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Gylfi Sigurdsson has opened up about Everton’s return to training and the effects of his recent positional shift.

Speaking to Sky Sports (via Liverpool ECHO), the Blues midfielder has given his take on returning to Premier League action and how long he thinks he needs back on the training pitch.

“I think it all depends on how long we’re going to train with three, four or five players at a time,” Sigurdsson said. “Until we’re training with the full squad. I’m guessing somewhere around four weeks maybe? But I think everyone is different.”

The Toffees, along with the rest of English football, have been waiting to return to action for more than two months. The Premier League was put on an abrupt hiatus back in March and the latest update predicts a return in June.

Sigurdsson also commented on the change in position to which he has adapted since the implementation of Duncan Ferguson as caretaker manager. The 4-4-2 setup sees the 30-year-old without a prominent position in the middle of the park, operating from a flat, central role instead of further up the pitch (as per Transfermarkt).

“Of course I’ve played there for Iceland, but this is maybe a little bit different,” Sigurdsson said. “It’s not my natural position, but I’ve played most of the games and I think have got used to playing in that position under the manager.

“It doesn’t give me the chances to go forward as much as I’d like! But it’s something different and I enjoy it.”

This sudden change could be the reason why the Iceland international’s goal return has been scarce this season. During his final season with Swansea, Sigurdsson operated from a number of positions and dominated them all. Across 40 appearances in the 2016/17 season, he scored 10 goals and supplied 13 assists (via Transfermarkt).

These goal contributions came from either up front as a centre-forward, on the wing or in an attacking midfield role. Similarly, last season Sigurdsson tallied 14 goals and seven assists, with all bar two goals and two assists coming from the more pressing midfield position.

This could be the reason why the playmaker has struggled to find his shooting boots this season. A current return of two goal and two assists for the campaign is very out of character for Sigurdsson.

Adapting to a formation that helps feed Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison is something with which senior players must cooperate, even at the risk of their personal performances dipping.

Everton fans, do you think Gyfli Sigurdsson deserves more time at the club? Join the discussion in the comments below…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Sheffield Wednesday legend Mark Bright believes their local rivals could play a huge role in pushing the side to promotion this season, although their chances will ultimately come down to whether or not they receive a points deduction.

What’s he said?

The Owls currently sit in eighth place, three points behind a playoff berth, but are likely to head into the New Year with so much uncertainty hanging over their head.

An EFL charge could bring a potential punishment with a 12-point deduction being touted as the absolute minimum by one football finance expert.

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Provided Garry Monk’s side steer clear of that for the time being, then they could well be in the promotion hunt for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, arch-rivals Sheffield United occupy a top-five place in the Premier League – times have certainly changed since Wednesday’s leading goalscorer in the top-flight downed the Blades in the FA Cup semi-final many moons ago.

Speaking to The Star, Bright believes that the attention surrounding their Sheffield neighbours will provide added motivation, he said:

“Do you know what? I think they could be close.

“The thing is, to watch the other side of the city doing what they’re doing, getting up before Wednesday, that hurts but all credit to them, they’ve been great and they play some good stuff. It will hurt that bit more.

“This could be Wednesday’s year.

“I left in 1996 and I’m still Sheffield Wednesday’s leading scorer in the Premier League. That just should not be the case. We’re 20 years on, that club has spent too long out of the top flight.”

Motivation

There is no hiding that the Steel City derby is one of the fiercest outside the mainstream few. It has often led to crowd trouble in multiple previous meetings.

After the Owls were relegated from the Premier League back in 2000, the fixture had been a regular occurrence, but the Blades’ promotion last season means that the two won’t play each other in this campaign.

A bore draw was the outcome the last time they faced each other back in March.

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However, their quest to return to the promised land for the first time in over two decades won’t just be centred around what their rivals are doing – it has been the ambition regardless of the division the two play in.

The current paths of both teams are only going to be used as bragging rights for supporters in Sheffield.

اختارت شبكة “سكاي سبورتس” العالمية اللاعب المصري محمد النني رجل مباراة الأمس، بين فريقي تشيلسي وآرسنال في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة السادسة والثلاثين في ستامفورد بريدج، حيث فاز آرسنال بهدف دون رد.

وشارك المصري محمد النني في تلك المباراة كأساسي رفقة آرسنال، وخاضها بأكملها حيث أنقذ الفريق من هدف محقق لـ تشيلسي في الدقيقة 36. ملخص لمسات محمد النني أمام تشيلسي

وعقّب المباراة، قيمت شبكة “سكاي سبورتس” العالمية أداء كل لاعب في المباراة حيث حصل محمد النني على أعلى تقييم الذي بلغ 8/10.

وبناءً على ذلك، اختارت “سكاي سبورتس” محمد النني كرجل مباراة تشيلسي وآرسنال.

وكانت جماهير آرسنال قد أشادت بأداء محمد النني في لقاء الأمس (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

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…

Wolves return to Premier League action this weekend, having taken a short break for the Carabao Cup in midweek, and they now come face to face with a team in turmoil right now in Arsenal.

Nuno Santo’s side currently sit 12th in the table having lost just two of their ten matches, but it could have been so much better, especially in recent weeks.

Last Sunday’s match against Newcastle United epitomised that entirely as the west Midlands club went behind in the first half to a Jamaal Lascelles header before needing Jonny’s equaliser as the left-back was in the right place at the right time to secure a point at St James’ Park.

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Although Matty Longstaff’s red card left the Magpies in the lurch, Wolves still couldn’t capitalise.

Just like the Slovan Bratislava game, and just like the Southampton game too, Nuno set out his side originally in a 3-5-2 formation, only this time, he absurdly chose Matt Doherty at centre-back despite having Jesus Vallejo and Max Kilman at his disposal.

Both of their last two fixtures saw him quickly revert back to a 3-4-3 formation, and you guessed it the same happened last weekend.

It begs the question – why he doesn’t just set out his side like that initially?

The 3-5-2 has left them exposed and a goal down in three successive matches, leading to the Portuguese native changing it up by the second half.

Surely he wouldn’t have that problem if he ran the formation they’ve ended with from the beginning.

A sign of his stubbornness, perhaps.

All three games they have had to come from behind to salvage a result with Wolves only picking up a victory against Slovan.

Football FanCast have previously stated why a 3-4-3 can pay dividends for the side this season, so maybe it is time Nuno listened.

Now they have Diogo Jota back from injury and Matt Doherty closer to being 100%, this formation just seems most natural as it will allow a front three of the Portuguese winger, Raul Jimenez, and Adama Traore – the trio have scored six of their 13 Premier League goals this campaign.

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…

Ben Davies was given the captain’s armband for Tottenham Hotspur’s clash with Everton at the weekend.

That’s the Ben Davies who had made three Premier League appearances prior to the game, with two of those adding up to 16 minutes of action.

Of course, one can argue that Mauricio Pochettino’s hands were tied. Hugo Lloris is injured and ruled out until 2020 while Harry Kane suffered from a virus that ruled him out of the game at Goodison Park.

Nevertheless, Davies’ pick shines a rather unfortunate light on the depth at the club and the lack of alternative leaders.

Paulo Gazzaniga has only just come into the team; Serge Aurier would have been a disgrace of a selection due to his spate of Spurs calamities; Davinson Sanchez is perhaps too young while Toby Alderweireld’s contract expires in the summer and handing him the armband could have been seen as a message of acquiescence; Tanguy Ndombele is a new signing; Moussa Sissoko is excellent but perhaps too erratic; Christian Eriksen hasn’t been at the races this term with just one goal and one assist to his name in the Premier League.

That leaves Heung-Min Son, Dele Alli and Lucas Moura. Son is the captain of South Korea and even wore the armband as his country beat Germany in the 2018 World Cup. He has worn that armband on 16 occasions, most recently in the 0-0 draw with bitter rivals North Korea.

Alli is an excellent player and has a mature head on his shoulders so he could well have worn the armband; so too could Lucas, who is 27 and has won multiple trophies throughout a storied career.

To pick Davies, though, is almost a dereliction of Pochettino’s duty. The armband is symbolic, of course, and this is not to say that a different selection could have changed the result as Spurs again dropped points on the road. They haven’t won away from home since January.

But picking Davies, a player who has never once captained either Spurs or Wales, ahead of someone like Son, a leader, a player who is also a game-changer, corrodes the meaning of the captaincy by suggesting anyone within the squad can wear the armband.

That could be seen as a meritocratic message but really, Pochettino has given the responsibility to a player who was woefully unequipped for it and it is little surprise that, as soon as Son was sent off after that horrendous injury to Andre Gomes, Spurs wilted.

Per WhoScored, Davies had 60 touches of the ball, had a pass success rate of just 50%, failed to win a tackle and was dispossessed on three occasions.

Spurs simply didn’t have a leader on the pitch; least of all Davies.

While this is all well and good, actions speak louder than words.

Former Newcastle United star Lee Clark has described Matty Longstaff’s career development as being “great to see” after the young midfielder scored the winning goal against Manchester United in his Premier League debut.

What’s he said?

Longstaff has seen his career hit an upward trajectory this season following the arrival of Steve Bruce, who handed the 19-year-old his first senior start during the Toon’s pre-season this summer.

A Newcastle fan calls for Sean and Matt Longstaff’s Mum to give birth to a starting eleven’s worth of Longstaffs in the video below…

His outing against Preston North End came days after appearing from the bench in Premier League Asia Trophy games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham, which saw the teenager play alongside his brother Sean for the first time in a senior game.

Bruce has since retained his faith in the younger of the Longstaff duo and awarded the Rotherham-born midfielder his competitive first-team debut against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup in August.

He then made his top-flight debut against the Red Devils, a week after a 5-0 thumping at the hands of the Foxes in the league.

Longstaff would repay that faith by scoring the winning goal in the 72nd-minute, and Clark feels the youngster’s career development and Newcastle’s response to being beaten by Leicester is “great to see”, as his outing against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men came as one of four local talents to be named in the squad.

Speaking with Tribal Football, the retired forward said:

“The win has just given the whole city a lift in terms of the result, the performance, the reaction to what’s happened at Leicester, and the fact it was involving four local lads, with the two Longstaff brothers, Andy Carroll and Paul Dummett.

“It’s great to see, and certainly the way the two Longstaffs performed and the story with young Matty on his debut getting the winner, it’s just given everyone a huge boost, without going overboard.

“The fact that we’ve beaten Man United, we’ve responded to the Leicester loss and the main characters in the story, even though the whole team deserves credit, are the two local lads.”

Longstaff brothers leading the new generation

Newcastle have benefited greatly from their local talent of late, as United’s academy products have regularly proven themselves as being worthwhile options for head coach Bruce to consider.

Paul Dummett has held down duties at centre-half on six occasions this season and once at left-back, while Sean Longstaff has shown himself to be a superior option to former England international Jonjo Shelvey in some of his four outings to date.

He leads Shelvey for interceptions at 1 to 0.5, while his brother, Matty, achieved 2 in his Premier League debut, along with more shots than all of his positional rivals have averaged so far.

The Longstaff brothers’ presence in the dressing room will be key in Newcastle’s next generation coming to the fore and dislodging the established names in the senior fold, and can signal a new beginning at St. James’ Park.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

It may not feel like it, but it is now seven games unbeaten for Arsenal.

That run started off with draws against Watford and Tottenham, but since then, they won four of their last five, although a dour 1-1 draw at Old Trafford has slightly taken the shine off that run.

Watch the Flying Pig tear into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jesse Lingard following Man Utd’s limp draw with Arsenal in the video below…

Their latest victory came at home against Standard Liege, with the Gunners running out 4-0 winners.

Dani Ceballos was one of those to get himself on the scoresheet. It also coincided with the 23-year-old’s return to the starting line-up after being selected for the previous two fixtures on the bench.

The Spain international put in a fantastic display and it is something that Unai Emery will want to see a lot more of as the season progresses.

Of course, the opposition in front of the Emirates outfit were not exactly top-quality, but you can only beat what’s in front of you, and Ceballos played a big part in his side’s triumph.

He was at the heart of most of the team’s play throughout the night.

No one else came close to his 126 touches of the ball – Kieran Tierney had the next most with 96 – whilst he also managed to land 93.9% of his attempted passes. He also created four chances, which was double the number any of his teammates were able to muster.

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He was also adept in taking on his man as well, completing 66.67% of the six dribbles he tried. All in all, it was an impressive display from the on-loan Real Madrid man.

The problem is, this display is an anomaly so far rather than the rule.

He started the campaign well, grabbing two assists against Burnley on what was his first start for the club, but in the seven games between then and this match against Liege, he failed to get on the scoresheet or give the final pass before a goal.

It even led to him losing his place in the starting line-up against the United, hence why he featured here.

Usually a creative force, Arsenal are going to need him to be far more consistent this term as they fight on four fronts. His time spent at Real indicates he can perform at the highest level.

It is now time for him to prove that week-in week-out in north London.

Rangers suffered a heartbreaking Old Firm derby defeat to Celtic on Sunday, a game in which many of their supporters thought they were missing one man in particular.

Despite being behind, the Gers struggled to create many opportunities late on as Gerrard’s men fell to a 2-0 defeat.

The name on everyone’s lips during and after the game was Ryan Kent, as Rangers supporters took to Twitter wishing they had him back.

One fan said they wanted the top dogs at the club to pay Liverpool “whatever” to sign him as another commented that they missed the 22-year-old so badly on Sunday.

A further individual said he’d have made a huge difference to the game as the winger’s inventiveness and class was lacking from the match.

Kent spent last season on loan at Ibrox, where he scored six and assisted nine in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

The Liverpool man scored in the Old Firm back in March so there’s certainly a case to say he could have had an impact on proceedings.

Here’s the best of the discussion.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Alasdair Gold has said Tottenham could well go back in for Paulo Dybala in January, but it all depends on Paris Saint-Germain.

What’s the story?

During a QnA for Football.London, the outlet’s Tottenham correspondent was immediately asked if the club will try again to sign Dybala in the winter transfer window.

“All eyes will be on PSG,” he said, before explaining the situation in more detail.

“Were it not for the image rights mess, Paulo Dybala would be wearing a Tottenham Hotspur shirt right now.

“In an ideal world Spurs would look to return for the Argentine in January or try to do a deal for him in the coming weeks for the player to join in the winter as they work on sorting out the image right problems.”

He then went on to say that a potential deal could hinge on one factor, that being PSG’s interest in the player.

The 25 year-old is at risk of being left out of Juventus’ Champions League squad, says Gold, and PSG could well swoop for him if they lose Neymar, knowing full well they have the cash reserves to solve those pesky image rights issues.

Difference-maker

Make no mistake about it; a January move for Dybala would be sensational for the Lilywhites.

Whatever you think of his sub-par season last term, or the fact that Maurizio Sarri is bizarrely considering leaving such a talented player out of his Champions League squad, this is still a proven winner with experience under the brightest of lights.

He has racked up 78 goals and 30 assists in 182 games for Juve, has played in a Champions League final and has nine major trophies under his belt already, including four league titles.

Considering it was after Christmas that Tottenham fell away from Manchester City and Liverpool last season, signing a proven winner who knows how to stick the ball in the net under pressure could just be the difference-maker to tip them over the edge to becoming legitimate contenders.

If PSG do not complete a deal for the Argentine this summer, a January move should be top of the priority list for Daniel Levy and Mauricio Pochettino.

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