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Everton have now been gifted a double injury boost as Sean Dyche has confirmed that Nathan Patterson and James Garner will play for the U21s on Friday.

The Lowdown: Injury lay-offs

Patterson has seen a knee injury keep him out of action since the beginning of November.

They had made 22 appearances between them previously this season, and so remain a key part of the squad going into the remainder of the campaign.

The Latest: U21 comeback

Speaking to the media in his pre-game press conference ahead of their match at home to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, Dyche has confirmed that both Patterson and Garner ‘will play’ for the U21s against Tottenham Hotspur on Friday, as they look to step up their recovery from injury:

“James Garner and Nathan Patterson will play for the U21s tomorrow which I’ll watch. They’re not ready for us yet but they’ve been back with us on the grass.”

The Verdict: Big boost

Having Patterson and Garner return to the pitch, albeit in an U21s game, is a big boost for the Goodison Park outfit, as it suggests that they will return to first-team action soon.

The £58,000-per-week duo have been among their best performers in the Premier League so far, with only Yerry Mina matching Patterson’s average of three tackles per game, while they both rank highly for interceptions and pass success rate (WhoScored).

Nonetheless, Toffees supporters will want to see more of Garner especially given that he was a new summer signing, and they will be hoping that they can both return to first-team action soon.

Dean Jones believes Leeds United’s centre-forward situation is ‘ridiculous’ following the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: Rodrigo out

Rodrigo has been Leeds’ main source of goals this season, with the Spaniard scoring 12 times in 22 appearances across all competitions.

However, former manager Jesse Marsch decided to bring the 31-year-old on at Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup when Leeds were winning comfortably, with Rodrigo suffering an ankle injury late on.

He faces a two-month spell on the sidelines, leaving Patrick Bamford and Georginio Rutter as the only senior options.

The Latest: Jones’ comments

GiveMeSport asked Jones about Leeds’ January additions in a story shared following Javi Gracia’s Elland Road appointment. The reporter doesn’t think that the club did enough in the final third after failing to sign an experienced Premier League forward, labelling it as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘too late to fix’.

“In hindsight, no. Even at the time, we knew that they were ideally looking for someone who had a decent goalscoring record in this league, but they didn’t do it. So, there was always a chance they were going to find themselves in a situation where goals were going to be a problem.

“It really is ridiculous that Leeds still find themselves in this situation, where they don’t know what their source of goals is. But it’s a problem that’s too late to fix.”

The Verdict: Rutter a gamble?

Rutter was the man to arrive at Elland Road last month in a club record deal from Hoffenheim. The 20-year-old is still awaiting his first goal for the Whites and is yet to start a Premier League game, failing to make an immediate impact.

There already seems to be some doubt from Yorkshire chiefs regarding the big-money move for the Frenchman, so you could say that Jones is right when he says Leeds should have targeted a proven forward in the Premier League.

The Whites and Gracia will have to make do, though, and hopefully, the new head coach will be able to get Leeds back scoring freely once again after netting just twice in their last five Premier League games.

Arsenal are reportedly battling Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United to sign Real Madrid winger Marco Asensio on a free transfer this summer.

The Lowdown: Talks scheduled

It was reported earlier this month that Asensio’s agents were flying to London to feel out interest in the Premier League, with Madrid not wanting to talk about a new deal until March or April.

His contract expires in the summer, meaning that he can leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

The Latest: Competition…

As per Football Insider, Tottenham and United are also battling with Arsenal to sign Asensio, providing that he does not sign a contract extension.

They have now been ‘in contact’ over a potential deal which would see him join for free come the summer.

The Verdict: No-brainer

To sign a player of Asensio’s quality and experience for free is a no-brainer for the Gunners.

Hailed as ‘spectacular’ by his former agent Horacio Gaggioli, Asensio has had a great career at the age of 27, winning no fewer than three UEFA Champions League titles with Madrid, along with a host of other major accolades.

The winger has also been capped 35 times by Spain, and at 27, is a player only just about to enter his prime.

Nonetheless, Asensio would still have a sizeable sell-on value as well, if for some reason it did not work out at the Emirates Stadium.

When retiring, most players either go down the coaching route or they go down the punditry route, with a mixed bag of success. Some players take an entirely different, and unpredictable route, however, as they pursue a dream that is somewhat outside of the box.

When it comes to Tottenham Hotspur, most legends in recent history have gone on to have great success in their careers after football. 

The majority of the North London club’s legends can now be seen in punditry or the technical area. Either way, they’re still very much a part of modern-day football. It will certainly be interesting to see what the next batch of Spurs icons decide to do after hanging up their boots, too. Could we see Heung-min Son step into punditry, analysing Harry Kane’s tactics from the technical area? We can’t wait to find out.

With that said, we’ve decided to look into what 10 Tottenham Hotspur legends are doing since retirement.

10) Chris Waddle 

Since retiring, Chris Waddle has taken up punditry and has worked for the likes of TalkSport, Setanta Sports, BBC Radio 5 live, and ESPN.

He is one of many former Premier League players to have had success away from the football pitch, and in the studio as a commentator and pundit. 

He is consistently used by terrestrial television, particularly focusing on analysing games from the FA Cup.

Waddle remains a legend of both Spurs and Newcastle United, and is a fixture on our television screens.

9) Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe isn’t actually that long retired, having hung up what were golden boots as little as four months ago.

In that short time frame, he has, admittedly, kept his cards close to his chest. But, having previously spent time as a player/coach at Rangers, we could see the legendary goal scorer attempt to translate his knowledge to current strikers in the future.

Indeed, he is currently working with Spurs, again, as he continues to explore a move into coaching.

The club, clearly, were happy to welcome the ex-England international back into the fold.

8) Rafael van der Vaart 

Remember when we said that some players opt for options considered slightly outside of the box?

Well, with that said, we’d like to introduce Rafael van der Vaart, the darts player for the British Darts Organisation. The midfielder’s accuracy was always impressive with his feet, and, as it turns out, it’s not too bad with his hands, either.

The former Spurs man has also worked as a pundit, and as a coach for Esbjerg fB, however. 

He remains one of the most iconic players to join Spurs, and is often seen in the stands at the stadium.

7) Ledley King 

Going down the coaching route, Ledley King spent a brief time as part of Jose Mourinho’s backroom staff, before new manager Nuno Espírito Santo arrived, and the former captain returned to his ambassador role.

Studying for his coaching badges since then, however, it may not be too long before we see King back in the technical area, maybe even as the head coach this time.

King also works as a Spurs ambassador, representing the club at various events, including things such as the Champions League draw.

When he’s not doing that, he can always be seen at games, watching on and trying to inspire Spurs to more glory.

6) Robbie Keane 

Like others, Robbie Keane has been spotted as both a pundit and coach since retirement.

His coaching career has included spells with both Middlesbrough, and the Ireland national team. Meanwhile, as a pundit, he has been seen on the likes of Sky Sports, often covering former team Tottenham Hotspur.

After last coaching in 2020, it will be interesting to see whether Keane steps back into a similar role.

As it stands, though, it seems like he is mainly focused on his media work.

5) Dimitar Berbatov 

Before we get into what he’s up to nowadays, can we just take a second to appreciate and admire Dimitar Berbatov’s immaculate touch during his playing days?

He could probably pluck a meteor out of the sky. But, what is he up to now?

Well, since retiring, Berbatov has been seen as a pundit for BT Sport, released his own book, and even his own clothing line. It’s fair to say that he’s been a busy man since hanging up his boots.

Clearly, he’s got plenty of time on his hands, as he always seemed to have on the pitch!

4) Teddy Sheringham  

Retiring at the old age of 42, Teddy Sherringham didn’t go straight down the coaching route, instead picking an option slightly out of the box by becoming a top poker player on the world scene, and a successful one at that, too, winning various competitions.

He did eventually turn to coaching, however, with a role at West Ham, before becoming the manager of Stevenage, and, most-recently, Indian Super League side Atletico de Kolkata.

Now, though, he is more regularly seen on television in a pundit role every now and then, covering Spurs.

Of course, he is also available as an ex-Manchester United talking head.

3) Jurgen Klinsmann 

Spending time as a pundit most recently, Jurgen Klinsmann’s main role since retiring has been as a manager, and a successful one at that, too.

Throughout his managerial career, the former Spurs player has taken charge of the German national team, Bayern Munich, USA national team, and Hertha Berlin in an incredibly impressive spell in the technical area.

He was most recently seen in the BBC studio analysing the World Cup in Qatar.

It remains to be seen if Klinsmann will make a move back into coaching in the near future.

2) Glenn Hoddle 

Speaking of players to have taken up management after retiring, Glenn Hoddle has had quite an extensive career in the technical area, taking charge of Swindon Town, Chelsea, England, Southampton, former club Spurs, and Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as taking up the role of assistant manager at Queen Park Rangers.

Following his time in management, however, he can now be seen as a pundit and commentator on BT Sport.

Hoddle, of course, has also had a health scare, and nearly died after having a heart attack some years ago.

But he has made a swift and full recovery, and was even in the stadium when Spurs beat Ajax 3-2 to reach the Champions League final.

1) Gary Lineker 

The fact that our mind instantly goes to the Match of the Day theme tune when we see the name Gary Lineker tells you all you need to know about just how well the former Spurs man has done.

He is arguably one of the most successful players after retirement, with his work as a host taking him to the next level of fame. That, and being the face of Walkers crisps, of course.

He was also pretty handy as a player, scoring goals at every level, but most impressively on the biggest stages.

He won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup, and even earned a giant move to Barcelona during his playing days.

Were there any surprises on our list? Or did you really expect Berbatov to be an incredible darts player? Let us know in the comments. The current crop of Spurs players could be up to similar in the next decade or so. They could even have the next Match of the Day host in their current squad. We certainly can’t wait to find out if that’s the case.

Meanwhile, the current crop of legends will keep at their current roles, and some may even take a step into management. The likes of Defoe and Berbatov still have plenty of time in retirement to pursue a successful coaching career, and they wouldn’t be the first to do so, either.

Ian Abrahams has admitted he’s confident that Arsenal will be able to sign £100 million midfielder Declan Rice.

The Lowdown: Arsenal will look to improve

Considering Arsenal were indeed willing to spend big on Mykhailo Mudryk in January but instead only spent a fraction of that on Leandro Trossard, would suggest that there will be money available in the summer.

Even if Arsenal don’t end up winning the Premier League – which looks rather unlikely now given their lead at the top – they will have Champions League football for the first time since the 2016/17 season, so should be able to attract a higher calibre of player.

Arsenal will know that if they wish to be challenging for the Premier League each and every season then money must be invested this summer and in windows going forward and one area they could look to bolster is midfield given Thomas Partey’s injury woes this season.

The Latest: Rice would cost Arsenal £100 million

While speaking on TalkSPORT, Abrahams admitted he was fairly certain Rice would move to The Emirates this summer, although it will force them to pay a club-record fee for the midfielder.

He said: (0:15) “This is an outstanding player, this is a £100 million footballer who -regardless of what Roy Keane says – his old club would love to sign if Liverpool don’t get Jude Bellingham they’d like to sign.

“I’m pretty certain that clubs like Chelsea and Arsenal, who I think he’ll end up going to, they want to sign as well.”

The Verdict: Huge battle for his signature

It’s no surprise so many clubs are indeed interested in Rice as he is one of the top midfielders in the Premier League and even this term when the Hammers have been poor he ranks inside the top 20 for players tackled across the division, and is also yet to make an error in the league this season which shows how reliable he is (FBRef).

Reports have been swirling around his year about how Rice may well prefer a move to Arsenal, and it’s no surprise given the trajectory they are on under Mikel Arteta, but also because they boast such a young squad, the youngest in the league.

Therefore, Rice would fit in very nicely with what Arenal need for the here and now, but also be able to build around the likes of him and Martin Odegaard in midfield for the future, but his eye-watering price tag is sure to test Arteta and Edu’s resolve when it comes to spending huge as their last big-money signing – Nicolas Pepe – certainly didn’t work out.

Crystal Palace are thought to be interested in a move for Middlesborough forward Chuba Akpom, according to talkSPORT.

The Lowdown: Fine form

Akpom made the move to the Riverside Stadium in 2020 and has been enjoying a fine season in front of goal in the Championship.

The 27-year-old is the top scorer in the second tier, netting 21 goals in 28 games, four more than any other player. Hailed as a ‘fantastic’ striker by former Boro caretaker boss Leo Percovich, Akpom is out of contract in the summer, and it looks as if a move to the Premier League could be on the cards.

The Latest: Palace interest

TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook provided an update on Akpom’s future in the last 48 hours.

He stated that Palace, along with Everton and Leeds, are ‘waiting to pounce’ for Akpom if Boro’s promotion push falls short.

The Verdict: Makes sense

Patrick Vieira’s side have struggled for goals this season and are yet to net more than one top-flight goal in a game in 2023. They have bagged just 21 times in 25 league games, fewer than bottom side Bournemouth, so a move for a new forward would make sense.

Akpom has been impressing in the second tier so could be a shrewd target, especially if he becomes a free agent over the coming months.

Palace’s top scorer, Wilfried Zaha,  is also out of contract in the summer, and should he depart for nothing Palace will need to bring in more than one attacker ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Journalist Charles Watts has hinted that Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah could be set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines with injury.

What's the latest on Eddie Nketiah?

The Englishman has missed Arsenal's last three games in all competitions, having been restricted to minutes from the bench in previous weeks as the club were concerned about a knock he had picked up.

There is now no official timeframe on his potential return, but with Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard both appearing against Fulham, Mikel Arteta will have options at his disposal even without the 23-year-old.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts claimed that there could be concerns over a possibly significant injury for Nketiah, and a quick return looks unlikely.

He said: "It's clearly a pretty significant injury that Eddie Nketiah's had. Arsenal, still, when you speak to people there, [say] hopefully he might be back after the international break, but certainly what Mikel's saying there, it feels like it's a little bit worse than some people at Arsenal have been letting on in terms of Nketiah's injury.

"Clearly if he's in a protective boot, he's nowhere near coming back to training, obviously, if he's still in that situation.

"The fact that Arteta said he's got a big challenge ahead of him, we'll wait and see exactly when Eddie's going to be back. But from those comments, you kind of think, I'm not sure immediately after the international break is going to be possible, but we shall wait and see."

How important has Nketiah been for Arsenal?

Arsenal were dealt a huge blow when Gabriel Jesus picked up a long-term injury during the World Cup, but this gave Nketiah a chance to deputise for the Brazilian.

Arteta's side were five points clear at the top of the league when Jesus picked up his injury. They are still top now over four months later, and that is in no small part thanks to Nketiah's efforts up front.

He has scored nine goals in all competitions this season, which included a stunning brace as Arsenal came from behind to beat Manchester United.

If Arsenal do go on to win their first Premier League title since 2004, then Nketiah's contribution must be acknowledged given the impressive way in which he has covered for Jesus and chipped in with goals going forward.

But it is clear that his participation for the remainder of the campaign is in doubt due to Jesus' return to fitness and some massive games on the horizon for the Gunners.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte’s job is now ‘completely untenable’ as a result of his rant in the press conference following the 3-3 draw against Southampton, according to journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke.

The Lowdown: Scathing attack

After his side threw away a 3-1 lead to draw against a struggling Southampton side yesterday, Conte launched a scathing attack on his players, branding them ‘selfish’ and unwilling to ‘help each other’.

The Italian claimed the disappointing result was the ‘last straw’, while also appearing to take a swipe at the Tottenham ownership, saying: “Tottenham’s story is this – 20 years there is this owner and they never won something. Why?”

After the bombshell press conference, there has been speculation about the manager’s future at the club, with talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor insisting Daniel Levy needs to sack him as he ‘doesn’t want to be there anymore.’

The Latest: Pitt-Brooke reacts

Taking to Twitter to react to Conte’s comments to the press, Pitt Brooke said: “Never seen anything like that Antonio Conte press conference just now. 10 minutes of trying to take everyone else down with him. It was such an amazing performance you almost had to admire it.”

The Athletic journalist later added: “I don’t see how Conte can plausibly make it to Goodison Park on 3 April after this. He has made his own job completely untenable.”

The Verdict: Conte must go

The 53-year-old made a few very good points during his explosive rant, particularly in his criticism of the Spurs hierarchy being unable to compete for major trophies since taking over the club in 2001, which indicates a serious problem at board level.

This group of players has also let down far too many managers, with Conte, who has won nine trophies in his managerial career, becoming the latest coach unable to get a tune out of this Tottenham squad, with serial winner Jose Mourinho also struggling.

That said, it could be very weak of the Spurs board to allow the former Juventus boss to continue after so openly criticising his higher-ups, while he may have also damaged his relationship with some of the players after his heavy criticism.

Tottenham have been presented with an opportune time to part with Conte, given that we are now heading into an international break, and it could be wise to part ways with the manager, as keeping him will likely do them no favours in their push to finish in the top four.

Journalist Gabriele Marcotti has questioned why Barcelona would want to bring Lionel Messi back to the club in their current financial situation.

What's going on with Messi and Barcelona?

The Argentine superstar is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season, and reports have emerged that the 35-year-old wants to return to the Camp Nou.

Messi has 18 goals and 17 assists this season, but has been blamed in some quarters for PSG's disappointing Champions League exit.

Barcelona are currently in a tricky financial situation, as they have to lower their wage bill significantly to even register midfielder Gavi, meaning new signings may have to wait until the problems can be resolved.

Speaking on ESPN FC (1.10), Marcotti questioned why Barcelona would choose to sign Messi, who currently earns £1.1m-per-week, given their financial troubles.

"In terms of having Messi back on anything like the salary that he has now, that wouldn't be just be one step backwards, that would be 10 steps backwards," he stated.

"Given Barcelona's financial reality, given the investment that they've made in the position that Messi plays, in terms of the wingers that they have there from Dembele to Raphinha to Ferran Torres to Ansu Fati, it simply makes zero sense,"

Do Barcelona need another attacker?

Barcelona are well stocked on the wings, with two natural wingers on both sides, and midfielders Pedri and Gavi both able to play out wide.

Upfront they have veteran Robert Lewandowski, with Fati and Torres both capable of filling in through the middle. Overall, they area well stocked in attack, and given their financial situation, unless there are outgoings in this position, a return for Messi seems counter-productive.

Although Messi's output this season has been higher than any current Barcelona attacker, given his age, it may not be a viable long-term solution to tear up the squad to be able to fit him in.

An emotional return for the Barcelona legend would excite both Messi and the club's fans, but it would be a deal which could harm the club further down the line given the finances involved.

If the club decide to move one of the current attackers on, such as Raphinha, to make room for Messi, it may be a move which they regret further down the line. Xavi has so far managed to build a team which has shown a lot of promise for the future, with his side 12 points clear at the top of the table, and an expensive return for Messi could jeopardise this.

Aston Villa have been longing for an offensive catalyst since the £100m departure of beloved homegrown talent Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021, the fleet-footed demon's feats for the Lions undoubtedly going down in the club's folklore.

Sure, Ollie Watkins has been prolific in the Premier League of late; Emi Buendia is easy on the eye with his gliding gait, but no one has captured the panache and efficiency of the former gem.

A wholly contrasting skill set, but Villa's Finn Azaz could be the optimum name to send Villa Park into rapture once again, with the midfield maestro out on loan at League One high-fliers Plymouth Argyle this season and forging a season of emphatic success; a centrepiece to the club's promotion-pushing efforts.

Argyle are table-toppers after 38 matches, five points clear in the automatic playoffs with just eight matches to play.

The Republic of Ireland international Azaz has indeed been fantastic for The Pilgrims and will certainly be in contention for a spot in manager Unai Emery's system next year, so arresting has he been in his trade.

Who is Finn Azaz?

Azaz has been on the Claret & Blue's books since the summer of 2021, when he was signed from Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and immediately loaned out to Newport County, praised as "exciting" by the club's official website.

WhoScored highlights Azaz's most arresting traits as his 'key passes', 'dribbling' and 'finishing', and his offensive midfield deployment could indeed provide the Villans with the offensive spark to complement the front-line next season.

Emery sold Danny Ings to West Ham United for £15m in January and only signed 19-year-old prospect Jhon Duran for £18m to bolster the offence, the dynamic Colombian precocious but perhaps not quite ready for the talismanic role.

The activity hints at a marquee addition in the summer, with the likes of £44m Lille sharpshooter Jonathan David touted, and as such, a creative and enterprising force situated behind would indeed go down a treat.

The 22-year-old Azaz has recorded an average Sofascore rating of 7.14 this term, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists and complementing his direct return with 1.7 shots and 1.9 key passes per match, hailed as a "baller" for his exploits by journalist Alex Dunne.

If Emery does decide to offer the one-cap U21 international a platform, he could stake a claim for Philippe Coutinho's place in the team, with the distinguished Brazilian branded “disappointing” by former Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor.

The £125k-per-week man has scored just one goal and provided no assists from 22 outings across all competitions this season, recording a mediocre Sofascore rating of 6.66 and offering just 1.1 shots and 0.4 key passes per outing, inferior to Azaz's output, granted, playing two divisions below but exhibiting all the prowess requisite for success in the English top-flight.

How the "imposing" Azaz – as dubbed by Ashley Preece – has carried himself in the third tier this term has been extremely impressive, and if he can continue to nurture his abilities at Premier League level with Villa, he could become a shrewd, homegrown sensation in the midlands.

He might not quite have the flair or elegance of the likes of Grealish and Coutinho, but the mechanical, industrious way he exerts his authority and dynamism cannot be understated.