Christian Pulisic has returned to Chelsea after withdrawing from the United States squad for their upcoming friendlies against Wales and Panama.

The 22-year-old linked up with his national side despite not playing for Chelsea since October 28 because of a hamstring injury sustained ahead of the Premier League clash with Burnley.

However, Pulisic has been deemed unfit to play against Wales in Swansea on Thursday and Panama in Austria next Monday, and has now dropped out of the squad.

Speaking at a pre-match news conference on Wednesday, United States head coach Gregg Berhalter said: Christian is a big part of our group. 

He has been working through an injury, but he really says a lot that he wanted to come into camp, be around the guys and continue to …

Erik ten Hag believed Newcastle United wanted to win more than Manchester United on Sunday.

The Red Devils slipped to a second defeat in their last three Premier League games as they suffered a 2-0 loss, with second-half goals from Joe Willock and Callum Wilson at St James Park claiming revenge for the Magpies EFL Cup final loss to United.

United dropped to fourth in the Premier League as a result, behind Newcastle on goal difference and just one point ahead of Tottenham.

Speaking after the game, Ten Hag acknowledged his side deserved to lose, suggesting it was attitude that made the difference.

I hate to say it but they were better today, he told Sky Sports. Especially [their] determination, passion and desire. They wanted to win more this week, so they…

Marcus Rashford described his delight at working under Erik ten Hag at Manchester United after being named the Premier League s Player of the Month for September.

Forward Rashford scored two goals and assisted two more in United s two league matches this month.

Both games – at Leicester City and at home to leaders Arsenal – ended in victory to extend United s winning run to four in the top flight.

In an interview with MUTV after earning the award for the second time in his career (also January 2019), Rashford deflected praise as he suggested everyone s chipped in to aid United s revival.

He also described his favourite moment of the month as his assist for Antony against Arsenal, ahead of either of his own two goals that day.

Antony scoring h…

Seven days on from their shock 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace, Manchester City managed to make a rampant return to winning ways as they made the trip to Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.

While much might have been made of United’s eye-catching Premier League record against their noisy neighbours prior to kick-off, Pep Guardiola’s defending champions completely dominated proceedings from the opening whistle as they cruised their way to a 2-0 victory.

Almost wrapping up all three points thanks to Eric Bailly’s own goal and Bernardo Silva’s poked effort on the stroke of half-time, there is no doubt that the pressure still firmly remains on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s shoulders.

As the Sky Blues cruised their way to a 2-0 win on Saturday lunchtime, we have…

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Christopher Nkunku will not be fit to be involved in Chelsea’s visit to Newcastle on Saturday.

There had been hopes that the £52million summer signing from RB Leipzig would have sufficiently recovered from the knee injury he sustained on the pre-season tout of the United States to play a part at St James’ Park.

But, despite being fit enough to have taken part in training with the first team, the 26-year-old has not worked tactically with the squad and will not travel.

The latest on Christopher Nkunku and five other Blues ahead of our return to Premier League action.

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

Chelsea struggled without the France international in Pochettino’s first Premier League games in charge, wit…

Eddie Howe does not believe Jack Grealish s criticism of Miguel Almiron in Manchester City s title celebrations contributed to the Newcastle United winger s remarkable upturn in form.

In a clip that went viral, Grealish said in the aftermath of City s dramatic Premier League triumph he had welcomed the substitution of Riyad Mahrez against Aston Villa on the final day as his team-mate played like Almiron .

It was a harsh jibe but one that spoke to Almiron s frustratingly ineffectual performances in a Newcastle shirt.

The former Atlanta United star too often lacked an end product prior to the start of this season.

But Almiron has spectacularly turned his Newcastle career around in 2022-23, scoring seven goals from chances worth just 4.2 expected goals (xG).…

Vinicius Junior feared he would miss Brazil s World Cup campaign through injury after being targeted by dirty challenges in the build-up to the tournament.

The Real Madrid winger has contributed to nine goals in LaLiga this season (six goals, three assists) – a tally only bettered by Robert Lewandowski (17) and Borja Iglesias (10).

Vinicius has also won 16 senior caps for Brazil after making his international debut in 2019, emerging as a key part of Tite s team ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

With the mid-season scheduling of the World Cup being criticised after several big-name players including Sadio Mane and Paul Pogba were ruled out through injury, Vinicius says both he and team-mate Rodrygo were targeted with unsavoury challenges by opponents.

W…

Manchester United never know when they are beaten and must not be underestimated by Barcelona in the Champions League, says Gerard Pique.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s side set up the quarter-final tie after producing a stirring comeback against Paris Saint-Germain last month in the last 16.

United lost the first leg at Old Trafford 2-0 before registering a stunning 3-1 win in the Parc des Princes in the return fixture, sealed by Marcus Rashford s stoppage-time penalty.

And Pique – who spent four years at the Red Devils before returning to his boyhood club in 2008 – has cautioned against complacency if they do leave England with a first-leg advantage.

I ve seen the replay of Manchester United v PSG, he told a media conference. It s a good example.

…

Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso is set to undergo surgery in a bid to resolve the back problems which have limited his appearances this season.

Alonso has started just four games in the current campaign and appeared three times as a substitute.

The 33-year-old has not featured since playing the first hour of a Champions League defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk on November 7.

[INJURY NEWS]

Next week, Marcos Alonso is to undergo surgery on the problems in the lumbar region of his back that have kept him sidelined in recent weeks. The club will be making an announcement immediately after to report on how the operation has gone.

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)

Barcelona did not give an exact date for the operation but said in a short story on thei…

Chelsea and Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy is relishing a huge week for the Stamford Bridge outfit, saying he will have time to celebrate his recent trophy wins at the end of the season.

Mendy has enjoyed another strong campaign, lifting the Club World Cup with Thomas Tuchel s team after starring in his nation s first major trophy success at the Africa Cup of Nations.

He kept four clean sheets and was named the tournament s best goalkeeper as Senegal lifted the trophy.

But with the London outfit facing a crucial week on two fronts, hosting Lille in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday before facing Liverpool in Sunday s EFL Cup final, the 29-year-old says he is simply taking each game as it comes without any time to celebrate just yet.

A lot of g…