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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Son Heung-Min is likely to play for Tottenham Hotspur against Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Wednesday, Mauricio Pochettino has said, per The Independent.

What’s the word?

The South Korea international was at the centre of a grisly injury on Sunday, as his tackle led to Everton midfielder Andre Gomes sustaining a fracture-dislocation of his ankle during the 1-1 draw.

Son was sent off for the tackle – the red card has since been rescinded – and was left in tears after seeing the extent of the injury Gomes had sustained.

Reports had suggested that he could subsequently miss the European encounter but Pochettino has now confirmed that he is likely to play a part.

He said: “Son was devastated after the action.

“It was a mix of everything, it was a mix of the injury, a mix of the red card, the situation of the game it was an emotional moment for everyone.

“Now after a few days, everyone is available to play. He is in a very good way, he feels sorry like everyone, but he is in good form.”

Clinical

This is vital.

Son has been in clinical form in the Champions League thus far this season and has netted three goals in his first three appearances.

Those strikes include a brace against Red Star at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs ran out 5-0 winners over a fortnight ago.

Having him available, then, will be a major boost for Pochettino, who has started Son in every available game this season bar two, the draw with Olympiacos and the loss to Colchester United. Even there, he came on as a substitute.

Since his time at Spurs, Son has made 28 appearances in the Champions League, scoring 12 goals, while also registering one assist.

As a left winger who is there to supplement the form of the likes of Harry Kane, that is an impeccable record and one that will surely worry the Red Star defenders on Wednesday night.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

After eight games of the 2019/20 campaign, we think it’s a good time to give our verdicts on a few summer signings.

In Southampton’s case, they made only three new additions back in the summer, while Danny Ings’ loan move was automatically turned into a permanent one due to the Saints’ obligation to Liverpool.

As a result of the No.9 not being a new face, we have left him out of this list.

Besides Ings though, let’s have a go at ranking Southampton’s newest additions to the squad in Moussa Djenepo, Che Adams and Kevin Danso.

Moussa Djenepo 

The Mali international arrived from Standard Liege as somewhat of an unknown quantity, and also turned up with a lot of expectation on his shoulders having cost £15m.

Djenepo has struggled to stay fit, but has shown signs of becoming a real talisman for the Saints in his three Premier League appearances so far.

The 21-year-old has scored two goals, both of which were match-winners, as he netted the opener against Brighton and the only goal against Sheffield United.

Without his goals, the Saints would have just one point, so it’s safe to say he’s been a hit – the only blot on his copybook has been his lack of availability.

8/10

Kevin Danso 

The Austrian centre-back has only featured once in his most natural position for the Saints, but there have been signs of life in the 21-year-old.

A red card against Manchester United highlighted his inexperience, but he did record the assist in that 1-1 draw with a brilliant cross onto Jannik Vestergaard’s head.

Danso – like Djenepo –  has made just three league appearances, and it’s hard to give him too much praise given his inconsistent start.

5/10

Che Adams

Arguably the Saints marquee signing back in the summer – he cost £15m after hitting 22 goals for Birmingham last term – Adams has disappointed.

The 23-year-old is yet to score a goal for the south coast side in seven appearances, and was dropped for the most recent outing against Chelsea.

He is still young and is also new to the Premier League, but Adams needs to do more.

4/10

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Queens Park Rangers picked up their first defeat in four league games as West Brom made the trip down from the west Midlands and returned with all three points.

Just one point separated the two sides going into the match, but the 2-0 victory moved the Baggies into first place for at least a couple of hours with the majority of the Championship playing on Saturday afternoon.

Nathan Ferguson opened the scoring in the second half after he was allowed all the time in the world to advance from his own half before thumping in a strike from 25 yards out – the goal left several of the home support fuming with goalkeeper Joe Lumley’s attempt to save it.

Loan star Matheus Pereira doubled Albion’s lead just two minutes after the R’s went down to ten men as Yoann Barbet received his marching orders for bringing down Hal Robson-Kanu.

The Brazilian stepped up to take the free-kick and slotted it home underneath the wall.

One supporter said that the 24-year-old keeps making errors that are costing the team, so he has to be replaced, which was backed up by another who claimed he has had more than enough chances.

‘Shocking’ and ‘very poor’ were just two of the phrases used to describe Lumley’s performance.

You can read more of the reaction below:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Three points from nine may not be something to shout from the rooftops about, but Newcastle’s performances in their three games against the Premier League’s ‘big six’ this season offer up some serious encouragement.

The Magpies fell to a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, and despite taking a shock lead through Jetro Willems, never truly looked like securing a famous away victory. The result means the Tyneside club remain on four points for the campaign, but digging deeper into their displays against the top sides shows they have the foundation for future success.

In the opening game of their season against Arsenal, Steve Bruce’s side looked defensively solid, limiting the Gunners to just two shots on target in the entire game. The Magpies were full of aggression and passion despite sections of the home support staying away, and registered more than double the amount of tackles the visitors made with 26.

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Then, in their finest performance of the campaign so far, Newcastle rocked up in north London and did the proverbial job on Tottenham. It was backs-to-the-wall defending at its finest, putties bodies on the line and making desperate, last-ditch tackles. When the final whistle sounded, the team had made a total of 54 clearances and blocked seven shots on goal.

Whilst their resolute display in north London resulted in all three points, it wasn’t to be the case at Anfield. However, despite Saturday’s outcome, Bruce has every reason to feel optimistic about his side’s chances for the year.

“They’re a resilient lot. They roll their sleeves up and have a go for each other, which is vitally important. We’ve now played Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool in the first six weeks and we’ve given a decent account of ourselves in all three. That pleases me.” Bruce speaking after the defeat to Liverpool, The Chronicle

The Premier League table may make for grim reading for Newcastle fans at the moment, but they have to take solace from the fact they have entertained three of the division’s top six sides, and come out with massive credibility.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Manchester City and England defender Danny Mills has raved about Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min, per Football Insider.

What’s he said?

The South Korea international played a major role in Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Arsenal at the weekend, providing a constant threat on the break with his pace and trickery.

He won the penalty from which Harry Kane scored his side’s second goal but Mills believes that the 27-year-old, who netted 20 goals in all competitions last season, remains “underrated”.

He said: “He’s a fabulous player, I think he’s massively underrated.

“His quality, his ability, his discipline and his work rate are absolutely exceptional, he very rarely lets you down in any way, shape or form.

“Yes, all players miss chances and have off moments but overall, the way that he plays – his energy and enthusiasm – his effort for the team is incredible.”

A phenomenal asset

Spurs’ attack would not be the same without Son.

A brilliantly multi-faceted player, the attacker is capable of scoring all types of goals, as well as taking on players, beating them, while also winning it back on a regular basis.

He adds pace and dynamism on the left flank and is also capable of playing through the middle, particularly if Kane is absent.

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Mills is right to draw attention to the fact that he is not seen as one of the elite talents in the Premier League.

The fact is though; he should be.

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أكد أندريا بيرلو المدير الفني لنادي يوفنتوس أن فريقه يقاتل على جميع الجبهات وسيبذل قصارى جهده حتى النهاية، بدءًا من مباراة أخرى حاسمة ضد لاتسيو.

يوفنتوس فاز 3-0 على سبيزيا في الجولة الماضية بالدوري الإيطالي، ويستعدون لمواجهة لاتسيو غدًا السبت في الجولة 26.

قال بيرلو في مؤتمر صحفي: “لاتسيو فريق رائع، يلعب لاعبوه معًا منذ عدة سنوات، والنتائج تتحدث عنهم، نعلم أننا سنواجه فريقًا سيقاتل للوصول إلى القمة”.

وأضاف: “نحن نستعد للمباراة بأفضل طريقة ممكنة، ونعرف خصائصهم ونعلم أنها لن تكون سهلة”.

وتابع: “كل المباريات حاسمة بالنسبة ليوفنتوس، حاضرنا هو مباراة الغد، سنركز بكل قوتنا للفوز وسنفكر في مواجهة بورتو (بدوري الأبطال) بعد ذلك”.

بيرلو أشار إلى أن قلة اللاعبين المتاحين في ظل تعدد الإصابات، لا تمنحه فرصة لإراحة كريستيانو رونالدو في خط الهجوم.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بيرلو يكشف حالة المصابين قبل مباراة يوفنتوس ولاتسيو.. وموقف دي ليخت

واستطرد: “عندما تلعب الكثير من المباريات يكون يوم أو يومين من الراحة جيدًا، هذا ينطبق أيضًا على كريستيانو، الآن بعد تعدد إصابات المهاجمين، فقد تحامل على نفسه وسيفعل ذلك طالما أننا في حاجة إليه، لقد أظهر وما زال يبرهن على احترافه الكبير”.

يوفنتوس تأهل لنهائي كأس إيطاليا ويلعب في دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا ويحتل المركز الثالث في الدوري الإيطالي بفارق 10 نقاط عن إنتر متصدر الدوري، لكن مع مباراة واحدة مؤجلة.

مع تأخر لاتسيو بست نقاط في المركز السابع، يرى بيرلو الأهمية الإضافية لتحقيق نتيجة جيدة ضد رجال إنزاجي.

وأكد: “جميع المباريات مهمة، مباراة الغد مهمة أيضًا للترتيب في الدوري، الحماس موجود لأننا نمر بفترة من المباريات الصعبة والمهمة، وسوف يكون الأمر كذلك دائمًا”.

وواصل: “في الترتيب، الوضع مماثل للأسبوع الماضي، يجب أن نكون مستعدين لعدم ارتكاب الأخطاء، نحن نقاتل على جميع الجبهات”.

وشدد: “وطالما كان هناك أمل، سيتعين علينا بذل قصارى جهدنا في محاولة للفوز بالبطولة، ثم إذا لم يرتكب الآخرون أخطاء أبدًا وكانوا أفضل حالاتهم فسنهنئهم في النهاية”.

وأردف: “بدأنا مشروعًا، وغالبًا ما تتغير الأحكام من مباراة إلى أخرى، نحن هادئون، ونعرف ما يجب أن نفعله، ونمضي قدمًا، علينا أن نلعب مباراة ذكية غدًا، مع العلم أننا في فترة حساسة ولسنا بنسبة 100 في المائة”.

وأتم: “سيكون من المهم إدارة كل موقف وكل مباراة بشكل جيد، لأنك لن تكون قادرًا على اللعب بكامل طاقتك لمدة 90 دقيقة”.

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Paris Saint-Germain are known for their big-money signings, at least since they were taken over by QSI in 2011, but this transfer window has been surprisingly understated. Not that they haven’t been busy at all – Abdou Diallo, Idrissa Gueye and Pablo Sarabia are the newest recruits in the French capital. Those three have cost the club £73.8m overall but the return of Leonardo, who did not cost a penny, as the club’s sporting director, is the Ligue 1 champions’ best bit of business of the whole summer.

Recent windows in Paris have seen some of the biggest stars in world football join the revolution. Last year, Kylian Mbappe completed his switch from Monaco on a permanent deal for £166m following his one-season loan spell, and in 2017, Neymar arrived from Barcelona for a world-record fee of £200m. In fact, PSG have spent more than £100m in all but three seasons – one of which is the current one – since the takeover.

However, despite those shiny new arrivals and enough talent to fill two quality starting XIs, things have not gone swimmingly at Le Parc des Princes. Despite dominating domestically – they have won 21 of the 32 trophies available to all French clubs since 2011 – they have failed miserably in Europe. So far, they have not made it beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and their attempts to lift European football’s most prestigious prize has produced some humiliating moments. Who will ever forget how they blew a three-goal advantage in the dying minutes against Barcelona in 2017?

This can partly blamed on a clash of egos in the PSG dressing room and since his arrival, Neymar has done nothing to alleviate those issues. On the pitch, he has been fantastic, scoring 51 goals in 58 games for Les Parisiens, but off it, he has been a nuisance. He has refused to train, has made it clear that he wishes to leave and has even been banned whilst not even being on the pitch. There are even worries that Neymar’s huge ego is rubbing off on Mbappe as well after the France international fuelled exit rumours with his speech at the Ligue 1 end of season awards earlier this year.

Leonardo, however, has already shown that he will not allow the former Santos star to bully PSG, or use them as a pawn. He has said that Neymar “can leave” if an offer suits the club, and is even understood to have laid into the Brazil international in front of the whole squad (Sport via The Daily Express) after the training incident. And president Nasser Al-Khelaifi trusts the 49-year-old so much that he is willing to give him “full sporting power” to allow him to correct some of the club’s fundamental problems. Someone must put their foot down, and so far, the former Brazil international has done just that.

His other task, of course, will be to bring in new faces. Even in a short period, there has been a change in transfer policy. As stated before, the stars have been replaced by pragmatic choices who, whilst not likely to bring in commercial success, will offer squad depth and intelligent options. Gueye was one of Everton’s best performers last season and will provide defensive stability in the middle of the park, whilst Diallo and Sarabia are also players who will contribute to the squad in their attempts to finally triumph outside of France.

The transfer track record of Leonardo at PSG is already something to envy. Under his previous stewardship, club captain Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani, the two highest-scorers in the club’s history, as well as others such as Marco Verratti and Marquinhos all made Paris their home. Honourable mentions must go to Blaise Matuidi and Maxwell. In the time between his two spells, however, only Angel Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe and, to a lesser extent, Thomas Meunier, have made memorable impressions.

Leonardo has a big job on his hands in Paris. But there is a reason why Al-Khelaifi has brought him back to the club. If he can live up to his boss’ expectations, he will end up being their unsung hero.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Wolves have practically one foot in the group stages of the Europa League following their third round qualifying first leg routing of Pyunik last week.

A Raul Jimenez brace in between Matt Doherty’s opener and a Ruben Neves penalty secured a four-goal advantage going into the second leg at Molineux on Thursday.

By the time they face Manchester United in only their second Premier League game of the season on Monday night, Wolves will have played four European ties and it’s only the middle of August.

That run of Thursday-Sunday games will only continue as they look dead certain on making the next round.

How much of an impact that will have on their Premier League ambitions remains to be seen but their opening stalemate with Leicester City has to be a good signal towards a positive result.

Having travelled to and from Armenia in the week – a 6,700-odd mile round trip, Wolves showed no signs of adversity but it’s still only early days.

On the chalkboard

As the season trundles on, something will have to give unless Wolves take the European burden on top of another decent finish in the league like a duck to water.

Nuno Santo may believe that the club’s first venture into a European competition in nearly 40 years will have little impact on where they finish in the Premier League, but history suggests he is wrong.

A couple of seasons ago, Sean Dyche’s Burnley extraordinarily finished seventh but their time in Europe appeared to hamper their progress in the league even though they didn’t make it past the qualifying stage, as they finished 15th last season.

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Similarly, Everton, West Ham and Southampton have all followed the same precedent making it seem all too likely that Wolves will be the next to feel such a strain – one that involves being in another country during the week and then somewhere else in the UK by the weekend.

Everton went from fifth to finishing 11th the following year whilst making the round of 16 matches in the Europa League; West Ham followed a seventh place finish with 11th and Southampton were nearly relegated a year after facing Inter Milan in the group stages.

Having finished seventh themselves last term, it looks ominous that Wolves could be an addition rather than an exception to the rule.

However, they do seem slightly better equipped for bucking the trend – they won’t be selling some of their major stars to Liverpool as Southampton have done in the past for example.

Santo has also added depth to his squad with the additions of players who carry some sort of European pedigree – Jesus Vallejo from Real Madrid and Patrick Cutrone from AC Milan are just two and they come from teams that regularly compete in Europe and have numerous trophies to their names.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

According to reputable journalist Alan Nixon, Leeds United are looking at signing Ryan Woods as a potential replacement for Kalvin Phillips.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to Aston Villa, but if the Whites want to replace the Englishman, Woods isn’t the man to look towards.

Phillips’ role

Anyone who has watched Marcelo Bielsa’s side play in the last 12 months would be able to tell you that Phillips is one of the most important players in the Argentine’s system.

The Englishman plays as the holding midfielder in their 4-1-4-1 formation, and that position is absolutely vital for the way the Whites play.

Last season Phillips was fantastic – his role required him to run for a full 90 minutes and complete the destructive work in the midfield, helping the Whites win back possession by making tackles and interceptions.

He averaged 2.7 tackles per game last term as well as 1.3 interceptions, and if the Whites are to replace him they need to bring someone in who can replicate those sorts of numbers.

Woods not the man

The man who Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani are apparently looking towards is Stoke midfielder Woods.

The 25-year-old was brilliant during his time at Brentford as he won the Supporters’ Player of the Year in 2018. While he is a good player at this level, he isn’t the type of player who could replace Phillips.

Indeed, if they signed the Potters man for a different role there could be no qualms about it as he is a solid midfielder at this level, but he is of such a different ilk to the 23-year-old and playing him in that role wouldn’t be wise.

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Whoscored even lists Woods’ weaknesses as his tackling and defensive contribution. He makes just 1.2 tackles per game and 0.6 interceptions, so he falls well short of Phillips’ defensive output. If Leeds put Woods in Phillips’ position it could be a disaster waiting to happen.

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According to reports from The Sun, Sheffield United could be about to more than triple their current club record transfer fee in order to sign Oliver McBurnie from Swansea City.

It’s been no secret that the Yorkshire club are pursuing a striker this summer as Gary Madine and Britt Assombalonga have both been linked to the club.

Smashing your transfer record like this is, of course, a huge statement, but one has to think that the money would be better spent on another player.

What’s the story?

The Sun have reported that the Blades want to sign McBurnie and a £15m bid will be coming in for him in the next few days.

Heading into their new season it makes sense for Chris Wilder to want a new striker as there are no proven Premier League goalscorers in the squad, but the Scot may not be the answer.

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Look elsewhere

It’s a dangerous game Sheffield United are playing by coming into the Premier League with a frontline which has next to no experience at that level.

Billy Sharp made two appearances in the top-flight with Southampton while David McGoldrick has never played in this division.

McBurnie may well have proven himself to be a top Championship striker in these past two seasons, but that isn’t what the Blades need. Sharp outscored him last season while David McGoldrick won the club’s Player of the Year award. If they wanted a top Championship striker, then they could easily just look among their own ranks.

Check out the transfer rumour that has Sheff Utd fans both drooling and laughing in the video below…

There are multiple instances of top second division strikers flopping in the top-flight. Tammy Abraham has proven himself as one of the best forwards in the division during his loan spells with Bristol City and Aston Villa, but he netted just five times when on loan at Swansea in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old is at risk of falling into this category having never scored in the top-flight. Therefore, the Blades would be better of signing someone with proven top-flight credentials instead.