Philippa Kaur

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    How Jesse Lingard has bounced back with move to South Korea by embracing Asian culture and releasing a rap song

    MANY British footballers keep to themselves and refuse to embrace local culture when they move abroad.But not Jesse Lingard. The former Man Utd midfielder was released by Nottingham Forest in 2023, after an underwhelming time at the City Ground.Jesse Lingard is living his best life in South Korea playing for FC SeoulCredit: RexEx-Man Utd star Lingard shares his culinary experiences like eating Korean BBQ onlineCredit: InstagramBy embracing local culture, Lingard has made himself a fan favouriteCredit: InstagramHe was stuck in a football free agent’s abyss, until he surprisingly moved to South Korean side FC Seoul in February 2024 on a two-year deal – taking a huge pay cut on £17,500-per-week. At Forest, he was was earning a whopping £180,000-per-week.Although it was a tough start professionally, with coach Kim Gi-dong publicly criticising him for his fitness and a subsequent knee injury ruling him of action early on in his career, he soon won over the fans.However, it isn’t just Lingard’s football skills that have scored him admirers in The Land of Han.The midfielder has immersed himself in Asian culture – not just indulging in Korean BBQ – but also releasing music.read more football newsWhile, his epic social media posts – in partnership with CGI firm Vertex – have made him and the K League appear cool, as well as drawn millions of eyes through social media to his experience.Asian football expert and author John Duerden has seen first hand the impact Lingard has had from his home in Seoul.He told SunSport: “Not many foreign players make the national news in South Korea for actions on and off the pitch but Jesse Lingard has not been any normal signing.”For a start, he is the biggest name import to play in the 42-year-old K League and, therefore, has had more expectations and pressure than others.Most read in Football”In the early days, it looked as if it wasn’t going to happen at FC Seoul, one of the country’s big clubs that has struggled a little in recent years.Watch Jesse Lingard score screamer as former Man Utd star proves he’s still got it in South Korean league “He took time to settle, leading to a rebuke, of sorts, from the coach but most don’t appreciate how big a cultural difference there is between South Korea and the UK both on and off the pitch.”Just take the weather, absolutely freezing in winter and very hot and very humid in the summer and then there is the rainy season.”Culture clubLingard adapted. After all, he would have been use to a rainy day or two in Manchester, so that wouldn’t have hurt.But, he seemed particularly enamoured with the local culture and has brought cool to a country that is producing award-winning TV in shows like Squid Game.No sooner had he made the move to the Far East, he was sharing his dining experiences on Instagram to his nine million followers.Lingard then realised there was a market for a video diary of his career in South Korea, and he rebooted his YouTube channel last year.On there, and on his Instagram, he has shared his epic lifestyle. From cruising on a boat to making music and creating epic CGI clips.One of those clips dropped in December shows ‘J Lingz’ performing some kick ups, before volleying a ball into the sky towards a ribbon that drops a sheet to reveal a gold statue of his famous J-L hand celebration.Another sees the ex-Three Lions winger show off his dance moves, before Moonwalking out of shot.Before the end of the year, Lingard revealed his single KamsahamnidaA CGI viral video Lingard uploaded to Instagram in December has been watch 4.5 million timesIn another clip, Lingard can be seen showing off his dance movesread more sport featuresThe former has been liked almost 4.5 million times, while the latter has drawn almost 240,000 likes since it was uploaded in November.Lingard even found time to release his first rap single before the end of last year.Kamsahamnida, which means ‘thank you’ in Korean, was well received by his fans and is incredibly catchy.Duerden explained: “It is off the pitch though that Lingard has been different to any signing in the past.”His music single Kamsahamnida was a surprise but his CGI video, released in December, attracted hundreds of millions of clicks, went down very well in Korea and made national news.”Usual interactions with foreign players have usually not progressed much past questions such as ‘do you like kimchi?’ Or ‘how good is Son Heung-min?’ and comments about chopstick wielding competence. “This is not something that has happened in the K-League before, it is a competition that is solid but seen by many, at home and abroad, as lacking a little in the excitement and coolness stakes.”Officials at Seoul and at league headquarters were delighted. Lingard may not rival some of the megastars in Saudi Arabia in terms of talent and achievements, but he has brought a certain coolness and street cred that wasn’t really thought about when Seoul decided to try and sign him.”It helps that he is here at a time when there is huge global interest in Korean music, food, television, beauty products, fashion, technology and movies and getting involved in that culture is always going to go down well.”Too many foreign players stay in their bubbles and rarely experience, let alone embrace, the culture. Lingard has shown what can be done. Like anywhere, the more you put in, the more you get out.”Lingard has been credited with bringing cool to the K LeagueWhile on his YouTube channel, Lingard has shown he’s not afraid to try new experiencesPlaying in the K LeagueIn terms of his football, Lingard is clearly loving life on and off the pitch.After scoring his first goal of the season, with the K-League running from February to November, he performed FIVE goal celebrations in the 2-1 win over Anyang.Lingard’s popularity is bigger than ever, but it’s a tough league to adapt to.Duerden explained: “Few coaches speak English and they have historically tended to be quite conservative tactically, liking to counter-attack and players who work hard, run hard and listen well.”The league is of a good standard, physical and fast but you have to work for goals and games often only open up in the latter stages. “The average league attendance was 11,000 last season but with Lingard Seoul attracted over 27,000.”The K League does not have the same central place in Korean culture as the Premier League in England but those that go are often hugely passionate and will support their players through thick and thin, if they give their all on the pitch.Lingard arrived in Asia to much fan fare and took a pay cutCredit: APEx-England star Lingard suffered a set back when he required knee surgery last yearCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/C57gyVmtuXw/?img_index=2Lingard scored his first goal of the season last weekendCredit: Rex”There is no doubt that Lingard has done this and his performances have improved. Being made captain in June and then officially getting the nod ahead of his second season was a reflection of that. Seoul coach Kim Gi-dong is not the type to hand out the armband on a whim.READ MORE SUN STORIES”The new season has started well with a goal in the first home game in front of 40,000 fans.  “It looks as if there is more to come.” More

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    Controversial moment Euro giants ‘give away penalty by throwing second ball on to pitch’ in never-before-seen blunder

    PANATHINAIKOS ace Daniel Mancini may have committed the biggest blunder of the year, and ended his team’s title hopes.Mancini, 28, and his team-mates visited bottom-of-the-league Lamia on Sunday in a match where the Greek giants needed the three points to maintain pressure on bitter rivals Olympiacos at the top.Panathinaikos ace Daniel Mancini may have committed the biggest gaffe of the yearCredit: RexMancini thought the ball went out for a throw-in against LamiaBut it was still in play as it never went over the line so Gustavo Furtado chased after itThe Panathinaikos ace Mancini kicked another ball onto the pitchAs per a rather unknown rule, that led to a penalty for Lamia who sealed a 3-1 winRui Vitoria’s side endured a horrendous start that saw them conceding after just four minutes by ex-Reading and Aston Villa ace Aaron Tshibola.Panathinaikos equalised on 72 minutes with Filip Djuricic but Lamia fought back and regained the lead just six minutes later with Gustavo Furtado, who used to play for the visitors.The Athens outfit pushed hard for another equaliser but disaster struck three minutes before full-time.Ex-Grimsby Town ace Sebastian Ring tried to find Furtado with a through ball.Read More on FootballMancini, who was playing out of position at right-back thought the ball went out for a free throw.But Ring signalled towards Furtado that the ball was surprisingly still in play as it never went over the line, while the Panathinaikos ace was getting ready for the throw-in the referee never awarded.Furtado gained possession and broke into the box with his marker completely oblivious to what was happening.The Lamia star tried to beat goalkeeper Bartlomiej Drągowski from a tight angle but the Poland international denied him.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHowever, Mancini’s woes were about to become much worse as, for some reason, he decided to kick another ball into play before Furtado’s shot.Referee Angelos Evangelou stopped the match and awarded the hosts a penalty, as per the rules, before booking the winger.EFL goalkeeper concedes ‘most embarrassing goal ever seen’ as fans fume ‘get him off that pitch now’ Furtado took spot kick and beat Dragowski to seal only Lamia’s second win of the season.The rules state that if another ball or object is thrown onto the pitch by another player then the referee awards a set piece for the opposing team at the spot where it landed.Because the ball was thrown inside the Panathinaikos area, where the action was taking place, the ref awarded a penalty.Two years ago, Valencia got away with a similar piece of ‘s***housery’ against Real Madrid.As Vinicius Jr approached the hosts’ penalty area, a defender kicked a second ball against the one he was dribbling with before the Brazilian could enter the box.Furtado enjoyed quite the redemption as he was offloaded by Panathinaikos last year after going viral in a clip showing him chasing after the B team’s bus, which forgot about him and almost left him behind.PAO are now third in the table with eight points separating them from the top. More

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    I was abandoned by my parents in an orphanage at two, now they ask me for money for life, says former Arsenal star

    FORMER Arsenal striker Lucas Perez has opened up about his difficult upbringing and strained relationship with his parents.Perez kicked off his professional playing career with Rayo Vallecano in 2010 and went on to play across Europe with the likes of Karpaty Lviv and PAOK.Lucas Perez has revealed why his strained relationship with his parents contributed to his Deportivo exit last monthCredit: GettyPerez made 21 appearances for Arsenal after joining in 2016Credit: AFP AFP or Licensors AFP or LicensorsHe spent another year in Spain with Deportivo La Coruna before sealing a huge move to Arsenal, where he scored seven goals in 21 appearances.The striker then joined West Ham and spent another season in London before returning to his homeland with Alaves.Following short spells with Elche and Cadiz, Perez eventually found his way back to Deportivo.However, he was forced to leave last month due to personal reasons.Read More in FootballIn a recent interview with El Partidazo de Cope, Perez revealed that his strained relationship with his dad, who abandoned him as a child, was a key factor behind his shock exit.He also opened up about his difficult childhood and explained that both of his parents now demand money from him.The 36-year-old divulged: “I was raised by my grandparents, my father’s parents.”When I was two, my parents left me in an orphanage because they couldn’t or didn’t want to take care of me.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”This season, I received a complaint from my father demanding that I pay maintenance for the rest of his life.”From then on, I spent several months until I left Deportivo with a lot of stress and a lot of anxiety because I had to relive very difficult moments in my life.Mikel Arteta lays into Arsenal flops after defeat to West Ham derails Premier League title bid”When I signed for Arsenal, my mother also sent me a burofax demanding money… but she can’t claim it because she’s not listed in the joint custody.”My grandparents asked for custody and, later, my grandmother allowed my father to take over. I was lucky to have my grandparents, but they couldn’t last as long as they should have.”Discussing his recent exit from Deportivo and move to PSV Eindhoven, he continued: “I’m leaving now because the issue with my father continues. I’ve met him several times this Christmas and it’s not a pleasant experience.”Given that the situation at the club wasn’t right, because I didn’t feel valued or supported, I decided to be honest and tell them that I’m having a hard time stepping aside.”The club and I spoke… There were two games left to reach the 20-year mark with which I was going to renew and I didn’t want to.”Two days later, after saying that we were going to take a break, I received a letter from the club asking me to sign a written commitment with them.”I consider that they don’t know what Deportivo means to me and when there is doubt like that, the best thing to do is to step aside.”Perez also disputed claims that he left Deportivo for financial reasons, insisting he actually stepped away due to his personal situation.”What father doesn’t want to be close to his son? Obviously I want to be close, but if my job doesn’t allow it… I was already far away from him,” he added.”What happened is that they (the media) have echoed a lie and I am partly to blame for having allowed them to buy that lie. The person who released that information did so to hurt me.”Perez signed a short-term deal upon his arrival at PSV earlier this week.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe is set to remain at the club until June unless his contract is extended.But the striker will NOT be eligible to play against Arsenal in the Champions League round-of-16 because PSV are unable to add him to their already-submitted squad list.Perez signed for PSV earlier this weekCredit: Instagram / psv More

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    Man Utd rivals ‘looking to cash in on their financial misery by buying out sell-on clauses of stars sold by the club’

    SEVERAL CLUBS are reportedly looking to buy Manchester United’s sell-on clauses for players that have already left Old Trafford.The Red Devils have endured a miserable campaign so far and currently sit 15th in the Premier League table.Jim Ratcliffe could decide to make some instant cash by selling the sell-on clauses of some playersCredit: PAHannibal Mejbri has a 50 per cent sell-on clause in his dealCredit: RexScott McTominay has been thriving at NapoliCredit: GettyAmid the club’s disappointing form on the pitch, United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been desperately trying to save money behind the scenes.The billionaire has already made 250 employees redundant, with up to 200 more to follow in the coming weeks.He is also set to scrap free lunches for staff members at Old Trafford and reduce food options for those at Carrington to just soup and sandwiches.Ratcliffe could now be handed another way of generating some cash involving players who are no longer at United.Read More in FootballThe Telegraph has claimed that multiple clubs are now considering the possibility of buying sell-on clauses.Man Utd have put sell-on clauses into several transfers over the last few years.Facundo Pellistri was sold to Panathinaikos for around £6.8million last summer with a 45 per cent sell-on clause, meaning the Red Devils will receive almost half of the fee he is next sold for.Similarly, they negotiated a 50 per cent sell-on clause when finalising Hannibal Mejbri’s move to Burnley, although that will reduce over time.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMason Greenwood has a 50 per cent sell-on clauseCredit: AFPScott McTominay was let go for £25m plus a 10 per cent sell-on clause.And striker Mason Greenwood has a reported 50 per cent sell-on clause in his Marseille contract.Ruben Amorim blames results on the pitch for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal Man Utd cuts Should Man Utd decide to cash-in on the clauses now, it would see them profit instantly.It could be a huge positive for Ratcliffe and Co given the club’s poor financial situation.Several players have enjoyed a resurgence in form after leaving Man Utd.Aaron Wan-Bissaka has impressed since joining West Ham, while McTominay has become a fan-favourite at Napoli.Furthermore, Greenwood has recorded 19 goal contributions in 25 appearances for Marseille.As a result, the striker has attracted some interest from the likes of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain in recent months. More

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    ‘I’m dying’ – Dani Ceballos’ antics on Real Madrid bench go viral as he pulls bizarre facial expression

    DANI CEBALLOS has gone viral after pulling a bizarre facial expression on the Real Madrid bench.The midfielder appeared to let his boredom get the better of him as he sat and watched Real’s 2-0 win over Girona.Dani Ceballos made a bizarre facial expression on the Real Madrid benchThe TV camera zoomed in on Ceballos at the perfect moment to capture a moment of weirdness from the Spaniard.With his chin resting on his hand at an awkward angle Ceballos opened his mouth wide open while rolling his eyes in a scene that would not have looked out of place in a horror film.The clip was shared on X where it quickly racked up millions of views and thousands of likes.Ceballos, 28, responded to the tweet by laughing and commented: “I’m dying.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFans found Ceballos’ antics both amusing and unnerving.One reacted saying: “Is bro possessed😭”Another added: “What the hell happened here?”A third wrote: “Highlight of the season.”Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSAnd another commented: “What are you doing bro?”Ceballos has played himself back into Carlo Ancelotti’s plans this season and has made 29 appearances this season, including eight in the Champions League.Pep Guardiola admits ‘best team won’ as Real Madrid knock Man City out of Europe More

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    ‘Because we are the engine…’ – Ruben Amorim sensationally blames TEAM for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s brutal Man Utd cuts

    RUBEN Amorim has warned his stumbling stars: You’re the engine of this club – so start driving us forward.Amorim’s under-performers have picked up just 15 points from 15 games since he arrived in November, and Manchester United are heading for their worst since relegation in 1974.Ruben Amorim has blamed his side’s results for the Man Utd’s latest cost-cutting measuresCredit: RexSir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos announced plans to axe 200 Man Utd staff members in the coming weeksCredit: PATheir Old Trafford clash with Ipswich tomorrow is a repeat of the Portuguese gaffer’s first game in charge, in November, with United far closer to the drop zone than European one.Morale was already plummeting as quickly as the team’s league position even before Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s initial round of 250 job cuts over the last 12 months.And Monday’s news that minority investor Ratcliffe plans to axe another 200 at the end of the season has sent it sliding to rock bottom.Amorim has already admitted the ultimate blame for any cost-cutting stems from a lack of success on the field.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLNow he has hammered home the message to his red-faced Reds, as they go into a game they’d have once been expected to stroll, yet now cannot be tipped to win with any belief.Amorim insisted: “It is that we have to address all the problems in the club but one important piece at this moment is to understand how we got to this situation.“It’s a lot to do with the lack of success of the football team because we are the engine of the club… and I want to improve the players, the results and the team.“It’s always hard for everybody, when they see their friend and team mates losing jobs, but we have to focus on what we can do in this moment.Most read in FootballManchester United are in dire formCredit: AlamySir Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man UtdSIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old TraffordJanuary 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin addedMarch 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre moveMarch 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s footballMarch 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old TraffordMarch 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in DecemberApril 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanlinessMay 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roofMay 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticketMay 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axedMay 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of resultJune 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into officeJune 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s teamJuly 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensationJuly 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board  July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex WylieAugust 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toiletOctober 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex FergusonOctober 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matchesOctober 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15mNovember 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters AssociationDecember 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century” December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting directorDecember 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucherDecember 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to BournemouthDecember 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two starsDecember 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charityCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“We as a club have to understand what we did wrong to get this this and think in terms of solutions.“We are in a difficult situation and have to fight against those feeling and fight to perform better.”Ruben Amorim apologises to Christian Eriksen for ‘misunderstanding’ after comments about Man Utd star’s heart situation United’s woeful season has seen them win just two Prem games at home – Everton and Southampton – and the seven defeats already is the same as the year they went down.Amorim admits all the changes and cuts of Ratcliffe’s purse-tightening regime haven’t helped – yet stressed it all comes down to results.He added: “This year was really hard for everybody, and we had a lot of changes. But if you have a team that is playing well and wining it is easier for people to understand them.“But in this moment we are in a difficult period inside the club and on the pitch so we have to fight against this feeling, do our job and try our best to help the team to perform better“I understand all the critics, you have to accept it and try to change it. But since I arrived I expect to win all the games at home.“But I don’t feel the pressure because the supporters are amazing. We have to stop and think it is a new game, it can be a new story, so let’s go forward.”On top of letting staff go, it was already revealed in the past week that United will be stopping free lunches for staff at Old Trafford, instead offering them fruit.While those working at Carrington will lose access to the same menu as the players for their lunches from next season, instead being offered soup and sandwiches.READ MORE SUN STORIESFinancial results published last week showed the club owe £391m in transfer fees and have seen interest costs since the Glazer family took over in 2005 top £1billion.While it was also revealed that United had spent a combined £14.5m to sack Erik ten Hag and his staff and let go of sporting director Dan Ashworth. More

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    Dream Team managers must be aware of double headers and blanks ahead of Gameweek 26

    GAMEWEEK 25 is not done yet with a full round of Premier League fixtures still to come but Dream Team managers should already have one eye on Gameweek 26.That’s because the upcoming Gameweek features both double headers and blanks, creating an imbalance that can be worked to one’s advantage.Fernandes will be busy while Mbeumo restsCredit: Dream TeamGameweek 26 features seven FA Cup games and six European fixtures spread across the three Uefa competitions.The two teams still active in the cup and Europe are Aston Villa and Manchester United.Therefore, the Villains and the Red Devils are the only two sides with TWO fixtures in Gameweek 26.Unai Emery’s side will host Cardiff on Friday night before flying to Belgium to face Club Brugge in the Champions League round of 16.Amid a busy spell for Villa, extensive rotation is probably to be expected against Championship opposition in the fifth round of the FA Cup.It would be a surprise if popular assets such as Morgan Rogers (£3.8m), Ollie Watkins (£5.2m) Youri Tielemans (£4m) and Lucas Digne (£3m) were given substantial minutes against the Bluebirds.Will Watkins feature against Cardiff on Friday night?Credit: GettyEven so, Villa’s relatively favourable European match-up means their best performers are certainly viable.As for Man United, their double header comes in the form of Fulham (h) and Real Sociedad (a).Most read in FootballNot even the most partisan members of the Old Trafford faithful will be feeling particularly confident during this increasingly disappointing campaign but Bruno Fernandes (£6.2m) continues to thrive in Dream Team nonetheless.The Portuguese playmaker earned 16 points against Everton at the weekend to take his overall total for the season to 260.At the time of writing, only Mohamed Salah (£8.3m) and Erling Haaland (£8.1m) are above him in the rankings.Fernandes banked 16 points at Goodison ParkCredit: PASuch is Fernandes’ importance to Ruben Amorim’s side, he will surely be required to start both fixtures in Gameweek 26.Dream Team’s leading midfielder is therefore an excellent option at this point in time, despite his team’s broader struggles.Some gaffers might be able to identify another Man United player with the potential to cash in against Fulham and Real Sociedad but we certainly wouldn’t feel confident putting any other names forward at this stage.In contrast to the double headers, the following teams will all BLANK in Gameweek 26: Brentford, West Ham, Everton, Southampton and Leicester.Mbeumo is the fourth-most selected midfielder in Dream TeamCredit: RexFirst and foremost, this should prompt Bryan Mbeumo’s (£4.7m) owners to take action.The Bees’ talisman has scored 15 goals on his way to 243 points in what has been a sensational campaign to date but he’ll be watching the cup action from his sofa this weekend.Jordan Pickford (£4.1m) ranks fourth among Dream Team goalkeepers at present but he too is without a fixture in Gameweek 26.As are in-form forwards Beto (£2.7m) and Jarrod Bowen (£5.4m) – Dream Team bosses keen on these tempting differentials should keep their powder dry for now.The other 13 teams have one fixture each, split between the FA Cup and the European competitions.Liverpool travel to PSG in Gameweek 26Credit: GettyGAMEWEEK 26 FIXTURES:FRIDAYAston Villa v CardiffSATURDAYCrystal Palace v MillwallBournemouth v WolvesManchester City v PlymouthSUNDAYNewcastle v BrightonManchester United v FulhamMONDAYNottingham Forest v IpswichTUESDAYClub Brugge v Aston VillaPSV v ArsenalWEDNESDAYPSG v LiverpoolTHURSDAYAZ Alkmaar v TottenhamReal Sociedad v Manchester UnitedCopenhagen v ChelseaREAD MORE SUN STORIESMake sure you take the schedule into consideration when making your transfers for Gameweek 26.The fact Fernandes plays twice while Mbeumo is without a fixture could result in some decisive swings in Mini Leagues worldwide. More

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    Chelsea star ‘ruled out of the season’ to return to squad TONIGHT for Southampton game with Champions League on the line

    WESLEY FOFANA is expected to make his return to the Chelsea squad tonight – despite initially being ruled out for the season.The 24-year-old has been absent since picking up a hamstring injury against Aston Villa at the start of December.Wesley Fofana is set to return for Chelsea tonight against SouthamptonCredit: AFPThe defender has been unavailable since December 1 with a hamstring injuryCredit: PAIt was first reported that he would remain out of action for around five weeks.However, head coach Enzo Maresca then admitted that he could miss the rest of the season.Despite the initial concern, Fofana did not require surgery on the hamstring issue.And he is now set to make his return to the pitch – months earlier than expected.Read More in FootballAccording to French outlet RMC Sport, the defender is expected to be named in the Chelsea squad for tonight’s match against Southampton at Stamford Bridge.Fofana has been limited to just 12 appearances for Chelsea this season due to injury.Tonight’s meeting between Chelsea and Southampton is crucial for Maresca, with the Blues competing for Champions League football.If they drop points in their next two Premier League games – the second being against Leicester City – ex-Arsenal star and pundit Paul Merson is convinced that the head coach’s job will be at risk.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe said: “If they don’t win their next two games, the manager won’t be there.”They’re playing against two of the worst teams to play in the Premier League for I don’t know how long in Southampton and Leicester.Chelsea ratings vs Aston Villa: Jorgensen howler, Rashford super-sub”So, if they don’t win those two games, he will do well to keep his job.”Chelsea have got to get in the Champions League. They need the Champions League to keep players like Cole Palmer as he will want to play in that competition.”They will have to finish in the top five, otherwise I dread to think what’s going to happen. I just don’t see what the plan is.”All the seven-year contracts and these players are not getting any better. How many of them have been a major success?” More