination
Incidents of discrimination in football are on the increase, according to a new report by the anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out.
Kick It Out’s annual reporting statistics, released yesterday, show a 2.5 per cent increase in incidents reported to the group during the 2015/16 season compared to the previous equivalent period.
The most significant rise in reporting concerned social media, with 194 reported incidents, an increase of 18 per cent compared to 2014/15.
Kick It Out chair Lord Herman Ouseley said: “Football has made progress in tackling discrimination. However, there’s vulnerability at this moment in time.
Derby referee
Mark Clattenburg will referee the derby between Man. United and Man. City on Saturday.
The 41-year-old, who has officiated in the Premier League for more than a decade, completed an unprecedented refereeing hat-trick in top finals last season.
Clattenburg was the man in the middle for the FA Cup, Champions League and European Championship finals.
Clattenburg has also refereed the Manchester derby at Old Trafford for the past two seasons.
United prevailed at home in 2014/15 with a 4-2 victory while last term’s game ended in a goalless draw.
Messi still troubled by hamstring injury
Barcelona have revealed that Lionel Messi is an injury concern ahead of their Champions League clash with Celtic.
Messi aggravated a hamstring problem on international duty and has been told to modify his training regime amid uncertainty over whether he will face Alaves on Saturday. Barca then host Celtic next Tuesday.
A statement on their official website read: “Tests conducted on Leo Messi have confirmed that the player is still having trouble with the adductor muscle in his left hamstring.
“He has been recommended to lighten his training load over the next few days and his availability will depend on how the issue progresses.”
Griezmann leaves if Simeone goes
France forward Antoine Griezmann says he would only leave Atletico Madrid if manager Diego Simeone also quit the La Liga club.
Griezmann has flourished under Simeone since moving to the Vicente Calderon in 2014.
The 25-year-old extended his contract with Atletico in June despite media reports he might move to Paris St Germain.
“The only doubt would be if Simeone leaves for PSG or wherever. I called him before extending my contract and he confirmed to me that he was staying,” Griezmann said.
“I can learn a lot from him. PSG are not my goal at the moment.”
Standard appoint Jankovic as boss
Standard Liege have announced the appointment of Aleksandar Jankovic as their new head coach just hours after parting company with Yannick Ferrera.
Ferrera’s year in charge of Standard came to an end yesterday, the 35-year-old paying the price for a poor start to the season that saw them win just one of five matches and slip to 11th place in the Belgian Pro League.
And now the club have moved quickly to find his successor, handing the reins to Jankovic following the Serbian’s resignation from rivals Mechelen.
The 44-year-old, a former midfielder during his playing days, was in charge of Mechelen for two years having previously managed Red Star, twice, Serbia Under-21s and Lokeren.
New Busby plaque
Man. United will continue to honour the memory of former manager Sir Matt Busby in the directors’ box at Old Trafford despite his family being moved out.
An online petition was started following a report the plaques on the seats used by Busby, and subsequently his children and grandchildren, had been removed.
However, reports said United will have a new plaque made for the seat which Busby sat in, similar to those which were created to mark the achievements of Alex Ferguson and Bobby Charlton.
Following Busby’s death in 1994 the directors’ box seats were transferred to his children Sandy and Sheena, who both died in the 2014-15 season.