Portugal midfielder Adrien Silva says he tried to remain positive during a long saga which came to a happy end yesterday as he completed his move to Premier League side Leicester City.
The 28-year-old — capped 20 times and a member of the Portugal side that won Euro 2016 — has had to wait four months to complete the £22mn ($29.7mn) transfer from Sporting Lisbon.
The France-born midfielder has been in a state of limbo since his original transfer was not accepted because the paperwork was 14 seconds past the deadline in August — an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) failed. “When you have a period like this, it’s very up and down,” Silva told Leicester’s in-house television station. “You have to keep a positive mentality and that’s what I’ve tried to do. I’ve kept my mind focused on my job and what I love to do.”
Silva, who came in as second half substitute in Foxes’s win over Huddersfield Town yesterday, said he had been keeping fit despite not having played all season. “It’s been very frustrating, but now the difficult times are past me and I’m very happy to be close to my goal,” he said. “I’ve been working hard every day to arrive at this moment and I’m in good shape. It’s been very important to keep training because it’s a long time not playing. There is nothing better than the game.”

Lukaku out just one
week, says Mourinho
Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku will be sidelined for just a single week following his head injury, according to Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho yesterday. Lukaku, who has scored 15 times this season, was stretchered off against Southampton on Saturday following a clash of heads with Wesley Hoedt.
That ruled Lukaku out of last night’s trip to his former club Everton and he is set to be absent for the FA Cup third round tie with Derby on Friday. Speaking prior to the Everton match, Mourinho told Sky Sports: “I would say a week (out for Lukaku). It’s nothing really important — just a little protection, but no problem.”
United’s next Premier League game, at home to Stoke, isn’t for 10 days after the Derby game, giving Lukaku time to return for that fixture. Lukaku crashed into Southampton’s Wesley Hoedt on December 30 as the pair contested an aerial challenge early in the first half at Old Trafford. The Belgium striker lay prone on the pitch barely moving while he was treated by medical staff for five minutes. Lukaku remained conscious and was eventually carried off wearing an oxygen mask.

Hughes defiant despite
Stoke fans’ discontent
Mark Hughes says he is the best person to lead Stoke away from the relegation zone despite fans calling for his head after a 1-0 loss to Newcastle yesterday.
The 54-year-old former Wales and Manchester United striker — who numbers Manchester City among clubs he has managed — has seen his side slide to fifth from bottom with just one win in their last seven league matches.
Yesterday’s reverse allowed Newcastle to leapfrog Stoke in the table and left the Potters just two points above the relegation places with third from bottom West Ham having two games in hand. “Who else is going to do it?” Hughes asked the BBC about the Stoke manager’s job. “In terms of the knowledge of the group and the progress in my time here, I’m the best person to do it.”
Hughes, who has seen Premier League rivals such as Tony Pulis, Ronald Koeman and Paul Clement sacked already this season because of poor runs, insisted he made the right call in playing a second string side in the 5-0 hammering by Chelsea on Saturday to save his first choice team for yesterday’s clash.
“Everyone’s saying that I gambled but I used the players that I had, what was I going to do?” said Hughes, who has been in charge of Stoke since 2013. “Risk players that had a big part to play today? Plenty of teams have made changes today, everyone else is doing it too.”

Hernandez eager to prove himself as a starter for West Ham
Ham United striker Javier Hernandez is targeting a regular spot in the Premier League club’s starting XI after successive substitute appearances in recent games. The 29-year-old, who joined the London outfit in July, started the first 11 of West Ham’s 20 league games so far but has been used as a substitute in four consecutive league matches since his return from a hamstring injury last month.
“If you ask all footballers all over the world, they will tell you they don’t want to be on the bench, and that’s a normal thing,” Hernandez said.
“They all want to play and I’m trying to prove that I want to be involved with more minutes, with more starts, and then we’ll see what happens (when I’m on the pitch). I’m always going to give everything for the team, whenever I am on the pitch. I love football and I want to be as professional as I can... if I am given one minute or 90 minutes, and I will try to do my best.”
Hernandez also highlighted the importance of West Ham’s next three games as they host West Bromwich Albion and travel to local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the league, followed by an FA Cup tie at Shrewsbury Town within the space of a week. West Ham have won two and drawn as many of their last five league matches but remain a point adrift of safety in 18th position, albeit with a game in hand, and host 19th-placed West Brom at the London Stadium today.