League One Preview: Big weekend at both ends of the table

Preston North End could be promoted back to the Championship after a four-year absence in what promises to be a big weekend at both ends of the table in League One.

The Lancashire club, relegated from the second tier in 2011, are a point clear of MK Dons in the race for the second automatic promotion place after both claimed victories in midweek.

Simon Grayson s Preston won 3-1 at Notts County and MK Dons overcame Doncaster Rovers 3-0.

Preston head into Saturday s home game against fourth-placed Swindon Town knowing victory will secure promotion with a game to spare if Karl Robinson s side suffer defeat at Rochdale.

Colchester United, Notts County and Leyton Orient could all join Yeovil Town in dropping into League Two this weekend.

Coun…

Fenerbahce confirm Elmas to join Napoli

Eljif Elmas will join Serie A side Napoli from Fenerbahce, it was confirmed on Monday.

Turkish giants Fenerbahce announced North Macedonia international Elmas is set to fly to Italy to complete his reported €15million move to Napoli.

The 19-year-old has been linked with Napoli throughout the transfer window and he will now fill the midfield void left by Amadou Diawara s transfer to Roma and Marko Rog s proposed switch to Cagliari.

Eljif, who wears our uniform at a young age and who is proud of being a supporter of Fenerbahce, carries our coat of arms with his potential and loyalty to our colours. Wish you a future full of success, Fenerbahce said in a statement.

We believe that our footballer will represent Fenerbahce and our country in the best way …

Mbappe’s uncertain PSG future to ´be clarified soon´ says Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino believes Kylian Mbappe’s uncertain future will be clarified soon following reports linking the superstar striker with a move away from Paris Saint-Germain.

France international Mbappe lit up the Camp Nou with a devastating hat-trick to crush Barcelona in PSG’s 4-1 Champions League last-16 win on Tuesday.

Following his starring performance, the 22-year-old said: It would be stupid to decide my future on a single match, sparking speculation about his long-term plans with his hometown club.

Mbappe’s contract expires in June 2022 and some of Europe’s biggest club are rumoured to be circling if the French champions cannot not lock down the World Cup winner to a new deal.

Last year’s losing Champions League finallists, PSG, are c…

Van Persie set to retire at end of season

Feyenoord striker Robin van Persie is set to retire at the end of the season.

Former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Van Persie rejoined boyhood club Feyenoord in January and has enjoyed his return, but he is not planning on staying beyond the 2018-19 campaign.

The 35-year-old played his role in his side s KNVB Cup triumph last term and will not prolong his career solely in pursuit of the Eredivisie title, insisting his second stint with Feyenoord is already a success as he has rediscovered his enjoyment of the game. 

When should I stop? That is normally at the end of this season. That s the approach, Van Persie said ahead of Sunday s Klassieker against Ajax.

I will be 36 years old and will have been a professional for 18 years. From the age of f…

Nawalka sticking with what he knows for Poland´s Euro 2016 squad

Poland coach Adam Nawalka stated that he has picked the players he believes in  after he announced a 28-man provisional squad for Euro 2016.

The 58-year-old, who made 34 appearances as a player for Poland between 1977 and 1980, guided the national side to their third successive European Championship with a successful qualification campaign from a group that also included Germany and Republic of Ireland.

With a strong core based around the likes of Jakub Blaszczykowski, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Robert Lewandowski, Nawalka is hopeful of bettering their efforts in the last two tournaments, with Poland failing to progress from the group stages on both occasions.

I looked at the players closely, both in terms of their club and national-team performances, and I am s…

Maddison delighted by ´second debut´ for England after World Cup woes

James Maddison was delighted to earn his second debut with England after facing difficulties during the World Cup in Qatar.

The Leicester City midfielder s second cap for the Three Lions came three and a half years after his international debut, with opportunities not forthcoming in that spell as he faced immense competition for a berth in the side.

Maddison shone in his display against Ukraine at Wembley, creating five chances – the most of any player in their first game for England since Theo Walcott created six against Andorra in September 2008.

With his England debut feeling like a lifetime ago , Maddison enjoyed his second coming into the national side.

It felt great. I said in there it almost felt like a second debut. Like it doesn t really work.…