تشافي يُعلن أسباب رحيله عن برشلونة: إذا قلت فريقنا تحت الإنشاء تقتلوني.. ولا نحظى بالتقدير المناسب

قدم المدير الفني لبرشلونة، تشافي هيرنانديز، آخر التحديثات الخاصة بشأن فريقه، قبل مواجهة أوساسونا في الدوري الإسباني.

ويلاقي برشلونة فريق أوساسونا، ضمن منافسات الجولة الـ20 من الدوري الإسباني على ملعب “مونتجويك”، غداً الأربعاء في تمام الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.

ويحتل برشلونة المركز الرابع في سلم الترتيب العام للدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم برصيد 44 نقطة، فيما يأتي أوساسونا بالمركز الثاني عشر برصيد 26 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تقارير: اهتمام سعودي بالتعاقد مع تشافي بعد رحيله عن برشلونة

وقال تشافي هيرنانديز في المؤتمر الصحفي: “الآن نحن بحاجة إلى الاتحاد، أكثر من أي وقت مضى لأن هذه أوقات صعبة، أقدر دعمكم بعد إعلان يوم الأحد، ورد الفعل التقديري من غرفة الملابس ومجلس الإدارة، لكن الموسم لم ينته بعد، نريد أن نقدم أداءً جيدًا”.

وأضاف تشافي: “عملي كمدرب في البارسا لا يحظى بالتقدير، بعد أن أتيت في واحدة من أصعب لحظات النادي في التاريخ، منذ فترة طويلة قررت ان هذا الموسم هو موسمي الأخير كمدرب للبارسا”.

وتابع تشافي: “تفاجأت من تأثر اللاعبين كثيرًا بقراري، لقد تأثروا كثيرا، وأنتظر رد فعل إيجابي منهم على أرض الملعب، هذا ما تبقى لي”.

وواصل: “ما قمنا به لا يتم تقييمه، لقد تحملنا كل الضغوط، ووصلنا في وقت صعب للغاية بالنسبة للنادي، لكن لدينا شعور بأنه لم يتم تقديرنا بشكل جيد”.

وأتم: “مشجعو البارسا بحاجة إلى الحماس للموسم المقبل، لهذا السبب أعتقد أن هذا القرار كان الأفضل”.

عن خوان لابورتا: “لقد كنت ممتنًا طوال حياتي للرئيس على هذه الفرصة والثقة، حتى في ذلك اليوم الذي أخبرته فيه عن قراري قال لي لا، سنكون أقوياء، لكنني أخبرته أن كل ما يتم فعله في هذا الموقف نحن لا نقدر قيمته، لقد قررت بالفعل الرحيل في يونيو”.

وأكد: “إنهم يجعلونك تشعر بأنك عديم القيمة كل يوم، أنت لا تستمتع بالمنصب هنا، وهذا لا يحدث في أي ناد آخر”.

وعن عودة المصابين: “شتيجين سيكون جاهزًا لمباراة غرناطة، واينيجيو مارتينيز سيكون جاهزاً لمباراة ألافيس”.

وأردف قائلاً: “عندما أقول إن فريقنا قيد الإنشاء تقتلوني، عندما أقول إن فريقنا ليس البارسا 2010 أيضا انتقادات، ولا حتى الفوز بالدوري تم تقييمه، ولا حتى إظهار المواهب الشابة، ولا بأي شيء”.

Sussex give Pakistanis a testing day

Sussex’s openers, Luke Wells and Harry Finch, added 212 for the first wicket on the second day of the tour game, underlining how important Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah are to the visitors’ plans in the Tests

Andrew McGlashan at Hove09-Jul-2016
ScorecardIf it was not already clear, the second day at Hove reinforced how crucial Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah are to Pakistan’s hopes in the Test series against England. Sussex’s openers, Luke Wells and Harry Finch, added 212 for the first wicket before they declared 72 runs behind, offering Pakistanis the chance to see how keen they are for a proper game on the final day.Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s head coach, had billed this match a “bowl-off” to support Amir and Yasir with two places “up for grabs”. The ball did not swing conventionally before lunch and the lines were not consistent which enabled Finch and Wells to make a flyer: the fifty up in the eighth over, 120 in 27 by lunch.In the first session it was a case of who bowled least worse but in the hour before tea Wahab Riaz – probably playing-off against Rahat Ali for a spot unless Pakistan decide on three left-armers – provided a reminder of the danger that can be posed almost out of nowhere when the older ball starts to move.Wells was the first to fall when Wahab, who overstepped 10 times striving for pace, returned for his second spell of the day, his first from the Cromwell Road End, and started to find reverse swing with impressive pace: he will never be a bowler picked for economy, but he has the ability to rattle the batsmen. Wells drove flat-footed at a full delivery, edging behind seven short of a century, then Matt Machan was almost yorked first ball before being beaten by his second delivery.Finch, opening the batting for the first time in first-class cricket, reached his century in Wahab’s next over, when he square-drove his 16th boundary, but two balls later was tempted into driving a full delivery and edged to slip.At the Sea End, Imran Khan – a name that adorned this ground in the late 1970s and 1980s – picked up a brace himself, although they owed a little more to the batsmen’s errors. Machan was lbw after a horrid swipe across the line then Ben Brown drove loosely at his first ball: 212 without loss had become 233 for 4 in the blink of an eye. Imran had earlier struggled for rhythm as he ran up the hill, at one point delivering three consecutive no-balls.Sohail Khan may still be ahead of Imran in the queue for the right-arm seamer’s role having bowled well against Somerset. Although his figures here were expensive, he produced some sturdy spells, especially one during the afternoon when he troubled Wells, having him edge between first and second slip on 62 and then beating him three times in an over.Wells’ innings was a continuation of a strong run of form for the tall left-hander who had made 181 last week against Glamorgan. His fifty off 54 balls included 10 boundaries and seven more followed before Wahab found his edge.Finch, whose previous first-class hundred had come against Leeds/Bradford MCCU at the start of this season, gave one chance on 64 when he drove low to short cover off Zulfiqar Babar, but he was particularly impressive on the front foot. His century also included three sixes, one a cut over the short off-side boundary off Imran.Another issue for Pakistan, which England will be keen to exploit by keeping them in the field, is the lack of a proper fifth-bowling option. Azhar Ali trundled down a few overs of legspin while Asad Shafiq also had an over, but there will be a lot resting on four frontline bowlers. Yasir will have to keep it tight to allow the quicks to rotate; England will want to push Amir into his fourth and fifth spells of a day to test his endurance having played little multi-day cricket since his comeback.Having come in to face a hat-trick ball on first-class debut, Philip Salt played positively after tea before Craig Cachopa was given lbw on the front foot to Zulfiqar to bring the declaration with 24 overs left in the day.For the fourth time on the tour, Mohammad Hafeez reached double figures but not much further when, on 23, he pulled Jofra Archer to deep square leg. As a senior batsman, Pakistan will need Hafeez to lift his game in the Tests to ensure Azhar Ali and Younis Khan are not constantly exposed to the new ball.Shan Masood reached the close unbeaten on 38 but was never entirely convincing. Having given the same top seven both these warm-up matches, Pakistan have set their stall out for the opening Test but, as far as the first-wicket pair are concerned, they will enter more in hope than expectation.

Man United’s £120k-p/w Gem Was "Top Class" vs Newcastle

Manchester United's top-four hopes were dealt a significant blow on Sunday afternoon, with Erik ten Hag's men slipping to a 2-0 defeat away to Newcastle United to ensure that they are now just a point ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth.

While the Red Devils currently have a game in hand on the north London outfit – who take on struggling Everton this evening – the concern for United will be their recent patchy run of form in the top flight, having now won just three of their last nine games in the competition.

For all the positivity that has surrounded Old Trafford due to the continued success in cup competitions, the club's league form has taken a turn for the worse of late, with Ten Hag's side having notably come undone on the road against elite opposition this season.

Although yesterday's display may not have been quite as grim as the 6-3 and 7-0 thrashings at the hands of Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively, it was another truly "lifeless" performance from the visitors at St James' Park, as per Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

In truth, the Carabao Cup winners were largely left to thank the heroics of David De Gea in the sticks for keeping the scoreline respectable, with the long-serving Spaniard making a stunning double save inside the first-half, before also tipping an effort onto the crossbar late on.

That being said, however, the 32-year-old was somewhat culpable for the Magpies' opener after nervously playing out from the back, with the away side having perhaps been unable to live with the pressure up against Eddie Howe's rampant outfit.

Aside from De Gea, the only player to truly come away from Tyneside with credit in the bank was defender Lisandro Martinez, with the tough tackling Argentine having produced yet another "top-class" performance at centre-back, as per Statman Dave.

How did Martinez perform against Newcastle?

The World Cup-winning "animal" – as hailed by compatriot Emi Martinez – was once again a typically tenacious and rock-solid presence at the heart of the backline despite the continued onslaught from the hosts, notably standing tall to make a fine block in the opening period to deny Alexander Isak.

On a day in which his teammates largely wilted in the cauldron of St James' Park, Martinez was 'one of the few who looked their usual selves', as per Luckhurst, with his 7.4 match rating, as per Sofascore, by far the highest of any of his starting colleagues.

The 25-year-old won six of his ten total duels as a marker of his desire to try and keep Newcastle at bay, having also been dribbled past on just one occasion and made four tackles to illustrate his unflappable defensive prowess.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez

While the former Ajax man did lose possession on nine occasions, he regularly looked to try and spark an attack for his side from deep, showcasing his innate composure on the ball by completing four of his six long balls and making four passes into the final third.

The £120k-per-week machine may be small in stature but he was once again head and shoulders above his teammates, with Ten Hag likely hoping that he had more players who possess the "personality" and "character" of Martinez, as the Dutchman himself previously lauded.

On a day in which it looked as if the home side simply "wanted it more" – according to Luke Shaw – the 5 foot 10 ace was one of few who no doubt appeared up for the fight, hence the bewilderment among both the player himself and supporters to see him withdrawn late on.

Aston Villa move may appeal to Ward-Prowse

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse would be attracted by a move to Aston Villa this summer, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Ward-Prowse linked with Villa move

Unai Emery is sure to be on the lookout for new signings once the summer transfer window arrives, with fresh legs in the midfield something that is certainly needed.

Ward-Prowse is someone who has been linked with a move to Villa at the end of the season, with the Englishman potentially on the verge of being relegated with Saints.

The 28-year-old has been a stalwart for the south coast club, making 394 appearances, but he surely wouldn’t stay put with them in the Championship.

The Latest: Would be ‘attracted’ to switch

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones further talked up the idea of Ward-Prowse trading Saints for Villa this summer:

“If Southampton got relegated, then I think it would definitely appeal to him. It would be hard not to have your head turned by a big project in his situation and Villa will feel that they might be able to do exactly that [turn his head].”

The Verdict: Brilliant summer option

Ward-Prowse could be a really shrewd signing by Villa, with the midfielder someone who possesses great experience but is also still in and around his peak years.

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He has 11 caps to his name for England and has been described as ‘unbelievable’ by Oriol Romeu in the recent past, with his free-kick delivery also called the best in the world by Pep Guardiola.

Ward-Prowse would bring a potent mix of technical quality and bite in midfield – he has scored six goals and averaged 1.6 tackles per game in the Premier League this season – and dovetail nicely with the likes of Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey.

Spurs target Roberto De Zerbi after Antonio Conte update

Tottenham Hotspur could turn to Roberto De Zerbi as Antonio Conte’s future at the club is looking rather bleak…

What’s the latest on Antonio Conte’s future at Spurs?

Renowned Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio recently provided an update on the 53-year-old, who remains out of contract in the summer.

Speaking to Sky Sports (via Tuttojuve), he claimed that negotiations over a new deal have stalled and there is now an expectation for his departure at the end of the season, with Serie A giants Juventus keeping a close eye on the situation.

Now, it seems as if the north London outfit are looking for potential replacements, in which the Brighton and Hove Albion boss has emerged as a likely candidate.

Has Roberto De Zerbi been linked to Spurs?

That’s according to Football Insider, who suggest that Spurs are monitoring the 43-year-old, having made an instant impression in replacing Graham Potter on the south coast.

The Italian has not only maintained the Seagulls’ impressive progress but has introduced a more attacking playstyle with a brimful of new talent. Only four teams have outscored De Zerbi’s men and they remain on course for their best-ever Premier League finish as they currently occupy sixth place, just four points behind Spurs.

His fellow countryman, meanwhile, has endured some inconsistencies at the helm of the Lilywhites and right now, he’s still in Italy as he looks to recover from an operation.

It’s been easy to question Conte’s commitment to the club as his furious and reactionary responses to defeats often lead to thoughts of if he’s already got one foot out of the door, though his one-game return last weekend – a 4-1 defeat to Leicester City – would suggest otherwise.

In his absence, assistant manager Cristian Stellini guided the side to an impressive victory over defending champions Manchester City – a result that now looks even better considering they toppled arch-rivals Arsenal in midweek.

It does seem likely, though, that a natural parting of ways will happen and De Zerbi should quite rightly be atop the shortlist.

His high-possession, fast-paced system is exciting and most importantly, somewhat successful. Indeed, since his arrival at the Amex Stadium, the Seagulls have recorded the most games with 70% possession or more – not even Pep Guardiola’s City.

All of the Premier League’s top guns have hailed him, ranging from Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp describing him as “very influential,” whilst the aforementioned Spaniard claimed: “His impact in England will be massive in the future.”

Given the evidence above, chairman Daniel Levy could do little wrong in turning to the Brighton boss in a bid to end the ongoing uncertainty over Conte.

AND in other news, Signed for £15m, now worth over 4x more: Levy struck gold with Spurs’ 6 ft 2 “warrior”…

Tottenham: Lucas Moura ‘looking for’ three-season contract

Tottenham Hotspur forward Lucas Moura is ‘looking for a new contract of at least three seasons’ with his next club, according to one reporter.

The Lowdown: Lucas’ contract expiring…

The Brazilian’s contract is set to expire at the end of this season, and reports in January suggested that he was even offered out to Premier League clubs.

Spurs apparently tried to sell him last month in a bid to make some money from his exit before he departs for free, but the proposed moves ultimately failed to materialise.

As per journalist Bruno Andrade, a new update has come to light on Lucas’ future at Tottenham.

The Latest: Lucas looking for three-season contract…

As per the reporter and outlet UOL, the 30-year-old is ‘leaving Tottenham’ upon the expiry of his contract with no renewal forthcoming, and it is believed that Lucas has one goal in mind.

Taking to Twitter, Andrade claims that the Spurs winger ‘wants to stay in Europe’ and is ‘looking for a new contract of at least three seasons’ beyond his time at N17.

There are apparently interested clubs in England, France and Italy, with Brazilian outfit Sao Paulo now holding little hope over his signing.

The Verdict: Great player…

We believe that Lucas still has plenty to offer at Tottenham and that any interested party should offer a contract of at least three years.

Described as a ‘superhero’ by former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, the former Paris-Saint Germain star was responsible for sending his current club to their first-ever Champions League final in 2019. His semi-final hat-trick against Ajax etched his name into Tottenham, history and his statistics from last season indicate that he could provide that spark even now.

According to WhoScored, no Spurs player completed more successful take-ons per 90 than Lucas in the league last season, including superstars Son Heung-min and Harry Kane.

Lucas could be a tremendous steal for the right club, and it will be interesting to see where he picks as his next destination.

Man United: Red Devils make Houssem Aouar approach

Man United have also ‘asked for information’ on Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar amid their serious links to Marcel Sabitzer.

The Lowdown: Man United move for Sabitzer…

It is believed that the Red Devils, aiming to back manager Erik ten Hag, are attempting a late deadline day move for Sabitzer from Bayern Munich with Chelsea also among the interested sides (Sky).

The Premier League giants appear to be eager to sign the Austria international after a big injury blow to star midfielder Christian Eriksen.

Ten Hag is aiming to guide his side to a top four finish, and according to a recent report, Sabitzer isn’t the only player they’ve made contact over.

The Latest: Man United make Aouar enquiry…

According to a report by Foot Mercato, as translated by Sport Witness, United have also ‘asked for information’ over Aouar of Lyon.

The 24-year-old is said to admired by the Old Trafford side with the club even ready to pay the entirety of his wages on loan.

While it’s pointed out that Sabitzer looks to be moving to Manchester, the report goes on to not rule out a second surprise signing.

The Verdict: Good option?

Called ‘incredible’ by Man City boss Pep Guardiola, Aouar has been linked with a move to England repeatedly in the last few years.

Scoring 41 goals and assisting a further 35 in 224 appearances for his current club, the Frenchman can certainly cause problems as a midfield creator in the final third.

While arguably not at his best this season, Aouar is still fairly young and could theoretically re-ignite his form and career with an exciting move to the Premier League.

The midfielder’s deal is also set to expire later this year, gifting United a possible opportunity to take him permanently for free once his contract ends at Lyon – if he impresses.

All signs point towards Sabitzer, but could Aouar be a shrewd option?

Man United offered to sign Vlahovic

Manchester United could make a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, amid a major revelation at his current club.

What’s the word?

The Serbian Vlahovic has emerged as one of the most prolific strikers on the scene after bursting into prominence in the Italian Serie A with Fiorentina, before signing for the Old Lady in a £66.6m deal in January 2022.

The Red Devils have previously registered an interest, with The Telegraph reporting that the Premier League giants view the 22-year-old as a long-term successor to the talismanic throne at Old Trafford.

But now, according to 90min, the attacking focal point has been offered to United, alongside other teams, after Juventus’ failure to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase and the shocking news of a 15-point deduction following an investigation into misdealing on the transfer front, a blow that knocks the club down to tenth.

Ronaldo repeat

United manager Erik ten Hag deserves all the plaudits for his diligent work in entering the Theatre of Dreams and providing a new layer of paint to bring back vibrancy and style in abundance, with the prestigious outfit in fourth place in the league – six points above fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur and with a game in hand ahead of the forthcoming clash against table-toppers Arsenal.

Also in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and still in contention in the FA Cup and the Europa League, Ten Hag will be delighted with the gains made in such a short space of time following an abysmal campaign last time out.

All this comes amid the fog that is Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in November, terminating his contract by mutual consent after becoming disillusioned with life under his unwavering new Dutch manager.

And now, Juventus’ Vlahovic could be the catalyst for success in Manchester with the light of the recent reports; 30-year-old Wout Weghorst has been signed on a loan deal until the end of the season, but it is Vlahovic who could indeed take the vacant gilt-coated crown that the legendary Portuguese phenom has left in his wake.

The “monster” – as hailed by journalist Carlo Garganese – has racked up an impressive 57 goals and nine assists from just 123 Serie A appearances, and has netted seven times from 15 outings this season, in a term hampered by consistent injury setbacks.

And with FBref also ranking him among the top 15% in his position across Europe for progressive passes received and total shots, there is a clear illustration of his desire to shower a consistent goal threat against his opposition with his relentless pursuit in and around the penalty area.

The statistical site compares the player to the man himself Ronaldo, a man who coincidentally also left Juve for Old Trafford. It’s clear the pair’s skill sets match up nicely, which is a further reason to pounce on a burgeoning talent still at the early stage of a prosperous professional career.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo has scored 701 goals from 949 appearances at club level, and a further 118 from 196 with the Portuguese national team, and will go down as one of football’s greatest forwards.

As per Whoscored, Ronaldo indeed bears a semblance to his Serbian counterpart, with Vlahovic’s career average of 2.6 shots per game and 1.7 aerials won displaying promising signs of a developing aura as an imposing figure, compared to Ronaldo’s remarkable 6.1 shots per outing and 1.3 aerials.

With these factors in mind, Vlahovic could be the star-studded acquisition desired by the Old Trafford hierarchy, a clinical force capable of replicating the recently-departed Ronaldo and providing a blistering goal-scoring return with such regularity that defenders stand befuddled by the prowess at the tip of the United sword.

Newcastle: Imagine Botman and Kevin Danso

Much of Newcastle United’s success so far this term has been built on their rock-solid defensive unit, with manager Eddie Howe having fashioned an almost impenetrable outfit in recent months.

Currently the best defence in the Premier League – having shipped just 11 goals in 18 top-flight games thus far – the Magpies have appeared much improved compared to recent seasons, having notably conceded 62 times in the league alone last term.

Despite that remarkable turnaround in fortunes, the Tynesiders may be looking to bolster their backline even further with the addition of another centre-back recruit, with recent reports in France claiming that RC Lens star, Kevin Danso, could be on the agenda.

The report claims that the 24-year-old is a player that Howe and co are ‘interested’ in at present, with a move potentially on the cards at the end of the season, should the Ligue 1 outfit receive an offer of around €40m (£35m).

Although Newcastle do already have a reliable centre-back pairing in Sven Botman and Fabian Schar, the fact that the latter man has just 18 months remaining on his current deal could ensure that he is not a long-term option for the top-four hopefuls.

As such, the St James’ Park outfit could potentially form a monstrous defensive duo involving summer signing Botman and reported target, Danso, with that youthful, left foot, right foot combination likely to blossom in the years to come.

In the case of the Austrian international, the 6 foot 3 rock has been particularly impressive in the current campaign in France, having averaged 1.1 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game from his 17 league starts, while also winning 77% of his aerial duels as a marker of his physical prowess.

The one-time Southampton loanee has also recorded eight clean sheets in that time, while also helping to blunt Kylian Mbappe and co in the recent 3-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

That shock triumph saw Danso win four of his five total duels on the night and record six clearances in what was a truly commanding performance, showcasing his ability to flourish against such elite opposition.

Bringing that “powerful” asset to England – as described by Saints journalist Adam Leitch – could well help Howe to find a perfect partner to Botman, with the Dutchman also offering a towering presence at the heart of the defence as a result of his 6 foot 4 frame.

The former Lille titan has made a “huge difference” to the Magpies since his £35m switch, as per journalist Josh Bunting, having been truly “colossal” at times in the early months of the campaign, according to Bunting.

The 22-year-old has kept seven clean sheets from his 16 league appearances so far this term, while also winning 66% of his aerial duels and 70% of his ground duels to illustrate just how effective he has been.

The pair can also provide a real threat at the other end of the pitch with Botman ranking in the top 7% in Europe among those in his position for touches in the attacking penalty area, while Danso ranks in the top 3% for assists made.

Having such an all-round partnership would no doubt be a real bonus for Howe, hence the need to get the Lens machine through the door.

Newcastle given Howe decision over Joelinton punishment

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has been told he has the final decision over whether to play Joelinton on the weekend against Fulham.

What’s the latest?

It has been revealed that in the early hours of Thursday morning, Newcastle’s Brazilian midfielder, Joelinton, was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

The player was stopped by police around 01:20 am on Thursday morning and has since been charged with drink-driving and will face a day at court on 26 January.

This comes after Newcastle’s victory in the League Cup against Leicester City which secured them a spot in the semi-finals against Southampton.

But with a Premier League clash against Fulham on Sunday, journalist Craig Hope has said on his YouTube channel that the club’s owners have given Howe free-reign as to whether to drop the player or not:

(1:20) “Eddie was also asked interestingly, you know, have the Saudi Arabian owners had a say or intervened in this situation given you know, alcohol is banned in the country of the majority owners. Eddie said the discussions had taken place, but any decision would be left to him.”

Unwanted decision

This is certainly not the type of issue that Howe would have wanted to deal with when Newcastle find themselves on such a promising run of form.

The Magpies have surpassed all expectations this season as they’ve catapulted themselves into the Champions League race as they sit third in the table.

There has been a real feel of togetherness on Tyneside since Howe took over in the dugout and that was evident on Wednesday night following the win against the Foxes.

However, an issue like this does cast a shadow over what has been a sensational turnaround from Joelinton under the 45-year-old manager.

And this season has shown the midfielder to be a player reborn under Howe with three goals and three assists to his name across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).

The Brazilian even scored the second goal of the game in the League Cup clash against Leicester on Wednesday night to seal the Magpies a 2-0 victory.

But he has given his manager a problem to deal with here. In the past, we have seen Tottenham Hotspur decide to start Hugo Lloris after he was arrested for suspicion of drink-driving.

However, this is a decision which will fall at Howe’s feet and the example he may want to set.

Yes, Joelinton is on an incredible run of form on Tyneside, but Howe may feel he has to set a precedent over what he expects from his players off the field as well as on it.

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