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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…

Every now and again a young football delivers a performance that makes people sit up and take note.

Gareth Bale’s second half hat-trick at the San Siro against Inter Milan back in 2010 springs to mind, a game that defined the Welshman and put his name up in lights.

In this instance, Eberechi Eze’s performance against Hull City on Saturday could well fall into that category – on a smaller scale to Bale’s, obviously.

We are by no means comparing the 21-year-old’s two-goal display against the Tigers to the now Real Madrid star’s rampage in the Italian city of Milan, although it was one that should open people’s eyes as to just how good this young man really is.

Before the match at the KCOM Stadium kicked off, Eze already had four goals and two assists in 11 Championship games this term – equalling his four-goal haul from the 2018/19 campaign in 31 less games.

After the final whistle, the former Millwall man did more than just add two goals to that total – he presumably left those who watched his 5-star display open-mouthed at what they had witnessed.

The first sign that the England U21 international was in the mood came when he won the first of his two penalties, picking up the ball from deep inside his own half and storming up the pitch with determination, drive and intent.

Understandably, the only way Hull could stop him was to foul him, and by that point he had already made it into their box.

Penalty. Eze takes. Goal.

Another mesmeric dribble saw the R’s No.10 upended once more inside the box, where he again dispatched confidently.

The two dribbles that earned him a penalty were just a couple of the six he completed, while he also managed to get all four of his shots on target.

In addition to that, the attacking midfielder also made an impressive four key passes, whilst he was also fouled on four occasions as Grant McCann’s side simply couldn’t deal with him.

He has shown flashes of his undoubted quality over the years, but this performance against a side who actually took the lead through Jarrod Bowen felt like a coming of age showing from the blossoming young footballer.

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 story involving Zinedine Zidane and Gareth Bale at Real Madrid is an interesting one.

Of course, the Welshman was already all packed and ready to depart the Spanish capital last summer and head to what seemed like the greener pastures of China.

Watch Spanish Football Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

But something happened to swiftly change the narrative and Bale not only ended up staying at the Santiago Bernabeu but he also became their key man in attack.

And sure, you might expect that from a player who once cost them £85.3m, but we all know how that relationship has quickly deteriorated.

Zidane himself was pretty vocal in public about the whole situation, proclaiming that Bale’s departure would be welcomed and should be done swiftly. Of course, the Frenchman then changed his tune once the transfer window was all but closed and the chances of the player’s departure turned to naught.

Watch Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale answer the internet’s weirdest questions in the video below…

Of course, he suddenly described Bale as one of the important members of his squad.

And with two goals and one assist already to his name in the ongoing 2019/20 La Liga season, Bale has become just that – important.

But even with his palpable contribution to the team, the 30-year-old forward was left on the bench on matchday six and then completely left out of the squad for Real Madrid’s second group stage clash in the Champions League against Club Brugge.

Seeing how Los Blancos completely bottled their European opener, suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, leaving out a key forward in the next encounter is a really weird decision, especially when you consider the 2-2 draw against the Belgian side.

It’s also a decision that brings up many questions and demons of the past.

Is Zidane doing this out of spite or is there more to these recent omissions? There must be something because leaving out a player in form in big clashes is counterproductive and suggests there might be some kind of a problem going on behind the scenes in this love-hate relationship.

Of course, with Bale’s well-known injury history, it’s quite possible Zidane is playing his cards rather close to his chest but one would not expect Real to rotate heavily in Europe, particularly in a game that almost left them with egg on their face.

It increasingly looks like a mistake.

Queens Park Rangers moved to within a point of the playoffs following their win over Blackburn Rovers at Loftus Road on Saturday afternoon.

Mark Warburton’s men came out on top in a six-goal thriller as four different forwards netted for the home side.

Nahki Wells bagged his seventh of the season to open the scoring on the half-hour mark before Eberechi Eze doubled their advantage right after half-time, but the visitors clawed one back through a Bradley Dack penalty.

QPR restored their two-goal advantage through Bright Osayi-Samuel as his deft turn and finish beat Blackburn’s goalkeeper.

Watch Queens Park Rangers Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Substitute Jordan Hugill then made it a fantastic four for Rangers before Adam Armstrong scored a consolation goal late on.

The performance from Eze, in particular, has drawn glowing plaudits from several of the Loftus Road faithful.

One supporter labelled the 21-year-old as a ‘generational’ talent with another fan asking him to sign a 20-year contract extension as the winger has now scored four goals this season.

A further member of the Rs’ faithful called Eze ‘the future’ with one more describing him as ‘unbelievable.’

Here’s the best of the reaction:

Joe Aribo made a sensational start to his international career on Tuesday night by scoring just three minutes into his debut for Nigeria against Ukraine.The talented youngster signed from Charlton in the summer with Rangers only having to pay a small development fee. The transfer is already proving to be money well spent, having produced four goals in twelve games from midfield.Rangers have secured Europa League qualification and with Aribo sampling his first – and surely not last – taste of international football as well, it’s clear to see why he decided to come north of the border.Charlton manager Lee Bowyer might have to re-think his verdict that the youngster’s wasting his time moving to Scottish football.It wasn’t just Rangers fans who congratulated Aribo on his early success for the Super Eagles – first team coach Michael Beale also congratulated him via social media as reported in The Daily Record.But Gers followers quickly took to Twitter to deride Bowyer for suggesting a move to Rangers would be a backwards step for the former Addicks sensation. Here’s a look at what they’ve been saying online…

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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…

Agents play a huge role in modern-day football.

Premier League clubs paid out a total sum of £260m to the men who broker some of the biggest transfer deals in football last year, and their influence on the game is growing with every passing day.

One man dubbed a ‘super-agent’ goes by the name of Mino Raiola, and his determination to grant his clients’ wishes often rubs clubs up the wrong way. The Guardian recently ran an article calling Raiola “a player’s dream and a manager’s nightmare” – it is hard to argue with that statement.

The 51-year-old represents some of Europe’s most stellar names, such as Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Matthijs de Ligt, and he is keen to get his hands on another star in Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha.

The Ivorian is keen to leave Selhurst Park and recently parted ways with his agent Will Salthouse after failing to secure a move away from SE25, and Raiola is reportedly keen to get involved with the mercurial forward.

If that were to happen, the Eagles would be in for a tough time in regards to keeping the forward with 53 Palace goals to his name.

The Italian-born Dutchman is a controversial figure detested by some of the game’s biggest figures, such as Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Raiola is more than an agent to his players. With Pogba, he regards the Frenchman as “family” rather than a mere client, and even if he does fail to get his stars their move away, he always seems to cause a media frenzy around the situation – you only have to look at how much publicity Pogba got this summer regarding an Old Trafford exit.

When one of the game’s most respectable figures in Ferguson isn’t a fan of the man, you just know that the super-agent would cause trouble for Palace in regards to their hopes of keeping Zaha.

There would be plenty of soundbites, one would believe, and lots of attention focused on the former Manchester United man.

Any move, indeed, would not come about quietly. Palace had better hope Raiola keeps his hands off their prized asset.

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Newcastle fans have taken to Twitter to react after The Chronicle revealed that talks are underway over the signing of Benfica defensive midfielder Andreas Samaris, who would join the club on loan if a deal were to materialise.

The 29-year-old is a player of some pedigree, having played for the Greek national team for many years now, and would be a welcome addition to a squad in desperate need of fresh faces to give them a boost in their battle for survival. Samaris is an excellent passer of the ball and poses a threat from set pieces.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

The Tynesiders have until 11pm on Thursday to wrap up some deals that they desperately need, as well as ones that would ensure that their Spanish boss remains at the club having grown tired at Mike Ashley’s reluctance to back him in the market, as per The Daily Mail.

Let’s see how the club’s fans reacted to the news on Twitter…

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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.

Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira are to be assessed following injuries picked up during the international break, according to journalist Ben Dinnery.

What’s the story?

Both players were involved for their national sides in recent days, with Xhaka featuring for Switzerland against the Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar, whilst Torreira started for Uruguay against Costa Rica.

However, both were forced off with injuries, and will, therefore, be assessed by Arsenal before this weekend’s fixture against Watford.

“They have the bigger mentality” – Spurs fans come to blows after the North London Derby in the video below…

Ozil can take leading role

Losing the two players in the middle of the park will no doubt be a huge loss to Unai Emery. Both started against Tottenham in the north London derby and are experienced figures in the Gunners’ squad, regardless of their performances.

Should they be unable to play, the former Sevilla boss will likely field Dani Ceballos and Matteo Guendouzi in the centre. Whilst they are both accomplished footballers, they lack the experience needed for what could be a tricky fixture against the Hornets.

Step forward Mesut Ozil. The former Germany international may not have had the best time of it in recent months, and his displays have not been what they once were. He is also yet to feature this campaign. However, the former Real Madrid playmaker is 30 and knows his way around at the highest level. He can clearly provide the leadership needed.

If he is not to feature on a regular basis, this is the role that Ozil should start to take up in the Arsenal dressing room. He has played in three different countries and has won the World Cup and La Liga. The lessons he can teach would be invaluable to the likes of Guendouzi, Ceballos and Joe Willock in midfield.

As such, the loss of Xhaka and Torreira will not be felt as strongly if Ozil is brought back into the fold, and he may just be able to show the talent that made him one of the biggest stars on the planet.

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Celtic are closing in on MK Dons midfielder Matt O’Riley, according to reliable reporters Stuart James and Peter Rutzler of The Athletic.

The Lowdown: O’Riley profiled

O’Riley is 21 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in defensive and attacking roles.

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He joined the League One side 12 months ago and has made 54 appearances for the club, 30 of which have come this season.

O’Riley has contributed to 12 goals in the third tier and even began the campaign as captain, and it appears as if the former Fulham man is now heading to Scotland to join Ange Postecoglou’s side.

The Latest: £1.5m deal

The Athletic’s James and Rutzler shared a story on Wednesday lunchtime, with the latter describing the midfielder as a ‘standout’ player.

They claimed that Celtic are close to signing O’Riley in a deal worth £1.5m in the next couple of days.

He had been attracting interest from Blackburn Rovers, Swansea City and sides across Europe, but it seems as if Celtic Park will be his next destination.

West Ham youngster Conor Coventry has joined MK Dons on loan this week, perhaps suggesting they are prepared for O’Riley’s departure already.

The Verdict: Hopefully not another McGree

Michael Nicholson and the Celtic board have had a fairly smooth time of things in the January transfer window, with four players already through the door at Parkhead. O’Riley looks set to be the most expensive of 2022 at £1.5m – surpassing the £1.38m fee the club paid for Reo Hatate.

However, the Hoops did suffer a blow in their pursuit of Riley McGree, with a transfer falling through due to personal terms after agreeing on a fee.

Hopefully, that doesn’t happen again with O’Riley. He was without a club for six months during the pandemic, but fast forward 18 months and he’s now on the verge of joining one of the biggest clubs in the United Kingdom, so you’d like to think personal terms won’t be an issue for a player seemingly on the rise.

In other news: ‘Wolves are…’ – Journalist makes big claim with Celtic gem now wanted at Molineux. 

Kyogo Furhashi’s return to action will ‘rattle’ Celtic’s title rivals Rangers, Frank McAvennie has claimed. 

The lowdown

Furuhashi sustained a hamstring injury in a Europa League group stage game against Real Betis in December and then aggravated it against St Johnstone on Boxing Day.

The 27-year-old has been out of action since, though The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin did reveal on Monday that he had resumed running at Celtic’s Lennoxtown training facility.

Devlin previously wrote that Furuhashi may be back ‘scampering about in the jersey’ after the international break, and he may be on schedule.

The Hoops are due to face the Gers twice in the space of a fortnight when the season resumes.

They travel to Ibrox on Sunday, 3 April before locking horns with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side once again in the Scottish Cup semifinal at Hampden Park on 17 April.

The latest

McAvennie says it will be a ‘brilliant’ boost for Ange Postecogolou when Furuhashi is available again.

And he thinks Rangers will be nervous about the impact the Japanese forward will have, particularly against their ‘far from solid’ defence.

“It still looks like he will be back for these games against Rangers and that is brilliant for us,” he told Football Insider.

“Just having him there will rattle Rangers a bit. They will know he’s ready, waiting on the bench for his moment.

“That will be a massive blow to that team because their defence has been far from solid recently.”

The verdict

In quotes that will offer further encouragement, the player himself told Celtic supporters this week that he was feeling ‘very good’ and would be back in action ‘soon’.

Furuhashi is the team’s top scorer with 13 goals even though he hasn’t kicked a ball in 2022, so his impact on the side is clearly massive.

If indeed he is able to feature in some capacity against Rangers, he’ll be hoping to make amends for his miss at Ibrox in August. Furuhashi was set through one-on-one with Gers keeper Robbie McCrorie but spurned his chance to equalise, and Rangers eventually won the match 1-0.

In other news, Paddy Kenny reacts as Celtic injury update emerges.

Wolves and Bruno Lage have made no secret of their intentions to make the most of the upcoming transfer window, with a number of key positions being monitored. With the window opening in less than 24 hours, it has been revealed what the manager’s priority will be.

What’s the word?

According to Give Me Sport, Luke Hatfield has claimed that targeting a defender will be the main priority for the Portuguese manager in January, stating: “I think it’s the position that Wolves are most keen on addressing.”

Wolves were dealt a blow to their defensive line when Yerson Mosquera sustained a hamstring injury in September, with the 20-year-old likely to be out for up to five months as a result, and there has not been further confirmation of a proposed return date.

Another defender who will be out of action at the Molineux in the coming weeks ahead is Romain Saiss, who has been selected to represent Morocco in the African Cup of Nations, which starts in just over a week’s time.

Therefore, it is no wonder Hatfield is predicting that Lage views adding a defender a high priority for his squad. Nikola Milenkovic was heavily linked with a move to Wolves back in November, when reports claimed that the defender remained an active target for the club.

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Fans will be buzzing

The Serbia international stands at a colossal 6 ft 5, which has given him the opportunity to become one of the top ten players when it comes to winning aerial duels in the Serie A, with 63 won this season so far, as per One Versus One.

According to WhoScored, the defender also has an impressive 90.5% pass success rate overall for Fiorentina this season and has scored two goals so far across all competitions. That is two more than Wolves winger Adama Traore has managed in 19 appearances playing in attack.

Signing a defender like Milenkovic for the squad is something about which many Wolves fans have been vocal, and they would surely be buzzing if the club could prioritise adding a quality defensive player in order to cover the inconsistencies of availability in that part of the pitch.

In other news: This Wolves star has been hailed as the Premier League’s signing of the season so far

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