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After falling to a 3-1 home defeat against Chelsea on Boxing Day, Aston Villa’s next Premier League outing sees them take on Brentford at the weekend after their midweek clash against Leeds United was postponed due to a virus outbreak within the Yorkshire club.

Looking ahead to the match against Thomas Frank’s side, against whom Villa could only secure a 1-1 draw in their previous league meeting back in August, it seems as though Steven Gerrard’s side could welcome back a player who was not involved in the weekend’s defeat to the Blues.

What’s the latest?

According to a recent report from The Athletic by Gregg Evans, Villa midfielder John McGinn missed the Chelsea game through illness “but is expected to be back” for the match against Brentford next weekend.

Given how McGinn has started in each of his 16 Premier League appearances this season, with three goals and two assists in the process, it shows just how important he is to the side.

Also, the 27-year-old’s overall performances have proved what a crucial figure he is for Villa, with WhoScored listing him as their highest-rated player with a season rating of 7.18 based on his league performances throughout the campaign.

A welcome return

With all this in mind, it would surely be a big boost for Villa to have McGinn, who Evans said “can help make a difference,” back in the side for the match against Brentford, which would duly delight the supporters as well.

Gerrard has also previously shared his admiration for the Scotland international by saying that he feels like he is  “the lucky one that’s able to work with him and try to improve his game.”

Moving forward, with the Brentford match on the horizon, this would be a great opportunity for Villa to put their defeat against Chelsea behind them and secure another win to help push them further up the table.

If McGinn is ready to play again, he would surely give his side a better chance of securing all three points, as they haven’t won either of the two league games that he’s missed so far this season – one of which was against the Bees four months ago.

In other news: Luke Hatfield reveals his big transfer “worry” for Villa in January, fans must be scared

Steve Howey reckons that Chris Wood would score even more goals should he sign for Aston Villa.

The New Zealand striker is on the back of another impressive campaign in Burnley colours – scoring 12 Premier League goals to not only help keep the Clarets in the league, but to continue his record of having returned double figures in every season at this level.

Wood had only managed four goals in his opening 19 appearances but hit red-hot form by netting eight goals across an eight-game spell between March and May, including a treble in Burnley’s fine win at Wolves.

Such is Wood’s goalscoring exploits for the struggling Clarets, he’s been linked with some bigger sides in the shape of Everton and Aston Villa, whilst he’s also on West Ham’s radar.

All three of those possess far more creative players than Burnley, with Jack Grealish perhaps the best of which at Villa.

And Howey exclusively told Football FanCast that Wood could top his goalscoring tally from this year should he end up at Villa Park this summer:

“He’s awkward to play against. If I’m being critical, not the best at holding the ball up, but very good at flicking on and gets his goals. Strikers that score goals, the amount that he’s scored in the Premier League, is a good striker.

“And if he goes to a team that are more creative, he could get a lot of goals.”

West Brom head into tonight’s clash with arch-rivals Wolves knowing that the game is a must-win, otherwise, relegation to the Championship is all but confirmed.

The Baggies are winless in two matches and that has seen them sink 11 points adrift of safety, with only five games left to play.

Sam Allardyce will need to get his team selection spot on but what sort of line-up could we see at the Hawthorns this evening?

Here’s our predicted XI as Albion battle Wolves in the Black Country derby…

Given the lack of solid options at his disposal, the 66-year-old boss could only make two changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Villa last time out.

One of which will surely come in defence after leaking five goals in the last two games.

At Villa Park, Semi Ajayi came in for Dara O’Shea, which was perhaps a little harsh given how well the Irishman has performed in the Premier League, so he could come back in but instead of changing his central defensive partnership, he could instead take the place of Darnell Furlong at right-back.

Conor Townsend is likely to keep his place on the left, with Kieran Gibbs set to leave for the MLS this summer, and that back four will be in front of coveted shot-stopper Sam Johnstone.

The other change could come in midfield as 21-year-old Chelsea gem Conor Gallagher faces the axe after making his first start in four games last weekend.

Matty Phillips will be pushing for a start under Big Sam but his inclusion would come at a cost in the middle, as Matheus Pereira would surely move centrally alongside Ainsley Maitland-Niles, with Callum Robinson continuing on the other flank.

So the £10.8m-rated loanee could be the one to make way.

Up top, Mbaye Diagne is likely to remain as the Baggies’ target man, meaning Karlan Grant and Hal Robson-Kanu have to settle for a place on the bench again.

AND in other news, Journo drops worrying claim over West Brom’s “big-game player”, Big Sam will be gutted…

Premier League safety is within touching distance for Leeds United but by no means is it guaranteed.

The Whites’ 0-0 stalemate with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night moved them five points clear of Frank Lampard’s Everton, meaning their destiny is firmly in their own hands with five games left to play.

They won’t be easy fixtures either as the Yorkshiremen face league leaders Manchester City this weekend before heading to north London to face a red-hot Arsenal side, with Chelsea to come after that.

Failure to pick up any points during that run, combined with the possibility of the Toffees and Burnley making up ground, could leave manager Jesse Marsch sweating heading into the final few weeks of the 2021/22 campaign.

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He could do himself a favour, though, by axing two of his faltering stars in Mateusz Klich and Daniel James.

Both players were hooked prematurely on Monday.

The Poland international lasted until half-time before being replaced by Robin Koch, largely due to him being left an absolute passenger, whilst the Welsh winger was taken off for academy gem Sam Greenwood, a rather damning indictment on his performance.

Leeds’ disastrous duo have struggled for form throughout the season, and perhaps one is more worrying than the other given he is the club’s record £30m signing.

During his time at Manchester United, pundit Darren Bent described the winger as “headless” in his decision making and with only three direct goal contributions in the last 11 games, we’re starting to see that – none of which have been him finding the net either.

Some of his poor form can be attributed to the fact that he’s been filling in for the injured Patrick Bamford but apart from his speed, he has offered very little threat otherwise. Indeed, he currently ranks 12th for average WhoScored rating. Eight players are managing more successful dribbles per game than him, too.

Meanwhile, Klich ranks 17th, which is the worst of any player to have started 21 or more league games this term.

Earlier in the year, Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison described the Pole as being “non-existent” in midfield and we caught another glimpse of that earlier this week as he managed only 26 touches and 13 accurate passes in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch, per SofaScore.

It’s hard to make a case for either of the two stars to keep their place amongst the starting XI heading into some tough encounters. City, Arsenal and Chelsea all possess the firepower and strength to devour the struggling duo.

As such, Marsch must look to axe the pair of them as they continue to hold back his side during this relegation dogfight.

AND in other news, Alan Nixon: Leeds plot bargain bid for “special” 18 y/o, he could be the next Cancelo…

Darren Bent is unsure if Jordan Pickford has what it takes to be England’s number one with the European Championships on the horizon. 

Bent weighed in on the goalkeeping debate on talkSPORT on Monday evening.

Pickford was ruled out of this week’s World Cup qualifiers after picking up a rib injury. Burnley’s Nick Pope has stepped in and continued his 100% record for clean sheets in an England shirt.

Dean Henderson, who has started Manchester United’s last three Premier League games in the absence of David de Gea, and West Brom’s Sam Johnstone were also called up.

‘You need calm heads at the Euros’

Bent praised Pickford’s distribution but has concerns over his temperament.

“If I had to put them in order, I’d probably go Henderson, Pope, Pickford,” Bent said.

“I do like Pickford but I think he gets a little bit over-emotional. His distribution is second to none though, he can kick the ball far. But I think in situations like the World Cup or the Euros you need calm heads.

“It’s a difficult one because we know he’s never let Gareth Southgate down.”

Pickford has conceded 29 goals in 23 Premier League outings this season (via FB Ref).

Those goals have come from a post-shot xG of 27.3, which means he’s slightly under-delivered.

He was in improved form prior to his injury though, with three well-earned clean sheets in four matches.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Bent acknowledges that Pickford hasn’t yet let Southgate down, but is that suitable justification?

Perhaps the Sunderland-born goalkeeper is effectively a ticking time bomb.

England should view themselves as genuine contenders at the Euros, but it’s hard to believe they’ll go all the way if they place their faith in an erratic goalkeeper.

In other news, fans were excited by Fabrizio Romano’s Everton tweet.

Kevin Campbell has backed West Bromwich Albion to complete the loan signing of Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff [Football Insider].

The Lowdown: West Brom get busy ahead of 2021/22

Moving into 2021/22, many Baggies supporters will be intrigued to see how newly appointed manager Valerien Ismael constructs a side capable of cultivating a promotion charge.

Making inroads towards the transfer market, the West Midlands side have been heavily linked with a move for Barnsley midfielder Alex Mowatt [Football League World].

Additionally, the Sky Bet Championship outfit have been courting the services of 21-year-old Longstaff in recent weeks [Chronicle Live].

Campbell reckons Longstaff would be “great addition” at the Hawthorns

Relating to the latter, Sky Sports pundit Campbell was ecstatic about the possibility of Longstaff pitching up at the Hawthorns in a recent interview with Football Insider.

Speaking to the publication, the former West Brom man stated: “To West Brom? Wow, I’d be impressed if they could get that deal done.

“He would be a great addition but I’m sure there will be Premier League club interested as well. He is a talented young player with a big future ahead of him.

“I am surprised Newcastle won’t keep him and play him. I would be surprised if they let him leave to be honest.

“Whenever he has got some minutes he has looked very capable. He looks like a Premier League player. It would be a big coup if West Brom can sign him.” [Football Insider].

The Verdict: Longstaff would be an excellent signing for the Baggies

Showing his quality at the top level, the 5ft 7in Longstaff is most renowned for his scorching strike at St James’ Park in a famous 1-0 win over Manchester United in 2019 [BBC].

However, there is an argument to say that his development has been stunted in recent years due to injury concerns.

In 2020/21, Longstaff made just five appearances for the North-East side, missing time with a thigh muscle injury that has hampered him in the past too (Transfermarkt).

If he could stay fit with West Bromwich Albion however, they would be receiving an all-action midfielder who would surely benefit from the drop to second-tier football. Looking ahead, we agree with Campbell that this would be an excellent coup for the Baggies.

In other news, West Brom are interested in a play-off hero.

Crystal Palace’s hopes of signing Thomas Delaney from Borussia Dortmund this summer have been handed a boost after it was reported that the Bundesliga side are willing to sell him.

According to Sky Sports Germany (via Eastern Daily Press), Crystal Palace, Southampton and Norwich City are all interested in signing the Denmark international this summer, with a move to the Premier League seemingly on the cards for the 29-year-old following Euro 2020.

The £13.5m-rated midfielder has been a regular at Dortmund since joining from Werder Bremen in 2018, making 86 appearances in all competitions, in which he has contributed four goals and 11 assists.

However, he lost his regular spot at Signal Iduna Park last season as he made just 20 appearances in the German top-flight, although his solid 6.70 rating from WhoScored suggests that he can still perform well when called upon.

This would have been enough to rank him as the joint-sixth best performer in Crystal Palace’s squad last season, which suggests that he could be a solid addition at Selhurst Park this summer as incoming manager Patrick Vieira will look to rebuild the squad.

The Frenchman is perhaps most renowned for his time playing in the Premier League with Arsenal, where he was a strong, fierce-tackling defensive midfielder, and Delaney is very much a player in his own ilk, which suggests that the 29-year-old is the sort of player who could really blossom under Vieira’s coaching.

Last season saw the Danish midfielder win two tackles per game in the German top flight, which would rank him as the fifth-best tackler had he produced the same numbers in Palace’s squad last season.

Delaney can play in a number of positions across the midfield, as well as at centre-back, so his versatility would surely be appreciated by Vieira next season as he looks to build a squad which is capable of avoiding relegation to the Championship in a summer of real change at Selhurst Park.

Therefore, after this boost that Delaney is reportedly keen on a move to the Premier League, Palace should definitely be looking to bring him in.

In other news… Vieira must swoop for Premier League Frenchman

Celtic’s resounding 6-0 win this weekend will have breathed fresh life into the Bhoys and its entire staff.

It’s not often the Hoops have managed to record convincing victories this term but it was a wonderful statement from their interim boss.

What’s the word?

John Kennedy is currently in temporary charge of the Hoops and the win he engineered over Livingston on Saturday was a big message to the hierarchy.

He is by no means the favourite to become their new manager with the coach facing competition from Eddie Howe.

That being said, there have been a number of twists and turns. Frank McAvennie doesn’t think he’ll land the job because of complications regarding Fergal Harkin and Richard Hughes.

Howe wants Hughes instead of the former as his director of football which has led to Celtic considering Lucien Favre as their manager instead.

In a fresh batch of news, McAvennie told Football Insider the latest:

“There are names pinging about all over the place up here, they don’t know who’s coming or going.

“But if Howe says no, they haven’t put all their eggs in one basket and I’m told by my sources if they have to start again, they can.”

Positive news

The Celtic hierarchy have had a habit of getting things wrong this season.

Take last summer’s recruitment for instance. They spent £4.5m on error-prone Vasilis Barkas while they also splashed out £5m on Albian Ajeti, a forward who has scored just six times since arriving from West Ham.

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Their failure to sack Neil Lennon led to protests from the Green Brigade outside of Parkhead and Dermot Desmond has been questioned in recent weeks over his role too.

He was asked whether he would sell his shares before issuing a defiant statement; he was going nowhere.

The Hoops haven’t particularly covered themselves in glory over their manager hunt either. Roy Keane was the favourite before rumours of his entrance evaporated in swift fashion.

They are now failing to get Howe through the door, either. Thus, news that they’re happy to start again and look elsewhere should come as encouraging news.

Desmond clearly has other irons in the fire and they evidently have contingency plans. The very fact that Favre is in the picture as well tells the story.

With Howe previously in advanced discussions, it looked as though they had placed all their eggs in the 43-year-old’s basket. That, however, certainly isn’t the case.

Celtic supporters should be pleased by the meticulous nature of the board. After all, a failure to appoint the right man could lead to another disastrous season chasing Rangers’ tail.

AND in other news, Sold for £2m, now worth £25.2m: Celtic will rue terrible call on “superb” £50k-p/w gem…

Sheffield United’s hopes of signing Ryan Gauld this summer have taken a blow after it was revealed that SC Farense have triggered an extension in his contract, meaning he won’t be available on a free transfer as initially thought.

According to TEAMtalk, a number of Premier League and Championship clubs including Sheffield United are considering a move for the former Dundee United youngster this summer.

It had appeared as if the 25-year-old would be free to join any interested side on a Bosman transfer but it has been reported by Portuguese news outlet O Jogo that SC Farense had an option to extend his contract by another year, which they have unsurprisingly triggered ahead of the summer.

However, it still seems extremely likely that Gauld will depart considering Farense were relegated from the Portuguese top-flight this season, with the report from O Jogo suggesting that his release clause is just €4m (£3.5m).

Gauld moved from Dundee United to Sporting Lisbon when he was 18-years-old and whilst things wouldn’t work out for the youngster at Estadio José Alvalade, as he made just five appearances, he has emphasised his quality during his time with Farense.

In 71 appearances for the Lions of Faro, the Scottish midfielder has contributed  20 goals and 12 assists, so it is easy to see why he is attracting interest from the Premier League.

His performances this season were particularly impressive, as he managed nine goals and seven assists in 33 league appearances, helping him earn a superb 7.19 rating from WhoScored.

Given that Sheffield United were the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season with a shocking 20 goals in 38 league fixtures, it is clear that they will need to add some serious attacking quality this summer if they want to secure an immediate return to the top-flight and Gauld could have been the perfect link between midfield and attack.

Unfortunately, now that the “fantastic” 25-year-old is not available on a free transfer, it will be much harder for Blades sporting director Jan van Winckel to do a deal for Gauld this summer, which is a big blow to their hopes of improving the squad ahead of next season.

And, in other news… Sheffield United handed huge boost with “shining light”, Blades fans will be buzzing

Newcastle United ‘would have to consider’ appointing Steve Cooper if he applied for the manager’s role at St James’ Park, according to Lee Ryder for Chronicle Live. 

The lowdown

Newcastle have endured a poor start to the new season, with just one point on the board from their first four matches. They conceded twice in the final 10 minutes against Manchester United on Saturday, falling to a 4-1 defeat.

Cooper is currently out of work after leaving Swansea City at the end of 2020/21 season. He navigated them to the play-offs in back-to-back seasons but they twice fell short of securing promotion.

The Welshman was on Crystal Palace’s shortlist following the departure of Roy Hodgson, but they opted for Patrick Vieira instead.

The latest

According to Ryder in Chronicle Live, Cooper was in attendance at Old Trafford on Saturday, ‘probably’ to support Freddie Woodman after coaching the Newcastle goalkeeper at Swansea.

The journalist claimed that the 41-year-old would ‘fit the bill’ for the Magpies given his ‘expertise’ in developing young talent and his Barcelona-inspired style of football.

Southampton are thought to have identified Cooper as a possible replacement for Ralph Hassenhuttl should they part ways with the Austrian.

In a subsequent tweet, Ryder labelled the former Swansea manager as ‘the watching would-be boss’.

The verdict

Cooper is a talented manager whose work at youth level included guiding England to Under-17 World Cup glory four years ago, and it feels like a matter of time before he gets a crack at the Premier League, whether that’s at Newcastle or elsewhere.

It seems inevitable that Bruce’s tenure will come to an acrimonious end, but question marks over his future may still be premature. The Newcastle hierarchy may decide to give him until the mid-point of the season to demonstrate that he can keep them in the Premier League once again.

In other news, Chris Waugh reveals the in-house reaction to this Bruce decision.