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Julian Gressel says the return to action of Lionel Messi after injury should have Inter Miami’s MLS rivals feeling “a little bit scared”.

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• All-time great recovering from ankle knock
• No risks being taken on his fitness
• Could return after the international break

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has not taken in a club appearance since mid-June, when he left Tata Martino’s camp in Florida and linked up with the Argentina national team for Copa America duty. He lifted the trophy at the end of that competition, but suffered an unfortunate ankle injury in the final.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi has been eased back to fitness since returning to Chase Stadium, with no risks being taken, and Inter Miami have continued to fare admirably without him. Martino has, however, indicated that his talismanic No.10 could return to action against the Philadelphia Union on September 14.

• Getty
  

  WHAT GRESSEL SAID

  Argentina left Messi out of their latest World Cup qualification squad, giving him time to work on his recovery in the United States, and Gressel has told of welcoming the all-time great back: “It’s Lionel Messi, I don’t think I really need to say much on what contribution he brings here. We’ve been very good without him, now you add a player like him into this team, and I’m sure other teams are looking at that and are a little bit scared of us. He has a couple of weeks to get back to game fitness, and hopefully he can join us on the field for the next game.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Inter Miami have pulled eight points clear at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference, as they chase down the Supporters’ Shield, and will hope to have a fully fit Messi firing on all cylinders when entering the post-season play-offs.

Glasgow Rangers secured a 3-3 draw in the third Old Firm clash of the campaign as the race for the Premiership title is now heating up.

If Rangers win their game in hand against Dundee on Wednesday evening, they will be two points clear of Celtic with just six matches remaining.

Although scoring a last-minute equaliser to secure a share of the spoils against Celtic is something certainly worth celebrating, the first-half display was atrocious.

Philippe Clement chose a few players in the starting XI whose inclusion wasn’t warranted, as the likes of Scott Wright and Fabio Silva failed to sparkle during the match, the latter notably stealing the headlines for a series of dramatic reactions to fouls.

The positives were the volume of quality which the Belgian could call upon from the substitute bench, however, as Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo both scored having come on during the second half.

Despite being able to call on these two, along with Todd Cantwell and Leon Balogun, there were a few players missing from the bench who could have used their experience to good effect; Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe.

Rangers' out-of-contract players in 2024

Jack and Roofe missed the game due to injury, which comes as no real shock considering they have barely played this term.

Jack has featured on just 22 occasions this season for the Light Blues, while Roofe has played 20 times throughout 2023/24. Both players have been absent for more games than they have featured in.

However, and with the duo out of contract at the end of the current season, it is time for them to move on.

In total, six players are out of contract at the club in the coming months. John Lundstram, Leon Balogun, Jon McLaughlin, and Borna Barisic join Jack and Roofe as players who could potentially all be departing Glasgow in a matter of weeks.

Clement will likely only offer Lundstram an extended deal, especially with the need to reduce the wage budget to attract new signings.

Jack has been a good servant for the Gers, but his seven-year association will surely end this summer.

Ryan Jack’s statistics at Rangers

The former Aberdeen midfielder joined the Light Blues in the summer of 2017 following the expiration of his contract at the North East club, and it looked like it could prove to be a solid bit of business by Pedro Caixinha.

Jack played just 19 times during his maiden campaign as injury problems derailed his progress, but over the following two seasons under Steven Gerrard, he made 85 appearances, finally emerging as a key member of the midfield as the former Liverpool captain was aiming to build a side which could topple Celtic and win the Premiership title.

Ryan Jack's Rangers statistics
Season	Games	Goals
2023/24	22	2
2022/23	36	2
2021/22	22	1
2020/21	24	2
2019/20	39	5
2018/19	46	4
2017/18	21	0
Via Transfermarkt

This finally happened during 2020/21, with Jack playing an important role. Across his 19 league games, the Scot scored twice, grabbed an assist, created one big chance, and averaged one key pass per game, showing a desire to contribute towards the attack.

It was his control of matches when deployed in the middle of the pitch which was perhaps the most crucial aspect of his game, as he averaged a pass success rate of 90% per game while winning 56% of his total duels per match, showcasing his strength in one on one battles.

This proved to be the high point of his career at the club, as more regular injuries have disrupted any sort of consistency he has aimed for since the start of the 2021/22 season.

The 32-year-old has played only 80 games since then, seeing his influence wane year after year. Clement signed Mohamed Diomande in January, while also being able to call on Nicolas Raskin, Kieran Dowell, and Lundstram in the heart of the pitch.

He could save millions by unearthing a talented academy gem to take his place from next season with Cole McKinnon seen as a bright prospect.

Cole McKinnon’s statistics at Rangers

The young midfielder made his senior bow for the Ibrox side during the final day of the 2021/22 season, as Giovanni van Bronckhorst rested several players due to the upcoming Europa League final.

He even scored on his debut in the 3-1 win over Hearts, indicating that the club had a serious talent on their hands.

A season-long loan spell at Partick Thistle yielded three goals and three assists in 31 games for the second-tier side, as McKinnon gained some regular game time for a club who were challenging for promotion.

This spell has clearly worked wonders, giving him a renewed confidence that he can perform at the highest level.

Prior to going out on loan, McKinnon signed a contract until 2025 at the club, being praised by Craig Mulholland, who was head of the academy at the time, who said:

“He has an outstanding desire to win, is a supporter who cares about the club and we are all very excited to see him maximise the potential he has in the coming years here at Rangers."

Clement is a manager who is willing to experiment with young players, especially if they have the potential to succeed. He has integrated Ross McCausland into the senior setup since arriving back in October, while McKinnon has also been given opportunities of late.

Against Benfica in the last 16 of the Europa League, the 21-year-old came off the bench to make his continental debut for the Gers, featuring for the final 13 minutes.

More was to come just three days later, as Clement sent the Scot on for the final ten minutes against Hibs in the Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hibs.

These experiences will all help aid his development as he bids to secure more minutes next season.

With Jack looking like he will depart the club, there is a space for another central midfielder to slot into the gap. This should go to McKinnon, who would not only improve the homegrown quota for European matches, but also prove that the Belgian is serious about giving academy players a chance to succeed in the senior ranks.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

West Ham United fans have been handed an update on Jarrod Bowen ahead of a key Europa League clash, courtesy of a club insider.

West Ham sweating over Bowen injury

The Hammers are nervously waiting on the fitness of Bowen this week. The England winger was forced off during their 2-1 Premier League win over Wolves on Saturday, hobbling off after a challenge with Mario Lemina early in the second half and heading straight down the tunnel after receiving treatment on the pitch.

After the game, Hammers boss David Moyes revealed that he thought it was just a knock, but that he knew from experience that 'they don't go away too quick', leaving him a major doubt for their upcoming games.

“We’ve got to hope he’s OK,” Moyes said. "We need all our top players. He’s had a knee into his hip or back. It’s not a twist. He said he’s got kneed and he’s really stiff. I’ve had one or two of those myself and they don’t go away too quick. I’m hoping it won’t be too bad.”

West Ham face Bayer Leverkusen in Germany on Thursday in the quarter final of the Europa League, aiming to become the first side to beat the Bundesliga leaders this season in what has been a remarkable campaign for Xabi Alonso and co.

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They then face a pair of home games, welcoming Fulham to the London Stadium before the return leg in 10 days time. But will Bowen prove fit enough to take part?

Insider provides latest team news before Leverkusen

Now, a pair of West Ham insiders have handed the Hammers faithful a boost on that front. As per Sean Whetstone, who runs West Ham Football on X (Twitter), one club source has revealed that Bowen is “still sore today" and that "we won’t know till Wednesday or Thursday if he will be fit”.

Meanwhile, ExWHUemployee has also provided his followers with an update along similar lines.

“We have received an update from a top source on Bowen who has said that he is still sore,” reported Ex on The West Ham Way Patreon. “They are unable to tell at this point whether he will make Thursday, and will know more in the next 48 hours. It isn’t thought to be too serious, just heavy bruising.”

There is no real alternative to Bowen in the West Ham squad, with his importance to the Hammers underlined by his minutes. He has played 90 minutes on 29 occasions this season in the Premier League, and before being substituted against Wolves had missed just one game (against Burnley).

Jarrod Bowen this Premier League season

% of minutes played

98.6%

% of West Ham's goals contributed to

38.5%

Shots on target (per 90)

1.05

Goals vs xG

+5.3

Key passes (per 90)

0.89

Should he not be passed fit, Maxwel Cornet could be asked to step up, with Mohammed Kudus moving to the right hand side. Alternatively, it could prompt a change of shape from Moyes, who has previously used a back three against bigger sides and could do so again to combat Leverkusen, who also play with a back three.

He will be hoping that last season's hero in Europe will be passed fit enough to take part once more though.

Tottenham are priming an unseen talent of theirs to become a future first-team star, according to a pundit this week.

Ange sets sights on improving Spurs academy

In a recent statement to the press, Spurs head coach Ange Postecoglou spoke of his desire for the Lilywhites academy set up to improve.

Senior Tottenham source says club chiefs think forward is a "bargain"

Lilywhites officials believe he could be an astute summer signing.

By
Emilio Galantini

Mar 19, 2024

Bright talents like Oliver Skipp, Dane Scarlett, Troy Parrott and Jamie Donley have come through in recent years, with the north Londoners also bringing in fresh talent from outside N17.

Tottenham sensationally hijacked Barcelona's deal for Lucas Bergvall on January deadline day, and the Swede will fully link up with Spurs this summer when coming back from a loan spell at Djurgardens IF in his homeland.

Postecoglou, though, says his side will continue in their efforts to both improve Tottenham's production line and attract fine talent from abroad.

"It's like anything in life, you can try to sell a vision of something to someone but if there's tangible physical evidence of it [it's easier]," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's youth policy.

"Anyone who has watched us since I've joined will have seen the aspirations we have to be the kind of team we want to be. That's not just me saying it, we're actually doing it. OK, we're not the finished product by any stretch but we're giving young players an opportunity: Destiny, Pape and Micky [are] all guys in their early 20s who have already played significant roles.

Tottenham's next league fixtures	Date
Luton Town (home)	March 30th
West Ham (away)	April 2nd
Nottingham Forest (home)	April 8th
Newcastle United (away)	April 13th
Arsenal (home)	April 27th

"So we're building a team. From our perspective it's pleasing and hopefully we become a club which is a preferred destination for talented young players. I've said the other day, there aren't too many hidden gems around. Everyone knows who the talents are. Hopefully our point of difference. I've always felt your football is your biggest selling point beyond anything else. Hopefully we're showing evidence of that which is helping us.

"I think we've got a lot of work to do in our academy and [academy director] Simon Davies is certainly one that is putting a lot of emphasis and priority there."

The likes of Tottenham starlet Mikey Moore are already garnering quite a reputation, but another who the club apparently rate highly is keeper Josh Keeley.

Tottenham priming Keeley to be a future first-team star

According to Spurs pundit John Wenham, who also regularly breaks academy news on his Lilywhite Rose social media channels, Tottenham may well be priming Keeley to become a future first-team star – with the youngster currently on loan at Barnet.

“I expect Keeley to jump up a couple of divisions next year after his loan this season," said Wenham.

“They like him at Tottenham, you wouldn’t have Vicario checking in on his progress if the club didn’t think he was important. They do like him a lot and it looks like he is being primed to one day become a first-team star at Tottenham.”

Leeds United had a squad clear out last summer following their relegation from the Premier League, as they allowed a number of first-team players to move on either permanently or on loan.

The likes of Rasmus Kristensen, Jack Harrison, Max Wober, Robin Koch, Brenden Aaronson, and Marc Roca all left on loan, whilst Tyler Roberts and Rodrigo were sold, and Luis Sinisterra has since been sold to Bournemouth.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Whites will go on to regret any of the decisions made on any of those departures in the years to come.

Famously, Leeds lived to regret their decision to cash in on French forward Eric Cantona to bitter rivals Manchester United in November 1992, as they had a big shocker with him.

Why Leeds sold Eric Cantona

It was reported that the attacker did not have the best relationship with then-manager Howard Wilkinson, having had a falling-out with the boss, and that opened the door to an exit from Elland Road.

They were not prepared to rule out a move away from Yorkshire for the gem due to the 'toxicity' around him at the club, which allowed the Red Devils to swoop in and sign him for just £1m.

It was reported to be £1.6m at the time of the move before it was later revealed that the actual fee was £600k less, with the initial valuation given to temper the frustration of Leeds supporters.

In less than one full year at the club, Cantona had racked up 14 goals and five assists in 34 appearances in all competitions, and The Mirror claimed that high-profile stars within the squad could see the potential he had.

Unfortunately, that was not enough to make up for the fractured relationship with Wilkinson, and Leeds had to watch on as the France international went on to become a legend in England with Manchester United.

Eric Cantona's Manchester United career in numbers

The legendary star hit the ground running at Old Trafford with a terrific return of nine goals and 11 assists in 22 Premier League matches during the 1992/93 campaign.

Cantona then plundered a staggering 18 goals and 12 assists in 34 outings in the top-flight throughout the subsequent season, which earned him the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in the division, which shows how highly he was rated by his peers.

Eric Cantona (Manchester United)
Premier League	Appearances	Goals	Assists
1992/93	22	9	11
1993/94	34	18	12
1994/95	21	12	5
1995/96	30	14	11
1996/97	36	11	12
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, the former Leeds star consistently provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals to help United to win four Premier League titles in those five seasons.

The mercurial talent, who former teammate Peter Schmeichel claimed "oozed confidence", ended his playing career with 81 goals and 62 assists in 183 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions.

Leeds, therefore, had a big shocker when they sold him for £1m, even with his less-than-ideal relationship with the manager, as he went on to win a Player of the Year award in the top-flight and played a crucial role in their rivals winning four of the next five league titles.

Over the last couple of seasons, Newcastle United's squad overall has undergone many changes. From being bought by the Saudi PIF to having Eddie Howe take over as manager.

Many things are different for the Magpies in recent times, and it feels as if sooner rather than later we will start to see more change within their ranks.

Last season was arguably one of the most successful for the Tyneside club as Howe managed to guide his men to Champions League qualification.

The club finished the Premier League season on 71 points, a total which put them four ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool. Reaching Europe's grandest stage was always the goal, however, none expected it to come as quickly as it did.

The 2023/24 term, on the other hand, has been quite a different story. The club find themselves 15 points out of the top four spots and currently sit in eighth place.

Granted, the amount of injuries which the team have endured this season has played a big part in the way they've performed. However, many other top-flight teams, such as league leaders Liverpool, have managed to play at a much higher standard.

This is shown not only by their league position, but the fact that they have only lost one game out of their last 17, shows the quality within their ranks.

This drop in form by Newcastle has understandably brought into question the future of many members of the team, including Howe's.

Many managers have been linked with the role, such as Julian Nagelsmann and even Ruben Amorim.

It is the former, however, who could unleash the next level within a Newcastle players' game.

How Nagelsmann could help develop Newcastle "monster"

The player in question is of Joelinton. The former striker, now a midfielder, joined The Magpies in the summer of 2019 for a then club-record fee worth £40m.

At the time, the then 22-year-old was deemed to be too expensive by many despite just having one of the most prolific seasons of his career where he amassed a total of 20 goal contributions for Hoffenheim.

It was during his time in Germany where Joelinton first met the now-German national team manager, and it was under his watch that he managed to produce some of the best numbers of his career.

Steve Bruce

89

10

Eddie Howe

89

15

Julian Nagelsmann

35

11

Goran Djuricin

41

13

Damir Canadi

14

3

Mike Buskens

25

5

Eduardo Baptista

18

4

After being signed by Hoffenheim from his home country in the 2015/16 season, the Brazil international spent a couple of seasons on loan with Rapid Vienna where he managed to involve himself with a total of 30 goals.

Upon his return, Nagelsmann integrated the 6 foot 1 youngster within the first-team squad, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Following his successful 2018/19 term, thanks to the guidance he received from the German manager, he became Hoffenheim's most-expensive player ever sold, surpassing Roberto Firmino.

Speaking about the then 22-year-old, Nagelsmann said the following, "The bloke is an animal. He’s a machine. It’s hard to stop him."

This not only shows his admiration for the midfielder, but, it also shows why he could make him even better.

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ByEthan Lamb Mar 1, 2024 Joelinton's time with Newcastle in numbers

After moving to Tyneside, his first campaign with the Magpies got off to a somewhat rocky start with the attacker being involved in just eight goals.

This lack of form continued in the following season, however, he did manage to slightly improve on his numbers by adding an extra goal to his total.

The 2021/22 season, however, was where things really kicked into gear for the youngster. His start to the season was slow once again, however, after the introduction of Howe to the squad, it released a whole new "monster," as journalist Aaron Stokes put it, from within.

It was thanks to the tactical decision of moving the Brazil international into midfield from the former Bournemouth manager that changed the direction of his career.

Since then, he has become one of the fans' most-loved players and has even formed a solid partnership with fellow Brazilian, Bruno Guimaraes.

This is shown by his returns in both the 2022/23 season and the 2023/24 season thus far. Across the two campaigns, he has played a total of 63 games and has managed to contribute to a total of 18 goals.

This total is more than that of his first two seasons combined despite only being three-quarters of the 2023/24 campaign being played thus far.

So, if Howe does end up losing his managerial position at Newcastle, the appointment of Nagelsmann – a man who has already got plenty out of the Brazilian – could help bring out an even better version of Joelinton for the Magpies.

Glasgow Rangers secured what could be a season-turning result against St Johnstone on Sunday, as it allowed the Ibrox side to jump to the summit of the Premiership table.

Given that the Light Blues were trailing by eight points after just seven matches, the turnaround under Philippe Clement has been sensational, to say the least.

This has given the Light Blues an excellent chance at winning their 56th league championship, and it could well be one of the most impressive to date given the circumstances.

Clement has seen the vast majority of his squad work well together and really stand up to the challenge, with Todd Cantwell being particularly impressive in recent weeks.

These displays have seen the former Norwich City starlet enjoy an increase in market value and if he maintains his current level, this could rise even higher before the end of the season.

Todd Cantwell’s market valuation at Rangers

The Englishman has been at the club for over a year now, but this purple patch of late is perhaps the finest he has played since arriving.

Of course, he did score six times and register five assists during the second half of last season, but the Gers were never really in a title hunt and the pressure was off.

Cantwell endured a tough start to the current season, having to wait until November to score his first goal, while he also missed five matches due to a knee injury suffered while playing against Celtic in the first Old Firm clash of the season.

Since netting against Sparta Prague on matchday four of the Europa League group stages, the 25-year-old has scored another five goals and grabbed two assists in the Premiership.

Clement has deployed him regularly as a number ten playing just behind the striker, and he enjoyed one of his best performances of the season against Ross County last week.

Although he failed to register a goal contribution, the attacking midfielder was a menace to the County backline, making four key passes, hitting the woodwork, succeeding with two of his four dribbles, and was fouled five times.

These recent displays in the league have seen his market value rise slightly and, according to Football Transfers, Cantwell is now valued at €4m (£3.4m) and there is no doubt this will rise gradually as the season progresses.

While the former Premier League star has been excellent, it has been another Rangers player who has really embraced the pressure of the title race in recent weeks and led the club to some excellent wins – James Tavernier.

How much James Tavernier cost Rangers

The captain finally completed his set of domestic medals back in December when he led the Gers to a League Cup triumph against Aberdeen, and it made up for the previous two finals he had played in – losing both to Celtic.

The right-back joined the Light Blues for a fee of just £200k from Wigan in the summer of 2015 as the club were still progressing through the lower leagues and, given what he has achieved over the previous nine years, the deal must go down as one of the best in the club’s history.

With the chance of winning a second league title during his spell at the Gers, Tavernier has seen his market value rise since joining, ensuring that he is now worth more than Cantwell.

James Tavernier’s market value at Rangers

Tavernier saw a peak market value of €8.4m (£7.1m) according to Football Transfers during the 2020/21 campaign, in which the Gers were totally dominant in the top flight, and it was a season where the defender registered 35 goal contributions – 19 goals and 16 assists – in all competitions in what was a record-breaking season.

While his value may have dipped slightly from that season, he is currently valued at €6.5m (£5.5m), which, for a player who will be 33 in October, is certainly a decent figure.

His performances this term have given the Light Blues a chance of securing an incredible domestic treble, and it shows just why he is valued so highly.

Why James Tavernier is valued so highly

The £30k-per-week captain has scored 19 goals and grabbed ten assists so far this season and February is not over yet, proving just how vital he has been to the club.

His latest two-goal salvo against St Johnstone allowed the Light Blues to secure a 3-0 victory and leapfrog Celtic at the summit of the league table.

The pressure was on during the match, but the captain led from the front and proved that the Gers are more than up for the challenge of reclaiming their dominance of Scottish football.

41

19

55

18

58

18

46

19

46

3

57

17

46

9

44

2

50

15

Not only does Tavernier lead from the front among his teammates with regard to goals and assists in the top flight (20), but he also ranks first for big chances created (13), key passes per game (3.1), and overall Sofascore rating of 8.14/10 which proves just how crucial he is for the club.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd has lavished Tavernier with plenty of praise over the years, but perhaps the best came in 2022.

"Since signing in 2015, Tav has been a key figure in Rangers' recent journey,” gushed Boyd over the captain.

"People will rightly point to title No 55 and the part he played in that. They will also look at his role in helping Gers to reach last season's Europa League final. But he's delivered a helluva lot more than that.

"He's become a proud ambassador for the club. As captain, he sets an example for others to follow. His numbers, in terms of goals and assists, speak for themselves. But it's the way he has carried himself that has been so impressive.”

While the former Newcastle United gem has won everything there has to be won in Scotland, along with leading the Ibrox side to a Europa League final, if they win the Premiership this season, could it be his finest achievement?

Given where the club were in September, it would certainly rank highly, and his displays have seen his value rise while being worth more than attacking players such as Cantwell, which shows that the Gers struck gold when they signed him for £200k.