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• Brendan Rodgers says meeting the Pope a ‘real privilege’ and ‘life achievement’

  Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has described his meeting with the Pope as a “life achievement”.

  Rodgers was part of a delegation of Celtic coaches, players and directors who were granted a private audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday morning, following their Champions League defeat by Lazio in Rome the previous night.

  Rodgers said: “It was obviously a real privilege for us all to have the invitation to go there.

  “It was a really humbling experience and it felt like a life achievement to meet him. It was so nice, everyone that came out of the room that morning felt really privileged and really honoured.”

  Pope Francis told the Celtic delegation that while winning was always preferred, it was not the most important aspect.

  Quoted on the Vatican website, he added: “More vital is the example you give when winning or losing, both on and off the field. An example that embodies the virtues of courage, perseverance, generosity and respect for the God-given dignity of others.

  “Indeed, Celtic Football Club was founded in 1887 with the specific goal of alleviating poverty in the city of Glasgow. This was truly a charitable undertaking for the sake of the most needy of our brothers and sisters.

  “Yet, how much the world of football has changed since then. In particular, the financial footprint of the ‘beautiful game’ has greatly increased, and at times can risk making football only attractive for reasons of monetary profit.

  “The valued legacy of your club, then, places a heavy responsibility upon your shoulders, reminding you to be good role models, especially for young people.”

• EFL leading scorer Jake Young ‘just wanted opportunity’ after Mark Hughes snub

  Jake Young has outgunned Erling Haaland this season after proving his worth.

  The striker – on loan at Swindon from Bradford – has 16 goals in 20 games and is the top league scorer in England.

  Young is two ahead of the Manchester City goal machine after netting again in Tuesday’s 4-3 win at Accrington.

  Seven goals in his last six games have fired the Robins to within a point of the Sky Bet League Two play-offs, with Young having also smashed in four against Crawley in August.

  It has left the 22-year-old top of the pile and taking the extra attention in his stride.

  “It’s not something I think about on the pitch but when I get off and I’ve scored another one I’ll have a little look. I’m sure Haaland isn’t looking if I’ve scored for Swindon though,” Young told the PA news agency.

  “I normally look at the League Two ones first but since Haaland’s been mentioned I’ve had 10 to 20 people sending me screenshots (of the goal table).

  “I think there was something on Twitter the other day and I had a lot of people sending me that one – but it’s not counting my Champions League goals!

  “It’s nice but for me it’s not a shock. I know I’m capable of this. It’s definitely something I feel like I’ve worked for.

  “Without trying to sound arrogant, I know I can score and play at this level. I’ve just wanted the opportunity to prove it.”

  Young’s time has come after a frustrating and lonely initial spell at Bradford under Mark Hughes.

  The Robins looked at a permanent deal in the summer but he could now be recalled by the Bantams in January.

  It would be a dramatic return after being dumped by former boss Hughes, who was sacked in October, training with the kids, loaned to Barrow and not even joining the first team squad for the summer’s pre-season trip to Spain.

  Having signed a four-year deal after joining from Forest Green in 2022 Young was frozen out despite scoring twice in three league starts.

  “It was mainly one man’s opinion and that’s fine, that’s football. My view was he’s got me there, give me an opportunity to improve. That’s all I was looking for,” said the former Sheffield United youngster, who won League Two with Forest Green under Rob Edwards.

  “I wasn’t looking to play every minute but when I’d been on the pitch I’d shown I could affect games to at least be an option off the bench.

  “I just wanted to learn and improve and I didn’t really think I got the opportunity but football’s about opinions.

  “I was 21 and to be deemed not good enough three months into a four-year deal was tough, especially when it’s somewhere I wanted to be.

  “It something you’ve always wanted to do and when you find yourself not enjoying it anymore that’s the hardest part.

  “It’s something I’ve learned from and I won’t take these spells I’m in now for granted because I know how hard I’ve worked physically and mentally to get here

  “It’s not necessarily about proving people wrong but more proving myself right that I belong at this level and higher. This is the player I know I am.”

• Tomas Soucek snatches late winner for West Ham in Serbia

  Tomas Soucek struck late on yet again as West Ham secured their passage into the knock-out stages of the Europa League despite a Serbian snooze-fest against Backa Topola.

  The Czech midfielder has now scored in his last five matches for club and country after an 89th-minute volley earned a scratchy 1-0 win.

  Now they need to finish the job against Freiburg at the London Stadium in a fortnight to ensure they top the group and avoid a two-legged play-off in February.

  Around 320 hardy West Ham fans made the 2,000-mile journey out to the Balkans, including a 100-mile trek up the motorway from Belgrade to the TSC Arena.

  Many of them had got their wish, in the absence of injured forwards Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio, of a first start of the season for 19-year-old FA Youth Cup-winning striker Divin Mubama.

  But the youngster barely got a sniff of the ball as West Ham struggled to rouse themselves in the sleepy Serbian town.

  The hosts came into the encounter on the back of a 4-0 win over Super League leaders Partizan at the weekend, and they made a confident start with Uros Milovanovic forcing an early save from Lukasz Fabianski.

  Then an error from Aaron Cresswell, handed a rare start in one of seven changes from the side which snatched a late win at Burnley thanks to Soucek’s goal, gifted Aleksandar Cirkovic a shooting opportunity with Fabianski saving again.

  West Ham registered their first shot on target after half an hour, a tame effort from Said Benrahma on his 150th West Ham appearance which was easily dealt with by Veljko Ilic.

  But it was a mind-numbing first half neatly summed up by former player Joe Cole, on TNT Sports, as “dross” and “appalling”.

  Boss David Moyes turned to Danny Ings and the lesser-spotted Maxwel Cornet just after the hour, replacing Benrahma and Mubama, in a bid to inject some life into his unconvincing side.

  And as the game ticked into stoppage tie Cornet crossed from the left and Soucek hammered in a volley to win it.

  West Ham have enjoyed a thrilling run in Europe over the past three seasons, including their historic Europa Conference League final triumph in Prague.

  Although this was not one which will live long in the memory it was an 18th win in 20 matches in Europe, job done for Moyes and his side.