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Vestindo a camisa do CRB há alguns anos, o goleiro Edson Mardden revelou o desejo do grupo em melhorar seu desempenho em campo na temporada. De acordo com o atleta, a meta de todos é ver o Galo crescendo de produção em 2021.

Para ficar de olho! Os 25 jovens mais valiosos do Brasileirão 2021

– O grupo tem trabalhado muito para melhorar o desempenho em campo nestas próximas semanas. Vamos manter um ritmo forte nas partidas que virão para chegarmos aos nossos objetivos em 2021. – disse.

VEJA TABELA E SIMULE AS PRIMEIRAS RODADAS DO BRASILEIRÃO 2021

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalEwerton Páscoa quer sequencia no CRB e pede ritmo forte para o grupoFutebol Nacional26/05/2021SportJosé Welison espera evolução no Sport na sequência de 2021Sport25/05/2021CRBTitular do CRB, Wesley quer boa sequência da equipe em 2021CRB25/05/2021

Segundo o jogador, sua ideia é fazer um grande segundo semestre no clube.

– Vou trabalhar muito para ajudar e para fazer um grande segundo semestre no clube. Tenho me dedicado muito para melhorar meus números com a camisa do CRB. – finalizou o atleta.

James Pattinson and Michael Neser remain the reserve quick bowlers in the 13-man squad

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2019

Cameron Bancroft has been left out of Australia’s 13-man squad for the Test series against New Zealand, which starts in Perth next week, in an otherwise unchanged group from the one which swept Pakistan 2-0 with a brace of innings victories.James Pattinson, who was ruled out of the opening Test against Pakistan after his code of conduct suspension, and the uncapped Michael Neser remain the support pace-bowling options.Rotation was a theme among Australia’s pace attack in the Ashes but barring any injuries it would be a surprise if they changed the current trio for the opening Test against New Zealand. Mitchell Starc, who took 14 wickets at 17 in the two Tests, grimaced at times in Pakistan’s second innings in Adelaide, but Tim Paine was confident there was no significant concern.”We’re lucky not only because of how good [the quick bowlers] are but they’re great athletes as well,” he said. “Starcy has a bit of a cut on his big toe, he did land awkwardly at one stage yesterday but that was fine. Most of his grimacing today…I think he’s waiting the nail to come off the big toe which happens to a lot of fast bowlers and until it actually happens it can be quite painful. He’s battling a little bit with that but nothing he hasn’t gone through before.”Bancroft was the spare batsman for the Brisbane and Adelaide Tests and will remain a standby player, but has not been officially included this time. The selection chairman, Trevor Hohns, has left it open to add a player to the squad if conditions dictate which could be the case in Sydney where two spinners may be an option.Bancroft was released ahead of the Adelaide Test to play in the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia where he made 12 and 23 to continue a lean first-class season, his first-innings dismissal seeing him caught at leg gully for the fifth time this summer.Given the dominance of Australia’s top order against Pakistan – and the two innings wins – some of the batsmen have had limited time in the middle with Travis Head and Tim Paine batting just one in the series.”As we said prior to the Pakistan series we are striving to maintain a core group of players,” Hohns said. “The performance of the team against Pakistan was very impressive across all areas, while there is always some room to improve”We are backing the current batting line-up to continue their form across the next three Tests. Whilst not a part of this squad, Cameron Bancroft remains one of the standby players. Similarly, depending on conditions, we reserve the right to add a player to the squad at any time during the Series.”Michael [Neser] will play for Queensland against New South Wales in the Marsh Sheffield Shield game at the SCG, as James [Pattinson] did last week for Victoria.”The round of Sheffield Shield matches which begins on Saturday is the final one before the competition breaks for the BBL.Squad David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Michael Neser

West Bromwich Albion found Watford to be a sterner test than maybe they anticipated at the Hawthorns, with Darnell Furlong's last-gasp equaliser in the West Midlands securing a share of the points in a 2-2 draw for the Baggies.

Having held Leeds United to a draw by the exact same scoreline on Good Friday, the Hornets spoiled another promotion-chasing side's day by ridding the Baggies of a third win from their last five Championship clashes.

Okay Yokuslu surprisingly had an off-day for Carlos Corberan's men in the 2-2 draw, having become an integral player under the Spaniard this campaign from holding midfield.

Now, his secure spot in Corberan's starting eleven could be on shaky foundations after a disappointing display against Tom Cleverley's tough Hornets.

Okay Yokuslu's performance vs Watford in numbers

The forceful Turkish midfielder was timid by his usual standards on Easter Monday, with Corberan putting the 30-year-old out of his misery just shy of the 70-minute mark by substituting him.

The Baggies number 35 would win just 25% of the duels that came his way, a lacklustre return compared to the seven duels he was successful with when West Brom tore Huddersfield Town to shreds 4-1 last month.

Yokuslu's numbers vs Watford

Minutes played

67

Touches

40

Accurate passes

27/32 (84%)

Duels won

1/4

Tackles

0

Dribbled past

2x

Stats by Sofascore

Moreover, when glancing over the table above, Yokuslu's lack of tackles allowed Watford to grow in confidence with the Hornets dribbling past the 6 foot 3 enforcer with ease twice when he is usually alert to darts forward breaching the Baggies at the back.

Having amassed 39 Championship appearances this season, with his last absence coming last December against Sunderland, Corberan could decide to freshen things up away from Yokuslu when West Brom travel to Stoke City this coming weekend.

That could mean it is finally time for Yann M'Vila to get some first-team minutes under his belt at the Hawthorns, with the ex-Sunderland man joining on a free transfer in mid-February.

Yann M'Vila as Yokuslu's replacement

Linked with a move back to the Stadium of Light before the Baggies swooped in on a short-term deal, M'Vila will relish the chance to be in the West Brom starting lineup against the Potters if chosen.

The French defensive midfielder shone in spurts against the Hornets replacing Yokuslu, eclipsing the number 35's successful duels count with five won from just 23 minutes of action.

The former Black Cats warrior also launched himself into two tackles, giving Corberan's men more steel and grit, which helped in the late comeback that then ensued.

Adam Reach and Grady Diangana were also inspired substitutions that changed the complexion of the contest drastically alongside M'Vila, with Diangana's delightful assist for Brandon Thomas-Asante to fire home setting the promotion hopefuls on their way to collecting a point.

Therefore, there will be a whole host of selection dilemmas for Corberan to get right when West Brom do travel to Stoke this upcoming Saturday.

The Spanish boss might well be loyal to sticking by Yokuslu based on his everpresent nature in the Baggies first-team ranks of late, but after such an underwhelming display against Watford, he could be left with little alternative but to unleash M'Vila from the start against Steven Schumacher's men in his place.

A "senior" Arsenal source has described a striker who Edu is targeting as "phenomenal", with the Gunners planning to bring in a new number nine for Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal's plan to sign forward despite scoring spree

The north Londoners, in terms of going forward, have arguably been 2024's best side – having bagged 33 goals in their last eight Premier League matches.

Edu prepared to pay release clause as Arsenal ready double-money offer

The Brazilian is moving with intent.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 15, 2024

Regardless, it is still believed that Arsenal are very much intending to sign a striker, with the likes of Napoli star Victor Osimhen and Brentford striker Ivan Toney regularly linked.

"It's no great secret that Arsenal want to sign a striker this summer," said journalist Charles Watts recently.

"When the window opens it will be the priority, along with a midfielder and potentially another wide attacker.

"It will be interesting to see whether they move for Victor Osimhen. He, like Toney, is a player they like and I know that his representatives have visited Arsenal's training ground for talks with Edu. Those talks took place in the summer when Arsenal eventually signed Gabriel Jesus. Jesus was always the priority that year, but Osimhen was definitely a player they viewed as a serious alternative.

"That interest will remain, but the Nigerian could prove to be too costly an option in a summer given Arsenal want to spread their budget around as they look to take the squad to the next level."

Arsenal do have alternative options to the Napoli star and Toney. Indeed, reports have suggested Edu has an eye on RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko as one option, with another being Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres.

Senior Arsenal insider blown away by "phenomenal" Gyokeres

The Swede has been in excellent form this term, bagging 19 goals and assisting nine others in 23 appearances.

Edu and co are said to be considering a move for him as a result, and a "senior" Arsenal source has described Gyokeres as "phenomenal" to Football Insider.

Both the north Londoners and Chelsea want to sign a centre-forward, with Mauricio Pochettino's side also in the hunt for Gyokeres who has come on leaps and bounds since swapping Coventry City for the Primeira Liga.

His transformation really has been something to behold, and Arsenal will have to invest significantly to bring him back to England.

"I know him well. We went to school together. He is incredibly strong and good at winning duels. It's nice to play with him," said Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski on Gyokeres.

"He's really good and I'm happy for him that things are going well at Sporting. He takes a lot of duels and then you yourself can focus on not taking the duels, but playing football, finding passes and teammates. He is really strong and fast. He is good in depth. A complete player."

He is scheduled for surgery early next week and will miss at least eight weeks of action

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Dec-2019

South Africa opener Aiden Markram will miss the remainder of the four-Test series against England after sustaining a fracture to his left ring finger.Markram picked up the injury while fielding on the second day of the ongoing Centurion Test. It was reset at time and he continued to play, but x-rays taken afterwards suggested he should sit out. Markram, who scored 20 and 2 in the match, is scheduled for surgery early next week and will miss at least eight weeks of action.Before this game, Markram last played an international match in October, failing to get off the mark in either innings of the Pune Test against India. After his dismissal in the second innings, Markram fractured his wrist when he “lashed out at a solid object” in frustration and subsequently missed the Mzansi Super League.”Aiden sustained a fracture affecting the distal joint of his left ring finger,” CSA’s chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra said. “After consulting with a number of hand specialists yesterday we arrived at a decision that the best outcome would be achieved through surgical reduction and fixation.”This would mean him unfortunately missing the rest of the series against England. We feel for Aiden who worked extremely hard to come through his previous hand fracture sustained in India to be Test match ready.”

أعرب البرازيلي كارلوس شوانكي، المدير الفني لفريق الكرة الطائرة بنادي الزمالك، عن سعادته بالفوز على هليوبوليس في بطولة الدوري المصري.

ونجح الزمالك في الفوز على هليوبوليس، أمس الثلاثاء، بنتيجة 3-2، على صالة الأخير ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من عمر البطولة المحلية.

وقال شوانكي في تصريحات للمركز الإعلامي بنادي الزمالك: “الفريق في مرحلة إحلال وتجديد بالتعاقد مع جهاز فني ولاعبين جدد، نحتاج لمزيد من الوقت للتأقلم وزيادة حالة الانسجام”.

وتابع: “الفرق المصرية مجهولة بالنسبة لي، وأحاول تكوين أكبر قدر ممكن من المعلومات عنها خلال الأدوار التمهيدية، مما يساهم في ظهور الفريق بمستويات أفضل خلال الفترة المُقبلة”.

طالع أيضًا | خالد الغندور عن التسريب الصوتي لـ محمد عادل: مستوى متدني وغير أخلاقي

وأضاف: “أثق في قدرات وإمكانيات اللاعبين للظهور بمستوى أفضل، وسعيد بتحقيق الانتصار في أول مباراتين أمام بتروجت ثم هليوبوليس”.

وأردف: “الروسي ديميتري لاعب رائع، يمتلك إمكانيات فنية وبدنية عالية، وهو قادم من دوري قوي، وتألقه مع الزمالك أمر طبيعي في ظل الخبرات التي يمتلكها”.

واختتم: “خوض المباراة القادمة على ملعبنا سيمنحنا أفضلية كبيرة، ووجود الجماهير سيزيد من حماس اللاعبين ويجعلهم يقدمون أفضل أداء لهم”.

ومن المقرر، أن يلتقي الزمالك من نظيره اتحاد الشرطة، يوم السبت المقبل، على الصالة المغطاة بالقلعة البيضاء، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة لبطولة الدوري الممتاز.

Wrexham have arranged an “in-house” game ahead of the 2024-25 season, with Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney funding more summer transfers.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Tour of North America taken in
• New signings eased into the fold
• Countdown on to big kick-off

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Dragons have got minutes into most of those that have been acquired during the latest recruitment window – with Arthur Okonkwo, Lewis Brunt, George Dobson, Callum Burton, Sebastian Revan and Dan Scarr all joining the ranks at SToK Racecourse.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  WHAT PARKINSON SAID

  Wrexham have enjoyed another tour of North America, which was attended by McElhenney and Reynolds, with Phil Parkinson now counting down the days to League One action. He told the club’s of finalising plans on the back of a 1-0 friendly win over Fleetwood in North Wales: “It’s great to get a home game before the start of the season, it’s really important. This time last year we were starting the season after coming back [from the United States], so we are in a lot better shape. We are in a lot better shape with the squad. We’ll have a good week now on the training pitch. Tuesday is an important day for us because the lads who missed the minutes will have an in-house game and we can control the intensity of that so that everyone goes into the weekend with as many players as possible available for selection.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Parkinson added when assessing how pre-season has gone – with Wrexham making their way through meetings with Hanley, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Vancouver Whitecaps and Fleetwood unbeaten: “I’ve got to be pleased. I thought the lads came back in really good shape – which is a credit to our medical team, sports science department, who were monitoring the lads through the whole summer. But also there is an ownership there from the players, and every one of them came back in good shape. It’s been decent. The tour was outstanding, we loved it out there and we’ve had a great time and we’ve come back with feet back on the floor and ready for what is an exciting season.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Wrexham, who have enjoyed back-to-back promotions and find themselves in the third tier of English football for the first time in 20 years, will open their 2024-25 campaign with a home date against Wycombe on August 10.

True to their hard-earned reputation for perversity, England’s cricketers gave themselves a fighting chance of victory in the first Test at Centurion, mere hours after seemingly tossing away their only opportunity in one of the most wasteful morning sessions of recent memory.With Rory Burns once again to the fore, unbeaten on 77- the eighth time out of 11 that he had been the man to produce a half-century at the top of the batting order – England strode to the close on 121 for 1, after an evening session of improbable serenity, punctured only by the lapse in concentration that ended Dom Sibley’s innings of 29 from 90 balls, and an opening stand of 92 that spanned 28 overs.With two days to come, and 255 still required with nine wickets standing, one of these two sides is sure to head to Cape Town in the new year with a 1-0 lead in the series. And England, still a little bit giddy from their exploits at Headingley in the summer, will know that even a run-chase of 376 – 125 more than has ever previously been achieved at this venue – cannot be considered completely out of their reach.After all, most of the men still to come in the middle order – Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow in particular – have spent the past four years making such chases seem commonplace in white-ball cricket at least, and perhaps relish the clarity that comes with a distinct endgame to their endeavours.But this is also the side that has fallen in a batting heap on more occasions that they’d care to count in recent years – Mirpur 2016, Auckland 2017, Trent Bridge 2018, Bridgetown 2019, and the first innings of that self-same contest at Headingley in August, to name but a few. This could go down to the wire, or be all over by lunch. Neither upshot would be quite as eyebrow-raising as a common-or-garden 95-run defeat by mid-afternoon.And in that context, it perhaps should not be surprising that England’s gains in an uplifting evening were offset by one of the worst mornings of Test cricket that even this yin-and-yang rabble has ever yet produced.Having come into the third day with the stated aim of limiting South Africa’s lead to a manageable 300 (and how cushty would their overnight position seem had they done that?), England threw caution to the wind, tactics to the bin, and hope to the outer rim as Rassie van der Dussen, on debut, and Anrich Nortje, a nightwatchman with a previous Test best of 5 not out, thwarted their advances in a fifth-wicket stand of 91 that ate up the first 90 minutes of the day.England, in some mitigation, were clearly distracted by dressing-room issues – or more accurately, issues in the field hospital-turned-“quarantine” where both Buttler and, for a time, the captain Root were housed after becoming the latest members of the camp to succumb to the unshakeable virus that has been plaguing the squad for a fortnight.Buttler didn’t take the field at all – he was replaced behind the stumps by the man he replaced behind the stumps, Jonny Bairstow (who had replaced the man who had replaced the man behind the stumps, Ollie Pope, when he too fell ill on the eve of the game). And though Root did reappear in a game attempt to reattach his side’s wobbly wheels, he looked like death warmed up as South Africa took full toll.Most fundamentally, England bowled too short – blatently neglecting the line-and-length wiles that had earned Vernon Philander the first-innings figures of 4 for 16. And while this could partly be attributed to a lack of leadership, that didn’t exactly excuse the influence – or lack thereof – of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, whose combined 285-Test, 1000-plus wickets of experience surely includes the odd scenario that might have aided their game-plans in such circumstances.Indeed it was telling that, at the eventual fall of Nortje for a feisty 40 – caught at short leg as Jofra Archer banged another one into his hip – Broad and Ben Stokes were seen having a pretty frank discussion in the team huddle. It ended with a conciliatory fist-bump, but also with Stokes taking the ball for his first over of the day, and immediately serving up a bouncer, length-ball one-two that scalped Dwaine Pretorius almost before he had begun.England leaked 125 runs in the morning while claiming three wickets – among them van der Dussen for a debut half-century of immense resolve – and a further 75 thereafter, as Quinton de Kock and Philander took up the cudgels for their side – not least against the hapless Archer. His pace may have been restored to familiar extremes but his methods came in for mockery from de Kock in particular, who set himself for the short ball and launched him high and mightily over the ropes for consecutive sixes in a 37-ball 34 that only ended when Stokes, once more, found his edge from another length ball.At least Archer finished the innings with his second five-wicket haul and first overseas – an important milestone for a man who managed just two wickets in as many matches in New Zealand last month – but it was a pyrrhic victory in the circumstances, as he became the fourth bowler in Test history to claim a five-wicket haul while conceding a run-a-ball or more. The final insult to England’s performance came from the slap-happy Kagiso Rabada, who belted Sam Curran on to the grass in a 12-ball 16, before Philander, four runs shy of a richly deserved fifty, snagged another high bouncer from Curran through to the keeper.And so the focus switched once again to England’s batting … and for the fourth time in as many innings, the umpire’s finger went up in the very first over. But whereas Anderson’s wickets had stood in both innings, Rabada was denied by DRS for the second time running, as Burns (who escaped had escaped first-ball on Friday) successfully reviewed an lbw decision that was shown to be missing off.And thereafter, a curious serenity came across England’s batting, as some of the surface’s second-day life ebbed away. Burns eased into his work with a series of punches through the covers and a brace of clips off the pads from Nortje – although he had a second stroke of luck on 20 when de Kock dived across van der Dussen at first slip, who spilled a low edge off the luckless Philander.At the other end, Sibley settled in as the most junior of partners – content to watch his off stump like a hawk and let as much sail by as possible, which is an underrated tactic against bowlers of South Africa’s quality. He dragged himself into double figures with his first boundary, a clip off Nortje, from his 41st delivery, and had just seemed to be finding his feet at Test level when he scuffed a long-hop from the spinner Keshav Maharaj straight back to the bowler.Joe Denly, however, was still in situ at the close, providing yet more improbable solidity from the No. 3 position that he is slowly but surely making his own. No one else in the team wants it, of course, which epitomises the issues that England’s Test cricket has had for the past four years. But somehow, in spite of everything, they are making a fist of this contest. Albeit a ham-fisted one.

Chelsea's frantic dealings in the transfer window since the takeover by Todd Boehly was always going to be a risky strategy given the Premier League's strict FFP and PSR rules.

It was announced last week that the Blues had made a loss of £90.1m in the financial year ending 30th June 2023 – hardly a surprise given the club have splashed over £1b on transfers within the last two seasons.

With the news of the club's recent financial situation, the Stamford Bridge outfit could land themselves in hot water with the Premier League – potentially receiving a points deduction similar to what Everton did in 2023.

Given the losses, the club may have to operate on a shoestring budget in the next couple of transfer windows to comply with the regulations to avoid any potential sanctions.

This could provide opportunities for boss Mauricio Pochettino to allow some youngsters to stake their claim for a place within the first-team squad, with one player in particular deserving of a run in the team next season.

Financial Fair Play: What is PSR, how does it work and who's in trouble?

Leicester City have become the latest club charged with an alleged PSR breach, but what could happen next?

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 16, 2024 David Datro Fofana's stats since joining Chelsea

Chelsea forked out around £8m-10m on striker David Datro Fofana from Molde during the January window in 2023, with the Ivorian making three appearances for the Blues during the 2022/23 season.

His lack of game time saw the 21-year-old join Union Berlin on loan for the first half of the 2023/24 campaign, where he made 17 appearances in all competitions, scoring just twice, before being recalled by the Blues.

Fofana joined Burnley this January, with the striker gaining valuable Premier League experience before his return to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

He's since excelled in England's top flight for a side who have struggled for large periods of the campaign with the striker offering Vincent Kompany's side hope of completing a great escape.

The 21-year-old has scored four times in his eight appearances for the Clarets, including an unbelievable strike in the draw away at West Ham United, skipping past a couple of players before unleashing one of the fiercest efforts on goal you're likely to see.

His successful form in a struggling side must give Chelsea fans hope that he can be a hit at Stamford Bridge and follow in the footsteps of a fellow Ivorian who enjoyed a brilliant career at the club.

Datro Fofana touted as the next Didier Drogba

The "exciting" striker, as labelled by journalist Hrach Khachatryan, could prove to be the answer to the club's long-term solution to their goalscoring problems.

Fofana, who's been dubbed "a baby Drogba" by Turkish commentator Hakan Gulec, could see the Blues steer away from any potential deal for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, with the Nigerian potentially costing the Blues over £100m – further adding to the club's FFP troubles.

If the striker turns out to be even half the player that Drogba was for the Blues, they will have signed themselves an absolute gem and a bargain for the £8m-10m fee touted.

Drogba, who joined the Blues from Marseille in 2004, became a legend at Stamford Bridge, bagging an impressive 164 goals in 381 appearances for the club – including a vital goal during the Champions League triumph in 2012.

Fofana will be well aware of the Ivorian's impact at Stamford Bridge given his role and nationality and, if given the opportunity next season, then he might be able to follow in the footsteps of their great striker of yesteryear.

However, it's still very early days in Fofana's Chelsea career, with the youngster needing to take his career game by game and ignore the hype before making a name for himself at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham have been dubbed a "shark" in the race to sign a £69 million player who is personally mentored by former star Christian Eriksen.

Spurs eye new midfielder with Hojbjerg likely to leave

The future of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg appears pretty far away from north London, coming four years after Jose Mourinho signed him from Southampton.

Related Tottenham chiefs "ready" to shop for "extraordinary" breakout Serie A star

The Lilywhites are set to return to an old stomping ground for the deal.

Posts ByBen Browning Apr 3, 2024

The Dane's contract expires in 2025, and given his bit-part status under Ange Postecoglou, this summer could well be the time Spurs opt to sell Hojbjerg.

In a recent interview, the midfielder even admitted to his dissatisfaction over playing time this season, with reports suggesting that Tottenham will look to sell Hojbjerg and sign a replacement.

“Of course I’m not happy with what’s going on at the club. It’s not a secret, but it’s not something I make a fuss about either," said Hojbjerg on his Spurs playing time.

“I can put my head on the pillow knowing that I’m giving it my all to show the coach that he should believe in me. This is not the case at the moment, and it’s the coach who has to explain why.”

The 28-year-old has actually made a lot of league appearances, but the overwhelming majority of them have been off the substitute's bench. At this stage of his career, it is perhaps best that the club and player part company, despite Postecoglou actually calling him important.

“It is obvious someone that has played regularly would have wanted to play more but ultimately our performances have been strong and he has had to bide his time," said Postecoglou on Hojbjerg earlier this season.

“He has also been very important in a lot of the games that we’ve won late or had to shore up late. He has been one of the people who has helped us and it is not like he hasn’t contributed at all. He’s been a really important part for us.

“We wouldn’t be in this position if we were just reliant on our starting XI. It is something we impress on all of the guys that as disappointed as you are at not starting, it doesn’t mean you are not playing."

In terms of the names who could come in to succeed Hojbjerg, there are a few who've been mentioned, and a fairly new one is Sporting Lisbon ace Morten Hjulmand.

Tottenham named as shark in race for Hjulmand

According to newspaper Record, via Sport Witness, Tottenham are one of the "European sharks" circling in the race for Hjulmand alongside Man United.

Morten Hjulmand's best league performances for Sporting this season

Match Rating (via WhoScored)

Sporting Lisbon 3-0 Moreirense

8.56

Sporting Lisbon 8-0 Casa Pia AC

8.41

Arouca 0-3 Sporting Lisbon

7.96

Sporting Lisbon 5-0 SC Braga

7.31

Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Gil Vicente

7.15

Little else is added beyond this, but a previous report from The Sun claims he has a £69 million release clause written into his contract and is actually mentored by ex-Spurs star Eriksen.

The Denmark ace signed for Sporting from Lecce last summer, where he has gone on to make 24 appearances as a mainstay in Ruben Amorim's side.