Newcastle United are in discussions with the Premier League over potentially postponing Friday’s meeting with Aston Villa after Steve Bruce’s squad was hit by a COVID-19 outbreak.
The Magpies were forced to close their training ground after five cases of the virus were detected across two separate rounds of testing, sparking fears that the training centre may have been contaminated.
Newcastle have not trained since they faced Crystal Palace | Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
As noted by Sky Sports News, the training ground remains closed and may not reopen for at least a few days. The entire squad and backroom staff have been told to stay at home until further notice and will undergo a fresh round of testing on Wednesday.
Even if the results all come back negative, Newcastle may not have had the chance to train together before setting off to Villa Park for Friday’s game.
As a result, Newcastle officials are in discussions with the Premier League over postponing the decision – an eventuality which is looking increasingly likely.
There’s no guidance for the Premier League to follow for their decision. Every situation is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, so league officials will have to decide whether they think Newcastle have been put at a significant disadvantage because of the outbreak, and whether allowing the squad to travel could put other areas of the country at risk.
“It is a concern and difficult to manage,” Bruce said when asked about the situation at St James’ Park on Friday. “We are trying our utmost to make sure we try and stay as safe as we can.
Bruce is prioritising the safety of everyone at the club | Pool/Getty Images
“Of course my concern is not just the welfare of the players, which is vitally important, but my members of staff too. We will do our best but it is difficult at the moment.”
Newcastle are yet to officially request the postponement of the fixture, but ‘high-level’ talks are being held and all the signs suggest the match may be rescheduled for a later date.
The 2020/21 Premier League season is now more than a quarter of the way through (already?!) and every performance is increasingly important as the table begins to take shape.
Here’s a look at 90min’s Team of the Week from gameweek 10 of the campaign…
Illan Meslier kept a second consecutive clean sheet | Pool/Getty Images
Illan Meslier (GK) – The 20-year-old’s saves gave Leeds the platform they needed to secure a narrow win over Everton at Goodison Park and a second clean sheet in a row.
Darnell Furlong (RB) – Got forward to good effect from his wing-back role as West Brom finally got a first win on the board since their return to the Premier League.
Kyle Bartley (CB) – The Baggies captain was another who shone in that victory, really showing his defensive quality and aerial ability to snuff out any Sheffield United chances.
Conor Coady (CB) – Marked his return to action with a superb performance to help Wolves secure an away win over Arsenal. More impressive given the switch to a flat back four.
Marcal (LB) – Starting his first Premier League since the opening weekend of the season didn’t prove to be an issue for the Wolves left back and brought refreshing solidity to the team.
Kevin De Bruyne was back on song for Man City | MICHAEL REGAN/Getty Images
James Ward-Prowse (CM) – Southampton were leading Manchester United 2-0 at half-time because of his set-pieces, with one assist from a corner and one free-kick goal.
Moussa Sissoko (CM) – The Frenchman has become a key component of the Tottenham midfield, showing excellent awareness and discipline in his team’s 0-0 draw with a previously rampant Chelsea.
Kevin De Bruyne (CM) – The Belgian bagged two assists as Manchester City scored more than a single goal in a Premier League game for the first time in two months.
Edinson Cavani was the reason Man Utd won on Sunday | Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Riyad Mahrez (RW) – A hat-trick hero for Manchester City in their crushing win over Burnley and he was much more clinical and improved than in recent weeks.
Edinson Cavani (ST) – The veteran Uruguayan came off the bench to make all the difference for Manchester United, scoring twice and assisting another in a 3-2 comeback win.
Jack Grealish (LW) – Probably unfortunate to end up on the losing side this week, with Aston Villa narrowly succumbing to West Ham. He continues to make his team far better.
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If Manchester United could play Paris Saint-Germain every week for the rest of the season, there’s a good chance they’d put an end to the reign of terror that is the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era and win a Premier League title.
Slight overreaction, but it’s fair to say that fans can only look forward to the encounter after not one, but two incredible results over in Paris for the Red Devils. After that famous round of 16 comeback in 2019, United snatched a late win again in October in the Champions League group stages and can book their ticket to the knockout stages with just a point as PSG visit Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Les Parisiens face a different fate, however, and anything less than a win won’t suffice. It’s often swept under the carpet that PSG actually won at Old Trafford two seasons ago in the midst of the emotions, thus Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be drilling his side into a vigilant state of mind.
In order to secure their spot in the knockouts, here’s how the Red Devils should line up.
David De Gea is available for selection | Michael Regan/Getty Images
David De Gea (GK) – After going off with a knock against Southampton at the weekend, the Spaniard is fit and ready to return between the sticks.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RB) – He left Paris with Kylian Mbappe still in his pocket in October and will be vital in keeping him at bay once again in this one. United only need a point, so Wan-Bissaka’s defensive excellence will be key.
Victor Lindelof (CB) – United need Lindelof to put in a mature shift here, just as much as Lindelof to put in a shift himself. Speculation about moving for another centre back just isn’t going away…
Harry Maguire (CB) – Captain. Leader. Legend. Sort of. Maguire has actually enjoyed an upturn in form as of late and his qualities cannot go unnoticed. Nobody remind Roy Keane that he’s still United captain, though, or he might explode.
Alex Telles (LB) – The Brazilian has been a breath of fresh air at left back with his energising attacking displays and enjoyed a fine debut in the reverse fixture. This one will prove seriously testing for him.
Van de Beek must keep his place in the side against PSG | Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Fred (CM) – Fred has proven to be a key figure in the starting XI for United in recent weeks. While his attacking contribution remains limited, his defensive contribution is second to none. Crisp tackles, often well-positioned and a tireless presence.
Donny van de Beek (CM) – Even with Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay fit again, they’d have to drop out for the Dutchman. Van de Beek looks different gravy in any position he’s deployed in and will be key in manufacturing United’s counter attacks, soaking up the PSG press.
Bruno Fernandes (AM) – Fernandes is by far and away United’s best player and the man they look toward when the chips are down. Captain material? Definitely. Likely to score a penalty? Even more so.
Mason Greenwood (RW) – Greenwood seems bereft of confidence at the moment which is affecting his performance in front of goal. Anthony Martial might not be rushed back into the fold though, so he keeps his place in the XI and moves to the right flank.
Edinson Cavani (ST) – An electric substitute appearance saw Cavani score twice and assist once to claw United back from the gutter and snatch three points against Southampton. He could be facing a domestic ban, however, meaning these European minutes are even more vital, and should start against the club where he is the record goal scorer.
Marcus Rashford (LW) – The match winner on two occasions at Parc des Princes, Rashford will be key in trying to catch PSG on the break alongside his attacking colleagues. He moves to the left in Martial’s likely absence.
As the game-winning goals, painfully quotable one-liners and laughably egocentric tweets pile up, Milan’s season is increasingly dominated by football’s ultimate showman.
However, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic bound to the sidelines, the ageless striker’s supporting cast came to the fore to record a wholly impressive 2-0 win – between their talisman’s shouts and fist-pumps from the stands – against Fiorentina on Sunday.
Milano never had a king, they have a GOD pic.twitter.com/LmQxt0XnwG
— Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) October 18, 2020
At the ripe old age of 39, Ibrahimovic has embarked upon a sensational start to the Serie A season, netting ten goals in his opening six league appearances while Milan sit atop the table. Not only does this set him out as the Italian top flight’s leading scorer, only Bayern Munich’s insatiable Robert Lewandowski can boast more goals in Europe’s top five leagues.
When Ibrahimovic returned to Milan last January, the Rossoneri were languishing in mid-table having already sacked one manager and not exactly overwhelmed by the results of his replacement, Stefano Piolo. They’ve only lost two of their 30 league games since their talisman made his second debut in red and black.
Ibrahimovic framed this change of fortune with a typical bravado: “If I’d been here since day one, we would have won the title.”
However, as good as Ibrahimovic has been, Milan’s comfortable 2-0 win over Fiorentina on Sunday was far from an irregular occurrence in the striker’s absence. Milan are unbeaten in the 11 games Ibrahimovic has missed during his second spell at the club, winning seven and drawing four across all competitions.
Our run goes on with a solid win and we extend our lead in the league! ❤️?
Altri 3 punti, un’altra grande prestazione. Rimaniamo in testa! ❤️?#MilanFiorentina #SempreMilan@emirates pic.twitter.com/mHJUB288t8
— AC Milan (@acmilan) November 29, 2020
The Rossoneri, led by assistant coach Daniele Bonera with Pioli self-isolating, took to the field against Fiorentina with the third-youngest starting XI in Serie A this season. To highlight the youth coursing through the squad – one 39-year-old aside – Milan were also responsible for the only two lineups younger than Sunday’s in the other games Ibrahimovic missed.
With Milan’s chief scorer in the stands, Hakan Calhanoglu, their creative hub in midfield, did his best to supply his teammates on the pitch. After a couple of seasons finding his feet at San Siro, the Turkish attacking midfielder excelled post-lockdown, scoring five goals and laying on eight assists in the final 12 Serie A outings from June onwards.
Starting nominally on the left wing but with plenty of license to drift in-field, Calhanoglu either took or created ten of Milan’s 15 shots from open play against Fiorentina, though not a single one found the net. Even with Ibrahimovic on the pitch, Calhanoglu’s creativity hasn’t always been met with a clinical finish this term.
Despite having just one assist so far this season, the 26-year-old has created the most chances in Serie A and only three players with more than a smattering of minutes in the division have averaged more expected assists (xA) than Milan’s number ten.
Calhanoglu took the most shots and created the most chances of any player against Fiorentina (five of each) | DeFodi Images/Getty Images
One of that trio led the line for Milan in Zlatan’s absence on Sunday. Ante Rebic actually outscored Ibrahimovic in the second half of the previous season (11 to ten) and is one of a litany of players to have lauded the veteran’s impact and visibly benefitted from his presence.
Towards the end of the first half on Sunday, Rebic dropped slightly, collected a flick from Calhangolu while pinning Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic in the style of a certain Swedish forward, before finding Theo Hernandez who won Milan’s second penalty of the match.
Franck Kessie, after a lengthy delay, did miss that spot kick, but had converted his first attempt to double Milan’s lead 28 minutes in the contest. Alessio Romagnoli opened the scoring as part of an all-round display befitting his status as club captain while Gianluigi Donnarumma put in a performance between the sticks which can only help his current contract negotiations.
It was an all-round team performance from the Rossoneri typified by the fact that three of Italy’s sports dailies all selected a different man of the match.
.@acmilan ? @ACFFiorentinaEN#SerieATIM Matchday 0️⃣9️⃣ Final Result: 2️⃣ – 0️⃣ Milan gets 3 points with #Kessie and #Romagnoli!#WeAreCalcio pic.twitter.com/RLET9T6us2
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 1, 2020
While Ibrahimovic might have overplayed his importance to the club by claiming to be ‘president, coach and player’, his impact certainly extends beyond his on-pitch displays. As Pioli underlined to The Athletic earlier this season: “His support is very important. He has an incredible competitiveness within… He helps in getting the group to work with precision, continuity and the right intensity.”
Milan’s buccaneering left-back Hernandez echoed Pioli’s sentiment, explaining: “He demands so much from us in training and in games. A lot of us are quite young and he knows how to guide and encourage us too. He supports and helps us.”
Almost a year into his return, Ibrahimovic’s unrelenting demands upon his teammates have seeped into the side’s displays even when he’s not on the pitch. Of course, one win against a ropey Fiorentina doesn’t mean Milan are as good without their number 11, but it does suggest that this impressive young squad has a future even after Ibrahimovic hangs up his boots, whenever that may be.
Some people may scoff at the term ‘the magic of the FA Cup’ and tell you there’s no such thing anymore.
Alright, so the Premier League’s elite may have a pretty firm grip on the latter stages of the competition, but that’s not so say that stories of lower league minnows advancing through to the early rounds of the FA Cup are any less magical.
This season’s fairytale has been provided to us by Marine AFC, a Merseyside-based club currently plying their trade (or not plying their trade as we’ll come to shortly) in Division One North West of the Northern Premier League.
The Merseysiders have been handed a glittering third round tie against current Premier League leaders Tottenham, with the fixture set to take place on the weekend of 8-11 January.
Now, if you’re sat there feeling slightly ashamed at having absolutely no idea what Division One North West of the Northern Premier League is or who Marine are, never fear. Here’s your rundown of everything you need to know about Marine AFC.
Great image of #LFC legends alongside some Marine players and their long term manager Roly Howard, who was also Kenny Dalglish’s window cleaner. pic.twitter.com/dTOCxZHtDW
— Carl Clemente (@clemente_carl) July 23, 2019
Roly Howard’s first game in charge of Marine took place on 12 August 1972 and he remained at the helm until 2005.
No other manager post-war can lay claim to having held the reigns at an English club for longer. In his 33 seasons at Marine, Howard amassed an incredible 15 cup successes, five league titles and was in the dugout for 1,975 matches.
Marine celebrate their FA Cup second round win | Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Having already played seven games in order to reach this stage of the competition, Marine are only the second ever eighth tier team to make it into the FA Cup third round.
A 1-0 win over National League South’s Havant & Waterlooville secured their place in the hat alongside the Premier League big boys, with Niall Cummins notching the all important winner after the ball cannoned off his shoulder into the net.
Marine have been impacted by the national lockdown measures | Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Marine’s FA Cup fairytale is all the more incredible when you discover they’ve not played a league game since October.
Due to the national lockdown, the Merseyside club have had to seek special dispensation from the FA to train ahead of their cup clashes.
With the Northern Premier League suspended, Marine have actually played more games in the cup (seven) than they have in the league (five) this season.
Kenny Daglish is a club patron | David Rogers/Getty Images
Based on Merseyside, naturally many of the club’s hierarchy like to keep a keen eye on the fortunes of Liverpool and Everton. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Reds legend Kenny Dalglish is the club’s patron.
Dalglish has a regular involvement with the club when it comes to charity events, with the Scotsman enlisting the help of former Liverpool stars such as Alan Hansen for the occasions.
Marine have ventured to the third round before | Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
Since being founded in 1894, Marine have made it as far as the third round of the FA Cup once before, however, they were dumped out by fourth tier side Crewe Alexandra in the1992/93 edition of the competition.
If they’re to progress one step further this time they’ll need to overcome Premier League leaders Tottenham, although – restrictions permitting – they will be able to call upon the services of up to 2,000 fans permitted to enter their 3,200 capacity ground Rossett Park, as Liverpool is in Tier 2 in the new coronavirus restrictions.
That means the tie will hopefully feel almost normal.
Let’
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