Nikolai Topor-Stanley could make his first Australia appearance in more than six years after winning selection in Ange Postecoglou s 23-man squad.

The return of Topor-Stanley headlined the announcement on Thursday, with uncapped Sydney FC forward Bernie Ibini also included.

Skipper Mile Jedinak and veterans Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano will provide the experience in a youthful squad that will play friendlies against the United Arab Emirates and Qatar next month.

Aston Villa utility Chris Herd on loan at Bolton and new Fiorentina signing Joshua Brillante were picked by Postecoglou, with the likes of youngsters Brad Smith, Massimo Luongo and Tomi Juric also involved.

Western Sydney Wanderers captain Topor-Stanley has been rewarded for his impressive club f…

Former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira has lamented the current crop of Premier League footballers, claiming some players are too worried about looking pretty.

While he works in the United States with MLS outfit New York City, Vieira still keeps a close eye on the English game, having earned a reputation as one of the best tough-tackling midfielders in the country.

Vieira had some heated battles in the Premier League, especially during his nine-year stint at Arsenal when up against Manchester United captain Roy Keane.

Asked about the Premier League and the lack of physical midfielders, Vieira told the Daily Mail: Players maybe now want to look more pretty than anything else.

I feel disappointed when I watch games now because too man…

AC Milan have completed the signing of veteran goalkeeper Marco Storari from Cagliari on a contract until the end of the season.

Brazilian shot-stopper Gabriel has moved in the opposite direction on a loan deal for the remainder of the 2016-17 campaign after agreeing a new deal with the Rossoneri until 2019.

The 40-year-old Storari previously enjoyed a spell with Milan between January 2007 and June 2010, making 13 appearances in all competitions.

He eventually left Milan for Juventus, where he served as understudy to Gianluigi Buffon until leaving for Cagliari in 2015.

Storari helped Cagliari win promotion back to Serie A in 2015-16 and remained a key figure in the opening stages of this term, but lost his starting berth late in 2016.

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One of the tastiest UEFA Champions League knockout ties starts with a match at Allianz Arena where the in-form Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are playing host to stuttering Arsenal.

 Bayern Munich

Carlo Ancelotti did not have the best of starts in the Champions League with . As a Cup specialists, brought on a premise of the Champions League glory, Ancelotti lead his side to defeats to Atletico Madrid and Rostov in the group stages. Fortunately, it all went well in the end as the Bavarians earned their chance to fight in the knockouts and the players themselves, subsequently, could not have wished for a more favourable draw. Many of the current Bayern Munich players have rather fond memories of the English r…

Neymar will spend 10 weeks on the sidelines due to his foot injury, keeping him out for both legs of the Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester United.

Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the length of time the world s most expensive footballer will miss, having hobbled out of the Coupe de France clash with Strasbourg last week.

The club announced on Wednesday that conservative treatment of the injury to the fifth right metatarsal will keep Neymar out until mid-April, adding to their injury woes as Marco Verratti remains out.

The news comes as a major blow to Thomas Tuchel s men, who will now be without their talisman for both legs of the crunch clash with United, which begins at Old Trafford on February 12.

His scheduled return timetable would se…

According to Tuttosport, Eliaquim Mangala could be set to make the move to Inter Milan sooner rather than later. The Manchester City defender isn’t exactly in favour at the Etihad, and given how well they’ve been performing over the course of the last few months, it seems like they aren’t going to change the way they operate anytime soon.

His contract is up at the end of the season, and City have proven in the past that they don’t mess around when it comes to removing deadwood from their squad. Calling Mangala deadwood may be a little bit insulting but it certainly feels like there’s a changing of the guard for the Premier League champions, and Pep Guardiola is leading that.

The 27 year old, who featured in France’s Euro 2016 squad, has been on the books wit…

Eden Hazard inspired Chelsea to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

The 27-year-old forward fuelled speculation over his future this week by stating he will wait and see how Chelsea s close-season transfer policy develops before committing to a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

But he was all business at England s national stadium as he turned the first half into an ordeal for Phil Jones – the United defender whose clumsy foul meant Hazard won and converted a 22nd-minute penalty.

United improved upon a tepid showing after the break and Alexis Sanchez had a goal ruled out for offside, but even the late introduction of Romelu Lukaku on his return from an ankle injury could not force an equaliser.

It meant a swee…

Andrea Pirlo said he has not received reassurances over his Juventus future, rather confirmation from the president that the project has just started in Turin following the club s Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Porto.

Juve crashed out of the Champions League in the round-of-16 stage for the second consecutive season – the Serie A titleholders bowing out 4-4 on away goals despite beating 10-man Porto 3-2 after extra time on Tuesday.

Federico Chiesa scored a second-half brace for Juve and Adrien Rabiot headed home after Sergio Oliveira s second goal to set up a grandstand finish, but the Italian giants fell short.

For the first time in the European Cup/Champions League, Juventus have been eliminated in the last 16 for two consecutive seasons as pre…

Arsenal new boy Lucas Torreira has revealed that he is a fan of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti.

Torreira completed his £26million move from Sampdoria to Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, after featuring heavily in Uruguay s run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Speaking to Arsenal media, Torreira said: I try to look up to the best players and steal something from all of them.

It is true that I really like Verratti. I spent two years in his former club Pescara and supporters compared me to him. I went on checking his style and I liked it.

It s time

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal)

Torreira began his career in his native Uruguay before joining Pescara s youth system in 2013.

The equally diminutive Verratti also came through…

With three of the four nations having reached the semi-finals or better in the past three Asian Cups, Group B is set to be a competitive one.

With three of the four nations having reached the semi-finals or better in the past three Asian Cups, Group B is set to be a competitive one with North Korea the notable minnows. Saudi Arabia are the only proven side with three Asian championships to their name, while China are two-time semi-finalists and Uzbekistan were in the last four in 2011.

The favourites Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia

Ranked 74th in the FIFA standings, the Uzbeks are the out-and-out favourites to win the group. The fourth highest-ranked nation in Asia, Uzbekistan led by coach Mirjalol Qosimov have shown gradual improvement in the continental tournament ove…