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• Fati woes continue as Barcelona forward suffers foot injury in training

  Barcelona forward Ansu Fati has suffered a foot injury during a pre-season training session after returning from an underwhelming loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion.

  Hopes were high for Fati when he enjoyed a breakout 2019-20 season, eventually being handed the Blaugrana's iconic number 10 shirt when Lionel Messi departed in 2021.

  However, he has struggled with injuries in the ensuing years, making a total of 21 starts in La Liga from the start of 2020-21 to the end of 2022-23.

  Fati joined Brighton on loan last season in a move widely viewed as a coup for the Seagulls, but he only started three league games for the club, totalling 514 minutes across 19 appearances and scoring twice.

  He has now been prevented from travelling to the United States for Barca's pre-season tour, which features fixtures against Manchester City, Real Madrid and Milan.

  In a statement released on Wednesday, the club said: "In Tuesday's training session, first-team player Ansu Fati suffered a foot injury. 

  "He will undergo conservative treatment in Barcelona and his return to training will be determined by his recovery time."

  Fati has expressed a desire to stay with Barca, where he has a contract until 2027, though he has been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in recent weeks.

• Staying on the pitch James' sole aim as Chelsea begin new era

  Reece James says his only goal for 2024-25 is to "stay on the pitch" as the Chelsea captain looks to bounce back from two disjointed campaigns.

  James only made 16 Premier League appearances in 2022-23 as he battled a series of injuries, also missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

  A troublesome hamstring injury then limited him to just 10 outings last term, and his season ended in disappointment when he was sent off in the Blues' penultimate Premier League game versus Brighton and Hove Albion.

  That dismissal means he will be suspended for their first three league games under Enzo Maresca – against Manchester City, Wolves and Crystal Palace.

  The right-back last managed more than 2,000 minutes in a Premier League season in 2020-21 (2,367), playing 1,865 in 2021-22, 1,244 in 2022-23 and just 421 last term.

  Speaking as the Blues prepare to kick off their pre-season tour of the United States, James assured he is in a good place and is hopeful of a more fulfilling 2024-25.

  "I have one goal – to stay on the pitch," James said on the eve of Chelsea's first friendly versus Wrexham. 

  "I am one to push the boundaries and sometimes that has caused problems for myself and the team, but that is something I'm trying to get better at.

  "I don't want to make mistakes and put my team at risk. I would like to think I'm in a good place now. 

  "I had a long off-season and I've got a long pre-season because I'm serving a four-game ban, but I'm in a good place.

  "There are a lot of adjustments to make in the new system. Whenever a new manager comes in, there is a lot to take on board but we are excited and I can't wait to get started."

  Chelsea face Wrexham at the Levi's Stadium in San Francisco on Wednesday before taking on Celtic, Club America, Manchester City and Real Madrid in their other matches in the US.

• Chelsea new boy Wiley eyes up Olympic gold with USA

  Chelsea's new signing Caleb Wiley is hopeful of clinching Olympic success with the United States in Paris.

  Wiley secured a move to Stamford Bridge from Atlanta United for a reported £8.5million ($11m) on Monday.

  But before linking up with his new team, Wiley will play for his country as the Stars and Stripes aim to claim gold at the Paris Games.

  The USA are playing at the Olympics for the first time since 2008, and open their account against France in Marseille on Wednesday, and the aim for Wiley is clear.

  The left-back told the Associated Press: "A medal. That's what we're going to fight for, and I have full belief that we're going to do it."

  Wiley has been overwhelmed with congratulatory messages after his transfer to one of the giants of English football, but he has credited the Olympics with helping him take his mind off one of the biggest moments of his career so far.

  He said: "I think for me the most important moment was staying present. It's been an ongoing thing for a while now, for a few months.

  "Just knowing where I was, staying focused with Atlanta at that time and then now with the Olympics has helped me kind of just be in the moment.

  "I think it's important to enjoy it first. You know this doesn't happen to many kids and so I think you need to embrace the feeling."

  The 19-year-old registered six goals and seven assists in 77 MLS matches across two and a half seasons with Atlanta.

  The USA, along with Thierry Henry's France, have also been grouped with Guinea and New Zealand in Group A.

  And coach Marko Mitrovic is embracing the enormity of facing the hosts in their first match after a 16-year absence, but stressed the result against Les Bleus will not define his team's tournament.

  He said: "We are very grateful to play that game. It's going to stay forever for us, but it's only one of three games that we have in the group stage and the points of the game count the same as in the other games."