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Harry Kane may be facing a significant spell on the sidelines after sustaining an injury blow against Manchester United on Sunday.

The England captain left the pitch gingerly at full-time of the 1-0 defeat after a heavy tackle from Phil Jones in the closing stages of the encounter.

And the Daily Mirror claim that the striker fears that he has sustained ligament damage.

No free-kick was awarded by referee Mike Dean, but Kane was attended to by the club’s medical staff, and left the pitch in great discomfort.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

The injury comes at the worst possible time for Spurs, who face the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea in just 10 days.

Son-Heung Min would be the usual deputy, but he is away at the Asia Cup with South Korea, and that leaves three potential alternatives.

Fernando Llorente is the only fit out-and-out striker in the squad, but he has not played over 10 minutes in the Premier League this season, and has yet to score.

Vincent Janssen, too, is working his way back to fitness but Mauricio Pochettino brutally admitted on Sunday that he “is not in my plans”.

Dele Alli, thus, may well end up being a surprising saviour. The attacking midfielder has the ability to win games both from deep and in an advanced role, and has already scored six times in all competitions.

Who do you think should start up front if Kane is ruled out? Have your say below!

Mesut Ozil is facing an uncertain future at Arsenal after falling out-of-favour under new boss Unai Emery.

The German playmaker has struggled for form and fitness in recent years – the German has looked a shadow of his former self at times. The playmaker has fallen out of favour with Emery as a result, having not started any of Arsenal’s last four games. Reports in the Daily Mail suggest that Arsenal are willing to offload their highest earner as soon as possible with AC Milan keen to lure him to Italy.

The 30-year-old pockets £350,000-per-week at the Emirates which would be better spent improving other areas of the squad. However, his departure would leave a creative void that would need to be filled.

An ideal replacement for the former Real Madrid man would be Sevilla maestro – Pablo Sarabia. Valued at £36m by Transfermarkt, the playmaker started his career at Madrid but ultimately failed to make the grade and was sold to Getafe. With his contract expiring, Sevilla secured his signature in 2016 for just £900k which has proved to be a bargain.

Sarabia has been ever-present for his side this season, netting 15 goals and registering eight assists for his team-mates in all competitions. The 26-year-old operates primarily as an attacking midfielder but is also comfortable on the wing making him a useful option for Emery to have at his disposal. Sarabia possesses excellent technical ability and the vision to carve open defences which will have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang licking his lips in the Arsenal attack.

The playmaker is improving with every game and working with a world-class coach like Emery could do wonders for his development. Sarabia has all the attributes to be a massive success in England and would help Arsenal fans forget all about Ozil.

Arsenal fans, thoughts?

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Loads of Leeds fans have been running the rule over Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 win at Rotherham, and they’re absolutely delighted with the debut of Kiko Casilla.

Even for a club of Leeds United’s stature, it’s not every day a Championship side signs a three-time Champions League winner, and Casilla is already proving his worth.

The 32 year-old, who made 43 total appearances for Real Madrid, per Transfermarkt, joined the Whites this month on a four-and-a-half-year contract, per BBC.

Thogden has ranked his top 5 sets of Championship away fans for Pl>ymaker FC. Did your club make the list? Find out in the video below…

After warming up in an Under-23’s fixture last week, the veteran stopper got the nod to replace Bailey Peacock-Farrell on Saturday, and there are two things he did that have got fans buzzing.

First, the one-cap Spanish international made a superb save to deny Will Vaulks with the score at 1-1, a save that may ultimately have decided the match.

He was later booked for time wasting once Matuesz Klich had added his second goal to put Marcelo Bielsa’s side in front, and fans are absolutely loving both the save and the underhanded tactics.

Casilla is sure to have picked up a few tricks on how to win dirty after four years of being captained by Sergio Ramos, and the Elland Road outfit may need every trick in the book to earn promotion this season.

Fans are loving their new signing, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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For Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to continue his unbeaten run as Manchester United boss, Nemanja Matic has to up his game or the Serbian must be dropped.

On the chalkboard

Matic was brought to Old Trafford by Jose Mourinho and remained a favourite of the Portuguese manager right up until his dismissal, despite failing to impress on numerous occasions.

Even since the former Chelsea boss was sacked and Solskjaer was brought in, Matic remains an integral member of the starting XI and yet his flaws continue to outshine his redeeming qualities.

In Sunday’s win at Leicester, the £31.5million rated ace could have cost his temporary boss his unbeaten record that instead stretched to ten games – nine wins – as he often cut a sluggish figure that spent more time watching the ball than winning it back.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Theo Ogden was at the Emirates on Friday to see Alexis Sanchez come back to haunt Arsenal. Check out Gunners’ fans reactions in the video below…

Altogether, the 30-year-old only actually recorded one successful tackle from four clear efforts, per WhoScored, as the Serbian was dribbled past on three occasions.

Matic is supposed to be the defensive midfielder in the ranks, but his presence needs to be more evident than it was at the King Power Stadium going forward.

Does he have a clear replacement?

What is likely keeping Matic in the starting XI under Solskjaer is a lack of a clear replacement.

Fred was sitting on the bench on Sunday and offered the nearest alternative to the 30-year-old, but as he has struggled more than most since joining Manchester United in the summer, he is unlikely to dislodge the 46-cap international anytime soon.

It will likely take Matic making a horrific error that leads to a goal or getting sent off before his name is not one of the first on the teamsheet, which will no doubt cost the Red Devils at some point.

Solskjaer could always throw a spanner in the works and move Ander Herrera into a deeper position, after the Spaniard set a team-high for tackles against the Foxes at the weekend with five.

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Chris Sutton led the praise for Scott Brown’s unlikely blockbuster against St. Johnstone.

For the first time in two years the Hoops skipper was on the score-sheet with his stunning strike almost worth the wait.

Fans, team-mates, opponents and pundits were left stunned by the goal which killed off St. Johnstone’s hopes as Zander Clark dived in vain to prevent his side going 2-0 down within 10 minutes.

The goal was the highlight of another stellar performance from the Hoops skipper who recently signed a new contract to extend his Celtic career.

Back in November, Celtic hit a purple patch of form that had some fans questioning whether there was a place for the 33-year-old when Brendan Rodgers’ side pass with pace.

Throughout his career Brown has been told what he can’t do but since the winter break he has reminded the doubters why he has been picked more than 500 times for Celtic and been captain under four very different managers.

Here’s a look at how Chris Sutton and other Celtic fans reacted to Brown’s goal on Twitter…

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…

The transfer window is just around the corner, and the speculation is beginning to grow with each passing day.

One of the latest rumours is Takumi Minamino’s mooted switch to Anfield for just £7.25m. The Japan international has played twice against the Reds for current club RB Salzburg already this term, even scoring at Anfield in the first clash between the two.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

From a footballing point of view, he would be a good signing. The 24-year-old has scored nine goals and made 11 assists in 21 matches so far for the Austrian team, and he showed off his impressive work-rate against Jurgen Klopp’s this midweek. For such a small fee, he would surely represent a bargain, and it is not hard to imagine him slotting into the former Borussia Dortmund manager’s starting XI.

However, from a commercial point of view, it could be an even bigger success story. Football in Asia is a huge market – in 2013, Liverpool had more social media followers in Indonesia than the whole of the UK, whilst a survey from 2011 shows that 32% of all the people who watch the Premier League come from the continent – yet it is something that Liverpool have not tapped into 100% yet, especially in Japan. A survey from last year showed that even Arsenal have a bigger following in the far-eastern country than the Reds.

There are already a number of Asian players who have played in the Premier League, and they have brought in huge commercial value for their respective clubs. Park Ji-Sung spent seven years with Manchester United and, although David Gill said that he was signed for footballing reasons first, he was quick to add just how much added value he brought off the field as well.

Heung-Min Son is another player who has been a huge commercial star for a Premier League club, this time Tottenham, as the deal they signed with South Korean company Kumho Tyre in 2016 indicates. Minamino could see Liverpool get in on the act. There has already been talks of the Reds traveling to China for a one-off match during pre-season next term, and they also toured the country two years ago. The Asian market is clearly one they are looking to grow in, and signing potential star players such as the Salzburg man will only help them do that. If he is able to perform on the pitch as well, that will be a bonus.

In other news, Liverpool fans don’t want the club to sign this superstar.

According to Calciomercato.com, Liverpool are watching Juventus’ Federico Bernardeschi.

What’s the story?

The 25-year-old signed for the Old Lady in 2017 for a fee of £35m, and has since made 88 appearances for the club.

However, it hasn’t been the best of times for him, with him netting just nine goals to go with his 11 assists since then. He has even been criticised recently by manager Maurizio Sarri, with that fueling rumours that he could depart the Juventus Stadium. The Reds are said to be keeping an eye on the 24-time Italy international.

Not a chance

During the 2016/17 Serie A campaign, the former Fiorentina man came to prominence. In 32 league matches, he managed 11 goals and provided four assists, which earned him his big money move to the champions. However, ever since then, he has failed to nail down a place in the starting line-up. Last season, he started just 14 matches, and scored twice whilst providing three assists.

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He is predominantly a right winger, which would put him in the same position as Mohamed Salah. For context, the 13 goals he has scored so far this campaign is more than the nine Bernardeschi has plundered since his last transfer. With those kind of stats, he has no chance of becoming a regular starter at Anfield.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

In that case, you could argue that he would be a valuable back-up option, but he isn’t even an improvement on Xherdan Shaqiri, who is already on Liverpool’s books. The Switzerland international has made 37 appearances since moving to Merseyside last year, and already has seven goals and five assists. During last season’s Premier League, he managed six goals and three assists despite starting just 11 matches, and came up with some valuable moments, such as his brace against Manchester United. The 28-year-old has proven his worth to the club, and he was signed for just £13m from Stoke City.

When a player from a huge side such as Juventus becomes available, there is often the feeling that he would improve most sides. But in regards to Liverpool, that truly would not be the case. Shaqiri’s presence means that £36m-valued Bernardeschi’s capture – as per Transfermarkt – would be nothing other than a waste of money.

In other news, this Liverpool youngster impresses against Aston Villa.

Newcastle had a mixed transfer window in the summer but the addition of Jetro Willems is proving to be a very good piece of business, particularly as he is available for a relatively low fee.

A sum of £10m has been reported (Kicker, via The Chronicle) as the price that the Magpies will have to depart with to sign him from Frankfurt, but considering the level of performance he has put in so far that would be a bit of a bargain.

He has rarely put a foot wrong and also has two fine goals against Liverpool and Manchester City to boast about.

The fact Matt Ritchie hasn’t been missed since picking up an injury in August says everything about the contribution Willems has made, and if he continues then he could become a fan favourite at St. James’ Park, as several supporters already wish the club would make him a permanent Newcastle player.

The good news for the Magpies is that the Netherlands international is reportedly keen to extend his stay in the north-east, and that means the only slight hurdle would be providing the necessary funds.

Watch Man Utd vs Newcastle Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

There is a fixed price agreed, however, which means he should make the switch whenever the Magpies make the appropriate bid, and it is certainly a chance they shouldn’t miss out on.

Newcastle have spent a great deal on the striker department with little return, and that means they should do whatever they can to hold onto their best performers, which includes Willems.

A football legend: Can you get over 80% on this Gazza quiz? Find out now…

Fans are certainly impressed with the left wing-back and it is a little surprising that Mike Ashley hasn’t swiftly taken the opportunity to increase his popularity by making the deal permanent, as the 25-year-old has received some very high praise.

Newcastle have reportedly been monitoring other potential additions, too, so our Football FanCast writers shared their views on whether Mason Holgate would be a good addition.

On paper, a 1-1 draw with West Brom isn’t too bad of a result for Leeds. The Baggies have been nigh on unbeatable at The Hawthorns this season, losing just one home game in the league.

However, there were certainly negatives to take from the game, and one of them was the performance of Ezgjan Alioski at left-back.

What’s been said then?

Phil Hay was clear on how unimpressed he was with the North-Macedonian at left-back, stating that he doesn’t expect him to be starting Leeds’ next game in that position.

One fan asked the journalist in his Q&A session on The Athletic what he thought about Barry Douglas’ introduction to the game against the Baggies. He responded:

“It had to be addressed. Alioski was becoming more and more of an issue and Douglas is much more of a defender, with a defender’s brain. I’d be surprised if we don’t see a switch there in the next game now. Douglas deserves to start.”

Time for a change

It seems that Marcelo Bielsa was just as unimpressed with Alioski’s performance.

The Argentine brought him off at half-time, introducing the substitute left-back in his place.

The Scot stabilised things at the back for United, limiting the Baggies in the second half as they failed to find the net throughout that period.

With Stuart Dallas still needed in the midfield while Adam Forshaw remains sidelined it seems as if reintroducing Douglas as a starter could be Bielsa’s best bet.

Douglas does have the quality to play for a top-end Championship side as shown by his 14 assists for Wolves in their title-winning season. If he can reproduce that type of form then he will be a real asset for Bielsa’s side during the run-in.

In other news, Leeds fans have been raving about one man’s performance against West Brom.

According to The Chronicle Live, Everton are admirers of Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, and were they to sign the 22-year-old then Jordan Pickford would have to be worried sick for the first time since joining the club.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Chronicle Live names the Toffees and Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur as liking the 22-year-old, who is currently enjoying a season-long loan spell with Championship club Swansea City.

The report says that the stopper will either need guaranteed first-team football again next season or be in a straight battle with Martin Dubravka for the number one shirt at St James’ Park.

The story adds that Woodman’s contract at Tyneside is due to run out in 2021 after he refused to sign a new one two years ago when he was told he was third-choice, and that neither party is keen for him to into the final 12 months without some sort of solution.

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Some real competition for Pickford

It;s got to be said that the former Sunderland goalkeeper has had it pretty easy since joining the Toffees in an initial £25m deal in the summer of 2017.

Back then he was competing with Joel Robles and Maarten Stekelenburg for the number one shirt, and neither really looked capable of ousting him on a consistent basis.

Call yourself a Premier League expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

The England international has therefore been a regular number one since for club and country, and started all but two of former manager Marco Silva’s 61 matches – two in the League Cup in 2018/19 – in charge of the Merseyside outfit as he remained a firm favourite between the sticks.

That has carried on under Duncan Ferguson and now Carlo Ancelotti, with Stekelenburg replacing summer addition Jonas Lossl on the bench under the Scot and the Italian to suggest that neither back-up is close to pushing the 25-year-old for his spot.

Woodman would be a different proposition altogether though.

He is young and has already shown during his loan spell with Swansea just how promising he is.

The 22-year-old has kept eight clean sheets for Steve Cooper’s men as per The Chronicle Live – only Kiko Casilla of Leeds and David Raya of Brentford have kept more – in 26 Championship games, also making 73 saves as per WhoScored.

There will be no room for complacency for Pickford if Everton firm up their interest and get a deal done.

In other Everton news, these Toffees fans want to sign a 24-year-old Premier League star who one supporter believes is “someone to build a midfield around”…