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Celtic have been handed a major boost regarding Josip Juranovic’s return from injury.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by the Daily Record, Ange Postecoglou revealed that the right-back could once again be available for selection for the fixture against St Johnstone this weekend, as the 26-year-old is in the tail end of his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Speaking about the current condition of the defender, the 56-year-old said: “Juranovic did his hamstring so didn’t go away [on international duty]. He’s been doing rehab here. It’s the tail end so we’re looking at [this] weekend for him.”

Postecoglou will be buzzing

While Anthony Ralston has performed incredibly impressively while filling in at right-back during Juranovic’s absence – with the 22-year-old averaging a rather extraordinary SofaScore match rating of 7.76 over his seven league appearances – it is nevertheless certain that considering the Croatia international was one of Celtic’s most exciting summer signings, Postecoglou will be buzzing about the defender’s return.

Indeed, over his four Scottish Premiership appearances prior to picking up his injury, the £2.25m-rated man had helped his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of 0.5 key passes, one interception, two tackles and winning 3.3 duels per game.

These metrics have seen the player who Bhoys Analytics dubbed a “creative monster” average a SofaScore match rating of 7.00 in the top flight of Scottish football, while the 26-year-old also impressed in his one appearance in the Europa League, getting himself on the scoresheet and earning a SofaScore match rating of 7.00 against Real Betis.

As such, the news that the defender is nearing a return to first-team action will undoubtedly come as a major boost for Postecoglou and his side, although, the fact Juranovic does not look likely to feature in the Bhoys’ crunch match with Ferencvarosi TC on Tuesday afternoon may be slightly disappointing for the 56-year-old.

In other news: £3.8m out of pocket: Celtic had a nightmare in “magnificent” £12k-p/w dynamo’s sale

An Ibrox update has emerged on Rangers left-back Borna Barisic, regarding his stance on his future at the Scottish club under Gio van Bronckhorst…

What’s the talk?

According to Football Scotland, the full-back has made a big decision as he wants to remain in Glasgow and is not looking to force an exit this month.

The report claims that a £2m bid from Premier League side Watford has been rejected and further offers are expected to come in for him before the window slams shut.

Buzzing

Rangers fans will surely be buzzing with this news for multiple reasons. For starters, they will be delighted with Barisic’s stance as the player is seemingly committed to the cause and ready to remain at Ibrox, which shows his love for the club and that he is not throwing his toys out of the pram.

This is not a case of the Gers denying a player a transfer and upsetting one of their stars. If that was the case, it could have been a tricky situation for the club as they would be left with a gem who is eager to leave and, therefore, may not put 100% into their efforts in training and in matches. However, that is not what is happening with Barisic and supporters can look forward to him continuing to deliver on the pitch with full commitment in the coming months.

The fans will also be buzzing with this update for the simple fact that it increases the chances of the Croatian’s talents being available to Gio van Bronckhorst in the second half of the season, something that represents a huge boost to the Gers. He is one of the club’s top performers and they will want to see him lining up week-in-week-out in the Premiership as he is an excellent player at this level.

Barisic has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.30 in the league this season. This shows that he is able to deliver consistently brilliant performances for the Gers, which suggests why there is interest in his services in the January window.

His sublime displays in Scotland are why fans will be eager to see him stay as he is a top-quality left-back who could be key to success this term. Van Bronckhorst’s side are vying for trophies domestically and in the Europa League and keeping a player of the £18k-per-week beast’s quality could be a big boost for the side.

AND in other news, Imagine him and Morelos: GvB could form scary Rangers duo with 20 y/o “bag of tricks”…

Everton will make the short trip across the city to play their most fierce rivals at Anfield in the Merseyside derby tomorrow afternoon, and Frank Lampard’s side finds themselves in an extremely vulnerable position.

When the game kicks off, Burnley will have already played their fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Turf Moor, and should they take all three points, Everton will drop into the relegation zone if they do not beat their title-challenging rivals.

Liverpool have lost just once in their last 22 Premier League meetings with Everton – winning 11 and drawing nine – and with the Kopites battling with Manchester City for the league title, it will be a hugely difficult challenge for Lampard and his team.

With that in mind, the Toffees boss must select a team that has proven to be reliable, can offer a threat and perform to the highest quality to ensure they can take something from the game.

As a result, Abdoulaye Doucoure should be selected to start the clash.

The 29-year-old has been a consistent threat in the league this season, with four assists and two goals scored, creating two big chances and being successful in the majority of his dribbles (55%).

The £22.5m-rated man has also been impressive in a defensive capacity, making an average of 2.3 tackles, 0.8 interceptions and 1.1 clearances per league game this term, proving he is a complete player in the centre of the pitch who can cause problems at both ends.

Indeed, the £75k-per-week Doucoure was hailed a “complete” midfielder by former Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti, with the Italian stating: “Abdoulaye is a fantastic midfielder, a complete midfielder. He can defend well. He is a box-to-box midfielder. He can bring energy to the club and a different quality.”

The Frenchman was initially a favoured player under Lampard, playing the full 90 minutes over six games, but has recently not seen as much game time – playing just six minutes in the victory over Man United and being on the bench against Leicester City.

However, there is no doubt that Lampard must unleash Doucoure – who was dubbed a “bundle of energy” by Joe Parkinson – against Liverpool tomorrow afternoon, as he would certainly improve the Toffees’ chances of causing an upset at Anfield.

AND in other news: Huge blow: Everton dealt fresh injury setback ahead of Liverpool, Lamps will be gutted

Everton youngster Anthony Gordon ‘wants to remain’ at the Toffees ‘for as long as he possibly can’, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Gordon’s performances for Everton

The winger made his debut for the Toffees during the 2019/20 season; but it has been during the current campaign that he has risen to prominence within the Everton squad.

The 21-year-old has made 24 appearances in the Premier League this season and has been labelled as one of the few brightest sparks in a struggling Everton team, plundering three goals and three assists.

His importance to Frank Lampard’s side has been illustrated by his underlying statistics as a winger – among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, he has ranked in the 99th percentile for tackles, the 97th percentile for blocks and the 93rd percentile for pressures (via FB Ref).

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The Latest: Jones’ claim on Gordon

Transfer insider Jones has revealed that Gordon hopes to remain with his boyhood club for a very long time, despite Everton’s current battle for Premier League survival.

Speaking with GiveMeSport, the reporter claimed: “From everything that I can gather from speaking to people, he wants to remain at that club for as long as he possibly can. And so, I’ll be very surprised if Everton tried to cash in on him, that’s not the route to go down right now.”

The Verdict: Depends on their PL finish

Everton currently sit 17th in the Premier League table, just three points ahead of the relegation zone. As a result, a plethora of rumours have arisen linking the Merseyside club’s star players with moves away from Goodison Park.

If the Toffees fail to remain in the top flight, we could see the likes of Gordon being sold to another Premier League club in a bid to generate much-needed funds for the Toffees, who are already operating within limited Financial Fair Play parameters.

However, if Lampard can keep Everton up, Gordon should definitely be playing in a Blues shirt next season, particularly if he is keen on staying at the club for the foreseeable future.

In other news: Everton are reportedly willing to sell this first-team stalwart

An update has emerged on Rangers and their transfer plans to pursue a new forward in the January window…

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Record, the Gers have been keeping tabs on young Millwall striker Zak Lovelace as they track his progress with the English Championship side.

The report claims that the 15-year-old is also the subject of interest from Premier League clubs Leicester and Brighton.

The next Patterson

Giovanni van Bronckhorst could find the next Nathan Patterson for Rangers by securing a deal to sign Lovelace this month.

The 15-year-old has already made his senior debut for Millwall in the English second tier and has been called up by England at under-16 level, showing that he is a young player with plenty of potential.

Lions manager Gary Rowett heaped praise on him after the youngster made his Championship bow, saying: “I thought it was going to be one of those moments where the ball isn’t out of play and there’s a 15-year-old stood on the sidelines ready to make his debut. I was actually quite thankful they had a shot that missed, just because it allowed us to get him on. He had a big, big smile on his face and was desperate to get out there.

“We could have taken the easy route and put a senior player on there because we had Smudge [Matt Smith] left on the bench. But I just felt it was a game where we needed a bit of mobility at the end to stop them getting out.

“Young Zak makes a 50-yard sprint to try and stop them. He showed great appetite. He’s going to have a big career ahead of him, I’m sure.”

He is said to have scored more than 20 goals for the club’s youth teams and this suggests that he has performed well enough for Millwall’s academy to earn himself a first-team chance.

Therefore, he could be an exciting prospect to come in who could be viewed as a player with the scope to go on and make an impact for Van Bronckhorst’s side in the future, much like Patterson did under Steven Gerrard and the Dutchman.

Rangers recently sold the 20-year-old to Everton for a club-record transfer fee after he came through the academy process and made 27 first-team appearances whilst being capped six times by Scotland during his time at Ibrox. Lovelace could come in and replicate that success, given what he has already achieved at such a young age, and the Gers must ensure that they snap him up this month.

AND in other news, “I’d expect”: Expert delivers exciting Rangers claim that’ll leave Ibrox fans buzzing…

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Any chances Everton had of signing Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma on a permanent basis this summer have surely ended following news of the west London outfit’s two-window transfer ban from FIFA, but it could be good news for Yerry Mina.

What’s the word, then?

Well, it was announced on Friday that the Blues won’t be able to bring any new players to Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2020 for breaching rules in relation to youth players, which will have a big impact on their squad.

Zouma was sent out on a season-long loan deal to Goodison Park last summer as he looked for more regular football following his return from a serious injury, and he has certainly got it after striking up a strong partnership with Michael Keane at the heart of the defence, making 23 Premier League appearances.

Even if the Merseyside outfit were considering an attempt to bring the 24-year-old north permanently, those hopes are surely over given Maurizio Sarri’s men’s struggles recently and the fact that the soon-to-be out of contract Gary Cahill and David Luiz are getting no younger.

Good news for Mina?

It certainly is.

The Colombia international would have been expected to hit the ground running when he signed in a big-money deal from Barcelona following his impressive showing for his country at the 2018 World Cup, but he simply hasn’t got going yet.

Injuries have played a part but the 24-year-old hasn’t looked convincing or dominant when he has been on the pitch, and Keane and Zouma are clearly Marco Silva’s preferred partnership right now even if the latter was dismissed against Watford.

Without the France international next term though if Chelsea choose to keep him, the South American would have the perfect opportunity to finally kick-start his Everton career.

A number of Liverpool supporters were fuming after a report claimed that Jordan Henderson has picked up an injury during the international break.

The Reds are currently on a two-week gap between matches, with Jurgen Klopp’s players off representing their respective countries. Henderson was in excellent form for England on Friday evening, scoring one goal and setting up another as the Three Lions won 5-0 at home to Albania.

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Unfortunately, it appears as though the Liverpool captain has picked up an injury issue since then, with The Times’ Henry Winter confirming on Twitter that the 31-year-old has been sent home “for further assessment.”

It is the latest setback for Klopp, who is already without midfielders Naby Keita, James Milner, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott ahead of the Reds’ home clash with Arsenal in the Premier League next Saturday.

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Liverpool fans fume at Henderson news

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to bemoan the news about Henderson’s injury, the latest in a long line of fitness problems for the Reds dating back to last season.

“At this rate, our midfield vs Arsenal will be: Morton – Fabinho – Balagizi”

Credit: @ac111991

“I can’t do this anymore”

Credit: @morganclee

“Every single time we have international games one of our players what’s come back injured. Gomez, then Trent and now Hendo”

Credit: @ReusProp

“I’m so stressed! Why has it always got to be us!!!”

Credit: @lfcleahx

“Seriously? Just how many midfielders are left now????!”

Credit: @SilentKumar96

“Oh god please no”

Credit: @D66STIEL

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has given a key update on one possible Liverpool target. Read more here.

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has revealed that Aston Villa could revisit a move for a Southampton midfielder in the January transfer window…

What’s the story?

Reports over the course of the summer had suggested that the Midlands club were keen on signing James Ward-Prowse from St Mary’s, but it appears Gerrard is now also interested in landing Romeu.

During a Q&A for The Athletic, Evans said: “As for the budget… rather than setting an exact figure, Villa will remain flexible to act if either a bargain deal becomes available, or there is a need to top up a certain position, such as in midfield. Sporting director Johan Lange will present midfield options to manager Steven Gerrard, and Southampton’s Oriol Romeu may be looked at after he was tracked over the summer.”

Replacing Idrissa Gueye

Ever since Idrissa Gueye left the club for fellow Premier League side Everton, Villa have searched far and wide for someone to replace the gaping hole that the Senegal international left in the middle of the park.

Marvelous Nakamba has been the closest to doing so, but in Romeu, Gerrard could genuinely find a real monstrous defensive presence.

The 6 foot machine would represent a real upgrade on Nakamba in that holding midfield role – in fact, as per Whoscored, the Saints man’s impressive average of 3.3 tackles per game in the Premier League last season ranked him joint-third in the entire division.

Romeu also averaged 1.4 interceptions per game, numbers which are far better than any of Gerrard’s current options at Villa Park – Nakamba being the closest Villa player to the Spaniard, managing just 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per match.

And, when asked about Romeu’s performance against West Brom in a 2-0 victory last season, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “When you see him as a professional, how he reacts when he is not first-choice, he’s one of the most professional guys I’ve ever seen.

“Sometimes he is under the radar because he makes the work nobody wants to do – closing the gaps, closing the space, winning duels, being everywhere and when he is in the moment when he can score, it is unbelievable for him.”

The £6m-rated star is exactly what Villa need in that engine room, and could finally be the man to replace Gueye.

Meanwhile, Villa could transform their defence with this star…

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford’s latest injury is something of a “mystery”…

What’s the latest?

That’s according to reliable LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross, who provided supporters with a fresh update on the striker’s situation during a recent Q&A.

He said:

“Bamford remains something of a mystery after [Marcelo] Bielsa’s doubtful comments on the striker being back for the Villa game.”

The 28-year-old talisman has missed 17 of their last 18 league matches with a string of problems and it doesn’t seem likely of making a return against Aston Villa in the Premier League next week.

Before the break, the Whites boss expressed his doubts over Bamford featuring down at Villa Park on Wednesday.

“I have my doubts. I’m not sure,” he said (via BirminghamLive). It’s not just about being able to count on him, it’s that he arrives in conditions to develop his game.

“A player who’s gone so long without playing, it opens up a question mark, after he is healthy, [about] how long he needs to show his regularity.”

Worrying news

This will come as a huge cause for concern for many around west Yorkshire as Leeds have really missed his presence in the final third, having finished last season as their top goalscorer on 17 goals.

To make matters worse, Raphinha – who has scored more than anyone in his absence this term – limped off during Brazil’s win over Paraguay late on Tuesday night after opening the scoring.

In the six appearances that Bamford has made in the Premier League this term, he’s proven to be a big influence, scoring twice and also laying on a further two assists but he has played only 22 minutes since mid-September.

The Yorkshire giants are in a fairly comfortable position, sitting seven points clear of the relegation zone, but things can quickly change in this division and many of the sides below them hold games in hand.

Only six teams have scored fewer goals than Leeds this season, four of which are below them in the table. A worrying trend as they rank inside the top five for shots per game (14). That suggests they cannot convert their chances and that’ll be no surprise as they do not have a senior striker fit to slot them home.

The likes of Daniel James, Tyler Roberts and Jack Harrison have all been deployed up front in his absence, to not much success, especially the former two.

So the absence of the man who Liverpool’s title-winning head coach Jurgen Klopp once dubbed an “exceptional player” is certainly a big blow for United heading into their return to action.

Cross’ claim only adds further doubt on whether we will see Bamford back on the pitch anytime soon and that surely will leave many supporters fuming heading into a vital run of games.

AND in other news, Bielsa made a huge January transfer howler at Leeds over £22.5m-rated “special talent” – opinion

Everton will travel to the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon to take on West Ham as they return to action after the international break, and Frank Lampard will be hoping that his side can come back from the break ready to tackle their relegation battle, especially after the news of an important boost to the squad.

What’s the word?

The Toffees manager took to his pre-match press conference to give a new update on the recovery of Fabian Delph, who was notably missing from Finch Farm this week after returning to full training with his team-mates at the beginning of the international break.

Lampard told the press: “Fabian Delph, we are hoping is another week or so. But it has been a slightly complicated injury. But again, it will be a big plus to have him back in the squad because in that area, it is an area we do have some issues. That’s where we are at.”

Lampard will be buzzing

It’s no secret that the former Chelsea boss has a huge task on his hands in the remaining weeks of the season, with just ten games to go and his team only three points clear of the relegation zone, and Everton still face tough fixtures against Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Every point counts for the Toffees at this stage, and having an experienced player like Fabian Delph back in the squad will surely leave Lampard buzzing, who mentioned the availability issues in midfield with Allan out for the next three games following a red card in the win over Newcastle United before the break.

The 32-year-old Englishman has only made six appearances in the current Premier League campaign due to numerous injury issues, with a shoulder injury sidelining him at the beginning of this season for eight games, and then a thigh injury sustained in training further setting him back in January.

Despite Delph’s lack of game-time, Lampard will be buzzing to have such an experienced player back in the side and available for selection if he is needed over the remaining fixtures. Even if he is just there to be used as an impact substitute, his presence will give the Everton boss another useful option to deploy in his midfield.

In other news: Everton handed massive boost ahead of West Ham clash; Lampard will be ecstatic