Nottingham Forest full-back Harry Toffolo has been given a suspended five-month ban after admitting 375 breaches of Football Association betting rules.

The FA said the 28-year-old had also been fined £20,956.22 by an independent regulatory commission.

Toffolo was charged by the FA in July, and the player has admitted breaches of FA betting rules between January 22, 2014 and March 18, 2017. The ban is suspended until the end of the 2024-25 season.

The FA said the written reasons in the case would be published in due course.

The sanctions on Toffolo follow the imposition of an eight-month ban on Brentford striker Ivan Toney in May for breaches of FA betting regulations.

Gareth Southgate was delighted with his players’ commitment, togetherness and mentality over the last week as England continue to build towards their goal of winning Euro 2024.

Having reached the final of the last edition and impressed in December’s World Cup quarter-final exit to France, the focus is on finally getting their hands on silverware in Germany next summer.

Winning their first four Group C matches means it has long been a case of when rather than if England seal their place at the finals, but Saturday’s drab 1-1 qualification draw against Ukraine brought criticism.

Southgate’s side bounced back with a slick 3-1 friendly win over old foes Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday, bringing a successful camp came to a victorious end.

“We’re building all the time,” the England manager said. “We want to keep improving, we keep pushing the players.

“We’ve been able to experiment a bit this week as well. Two new centre-backs (Marc Guehi and Lewis Dunk) have come in, relatively inexperienced, and both done really well.

“But some of our senior players are so influential – (Kyle) Walker and (Kieran) Trippier were absolutely outstanding (against Scotland).

“The impact of our senior players on this group just can’t be underestimated.

“Of course, a lot of the headlines will go to some of our younger players and understandably so, but the way that the group form and the way they are as a team is key to getting the types of performance we have (last night).”

Southgate’s team are among the favourites to win next summer’s Euros and former international Joe Cole called this side the best England team he has seen his lifetime.

“Everybody else can assess that,” the manager said when that was put to him after their impressive Hampden Park triumph.

“I think we want to keep pushing the players.

“I was really pleased with the week. If you’d said to me before the game, ‘How’s the week been?’ I’d have said, ‘Excellent’.

“The players have been fully committed, encouraged each other, trained really well, responded well to a disappointing performance but a really important and good result in Ukraine.

“We wanted the sort of mentality that we showed, and they produced that. They were absolutely excellent (at Hampden).”

It was an impressive team effort with Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham at its heart in Mount Florida.

The 20-year-old played a role in Phil Foden’s opener and three minutes later fired home his second international goal.

Bellingham did not stop there as he capped a man-of-the-match display with a fine assist for Harry Kane after Harry Maguire’s own goal temporarily gave Hampden hope.

“Well, he was excellent,” Southgate said of the young midfielder. “We thought that position might cause a problem.

“I mean, we knew we needed athleticism there to press Scotland because their midfield players can dictate games if you allow them, so that was that was key.

“But we knew the way we played the system might create a bit of an overload and his powerful running forwards with Marcus (Rashford) as well, in particular when Harry was dropping low and Phil was dropping low, that gave us a real outlet.

“So, it was a nice balance to the team with Kalvin (Phillips) and Dec (Rice) doing a brilliant job of mopping up, destroying things and keeping the ball ticking over well.”

Players now return to club matters before convening next month for a Wembley friendly against Australia and qualifier under the arch against Euro 2020 winners Italy.

The Group C leaders’ advantage at the top could be cut to three points by the time they host the Azzurri, but bookmakers’ odds of 1-250 on England to qualify for Euro 2024 highlights their position of strength.

Scotland are also on the cusp of qualification having won their first five qualifiers.

Steve Clarke’s men would have even qualified on Tuesday had Norway and Georgia drawn, but instead the wait continues as they head to second-placed Spain next month looking respond to a deflating loss to the Auld Enemy.

Put to Southgate that there appears to be a big gap between England and Scotland, he said: “No, I just think, look, we played exceptionally well.

“We were able to nullify a lot of the threats that Scotland pose, so it was a really good performance from us.

“I think Scottish fans should be really proud of how their team are going and the job Steve’s doing.

“I’m sure there’ll be a huge reaction to the result, but we’ve just said that for three days and I’m sure Steve’s sensible enough to keep calm about that.

“We played well, we’ve won the game, but on another night that can look very different.”

Aaron Ramsdale praised Harry Maguire for his continued “outstanding” England displays as the under-fire defender blocks out unrelenting criticism and scrutiny.

The world’s most expensive defender was named in the Euros team of the tournament in 2021, but game time and form at Manchester United have dropped off since then.

Gareth Southgate has stuck by Maguire and brought him on at half-time in Tuesday’s 3-1 friendly win over Scotland, during which he was mocked mercilessly by the Hampden Park crowd before scoring an own goal.

Furious Southgate believes the reaction was as a result of wider “ridiculous” criticism of the defender, which he called “a joke” and said was “beyond anything I’ve ever seen”.

England fans backed Maguire and chanted his name in Glasgow, with team-mates like goalkeeper Ramsdale also offering support to the oft-criticised centre-back.

“Harry Maguire has had criticism for the past 18 months, two years,” he said. “It hasn’t affected him.

“His performances for England have been nigh on outstanding, that’s why he keeps getting picked and played. Simple as that.

“I don’t think a few whistles and groans from the fans are going to change his mindset.

“He had 45 minutes in a game where I thought he played well, kept the ball for us and one unfortunate own goal, if you want to call it that, and people are going to start talking about him and I don’t think it’s needed.”

Ramsdale said Maguire was “superb when he came on” and had no issues with his “really unfortunate” own goal.

“People will say he’s come on and scored an own goal, but if he has any doubt in his mind, I want my defender to try to clear it,” the Arsenal goalkeeper said.

“It’s a cross-shot, he’s tried to deal with it and eight times out of 10 it goes behind for a corner or he clears it.

“Every time he touched the ball the crowd got up and made noises and he dealt with it extremely well, played some lovely passes.

“I thought he accompanied Lewis (Dunk) and rest of the back four really well. Yeah, I’d want him to do that again 10 times over.”

Ramsdale won just his fourth England cap on Tuesday evening and was grateful for Maguire then, just as he has been since making his debut behind him in November 2021.

“He talks you through the game,” he said. “I remember that from my first cap.

“It was San Marino and obviously we won 10-0, but he talked me through the whole game, calmed me down at times and he did the same (against Scotland).

“So, it’s a real dream to play with him and, as I said, it’s just an unfortunate goal that people are going to highlight and it doesn’t need to be that way.”

But Ramsdale knows that everything is pored over in minute detail with England, whether it is Maguire’s selection, Phil Foden’s role or Southgate’s approach.

The team may also be under the microscope, but Ramsdale says that has helped to cultivate a special mentality within the group.

“You’re playing for England,” he said. “It’s the most scrutinised team in the world, I personally think.

“We’ve got so many good players, a pool of players, and everyone will have a different opinion on who should be playing and who shouldn’t be playing.

“I think that’s what makes us so strong as a group, the fact that we can brush things off and use the noise as outside noise and listen to ourselves.”

Put to Ramsdale that is easier said than done, he said: “Exactly, but two years ago we were playing in a European final and then we went to the World Cup and could have done a bit better in different circumstances and played against a good team in France.

“We’re so close to qualifying again and this group has been together so long and we’ve got such a great connection.

“Like you said, it’s easier said than done, but it’s one of the top qualities this group has, that it sticks together and block out any noise that we don’t want to hear.”

Jamaica...2
Ade (51st OG), Reid (81st)
 
Haiti...2
Louicius(12th, 15th)
 
Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz maintained their positive start to the Concacaf Nations League, but did so the hard way, as they had to come from behind to secure a 2-2 stalemate with Haiti at the National Stadium on Tuesday. 
 
A 51st-minute own-goal by Ricardo Ade and Bobby Reid's 81st-minute penalty, rescued a point for the Reggae Boyz, after Don Louicius's first half brace in the 12th and 15th minutes.
 
With the point, the Jamaicans remain in pole position to complete a top two finish in Group B of League A, as they sit on four points, same as Cuba, who edged Suriname 1-0 in their contest. Haiti inched up to two points in third followed Grenada and Suriname on one point each, but that was expected to change at the end of the game day, as Honduras were leading Grenada 1-0 in the late group fixture.
 
Following their win against Honduras last week, Heimir Hallgrimsson's side would have been confident of securing another three points and they started more purposefully which all but signalled their intent.
 
They fired a warning shot in the second minute through Kasey Palmer, whose left-footed shot was parried by Jhony Placide who got down well to his right in goal for Haiti. The resulting corner presented another opportunity, but Shemar Nicholson steered his header wide of the target.
 
However, the Jamaicans had the wind knock from them as it was the Haitians that broke the deadlock against the run of play, courtesy of Louicius with his first senior goal. The player sporting the number 11 jersey, shook a challenge from Damion Lowe and later fired past Andre Blake. 
 
Before the Boyz could recover, they found themselves further behind when Mondy Prunier orchestrated a counterattack and played a pass on a platter for Louicius to capitalise on some lacklustre defending by the Jamaicans as he fired home beating Blake all ends up.
 
Jamaicans continued to press and created a few openings from which they should have at least pulled on back, but faulty shooting and a lack of composure proved their undoing.
 
The best of those chances came on the stroke of half-time when Nicholson found himself in on goal but drove his right-footer wide of the target, as Haiti remained 2-0 up at the break.
 
With the lead in their favour, the Haitians came out spiritedly on the resumption and Louicius tested Blake with a left-footed strike from a distance, but the custodian got down well to gather.
 
The Jamaicans needing a saviour  gradually came to life in attack and like it was in their opening contest against Honduras, Gray came to their rescue, albeit fortuitously, as his soft effort along the ground was deflected in by Ade.
 
Nicholson should have pulled the Boyz level in the 54th from a break. However, he was hesitant in getting the shot off from close range and was later dispossessed by a recovering defender.
 
Though on the backfoot, the Haitians didn't just merely absorb pressure, they continued the probe to add to their tally and almost did so on the hour mark when Prunier again played provider, this time to Danley Jean, whose firm eft-footer from just inside the 18-yard box, rattled the crossbar.
 
The Jamaicans responded two minutes later and almost pulled level when Kasey Palmer's shot from the top of the 18-yard box and was just kept out by Placide.
 
It was an intriguing end-to-end battle at that point as Haiti went on the counter a minute later, Prunier dismissed his marker, but couldn't get beyond Blake, who left his line well in a one-on-one situation. 
 
After applying consistent pressure coupled with a few timely substitutions, the Jamaicans eventually pulled level when Reid fired home from the penalty spot, after one of those substitutes, Romario Williams's shit was handled inside the danger area.
 
The Jamaicans thought they had all three points in the bag in the dying moments of the contest when Reid's well-struck shot from a distance had goal written all over it, but for a well-timed dive from Placide, who ensured Gabriel Pellegrino's team held on for a share of the spoils.
 
The teams will now head into the break before the return leg fixtures in October. 
 
Teams: Jamaica -Andre Blake, Damion Lowe (Dishon Bernard 74th), Amari'i Bell, Ethan Pinnock, Javain Brown, Leon Bailey, Bobby Reid, Demarai Gray (Dujuan Richards 74th), Joel Latibeaudiere (Daniel Johnson 74th), Kasey Palmer, Shemar Nicholson (Romario Williams 79th)
 
Subs not used: Jahmali Waite, Coniah Boyce-Clarke, Kevon Lambert, Demario Phillips, Adrian Mariappa, Renaldo Cephas, Gregory Leigh, Tayvon Gray, Kevon Lambert
 
Booked: Bernard (83rd), Johnson (90+3)
 
Haiti -Jhony Placide, Ricardo Ade, Djimy-Alexis, Garven-Michee Metusala, Alex Christian, Jeppe Friborg, Danley Jean (Francois Dulysse 87th), Carl Sainte, Don Louicius (Shaynder Borgelain 70th), Steven Seance, Mondy Prunier
 
Subs not used: Alexandre Pierre, Garrisone Innocent, Derrick Etienne Jr, Jayro Jean
 
Booked: Sainte (30th), Djimy-Alexis (63rd, 90th(red), Jean (80th), Ade (80th)
 
Referee: Cesar Ramos (MEX)
Assistant referees: Alberto Morin (MEX); Marco Bisguerra (MEX)
Fourth official: Enrique Santander (MEX)
Match Commissary: Egbert Lacle (ARU)

Hydel High confirmed their status as serious title contenders for this season’s ISSA/Digicel Manning Cup title with a stunning 4-0 win over 16-time winners Kingston College at Royal Lakes on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in Zone A, Calabar opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Penwood.

In Zone B, Kingston Technical secured a 3-1 win over Cumberland while Spanish Town and Meadowbrook played out a 2-2 draw at the Spanish Town Prison Oval.

STATHS were the second biggest winners on the day with a 6-0 drubbing of Bridgeport in Zone D action. Also in Zone D, Excelsior beat Clan Carthy 3-0 while Tarrant secured a 2-1 win over Cedar Grove.

Edith Dalton James were the day’s biggest winners with a 7-0 score line over St. Mary’s College while St. Catherine High beat Innswood 3-0 in Zone E action.

In Zone G, Wolmer’s Boys beat Donald Quarrie 6-1.

Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane fired England to a 3-1 victory against Scotland as Steve Clarke’s side were given the runaround by the Auld Enemy at Hampden Park.

The 116th edition of the world’s oldest international fixture came with both sides in the enviable position of knowing it was a case of when rather than if they qualified for Euro 2024.

Scotland have won all five of their group games and headed into Tuesday’s so-called friendly dreaming of a memorable victory against England and a Georgia draw with Norway.

That result would have seen them wrap up their place at next summer’s Euros, but the hosts’ win in Oslo was compounded by a disappointing 3-1 loss to Gareth Southgate’s men in Glasgow.

This match commemorated the nations’ first meeting 150 years ago and ended with England racking up their 49th win in this fixture thanks to a confident display.

Scotland have had an impressive recent record on home soil, but Southgate’s side got back to winning ways after Saturday’s drab qualification draw against Ukraine.

Foden – the subject of so much pre-match discussion – quickly adjusted his feet to direct home the opener in the first half, with Bellingham capitalising on a wretched Andrew Robertson pass to rifle home three minutes later.

The half-time scoreline did not flatter England, although Harry Maguire was teased mercilessly by the Scotland fans following his intoduction and turned a Robertson cross into his own goal to lift the roof.

But home hopes of a comeback were short-lived as the visitors went up a few gears as brilliant Bellingham set up skipper Kane to wrap up a comfortable friendly win.

Neymar needs to lift the World Cup with Brazil to etch his name as a Selecao great, so says Mauro Silva, who referenced Lionel Messi's global success with Argentina.

Messi powered Lionel Scaloni's Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years after lifting the coveted Jules Rimet trophy at the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Neymar and his Brazil team-mates were eliminated from that edition of the world's top international tournament in a quarter-final defeat to Croatia on penalties.

The Selecao forward equalled Pele's scoring record for Brazil in the Croatia loss, and subsequently broke the landmark with two goals against Bolivia in Friday's World Cup qualifier.

But former Brazil and Deportivo midfielder Silva believes Neymar must achieve glory in the United States and Canada at the 2028 World Cup to fully write his name into national folklore.

The 59-cap Brazil international Silva told Stats Perform at the Thinking Football Summit: "Neymar is among the best. I would say among the five or 10 best in Brazil.

"There are very good footballers in there. Pele, there is Ronaldo, Romario, Bebeto – some very important people. But Neymar is undoubtedly among the best too.

"There is the expectation in Brazil that a player with Neymar's talent is capable of leading Brazil to a World Cup, just as happened with Messi and the Argentina team after so many years.

"Here in Brazil, people hope that a player with Neymar's talent can lead us to this important achievement.

"He is among the most important players in the history of Brazilian football, without a doubt, because of his numbers, for breaking Pele's record, for example.

"But he still has a lot to do.

"I hope he can achieve a World Cup for Brazil and this will undoubtedly consolidate him as one of the greats in the history of Brazilian football."

Since the World Cup Neymar has left Paris Saint-Germain, who he joined from Barcelona, to move to Al Hilal on a lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia.

While the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have made similar transfers to the Saudi Pro League, Silva hopes Neymar can continue to play at his peak in what he feels is a less competitive competition.

Silva added: "It is a challenge because when you are in the best competitions, competing every day, every week with the best teams and players, the demands make you maintain a very high level of performance.

"Now as being in a competition of a level that is not so high, it is a challenge. But let's see what happens.

"Nor can it be said that he will not be able to maintain the level, but I am convinced that this will be a great challenge for Neymar.

"We are in 2023 and the World Cup is in 2026, so there are still three years ahead where despite his age, his years, [Neymar] is in a league that is not as competitive as the European leagues.

"So he will have to maintain this high level to lead Brazil to a conquest. Hopefully he will be able to maintain this level until 2026 at least."

Nicaragua continued their decent start in Group B of League B in the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League, with a convincing victory in its home opener, while Dominican Republic were also victorious at home on Monday.

Dominican Republic vs. Montserrat 

Dominican Republic defeated Montserrat 3-0 at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The hosts took the lead in the third minute after midfielder Jean Lopez forced an own goal from defender Abraham Dorsett.

Edarlyn Reyes nearly scored a wondergoal for the home side but was denied by the top post in the fifth in an attempt from just outside the penalty arc. Immediately after, Montserrat goalkeeper Kynami Nelson made a pivotal save to deny Ronaldo Vasquez on the rebound.

Dominican Republic's goalkeeper Xavier Valdez and defender Michael Sambataro were then crucial to halt a potential equalizer in the 19th by impeding forward Lyle Taylor. 

Dorny Romero doubled the lead to 2-0 in the 25th, thanks to a long through pass from Edison Azcona.

Romero nearly collected his second in the 44th minute but couldn’t connect properly on a long cross from Michael Sambataro as Montserrat were spared prior to halftime.

The Dominican Republic began to pull away in the second half as Romero completed his brace on a breakaway in the 64th following a long assist form Jeremy Baez.

The win lifts the Dominican Republic to second in the group and improves the nation’s record to 1-0-1 in the campaign. Montserrat, also with a 1-0-1 record, slipped to third in the group.

Nicaragua vs. Barbados

Nicaragua won 5-1 against Barbados on a rainy night at the National Football Stadium in Managua, Nicaragua.

Ariagner Smith opened the scoring in the 11th minute, with a header at the near post on a corner kick.

Juan Luis Perez sent fans into a roar with a hit from long range in the 40th to extend the lead for the hosts.

A penalty was awarded to Nicaragua right before the half, as Juan Barrera was taken down inside the box. Jaime Moreno converted the spot kick for the three-goal lead.

Jacob Montes continued the offensive production with the fourth goal of the night in the 69th after Smith was blocked on the attempt, but the ball fell to Montes who drove it into the area for a diagonal strike.

Moreno completed his brace in the 75th on a second chance opportunity inside the box. Brathwaite pushed away a whipped in ball from Josue Quijano, but Moreno was there to clean up the play.

Nicaraguan goalkeeper Miguel Rodriguez was sent off in the 85th for a takedown just outside the box. Down to 10 men, and out of substitutions, it was Moreno who donned the goalkeeper jersey for the final stretch.

Thierry Gale of Barbados converted from the ensuing free kick upon the restart in the 89th, as Moreno nearly got a hand for the save.

Nicaragua retains first place in the group and improves to a 2-0-0 mark. Barbados occupies the last spot in the group and will look to improve from a 0-2-0 start during the October FIFA fixtures.

The New York Jets' worst fears have been confirmed.

Aaron Rodgers will miss the rest of the 2023 NFL season with a torn left Achilles tendon.

An MRI on Tuesday confirmed the severity of the injury one day after the four-time league MVP left the Jets' 22-16 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills after just four snaps.

At 39 years old, it's possible Rodgers' career ended on that fateful play.

The injury occurred when Rodgers was sacked by Buffalo's Leonard Floyd on New York's official third play from scrimmage. The star quarterback briefly remained on the turf holding his lower left leg before being helped to the sideline, then was later taken to the locker room on a cart before having his leg placed in a walking boot.

The Jets initially announced Rodgers was questionable to return before ruling him out midway through the second quarter.

After the game, Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters that the team feared it was a torn Achilles tendon.

Rodgers final stat line for the 2023 season is 0-for-1 passing while being sacked once.

Rodgers arrived in New York to much fanfare after the 10-time Pro Bowler requested a trade to the Jets. The Green Bay Packers eventually sent him to New York on April 26.

With Rodgers on the roster, the Jets were a trendy preseason pick to end a longstanding playoff drought and contend for an AFC title. New York holds the NFL's longest active streak without a postseason appearance at 12 years, having last reached the playoffs in 2010.

The Jets will now press on with Zach Wilson.

Wilson's quarterback rating of 72.8 last season was the lowest among the 36 quarterbacks with a minimum of 175 pass attempts in 2022.

In Monday's opener, he threw a touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson with under five minutes remaining in regulation to tie the game at 13-13. The Jets eventually won on a 65-yard punt return touchdown from rookie Xavier Gipson with 9:02 left in overtime.

Zach Wilson finished with 140 yards on 14-of-21 passing with one touchdown and one interception. 

Aruba and St Martin assumed pole position in their respective groups following victories over Cayman Islands and Bonaire respectively, in League C the 2023-24 Concacaf Nations League on Monday.

Cayman Islands vs. Aruba

The first match-up of the day saw Aruba come away with a late 2-1 win over the Cayman Islands in Group B at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town, Cayman Islands.

With the win, Aruba moved to the top the group with three points after one match, while Cayman Islands are third with one point.

Fans could not have asked for a more exciting start with two goals inside the first six minutes of play.

Striking first was Aruba inside the first 90 seconds, as a ball played in from the left wing met the stabbing foot of Rovien Ostiana for a 1-0 lead to the visitors.

The hosts answered right back in the sixth minute, as Christhofer Nunez got loose on the left edge of the area and from the slimmest of angles, fired in a shot that deflected off the leg of Aruba GK Matthew Lentink and into goal to make it 1-1.

Some heroic defending from the Cayman Islands in the 58th with a ball cleared off the goal-line kept the draw intact, but Aruba would land the decisive goal 21 minutes later in the 79th through Darryl Baly, who got low to steer home a header off a corner kick for the 2-1 Aruba victory.

Saint Martin vs. Bonaire

The second game of the day in League C was decided on some late fireworks, with Saint Martin rallying to edge Bonaire 2-1 in Group A action at the SKNFA Technical Centre in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

With the result, Saint Martin now sit firmly atop the group with six points through two matches, while Bonaire are still with no points after one match.

An even first half in which neither side were able to break through gave way to a more open second stanza, but the first goal would not arrive until the 67th.

The man to do it was Sheehander Martinus, who was at the right place at the right time, turning in a rebound after back-to-back shots off a free kick for a 1-0 Bonaire lead.

Saint Martin quickly got back on level terms though, thanks to Axel Raga, who scored his fifth goal of this CNL in the 75th.

Keelan Lebon’s shot from distance took a deflection off a Bonaire defender and fell right to Raga at the far post, making for an easy stroke into net for Raga.

The momentum was now with Saint Martin, and they made the most of it, getting the winning goal in the 87th, after an own goal from Bonaire’s Jurven Koffy when a cross deflected off his leg and into net.

Leon Balogun and Kieran Dowell have missed out on Rangers’ Europa League squad.

Kemar Roofe and Tom Lawrence are included after missing out on the squad for the Champions League qualifiers, as they closed in on their comebacks from long-term injury lay-offs.

Dowell has made six appearances since his summer move from Norwich, including three in the Champions League. He has missed recent matches with a minor knee injury.

https://x.com/RangersFC/status/1701584504068976861?s=20

Balogun has played twice since returning to Ibrox in the summer following a season with QPR.

Scott Wright is in the squad while Rangers confirmed the likes of Leon King and Adam Devine would be included on the list of young players who can feature outside the 25-man squad.

Rangers open their group campaign at home to Real Betis on September 21 and also take on Aris Limassol and Sparta Prague.

Defenders Maik Nawrocki, Alexandro Bernabei and Yuki Kobayashi have missed out on Celtic’s Champions League squad.

Polish centre-back Nawrocki is out injured with a hamstring problem and faces a continued lay-off of about six weeks along with fellow defenders Cameron Carter-Vickers and Stephen Welsh.

The latter pair have made the 25-man squad with Welsh’s homegrown credentials a potential factor in the decision.

Celtic since signed Nat Phillips on loan from Liverpool to deal with their injury list at the back, with fellow summer signing Gustaf Lagerbielke in the pool too.

Japanese central defender Kobayashi is expected to return to fitness soon following an ankle injury but he is not listed in the squad.

Bernabei has played twice this season but has not made the cut with Liam Scales a potential back-up for left-back Greg Taylor after impressing in central defence in the recent win over Rangers.

There is also no place for goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist, midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu and summer signing Marco Tilio, who arrived at Celtic with an injury, along with James McCarthy, who last featured in October last year.

Celtic begin their European campaign in Rotterdam next Tuesday against Feyenoord and also face Lazio and Atletico Madrid in their group.

American investment firm 777 Partners have returned to the negotiating table at Everton but are now reportedly considering a majority purchase.

The group had been in talks earlier this summer over a partial investment only for rivals MSP Sports Capital to enter into an exclusivity agreement with Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri.

With the agreement now over after that potential investment fell through over repayments to existing lenders – although a £100million loan to help finalise the completion of a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock was agreed – it appears 777 have re-entered talks.

However, reports suggest it is with a view to a full takeover of the club.

Everton have been seeking outside investment for some time in order to free up finances to complete the new stadium.

In January Moshiri, who has spent more than £500million on players since becoming the majority shareholder in 2016, said the club was not up for sale but admitted he was exploring funding options to cover the final stages of the £550m-plus build at Bramley-Moore which will is set to see the ground opened next season.

The 777 group, which did not comment when contacted by the PA news agency, currently own, or part own, Genoa, Standard Liege, Hertha Berlin, Vasco de Gama and Melbourne Victory and the London Lions basketball team and British Basketball League.

Harry Wilson revealed how the Wales dressing room serenaded David Brooks with “his song” after the Bournemouth forward scored his first international goal since beating cancer.

Brooks was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021 while on Wales duty.

The 26-year-old announced he was cancer-free in May last year, but it has been a long road back to form and fitness as Brooks’ body took time to recover from the full effects of the disease.

So it was no surprise the entire Wales squad wildly celebrated the stoppage time goal that Brooks scored to seal a 2-0 European Championship qualifying victory over Latvia on Monday.

It was Brooks’ first Wales goal since scoring the winner in a Nations League tie against the Republic of Ireland in November 2020.

“When the news broke that he had his illness we were on camp and it hit us hard,” Wilson said after the Riga success.

“He’s a big part of the group. He’s been my room mate for years and it was tough for us all.

“To see how strong he’s been through it all, how he’s come back and regained his fitness. He’s had setbacks along the way and picked up a few injuries.

“His body was completely shut down for a while and it’s going to happen, but it’s how he’s dealt with those setbacks.

“Now he’s fully fit he showed his quality at the end. At that moment in the game a lot of players would have snatched at that chance, but he was so calm to wait for the keeper to go down and just lifted it over him.”

Wales supporters are used to belting out the ‘Brooks will tear you apart again’ song to the tune of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear You Apart’ in tribute to him.

Wilson said: “The other day when he came on against South Korea the fans must have sang his song for a good 15 to 20 minutes.

“They were singing it again at the end when we went to them to show our appreciation.

“I think he must have done an interview so he was the last one back in the dressing room.

“We had it going as well and I think it shows what a massive member of this group he’s been and how much he’s been missed over the couple of years he’s been out of the squad.”

Wales’s win – only their second in 14 games – has put them back in the mix for a top-two spot and automatic qualification while easing the pressure on boss Rob Page.

They have drawn level with Armenia on seven points and trail Croatia and Turkey by three.

Next month’s visit from group favourites Croatia will be followed by a November double-header away to Armenia and at home to Turkey.

Wilson said: “We’ve done well at home in the past against big teams when we’ve got the ‘Red Wall’ behind us. We’ll be looking to do that again.

“We know Armenia away is going to be tough, hostile and the pitch might not be great, but you’ve got to deal with that when you go to these places.

“We feel it’s back in our hands now and we have to make sure we put on performances like we have done before.

“We were all disappointed with how the summer camp went, not just the results (defeats to Armenia and Turkey) but the performances as well.

“We couldn’t wait to get back on camp and put right what went wrong in the summer. We put a bit of pressure on ourselves but we never do it the easy way.”

A VAR who made what referees’ chief Howard Webb described as an “error” in awarding a goal to Manchester City in the last round of Premier League matches has been selected as a fourth official for the coming weekend.

Tony Harrington will be on the touchline for the Newcastle v Brentford match on Saturday, and will also be the referee for Friday night’s Championship game between Hull and Coventry as he continues his return from injury.

Harrington and assistant VAR Adam Nunn checked and cleared Nathan Ake’s goal for City against Fulham on September 2, which put them 2-1 up in a game they ultimately won 5-1.

Ake’s header went low into the bottom corner, narrowly passing by his team-mate Akanji who was stood in an offside position. Harrington and Nunn determined that Akanji’s presence had no significant impact on Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Fulham head coach Marco Silva strongly disagreed with the decision to give the goal, and Webb admitted last week that it should not have counted.

“From the outset I think this should have been disallowed. It certainly appears Akanji has an impact on Leno the goalkeeper who seems to hesitate,” Webb told the ‘Match Officials: Mic’d Up’ programme.

“We think it’s a clear situation of offside. Unfortunately it wasn’t identified on the day. This was an error.”

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