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Sean Longstaff betrayed Steve Bruce with a shocking performance in Newcastle United’s 2-1 defeat at home to Leicester City on Sunday.

Bruce recalled the 23-year-old to the Magpies’ starting line-up in place of the suspended Isaac Hayden, opting to favour the academy graduate beside his brother Matty, with Jonjo Shelvey initially seated on the bench.

However, the Longstaff brothers failed to take control of proceedings in the engine room, with neither man able to apply enough pressure to Brendan Rodgers’ visiting Foxes as Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tielemans dictated the pace without breaking a sweat.

Matty Longstaff at least brought a boisterous presence to the side as he ran himself into the ground to track back and chase any loose balls, but the same could not be said for his sibling, who found himself overrun time and time again.

Bruce saw enough from his laboursome unit to introduce changes midway through the second half with Shelvey brought on for on-the-day left-midfielder Joelinton, in a decision the Toon chief may soon have regretted when Tielemans doubled Leicester’s advantage.

Andy Carroll would score his first goal for Newcastle since 2010 to offer Bruce’s Toon a glimmer of hope, but his perfectly timed volley proved too little too late, partly thanks to the turgid efforts of Sean Longstaff in the centre.

Longstaff has now started eight of his 11 Premier League appearances this season but is without a goal or an assist.

He only registered one shot during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat with an effort coming in the 21st-minute that was blocked, and he never came close to creating a chance for a teammate to score with just 11 of his 33 passes coming in the final-third, per WhoScored.

The 23-year-old Toon product completed a combined 27 attempted passes against Leicester, yet let Bruce down vividly when off the ball with just one clearance, one interception and one successful tackle to his name.

He had attempted three tackles but was dribbled past twice, while losing three of five ground duels and two of four aerial contests for a mere 44% success rate, plus turning over possession on six occasions, per SofaScore.

Longstaff displayed glimpses of his passing ability with three successful long balls from six attempts, yet never sought to bring play forward himself with no dribbles recorded.

Bruce will be livid with Longstaff for squandering his chance to regain a permanent starting role in Hayden’s absence, and will likely see the £16m-rated lightweight as being firmly behind his younger brother in the Magpies pecking order from now on.

AND in other news, Newcastle United could move to sign a £14.5m-rated gem who can “make things happen” in January.

According to an inside update by ExWHUemployee, Hammers boss David Moyes wanted to give Craig Dawson the experience of being in and around the match day squad over Issa Diop despite the latter man travelling to the game against Leeds United – with many Irons questioning the ‘stupid’ team selection.

Diop, who has found game time difficult to come by since his return from injury, with the back three of Fabian Balbuena, Aaron Cresswell and Angelo Ogbonna looking formidable, was excluded from a place on the bench in favour of Dawson last weekend.

Despite showing promise as a rising star for the Irons in the last two seasons, Moyes opted to give Dawson a place in the matchday squad for numerous reasons according to ExWHUemployee – with one of them being the fact he is more vocal than Diop.

Reacting to this development, many Irons had their say – find all of their verdicts from social media down below.

West Ham fans batter Moyes call over Diop

In other news: West Ham fans destroyed this GSB update, find out more here.

Celtic have numerous problems in their club right now.

First and foremost, the manager is struggling and is facing increased pressure after a disastrous week that saw the Hoops lose 4-1 to Sparta Prague.

In the process, they were dumped out of the Europa League after a number of poor performers.

On the chalkboard

One of the worst displays on the night was from veteran midfielder Scott Brown.

The 35-year-old struggled with the pace of the game and looks incredibly out of sorts right now. He had just 40 touches of the ball – the lowest of any Celtic player – and made just one tackle.

Furthermore, Brown was at fault for the opening goal. He was outmuscled and tossed aside like a piece of garbage having failed to clear the ball from a corner.

With that performance in mind, and indeed how his season is panning out, there is a case for him to be dropped from Lennon’s side.

So who could come in and replace him?

The solution

The man we think who should come in and make an impact in the middle of the park is David Turnbull.

Of course, the midfielder is currently in isolation having been diagnosed with COVID-19 so will miss the League Cup clash against Ross County, but once he is fit and healthy again, he simply has to be considered.

The 21-year-old was a target for Celtic in 2019 and then finally signed for the club this year. However, since putting pen to paper he has started just once in the SPFL.

For a player of his talent, it’s rather surprising.

Last term, Turnbull sat out the vast majority of the campaign after requiring knee surgery but he made a devastating impact for Motherwell in 2018/19, registering 23 goal involvements.

Now, he is a very different player to Brown because he generally gets further forward but that is certainly no bad thing, especially with Callum McGregor beside him. Although he likes to drive forward he is also capable in the defensive third, producing 1.2 tackles per game this term.

At the moment, Turnbull is being wasted, especially when the manager rates him so highly. After signing, Lennon commented: “We’ve had a look at him over the last few games and he’s got a real touch of class about him, which is a rarity in the modern game.”

Thus, he needs to be unleashed by the boss and given a lot more game time.

In other news, one Celtic player failed his BIG audition to Neil Lennon on Thursday…

Local MP Chi Onwurah has expressed her concern to The Chronicle over the silence surrounding the proposed takeover of Newcastle United.

As per the news outlet, The Department for International Trade (DIT) is withholding correspondence regarding the failed takeover at St. James’ Park by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabian’s (KSA) Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The Chronicle submitted no fewer than four freedom of information (FOI) requests about the takeover to Government departments and so far, none of them have agreed to release documents to do with the situation.

This has led Onwurah expressing her deep concern as to why this is the case when she spoke to the outlet:

“I am concerned that apparently, nothing of this correspondence can be shared with the public in whose interests it supposedly took place.

“I will ask them to, at least, set out whether they took a position on the takeover.”

What has Onwurah said about the takeover before?

Back in May earlier this year, Onwurah expressed that she was fully in favour of the prospective £300m deal between Mike Ashley and the Saudi-led consortium, suggesting how good it would be for the city and demanding that the voices of the Toon Army should be heard in Parliament.

Indeed, a lot has happened since then, and now there is a deep concern, not only from her but from fans of the Tyneside club, that the takeover may not happen after the Saudis failed with their initial bid.

Nonetheless, through the FOI request, The Chronicle surely have the right to know about some of the details as to why the takeover bid was rejected by the Premier League, and the release of such information could settle a lot of the supporters in the North East down, or perhaps rile them up even further, depending on what is said in the documents.

In other news, find out which Magpies target shone on international duty here!

Glasgow Rangers have received a huge boost as Bongani Zungu is set to join up with the rest of Steven Gerrard’s squad for the first time ahead of the Europa League fixture against Lech Poznan on Thursday night.

What’s the word?

Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister confirmed that the South Africa international is available for selection for the first time since he joined the Gers on a season-long loan deal from Ligue 2 side Amiens on deadline day.

“Zungu is still in quarantine but I think he becomes available to train with us just prior to Poznan,” McAllister said, as relayed by The Glasgow Times.

“So that’s very encouraging. It adds to our strength in the middle of the park.”

Gerrard has been unable to select Zungu in recent weeks due to coronavirus restrictions but he has been working hard at home to ensure that he is fully fit and firing on all cylinders.

Tough choice?

As the old saying goes, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, but Gerrard may be tempted to tinker with his team once again as Zungu has entered the mix.

The Gers boss quite clearly rates Zungu very highly indeed as he’s recently claimed that he is a “dominant” midfielder who will bring the best out of the rest of his players, so his return to action leaves the Liverpool legend with a big decision to make in the middle of the pitch.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/rangers-daily-update-news-match-reaction-scottish-premiership” title=”Rangers daily update: News, Match Reaction and Features!”]

The trouble is, this is going to be one of the toughest choices that the 40-year-old has had to wrestle with since taking charge of the Ibrox outfit. At the moment, Glen Kamara, Steven Davis and Scott Arfield are his preferred midfield trio, as they all started the first Old Firm derby of the season, which means that one of these three will have to be dropped in order to make room for the South African. And that’s without even mentioning Ryan Jack or Joe Aribo, who has recently returned from injury.

Whilst we aren’t for one minute suggesting that Gerrard will throw him in at the deep end, we do think he will make an appearance as a substitute in the second half. Otherwise, what was even the point of signing him in the first place?

South Africa legend Benni McCarthy recently heaped praise on his countryman, saying he had no hesitation in recommending the “fantastic” player to Rangers as he can “do everything”. He told The Sun: “I’ve watched him blossom over the last few years and Rangers have got themselves a fantastic footballer.

“He is the complete midfielder, very comfortable on the ball and so strong in the tackle. He can play as a defensive midfielder too because he is so good at cleaning up.

“But he also offers you an attacking threat and he can score goals.

“Zungu can do everything in the middle of the park and that is why Steven Gerrard was so desperate to sign him. He is a tough tackler and if you need someone to put their foot in then he is capable of that. If you need someone to go in for a tough 50/50 challenge then he is your guy.”

Last season, the 28-year-old made 21 appearances in Ligue 1, whilst he averaged one clearance and at least one tackle per game, via WhoScored. By comparison, Kamara is only averaging 0.7 tackles per game in the Scottish Premiership this season, as per WhoScored.

Gerrard will be well aware that squad rotation could prove pivotal as the season drags on as he has to balance domestic and European competitions. What better way for Zungu to earn his stripes than by giving him a chance to show what he can do against a side who have lost two out of their last three games in all competitions? However, Gerrard will have to consider his options wisely when deciding how to introduce him into the team.

AND in other news, Joe Aribo marks his Glasgow Rangers return with dominant display against Livingston…

The start of a new Premier League season is just around the corner as fans prepare for the 2020 Community Shield clash.

Liverpool are set to take on Arsenal in this year’s battle, after the Gunners managed to resurrect an underwhelming season by scooping their 14th FA Cup.

Mikel Arteta’s men were victorious over Chelsea in last month’s final, despite finishing eighth in the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp and his men will be hoping they can replicate their double league win over the Gunners.

With pre-season in full swing, the Reds have been experimenting with their first team options. Rhian Brewster is a player particularly of note who has been relied on when coming off the bench. The 20-year-old has repaid the trust put in him by netting three goals in two appearances (via Sofascore).

Transfer Tavern has predicted how Klopp could decide to set up against Arsenal on Sunday…

With Brewster’s fine form doing the talking, Klopp could favour him over a stagnant-looking Roberto Firmino. The £64.8 million-valued striker may also be rested ahead of the first Premier League fixture which gives his young understudy his opportunity to shine and potentially help his team win silverware.

With the support of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, Brewster could find himself on the scoresheet once again.

Liverpool’s last two fixtures have been used to play about with the midfield. Curtis Jones started against VfB Stuttgart but was dropped for the RB Salzburg match. Again, he is another youngster who wants the chance to prove himself. Jones also enjoys a big occasion after he scored Liverpool’s winning goal against Everton in the FA Cup last season.

Naby Keita is starting to find his feet in this Reds side and if he keeps up his promising run of form, he could find himself a regular starter once the Premier League starts up again.

Despite coming off with a head injury, Klopp has stated that Virgil van Dijk will be fit to partake on Sunday. The Dutchman will likely captain his side again, surrounded by his usual defensive peers in order to keep Arsenal at bay with the exception of Trent Alexander-Arnold who was not involved against Salzburg and Neco Williams looks likely to continue in his absence.

How do you think Liverpool will line up against Arsenal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Burnley’s prospects of offloading Ben Gibson in this transfer window appear to have been boosted as Norwich seem to have taken the lead in the hunt to sign the defender.

The Northern Echo reported that the Canaries are confident of beating his former club Middlesbrough to a deal for the 27-year-old, who has been exiled at Turf Moor since falling out with Sean Dyche over a blocked move to Watford in January.

According to The Northern Echo, Norwich hold two significant advantages over Middlesbrough in the respective clubs’ pursuit of Gibson.

Firstly, the Canaries would likely be able to pay a much higher portion of the defender’s £45,000-a-week wages if he goes on loan to Carrow Road than ‘Boro would if they took him to Teesside, with the northeast club reportedly offering to pay no more than a third of his weekly wage.

Also, Norwich have apparently discussed the options of both a loan and a permanent move for Gibson, and such is their willingness to sign the 27-year-old that they are prepared to meet Burnley’s demands in order to get a deal done within the next couple of weeks.

In the 2019/20 season, the Clarets continued to pay the defender £45,000 per week despite him making only one appearance, the Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland which is now almost a full year ago. After falling out with Turf Moor management, he has been training with his former club Middlesbrough, and not even a defensive injury crisis could persuade Burnley to recall him over the summer.

It is doing neither Gibson nor Burnley any good to have him on the club’s books when Dyche clearly has no intention of picking him. Therefore, Norwich’s reported desire to strike a deal for him and, at worst, pay a substantial portion of his wages to facilitate a loan move should come as good news for all parties concerned.

The Canaries get the man they want, Burnley will get an expensive yet unproductive asset off their hands and the player will have a fresh start at a club where he may have a chance of obtaining game-time. It’s a situation in which everyone appears to be a winner – assuming it comes to fruition.

Burnley fans, will you be happy if Norwich sign Gibson, even on loan, for next season? Comment below with your views!

Former Spurs wonderkid Marcus Edwards left Tottenham Hotspur last summer and some fans have been scratching their heads ever since.

Edwards has shown his old club exactly what they have been missing at Vitória de Guimarães this season. The talented winger is without a doubt a case of ‘one that got away’ from Spurs in recent years. For whatever reason, it never seemed to work out for him in north London and he moved to Portugal instead.

According to A Bola, as per Sport Witness, Jose Mourinho is eager to bring him back to Tottenham this summer, with his departure from the Portuguese club described as ‘inevitable’.

Mourinho wants to rectify the mistake made by his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino, who let Edwards slip through his grasp last year. The Argentine compared him to Lionel Messi but he never really got a chance to prove himself in London and was subsequently shipped out to the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques.

The 21-year-old, who plays on the right wing, has played 23 games in Liga NOS this season, scoring six goals, supplying five assists, taking 1.7 shots per game, averaging 1.4 key passes and completing 3.1 dribbles per game on average (WhoScored).

He enjoyed another eye-catching performance over the weekend as he supplied a beautiful assist in the 2-1 win over Gil Vicente.

However, Daniel Levy could face some competition from Manchester United, who have been interested in the winger for a while.

His release clause is reportedly worth €15m (£13.5m) but he won’t cost Spurs that much. In fact, they’d only have to pay the Portuguese side half the price, as they will receive half of the profits if he is sold.

Regardless, Vitória de Guimarães will make a huge profit either way, as he joined the club as a free agent.

Spurs have a lot of options on their wings, including Son Heung-min, Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn, and whether or not Levy will be willing to splash the cash on the Tottenham academy graduate remains to be seen.

Tottenham fans, should Levy sign Marcus Edwards in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Key information about Roots Hall

The current, new Roots Hall was built in 1952 and opened in 1955 and is now the home of Southend United. The ground is located in Southend-on-Sea and is the largest stadium in Essex.

Its current capacity stands at 12,392 and has a pitch size of 100m x 68m with no running track nor undersoil heating installed.

The record attendance was set in 1979 when 31,033 supporters gathered to watch the visiting Liverpool in action in the FA Cup.

A history of Roots Hall

Southend United have been truly nomadic since their inception and have called multiple grounds their home over the years. They were settled in the original Roots Hall from 1906 until 1919 and would then move to the Kursaal, the Southend Stadium, New Writtle Street, Chelmsford and then finally, to Roots Hall again from 1955 to the present day.

When the club was founded, they played at the site of Roots Hall but had to move away in 1919, as we mentioned, because of World War I. The area was used for storage so they were forced to vacant the ground and move to the Kursaal.

As we now know, they would spend around three decades moving around until they finally returned home in 1955, three years after the development of Roots Hall was started and once again opened for business. Interestingly enough, it would be the last new stadium in England to open until as late as 1988.

The first game to be played there was between the hosts and their visitors, Norwich, on 20 August 1955 and in the first season after the ground’s grand opening, the stadium was still incomplete with the drainage on the pitch a big problem during the 1955/1956 campaign. So much so that it had to be completely replaced in the off-season.

Some of the first changes were done in the 1960s with the added roof, the extension of the stands and the club installing floodlighting. Soon afterwards, in 1979, they recorded their highest attendance to date when Liverpool came to visit in the FA Cup in front of 31,033 supporters.

New upgrades were recorded in the 1980s and 1990s, even though the club was somewhat struggling financially at that time. In 1994, Roots Hall was converted into an all-seater and part of the south stand got sold off to real estate developers to give Southend United a financial boost.

Some of the final improvements were made in 1995 when the west stand roof was extended with seating also being installed in the north-west corner of the ground. Lately, the club has been looking into the possibility of moving to a brand new stadium, Fossetts Farm, and they received planning permission in January 2007.

Even though it was initially planned to be opened in December 2018, we are still waiting on the final verdict as to when the club can move to their new home.

Tickets to watch Southend United at Roots Hall

All tickets to watch Southend United at Roots Hall can be found on the club’s official website. The price varies depending on multiple factors such as category and age but the adult ticket bought in advance costs £22.

Southend United also offer season and half-season tickets as well as group and student discounts. More information can be found on their official website.

Related links

https://www.southendunited.co.uk/ – Official website of Southend United

Former Sunderland ace Kevin Phillips has shared his latest thoughts to Football Insider about Newcastle United man Matty Longstaff as news broke that Udinese had tabled him a lucrative contract.

Sky Sports revealed that the academy graduate, who currently earns just £850 per week, has been offered a deal by the Italian team believed to be in the region of £30,000-a-week with a signing-on bonus.

The Tyneside club’s original contract offer was just half of that but The Telegraph now claim that they have come back with an improved offer worth more than £20,000 per week.

Phillips insisted the Series A side would be getting a bargain with the compensation fee for Longstaff, said to be only £400,000.

“I was shocked,” the ex-England striker told Football Insider.

“You would not put Udinese as one of the biggest Italian clubs.

“I was surprised but they might be able to get him for £400,000 which is nothing to get a player of his quality.

“It would be a great lifestyle move for him but at his age he just wants to learn and play football.

“He will be thinking, that if the new owners come in and bring in a new manager, he might not be their kind of player.”

Perhaps Phillips is right when he says that Udinese are not one of the biggest Italian clubs, as they are arguably struggling in Italy’s top flight and are currently languishing in 14th place, just three points above the relegation zone, as per BBC.

The England under-20 international, who will be out of contract on 30 June, has scored three goals in 12 senior appearances under Steve Bruce this campaign so far, according to Transfermarkt.

By breaking through into the first team, he has shown the quality that Phillips believes he has, but moving to a different country may prove to be a great lifestyle move for him. Moreover, at only 20 years of age, Longstaff may just want to learn and play football as Phillips suggests.

However, under potentially new owners and possibly a new manager, providing that the prospective takeover at St. James’ Park is approved by the Premier League, the central midfielder may not be their ‘marquee’ kind of player.

Geordies, will Matty Longstaff be at Newcastle next season? Comment below with your views!