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After narrowly missing out on securing three points in their previous Premier League match against Watford at St James’ Park last weekend, when a late goal from Joao Pedro snatched a point for the away side, Newcastle United are back in action today with an away clash against Leeds United. 

Ahead of the clash at Elland Road against Marcelo Bielsa’s side,  Magpies boss Eddie Howe revealed that Newcastle will still be without Callum Wilson, Federico Fernandez and Isaac Hayden through injury, as well as potentially Matt Ritchie. Howe added in his pre-match press conference that Jeff Hendrick and Dwight Gayle returned to training this week. 

With that in mind, here’s how we feel Newcastle could line up to take on Leeds this afternoon, with two changes anticipated from the XI which started against Watford a week ago.

In goal, we think Howe will stick with Martin Dubravka after the Slovakian made four saves against Watford.

For the defence, we think the Newcastle boss will stick with the same back four which started against the Hornets, with Kieran Trippier at right-back, Paul Dummett on the left, and Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles occupying the centre-back positions.

In midfield, we can see Howe sticking with Jonjo Shelvey and Joelinton, but Joe Willock comes back in to see if he can pull off something special as Sean Longstaff drops out. The ex-Arsenal youngster hasn’t hit the heights of last season this time around, but with Longstaff offering little attacking threat last week, he could be the fall guy for Willock today.

In attack, it would be hard to not see Allan Saint-Maximin occupying his usual left-wing position to see if he can wreak havoc on Leeds’ defence and potentially add some goals or assists to his record for the season and, more importantly, secure a win for his team. 

With Wilson still out, it would seem likely that Howe will stick with January signing Chris Wood to see if he can also cause the Whites some problems at the back and haunt his former club. 

On the right, we think Howe will put Miguel Almiron back into the team, with Ryan Fraser – who is currently picking up £63k-per-week according to Salary Sport – dropping out to freshen up the attack. The Scot pays the price for going 17 games without a goal so far this season.

Whether or not Howe goes with the starting XI that we have suggested, this will still be a big game in terms of their hopes of avoiding relegation this season, and one they might be capable of winning given Leeds’ less than stellar results so far in this campaign. 

In other news – Terms agreed: NUFC could land masterstroke with gem whose “shorts look like underwear”…

2022 is nearly here, which means the January transfer window is soon on the horizon.

Tottenham Hotspur have had mixed success in the market, especially during the winter.

Will Antonio Conte get the backing he needs to steer this sinking Spurs ship around? That remains to be seen.

Some of the Lilywhites’ signings over the years have etched their way into folklore, whilst others… the less said, the better. But how many of these obscure signings from yesteryear can you actually name?

If you think you’re a die-hard Spurs fan, old or new, then this quiz will certainly be a tricky test for you.

So sit back, enjoy your Christmas dinner and take on this not-so-very festive transfer quiz from us here at Football FanCast.

There are ten players to get right, so do you know your Grzegorz Rasiak from your Heung-min Son?

We’ll be surprised if you get more than 70%. Go on, give it a go…

Leeds United could have as many as four returning players available for their upcoming Premier League clash against Southampton, according to journalist Adam Pope.

The Lowdown: Leeds face another crucial game

The Whites are in the middle of a two-week hiatus because of the international break, having not played since the dramatic 3-2 win away to Wolves on 18 March.

Next up for Jesse Marsch’s side is the visit of Southampton to Elland Road on Saturday afternoon as the home side look to pull further clear of the relegation mire.

It has been an injury-plagued season for Leeds, but a hugely positive update has emerged in that regard.

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The Latest: Four players set to return

Taking to Twitter, Pope claimed that up to four Leeds players who had been affected by injury in recent weeks and months could all be set to return for Saturday’s clash.

He revealed: “Illan Meslier (bruising) is expected to be ready to face Southampton. Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper & Diego Llorente all set to feature too.”

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The Verdict: Massive boost for Whites

To have those four players in contention to start is a huge boost for Leeds, especially after the negative news surrounding Patrick Bamford’s latest setback.

Meslier’s return between the sticks should bring more calm to the defence, especially if club captain Cooper is also named in Marsch’s starting line-up at Elland Road next weekend, potentially alongside Llorente.

Meanwhile, Phillips could make his first Leeds appearance since December, which would be the biggest positive of all, given his status as one of the best players in the country.

At a time when the Whites are still looking for strong results to ensure their Premier League status for next season, the prospective returns of several key figures ahead of the run-in will come as a huge fillip for Marsch and the Elland Road faithful.

In other news, Leeds could reportedly sign one player on loan this summer. Find out who it is here.

According to reports by UOL Deportes in Brazil (as relayed by Sport Witness), Ajax have rejected a £12.5m bid for reported Everton transfer target David Neres as they seek a valuation of £16.7m.

Despite this, it is ‘expected’ that the 24-year-old will be sold during the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Neres in poor form

The winger has seen his productivity decline in recent times. During the 2017/18 league campaign, the Brazilian produced an emphatic 14 goals and 14 assists in 32 appearances for the Amsterdam club.

However, this electric form seems to have dried up for Neres since then, who has scored three goals and set up another two in 15 Eredivisie games this season, although three of those goal contributions came in Ajax’s 9-0 win over Cambuur.

This poor recent form has led to the 24-year-old being dropped from the starting line-up, and he was an unused substitute in two of the last three league games. Shockingly, Neres is ranked 18th in the Ajax squad for shots averaged per game (0.6), an extremely poor indictment for an attacking player.

The Latest: Everton interested in Neres

Previous reports have linked Everton with the Brazil international, with claims that the club are ‘interested’ in the player arising as former director of football Marcel Brands was a keen admirer of the Dutch league.

According to reports by UOL Deportes in Brazil (as relayed by Sport Witness), Ajax have rejected a €15m (£12.5m) bid from Shakhtar for Neres. The Dutch champions are said to value the attacker at a minimum of €20m (£16.7m), and it is ‘now expected’ that Neres will be sold this month, with the player being ‘kept on Ajax’s negotiable list’ for now.

Everton will need to move swiftly if they are to bring the winger to Goodison Park, as Shakhtar are set to go back in with another bid to try and get their man.

The Verdict: Transfer could be hit or miss

Neres has made an impression across Europe, with the prolific winger netting 47 goals in 180 appearances for Ajax. Indeed, Jose Mourinho previously awarded him the highest of compliments, saying: “As far as I am concerned, David Neres fully reflects what a Brazilian footballer stands for. For me he is the best of this new generation.”

With Everton keen on bringing in a new right winger to the club, the 24-year-old’s relatively cheap price-tag could prove to be a gamble worth taking, if they are to get the player that Ajax originally signed.

However, if he produces the kind of form we’ve seen this season, it could be a move to earn unwanted comparison with that of Davy Klaassen, who flopped on Merseyside after moving from the Amsterdam giants for £23.6m in 2017. It’s hard to predict which way a potential Everton move for Neres would go.

In other news: Goodison Park exit could beckon for Everton ace dubbed ‘one of the best in Europe’

Former Manchester United man Keith Gillespie has told Football FanCast that he hopes Paul Pogba remains at the club next season as they look to challenge Manchester City.

The France international was in sublime form against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in April, laying on two superb assists, though only one counted after Edinson Cavani’s first goal was ruled out after Son Heung-Min was adjudged to have been fouled by Scott McTominay.

Pogba also registered an assist in games against Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley, but there are some concerns over his future, with his contract expiring.

Pogba’s deal ends at the end of next season and that means he could be set to leave for nothing at the end of the 2022/23 season.

He has been linked away, with Italian newspaper TuttoSport, via The Sun, linking him with a potential return to Juventus, the club he joined United from.

Gillespie, though, believes that Pogba needs to stay if United are to have any chance of challenging City for the Premier League title next season.

He hopes that the 28-year-old can remain fit for the duration of the season, having missed six matches with a hamstring injury prior to the clash with Brighton.

Gillespie told FFC: “I’d like to see him stay at Man United. You think about a fully fit Paul Pogba.

“You know, he’s had his injury problems that season, but if Paul Pogba was fully fit for a season and was playing at the top of this game, gosh, that’s going to really help any club.”

Gillespie also thinks that United need a striker if they are to complete their squad, with United currently 10 points behind Pep Guardiola’s side with five games of the campaign remaining.

He added: “You add in them maybe signing that striker that they do need, then they look a really, really good side, with a few tweaks here and there, defensively, and then you think, well, now’s the time maybe they may be able to come up against Man City, who for me are still way out in front of anybody else at the minute.”

Lots of Everton fans have been left to slam Alex Iwobi after he posted a subtle dig at Carlo Ancelotti on his latest Instagram story.

The story was shared by The Toffee Blues on their Twitter page, as the Nigeria international wrote: ‘Always an honour to get a call up for my national team, hopefully I get to play in my preferred position’.

This has been taken as a subtle dig at Ancelotti by several members of the Goodison Park faithful, who played the former Arsenal man as a right wing-back in their most recent 2-0 loss away at Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday evening, and has played him there on more than one occasion so far in the 2020/21 term.

Predominantly a winger by trade, Iwobi is clearly not happy with playing a wing-back role, as he is asked to defend more rather than showcasing his attacking talent in full force.

Nonetheless, it is a concern that should not really be put in the public domain and thus should be kept behind closed doors instead.

Everton fan reaction to Iwobi dig

These Merseyside club supporters slammed his dig on Twitter, with one Toffees fan even going as far as to call the 24-year-old a ‘fraud’:

“Hahaha. Maybe if he could kick a ball he might get a chance.”

Credit: @LeeCruickshank9

“He is a bad egg within the club. Least he won’t be starting Saturday now”

Credit: @gray1978

“Play where you’re asked to play & if you play well you’ll keep your place & eventually play where you want to play. Iwobi needs to look in the mirror to see the reason he’s not playing regularly or in his preferred role.”

Credit: @EdEFC74

“Not good enough for Everton in any position end of”

Credit: @njy1102

“He’s a fraud ngl. Leave my club ASAP”

Credit: @JustiinR7

“He’s deluded…..simply garbage in every position”

Credit: @paulhollis2

In other news, find out what ‘very talented’ star the Blues are at risk of losing in the summer here!

After David Gold relayed news that West Ham United loanee Jesse Lingard has officially earned his first England international call up since June 2019, many Hammers flocked to have their say with most pleading to make his move permanent.

Lingard has enjoyed a fine run of form for the Hammers since signing on a temporary deal from Manchester United in January, scoring four goals and assisting one more in just six Premier League appearances so far (WhoScored).

There have also been various rumours from the press explaining GSB want to make his move a permanent one at the end of the season, with Spanish news outlet Fichajes even claiming they have already discussed it with his parent club.

As the desire for Lingard to become an official West Ham United player grows, many Irons pleaded for it in response to Gold’s tweet relayed his England call-up announcement – while others flocked to send different messages.

Find all of their verdicts down below.

West Ham fans flock to Gold message

“Fair play to him and the Hammers staff for getting Jesse back to his best”

Credit: @DaysOutNow

“Hi david. Please put aside the cash to make his deal permanent. COYI”

Credit: @dean_deano88

“Sign him up”

Credit: @JhobbsyRush

“Get him signed up”

Credit: @kes6m

“Get that cheque book out!!!”

Credit: @adjury

“Sign him please David”

Credit: @RobF_WHU

In other news: West Ham fans reacted to this transfer news, find out more here.

Taking to Twitter, 90min journalist Sean Walsh has made a claim involving Tottenham Hotspur and a possible move for Brentford attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen. 

The lowdown: A joint reunion…

Having made a superb return following a cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, Eriksen could already be eyeing the next step as the summer transfer window approaches.

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Out of contract at the end of the season (Transfermarkt), the 30-year-old has already been linked with a sensational move back to N17 to rejoin Spurs and in turn, reunite with Antonio Conte who he starred under at Inter Milan.

Sharing news on social media, Walsh has suggested that the move could now be edging closer than ever…

The latest: Walsh drops update

As per his information, the Brentford and Tottenham reporter claims that the north London club are now ‘confident’ of signing Eriksen this summer.

Walsh explained in a Tweet that the move could be dependent on whether Conte remains at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and whether the Lilywhites reach the UEFA Champions League.

The verdict: Get it done

This is a no-brainer for Spurs as transfer chief Fabio Paratici attempts to strengthen the squad in the summer transfer window.

The 111-cap Denmark international has been nothing short of a revelation since joining Brentford and has directly contributed to three goals in seven Premier League outings for a side that was floundering in February.

Overall, the man hailed as a ‘very special player’ by Spurs insider John Wenham, has earned an outstanding 7.49 average rating since returning to the English top-flight, creating three big chances, making 2.1 key passes per game and taking 1.9 shots a match (Sofascore).

These statistics bear out the star’s continued class and given the perceived stylistic similarities with Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne (Fbref), Tottenham should be desperate to land Eriksen.

In other news: Source: Tottenham edge closer to ‘top signing’, he now really wants to join Conte! Find out more here.

According to Okay Yokuslu’s agent Batur Altiparmak, West Bromwich Albion have entered talks to sign the Turkey international on loan this month.

Baggies eye Yokuslu

The Baggies have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old midfielder (The Daily Mail), and it now seems they have stepped up their pursuit of the former Trabzonspor man.

Altiparmak has told AS that the Hawthorns outfit are in talks to sign Yokuslu on loan until the end of the season.

Matic-like midfielder

Yokuslu has been somewhat of a bit-part player for Celta Vigo, his current club, so far this campaign – he has played just 410 minutes in La Liga (Transfermarkt). However, with 28 caps for Turkey, he clearly has plenty of experience, and could therefore be an interesting option for Sam Allardyce.

Upon his transfer from Trabzonspor to Vigo in 2018, £3.6m-valued Yokuslu (Transfermarkt) compared himself to Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic (Fotomac via Stretty News). Indeed, when comparing the two on WhoScored, their stats are rather similar. Throughout his career, Yokuslu has averaged 2.2 tackles and 1.9 interceptions, while Matic’s numbers stand at 2.4 and 1.7 respectively.

The latter has won four league titles – three Premier Leagues with Chelsea and one title with Benfica in Portugal. Were Yokuslu to have anything like the impact Matic has had in the English top flight, West Brom would be signing a top player.

In other news, Baggies enter talks to sign this striker.

Many West Ham United fans were far from happy with the performance of Issa Diop during their 1-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday.

The Hammers’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time were damaged on Sunday thanks to a Dominic Calvert-Lewin strike. While it is not impossible for them to reach the group stage of Europe’s premier club competition, they face an uphill battle to get there – they are now five points behind Leicester City in fourth with just three games left (Sky Sports).

Diop, valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, started at the heart of the back four against the Toffees, and it is fair to say he wasn’t at his best. For example, he was dribbled past on two occasions (SofaScore) by an Everton team who seemed reluctant to attack, while he was partly at fault for the only goal of the game along with fellow defender Craig Dawson.

These Irons supporters were far from happy with what they saw from Diop, who one fan labelled a “liability”, and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about Diop

“I like Diop but he needs to remember he’s a centre back, he gets caught out far too high up the pitch time and time again. That’s coachable, Moyes needs to have a word and if he won’t listen don’t play him”

Credit: @TheLawless

“The amount of times he gets dragged out of position! They definitely studied that, in fact they definitely did as Calvert-Lewis confirmed. Exposed Dawson. Horrible defending.”

Credit: @RyanMac97158556

“They were both at fault for the goal. Diop out of position leading to Dawson being out paced. We need to bring in a next level CB in the summer.”

Credit: @Sam6WHU

“Diop & Dawson are average, need a 2nd CB with Og in the summer IMO, Dawson does improve with Og tbf but Diop for me is a liability as a CB, I reckon he’d be a good CDM,”

Credit: @rickwhufc

“Diop had another usual stinker. But Benrahma was shocking today. It seems Moyes’ criticism has got to his game negatively I think 8th is now more likely”

Credit: @westham_mo

“100% need to get rid of Diop…”

Credit: @Jsklen_face

In other news, West Ham fans want the club to sign this man.