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Aston Villa are expected to be without Scotland international John McGinn for the Second City derby with Birmingham City after the central midfielder withdrew from international duty with a calf injury.

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The Chalkboard

Dean Smith has called on the services of McGinn more than any other central midfielder since taking over at the helm from Steve Bruce. The Scotland international has recorded a total of 15 Championship appearances so far this season, almost twice as many as his rivals for the position.

In his outings for the claret and blue side of Birmingham, the 24-year-old has led the way for tackles with 31 completed – seven more than any other Aston Villa player.

The Villa number seven has also recorded 16 interceptions and been involved in the flow of the game with a pass every other minute, per WhoScored, helping his side to 24 points – level with Birmingham but ahead on goal difference.

Smith, however, is expected to be without the Glasgow-born ace after he withdrew from international duty prior to tests against Albania and Israel.

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Who can step up?

With the 13-cap Scot ruled out with a calf strain, Villa will have spent the international break looking at who can step up to replace an in-form midfielder that scored one and assisted another last time out against Derby County.

Conor Hourihane had partnered McGinn at Pride Park and gave no reason to be dropped after also scoring on the 84th minute in a display featuring an 85% pass success rate and taking four of his side’s five corners.

The decision facing Smith is, therefore, between Birkir Bjarnason and Glenn Whelan. Neither have featured regularly since mid-October but their experience will be a welcome comfort for the loss of a key member of the squad.

Bjarnason’s chance to return

Every Villa player will be itching for a call-up for the Second City derby on Sunday, but the man that should be listed alongside Hourihane is Bjarnason.

The 30-year-old has not featured since October 26, playing 41 minutes at QPR, but has proven to be a creative but defensively sound option in his nine outings this season, netting twice to aid his side in securing a win against Wigan and a draw to Bristol City.

When playing centrally, the 74-cap Iceland international has attempted a tackle every 29.3 minutes and was successful in winning the ball 12 times while only being dispossessed by the opposition on two occasions, according to WhoScored data.

That ability to contribute in both aspects of the game, defensively and offensively, should see Bjarnason get the chance to impress in the derby ahead of Whelan.

Let us know who you would start in our poll below…

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Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa confirmed in his Bristol City pre-match press conference that Bailey Peacock-Farrell is set to miss Saturday’s Championship clash having picked up a knee injury in training, and it could have big ramifications for the Argentine’s chosen starting XI against the Robins.

With Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman suffering a broken leg while playing for the U23s last week that has seen him return to his parent club for treatment, one of either Will Huffer or Kamil Miazek is set to fill in despite neither having played a competitive game for the first team.

Whoever gets the nod, Bielsa will have some big selection decisions to make with influential defensive trio Luke Ayling, Gaetano Berardi and Pontus Jansson all also set to miss out through injury.

Chance for Shaughnessy

Had Jansson missed out and Peacock-Farrell been bit then Bielsa may well have opted to experiment by pushing Kalvin Phillips back into the heart of the defence – not for the first time this season.

The Argentine manager seemingly doesn’t fancy Conor Shaughnessy after 18-year-old Leif Davis was named on the substitutes’ bench ahead of him for the 4-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion before the international break, but he should change that viewpoint now.

The 63-year-old needs players in their specialist positions and as much as experience in possible in front of either Huffer or Miazek, and Shaughnessy would be the best option alongside Liam Cooper given he has at least played 15 first-team matches for the Yorkshire outfit.

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Dallas keeps his place

The 27-year-old didn’t enjoy his finest afternoon and came under criticism from his own fans on Twitter as he once again filled in for Ayling and Berardi at right-back at the Hawthorns, and while Bielsa could have considered dropping him in favour of trying out another player in that role against the Robins, he certainly shouldn’t do that now.

Leeds need as many experienced heads as they can get in their backline considering their injury troubles, and while Dallas may not be particularly popular with the Elland Road faithful when he covers at full-back, it is a necessity again in the circumstances.

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Everton boss Marco Silva has been commenting on the future of Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes following his latest impressive performance for the Toffees.

What did he say?

Gomes joined Everton on loan from Barcelona during the summer transfer window, and made his debut for the Toffees last month after recovering from injury.

Since stepping into the first team, Everton have won three of their five Premier League matches and lost just once, with their improvement clear to see.

As it stands, the 25-year-old will return to his parent club this summer, but Silva has been discussing the Portuguese’s future.

It remains to be seen whether Everton would be able to entice the midfielder to Goodison Park on a permanent deal, but it does not take a genius to realise that Silva is absolutely desperate for that to happen.

The Liverpool Echo quotes Silva as saying:

“I think in the right moment we have to do something to achieve one player like Andre.

“We have time to do that. We are happy with him, he is enjoying the moment here and I don’t think it is a good moment to talk every week because it’s better they (Barcelona) forget about him a little bit about Andre!

“You go there in the right moment. Andre is enjoying his time but we don’t want to put this pressure of a decision on him. It is early.”

What Silva’s words really mean

Silva basically means that he is desperate to sign Gomes, and has urged the midfielder to forget all about Barcelona to make the move to Goodison Park.

Silva is sending a message to the Everton board, who will have to fork out to stand a chance of signing Gomes, and is also just letting Barcelona know that the Toffees would be more than happy to take him at the end of the season.

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Gomes is also receiving a little nudge, reminding the midfielder how much he is enjoying himself in England.

The Portugal international made 31 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona last term, but largely struggled to make his mark, and it soon became clear that he would not be part of Ernesto Valverde’s plans for the 2018-19 campaign.

Everton were fortunate to sign a player who was outstanding during his two seasons at Valencia between 2014 and 2016, and it would be some capture if they managed to acquire his services on a permanent deal.

Sadio Mane’s arrival at Southampton was greeted with widespread enthusiasm due to his scintillating record with RB Salzburg, but there existed a handful of reasonable sceptics who doubted his ability to replicate his form from Austria in English football.

Those fans and pundits who doubted Mane following his big money transfer to Southampton were forced to eat their words by the enormity of the Senegal international’s impact at St Mary’s.

Now thriving at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp, there is no question that Southampton’s decision was an incredibly wise one, and a recent report suggests a similar pattern of thinking could help them to strike gold once again in the transfer market.

According to a report from the Daily Mirror, Southampton are monitoring RB Salzburg’s Hannes Wolf, although they will face competition from Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton in the race for his signature.

Wolf is only 19-years-of-age but his record in Austria is already remarkably impressive. In 70 appearances for the club he has managed to score 16 goals and provide 18 assists whilst predominantly operating as an attacking midfielder.

That Mane has already successfully made the transition from RB Salzburg to Southampton is a factor which is bound to influence Southampton’s decision in the transfer market, as his career provides tangible evidence to prove that a glowing career in Austria should not be disregarded, despite the distinct gulf in class between the Austrian Bundesliga and the Premier League.

Naturally, competition from the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal could ultimately prevent the Saints from landing their key target, but their history of negotiating with RB Salzburg may yet give them a slight advantage.

Southampton may well be caught in two minds over a potential move for Wolf, but the manner in which Mane has excelled in England should convince them to translate their interest into a formal offer in January.

Southampton fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

According to The Sun, West Ham are interested in signing Man United right-back Antonio Valencia at the end of the season when his contract expires. 

The Ecuador international has played over 300 games for The Red Devils, but it looks as though his time may be coming to an end.

However, while this may seem like a good addition, West Ham do not want to pollute their team with ageing players, and subsequently take a huge chunk out of their wage bill.

The Hammers already have Pablo Zabaleta at right-back, and while the Argentinian will be 34 come this summer, so will Valencia. If this was an option to replace Zabaleta, they would only be exchanging him with a man that is six months younger.

Of course, with an injury to Ryan Fredericks and a busy schedule, West Ham have looked pushed at times this season, as they do not want to overload the former Man City right-back. However, if they want to remedy this problem, they need to look at recruiting younger players.

If the club want to have any longevity and a legacy, they need young players that will be mainstays at the London Stadium. It is unclear how much time Zabaleta and Valencia have in their careers, but this seems to be a like for like replacement.

Although their playing styles may differ, it is the age that it most crucial in this circumstance, and it just makes Valencia seem like a waste.

Heading into the 2016/17 Championship season, Barnsley signed Tom Bradshaw from Walsall with manager Paul Heckingbottom having been keen on adding some more firepower to his squad.

And with a fairly good goal-scoring record in League 1 during his time at Bescot Stadium, Bradshaw was warmly welcomed by supporters.

Back to Heckingbottom and he, too, was delighted with the capture of Bradshaw who he deemed as an ideal fit for his way of football.

“Tom will fit in well with our playing philosophy,” Heckingbottom told Barnsley’s official club website upon the centre-forward’s arrival.

“We want to play two up front and Tom will add undoubted strength to our strike force. He is a clever player with an eye for goal. I am sure he will become a fans’ favourite.”

In the end, though, as far as goals go, Bradshaw was unable to deliver on all of the expectation that came with his transfer.

During his two full seasons at Oakwell, the 26-year-old failed to hit the sort of figures he was producing in League 1 with the step up to the Championship providing a whole different challenge, though he did put in many tireless performances.

Bradshaw now finds himself playing his football at Millwall following his move to the Den over the summer, but has yet to register in English football’s second division for his new club.

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According to The Sun, Ligue 1 giants PSG are considering launching a £30 million move for Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina in the upcoming January transfer window.

What’s the story?

PSG are in the market for a new central midfielder after it emerged that Adrien Rabiot would not be signing a new contract with the club and will likely be leaving as a free agent at the end of the season.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below...

Thomas Tuchel will be keen to replace the 23-year-old at the Parc des Princes as soon as possible, preferably in the winter window so that his new arrival has time to bed into the squad.

Lemina is a smart target for the Parisien outfit to pursue but the Saints should not be tempted to accept any £30 million offer they may receive.

Sticking with the Saints

Lemina is already a fine Premier League midfielder, and were he playing in a more cohesive, confident side it’s easy to envisage that he might shine even brighter. Ralph Hasenhuttl, the new manager at St Mary’s Stadium, would be wise to identify the 25-year-old as a central pillar around which to build his team.

The 11-cap Gabon international is perfectly suited to Hasenhuttl’s aggressive, dynamic style of play, and the midfielder will likely flourish under the tutelage of the new boss.

If he continues at his current rate of progression, it is fanciful to assume Lemina will remain with the south coast club for too much longer. It is perfectly conceivable, though, that Saints could command a fee in the region of £50 million for him in the next few years. Accepting less than that now would be a mistake.

While West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini will be able to take quite a few positives away from the first half of this season, one aspect that is likely to leave him frustrated is the amount of injuries his players have been picking up.

The likes of Andriy Yarmolenko and Jack Wilshere are currently sidelined, which could prompt the Chilean to dipping into the transfer market next month with compatriot Gary Medel just one name currently being linked with a move to the London Stadium.

The Breakdown

According to Turkish newspaper Takvim (via Sport Witness), the Besiktas midfielder is keen on joining West Ham once the transfer window opens in a deal that could make a lot of sense for the east London club.

Away from the impressive Declan Rice, whose contract expires next summer, the Hammers do not have a lot of options when it comes to defensive midfield making any potential addition of Medel or an individual in his mould a wise one.

With his tough tackling, strength and aggressiveness, the Chile international could be a very good alternative to Rice in that role shielding the back four.

In his previous stint in the Premier League with Cardiff City, Medel did not produce his best football. However, since then, he has gone on to perform much better at Inter Milan prior to his Besiktas transfer and could now be perfect for this current West Ham squad.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp should seriously consider rivalling Tottenham and Arsenal to sign Norwich’s young right-back Max Aarons in January.

What’s the situation?

The Reds have had a fantastic start to the season and remain unbeaten in the league, sitting clear at the top of the table.

However, Jurgen Klopp’s side have been unlucky with defensive injuries in recent weeks and it has slightly exposed their lack of cover at the back.

Youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold has now returned from a foot injury but with him and Joe Gomez out, as well as Nathaniel Clyne’s lack of fitness, the Reds were seriously stretched and another defender should be brought in during the window.

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Right-back needed

Aarons could be the perfect player to provide cover for Klopp’s side. With Gomez impressing so much at centre-back and Nathaniel Clyne’s career hampered by constant injuries, the German boss should make a right-back a priority.

According to The Mirror, both Tottenham and Arsenal are keen on the 18-year-old who has been hugely impressive during the first half of the season for the high-flying Canaries.

The Mirror also report that Norwich value Aarons at £15m and that they would want him loaned back to them if a deal was to be agreed in January. However, if the Reds paid over the odds for the England U19 international they could surely convince him to move.

So, Liverpool fans, would you like to see Klopp make a move for the exciting youngster? Have your say by voting in the poll below.

Dean Smith could be about to waste Aston Villa’s transfer funds, with 45% of the club’s fanbase suggesting Kortney Hause is not a better alternative to the defensive options already at the club.

Football FanCast asked Villa fans to vote on who they would start at centre-back if Smith can complete a deal for the Wolverhampton Wanderers defender, and the majority said they would choose Tommy Elphick and James Chester over Hause.

The Express and Star reported last Tuesday that discussions were underway between the two sides, just days after Elphick returned from his loan spell at Hull City.

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Elphick then set out on an impressive statement in his first game back in Claret and Blue, winning 11 aerial duels and recording two interceptions, before another 90 minutes in the starting XI came in Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Swansea.

Hause, meanwhile, has struggled for minutes in gold and black, earning a single call-up to Nuno Espirito Santo’s Championship winning side last season and only two appearances so far this season, both coming in the Carabao Cup.

While the majority of Villa fans who voted in Football FanCast’s recent poll said they would start Elphick and Chester over Hause, 31% claimed they would partner the 23-year-old with Chester instead of the former AFC Bournemouth captain.