Rohr Backs Lookman to Ditch England for Nigeria

Lawrence Okolie will fly out to America to spar with Tyson Fury ahead of his WBC title fight with Deontay Wilder and could join the heavyweight division in the future.

Fury is basing himself at Big Bear Lake in California as he prepares to challenge WBC champion Wilder in Los Angeles on December 1, and Okolie has been called in as a sparring partner to replicate the American’s fighting style.

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr is hoping Ademola Lookman will switch allegiance to represent the Super Eagles.

The forward currently features for England at youth level and had helped them to win the U20 World Cup in 2017. However, he is still eligible to represent his parents’ country, Nigeria.

The 21-year-old was impressive on loan with German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig last season though he has struggled for game time since he joined Ever-

Everton winger Henry Onyekuru was expected to be ruled out for the next 4-5 weeks on loan for Galatasaray after picking up a hamstring injury returning from international duty with Nigeria.

The Nigerian international has, however, made a shock recovery sooner than the

The unbeaten cruiserweight also sparred Anthony Joshua ahead of last month’s world title win over Alexander Povetkin, and is relishing the challenge of sharing the ring with the 6’9” tall Fury.

“I think it’s getting confirmed today or before the end of the week,” Okolie told Sky Sports. “I’ll probably go out next week, help out for a few weeks.

“I’ve sparred with another heavyweight champion ton in 2017 from Charlton Athletic.

However, the 65-year-old gaffer is confident that the youngster will add value to his team, although, aware that the process can be tedious.

“He plays for the youth now but we hope he can change his mind and play for us,” Rohr told BBC Sport.

“He’s a player we know can add something to the team.

“Getting a player to change his national choice is not easy, quick and the Galatasaray medics expected.

Onyekuru was able to join training ahead of the Evkur Yeni Malatyaspor clash and is in contention to make a return.

The latest development will come as a boost to Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim who is dealing with in Anthony Joshua, I’ve sparred with Dillian Whyte, so I’ve been in there with top heavyweights.

“It’s just going to be interesting to be in there with someone so much bigger than myself. He’s got a long reach, good boxing IQ, so it’s going to be a great opportunity to learn some stuff, and just work.”

In 10 fights, Okolie has already claimed the British and Commonwealth titles in his weight class and ad- process is never so straightforward.

“First we must be sure he wants to come. And hope to get it cleared by FIFA.

“Then the most important part is that he brings something new, different and better than we have.”

WithAhmed Musa, Moses Simon, Henry Onyekuru and Samuel Kalu impressing on the wings, the German tactician is upbeat that the addition of the forward will give him more options up front.

“Every coach wants op- an injury crisis.

The 21-year-old has two assists in 10 appearances for the Lions in all competitions.

Onyekuru will feature if he regains match fitness in time for the Malatyaspor clash and could even be pushed up front as Terim could also be without his sole striker mits he would welcome the chance to test himself against the sport’s biggest fighters.

“It’s an ambition of mine to move up to heavyweight, but I still feel like I have a lot of fundamentals that need to be ironed out at cruiserweight,” he said.

“I’m able to get away with a lot of stuff as a cruiserweight that I won’t be able to get away with as a heavyweight, so we’re just going to work on it.” tions, we’ve been lucky to get some players and if we get him, Lookman will give us more options,” he continued.

“But we have to be careful about how we go about this because Nigeria have some good players at home and playing outside.”

Previously, the Nigeria Football Federation had successfully persuaded former England youth internationals Sone Aluko, Victor Moses, Shola Ameobi, Alex Iwobi and Ola Aina to play for the country. Eren Derdiyok who has a hamstring problem.

Serdar Aziz, Fernando Reges and Sofiane Feghouli have all been ruled out with injury but have returned to light training.

Yuto Nagatomo and Emre Akbaba are also out with long-term injuries.

Ex-Republic of Ireland international Andy Keogh says Usain Bolt turning pro would be a huge kick in the teeth for footballers in Australia

Bolt will never make it as a footballer, according to former Premier League and current A-League striker Andy Keogh, who says the Olympic legend’s first touch is ‘like a trampoline’.

The greatest sprinter of all-time has been offered a contract by Australian side Central Coast Mariners following a trial period with the club.

The Australian FA has said it is working with the Mariners to help fund a deal for the 32-year-old Jamaican.

But Keogh, the former Wolves star now playing for Perth Glory in the A-League, is unconvinced by Bolt’s ability and says giving him a contract would be ‘facial’ and would make a mockery of the game.

“It’s nice to have the attention on the A-League but him playing in the A-League, that’s not for me,” Keogh told Off the Ball. “For me, he’s not going to be able to make it (as a footballer). “He’s shown a bit (of potential) but it’s a little bit of a kick in the teeth to the professionals that are in the league.”

Asked about the Jamaican’s first touch, he added: “From what I’ve seen, it’s like a trampoline, so I’m not too sure.

“If there’s someone who genuinely thinks he’d be a good football addition, I don’t think they should be in a position to make those calls.

“It’s fine from a marketing point of view but from a football perspective, it’s a little bit farcical.

“He says he’s chasing a dream of becoming a professional footballer yet he’s come out with quotes about he wants X amount (of money) when, if you’re chasing the dream, it’s not about the money and he’s obviously contradicted himself massively there.”

Bolt, who holds the 100m and 200m world records, retired from athletics last year.

The Mariners have said that “without the contribution of an external third party” it was unlikely that Bolt and the club would agree terms.

Bolt turned down a two-year deal with Maltese champions Valletta FC earlier this month.

The Spanish league’s biggest and most anticipated club match, the El Clasico, will be aired live to GOtv MAX subscribers. Barcelona, the defending LaLiga champions, host eternal rivals, Real Madrid, at the Camp Nou, on Sunday.

The game, which will be the 177th encounter between both teams, will be broadcast live exclusively on SuperSport Select 4 (channel 34) at 4:15p.m.

The two giants will renew their famous rivalry in unfamiliar circumstances. For Barcelona, this will be the first time that Andres Iniesta, their former captain, will not feature in the El Clasico in over a decade, following his move to the Japanese league.

Also, for the first time since 2007, Barcelona’s current skipper, Lionel Messi, will be absent from El Clasico after suffering a broken right arm in his team’s game against Sevilla.

Real Madrid will also be missing Cristiano Ronaldo, their iconic goalscorer and dominant feature for nine seasons, having moved to Italian giants, Juventus, during the summer transfer window. This will also be the first El Clasico for Real Madrid under Julen Lopetegui, a former player of the club and former Spanish national team manager, who replaced Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid.

Lopetegui is, however, under pressure arising from the team’s failure to record a victory in five games in all competitions before their UEFA Champions League victory over Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday.

Of the nine games so far played, Barcelona have won five, drawn three, lost one and are second on the log behind Sevilla. Real Madrid are seventh after winning four, drawing two and losing three games respectively.

But form rarely matters in the El Clasico, as it is a game that thrives on passion and near-tribal rivalry.

Subscribers who upgrade to the GOtv MAX package will have access to El Clasico and also explore unlimited fun of world-class channels such as FOX, ROK2, Star Life, BET, CBS Reality, SuperSport Select 4 including the newly added BET and SuperSport Select 5.