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Southampton return to Premier League action on Sunday afternoon as they take on Burnley at St Mary’s in the early kick-off, and with captain James Ward-Prowse potentially sidelined for the game, Ralph Hasenhuttl should consider unleashing Alexandre Jankewitz in his midfield.

Ward-Prowse was forced to withdraw early from international duty earlier this week and was sent back to Southampton as a precaution after picking up a calf problem.

The Austrian manager has since confirmed that, whilst he is hopeful the Saints captain will be fit, the 26-year-old hasn’t been training with the squad in the build-up to the game against Sean Dyche’s side.

You may worry that Ward-Prowse’s run of playing 90 minutes in every single Southampton fixture so far this season could soon come to an end, and with Oriol Romeu also sidelined through injury, Hasenhuttl has a big decision to make when it comes to selecting a midfield partner for Ibrahima Diallo.

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Fortunately, Southampton have a more than capable midfielder waiting in the wings in the form of Jankewitz, who has been the name on many Saints fans’ lips this week after some impressive performances with Switzerland at the European Under-21 Championship.

The 19-year-old hasn’t been seen for Southampton since getting himself sent off on his full Premier League debut in the defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the season, but Hasenhuttl should put his faith in the teenager to make a much more positive impression against Burnley on Sunday.

If Jankewitz isn’t entrusted with any minutes between now and the end of the season, then you worry that Southampton could lose him permanently in the not-too-distant future, especially after he handed in a transfer request in January as a result of his lack of playing time in the first team.

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The last thing Hasenhuttl wants to do is make Ward-Prowse’s injury worse by selecting him when he’s not fully fit, so he should forget about picking his captain against Dyche’s side on Sunday and instead give Jankewitz another chance to impress.

In other news… No goals this season: Hasenhuttl must axe 25 y/o flop this summer, he’s stealing a living

In an exclusive interview with The Transfer Tavern, Steve Howey, who made 270 appearances during his career, claims there is a deal to be done for West Ham if they want to sign Jesse Lingard permanently.

Lingard failed to make a single league appearance for Manchester United this season which saw him go out on loan to the Hammers, and his form has been that good it’s earned him an England recall.

Since he joined West Ham in January Lingard has managed eight goals and four assists in just nine league games, which has seen David Moyes’ side solidify their Champions League hopes.

Speaking on how there is a deal for West Ham to complete if they want to and also why Lingard has impressed by doing more than just score goals, Howey told The Transfer Tavern:

“He’s gone to West Ham and absolutely set the place on fire, not only scoring goals but his performances as well. So I think there will be some sort of deal to be done if Lingard wants to leave Man United.

“I definitely feel they could come to an agreement because ultimately, he couldn’t get into Man United’s team. West Ham offered him an opportunity which he’s grabbed with both hands and now it’s up to both clubs to try and sort out a deal.”

Unsurprisingly, Lingard is set to be Moyes’ number one target in the summer, however, the Hammers don’t have an option to buy so Man United can demand what they see fit.

West Ham will want to bulk up their squad if they qualify for the Champions League and they are currently in pole position to do so sitting in fourth place.

In a recent interview with Football FanCast, Dean Windass has claimed that Ralph Hasenhuttl has not underachieved during his time at Southampton and that he has, perhaps, been a victim of his own success.

In an exclusive interview with FFC, Windass said:

“There’s a lot of managers now and it will depend on how they start next season off next season, the first points on the board, they will want to win the first game as quickly as possible, because he’s underachieved this year.

“But that’s a big statement – have Southampton underachieved [overall] this season? No. But because of where they were at, and then all of a sudden they have dropped.

“If you asked Matt Le Tissier, ‘are you happy with Southampton’s season?’, he would go ‘unbelievable’. Delighted. When I played, Southampton were always in the bottom four or five. It’s about results and staying in the Premier League.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/southampton-saints-ralph-hasenhuttl-martin-semmens-st-marys” title=”Latest Southampton news, transfer rumours and more”]

However, plenty of Southampton fans might disagree with Windass’ comments.

The Austrian endured a nightmare start to his Southampton career, with the Saints looking like serious relegation candidates for a lot of last season, before they turned their season around in the second half of the campaign, particularly impressing after project restart.

This left a lot of Saints fans extremely optimistic for the season ahead and it was easy to see why when they started the season in superb fashion, topping the league after a 2-0 win against Newcastle United in November.

However, their league form since January has been abhorrent, with just two wins against Burnley and Sheffield United to their name, with a solitary draw against Chelsea meaning they have taken seven points from their last 15 top-flight games – managers have certainly been sacked for less.

This is undoubtedly relegation form and whilst their early-season performances should be enough to save them this season, it is a huge concern ahead of the next campaign.

The FA Cup semi-final defeat against Leicester City recently may well have been the final straw for some Southampton fans, as they failed to register a single shot on target at Wembley.

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Granted, the Austrian manager has had to deal with injury problems that have seriously exposed the lack of squad depth at the club but if they are able to strengthen the squad in the summer and results do not improve, then club chairman Jisheng Gao could soon be left with a huge decision to make regarding Hasenhuttl’s future at the club.

And, in other news… Southampton suffer huge injury blow to “outstanding” gem, Ralph will be fearing the worst

Liverpool are ‘convinced’ that Mohamed Salah will remain a Reds player beyond this summer, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.The 28-year-old has been a sensational signing for Liverpool since joining from Roma in the summer of 2017, scoring 119 goals in 192 appearances.  Salah has matured into one of the biggest names in world football and become a true icon, with his influence at Liverpool arguably unrivalled under Jurgen Klopp.Despite Salah generally appearing happy at Anfield, there seem to be constant rumours suggesting that he could leave this summer, perhaps not helped by an interview he conducted with AS back in December, when he flirted with the idea of joining Barcelona or Real Madrid. Liverpool confident Salah won’t leave

Writing for BenchWarmers, Romano claimed that Liverpool believe the Egyptian superstar will stay put, adding that there is ‘no problem with the club’ currently.

The journalist wrote that the Merseysiders “are convinced that they can keep Mohamed Salah”, adding that “soon they will also have to talk about his contract expiring in June 2023 but there is no problem with the club.”

Salah’s current £200,000-a-week Liverpool contract expires in two years’ time, but the hope is that he will sign a new deal in the near future.

Transfer Tavern take

There are times when it feels like the Reds’ number 11 is underappreciated, with his constant flow of goals and assists proving priceless over the last four seasons.

It may be that Salah’s world-class quality is only universally lauded when he leaves – the hope is that he is still a few years away from departing Anfield.

In other news, there has been a key update on one injured Liverpool star – find out who it is here.

Aston Villa midfielder Ross Barkley is not having the best of times at the club recently and Jamie Redknapp has expressed his concerns over the player.

Redknapp discusses Barkley

Speaking on Sky Sports [via HITC], he said: “The fact that Grealish isn’t playing and he’s not still playing, it’s a worry for him. He’s got ability but when you go out on loan to a club it’s a big opportunity to show what you got. Showcase, this is what Chelsea will be missing. He’s obviously not doing enough. Now, he’s sitting on the bench and he’s waiting for his chance.”

The Englishman needs to step up

Villa manager Dean Smith has spoken highly of the player, calling him a ‘marquee signing’. Some may have expected Barkley would have come straight into the side when Jack Grealish picked up an injury, but Smith has favoured other options, including emerging academy star Jacob Ramsey. Barkley has had to be content with a substitute’s role in his last two games.

The Chelsea loanee has posed an attacking threat, managing 1.9 shots and 1.8 key passes per game (WhoScored). However he has only managed three goals and one assist, so it is understandable to see why Smith is looking at other options in his squad.

When he is next given a chance, the 27-year-old will have to be at his best if he wants to have a future either at Villa or at Chelsea. Redknapp is right to fear for Barkley, whose ineffectiveness has cost him his place in the side.

In other news, many Villa fans fumed at this ace in their match against Wolves!

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Premier League striker Marlon Harewood believes Leeds are the ideal outfit for Patrick Bamford.

The 27-year-old has been thriving in the Whites’ team this season following their promotion from the Championship, not disappointing in front of goal.

Bamford has managed to reach double figures in English football’s top flight and there are now calls for him to be included in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad for the upcoming European Championships.

The former Chelsea forward has undoubtedly excelled in the current campaign, with Harewood praising both the player and Leeds’ playing style, believing it has greatly benefited the man leading the line.

“He’s had a lot of experience of working with a lot of different clubs and managers, and I think he’s just found his base at Leeds,” Harewood told FFC.

“And obviously, the way they play suits him very, very well, the manager… the way they play is just a breath of fresh air really. It’s nice to watch it, it’s exciting and he’s at the top of that tree, so he’s getting service from all angles. The wingers, the midfielders, they’re looking for balls, angles.”

With the Yorkshire club likely to stay up given their points tally and the amount of fixtures left, the 2020/21 Premier League season will be one to remember for Bamford. His goals have delivered Leeds into a favourable position and put him among some of the best forwards in the division.

Marcelo Bielsa will surely be hoping that Bamford can kick on next term as Leeds perhaps aim for something higher. As for now, though, the Nottingham Forest youth product can be satisfied with his contributions, contributions that look set to keep his side in the top tier of English football.

Glasgow Rangers fans were delighted with Ianis Hagi’s display for Romania against North Macedonia during the international break.

The headlines have been dominated by Steven Davis this past week. He picked up his 125th cap for Northern Ireland against Italy, meaning he equalled Peter Shilton’s British appearance record in the process (The Scotsman). However, he is not the only Gers player to impress while representing their country.

Hagi didn’t start the match against North Macedonia, with him being brought on with 14 minutes remaining. That was enough time for him to have a big impact on the game, with the £5.4m-valued 22-year-old (Transfermarkt) scoring the winner as Romania picked up an important 3-2 victory as they look to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

The Gers’ official Twitter account congratulated Hagi for what was his first ever international goal (Transfermarkt), and the tweet attracted plenty of attention from the Gers supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Hagi below

“Great goal”

Credit: @RangersAssemble

“Chuffed for Hagi as I sometimes think he doubts himself, so this can only help his confidence going forward. We are lucky to have him”

Credit: @ArgyllWarrior

“Love to see great wee player”

Credit: @Mikey1872786

“Brilliant for hagi and his confidence, he’s just getting better an better”

Credit: @alfie_west_55

“Excellent. Well done Ianis”

Credit: @Trinityfishbar

“The best hagi”

Credit: @RFCMatt7

In other news, Rangers fans are far from happy with an update on this 34-year-old.

Steve Bruce should use the ace up his sleeve to see that Newcastle United win the race to sign Blackburn Rovers’ sought-after striker Adam Armstrong this summer.

What’s the word?

According to Chronicle Live, Armstrong would be open to making a return to St. James’ Park three years after being sold by Rafa Benitez.

The former Toon boss sanctioned the 24-year-old’s £2m move to Ewood Park in 2018, in a decision that select club staff did not agree with at the time.

As part of the transfer, Newcastle inserted a 40% sell on clause, that would have left Blackburn with a paltry profit had the striker been sold in the January transfer window amid rumours David Moyes weighed up West Ham making an £8m offer.

Rovers are thought to have valued the forward at closer to £30m earlier in the season, but are expected to be more realistic in their appraisal this summer should Tony Mowbray fail to secure promotion into the Premier League.

Armstrong, who left Newcastle on excellent terms with those at the executive level, has less than 18-months remaining on his current Blackburn contract and is said to have been watched by a clutch of clubs from across the Premier League, Europe and Major League Soccer.

The forward has earned his array of potential suitors after thriving in the Championship over the last two seasons, hitting 17 goals in 26 games this term and 16 in 46 across 2019/20. He also fired home once in the EFL Cup earlier in the campaign, to move to within two goals of his career-best return of 20 achieved in 2015/16 while on loan with Coventry in League One.

Yet Mowbray confirmed on Deadline Day last week that his outfit did not receive any official bids, noting via quotes by the Lancashire Telegraph: “Am I surprised? Probably yes. I’m not disappointed, but am I surprised? I thought the phone might have rang.”

Should Newcastle bring Armstrong back?

Armstrong made his Newcastle debut way back in March 2014 as a fresh-faced 17-year-old, yet was never really given a run in the side whilst Benitez was at the helm with just two appearances under the Spaniard compared to 10 under Alan Pardew between 2014 and ‘15.

The forward never truly hit the ground running when on the field, either, having failed to score in any of his 21 career games for the Magpies, but has clearly come on leaps and bounds since moving to Blackburn Rovers with an increasingly prolific record in front of the net.

Mowbray also lauds Armstrong for his play off the ball for the way it creates obstacles for opponents to overcome, with the 24-year-old proving a menace in the second-tier.

“His explosive pace at the top end of the pitch allows you to play both ways, to not be overly concerned if you’re pinned back around the edge of your box because one pass releases pressure to someone like [Harvey] Elliott to play the pass that he can hit, just leaving it in the space for the speed and dynamic movement of Armstrong – it’s a devastating effect for the team,” the Rovers boss said earlier in the season, via quotes by FourFourTwo.

Bruce would surely benefit greatly from having another option like that at St. James’ Park who can supplement the threat of players like Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron, so should be urging Mike Ashley and Managing Director Lee Charnley to use their 40% sell-on clause to bring the striker back to his boyhood side.

Newcastle may soon be depleted in attack with Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll both now in the final six-months of their respective contracts, so using the sell-on clause could be particularly beneficial in driving Rovers’ asking price down and saving funds that can be used to sign other options as well.

Neither Gayle nor Carroll are currently playing their way into new deals with just a goal each in the Premier League this term, so United will have to box smart in rebuilding their attack. And only an astronomical asking price should rule Armstrong out of that remodel.

AND in other news, a £47k-p/w colossus is weighing up his future at Newcastle United…

Angelo Ogbonna was David Moyes’ true hero at Southampton as West Ham United were forced to settle for a point at St. Mary’s on Tuesday night.

Moyes altered his backline from Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion with Craig Dawson handed his long-awaited Irons debut in place of Fabian Balbuena, while returning Aaron Cresswell to left-back despite Ben Johnson’s excellence against the Seagulls.

The tactical shift ultimately returned the Hammers’ first Premier League clean sheet in seven games, having failed to keep the opposition at bay since beating Sheffield United 1-0 at Bramall Lane last month.

Dawson, despite a shaky start and a calamitous miskick resulting in the Watford loanee hitting Che Adams in the head, proved a wise addition to the starting line-up as the game progressed but paled into insignificance beside Ogbonna despite winning Clinton Morrison’s MOTM award on Amazon.

Second-half substitute Said Benrahma, who brought a needed spark to the Irons attack with half an hour to play through his direct runs after replacing Manuel Lanzini, also lingered in the shadows compared to Ogbonna who brought a composed and authoritative presence to silence the Saints’ prolific frontman Danny Ings.

Ings’ only clear break away from West Ham’s £70,000-per-week Italian proved irrelevant with the former Liverpool flop denied after Adams strayed offside in the build-up, leaving Moyes with plenty of confidence to know Ogbonna will step up to the challenge regardless of who he is partnered with.

Ogbonna has now started all 16 of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures thus far this term, while only missing the final 27 minutes of last month’s 1-0 win over London rivals Fulham after sustaining a groin injury.

Moyes was given further justification as to why he places such reliance in the 32-year-old against Southampton on Tuesday night, where Ogbonna registered the best pass accuracy rating (71%) of any Hammers defender with 17 accurate efforts from 24 attempts, per SofaScore.

He additionally found teammates with three of five long balls, was never dribbled past, lost possession only seven times and registered a game-high seven clearances while winning the ball with his sole attempted tackle.

Ogbonna also won two of his three ground duels, one of two aerial duels and took the same number of touches (34) as starting striker Sebastien Haller, as the Ivory Coast international struggled to threaten the Saints backline prior to his 77th-minute departure for the returning Michail Antonio.

West Ham may have gone a fourth Premier League game without a win by drawing at St. Mary’s, but Ogbonna’s display will offer Moyes plenty of positives ahead of facing high-flying Everton on New Year’s Day.

AND in other news, West Ham are considering offering a 6 ft 1 brute with a “terrific range of passing” a mid-season move to the London Stadium.

COVID-19 has been around for so long that it’s kind of difficult to imagine the old days. Remember going to stadiums or the pub to watch a match with your friends? It’s really been ages.

For the impact it has directly on athletes’ health and the way we watch the games, we need some innovation here. It’s time to improve the situation and make life easier.

Fortunately, leagues like the UEFA, teams, and even fans are all beginning to wake up and start thinking creatively about how football can not only adapt to COVID-19 but thrive once again.

Safer Conditions For Players

This is the biggest concern for everyone. Without healthy players, we would have no football to watch. But with cases surging, it’s hard to guarantee player safety not just in football but for all sports.

Fortunately, some really cool tech breakthroughs can at least help provide early warning signs and detection of COVID-19.

One example is the Oura ring, which is already being used in the NBA. The custom-fitted (and stylish) ring can track user activity levels, heart, respiratory rate, and body temperature changes.

This is cool enough, but then all this data is analysed and can then be used to generate a risk score that flags early warning signs.

The result is that diagnoses can be made sooner, and players can quarantine before risking exposure to their teammates and even their competitors.

That’s just the beginning, too, of the different types of wearables that effectively monitor COVID symptoms and ensure player health from both infectious diseases and tracking injury and recovery.

Safer Stadium Experiences

For now, this a little further down the road. Football stadiums have already done a good job improving health and safety measures. One of the coolest you may have seen is the temperature gun that can detect temperature and show whether somebody may be experiencing a fever (they’ve had these airports for a long time, actually).

As stadiums begin to open back up, other tools will be further used to improve safety.

Signify is an exciting new tech which can disinfect the area using UVC ray to reduce the risk of airborne COVID-19 spread.

We can also expect stadiums to be at limited capacity for the next couple of years. This, unfortunately, won’t help the ticket prices, but when you do get to go, it should be a less crowded and more pleasant experience!

Mastering The In-Home Experience

For most of us, this will be the way we watch football for the foreseeable future. There’s nothing wrong with this.

But there are numerous to enhance your football watching experience. In the past couple of years, we’ve seen numerous VR breakthroughs. One great product worth checking out is Livelike, which is specifically designed for sports.

It also includes game streaming, social networking, gamification, and other ways your spice up your viewing experience.

On the note of streaming, you’ll need to get a reliable VPN. Typically, we recommend a UK VPN as that’s the best way to access Premier League Content.

VPNs or virtual private networks allow you to change your virtual server to connect to not just the UK but any country that might be streaming a football match that you might want to see.

At the same time, VPNs are also powerful cybersecurity tools that are important to keep you safe as there have been rising cybersecurity attacks since the pandemic outbreak.

The Future of Football in the COVID-19 World

There is good news. With a vaccine now available, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We will eventually get back to football the way we used to enjoy it.

In the meantime, however, football must adapt and not just for the sake of the pandemic but for players, coaches, fans, and everyone. We all deserve a safer, healthier experience.

The silver lining here is that this will all be possible. And in the meantime, you can enjoy the best football action from the comfort of your home. While it might not be at the stadium, their food and drinks are at least a whole lot cheaper!