International call ups
Lynden Gooch has missed out on a United States call up, despite his highly impressive start to the season.
The US head coach Dave Sarachan named a 28-man squad for the games against England and Italy but although he named a young squad - which has an average age of just 23 - 22-year-old Gooch wasn’t included.
He has three goals and seven assists to his name already this season and missing out will be a blow but maybe not a surprise to the young forward, as he told the Sunderland Echo:
Of course, I think it would be an amazing thing to be a part of.
Being in this country for seven years now it would mean a lot to me to get called up.
It’s something I would like to but it’s difficult in League One, we’ve got quite a few players playing in the Champions League for America now so we’ll see what happens.
Jon McLaughlin has been called up once again by Scotland ahead of their international fixtures against Albania and Israel.
The goalkeeper was an unused substitute in Alex McLeish’s squad during the previous international break but will be hoping to make an appearance during the upcoming round of fixtures.
Benji Kimpioka - who has been on the fringes of the first team for a while now - is in the Sweden youth squad for their European Under-19 qualifiers against San Marino and Wales.
And lastly, young Sunderland winger Sean Kennedy is in the Republic of Ireland under-17 squad for their games against England, Czech Republic and Germany in Tallaght, Ireland.
Loan roundup
Elliot Embleton was in action last night as Grimsby Town travelled to Mansfield Town in League Two.
Embleton dropped to the bench for this game but came on with a little under half-an-hour remaining with the score tied at 1-1 and got himself straight into the action as he was booked within three minutes of his introduction.
A deflected effort from Wes Thomas had given the visitors the lead but a double from Tyler Walker - the son of former England international Des - sealed a 2-1 win for Mansfield.
Casey signs for Cork City
Sunderland academy product Dan Casey has left Bohemians to join their League of Ireland rivals Cork City.
The 21-year-old had been a regular for Bohs as they finished 6th in a season which ended just a couple of weeks ago but with the expiry of his contract, Cork swooped to sign the defender on a two-year deal.
Speaking about the move, Casey said he was excited at the prospect of Europa League football with the club next season:
This is a huge club and a good move for me.
I hope this will be a great period in my career. Cork City have always been a tough team to play against, and I have enjoyed those battles, so I am excited to be playing for Cork City.
European football is a huge bonus and something I am dying to experience. As a kid, playing in Europe is something you want to do, and I am looking forward to being part of it
Delighted to sign for @CorkCityFC looking forward to the next two years, I would also like to thank all the players, staff and fans of @bfcdublin wish them all the best. https://t.co/RHhLOo4OfI
— Dan Casey (@DanCasey1997) November 6, 2018
Monaco president arrested
The president of Ligue 1 side AS Monaco Dmitry Rybolovlev was arrested in the principality yesterday in relation to a corruption investigation.
French newspaper Le Monde claim Rybolovlev’s arrest comes in the wake of an investigation into corruption and influence peddling, which has led to the resignation of Monaco’s former justice minister.
The Russian’s lawyer said in a statement:
We regret the breach of confidentiality of the inquiry that this information represents, and we request that the presumption of innocence in relation to Mr Rybolovlev is strictly respected.
Rybolovlev has a link to Sunderland due to Juan Sartori being his son-in-law, after the Uruguayan - who has a 20% stake in the club - married Rybolovlev’s daughter Ekaterina in 2015.