Julien Ngoy faces serious competition for places on Stoke City’s left wing, but the teenager has lofty ambitions and believes he can hold down a regular starting place next term.

The highly-rated Ngoy joined Stoke in 2013, opting for a move to the Potters over more glamorous clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool, and he made his Premier League debut at Arsenal in December.

The 19-year-old Belgian impressed in his five appearances, with his pace and skill catching the eye, but he soon fell back down the pecking order behind the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic and Ramadan Sobhi.

Currently out injured, it is unlikely Ngoy will feature in the final few games of the season as Stoke try to confirm safety ahead of next year.

Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

But the winger has big plans next season.

“Over the next 12 months maybe I want to be starting games for Stoke,” he said.

“Pre-season will be big for me and I know if I don’t impress the manager enough then maybe I will have to go out on loan. If everything is all right then I will play more.

“And I’ve got to score goals to stay in the first team. I’m still waiting for my first goal and it will be better for me.

“At the moment I’ve been doing under-23s then first team then under-23s and I need to make sure I stay in the first team.”

“It will be soon.”

Watford’s Craig Cathcart says that his international exploits are providing him with an extra spring in his step this season.

The 28-year-old was part of Northern Ireland squad that reached the last 16 at Euro 2016 in their first-ever appearance at the European Championships but due to a host of injuries, Cathcart didn’t pull on a green and white shirt again until Michael O’Neill’s men beat Norway 2-0 in a World Cup Qualifier at Windsor Park on March 26.

The Hornets defender, who has been capped 33 times, says that he still gets a major buzz when he casts his mind back to Northern Ireland’s French adventure and while he is hoping for a positive end to season at Vicarage Road, Cathcart is also aiming for more moments to savour with his country.

“I think Northern Ireland was at a standstill for the whole tournament,” said the Watford man.

“I don’t know who was working because it felt like most of the country were at the tournament. The fans were incredible.

“You always want to test yourself against the top players and I certainly had the opportunity to do that. To be the first Northern Ireland team to win a game at the Euros; it was an incredible feeling and something I’ll never forget.

“It (Euro 2016) definitely has (made me hungrier). I think with the group of players we’ve got now; if we can do it for the Euros, I’m sure we can pull together and do it again for the World Cup.

“We’ve started quite well in World Cup qualifying as well, so hopefully there’s potential for more achievements in the future.”

Hull City midfielder Sam Clucas has backed his side to improve on their dire away form ahead of their trip to Stoke on Saturday as their survival bid intensifies.

The Tigers have not won on the road since August, beating Swansea City 2-0 at the Liberty Stadium, and sit two points clear of the drop zone.

But Clucas remains confident his side can pick up a victory at the Britannia Stadium before taking points in their remaining away fixtures against Crystal Palace and Southampton to secure survival.

(Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

“Our home form has been terrific, but we are going to have to improve away if we are to stay in this division,” said Clucas.

“It’s difficult to explain why there is such a contrast between our results at home and away because we don’t do anything different through the week in training.

“I am sure we will improve things and start picking up points on the road, too. It may be an old cliché, but every point really does count at this stage of the season.

“It’s been important for us to get to 30 points with six games to go and you can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

“By no means are we safe, but getting to 30 points is a good marker and certainly puts less pressure on our last few games.”

Liverpool winger Sadio Mané is confident he will be back on the pitch in no time at all after suffering a knee injury in the Merseyside derby earlier this month.

Jurgen Klopp’s men currently sit third in the Premier League table after maintaining a six-match unbeaten streak and travel to The Hawthorns this Sunday to face a struggling West Brom side, without their key player.

The 25-year-old underwent surgery on his knee on this week, and is already anticipating his comeback despite being ruled out for the remainder of the 2016/17 season.

His optimism comes as a result of the overwhelming support from Reds fans worldwide, as well as Senegal supporters, and he admits there is no greater motivation to get himself fighting fit once more.

(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

“It’s great that I have received so many encouraging messages from fans around the world, particularly on social media,” he said.

“It makes me proud and gives me so much power that so many supporters of Liverpool FC and Senegal give me such great support. I’d like to say thank you to everyone.

“I will give my very best after yesterday’s successful surgery to be back on the pitch as soon as possible and be even better than before.”

Craig Shakespeare has said Leicester City need to show more attacking adventure if they are to get past Atletico Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final return leg.

The Foxes were beaten 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Wednesday night, with Antoine Griezmann’s penalty the difference between the sides.

Diego Simeone’s side dominated the match, but Shakespeare’s men are in touch with their Spanish counterparts and will go into the second leg on Tuesday at the King Power Stadium with hope.

But to get past a notoriously stubborn Atletico will require more clinical play in the final third, according to the Leicester boss.

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images

“We are still alive and want to stay in it,” said Shakespeare. “We still have a challenge ahead against a very good team. We know it is bound to be a very difficult return match, but we have very good record at King Power Stadium.

“Our fans enjoy these nights, but we have to create more chances and attack more than we did tonight. We are aware of what we need to do for the second leg.

“There are always moments in any game in terms of momentum. We knew it would be a frantic start, but grew in game.

“Atletico are a very good team, their work ethic is exceptional. We know we have to be more open because we need a goal and one of their pluses is their ability on the counter-attack.”

Swansea City winger Wayne Routledge has urged his teammates to show fight as they attempt to avoid Premier League relegation.

Four defeats from five have left the Swans reeling in the bottom three, two points from safety with six matches remaining.

It is a dramatic turnaround after the club’s five wins from eight following the January appointment of Paul Clement as manager.

The Welsh side travel to Watford on Saturday seeking to end their winless run and kickstart their season.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

And Routledge is adamant that they can perform better.

“We all know what position we are in, and it’s time now to show a bit of steel.

“We all go on the pitch and give our best every week – that’s always the case. But we know that at this stage of the season, we have to deliver.

“When the boss came in we went on [an] amazing run, winning four out of six games at one stage.

“That was pretty spectacular. We probably need to do something like that again now to guarantee safety.

“We have shown we can do it, now it’s about putting it together at this crucial stage in the season.

“After Crystal Palace beat Arsenal the other night, it doesn’t look like there are many sides in the relegation battle at this moment.

“But there’s a long way to go and the teams above us have still got some tough games to play.”

Defender Tyrone Mings admits he is champing at the bit to make his Premier League return with Bournemouth after serving a five-match suspension.

The 24-year-old, who has impressed in what is in effect his debut season in the top flight after returning from a lengthy injury layoff, was forced onto the sidelines once more after the FA cited him for a stamp on Manchester United forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic last month.

Mings is in contention to return to the Cherries’ matchday squad for this weekend’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur, although he may find it tough to get straight back into the side with the back four of Adam Smith, Simon Francis, Steve Cook and Charlie Daniels impressing without him.

Bournemouth have two wins and two draws from their last five matches, with the only loss coming against league leaders Chelsea, but Mings has been using his time away from the pitch to pick the brain of manager Eddie Howe – a defender himself during his playing days.

“[His] ideas and his experience definitely rub off on me,” said Mings. “We have had a lot of conversations about the similarities between us.

“He is a great manager and a great coach to learn from. He is knowledgeable about every position but his experience as a defender certainly helps me.

“I feel like I am getting fitter and stronger. I work a lot with the manager on reviewing games.

“For me, it was pleasing to put in some of my better performances at centre-back, although, ultimately, we are judged on results and they are the most important thing.”

Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede says self-belief is going to be critical if his side are to pull off an unlikely Premier League survival bid.

Boro sit 19th, six points from safety having not won in their last 14 and their tough run-in will do nothing to ease the pain of the Boro faithful.

Boro’s remaining fixtures include Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool after they host Arsenal on Monday night.

But Gestede thinks that, despite the odds being stacked against them, Boro may be able to escape the drop especially considering Arsenal’s poor form of late.

(Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)

“You have to have this positivity to keep going, every day at training and during the games, otherwise you won’t win anything,” he said.

“I think we’ve all got that same message, the same attitude and mentality.

“We need points to survive – we can’t lie about it. But we are improving very game and we’re not far off.”

“Arsenal have quality in the squad and they are used to playing under pressure.

“We’re talking about internationals all over the pitch – we need to be focused and be ready to step up and show we can play in our way.

“But whether it’s Arsenal, Chelsea at the top of the table or Sunderland at the bottom, we have to take these games as they come and go for the three points.”

Chelsea wing-back Marcos Alonso believes his fine form for the Blues this season is down to his family’s fine footballing pedigree, as well as the coaching he has received in south-west London.

The 26-year-old was something of a surprise signing by manager Antonio Conte in the summer, who spent £24million on the defender after relatively unsuccessful stints with Fiorentina and Sunderland (on loan).

But that has proved to be shrewd business, with Alonso a fixture in the Chelsea team that has stormed to the top of the Premier League table, scoring a useful five goals along the way.

And having had both his father and grandfather play for Spain, he believes some of their experiences of success rubbed off on him.

“I used to love to go and train with the players when I was a little kid,” said Alonso, whose father Marcos Alonso Peña managed Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and Malaga.

“It wasn’t very often because I used to go to school every day, but I will always remember the few days when I went to train with the big teams because I really enjoyed that time. It was a great experience.”

Alonso’s grandfather, Marcos Alonso Imaz, is a club legend at Real Madrid having won five European Cups and five Spanish titles.

“At the time my grandad was still alive, he came to two or three games in my first year,” Alonso added.

“Everyone wanted a picture with him instead of watching us play! I used to feel very proud of that, of my grandfather being so popular there and so loved by the people.

“My father and my grandfather didn’t really give me too much advice.

“But with the example they gave me, and from spending all my life hearing talk about football, I think it’s been helpful to have them both.”

Manchester City’s Yaya Toure admits that he is craving silverware this season and has his sights set on the FA Cup.

The Blues sit fourth in the Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Chelsea, leaving the FA Cup as their only real shot at a trophy after they crashed out of the Champions League in the last 16 – where they lost to Monaco.

City face Arsenal in a semi-final clash later this month as manager Pep Guardiola seeks his first triumph since taking over the club last summer.

The 33-year-old midfielder was part of the team that had Wembley success during the 2010-11 season and is hoping the current side can repeat that glory.

“I want to win trophies,” he said. “I hope we can lift something for us and the fans this year.

“The FA Cup is a big target for us this year. We’re looking forward to it.

“All this year, we’ve been fighting for something. I hope this year we can make it again.

“I’m the type of player that always wants to win.

“In football, sometimes you can lose or draw. We want to always be at the top but we want to keep on going.

“On Saturday, we play Southampton and we’ll try and win that game.”