Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton will be hoping for some positive news on the fitness front as they look to bounce back from their agonising late defeat to Coventry when they take on Bradford in the Carabao Cup.Forest’s final two pre-season fixtures were disrupted by Covid-19 and striker Lewis Grabban was forced to miss Sunday’s Championship opener at Coventry due to self-isolati...Full Story »

Lucas Akins could again get the nod up front for Burton’s Carabao Cup tie against Oxford.Akins started for the Brewers during their League One opener at Shrewsbury, which they won 1-0 on Saturday, with the club’s forward options having been hindered by injuries over the summer.Forward Kane Hemmings is out of action after suffering a hamstring problem during a pre-season game against ...Full Story »

Leyton Orient are without Adam Thompson and Harry Smith for the visit of QPR in the EFL Cup.Defender Thompson is not ready to return from an ankle injury and striker Smith is recovering from a knee problem.Both have stepped up their rehabilitation but Wednesday’s match comes too soon.Veteran skipper Darren Pratley could be rested by boss Kenny Jackett.QPR could welcome back Ilias Chair, wh...Full Story »

Blackpool striker Shayne Lavery will be pushing for a place in the starting XI for his side’s Carabao Cup tie against Middlesbrough.The 22-year-old joined the Seasiders in the summer and came off the bench to score an equaliser in the their Championship opener against Bristol City.Kenny Dougall and Kevin Stewart are making progress from their respective knee and ankle injuries and there is...Full Story »

Grealish watched Messi break down as he left Barcelona after 20 years at the club. Jack Grealish was unveiled in front of hundreds of Man City fans on Monday night Credit: AFP Lionel Messi broke down in tears after announcing he would leave Barcelona Credit: Getty And Grealish, 25, said he knew exactly how the Argentine legend felt. Grealish said: "Everyone has seen the way Messi was at hi...Full Story »

Barcelona have received an injury blow with the news that striker Sergio Aguero is set to be sidelined for 10 weeks with a calf issue. The LaLiga giants are still reeling from the departure of Lionel Messi, who is reportedly close to joining Paris St Germain in the coming days. Now they will be without Messi's Argentina team-mate, with Aguero's Barcelona debut delayed due to his injury setba...Full Story »

Matt Taylor is looking for his first win as Walsall manager as his side host Doncaster in the first round of the Carabao Cup.Taylor did not risk Rory Holden in Saturday’s loss at Tranmere due to an injury suffered in pre-season and the playmaker will again be checked.Midfielder Alfie Bates, an unused substitute at the weekend after overcoming a knock, will hope for some minutes.Defender Ro...Full Story »

Blackburn are expected to be without Joe Rankin-Costello and Bradley Johnson when they host Morecambe in the first round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.The duo are not expected to be fit in time to feature in the clash after missing Saturday’s season opener against Swansea.However, manager Tony Mowbray has no new injury concerns to deal with following their Sky Bet Championship curtain-rais...Full Story »

Oldham are hoping to have more players available for their Carabao Cup clash against Tranmere.Due to Covid-19 protocols and self-isolation, the Latics were without some of their first-team players in their League Two opening-day fixture against Newport, which they lost 1-0.Oldham made several signings on Saturday, including goalkeeper Danny Rogers, midfielders Ousseynou Cisse and Jamie Bowden pl...Full Story »

Callum Elder is facing a battle to be fit for Hull’s Carabao Cup first-round clash with Wigan at MKM Stadium.Elder missed the win over Preston on Saturday with an ankle injury and will be assessed ahead of the visit of the Latics.New signings Di’Shon Bernard, Andy Cannon and Matt Smith were all named on the bench at Deepdale and will hope to be involved.Randell Williams, Thomas Meyer...Full Story »

Bolton are without defender Declan John for the visit of Barnsley in the first round of the Carabao Cup.The 26-year-old suffered a knock in the closing stages of Saturday’s 3-3 draw with MK Dons in Sky Bet League One.Summer signing Will Aimson is not yet ready to feature due to a groin injury.Manager Ian Evatt has indicated that Kieran Lee and Ricardo Santos are likely to come into his sta...Full Story »

Barrow will assess Matt Platt ahead of their Carabao Cup first-round tie against Scunthorpe.The defender was forced off at half-time of the Bluebirds’ opening game of the season against Stevenage after the recurrence of a back injury.New striker signing Offrande Zanzala is nearing a return following a hamstring problem but Tuesday’s match is likely to come too soon.Tom Beadling (knee...Full Story »

Ipswich centre-back Toto Nsiala is unlikely to feature in the Carabao Cup clash with Newport after being forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury at the weekend.That means either Janoi Donacien, who replaced him on Saturday, or Corrie Ndaba are likely to start.Former West Brom winger Kyle Edwards joined on Monday but is not eligible to play as he was not signed in time, while defen...Full Story »

Cardiff could hand a first start of the season to Kieffer Moore for their Carabao Cup first-round clash with Sutton.The Wales striker missed pre-season due to Covid but came off the bench in Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship draw at home to Barnsley.If Moore does come in it is likely to be as one of several changes made by Bluebirds boss Mick McCarthy.With the likes of Lee Tomlin, Isaac Vass...Full Story »

Port Vale will be without goalkeeper Lucas Covolan for their Carabao Cup clash against Sunderland.Covolan was sent off for a challenge on Nicke Kabamba in the second half of the Valiants’ 1-0 defeat against Northampton on Saturday.Manager Darrell Clarke also revealed there are “one or two” injury problems from the Cobblers game.Defender James Gibbons is still recovering from a ...Full Story »

Lys Mousset is an injury concern for Sheffield United as they prepare to host Carlisle in the EFL Cup.The Frenchman was forced off early in the second half as the Blades began their Championship campaign with a home defeat to Birmingham.Fellow strikers Billy Sharp and Oli McBurnie both featured in Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Bramall Lane, having been doubts beforehand. Both were introduced from...Full Story »

Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer is likely to make a number of changes to his side for the Carabao Cup first-round visit of Colchester.Blues opened their Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 1-0 win at recently-relegated Sheffield United but many of the side are likely to be rotated.Chelsea loanee Juan Castillo could make his full debut after coming off the bench on Saturday, while fellow new arrival ...Full Story »

Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton will use the depth of his squad for the Carabao Cup first-round clash with Cheltenham.Barton has signalled his intention to involve those players who did not feature in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Mansfield, during which skipper Paul Coutts was sent off.Strikers Brett Pitman (ankle) and Aaron Collins (thigh) are unlikely to be involved and defender Trevor Clark...Full Story »

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has insisted they were ready to register former Barcelona star Lionel Messi. La Vanguardia reports the failure to re-sign Messi was in-part due to the club's refusal to accept LaLiga's agreement with CVC Capital, which Tebas initially presented to Barca president Joan Laporta over dinner on July 14. The agreement secured 2.7 billion euros of investment into LaLi...Full Story »

Inter Milan are closing on a deal for Roma striker Edin Dzeko. Sky Italia says Inter are in talks with Roma for Dzeko and have reached an agreement with his camp over a two-year contract. The Bosnia international was not in the starting line-up for the 5-2 defeat to Real Betis on the weekend. Roma and Inter are now negotiating a fee for the veteran. However, a move may be delayed as Roma w...Full Story »