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Leroy Sane might not have played for Manchester City’s first team for more than 10 months but his name has rarely been far from the headlines in recent weeks and months.

The German winger has yet to feature in the 2019/20 Premier League after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Community Shield against Liverpool last August, although he should be available for Wednesday night’s clash against Arsenal having recovered from that huge setback (as per Sky Sports).

While neither Sane nor his Etihad Stadium team-mates were in action over the last three months, the 24-year-old was regularly in the news amid ongoing speculation linking him with a summer move to Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga champions continue to focus their transfer efforts on trying to sign the Manchester City winger, according to the Daily Mail at the weekend.

Sane actually made a tentative comeback for the under-23 side in a Premier League 2 game against their Arsenal counterparts at the end of February, although he didn’t get the chance to return to first team action before the season was halted three months ago as the coronavirus pandemic swept across the UK.

The contribution of 30 goals over the previous two seasons shows that the German can be a hugely effective presence in Manchester City’s attack, while goals from his preferred left flank were proving hard to come by before the season’s enforced stoppage as Raheem Sterling had not found the net in the first two months of 2020.

It remains to be seen whether Sane will be rusty upon his comeback, having gone so long without playing a competitive first team fixture. However, the 24-year-old has a happy record against Wednesday night’s opponents. He has won five of his previous seven games against Arsenal, with three goals in those fixtures, while Liverpool are the only club against whom he has found the net more often during his professional career.

The continuation of that fine record against the Gunners this week would be the perfect way for Sane to lay the ghosts of his injury anguish and make headlines for what he has done on the pitch rather than what others are speculating about his future off it.

Man City fans, will Sane make a triumphant comeback to action after his 10-month injury layoff? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below!

Newcastle United’s takeover may have hit a problem, according to the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards.The Magpies reporter has regularly provided supporters with updates throughout this whole process and this week he issued his thoughts about the situation on talkSPORT and it makes for worrying news.A clip from his interviews was posted to Twitter, which can be viewed below, but the journalist went on to say that he believes there ‘obviously is a problem’ in regards to the Premier League’s owners and directors test.

Edwards also claims there has been an air of anxiety in the Magpies fanbase as a result of differing reports coming from different camps, he said: “the longer it goes on, you naturally start to worry that they’ll find a way to block it and I think that’s where we are at the moment.”

Cameo Clubs: Which obscure teams did these football legends play for?

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It’s hardly an encouraging piece of information from someone in the loop.

The £300m takeover by a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium appears to be rumbling on into yet another week, meaning it is quickly approaching two months since news first broke that Mike Ashley was finally prepared to sell the Magpies.

AND in other news,ÂNewcastle fans fume over Jim White takeover claim

Many Aston Villa fans have heaped heavy praise on club captain Jack Grealish after news emerged of a £200k gesture he has made to the NHS.

The young attacking midfielder was in the press for all the wrong reasons as the United Kingdom went into lockdown due to the recent pandemic in March, flouting advice by attending a house party.

The 24-year-old has since apologised via a video link, but a recent raffling of a match worn Villa shirt has now gained him some plaudits, seeing him donate the money to the NHS.

The shirt gained £55,000 as fans of the club and the midfielder bidded for the item, whilst Grealish also handed his two-week fine of £150,000 for his lockdown rule break, straight to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Grealish’s future at Villa is not yet known after being linked with a move to both Manchester United and Everton.

Whilst the midfielder could leave the Midlands based club this summer, Villa’s own future is not yet known, sitting 19th in the Premier League as things stand.

Reacting to the former England U21 international’s gesture via @PreeceObserver, fans handed Grealish a response…

Villa fans, will Jack Grealish stay at the club beyond the summer? Let us know below…

Many Celtic fans happily recalled the 13-year anniversary of a memorable European victory for the club, one which was settled by a moment of brilliance.

On November 21st, 2006, Shunsuke Nakamura curled an 80th-minute free kick into the top corner of the Manchester United net from 30 yards out to give Celtic a 1-0 victory that ensured the Hoops’ place in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time. [via BBC]

That sumptuous strike from the Japanese attacking midfielder was named by Matt Le Tissier as one of the best five set piece goals he had ever seen, as per The Guardian.

It was one of 28 goals scored by Nakamura in his four-year stint at the club, which encompassed 142 appearances and saw him win three league titles, two Scottish League Cups and the Scottish Cup.

That win over Manchester United 13 years ago also saw Artur Boruc save a penalty from Louis Saha in stoppage time on a dramatic night, as per BBC.

These Celtic fans on Twitter looked back with fondness on Nakamura’s history-making free kick:

Was Nakamura’s free kick winner against Manchester United one of your favourite Celtic moments? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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The ‘Class of 92’ has become an iconic celebration of a group of Manchester United academy prospects who all made it to the big-time together. Coming through the youth sides and eventually stepping out onto the hallowed turf of Old Trafford as bona-fide first-team stars. A tale worthy of being made into a movie…

But where once they heralded an era of unprecedented dominance in the Premier League, the Red Devils now find themselves in the midst of one of their darkest periods in recent memory. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have endured a nightmare six years since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, and things have never looked so bleak on the pitch.

Just how could they do with a touch of inspiration? Well, they appear to have a rare silver lining in the shape of a new crop of prospects. Solskjaer has talked up the emphasis on giving young players a chance, and given the quality and quantity of those coming through the club’s academy system, it is easy to see why.

Whether they can match up to the achievements of the ‘Class of 92’ remains to be seen, but there are some striking similarities in terms of the position, profile and personality of those from yesteryear and now.

[snack_break title=”Mason Greenwood-David Beckham”]

The two most talked about names of their respective classes, Greenwood and Beckham are the undoubted standouts when it comes to the public eye. While the latter may not have been the ‘best’ player in the ‘Class of 92’ – that award generally seems to go to either Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs – he certainly became the most high-profile individual of any United academy graduate.

Similarly, Greenwood is the name on every Red Devils fans’ lips at the moment – the recently turned 18-year-old burst on to the scene during the club’s pre-season tour earlier in the summer, and his two Europa League goals in limited game-time this season have already earned him a new long-term contract.

[snack_break title=”James Garner-Paul Scholes”]

If there is one player United desperately need to succeed out of their new crop of youngsters, it may well be Garner. The 18-year-old is talked about highly by those within the club and outside, and his style of play has already earned rave reviews.

The central midfielder boasts calmness and composure in equal measure, and in a first-team squad that quite truthfully lacks anyone who can sit back and dictate the tempo of the game, Garner is surely destined to be fast-tracked into the first-team. Scholes was the heartbeat of the United side for an entire generation – the Red Devils will hope their new teenage sensation can do the same now.

[snack_break title=”Tahith Chong-Ryan Giggs”]

United have always been blessed with world-class wingers during the Premier League era, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Giggs no doubt the two best. One man who has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of the latter, is Chong. Former academy coach Clayton Blackmore – who reportedly encouraged the club to sign the Dutchman from Feyernoord – was quite unequivocal in his praise of the 19-year-old.

He remarked: “The closest player I’ve seen to filling Ryan Giggs’ boots was Angel Di Maria but Mr Van Gaal did not play him in the right position. He (Chong) could be the next one. He’s playing on the wing, looking really good running with the ball as well like Ryan. He’s done well since coming back from injury. He can go the distance.” Quite the comparison.

[snack_break title=”Brandon Williams-Gary Neville”]

A club stalwart, Neville racked up 597 appearances for United as he defined himself as a reliable, one-club man. A solid defensive full-back, the former England international was an ever-present in the Red Devils’ first-team under Sir Alex Ferguson. Whilst Williams is a left-back by trade, by being naturally right-footed, he could switch over to the opposite flank and be the long-term heir to Neville’s throne.

Even if that positional change doesn’t happen, Williams will back himself to assert himself in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side sooner rather than later, particularly if his only genuine competition is a 34-year-old Ashley Young and an injury-prone Luke Shaw.

[snack_break title=”Axel Tuanzebe-Phil Neville”]

The ultimate utility man, Neville made a career out of putting the team’s needs first, and playing wherever the manager wanted him – something he admitted sometimes worked against him. And whilst Tuanzebe may similarly take offence at simply being known as someone who fills gaps, he could enjoy a remarkably long career by proving his versatility to the side.

He showed his commitment to the cause earlier this season, when in the space of a week, he played at left-back against Arsenal, and then at both centre-back and right-back in the same game against Newcastle. Injuries and tactical switches are bound to happen over the course of a season, and so the 21-year-old can enhance his reputation at Old Trafford by becoming the man his manager relies upon to step up when needed.

[snack_break title=”Angel Gomes-Nicky Butt”]

Perhaps the least heralded member of the ‘Class of 92’, Butt still went on to play 383 times for the club – a feat that arguably goes unremembered because he played second-fiddle to midfielders like Scholes and Roy Keane. The former England international was a reliable lieutenant for Ferguson, playing in crunch clashes and never letting the side down.

Gomes, is similarly diminutive in terms of stature (he stands at just 5 foot 3), but has shown glimpses he can be a figure Solskjaer can turn to. Gomes and Butt are distinctly different in terms of their positions and their play-styles, and compared to the other members on this list, perhaps not quite as talented. But as Butt proved in his spell at the club, hard work can beat talent.

And that’s exactly what Gomes should take inspiration from.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Paulo Dybala’s Juventus career is currently at a real crossroads.

Just a couple of months ago, the young Argentine forward was looking really close to actually leaving Turin and heading towards the Premier League and now, he’s in line to become their future leader.

So far this season, the 26-year-old star has managed to score five goals and assist further three in a total of 14 games played for the Bianconeri, and is finally gaining some momentum.

But recently, there were talks once again about his potential departure.

Tuttosport (via AS) were even mentioning a potential swap deal in the Old Lady’s attempt to recapture the signature of Paul Pogba, the Manchester United star.

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Dybala’s name was mentioned as one of the players who are likely to enter that reported deal.

But looking at their situation as a whole, it doesn’t really make much sense for Maurizio Sarri to part with his gem, even if it meant the return of Pogba back to Turin.

The Argentine is clearly beloved by the fans and his recent emergence could be a sign of great things to come. Of course, we don’t know what kind of a player will Dybala turn into in the future but the early signs are promising.

And this is even more reinforced by Cristiano Ronaldo’s slow decline.

The Portuguese star was subbed off in his last two performances for the Italian giants and interestingly enough and even poetically, it was Dybala who replaced Ronaldo against Milan with the Argentine going on to score the only goal of the game, clinching all three points in the process.

That moment might have signalled the changing of the guard and the Portuguese actually handing over the torch to the Argentine.

Pogba’s arrival could very much boost Juventus, even take them to another level, but not if it meant the departure of Dybala.

Sarri would indeed be shooting himself in the foot if he allowed that to happen.

They were lucky to keep him in the summer and they shouldn’t be making the same mistake of putting him on the market again.

Charlton fans have taken to Twitter to react after they heard that Lee Bowyer was on Cardiff’s list of potential candidates to replace Neil Warnock, following the 70-year-old’s departure from his managerial post on Monday.

This isn’t a new feeling for Charlton supporters. Bowyer has already been linked with the Huddersfield job earlier in the campaign, only for the Addicks boss to declare his loyalty to Charlton – the 42-year-old did however admit that the Terriers’ offer was “tempting”.

Bowyer was also touted as a candidate to replace Stoke boss Nathan Jones.

The Charlton manager has worked wonders since stepping into the hotseat midway through last season, guiding the south Londoners into the Championship and also overseeing a respectable start to the campaign with 22 points from 16 games.

After all he’s done, it would presumably be gutting for Charlton fans to see Bowyer depart – Richard Cawley from the south London Press revealed that Cardiff ‘expect’ to appoint Neil Harris or Bowyer within 72 hours.

Let’s see what the Charlton fans on Twitter are saying about the news…

Well, that’s one way to prove the doubters wrong.

In his recent column for Nottinghamshire Live, former Nottingham Forest man Kenny Burns stated how he wasn’t 100% sure if Matty Cash was the best solution for Nottingham Forest at right-back.

Hopefully he’s not a big presence on social media, otherwise, he’d be feeling rather sheepish right about now, as Cash was once again named in the WhoScored.com Team of the Week.

As Nottingham Forest themselves pointed out this isn’t the first time that Cash has received this kind of award.

Reacting, there were some Forest fans who took the moment for what it was, Cash being given yet more recognition for his efforts, but there were a couple who turned it into a chance to call out Burns for his views on the right-back.

Find out what happened when a world-record-holding freestyler attempting skills with the worst pair of boots available on eBay in the video below…

Fair to say they didn’t pull any punches when it came to the former Red.

You wonder how many more times it’s going to take for Burns to realise that he might not be 100% correct on this one.

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

Manuel Lanzini is struggling for form and his manager may need to drop him in order to get the best out of him in the long-term.

On the chalkboard

The Argentine was left out by Manuel Pellegrini for the trip to Bournemouth, but leaving him on the bench for a run of games could serve as a warning side to the midfielder that he needs to step his game up.

He has faced a difficult time of late with several injuries hindering his game time, but his return of zero goals and two assists in eight appearances this term is simply not good enough if West Ham are to challenge for the European qualification places.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

With Pablo Fornals also struggling to adjust, the Chilean may have a difficult decision to make, but one player he could call upon is Jack Wilshere, and his return to the first-team is what some fans have called for.

Some fans have been frustrated with the 25-year-old’s decline and therefore a change in personnel would be welcome, particularly as Lanzini often struggles against well-organised teams like Sheffield United – with no key passes against Crystal Palace a few weeks ago.

Sending a message

Felipe Anderson is another who has struggled for form of late, and if Pellegrini shows a ruthlessness by dropping Lanzini it would show others in the squad that they need to up their game if they want to play.

Wilshere, who has 175 minutes of top flight under his belt this term, is starting to prove his fitness at the London Stadium, and he deserves a chance to show what he can do without the responsibility of covering in defence – as he can play in front of Declan Rice and Mark Noble.

He averaged a pass accuracy of 90% in the eight games he played last year, and has averaged 4.2 passes to the final third from the four matches he has started this campaign, which indicates that he can help to put the Hammers on the front foot.

In a more advanced role he is likely to improve on those stats, and if he can provide better support for Sebastien Haller than his teammate has managed, West Ham should begin to move in the right direction once again.

If managed right, Lanzini’s exclusion should reinvigorate his determination to impress, and lead to better performances when he does return, which can only help to serve the club well.

West Ham face a tough challenge as Sheffield United visit on Saturday, but if Manuel Pellegrini the necessary changes to his team then they could return to winning ways.

The Blades have adjusted well to the Premier League and their 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Monday put them above the Hammers in the table.

Chris Wilder has organised his team very effectively and made them difficult to break down, as evidenced by their four clean sheets from nine games – the joint-most of any team in the league.

That could be a problem for the East London outfit, who have found the target just 11 times in nine games, and despite four goals in eight league games Haller’s lack of movement has been singled out by Pellegrini as a problem.

Watch West Ham United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Some fans feel that is harsh, blaming a lack of service and support for the German as the real reason behind their poor attack.

In particular, Lanzini has underwhelmed this term, with zero goals and just two assists, and therefore he should make way against the Blades, as he could be crowded out by the combination of their three centre-backs and the deep-lying centre-midfielders, such as Oli Norwood.

To counter that, here is how West Ham should line-up.

The inclusion of Jack Wilshere could surprise a few and please others in equal measure, as although he is yet to prove himself in West Ham colours on a regular basis, he could help breathe fresh life into the team.

Lanzini has disappointed some fans with his recent displays. Not only does he have just the one assist in the league, but he has failed to make a pass into the box in each of his last five league appearances, so it is little surprise that Pellegrini’s side haven’t been scoring.

By contrast, the England international should retain possession more efficiently, as well as providing that crucial support Haller relies upon, with an average of 4.2 passes to the final third from the four matches he has started this campaign.

The other decision which Pellegrini has to make is whether Aaron Cresswell comes back into the starting line-up, but if he is deemed fit enough to play – which he should be after training all week – then he should replace Arthur Masuaku.

The Congo international managed just a 5/10-rated performance against Everton as per Football London, with the opening goal coming down his side. By contrast, the former Ipswich man has scored two goals in four league games so far, though his manager will likely want more from him in regards to crosses and key passes, as he is yet to record any of either.