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A Paraguay international has dropped an inside claim on the latest injury that Miguel Almiron has sustained at Newcastle United.

Speaking to VERSUS radio, Antony Silva, who is currently a goalkeeper for Puebla and a national teammate of Almiron, claimed: “I spoke with Miguel and it is not as much as they say about his injury. He told me that he is fine.”

Newcastle need Almiron back

It seems as if the original injury suffered by Almiron is not as bad as first feared, which should give the St. James’ Park faithful a lot of hope going into the rest of the 2020/21 term.

In the last two games that the attacking midfield player has missed through injury, the North East club have only managed to pick up a mere two points against fellow relegation-threatened West Brom and at home to an Aston Villa side who were missing their talisman in Jack Grealish.

It is clear that Steve Bruce’s team miss him badly, given his eye for both a goal and assist, in a season where he has scored five and assisted three in 29 games in total over all competitions so far (Transfermarkt), as well as his all-round general hard work across the pitch.

Nonetheless, the Tyneside club will be hoping that the 27-year-old can return to the squad after the international break to help them fend off their relegation fears.

In other news, find out who was claimed to have their ‘best game’ for NUFC against Villa here!

Leeds United player Pascal Struijk has had a decent start to life in the Premier League, and this has reportedly not gone unnoticed as he is attracting interest from Europa League sides.

The latest on Struijk

According to De Telegraaf via Sport Witness, the defensive midfielder and central defender is attracting interest from Leicester City and Italian side Napoli.

The report claims that both Brendan Rodgers’ side and the Naples outfit have inquired about Struijk, but most likely with the centre-back’s camp and not the club, about a possible acquisition.

Leeds need to stand firm

Struijk, who is valued at £2.25m, arrived from the the Ajax academy back in 2018 (Transfermarkt) and is starting to become a key player for the club. The 21 year-old has progressed from the academy to the senior side, and has now made 22 appearances under Marcelo Bielsa, including 15 in the Premier League.

Speaking to Football Insider  in the past, Noel Whelan said: “He looked very assured at the back, very competitive in the air and his ball distribution was excellent,” showing skills that serve him well in multiple positions.

Earlier this season the club also gave the defender a contract extension, which clearly highlights that they believe the young prospect is good for both the present and the future. Leeds need to do everything to make sure they keep hold of him.

In other news, Leeds are interested in a hot European prospect!

After securing an impressive 1-0 victory away from home against Leeds United at the weekend, Aston Villa will now face the Premier League’s bottom club, Sheffield United, on Wednesday night.

Dean Smith’s side took home all three points against Leeds thanks to a first-half strike from Anwar El Ghazi, and while the Villa boss will be reluctant to make too many changes from his starting line-up, one decision that he must consider making is starting Trezeguet.

The £9m-rated Egypt international has failed to take back his spot in the first eleven since coming back from injury back in late January, with summer signing Bertrand Traore firmly established as Smith’s man on the right-hand side.

But, with Sheffield United operating with that wing-back system, tonight’s game may be the perfect time for Trezeguet to make his return to the starting line-up.

The winger has always been someone who gives it his absolute all, working tirelessly to ensure his full-back is well protected and doing the defensive side of things diligently.

It’s something The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has picked up on, saying: “The amount of energy that Trezeguet puts in, it’s natural that he’s going to be tiring when it gets to like 65, 70, 75 minutes. (It’s) an incredible turnaround from that player as well, somebody who, admittedly I thought wasn’t cut out to be a Villa player, wasn’t cut out for the Premier League.

“He was probably the scapegoat in the winter months of last season where things weren’t going well. I mean, fair play to him for knuckling down and working so hard and actually realising that sometimes hard work beats talent.”

With the Blades using wing-backs to create their width, and of course having their patented overlapping centre-backs, Trezeguet’s extra responsibility at tracking back and following runners could be massive for Smith. As per Sofascore, he makes double the amount of tackles and interceptions that Bertrand Traore makes per game in the Premier League, while he also wins back possession more often too.

While Traore might offer a more unpredictable and exciting element going forward, Trezeguet’s application defensively may be exactly what the Villa boss needs to counter Sheffield United’s attacks out from wide.

Dubbed as “perfect” by Smith, Trezeguet must simply start against Sheffield United on Wednesday night.

Southampton centre-back Mohammed Salisu has recently been linked with a loan move back to Real Valladolid but Ralph Hasenhuttl has suggested that he will be staying with the South Coast club, something that the Austrian should reconsider.

What’s the word?

According to a report by GhanaWeb, via Hampshire Live, the 21-year-old has been linked with a loan move back to Real Valladolid, having joined Southampton from the Spanish side during the summer.

However, Hasenhuttl has seemingly rubbished these rumours, reiterating that the Ghanaian is the ‘future’ of Southampton, saying:

“He has so much potential and I think it was important for me, as I said, to not bring him in because the team is not really settled and it would be too difficult I think.

“But at the moment we are calm, I am happy he’s here and he shows with every session that he can help us.

“Sali is the future at this club and this will take time.”

Hasenhuttl U-turn?

Whilst the young centre-back might be seen as the future of the club, he is yet to make a single appearance for the club since joining, as he struggles with fitness and injury issues.

Salisu was ruled out of the game against Liverpool recently after picking up a muscle injury, so it doesn’t appear that he will be making his first appearance in a Saints shirt any time soon.

It had seemed as if he might get his chance when Jannik Vestergaard was injured in December but since Jack Stephens has come in, Hasenhuttl’s side haven’t conceded a goal.

Saturday’s planned game with Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup had seemed the ideal time for Salisu to start before his injury, so perhaps when that game is rearranged after being called off due to the current viral outbreak, we will see the Ghanaian finally get his chance.

However, it seems clear that on current form, Salisu is not going to be starting Premier League games for Hasenhuttl’s side this season and with Vestergaard potentially set to return in late January, he will surely fall further down the pecking order.

Therefore, even though Hasenhuttl has suggested that he won’t be leaving, the South Coast club should definitely consider loaning him out this month, as it can’t be helping his potential or his confidence being sat on the bench at the very best every week for Southampton.

And, in other news, Southampton academy sensation can take advantage of “horrible” Djenepo blow…

Glasgow Rangers fans have been enjoying a video of former X Factor contestant Chico Slimani as they close in on the Premiership title.

Things could hardly be going better for the Ibrox outfit at the moment. As it stands, they lead the table by 20 points from Celtic with just 14 games left to play (BBC). As such, they are well on course to win their first league title in 10 years, and they have a good chance of going through the campaign unbeaten.

The supporters are enjoying themselves, as well, as they enroll the help of several celebrities to poke fun at their fierce rivals. First, former Eastenders actor Shaun Williamson recorded a message for “Neil, Broony and the Bhoys”, and now Chico has put together a similar clip.

As you can imagine, the Gers fans were absolutely delighted with the video, which was shared by Twitter account @JimTheJudge, and they took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Chico below

“This will take some topping”

Credit: @83boabobski

“Genius. Just genius.”

Credit: @drovenpoke

“Outstanding”

Credit: @trickymcfingaz

“That is fantastic”

Credit: @TheMacFarlane

“Tremendous”

Credit: @Ro55B055RFC

“This is phenomenal!!”

Credit: @reverendgv1

In other news, Rangers fans are livid at this transfer news.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast Editor James Beavis, former Premier League midfielder Rob Lee has dropped his verdict over West Bromwich Albion’s potential takeover.

The Baggies find themselves sitting second from bottom having won just once in their opening 11 matches, that coming against basement boys, Sheffield United.

At the weekend, they capitulated against Crystal Palace, losing 5-1 to put Slaven Bilic’s job under the spotlight once again.

And in the background of it all, reports have emerged linking the Midlands outfit with a possible change of ownership.

According to the ever-reliable John Percy at the Telegraph, West Brom have held talks with an American consortium over a £150m takeover, which is thought to have been turned down by current owner Guochuan Lai, though discussions are still ongoing over either a full takeover or claiming a 15 percent stake in the club.

Lee, who played for Newcastle United and England, has raised question marks over the intentions of the unnamed prospective owners.

He told FFC:

“You just wonder how these people think, some would think, well, let’s get the club, and invest loads of money and then pick them up. And at the other end, you might think, well, let’s let them go down, and they’ll be less pricey for us, and then we can plough some money in and get back up. I don’t know. I just know what football is like.

“The [prospective owners] try and get the club as cheap as they possibly can. What you realise now is that people who buy football clubs are not usually the supporters of the club. I mean, they’re doing it for certain reasons – whether they want the publicity of owning a club, whether they want to do it for guests, you know, advertising for their own companies.

“It’s not because they’re fans of that club. That’s the big difference.”

Lai took over Albion back in 2016, purchasing the club from Jeremy Pearce for £200m but his reign has been riddled by a lack of further investment, which is thought to be one of the main reasons behind the tensions between the board and Bilic.

The Baggies did sign Grady Diangana in a deal that could rise to £18m as well as Karlan Grant for a total of £12m, which will be paid in six £2m instalments as per The Athletic.

A lack of funds in January could well leave the writing on the wall, but as Lee rightly questions, the fans need to know what the prospective owners’ intentions are before getting behind any potential takeover.

AND in other news, £85k-per-week outcast once dubbed “unique” could be perfect for West Brom

According to The Athletic, Arsenal are interested in reported Leeds United target Riqui Puig.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side were in the running to sign the Barcelona starlet in the January transfer window, with the youngster having fallen out of favour under Ronald Koeman.

However, now The Athletic claim that Leeds are set to face significant competition for his signature, with fellow Premier League side Arsenal in the chase to bring him to England.

Risking Bielsa’s wrath

Given everything that Bielsa has done for the club, both in terms of getting them promoted and setting them well on their way to becoming a real Premier League force again, the least Leeds can do is to make sure they get his transfer targets through the door.

In Puig, the Whites could find someone with lots of similarities to Pablo Hernandez, with his low centre of gravity and ability to move through the gears and control the tempo of a game.

Stuck in lockdown? Our mega footy quiz will cure any boredom…

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In a profile done by The Athletic, it said: “You can train a player in the skills required. But football sense, balance, and vision are gifts. Puig plays on that weird tightrope like Iniesta, even as we should shun any and all comparisons. When he has the ball, he moves, makes the ball move as though they both have somewhere to go: Forward. Puig rarely plays a pass that isn’t forward.”

Described as “spectacular” by former Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso, Puig has got all the tools in his locker to become a real hit at Elland Road. It’s up to the club to ensure they don’t risk upsetting Bielsa, and actually make sure they get a deal done for him instead of watching him slip away to Arsenal.

Sunderland midfielder Josh Scowen has offered Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson plenty of food for thought after producing a stellar display in Saturday’s 2-0 win away to Gillingham, having been benched for the midweek draw with Rochdale.

Scowen initially joined Sunderland in January from Queens Park Rangers, but could have walked away from the Stadium of Light this summer through a clause in his £8,100-per-week contract that became active when the League One season was curtailed early due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The clause allowed Scowen to move on if the Black Cats failed to secure promotion out of the third-tier and if the North East giants received an offer from a club competing in the Championship.

Scowen ultimately stayed yet sat out Sunderland’s season-opening draw with Bristol Rovers after sustaining a bruised ankle late in the Black Cats’ pre-season programme, but soon enjoyed a consistent run in the starting line-up until Tuesday’s draw with Rochdale.

Parkinson opted to drop the 28-year-old to the bench at the Crown Oil Arena and only called on him to feature for the final 16 minutes, though offered Scowen a recall at Gillingham and started the London-born midfielder.

The former QPR ace proved to Parkinson why he should be one of the first names on the teamsheet at Priestfield Stadium, with Scowen offering an excellent display and a persistent goal threat worthy of much more.

Scowen was guilty of blazing arguably his best chance of the first-team over the bar, before spurning a handful of good openings in the second period as Sunderland pushed for the opening goal.

But the £720,000-rated ace impressed nonetheless, as Chris Maguire and Lynden Gooch scored the goals to seal all three points, with SofaScore data showing Scowen as recording the game’s joint-most shots (four) with Gillingham’s Dominic Samuel.

Scowen was additionally successful with his only attempted dribble of the match, while completing 78% of his 32 passes for two key balls and three accurate crosses. He failed to direct a shot on target, though, with three efforts sailing wide and one blocked, including missing the one big chance to score.

Parkinson also witnessed Scowen contribute defensively with one clearance and one tackle, along with winning two of his five duels on route to registering 51 touches.

The Black Cats boss will find it very challenging to justify again benching Scowen when Sunderland host Ipswich Town on Tuesday night after the sensational efforts he produced at Gillingham.

AND in other news, Phil Parkinson risks a naïve call on a Sunderland man Jack Ross claimed had “not achieved anything”.

Short, but sweet. Henderson’s return to first-team training will no doubt boost his teammates, with an important game tomorrow lunchtime away to Brighton, to who well-respected journalist Henry Winter described him as the club’s “beacon of hope” (via the club’s official website).

Transfer Tavern Verdict

This will delight Liverpool fans. He is a player that they could have done with on Wednesday and will be welcomed back with open arms.

With Thiago Alcantara still not fully match fit and Fabinho looking like he will drop back to centre-back, Henderson will be key in the midfield.

Despite the quick turnaround, Liverpool will be wanting to right the wrong from their midweek woes and get back to winning ways in the Premier League.

And in other news, Liverpool fans react jubilantly to official statement concerning Jurgen Klopp’s key assets.

Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has delivered Carlo Ancelotti a piece of great news with his backing of Everton’s Deadline Day deal to sign Norwich City defender Ben Godfrey.

What’s the word?

Godfrey became Everton’s fifth signing of the summer when the 22-year-old put pen to paper on a five-year contract, keeping him on Merseyside until at least 2025 after Everton agreed to pay Norwich £20million for one of English football’s top defensive prospects.

The York-born talent had been with the Canaries for the past four years following a move from his academy side York City, and helped the Carrow Road outfit secure their promotion into the Premier League as Championship title holders during the 2018/19 season.

He went on to start each of his 30 top-flight outings either side of tearing ligaments in his knee last December, while recording an average 4.9 clearances, 0.7 tackles, 1.3 ground duels won, 0.8 interceptions and 2.2 aerial duels won a game, per SofaScore, but could not prevent his side’s immediate return to the second-tier.

Yet Manchester United and England icon Ferdinand does not appear to believe Godfrey will struggle to make a success of himself at Goodison Park, having taken to Twitter on Deadline Day to offer his thoughts on the youngster’s move.

“Only the beginning as we always say,” he noted. “[He will] be the hardest worker in the building! Good Luck Ben Godfrey.”

A bright future on Merseyside

Ferdinand’s comment will come as a piece of great news for Ancelotti as he prepares to welcome Godfrey into his squad and integrate the 22-year-old into a unit that has allowed the Premier League’s third-least goals against them over the first four games.

The retired star turned BT Sport pundit knows all there is to know about being a successful centre-half in the English top-flight, having helped the Red Devils to six Premier League titles, as well as achieving success on the continent with the 2007/08 Champions League.

But Ferdinand lauding Godfrey for his work off the pitch will be what Ancelotti should take the most joy in, as it shows the Italian has acquired a player who will be pushing himself to the limit to ensure Everton have not wasted £20m on his signing.

Godfrey will also be pushing himself to be the best defender he can be, which in turn will see that Michael Keane, Mason Holgate and Yerry Mina are kept on their toes or risk losing their place in the starting line-up.

Competition between the trio was already high with Holgate establishing himself in October 2019 with a run of 22 out of 23 possible league starting XIs, only to be left sat watching on as Mina and Keane thrive in the new campaign through a toe injury sustained in pre-season.

If Godfrey can live up to the hype and Ferdinand’s praise, Ancelotti and Everton should be in for a bright future in defence.

AND in other news, Carlo Ancelotti’s backing has piled on the pressure for a £14.4m-rated Everton man to step up after a rare start.