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Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that Everton will be without their top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night, a match you can bet here on.

The Toffees boss had hoped to see Calvert-Lewin return from an abductor muscle problem to lead his side’s charge, after missing Monday’s goalless draw with Brighton & Hove Albion despite travelling to the Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls affair was only the fourth Premier League fixture that the 14-goal frontman had sat out this term, following spells on the sidelines with separate hamstring injuries in January and February.

Ancelotti fielded Richarlison and James Rodriguez at striker but failed to see either deliver the needed impact to beat Graham Potter’s south coast side, as the Brazilian struggled for service and the Colombian found himself marked out of the game.

Ancelotti will now need to see his forwards step up if Everton are to beat Tottenham on Friday night and move above the north Londoners into seventh place, after confirming that Calvert-Lewin will be absent once again.

“Available for the game are Jordan Pickford, Allan, Joshua King and Andre Gomes. In the next week, we are going to have Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina, Fabian Delph and Bernard [back],” the Blues boss said on Thursday.

“It will be longer for [Jean-Philippe] Gbamin and [Abdoulaye] Doucoure. Gbamin doesn’t need surgery, but he will be out for at least eight weeks. The plan for him is to be back for the start of the new season.”

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Calvert-Lewin returning next week could see the striker be made available for Everton’s trip to Arsenal on Friday 23rd, who currently trail the Merseyside outfit by three points and having played a game more.

But Ancelotti will be gutted to be facing Tottenham without his top-scorer, who has 19 goals and four assists over 32 games in all competitions this season, knowing his side struggles to play to the same rhythm without the 24-year-old on the field.

Calvert-Lewin gives Everton a focal point in attack and a teammate for Richarlison to bounce off, while offering an aerial presence in the opposition’s penalty area.

No Toffees player contests (8.7) or wins (4.4) as many aerial duels per Premier League game than Calvert-Lewin has this season, with left-back Lucas Digne contesting the second-most (4.5) and Mina winning the second-most (3), per WhoScored.

Richarlison led the game for aerial duels contested against Brighton on Monday with six, but only two of those challenges came in an offensive situation – one less than Digne (3).

Calvert-Lewin’s ability to occupy defender’s thoughts is just one reason why Rio Ferdinand has lauded the England international and claimed that players would fear coming up against him.

“I’ve watched a lot of Everton this year and he’s one that unnerves defenders,” Ferdinand said on his FIVE YouTube channel. “He’s not one you want to play against week in, week out. He’s aggressive, he attacks the ball.”

It will be a huge blow for Everton’s hopes of beating Tottenham to be without Calvert-Lewin, in what is almost a must-win match if Ancelotti is to see the Goodison Park natives qualify for a European competition this season.

AND in other news, an “outstanding” talent is keen to join Everton this summer, but there’s a hitch…

Back in February, Chinese New Year was celebrated by welcoming in the year of the Ox; a stern animal with horns so fierce they could pierce a hole through your skin.

Coincidentally, the year of the ox is turning out to be fiercely similar for Sunderland. They have been a rampaging animal, a team who aren’t letting anybody stand in their way of promotion.

They are third in League One at the moment, five points off top spot with a game in hand. A place in the Championship, therefore, is well and truly in their hands.

If they do go up, then it looks as though a spending spree could take place. It’s already been revealed that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus is sitting on a mere £60m to invest in the club – hopefully on transfers.

Of course, they won’t spend all of it one go but a player who could help them start life in a new division with a bang is Jordan Jones.

Like an Ox, the Rangers loanee has been bullish in his approach since arriving, penetrating holes in the opposition defence with unrelenting energy and force.

Charlie Wyke may have stolen the show in the early stages of the campaign, but it’s Jones who has helped to take Lee Johnson’s side to a new level during the run-in.

He recently missed four games, including the EFL Trophy final with a muscle injury, but he was back to his breathtaking best against Oxford United on Good Friday.

With an ingenious moment of trickery, the winger beat Jamie Hanson with absolute ease, leading him a merry dance like some sort of matador before pushing the ball past him following two step-overs.

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It was a flash of brilliance that was worth his weekly salary 10x over as he skipped past the defender and then laid the ball on a plate for Lynden Gooch to fire home.

Such has been his brilliant start to life south of the border, he now wants to stay. Football Insider reported this week that Jones was keen on sealing a permanent switch to the Stadium of Light.

With the likes of Stoke and Middlesbrough also in the race to sign him, a Championship berth will surely be crucial to Sunderland’s chances of luring him back from Glasgow.

It would be an excellent piece of business, one that helps the Mackems’ new owner to lift the club from the doldrums of League One to a club in with a chance of reaching the Premier League again.

The nine cap Northern Irishman is a cut above the third tier and in the words of Kevin Phillips, the forward has “real class”.

Jones took a while to settle in the north-east but the 26-year-old has been nothing short of exceptional in recent months. In his last four outings, the Rangers man has three assists and one goal to his name.

A player with pace, trickery and energy, he typifies Sunderland under Johnson. He’d be an exquisite capture if they go up.

AND in other news, Sunderland must swoop for 25 y/o “great character”, he’s already terrorised McFadzean…

According to Give Me Sport, Glasgow Rangers are interested in Middlesbrough striker Britt Assombalonga.

Gers eye Assombalonga

Assombalonga currently plays his football for Middlesbrough in the Championship. His contract at the club is set to run out at the end of the season (Transfermarkt).

As such, the Ibrox outfit are said to be eager to take him north of the border on a free transfer.

Potential bargain

Assombalonga has scored goals at a steady rate throughout his career. He has netted at least 10 strikes in seven different campaigns, and has a record of 131 goals in 344 matches since making his debut (Transfermarkt). Boro even paid £15m in 2017 to sign him (BBC) – that was, and still is, a club-record fee for the north-east outfit.

Unfortunately, in more recent times, he has struggled to hit the same heights. This term, he has managed just five goals in 29 matches in the English second tier and was even stripped of the club captaincy by Neil Warnock  (Teesside Live). However, he is clearly a player with plenty of talent, and perhaps a change of scenery could do him the world of good. On a free transfer, this could well be a bargain signing for Ross Wilson and co – especially after Alfredo Morelos recently shared his desire to move to the Premier League (Radio Caracol).

In other news, Rangers fans slam this Union Bears statement.

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been reacting to Mike Dean’s appointment for Sunday’s meeting with Tottenham.

The 52-year-old will take charge of the Premier League clash at Villa Park, the top flight have announced, and the news hasn’t gone down well with a section of Villa supporters on social media.

Darren Cann and Mark Scholes will assist Dean on the touchline, with Robert Jones as the fourth official and Simon Hooper on video assistant referee (VAR) duty.

Dean a good Villa omen?

Dean has only been in the middle for one Villa game this season – the West Midlands derby against Wolves back in December.

Villa ran out 1-0 winners following a late Anwar El Ghazi at Molineux, with nine yellow cards and two red cards handed out that afternoon.

Dean has awarded six penalties in his 18 games this season and has brandished five red cards.

@AVFC_News shared the confirmation on Twitter on Tuesday. This is what these Villa supporters had to say, with some bringing up his famous Spurs ‘celebration’ against Villa six years ago.

Villa fans react

“THE MAN CELEBRATED A SPURS GOAL IN THIS FIXTURE FA SORT IT OUT”

Credit: @Cameron_Avfc

“Oh well that’s at least 4 players with match bans incoming then”

Credit: @andylane1967

“Oh no”

Credit: @Avfc_mike1985

“Congrats Spurs to 3 points”

Credit: @MeduzaPeter

“Well we’ve lost then… #12thMan”

Credit: @Wallabee1

“Are the FA having a laugh?”

Credit: @coward_rob

In other news: Some AVFC fans have been reacting to some ‘stupid’ club news, find out more here. 

Celtic have a list of things they need to do before even considering getting back on level terms next term. Of course, they have just surrendered their grasp on the title and they have no manager after Neil Lennon’s departure.

He walked out of the club two weeks ago and they need a new head coach. They are also searching for a new director of football, someone who could potentially lift the club in the transfer market.

Liam Shaw has agreed to join the club while Kyle Joseph, another hot talent of English football, is reportedly close to signing pre-contract terms too. That being said, there is a more senior name who should be their shortlist for the summer.

That’s according to Colin Watt, one of the regular voices on A Celtic State of Mind podcast. He commented recently: “One that I think people should go and take a look at [is] Paul Onuachu. He’s a Nigerian striker that plays for Genk; he was formerly of FC Midtjylland, and he’s scored almost 100 goals in five seasons, 6ft 7in tall. Roughly, the going price for him is about £7-10m.”

That height is absolutely astonishing but it only reminds us of one figure when talking about Celtic. That happens to be Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

The famous Dutch striker played for the Hoops between 2006 and 2009, using his colossal frame to outmuscle opponents and score goals.

Standing at 6 foot 3, he is smaller than Onuachu but they are still similar players when it comes to winning aerial duels and being deployed as a target man.

For context, the Genk striker has won 3.7 aerial duels this term in the Belgian Pro League. During his final season in English football with Hull City, Vennegoor of Hesselink won 2.3 but that wasn’t when he was at the peak of his powers.

Onuachu has already been compared to Peter Crouch, a tall striker with similar qualities to Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Celtic blog 67hailhail defined his qualities perfectly in 2019: “Vennegoor of Hesselink’s physicality and aerial ability in attack defined much of his Celtic career, often found bringing players such as Scott McDonald into the game or powering headers home.”

Indeed, that sums up Onuachu well. He uses his frame to batter opponents but if we are looking for one difference, it would be their goal record.

The 26-year-old has scored 26 times in all competitions this term, a stunning tally for someone who appears to be improving his game all the time.

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Speaking about Onuachu’s attributes during his days with FC Midtjylland, Alexander Scholz commented: “It’s impossible to beat him because he’s so tall. He is a worker, he has always worked a lot.”

Indeed, that would sum up Vennegoor of Hesselink’s qualities nicely. Like Onuachu, he was a man-mountain, someone that made defenders scared of what he could do when a cross came in.

This transfer, if it happens, may well evoke some nostalgia at Parkhead.

AND in other news, Celtic manager search takes fresh twist; it should be good news for Hoops supporters…

Journalist Alan Nixon has recently issued an update about Rangers’ interest in Preston North End’s Ben Davies.

While Football Insider had recently stated that Rangers had made a ‘significant’ offer to sign Davies on a pre-contract basis in the summer, Nixon has claimed the complete opposite about the Preston defender and his links with a move to Ibrox.

Rangers yet to make Davies offer

Alan Nixon tweeted about Rangers’ interest in Davies when a fan asked him about the player’s situation. He revealed “there’s no Rangers pre contract offer for Davies”, despite claims from Football Insider that an offer has been made.

It has also been stated that Rangers are competing with their Old Firm rivals and English clubs for Davies’ signature.

Davies has made 16 Championship appearances for Preston this season, coming up with one assist so far. All of his appearances have come from the centre-back position this season (as per Transfermarkt).

The 25-year-old is currently valued at £2.16m by Transfermarkt and he has been described as a player who is comfortable on the ball and confident in the air.

Davies could be a good signing for Rangers

With Nikola Katic injured and George Edmundson seemingly on the way out, Steven Gerrard only has three centre-back options in the team – Leon Balogun, Filip Helander and Conor Goldson.

Davies would add depth and ability to that position and his versatility – he can play either centre-back role or at left-back – would also be an extra reason why the Ibrox side would benefit from signing him.

In other news, Rangers are eyeing another Championship star – read more here.

It may have taken them almost half the season, but Celtic finally look like they might have gotten their act together.

Neil Lennon’s side had started the Scottish Premiership campaign off poorly, and with Rangers getting off to a flying start themselves, it just rubbed salt into the wounds.

But, the Hoops appear to have found some festive form, with five wins on the bounce in all competitions, and entertain a Dundee United side who are in fifth place.

The Hoops have had a busy schedule as of late, and with the Old Firm clash against Rangers on the horizon at the weekend, Lennon may feel tempted to rest some of his key stars. And with that in mind, below is a look at how Celtic might line up on Wednesday afternoon.

In goal, Conor Hazard will expect to keep his place in the starting eleven given his recent form – the 22-year-old has kept a clean sheet in each of his last three games in the league.

There could be some changes to the back-line however, with Diego Laxalt knocking on the door for another start after being on the bench against Hamilton.

And, if Christopher Jullien can shake off his knee problem, then the Frenchman could be brought back into the team so he can get back to action before the big clash at Ibrox on Saturday.

In midfield, Ismaila Soro should keep his place as the side’s holding midfielder, with Lennon potentially holding Scott Brown’s experience back for the game against Rangers.

The other big changes the Celtic boss may opt to make is bringing in Mohamed Elyounoussi on the left-hand side, and allowing Odsonne Edouard to move into that starting striker role in place of Leigh Griffiths.

And if Lennon wants to hand Ryan Christie a rest too, he could give 21-year-old Michael Johnston his first start of the season and potentially watch him stake a claim for a starting spot at the weekend too.

Predicted XI: Hazard; Frimpong, Ajer, Jullien, Laxalt; Soro, McGregor; Johnston, Turnbull, Elyounoussi, Edouard.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Gary Mabbutt believes Tottenham’s transfer dealings in the summer were the best in a long time from Daniel Levy.

Mabbutt praises Levy

During the summer, Spurs brought in seven new first-team players, including the likes of Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon.

Mabbutt was delighted with the business of Levy and co behind the scenes. He said:

“Our transfer signings in the last window were the best we’ve had for a long, long time.”

Fantastic business

It is hard not to be impressed with what Levy was able to achieve during the previous window. Reguilon, for example, was signed for £28m, despite coming from Real Madrid and having won the Europa League with Sevilla last term. Bale was also brought in from Real, albeit on loan, and his top-level experience could be incredibly valuable to Jose Mourinho this term.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has come in for praise too – he cost the paltry sum of £15m from Southampton, with bit-part player Kyle Walker-Peters going in the opposite direction. Other arrivals such as Carlos Vinicius, Joe Hart, Joe Rodon and Matt Doherty are all likely to play a big part this term as well.

There have been some nightmare dealings at Tottenham down the years – many will still remember how the money from Bale’s original sale was pretty much wasted on a number of players. However, with Mourinho at his side, it seems that Levy is producing some of his best work in north London.

In other news, Fabrizio Romano has shared a big update on this former Tottenham man.

David Sullivan can land David Moyes an ideal January signing amid reports West Ham United could look to sign Chelsea’s out-of-favour hitman Olivier Giroud this winter.

What’s the word?

According to Claret & Hugh, Giroud is keen to secure a move away from Stamford Bridge during the upcoming transfer market, having seen his spot in the French national side come under threat after playing just 33 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Frank Lampard added German internationals Timo Werner and Kai Havertz to the fold in south west London this summer, resulting in Giroud falling further down the pecking order and only being given game time from the bench in three top-flight fixtures to date.

Giroud has featured from the start in just one of the Blues’ Carabao Cup ties, as well, while earning his 27 minutes of Champions League action as a late substitute on Matchday 3 at home to Stade Rennais once the tie had already been settled by a Werner brace.

Should Giroud decide he must leave Chelsea to secure his spot on the plane to next summer’s postponed UEFA European Championships, his decision is expected to alert key officials at the London Stadium given West Ham’s prior interest in the forward.

The Irons strived to land the 34-year-old in 2017 amid doubt over his future with Arsenal, and were again touted as a potential suitor this summer with Chelsea open to offers worth just £7million.

Arsene Wenger noted at the time of Giroud’s Arsenal exit that he quit the Gunners through his determination to play for France in the 2018 World Cup, which could now result in history repeating itself for Chelsea.

“Olivier wanted more playing time – and wants as well to go to the World Cup,” Wenger said, via quotes by the Independent. “That is why I opened the door. But he was massively popular here.”

An idyllic January hitman

Sullivan reviving West Ham’s prior interest in Giroud could see the Hammers co-owner land Moyes an idyllic hitman this January, as the Frenchman has consistently thrived when given a chance – as evident by his eight Premier League goals last season each coming in the final 12 matches after struggling to earn game time until February.

Wenger lauded Giroud’s ability to always be ready whilst the Frenchman was with Arsenal, noting in 2016 via The Guardian: “I have a big respect for him. When you are a football player, you have to be always ready, that’s part of the job.

“When you’re selected, it’s fantastic. When you’re not selected, you have to be ready and the players that are always ready, when they get that chance, they are there and the players that feel sorry for themselves, they give you one more reason to justify why you didn’t select them, and the fighters are always ready.”

Giroud’s fighter-instinct and a knack for scoring could easily see the veteran forward be an idyllic January addition for Moyes, having struck home 86 goals in his Premier League career, been touted as one of the all-time great super-subs and been praised for his awareness to latch on to crosses.

West Ham are among the top-flight’s most-productive outfits in terms of crosses this season, having averaged 22 a game – only Fulham (23) are delivering a higher number into the box, per WhoScored.

The Irons are also registering 57 long balls a match and rank second for shots taken inside the six-yard box with 14% of their total efforts, two aspects were Giroud thrives.

AND in other news, West Ham have been given the ideal chance to sign a “phenomenal” £20m David Moyes target.

Sunderland must green light a January loan for Under 23s prospect Josh Hawkes after Phil Parkinson lauded the impact temporary moves had for Elliot Embleton and Jack Diamond.

What’s the word?

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s League One clash with MK Dons, via quotes by the Chronicle, Parkinson claimed Embleton and Diamond are now reaping the rewards of their moves away from the Stadium of Light as they begin establishing themselves in the first-team fold.

Diamond joined Harrogate Town on loan for the 2019/20 season and helped the club clinch promotion from the National League to League Two, netting three times in 27 regular season outings before striking once in the Play-Off Final.

The 20-year-old has struggled to earn senior minutes since his Sunderland return, with just one of his appearances coming in League One, but was among the raft of changes who started Tuesday’s EFL Trophy clash with Fleetwood Town.

Embleton, too, featured from the off at Highbury, where the Durham-born midfielder earned just his second senior outing of the campaign after battling with injuries that have kept him out for extended periods over the past year.

Parkinson believes that Diamond’s time at Harrogate and Embleton’s with Grimsby Town during the 18/19 season have helped the pair in their development, noting: “The loan spells they had have really benefited them.

“I spoke to Embo the other day and I was saying to him that when he was on loan at Grimsby, he learnt things that it is hard to teach players on the training pitch – how to handle different types of games, different pressures within games.

“And it was the same for Jack, who went on to be part of a promotion campaign with Harrogate which saw them get out of a tough division.

“The development of those two players has been really enhanced by those loan moves.”

Hawkes must leave

Having lauded the impact of loan moves for Embleton and Diamond, Parkinson must now consider a similar option for Hawkes after frequently overlooking the 21-year-old since his summer arrival from Hartlepool United.

Hawkes earned his first senior Sunderland outing during the midweek EFL Trophy clash with Fleetwood, and impressed at Highbury with two shots, two attempted dribbles, 36 touches, seven duels, one key pass, one tackle and three crosses while played at striker, per SofaScore.

The wide forward was signed with a view to playing in the U23s, but has proven already that he is a step above the youth grades and must strive to feature either in League One or Two once the winter market opens.

Hawkes struck 11 of his 13 Hartlepool goals in the National League having played 59 times in the division, so would not benefit in the same manner from a move into non-league football as Diamond, and Parkinson must realise that the winger’s potential needs an adequate stage now rather than later.

Sunderland were not the only side to have shown an interest in the attacker this summer, either, with reports Leeds, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Portuguese side Braga were also in contention.

The Black Cats emerging triumphant and landing Hawkes was ultimately seen as a big deal, with Kevin Phillips telling Football Insider: “It just shows you still, as much as they’re still in League One, Sunderland are a big club.

“It’s good news to hear that after two or three of their best young players left the club.”

AND in other news, Phil Parkinson must prioritise taking a chance on an “excellent” yet rarely-seen Sunderland gem.