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Speaking to Football Insider, pundit Frank McAvennie has reacted to a ‘big, big blow’ for Newcastle United and Steve Bruce as Callum Wilson is ruled out injured for six to eight weeks – with the Englishman now joining fellow absentees Fabian Schar and Javier Manquillo on the sidelines (Sky Sports).

Wilson, who signed for the Magpies last summer, has been an arguable shining light for Bruce in a struggling side – especially considering he has netted 10 Premier League goals this season whilst assisting five others (Transfermarkt).

McAvennie reacts to ‘big, big blow’ for Newcastle

Bruce has since revealed that Wilson faces time in recovery following a hamstring injury, and Newcastle will have to cope without his influence – coming as another ‘big, big blow’ alongside absences for Manquillo and Schar.

McAvennie, speaking to Football Insider, has explained why this could come as a ‘massive’ issue for Newcastle over the coming weeks.

“That is a big, big blow,” explained the former West Ham and Celtic favourite.

“They have won a couple of games recently and he has been a major part of it.

“It’s a massive blow because he is a wonderful player. He will be a big miss for Steve Bruce over the next two months.

“Even when Wilson is not scoring, he does an awful lot for the team. His movement is great, he presses well and he is just a general pest. It is not just about scoring goals.”

Transfer Tavern take

Whether or not Newcastle can cope without Wilson going forward remains to be seen, but they’ll now have to rely on the likes of Joelinton, Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle.

Considering Wilson leads the Newcastle charts for both goals and assists this season, to rid the Magpies of their striking talisman and chief architect at the same time is undeniably disastrous.

Languishing in 17th and coming up against Chelsea this evening, the Magpies will have to be at their very best to pull off an upset at Stamford Bridge, especially without their main man leading the line..

In other news: Ben Jacobs dropped a Newcastle takeover update involving DaGrosa, find out more here.

Steve Bruce has admitted that he fears the worst with Miguel Almiron’s potential injury sustained during Newcastle United’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

That’s according to Chronicle Live, who quote the Toon boss as expressing deep concern over the extent to which the Paraguayan playmaker has damaged his knee.

Almiron appeared to pick up an injury while stretching for the ball and was left distressed at half-time, forcing Bruce to replace the 27-year-old with Ryan Fraser for the second period.

Almiron earned his 18th start in 24 Premier League appearances for the season on Saturday, and will be a big miss for Newcastle should he now face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“It’s too early but for him to come off and be in the state he is in, we fear the worst,” Bruce said following the 1-1 draw with Wolves.

“He was in distress at half-time. He will have scans on Sunday to see how he is.”

Only Callum Wilson, who Bruce believes remains “three or four weeks away” from a return due to a hamstring injury, has scored (10) more for Newcastle than Almiron (4) in the top-flight this term.

Almiron’s driving presence and willingness to run helps tp stretch opposing defences and he offers United their best link-up player, connecting the deep-lying midfielders and backline with the attackers.

Bruce will have a serious headache over who could replace Almiron should he be without another key player amid a relegation fight, but the Paraguayan’s absence can open a door for Fraser to establish himself after a strong cameo showing on the back of some strong criticism.

The Chronicle’s chief Newcastle writer Lee Ryder had questioned if Fraser even wants to be at St. James’ Park earlier in the week, with him having appeared disinterested and unhappy during the Magpies’ prior 3-1 loss to Manchester United.

“Fraser, for me, doesn’t look like he wants to be here. You’re asking me an honest question and I’m giving you my opinion from what I am seeing – he doesn’t look like he wants to be here,” Ryder said (23/2, 07:35).

“It looks to me like he feels he’s a made a mistake coming to Newcastle. We are not seeing the Ryan Fraser which we saw at Bournemouth, and we know with him it could be a situation where if he’s not happy, he’s not performing and that is what it looks like at the minute.”

Fraser was far better at home to Wolves on Saturday night after replacing Almiron, with the £11m-rated maestro the most-creative player in the second half with three key passes – no other player for either side offered more than two, per WhoScored.

The 27-year-old also recorded his third assist in black and white and first since December when he delivered a darting cross into the heart of the visitor’s penalty area, picking out the advancing Jamaal Lascelles after the Toon captain lost his marker to head home powerfully.

Fraser remains without a Magpies goal of his own in the Premier League to date having seen his only shot on Saturday night blocked, but his introduction appeared inspired rather than forced.

Bruce will now surely hope to see the ex-Bournemouth winger finally establish himself if given the nod to replace Almiron, with Fraser only starting six of his 15 top-flight outings thus far this term.

AND in other news, Newcastle have joined the race for a sought-after “real talent” capable of “outstanding” displays…

Liverpool’s owners could potentially be making a huge mistake when it comes to the talks, or lack thereof, between themselves and manager Jurgen Klopp.

The German has implied that he is not under any pressure to deliver UEFA Champions League football to Anfield this season amidst the Reds’ faltering title defence.

The Reds are no longer in the race for the Premier League crown, whilst they have also been eliminated from both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.

Should they also get eliminated from the Champions League this season, that leaves qualifying for next season’s competition as the only real target for the Merseysiders throughout the rest of 2020/21.

The last time that the club finished outside of the top four positions having previously enjoyed consecutive seasons in the Champions League was in 2010/11 and it took them a considerable amount of time to return to the competition.

It took the Reds another five seasons to get another taste of UEFA Champions League football under Brendan Rodgers, which harmed the club considerably.

Not only did their revenue take a considerable hit with the reduced amount of TV money earned by the club, which meant that they simply did not have enough funds to spend in the transfer market, their reputation also took quite a hit.

As Klopp has alluded to, this may convince potential new signings not to sign for the club without the offer of UEFA Champions League football.

It could be suggested then that failure to qualify for the competition could harm the club more than Klopp or the club’s owners realise.

Maybe FSG need to demand more of the German this season, despite him having delivered plenty of glory during his tenure?

To say that Klopp won’t be pushing to get a top-four place would be unkind to the manager’s professionalism, but a bit of extra pressure from above could provide that extra 1% of motivation that could be the difference between Champions League and Europa League football next season.

And in more news, take a look at our predicted Liverpool XI to take on Chelsea at Anfield…

Several Aston Villa fans praised midfielder Morgan Sanson for his cameo display against Newcastle United on Friday evening.

Sanson, who arrived in January on a four-and-a-half-year deal from Marseille, was left out of the starting line-up for Jacob Ramsey at St James’ Park, in what was Dean Smith’s only change from the side which drew with Wolves last week.

Sanson far from perfect

The 26-year-old came on to replace Ramsey shortly before the hour mark, though, and Villa looked to have sealed all three points late on following Ciaran Clark’s own goal. However, with seconds remaining, Jamaal Lascelles rescued a point for the hosts with a thumping header.

Sanson was actually Villa’s worst-rated player against Steve Bruce’s side, as per WhoScored.

The Frenchman recorded a 5.97/10 match rating – the only away player to score under 6. He touched the ball just 17 times in his 36-minute display and received a yellow card for his only foul of the game.

However, despite this, these Villa supporters all liked what they saw from Sanson.

Villa fans full of praise

“Sanson was brilliant when he came on. Needs to be starting.”

Credit: @EddAVFC

“Sanson was a standout player for me”

Credit: @EwanMackey

“Thought Sanson looked promising tonight: tidy on the ball, can run with it and pretty accurate passer. Looking quicker with each game too. I expect to see him in the first xi after a full preseason.”

Credit: @VillaViews_

“I wanna see him in the team now full stop,him playing with Jack might be something special”

Credit: @moavfc

“Sanson needs to start for the rest of the season. JJ isn’t ready to start games and Barkley is done. With a midfield that’s already struggling we can’t carry passengers and it’s where we need to improve in the summer.”

Credit: @Gazoaks

“Sanson is becoming a favourite of mine tbh”

Credit: @lise_brown

“Sanson has been brilliant”

Credit: @tom_avfc1

In other news: Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been giving their thoughts over a potential permanent deal for Ross Barkley, find out more here. 

Joelinton badly let Steve Bruce down as Newcastle United were forced to settle for a point against Aston Villa on Friday night.

The Brazilian was once again backed to offer a clinical touch in the final third in Callum Wilson’s absence, but his decision-making was relentlessly for the worse.

Too often at St James’ Park did Joelinton select the wrong option when presented with a chance to shoot at Emiliano Martinez’s goal or to pick out the correct pass to a supporting teammate.

Joelinton’s night had begun promisingly when the £86,500-per-week forward was involved in a piece of nice link-up play with fellow forwards Dwight Gayle and Ryan Fraser, with the trio combining well to register Newcastle’s first shot of the game in the fifth minute.

Villa soon found a foothold in proceedings to begin taking control, making Joelinton’s failings ever more punishing for Newcastle whenever they sought to hit Dean Smith’s side on the break.

The only true positive to come from Joelinton’s performance was that, despite his clear lack of confidence, he kept pushing to try and put pressure on the Villans backline and give Tyrone Mings something to occasionally think about.

Bruce was clearly pleased with what he saw from the £18m-rated striker he signed in 2019 for a club-record £40m, having offered his support for Joelinton to soon end his drought in front of goal which now reads 15 games in all competitions.

“Joelinton has come in for criticism, but he’s contributed to the team,” Bruce told BT Sport, via quotes shared by the Shields Gazette. “He needs to score a goal, and be the hero, and I’m sure there’s a goal or two around the corner.”

Joelinton had plenty of opportunities to end his goal drought against Aston Villa, only for his decision-making to prove costly and almost prevent Newcastle from taking any points had it not been for Jamaal Lascelles providing a crucial stoppage-time header to steal a draw.

United were often able to find Joelinton in good positions against their Birmingham-based opposition, yet he only attempted two shots with neither on target while providing just one key pass, per SofaScore. Lascelles, Fraser and Gayle each attempted two shots for the Toon as well but managed to direct at least one on target.

Fraser also offered a joint team-high two key passes – only Trezeguet (3) offered more for Villa – yet was slammed by Chronicle Live for not delivering in what was an unnatural false nine role for the Scotland winger.

The ex-Bournemouth maestro further won 100% of his ground duels while Joelinton lost 50% of his 18 challenges, alongside nine of his 13 aerial contests (losing 18 duels in total) to help see that he turned over possession 21 times – a joint game-high with Jonjo Shelvey, per Sofascore.

While Joelinton’s workrate often kept Mings busy, the England international was also able to win six of his eight aerial duels and five of 11 ground challenges to keep a lid on the Magpies forward.

With Wilson not expected to make his return from a hamstring injury until after the March international break, Bruce cannot have Joelinton offering so little in Newcastle’s attack.

AND in other news, Newcastle eye summer swoop for £16k-p/w maestro once lauded for being “the most gifted” player…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Dean Windass has defended Tottenham’s Davinson Sanchez following the penalty incident in Sunday’s north London derby, but has urged the centre-back to eradiate his mistakes.

Midway through the second-half, the Colombian defender tangled with Alexandre Lacazette in the penalty area, and although replays showed the Frenchman missing his kick before Sanchez came in and fouled him, referee Michael Oliver pointed to the spot.

Lacazette then picked himself up before sending his international colleague Hugo Lloris the wrong way to complete the turnaround for the Gunners, but Windass felt for Spurs’ South American centre-back.

It ruined what was generally another positive afternoon for £42m man Sanchez, whose been showing signs of encouragement following long spells out of the Premier League side this term – with Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld preferred by Jose Mourinho.

Sanchez has started seven league games on the bounce, but this incident at the Emirates came less than two weeks after VAR had saved him from another blunder in Tottenham’s win at Fulham earlier this month, with his miskicked clearance hitting Mario Lemina on the hand moments before Josh Maja thumped home, only for the technology to intervene.

Despite those two hairy moments, Windass believes that Sanchez has now earned Mourinho’s trust, and has backed him for a bright future.

He told Football FanCast: “He’s a young kid. I don’t think it was a penalty, I agree with Jose, he miskicks it. You have to challenge, but nowadays VAR is going to give the penalty. He’s still learning, he’s going to make mistakes, but if you want to be in the top-four you can’t afford to make mistakes, especially at centre-half.

“But he will make mistakes, I’m sure he’s got a bright future, there’s the trust of the manager because he’s been playing. But I don’t think he will blame him for the penalty.”

Leeds United youngster Mateusz Bogusz has hinted that he could again leave the club on loan this summer in order to earn more playing time.

The 19-year is an exciting academy product at Elland Road, with the midfielder currently on loan at Spanish second tier outfit Logrones this season.

Bogusz has been handed three first team appearances by Marcelo Bielsa, starting Leeds’ Carabao Cup clash with Hull City back in September, with the Whites going out on penalties.

First team opportunities are understandably hard to come by, considering the quality and depth at Bielsa’s disposal, coupled with Bogusz’s tender years.

[freshpress-quiz id=“347980″]

Bogusz could leave Leeds on loan this summer

It now looks as though the youngster could be set for another temporary spell away from the club, telling LUFCFANZONE podcast [via Leeds All Over] that a loan move appeals:

“I think I will go on loan next season because the team plays very well, they play in the Premier League and I think I’m not ready to play in the Premier League or to just be a sub.”

Transfer Tavern take

It makes perfect sense for Bogusz to continue his development at another club, rather than potentially outgrow the under-23s upon returning to Leeds and not maximising his potential there.

The experience of playing first team football elsewhere could be key to his development, allowing him to become a more polished footballer whenever the time comes for him to be fully integrated into the Whites’ first team squad.

In other news, Leeds have reportedly been boosted in their attempts to sign a world-renowned star this summer. Read more about it here.

West Brom could well have a star of the future waiting in the wings right now.

Callum Morton broke onto the scene last season, clinching promotion from League Two with Northampton Town, and he’s continued his impressive form in another loan spell, this time with Michael Appleton’s Lincoln City.

The young Baggies prospect models his game on two players, one of which has deep ties to the Hawthorns. He told BirminghamLive: “I base my game on the likes of Jamie Vardy and Shane Long.”

If he can become half the player of Vardy, or another Long in the Midlands, then Albion are going to be onto a major winner.

In his first month at Northampton, the 21-year-old striker bagged five goals in seven appearances to clinch the fourth tier’s ‘Player of the Month’ award. He then went onto fire the Cobblers into the playoff final by scoring a crucial brace.

Morton would go onto score at Wembley too, sealing promotion to League One.

That season, the West Brom prodigy notched the best conversion rate of anyone in the division, scoring a total of eight goals from 24 shots (33%), whilst he also led the lead for prolificacy, as 83% of his goals scored were on target, as per FBRef (via Scouted Football).

He has since gone on to impress under the former Baggies U23 boss. At the weekend, he fired home a crucial equaliser in the League One promotion race to help the Imps deny their rivals, Sunderland, at the Stadium of Light.

Morton was graded a 7.5/10 by the local press, who claimed he “didn’t see much of the ball at times but made lots of good runs and show great strength and footwork for his goal.” Further going back to those Vardy and Long comparisons.

That was his second goal since returning from a serious and long-term injury – the young gem is certainly getting picking up where he left off.

Despite never featuring for the senior side, Morton’s work ethic was duly noted by Slaven Bilic during his time in charge. And after offering the emerging starlet a new contract, the Croatian waxed lyrical to the Express & Star:

“I spoke with him a lot of times, he wasn’t training with the group, but I had a lot of chats with him. I didn’t know him as a player but to see that character – he has got something special. He is made of steel.”

Now under contract for another three-and-a-half years, Morton could well emerge as their future in the striking position. You can forget Rayhaan Tulloch, Owen Windsor and Jamie Soule for now, it’s the 21-year-old who looks best equipped for a shot in the big time.

AND in other news, Better than Grant: Dowling made big West Brom error over £12.6m-rated “special player”…

According to Italian outlet Club Doria 46 (via Sport Witness), West Ham United are eyeing a move for Sampdoria powerhouse Omar Colley – and the fact he signed a new deal in January comes as no ‘guarantee of permanence’. 

As stated by this report, David Moyes is keen on the 6 foot 3 colossus alongside a plethora of Premier League sides – with Leeds United, Newcastle United and Fulham also touted with interest.

West Ham eyeing Colley

Sampdoria, despite tabling a new contract for Olley, are open to selling him this summer if they can ‘make a rich capital gain’ and will tell suitors to pay €10 million-15 million (£8.5m-£12.7m) for his services.

The Gambia defender has been a mainstay under former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri this season and key player, starting 19 Serie A matches and thoroughly impressing since mid-December.

As a result, West Ham have entered the fray and are eyeing a possible summer move for the 28-year-old who ‘could really leave’ according to Club Doria 46.

The Irons were also linked last year (via Sport Witness), with Colley’s past performance against a certain Cristiano Ronaldo attracting media praise.

Transfer Tavern take

Colley’s efforts to thwart Ronaldo and deny him a hat-trick against Sampdoria in a past encounter were well noticed by Massimiliano Allegri, who lavished the defender with praise after he blocked the Portuguese superstar’s goal-bound header (Foroyaa).

Whether or not West Ham end up signing Colley ahead of their numerous competition remains to be seen, but they have now emerged as possible suitors.

In other news: Fabrizio Romano dropped a huge Jesse Lingard update, find out more here.

Ben Jacobs has dropped a claim on the potential takeover of Newcastle United by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

As per a tweet from the sport journalist, BC Partners are no longer actively pursuing a purchase of Inter Milan, an investment that the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) have previously been linked with.

Adding to his update, Jacobs also tweeted that PIF still see no value in buying the Serie A club and ‘PIF are waiting’ to see whether the St. James’ Park faithful’s legal cases clear the way for them to buy the North East club instead.

Newcastle takeover hopes rely on PIF

If the original deal between Mike Ashley and the KSA consortium has any chance of coming back into fruition, then PIF need to be back at the table.

The fact that they have shown interest in buying Inter may worry a lot of the Toon Army, but Jacobs’ latest update should calm fans down a little.

It seems as if they would still be interested in reviving the deal if a path was made clear for them to come back, and that may be made if the results of the Magpies’ legal case is positive.

Nonetheless, NUFC supporters now face an anxious wait in finding out those results and subsequently what they mean in terms of the potential resurrection of the bid.

In other news, find out which Newcastle star has been slammed after a fresh development here!