These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Mount earns Southgate praise after England win

England manager Gareth Southgate has described Mason Mount as a ‘very underappreciated’ player to TalkSport after the Chelsea midfielder scored the Three Lions’ winner in a 2-1 victory over Belgium in the Nations League on Sunday.

A section of England supporters had questioned Southgate’s decision to select Mount ahead of the in-form Jack Grealish for the match at Wembley.

However, the 21-year-old repaid his manager’s faith by striking midway through the second half for his second senior international goal as England came from behind to beat the Belgians and moved to the top of Group A2.

‘He’s a top player. He can receive [the ball] under pressure,’ said Southgate of Mount.

‘He’s intelligent with his movement. He’s, of course, still learning. To find space in the first half was difficult.

‘But in a tactical game where it’s just as important defensively what the forwards do, to have a player like him who can do both sides… the way that Marcus Rashford did, the way Dominic Calvert-Lewin did.

‘I read a lot of things about Mason and I think he’s a very underappreciated player – but not by us.’

Clarke finally gets penalty payback for 2008

Scotland manager Steve Clarke said he was due some penalty shootout joy in his side’s victory over Israel in the Euro 2020 play-offs after suffering the disappointment of Chelsea’s defeat in the 2008 Champions League final, the Daily Mail reports.

Scotland are one victory away from qualifying for a major tournament for the first time since the 1998 World Cup after their tense shootout victory at Hampden Park but Clarke saw it as a bit of payback after our setback in Moscow 12 years ago.

'To be fair, football owed me one in a shootout after the last one I was involved in, when John Terry slipped and missed what would have been our winning penalty (against Manchester United in 2008),’ said the former Blues assistant manager.

'So it was nice to come out on the right side of a shootout this time. They showed nerve. It was about big personalities and big characters in that situation.

'I knew the character that was on the pitch. I knew the lads were determined to do it. It might not have been a very pretty performance (the game ended 0-0) but it was a performance with character and with heart.'

Newton living his dream in Turkey

Former Chelsea midfielder and assistant manager Eddie Newton has said he is enjoying the pressure of being in charge of a club for the first time in his career, Tribal Football reports.

The 48-year-old joined Turkish side Trabzonspor earlier this year after spending the past eight years at Chelsea and was elevated to the head coaching job after he had led them to victory in the Turkish Cup final in July.

‘I live my dream in Trabzonspor,’ said Newton to Turkish sports media outlet Fanatik.

‘Our job is hard, but I love this support, team and pressure. Because this pressure motivates you, you will achieve success.

‘It is hard to win but it is harder to keep winning. Our goal is to ensure sustainable success.’

Newton also revealed he loves the passion of the team’s supporters.

‘I had a photo taken with a fan in the shopping mall. He started telling me which players and which tactics I should play,’ he recalled.

‘They told me that everybody in Trabzon understands football, but this was the first time I had experienced such an event!’