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It might seem that Liverpool are riding the crest of a wave right now, and indeed Jurgen Klopp's side have produced some emphatic recent results including triumph in the Carabao Cup final, but there's no doubt that the squad is held together by a thread after a torrent of injury problems.

Still, the Reds will feel that they have the means to continue the recent winning feeling and will have the opportunity to do just that away to Nottingham Forest this afternoon in the Premier League.

Klopp did provide a positive update in his pre-match press conference, revealing that Dominik Szoboszlai and Darwin Nunez have returned to first-team training and are in contention for the City Ground clash, though talisman Mohamed Salah remains sidelined.

Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson both missed the midweek FA Cup win over Southampton but trained on Friday and could also be involved.

Of course, Liverpool's issues do not stop there, with a long-term list of absentees consisting of Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Joel Matip.

With all this in mind, Klopp could make four changes to the side that defeated Saints on Wednesday as he looks to maintain his side's position at the summit of the Premier League.

1

GK – Caoimhin Kelleher

Caoimhin Kelleher has left supporters and pundits alike gushing over his excellent performances since Alisson's injury, with Klopp even remarking that he is "the best no.2 in the world" after his recent efforts.

He's not infallible between the sticks but he will be up to the task against a spirited Forest side.

2

RB – Conor Bradley

Alexander-Arnold's injury, this time last year, would have felt a detrimental blow to any sense of cohesion and influence from right-back, but times have changed and the emerging Conor Bradley is here to stay.

The 20-year-old was crowned the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for January after an incredible breakthrough, with one goal and five assists only one element of a many-faceted skill set.

3

CB – Ibrahima Konate

Ibrahima Konate was described as an “absolute beast" by one marvelling analyst for his performances over the past few months, with these words duly delivered, it must be said.

Jarell Quansah was typically impressive in midweek but he will return to the bench.

Konate's imperious partner in the defensive axis might take most of the plaudits but the France international is truly excellent, with a blend of strength, athleticism and defensive acumen making for a formidable force.

4

CB – Virgil van Dijk

Withdrawn for Konate at half-time against Southampton earlier in the week, Virgil van Dijk has played a lot of football recently and this was just a precaution ahead of a tough test in Nottingham.

The Anfield skipper has been in phenomenal fettle this term. A real force of nature, he'll fancy his odds against the Forest frontline.

5

LB – Joe Gomez

Robertson returned to training yesterday but Joe Gomez is fit and hasn't exactly done a bad job when called to serve in an unnatural left-back role this season.

The dynamic defender is enjoying quite the revival after being harangued for his displays before the summer. Long may it continue.

6

DM – Alexis Mac Allister

With Endo picking up a knock against Chelsea, Alexis Mac Allister will hold down the foot as the midfield anchor, with his supreme technical ability and intelligence maybe the way to go against Forest anyway.

As per Sofascore, the Argentinian World Cup winner has scored two goals and supplied three assists in the Premier League for Liverpool across 21 matches, completing 88% of his passes, averaging 2.8 tackles and 5.7 ball recoveries per game and succeeding with 63% of his dribbles.

7

CM – Harvey Elliott

It's great news that Szoboszlai is back in the mix but the Hungarian ace last featured at the backend of January and Klopp might refrain from plunging him straight back in, with Harvey Elliott continuing his fine run of form in the engine room.

The diminutive dynamo also ranks among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 6% for progressive passes and the top 3% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

8

CM – Bobby Clark

More Liverpool talents are shooting into first-team action than Erling Haaland is scoring goals right now, with midfielder Bobby Clark one of the most exciting prospects around.

He's elegant and assured and energetic and he will be confident of completing another good performance against the Tricky Trees.

9

RW – Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo doesn't play his finest football on the right wing but there's little choice for Klopp with Salah still out, unless Elliott moves forward and Szoboszlai is risked from the opening whistle.

The Dutchman has posted 11 goals and five assists this term, however, and having bagged in both of his recent Premier League appearances he might continue his purple patch against a leaky backline.

10

LW – Luis Diaz

Luis Diaz was rested against Southampton after playing 120 intense minutes against Chelsea on Sunday but his fleet-footed swagger will be a welcome tool, with burgeoning potency in front of goal over recent fixtures too.

Albeit still wasteful, Diaz is a fantastic player and Forest fans will be worried out his blistering pace and dynamic quality.

Alisha Lehmann considers Juventus’ new moon-inspired home kit to be “fire”, with the Swiss star hoping to produce out-of-this-world performances.

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• Italian giants release kit for 2024-25
• adidas deliver lunar graphic in design
• Summer signing excited to get going

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Switzerland international Lehmann has become a new recruit in Turin ahead of the 2024-25 campaign. She has followed the lead of Brazilian boyfriend Douglas Luiz by swapping life in England at Aston Villa for that in Italy.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lehmann is – after spending much of the summer touring the United States while watching Luiz in Copa America action – currently away with her country. She is, however, keeping a close eye on events at Juve ahead of opening a new chapter in her career.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The 25-year-old is excited to get going and is a big fan of the kit design that has been released by suppliers adidas. Juve have said of their new jersey: “Black and white blend in a bold interpretation with a cosmic touch, with a subtle cratered graphic across the entire surface that reflects the unmistakable landscape of the lunar surface.” They go on to add: “Celebrating lunar missions – the ultimate symbol of pioneering spirit: this is the goal of the 2024-25 home jersey, which aims to tell the story of Juventus' dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible, in continuous pursuit of progress.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Lehmann is fully on board with that mission statement, after posting an image of the kit with a series of fire emojis, and will now be looking forward to her first outing in it. Juve have friendly dates with Colo Colo and Bayern Munich lined up at the start of August, before opening the new season away at Sassuolo.

Manchester United's move to sign Lille's Leny Yoro has surprised figures at Everton, after the Toffees rejected two offers for Jarrad Branthwaite.

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• Branthwaite subject of bids from United
• Have now agreed deal to sign Yoro
• Everton emboldened to keep defender

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United have agreed a deal to sign Yoro from Lille for a fee that could rise to €70 million (£62m/$76m), having seen two bids for Branthwaite rejected by Everton earlier in the window. The Red Devils made offers of £43m ($55m) and £50m ($65m) for the Toffees centre-back, but cited a limited budget with their first bid, prior to agreeing their deal to buy Yoro.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Per the , senior figures at the Toffees have been surprised by United agreeing a deal with Lille for a player who is three years younger than Branthwaite, who has never played in the Premier League, and whose contract was set to expire in a year.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Yoro is 18 and plays primarily as a centre-back; he has made a total of 60 appearances for Lille. Everton have stood firm on their Branthwaite stance, valuing him at up to £80m ($104m), and have no plans to lower their asking price.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Yoro appears primed to complete his move to United. Branthwaite is almost certain to remain with Everton at this stage, especially with team-mate Amadou Onana set to join Aston Villa.

With ten games left to go in the Premier League season, Arsenal climbed to the top of the table with a 2-1 victory over Brentford.

The Gunners were by far the most dominant team, but their performance wasn’t quite as convincing as their recent wins.

Declan Rice was as superb as always – scoring the opener – while Ben White’s influence in the attack enabled him to pick up the assist for both goals.

Bukayo Saka wasn’t his usual self yesterday – not involved in either goal – but he was still dangerous throughout, but another player has truly cemented himself as an undroppable figure after some late heroics.

Bukayo Saka’s 23/24 campaign in numbers

After playing in every single Premier League game last season, scoring 14 times and providing 11 assists in the process, Arsenal’s number 7 has continued to develop this time around.

It’s fair to say that Saka is arguably the first name on the team sheet, and what he brings to Mikel Arteta’s side is completely irreplaceable.

When compared to the Gunners squad, the 22-year-old has the most goals, assists, shots, and successful dribbles, which proves he is the player that his teammates look to for a moment of magic, which he often produces every single game.

However, it’s his leadership on the field, in terms of setting an example for others, that is so impressive, as he also ranks third in the team for tackles, proving that he gives 110% for the team in all situations.

Because of that, he’s undroppable from the side, and it seems that the Spaniard is slowly finding his best team.

Arsenal could soon have a dream Saka partner in Hale End sensation

The powerful striker has been turning heads this season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Feb 25, 2024

Arsenal's other undroppable star

Kai Havertz must be a dream to coach, and it’s no wonder that Arteta signed the German in the summer for £65m from Chelsea.

The 24-year-old has now played in all but one game this campaign, and he’s started all of Arsenal’s last seven matches in all competitions.

Whether the boss chooses to field him in a midfield role or as a false nine, the number 29’s performance level seems to remain the same, highlighting his versatility, which not only gives Arteta a rotation option across multiple roles, but it also allows him to be tactically flexible within a game.

However, in the last three matches, it has been in that striker position that he’s really begun to thrive. Havertz has picked up three goals and two assists over those games while enjoying his best moment in an Arsenal shirt against Brentford.

The former Bayer Leverkusen prospect was handed a 9/10 display via The Sun's Jordan Davies for his performance against the Bees, and as you can see by the table above, he was a constant threat with the most shots for a player on the field.

Havertz was tidy on the ball as always, but he was marked out of the game at times by the three centre-backs of the visitors. Nonetheless, the attacker persevered and netted the vital winning goal in the 86th minute with a pure finisher-esque header.

This goal could have a monumental impact on the title race down the line, and that, combined with his influence on the side in general, means that Havertz may have just made that false nine role his own for the foreseeable future.

It’s simple: with the German in the starting lineup, Arsenal are a better team.

Manchester United fans are likely to be concerned heading into the new season after goalkeeper Andre Onana promised he will take more risks.

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• Onana criticised for mistakes at Man Utd
• Goalkeeper had tumultuous debut season
• Promises to be even more bold next term

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United's No.1 goalkeeper was heavily criticised in his debut season at Old Trafford after making many costly errors as the Red Devils crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage and finished eighth in the Premier League. His distribution was also called into question at times, with many of his passes out from the back going astray.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Onana won over sections of the United fanbase as he grew into his role over the course of the season. He says he has no intention of taking a more careful approach in the 2024-25 campaign, however, as he urged fans to "be prepared" for an even more unconventional approach when the Red Devils get underway.

• WHAT ONANA SAID

  Asked about his risky approach, Onana said: "That’s me. And I think it’s what you’re gonna see this season because I will take a lot of risks. I can tell you in advance already! Be prepared because it’s gonna be this season, trust me! I will enjoy it even more when this season starts."

  He added: “Of course, because the best team in the world takes risks. Building from the back, recognise things, situations, when the opponent jumps one against one, or when they press with three or with four, recognise we dominate the pressing if it’s a No.9 or the 11.

  “So for me it’s important to recognise those kind of things and make the best decision for the team. I will take a lot of responsibility and I think my back is huge to carry it all, no? I think it’s gonna be nice this season."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Onana will hope to get the new season off to a strong start when the FA Cup winners come up against Premier League champions Manchester City in the Community Shield at the weekend. They then start their league campaign with a game against Fulham a week later.

Chelsea eventually got the job done this afternoon, edging past Leicester City in a 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge, securing a place in yet another FA Cup semi-final.

Mauricio Pochettino's side made hard work of the encounter, throwing away a two-goal lead in the second half after Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer put the Blues ahead.

An awful mistake from centre-back Axel Disasi handed the Foxes a route back into the game before winger Stephy Mavididi fired home a beautiful effort to level the tie.

However, late goals from Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke put the game to bed, with Pochettino's side eventually making the extra man count after Callum Doyle's dismissal.

Despite the victory, one Chelsea player had an afternoon to forget, with the 29-year-old subject to boos after being substituted in the 86th minute.

Raheem Sterling's game in numbers vs Leicester

After a disappointing display against Newcastle United on Monday night, amassing just 15 touches in 71 minutes of play, winger Raheem Sterling was given another chance to impress by boss Pochettino.

However, the former Manchester City man produced another below-par performance, with Sterling managing only 13 passes and 40 touches during the game – a tally less than goalkeeper Robert Sanchez who achieved 32 passes and 49 touches.

His poor display didn't stop there, with the 29-year-old losing possession 14 times – the second most of any Blues player after Palmer.

Sterling notably had a shocking outing in front of goal, with the attacker having his penalty saved by Foxes 'keeper Jakub Stolarczyk.

That was before he blazed a simply hopeless free kick high and wide from the edge of the area – with the England forward, who was handed a dismal 3/10 rating by Football.London's Tom Canton, subject to boos from his own supporters for the remainder of the encounter.

His poor afternoon was compounded after Madueke, the man who replaced Sterling, scored in stoppage time to secure victory for the Blues – with the youngster also completing 100% of the passes he attempted.

The man to replace Sterling next time out

After his successful cameo off the bench today, Madueke deserves a consistent run as a starter under Pochettino with the youngster having the potential to be an important player for the Blues.

The 21-year-old, who joined the Blues from PSV for £30m last January, has huge potential as seen from his time in the Netherlands contributing with 34 goals and assists, with the Chelsea faithful yet to see the best of the winger.

Madueke has scored twice for Chelsea in the Premier League this season, with his record impressive given the fact he's only managed 343 minutes in England's top flight.

His goal today, coupled with Sterling's current poor run of form, should give Pochettino the decision to allow Madueke to gain valuable first-team minutes and showcase why the club were so keen to spend a hefty amount on him given his tender age.

On Sunday, McKenna Whitham created history by becoming the youngest player to play for a US football team in the top division.

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• Whitham makes debut for NJ/NY Gotham
• Becomes youngest soccer player in top division
• Beats Cavan Sullivan's record after just 11 days

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Whitham celebrated her 14th birthday on Saturday, June 28, and then received a special gift a day later as she was brought on as a substitute in the 80th minute as NJ/NY Gotham looked to hold their one-goal lead against Washington Spirit at Subaru Park. NJ/NY signed Whitham earlier in the week as a national team replacement player, a rule the NWSL uses to fill rosters during major tournaments.

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• WHAT WHITHAM SAID

  Speaking earlier in the week following her signing, Whitham said: “I processed it, and it’s still new to me. But, I mean, I’m not going to be cocky about it. I’m going to stay humble, and I’m still going to keep developing. My goal is to be a top player in the NWSL, and I know that Gotham will help me become that player.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Her debut made her the youngest ever soccer player, male or female, to play in the United States' top division beating Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan who had set the record 11 days earlier in the same stadium during the Union's 5-1 win over the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR WHITHAM?

  The 14-year-old will continue playing for NJ/NY in the Summer Cup but will not be permitted to make her NWSL debut until her professional contract kicks in at the start of 2025.

Aston Villa cruised into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League last night with a huge 4-0 victory over Ajax.

Villa Park was bouncing from the first minute until the last, and the atmosphere was only enhanced after Ollie Watkins opened the scoring in the 25th minute.

However, shortly after, Unai Emery’s star striker was forced off with an injury, which certainly dampened the mood slightly.

Nevertheless, a Leon Bailey goal on the hour mark gave the hosts some breathing room, before a late flurry extended the lead.

With that excellent performance in mind, let’s take a look at two players who excelled under the pressure to progress.

Moussa Diaby’s stats versus Ajax

Moussa Diaby started the evening in his usual second-striker role behind Watkins, and he had one of his best games in a Villa shirt.

Birmingham World reporter Charlie Haffenden handed the French forward an 8/10 in his post-match player ratings, commenting that Diaby put in a "much-improved display" and "was far better with his decision-making." The winger's statistics from the tie certainly mirror that rating.

With Ajax having more of the ball, it suited Diaby’s strengths perfectly, providing the 24-year-old with the opportunity to use his ball-carrying skills and pace on the counterattack.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star completed 100% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore, made two key passes, and had three shots on target throughout the tie.

Diaby also grabbed the fourth goal with a lovely, composed finish into the near post, which rounded off an almost perfect night for Villa, but there was one player who really stood out in particular once again.

Douglas Luiz’s game in numbers

It’s no surprise to see that Douglas Luiz was once again instrumental in a Villa win, with that being a common occurrence this campaign.

The Brazilian also received an 8/10 rating from Birmingham World in what was yet another confident and dominant performance from the midfielder, where he displayed his complete skillset under extreme pressure after that tough defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

Luiz was in control throughout, regardless of whether his side had possession of the ball or not, with the table below proving why he was absolutely immense.

As you can see, not only did the number 6 retain the ball well, as shown by his pass accuracy and possession lost stats, but he also displayed his creativity.

The former Manchester City man took the corner for the Watkins goal and also set up Bailey for the second, with his two assists and four key passes making him a class above the other midfielders on the field.

Luiz also won 100% of his ground duels, made two tackles, and wasn’t dribbled past once, which highlights the defensive security he brought to the team.

Overall, it was a perfect night for Villa and a perfect performance from Luiz, who continues to perform to such a high standard.

The Dutchman has once again looked to his former club for solutions and must now get his hand-picked team ticking

New managers wanting to bring people they trust to a new club is a tale as old as time, but Erik ten Hag has taken it to a whole new level at Manchester United. The Dutch tactician has a particular preference for players he has previously worked with, specifically at Ajax, where he had the most success of his career. Failing that, he seems to prefer players from his home country or who have at least some experience of playing in the Netherlands.

Two of his former charges, Lisandro Martinez and Antony, joined up with him in his first summer at United, while the club also spent plenty of energy trying, and ultimately failing, to sign Frenkie de Jong, the breakout star of his great Ajax side. They did sign Tyrell Malacia and Christian Eriksen, neither of whom had worked under Ten Hag but had previously played in the Eredivisie. And the following January, Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst joined on loan.

The next summer the arrival of former Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana and Mason Mount, who had spent one season at Vitesse, and came up against Ten Hag, turned his penchant for recruiting players with a Dutch flavour into something of a running joke. The joke is being reused in his third summer transfer window after the arrival of Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee and especially now following the twin signings from Bayern Munich of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, both of whom also worked with Ten Hag at Ajax. Meanwhile, two Dutch coaches, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake, have joined his coaching staff this summer.

It is no longer a joke but fact that Ten Hag has players he trusts and wants. As he approaches his third season at Old Trafford in desperate need of getting the team back into the Champions League, he has no more excuses.

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  Numbers don't lie

  The manager is well aware of his reputation for signing Dutch or Eredivisie players although he was able to politely laugh it off while speaking to fanzine last December.

  "It’s a perception. It’s used to make a point,” he said. "Has Casemiro played Eredivisie? Eriksen played in Eredivisie 10 years ago, then for Spurs and Inter. I’ve even seen Mason Mount aligned to the Eredivisie. That was nothing to do with the Eredivisie. And, if you sign players from Ajax, just look at their history. They have delivered many, many players to the top clubs in the world. It’s a long list."

  But as much as the manager wants to call it a coincidence, the numbers are hard to ignore. Of the 20 players Ten Hag has signed, either on loan or permanently, five of them played for him at Ajax. The number is six if you include Sofyan Amrabat, who played for him at Utrecht. Four (including De Ligt) are Dutch, while a total of 10 have played in the Eredivisie.

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  Disproportionate amount

  Dutch football has produced some of the greatest players of the game, past and present, and Ajax are its best exponent. The squad that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019 under Ten Hag was packed with talent and Europe’s top clubs quickly came calling for most of its players.

  De Jong joined Barca that very summer, De Ligt moved to Juventus. One year later Donny van de Beek joined United and Hakim Ziyech went to Chelsea. Still, Ten Hag’s leaning on Ajax players feels disproportionate. One or two signings of former players would make sense, but five?

  The club have spent around £250 million ($319m) just on players from the Amsterdam club, plus a further £8.5m ($10m) on the one-season loan fee for Amrabat. So a considerable proportion of the £570m ($728m) United have spent under Ten Hag has been on players he has worked with.

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  Question marks

  De Ligt and Mazraoui could prove to be good additions, and the transfer fees are more than reasonable. And yet there are question marks about both of them. De Ligt had a difficult spell at Juventus, especially considering he cost the club €85m (£72m/$92m).

  In his first season he made a number of individual mistakes and briefly lost his place to Merih Demiral until the Turkish defender’s campaign was ended by injury. Juve won the title but in his second and third season, they finished fourth. The Old Lady eventually decided to take a hit on their investment and sold De Ligt to Bayern Munich for €67m (£56m/$73m) in 2022.

  De Ligt was a regular in his first season in Bavaria and won a third career title thanks to Borussia Dortmund's incredible bottle job in 2023. But Bayern wanted to bolster their defence that summer and did so by signing Kim Min-jae.

  They strengthened again in January this year by signing Eric Dier, and ultimately De Ligt started less than half of Bayern's matches in all competitions, also struggling with injuries. And Bayern, like Juve before them, swallowed a substantial loss in order to get rid of him.

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  Martinez a roaring success

  Mazraoui, meanwhile, has a concerning injury record. He had 10 separate periods of absence in two years at Bayern, including missing two months at the start of 2023 after inflammation around the heart following complications from Covid-19. He started only 26 Bundesliga games out of a possible 68, coming on as a substitute in a further eight. Given United suffered more injuries than any other team in the Premier League last season, that is cause for concern.

  Only time will tell if they prove to be good moves. But we can already pass judgement on the other Ajax players Ten Hag has signed. Lisandro Martinez is the only player who has been an all-round success since swapping Amsterdam for Manchester to link up with the manager.

  The Argentine is United’s best defender, if not their most important player of all. He has the best pass completion rate in the team and his personality is equally important. During his absence for most of last season, Ten Hag’s coaching staff said there was a glaring lack of vocal voices in the team.

  It is no coincidence that United lost so many games in that period and that when he returned just in time for the FA Cup final, they staged their best performance of the season and became the first team in almost six months to beat Manchester City.

Newcastle United have failed to match the performances of last campaign that saw the club reach the Champions League for the first time in over 20 years.

Eddie Howe's side have struggled massively with injuries during the current season, with the likes of Sven Botman and Callum Wilson missing for large parts, with the club's league position suffering as a result.

The club are currently a sizeable distance from the Premier League's top four with just eight games remaining until the end of the season – enduring a noticeable drop off from last season's highs.

The Magpies have also failed to score as many goals this season, with Howe's side lacking quality at both ends due to their current injury problems.

However, they could've kept hold of one former Newcastle youngster, with the forward managing to find some tremendous form over the last couple of years.

Adam Armstrong's stats since leaving Newcastle

Forward Adam Armstrong enjoyed a steady start to life in the Championship with Blackburn during the 2018/19 season, scoring five and assisting five in his first permanent season away from St James'.

After his first campaign at Ewood Park, the former Newcastle youngster never looked back, scoring 16 times in 46 games – with Armstrong the joint-sixth top scorer in the division.

However, in 2020/21, he bagged 28 Championship goals that season, a tally only bettered by another former Newcastle youngster in Ivan Toney, and saw Southampton fork out £15m for his signature – with Armstrong back in the Premier League just three years after his permanent departure from the Magpies.

It's safe to say he struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League during his first two campaigns at St Mary's with the striker only managing to find the net four times in his 53 top-flight appearances for the Saints.

However, after relegation at the end of last season, the now 27-year-old is full of confidence, with Armstrong enjoying his best-ever campaign in terms of goal contributions.

In his 38 Championship games under Russell Martin this season, the striker has scored 20 times whilst laying on 11 assists for his teammates – with the forward boasting the most combined goals and assists of any player in the Championship with 31.

Adam Armstrong's market value in 2024

Six years after leaving the Magpies, striker Armstrong, according to Transfermarkt, now has a market value of £13.7m – a huge increase of 685% from the £1.7m the club sold him for.

His tally of 73 goals in six seasons would be a huge help to Howe's side, with the 27-year-old potentially being a solid backup to current Magpies forward Alexander Isak.

The attacking "warrior" – as hailed by Saints boss Martin – would easily be second-choice at St James'. With fellow striker Wilson now aged 32 and struggling with injuries, the club might regret getting rid of Armstrong at such a young age, especially when the 27-year-old is about to enter his prime.

There's no denying he's failed to live up to expectations in the Premier League during his career, but after his impressive season for Southampton in the Championship, it could finally be the time when he makes a mark in the world's greatest division.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?