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A "hugely important" Newcastle United player could now miss his side's Premier League clash with Bournemouth this weekend, according to an update from reliable journalist Craig Hope.

Newcastle injury news

The Magpies' entire season has been defined by an endless string of injuries to key players, and it can be used as a genuine excuse for what has been an underwhelming campaign overall, despite some good form recently.

Eddie Howe has had to make do without players from back to front, whether it be influential stalwarts Sven Botman and Nick Pope, midfield pair Joelinton and Joe Willock or attacking duo Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.

Newcastle's injury woes have eased a little in recent weeks and it has played a part in their results improving, both in the Premier League and the FA Cup, but that doesn't mean that they aren't still without important figures.

Now, a fresh update has emerged regarding the fitness of one such player, with concerning news dropping ahead of their next assignment in the league.

Callum Wilson could miss Bournemouth return

According to The Daily Mail's Hope, Callum Wilson could be unavailable for Newcastle's visit of Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.

"Callum Wilson has suffered a pectoral injury and Newcastle are sweating on his fitness ahead of Saturday’s game at home to Bournemouth.

"Mail Sport now understands Wilson has an issue with his pec, the chest muscle that connects to the bones of the upper arm and shoulder. Newcastle are hopeful they will be able to manage the pain and allow the 31-year-old to play against his former club this weekend. However, only at the end of the week will a decision be made."

Wilson has experienced a frustrating season in the injury department again, bringing incredible influence when on the pitch but proving to be unavailable too often. He has scored seven goals in just eight league starts, but that lack of action highlights how much injuries have got in the way of his progress.

The issue suffered last weekend is just the latest setback in a long string of problems, and the hope is that he is eventually passed fit for the Bournemouth game – Howe has made it very clear how highly he thinks of him: "He’s a hugely important part of our team, a focal point. We rely not just on his goals but his movement, his work rate. His appearance in the team gave us confidence."

Wilson's experience and finishing ability are going to be important between now and the end of the season, especially if Isak is also sidelined with injury issues of his own.

Newcastle and PIF eyeing move for "incredible" player

He is set to be available on a free transfer this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Feb 12, 2024

A strong finish to the season still isn't out of the question for Newcastle, but not having both strikers on the pitch will do so much harm to their hopes of being in Europe next season. From a selfish point of view, Wilson will also be desperate to feature for England at Euro 2024, competing with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney to make Gareth Southgate's squad.

Manchester United will look to bring in a new director of football over the coming weeks, with a current Premier League official seemingly top of the list, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Man United's January window

The Red Devils were quiet in the winter window, which shouldn’t come as a major surprise given current director of football John Murtough’s comments back in December.

“Looking ahead to the January transfer window, we are not expecting it to be particularly busy. There will always be the possibility of deals around the edges of the squad, particularly in terms of finding opportunities for players who are not playing as much football as they would like.

“However, we’ve always been consistent in saying that we do not see January as the optimal time to do business and our recruitment strategy remains focused on summer windows.”

In fact, United and Erik ten Hag failed to make a single signing in January, with the main focus being on several outgoings. A number of players left the club on loan, including Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek and Hannibal Majbri, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS now looking ahead to the summer to conduct the majority of their business.

The Old Trafford shake-up is already in motion with the news of Manchester City's chief operating officer, Omar Berrada, being appointed to replace Richard Arnold, and it looks as if one man is in line to replace Murtough as director of football.

Romano shares Man United director of football “plan”

Talking in his daily briefing in the last 48 hours, relayed by One Football, Romano said that the “plan” is to bring in Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth in the coming weeks.

“We know Man United need a new director of football, and the plan remains to try to bring Dan Ashworth to the club in the next weeks.”

This isn’t the first time that the 52-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, with reports back in December saying that the Newcastle man was “very keen” on the Red Devils role. He was named as the club’s top target at the time, and it doesn’t look as if that has changed.

Gary Neville is a fan of Ashworth, with the Red Devils legend taking to X earlier in the season to share an interaction he had with the Newcastle man prior to the Magpies’ 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup.

“On my way up to the gantry last night, I bumped into Dan Ashworth. He transformed the FA’s structure, set Brighton up for this incredible period of success and has now built a strong foundation for the new owners at Newcastle. He’s competent, highly qualified and knows what he’s doing.

“Will work with his coach, recruitment team and other departments coherently and calmly. In the last two matches, Manchester United have played two clubs that have installed proper football departments to support the team on the pitch and off it. The complete opposite of United. We haven’t got a sporting director! I used to travel up to Newcastle and feel sorry for their great fans when the energy and enthusiasm had been sapped from them under Mike Ashley. It was painful to see.

“Last night, we saw the Theatre of Dreams turn into the Theatre of Nothing. Every single United fan bored and flat. On the pitch, the players in shock, the performances woeful and a manager struggling in front of our eyes. We’ve seen it before, we know how it ends and we’ve had enough.”

To all appearances, Liverpool are flying high right now and, in theory, are well-placed to challenge for a quadruple, but a sense of dejection sits at the core of every supporter as the campaign edges closer to completion.

Jurgen Klopp is to stand down from his role as manager at Anfield at the end of the season, and this is no precipitous decision. The German has enjoyed sweeping success during his time at the club and has won Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup titles among others.

But the Reds are in a fine position indeed, top of the Premier League by five points, topping their Europa League group before Christmas, awaiting Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final and recently dispatching Norwich City 5-2 in the FA Cup fourth round, with further Championship opposition in the next round.

Klopp, by his own admission, is "running out of energy" after eight-and-a-half years of unrelenting action, and after fixing the issues of the 2022/23 term, the 56-year-old feels the time is right for a changing of the guard, with a shortlist compiled.

Liverpool's shortlist to replace Jurgen Klopp

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool have compiled a three-man shortlist to identify Klopp's successor.

While Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is the early frontrunner, Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim and Italian manager Roberto De Zerbi are also coveted.

The latter has done an exemplary job with Brighton & Hove Albion and is reported to be high on FSG's wishlist, and given his experience and success on English shores, could be an excellent option.

Related Liverpool eye up "special" Xabi Alonso alternative to supercharge Nunez

Jurgen Klopp is approaching the dying embers of his Anfield tenure and FSG are working on a replacement.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jan 29, 2024 How Roberto De Zerbi would benefit Mac Allister

Liverpool are in a fine position to get their hands on some silverware this season but more importantly, are poised for an exciting future with a rich blend of senior talent and prodigious potential.

De Zerbi has proved himself a "genius" tactician, as said by former player Maxime Lopez, and while he doesn't offer a replica of Klopp's heavy-metal style, the suffocating, possession-centric approach would be something that the Reds squad could adapt to.

Such a style demands a first-class operator to control the flow and enhance the fluency, but luckily Liverpool have such a player in Alexis Mac Allister, who left De Zerbi's Seagulls in the summer to complete a £35m transfer with the Merseyside outfit.

Mac Allister under De Zerbi

Games played

34

Goals scored

8

Assists

3

Minutes played

2,768'

Signed for

£4.2m

Data via Transfermarkt.

Mac Allister, a 2022 World Cup winner and the centrepiece in Brighton's Europa League qualification last year, impressed under the Seagulls boss with eight goals and three assists from midfield. That said, he has been playing in a deeper-lying role than he might desire with Liverpool but he has plied his trade expertly to ensure Liverpool are firing on all cylinders.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 20% for progressive carries per 90 to emphasise his creativity and ball-playing aptitude.

Premier League 23/24: Most Passes

Club

Games played

Passes

Brighton & Hove Albion

21

13,414

Manchester City

20

13,370

Liverpool

21

12,050

Chelsea

21

12,003

Tottenham Hotspur

21

11,950

Source: Premier League

The Argentinan gem knows all about De Zerbi's managerial prowess and would welcome the Italian as a replacement for Klopp. Indeed, a more advanced role could be given to the summer signing again, meaning it's an appointment that should well ensure the 24-year-old moves to the next level; a frightening thought.

Bruno Fernandes is reportedly wanted by Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr with the Saudi Arabian side considering a bid for the Manchester United captain.

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• Fernandes open to leaving Man Utd
• Al-Nassr looking to strengthen squad
• Ready to tempt United with a bumper offer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Al-Nassr believe that Fernandes would be an ideal candidate to bolster their midfield and are ready to table a mega bid for the Portuguese to test United's resolve. The Premier League outfit sees their financial situation strained by Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules and their budget for new acquisitions is contingent on the departure of some current players – which has further encouraged Al-Nassr to make an attempt to get Fernandes.

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  The report also mentions that Fernandes, who has a contract with United until at least 2026, is frustrated with the series of underwhelming campaigns and wants to ensure that the club's ambitions align with his own before committing his future to the Red Devils. It must be noted that United could potentially miss out on European football next season, which could further push the 29-year-old away from Old Trafford.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Meanwhile, United have already begun their summer clear-out intending to overhaul their existing roster. Raphael Varane recently announced his departure at the end of his contract in the summer. Anthony Martial is also set to leave when his deal expires in June. Christian Eriksen, with one year left on his contract, has also been put up for sale. In fact, the club is reportedly open to realistic offers for several first-team players, including Casemiro, who is the second-highest earner.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The potential transfer of Fernandes to Al-Nassr highlights the broader trend of top European players being targeted by clubs in emerging football markets. Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr has already set a precedent and Fernandes' addition would further signify the club's intent to build a formidable team as they look to challenge for the top prizes in Asia. In the short term, Fernandes remains focused on finishing the campaign on a high with United as victory in the FA Cup final would guarantee them a spot in the next edition of the Europa League – irrespective of their league standing.

كشف مصدر مقرب من المدافع الدولي محمود متولي، عن مصيره بعد فسخ تعاقده مع النادي الأهلي بالتراضي خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الجارية.

وكان النادي الأهلي قد قرر فسخ التعاقد مع متولي، بعد أن كان مقررًا انتهاء تعاقده بنهاية موسم 2024-2025.

خاص | الأهلي يُنهي التعاقد مع لاعبه ويمنحه الاستغناء

وعلم بطولات أن محمود متولي يمتلك عرضين في الدوري المصري وهما الاتحاد السكندري وسموحة.

وأوضح المصدر أن العرض الأكثر جدية، يأتي من جاتب الاتحاد السكندري وخلال أيام سيتم الإعلان بشكل رسمي.

فيفا يبرز نجوم كأس العالم للأندية.. وسام أبو علي ولاعب الزمالك السابق يجاوران مبابي وهالاند وجريزمان

الجدير بالذكر، أن نادي الاتحاد السكندري قد أعلن في وقت سابق عن التعاقد مع لاعب خط الوسط عبد الرحمن جبنة، كما يسعى لتدعيم صفوفه بلاعبين آخرين خلال فترة الانتقالات الحالية.

Come the end of the season, Arsenal will once again be challenging for the Premier League title after their excellent start to the campaign. Mikel Arteta’s side are currently in second place on 36 points, just a point behind Liverpool.

The Gunners’ most recent match was a 1-0 away defeat to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa. The hosts took an early lead and continued to play a brave highline, which Arsenal were unable to take advantage of.

With teams starting to attack the void left by the inverted Oleksandr Zinchenko as seen this weekend, and Thomas Partey’s lack of availability recently, Arteta may look to sign another midfielder who can serve as rotation for Declan Rice or play alongside him.

Arsenal transfers latest – Martin Zubimendi

According to David Ornstein via the Athletic, Arsenal are interested in signing a midfielder, with Martin Zubimendi included in their transfer targets.

The journalist stated: "We know they like Martin Zubimendi, Nicolo Barella, Pedro Neto and others, but again I don’t know of any movement of that."

The Real Sociedad midfielder has a transfer market value of £34m as per Transfermarkt, which is a steal for someone of his quality, however, a move in the winter window is extremely unlikely due to the Gunners' financial fair play position.

Additionally, departures would have to occur first and there is no movement regarding exits for any of the club's current midfielders.

Martin Zubimendi’s style of play

Zubimendi has earned heaps of praise recently and according to Spanish national team boss, Jose Luis De La Fuente, the 24-year-old is “one of the best midfielders in the world” alongside Manchester City star, Rodri.

The Spain international has become an imperative cog in Imanol Alguacil Barrenetxea’s Sociedad side, featuring in every game this season.

The number four excels in multiple roles within the midfield, whether it is playing as a lone defensive midfielder, or working in a midfield two. This makes him the perfect backup for Arsenal, directly filling in for Rice or even partnering him when Arteta wishes to become more defensively cautious.

Zubimendi’s profile is certainly similar to Rodri’s, in terms of setting the tempo for his side to retain possession, shown by his pass completion percentage of 85.4% and his lack of shot-creating actions, 1.88 per 90.

He is also proactive out of possession, boasting similar defensive stats to Rice. The graphic below is how he compares to Arsenal’s number 41, based on their statistics in their respective leagues.

Tackles

1.82

2.15

Interceptions

1.28

1.56

Clearances

1.95

1.63

Progressive passes

5.11

7.49

Passes completed

43.32

61.28

Another crucial aspect of Zubimendi’s game is his availability, which is one of the most important yet rarely mentioned attributes to have.

He has only missed an incredible three games since 2019, whereas Partey has been unavailable for an astonishing 51. This makes the Spaniard a much more reliable option for Arteta and it almost makes purchasing the Sociedad player a safe move.

With the never-ending, intense schedule that Arsenal will endure due to domestic and European commitments, Arteta will be forced to rotate his side frequently and the fact that Zubimendi is versatile allows him to cover multiple midfield roles. He would be an excellent fit at the Emirates.

Jadon Sancho reportedly has two conditions for "starting again" at Manchester United after his loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.

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Sancho returned to BVB after falling out with Erik ten HagWinger keen to head back to Old TraffordTen Hag stand-off a potential stumbling blockWHAT HAPPENED?

Erik ten Hag's tenure at United has been a turbulent one, with Sancho having fallen foul of his wrath after allegedly allowing his standards to drop in training. Sancho criticised Ten Hag on social media, and was exiled until he issued an apology, but it has yet to arrive. The relationship between Sancho and Ten Hag is described as "irreparable" by insiders, implying that the manager's exit is essential for Sancho's potential comeback.

According to , the English forward would only consider a fresh start at United should the Dutch manager depart in the summer. While United are reportedly set to plan for the 2024-25 season with Ten Hag at the helm, that could change if the team fails to qualify for the Champions League or win the FA Cup.

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Jason Wilcox, who is reportedly set to be appointed as technical director at United, is said to be inclined to give Sancho another chance. His arrival is the second condition Sancho has laid out for a return to Old Trafford. Having previously worked with Sancho during his time at Manchester City's academy, Wilcox holds a favourable opinion of the player and is open to facilitating his return to Old Trafford.

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite Sancho's desire for a United resurgence, the club's priority remains selling him as part of a broader squad overhaul. Ineos, the club's minority owners, are contemplating a fire sale to revamp the underperforming squad, with Sancho being one of the players likely to be offloaded to generate funds.

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Sancho's loan spell at Dortmund has been modest, with only two goals scored across all competitions, which has potentially diminished his market value. Consequently, Dortmund may not pursue a permanent deal if there isn't an upsurge in form, leaving the door open for a United return if no alternative suitors emerge – but whether or not Ten Hag will be the one to make a final decision remains to be seen.

ExWHUemployee has shared some important January transfer news on West Ham and their budget for the winter window.

Steidten's task to sign new forward for West Ham

As reported by Ex last week, technical director Tim Steidten is growing more and more influential at the club and his "main focus" is signing a new striker for manager David Moyes.

Michail Antonio limped off on international duty recently, and he is expected to be out for around a month (Evening Standard). While his prognosis isn't as bad as first feared, losing the Jamaican comes as a bitter blow for Moyes and highlights West Ham's lack of number nine options.

Danny Ings appears out of favour at the club, having played just 68 minutes in the Premier League this season, with recent reports stating the Hammers are very eager for a few new options ahead of January.

Bournemouth forward Dominic Solanke is a target for West Ham, while rumours suggest that Steidten could go back in for Hugo Ekitike of Paris-Saint Germain.

Dominic Solanke's style of play (via WhoScored)

Gets fouled often

Likes to dribble

Does not dive into tackles

Moyes has used the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen in more central roles this term, but an injury to the latter could make West Ham's next starting eleven look very interesting. Signing a new number nine could be an all the more pivotal task for Steidten. While Antonio and Bowen could be back and firing by the time January comes around, their injury woes have drawn attention to West Ham's serious lack of depth going forward.

ExWHUemployee shares January budget news

Speaking on his Patreon, as shared by West Ham Way, reliable club insider Ex says West Ham are "struggling" with their transfer budget this winter. He claims that while there is indeed money in the pot to potentially bring in a new forward, it isn't seen as a large amount, and West Ham must be careful not to "do an Everton".

“I have spoken to the person who would be best placed to answer on our January transfer budget,” said Ex.

“What I was told is that Under Financial Fair Play we are struggling. We overspent in 2021 and we have to be careful to not ‘do an Everton’.

“So although there is money there in the pot, it isn’t a huge amount as the club are being understandably careful. We only need to look at the situations at Everton, Man City and Chelsea to know how serious it can be if not keeping within the parameters.”

The three aforementioned sides are in trouble with the Premier League over alleged FFP breaches, with the Toffees in particular being docked 10 points and now facing a hefty compensation bill.

It is believed Southampton, Leicester, Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Burnley are attempting to sue Everton for around £300 million, as they all believe they're entitled to compensation after Sean Dyche's repeated avoidance of relegation to the Championship.

Therefore, West Ham absolutely cannot find themselves in the same precarious situation, but it will be interesting to see how they use their limited budget when the window reopens.

Time is running out for players to prove themselves ahead of Paris 2024, with places in Emma Hayes' squad still up for grabs

For the U.S. women's national team, the Olympics seemed so far away when they were treading water post-World Cup. They're just over three months away now, though, and there's still so much to figure out before Paris 2024.

New coach Emma Hayes hasn't yet arrived, but her fingerprints are all over the roster that has been selected for the SheBelieves Cup. The U.S. will begin the tournament on Saturday with a clash against Japan, with a meeting with either Canada or Brazil coming up the following Tuesday. It'll be two big tests that should give the U.S. some more insight into where they stand heading into the summer.

The squad features returning stars, some new faces, and a bunch of players on the bubble that could use some big moments before a final Olympics squad is selected.

But who has the biggest point to prove over the next week? GOAL takes a look at the USWNT stars who are under the most pressure heading into the SheBelieves Cup:

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  Korbin Albert

  Korbin Albert's situation is certainly awkward right now, and it will be for some time. For now, all she can do is keep her head down and put in strong performances on the pitch as she deals with a storm off it.

  Albert came under fire last week for anti-LGBTQ social media posts. In the hours that followed, many current and past USWNT stars – including Megan Rapinoe – came out to condemn those posts. For a player like Albert who is still so new to this program, it's not a good look.

  After a strong start to life with the national team, it seemed that the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was on the path towards an Olympic spot. Now, that doesn't feel so sure. With just 18 roster spots available and chemistry a big, big focus, it wouldn't be too hard to leave Albert out. There are other options with similar resumes and without the social media disasters.

  For Albert, the first goal of this camp will be to earn back whatever trust was lost, and she'll have to do that privately and personally. The second goal will be to not let her level drop on the field as she looks to prove that, despite what happened, she's still deserving of an Olympic spot.

  Can she do that? That will ultimately be up to Hayes. All Albert can do now is make things right as best she can.

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  Alex Morgan

  Alex Morgan's certainly made progress since the start of 2024, but an Olympic spot isn't guaranteed just yet. Her performances in the Gold Cup got her back in contention, giving her a chance at a roster spot this summer. To say that comes as a surprise would be an understatement, though, as Morgan went from being left off the Gold Cup roster to being a key contributor as an injury replacement.

  Strikers are measured in goals, though, and Morgan will need to score a few more to stay in contention, especially with more attacking options being added to the mix. If she can stay hot, she'll have a chance to get one last tournament run.

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  Mallory Swanson

  She's finally back! Almost a year after seeing her World Cup dream cruelly end due to a serious knee injury, Mallory Swanson is back in the USWNT squad. She did train with the group prior to the Gold Cup as she worked her way back to full fitness, but now she's ready to go.

  Swanson has already opened her goal-scoring account for the season in the NWSL for the Chicago Red Stars and has shown signs of being that player she was before her injury. Prior to that, you could have made the argument that Swanson was the USWNT's most dynamic attacker; now, she'll need to prove she can still claim that title if she wants starting minutes in France this summer.

  The U.S. attack is deep, with young superstars like Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman and Jaedyn Shaw currently holding down starting spots. Swanson will need to put in a big shift to unseat any of those three, but she obviously has the talent to do just that.

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  Catarina Macario

  Speaking of players back after a long injury absence… Catarina Macario is finally fit after her ACL injury, and it's been two years since we've seen her in a USWNT shirt.

  Incoming USWNT boss Hayes has been overseeing her recovery at Chelsea, so she'll know exactly what Macario can do. The forward has been in fantastic form since making her return in London, too, which makes it seem like she's more than ready to step back into the national-team spotlight.

  When she's fit and firing, there's no player in the USWNT pool like Macario. It almost hurts to imagine how much of a difference she could have made at the World Cup last summer. If Macario was healthy, the creativity she would have added to the team could have sent the U.S. much further in the tournament.

  She's re-entering a new USWNT, though, and she'll once again have to prove where she stands in the pecking order. It's all about fitness and confidence, which Macario will need to build this camp if she is to make it onto the Olympic roster.

Celtic remain rooted to the bottom of their Champions League group after they were hammered 6-0 by Spanish giants Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

The Hoops were not helped by an early red card for energetic forward Daizen Maeda, after his raised studs gave the referee a decision to make – with the help of VAR.

Antoine Griezmann had made it 1-0 before that point but Brendan Rodgers, despite his side being down to ten, may not be pleased with how easy it seemed for Atletico to open his defence up as they went on to score another five.

Alvaro Morata and Griezmann both collected two goals each, whilst Saul Niguez and Samuel Lino also got themselves on the scoresheet for the hosts.

It would be harsh to single out one player as the reason for the result as it was such a dominant display from Atletico. However, one player, in particular, who must be ditched after this game is centre-forward Kyogo Furuhashi.

The Japan international has struggled in recent matches and, again, failed to impose himself on the match with an anonymous display at the top end of the pitch.

Kyogo's performance against Atletico Madrid in numbers

Celtic's starting number nine could blame the lack of support or service up to him, particularly after Maeda's sending off, but his lack of involvement through his time on the pitch let Rodgers down.

Across 61 minutes of action against Atletico, the former Vissel Kobe star had just eight touches of the ball in total and made a staggering zero passes from one attempt.

Hoops goalkeeper Joe Hart even had more touches (51) than the striker and the Japanese dynamo's lack of physicality played a huge part in his struggles as opposition players beat him in 75% (3/4) of his duels.

Hyun-gyu Oh, Rodgers' alternative number nine option, came on at half-time and completed two passes to go along with winning seven of his nine duels in 45 minutes.

The South Korea international utilised his physicality to provide Celtic with an outlet at the top end of the pitch, which is something that his teammate was unable to do.

The statistics that show why Rodgers could ditch Kyogo

Rodgers must now brutally ditch Kyogo against Aberdeen at the weekend as his recent form, including Tuesday night's display, has left a lot to be desired.

Over his last three starts in all competitions, the right-footed whiz has played 216 minutes of football and made three passes in total – out of seven attempted.

Along with that, he has failed to contribute with a single goal or assist to make up for his lack of involvement outside of the penalty box, which puts his impact, or lack thereof, on matches in the spotlight.

Statistic

Kyogo's last four Celtic appearances (via Sofascore)

Goals

Zero

Assists

Zero

Passes completed

11

Big chances missed

Two

Key passes

Zero

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old attacker has been in dismal form in front of goal over the last four matches for the Scottish giants.

He has not provided an attacking threat or a physical presence to bring his teammates into the match and Rodgers must now take him out of the XI in order to start Oh, who showcased his physicality off the bench on Tuesday, against the Dons.