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Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey was ‘blowing’ after returning from injury last time out against Arsenal, manager Dean Smith says. 

Bailey was introduced at half-time at The Emirates, with Villa trailing 2-0.

It was his first appearance since a goalscoring cameo in the 3-0 win over Everton on 18 September.

A hamstring injury had sidelined him for three games.

Finally a full debut for Bailey?

Bailey could be in line to make his start for the club since his £30million summer move from Bayer Leverkusen in Sunday’s clash with West Ham United.

But that will only be if Smith believes he is fit enough after he undergoes an assessment on Saturday.

Selecting a winger in Bailey could see Smith change formation, moving away from 3-5-2 in favour of a front three.

Villa are looking to halt a run of three consecutive defeats against the Hammers, who travel to the Midlands buoyed by back-to-back wins.

Birmingham Mail journalist Ashley Preece relayed Smith’s press conference comments, and here’s what Villa supporters made of them.

These Villa fans want to see Bailey start

“Bailey needs to play a few games before is contract runs out if possible, him and Sanson have hardly kicked a ball this season”

Credit: @FabledSage

“Only way to build up his fitness is game time. Start him and try and get an hour or so out of him”

Credit: @Avillafan

“Even if he’s blowing he still better than anything we saw in that wretched first half. If Deano persists with this flawed, unbalanced 352 he will alienate the fans and eventually the owners.”

Credit: @willsterdavies1

“The hope of Bailey starting and us going back to 4 at the back with wingers is the main thing keeping me attending Sunday with positivity”

Credit: @matty__jeff

“Can see exactly where this is going, more of that 3-5-2 to look forward to then”

Credit: @MarkRee37875029

“If he doesn’t start Bailey he’s going to get it in the neck from the fans. Time to be bold, or at least pander to the fans a bit!”

Credit: @PeterStevens82

“Pain”

Credit: @Joe_E_Young

In other news, what did fans think of Smith’s Morgan Sanson reveal?

Frank McAvennie has become the latest pundit to have a say on Leeds United forward Patrick Bamford and his ongoing injury issues, Football Insider report. 

The Lowdown: Bamford’s foot problem

Bamford was involved in Jesse Marsch’s first four matchday squads as Whites boss, starting in wins over Norwich City and Wolves.

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The 28-year-old unfortunately suffered another foot problem at Molineux on March 18 which is set to keep him out for at least six weeks.

The striker did recently admit that he would look to return for the final two games of the season, should Leeds still find themselves in a relegation battle.

The Latest: McAvennie’s comments

McAvennie, talking to FI regarding Bamford, believes the Whites have a ‘real problem’ when it comes to the forward and urged the club to leave him out for the rest of the campaign.

“I think Leeds have a real problem with Bamford.

“He’s barely played this season. I think there is a problem there. He has got the summer to get over this.

“He needs that. Leeds need to draw a line under him and say ‘you’re done for the season’.

“If they rush him back and he plays the last few games of the season, that won’t help him.

“With an injury like this, you need a long uninterrupted recovery period. He shouldn’t rush back, that’s wrong.

“So he’s out for the season, for me. I think Leeds are safe so that’s not too bad news but he definitely think he has a real problem that the club need to fix.”

The Verdict: One more win…

Leeds have picked up on the pitch in recent weeks, taking 10 points from a possible 12 to leave them nine points clear of the drop.

They now sit on 33 points with six games remaining, so you’d like to think that one more win would all but guarantee a third season of Premier League football.

They face Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea before their final two games against Brighton and Brentford, so hopefully, Marsch can guide his club to one more win before the last two to avoid potentially relying on Bamford.

In other news: Leeds and Orta want ‘extraordinary’ ace in Bosman move; same agent as Bamford. 

A worrying Newcastle United injury update has emerged, after Jamal Lewis suffered a blow against Liverpool on Thursday…

What’s the latest?

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has revealed what caused the young defender to be withdrawn from the match in the first-half. He told The Chronicle:

“It looked bad.

“It’s a hamstring injury, which is a surprise with Jamal because he’s obviously so athletic. He’s been excellent in terms of his athletic work for us so far, so for that to happen so early in the game, I was surprised.”

Gutted

Newcastle fans will surely be gutted with this update for multiple reasons. Firstly, the fact that it is a hamstring injury is a worrying prospect, as they can range from days, to weeks, to months, of recovery being needed before the player is able to return.

This means that Lewis could potentially miss a large chunk of the campaign, especially given Howe’s claim that it “looked bad”. Supporters will now be concerned about the severity of the injury and just how many matches he will be out for.

Secondly, they will be disappointed for the player himself. He had only been back in the side for three Premier League matches prior to Thursday night, playing against Norwich, Burnley and Leicester. His resurgence has now been stopped in its tracks and it is a major shame for the young full-back, as he could have established himself in the side and enjoyed a run of games in the team, revitalised under the new leadership.

Finally, fans will be gutted because it means that Matt Ritchie may be required to come back in at left-back for the foreseeable future. He gave the supporters a glimpse of what they have not been missing with a disappointing display off the bench against Liverpool.

In 75 minutes on the pitch, he failed to compete in a single ground or aerial duel. He made zero tackles and completed just 19 passes, attempting zero crosses from left-back in the match. This shows that he struggled to make a positive impact at either end, which is another reason why fans will be gutted by this injury to Lewis.

Hopefully, it will not keep the Northern Ireland international out for a prolonged period of time and he will be able to return for the start of January, or even Boxing Day if he is able to complete a speedy recovery.

AND in other news, NUFC liability who lost 83% duels badly betrayed Howe, Shearer thinks he’s a “danger”…

A key Newcastle United transfer update has emerged, regarding what position they are looking to strengthen in…

What’s the talk?

Athletic journalist Chris Waugh has revealed that the Magpies are in the market to add at least one new striker to their squad this month, although they are not close to completing any deal as it stands.

In the Q&A section of his piece on The Athletic, Waugh replied to a fan asking about Steve Nickson and the pursuit of a forward:

“In terms of Nickson, you’re right that he was working within restrictions under Ashley and, hopefully, that may have changed. The players identified do seem impressive so far, so let’s hope they can manage to sign some of them. As for his long-term future, there has been no rush to remove him, but I think substantive decisions will be deferred until a CEO and director of football are in place, then they can determine the long-term direction of the club.

“In terms of strikers, they are very much actively looking to recruit at least one but, as you say, it’s a very difficult window and hard to secure one even during the summer, so it’s proving tricky, but they will keep attempting to lure one. I don’t believe anything is close, though, and I think they see beyond Gayle now.”

Delight

Newcastle fans will surely be delighted with this update as the club are in desperate need of more goalscorers in the squad heading into the second half of the campaign.

This was shown in full view on Saturday as the Magpies lost 1-0 to Cambridge in the FA Cup. They managed 19 shots, nine on target, against the League One outfit and were unable to find a way past Dimitar Mitov as they wasted chance after chance at St. James’ Park.

In the Premier League this season, only Allan Saint-Maximin (four) and Callum Wilson (six) have scored more than one goal. This also highlights how little Eddie Howe has in the striking department and why fans will be buzzing with Waugh’s latest claim.

Goals win games and Newcastle have only won one league match all season, which is why they could benefit greatly from bringing some extra firepower to the side. They could improve their chances of winning games and dragging themselves out of the dropzone by signing a player who could come in and score six or seven goals in the next five months.

Therefore, fans will be delighted that the club are working hard on a deal to sign a striker and are aware that the position needs attention alongside other areas. It is now down to the likes of Nickson, Howe and Nick Hammond to identify the right targets and get them in before the window slams shut at the end of the month.

AND in other news, “Intensifying efforts”: Ornstein drops NUFC transfer update that’ll have fans buzzing…

After PIF’s takeover of Newcastle United was confirmed a number of months ago, we were all expectant and excited to see the type of talent they could lure to St James’ Park.

Sadly, and rather unsurprisingly, however, they have found life difficult during the winter.

January is always a tricky time to recruit and the club’s new owners are finding that our swiftly.

What’s the word?

News broke on Wednesday that Newcastle were trying to complete a deal to bring Jesse Lingard to the club.

However, the Magpies have been rebuffed in their attempts to lands the Manchester United playmaker and it’s thought he’d prefer another move to the capital.

As a result, the Toon are considering making moves for two other players, one of which is Tottenham’s Dele Alli.

That’s according to 90min who report that the England international is an alternative to Lingard this winter.

It’s thought Spurs had set an asking price of £25m according to a separate report last year.

The new Gazza?

A few years ago Darren Anderton was incredibly effusive in his praise for Dele, hailing the creative midfielder as a “freak of a talent.”

Indeed, that talent is clearly still lurking in the 25-year-old but there is a sense that he needs a fresh start elsewhere in order to discover that.

After all, the playmaker has scored just twice in all competitions this term and has only registered one assist too.

That is a far cry from the numbers we saw him rack up in the early stages of his career. In 2015/16, Dele amassed as many as ten goals and nine assists in the top-flight, then went even better in the campaign after that, scoring 18 times with another nine assists to his name.

2017/18 was also productive for the attacking midfielder who racked up nine goals and 11 assists.

With that kind of dynamism in mind, he could well become Newcastle’s next Paul Gascoigne if he finds his form again.

Gazza was a wonderful player in his prime and scored 133 times during his career.

The duo have also been compared previously by none other than Barcelona manager, Xavi. He once said: “There are some very promising young English midfield players and there is no doubt he is very special.

“He is very talented, very technical. I can understand why the Tottenham fans are hoping he is the next Paul Gascoigne.

“For me, Gascoigne was an inspiration when I was developing, one of the best midfield players I have ever seen. It is important not to put pressure on Dele with these comparisons but I can see why fans are excited.”

Of course, his form has subsided since that comparison but there is certainly a belief that he can get back to his best with new tools and resources.

Newcastle must make that happen.

AND in other news, “From sources” – Fabrizio Romano drops big NUFC transfer update that’ll delight fans…

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Crystal Palace star Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been identified as a summer transfer target by Manchester United, who have reportedly drawn up a shortlist including the full-back, Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic according to talkSPORT.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Eagles’ academy graduate has not put a foot wrong since breaking into the first team at the start of 2018, going on to make the right-back berth his own ahead of former first choice Joel Ward.

As a result, a number of clubs have taken a shine to the England Under-21 international, including the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and now the Red Devils.

The 21-year-old is arguably the best defender in Europe right now, even earning the nickname of ‘The Spider’ as a result of his uncanny ability to use his long legs to wrap around the opponent and win the ball back.

Palace must tie him down to a new contract

Wan-Bissaka currently has three years left on the contract that he signed in April of last year, but given his rise in the game since then, it is imperative that Palace lock him into a monster new deal.

The aforementioned clubs who have taken an interest in him are giants of the game, and all possess the financial power to turn the youngster’s head.

Additionally, Wan-Bissaka is allegedly earning just £15,000-a-week right now, which is well below what he deserves – to compare, second-choice right-back Ward earns £35,000-a-week.

One would assume that Wan-Bissaka’s agent will be pressing the club to offer his client a much improved contract, and could easily point to the fact that a number of heavyweights in the game could easily offer him a significant rise on his current salary.

The south London-based side have a real gem on their hands and arguably one of Europe’s best young players right now, so they must tie him down as soon as possible to avoid losing him in the summer.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has confirmed that Ianis Hagi and Alfredo Morelos will both be ‘missing’ for Glasgow Rangers on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Hagi timeframe

Van Bronckhorst revealed back in February that Hagi will likely even miss the start of next season, as well as the rest of this, after suffering a damaging knee injury.

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Of course, that timeframe could be shortened if the Romania international is able to speed up his recovery through rehab, but for now he will be ruled out for the foreseeable future, and he won’t be the only one missing on Sunday.

The Latest: Early team news

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of their Old Firm clash against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, van Bronckhorst confirmed that both Morelos and Hagi will be ‘missing’.

The Dutch manager thinks that the striker will be out for at least a ‘couple of weeks’, after he was spotted on crutches at Glasgow Airport.

The Verdict: Double blow

Of course, it is a double blow for the Teddy Bears that they will be without two of their key players in what looks to be their biggest game of the league campaign so far.

Both Hagi and Morelos rank in the top seven performers for the Light Blues in the league this term, while the latter is their top scorer with 11 goals and has also contributed seven assists (WhoScored).

Hagi is more of a creative influence, having ranked highly among his teammates in terms of average key passes, crosses and through balls per game (WhoScored), and both of them can form a formidable partnership when they are on song.

In other news, find out who Frank McAvennie thinks ‘will start’ for Gers here!

Speaking to Caught Offside, reliable reporter Fabrizio Romano has made a definitive behind-the-scenes Tottenham Hotspur claim involving manager Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici.

The Lowdown: Conte era begins…

The serial winner arrives at Spurs with much promise as supporters aim to have optimism about the direction in which their club is heading.

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It’s been two years since Mauricio Pochettino guided the Lilywhites to a Champions League final and fortunes in north London haven’t exactly continued to blossom since them.

The Argentine’s sacking was followed by the dismissals of both Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo as a variety of managers try and fail to bring back the glory days to N17.

Conte is the next man given this mountainous task and Fabrizio Romano has now made a definitive claim on why managing director Paratici chose him for the role.

The Latest: Romano makes Conte claim…

Speaking to Caught Offside, the Italian journalist explained that the 52-year-old was always Spurs’ number one choice for the job and went into detail regarding Paratici’s decision.

“I have no doubt in it, Antonio Conte. It’s always been Antonio Conte,” Romano explained

“The relationship is amazing, they won the title here in Italy three times in a row with Juventus, but also they have the same mentality.

“I’ve known both for a really long time and I can tell you Antonio Conte is living 24 hours a day with only football. There is family and then there is football.”

The Verdict: Right choice…

Not appointing Conte, especially given his free agent status at the time, would have been a head-scratching decision, but now as he begins his tenure, Spurs fans will see just how he can transform their club.

The former Chelsea boss has won silverware nearly everywhere he’s been so far during his managerial career but his hardest task yet will be ending Tottenham’s 13-year wait for another trophy since their League Cup final win over Chelsea in 2008.

Paratici has got the ball rolling somewhat with a few shrewd deals in the summer, like the signing of 2020/21 Serie A Best Defender MVP Cristian Romero, but the Argentine’s hamstring injury may mean Conte needs backing again in January.

The ex-Inter boss is no miracle worker and it will come down to how Tottenham help their new manager.

In other news: Journalist says ‘world beater’ could now be tempted to join Spurs, find out more here.

With a loan move for Philippe Coutinho and a permanent deal for Lucas Digne already secured this month, Aston Villa and Steven Gerrard have been making no qualms in terms of flexing their finances and ability to attract players.

Looking ahead to the remainder of the window, one player that the Villans have been linked with in recent weeks that would certainly be an attractive prospect for Gerrard to have in his team and improve them is Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez.

Gomez joined Liverpool back in the 2015 summer transfer window from Charlton Athletic in a deal worth a reported fee of £3.5m.

Since then, the Englishman has made a total of 131 appearances across all competitions for the Merseyside club, winning the Premier League and Champions League along the way.

Labelled as an “unbelievable” player by fellow Reds defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gomez has found regular game time hard to come by this season, particularly in the Premier League with just three substitute appearances under his belt.

This suggests that should Villa make an approach to Gomez and his representatives this month over a potential deal, perhaps the promise of regular playing time under Gerrard’s guidance would be tempting for the defender.

From Villa’s point of view, they have a space in their squad for a player like the England international given how they recently said goodbye to Axel Tuanzebe after his loan deal was cut short by Manchester United.

Someone of Gomez’s calibre could well rival the likes of Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Kortney Hause for a place in the starting XI, thus sealing Gerrard a dream deal. He has already sealed one player who used to be at his former employers and bringing in another individual well known to him would surely be ideal, especially when it comes to building a working relationship.

Speaking of Mings, in a recent poll ran by Football FanCast, 66% of Villa fans think the England international is a liability for the team after his shaky performance in their 3-1 defeat against Chelsea, where he was at fault for Romelu Lukaku’s goal, further highlighting the need for a new defender to come in this month.

As for Gerrard, someone with obvious connections at Liverpool, it would undoubtedly be a dream move for him to have someone like Gomez in his side that has experience of playing at the top level under a manager such as Jurgen Klopp to potentially improve him even further.

Before the window closes, Villa should definitely test the waters to see if Gomez would be willing to make the move to the Midlands and if the Anfield outfit would be willing to let their £22.5m-rated centre-half go halfway through the season.

In other news: Imagine him & Coutinho: Gerrard can form scary AVFC duo with “clever” £43k-p/w gem – opinion

West Ham are interested in signing Sevilla and Morocco striker Youssef En-Nesyri in the January transfer window, according to a new report from Fichajes.

The Lowdown: Potential January reinforcements

The Hammers are enjoying an excellent season so far but squad additions in the winter could help take them to another level. David Moyes’ side will hope to continue challenging for a top-four finish, but that could be a struggle without changes to the current squad.

An exciting new report has emerged regarding El-Nesyri, who scored an impressive 18 goals in La Liga last season and a further six in the Champions League and has been given the nickname ‘Hurricane Youssef’.

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The Latest: En-Nesyri linked with West Ham move

According to Fichajes, West Ham are eyeing up a move for the 24-year-old, who could be available for €50m (£42m), which would almost break the club’s record transfer fee set by £45m man Sebastien Haller.

Daniel Kretinsky’s investment in the Hammers means that funds could be available to snap up the Moroccan, who has scored 11 goals in 39 caps for his country and was the subject of an unsuccessful €35m (£29.5m) bid from the east London club during the summer transfer window.

The Verdict: Perfect mid-season addition

This is the kind of signing which would feel like a statement of intent by West Ham at a time when they are looking to complete with the most successful teams in the country.

En-Nesyri is a proven striker who has delivered in La Liga for a number of seasons now and he could provide strong competition for Michail Antonio in attack, something which is sorely lacking at the moment.

With both domestic and Europa League commitments for the Hammers over the winter and into the New Year, it could also allow Moyes to shuffle his pack more regularly. It’s hard to feel that a move for En-Nesyri wouldn’t make perfect sense.

In other news, some West Ham fans are excited about another transfer rumour. Read more here.