Premier League

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Max Dowman's talent and rise are no shock to anyone who has been around Arsenal for the past couple of years - he has been training with the first-team squad since he was 14.

One of the first big signs of Dowman's integration was him being taken on the first team's warm-weather training camp to Dubai in January when he was still that age.

Dowman entered Year 11 in September - a key time for 15-year-olds as they will sit their GCSEs at the end of the year.

The schoolboy has built-in study time at the training ground to ensure his education does not suffer while he continues his development as a player.

Declan Rice is one of the players selected as a mentor to the youngster because, having started his own journey at a young age, he is viewed as an ideal candidate to give advice.

The Arsenal squad have a security team around them when they travel to games and arrive at Emirates Stadium.

One of the security team is assigned to stay close to Dowman at all times and could be seen next to him at Old Trafford when the teenager was in the travelling squad for the match against Manchester United but did not make the matchday 20.

Because of his age, Dowman has to get changed in a separate room to his team-mates before training sessions and on matchdays, but is able to go into the changing room when team-talks are done by Arteta and the coaching staff.

The players have separate rooms in hotels on away days, so travelling is not an issue.

Dowman's age group in the Premier League are known as scholars, and tend to earn less than £10,000 a year on their scholarship. Because of Fifa rules, they cannot sign professional contracts until the age of 17.

Whatever happens then, Dowman has already taken huge steps in his development, and Arsenal are making sure they support him every step of the way.

Read the full article here

David Jackson
BBC Radio Nottingham reporter

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I am writing this from above the clouds having set off from London Heathrow airport this morning, on the way to Austria for Nottingham Forest's second Europa League away trip of the season.

Much like the first (to Seville to play Real Betis) there is a sense of adventure and excitement among the travelling fans we have seen, but there is also now the extra added edge of knowing their team desperately needs points after a troubled start to the campaign.

And this is a huge week for potential points-gathering.

On Sunday, Forest play Leeds in the Premier League, already so far adrift of safety that even a win would not be enough to lift them out of the bottom three.

But before that, it is Sturm Graz on Thursday night. With Sunday in mind, Sean Dyche is likely to rest some players for this one but he will also know that a win in any competition at the moment could be huge for him and the team.

Join us for a special programme on BBC Radio Nottingham on Wednesday evening from the Stadion Liebenau in Graz from 18:00 GMT as Colin Fray talks to Sean Dyche, and Steve Hodge reflects on playing Graz in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1984.

Listen to full commentary of Sturm Graz v Nottingham Forest from 17:45 GMT on Thursday on BBC Radio Nottingham, 95.1, 95.5 and 103.8 FM.

And subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.

Ryan Leister from The Wolves Report Podcast says "any manager has got to be pretty desperate to go to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the moment" because the club is in such a poor place on and off the pitch.

Leister spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club as it was being reported that Gary O'Neil had pulled out of the running to re-join the club, 11 months after being sacked.

"I'm not sure Wolves have the pull to get someone of a real high quality, that has the credentials of giving us any chance of staying up," he said. "Any manager of a decent calibre that wants a job in the Premier League, has got to be pretty desperate to go to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the moment.

"The ownership have made it clear that they are not ambitious anymore and the self-sustainable model is just not working.

"If you look at Brighton, Brentford and to an extent Bournemouth, they are data driven clubs who are pretty much self sufficient. That is because they have a plan.

"If their manager gets poached then they have their best players and a succession plan. It feels like there is not that plan at Wolves and they seem to be winging it.

"It hurts me to say, but we deserve to be where we are because the club is being ran appallingly and the football has not been much better."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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Former goalkeeper Shay Given believes West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo should "go back to basics" at his new club.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club about the victory over Newcastle, Given said: "I think it was a huge victory, first win under a new manager and you could see his emotions after the game, with his staff, it was very special.

"They took off the striker Callum Wilson on the 60th minute and Tomas Soucek came on. At that point it looked like Nottingham Forest in disguise.

"They went into a defensive block and the third goal came late on.

"It was very much that system that he set up at Nottingham Forest, and I think that's what he needs to do - go back to basics.

"Build a foundation, concede less goals and hopefully with the pace on the break they'll cause teams problems."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views on Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence shunning manager Thomas Frank at full-time after the defeat to Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Edward: I'm not worried about Van de Ven ignoring Thomas Frank. I think there was a lot of embarrassment at Spurs' general performance. This Tottenham team were embarrassed, which is good and will mean they will learn from this. I just hope they turn their performances around quickly.

Paul: Not worried at all. I would be more concerned had the players been someone other than Van de Ven and Spence, who have both been excellent so far this season. I think they were just frustrated at the way the game went and just wanted to get down the tunnel. I would be more worried if they weren't upset at a performance like the one on Saturday night.

Geoff: Frustration and embarrassment. If I had played like that, I wouldn't want to face the fans. Worst performance of the season.

Rob: When you watch it, it feels like they're snubbing Frank, but in reality, I think they're snubbing the atmosphere.

However, there were some of you who believed that Van de Ven and Spence were wrong to shun Thomas Frank.

Richard: The two players should apologise publicly for the disrespect they showed both towards the manager and the fans. For highly paid professional players to act in that manner is wrong.

Merv: It's not right when players disrespect their manager, regardless of how they are feeling. A public show of dissent sends out the wrong message about the morale within the club.

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Noel Sliney
BBC Sport Journalist

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Arsenal's dominant start to the season has been underpinned by an imperious defence. An eighth successive clean sheet on Tuesday against Slavia Prague would equal a club record set in 1903.

The Gunners have won seven games in a row without conceding in all competitions for just the second time in the club's history, previously doing so 38 years ago.

A notable stat doing the rounds since Saturday's win at Burnley is that Arsenal have not faced a shot on target in three of their past four league matches.

On average, they have only allowed their opponent to have 1.9 goal attempts on target per game this season.

If they can maintain that pace, it will be comfortably the best record of any team across an entire Premier League campaign since such data was first recorded in 2003-04.

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Football Focus pundits Nedum Onuoha and Ellen White look at what Nordi Mukiele has brought to Sunderland at both ends of the pitch, ahead of their game with Everton on Monday.

Saturday's defeat was a performance and a result which gets managers the sack and teams relegated.

Wolves needed to take something from Fulham, who had lost their previous four games, but delivered their worst performance under Pereira.

It is therefore no surprise Wolves have sacked the 57-year-old.

Wolves wanted stability and consistency but are now searching for their fifth permanent manager in four years.

• Send your thoughts on Pereira's sacking

Pereira started to sound like a beaten man after defeat at Craven Cottage, and a change became inevitable.

Asked how Wolves could become the first Premier League team to survive relegation after taking two points from 10 games, he was unable to deliver a convincing answer.

Pereira is a good man, an honest person and an experienced coach, and he knew the situation was unlikely to turn in his favour.

A trip to Chelsea on Saturday does not appear to give Wolves a chance to end their winless start.

Going into the international break, Wolves must regroup quickly or they will drop into the Championship.

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Nottingham Forest boss Sean Dyche says he has to be "realistic" about the club's recent goalscoring troubles and that he and his staff "haven't got magic dust".

Despite finding the net five times in three Europa League matches, Forest are on a run of just one goal in seven Premier League matches - stretching across Ange Postecoglou's short tenure back to Nuno Espirito Santo's final game in charge in August.

"It's certainly a big challenge," Dyche told BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray.

"I'm very experienced nowadays in the Premier League and so are my staff, but we haven't got magic dust.

"You can't just suddenly make people score lots of goals. What you are doing is trying to form a style of play that creates more chances and better chances and then it inevitably comes down to someone putting it in the net.

"It's been an ongoing challenge from last season as well. If you took Woody's [Chris Wood] goals out of it suddenly you go 'woah it's a whole bigger challenge'.

"Towards the end of last season going into this season, if you look at the facts and stats - just to share it honestly there is no brushing it under the carpet.

"We have to look honestly at what the group were, are, and what we have to change it to. We have to be realistic and equally look at the talent we've got and think how can we form more chances and a better quality of chance with what we've got while keeping the back door unlocked - which they did so well last season.

"We have to find the balance but the balance has been clearly wrong since the end of last season to the beginning of this season where the team has not scored as many and conceded more.

"That has been apparent to everyone and now it's our job to tighten up both boxes because that's where the real stuff happens.

"That's the biggest thing we're trying to fathom - what makes us good in our box defensively and what can allow us the freedom to go and attack and create more chances.

"That's what we're trying to sort out here."

Readers can digest on the post below where Colin Fray said the Reds' scoring record is a "horrendous statistic" and brings with it a significant hurdle when battling relegation.

Listen to the full chat with Dyche on BBC Sounds

Listen to live commentary of Nottingham Forest v Manchester United on Saturday from 15:00 GMT on BBC Sounds

Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire to reflect on his strong start to the season, his growing partnership with centre-back partner Maxime Esteve and what it has been like working under manager Scott Parker.

The 27-year-old, who joined the Clarets in the summer, spoke candidly about the positive atmosphere in the squad, the honesty of the management team and his determination to keep developing as a player.

He also outlined the collective goal of securing Premier League survival and the value of learning from a manager with top-level experience like Parker.

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

There are two good things that can happen in the League Cup. You either win the thing, or lose early enough for it to not unnecessarily fill up your schedule.

Liverpool achieved the latter against Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Last season, they lost in the final having completely run out of energy from the exhausting schedule, one that ridiculously features two-legged League Cup semi-finals.

Thankfully, the Reds were far enough ahead in the Premier League that it did not matter, but we ran out of gas in Europe and in truth, crawled over the line domestically.

Liverpool have loads of injuries. Alisson, Gio Leoni, Jeremie Frimpong, Curtis Jones, Alexander Isak and Ryan Gravenberch were all unavailable at the weekend. Youngsters who would have played the League Cup game in Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic are also out. Perhaps Arne Slot would have picked a better team if we were not in an injury crisis nobody has recognised.

Do I blame Slot for the team he picked? Absolutely not. In two weeks, nobody will remember it. The side he picked suggests he did not really want to to win the game anyway. In the greater scheme of things, I have no issue with this - provided Liverpool beat Aston Villa on Saturday.

This is the one that matters. Then Real Madrid and Manchester City. If we get three negative results in the next week, then Slot's job will be genuinely under threat.

But to suggest he should lose his job on the back of a match he fielded players many fans have not heard of is ludicrous. Slot's been very poor and has made some horrible tactical choices this season that have restricted his best players and left us wide open. We have also had some bad luck and missed too many chances.

It is football. He deserves time to turn it around and I back him to do so.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

In the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Manchester United and England captain answers a selection of questions sent into the podcast.

Newcastle and Manchester United were both keen to sign Rooney from Everton after the then-teenager had starred for England at Euro 2004. He eventually moved to Old Trafford.

Asked whether there was any chance he could have joined the Magpies, Rooney said: "Yes, I would have certainly went [to Newcastle].

"Manchester United wanted to wait a season and then sign me the year after they did sign me. Newcastle put a bid in and if Manchester United hadn't come in, I would have gone to Newcastle.

"Those two were bidding against each other. My agent's best mate was chairman at Newcastle at the time! So I'm sure he was getting nudged to try to get me as well.

"I wanted to go to Manchester United, but I spoke with [then Newcastle manager] Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer.

"In true Bobby Robson style, on the phone he called me 'Mark'. I thought he had either forgotten my name or he was a genius - because that's my middle name!"

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Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Liverpool crashed out of the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Here are some of your replies:

Jason: Time for Arne Slot to admit he doesn't know what to do. Some great energy from the youngsters in the first half, but mistakes from key players and a lack of purpose and strategy on the field are quickly making Liverpool a laughing stock. Guaranteed no cups this season and the odds are shortening on relegation.

Neil: What was that abysmal performance? An unthinkable starting XI with no first-team substitutes. I was watching Newcastle v Spurs on TV and their fans were laughing at us at half-time! I don't think Slot's unsackable but, knowing Liverpool, they will put all the big guns back in on Saturday against Aston Villa. Milos Kerkez is a rabbit in the headlights and not worth the money. I'm very worried.

Marilyn: This is all very sad. Where has our beautiful, fast-attacking team gone? So many back passes and no inventive ideas - just the same horrid football they played against Brentford, although a totally different line-up. What are you going to do, Arne?

Matthew: For all the criticism that Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have got for their performances compared with their price tags, it is Kerkez who I think hasn't been good enough. He was bought to be our new left-back but isn't showing enough experience at all.

Liz: Form is temporary, class is permanent. Liverpool have the class players, so we will be back!

Jan: Why do so much damage to our younger players? It is unfair when they are starting out. We are clearly not going to perform in the league, so a strengthened team with seniors on the bench was the way to go. Instead, the 'LFC is failing' narrative will gather momentum. This was an important game to show strength and depth, not give victory away the minute the teamsheet was published.

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Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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In that operatic final scene on Sunday, Vitor Pereira seemed startled by the volume of criticism directed at him personally as Wolves lost to Burnley. No doubt it was unpleasant to hear, at a moment of high emotion. Yet it is reasonable to ask, although probably a second-order question, whether it is credible for a manager to carry on after being embroiled in a carry-on with supporters like that.

The word quickly went out that his job was not under immediate threat. Nick Mashiter wrote on this page on Tuesday that the club believes Pereira's experience in saving Wolves last season will be valuable in a similar battle this time.

Maybe it will, although if we also accept Pereira and his associates had more influence on assembling the squad than some of his predecessors, that starts to sound like pretzel logic. Better, perhaps, to argue that the man who helped to set the squad up ought to be better-placed than any replacement coach to find the best combinations in it.

That position comes under greater stress with each successive defeat. But, and much worse, there is a resigned feeling at large - a sense that it doesn't really matter if Pereira stays or goes, as the club's problems are deeper than the identity of the coach.

To many, the root causes of failure lie with the ownership as represented on the ground by chairman Jeff Shi - unmoved, apparently, by the reported offer from the serial football investor John Textor, and committed to their policy of self-sustainability.

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On this page back in January, I asked: "Is merely existing in the league, as frugally as possible, enough? And enough for who?" That question is now out of date, having been based on the notion that Wolves could rely on at least being better than the newly promoted clubs in almost every case.

Their position is more perilous than at this point last season in three ways: a year ago, they had played most of the top clubs early in the season; the three promoted sides this year are clearly stronger than last; and the Wolves squad appears fundamentally weaker anyway, even though much of the money raised this summer has been spent.

Wolves won a rollicking victory at Fulham last November. It was a false dawn, and things had to get a good deal darker again before action was taken and relegation staved off.

As they head to back to Craven Cottage this weekend, it will take more than one win to restore faith that just finishing 17th is even possible, never mind acceptable.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Chelsea at 19:45 GMT on Wednesday on BBC Radio WM

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Think of what you could have done had you owned a crystal ball. Investing in Apple or Google when they were start-ups would have made a fortune and putting £100 on Leicester winning the Premier League at 5,000-1 in the summer of 2015 would also have been a nice earner.

‌I think getting a bet on Manchester United being above Liverpool and level with Manchester City with a quarter of the season gone would also have delivered astronomical odds. Even a few short weeks ago, this would have sounded like delusional deranged ramblings.

‌There are a multitude of reasons for this incredible short-term turnaround in the fortunes of both United and Liverpool. United beating Chelsea in a bizarre game a few weeks back helped, but not as much as their 2-1 win at Anfield.

‌This has led to a team spirit finally becoming visible from space, when you couldn't see it from 10 yards with a telescope beforehand. It has given them that other secret ingredient too: confidence.

‌For the opener against Brighton, Benjamin Sesko, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Matheus Cunha were flicking balls to each other just outside the Brighton 18-yard box. There is no way they were trying such intricate moves just a few weeks back.

‌Ruben Amorim has to keep the work-rate up and retain that spirit, but if he can keep them as relaxed as they looked against Brighton, the nightmare might just be over for the Red Devils.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

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Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says "there is a worry about Wolves" this season because the squad is weaker and they are leaking goals.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton said: "If there is a crumb of comfort to Wolves fans then it is that they have the same record at this stage of the season as they did last year under Gary O'Neil.

"But that was a disastrous start from him and he got sacked after 16 games. Vitor Pereira came in and tightened up the defence because they were leaking goals and he made a massive difference.

"If you look at this season, they have conceded 19 goals in nine games, so that is over two a game and they are not scoring.

"The difference, though, this season is that the promoted teams are doing well so that is why there is a worry about Wolves."

The Observer's Rory Smith added: "The problem with Wolves is the replacements. It has been a gradual decline.

"They have been doing this for a while now. They seem to sell their players in the summer and then wait until August to sign someone who might be good."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

I wrote an article in September about how Manchester United's performances just prior to that were better than their results suggested, and that they would not "cheat" their xG forever.

And, sure enough, their goal difference now almost matches their expected goal difference over the past 10 games.

This does not mean they should have been winning games all along or that they are really good now - just that they probably deserved more from their earlier games and have probably got more than they deserve in their past two games against Liverpool and Brighton.

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discuss Arsenal's chances of winning the Premier League this season.

Former Premier League striker, Chris Sutton says he believes Arsenal will win the league comfortably, adding that summer recruit, Viktor Gyokeres, will "eventually start firing and will be a good signing."

He also suggested that Liverpool's drop off and Manchester City's reliance on Erling Haarland will help the Gunners over the line.

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

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Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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Nuno Espirito Santo guided Nottingham Forest into European football for the first time in 30 years last term.

Yet on this evidence, his ambitions for the present campaign may be limited to trying to ensure his latest employers do not drop into the Championship come May.

Another dispirited performance on the pitch arrived just days after a section of the club's support appeared in open revolt with their owners.

Hope of a new manager bounce has failed to materialise, with Nuno's tenure delivering just one point so far, from the first of his four matches at the helm.

A dreadful return of just four points in total also represents West Ham's joint-worst ever at this stage of a league campaign, with the club replicating that tally in the second tier in 1932-33 and the 1973-74 campaign when they finished bottom.

The decision to start Ollie Scarles, a left-back at right-back, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who favours the right, on the left, appeared bewildering and directly contributed to Leeds' fast start.

And while striker Callum Wilson featured for the first time under Nuno, replacing England Under-20 international Scarles in the 25th minute, there was a disjointed feel to the Hammers' play until well into the second period after several further substitutes were introduced.

With two home fixtures on the horizon against Newcastle and Burnley, the Hammers need to arrest their awful form to prevent a full-blown crisis.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

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While a lack of goals had been a major concern for Leeds in their opening eight league games, that issue was alleviated by the visit of the top-flight's worst defence.

Daniel Farke's side brutally exposed West Ham's weaknesses early on with Brenden Aaronson the tormentor-in-chief, scoring his first Premier League goal since August, 2022, and clipping the bar with a deflected effort after a rampaging run.

West Ham's inability to deal with crosses was clearly evident as Joe Rodon's goal was the ninth time they had conceded from a corner this term - the most of any side in the league's history after the same number of games.

Leeds could, and perhaps should, also have had more.

Ethan Ampadu, Noah Okafor and Jack Harrison all had opportunities, while they kept the visitors at bay with dogged defending until the end.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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On an escalation ladder of troubles at football clubs, the moment when the away fans turn on either the players or the manager is usually a late-stage, Defcon 2-sort of indicator.

Sometimes these stages are run through very quickly. The change of mood at Wolves has not been as drastic as events at Forest, but it is not so many weeks since Vitor Pereira's name was being sung loudly by the same fans. Now, at Sunderland on Saturday, taking that name in vain.

The man himself saw hope in the second half, at least in the first 30 minutes in which his team did create a few chances, although very few of them were on target.

"We missed one chance, two chance, three chance, but with quality, quality, quality," Pereira told me. "But… 15 minutes before the end, we decide to take risks to try to score a goal.

"Unfortunately, we started to put long balls in the box because we had Tolu [Arokodare] and [Jorgen] Larsen and this was misunderstood by our team."

You didn't want them to do that, Vitor?

"Of course not. I want the team to play and create, to assist the strikers but in a proper way. It's not just to put long balls in the box, and, OK, we'll see if in the second ball we can score a goal. This is not our game."

Some time before the end, it became one of those matches that is less about the actual game in progress than a wider commentary on the medium-term fortunes of the two clubs.

Sunderland, a side with limitations but smart enough to work to its strengths, have energy and momentum. Wolves have energy too, but the gears to turn it into useful product now all seem misaligned.

Pereira's account was that of an operator pulling at levers to find, alarmed, that none of them work.

In previous seasons, changing one part of the machine – the manager, a few players in the transfer window, the sporting director – has made things work well enough to get by.

At Sunderland, the feeling took hold that this time a patch-up job will not do, and the sound of that feeling was what the players and coaches heard from the third tier of the stand.

They will hear it louder still if the game against Burnley, now suddenly a fixture to fear, takes the same course.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Burnley at 14:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio WM 95.6 FM and DAB

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

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Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has revealed that he has spoken to Wilfried Zaha and cleared up any disagreements.

Two weeks ago, Mateta told French newspaper L'Equipe that during his time at Palace, Zaha and others laughed when he said he wanted to play for France - a moment he used as motivation.

Ex-Eagles winger Zaha, now playing for MLS side Charlotte FC on loan from Galatasaray, hit back, calling the claim "disgusting" and denying he ever mocked Mateta's ambitions.

"I spoke with him - everything is good," Mateta said. "We talked in private and that's it."

The 28-year-old made his full senior debut for Les Bleus and scored against Iceland earlier this month to cap a remarkable rise in form at Selhurst Park.

Speaking before Thursday's Conference League game with AEK Larneca at Selhurst Park, the striker said he was "very proud" to represent his country.

"I am very proud obviously and happy, and I think I deserve it because I train very hard," Mateta said. "It's a dream come true and I hope I will get called up again.

"I am a very ambitious guy, and when I take up something, I try to do everything to make it come true."

The forward also spoke about how his background in the Bundesliga system has helped him adapt quickly to Palace boss Oliver Glasner's methods.

"He used to train in Germany, and when he came in [and said] how we need to play, I think I understand because I am from the German league too," Mateta added. "I train hard every day, I want to play every game, and I show him I am ready for him and the team."

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

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Sandro Tonali has not looked back.

It was just 14 months ago that the midfielder returned to action for Newcastle after serving his suspension.

And he has become indispensable.

Eddie Howe's subsequent decision to shift Tonali to the number six role unlocked something in both the Italian and, indeed, this side as they went on to end a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy and qualify for the Champions League last season.

Though Newcastle have endured a mixed start to the Premier League – they currently lie in 14th place – Tonali has merely picked up from where he left off.

Tonali's athleticism is such that, according to football stats database Fbref, he has carried the ball further – 1,722 yards – than any other Newcastle player this season.

The intelligent Italian rarely loses the ball and only Kieran Trippier has completed more passes, had more touches and hit more progressive passes for Newcastle than the influential midfielder.

Yet Tonali also does the gritty side of the game well, too.

Only centre-back Sven Botman has made more blocks than Tonali (13) for Newcastle, while defenders Malick Thiaw and Dan Burn are the only players to make more interceptions than his 12.

Though others, perhaps, grab the headlines more often, no-one at Newcastle needs reminding about Tonali's importance.

As well as strengthening the side moving forward, Newcastle need to keep hold of their best players, particularly after losing Alexander Isak in the summer, which could lead to discussions over fresh terms.

The Isak saga proved contracts do not carry the weight they once did after the centre-forward went on strike to force through a £125m move to Liverpool despite having three years left on his deal.

But Tonali has long shown his commitment with his actions and his words.

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