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• Decision on new coach for Reggae Girlz to be made in a few days

  Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Michael Ricketts says his organization will be announcing a new head coach for the Reggae Girlz in a matter of days.

  According to Ricketts, the JFF’s technical committee, which has the prevue of selecting a coach, will make its decision after discussions with stakeholders on Tuesday.

  According to Ricketts, the decision will be made to replace former head coach Hue Menzies, who announced his intention to leave the programme via the media more than a week ago, despite not receiving a formal resignation.

  “We haven’t gotten anything official,” said Ricketts.

  “But he has gone public [with his resignation], so we just have to take it that he will not be a part of the programme,” he said.

  Menzies announced his intention to leave the programme after four years, citing a lack of communication from the JFF regarding a new contract that had expired in August, as well as unpaid salaries and reimbursements.

  Menzies had refused to coach the team until all unpaid monies were sent his way.

  The former coach’s stance meant he missed the first round of Olympic Qualifiers with the Reggae Girlz.

  Those qualifiers still went well under the guidance of assistant coach Lorne Donaldson, with the final round of qualifiers set to take place from January 28 to February 9, 2020.

  Donaldson’s performance is reported to have made him frontrunner for the job, however, the assistant has hinted at reservations about taking the new post.

• Ribery set to miss 10 weeks after ankle surgery

  Fiorentina star Franck Ribery is set to miss 10 weeks after undergoing surgery on his ankle on Saturday.

  Ribery, 36, suffered the injury during Fiorentina's 1-0 loss to Lecce in Serie A on November 30.

  Fiorentina announced on Saturday that the French attacker had undergone surgery and they expect him to resume full training in around 10 weeks' time.

  "Franck Ribery today underwent surgery for stabilisation of the tibiofibular syndesmosis," a club statement read.

  "The operation, carried out by Professor Gabel, was a complete success.

  "The player will return to Florence on Sunday and begin his rehabilitation plan. He will resume exercise in two weeks.

  "[He] is expected to resume full training in around 10 weeks' time."

  Ribery has scored two goals and provided two assists in 11 league matches this season.

  Fiorentina, who are struggling in 13th in Serie A, host league leaders Inter on Sunday.

• Simeone hopeful Morata is back on the goal trail for Atletico

  Diego Simeone believes there are few strikers in football with the ability of Atletico Madrid frontman Alvaro Morata.

  Spain international Morata found the breakthrough in Saturday's 2-0 win over Osasuna – Atleti's first victory in four LaLiga outings that moved them back up to fourth in the table.

  The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Juventus forward scored in seven consecutive games for club and country as October became November but ended a six-game drought when he powered Kieran Trippier's free-kick past inspired Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.

  Simeone has been linked to making attacking reinforcements during the January transfer window, with Timo Werner, Edinson Cavani and Olivier Giroud all touted as possible Atletico targets, but he offered a ringing endorsement of his current number nine.

  "Hopefully he'll return to the way he was before the [international] break," he told a post-match news conference.

  "He was scoring in almost every game.

  "There aren't many people like that in football and we want to make the most of him."

  Manuel Sanchez made his Atletico debut at left-back and Simeone felt the 19-year-old's impressive showing was fitting as it came on the evening long-serving defender Juanfran bade farewell to the club's faithful before kick-off.

  "I loved him," he said.

  "It's not easy. He's young, growing and has been working a lot with us.

  "He has to keep growing and this was an important moment for his career.

  "Today, Juanfran said goodbye and another debuted. Someone new was born."