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Leeds United are quickly back in action again at Elland Road this evening as they prepare to host Watford, with a chance to move into the top two.

The Whites are two points behind Burnley in second and three points adrift of Sunderland at the top of the table, which means that they can end the matchday in first place if results go their way.

Daniel Farke’s side finished third in the Championship, behind Ipswich Town and Leicester City, last season and that meant that they had to go through the play-offs, ultimately losing 1-0 to Southampton in the play-off final at Wembley.

They will now be hoping to avoid that scenario this season by going up automatically as one of the top two teams, hopefully as champions, and the German head coach does have a good track record of doing that.

The former Norwich City boss won the second tier two times in three seasons in the Championship during his time with the Canaries, which shows that he knows how to get out of the league.

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In order to pick up all three points against the Hornets and continue their charge for automatic promotion, one player Farke must brutally bin from the starting XI is Brenden Aaronson.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international was selected in the number ten position against Sheffield United last time out, as Leeds won 2-0 against Chris Wilder’s side.

He put in a steady but unimpressive display as an attacking midfielder behind Joel Piroe and has now gone four games without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts at the top end of the pitch – six if you include his two appearances for his country during the international break earlier this month.

Against the Blades, Aaronson missed a ‘big chance’ to find the back of the net and did not create a ‘big chance’ for his teammates, which shows that the 24-year-old whiz was wasteful in front of goal and not very creative.

As you can see in the table above, the former Union Berlin loanee has provided a decent threat over the course of the season so far, with six goals and ‘big chances’ created combined.

He appears to be unfortunate to only have one assist to his name so far, with four ‘big chances’ created, and has been reliable with the ball at his feet, completing 83% of his attempted passes.

Despite his solid form overall this term, Farke must ruthlessly ditch him from the starting XI after a barren run in the final third. That would then open the door for 20-year-old sensation Mateo Joseph to return to the line-up tonight.

Why Mateo Joseph should start

Firstly, the Spain U21 international made a telling contribution after coming off the bench against Sheffield United last time out, scoring the second goal to make sure of all three points at Elland Road.

After a superb through ball from Joel Piroe, the former Leeds academy starlet showcased his quality, composure, speed, and strength to get onto the end of the pass, hold off the defender, and find the bottom corner under pressure.

It was a brilliantly crafted goal from start to finish and, hopefully, one that will help Joseph to gain more confidence in front of goal to start scoring more regularly at first-team level.

The young marksman has only scored five goals in 42 appearances for the club’s senior side and his academy form suggests that there is more to come from him as a goalscorer. He had racked up 19 goals in 33 games for the U21s at Thorp Arch before his first-team emergence and the hope will be that he eventually translates that level of scoring over to the Championship.

Joseph has scored two goals from 2.33 xG in ten appearances in the second tier so far this term but it is his all-round play that has caught the eye.

As you can see in the table above, Joseph has created four ‘big chances’ and assisted three goals in his ten outings in the division, whilst playing as a centre-forward.

These statistics show that the £15k-per-week Spaniard, who was described as “greedy” for goals by Farke, is a well-rounded striker who can contribute by scoring goals, creating chances, dribbling past opponents, and winning duels.

Therefore, the German boss must ruthlessly ditch Aaronson, who has struggled for goal contributions in recent matches, for Joseph, who – as you can see in the graphic below – has spent the majority of his time centrally in the opposition half, as per the highlighted section in red on his heatmap.

It is not a straight switch, however, as the young gem will play as the number nine and Piroe will be the one to drop into the number ten role in place of the American ace.

Joel Piroe's season in numbers

The Dutch forward registered his second assist of the Championship season last time out with his brilliant through ball for Joseph to find the back of the net against Sheffield United.

Piroe does not often showcase his creative quality, with just four ‘big chances’ created since the start of last season, but his assist for the youngster against the Blades shows that he does have the ability to play those kind of passes.

It is down to Farke and the coaching staff to make sure that he attempts those through balls more, as it would unlock a new creative weapon for Leeds in games.

Of course, the main attributes that Piroe brings to the party is his finishing and movement inside the box, having scored four goals in ten league games this term.

The left-footed attacker has scored four goals from an xG tally of 2.34 and this shows that he has been lethal in front of goal, given the quality of chances that have come his way.

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Piroe and Joseph, therefore, could be a fantastic duo against Watford tonight as they have both showcased their quality in different areas in the Championship for Leeds this season.

Moise Kean was stretchered off and taken to hospital after sustaining a head injury during Fiorentina's Serie A clash against Verona.

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• Kean suffered a serious head injury
• Had to be stretchered off the pitch after he collapsed
• Verona beat Fiorentina 1-0

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former Everton and Juventus forward Kean collapsed on the pitch just after the hour mark after sustaining a head injury following a collision with Pawel Dawidowicz and Diego Coppola. The player was initially allowed to return to the pitch after suffering the knock but he soon fell on the ground near the centre circle and was then stretchered off the pitch with a neck brace.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The visuals from the pitch were scary as players from both teams rushed towards the player after the incident. The club's medical staff quickly attended the Fiorentina star before he was taken off the ground on a stretcher. Fiorentina have since confirmed Kean has been taken to hospital.

• FIORENTINA ISSUE STATEMENT

  A club statement read: "ACF Fiorentina announces that the footballer Moise Kean, during the match against Verona, suffered a head trauma. The footballer is in hospital for tests.

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• WHAT FIORENTINA SAID

  Manager Raffaele Palladino also spoke of his concern for his player: "I was very worried on the touchline and hope it is nothing serious. Health is the most important thing."

Jay Rodriguez says history-making exploits are “what this club deserves” after joining Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ambitious Wrexham project.

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• Red Dragons thriving under Hollywood co-owners
• Can become first EFL side to enjoy three successive promotions
• Always chasing down silverware in the EFL Trophy

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hollywood co-owners have overseen a meteoric rise at SToK Racecourse across their four-year tenure, with many emotional highs being enjoyed on the back of a stunning takeover that was completed in 2021. An award-winning documentary series has captured every memorable moment on film.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There are more tales to be told as the drama continues in North Wales, with Phil Parkinson’s side in the process of chasing down a record-breaking third successive promotion. No EFL side in history has ever achieved such a feat.

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  WHAT JAY RODRIGUEZ SAID

  One-cap England international Rodriguez, who signed for Wrexham in the winter transfer window, has said in of trying to accomplish what has never been done: “It would mean everything. It's something that would go down in history and I think it's what this club deserves.

  “I've obviously followed it from afar and it's been a great story to watch. Now to be a part of it, I feel very privileged to be a part of this group of lads, team, staff, the fans and this area. It's really important and I am really enjoying it. I'll always continue to work to my maximum.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Rodriguez walked away from a Premier League promotion push at Burnley – who count NFL legend JJ Watt among their investors – in order to join Wrexham, but is convinced that he made the right decision in becoming another marquee addition for Reynolds and McElhenney.

Glasgow Rangers made it through to the League Cup final for the third season in a row, although the Ibrox side didn’t do it the easy way.

The Light Blues went into the interval trailing by an Andy Halliday goal to Motherwell, and it was clear Philippe Clement had to make changes.

The likes of Mohamed Diomande and Danilo made all the difference during the second half as the club turned the tie around, with Nedim Bajrami netting with ten minutes to go, which sealed a 2-1 win.

Although the victory offers some respite from the poor results over the previous few weeks, Clement is still a man under pressure.

Why Philippe Clement’s job isn’t safe

This season has been disappointing so far. Not only did the Gers fail to qualify for the Champions League group stages, but they also trail both Celtic and Aberdeen in the Premiership title race by nine points after just ten matches.

Combine these results with the dismal performances on the field, and it is clear that resentment has set in among large sections of the Ibrox support.

The 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen last week appeared to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, with the team looking both lethargic and short of ideas against a well-coached Dons side.

Unless something drastic happens between now and Christmas, Clement will surely be shown his marching orders. The question is, who can the Light Blues turn to as a potential replacement?

An ideal replacement for Clement

The rumour mill is already circling surrounding Clement’s future, with a few replacements being touted.

One name to have been touted with the Ibrox hotseat is Malmo coach Henrik Rydstrom, who coincidentally has faced the Gers this season in the Europa League.

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The Swedish side may have looked poor during the 2-0 loss to Rangers, but praise has been high for the manager, with Sky Sports journalist Adam Bate waxing lyrical about the 48-year-old:

Rydstrom has led Malmo to another league title this season, which means the club have now won four of the previous five Swedish titles. How has he done that? Well, his enterprising 4-2-3-1 formation that’s seen him boast a 2.08 points-per-game record in the Allsvenskan has gone down a treat.

The Swede’s penchant for attacking play could certainly appeal to the Ibrox faithful, who are growing sick and tired of Clement’s team and their laborious nature.

As per Breaking the Lines, one of the most innovative aspects of Rydstrom’s Malmo side are the Brazilian concepts integrated into the team’s playing style with one-twos and short passing triangles/diamonds used to move the ball around quickly and with purpose.

Rydstrom looks to be at the peak of his powers. Might he fancy a new challenge away from Sweden in the near future? Aberdeen have enjoyed plenty of success this season under Jimmy Thelin, who recently managed Elfsborg so there is a pre-made recipe for success there.

Could the 48-year-old have a similar sort of impact if he moved across the North Sea and took charge of the Light Blues?

The next few weeks will be the most important in Clement’s managerial career. Another couple of defeats, and he will be on his way out the door, that’s for sure.

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The Club America manager gave his opinion on the surprising omission of his American star

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• Zendejas and Cowell were not called up for the Final Four
• America`s forward has five goals and five assists in nine games of the 2025 Clausura
• USMNT will face Panamá in the semifinals on March 20

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alejandro Zendejas is having a career-year in Liga MX this season, so his exclusion from the U.S.'s Nations League squad was certainly a surprise. Count his club manager Andre Jardine among those who were sympathetic towards the forward following the snub.

  “Obviously, those who were hoping to be in the national team might be a bit sad," the Club America manager said.

  Jardine hopes his leading player will use the omission as motivation ahead of his club's big rivalry match against Chivas.

  "The motivation for a match like the one we're going to play tomorrow is the biggest any player could have," he said.

  Zendejas is in the midst of a five-goal, four-assist season so far after just eight appearances for The club currently sits second in Liga MX.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In eleven appearances with the USMNT, Zendejas has only scored one goal. The América forward was part of the provisional list provided by Mauricio Pochettino. Another player the Argentine will not count on for the Final Four is Cade Cowell from Chivas, who was also excluded by the coach.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  With the exclusions of both Zendejas and Cowell, the U.S. won't have a player from Liga MX in the Nations League Finals.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CLUB AMERICA?

  The Liga MX side will face its heated rival Chivas on Wednesday. The are a disappointing 10th in the league.

The international break could well have come at the perfect time for Carlos Corberan’s West Bromwich Albion, who had been stuttering as of late in the Championship.

Before the break got underway, however, the Baggies did just about get the better of Hull City on their travels, as both Josh Maja and Karlan Grant delivered the goods in a slender 2-1 away win, but that was West Brom’s first victory in nine games.

There was a lot of worry in the air that the wheels had already come off their campaign, therefore, but Corberan is a safe pair of hands and he should be able to get his team out of this sticky patch.

West Brom didn’t really utilise the loan market this summer to improve their squad, away from adding in the likes of Lewis Dobbin who have barely featured, with the West Midlands side striking gold in the past when adding in some top-quality loanees.

Memorable West Brom loanees

The first player that will immediately pop into a West Brom fan’s head is Romelu Lukaku, as the potent Belgian striker called the Hawthorns home for one season right at the start of his fledging playing days.

The well-travelled centre-forward would bag a mightily impressive 17 goals from 38 clashes for the Baggies during the 2012/13 campaign, going down as a fantastic loan purchase for the then Premier League outfit subsequently.

Lukaku isn’t the only household name that can thank West Brom for gifting them a platform to shine so early on into their career, with Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher also on the books of the Baggies once upon a time, alongside the likes of defensive rock Tosin Adarabioyo before he signed for Chelsea.

But, there is another loan star who has come on significant leaps and bounds this season for his Premier League side, who had also established himself as a firm fan’s favourite during a short but sweet spell in the West Midlands.

Harvey Barnes' career since leaving West Brom

Harvey Barnes, before going on to become an important part of the jigsaw under Eddie Howe at Newcastle United, was transported out on loan to West Brom, away from his parent employers Leicester City.

Already fresh off a formative loan stint at Barnsley in the EFL, the “special” winger – as he was once labelled by analyst Statman Dave – took the Championship by storm donning his new Baggies kit, with nine goals and eight assists coming his way from 28 outings.

As a result of firing home sublime strikes like this one during his stint at the Hawthorns, Barnes would eventually go on to make a name for himself back at the Foxes, with 77 goal contributions tallied up from 187 total games before Newcastle swooped in to land him last year.

The Magpies must feel quite smug with themselves that they decided to pick up Barnes now, capitalising on Leicester’s relegation down to the Championship in the process, when you consider his sparkling output so far this season.

Looking at the table above, Barnes has been an effective weapon for Howe and Co to rely on, with the ex-Leicester man firing home four goals and picking up one assist from 11 league games, despite only averaging 46 minutes per clash.

Howe even described his qualities as “unbounded” after an audacious strike versus Wolverhampton Wanderers in September, with Barnes’ transfer value now all the way up at £29m – according to Transfermarkt – when his price tag only stood at a low £1.2m during his loan stint, representing a rise of 2316%.

West Brom fans will hope their team can take on Barnes’ side next season, but only if their promotion dreams finally become a reality, with their team’s wobbly form having to be corrected.

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Marc Casado suffered a ligament injury during Barcelona's thrilling win over Atletico Madrid and will be sidelined for at least two months.

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• Casado suffered a ligament injury
• Will be sidelined for at least two months
• Barca beat Atletico 4-2

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Spaniard tore his knee ligament after a clash with Antoine Griezmann on the pitch. He was quickly replaced by Hansi Flick, who brought in Eric Garcia in place of the central midfielder. On Monday, Barcelona confirmed that the player underwent tests which revealed that he injured the ligament on his right knee and further tests will conducted to determine the extent of the injury.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Per SPORT journalist , the midfielder will be sidelined for at least two months, which more or less confirms that the youngster's season is over. The news comes as a huge blow for Barcelona, who are competing for a treble in the 2024-25 campaign. Casado had established himself as a mainstay in Flick's side, having appeared in 36 matches across all competitions thus far, where he scored one goal and provided six assists.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the injury setback, the Catalan giants triumphed in a six-goal thriller at Wanda Metropolitano after coming back from a two-goal deficit. Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal were on target alongside Ferran Torres, who scored a brace.

• WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  The Blaugrana head into the international break top of La Liga. They will be back in action on March 27 as they take on Osasuna in a rearranged game.

Leeds United will desperately be hoping for promotion come the end of the season, aiming to bring an end to their two-year stay in the Championship.

The Whites were relegated at the end of the 2022/23 Premier League season, ending their three-year stint in the top flight after previously going 16 years without top-division football at Elland Road.

Marcelo Bielsa was the man who led the club to the promised land, winning England’s second tier during the 2019/20 campaign, catching the eye with his intensity system.

However, after an impressive first term in the Premier League, he would ultimately be sacked in February 2022, with American Jesse Marsch tasked with securing survival in that campaign.

The 51-year-old succeeded in his task, but found himself in a precarious position 12 months later, with various pieces of transfer activity taking place in January 2023 to try and maintain their top-flight status.

Leeds’ transfer window in January 2023

Incomings were to be expected after a poor first few months of the season, with the hierarchy splashing the cash to try and prevent relegation.

Georginio Rutter arrived in a £36m deal from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim during the aforementioned window, a club-record deal with the hope of bolstering the attacking department.

However, the Frenchman took longer than expected to settle into life in England, failing to score a single goal and registering just one assist in the process over the next six months.

Weston McKennie arrived on loan from European giants Juventus for the remainder of the season, looking to add needed quality to the Leeds side who were well and truly stuck in a relegation scrap.

The American suffered the same fortune as Rutter during his temporary spell in Yorkshire, making 20 appearances but unfortunately unable to prevent the Whites from dropping into the Championship at the end of the season.

January 2023 also saw the departure of one of their key man during the promotion-winning campaign, with midfielder Mateusz Klich departing on a free transfer to join MLS outfit DC United to allow him to gain more game time.

The Pole failed to start a single outing in the league before his transfer away from Elland Road, subsequently leading to his transfer away from the Whites.

However, the now 34-year-old wasn’t the only player to depart the club during that time frame, with the decision to allow another star to depart now looking to be a potential mistake.

The player who’s outscored Piroe & Gnonto in 2024

Polish attacking midfielder Mateusz Bogusz joined Leeds back in the summer of 2019 from Ruch Chorzow, with the youngster having huge potential upon his transfer.

However, he would only feature three times for the club’s first-team, before various loan spells at Logrones and UD Ibiza before a permanent move to MLS outfit Los Angeles FC for just £880k.

Bogusz, who’s since been described as “dangerous” by current boss Steve Cherundolo, has taken his career to the next level, scoring 20 times in this calendar year, more than current Leeds first-team members Joel Piroe and Wilfried Gnonto.

Dutch striker Piroe has registered a total of 11 goals since the turn of the year, with winger Gnonto scoring ten as the pair remain key if Daniel Farke’s side are to return to the top flight.

However, his outfit would stand a much better chance had they kept hold of their former player, who’s now valued at a peak of €22m (£18m) as per CIES Football Observatory.

The 23-year-old clearly knows where the back of the net is as demonstrated by his tally for the American side this year, undoubtedly providing that added edge for Leeds had they kept hold of him.

Unfortunately, their mistake is LAFC’s gain, with Bogusz set to make them a hefty payday should he transfer clubs at any point in the near future.

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Harry Kane urged Bayern Munich to "keep moving" as the striker is already thinking about "important" fixtures after England duty.

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• Bayern held to a 1-1 draw by Union
• Kane drew a blank away from home
• Striker raring to get back to winning ways

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite dominating possession with 80 per cent control of the ball, Bayern struggled to convert their dominance into goals. Vincent Kompany’s side created several opportunities but lacked the finishing touch in a performance that exposed their recent inconsistency in front of goal.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The breakthrough finally came in the 75th minute when Leroy Sane capitalized on a low cross from Josip Stanisic to put Bayern ahead. However, their lead was short-lived as Union Berlin equalized just eight minutes later through Benedict Hollerbach, who slotted home after Jonas Urbig failed to clear a cross.

• WHAT KANE SAID

  Following the match, Kane took to social media to acknowledge the disappointment of dropping points but emphasized the need to stay focused. Writing on Instagram, the Bayern striker stated: "Not the win we wanted but we keep moving! Important block of games coming up after the international break 💪"

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Frustration has been growing around Kompany’s tenure at Allianz Arena, especially after the shocking defeat to relegation-battling Bochum last week. Nonetheless, Bayern remain nine points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, but the result allows Bayer Leverkusen a chance to reduce the gap to six points if they win their match later against Stuttgart.

Ruben Amorim will be travelling to Suffolk for his first taste of Premier League action confident that he can pick up a debut win as new Manchester United boss, with Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town his first opponent.

However, there will also be a lingering anxiety deep within the Portuguese manager that his first game in charge could also end in an unexpected defeat, considering the Tractor Boys are just fresh off a surprise away victory at Tottenham Hotspur.

McKenna will also want to get one over on his former employers, with the Northern Irishman hopeful that his top performers in North London can turn on the style again back at Portman Road.

Key players for Ipswich vs Man United

Liam Delap will be raring to go this weekend when the Red Devils come to town, with the striker’s previous Manchester City connections perhaps working in his favour in wanting to rain on the Amorim parade.

He is also Ipswich’s most potent attacker by some distance, with six strikes registered from 11 league games, which included a tap-in finish versus Ange Postecoglou’s shellshocked hosts to make it 2-0.

Moreover, the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Leif Davis will want to terrorise Man United from minute one of the contest tomorrow, with Szmodics scoring an acrobatic bicycle kick last match, on top of providing his team with some much-needed energy down the left flank.

Likewise, Davis could be key in trying to unlock Amorim’s new side on Sunday, with the attack-oriented full-back averaging an impressive 2.5 key passes per league game this season as an option that is more than comfortable playing out from defence.

He’s also more than adept at firing home first-time strikes, with the former Leeds United product hopeful that his team can pick up their first home win of the season versus Man United, despite being underdogs.

McKenna also potentially has his very own Bruno Fernandes that he could rely on versus the Red Devils to try and cause an upset, with this attacking midfielder in question at the very top of his game versus Spurs.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Ipswich's very own Bruno Fernandes

Whilst McKenna attempts to field all of the attacking players he knows could cause the away side’s defence trouble, he will also need to ensure his defenders are ready for the task of keeping Fernandes at bay.

Under Ruud van Nistelrooy’s interim reign, the experienced United head sparked back into life after struggling under Erik ten Hag this season, with two goals and one assist registered in his last two Premier League outings.

Still, the Ipswich boss won’t want his side to be overwhelmed by the quality of their opponents and simply just give in, with Omari Hutchinson acting as the Tractor Boys’ very own Fernandes in their bid to pull off an unexpected win.

Much like Fernandes, Hutchinson has also been a goal and assist machine for his side in recent times, having helped himself to 11 strikes and six assists just last season as automatic promotion was clinched.

Whilst the Jamaica international didn’t quite offer the same polished performance that Fernandes managed against Leicester – with a goal tallied up versus the Foxes – the Ipswich number 20 was still lively in the attacking midfield spot for his side versus Spurs, with a stunning five successful dribbles registered across the span of the 2-1 win.

Having played all of last season down the flanks, he has been pushed into the number ten spot that Fernandes stars in after promotion, and McKenna’s experiment with the 21-year-old looked to have finally worked in North London.

The Ipswich boss will just hope this wasn’t a one-off positive display, however, with Hutchinson perhaps acting as a crucial player – like Delap and Szmodics – in the Suffolk side collecting another Premier League scalp this weekend.

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