All posts by n8rngtd.top

In every other season bar the last two, Liverpool’s recent haul of 97 points would have won the Premier League title, and almost every time it would have been emphatic. Unfortunately for them, however, they were up against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, one of the greatest sides in English footballing history. They picked up 98 points last campaign, finishing one above the Reds. Incredibly, it was actually a worse haul than the 2017/18 season, in which they became the first side to amass 100 points in the Premier League.

From start to the finish, it was almost too close to call. Although Chelsea kept up with the two for the first 12 games, Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp’s sides were head and shoulders above the other 18 in the division. The stats show just how evenly matched the two were: the lead changed hands on no less than 30 occasions by the end of April according to the Panini Tabloid, with Liverpool actually spending more days in first place (139 to their rivals’ 113) and only one of those occasions not involving City or the Reds – Chelsea managed to finish gameweek five at the top of the table.

It was an incredible season and a fantastic title race but in the end, it did become a little predictable despite first place changing hands so many times. Liverpool’s 10-game-winning run from March 10th was impressive, but cancelled out by City’s own as they won their last 16. And after the top two, there was a huge gap. Chelsea, who finished third, trailed second place by 25 points, and from a combined 76 games, Liverpool and City dropped points in just 14 matches between them – two of which were against each other.

But such dominance by the duo now raises questions about the overall competitiveness of the Premier League. England’s elite division has prided itself as being the most exciting top flight in Europe. The rhetoric is that any of six sides can win the title at the start of each season, compared to two in Spain and one each in Italy, Germany and France – barring the odd anomaly.

However, Manchester City have now picked up 198 points from two seasons, and Liverpool are the only side to have been able to come anywhere close in that time. Currently, the two are streets ahead of their rivals, and that does not look like changing next time out either.

Chelsea are currently in disarray, having lost their manager and their best player, and they will also serve a two-window transfer ban. Manchester United and Arsenal’s primary objective next year will be getting out of the Europa League and into the top four – a title challenge for either would be a welcome luxury. That leaves Champions League finalists Tottenham, but they finished 27 points off the top last time out.

Stranger things have happened in football, but it looks unlikely that anyone else other than Liverpool and City will be at the Premier League’s summit come next May.

The Premier League Panini Tabloid is a special commemorative newspaper sticker collection celebrating the exciting new partnership between the greatest league in the world and the legendary name in football publishing, Panini. As the official collectable licensee to the Premier League, Panini are delighted to bring consumers a new era of collectables and the best collecting experience. See more here: http://bit.ly/PaniniFFCEditorial

ESPNcricinfo has learned that it was Goa Cricket Association which approached the India opener

Nagraj Gollapudi02-Apr-2025Yashasvi Jaiswal has switched states and will move from Mumbai to Goa for the 2025-26 domestic season. It is learned that the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) found it “surprising” when Jaiswal wrote to them about the transfer but issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) immediately.Goa Cricket Association (GCA) secretary Shambu Desai confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that it was GCA which approached the India opener, who is counted among the best players in both international cricket as well as IPL where he plays for Rajasthan Royals. “We are developing a good squad for Goa and want to get the best talent available and hence we approached him (Jaiswal) recently,” Desai said.Jaiswal, 23, has represented Mumbai since his Under-19 days and is one of the most sought-after players from the younger crop. He made his first-class debut for Mumbai in 2019 and has since played ten first-class games for them, scoring 863 runs at an impressive average of 53.93, which includes four centuries, two fifties and a highest score of 181 against Uttar Pradesh in 2022.In the 2021-22 season, he had smashed hundreds in three successive innings in Mumbai’s run to the final, where they lost to Madhya Pradesh. He has also scored 1296 runs across 25 List A games for Mumbai at an average of 58.90, along with 648 runs in 28 T20s at a strike rate of 136.42.Jaiswal last played for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season where he managed scores of 4 and 26. He was due to play in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy semi-final against Vidarbha in February, but was ruled out after injuring his right ankle during training ahead of the game. Jaiswal follows in the footsteps of Siddesh Lad and Arjun Tendulkar, both of whom made a switch from Mumbai to Goa during their careers.Jaiswal made his India debut in July 2023 against West Indies where he thrashed 171 in his maiden innings and also added 209 against England the following year. While Jaiswal is a regular feature in India’s Test and T20I squads, he has only played a solitary ODI so far. More recently, he was excluded from India’s Champions Trophy squad but was part of the list of non-travelling substitutes.The 23-year-old is currently playing in the IPL where he is part of the RR side. He’s had a tough start to the tournament managing scores of 1, 29 and 4 in the three innings. RR next play Punjab Kings in an away fixture in Mullanpur on April 5.Goa won the Ranji Trophy Plate League in 2024-25, topping the table with five wins out of five, and beating Nagaland in the final.

[ad_pod ]

The BBC reported on Wednesday that Crystal Palace and Manchester United had agreed a deal that would see Aaron Wan-Bissaka move to Old Trafford.

According to the report, the Eagles will receive an initial £45m fee – which could rise to £50m with add-ons – for the 21-year-old, who made 42 appearances in all competitions for the south London outfit.

A previous report in The Times suggested that Palace would need to sell either the right-back or Wilfried Zaha to bring in their summer targets, so here are two players they have been linked with in recent times that they should now look to bring to Selhurst Park using the Wan-Bissaka money.

Max Aarons

The Mirror’s live transfer blog (June 26, 1:58pm) reported that the Norwich City right-back is on Palace’s radar as they search for a successor for the England U21 international, and the promising 19-year-old looks to be the ideal candidate.

He played a key role in the Canaries’ rise to the Premier League last season with two goals and six assists in 41 Championship appearances from full-back, and he has all of the traits a modern-day attacking defender requires.

The Sun reported earlier this month that he has a £15m price tag upon his head – in which case he could easily be purchased using the Wan-Bissaka money.

However, Norwich will surely put up more of a fight to keep hold of the talented teenager given they will be playing in the same division as Palace next term.

Allan Saint-Maximin

Amazingly, Palace could also pick up a potential future Wilfried Zaha replacement using the money they have received for Wan-Bissaka.

The BBC reported on Wednesday that the Ivory Coast international is keen to leave with Arsenal a preferred destination, but that while the Eagles value him at up to £80m, they are reluctant to let him go this summer now.

If Palace sell Wan Bissaka and Zaha, will they be in another relegation battle? One fan gives his opinion in the video below…

Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday that Roy Hodgson’s men will have to pay £25m if they want to sign Allan Saint-Maximin from Nice.

The report says that the 22-year-old has a number of Premier League admirers, which isn’t surprising considering he scored six goals and provided three assists in 34 Ligue 1 outings last term, as well as attempting 252 dribbles in those appearances – as per WhoScored.

Quick and tricky, Palace would surely be laughing if they could pick up the Frenchman and Aarons for a combined £40m.

Joe Mennie might not be a household name, but his selection for Australia A is a reward for consistent performances in the Sheffield Shield

Brydon Coverdale27-Jul-2016Imagine an identity parade of Australia’s leading domestic bowlers, lined up as in a crime film. John Citizen, that generic member of the public, is asked to name them. If he’s watched Australia play in the past couple of years, he might pick out Jackson Bird, Scott Boland, Fawad Ahmed. And was that James Hopes who just left the room? But who’s the tall bloke with sandy hair?That, Mr Citizen, is Joe Mennie, the top Sheffield Shield wicket-taker of last summer and one of the competition’s most consistent performers of the past five years, during which time he has collected 143 wickets at 27.89. And if you don’t know him, that’s just the way he likes it. Although Mennie dreams of playing Test cricket one day, public attention is something he can live without.”I’m pretty happy flying under the radar,” Mennie told ESPNcricinfo. “I’m not one for putting myself out there massively. It’s probably not my thing. I’m at the stage where not a lot of people, unless you really know cricket, know my name. I’m not too dissatisfied with that.”If the average punter has not especially noticed Mennie, at least the national selectors are starting to take notice. Mennie is part of the Australia A squad for their series of two four-day matches against South Africa A starting in Queensland this weekend. And, while Mennie may lack the pace Australia’s selectors most desire, he knows how to pick up wickets regardless.Mennie, 27, has long since accepted that he will never bowl express like his childhood role model, Brett Lee. Instead, he, like his South Australia team-mates Chadd Sayers and Daniel Worrall, operates in the low 130s, and uses accuracy and movement to cause problems. It was encouraging for Mennie that Sayers was chosen for this year’s Test tour of New Zealand, even if a baggy green did not eventuate.”It’s exciting to be recognised,” Mennie said. “To be picked in Aussie A, or any Aussie setup, is a big tick in your favour. For me, it’s just continue what I’ve been doing, playing my role and not trying to go away from that. Stick to my game-plan, and I should do pretty well, hopefully.”There’s still a big push for blokes who bowl quick, but it’s good to see blokes who are performing well in Shield cricket getting noticed and picked at times now. That’s positive.”If you’re not express, there’s no point trying to be express. If it’s not your game-plan, it’s not your game-plan. That’s probably not me. I’m probably never going to be pushing the 140s, 145s. Some of the other blokes do, but I’ve just got to recognise my role and be happy with that, and go out and perform.”That approach brought Mennie 51 Shield wickets at 21.21 last summer, which made him the leading wicket-taker in the competition, seven clear of Worrall. That Mennie’s success has come largely at Adelaide Oval, a venue traditionally viewed as hard work for fast bowlers, certainly justified his move from home in New South Wales – he grew up south of Coffs Harbour – five years ago.”SA approached me and wanted me across,” Mennie said. “To get the experience at first-class level – I was probably going to struggle at New South Wales. I was probably not high up in their minds, so I always knew I was probably going to have to make the move somewhere. SA have been great to me. They’ve been outstanding for the five years I’ve been there now.”It [Adelaide Oval] has always been seen as a batter’s paradise. The last couple of years, there’s been a little bit there for the quicks. Last year, there was a little bit more grass on it, which has probably helped us. It’s still a great batting track, but it has offered a little bit for the bowlers. It’s a tough place to bowl, but a great challenge.”

Though still only 17, the defender has already pulled up trees at three clubs across Europe and has Spurs in his sights next

The pendulum of tactical trends has swung violently back in favour of the imposing, superhuman centre-back, and it's a direction that serves well for 17-year-old Luka Vuskovic.

Already capped by Croatia at Under-21 level, the defender is rapidly rising up the European football ladder. Next up on his journey is north London with Tottenham Hotspur, who reached an agreement last year to sign Vuskovic after he turns 18 in 2025.

Powerful and precise, macho and massive, Vuskovic is making waves on the continent that are becoming impossible to ignore. By the time he sets foot through the doors at Spurs, fans should be well aware of his game and what he can help them achieve.

So who is this menace in both boxes that Tottenham have bought from the Balkans? GOAL takes a deep dive into the world of Vuskovic…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Where it all began

  Born in the coastal city of Split in February 2007, Vuskovic was an impossible talent to ignore even at a young age having come from a rich footballing background. His father, grandfather and great grandfather all represented local giants Hajduk, while older brother Mario broke through in 2019 before leaving for Hamburg.

  A wonderkid in his own right, Mario has spoken extremely highly of his younger sibling. "Luka will be the best Vuskovic, I am convinced," he said in 2022, asserting his brother will be the crown jewel of four generations of family history.

  The Vuskovic dynasty weighs heavily on the shoulders of Luka, who has already had to juggle and balance the weight of expectation for half a decade now. In 2019, he was tasked with giving a speech when the club announced the renaming of their academy facilities after coach Luka Kaliterna, and Hajduk wanted to hand him his senior debut before they were even legally allowed.

  Croatian regulations prohibited Vuskovic from appearing in a competitive Hajduk game until he turned 16, but the club sought to give him senior minutes in several friendlies in the meantime. He also kept busy by tumbling records in the UEFA Youth League, becoming the youngest-ever Croatian to play and score in the competition.

  Hajduk and Vuskovic were kept on their toes until February 2023, when he was at last granted permission to make his professional debut.

Advertisement

• The big break

  Such was Hajduk's belief in Vuskovic that they didn't even hesitate throwing him into action only two days after he turned 16, and against bitter rivals Dinamo Zagreb no less. It's probably better to forget that Hajduk were thrashed 4-0, but Vuskovic made history nonetheless, shattering the record for the youngest player to feature in the Eternal Derby.

  One week later, he made his mark with a goal in their Croatian Cup triumph against Osijek, in turn becoming the youngest scorer for Hajduk on record. Almost immediately, Vuskovic became a starter and on the verge of undroppable, until for a muscle injury to disrupt his end to the 2022-23 campaign, though he did receive a cup-winners' medal for his troubles.

  Transfer speculation began to whirl around Vuskovic heading into the following season, though it wasn't until September 2023 that he agreed a future move to pastures new, signing a contract with Tottenham running until 2030 after a £12m deal was agreed. Hajduk wrapped their shining star in cotton wool before the decision was made to loan him to Polish top-flight side Radomiak Radom in January. In 14 Ekstraklasa appearances, he managed an impressive three goals from centre-back, and he had risen through the Croatian youth ranks to U19 level all the while.

  Vuskovic returned to Hajduk with more European clubs hoping to take him on loan ahead of his move to Spurs one year out, and he reached an agreement with Belgian outfit Westerlo.

• How it's going

  Through 10 rounds of Belgian Pro League fixtures, Vuskovic has been the star attraction for a Westerlo side well in with a chance of reaching the champions' play-off stage at the end of the season.

  He has started every game for De Kemphanen thus far and has already contributed four goals and one assist, blowing away pundits and critics with his aerial dominance. Back home, Croatian media have paid attention to this insane run of form and already crowned Vuskovic as "a talent who is born once in 100 years" and "the monster that terrorises all of Belgium".

  A senior Croatia call-up can't be far away for Vuskovic, who has broken into the U21 fold in the last month. Of course, he scored on his second start at this level, finding the net in a 3-2 win against Greece only days after keeping a clean sheet when Croatia beat Andorra 2-0.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Biggest strengths

  Vuskovic has been blessed with relative height for much of his life, and even now at 6'4" he is still growing and further asserting his vertical advantage. It does, however, take more than simply being tall in order to succeed at the aerial aspect of football.

  The remarkable return of eight goals in 35 senior appearances across all three of the clubs he has played for, plus a further two for Croatia's youth teams, is all the evidence you really need to know Vuskovic poses a problem at either end of the pitch, but his expert and quick-footed movement in tandem with his heading is what makes him a truly unique profile of player. He is a real-life Football Manager glitch.

  As is the case with most modern centre-backs, Vuskovic is comfortable in possession and isn't afraid of taking risks in the defensive third or hitting it longer when necessary, bringing the best of both traditional and contemporary defensive traits.

Harry Kane boasts “absurd quality”, says Ederson, with the Manchester City goalkeeper pleased to see the prolific striker at Bayern Munich.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• England star is Spurs' all-time leading scorer
• Troubled City on a regular basis down the years
• Left for a new challenge at Bayern in 2023

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Prior to completing a big-money transfer to Germany in 2023, Kane spent several years in the Premier League becoming Tottenham’s all-time leading goalscorer. He lined up against City and Ederson on a regular basis, with the England captain always posing plenty of problems to Pep Guardiola’s side.

Advertisement

• WHAT EDERSON SAID

  Brazil international Ederson told  when asked to pick out the toughest frontman he had faced: “Man, I've faced a few strikers, especially in the Premier League. But I think the most difficult one, the one I've seen with the most quality, is Harry Kane. He has an absurd quality, both inside the box and outside, when he comes out to receive play, he has a lot of quality. So, from my point of view, he was one of the best strikers I've ever faced.”

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Guardiola always has a plan for players such as Kane, with Ederson adding on his demanding coach at the Etihad Stadium: “He's a nice guy, he's sometimes annoying, in the sense of [being] demanding, because he has to [be] demanding to a professional [player], and he's also angry when he has to be angry. But he's a nice guy off the pitch, and he's a very, very demanding guy on it. And he's also a guy who gets angry like any other person, like any other coach, when things don't go well, when the team doesn't play well. Of course, we know that we're not going to be able to play 70 games at a brilliant level, of course, in one game or another, there's going to be a dip.”c

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  Defending Premier League champions City, who are hoping to see Guardiola agree an extension to a contract that is due to expire next summer, will be back in action on Sunday when taking in a trip to Molineux to face Wolves.

Arsenal are eyeing up two potential alternatives to Benjamin Sesko as they search for a striker to sign ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, according to one journalist.

Arsenal eye attacking reinforcement

Arsenal enjoyed a solid 2023/24 campaign under the guidance of Mikel Arteta. They were able to push Manchester City to the final day in the title race – a vast improvement on their 2022/23 challenge, which began to fall apart in April of that season. However, if the Gunners are to take the next step in their evolution and finally end their 20-year-plus wait for the Premier League, further improvements will likely be needed.

A key area the north Londoners should look to improve is up front. The Gunners shared their goals around across the previous season, but lacked a standout goalscorer who could come up clutch in big games, similar to Erling Haaland for Manchester City.

Rather concerningly for Arsenal, their top goalscorers in 2023/24 were primarily used on the wings, with Kai Havertz the first player on the list to actually play through the middle on a regular basis. As a result, it makes sense for the Gunners to be looking to add a high-scoring forward to their ranks this summer.

In their striker search, Arsenal have their sights on RB Leipzig hitman Benjamin Sesko as one serious option, while Napoli's Victor Osimhen has been linked in the past. A report earlier this week also claimed Arsenal are ready to "bid hard" for Viktor Tsygankov and have held talks with his entourage.

Arsenal eye Sesko alternatives

However, a fresh update from journalist Ben Jacobs has now shed some light on Arsenal's hunt for a striker, and while Benjamin Sesko has been heavily linked of late, it appears the north London outfit have a couple of alternative options in mind.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jacobs claimed Brighton's Evan Ferguson and Viktor Gyokeres are listed alongside the aforementioned Sesko as options that have been looked at. Ivan Toney has also apparently been ruled out as an option by the capital outfit, while a deal for Osimhen is not thought to be advanced.

“I think Arsenal are still stuck deciding on the striker front. But it’s clear that that’s the kind of profile that they’re looking for, and they feel is missing," he said. “And along with Benjamin Sesko, they’ve considered Evan Ferguson and Viktor Gyokeres, but they’ve ruled out Ivan Toney.

“And even though we hear reports about Arsenal moving for Victor Osimhen, the outlay is so severe that nothing is advancing at this stage on that front. It’s a long window, of course, but there’s better value and slightly younger profiles of strikers that Arsenal are prioritising at this time.”

Evan Ferguson, previously valued at a mammoth £120m by his current club, is one of the brightest young strikers in world football, having scored 16 goals in 65 appearances for Brighton since his senior debut. The 19-year-old has a bright career ahead of him, with former Seagulls teammate Alexis Mac Alister labelling him "amazing".

"Evan is an amazing player," said Mac Allister last year. "He was not having his best evening, but he showed his quality. We are really happy for him, we know how important he is."

As for Gyokeres, he has taken the European footballing world by storm after leaving Coventry for Sporting CP. The 26-year-old netted a staggering 43 goals and provided 15 assists in 50 games across all competitions for the Portuguese outfit.

Arsenal could sign their next Overmars in £43m partner for Saka

Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen his frontline this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 9, 2024

Pulisic’s scoring run at AC Milan shows no sign of easing off, with the in-form American posting a 34-year first for USMNT stars

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Enjoyed productive debut campaign at San Siro
• Impressive form has carried over into 2024-25
• Matched an achievement by ex-USMNT striker

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international posted a personal best on the goal front last season, as he found the target on 15 occasions across a productive debut campaign at San Siro. He has quickly become a talismanic presence for the Rossoneri.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  That remains the case in 2024-25, with Milan often looking to Pulisic for inspiration. He has been doing his best to deliver, with a flurry of goals and assists being recorded. The 26-year-old has found the net in six of his last seven appearances for club and country.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  That sequence includes a run of goals in four successive Serie A appearances. He converted from the penalty spot against Venezia on September 14 and has also troubled the scores in meetings with Inter – as golf pro girlfriend Alexa Melton watched on – Lecce and Fiorentina.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  TELL ME MORE

  Pulisic has become the first USMNT player to score in four consecutive appearances in one of European football’s top five divisions since Roy Wegerle achieved that feat for Queens Park Rangers in the old English First Division back in August-September 1990.

With a deal to sign Lloyd Kelly reportedly nearing completion, Newcastle United have reportedly shifted their focus to another defensive reinforcement in the summer transfer window.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies have seemingly taken full advantage of the expiration of Kelly's Bournemouth contract to wisely seal a free deal for the versatile defender. He will arrive to provide instant cover for Eddie Howe's backline, which is already without Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman for extended periods ahead of the beginning of next season.

With cover arguably needed for both Lascelles and Botman, however, Kelly is unlikely to be the last defender through the door at St James' Park this summer, with the likes of Dean Huijsen also linked with a move.

Newcastle make first move to sign "outstanding" £50,000-a-week player

The Magpies aren’t messing around this summer…

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 6, 2024

The original plan seemed to be landing a free deal for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo at the end of his current contract in a replication of the Kelly deal, but Chelsea have since reportedly swooped in to turn the defender's head. Now, the Magpies have shifted their focus towards the Netherlands.

According to Dutch outlet AD, Newcastle are interested in a move to sign Lutsharel Geertruida from Feyenoord this summer. The right-back, who can also play as a centre-back and a defensive midfielder, has attracted the interest of Liverpool alongside the Magpies and could now have a decision to make in the coming months.

Newcastle will hope to counter Arne Slot's Feyenoord advantage at Liverpool with the fact that Geertruida is under the same agency as Harvey Barnes, who the Magpies signed just last summer. Still just 23 years old, the Feyenoord man could certainly solve Newcastle's defensive depth problem.

"Amazing" Geertruida can ease Botman blow

Whilst he could yet succeed Kieran Trippier at St James' Park, Geertruida's first task at Newcastle may well be to replace the injured Botman in Howe's side. Without the Dutchman, Newcastle run the risk of a slow start to the Premier League campaign, making their search for a short-term replacement, who can also serve a long-term purpose, crucial this summer.

It could even be argued that Geertruida would hand Howe quite the selection headache when Botman returns from injury. But that competition should only be seen as healthy as the Magpies look to make an instant return to European qualification next season.

Unsurprisingly, Geertruida has earned plenty of praise during his time at Feyenoord, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig describing the defender as "amazing" on X:

A title-winner at Feyenoord and a defender only likely to get even better, Newcastle could seal an underrated deal and solve any potential defensive crisis in one swift move this summer.

Dele Alli has gone 19 months since his last competitive appearance, with Everton confirming that he’s endured another “slip back” on the injury front.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Midfielder is now a free agent
• Hoping to earn fresh deal with Toffees
• Endured nightmare run on the fitness front

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 28-year-old midfielder saw his contract with the Toffees expire at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. He has been a free agent since then, but has continued to work with the Premier League outfit after seeing them aid his recovery from an operation at the start of the calendar year.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Everton are open to agreeing fresh terms with Dele if he proves himself deserving of them, with a compromise having been reached with Tottenham that means previously agreed transfer fees will not need to change hands – as everybody tries to get the ex-England international’s career back on track.

• WHAT DYCHE SAID

  Dele has, however, suffered more fitness woe while being put through his paces at the Toffees’ training ground. Club boss Sean Dyche has said: “He’s just making sure he’s right. He’s had a little bit of a slip back with his fitness so he is just in that total recovery period. He’s been out that long it’s just about making sure everything is right.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Quizzed on how Dele is dealing with the fresh setback, Dyche added: “It’s not easy but unfortunately it is part of being a professional footballer. Not for all, of course. I had a year out with my back, played one game and then did my back again the next week. You work for six or seven months and then you’re out for another seven months, it’s hard. Your body is the tool you need and if it breaks down it is really difficult but you find your way through it.

  “Players are fortunate now. With me, my career was on the line. Now most of these guys, not all, make enough money to look after themselves for the future. Not that it’s about that, it doesn’t make it feel any better when you’re injured, but it’s worse when you’re injured for that long and you don’t know what is coming next and you are on the breadline. That’s a whole different ball game. But he has had a tough run of it, there is no doubt about that, and on the back of him feeling better about himself. To have this period out has been very challenging for him but whenever I see him he seems to be in good spirits. He’s well aware of the situation.”