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Everton have endured a torrid start to their new campaign, with their only win coming against League Two Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup. Whilst few have emerged with any plaudits, there have instead been numerous duds who continue to disappoint, feeding into this awful run of form.

One such name is Ashley Young, who was enlisted in the summer to help pad out the squad. Many were content with the free acquisition of the former Aston Villa man, with his experience at the top level certain to aid in the dressing room.

How is Ashley Young playing?

Few likely expected that the 38-year-old would become such an integral figure, having started all five of their Premier League fixtures, of which they have only captured a single point.

Although his quality clearly still remains in flashes, there have been a few questionable moments that have left a few people scratching their heads.

As such, his 6.66 average Sofascore rating is about as disappointing as one would expect, largely bogged down by his dreadful return to Villa Park. One moment, where his crossfield throw set up their opposition, drew particular scorn from co-commentator Andy Hinchcliffe: "The throw-in from Ashley Young is diabolical. It’s just appalling. There’s no other word for it. Disgraceful defending. How do you recover from this?"

Not to mention that his wayward set pieces have come under scrutiny too, as his floated deliveries are almost always gobbled up by delighted goalkeepers. For a player celebrated for his quality in this area of the game, it is hugely disappointing.

Expectations were hardly sky-high for this ageing stalwart, but his continued failure in the starting side means surely Sean Dyche must act.

Who could replace Ashley Young?

Although he has been ever-present, this has largely been to fill in gaps in the full-back spots. When Vitaliy Mykolenko was pushing for a return to fitness, the Englishman slotted into left-back, before moving to right-back as Nathan Patterson dropped to the bench against Arsenal.

It seems that the former Burnley boss is more confident trusting the experience of Young over the youthful energy these two alternative defenders could bring, but at this point, he may have no other choice.

He surely cannot persist with something that is clearly not working, whilst the £1.7m-rated ace would still retain his impact within the dressing room anyway were he to move to the bench.

After all, the Scotsman and the Ukrainian internationals have posted 6.90 and 6.80 average Sofascore ratings respectively for their starts to the season, which suggest they boast far more solidity than Young has done. Vitally, Patterson bettered Young in the tackling department last term, while Mykolenko made more clearances per game. Perhaps they could offer a greater deal of solidity on that evidence.

At 24 and 21 years old, they are also the future of this football club, for all their flaws. Surely Dyche is better served trusting in youth whilst they are not completely entrenched in a relegation battle, before calling on the know-how of the one-time Premier League winner later in the campaign should he be required.

Young marks an exceptional squad player to acquire for free, but if he is to continue as a starter it will only exacerbate their issues. How Farhad Moshiri has allowed the quality of the squad to get this low is remarkable, and although the potential buyers have their downsides too, fans will likely just be so glad to see the back of the Iranian billionaire.

Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham has been banned for two matches by La Liga following his red card against Valencia.

• Madrid's Bellingham hit with ban
• Suspended for next two games
• Sanctioned for red card against Valencia

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham is set for another spell on the sidelines for Real Madrid after being handed a two-match ban. The Real Madrid superstar has been sanctioned for his red card against Valencia in a controversial 2-2 draw. The England international was sent off in stoppage time for dissent after arguing with referee Gil Manzano. Bellingham thought he had scored a winner when he headed home but the referee had already blown for full time.

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  THE BIG PICTURE

  While Bellingham's absence is a blow for Madrid, they are seven points clear at the top of La Liga and are in pole position to reach the quarter finals of the Champions League – after winning the first leg 1-0 against RB Leipzig.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The England international has scored 20 goals and bagged eight assists in all competitions this season for Madrid after signing for an initial £87 million ($107.4m) from Borussia Dortmund last summer. That fee could rise to £108m ($133m).

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• WHAT NEXT?

  While Bellingham will miss Madrid's next two league games against Celta Vigo and Osasuna on March 10 and March 16 respectively, but he will be available for their last 16 Champions League clash at home to RB Leipzig on Wednesday night.

Liverpool failed to sign a new centre-back during the summer transfer window, but a new target in that position has now emerged ahead of January, following a fresh update.

Do Liverpool need a new centre-back?

The Reds knew how important a busy summer was in the transfer market, following a 2022/23 season in which they looked jaded and ageing as a team. Liverpool's midfield proved to be a huge issue, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson looking like shadows of the players they used to be, and constant injury problems surrounded the likes of Thiago, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Some great business was conducted in the middle of the park, with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all brought in, but curiously, there were no new additions at the heart of the defence.

With Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip both now 32 years of age, and injuries hampering both the latter and Joe Gomez down the years, not signing a new player in that area felt like a risk, although it hasn't been an issue yet so far this season. It does look as though a new centre-back is on Liverpool's agenda, however, following a new update regarding defensive reinforcements.

Which centre-back do Liverpool want to sign?

According to a new update from 90min, the Reds are interested in signing Sao Paulo's highly-rated young centre-back Lucas Beraldo, sending scouts to watch him in action:

"90min understands that Wolves saw a bid for Beraldo rejected by Sao Paulo during the summer transfer window – the club ultimately opting to sign Santiago Bueno for £8.5m from Girona on deadline day instead – but Liverpool are keeping an increasingly close eye on his development.

"Sources have confirmed to 90min that Liverpool's scouting team have watched Beraldo a number of times over recent months, as they look for potential long-term successors to Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk, who are both 32."

This could be exactly the type of business Liverpool need to do in one of the upcoming transfer windows, bringing a freshness to the defence and planning for the long-term, as has been the case with the midfield.

Beraldo may not be a household name to many, but he is already an important figure for Sao Paulo, despite still only being 19, making 42 appearances for the Brazilian giants to date.

While the youngster would clearly be coming in as a squad player to begin with, he could blossom into a great starting option over time, assuming he continues to develop at his current pace. The report on Beraldo from 90min claims that a "range of passing and ability to drift past opponents to retain possession in their own defensive third" are "among his star qualities" as a player, and according to FBref [via Empire of the Kop], he is the top 7% in his position for passes per 90 (73.54), progressive passes per game (5.69) and pass completion (89.1%) outside of Europe.

Matip and Gomez have been excellent this season, and deserve praise for that, but the time could come to replace at least one of them soon, and Beraldo, dubbed "fearless & tenacious" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, looks an excellent heir.

This could be a significant season for Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe’s side could be cup champions this time next month, into the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. They have also set up a last-16 tie with Brighton in the FA Cup, with Manchester’s two behemoths the only remaining teams from the Premier League’s recognised ‘big six.’

That term is increasingly outmoded, with Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League in 2022/23, Aston Villa following their trail last term and Nottingham Forest currently ensconced in third, 18 points above Man United.

Newcastle definitely have a team capable of hitting huge heights, no longer punching above their weight but recognised as a fear-inducing opponent.

And alongside the exploits of the first team, the Magpies youth fold is making exciting progress too.

Newcastle's new-found academy success

Homemade superstars were a rarity on Tyneside before Howe and PIF came along. Six years ago, under the tyrannical rule of Mike Ashley, Newcastle’s academy was observed to be in a ‘desperate state’, but that has now changed.

Sean Longstaff was established and Elliott Anderson was coming through when everything changed in 2021, but the shift at youth level has since gone from strength to strength,

The infrastructure has been revamped, with now-former sporting director Dan Ashworth appointing 13 new academy staff members to rewrite the narrative about the club’s production line.

Now, there’s much to be excited about as the system blossoms as a whole. Lewis Miley is a fiercely exciting talent, while Anderson was sold to Nottingham Forest last summer for £35m. Yankuba Minteh also joined Brighton in a £30m deal to placate PSR.

Newcastle’s U21s sit 14th in the Premier League 2, having finished 22nd last term and achieved promotion the year before that. This is incremental progress.

Not just promoting from the city, United are signing exciting up-and-comers to suffuse the formative ranks with a golden glow. Let’s have a look at a young forward who might just be the pick of the bunch.

Howe may have "one of the best prospects in the world"

St. James’ Park has appealed to some of the most exciting senior stars in England – Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes et al., but the same can be said for those at the bottom of the pack.

Vakhtang Salia is one of the most exciting Georgian players to emerge since Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and it’s a testament to Newcastle’s progress that he opted for Howe’s team last year despite interest from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Aged 17, Salia has already posted seven goals and two assists across 39 senior appearances for Dinamo Tbilisi, with journalist Bence Bocsak duly describing him as an “elite talent.”

A mobile and threatening forward, the teenager has yet to find his best position but is routinely deployed on the left flank. He could provide relief across the frontline after joining United in August when he turns 18.

Who knows, with such high stock, Salia could assert himself as one of the most talented youngsters in the Premier League next season, maybe even rivalling Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri.

A true prodigy, 17-year-old Nwaneri has made waves at Arsenal over the past several years, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history when introduced against Brentford in September 2022 (aged 15 years and 181 days), and properly breaking into Mikel Arteta’s plans this year.

A right-sided player, he’s scored seven times across 24 matches, instrumental in keeping the Gunners afloat with talisman Bukayo Saka sidelined for over a month and not expected to return any time soon.

Development isn’t linear but Salia is doing all that he can in his homeland, sharpening his tools to a keen edge before crossing over to Newcastle. With a natural-born goalscoring ability and dynamism that sees him place across different roles, Howe might just find that he can introduce a rival to Arsenal’s talk-of-the-town talent.

In The Pipeline

Journalist Graeme Bailey has hailed Salia as “one of the best teenage prospects in the world,” and when he alights in Newcastle later this year, there’s every chance that he could make a fast start and show Howe that he’s unearthed a rising star just as bright as Nwaneri.

Their own Mbeumo: Newcastle messed up by letting "dangerous" star leave

Newcastle United already had their own version of Bryan Mbeumo and fumbled him.

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By
Dan Emery

Feb 20, 2025

Paris Saint-Germain appear eager to avoid another Kylian Mbappe-like transfer saga as Achraf Hakimi is reportedly in talks over a new deal.

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• Mbappe set for PSG transfer exit
• French side want to keep Hakimi
• Talks over a new deal underway

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  With PSG star Mbappe seemingly set to join Real Madrid this summer, team-mate Hakimi has been linked with a move to Los Blancos, too. However, according to French publication, Le Parisien, the Ligue 1 giants have 'started discussions' with the right-back over extending his current deal past 2026. The report adds that unlike Mbappe, the 25-year-old Moroccan has not indicated his intention to leave the Paris outfit.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With Mbappe heading for the exit, PSG could be entering a new era. After having footballing icons such as Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar in their attack in recent years – it's very likely none of them will be at the club at the end of the season. Therefore, keeping some of your best players, such as Hakimi, will be key to PSG not going backwards at a rate of knots.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Hakimi began his career at Real Madrid before joining Borussia Dortmund on loan for two straight campaigns in 2018-20. After struggling for minutes at Madrid, he joined Inter Milan in 2020, before signing for PSG the following year.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  While talk of a new contract or a possible transfer move are likely to fester over the coming weeks and months, Hakimi's table-topping PSG take on Montpellier in their last Ligue 1 match on Sunday night before the March international break.

Arsenal may now be "willing to pay" market value for one club's "incredible" striker as a possible alternative to heavily-linked Brentford star Ivan Toney.

Will Arsenal sign a striker?

One gaping hole in Mikel Arteta's side, as widely believed, is the lack of a world-class centre-forward. While the Gunners are currently joint-top with north London rivals Tottenham on points, winning six out of a possible eight and remaining unbeaten in the Premier League, many of their victories have come through narrow one-goal margins. The title hopefuls, as a result, are eyeing up a new striker for 2024.

While some reports, like one from Football Transfers this week, have suggested that Arteta prefers to sign an alternative to Bukayo Saka – the vast majority have claimed that Toney is of real interest to Arsenal and a January move is possible. The Englishman, who scored 20 league goals, would seriously bolster Arteta's ranks and some pundits like TV journalist Piers Morgan say that the club's supporters are "kidding themselves" if they think Arsenal don't need a forward.

“I think that in January we have to go and get Ivan Toney or someone like him because we need a proper striker," said Morgan.

“Every Arsenal fan knows this and I think we’ve been kidding ourselves for too long that we can exist without one and the truth is that we can’t.”

Dusan Vlahovic transfer update

However, while links continue to surround a move for Toney, that isn't to say there are no alternatives. Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who's started this season with real aplomb, is one name to be mentioned recently. A report from Tutto Juve and journalist Massimo Pavan, sharing the latest Vlahovic transfer update, has claimed that Arsenal (and sporting director Edu Gaspar by extension) may now be "willing to pay" the Serbia international's market value of around £70 million to get a deal done.

However, there is some bad news for supporters concerning this, as Vlahovic's club are set to demand much more money than this. Indeed, a figure of around £90 million could even be the yard stick according to this report. Given Vlahovic's start to the new Serie A campaign, this is hardly surprising, as the former Fiorentina star has already scored four goals in six league appearances already this season.

Former Juve star turned commentator, Massimo Mauro, has also called the young striker "incredible" and "like he has always been" in Turin with the Old Lady.

“Vlahovic is incredible," exclaimed Mauro to TUTTOmercatoWEB (via the Juventus official website).

"It almost seems like he has always been there, he hasn’t undergone the change of environment at all like it happened in Florence also in Turin, he takes the field and scores goals. And now Juve is starting to scare again, if the others continue to take pauses for reflection, the Bianconeri are ready to return fully for the title fight.”

Tata Martino revealed that Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls sought to postpone their MLS fixture but their request was turned down by the US FA.

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• Miami and NYRB urged to postpone the fixture
• The international break will see them miss out on stars
• Martino wants MLS authorities to figure out a solution

• Brennan Asplen/Getty Images
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Star player Lionel Messi remains sidelined due to a muscle injury sustained during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal against Nashville. Additionally, Miami will be without up to eight other potential starters due to various fitness issues and the ongoing FIFA international break.

  The situation isn't any better for the Red Bulls, as captain Emil Forsberg and four other key players are away on international duty. And despite the mutual agreement between the two clubs to postpone the fixture, the federation's decision to proceed with the match poses challenges for both sides.

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• WHAT TATA MARTINO SAID

  Martino expressed his disappointment, highlighting the need for the league to reevaluate its stance on playing fixtures during FIFA breaks.

  "We received a request from Red Bulls to postpone this match and we agreed, but the federation didn't approve," the Inter manager said.

  "It’s something that will have to be considered, the league will have to continue assessing [playing though FIFA breaks]."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The reintroduction of the Leagues Cup last year further complicates matters for the US Soccer Federation. It is a four-week-long tournament in the middle of the season which makes fixture postponements challenging.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Martino will find solace in the availability of veteran players such as Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba, who bring valuable experience and depth to the squad. However, as MLS continues to grapple with scheduling conflicts and player absences, calls for a more flexible approach during international breaks are likely to intensify.

The international break is always an interminable slog, but for Premier League table-toppers Tottenham Hotspur, it will feel like a lifetime after blitzing into form under the management of Ange Postecoglou.

Despite enduring a challenging 2022/23 campaign that resulted in an eighth-placed finish in the top-flight and the dismissal of Antonio Conte, the arrival of Postecoglou has stemmed the malaise and rekindled the fluidity that was so prominent during the days of Mauricio Pochettino.

The complete transformation has been commendable and the results are illustrated through the progress on the pitch, with there now a real sense that Spurs can compete against the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool for the league title.

James Maddison is the salient arrival, pumping inventive creativity into the centre of the pitch and earning adulation from pundit Jermaine Jenas, who said that he is "on the verge of being a world-class talent."

But he's not the only contributor to the revival, with a host of existing stars now tapping into their potential and looking every bit comfortable in a Premier League side targetting silver-laden success.

With six victories and two draws from the opening eight matches of the term, the Lilywhites are indeed flying, but Postecoglou will have to contend with several issues following the conclusion of the international sojourn.

Indeed, Tottenham secured victory over Luton Town last time out, but did so at a cost, with the industrious Yves Bissouma picking up a red card after Manor Solomon sustained a lengthy knee injury in training and is now sidelined indefinitely.

What happened to Manor Solomon?

Solomon announced himself on English shores with a prolific purple patch on loan with Fulham last season, scoring five goals in as many matches earlier in 2023 and earning praise for his “stunning” efforts by journalist Josh Bunting.

Such feats earned him a free transfer to Tottenham, having concluded his contract with Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, and while he has not yet cemented a regular starting berth, the 37-cap Israel international has earned two assists – both against Burnley – from just five Premier League outings this season, starting twice.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 4% for goals scored, the top 4% for successful take-ons and the top 2% for tackles made per 90 – very much the protean threat.

The £60k-per-week gem offers a kind of dynamism that someone like Richarlison doesn't boast in the same regard, having been dubbed a "pocket rocket" by pundit Jamie Redknapp.

While Richarlison is indeed the first choice option on the left wing, he has not proved himself reliable despite improving on his dismal form from last season, and, as such, Postecoglou could use the current seasonal pause to assess his options and tinker at his team.

Heung-min Son, now club captain, has been exceptional this season and is thriving up front, having scored six goals across his last five Premier League matches, and while he will continue to serve in the role over the season, it might be wise for his manager to shift him back into his natural position on the left to accommodate summer signing Alejo Veliz.

How much did Tottenham pay for Alejo Veliz?

Several days prior to Tottenham legend Harry Kane's £86m plus add-ons transfer to Bayern Munich in August, young and exciting forward Veliz was added to the squad.

The 20-year-old Argentina prospect joined from Rosario Central for a reported £13m fee, signing a six-year deal with the London club and continuing the emphasis on fresh, younger arrival, reshaping and remoulding a Spurs side that has languished below the desired standard for some time now.

Fabrizio Romano hailed him a "talented" player and while he has yet to make his mark at Tottenham, he will likely get an increased opportunity over the coming months, with Solomon's absence something he could use advantageously to wedge his way into Postecoglou's plans.

How good is Alejo Veliz?

Last season, in the Liga Professional, Veliz plundered 11 goals and two assists from 23 matches, leading South American content creator Nathan Joyes to praise his "exciting" attributes.

Tall and imposing, Veliz has been noted for having the making of the "complete" centre-forward by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also highlighted his "finishing, instinct, athleticism, movement."

So far, he has only made two appearances for Tottenham with both coming in the dying embers of the club's past two Premier League matches, but his natural prowess as a striker could be something well-placed for his outfit's success, especially during spells when Richarlison may fall out of form.

Son ranks among the top 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90 and has posted 151 goals and 80 assists across 381 matches since joining the club.

And given that Veliz has been firing at a greater rate than the 31-year-old over the past year while also dwarfing his impact in aerial situations, Postecoglou must now provide him with his very first starting berth since arriving on English shores a few months ago.

Obviously, Son has been in fine form over recent weeks and his rate of scoring illustrates that, but Veliz offers a different dimension to the centre-forward position and could thrive as the focal point with his towering presence.

And while Son is indeed flourishing at present, he's hardly unproven as a threat from the left channel, and could offer the kind of offensive security to allow Veliz to integrate into the rigours of Premier League football.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry insisted that "monster" Kylian Mbappe has already surpassed his career as the PSG superstar nears Real Madrid move.

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• Mbappe hailed by Henry
• French forward labelled as "mad" and "monster" by Henry
• Mbappe just five short of Henry's international goal tally

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Henry, who currently manages France's U21 national team and is preparing Les Bleus’ U23 squad for the upcoming Olympic Games, showered praise on Mbappe for his extraordinary talent and impact at the club and international level. The former striker boasts of having an illustrious career, playing for several European giants like Barcelona, Arsenal, & Juventus and has also won the Champions League with the Blaugranas – yet he believes that the 25-year-old has already surpassed his legacy.

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• WHAT HENRY SAID

  Speaking to , Henry said: “He has already overtaken me! It’s already done. Kylian is already in the future and that’s good anyway because he’s France, he’s our football and we need this guy who represents us kind of everywhere. Kylian is extraordinary. He’s mad."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite Mbappé's remarkable achievements, there remains one milestone where he trails behind Henry. While the PSG forward has notched an impressive 46 goals for Les Bleus, Henry leads with 51 goals, while Olivier Giroud is the record scorer with 56 strikes.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe's desire to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games may face a setback due to his anticipated move to Real Madrid. Los Blancos have made it clear that none of their French players will be released for the tournament – and Henry must do without the services of the prolific forward if the transfer is sealed.

Crawley manager Scott Lindsey has fired a warning towards Wrexham after registering a statement win over Newport on Monday.

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• Crawley manager sent warning to Wrexham
• Beat Newport Country 4-0
• Red Dragons take on Crawley on April 9

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Crawley thrashed Newport County 4-0 in an important League Two clash on Monday which helped them climb up to the seventh position on the league table. With only six matches to go in the season, the club are now hopeful of earning a playoffs slot.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Right after beating Newport, Crawley manager Lindsey heaped praise on his team for picking up a crucial win away from home. Despite facing second-placed Mansfield Town and third-placed Wrexham in their next two fixtures respectively, the manager remained confident that his side has the capability of beating even the best of the teams in the league.

• WHAT SCOTT LINDSEY SAID

  Speaking to reporters after the game, the English manager said: "We were disappointed with Friday’s result and performance [2-0 loss at home to Doncaster] – it was a missed opportunity and we wanted to put it right and we certainly did that. It’s a good performance away from home. It’s a tough place to come against a team who really press you hard, and we took the sting out of them by being good on the ball. I thought we didn’t really settle into the game for the first 25 minutes. But after that, I thought we performed really well."

  He added: "I’m not bothered about sending messages out; we just keep doing what we do, and we don’t care about what anybody else thinks. I don’t suppose it matters where we are now; it’s where we are on April 27 that really counts. Hopefully, we’ll be in that spot then and we can look forward to an extended season, but we’ve just got to keep winning as many games as we can. We know we’ve got two really tough away games coming up against teams who are looking for automatic promotion, but my boys are really confident – we’ll take anyone on at the moment."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  The Red Dragons will aim to make it three wins in a row as they take on Doncaster in a crucial League Two encounter on Tuesday. They don't face Crawley until April 9.