Promotion the aim again for new Royals boss McDermott

Lassana Diarra has thanked Didier Deschamps for giving him another opportunity to represent France.

Having previously said in 2013 that his time with the national team was finished, the midfielder had a change of heart and accepted a recall to the squad for the upcoming friendlies with Armenia and Denmark.

The former Real Madrid man, whose last cap came against Norway in August 2010, admitted to informing Deschamps that we wished to return to the set-up and thanked the coach for obliging.

I had a discussion with the coach. I told him of my motivation, Diarra said in a news conference.

I wanted to return for France. I had this objective in joining Marseille and obviously I convinced him. I thank him for calling me.

A contractual dispute w…

Javi Gracia remains focused on steering Watford to their best Premier League finish following a frustrating 2-0 loss to Tottenham.

Watford had chances to equalise after Dele Alli gave Spurs the lead on Monday at Wembley, Hugo Lloris denying both Andre Gray and Richarlison before Harry Kane made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.

Gracia has still yet to see his side score an away goal and they are not quite sure of safety, sitting six points above third-bottom Southampton who have a game in hand but the Spaniard is looking to better the 13th-placed finish the Hornets achieved in 2015-16.

He told Sky Sports: It was frustrating, we competed very well. The first half we created many chances to score. Tottenham with their first chance to score, scored and afte…

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After a season which has had many ups and downs in the Championship, we re now on the verge of its conclusion as Aston Villa and Middlesbrough prepare to battle for a place in the playoff final at Wembley. As it stands, Villa have a 1-0 advantage courtesy of their win at the Riverside in the first leg, as Tony Pulis attempts to pull off what would be an impressive comeback.

Aston Villa

Under Steve Bruce, Villa fans have been through it all. They ve been favourites for promotion, and they ve also suffered from complacency leading many to wonder whether or not he s the right man for the job. Now, however, they re on the verge of another trip to Wembley, which is an impressive feat given just how high the ex…

The Premier League has revealed new cases of COVID-19 at its clubs have topped 100 for the first time in a seven-day period.

League chiefs said there were 103 freshly discovered cases in the week from Monday December 20 to Sunday December 26.

That follows the announcement of 90 new positive cases for the previous week, which was more than double the previous high.

It comes as more games fall by the wayside due to clubs being overwhelmed by new cases. Together with mid-season injury tolls, the cases have left several teams unable to field sides.

Three of nine games scheduled for Boxing Day could not be played.

Those were the games between Liverpool and Leeds United, Wolves and Watford, and Burnley and Everton.

Games scheduled for Tuesday …

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Liverpool will allow Divock Origi to leave the club for as little as £12 million.

Origi will forever go down in the history books as an Anfield legend thanks to the many iconic goals he’s scored over the years with the most notable being the goal in the 2019 UEFA Champions League final that sealed the trophy for the Reds.

However, between some of his poor misses as well as a lack of playing time, it certainly feels as if his stint with the club is coming to an end.

At the age of just 25 he certainly has a lot of time left to grow as a striker and when you consider how many clubs could use someone like him in their squad, it doesn t feel like he s going to be short on options.

Sure, he may not stay in…

Fulham are interested in signing Franck Kessie from Barcelona in the January transfer window, according to . The report in the Spanish publication has claimed that Aston Villa, Fulham and Inter Milan are also keen on Kessie.

Kessie has struggled to make a huge impact at Barcelona since his move on a free transfer in the summer of 2022 after leaving AC Milan at the end of last season. The 25-year-old Ivory Coast international midfielder has had injury problems and has not been at his best at Camp Nou in the first half of the season.

The former Atalanta star has made three starts and three substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona so far this season, scoring one goal in the process. Kessie has made two starts and five substitute appearances in La L…

Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique is preparing for the usual intensity in his side’s game against Lyon despite both teams’ below-par starts to the season.

PSG finally got up and running with victory over Lens, following draws with Lorient and Toulouse. On Sunday, they visit a winless Lyon side who are kept off the bottom of Ligue 1 only by Clermont.

“We have prepared for tomorrow’s game in the same way as every game at Paris St Germain – with a serious approach, with professionalism,” Enrique said at a pre-match press conference broadcast on the club’s website.

First meeting with our supporters for our signing Randal Kolo Muani

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)

“Lyon are a big historic club. They are one of best sides in …

Brazil defender David Luiz is available for Wednesday s last-four clash against Uruguay after recovering from a bruised leg.

Midfielder Paulinho is set to return to the starting XI after missing the 4-2 win over Italy with an ankle injury, but Bernard (foot) is a doubt.

Hulk is expected to start ahead of Lucas Moura in attack, despite failing to impress in the group stage.

Uruguay captain Diego Lugano returns after serving a one-match ban for accumulating two yellow cards, but fellow defender Andres Scotti is ruled out after getting sent off in the 8-0 win over Tahiti.

Coach Oscar Tabarez is likely to persist with the attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani despite Abel Hernandez s four-goal haul against the Pacific islanders.

…

Arsenal have confirmed that captain Thomas Vermaelen will not join them on their pre-season tour of Asia.

The Belgium international is struggling with a back injury and will remain in London to recover with the help of the club s medical department.

The defender has been a regular fixture for Arsenal since signing from Ajax in 2009, and played in 29 matches in all competitions last season. However, reports suggest his chronic back problem could cause him to miss the start of the 2013-14 Premier League campaign as well as the trip to Asia.

Tweeting about the injury, Vermaelen pledged to get back to full fitness as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, due to a back injury I can’t join my team mates on the Asia Tour the next few weeks. I will be staying in London…

Thiago Motta has signed a new one-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain, the Ligue 1 club have announced.

The 34-year-old has agreed to a deal that will keep him at Parc des Princes for the 2017-18 season.

Motta had been linked with a return to Serie A once his contract expired, with former club Genoa reportedly keen to offer him a deal.

However, the former Barcelona man says he is thrilled to continue his adventure with PSG.

Le est heureux d’annoncer la prolongation du contrat de Thiago Motta jusqu’au 30 juin 2018.

— PSG Officiel (@PSG_inside)

It s a great pleasure to extend my contract with Paris Saint-Germain, he said. I have a special history with this club, who have put a lot of confidence in me over the last five years.