SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 28, 2023--

Eberechi Eze believes his injury nightmare two years ago gave him the platform for England recognition. The Crystal Palace midfielder is eyeing a senior debut after being included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. The call came after Eze was named in England’s provisional Euro 2020 squad in May 2021 – only for a serious Achilles injury on the same day to wreck his dreams. His has fought back and insists his six months on the sidelines only gave him strength and confidence in his ability. Eze said: “I know without setbacks and difficult moments it’s hard to grow and be the person I am today. I look back at those memories fondly because I know it has helped shape who I am. “It’s hard to put into words. I look at things a bit differently. I saw it (the potential call) as I was on the right trajectory, even though I was injured, this was the level I could get to. It gave me the motivation to keep going. “I got a message which gave me an inkling I was going to be called up but being injured that was the end of it for a little while. It’s been a journey getting back to the standard and putting in the performances but it’s been a good one.” Eze scored 10 goals for Palace in the 2022-23 season – six after Roy Hodgson returned to replace Patrick Vieira in March to steer the Eagles to 11th in the Premier League. Hodgson initially signed the 24-year-old from QPR in 2020 and Eze credits him and his assistant Ray Lewington as big influences in his fight to return to the top. “He has got insane wisdom, it’s good to talk to him and hear what he has to say,” he added. “From the first day I met them they have been improving me as a person and a player. It has opened my eyes to more. I have grown so much because of them. “I am very grateful to Roy and Ray for all they did helping me to regain form, they helped me massively with performances and my mental state. In terms of them staying on (at Palace), it’s not my decision.” England travel to Malta for Friday’s Group C qualifier before hosting North Macedonia in Manchester on Monday. Eze, who chose England over Nigeria and has eight Under-21 caps, has the chance of featuring but is not taking anything for granted. “My main focus is training well, doing what I can do, being the best version of myself. All I can do is what I can do, that decision is for Gareth to make,” he said. “Naturally there is always something else you want, when you achieve them it’s on to the next thing (a debut), I am grateful to be in this position. I know I have worked hard but no-one is doing me any favours.” Eze – released by Millwall in 2016, having already been let go by Arsenal – also feels his success is extra sweet, with his faith convincing him he would succeed. He said: “I spoke to my mum yesterday about stories when I was younger, it is good to look back and understand I have still managed to be in this position. “My mindset is to keep working hard. I look back with gratitude to God, he has been with me through so many difficult moments and times. “Getting released from Millwall…that was quite tough, that was the time when everyone is getting their professional contract, you don’t know where you are going to be but I have always kept faith and been positive in myself. “There were difficult times when you don’t have a contract, going on trial and not getting in but my faith in God got me through, I really believed as long as I am working hard and doing what I can do, God will find a way.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live ‘Serial winners’ can help England finally celebrate silverware – Tyrone Mings Rob Page welcomes break for Brennan Johnson ahead of Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifiers Ali McCann loving international life under Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill

The new dark comedy "Bottoms" is getting a lot of buzz.

Francia Raisa has insisted there is no drama between her and Selena Gomez after a string of feud rumours online. During an appearance on Josh Peck's Good Guys podcast, the How I Met Your Father actress poured water on the claims that she was "forced" to donate Gomez her kidney. Raisa donated her kidney to the 'Lose You to Love Me' singer in 2017 when she battled lupus, a condition that affects the immune system. "I've said this before, but that was a time where I just felt it in my heart," Raisa said on the episode. "No one forced me to do anything." The 35-year-old continued: "It came out of the genuine kindness of my heart, and I've been super blessed ever since." She went on to speak about how the news broke in the press. "She and I went public with our situation years ago, and honestly, we had to," Francia explained. "The press got ahold of the story and we wanted to tell it. As for what’s going on lately…does anyone prep you for this kind of stuff? Never. We never get prepped for this kind of stuff. It always catches me by surprise." However, rumours were rife last year when Gomez said Taylor Swift was her only friend in the industry. "You guys, there’s no beef," Raisa told podcast hot Peck. "Whenever I thought about my name being in the press, I never thought about it like this," she also admitted. "I always thought about it from an actor’s perspective." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Fans have speculated about the pair's relationship online for years, prompting the actress to turn off her comments. "I can’t read the comments because I don’t do well with it," she admitted. "Sometimes I disappear because people are mean. People are so mean." It comes after Gomez publicly wished Raisa a happy birthday last week. "No matter where life takes us, I love you," she penned. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

A caffeinated energy drink being promoted by American social media influencers is set to be recalled in Canada

The incident occurred in the third quarter when Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson seemingly put excessive pressure on Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice after a play

The families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip have been racked with worry for

If you thought prosthetic hands were too advanced for people living hundreds of years ago, think again. Archaeologists have found the remains of a man who died in Medieval Germany, who had prosthetics in place of several fingers. The grave was found by pipeline workers in Freising, a town near Munich. The Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation said: “Even for experienced archaeologists, this was a particularly special find: a skeleton in which parts of the fingers of its left hand are missing.” The archaeologists removed the metal from the man’s skeleton to restore and analyse it. They came to the conclusion that he had lost his fingers at some point in his life. Walter Irlinger, deputy of the general conservator at BSOMP, said: “The hollow prosthetic on the left hand replaced four fingers. The index, middle, ring and pinky fingers are individually formed out of sheet metal and are immobile. The prosthetic fingers lie slightly curved, parallel to one another.” The prosthetic also had scraps of fabric and leather, suggesting that the fingers had a leather cover, and were tied to the hand using straps. There was also a gauze-like material inside the fingers, which may have acted as a cushion for the man’s skin from contact with the metal. That period of German history included the Thirty Years’ War, which ended in 1648, which would have increased the need for amputations and prosthetics. One of the most famous amputees from the time was Götz von Berlichingen – or “Götz of the Iron Hand”. He was a German knight who lost his right hand from a cannon injury at the siege of Landshut in 1504. “In the past, prosthetics looked very much like what they were replacing,” said Jacky Finch, a researcher in the KNH Center for Biomedical Egyptology at the University of Manchester. “Nowadays, implants are placed in the sensory system to control nerve action, rather than devices attached to the body by straps or artificially powered.” The BSOMP statement continued: “Doctors at that time were already thinking about how they could make life easier for amputees. “In central Europe, there are currently around 50 similar prostheses from the late middle ages to early modern age that are known.” How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

SHENZHEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 24, 2023--

California authorities took a major step forward Thursday in expanding driverless taxi services in San Francisco, giving the green light for operators Waymo and Cruise to...

By Orhan Coskun and Karin Strohecker ISTANBUL/LONDON Turkish Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan and Finance Minister Mehmet

The parents of US reporter Evan Gershkovich said Wednesday they want world leaders due to gather at the United Nations next week to join in pressing for...