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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Injury News series, which considers the impact of the latest updates on players’ fitness.

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney is ready to make his Premier League debut on Monday, according to manager Unai Emery.

Tierney, 22, joined from Celtic in the summer for a fee of £25m on transfer deadline day. However, he is yet to make his mark in the league campaign due to his double hernia operation at the end of last season with the Bhoys.

Despite this, he has played a significant part in Arsenal’s Europa League and Carabao Cup campaigns respectively, even getting compared to Ashley Cole by Arsenal legend Alan Smith.

In the video below, we look at where it all went wrong for Arsenal’s former ‘saviour’, Mesut Ozil…

Emery confirmed during his press conference that Tierney will be available for selection on Monday, simply stating: “He is ready to play.”

Throw him in at the deep end

With Arsenal having spent a significant amount of money on the 22-year-old and after his contributions in the domestic and European competitions so far, Tierney must feature if fully fit and he will become a valuable part of Emery’s team.

The Scotsman was credited by Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson for being “different class” during an interview with BBC Sport.  The Arsenal left-back was asked to play on the right for Scotland, and proved he has the versatility and quality to help the team wherever he plays.

Last season, the Scotland international provided five assists in 20 Scottish Premiership appearances, and built up 37 assists in 170 total games for the Hoops in all competitions.

Former Arsenal striker John Hartson even likened him to Robertson, but actually believes he is a better player defensively, per the Daily Record (via the Metro).

Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

As a five-time Scottish league champion, the former Celtic youngster has the winning mentality to boost the Gunners squad. Former Bhoys teammate Kris Commons told Football Scotland that his desire to win has never fazed him, despite previously breaking his leg during his early years.

Tierney has the potential to become one of the best young players in the Premier League. Combining his ability, versatility and attitude will give Emery a crucial asset, and one that must start from the off on Monday if he truly is “ready to play”.

Lots of Liverpool fans have been reacting to a report from David Ornstein, who claims the Reds and Tottenham will rival Manchester United for the signature of James Maddison.

Every now and again a young English talent hits a patch of good form and becomes the talk of the town, and right now that talent is Leicester City’s Maddison.

Ornstein, who was detailing Manchester United’s interest in the playmaker in an article for The Athletic, has revealed that both Liverpool and Spurs will nose their way into proceedings, with both clubs able to offer more realistic chances of Champions League football than the Red Devils.

Linked with Liverpool before his move to the Foxes from Norwich, the 22 year-old has been sensational for Brendan Rodgers’ side this term.

After scoring seven times in the Premier League last term and also adding seven assists, per WhoScored, he has started this campaign in fine fashion with two strikes and two assists to his name.

He is completing 1.6 key passes and 1.8 crosses per game, following on from a season in which he created more chances than any player in the English top-flight.

Fans on Twitter have been discussing moving for the playmaker extraordinaire, and you can find some of the best verdicts down below…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Liverpool man Steve Nicol believes Fabinho is currently the best player in the league in his position, surpassing the likes of Fernandinho and Rodri in that regard.

What did he say?

Fabinho signed from Monaco for £43.7m in 2018 and has now started to become a mainstay in the Liverpool side. The Brazilian played 28 times in the league last year but has started nine out of 10 games this season in the top-flight.

In this time, Fabinho has established himself as one of the best around, averaging 2.5 tackles per league game and helping the club stay six points clear of Manchester City.

Nicol told ESPN FC (as cited by the Daily Express): “For years we’ve been talking about Fernandinho being the best defensive midfielder.

“I’ll tell you what, I’d argue now whether Fabinho right now is better than anybody else in the Premier League in that position.

“Defensively he’s always in the right place at the right time and more importantly, when you play the way Liverpool do and you want to get after teams and get men forward and get people in the box, one of the most important things is when the ball’s knocked out of the box that you’re not having to chase 30 and 40 and 50 yards back.

“And with him there he always seems to be in the right place to either intercept something or to actually make a challenge and stop the opposition getting out.

“Just exactly what Fernandinho has been doing for the last three or four years in the Premier League.”

Fabinho setting the standard

Both the Brazilian’s do differ slightly in their roles for their respective teams – Fernandinho is certainly more dynamic and Fabinho is more of a playmaking defensive midfielder.

However, this season the Liverpool man has set a standard that the likes of Rodri must look up to and surpass. Fabinho has one assist so far and has been part of a midfield that has helped the Reds to concede just eight goals – the best defensive record in the division.

The former Monaco man has set the new standard for holding midfielders in the Premier League and, with a £63m price-tag on his back, Rodri needs to hit the standard set by his fellow compatriot to justify the significant summer outlay.

Certainly, at 34, Fernandinho does not have long left at the club. Rodri was seemingly signed as a long term replacement for the Brazilian and has already looked impressive with his 7.54 rating in the Premier League.

Fernando Torres spoke to the club ahead of the upcoming Liverpool Legends vs Barcelona Legends game that he will take part in, but some fans weren’t pleased with what he had to say.

The former striker said he was happy to be returning and stated that “the city, fans and club will always be in my heart”, but despite his pride at playing for the Reds he has still not been forgiven by some.

He departed the club in January 2011 to join rivals Chelsea, a move that is viewed by some as him turning his back on the club.

As a result, some believe he has tarnished his legacy and the service he provided to the club during his more than three years on Anfield, despite scoring 82 goals in 142 games, including 14 in the 24 league games when they finished as runners-up in 2008/09.

Even now, his revelation that he will always be a Liverpool supporter is not enough to persuade some fans, and their reactions to his comments show the hostility that exists towards him.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to the Daily Mail, Wolverhampton Wanderers are taking a close look at Royal Antwerp right-back Aurelio Buta ahead of a potential £5m January move.

And it could spell bad things for Wolves regular Matt Doherty.

What’s the word?

Reports suggest the 22-year-old is being watched by two Premier League clubs with Watford being the other.

Watch Wolverhampton Wanderers Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

It is believed that Nuno Santo is keen to bolster his defence as they continue to try and balance European exploits with continued domestic success.

The Mail claims Buta is noted for his ‘pace’ and his ability to push forward and provide crosses, which makes him seem like an ideal candidate to play at wing-back under the Portuguese boss.

He is also a Portugal U20 international and was once on the books of Benfica, so given Wolves’ history with the country, he could well be a plausible target.

Doc departure?

If the reports are indeed accurate, then it surely means that Doherty’s time is running thin on the ground at Molineux.

The 27-year-old has been at the club for nearly a decade now, but his performances this season have been blighted by injuries and inconsistencies, which is potentially why Nuno is looking for additions on the right-hand side of the defence.

At the start of the campaign, Adama Traore was utilised in the role, but in recent games, his more natural forward position has paid dividends with the Spaniard scoring a brace against Premier League champions Manchester City.

Doherty’s performances are down from last year as he is recording fewer tackles, interceptions, and clearances, per WhoScored.

While he is yet to even register a single cross in nine top-flight appearances, which is something that Buta would provide the team with, as mentioned in the above report.

It would be a sad end to a player who has featured 266 times in the old gold – but ultimately, Wolves are a different animal these days, having tasted European competition for the first time in over 40 years.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Football Insider have been reporting that Eddie Nketiah’s injury will leave him out of action for three weeks.

Of course, this problem will hamper Leeds United’s chances in their upcoming fixtures as they’ll be without their top goalscorer, but the Arsenal loanee’s absence may hand one last opportunity to one man who has seemingly been out in the cold.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Leeds’ ongoing dilemma

The Whites have had an ongoing dilemma all season due to the number of loan players they have in their squad.

EFL rules state that Championship sides can only have five loanees in a matchday squad, and with the Whites currently having six temporary players on their books one player has had to miss out each week.

This has usually been Jack Clarke as United have opted to have Nketiah, Jack Harrison, Helder Costa, Illan Meslier and Ben White in their 18 each week.

That was until Pablo Hernandez got injured and Marcelo Bielsa determined he needed Clarke as an extra option on the bench just in case.

Despite that, the teenager still hasn’t played a single minute in the Championship.

Why being the away goalkeeper at Leeds is the toughest job in football in the video below…

One more chance

Nketiah’s injury will open up another spot in the squad for a loanee over the next few weeks, and that means that Clarke may be given another shot to save his loan spell at Elland Road.

It’s likely that he will at least be given a chance among the substitutes, and with United having some more than favourable fixtures during the 20-year-old’s absence it may be time for Bielsa to give the winger a shot.

Indeed, the four games that the striker could miss are all against sides in the bottom half, so the Argentine may feel comfortable giving the 18-year-old a shot off the bench if the game is already won, something he’s failed to do so far.

If the teenager can impress in any cameo opportunities he gets, he may still have a part to play in Leeds’ season.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by The Evening Standard, former Manchester United star Michael Carrick has suggested the club’s promising youngsters should learn from the side’s history.

What did he say?

After revealing at the end of the previous campaign that he could envisage some of the side’s talented academy prospects get their “chances next year”, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has handed the likes of Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams some opportunities this season.

The duo have been arguably the highlights of those who have made the step-up from academy level, playing 13 and seven games respectively for the senior side. And now, Carrick has given his advice to those players looking to make a significant break-through into the first-team.

He said: “It’s part of the history and traditions of this club. It lives on. It’s kind of the perfect position at the moment for the group that we’ve got. It’s to understand what it takes, the ups and downs that life, not just football, can bring that you’ve got to overcome. To be able to get to the top and stay at the top are different things. The sacrifices you’ve got to make.

“There is a responsibility that comes with playing for this club that probably doesn’t come with other clubs. It’s got that special nature about it. I was fully aware of it and I’m sure the boys now are. Keep playing like that with a smile on your faces and that represents the club the best way you can.”

Role model

When Carrick gives you a piece of advice, you’d do well to sit up and take notice. Whilst the likes of Greenwood and Williams must be on cloud nine after forcing their way into the first-team set-up, they have by no means made it.

Footballing history is littered with extremely talented young players who have simply fallen by the wayside because of numerous reasons that may not even necessarily be to do with what they do on the pitch. Think Ravel Morrison for example – a man who Rio Ferdinand revealed Sir Alex Ferguson had described as the “best kid you’ll ever see”, but has now turned into a bit of a journeyman, playing for nine different senior sides.

If United’s prospects can simply knuckle down and try to make the most of the opportunities they are given by Solskjaer over the coming weeks and months, then they stand a much better chance of consolidating their long-term futures at Old Trafford.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

West Ham United are looking to sign a goalkeeper with Premier League experience during the January transfer window, as reported by Football Insider.

What’s the story?

The Hammers’ struggles in goal during Lukasz Fabianski’s absence through a hip injury have been well documented.

High profile mistakes from Roberto, such as his failed punch against Burnley and shocking positioning against Newcastle United, mean that the Spaniard has come under question.

The indication now seems to be that Manuel Pellegrini will be putting his trust in David Martin moving forward, despite the former Millwall man originally being brought in as the club’s third-choice goalkeeper.

With the situation having moved deep into the realm of calamity, West Ham are now said to be in search of a Premier League proven goalkeeper during the January transfer window, though no specific stopper has been named.

A lack of organisation

The mistakes that have been made on the pitch are a direct consequence of those made behind the scenes, with a lack of care and organisation being shown in goalkeeper recruitment.

It has even been revealed by FFC that the Hammers may not have even watched Roberto before going on to sign him as their back-up goalkeeper – something that is absolutely ludicrous.

This latest development feels like a desperate move to improve the situation, but in reality, the damage has already been done due to past negligence.

Fabianski is set to return to full fitness at the beginning of January, so any signing would merely be sitting on the bench, while there are still 7 games to be played between now and the New Year, on top of the 6 league matches Roberto has already played.

A further point is that if the back-up is signed for a period that extends beyond the end of this season, it would put doubt on Nathan Trott being able to come back next season and fulfil the second-choice goalkeeper role.

The whole scenario is shambolic and could have been easily avoided for West Ham if they had shown the required organisation and care in the first place.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

Greg Taylor has struggled for game time since joining Celtic in the summer, making just six appearances across all competitions.

If he is to play with greater regularity, the 22-year-old must overtake Boli Bolingoli in the pecking order, with the 24-year-old having made 22 appearances.

Watch Celtic Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

He may not have had much luck at club level, but Taylor was given the chance to play for Scotland, due to both Andrew Robertson and Kieran Tierney being unavailable.

The Premier League pair were not missed in the end, as Taylor put in a superb performance to help his side to a 2-1 victory, while potentially giving Neil Lennon something to think about.

First and foremost, he was solid defensively, making 1 clearance and 1 interception, as well as making 2 tackles without being dribbled past at all and winning 5 of his 6 duels.

The left-back also made a difference going forward, as it was he who put in the cross to assist John McGinn’s winner, with what was his only delivery of the game while he also played 2 key passes and completed 2 dribbles.

In addition to the previous statistics, there was efficiency in the 22-year-old’s play, as he maintained a pass success rate of 88% throughout the match.

Overall, this was a brilliant performance from the 2-cap Taylor and he couldn’t have done much more to turn Lennon’s head.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

There are lots of variables at play in QSI’s possible takeover of Leeds but journalist Phil Hay has suggested Marcelo Bielsa would stay if he liked what they were saying.

Hay was answering fan questions during his Q&A for The Athletic after the Whites’ late win over Luton on Saturday evening.

What’s he said?

Rumours of a possible takeover by Qatari consortium QSI first originated in the summer as the business that own PSG looked to invest more funds into football.

Presumably because of ties with current Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani, Leeds was touted as a possible entry of further investment into sport.

Reports recently have suggested that they are still interested in taking over the Yorkshire outfit and Radrizzani has even been spotted in Paris. What he was discussing is unknown but it could well have been the possibility of a takeover.

Hay has claimed in the past that Bielsa is likely to go if the club doesn’t achieve promotion this season. However, QSI could throw another variable into the mix. Having his say on the situation, the journalist said:

“If he liked what QSI were saying and if he trusted them, he’d stay”

Good news for Leeds

Bielsa has done some fabulous things for the football club since he walked through the doors in 2018. He took them to the playoffs and has since guided them to second place in the Championship this term.

He’s changed the direction of Leeds, who were a club sitting in mid-table mediocrity before he entered.

New owners don’t necessarily mean a safe job, however. When Birmingham brought in new people behind the scenes they very quickly got rid of the impressive Gary Rowett before they slipped down the league table.

It seems unlikely that QSI would sack a manager with as much prowess and experience in the game as Bielsa but from Hay’s words, it seems as though it could be in the Argentine’s hands, rather than theirs.

It was perhaps a surprise that the 64-year-old decided to stay this season after he failed to take them up, but if they do indeed achieve promotion in 2019/20, the prospect of keeping him will surely be greater.

Couple that with the sheer investment that QSI could provide and he’d be foolish to walk out of Elland Road. This is a business that Radrizzani has claimed could put the Whites on par with Manchester City.

That tells you all you need to know about their financial muscle. If they do arrive, Bielsa must trust that their backing is the right one.

And in other news, check out what Phil Hay has been saying about two January targets…