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After suffering another blow this international break, Tottenham Hotspur boss Nuno Santo may have to turn to an unlikely figure for the very first time this season…

What’s the latest?

Young midfielder Oliver Skipp, who has started all three of Spurs’ opening Premier League games, was forced off with a groin injury in England U21’s victory over Kosovo on Tuesday night.

It adds to the Portuguese’s worst nightmare after Steven Bergwijn also picked up a knock, whilst Heung-min Son is also a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace.

The Lilywhites will definitely be without South American trio Giovani Lo Celso, Davinson Sanchez and Cristian Romero, with the trio in quarantine in Croatia before returning to the UK.

On the Chalkboard

It means Nuno could well be forced into a change in midfield, something he would’ve probably not wanted to do, given Spurs’ unbeaten start to life in the top-flight this season.

With Lo Celso and Skipp potentially both absent, the 47-year-old’s hands may be tied and as such, he could well have to call upon the unseen Tanguy Ndombele for the very first time this season, just a few weeks after he expressed his desire to leave the club.

Nuno doesn’t have many options at his disposal, as a result of these latest setbacks, but the club-record signing has been back in first-team training for the build-up to this encounter.

We’ve seen a mixed bag of form from the 24-year-old dynamo since his arrival in the summer of 2019 – on his day, he’s the most technically gifted at the club and as Joe Hart once described, he can be “unplayable”.

However, these performances have been far and few between, having only contributed eight goals and eight assists across 75 appearances, managing a direct contribution every 267 minutes – or once every three matches.

Spurs need to see a lot more from a player that they invested £55m on and in their desperate time of need, he could be offered a lifeline to get his career in north London back on track.

Whether he rises to the occasion or is even selected remains to be seen, but it would make sense for the £36m-rated midfielder to make his first bow this season at Selhurst Park.

AND in other news, Nuno Santo now left with big Spurs headache as update on £24k-p/w “real asset” emerges…

The philosophy since Fosun took on the ownership of Wolverhampton Wanderers has been to buy young players with sell on value.

If you excuse the likes of Raul Jimenez and Joao Moutinho then Wolves have quite evidently achieved that.

In signing vibrant young footballers like Adama Traore, Ruben Neves and Pedro Neto, the Midlands outfit could rake in a bucket load of cash over the next few years.

Traore was signed for £18m but Bruno Lage rejected an offer in the region of £30m from Tottenham over the summer.

Neves, meanwhile, has been touted at £40m and Pedro Neto has been talked about as a £50m player in some circles.

However, one player who goes under the radar at Wolves has also seen his value rise quite significantly since arriving in English football.

That happens to be Belgium international Leander Dendoncker.

The midfield brute signed for just £12.4m in 2018 and in the last three years his value, per Transfermarkt, has soared to the £27m mark.

That’s quite the rise for a player who is a regular among a Belgian squad thought to contain their golden generation.

Dendoncker is yet to start a match in the Premier League under new manager Bruno Lage but he played a key part under Nuno Santo after they were promoted from the Championship.

The 24-year-old didn’t miss a single league outing during the 2019/20 campaign and featured on 33 occasions last term, only sitting on the sidelines for five matches.

Rarely injured and versatile in terms of his positions, he has become a vital cog in the wheel at Molineux.

Initially a central midfielder, Nuno began playing Dendoncker as a centre-back last term and hailed him as “fantastic” in the process.

He did struggle in a clash with Manchester City but that wasn’t a fair litmus for a player starting in an unnatural position.

Wolves’ tough-tackling Belgian has improved since that clash and ended last term with 2.6 aerial duels per game – the third highest in the squad – and as their central defender with the most tackles per appearance at 1.6.

He is yet to show his true colours under Lage but his market value rise dictates that they have a player with enormous potential on their hands.

Fosun clearly played a blinder with this move three years ago.

AND in other news, Get rid: Wolves owned player who lost the ball every 3.4 touches endures UCL nightmare…

Jack Clarke’s Tottenham Hotspur struggles look set to take to another blow as a different young attacker impresses Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Lowdown: Worries for Clarke

After bursting on the scene with Leeds United, Clarke was signed by Tottenham Hotspur as a player for the future, but he has only featured four times for the club as he has struggled to rise to the expectations.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship side Stoke City, where he failed to find the net in 14 appearances and he wasn’t part of the Potters’ squad for the final two months of the season due to an ankle injury.

Clarke has appeared in the last three Premier League 2 games, grabbing an assist in the young Lilywhites’ recent 2-1 win over Liverpool, but it seems another wonderkid has caught the eye of Nuno.

The Latest: Breakthrough talent bad news

According to Football London, Dilan Markanday could feature in Thursday’s Europa Conference League tie with Rennes, alongside Nile John and Dane Scarlett, after impressing with the under-23s this season.

Markanday, who was an unused substitute in the 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, has scored four goals in three games for Spurs’ under-23s, including a hat-trick over Leeds United.

The report states that Clarke’s decision to remain at Spurs and fight for his place rather than seeking first-time football elsewhere on loan doesn’t appear to have gone well, and the fact that he didn’t make the bench at the weekend shows he has fallen further behind.

The Verdict: Huge challenge on hands

Clarke currently has Heung-Min Son, Steven Bergwijn, Lucas Moura and Bryan Gil already ahead of him in his position and with Markandy now appearing to be above him, the signing from Leeds doesn’t seem to have worked as both parties would have hoped.

With loan spells at Queens Park Rangers and Stoke not working as Spurs would have wanted either and Clarke not hitting the same numbers as Markandy for the under-23s, the decision to exclude him from the Palace squad is warranted.

A potential loan move in January to boost his confidence and give Nuno a reason to re-visit the situation would be the best move for Clarke, whose contract runs out in 2023.

In other news, a former England midfielder has made a claim about Harry Kane. Find out more here.

Manchester United take on West Ham United in the Carabao Cup third round tonight just three days after they defeated the same opponents on Premier League duty.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s charges will be hoping to make it five wins from a possible seven at the start of the new season in all competitions when the Hammers visit Old Trafford, although the Norwegian is expected to heavily rotate his squad.

In his post-match press conference on Sunday, Solskjaer already revealed one player who will be featuring from the off, with Jesse Lingard set to be rewarded for his current good run of form.

“He’ll play, of course, on Wednesday because we will make a few changes,” the manager explained. “I’m so happy and pleased for him. He handles the setbacks, the highs and lows really well, is becoming a grown man, and is a very good player.”

With a packed schedule ahead, Lingard is set to be one of many new faces featuring in the starting line-up as several fringe players get their chance to impress.

Therefore, this is how Football FanCast expects United to line up at the Theatre of Dreams tonight, with 11 changes from the side which started in east London at the weekend…

Tom Heaton should make his first start for United since returning to his boyhood club over the summer as regular number two Dean Henderson continues his return back to full fitness.

Ahead of the veteran shot-stopper, there is likely to be a much-changed back four. Left-back Alex Telles should make his first appearance of the season after overcoming his injury issues, while Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Diogo Dalot complete the defensive unit.

In midfield, Donny van de Beek will replace the £19.8m-rated Fred after an underwhelming start to the campaign for the Brazilian and should be partnered by the experienced Nemanja Matic in the engine room.

The attack is also likely to have several alternative faces alongside Lingard, but such is the strength in depth available to Solskjaer that it will still be a fearsome forward line.

Summer signing Jadon Sancho should get another chance to impress on the right wing while his fellow Englishman occupies the opposite flank, with Juan Mata playing just behind lone striker Anthony Martial.

In other news… Murtough must seal MUFC move for “phenomenal” £49.5m-rated maestro, Ole would love him 

Amid Charlie Cresswell’s recent rise into a first-team star at Leeds United in the past couple of weeks, Marcelo Bielsa will no doubt be keeping a close eye on the academy for could who be the next breakout talent from Thorp Arch.

Back in June, reports claimed that the Whites were monitoring Celtic starlet Leo Hjelde ahead of a potential summer move for him, and the Yorkshire club eventually got a deal done for the teenager.

While he may only have recently turned 18, Hjelde is clearly someone with a lot of potential, having been deployed in numerous positions already, including at left-back and further forward in left-midfield.

And, after seeing him score his first professional goal against Kilmarnock earlier last season, his manager, John Hughes, was quick to shower him with praise.

He said: “He found himself out of the team a little bit, then came on there and got his goal. He’s destined for big, big, big things. He won’t be far away from the Celtic first-team when he goes back, but this is what he needs to be doing.”

Since then, Hjelde has of course made the switch to Elland Road, and has already been making waves at academy level, taking over the leadership mantle from Cresswell in the process.

Speaking after the U23s’ 3-2 win over Oldham in the Papa John’s Trophy earlier this week, Mark Jackson raved: “It was a test for him tonight, to come in and take the armband and lead the team. I challenged him to lead the team and organise, it’s a new system of play for him to get used to so that challenge as well is going to be difficult for him but I’ve got full confidence and I see the qualities in him, which hopefully I can help nurture.

“I did that a lot with Charlie Cresswell throughout the time I worked with him from when he was an U-16, through the 18s and in the 23s as well and I see certain qualities in Leo as well.”

With Liam Cooper the current club captain having turned 30 this past August, Bielsa may be looking at Cresswell as the man to take over the Scotland international’s throne as the next leader of the Whites defence.

But in Hjelde, he could have another hugely exciting option to take that massive leap, and given the fact Jackson has already trusted him to take the armband just months after his initial arrival in Yorkshire, speaks volumes of the natural leadership instincts he possesses.

The 6 foot 2 ace could become a huge part of Leeds’ future going forward.

Meanwhile, Leeds could make a short-term signing in this ace…

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Paul Brown of The Daily Star has made a claim involving superstar striker Harry Kane after his summer drama at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Kane attempts to jump ship…

As widely known, England international Kane informed Spurs of his desire to leave in the summer with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola even confirming his side’s interest in signing him.

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After a move failed to materialise, the 28-year-old released a statement and pledged to continue at Tottenham as well as giving his all for the Lilywhites shirt.

Since then, Kane’s form has taken a while to resurge with Brown now making a claim on how it could impact the Spurs dressing room.

The Latest: Brown makes Kane claim…

Speaking to GMS, reporter Brown believes that the forward still doesn’t actually want to be in north London despite his candid summer statement.

He also believes this could have an impact on the dressing room if manager Nuno Espirito Santo isn’t cautious.

“I think it’s a very unbalanced squad, and there are clearly problems in the dressing room because everyone knows the star player tried to quit in the summer,” the journalist explained.

“And while he’s playing and making all the right noises, putting a shift in, it can’t be easy in the dressing room to see the guy that you all look up to, ultimately, doesn’t really want to be there.

“I don’t think anyone can accuse Harry Kane of downing tools. I don’t think he ever will, and he was one of their better players at the weekend. But, it must put some doubt in the mind of your teammates when you’re thinking: ‘this guy tried his best to get out of the club, and how much is he really committed to us?’”

The Verdict: Nuno needs Kane revival…

Nuno’s tenuous position was perhaps on the line before Spurs narrowly edged past Aston Villa 2-1 last weekend and the Portuguese will need all the help he can get to keep his job.

Kane’s form over these next few months will be a major factor and the 47-year-old will want Tottenham’s 2020/2021 Golden Boot winner back and firing on all cylinders.

Lauded as a still very much ‘underrated’ player by reporter Matt Law, even despite his outstanding campaign last year, Spurs will benefit massively from his possible resurgence.

Alas, only time will tell if his failed summer move does indeed have an impact on the dressing room.

In other news: Levy told to hire ‘world class’ boss over Poch if Nuno is axed, Spurs players love him! Find out more here.

Leon Balogun should be available for Rangers’ clash with Hearts this weekend, according to The Athletic’s Jordan Campbell on Twitter.

The lowdown

The 33-year-old was forced off with an injury in the second half of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic on Sunday.

Many Gers supporters were left bemoaning the news, fearing that Steven Gerrard would be down to just two fit centre-backs with Filip Helander also sidelined.

What’s more, according to WhoScored, Balogun has been the sixth-strongest performer in the Rangers ranks so far this season, so he would be a big miss if he were unavailable.

The latest

Campbell wrote in a tweet that Balogun is ‘expected to be fit for Hearts after his injury scare on Sunday’.

It’s a top-of-the-table clash in the Premiership this weekend, with Rangers only a point clear of the Edinburgh outfit after eight games.

The verdict

This is not only a boost for the Hearts clash, but also ahead of what is a must-win Europa League fixture against Brondby given that Rangers lost their first two group games in the tournament.

It’s pretty much inevitable that, when each international break rolls around, there will be an injury-induced panic among many supporters.

Still, it will be interesting to see, with Helander out until December, if Rangers are forced to use Calvin Bassey in the centre of defence more frequently.

In other news, these Rangers fans react to another international development. 

An insider from Tottenham Hotspur has sung the praises of Maksim Paskotsi, and thinks that he may get a chance to play Burnley in the Carabao Cup.

The Lowdown: Estonia recognition

Remarkably, Paskotsi already has nine senior caps for Estonia despite being just 18 years of age, and has already played in some of his country’s biggest games in FIFA World Cup qualifying (Transfermarkt).

In the two matches against Wales, up against his Spurs teammates Joe Rodon and Ben Davies and former Lilywhites star Gareth Bale, the central defender only conceded one goal, as he helped Estonia get a credible 0-0 draw away from home (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Paskotsi excitng

Speaking to Football Insider, THFC insider John Wenham, who regularly breaks news about the North London club on his Lilywhite Rose social media channels, has admitted his excitement over Paskotsi, and even thinks that Nuno Espirito Santo may play him against Burnley in their upcoming Carabao Cup fixture:

“He came in and instantly made an impression for the Under 18s.

“He scored five goals in a very short space of time as a centre back, three of which were volleys.

“We are talking about a very technical player and he got a call up to the Estonia national side last season due to a COVID outbreak.

“Remarkably, he has kept his place in that setup and he is on six caps as an 18-year-old.

“People may not think much of Estonia but they have had some decent results. They beat Finland and Belarus and they came away from Wales with a very creditable draw.

“He was up against Bale on the night and did really well. Credit to our scouting department for going and there and finding him.

“He’s one I’m really excited about. He looks a real future prospect. He’s made his first-team debut in the Conference League qualifying games.

“The progress is looking really promising and I think he could be given a chance to impress against Burnley in the Carabao Cup.”

The Verdict: Start him

Paskotsi will only get better if he starts more games for Tottenham, and the match against the Clarets would present the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Having already made his senior Spurs five goals from centre-back for the U18 Premier League last term, he offers a threat in both boxes.

Nonetheless, a physical side like Burnley will work wonders for his future development as a centre-half.

In other news, find out which ‘quality’ colossus THFC are eyeing here!

An update has emerged on Blackburn midfielder Joe Rothwell, regarding Rangers’ interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to Football League World, the Gers are closing in on a deal to sign the Englishman on a pre-contract deal in January.

The report claims Newcastle, Southampton and Norwich are among the other teams interested in signing the Rovers gem, who is out of contract at the end of the season.

Imagine him & Kamara

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard could seal a dream midfield partnership by bringing Rothwell to the club in January or next summer. He could work well alongside Glen Kamara in the middle of the park, as the Blackburn man could add the work rate and creativity to add to the Finland international’s composure and ability to control games.

Kamara has averaged a WhoScored rating of 6.76 in the Premiership this term, completing 90.3% of his passes overall. Whilst winning 2.1 tackles and interceptions per game, he has averaged 60.8 passes per match – highlighting his ability to spread the ball about the pitch and dictate the play for the Gers.

Rothwell, meanwhile, focuses more on quality rather than quantity in possession. He has averaged 29.3 passes per game, at a success rate of 79.3%, but has merged that with an impressive 3.6 key passes and dribbles, compared to Kamara’s 1.9, combined per match.

Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray once lauded the midfielder’s talents as he urged him to get closer to goal. He said:

“He’s an exciting talent, he’s exceedingly fast, he keeps the ball really tight. We want him running towards the opposition goal rather than across the pitch.”

Rothwell has one goal and four assists in 12 Championship matches this term for Blackburn, whereas Kamara has one goal and two assists since the start of last season. This shows how the Englishman could provide the attacking quality the current Rangers gem lacks, which could make them the dream pairing to lead the midfield going forward as they counter each other’s weaknesses.

Signing him on a pre-contract deal also means that the Gers will not have to spend a single penny on a transfer fee for Rothwell. Therefore, it is a financially pleasing deal for Ross Wilson as he could improve Gerrard’s squad without splashing out a lavish fee.

AND in other news, Gerrard masterclass: Rangers dynamo has seen his value soar 420% since January…

Everton could be presented with another opportunity to sign defender Denzel Dumfries after his move to Inter has proved far from successful.

What’s the story?

According to The Athletic, the 25-year-old has long been admired by the Toffees’ director of football and compatriot Marcel Brands and was high up on the club’s wishlist during the previous transfer window.

However, Dumfries ended up joining the Nerazzurri from PSV Eindhoven via a deal potentially rising to £12.5m as they sought to replace Achraf Hakimi at right-back.

The Netherlands international has been unable to find his best form at San Siro, though, making just two Serie A starts under Simone Inzaghi, leading to speculation that an imminent exit could be on the cards.

And Italian outlet Calciomercato have now claimed that Inter are weighing up whether to send Dumfries out on loan in the January window as he finds himself behind Matteo Darmian in the pecking order.

Everton must revive their interest

Dumfries burst onto the scene over the summer after impressing for the Oranje despite their struggles at the European Championship, putting in a string of impressive displays for his nation, scoring two goals and providing one assist in just four appearances.

His excellent showing caught the eye of several onlookers, including former Hull City midfielder David Meyler, who took to Twitter to hail the right-sided defender as “unbelievable” during the tournament.

Former Everton attacker Marcus Bent also lauded the Dutchman, labelling him a “terrific” talent, and hailed his pace during Euro 2020, while claiming fans would have delighted if he came through the Goodison Park entrance.

He told Football FanCast: “Speaking to Everton, they said he’s a terrific player, but clubs don’t sell their players when the Euros are on because they can put x number of pounds onto their player. Terrific, quick, pacey, he’s a rocket.”

With Dumfries now believed to be back on the market, Everton must revive their interest in the £26m-rated gem, purchasing the ideal heil to Seamus Coleman.

The Irishman has been a magnificent servant to the Merseyside outfit for many years now, but at 33, he is entering the twilight years of his career. Meanwhile, current backup Jonjoe Kenny doesn’t appear to be at the required standard to take over the mantle.

His attacking ability, eye for a pass and concentration are all assets that would make him an ideal acquisition for the Merseyside outfit, and Benitez’s charges would surely benefit from his arrival over the winter.

So Toffees chief Brands must look to revive his interest during the January transfer window.

And, in other news…”Finally some good news…”: Fabrizio Romano’s Everton update will have fans buzzing