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Following the devastating 2-1 home defeat by Cardiff City last time out that saw Southampton slip into the relegation zone, the need to pick up points regularly from here on in has become even more of a priority – they can do exactly that if Ralph Hasenhuttl makes a risky call at Arsenal on Sunday.

On the chalkboard

Well, despite favouring a 4-2-2-2 formation at the previous clubs he has managed, the Austrian has had to adapt to the situation the clubs finds itself in and the players he has at his disposal at St Mary’s, and  he has often favoured either a 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-1-1 system.

However, while it may have made them sturdier at the back – on paper at least – they haven’t looked great from an attacking point of view, which hasn’t been helped by regular injury issues for Danny Ings and Michael Obafemi.

The latter was pictured in training during the training camp in Tenerife however and may well be in contention to start at the Emirates Stadium, which presents Hasenhuttl with a big opportunity.

What should he do?

Normally a five-at-the-back formation for a tough-looking trip to north London would make sense, but Unai Emery’s men have shown time and time again that they are there to be got at defensively with players like Shkodran Mustafi prone to errors and lack of concentration.

By lining up with a 4-2-2-2 formation – something the 51-year-old Saints boss was surely working with his players on during the break in the Canary Islands – he could utilise the pace, pressing and never-say-die attitude of Obafemi and Shane Long to really put the hosts’ defence under pressure.

Arsenal have the players to hurt Southampton at the other end, so it makes sense to give them a big problem to think about in their weak spot.

With Redmond on one wing and potentially Stuart Armstrong on the other, they would have a better chance of sneaking a positive result.

It wasn’t long ago that Tom Rogic’s Celtic career looked in significant doubt.

The attacking midfielder was only a bit-part player at Parkhead during various points of Neil Lennon’s tenure and was linked with a regular exit from the Hoops.

Yet, step forward Ange Postecoglou, who has revived his fellow countryman’s career in Glasgow, with the Australian playing 44 times this term and contributing to 16 goals in the process.

Rogic is now a key player again and in the words of The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin, he is becoming a “Celtic great.”

It’s hard to argue against that considering his 266 outings in the green and white but he does have competition from David Turnbull, someone who has spent plenty of time on the sidelines this term.

He will also have to look further behind him in Matt O’Riley, who has very quickly become a fan favourite at Celtic Park.

The Denmark U21 international signed from MK Dons for a bargain fee of £1.5m in January and he has been a revelation since penning terms.

The 21-year-old already has three goals and three assists in Celtic colours and that tally will surely rapidly improve.

His performance off the bench in the 7-0 drubbing of St Johnstone was one of his best performances yet, with the £405k-rated attack-minded player finding the net twice.

Capable of playing in central areas or on the flanks, the youngster is starting to show shades of a certain Stuart Armstrong, someone who stood out in a similar position before being snapped up by Southampton.

Armstrong scored 28 times and supplied another 25 for his teammates in Glasgow and the more intricate stats suggest how alike they are.

In 2021/22 so far, the Scotland international has recorded 1.7 shots per, 1.1 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per match in the Premier League.

O’Riley on the other hand has registered 1.4 shots, 2.5 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per match, although that final statistic was better at 1.3 while he was still playing in England’s third tier.

With those stats in mind, they both appear to glide past players with ease, while they’re also extremely dangerous in front of goal.

Celtic’s new recruit does appear to be more creative but it’s clear to see why this comparison is being made.

Described as “silky” and “classy” after yesterday’s win by pundit Michael Stewart, the future is a hugely exciting one for O’Riley in Glasgow.

AND in other news, Forget Jota: Ange must clinch huge Celtic signing in 54-goal gem who is “like Mbappe”…

Eddie Howe has received a huge injury lift regarding Newcastle United goalkeeper Martin Dubravka this week…

What’s the latest?

According to Newcastle World, the Magpies shot-stopper is expected to train ahead of the clash with Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday. The report claimed that Newcastle are hopeful that the 33-year-old will be available for selection against Antonio Conte’s side despite withdrawing from international duty.

This comes after Slovakia boss Stefan Tarkovic told futbalsfz.sk [via The Mag] earlier this week: “Martin Dubravka suspects angina. Our doctors started antibiotic treatment for him.

“He is in isolation and will definitely not be part of the team in Norway and Finland. Ivan Schranz came together with an untreated member after a club match with Linz.

“Since he still doesn’t have it right, after talking to the doctors and the player, I decided that he wouldn’t travel with us and return to the club.”

Elation

This news will surely leave Toon supporters feeling elated, as they will no doubt be keen to see him lining up between the sticks this weekend.

Having him available will be a major boost for the club, as he is Howe’s number one and the best goalkeeper on their books. He has played 121 games for Newcastle since joining in 2018, which shows that he has played regularly over a number of years, with Rafael Benitez, Steve Bruce and now Howe often picking him to be their first-choice in goal.

The 33-year-old is a proven Premier League performer, with 33 clean sheets in 118 top-flight games, and he has been in fine form this season. Dubravka has averaged a SofaScore rating of 6.84 and has made zero errors directly leading to goals, whilst also not giving away a single penalty.

He has kept three clean sheets in his last nine league outings, with the Magpies losing just twice during that run. This shows that he is in form at the moment and has been crucial to the club’s revival as they currently sit nine points clear of the bottom three.

Therefore, Toon fans must be elated by the news that he is set to return to training this week. Losing him would have been a big blow, given his impressive displays this term, and supporters may have been concerned about Dubravka’s situation after his international manager’s worrying comments. Instead, they can now rest easy knowing that he is on the verge of returning…

AND in other news, Howe can get St James’ rocking as Newcastle plot bid for “phenomenal” £50m wizard…

Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey has returned to training but won’t feature against Leeds United this evening.

The Lowdown: Previous hope

Bailey, who Dean Smith backed to become a ‘crowd favourite’, has missed the last eight fixtures in all competitions with a thigh problem.

Reports during the international break suggested that the 24-year-old could return against Marcelo Bielsa’s side this evening. Steven Gerrard admitted that the Jamaican, who Leeds made a bid for back in 2020, wasn’t ‘too far away’ prior to the international break.

However, although Bailey is progressing with his recovery, he won’t be in the squad this evening.

The Latest: Gerrard’s comments

Talking in his pre-match press conference, relayed by Villa’s official Twitter account, Gerrard confirmed that Bailey has returned to full training but won’t be involved against Leeds.

“We’ve now got Leon Bailey back in full training, but he won’t be in the squad tomorrow.”

The Verdict: Newcastle return?

Villa’s next fixture is a trip to St James’ Park on Sunday to face Newcastle, so with a week’s worth of full training under his belt, perhaps Bailey may make a return in four days’ time.

You’d expect that Gerrard will be cautious when it comes to the explosive winger, so he may decide to hand Bailey a place on the bench and gradually ease him back.

Bailey has had a tough time in his first season in England, contributing to just three goals, but hopefully, he’ll now enjoy an injury-free rest of the campaign and Villa fans will see the best of him in 2022/23.

In other news: Villa and Lange now looking to pip Leeds in race for soon-to-be free agent. 

Celtic have the chance to put last weekend’s defeat in the Scottish Cup semi-final behind them tomorrow as the Hoops are back in SPFL action.

This time, Ange Postecoglou’s side will be taking on Ross County away from home on Sunday afternoon.

Heading into this weekend’s round of fixtures, the Hoops currently sit at the top of the league table with a six-point gap over Rangers in second place.

Looking ahead to their upcoming showdown, it seems as though the Bhoys have been handed an injury boost that will surely improve their chances of securing yet another league victory.

What’s the news?

According to Postecoglou (via the Daily Record), Hoops striker Giorgos Giakoumakis is back in contention to play on Sunday after picking up a hamstring injury during the 7-0 win over St. Johnstone earlier this month.

Having arrived at the Parkhead club during the previous summer transfer window from VVV-Venlo in a deal worth a reported fee of up to £2.5m, the striker has made 16 league appearances.

In those appearances, the 27-year-old has scored nine goals, leaving only Liel Abada having found the net on more occasions (10).

To highlight how much of an attacking threat the centre-forward has been for the Bhoys, he currently has the highest average of shots on target per 90 minutes in the league out of everyone in Postecoglou’s squad.

This shows how much a nuisance he can be for opposition goalkeepers and why County and their players will be sweating over the prospect of facing him this weekend.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s showdown, it will surely be great news for the Hoops boss to be able to have the Greek international back in the squad and available for selection.

Beyond that, if the striker can keep his fitness up for the remainder of the campaign and add some more goals to his tally, he would give his side a great chance of securing the league title.

For the time being, it’ll be interesting to see whether or not the 56-year-old picks Giakoumakis to be in his starting XI or keeps him on the bench to start with and bring him on at some point.

AND in other news: Cost 7 figures, now worth £810k: Celtic had a nightmare on “struggling” Lennon flop

West Ham are interested in signing Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke on loan for the rest of the season, according to The Guardian.

The Lowdown: Hammers need a striker

Since the departure of Sebastien Haller this time last year, David Moyes has been under pressure to bring in more attacking options due to the lack of depth his squad has in the final third. This has been particularly prevalent for the striker position, as Michail Antonio is the only recognised senior centre-forward at the club.

Antonio is currently the Irons’ top scorer in the Premier League this season, having netted eight times, but the Jamaica international has looked tired at points throughout the campaign, sometimes lacking that clinical edge in front of goal.

The club’s greatest Premier League goalscorer also has his fair share of injury concerns, so the Hammers enter the last day of the January transfer window in desperate need of an able deputy.

They have been very strongly linked to Darwin Nunez, but a brand new name has now emerged as a possible alternative.

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The Latest: Irons interested in Benteke

According to a report by The Guardian, West Ham are exploring the option of a possible loan move for Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke.

The 31-year-old is struggling to secure a place in the starting XI under Patrick Vieira, but would provide a wealth of Premier League experience, having scored 86 goals in the competition – he has bagged a whopping 159 times across his senior career for club and country.

The Verdict: A good back-up option

Fans may be disappointed with the Benteke links, with previous rumours suggesting that the Hammers were interested in Blackburn’s Ben Brereton Diaz and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

However, Benteke could be the ideal player to come off the bench and make an immediate impact. Vieira has said that having the striker at his disposal is a huge boost, claiming that ‘in the air he is one of the best if not the best in the league’, and that ‘this is a powerful weapon to have in the squad’.

With the ongoing push for Benfica starlet Nunez, Benteke could be a solid backup option if the deal for the 22-year-old fails to materialise.

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has bemoaned Josip Juranovic’s absence through injury ahead of the clash with Ross County.

The Lowdown: Juranovic out of clash

The Hoops face a crucial Scottish Premiership clash on Sunday afternoon, making the trip to fifth-place Ross County for what could be a sticky fixture.

Celtic have a small cushion over Rangers at the top of the table, but any slip-up could be key and they will have to make do without Juranovic this weekend.

The Croatian is missing for a number of weeks through injury, meaning Ralston is expected to slot in at right-back against Ross County.

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The Latest: McAvennie backs Ralston

Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie said Juranovic’s absence is significant, but stuck by Ralston at the same time:

“Juranovic is a wonderful defender. We all know I have been critical of Tony Ralston but he loves playing in the role Ange is currently giving him.

“I have no problem, with him coming in. It’s a shame for Juranovic because it’s one hell of a blow for him. He’s a brilliant player and he’s done so well against good players. Kent couldn’t get near him in the last few times we have played Rangers.

“It’s a man down but Celtic have to get on with it. That’s the only thing they can do at this point. Ralston has a few goals and assists so he does do a lot going forward.

“Hopefully he can play as brilliant as he did at the start of the season.”

The Verdict: Big game for replacement

Ralston may not be loved by McAvennie but he has proven to be a good squad player this season, starting 20 matches in total and chipping in with four goals.

While Juranovic is arguably the first-choice right-back, the 23-year-old should have no issue filling in, doing his job and helping Celtic pick up three more valuable points.

Having strong squad depth is vital to any title charge and that is the case with the Hoops, with players of Ralston’s ilk able to come in and perform when required.

In other news, a pundit has bemoaned something that will affect Celtic next season. Read more here.

Craig Hope has delivered a major boost for Newcastle United ahead of the Premier League clash against Everton next week.

What’s the story?

Writing on Twitter on Wednesday night, he said: “Chris Wood should be fine for Newcastle game v Everton on Tuesday & is travelling back to UK. There had been a virus outbreak in New Zealand national-team camp which forced cancellation of yesterday’s game against Uzbekistan.”

Massive boost for Newcastle

With both Newcastle and Everton within just four points of each other – the Toffees do have a game in hand however – Tuesday’s night could have massive implications for how this Premier League season pans out for both sides.

A win for the Magpies at St James’ Park would claw back the deficit and add to the momentum built by the success of the January transfer window, while similarly, a defeat for Frank Lampard’s new side would really drag them into the relegation dogfight.

It’s exactly why Hope’s update on Wood being fine for the game next week is sure to have Eddie Howe buzzing, with the New Zealand international already being tipped to be a major success on Tyneside.

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell said: “His goal record is very good and aerially he is brilliant. When you have the likes of Trippier whipping the ball in, it would appear to be another very clever signing. Wood is a striker who can go and attack it. He is as good as anyone at attacking the a ball in the box.

“I just think they need weapons who can keep them up. Wood is one of them. I think he’d be a very good signing for them. It’s a move that definitely weakens Burnley as well, which can only be a good thing for Newcastle.”

Both Howe and the club’s fans will surely be buzzing with this latest update on their new striker.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are now set to make this decision…

Wolves technical director Scott Sellars has revealed his delight after academy forward Lee Harkin committed his future to the club. 

The lowdown: Harkin a hot prospect at Wolves

The 18-year-old is one of the Wanderers’ most exciting youth prospects and earned a first professional contract having signed from Derry City in July 2020.

Since then, the teenager has scored 10 times and provided five assists in 46 appearances for Wolves across the under-23 and under-18 sides.

Having signed a new one-year deal to remain in the Midlands, club chief Sellars has now been praising the youngster…

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The latest: Sellars ‘delighted’ for Harkin

Speaking to the club’s official website, Sellars hailed the new contract for Harkin as an impressive statement from the Molineux hierarchy.

He chimed: “We’re always looking at every opportunity, and Lee’s move was before Brexit. He had a lot of options, but how we work as a club, and how we take care of people, were some of the reasons why Lee came and we’re delighted he’s stayed.

“He gets the chance to train with the first-team on a regular basis and Chem and Luke playing for the first-team is great for everybody in the academy and shows there are opportunities at Wolves.

“Lee’s versatile, which is great. In our style of play, inside wingers are very important, and he can do that as well as play down the middle, which is going to benefit him in the long term and present more opportunities.”

The verdict: Smart move by Wolves

Although Harkin is yet to feature in Bruno Lage’s matchday first-team plans, an opportunity could be forthcoming for the Republic of Ireland youth international in the not-too-distant future.

As Lage attempts to take the club to the next level and compete both domestically and potentially in Europe too, the squad will be tested to its limits, so the best youngsters will almost certainly get their chance to shine as a result.

Therefore, tying down talented prospects such as Harkin is a smart move from Wolves and further proof of the club protecting its prized young assets.

In other news, Wolves reportedly interested in Brazilian wonderkid. Find out who it is here

Many Wolves fans have been left reacting to some transfer news that has emerged on Joao Moutinho.

As per La Repubblica (via Sport Witness), Jose Mourinho and Roma are now interested in signing the central midfield player, with his contract in the Midlands club running out in the summer.

At 35 years of age, the Molineux faithful have to consider where his immediate future lies, with the risk of losing him for free in just a few months.

Moutinho has been one of their best players this season, in fact he ranks ninth in their squad according to WhoScored, and is high among his teammates in terms of average tackles, interceptions, blocks, key passes, crosses and long balls per game in the Premier League.

Nonetheless, some WWFC supporters do not want to see him go to Roma, and so would rather he stayed and signed a new deal.

Wolves fans on Moutinho transfer news

These Wanderers reacted to the transfer news as it was shared on Twitter:

“I fear we’ll be stripped bare in the summer. I hear Man Utd are looking at Max Kilman”

Credit: @Johnboy42370177

“I wish everybody would stop trying to steal our players”

Credit: @TonyBel83049813

“Two more years at Wolves Joao”

Credit: @LeightonBinder

“One more year Joao!”

Credit: @JackBrownieee97

“NOOOOOOO!!!”

Credit: @Dazwolf180

“I wish the vultures would stay away! Football is crazy, anyone who is brilliant is immediately headhunted from us. I guess that’s all in the game but …….”

Credit: @peggyja95517835

In other news, find out what hope Wolves have in their bid to sign this former player here!