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Sheffield Wednesday currently find themselves as surprise outsiders to reach the Championship play-offs this season. The Owls have been revitalised by new boss Steve Bruce, who has yet to taste defeat in the hot seat at Hillsborough.

However, regardless of whether or not Wednesday get promoted this season, there remains plenty of work for Bruce to do in the summer transfer window, as the coach himself has made it clear.

Did Chris Wilder get it wrong in the Steel City derby? Check out the thoughts of Ingood Nick below…

What he said

Speaking of the pressures of complying with Financial Fair Play regulations, as quoted by The Star, Bruce said: “We all know that the FFP is still with us. We’ve got a lot out of contracts so we might have to sell one or two. That becomes part of the equation but we have still got to have a team together.”

The bigger picture

It is surprising that Bruce has so freely admitted that sales may be necessary. However, it is refreshing to see the manager publicly accept that that is a realistic outcome.

Fans will certainly now be anxious to see who is retained in the summer and who is deemed surplus to requirements, however, avoiding a breach of FFP rules is vital if Wednesday are to progress positively in the long run. By making sacrifices this summer, Bruce can secure the club’s future.

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James Milner came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner against Fulham on Sunday.

Ryan Babel had called out a first-half effort from Sadio Mane to leave the two teams level entering the final 10 minutes of their Premier League affair.

Milner, however, decided the match with a penalty in the 81st minute.

The strike was the Englishman’s fourth in the Premier League this season and there is no downplaying the importance of the victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

The 33-year-old took to social media after the match and as expected, the Liverpool fans were out in their numbers to lavish praise on the captain.

Milner’s experience will be absolutely crucial over the next couple of months as the Reds look to challenge for both the Premier League and Champions League.

He might be getting on a touch, but the former Leeds United youngster is still a key member of Klopp’s squad.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Liverpool fans can be seen below:

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It’s not often you hear about an up and coming Irish footballer. That’s not to disrespect the football that hails from that part of the world but it seems increasingly rare.

However, in Conor Grant, the Republic of Ireland and Sheffield Wednesday have a rising star on their hands that we may start to hear a lot more about very soon.

Grant signed for the club back in 2017, arriving from Shamrock Rovers as a largely unknown prodigy. He’s still not really known to many but his performances for Wednesday’s U23’s this season suggest he’ll be ready to make an impact at a higher level in the near future.

The creative midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough season, signing a professional deal with the club in December before being handed a squad number ahead of the Owls’ game with Bolton earlier this year. He didn’t make the squad on that occasion, but it shows he’s very much in Steve Bruce’s thoughts.

It’s clear to see why too. Grant is one of those players teams strive to have, he’s got quick feet and his ability to pick a pass is a key feature of his game. He’s also got goals in him, finding the net often in 2018/19.

Two of his best displays came against city rivals Sheffield United and Crystal Palace in the Development League. He claimed a goal and an assist in both matches, with his willingness to drive at the defence in evidence, particularly against the Blades.

Speaking to The Sheffield Star, the club’s development manager Neil Thompson spoke highly of the 17-year-old: “Conor is a good, level-headed lad. He loves his football. He is a good player and he has good awareness and we just have to keep working with him.”

His awareness of the play around him is one of the things that stood out when Wednesday’s U23’s beat their rivals 2-0, putting the ball on a plate for Rolando Aarons to score. It’s something that should excite Owls supporters in the years to come.

Grant may find a first senior team appearance difficult to come by considering the club finds itself in a promotion race, but while he may not be ready for that just yet he’s certainly a player they must continue to invest plenty of time in.

قلب منتخب إنجلترا الطاولة على نظيره منتخب بلجيكا، وحقق فوزًا بهدفين مقابل هدف، في بطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية في نسختها الثانية.

واستضاف ملعب ويمبلي مباراة الفريقين، في الجولة الثالثة من المجموعة الثانية في المستوى الأول.

وكانت بلجيكا قد تقدمت بهدف في الدقيقة 16 عن طريق روميلو لوكاكو، من ركلة جزاء.

واحتسب حكم المباراة ركلة جزاء أخرى، ولكن هذه المرة لصالح إنجلترا، وحولها ماركوس راشفورد إلى هدف التعادل وذلك في الدقيقة 39.

وفي الدقيقة 64 أحرز ماسون مونت هدف فوز كتيبة جاريث ساوثجيت. أهداف إنجلترا وبلجيكا

بتلك النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد منتخب إنجلترا إلى 7 نقاط في المركز الأول، بينما تجمد رصيد منتخب بلجيكا عند 6 نقاط في المركز الثاني.

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Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship table with a comfortable 3-0 win over Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night, and Curtis Davies has heaped praise on Kalvin Phillips.

To a man, the Whites were excellent, and manager Marcelo Bielsa can be proud of yet another hard-working, aggressive and cohesive display from his team.

So many of the Leeds players have been transformed under the Argentine coach’s guidance, but perhaps none more than Kalvin Phillips, who was brilliant once again against the Royals. 

The 23-year-old defensive-midfielder is a graduate of the Yorkshire club’s academy, and was born locally, but he has only really cemented his place in the hearts of the Elland Road faithful this season.

In fact, he was heavily criticised at times under Paul Heckingbottom, often scapegoated by fans for the team’s poor performances, so getting the call for international duty would complete a truly remarkable turnaround under Bielsa.

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

His tenacity, work rate, positivity and commitment to the cause have caught the eye throughout the campaign, and former Premier League defender Curtis Davies believes Phillips has what it takes to go to the very top.

What he said

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Debate Show (12/03, 22:55), as quoted by HITC, Davies, a Derby County veteran, gave his verdict on which Championship players are deserving of an England international call up: “Kalvin Phillips has been brilliant in that [number 6] role. We spoke about the Fernandinho role. For Leeds, the way they are like the flying arrows. Again, two centre-halves and Kalvin Philips. The ground he covers and the work he puts in is phenomenal.”

Ready to take his chance

England boss Gareth Southgate has already shown that he is willing to call up second tier players, with Stoke City’s Jack Butland and Derby County’s Mason Mount having been included in recent Three Lions squads.

Whilst a call up for Phillips would be a surprise, it wouldn’t be a terrible decision for Southgate to make. Of course, the Leeds man is untested at Premier League level, but the quality and character he has shown this season suggests that he could shine in the top flight, and Southgate doesn’t really have a player of this type in his squad.

If given the chance to represent his country, Phillips could certainly be relied upon to give everything he has for the team. Davies’ comparison of Phillips with Manchester City’s Fernandinho may be going over the top, but the Englishman’s potential should not be underestimated or ignored just because he doesn’t ply his trade in the top flight.

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The Sun. A paper that divides opinion, to say the least, and one that is hardly a respected outlet for most people.

Obvious reasons aside, the paper hasn’t developed the best reputation over the years, and their latest story on Everton’s need for a Lucas Digne replacement – based on The Sun’s ‘revelation’ –  has done little to restore any credibility on their part.

The Toffees secured the signing of the France international from Barcelona back in the summer for a fee of £18m, or did they?

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

As The Sun report, Marco Silva’s side will be in need of a replacement for Digne when the 25-year-old returns to Catalonia upon the expiry of his season-long loan deal at Goodison Park – this, obviously, isn’t true, as the former Lille man signed a five-year contract.

Astonishingly poor reporting, that.

Again, to make matters worse, the man who The Sun have tipped as Digne’s replacement on the blue half of Merseyside is none other than Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier.

To give them a slither of credit, the England international’s future could be in doubt at Spurs after a woeful season, so to link him with a move away makes a shred of sense.

Contrastingly, what makes no sense whatsoever is the fact that Trippier is a right-back, whilst Digne is a left-back.

Basically, The Sun have linked a right-back with a move to Everton, to replace a left-back who is set to return to his parent club after his loan deal ends, despite him not being on loan. Nice one.

Credit to them, those masterminds over at The Sun still haven’t realised their error. The story has been up on their site for six days now, so at least they’re loyal to their nonsense.

أعلن سيد عبدالحفيظ، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، سلبية المسحة التي خضعت لها بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم أمس.

يلتقي الأهلي مع الوداد البيضاوي المغربي، في التاسعة من مساء غد السبت، بتوقيت القاهرة، الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت المغرب، في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، على استاد محمد الخامس بالدار البيضاء.

أقرأ ايضًا.. بي إن سبورت تعلن معلق مباراة الأهلي والوداد في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وأجرت بعثة الأهلي أمس مسحة جديدة في مقر الإقامة بمدينة كازابلانكا؛ استعدادًا لمواجهة فريق الوداد المغربي، في حضور شريف أبو العينين، مدير الإدارة الطبية بالاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم كاف.

وخضعت البعثة للمسحة وفقًا للإجراءات التي أقرها الاتحاد الإفريقي، فيما كانت البعثة قد أجرت مسحة في القاهرة منذ عدة أيام وجاءت نتيجتها سلبية للجميع.

وكان الاتحاد الإفريقي قد طلب إجراء مسحة قبل سفر الفريق إلى المغرب، بجانب مسحة ثانية قبل ٤٨ ساعة من المباراة، إلى جانب ملف طبي شامل لكل لاعب بالفريق.

[ad_pod ]It appears as though Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel can do no wrong. He’s guided the club to the verge of promotion back to the Championship but even the little things are being hailed by club supporters.The club’s official Twitter account posted intriguing video footage of the German at Alton Towers as he was being interviewed by a Sky Sports reporter and Tykes fans were full of praise for him once again.

Supporters of the Yorkshire club have been raving about Stendel for most of the season and one fan was quick to utter that he was about to receive legendary status. Another individual thought he was at that stage already.

The footage shows the Tykes manager walking around the theme park, provoking one supporter to say it was bizarre but brilliant.

Barnsley are currently second in League One, five points ahead of third-placed Portsmouth who have a game in hand and six ahead of Sunderland who have played three fewer.

The Reds are targetting an instant return to the Championship after being relegated last term.

Here’s what supporters had to say.

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane believes he could miss the rest of the season, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The striker sustained a potentially serious ankle injury during Spurs’ 1-0 win over Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Etihad.

What’s the word?

The report claims that Kane is poised to undergo a scan but the England captain is not positive about his chances of making a swift recovery.

Spurs, of course, are attempting to finish in the top four, while Kane had the chance to win the Premier League Golden Boot in 2018-19.

Instead, it appears that he will miss the remaining six games of the campaign, including the second leg against City in the Champions League.

Kane is, however, said to be hopeful that he will be fit to play in England’s Nations League campaign this summer.

The Three Lions face Holland in June in the semi-finals.

Dele Alli is said to have sustained a potential broken hand against City, too, and the Telegraph claim the club are exploring the possibility of the midfielder playing with protective gear.

Son’s time

Son Heung-Min’s time has come.

The South Korea international scored a handful of goals when Kane was absent earlier this season and stepped up in his absence against City, scoring the only goal of the game.

In total, he has netted 18 goals in all competitions this term and Mauricio Pochettino would be wise to play him as a striker in Kane’s absence.

Indeed, Son is perhaps the finest attacker at the club outside of the Three Lions star and he offers both intense pace and an eye for goal.

There is not a better or more obvious substitution Spurs can make.

Harry Redknapp may have won the hearts of the nation thanks to his recent TV escapades, but he has done precious little to convince the fans of the clubs he has left in ruin.

The former Birmingham manager has recently defended himself for his role in plunging the club into a state of financial ruin that could see them deducted 12 points, enough to land them into a relegation dogfight.

“It’s surely down to the people who run the club, like the chief executive and the chairman, or whoever, to know if we’ve got any money to spend,†he toldÂThe Daily Telegraph.

“I didn’t know anything about Financial Fair Play. I was never warned by anyone at the football club that there was going to be a problem with that,†he continued.

Adding, “I don’t think any of the signings were mine. I was taking John Ruddy on a free transfer from Norwich and instead they brought in David Stockdale from Brighton. The director of football [Jeff Vetere] wasn’t brought in by me either.â€

Unfortunately for Redknapp, the man who once terminated an interview after being referred to as a ‘wheeler dealer’, his account is hard to believe.

Disgraced presented Richard Keys had this to say in response via his Twitter account: “Of course he didn’t. Same bloke f****d up QPR Pompey & West Ham & might have done at Spurs but for Daniel Levy. Let’s hope he’s out of the game now and can’t do anymore damage – whoever he was.â€

Indeed, Spurs fans can find solace in the fact that Daniel Levy, for all his frugality in the transfer market, has turned the club into what it is today; they can sit comfortably knowing that the man in charge is, despite common misconceptions, doing the best he can for the club, and they will soon reap the benefits of his guidance.

This, of course, follows unrest over the club’s failure to sign any players in the previous two windows.

Tottenham fans, has this changed your opinion of Daniel Levy – and, if not, why? Let us know in the comments below…