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The Selecao have a decent chance of tasting continental glory this summer if they play to their full potential

Although England and France must be seen as favourites, it wouldn't be a reach to place Portugal in the next crop of teams most likely to lift the Euro 2024 trophy in Germany this summer.

After an underwhelming showing three years ago, where they were dumped out of the competition in the last 16 at the hands of Belgium, as well as a shock World Cup quarter-final exit to Morocco in Qatar, the Selecao will be motivated to put in a better showing this time around.

Fernando Santos left his post following that defeat to the north African side, with Roberto Martinez stepping into the hotseat in his stead. The former Belgium boss was not a universally-popular choice, but he's done an impressive job thus far, as his side won each of his opening 10 games in charge.

Martinez is blessed with a group bulging with talent, and they should be extra motivated to perform for Cristiano Ronaldo, in what is likely to be his last-ever international tournament. But who made Portugal's 26-player Euro squad? GOAL takes a look…

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  GOALKEEPERS

  Portugal are blessed with a strong pool of goalkeepers heading into the tournament. Porto's young shot-stopper Diogo Costa – linked with several Premier League sides in the recent past – has emerged as the No.1, but should he not be available, both Roma's Rui Patricio and Wolves' Jose Sa are more than capable of stepping in.

  Name	Club
  Diogo Costa	Porto
  Rui Patricio	Roma
  Jose Sa	Wolves

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  DEFENDERS

  Portugal's defensive options are strong, too. Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo are nailed-on starters at the back, while Manchester United star Diogo Dalot has proved a popular choice down the left-hand side of defence.

  The question of who will partner Dias at centre-back is more open. Martinez has flipped between a back four and back three since taking over, with youngsters Goncalo Inacio and Antonio Silva both receiving minutes. though the ageless Pepe remains an option, too.

  Name	Club
  Joao Cancelo	Barcelona
  Ruben Dias	Manchester City
  Diogo Dalot	Manchester United
  Goncalo Inacio	Sporting CP
  Nuno Mendes	Paris Saint-Germain
  Pepe	Porto
  Nelson Semedo	Wolves
  Antonio Silva	Benfica

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  MIDFIELDERS

  Bruno Fernandes was the only player who featured in each of Martinez's first 10 games in charge, but the other midfield positions are more open. Ruben Neves and Otavio moving to the Saudi Pro League has not affected their international prospects, while holding midfielders Danilo Pereira and Joao Palhinha will provide some much-needed steel.

  Name	Club
  Bruno Fernandes	Manchester United
  Joao Neves	Benfica
  Ruben Neves	Al-Hilal
  Otavio	Al-Nassr
  Joao Palhinha	Fulham
  Danilo Pereira	Paris Saint-Germain
  Vitinha	Paris Saint-Germain

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  FORWARDS

  When Martinez took over, the question he had to ask straight away was whether he would continue relying on Ronaldo as his go-to striker. He opted to stick by the legendary forward and Ronaldo thanked him for his faith by scoring 10 goals in his first nine games.

  Bernardo Silva has been another mainstay of Martinez's attack, with Joao Felix and Rafael Leao also featuring regularly. Diogo Jota and Goncalo Ramos, meanwhile, provide vital depth.

  Name	Club
  Francisco Conceicao	Porto
  Joao Felix	Barcelona
  Diogo Jota	Liverpool
  Rafael Leao	AC Milan
  Pedro Neto	Wolves
  Goncalo Ramos	Paris Saint-Germain
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al-Nassr

Arsenal's unbeaten Premier League season in 2003/04 gave that team the nickname, 'The Invincibles'. It's a feat that will likely never be matched again – at least in England, anyway.

In order to achieve something so remarkable, every single member of that squad must have been at their absolute best. Of course, goals and assists aren't everything, but they are pretty damn important.

Football FanCast breaks the squad down (of those with a minimum of ten appearances) in order of their goal contributions across the historic Premier League campaign.

Top 10 best games from Arsenal's Invincibles season

Football FanCast takes a look at the best games from their Invincible season.

ByAlex Roberts Dec 7, 2023 20 Jeremie Aliadiere 0 goals, 0 assists

Arsenal's other French forward, Jeremie Aliadiere mostly played in the FA Cup and League Cup during their Invincibles season. He only managed 10 Premier League appearances and didn't score once or get an assist, but to be fair to him, only three of those appearances were starts. If he had been given more of a chance, he would likely have contributed more.

Invincibles highlight: Starting as the Gunners came from behind to see off Liverpool at Anfield in early October, playing a part in Robert Pires' winner.

19 Martin Keown 0 goals, 0 assists

By the time the 2003/04 season came around, Martin Keown was very much in the twilight of his career. The old centre-back had been a loyal servant to the Gunners since 1993 when they re-signed the Hale End graduate from Everton. Just because he didn't feature much on the pitch, doesn't mean he didn't make a major contribution to the Invincibles season. His wealth of experience and leadership was likely invaluable for Wenger as the season went on.

Invincibles highlight: Begging Arsene Wenger to bring him on during the final game to earn a Premier League medal (or jumping over Ruud van Nistelrooy).

18 Gael Clichy 0 goals, 0 assists

French left-back Gael Clichy was signed that season, with Ashley Cole, one of the best in that position the Premier League had ever seen, ahead of him in the pecking order. The youngster was therefore not going to be given the chance to make much of an impact. Still, when called upon, Clichy proved he was more than capable of filling in for Cole after making 12 appearances throughout the campaign, and would make the position his own when his predecessor left for Chelsea.

Invincibles highlight: Becoming the youngest-ever Premier League medallist at 18.

17 Pascal Cygan 0 goals, 0 assists

Another member of Arsenal's French contingent, Pascal Cygan was only ever going to be a squad player for Wenger. With an incredibly solid defensive partnership of Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell ahead of him, it was going to take a miracle for Cygan to displace them. But, much like Clichy above, he was an incredibly reliable option who definitely played his part (18 times, to be exact) in this amazing season.

Invincibles highlight: Providing solid cover as Arsene Wenger was forced to shuffle his pack over the winter months.

16 Ray Parlour 0 goals, 0 assists

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour was another member of the squad who was approaching the end of an impressive career. Parlour's role was to do the dirty work that many of his counterparts avoided. In his 25 appearances, he got eight yellow cards. Like Keown, Wenger would have loved having such an experienced player at his disposal when needed, particularly when injuries bit.

Invincibles highlight: Captaining the side during Patrick Vieira's absence, including during the Gunners' derby victory over Spurs.

15 Jens Lehmann

It's obviously very harsh to judge a goalkeeper by goals and assists, but it has happened before. Jens Lehmann – a rare goalscorer himself – is without a doubt one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League has ever seen. The big angry German only conceded 26 goals during the 2003/04 Premier League campaign, keeping 15 clean sheets. Not only was he remarkable between the sticks, his never-say-die attitude rubbed off on his teammates as they chased records.

Invincibles highlight: Superbly denying Craig Bellamy during a tense 0-0 draw at Champions League-chasing Newcastle.

14 Lauren 0 goals, 1 assist

The first player on this list to get a goal or assist, Invincibles right-back Lauren played a pivotal role for Arsenal at the other end of the pitch. The Cameroonian is something of a forgotten man; he may not have had many overly explosive performances, but he was very consistent. Wenger knew exactly what he was going to get from Lauren, and he was the type of player needed to win titles.

Invincibles highlight: For a player as understated as Lauren, it has to be his one assist – a cross put away by Thierry Henry after the Newcastle defence failed to deal with it.

13 Sol Campbell 1 goal, 1 assist

Tottenham Hotspur fans may hate him, but Arsenal fans love him. When Sol Campbell swapped White Hart Lane for Highbury, he immediately became the lynchpin of the Gunners' defence. He was a rock at the back throughout his 35 appearances, but he also popped up with the odd goal, evidenced by the fact he got one in the 2003/04 season. His only goal was the opener against Aston Villa in their 2-0 victory in August.

Invincibles highlight: It has to be his consistency. Only ever missing through injury or suspension, Campbell played the full 90 whenever possible. It is hard to imagine the Invincibles achieving what they did without him.

12 Kolo Toure 1 goal, 1 assist

Kolo Toure may have made a massive two more appearances than defensive partner Campbell, but he didn't get any more goals or assists. Just like Campbell though, he was a man mountain at the back, playing a huge role in Arsenal's season. If it weren't for the Ivorian's calm defensive play, it's unlikely they'd have won the title, never mind gone the season undefeated. He also dropped into midfield when required.

Invincibles highlight: Just take a look at his highlights reel. Enough said.

11 Ashley Cole 0 goals, 3 assists

Ashley Cole may have tarnished his Arsenal legacy by leaving to join London rivals Chelsea two years later, but in 2003/04, he was as good as they got at left-back. The position has evolved since then, and while Cole was more than capable of evolving with it, this campaign shows exactly what he could do defensively. Back then, three assists was a very healthy goal-contribution tally for a full-back.

Invincibles highlight: Dramatic late header in the Champions League aside, his best moment in the league arguably came on the final day, when he won the penalty that drew Arsenal level in their historic comeback win over Leicester City.

Player

Goals

Thierry Henry

39

Robert Pires

19

Freddie Ljungberg

10

Edu

7

Dennis Bergkamp

5

Jose Antonio Reyes

5

Gilberto Silva

4

Sylvain Wiltord

4

Jeremie Aliadiere

4

Kolo Toure

3

Patrick Vieira

3

Nwankwo Kanu

3

Sol Campbell

1

Ashley Cole

1

David Bentley

1

Cesc Fabregas

1

Celtic have made an approach to ask about a deal to bring one of their long-term targets to the Scottish Premiership, according to a fresh report that has emerged.

Hoops eyeing Kvistgaarden

Ahead of January, Brendan Rodgers will be assessing his options in the market to see if there are any players he could strengthen his squad with. One recently identified is Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden if claims are to be believed.

The Bhoys are reportedly preparing an improved offer for the striker having seen their opening bid turned down over the summer, but should a deal for him fail to come to fruition for whatever reason, the hierarchy appear to have alternative centre-forward targets.

Sturm Graz’s Szymon Wlodarczyk only put pen to paper at his club during the previous window from Gornik Zabrze where he’s so far made 28 appearances to date (Transfermarkt – Wlodarczyk statistics), but he was on the board’s radar long before his most recent move.

Back in January, Mark Hendry first claimed that Poland’s youth international was of interest to the green and white stripes, though a switch hasn’t yet taken place, hence why he moved elsewhere, and it still sounds like the 20-year-old won’t be making the trip to Glasgow anytime soon despite new efforts.

Celtic submit enquiry for Wlodarczyk

According to Football Scotland, Celtic have asked about signing Wlodarczyk again next month, but after learning his price tag in a response from Sturm Graz, have decided that they couldn’t afford to complete a deal in January.

“Football Scotland can also reveal Celtic reached out to Sturm Graz in an effort to revisit another former transfer target, Szymon Wlodarczyk, but were told his valuation has sky-rocketed to around £15m which would financially be out of their reach in January.”

Wlodarczyk is a "highly talented" striker

Since joining Sturm Graz, Wlodarczyk has racked up 11 contributions (nine goals and two assists) from 28 appearances, displaying how prolific he can be in the final third, and he’s able to pose a constant threat to the opposition’s defence in the attacking areas of the pitch.

Sponsored by Adidas, Walbrzych's native has recorded 32 shots over the course of the current campaign which is more than any other of his fellow teammates, highlighting what a standout performer he is in front of the net compared to his peers (FBRef – Sturm Graz statistics).

Standing at 6 foot 2, Rodgers’ target is also able to provide a real physical presence up top with his height, with his ability to win aerial duels making him a real handful for any backline to deal with, alongside how dangerous he can be with the ball at his feet.

Described by football scout Jacek Kulig, Wlodarczyk is a “highly talented” player with an extremely bright future ahead of him, but with Celtic not set to splash the cash to get their long-term target in the coming weeks, it could prove to be a blow considering the positive impact that he may have been able to make.

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico Eduardo Barroca terá mais uma baixa para escalar o Botafogo no confronto com o Santos. Na tarde desta quarta-feira, o clube informou que o zagueiro Rafael Forster está com uma lesão no músculo adutor da coxa direita. Ainda não há previsão de retorno.

Forster era o mais cotado para substituir Marcelo Benevenuto no clássico diante do Vasco. Porém, devido às dores na coxa direita, deu lugar a Sousa.

> Veja a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro!

Outro jogador que não atuou contra o Vasco devido a um incômodo na coxa direita, Luiz Otávio não teve nenhuma lesão constatada. O volante seguirá o trabalho de transição.

Penúltimo colocado do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Alvinegro mede forças com o Santos neste domingo, às 16h, com o Santos, na Vila Belmiro. A equipe de Barroca está com 23 pontos, a nove do primeiro time fora da zona de rebaixamento.

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Daniel Farke would have been pleased with his side's 3-2 win over Middlesbrough for the most part, but the Leeds United manager might well have had some stern words for his Whites defenders about their poor display at the back in the dressing room after.

The game was arguably far more tense and nervy than it needed to be from a Leeds perspective – the Whites dominating the match with 61% of the ball and 20 shots on goal registered – with Farke's men just about getting the win over the line in the end at Elland Road.

Pascal Struijk had a notable off-day at the back, the Leeds captain and centre-back only winning 33.33% of his duels – as per Sofascore – with his teammates defensively in Archie Gray and Joe Rodon having to bail out the poor Dutchman from time to time.

Sam Byram also had a fantastic game at right-back, the previously injury-prone 30-year-old returning back home to Elland Road after starting his career at Leeds this summer and has made that spot his own in the last few games.

Yet, if recent transfer reports are anything to go by, Leeds could be pursuing a new right-back option that would be an upgrade on Byram in the form of Sunderland right-back Trai Hume who would certainly keep Leeds' number 25 on his toes.

Leeds transfer latest

TEAMtalk are reporting that Trai Hume is wanted by a whole host of clubs after an excellent season to date at the Stadium of Light, Leeds queuing up for the Northern Irishman's services alongside fellow second-tier side Leicester City and Vincent Kompany's Burnley in the division above.

Signing a new four year contract with Sunderland this summer, Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray will keep his fingers crossed that the defensive star will stick it out with the club to rubbish these rumours that are circulating.

Yet, if Leeds were to land the 21-year-old in this upcoming transfer window, the Championship promotion hopefuls would have a serious talent on their hands who could develop even further in his new surroundings.

Byram would be worrying about his future in the first team however, Farke more than likely to start his shiny new signing over his current man who will begin to wane with age.

Trai Hume's style of play

Described as being an "astute" player by his national team manager Michael O'Neill – Hume having to fill in at centre-back and left-back for Sunderland when required – Leeds signing the 21-year-old this January would be a shrewd and smart acquisition for the club.

Moreover, Hume would suit the style of football at Elland Road down to a tee – the right-back aggressive and passionate down the flanks for the Black Cats, whilst also remaining measured passing out from the back.

It's led to Hume completing the second-highest number of tackles per game in the division this season, coming in at 3.3 on average. In stark contrast, Byram's tackling numbers come in at a lesser 1.7.

Hume and Byram are level in terms of goal contributions however, both players in question helping themselves to a goal and an assist for their teams this campaign.

Yet, Hume's numbers overall away from just goals and assists show him to be the more creative force out of the two for the Black Cats – carving out four big chances for Mowbray's men off his own back, to Byram's mere one.

Hume's aforementioned adaptability could also come in handy for Farke's men if they were to seal a deal in the transfer window, especially if Gray decides to leave Elland Road owing to interest from Premier League giants Liverpool.

Sunderland will be facing a losing battle to keep hold of Hume past this January, the Northern Irish defender very much a wanted man.

The two players put on a 51-run partnership for the ninth wicket to book a spot in the final against Mumbai on Saturday

The Report by Hemant Brar18-Oct-2018Pawan Negi plays on the leg side•PTI

Navdeep Saini’s four-wicket haul and Pawan Negi’s unbeaten 39 helped Delhi sneak into the final of Vijay Hazare Trophy in a low-scoring thriller against Jharkhand. Chasing 200, Delhi were cruising at 123 for 4 at one stage, but Jharkhand bounced back with quick wickets to make it 149 for 8. Eventually, it took an unbeaten 51-run stand for the ninth wicket between Negi and Saini to secure Delhi’s victory with only two balls to spare.Saini’s 4 for 30 had helped Delhi bowl Jharkhand out for 199. It could have been worse for Jharkhand had Virat Singh not scored a fighting 91-ball 71 to help them recover from 85 for 6. The left-hand batsman stitched two crucial partnerships – 55 with Shahbaz Nadeem for the seventh wicket and 44 with Rahul Shukla for the ninth – as the last four wickets contributed 114.In response, Delhi started positively, with Unmukt Chand hitting Varun Aaron for four boundaries in eight balls, but he fell off the next one, trying to hit out again. Gambhir and Shorey steadied the innings – helped in part by a hamstring injury to Shuka. The new-ball bowler left the field having bowled only six deliveries.Having got past fifty, Delhi were pegged back again as part-time medium-pacer Anand Singh removed Shorey for 15. Then Gambhir was wrongly given out caught-behind down the leg side with replays showing the ball had only brushed the pad. Two overs later, Anand had Himmat Singh stumped, thanks to captain Ishan Kishan’s skill to dislodge the bails just when the batsman lifted his foot. Delhi were suddenly 87 for 4.Rana and Pranshu Vijayran got together and put on a 36-run fifth-wicket stand even as Kishan – with two left-hand batsmen in the middle – held back his left-arm spinners Nadeem and Anukul Roy.However, it was Nadeem who tilted the game in Jharkhand’s favour by having Rana caught at first slip for 39. Wickets kept tumbling after that and when Roy removed Lalit Yadav, Delhi were eight down and they still needed 51 more for victory.What worked in their favour was that there were still 73 balls left in the game, which allowed Negi and Saini to calmly inch them towards the target. With three needed from the last over, Jaskaran Singh gave Jharkhand one last hope by bowling two dot balls. But Negi slogged the third over midwicket for a couple to level the scores before he carved the next over the covers to book Delhi’s spot in the final, against Mumbai, on Saturday.In the morning, Saini and Khejroliya had Jharkhand on the back foot right from the start – literally and figuratively. They used the short ball to good effect, surprising the batsmen regularly with skiddy bounce.Saini dismissed the in-form Kishan for a duck in the first over of the match. The opener came down the track but couldn’t reach to the pitch of the ball and ended up edging it behind.Khejroliya too was rewarded for some disciplined bowling. Shasheem Rathour tried to put him off his length by charging at him, only to sky the ball to extra cover where Himmat back-pedaled to take a comfortable catch.Saini was taken off after a four-over spell but sensing the pressure building up, Gambhir brought him back in the 12th over. The fast bowler repaid his captain’s trust by dismissing Saurabh Tiwary and reduced Jharkhand to 35 for 3. Kumar Deobrat didn’t last long either and feathered a Saini bouncer to the wicketkeeper Chand.Anand tried to hold the innings together and struck some delectable boundaries in between. But it was the lack of strike-rotation that was hurting Jharkhand. And when Anand too departed for an 80-ball 36 – nicking one off Khejroliya – Jharkhand were struggling at 74 for 5.Nadeem then joined hands with Virat and the two started dealing in singles. Khejroliya was reintroduced in the 34th over, but Virat welcomed him with successive fours. He and Nadeem took the side to 140 before Nadeem was bowled by Rana for 29. Virat was the last man dismissed in the penultimate over. However, he could take Jharkhand only to a competitive total, and not a match-winning one.

Liverpool have been handed another injury blow, with Andy Robertson limping off in the first half of Scotland's clash with Northern Ireland.

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• Robertson starts for Scotland against Northern Ireland
• Limps off in first half
• Adds to Liverpool injury woes

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Robertson was captaining his country on Tuesday night at Hampden Park, with the hosts going 1-0 down in the 32nd minute thanks to a goal from his Anfield team-mate Conor Bradley. Shortly after that strike, Robertson slumped down to the floor, using his shirt to cover his face, and it soon became clear that his night was over.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Just before his withdrawal, Robertson had been left holding his ankle following a coming together with Northern Ireland defender Trai Hume. Although he could carry his own weight as he trudged down the tunnel, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will still be sweating over his fitness.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The Reds have been far from full strength all season, especially in defence. Although things have improved on that front somewhat lately, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold missed their side's last game before the international break – a dramatic FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United – while Joel Matip is out for the season.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  If Robertson's injury is significant, he could miss Liverpool's Premier League clash with Brighton on Sunday. After that the Reds host Sheffield United, with a trip to Old Trafford and a Europa League showdown against Atalanta also on the horizon.

Newcastle United's squad is built on tremendous new signings under the PIF ownership and the management of Eddie Howe, but that's not to say that there weren't a few diamonds in amongst the rubble in the days preceding the new era.

The Premier League side have certainly been bolstered by the lucrative takeover and would not have risen from their lowly position with half as much vigour had the newly-appointed Howe been unable to make impactful acquisitions in January 2022.

But the diligence and astuteness of the business has been nothing short of remarkable, with some free-spending outfits left scratching their heads and wondering just how this dream formula has passed them by.

Joelinton is probably the prime example, having been converted from a profligate striker to a brutish midfield engine, paramount to the club's success.

But he's by no means the only one, and one player who has been out of the headlines this season in Joe Willock has arguably had just as profound an impact on United's endeavours over the past few years.

Why did Newcastle sign Joe Willock?

Newcastle completed the loan signing of Willock from Arsenal in January 2021, having scored eight goals from just 14 appearances and netting in seven successive matches.

It's fair to say he impressed during that stint, and consequently earned a £25m move to St. James' Park with Arsenal unable to give him assurances regarding the regularity of his minutes on the pitch, and he has since worked his way into one of Europe's most exciting projects.

He has never quite recovered the incredible rate of scoring, but this matters not for a player who has been moulded into one of the most robust and dynamic midfielders in the Premier League.

How good is Joe Willock?

Having joined Newcastle on a permanent deal in the summer of 2021, Willock has yet to rekindle the level of prolific brilliance that captured the awe of the Tyneside masses upon his initial arrival.

That is not, however, to say that he enjoyed an early purple patch and has since languished, far from it; now 24-years-old, the former Gunner has been utilised in a thriving midfield pivot primarily consisting of Brazilian's Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, with Sean Longstaff and Willock both bringing energy and positivity to the centre.

It was partly why the Magpies flew so high last season, with Howe even going as far as to label him "pivotal" to the system, completing 85% of his passes in the league last term, creating 12 big chances and tacking 1.5 shots and making 1.7 tackles per outing.

This season, Willock is still awaiting his maiden appearance, having sustained a hamstring injury in the closing weeks of the Premier League campaign against Brighton & Hove Albion, since aggravating the issue and leading the Daily Mail's Craig Hope to begrudgingly confirm his continuing absence last month.

The £80k-per-week phenom offers energy and intensity in the same way as Longstaff, but offers a far more dynamic and creative threat, which makes him a very singular kind of midfield threat, boasting an array of methods to wreak devastation on the opposition and just as tenacious in his defensive application.

Indeed, as per FBref, the 5 foot 10 gem ranks among the top 19% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 12% for assists, the top 3% for progressive carries, the top 8% for successful take-ons, the top 1% for touches in the attacking box and the top 7% for blocks per 90.

Such metrics instantly spring one Jude Bellingham, aged just 20, to mind, with the prodigious England international boasting a remarkable semblance in playing style to Newcastle's dynamo.

The "generational" starlet, as he has been dubbed by journalist Raphael Honigstein, moved from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid for an initial £88.5m in the summer, and has obliterated expectations with ten goals and three assists from his opening ten games – a better start to life with Los Blancos than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bellingham, believed to be on £347k-per-week, ranks among the top 1% of positional peers for goals, the top 17% for assists, the top 4% for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive carries, the top 1% for successful take-ons and touches in the attacking box and the top 5% for blocks per 90.

Now, of course, Willock is not on Bellingham's level at present – quite candidly, is anyone? But Newcastle's exciting ace is considered the most comparable player, via FBref, to his precocious countryman and offers similar skills, and given his "limitless" potential, as claimed by writer Simon Collings, he too could start to strut his stuff with stunning style once back on the grass.

The one-time Birmingham City youth has captured the awe with his unbelievably clinical start to life in Spain, described as "so special" by Real manager Carlo Ancelotti, who urged people to remember that goals are not everything and his game stretches far, far wider.

Willock too has underscored his goalscoring credentials with a destructive start to life on Tyneside, and upon his comeback, perhaps with Sandro Tonali deployed deeper next to Guimaraes, this could be realised once again.

Journalist Daniel Wales corroborates such a notion, claiming that Willock is both similar to Bellingham last season and is deserving of a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad alongside him.

He said: "I saw a stat yesterday, it showed players that are similar to Jude Bellingham and I think it was Gavi and Pedri were the top two.

"And then Joe Willock was third after those, if I remember rightly, showing that he is certainly capable of, perhaps not exactly emulating the ability of Jude Bellingham – we know how good he is for his age as well – but certainly producing performances good enough to get him in the England squad with that sort of ability that Joe Willock is showing week-in, week-out."

Again, Willock is not Bellingham, and to claim he is the second coming is simply untrue but given his proven goalscoring ability and all-encompassing, energetic midfield game, the Toon talent could prove to make a resounding return to Howe's squad soon.

Perhaps even orchestrating a run of form so great that the Magpies soar into heights unseen at St. James' Park for many, many years.

Everton have now identified a potential successor to manager Sean Dyche, but another Premier League club are also keen, according to a report.

Is Sean Dyche leaving Everton?

Fresh off the back of Everton's first win of the Premier League season against Brentford at the weekend, it seems a little unusual they are being linked to replacements for Dyche, but Wayne Rooney has also recently been named as a potential long-term option.

In an interview with GiveMeSport, journalist Paul Brown said: I'm sure Rooney would love to take on a job like that at some point. He's had an interesting history with the club, veering from being the hero to villain in the eyes of many there. Last time, when he left, I don’t think he left under particularly happy circumstances. He's trying to make a name for himself now as a manager, and it's entirely possible one day that he might end up being at Everton. But I think we're a long way from that right now.”

Although the Toffees' form now appears to be on the up, after an impressive 3-1 victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, there have now been reports they have a contingency plan in place, should they decide to part ways with their manager.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen has now been earmarked as a potential replacement for Dyche, having caught the eye since taking charge of the Dutch side in 2020, reaching the Europa Conference League semi-final last season.

The 50-year-old is attracting the attention of a number of clubs, including Crystal Palace and Rangers, with his Alkmaar side currently level with PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Eredivisie table, having won their opening five games.

At the moment, Everton are not considering Dyche's position at the helm, but like any well-run club, they have succession plans in place, and Jansen would be right at the top of their wanted list if they were to part company with their current manager.

Where is Pascal Jansen from?

The AZ Alkmaar manager was born in London and spent parts of his youth in Aylesbury, but he mainly grew up in the Netherlands, and he has since worked his way up to become manager of one of the country's top clubs.

The Dutchman's current job is his first role as manager of a professional side, and he has averaged 1.97 points-per game since being appointed in December 2020, leading Alkmaar to a fourth-place finish last season.

In an interview, the England-born coach made it clear he is "inspired by" Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, meaning he likes to play an attacking brand of football, which could be a refreshing sight at Goodison Park.

During his time with Burnley, Dyche was criticised for playing "anti-football" by David Luiz, and Everton have implemented a direct approach this season, playing 342 long balls, the third-highest amount in the Premier League.

It would be extremely harsh to sack Dyche anytime soon, considering he led the Toffees to safety last season, but they should definitely keep Jansen in mind as a potential long-term replacement.

كشف مصدر خاص بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، النقاب عن تطورات جديدة في أزمة لاعب بيراميدز رمضان صبحي.

وتعرض رمضان صبحي لعقوبة الإيقاف بسبب أزمة تعاطيه المنشطات، بداعي فساد العينة الأولى وثبوت إيجابية العينة الثانية.

محمد فضل: أزمة حسين الشحات والشيبي دخلت في “العند” وخرجت عن السيطرة

وعلم “بطولات” أنه ستكون هناك جلسة استماع ثانية لرمضان صبحي، يوم السبت المقبل.

وسيتواجد رمضان صبحي ومعه فريق دفاعه بالكامل، من أجل الدفاع عن نفسه بأدلة تقنع أعضاء المنظمة.

وكالة المنشطات المصرية: رمضان صبحي لن يلعب إلا بعد قرار لجنة الاستماع

وكان حازم خميس رئيس المنظمة المصرية لمكافحة المنشطات قد أعلن إيقاف رمضان صبحي إجباريًا لحين عقد لجنة الاستماع.

الجدير بالذكر، أن العقوبة المتوقع صدورها ضد رمضان صبحي حال ثبوت إدانته ستكون الإيقاف لمدة سنتين كحد أدنى و4 سنوات كحد أقصى.