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Hend of the road

Jordan Henderson admitted the past six months have not been easy for him after terminating his contract with Al-Ettifaq to join Ajax.

The former Liverpool captain controversially signed a three-year deal with the Saudi Pro League side in the summer but has departed without completing a single season.

After his move to Ajax was confirmed, the 33-year-old said: "It's been a difficult year or so for the club, both on and off the field, but that's the same for me in the past six months.

"So hopefully we can help each other come together and help each other go forward and try and be as successful as possible in the near future.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind, crazy few days, but I'm just so excited now to be here, to start a new chapter, a new journey in my life and my career and I'm just so excited to be here and part of this club.

"Once I knew there was an opportunity, I was overexcited and really overwhelmed that this opportunity was there for me. It was something that I wanted to try and make happen."

Casadei recalled

Chelsea have recalled midfielder Cesare Casadei from his loan spell with Championship leaders Leicester.

The Italian, 21, had been playing a key role for the Foxes in the second tier, appearing 25 times in all competitions and scoring three goals.

He is now expected to become part of Mauricio Pochettino's Blues first team for the second half of the season.

A statement from the East Midlands club said: "He leaves Leicester with the best wishes of everyone at the football club."

Sunak weighs in

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has deemed the debate over whether women should work as pundits as "ridiculous".

Sunak says the job should be "open for everybody" following comments by former Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton on social media.

Barton's remarks over pundit Eni Aluko led to the former England forward receiving abuse and feeling "genuinely scared".

When quizzed on the topic, Sunak said: "I listen to all sorts of conversations and they're all great. It shouldn't really matter, quite frankly.

"Of course it should be open to everybody."

Perisic loaned out

Injured Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic has joined Hajduk Split on loan until the end of the season.

Perisic, 34, suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury last September and was expected to miss the rest of the season.

The former Inter Milan ace has now returned to the Croatian side, who are set to sign him permanently when his Spurs contract expires this summer.

The North London club said: "We wish Ivan all the best for the future."

Perisic featured 39 times in the Premier League for Spurs, scoring once.

Toney to captain Bees

Ivan Toney will start as Brentford captain on his long-awaited return to action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.

The striker's eight-month ban for betting breaches expired on Tuesday, clearing him to make his first Premier League appearance since May.

Bees boss Thomas Frank said: "He's like an eight-year-old boy, he just wants to go out and play. Just that pure joy of playing football. 

"I'm looking into the eyes of a player who is very committed, very excited. He will start tomorrow, he will lead the team out, he'll be the captain. I'm pretty sure he'll be ready."

The 27-year-old's return hands a huge boost to the West London club, who are enduring an alarming run of five-straight league defeats and sit just three points above the relegation zone.

Frank added: "It's like signing a Premier League striker who can score 20 goals. It's massive.

"He's the second-best striker in the Premier League in my opinion. He wants to go out there and help the team win."

United's pathway

Harry Maguire says young, homegrown players will always get a chance at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag.

Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are both impressing in the first team this season after being handed their debuts during the Dutch manager's reign, with fellow academy starlets Dan Gore, Willy Kambwala and Omari Forson also making their bows in 2023-24.

The next youngster to reach the first team will be the 250th academy player to represent the Red Devils and Maguire believes youth development is a cornerstone of United's identity.

He told the official club website: "I think this club is always built on bringing players through the academy, we have an excellent record.

"The academy has always done really well and brought great players through. 

"And I think this manager has always proven that if you do well, you come up and you train, you get the opportunities and you get given the chance to impress.

"And he's not scared of putting players in and giving them opportunities to play on the big stage. That's when it matters in first-team football."