Let’s face it – although close to £80 million was somehow spent on mostly ill-fated transfers down on Tyneside this season – the 2015/16 campaign has ultimately proven an utter disaster for Newcastle United and the loyal hordes of Magpies faithful.
Steve McClaren has already faced the boot for failing to deliver rather dramatically at St. James’, it remains to be seen whether or not Rafa Benitez has enough time to steady this distinctly sinking ship from the increasingly turbulent waters, and nearly every single player to wear the black & white of Newcastle of late has ultimately let the fans down in largely unforgivable circumstances.
But one man who has nonetheless stood up to be counted on almost every given occasion for the Magpies this term must ultimately arrive in the form of Aleksandar Mitrovic. The 21-year-old Serbian international may not have set the Premier League alight in glowing circumstances, but in the excessively passionate and fiery centre-forward, the St. James’ faithful arguably find their greatest hope of avoiding relegation come the final culmination of the current season.
So then, can the former Anderlecht forward somehow end the 2015/16 campaign on triumphant terms for the dejected Tyneside supporters, or are Newcastle United simply destined to head back down towards the Championship when all is said and done this term?
Despite initially arriving among the English top-flight with the reputation as somewhat of a loose cannon down at St. James’, Aleksandar Mitrovic has admittedly kept his head for the most part this season, and has largely served to impress whilst operating within a clearly weakened side.
The entire Newcastle starting XI looks void of goal-scoring threat, Rafa Benitez’ current back-line arguably represents one of the worst defensive line-ups across the entire Premier League and whilst both players certainly began the 2015/16 campaign in somewhat promising style, Georginio Wijnaldum and Ayoze Perez have ultimately failed to perform at a consistent enough level.
Aleksandar Mitrovic, on the other hand, has undoubtedly given his all every time he’s stepped out on the pitch in front of the Tyneside faithful this term. His passion for goals has proven admirable throughout large portions of the current campaign, whilst his physical aggression clearly gives opposing defenders a strong run for their money even at the worst of times.
Had Steve McClaren previously shown more faith in the Serbian international as an out-in-out first team starter for Newcastle United this season, perhaps the deflated Magpies wouldn’t admittedly find themselves in such a sticky situation right now.
Should the often largely neglected Tyneside supporters nonetheless see their side painfully relegated upon the last game of the 2015/16 Premier League campaign however, Mitrovic would nonetheless have to be credited for at least wearing his heart on his sleeve and attempting to improve the increasingly forlorn fortunes of his current employers.
He would probably be sold off to a rival side operating within the top-flight of their own domestic sphere of course – for although the 21-year-old hot-shot has certainly given his all in-front of the Magpies fans in 2015/16 – his loyalty to Newcastle United arguably wouldn’t extend to the less than attractive realms of Championship football ahead of the new season.
But as Rafa Benitez’ side can still theoretically beat the drop despite their continued lacklustre form this term, Newcastle United can certainly be saved between now and the end of the season – and should such an admittedly unlikely outcome eventually take place in 2015/16 – Aleksandar Mitrovic simply has to be at the forefront of such a determined movement.
The young Serbian star must therefore start every upcoming match for Newcastle United this season, for without the passionate striker solidly involved among the first-team fold down at St. James’, Rafa Benitez’ Magpies stand no chance of survival whatsoever…
Manchester United have received a blow in their chase for Borussia Dortmund star Mats Hummels, with Bayern Munich in talks with the highly-coveted defender, Guardian reports.
Hummels has been heavily linked with a move away from the Westfalendstadion the past season, with the likes of the Red Devils and Arsenal both eyeing the Germany international.
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However, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenige revealed on Tuesday that he has been in talks with Hummels over a potential switch to the Allianz Arena, denting the Premier League duo’s chances of landing the 2014 World Cup winner.
He said: “I can pretty much confirm what Mr Watzke said last night and that is that Mats is talking to Bayern.
“But these are talks between three parties and please understand that I cannot go into more detail at this moment.
“We have to respect that he is under contract at the moment [until 2017] and I don’t want to ruin the good relationship we have built up [with Dortmund] with some comments today.”
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said earlier this week that he will not stop Hummels leaving if he wants to look for a new challenge, but it seems that the 27-year-old will be following in the footsteps of Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowksi in joining their Bundesliga rivals from the BVB.
“To forbid Hummels to leave would be small-minded,” Watzke said.
“We have to accept that someone playing for Dortmund for eight years and getting [close to] 28 starts to think about his situation.
“If the club isn’t ready to pay a lot of money, he has a contract in Dortmund.”
Hummels has made 46 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring three goals and supplying four assists.
One of the strangest transfer rumours that has emerged over the last few days, with Bleacher Report suggesting that Radamel Falcao might just be heading to Middlesborough.
The club, promoted last season, are looking to add firepower as they look to remain in the top flight and re-establish themselves as one of the top teams in England.
On the surface, the Falcao deal looks an unrealistic one, but if you actually think about it, the deal does make some sense.
Here are FIVE reasons why Falcao could keep Boro in the Premier League…
Staying in the Premier League
As confirmed in the Bleacher Report, Falcao wants to have another crack at the Premier League.
It’s easy to understand why, as his time so far in England has been largely hampered by injuries and inconsistency.
If he were to head to Middlesborough he would immediately become their star man, giving him the confidence to rebuild his career.
If he is interested in the deal and really wants to get his career on track, this might also cause his wage demands to drop significantly, making him more affordable for the club.
If he truly wants to stay and give the league another go, very few clubs would serve as a better base than Middlesborough
Falcao Still Has The Quality
Many fans would say that Falcao is simply past it and that he isn’t worth the investment anymore.
In response to that, you only have to look at Fernando Torres and how he has performed in Spain now he has returned to Atletico Madrid.
He isn’t lighting up the league like he used to, but he has certainly regained some of the form that he once had.
What this shows is that if you are valued and if you are happy, you will return to form given time.
Of course, a lot of that is opportunity; and Falcao would certainly get that at Middlesborough, potentially giving the club valued firepower up front.
An Opportunity for Falcao
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Thus far, Falcao’s time in the Premier League has largely been as a secondary or tertiary striker.
At Man United he played behind Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, while at Chelsea he was playing behind Diego Costa and Loic Remy.
At Middlesborough, he likely wouldn’t have a challenge to start every week. If he could stay fit, he would get a run of games in the first-team that he hasn’t had in years.
This would, in theory, allow him the opportunity to recapture some of his best form and reignite his career.
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Monaco Want To Sell
Football – AS Monaco v Tottenham Hotspur – Pre Season Friendly – Stade Louis II, Monaco – 13/14 – 3/8/13Radamel Falcao – AS Monaco Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jed Leicester
What is also clear is that Monaco do want rid of the striker.
He is eating up a chunk of their wage bill whilst not performing for the club; with Monaco looking to cut spending and change their transfer approach.
This, combined with Falcao’s intent to stay in the Premier League, will be crucial for the financial aspects of the deal.
If Monaco want rid of the striker quickly, they would likely accept a vastly cut price fee. On top of this, if the reports that he does want to stay in the Premier League are true, he would likely also accept reduced wages.
If both of these things happen; this deal could be on.
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Jorge Mendes’s Role
This could be crucial in getting the deal done.
Jorge Mendes, Falcao’s agent, has enjoyed a good relationship with Middlesborough and their manager Aitor Karanka through his connection with Jose Mourinho.
After spending time as Jose’s assistant in Madrid, Karanka moved on to Middlesborough, and Mourinho looked to his former assistant for potential loan signings – with Mendes brokering a number of the deals.
If Falcao is interested in the deal, and Middlesborough are keen, Mendes will pull out all the stops to make sure this one happens.
So, West Ham are very industrious in the transfer market again this year.
The board and Slaven Bilic are proving to be shrewd and hard negotiators with potential players, agents and their clubs and it all bodes well for the Hammers.
It’s always about getting the right deal, value for money and a player that will fit seamlessly into the West Ham ranks without rocking the otherwise calm boat that Bilic has already put together in the short time he has been at the helm.
With Gokhan Tore it has been a labour of love to get this deal over the line. It is always a major plus that a player actually wants to play for the club other than for the money.
With Tore, he stated that the fans and his ex-manager played a huge part in his decision to leave Turkey for East London. Feghouli said the same for the charismatic Croat. He obviously has that certain something.
On the official West Ham United website on Monday, Tore said: “I am very happy to be at West Ham. I watched many games that they played last season and saw how passionate the fans are.
“That made me want to come here and I am looking forward to playing in front of them. Slaven was also a big factor in me coming here and he is a great manager. He is the main man and knows me very well. I could not have said no to him.”
“He is the best manager I have worked under and he is like a father to the players. You feel like you are family.”
The player is no stranger to these shores after a stint at Chelsea within their youth system for two seasons. From Chelsea the 24-year-old went onto Hamburg in 2011 for a season before moving on again.
Tore tried his luck in Russia, but had an unsuccessful spell with Rubin Kazan before joining Besiktas, first on loan for the 2013-14 season and then on a permanent deal in the summer of 2014.
Tore scored 19 goals in 111 games for Besiktas, but he was not included in Turkey’s squad for Euro 2016.
The winger adds impetus to the West Ham attack and will add width, pace and trickery in a team now brimming with potency in setting up the goals, and now the club need to find a player to put the chances away.
Under Slaven at Besiktas, Tore seemed to click and then lived up to his reputation. He became one of the most sought after players in the Super Lig and scored a career high eight goals with eleven assists in Bilic’s final season in Turkey.
His father figure approach to Tore has seen the player blossom and at the same time tame his occasional wild side. Tore is no angel with previous altercations with teammates and a bullet in the shoulder in a nightclub, just a few of his more colourful stories.
Hammers fans will also be hopeful of seeing the Tore-ing goal celebration at points next season, where he covers up his face with one hand. It harks back to a game his grandmother used to play with him and caused a social media sensation in Turkey last season.
There is no doubt that this was one of the signings that Bilic craved and the supporters at West Ham will soon discover what it was that made Bilic go all out for the Turkish international.
The focus at this time of the season is usually at either the top or the bottom of the table as people talk at length as to who will win the league or who will face the dreaded drop come the end of the season but let’s focus on the middle of the table for once.
Of course not everyone gain earn themselves European football after 38 matches of a Premier League campaign and with a top flight that gets more and more competitive, the fight to earn honours gets tougher with each season that passes.
If teams don’t get off to a good start the next thing they know they could be in the congested mid-table with a long hard slog in front of them. The first few weeks can very much shape a sides season it can also make a managers job status very perilous. Here are three sides that need a good start to the season for different reasons.
Everton
The blue half of Merseyside has caught a lot of attention this summer after the arrival of Ronald Koeman as manager and the large amount of transfer funds that he has been given. Add that to the ongoing transfer saga regarding Romelu Lukaku and Everton have had their fair share of column inches since the end of the last campaign.
A campaign which was incredibly disappointing by the Toffees’ standards as they limped home to an 11th place finish, one that saw Roberto Martinez given his marching orders before the season’s end. With Koeman now installed at the helm the expectations will be that Everton are once again challenging for the European places.
With John Stones departing for Manchester City they have plugged that gap with Ashley Williams, Stones will of course be missed but Williams will be more of an able replacement as he finally gets his chance to play for a big club at the age of 31.
If they can keep hold of Romelu Lukaku then that will be a massive boost as his goals were one of the few bright points last season. Koeman led Southampton to two Europa League places finishes he will now hope to continue that run with Everton. If he can spend some of those promised funds before the end of the month then he may well have every chance in doing so.
Bournemouth
After the departure of Roy Hodgson as England manager there was much talk of Eddie Howe becoming the next man to take charge of the national side. In fairness to Howe that probably came a bit too soon but he certainly has all the makings of a future England boss.
The reason he was being talked in those circles was due to the fact that he managed to keep Bournemouth up in their maiden Premier League season. Overall on the balance of their season you would have to say it was a job well done but the manner in which it ended will have given Bournemouth fans some cause for concern.
That’s because once safety was assured Howe’s players very much took their foot off the pedals and coasted along to the end with a return of just four points from their final 24. Now it may be harsh on Bournemouth as at least they got themselves into a position to relax after such heroic efforts from their first 30 league games but they certainly can’t afford that run of form at the start of this season.
The key this season for Eddie Howe is too make sure his team don’t suffer from ‘Second Season Syndrome’ they will no longer be the unknown quantity of twelve months ago and life in the top flight will be that little bit harder from week to week. This will now be a real test of Howe’s managerial mettle.
Watford
Another new man at the Watford helm as Walter Mazzarri was announced as the man to take over from Quique Sanchez Flores back in May. Watford’s return to the Premier League was very much a season of two halves, one that saw them in the European places in December and then a big slump down the table after the new year.
Sanchez Flores arguably made a rod for his own back by starting the season so well as that then heightened the expectations of both the board and fans alike. If the season was the over away around then the former Atletico Madrid manager would have been heralded as some kind of genius. But unfortunately such is the nature of football that owners and fans have very short memories.
The key thing that was the undoing of Sanchez Flores was the fact that the early season goals from Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo had dried up since the turn of the year and that coincided with their downfall into the bottom half. There was too much of an over reliance on these two and not enough input from the rest of the side that coupled with tactical inflexibility and the writing was soon on the wall for the Spaniard.
New manager Mazzarri will be hoping that with Ighalo putting pen to paper on a five year deal at Vicarage Road and warding off any interest from China that the Nigerian will have once again found where the net is as he looks to he and Deeney to once again score the goals to keep them up. That said there has to be more goals from the supporting cast this time around otherwise they could be in trouble.
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have lost their appeals against one-year transfer bans for breaking rules protecting underage players. FIFA said that the Madrid clubs are blocked from registering new players in the next two transfer windows – winter 2016 and summer 2017.
The transfer ban means that the Spanish clubs cannot buy new additions but can sell or loan out the players. But to compete in the domestic and European leagues, some players have to be retained.
But why should it matter to English Clubs?
Some English clubs were willing to take the certain players from the Madrid-based clubs but with the transfer ban in effect, these English clubs are impacted. Although transfers cannot be ruled out yet, they could be forced to pay an extravagant amount of money.
Here are some of the English clubs impacted…
Arsenal
Prior to signing Lucas Pérez from Deportivo for a reported fee of £17.1million, Arsenal were rumoured to be monitoring the situation of Jamie Vardy and Real Madrid’s strikers Karim Benzema & Álvaro Morata.
But failure to land the aforementioned targets, Arsene Wenger turned to Lucas Pérez. With Arsene Wenger’s parsimonious approach in transfers and now possessing multiple strikers, signing a new striker is not on the cards.
Liverpool
Mateo Kovačić was rumoured to be leaving Real Madrid after seeing his game time limited by the likes of Luka Modrić and Casemiro, and the Croatian central midfielder was a target for multiple English clubs.
Liverpool made a plethora of signings in this window in a bid to strengthen their squad to compete for Champions League places. But they failed to land Real Madrid’s midfielder Mateo Kovačić.
Signing Kovačić could have enabled Jurgen Klopp to reduce his dependency on Emre Can and Henderson. But with the ban imposed, Kovačić won’t come cheap for Liverpool.
Tottenham
One of the big transfer rumour on the transfer deadline day for Tottenham Hotspur was the potential signing of Real Madrid’s attacking midfielder Isco. The Spaniard was rumoured to be available from Real Madrid on a season-long loan and Mauricio Pochettino was keen.
But with Isco staying put, Tottenham signed Moussa Sissoko instead. Isco is quite a talent but is short on playing due to competition from James Rodriguez and Marco Asensio.
Chelsea
Earlier in the transfer window, Diego Costa expressed his desire to leave for his old club and so Antonio Conte was reportedly interested in sign Álvaro Morata as a replacement. But in an interesting turn of events, now neither Costa can leave for Atletico Madrid nor Real Madrid will let Álvaro Morata go.
Another player that supposedly interested Conte was the Colombian superstar James Rodriguez. The Colombian’s rumoured fall out with Zinedine Zidane has led James being demoted to the bench. James was linked to multiple clubs in the transfer window but a move never materialised. The move might happen, but it won’t be a piece of cake as the deal hinges on a lot of factors.
Manchester United
Manchester United were rumoured to be planning raids on both Madrid clubs in the summer as they targeted Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Real Mardid’s James Rodriguez, Raphaël Varane and Gareth Bale.
Raphaël Varane is highly valued by both Zinedine Zidane and José Mourinho. But with Varane reiterating his desire to stay in the Spanish capital and fight for his place, Mourinho’s desire to link up with the Frenchman will remain unfulfilled.
Antoine Griezmann was seen as a potential contender to replace Manchester United’s stalwart and captain, Wayne Rooney. Rooney’s underwhelming performances have raised questions regarding his place at Old Trafford and Griezmann would be a perfect replacement. Besides the French forward, James Rodriguez is also seen as a viable option to take over the No.10 role for Manchester United.
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According to reports from The Sun, Arsenal are strongly considering Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe as a replacement for Arsene Wenger.
What’s the word?
With Wenger’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, The Sun claim Howe is under ‘serious consideration’ to succeed Le Prof – with his name being discussed in the ‘corridors of power’ at the Emirates Stadium.
Of course, this theory is nothing new. Last week, Mirror Football’s Arsenal expert John Cross described Jack Wilshere’s loan move to the Vitality Stadium as a ‘nine-month audition’ for Howe to prove he can get the best out of big talents and big personalities. Should he succeed in bringing Wilshere back to his best, Cross claims the Premier League’s top clubs will be forced to take note – with the Gunners amongst the likeliest to do so due to Wenger’s aforementioned contract status.
Is he any good?
No doubt, Howe is the rising star of the English management scene. He’s masterminded Bournemouth’s rise from the depths of the Football League to the top flight, winning three promotions during two spells on the South Coast. The 38-year-old was also named LMA Manager of the Year, Championship Manager of the year and Football League Manager of the Decade in 2015. He kept Bournemouth in the Premier League last season by the relatively safe margin of five points and was even billed as a ‘leading candidate’ for the England job by The Daily Mail back in July.
Impressive stuff for a manger who’s still the right side of 40. But it should be remembered that, in the context of the last few seasons at least, Howe’s had financial backing. Over the last three transfer windows, including this summer, he’s spent around £80million.
What would Howe bring to Arsenal?
Howe’s footballing philosophy is best described as optimistic and earnest. His players roll their sleeves up but also look to play good football, be it with electric pace on the counter or keeping possession to work opportunities around the box. In that sense, he’s certainly a student of the Wenger school of thought.
Howe also places a strong emphasis on young, English talent, evident enough through deals for Tyrone Mings, Benik Afobe and Jordon Ibe – all of whom joined the Cherries aged 22 or younger for club-record transfer fees. Likewise, as previously discussed, he’s now given himself the challenge of unleashing Jack Wilshere’s full potential.
That could be something of real interest to Arsenal. Wenger has spent significantly, in terms of both money and effort, to create a prominent English contingent at the Emirates but presently, it’s just not delivering. Wilshere’s move away from the north London is symptomatic and none of the contributions from Arsenal’s England internationals were exactly outstanding last season, as shown below (courtesy of Squawka).
Will Wenger actually step down?
That’s the million-dollar question. Three years ago, Wenger’s reign looked set to come to an end but Arsenal won the FA Cup – their first trophy in a decade – and he signed a new deal. Intriguingly, BBC Sport journalist David Ornstein said in an interview with @TheAFCBell last month:
Huge insight from Ornstein as to whether the Arsenal hierarchy are feeling our frustration from Gunners
Swansea City are a side whom many thought would probably fare okay in this season’s Premier League.
But seven games in, the Swans have already sacked manager Francesco Guidolin with the side sitting in a precarious 17th position in the Premier League table.
Under the former Udinese man, they picked up just four points in their opening seven fixtures – which just isn’t good enough to keep pace with the rest of the teams in the division.
If the Swans were going to have any success, they needed to change things up. But with new manager Bob Bradley now at the helm, are things going to change on the pitch?
The American has never managed in England before and we feel the spine of this Swansea squad just isn’t good enough to get away from the drop-zone come the end of the season.
So with that in mind, here’s three reasons why Swansea are destined for the drop, despite Bradley’s appointment.
A lack of goals
When it comes to out-and-out strikers, Swansea just don’t have enough firepower in central positions to keep them up.
In the past they’ve had one prolific goalscorer that has generally done enough to keep them afloat for the entire campaign but this time out, they don’t have that luxury in the slightest.
We haven’t seen much for £15million-man Borja Baston whilst Fernando Llorente has only just started to show he could have a handful of goals in him – but neither of these players will score twenty a season.
And with Bafetimbi Gomis and Marvin Emnes both out on loan, Swansea might struggle to score enough to keep themselves safe.
A leaky defence
15 goals conceded in all competitions so far this season is too many and Swansea will need to rectify their leaky defence if they’re going to have any chance of staying up.
With Ashley Williams joining Everton, they seem to have struggled in his absence and goals are going in far too often.
A decent shout might be integrating Kyle Bartley back into the side when his loan move at Leeds United expires at the end of the season. He’s been fantastic for the Whites and could be an option – but his return will come too late to help Swansea’s survival bid.
Not enough pace in the side
This might seem like a slightly odd comment when you consider how much pace Swansea City do have on the flanks.
Barrow and Routledge are seriously speedy but when we’re talking about pace, we’re talking about the whole side in unison.
They were too slow under Guidolin and he didn’t win many fans over with his style of play. Bradley has inherited a team that need a real nudge in the right direction but it could be too late already.
Unless there is a minor miracle at Wembley on Friday night, another generation of Scotland players will miss out on playing at the World Cup Finals.
Russia 2018 looks like becoming another distant tournament as 20 years passes without Scotland at the biggest stage of the international game.
The World Cup in France saw Celtic’s biggest ever contingent of players. Fresh from stopping ten-in-a-row Craig Brown relied heavily on the Hoops connection for his squad.
Best pals Simon Donnelly and Jackie McNamara were on duty, midfielders Paul Lambert and Craig Burley were in place, Darren Jackson started in the opening match against Brazil, Tom Boyd scored an own goal with Johnathan Gould a back up keeper after Andy Goram had a change of mind. Tosh McKinlay was also in the squad, despite being understudy to Stephane Mahe at club level
Former Celt’s Derek Whyte and John Collins were also included.
The decline in Scottish international football since 1998 has been sharp, with the list of internationals from Celtic highlighting the issue.
With all respect to the players listed in this article, it’s unlikely that many of them would have been capped in another era. Typically the team is playing in a 4-5-1 formation to dig in for a draw or face saving defeat.
Hold on tight to view the post ’98 Celtic & Scotland XI…
DAVID MARSHALL
It’s 14 years on since his night in the Nou Camp, with the local Bhoy making a great career for himself in England.
He had some unfortunate early international experiences but is now well established as Gordon Strachan’s first choice – holding off the challenge from Craig Gordon and Allan McGregor. Credit to Gordon Strachan for having faith in Marshall after dropping him from at in favour of Artur Boruc.
Marshall is a tried and tested Premier League keeper, he excelled for Cardiff City and is impressing with Hull City as they look to retain their top flight status.
MARK WILSON
Football – Celtic v Motherwell Scottish FA Cup Final – Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland – 10/11 – 21/5/11Mark Wilson (C) and Anthony Stokes (L) celebrate after Motherwell’s Stephen Craigan (Not Pictured) scores an own goal and the second for CelticMandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee SmithLivepic
Earned a solitary full cap appearing as a substitute in the short lived Carling Nations Cup against Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in 2011.
Wilson was a regular under-age international but failed to bridge the gap into the full squad. In most circumstances a move to Celtic should have kicked off his international career, but too many injuries got in the way.
Season 2010/11 was the best season of his Celtic career, replacing Phil Bardsley in a 3-0 win shortly before he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 Scottish Cup replay against Rangers.
STEPHEN MCMANUS
Football – Dundee United v Celtic – Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League – Tannadice Park – 07/08 – 22/5/08Celtic’s Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (R) celebrates after scoring his sides first goal with team mate Stephen McManusMandatory Credit: Action Images / Steven Paston
A late developer at Celtic, his international debut came a year later when he replaced Robbie Neilson in a match against Georgia.
McManus was a good, steady centre-half at Celtic who took his chance when it finally appeared. However, the chance to play alongside Bobo Balde or Johan Mjallby would have been invaluable.
His club career was heavily linked to Gordon Strachan but his cap days were over by the time Strachan took on the Scotland job. He has 26 caps, scoring two international goals.
GARY CALDWELL
Football – Celtic Press Conference – Landmark Hotel, London, England – 09/10 – 25/8/09Celtic’s Gary Caldwell during the press conference Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Steven PastonLivepic
Was already an international when he joined Celtic on a Bosman deal from Hibs, Berti Vogts gave the defender his first cap in a 5-0 loss away to France in 2002.
Caldwell did get his revenge on the French when he scored the only goal of the game, as a typical bus parking exercise by Walter Smith pulled off a surprise 1-0 win.
He played alongside many different central defensive partners during the worst of international times, picking up 55 caps with a total of two goals scored.
DANNY FOX
Football – Wales v Scotland 2014 World Cup Qualifying European Zone – Group A – Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales – 12/10/12Wales’ Gareth Bale (R) in action with Scotland’s Danny FoxMandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew CouldridgeLivepic
One of the most bizarre international careers, highlighting a brief and bizarre Celtic career.
Tony Mowbray described Fox’s left foot as a wand when he was signed on a £1.5m deal from Coventry in 2009. He had a disastrous debut away to Wales shortly after joining Celtic but was recalled by Craig Levein three years later for the last of his four caps.
Fox has proven to be a decent Championship level defender but wouldn’t have got close to a Scotland cap in any of the World Cup Finals squads.
PAUL HARTLEY
Football – Stock – 9/9/09Paul Hartley – ScotlandMandatory Credit: Action Images / Ed Sykes
Was a late developer but his international career kicked off under Walter Smith.
A debut away to Italy in the San Siro is quite an introduction to the international scene. Typical of Scotland players, his international career coincided with restricting his attacking instincts and evolving into a holding midfielder.
His Scotland career continued after switching from Hearts to Celtic. In total he picked up 25 international caps.
SCOTT BROWN
Football – Poland v Scotland – International Friendly – National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland – 5/3/14Poland’s Kamil Glik in action against Scotland’s Scott Brown (R)Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Peter CziborraLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Back at the centre of attention, the Hoops captain successfully handled the step up from U21 matches to playing at full international level and the switch from Hibs to Celtic.
Like Caldwell, he has played through a number of failed campaigns in an international career that is now in its twelfth season.
There has been some high spots, some dominating, impressive displays but like many others he hasn’t been able to break out of the cycle of decline.
BARRY ROBSON
Football – Scotland Training – Carton House Hotel Spa & Golf Club, Maynooth Road, Kildare, Co. Kildare – 27/5/11Scotland’s Barry Robson (L) and Kenny Miller arrive for trainingMandatory Credit: Action Images / Peter CziborraLivepic
His career was coming towards a peak when he collected his first Scotland cap as a Dundee United player against South Africa in 2007.
After the dynamic start to his Celtic career, he forced his way into the Scotland side under George Burley and Craig Levein.
Like Hartley, his progression to full international football seemed to coincide with taking on a more physical and defensive aspect to his game and he earned 17 caps in total.
KRIS COMMONS
Football – Celtic v Dundee United – Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership – Celtic Park – 25/10/15Celtic’s Kris Commons celebrates scoring their third goal Action Images via Reuters / Graham StuartLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for
Was picked up when playing for Derby County, becoming one of a number of English born players who uncovered their Scottish connections well into his club career.
His performances with Scotland earned him a move to Celtic where he was a major force in the side that won five titles.
With a young family and the increasing demands of the international scene, he retired from Scotland duty after collecting 12 caps.
SHAUN MALONEY
Football – Scotland v Nigeria – International Friendly – Craven Cottage, London, England – 28/5/14Scotland’s Shaun MaloneyMandatory Credit: Action Images / Matthew ChildsEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Has enjoyed a strong international career, looking at home on that stage through a fluctuating club career that has criss-crossed Scotland and England and included a brief stint in North America.
Like Stephen McManus, Maloney’s club career really took off under Gordon Strachan but that relationship currently seems to be strained.
During the failed campaign for Euro 16, Maloney was one of Scotland’s top performers. He has picked up 47 caps and scored seven times.
CRAIG BEATTIE
Football – Scotland Training – Parc de Princes – Paris – France – 11/9/07Craig Beattie Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee Mills
Yet another of the ‘Strachan gang’ whose Celtic career accelerated when the current Scotland boss took over from Martin O’Neill.
His explosive pace proved to be too explosive with hamstring injuries blighting his career at the worst possible times.
All seven of his caps were came over a two year stint with the highlight being a last minute winner against Georgia at Hampden in the Euro 2008 campaign.
It wouldn’t be harsh to describe Leicester City’s season as a major disappointment. The Premier League champions are looking set to battle relegation as they have failed to live up to expectations that were heightened by last season’s astonishing title success.
One enormous positive the Foxes can take though is that their inaugural Champions League campaign has witnessed them qualify for the round of 16, while also claiming the top spot in the group in the process with a game to spare.
Now, Claudio Ranieri faces the task of overcoming FC Porto in their final game but with the Foxes already qualified; the Italian manager should consider making wholesale changes to the squad ahead of the clash against the Portuguese outfit.
Some of Leicester’s best players such as Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have not produced to the same standard of performance as they did last season, so the duo should be dropped for the clash against Porto, and these THREE youngsters should be given their opportunity in the first-team…
Ben Chilwell
Britain Soccer Football – Chelsea v Leicester City – Barclays Premier League – Stamford Bridge – 15/5/16Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy and Ben Chilwell before the gameAction Images via Reuters / Tony O’BrienLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account rep
The young left-back has found it difficult to force his way into the first-team at Leicester due to the impressive performances of Christian Fuchs.
Chilwell was widely linked with a move to Liverpool all summer, but the transfer failed to materialise as the Foxes has slapped an enormous price-tag on him before tying him down to a new contract.
Chilwell is deserving of his opportunity to impress against Porto and could be the long-term answer to England’s left-back dilemma.
Bartosz Kapustka
Football Soccer – Ukraine v Poland – EURO 2016 – Group C – Stade Velodrome – Marseille, France – 21/6/16 Ukraine’s Ruslan Rotan and Poland’s Bartosz Kapustka in action REUTERS/Yves Herman Picture Supplied by Action Images
The young Polish winger signed for the Foxes during the summer transfer window but has since struggled to force his way into Claudio Ranieri’s first-team.
Porto provides Ranieri with an ideal opportunity to field Kapustka. What can Leicester lose from taking such a risk?
Mahrez continues to disappoint and maybe the form of Kapustka could inspire the Algerian winger to return to his devastatingly brilliant self.
Demarai Gray
Britain Football Soccer – Manchester United v Leicester City – Premier League – Old Trafford – 24/9/16Leicester City’s Demarai Gray celebrates scoring their first goalAction Images via Reuters / Carl RecineLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account rep
In a season that has not gone to plan, Demarai Gray has proven his capabilities on some of the biggest Premier League’s stages, such as Old Trafford.
The former Birmingham winger joined the club in January and helped in Leicester’s pursuit of a Premier League title. Now, the challenge of Porto should be a platform for Gray to impress further.