Leeds recall goalkeeper Huffer

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Leeds United have recalled goalkeeper Will Huffer from a loan spell at Barnet after an injury to Kamil Miazek, the Yorkshire Evening Post report.

Huffer played three times for the National League side during his spell, in draws with Solihull Moors, Sutton United and in an FA Cup stalemate with Brentford.

What’s the word?

Huffer only joined Barnet on January 25th but is already back at Elland Road.

The 20-year-old made his senior debut for Leeds earlier this season, playing 90 minutes and keeping a clean sheet in the 2-0 Championship win over Bristol City.

Huffer is third in the club’s pecking order of goalkeepers, behind January signing Kiko Casilla and Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

However, an injury sustained by Miazek means that he is needed to play for the club’s Under-23 side.

As well as making his senior debut, Huffer has played for England at youth levels, winning nine caps for the Under-17s and one for the Under-18s.

Development accelerated

Huffer’s development is only going to be helped by training with the likes of Casilla.

He will play for the Under-23s regularly and is also on standby to move into the first-team for Marcelo Bielsa.

The youngster has already made his Championship bow and is clearly seen as a trustworthy deputy by his manager.

The signing of Casilla may well have pushed him down the queue but he has won three Champions League trophies, as well as La Liga and two UEFA Super Cups.

Huffer can only get better and merely working alongside the Spaniard could have a transformative effect on his growth.

Dean Ashton gives verdict on Barnsley injury blow

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Barnsley are currently in the thick of the League One promotion race, and are trying to hold off Sunderland, who have been resurgent in recent weeks.

The task facing the Tykes, maintaining their place in the automatic promotion spots, was recently made more difficult by the loss of Kieffer Moore. The 26-year-old striker has been ruled out for the rest of the season on medical advice following a recent head injury.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Moore is the Oakwell club’s top scorer so far this season, with 16 league strikes to his name. His loss surely comes as a huge blow to manager Daniel Stendel, but former West Ham United and England striker and EFL on Quest pundit Dean Ashton thinks the Tykes may still be able to cope in Moore’s absence.

What he said

Speaking to Football League World, Ashton said of Barnsley’s promotion prospects without Moore: “Barnsley have shown so far with Woodrow who has come in and done superbly with his goal-scoring record that they might be alright; they’ve not really missed him!…You’d think over a longer period Barnsley would miss his goals but so far they haven’t.”

Out of reach

Barnsley are unbeaten in the four League One matches they’ve played so far since Moore’s injury. 24-year-old Cauley Woodrow has stepped up to the plate in that time, notching three goals in the last four games.

However, as Ashton alluded to, there is still lots of football left to play, and the Tykes may eventually feel Moore’s absence more keenly. With 11 games of the League One season left, Stendel’s side may find promotion eventually slips out of their grasp without the striker’s goals.

The Chalkboard: Hourihane, not Whelan, must be dropped to accommodate McGinn

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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith could be tempted to stick with the same starting XI that beat arch-rivals Birmingham City 1-0 in the second city derby at St Andrew’s on Sunday, but one player is really pushing for a start.

On the chalkboard

Following a two-game absence through suspension, key midfielder John McGinn was only named among the substitutes against the Blues with Smith choosing to stick with the trio of Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane and Jack Grealish in the centre after the 4-0 win against Derby County previously.

The scoreline was 0-0 when McGinn entered the fray as a 62nd minute substitute against Garry Monk’s men, and he made a clear difference in the final third as the visitors eventually ran out 1-0 victors to boost their play-off hopes.

Their trip to Nottingham Forest – whom they are two points adrift of in the Championship standings – on Wednesday night will be another key test of their promotion credentials and they need their best players on the pitch.

McGinn to start?

In a word, yes.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation following his summer arrival at Villa Park, and while the Midlands outfit impressed without the Scot when they thrashed the Rams, he is the sort of player you want in your ranks – on the road especially.

He has that grit, determination and willingness to put his foot in that will be needed against Martin O’Neill’s hosts in midweek, and the only thing Smith needs to decide is who drops out of the XI to accommodate him.

Grealish looks to be a certain starter given the magnitude of the game, and the easy option would probably be to leave the ageing Whelan on the sidelines.

However, the 35-year-old’s experience could be key against Forest, and therefore it is Hourihane who should drop out.

The former Barnsley man may have got on the score-sheet twice against Derby, but he was far more subdued at the weekend even if he was unlucky to hit the woodwork with a fine effort from just outside the penalty area.

The run-in: Predicting Newcastle’s fight against relegation

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Newcastle United face a battle for their Premier League survival.

The Magpies are currently 16th, one point clear of 18th-placed Southampton and level with Cardiff City, but ahead on goal difference, with just 12 games of the season to go.

Newcastle’s run-in: Huddersfield Town (H), Burnley (H), West Ham (A), Everton (H), Bournemouth (A), Arsenal (A), Crystal Palace (H), Leicester City (A), Southampton (H), Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Liverpool (H), Fulham (A).

Newcastle are fortunate that they only play two top-six teams between now and the end of the season.

Games against Arsenal and Liverpool are not likely to glean any points for the Magpies, meaning Rafael Benitez’s side are better off focusing on taking points from the teams around them.

The visit of Huddersfield Town next weekend could well set the tone. The Terriers are rock-bottom and 14 points off Cardiff. In short, they need a miracle. Newcastle should take all three points. Even in their current predicament, it would be a shock if they didn’t.

The visit of Burnley, in 15th, is likely to be a cagey affair and could well be a draw, while West Ham will expect to win at the London Stadium when Newcastle visit.

There is scope for United taking a point off Everton, but trips to Bournemouth and the Gunners are unlikely to see any return.

Crystal Palace, though, could well be a scalp taken, and three points against Roy Hodgson’s men would be a major boost, with tough clashes against Leicester, Southampton, Brighton and the Reds thereafter.

A return of one point from a possible 12 there seems the likeliest outcome – a draw with the Saints, also scrapping, would not do either side a favour but is the most foreseeable result.

A trip to London to face Fulham on the final day could well be full of drama but the Cottagers are already eight points adrift and may well be relegated beforehand. Three points for the Magpies would seem a banker if Claudio Ranieri’s men are already contemplating life in the Championship.

Predicted points: 12 – Newcastle finish on 37 points

Much like Southampton – who Football FanCast predict to end the season with 36 points – Newcastle are set to fall short of the 40-point mark which is routinely said to guarantee survival.

However, there really appears to be only one spot to fill in the bottom three.

Huddersfield and Fulham are surely doomed, barring a miracle or a bizarre twist of fate, leaving the likes of Southampton, Newcastle and Cardiff, as well as perhaps Burnley, Brighton and Crystal Palace, all battling to avoid finishing 18th.

If FFC’s predictions are correct, Newcastle will finish above Southampton, and that may well be enough.

The two sides play each other on April 20th and that game could well determine which of the two drops through the trapdoor into the Championship, provided Cardiff do not implode and take the spot for themselves.

Celtic: There are still two games that could ruin the season

It has been yet another dominant display from Celtic this season, however, has Brendan Rodgers left them short? This is a man said to have swapped invincibility for mediocrity, after all. 

Indeed, the Northern Irishman leaving the Hoops has left a lot, and we’re talking a lot, of sour mouths in Scotland. Who can blame them? After all, this is probably the hardest season the Bhoys have had in years and the fact he left with two trophies not yet secured for a few months at Leicester before the end of the season is a strange decision.

Neil Lennon might know what he’s doing but there’s no doubt that this isn’t an ideal scenario.

So, has the 46-year-old’s departure left Celtic worrying they may not get the job done?

Here, we take a look at some games that could possibly spell trouble for the Scottish giants.

Rangers (home) 

With a win and a defeat evenly shared between the two clubs, bragging rights in the Old Firm have never been wanted more by either side. With Rangers the team chasing, they will with no doubt come to attack the Celtic defence and push for what could be title-deciding points.

In the manner that Celtic won the first game, at Celtic Park, Rangers will be wary of the same tactics being used again, which may ultimately lead to the Celtic attack being nullified.

On a proper derby day like the Old Firm, form truly does go out the window, and it goes down to how badly each team wants to win.

Scottish Cup Semi-Final 

The want for another cup win, in what would be a historic treble, would allow Celtic to do the clean sweep again this season. Still, it could lead to their demise. With the league looking all but secure, a loss for the Bhoys in the Scottish Cup would leave some fans to feel that they have failed their targets for the season.

The next round of the tie is going to be played against either Rangers or Aberdeen, both teams who Celtic have struggled at times with this season, and two teams that would love nothing more than to ruin the champions’ ‘treble treble’ hopes.

Celtic boss Neil Lennon will no doubt know how to handle the pressure of these big games, however it is all down to whether his players can handle the desire of the fans on their backs.

The Chalkboard: Grealish breathes new life into Dean Smith’s Villa

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Aston Villa are finally starting to play the Dean Smith way, and it’s all thanks to the return to fitness of Jack Grealish.

The Villans swept Middlesbrough aside on Saturday afternoon, with goals from Anwar El Ghazi, John McGinn and Albert Adomah carrying Smith’s side to a convincing 3-0 win.

While Boro were woeful, the home side were absolutely excellent at times, with some of their attacking patterns representative of the free-flowing football Smith instilled at Brentford.

The likes of Grealish and McGinn had an absolute field day, and the former’s transformative effect on the side is truly stunning.

On the chalkboard

At Brentford, Smith had a mixture of skilful and speedy attackers, like Ollie Watkins and Sergi Canos, who loved driving at defenders and causing havoc.

Until recently, he has struggled to find the same dynamism from within his Villa squad, and there were growing concerns that Smith could not replicate his free-flowing Brentford brilliance at Villa Park.

Grealish’s directness from the centre of the park changes everything though, drawing players in and creating space for the other attacking outlets.

The 23 year-old has scored two and assisted one since his return, but it’s his energy and drive that really makes all the difference, allowing Smith’s side to play on the front foot – just like his Bees team always did.

Grealish and McGinn combined for five dribbles and five key passes on Saturday, constantly looking to cut through the visitors’ defensive lines, and Villa fans should now be very excited for what the future holds.

If they do not earn promotion this year, there is no need for panic. With a couple of smart signings that fit the Grealish mould, Smith could produce a fearsome attacking force next season.

ماذا قال باتشيكو للاعبي الزمالك بعد الفوز على المصري؟

أشاد البرتغالي جيمي باتشيكو المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك بلاعبي الفريق بعد الفوز على المصري البورسعيدي في مباراتهما ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وانتصر الزمالك على المصري بهدف وحيد في إطار منافسات الجولة 31 من الدوري.

وعلم “بطولات” أن باتشيكو حرص على الإشادة باللاعبين في غرف خلع الملابس بعد المباراة على قدرتهم على تحقيق الفوز وتنفيذ تعليماته الفنية.

طالع أيضًا.. حمادة أنور: غياب طارق حامد مؤثر.. ولم أر تصرف فرجاني ساسي مع الحكم!

وأكد لهم سعادته بتحملهم المسئولية والتماسك في الملعب رغم خوض جزء كبير من اللقاء بنقص عددي بعد طرد فرجاني ساسي.

Sarri has to take on board Terry’s words when it comes to selecting his Chelsea team

While Chelsea left Wembley empty-handed over the weekend after losing the Carabao Cup final on penalties to Manchester City, the Blues still managed to put in an encouraging performance on the day.

Since then, both Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi have come in for massive praise with a certain ex-Chelsea captain now calling on Maurizio Sarri to hand the English duo some starts.

The Breakdown

“We’ve got people like Hudson-Odoi and it’s important to keep him,” John Terry told Chelsea’s official club website when discussing the recent Wembley defeat.

“Ruben Loftus-Cheek, is he ready? Let’s find out. If we’re not going to win the league then let’s give him a chance in the league. Let’s blood the younger players and see what they’ve got.”

Given how poor Willian and Pedro have been at times this season and some of the underwhelming displays from Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley, it is a surprise Sarri has only just started to really turn to Loftus-Cheek and Hudson-Odoi, though it must be mentioned that the former has been suffering with a back injury.

At the end of the day, though, it is better late than never. As long as Sarri accepts he probably should have used the two Chelsea academy products earlier in the season and starts to hand them more minutes, all is not lost.

The west London club could still end this season inside the top four and with a trophy with the Europa League up for grabs, but only if Sarri starts using a more meritocratic system when it comes to selecting his starting XI.

Southampton fans react to Kasper Dolberg interest

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According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Southampton are reportedly one of two Premier League clubs interested in signing exciting young Ajax striker Kasper Dolberg, and Saints fans have been quick to react to the rumour on Twitter.

The now 21-year-old enjoyed a brilliant 2016/17 breakthrough campaign for the Eredivisie giants where he scored 23 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions, and while he wasn’t quite as impressive last term he has looked back to his best this term.

Despite having to compete with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar for a spot in the starting XI, he has netted 10 times in 27 outings in total for the Amsterdam outfit, as he appears to be getting back to his best form.

The Denmark international is of course playing alongside former Saints Dusan Tadic this term following the Serbian’s summer move to the Netherlands from St Mary’s.

Southampton supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one said “I’m sure Tadic put in a negative word for us”, another said “we couldn’t even get Che Adams”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Ander Herrera’s Stamford Bridge redemption speaks volumes of leadership qualities

How times have changed for Ander Herrera.

The last time he faced Chelsea in a FA Cup fixture at Stamford Bridge, he was sent off. Fast-forward two years, he’s scored a big goal and led the charge for them outclassing Chelsea in their own yard after almost seven years.

If anything, Herrera’s change in fortunes is due to the change in mentality. In 2017, Jose Mourinho played his famous ultra-defensive system and restricted Herrera to do the dirty on Eden Hazard. A foul too many eventually led to disaster. However, Solskjaer allowed the Spaniard freedom to roam forward and play to his strengths.

This turned out a masterstroke, as Herrera not only fulfilled his defensive duties perfectly but also made a clever run to score the opener. What proceeded was a professional, tidy performance from Herrera, who even made up for the curbed Nemanja Matic, who had to play safe after being booked earlier on.

The Spaniard helped his side control midfield with a 76% passing accuracy but always sniffed out the danger to stop Chelsea’s attacks. He made three tackles, three clearances and recovered possession eight times (stats via Fotmob). United’s fearless approach was embodied through the clever Herrera.

The wily midfielder proved his leadership ability by urging his men forward and always making up for his team-mates errors. He was vocal, decisive and creative in giving a complete performance.

Paul Pogba might’ve earned the spotlight for moments of brilliance, yet it was Herrera’s complete performance which proved qualities of a future Manchester United captain.

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