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• Rodri predicts PFA Player of the Year Foden could be England's best-ever player

  Rodri predicted Phil Foden could go on to become England's greatest-ever player after he was crowned PFA Players' Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season on Tuesday.

  Foden added the top men's PFA prize to the Premier League Player of the Season award he won in May, having inspired Manchester City to their fourth straight league title last term.

  He scored 19 league goals and added eight assists in 2023-24, including vital hat-tricks against Brentford and Aston Villa and a stunning final-day strike versus West Ham.

  Rodri was also considered among the contenders for the PFA prize after going unbeaten through all 34 of his Premier League appearances last season (27 wins, seven draws), but the Spaniard believes his team-mate was a worthy victor. 

  "I'm so, so happy about Phil. To be honest he's a very good kid, a very shy kid. For me, he has the ability to be the best English player in history when he finishes his career," Rodri said at Tuesday's award ceremony. 

  "He needs to keep the level up in his game, already he's one of the best players in the league and in Europe.

  "I think he could get even better. The quality, ambition and hard work he has every day listening to old people like me is very important. 

  "He was outstanding last season and it's the first season I saw him carrying the team on his back."

  Foden is the first Englishman to win the PFA Player's Player of the Year award since Wayne Rooney in 2010, and the first to do so in the same year as winning the Premier League title since John Terry in 2005.

  Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland, who joined Rodri and Foden in being voted into the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, was also effusive in his praise for the England man.

  "He's a great guy, I really enjoy playing with him and joking with him," Haaland said. 

  "Phil is unbelievable, some of the stuff he does in training that no one sees is also incredible, I'm lucky to play with him."

• Juventus duo Thuram and Weah suffer hamstring injuries in Serie A opener

  Juventus have revealed midfielder Khephren Thuram and winger Timothy Weah both suffered hamstring injuries in their season-opening victory over Como in Serie A.

  Juve began their first campaign under former Bologna coach Thiago Motta with a 3-0 win over Cesc Fabregas' newly promoted side in Turin.

  Forward Samuel Mbangula put the Bianconeri ahead with a fine solo goal before Weah blasted home off the underside of the crossbar to make it 2-0 shortly before half-time.

  However, the United States wideman was substituted at the break after appearing to suffer a hamstring strain, while Thuram – signed from Nice last month – was also withdrawn before Andrea Cambiaso added a late third.

  The Italian giants have now confirmed both players sustained hamstring issues and will be reassessed in around 10 days, ruling them out of Monday's trip to Verona and potentially the September 1 clash with Roma.

  "Following muscular problems suffered during last night's match, Khephren Thuram and Timothy Weah underwent diagnostic tests this morning at the J Medical Centre," a club statement said. 

  "They revealed for the former a low-grade hamstring injury in his left thigh and for the latter a low-grade hamstring injury in his right thigh. 

  "New examinations are scheduled for both players in approximately 10 days' time."

• "Bunnny" Shaw, Foden, Palmer win top prizes at PFA Awards

  Phil Foden and Cole Palmer won the top men's prizes, while Reggae Girlz and Manchester City striker Khadija "Bunny" Shaw won the top women's prize at the PFA Awards for the 2023-24 season on Tuesday.

  Foden took home the Players' Player of the Year award for the first time, while Palmer was named the Young Player of the Year.

  The women's Players' Player of the Year honour went to Shaw, with the Young Player of the Year award copped by Grace Clinton.

  Two-time Young Player winner Foden had already been announced as the Premier League Player of the Season and the FWA Footballer of the Year.

  Following the midweek ceremony, he has now also been recognised by his fellow professionals after starring in Manchester City's fourth straight title triumph.

  Ex-City man Palmer had likewise been nominated for the top award after an outstanding first season at Chelsea, in which he netted 22 league goals.

  However, Palmer was not included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

  Foden made the cut alongside City team-mate Erling Haaland and Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins in attack.

  There were four City players included, with Kyle Walker and Rodri selected, but the champions were outnumbered by Arsenal's five representatives.

  David Raya, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard earned recognition, with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk completing the XI.

  The PFA WSL Team of the Year included both Players' Player of the Year Shaw and Young Player of the Year Clinton.

  Shaw was one of six City stars in the XI despite her side being pipped to the title by Chelsea, who could count only three players in the team.