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Sunderland midfielder Josh Scowen has offered Black Cats boss Phil Parkinson plenty of food for thought after producing a stellar display in Saturday’s 2-0 win away to Gillingham, having been benched for the midweek draw with Rochdale.

Scowen initially joined Sunderland in January from Queens Park Rangers, but could have walked away from the Stadium of Light this summer through a clause in his £8,100-per-week contract that became active when the League One season was curtailed early due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The clause allowed Scowen to move on if the Black Cats failed to secure promotion out of the third-tier and if the North East giants received an offer from a club competing in the Championship.

Scowen ultimately stayed yet sat out Sunderland’s season-opening draw with Bristol Rovers after sustaining a bruised ankle late in the Black Cats’ pre-season programme, but soon enjoyed a consistent run in the starting line-up until Tuesday’s draw with Rochdale.

Parkinson opted to drop the 28-year-old to the bench at the Crown Oil Arena and only called on him to feature for the final 16 minutes, though offered Scowen a recall at Gillingham and started the London-born midfielder.

The former QPR ace proved to Parkinson why he should be one of the first names on the teamsheet at Priestfield Stadium, with Scowen offering an excellent display and a persistent goal threat worthy of much more.

Scowen was guilty of blazing arguably his best chance of the first-team over the bar, before spurning a handful of good openings in the second period as Sunderland pushed for the opening goal.

But the £720,000-rated ace impressed nonetheless, as Chris Maguire and Lynden Gooch scored the goals to seal all three points, with SofaScore data showing Scowen as recording the game’s joint-most shots (four) with Gillingham’s Dominic Samuel.

Scowen was additionally successful with his only attempted dribble of the match, while completing 78% of his 32 passes for two key balls and three accurate crosses. He failed to direct a shot on target, though, with three efforts sailing wide and one blocked, including missing the one big chance to score.

Parkinson also witnessed Scowen contribute defensively with one clearance and one tackle, along with winning two of his five duels on route to registering 51 touches.

The Black Cats boss will find it very challenging to justify again benching Scowen when Sunderland host Ipswich Town on Tuesday night after the sensational efforts he produced at Gillingham.

AND in other news, Phil Parkinson risks a naïve call on a Sunderland man Jack Ross claimed had “not achieved anything”.

Celtic are finally back in action, although it’s not in the Scottish Premiership as they aim to qualify for the Champions League group stages.

They welcome Icelandic outfit KR Reykjavic to Parkhead this evening in the one-leg first qualifying round.

The Hoops have had their last two matches postponed due to a breach in lockdown regulations, so Neil Lennon’s side haven’t played since a 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock over a week ago.

Here’s how they could lineup tonight…

The 49-year-old could make as many as three changes as he hands an opportunity to new signings and fringe players.

Vasilis Barkas is expected to continue as the new number one between the sticks whilst one alteration could be in front of him in the heart of defence with Nir Bitton coming in for Christopher Jullien.

The £5.4m-rated Frenchman was disappointing against Killie whilst the 28-year-old could do with some match action.

It means he could partner Kris Ajer at centre-back with Greg Taylor and Jeremie Frimpong either side.

Bhoys skipper Scott Brown could be rested for this one with Oliver Ntcham earning a rare start alongside Callum McGregor whilst in attack, Ryan Christie keeps his place in the number ten role.

Both wingers James Forrest and Mo Elyounoussi also remain from the 1-1 draw last time out, but Lennon could hand a debut to Alban Ajeti after signing him on loan from West Ham for the season.

Both Elyounoussi and Ajeti will know each other from Basel, so the latter could fit right in with leading talisman Odsonne Edouard available on the bench in case things go a bit more pear-shaped.

AND in other news, Bhoys given a big boost in chase of PL man after latest update…

Newcastle United have been dealt a fresh injury blow after Craig Hope confirmed on his official Twitter page that Paul Dummett picked up a fresh knock against Middlesbrough.

As per a tweet from the Daily Mail journalist, the 28-year old went off shortly after coming on and he was not the only one to pick up a knock after the friendly game:

“I’m told NUFC picked up a couple of fresh knocks at Boro, and perhaps explains why Monday’s rematch called off. Paul Dummett among them, he went off shortly after coming on. No update from club though.”

Indeed, the Tyneside club suffered a rather humiliating 5-1 thrashing by their local rivals managed by veteran Neil Warnock, as Allan Saint-Maximin scored the only goal for the Magpies, according to The Chronicle.

However, perhaps the most worrying bit of news to come out of it is the fresh injury to Dummett, who had already come off the back of an injury-hit 2019/20 term as he missed 12 matches with an Achilles tendon rupture, as per Transfermarkt.

As a result, the Welsh international was limited to just 17 appearances in all competitions, as Steve Bruce will be hoping that this new knock is not as serious.

Indeed, Dummett has been a loyal servant at St. James’ Park over the last nine consecutive seasons, in where he has played in 185 games in total, scoring three goals and making one assist (via Transfermarkt).

The Welshman is also very capable of filling in a number of different roles (per the website), which is handy for the squad, and so Bruce will be hoping that the injury is not a serious one.

As Hope has confirmed, there has been no update from the Toon as of yet.

Geordies, how big of a blow could Dummett’s injury be? Comment below!

Tottenham are interested in signing another Lille defender, but this time it is not Gabriel Magalhaes. 

Lille are willing to let Zeki Celik leave for a mere £10.8m this summer, according to Le10 Sport.

Jose Mourinho faces an exodus of defenders at the end of the season, as Jan Vertonghen and Juan Foyth are seemingly set to leave.

Like any good manager, Mourinho will no doubt be aware sorting out a solid defence is just as important as having a strong attack.

The Portuguese is therefore keen to sign Celik, amid interest from West Ham.

Serge Aurier has angered the club’s hierarchy, as they feel he has embarrassed Spurs with several infractions so far.

Alongside his off-field issues, he has struggled for consistency this season, and Mourinho is on the hunt for a new full-back.

The Turkish international arguably fits the profile of the type of player he is looking for, as he is an attacking threat on the right-flank.

Celik has played 23 games in Ligue 1 this season, supplying two assists, making 2.3 tackles per game, averaging 1.1 interceptions, and completing 1.4 clearances on average (via WhoScored).

Moreover, he made six appearances in the Champions League, which is surely an added bonus.

The Times revealed Mourinho wants to sell Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters as he will have limited funds to spend, and the Ivorian could be on his way out the door in the summer.

As the 23-year-old will be available for a bargain fee, he may be a gamble worth paying for, as he is still in the early stages of his career. Even in the event a move doesn’t work out as planned, Spurs will have gained a valuable asset for no extra cost.

Tottenham fans, should the board sign Celik this summer? Let us know down below!

According to The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe, Everton’s chances of signing Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes this summer hangs in the balance.

What’s the word?

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the Toffees are firmly interested in luring the Brazilian to Goodison Park, although it’s been claimed that they face significant competition from both rivals home and abroad.

Now, The Athletic have revealed that Gabriel has been at the top of their list for potential centre-back targets, but that both Arsenal and the current financial situation surrounding most clubs across Europe has struck a blow to their chances.

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O’Keeffe said: “Everton’s aim was to start by signing Lille’s Gabriel Magalhaes, who has long been top of their list for centre-backs and is believed to have been keen on the move. The Athletic understands that deal remains in the balance, though, with Arsenal also strongly interested in the £25 million-rated, 22-year-old Brazilian and Everton yet to agree a fee with his French club, given the economic hit suffered by all clubs as a result of the pandemic.”

Proving Carlo Ancelotti right

When Carlo Ancelotti took the job at Goodison Park late last year, it was no doubt seen as a major coup that Everton had landed one of the most renowned and decorated managers in recent European footballing history.

It was a sign that the Toffees were heading in the right direction, and were absolutely intent on muscling in on the Premier League’s traditional ‘big six’.

These transfer windows are arguably the big proving point for the Everton hierarchy, in the sense that they can show Ancelotti first-hand just how ambitious they really are.

Whilst money may well be tight given the circumstances, landing one of the Italian and the club’s priority targets would send the message that they mean business. Miss out on him, and in particular to rivals Arsenal, and it would really bring into question whether the Toffees are ready or even able to back their manager.

Newcastle’s recent form is causing some supporters to revise their initial opinion of Steve Bruce, and The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has defended the Magpies’ boss by suggesting he was judged before he got the chance to prove himself.

In the main, he has continued where Rafael Benitez left off, and although he has been given more money to spend than the Spaniard ever was, he is making the most out of it.

Newcastle have lost just once in the previous seven matches, which includes impressive results such as the win at Bramall Lane and the draw with champions Manchester City.

Added to that, Bruce has got fans raving over players like Allan Saint-Maximin and Federico Fernandez while Jonjo Shelvey, who now has five goals this season, has also impressed.

Even Andy Carroll is beginning to prove his worth, and if it wasn’t for the hostility between the fanbase and Mike Ashley there would be a feel-good factor around St.James’ Park.

A football legend: Can you get over 80% on this Gazza quiz? Find out now…

Some fans suggest their opposition to Bruce is born out of their distaste for the owner. That’s why they couldn’t get behind him upon his appointment, and why it is difficult for the former Aston Villa boss to ever win them over.

Despite not losing at home in the league since the opening day fixture against Arsenal, attendances are at a low point and seem to be getting worse – with the average at a little more than 43,000, almost 9,000 lower than capacity.

That is perhaps unlikely to change given the negative style of play, too, though Bruce is slowly winning the faith of some fans, and will continue doing so if the current form continues.

Nevertheless, a few Newcastle fans aren’t being so naive. They believe that the current run of form won’t last and for every good result, there will be one equally as negative – with performances against Leicester and Aston Villa at the forefront of one fan’s mind.

There is still a lack of faith in Bruce’s management despite a return to form and perhaps some supporters just can’t shake the idea that he is too friendly with Ashley to ever be held in high regard.

Meanwhile, the future of one Newcastle player is still very much in doubt under Bruce.

According to Il Mattino, Tottenham are keen to sign Kalidou Koulibaly in the summer. 

The Italian outlet claims that the Lilywhites are among a number of suitors eyeing up a move for the Napoli defender in the upcoming transfer window. Gianluca di Marzio previously told Sky Sports that Spurs are interested in Koulibaly and revealed that Daniel Levy has a close connection to the player’s representatives.

Understandably, this latest development could benefit Japhet Tanganga.

It is fair to say that Koulibaly has been linked with the majority of Europe’s biggest clubs at some point. The 28-year-old has emerged as one of the best defenders in the world, making 15 appearances in Serie A for Gennaro Gattuso’s side this season and starring in six games in the Champions League – attempting 2.2 tackles per game, averaging 1.5 interceptions and completing a whopping 5.2 clearances on average in the European competition (WhoScored).

Jose Mourinho is in the hunt for a new centre-back as he needs to fix his team’s defensive frailties. Spurs have shockingly conceded more goals in the Premier League than Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United so far.

However, Tanganga has been one of the few success stories in a difficult season for the club. The 21-year-old has played in a variety of different positions across the back line and impressed the manager in his debut against Liverpool. Nonetheless, the north London club are pursuing the Senegalese defender with great intent.

While there is no doubt that Tanganga should save the club millions in the future, he is still at the early stages of his career and could pick up valuable tips and tricks from the Senegal international.

Indeed, Koulibaly’s experience at the top levels of the game could make a massive difference when Spurs resume their hunt for silverware next season. He could even act as a mentor to the young Englishman on and off the pitch.

The usually watertight defence of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld have struggled to convince the critics this season and, with Vertonghen seemingly heading out the door, there is room for another experienced centre-back to take his place.

However, the report adds that Koulibaly has also attracted the attention of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and it is unlikely that Mourinho will be able to afford his hefty £50m valuation due to the economic uncertainty surrounding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Tottenham fans, should Daniel Levy splash the cash to sign Kalidou Koulibaly in the summer? Let us know down below!

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

Trezeguet has been nominated for the African Player of the Year award but he may struggle to get game time at Aston Villa despite the recognition.

On the chalkboard

The Egyptian winger was revealed to be on the list of players nominated, alongside the likes of Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

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Villa have congratulated their summer signing for his inclusion, but this doesn’t change the fact that the 25-year-old could face a struggle after Dean Smith’s decision to move Jack Grealish to the left-wing.

So far, Trezeguet has started eight Premier League games, coming on as a substitute in three, scoring twice and getting one assist, though the indication is that his time on the pitch could now be reduced.

Facing a challenge

Grealish first moved to the wing against Burnley, playing there five times in total, scoring two goals and assisting another two.

This move has helped Conor Hourihane, but could be of detriment to Trezeguet, as he has only started three games in that period, two of which Grealish was unavailable for.

He managed to score in both of those matches, but could still find himself out of the team.

Grealish is unlikely to be usurped, as signified by the fact he has missed just six minutes of the league games he has been available for this campaign.

Therefore, the Egyptian is likely to be up against Anwar El Ghazi for a place on the right, which could be a challenge considering how well he has done.

After the Newcastle game, in which the Dutchman scored, Grealish said: “Anwar’s probably been the best I’ve seen him training in the last 10 days, that’s probably why he got the start and he proved [he deserved] it.”

With this in mind, it can be difficult to see where this leaves Trezeguet in terms of starting opportunities.

In other news, a former Aston Villa player has said that one man on the fringes may need to consider his future.

It has been a disappointing start to the season for Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster.

The 19-year-old asked his boss Jurgen Klopp to go out on loan during the summer, but the German refused as he wanted to keep him in the first-team squad. However, he has played just twice so far this term, and the former Mainz 05 manager has now changed his mind and is willing to let him leave on a short-term basis.

Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Leeds and Swansea were all said to be linked with a move for him after that news, and now Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach have joined the race. Those two are a step up from that aforementioned quartet.

The fans, it seems, are torn as to who he should go to. There are some fans who are backing Monchengladbach to take the forward.

Die Fohle are currently top of the Bundesliga, looking good ever since Marco Rose took over in the summer. Considering the performances of the likes of Breel Embolo and Marcus Thuram so far this campaign – they have five and six goals respectively in the top tier – he could be able to do something similar with Brewster.

Real Reds will get full marks: Take the ultimate Liverpool quiz below…

However, it seems a lot more want him to go to Dortmund instead, and that is because of the Reds’ interest in one star England international.

It is certainly an interesting idea from the club’s supporters. Liverpool, of course, are in pursuit of the former Manchester City youngster, and are even said to be the favourites to sign him. Allowing them to take Brewster on a short-term deal could give them the advantage they need in the race for Sancho.

It remains to be seen where Brewster ends up.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans react to one man’s placing in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

In the words of Rafiki from The Lion King, “The King has returned”.

OK, perhaps ‘king’ is a little too dramatic a term to use, but when someone this important is set to make a comeback this weekend, I think we can afford ourselves a little bit of leeway on the matter.

Nottingham Forest boss Sabri Lamouchi confirmed yesterday during his press conference that club captain Michael Dawson is back in contention to face fierce rivals Derby County on Saturday.

Dawson has been out injured with a calf problem since the Stoke City game in September and it has forced Lamouchi to try players like Chema and Tobias Figueiredo in the centre of defence. Whilst they did win a few games, they did lose a few too, and there just hasn’t been the same chemistry that Worrall and Dawson were enjoying beforehand.

Whilst he did say that he was ‘in contention’ to start rather than guaranteeing a place for the 35-year-old, that didn’t stop Forest fans from taking to social media to express their delight that the club captain could be back for such an important game.

Whilst those fans seem happy, we at FFC would rather he take the extra days rest rather than rushing him back.