Stoke sign former City goalkeeper Niki as back-up

STOKE City have snapped up former Bristol City shot-stopper Niki Maenpaa on a free transfer after the 35-year-old was released from the Robins in the summer.

Maenpaa was recently recalled by Finland and trained with Bristol Rovers, and now he has landed a contract at another Championship outfit.

Michael O’Neill has brought in the 26-cap Finland international to provide cover at the Potters, with regular goalkeepers Angus Gunn and Adam Davies having suffered knocks of late.

Davies damaged knee ligaments in a defeat at Swansea in late October, while Gunn suffered an ankle injury during the international break.

Maenpaa made 30 league appearances for Bristol City over a two-year spell, after being released from Brighton & Hove Albion where he had won a promotion.

The emergence of Max O’Leary meant Dean Holden released the veteran player but now Maenpaa could even face his former team later in the season.

Maenpaa was recently called up by his country to be involved in the squads against Poland, for a friendly in July, before two UEFA Nations League games against Bulgaria and Ireland.

A four-year hiatus was ended, although the former Robin was not called up for the Finns’ recent friendly win against France in Paris or subsequent competitive games against Wales and Bulgaria.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is back in training and could face Atalanta in the Champions League tonight.

The 28-year-old missed Sunday’s 3-0 win over Leicester after testing positive for coronavirus while on international duty with Egypt.

But he has since tested negative and took part in training on Monday.

Liverpool have a 100 per cent record in this season’s Champions League.