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Leeds United face Southampton in a relegation six-pointer in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with Javi Gracia taking charge of his first game as manager of the club.

The Spanish boss won’t have had long to work with his new squad but if he has done his due diligence on the players available at Elland Road, and spoken to coaches at the club, then he should realise that Crysencio Summerville needs to be dropped from the starting side.

Will Crysencio Summerville start against Southampton?

The Dutch winger established himself as a first-team regular under Jesse Marsch and caught the eye ahead of the World Cup break earlier in the season, scoring in four consecutive games, including a late winner against Liverpool at Anfield.

Marsch was no doubt hoping that he could push on during the extended break, as he wasn’t part of the Netherlands’ squad in Qatar, but his form since then has been disappointing, to say the least.

In seven appearances in all competitions, the 21-year-old has no goals and just one assist, which came in the 2-2 draw against West Ham.

WhoScored has awarded the young winger below a 6.8 rating in every game since domestic football resumed which suggests that he was living off his pre-Qatar form under Marsch, as he continued to earn starts despite his lack of goal involvements.

Summerville starting has also meant that marquee signings such as Luis Sinisterra and Georginio Rutter have been forced to warm the bench in recent weeks and for such an important game against Southampton, it is surely time that Leeds gave their big investments a chance to impress.

The Saints picked up a morale-boosting three points against Chelsea last time out and another win at Elland Road would see Leeds drop to the bottom of the table, so Gracia has to be ruthless and give his side the best possible chance of winning.

Summerville, who earns around £15k-per-week at Leeds, is ranked as the 13th-best performer at Elland Road this season, while he also ranks 13th for key passes per game, which represents an underwhelming return for an attacking player.

Therefore, after a poor few months since the World Cup, it is time that Summerville was dropped to the bench in what would be Gracia’s first big call in the Whites dugout.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United duo Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin ahead of the club’s Premier League clash against Liverpool this evening.

What’s the latest on Newcastle’s injury situation?

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has confirmed that both players are fit and available for selection against the Reds at St James’ Park after suffering injuries against Bournemouth last time out.

They were both substituted in the draw against the Cherries but the manager revealed in his pre-match press conference on Friday that they are already back in training.

The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson relayed the updates from the 45-year-old on Friday morning, tweeting: “Joe Willock won’t feature against Liverpool – but the #NUFC midfielder is winning his battle to be fit for the Carabao Cup final. Miguel Almiron and ASM back in full training and okay. Callum Wilson set to train today – but big doubt for Liverpool…”

How big a boost could that be for Newcastle?

Howe may have been left fearing the worst when Almiron and Saint-Maximin hobbled off against Bournemouth last weekend, and he will surely be delighted by their availability this weekend.

Not only does it mean that they will be able to face Liverpool, but the lack of a serious blow for either of them means that, barring any issues against the Reds, they should also be able to play in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester United next week.

Having Almiron available for the clash against Jurgen Klopp’s side will be a huge boost for Howe and Newcastle, as the winger has been in phenomenal form in the Premier League this season.

The former MLS star has plundered ten goals and one assist in 22 top-flight appearances, averaging a Sofascore rating of 7.15. Only two outfield players have averaged a higher Sofascore rating in the league for the Magpies in 2022/23 and no player has scored as many goals as the Paraguayan.

In fact, with Wilson potentially out of action today, Almiron could be the only Newcastle player with more than three Premier League goals this season available for selection against Liverpool, which is why having him fit will be a big relief for this manager.

Saint-Maximin’s fitness is also a boost for the Toon, as the French winger has the potential to be a match-winner on his day. He has only started six matches in the league this term but has provided one goal and three assists in that time, having managing five goals and five assists in 2021/22.

Only Kieran Trippier (four) has set up more goals than the Frenchman for Newcastle this season, while no Magpies player matched the 25-year-old’s tally of five assists last term.

Therefore, both players have the ability to provide excellent quality in the final third, either by scoring goals or creating them, and having their talents available for the clash against Liverpool should be a huge boost for Howe.

Sunderland defender Aji Alese may feel fortunate not to have given away a penalty on the weekend in their draw against Millwall.

What’s the latest?

Tony Mowbray’s men picked up a big point away to the Londoners on the weekend in a game where the found themselves a goal behind.

Dennis Cirkin was the man to get his head on the ball and provide the Black Cats with a way back into the game for what was just his second goal of the 2022/23 campaign.

However, there was a penalty shout for the hosts with the Sunderland centre-back seemingly holding back Tom Bradshaw inside the penalty area.

And speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has labelled this incident as clumsy from the young defender:

“It’s clumsy and I think whatever the referee does, you back him, because he goes down, together – is there enough to give a penalty? The referee’s close, he has a good view. Difficult call.”

Big let-off?

There does certainly seem to be some contact from the 22-year-old who allowed Bradshaw to turn inside him despite having Danny Batth covering.

So with this in mind, there probably is some scope for a potential penalty to be awarded against the Black Cats with the Millwall forward going down as a result of the contact.

And given the incident occurred after just a few minutes, it is something which could have certainly changed the narrative of the game if Sunderland had found themselves behind so early on.

However, there will likely be some who would feel it would have been a soft penalty had it been awarded by the referee.

Perhaps the contact was minimal but it was enough to potentially give the referee something to think about which is always a dangerous game to play.

Alese has played a big role in the Sunderland side this season since making the move from Millwall’s rivals, West Ham United, over the summer.

However, it does seem Saturday may not have been his best display in a red and white shirt as journalist James Hunter awarded him with just a 6/10 rating.

The youngster clearly has some developing still to do and perhaps this incident is one he will learn from as another referee seemingly could have interpreted it in a different way.

Everton have tabled a £17m offer to sign Lorient striker Dango Ouattara this January, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Reinforcements required

The Merseyside outfit find themselves in the drop zone after a disappointing first half of the campaign, with Frank Lampard in desperate need of attacking reinforcements this month should he want to survive relegation from the Premier League.

The Burkina Faso international still has 18 months remaining on his contract, but after several prolific displays in Ligue 1 this term, has caught the attention of Farhad Moshiri at Goodison Park.

The Latest: Ouattara bid submitted

According to French outlet Foot Mercato, Everton have ‘drawn an offer’ of €20m (£17m) for Ouattara as claimed by ‘sources’ reportedly close to the Lorient board.

The Toffees have ‘tracked’ the 20-year-old, with negotiations between the two parties currently ‘ongoing’ with the aim of reaching an agreement before the end of the window.

The Verdict: Instead of Moffi?

Terem Moffi is another Lorient forward Everton have been heavily linked with in recent weeks, but Ouattara seems to be the one that they are seriously wanting to pursue and wrap up a deal for.

The winger has so far recorded five goals and the same number of assists in 16 appearances this season and is currently averaging 2.9 shots per league game.

Ouattara has been dubbed ‘one of the biggest revelations in Europe’ by Jacek Kulig, and he would surely answer some of the club’s attacking prayers should he complete a transfer to the top-flight in the weeks ahead.

Transfer expert Dean Jones says that there is a ‘feeling’ that Newcastle United target Marcus Thuram may be leaning towards a move to Italy.

The Lowdown: Inter Milan interest

As per 90min, Inter Milan are readying a contract offer for Thuram, who also has other clubs in Italy and the Premier League after him, including Newcastle.

The report adds that the St. James’ Park outfit ‘are ready to try and tempt’ the Borussia Monchengladbach striker to join them in 2023 and will submit an offer ‘if the player shows a desire to make the move’.

It is also reported that ‘talks with Thuram’s representatives have been positive’, with Eddie Howe believing that Thuram ‘would be a good fit’ to his current squad.

The Latest: Thuram ‘leaning’ towards Italy

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones says that there is a ‘feeling’ that Thuram is ‘leaning’ toward a move to Italy, amid interest from the Magpies:

“They do like Thuram and they are quite interested in that, they’re trying to gauge how serious the player is about coming to the Premier League.

“There’s a feeling among some that maybe he’ll be leaning towards going to Italy, so we’ll have to wait and see what his desire is to come to the Premier League, because at the moment that’s a little unclear.“

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The Verdict: Get it done

The North East club need to do everything that they can to try and persuade Thuram to move to Tyneside in this window, rather than to Italy.

With his contract expiring in the summer, the 25-year-old would be available for a cut-price, and to get a player of his quality on the cheap is surely  no-brainer.

Hailed as ‘world class’ by Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schafer, and ‘a little crazy‘ by former team-mate Denis Zakaria, now in the Premier League with Chelsea, Thuram ranks in the top 4% for non-penalty xG, top 7% for dribbles completed and top 8% for shots of all strikers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year (FBRef).

He boasts an impressive 13 goals and four assists in his opening 17 games for Gladbach in total over all competitions in the first part of the season (Transfermarkt), and is rated highly by both Howe and Allan Saint-Maximin, suggesting that he would be a perfect fit on Tyneside.

Newcastle United are believed to be considering a move for Chelsea midfielder, Jorginho, with the Italy international yet to commit his future to the west London outfit.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mail, the 31-year-old is said to be a ‘prime target’ for Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth ahead of the January transfer window, with the northeast side seemingly looking to strengthen their midfield ranks in the New Year.

The Brazil-born maestro could well prove to be an attainable target as a result of his ongoing contract uncertainty at Stamford Bridge, with the 46-cap gem having just six months remaining on his existing deal with the Blues.

That would ensure that the Tynesiders could potentially strike a cut-price deal next month, or land the former Napoli man on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Busquets-esque

The £110k-per-week ace has been pulling the strings in the centre of the park for both club and country in recent years, having notably finished third in the Ballon d’Or rankings in 2021 after claiming the Champions League and European Championship glory in that calendar year.

Despite that success, the 5 foot 10 genius is still somewhat “underappreciated” – according to talkSPORT pundit Trevor Sinclair – with the playmaker’s brilliance perhaps sometimes going under the radar.

A clinical presence from the penalty spot – having scored 19 spot-kicks in his Premier League career to date – it is his quality in possession that has particularly caught the eye, with the one-time Hellas Verona ace enjoying an 85% pass accuracy rate in the top-flight this term.

That knack for dictating the tempo of the game can see him likened to Spain and Barcelona legend, Sergio Busquets, with the two men said to share a number of stylistic and statistical similarities, as per FBref.

That comparison is an astute one as the pair are both orchestrators from their deep-lying roles at the base of the midfield, with Jorginho ranking in the top 7% in Europe among those in his position for attempted passes, while Busquets ranks in the top 5% for that same metric.

That forward-thinking approach is also showcased by the fact that the latter man ranks in the top 11% for progressive passes, while the Chelsea man ranks in the top 10% in that regard as a sign of his ability to initiate attacks from deep.

Such likeness is a marker of just what a gifted figure Jorginho truly is, with Busquets having been recognised as one of the finest of his era over the last decade or so, with current Manchester United man Casemiro having previously dubbed the Spaniard the “best in the world” in that role.

The 34-year-old has won a plethora of major honours for both club and country to date, while notably racking up 696 appearances for La Blaugrana, as well as 143 caps at international level prior to his recent post-World Cup retirement.

To be compared to such a talent truly does illustrate Jorginho’s undoubted prowess, with it set to prove a real coup if Ashworth can bring the latter man to St James’ Park in 2023.

Leeds United have been dealt an injury concern regarding Crysencio Summerville.

What’s the latest?

In a recent article for the Yorkshire Evening Post, Graham Smyth revealed that the winger – who had already taken a blow to an ankle earlier in the week – picked up an injury to his other ankle in a mid-season friendly against Elche on Thursday, with the forward having to be withdrawn from the 2-1 victory as a result of his knock.

Regarding the Dutchman’s setback, the journalist wrote: “Having already hurt one ankle this week, he got a whack on the other one and looked in serious discomfort as he was helped from the pitch. On fire in front of goal prior to the break, Leeds will hope and pray it’s just a sore one and not a significant one.”

Orta must act

Considering just how impressive Summerville has been for Leeds in recent weeks, it would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to Jesse Marsch and his side if the 21-year-old is ruled out for the Whites’ upcoming Premier League clash with Manchester City on December 28.

Indeed, the £5.1m-rated talent has been something of a revelation for Leeds over the club’s last four fixtures in the league, scoring a last-minute winner in both the 2-1 win at Liverpool and 4-3 victory over Bournemouth, also finding the net in the 3-2 loss to Fulham and 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Over these four games, the £8.4k-per-week sensation has averaged a very impressive Sofascore match rating of 7.10, a score which, if maintained over the course of the season, would see the trickster rank as Marsch’s second-best performer in the top-flight of English football.

Furthermore, with fellow Leeds winger Luis Sinisterra also having missed the club’s last three Premier League fixtures as a result of a foot injury, the further loss of Summerville ahead of the Man City fixture later this month would further limit the 48-year-old manager’s options out wide.

As such, with the Whites having already failed to bring a tried and tested centre-forward into the club over the summer transfer window, despite the continued injury struggles of Patrick Bamford, it would appear most wise for Victor Orta to learn his lesson heading into the January market.

Indeed, should the Leeds director of football wish to give Marsch the best possible chance of avoiding a repeat of last season’s fight for survival this time around, the Spaniard simply must move to add further depth to the Whites’ wide attacking options in January, as Summerville’s blow has highlighted just how fragile Leeds currently are in that regard.

Everton could be ready to battle for a European star in January…

What’s the latest?

According to Torino Granata, the Toffees are one of two Premier League sides vying to sign Torino midfielder Sasa Lukic.

It is expected that following his World Cup campaign with Serbia he will assess his options, with Leeds United also pushing for his signature.

With reported friction between the player and club following contract talks, another source suggests it will cost around €15m (£13m) to secure his services.

Ditch Gueye

Although he starred in his first few matches after returning, Idrissa Gana Gueye has at times shown his age with a few silly mistakes in midfield.

This was highlighted in their loss to Manchester United, where he was handed an abysmal 5.8 SofaScore rating and made one error that led to a goal after being caught lacking by the Red Devils’ midfield.

The 33-year-old offers a fine option for Frank Lampard, but he must look for fresher options than the Senegal international.

In Lukic, the 44-year-old would gain a fine all-around midfield ace who could offer a slightly increased offensive presence than Gueye does.

There is definitely space beside Amadou Onana for someone with more attacking impetus, and with 1.0 shots and 1.0 key passes per game, the Serbian could be just that man.

That’s not to suggest that he shirks his defensive responsibilities, as he also averaged 0.8 interceptions and 1.4 tackles per game too.

Labelled an “excellent midfielder” by teammate Gleison Bremer, he proves this with consistently reliable displays in Serie A. The 26-year-old is boasting an average SofaScore rating of 6.95, which actually outperforms the 6.87 of Gueye too.

What further outlines him as a brilliant asset to have in the engine room is his pass accuracy, which averages out to 89%.

Although it might seem a bold option to drop the ageing Goodison Park hero, many would agree that time has certainly caught up with him since he first left for Paris Saint-Germain all those years ago.

He has plenty left to offer the Merseyside club, but Lukic would provide a fine option to ensure that he does not have to be relied upon solely given his age.

Leeds United head into Saturday afternoon’s Premier League meeting against AFC Bournemouth in high spirits, with Jesse Marsch’s side having finally ended their eight-match winless streak with a shock 2-1 victory over Liverpool last time out.

However, with the Whites having lost a key player to injury in the week, coupled with a number of Marsch’s regular starters currently enduring something of a dip from their usual performance levels, the 48-year-old has a number of decisions to make regarding his starting XI for the visit of the Cherries this afternoon.

Will the American make any changes to the side which lined up in the win at Anfield last weekend?

Here’s how we at Football FanCast think Leeds’ starting XI could look against Bournemouth, along with the latest team and injury news…

Predicted Leeds XI – Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Cooper, Struijk; Adams, Roca; Summerville, Aaronson, Gnonto; Bamford.

With Marsch revealing in his pre-match press conference that Luis Sinisterra is likely to be out of action until after the World Cup due to a foot injury, while also stating that both Stuart Dallas and Adam Forshaw remain sidelined with knocks, we predict that the 48-year-old will make two changes to the side which started the 2-1 victory over Liverpool last weekend.

The back five remains intact, with Illan Meslier – who enjoyed quite possibly his best performance in a Leeds shirt at Anfield – starting between the sticks, while right-back Rasmus Kristensen, centre-back pairing Robin Koch and Liam Cooper and left-back Pascal Struijk make up the Whites’ defensive unit.

In the middle of the park, Marsch’s tried-and-tested duo of Marc Roca and Tyler Adams once again get the nod, with the summer signings having highly impressed since their respective moves to Elland Road – currently ranking as the club’s second and fourth-best performers in the top flight respectively.

The first change comes in the three behind the striker, with the distinctly out-of-form Jack Harrison – who was linked with a £60m move to Newcastle United in the summer – dropping out of the XI. That switch sees Crysencio Summerville move over to his preferred right-wing role and 18-year-old “wonderkid” Wilfried Gnonto come in on the left flank.

This means that Brenden Aaronson is once again unleashed in the number 10 role just behind Patrick Bamford. Despite the 29-year-old striker being without a goal this season, he has looked quite lively in both the defeat to Arsenal and win at Liverpool win, and he replaces Rodrigo in leading the line for Leeds against the Cherries.

Aston Villa could be set to move for a former Premier League manager who is very highly rated…

What’s the latest?

Journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking to the Off The Ball podcast, issued a small update on Johan Lange’s quest to fill his club’s managerial vacancy.

He claimed: “Two outsiders just to keep an eye on, Bielsa, former Leeds manager, and AVB too.

“It’s an open race at the moment but one thing I do know is that a lot of the legwork behind formulating a short list and touting candidates had been done a week ago, which means the Villa board are not starting from now in terms of their recruitment.”

He could take them to the top

Marcelo Bielsa has earned the highest praise across the footballing world for his contribution to the various clubs he has graced.

His most notable success for English clubs was with Leeds United, where he finally gave the club what they had been craving for so long, returning them to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.

His outlandish, unorthodox but often brilliant brand of football saw them walk the Championship and finish in a sensational ninth in their returning season in the top flight.

Whilst his tenure may have ended on a sour note, having been dismissed by the Whites after a run of poor performances, his impact on the game as a whole cannot be overstated.

The Argentine was labelled a “genius” by Mauricio Pochettino and the “best coach in the world” by Pep Guardiola, top praise from some of the greatest coaches themselves in Europe.

Bielsa’s style of play does have risks that could result in a drop-off in results, but when it works his teams can compete with anyone. Perhaps with a much-improved squad to the largely Championship-level he had at Elland Road, he truly could excel.

Their win over Manchester City in April of 2021 stands testament to this, as they beat the would-be champions with ten men.

The upsides of appointing the 67-year-old are remarkable, and he really could take them to the very top. However, they have to be wary of the potential downsides too.