With Diego Costa s fitness ruling him out of Spain s friendly against Costa Rica, a clutch of strikers have the chance to stake their claim for a place in Vicente del Bosque s side.
Costa has been left out of Del Bosque s squad for the friendly in Leon and the subsequent Euro 2016 qualifier against Belarus due to fitness concerns.
The Chelsea forward has been hampered by hamstring troubles during his debut Premier League campaign with Nolito, Alvaro Morata and Paco Alcacer likely to have opportunities up front in his absence.
Alcacer and Morata have both made solid attempts to replace the goals scored by former international David Villa, although Nolito will rarely get better opportunities to showcase his Celta Vigo form at international level.
Sevilla…
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes is ready to offer Peter Crouch a new contract, according to Sky Sports.
The veteran striker turns thirty-seven in January but the Potters manager believes that he is no way near retirement and still has something offer.
All eight of the former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur man’s outings this season have come from the bench and last week he broke Shoala Ameobi’s record for the amount of Premier League substitute appearances.
In total, Crouch has played two hundred and eleven times since signing from Spurs in the summer of 2011 a tally far higher than that he has achieved with any of his former sides.
He also has a personal record of fifty-eight goals for his current side while fifty-two of his total Premier League …
The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on Saturday, 14 January in Gabon as hosts take on Guinea Bissau, and the 31st edition of the continental tournament promises premium excitement.
Riyad Mahrez, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sadio Mane are just some of the star players who will be looking to lead their respective national teams to glory, but it is holders Ivory Coast that have been made .
They are followed by perennial underachievers Senegal (5/1), Algeria (7/1), hosts Gabon (8/1) and Cameroon, Egypt and Ghana (all priced at 10/1).
The top goalscorer chase should prove quite interesting as well, with Gabon’s own Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leading the betting at 11/2.
Aston Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia and Leicester City star Islam Slimani…