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      I started pre-season at Arsenal with a huge hole in my side after club scout saved my life – I thought I was dying

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      MARTIN KEOWN has revealed that he thought he was “dying” during an Arsenal trip to France.The former defender, 58, began his career in the Gunners’ academy.Martin Keown initially came through the ranks at Arsenal in the 1980sCredit: RexHe eventually returned for a lengthy second spell with the GunnersCredit: PA:Press AssociationPart of a gifted crop that also included Tony Adams, David Rocastle and Niall Quinn, Keown had issues with youth team coach Tommy Coleman.Appearing on The Rest is Football alongside Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, Keown revealed that he suffered a health scare during a trip away with the team.”I was forced to go on a trip abroad,” he began. “I had broken and dislocated my elbow, and I had to go to France to watch…”He (Coleman) rang me and said ‘you’re not having a holiday fella, we’re on holiday, you’ve not got your feet up, you come with us’.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”And then I started getting a grumbling appendix problem. For three days I was literally lying in the dormitory, ‘Yeah I can’t go out, I’m in too much pain’.”And I thought ‘I’m dying, I’m literally dying’. And I had a voice in my head saying ‘You better do something’.”(The) Italian team next door didn’t speak English. Steve Rowley the club scout, you may have heard that name, he just turned up in the car park.”And I used to say to him every day I saw him after that ‘You saved my life… If you didn’t turn up…’Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”He went off, he’d gone for a few hours but eventually they got medical care to me and went straight in, and I had peritonitis in the end, where the appendix burst.”And that was all around that Gary, all around that coach… In fact, I started pre-season with a big hole in my side.Arsenal legend Martin Keown slams Man Utd for making Harry Maguire a ‘scapegoat’ and points finger at club’s real issue”And I couldn’t straighten my elbow because I’d broken and dislocated my elbow.”But I didn’t want to sit in the medical room for another pre-season because I had gone through a lot of that.”Following his difficulties with Coleman, Keown left Arsenal for Aston Villa in 1986 having made just 22 first team appearances.Following seven years away and a further stint at Everton, he eventually returned to Highbury in 1993, where he would then stay for 11 years.’TOOK THAT PERSONALLY’During his chat with Lineker and Shearer, Keown opened up on where he felt his issues with Coleman had begun.He said: “You go into digs and you’re reliant on where you end up. It was all great when I was doing my trials with nice families and then suddenly there wasn’t anywhere to stay.”So I went and stopped with Tommy. And Tommy had been a part-time coach previously, but now he was full-time. You’re coming home and you’re with the youth team manager, making the tea, there’s never any kind of respite.”In my wisdom I went to see Steve Burtenshaw, head of the youth team, and said ‘I think it would be better if I moved somewhere else’.READ MORE SUN STORIES”But Tommy took that personally. And so did his wife. She literally just wanted to fling me out that very night.”He said ‘You’ve made life murder for me now, so I’m going to make life difficult for you’. And he did.”Keown explained his early difficulties at ArsenalCredit: Rex More

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      Man Utd CONFIRM Ruben Amorim as first ever head coach days after sacking Ten Hag as start date revealed

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      RUBEN AMORIM has been appointed Manchester United manager.Amorim, 39, is confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor following his sacking on Monday.Manchester United have hired Ruben Amorim as their new managerCredit: GettyErik ten Hag was sacked by the club on MondayCredit: AlamyTen Hag had found himself under mounting pressure at Old Trafford and finally saw his time with United come to an end after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham last weekend.Now Portuguese tactician Amorim has replaced him in the hot seat at the Theatre of Dreams, becoming the club’s first ever head coach on a contract until 2027, with the option of an extra year.The club released a statement which reads: “Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements.”He will join until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to his current club. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November.READ MORE ON MAN UTD”Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football. Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP; the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years.”Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Ruben joins.”Amorim has left his position as manager of Sporting to take the role with United after the Red Devils paid up his £8.3m release clause to lure him to the Premier League.Sir Jim Ratcliffe and execs at United made Amorim their number one target from the off and have now secured their man.Most read in FootballAmorim led Sporting to two league titles and two cup successes during his spell with the clubCredit: GettyFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSIt hasn’t been simple though, with United and Sporting locked in negotiations about when Amorim was able to join the Manchester club.Sporting have managed to keep hold of their man until the international break, meaning he will still take charge of the Liga Portugal side for their Champions League clash with Man City on Tuesday.Ruben Amorim leads Sporting Lisbon training sessionHis start date at Old Trafford has been confirmed as November 11, with his first game away at Ipswich on November 24.United are understood to have paid an extra £900,000 to get him early rather than waiting a further three weeks.Amorim has been highly sought this year following his success with Sporting.Premier League rivals Liverpool were close to appointing the Lisbon gaffer before making the decision to bring in Arne Slot instead.While he also held talks with West Ham over the summer and had been rumoured to be on a list of candidates to take over from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.Amorim has been in charge of Sporting since 2020, leading the Green and Whites to two league titles and two Portuguese cups in that time.While he has put the club in a superb position this term, sitting top of the Primeira Liga table – winning every league game they’ve played and conceding just twice. He has a different prospect on his hands in Manchester with United currently 11th in the league after losing more games than they have won in the league this season.However, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy got the Red Devils firing once again in United’s first game of the post-Ten Hag era.United thrashed Leicester City 5-2 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night to book their spot in the competition’s quarter-finals.Amorim is known for his high possession style and has always favoured a back three during his time as a manager.It can be expected that he will try and maintain that winning formula as boss of United.His sides have become synonymous with both strong defensive foundations and an array of different attacking approaches.United could also splash another £4.1m to bring Amorim’s coaching staff to Old Trafford.The Portuguese giants want extra cash to release three trusted members of the tactician’s backroom staffREAD MORE SUN STORIESAmorim wants to take Sporting’s assistant manager Adelio Candido, assistant coach Carlos Fernandes and goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital with him to Old Trafford.While SunSport can reveal he also wants to sign Sporting’s £70m-rated Ousmane Diomande.Amorim is inheriting a Man Utd team in crisisCredit: GettyHere’s just one example of how Man Utd could line up in a new formation under Amorim More

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      Ruben Amorim to Man Utd LIVE: Red Devils ANNOUNCE Sporting boss as new head coach days after Ten Hag sacking – updates

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have appointed Ruben Amorim as the club’s new head coach.The 39-year-old Sporting boss replaces Erik ten Hag after the Dutchman’s two-and-a-half-year tenure came to an end on Monday.Amorim will take the reigns on November 11, with his first game in the United dugout coming away at Ipswich.The Portuguese coach has signed a deal until 2027, with the Premier League giants holding an option for an additional year.Follow our live blog below…Enzo – Ruud a ‘fantastic guy’Chelsea and Enzo Maresca will go up against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s United on Sunday. And the Blues boss can’t wait to face off with his former teammate, who is acting as interim boss at Old Trafford.The pair spent a season together at Malaga in 2011-12.Maresca said: “I didn’t speak with Ruud. I will give him a big hug before the game. “We expect a tough game. Fantastic guy. Humble, very professional. “We had a very good group of human beings with Malaga. It’s nice to remember that kind of moment.”Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedPep talkManchester City boss Pep Guardiola has welcomed Ruben Amorim to English football.But he claims he has “no advice” for his crosstown rival.Guardiola said: “Welcome to Manchester United, to England, and I congratulate him next Tuesday [when City play Sporting]. “We faced each other two or three seasons ago in the Champions League.”No advice. I’m not the right person to give advice to colleagues. “Not because he’s [at] United, I think they have a lot of people in United that will tell him the situation in the club, so I cannot give him advice.”Credit: AlamyCopy linkCopiedRuud era continuesRuud van Nistelrooy will stay on as interim boss until Amorim arrives at Old Trafford on November 11.The former United striker will be in charge for another three matches, all of them at home. He oversaw Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Leicester, where United ran out emphatic 5-2 winners. Man Utd vs Chelsea, November 3Man Utd vs PAOK, November 7Man Utd vs Leicester, November 10Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedAmorim on ArtetaMan Utd’s new boss will come up against Mikel Arteta and Arsenal on December 4.It’s not the first time the two bosses have come face-to-face.Prior to a Champions League clash between Sporting and the Gunners last year, Amorim declared he was full of admiration for the Spaniard.And he preached the need for fans to have patience in the modern game. Amorim said: “Arteta is a [good] example because he was able to withstand the pressure, which is unbearable for a team in the Premier League. “Now he is bearing the fruits. It is important for fans to understand that to pick up the fruits from your work, you have to wait.”Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedSporting statementPortuguese champions Sporting CP have confirmed how much Man Utd have spent to take Ruben Amorim to Old Trafford.A statement from the club read: “Sporting SAD has reached an agreement with Manchester United FC regarding terms and conditions of coach Ruben Amorim’s departure, in return for which MUFC will pay Sporting SAD Euro 11,000,000 (£9.2million).””Furthermore, Sporting SAD will have a benefit of Euro 1,658,000 (£1.4m) relating to the extinction of credit rights, recorded as liabilities and contingent liabilities, as a result of the revocation and renegotiation of contracts relating to intermediation fees.”Credit: PACopy linkCopiedFriends reunited United fans are keen to see if Ruben Amorim can kickstart Manuel Ugarte’s Old Trafford career. The midfielder excelled under the 39-year-old at Sporting before earning a big-money move to Paris Saint-Germain.Ugarte has appeared just four times for United this season since joining from PSG in the summer. Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedDalot excited to work with ‘perfect match’ AmorimMan Utd’s Diogo Dalot is the first player to comment following the arrival of new boss Ruben Amorim.Dalot told Sky Sports: “He is a fantastic coach and knows what he wants. Very demanding is what I can expect. “It’s a perfect match for a club like this. He has high standards and I hope it can be a good match. I hope we can win together. “The Premier League suits people from Portugal. We have a culture of constantly trying to improve ourselves as we come from a small country. “I really hope that it is one more case. I am really excited to start working with him.”Copy linkCopiedFirst fiveAmorim’s first game will be on the road against Ipswich on November 24.The 39-year-old’s first test at Old Trafford will come just four days later against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League.Games against Everton, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest follow in a typically quickfire Premier League winter schedule. Copy linkCopiedTrusted teamUnited could also splash another £4.1million to bring Amorim’s coaching staff to Old Trafford. The Portuguese giants want extra cash to release three trusted members of the tactician’s backroom staffAmorim wants to take Sporting’s assistant manager Adelio Candido, assistant coach Carlos Fernandes and goalkeeper coach Jorge Vital with him to Manchester. Credit: APCopy linkCopiedStat attackRuben Amorin only began his managerial journey in the summer of 2018.Just six years later, he’s heading to one of the most successful clubs in English football.Copy linkCopiedMoney talksMan Utd have paid an extra £900,000 to Sporting – so they can land Ruben Amorim three weeks early.The Portuguese club initially demanded the 39-year-old stay for a one-month notice period.SunSport understands Old Trafford bosses were so keen to get Amorim through the door before the international break that they shelled out almost £1m in extra compensation. Credit: EPACopy linkCopiedDio in demandSunSport understands Ruben Amorim wants to bring £70million Ousmane Diomande with him to Man Utd. One of Europe’s most in-demand young defenders, landing Diomande would be a major coup for United. He’s previously been chased by Liverpool and Arsenal, with Bayern Munich also linked.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedThree and outDespite Amorim pledging his future to Man Utd, he will remain in the dugout with Sporting CP for three more games.All eyes will be on Tuesday night’s visit of Manchester City in the Champions League, which comes after a home clash tonight with Estrela Amadora. Amorim will be hoping to leave the club on a high after a Lisbon derby against Benfica on November 10.Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedUnited statement in fullThe Red Devils have their man – and he’ll be in the building from November 11.”Manchester United is delighted to announce the appointment of Ruben Amorim as Head Coach of the men’s first team, subject to work visa requirements.”He will join until June 2027 with a club option of an additional year, once he has fulfilled his obligations to his current club. He will join Manchester United on Monday 11 November.”Ruben is one of the most exciting and highly rated young coaches in European football. “Highly decorated as both a player and coach, his titles include winning the Primeira Liga twice in Portugal with Sporting CP; the first of which was the club’s first title in 19 years.”Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue to take charge of the team until Ruben joins.”Copy linkCopiedAmorim’s first gameWith the new boss confirmed to arrive in just 10 days, United fans can look forward to Amorim’s opening match.But they will have to wait a few weeks yet before seeing their new boss on the touchline.Amorim’s first game will be a trip to Ipswich Town on Sunday, November 24, after the upcoming international break.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedDevil in the detailMan Utd’s statement on Ruben Amorim has revealed they are giving him a different job title to Erik ten Hag.The 39-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Old Trafford after the Dutchman was sacked on Monday.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedAmorim’s start dateUnited have confirmed Amorim will join up with Man Utd on Monday, November 11.Ruud van Nistelrooy will continue as interim manager and take charge of Sunday’s game against Chelsea.Credit: EPACopy linkCopiedAMORIM CONFIRMEDManchester United have confirmed Ruben Amorim has joined the club as their new manager.The 39-year-old has put pen to paper on a deal running until June 2027, with a club option of an additional year. Credit: XCopy linkCopiedTen Hag ‘completely devastated’Erik ten Hag has returned to the Netherlands after Monday’s sacking.His former teammate Hans Kraay has revealed the former United boss is “ruined” after his time at Old Trafford was cut short.Speaking to Dutch outlet SoccerNews, Kraay said: “I understand he is getting £15million and people will think he is somersaulting through Manchester.”No, he is completely, completely devastated, he is completely ruined.”At the moment you don’t think about money. That will come later.”Credit: AFPCopy linkCopiedDeco’s warningRuben Amorim was touted as a potential successor to Xavi at Barcelona back in February. But Barca sporting director Deco was not convinced the 39-year-old had the relevant experience to manage at the very top.Deco told Nascer do Sol earlier this year: “How many Portuguese coaches are prepared for the weight and responsibility of taking charge of Barcelona, ​​especially Barcelona with all the difficulties it faces?”I know that Ruben Amorim is doing a good job at Sporting and that, on top of that, he plays with a style similar to ours. “But he also has very little experience.”Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedRuud – Ten Hag ‘hurt’ after sackMan Utd’s interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed Erik ten Hag’s “hurt” after losing his job on Monday.The Dutchman won two trophies with the club after joining in April 2022.But he leaves United languishing 14th in the Premier League after a dismal start to the season. Van Nistelrooy said: “He is very disappointed and touched. I really felt he loved and cared for the club.“He wanted to bring this club forward and that’s why we connected. “That is why it hurt that he had to leave, but he was also proud of the achievements with the club winning two cups.”Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedDalot – ‘We’ll be ready’Man Utd’s players are keeping a close eye on developments from Portugal today.Diogo Dalot has admitted the team have “seen the rumours” regarding Amorim’s future. He said: “Obviously he’s a good manager, we don’t know if he’s coming. “We see the rumours like you, like everybody we see it.”But we will just focus on what we have here, doing our job and what the future brings. We’ll be ready.”Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedAmorim ‘betrayal’ Ruben Amorim’s imminent move to Manchester United has not gone down well with former Sporting president Jose Dias Ferreira.He told Portuguese outlet Sic Noticias: “I have great admiration for Amorim.”For everything he did for Sporting. [But] his departure leaves me disappointed.”As a Sporting fan, I can truly say that it is a betrayal.”Because betrayal is not just stabbing someone in the back. Betrayal is not fulfilling promises, commitments or principles.”Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedAgbonlahor – ‘Utd have got right man’Former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor did his coaching badges with Ruben Amorim.And he believes the 39-year-old is exactly the right man to turn United back into Premier League challengers.Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: “I did do my coaching badges with him.”You could tell he was so into it in a way that he had to get his badges to go and start managing…he was very focused.”Since the start of last season, Sporting Lisbon have scored the most goals in the top six leagues. “They were waiting 19 years to win a title, he goes there and they’ve won two in the last five seasons…”United have got the right man.”Copy linkCopiedSeeing redSporting Lisbon star striker Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly been left unhappy with Amorim’s upcoming exit.The ex-Coventry forward has netted 41 goals in 44 games since joining the club in 2023.He turned down offers this summer to leave, reportedly as he was “enticed” to continue working with Amorim. Speaking to SportTV, Gyokeres said: “He’s here and that’s what I’m focused on, let’s see what happens. “He’s still here, so I’m not going to wear myself out.”Credit: GettyCopy linkCopied More

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      Man Utd stars desperate for Ruud van Nistelrooy to stay on after Ruben Amorim takes control at Old Trafford

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      MANCHESTER United’s first team squad are desperate for interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy to stay on after Ruben Amorim takes over in the Old Trafford dugout. The players are united in their belief that Amorim should make the United legend part of his backroom squad after growing close to him since he was brought back to the club in the summer by sacked manager Erik ten Hag.Van Nistelrooy is desperate to stay on as Man Utd assistant managerCredit: GettyRuben Amorim is set to be the new Man Utd managerCredit: GettyVan Nistelrooy was appointed assistant manager and quickly formed a bond with the squad, who regarded him as easier to communicate with than ten Hag, would could blow hot and cold with players.The former striker – who scored 150 goals in 219 games during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign – became a vital link between ten Hag and the players.A source said: “The players all really really want Ruud to stay on and have made their feelings clear internally that they believe he should remain at the club, even if and when Amorim takes over as boss.“To a man, they all like him and get on with him and they also respect him because they know he undertands what it’s like to play for United and the pressures that come with it.READ MORE MAN UTD NEWS“They are hopeful that he stays involved in the setup.”Van Nistelrooy stepped in as interim manager on Monday after United sacked ten Hag following a 2-1 loss at West Ham, which left them 14th in the Premier League.He inspired the team to a rousing 5-2 victory over Leicester in the Caraboa Cup on Wednesday and will be in charge on Sunday as they take on Chelsea at Old Trafford.Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, Van Nistelrooy made clear he hopes to remain at United.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe said: “I decided to come back here for a very important reason.“I came as an assistant to help the club move forward.Sporting fans give verdict on Ruben Amorim ahead of move to Man Utd“It’s going to be a short job as an interim – that was communicated very clear.“I was happy with that. I will then go back to my assistant contract that I have here for this season and next.“When a new manager signs and conversations take place we have to see how things develop.”Amorim is not expected to start at United for another ten days, meaning Van Nistelrooy is likely to be in charge for Thursday’s Europa League clash against PAOK and then again for the Premier League game against Leicester on November 10.Amorim has promised to speak about his future after Sporting Lisbon’s game against Estrela Amadora tonight.Why NOBODY is the right man to replace Erik ten Hag at Man UtdSunSport’s DAVE KIDD explains what’s wrong with all the potential candidates to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.THIS is a mid-table squad at an underachieving club, with a lot of unwanted players on big money.And Ratcliffe is an instinctive cost-cutter who may not pay top dollar to the next manager.If this club wasn’t called ‘Manchester United’, it wouldn’t be an especially desirable job.The good news for United is that their new sporting director, Dan Ashworth, is a very decent judge of a manager.He has been instrumental in three previous managerial appointments — Gareth Southgate for England, Graham Potter for Brighton and Eddie Howe for Newcastle.None were wildly popular at the time, all were conspicuous successes.Interestingly, Ashworth’s No 1 choice for the Newcastle job was Unai Emery, who turned him down to stay at Villarreal but has since proved that judgment right by excelling at Aston Villa.And the Spaniard would be an excellent fit for United — yet there is next to no chance that he would abandon Villa’s Champions League campaign to take the Old Trafford job, not least because he isn’t a stark raving madman.Howe would be another good candidate to succeed Ten Hag but, although he has become frustrated on Tyneside, the Saudis would surely not allow Ratcliffe to poach Howe, as they reluctantly did with Ashworth.Potter is available but his Chelsea experience and lack of charisma would make him a tough sell.Which brings us to Southgate, who remains close with Ashworth and is an excellent man-manager who was seriously considered by United last spring.Yet, despite having led England to two of their three major finals, Southgate’s reputation for over-caution was only enhanced during the Euros.Mauricio Pochettino, passed over twice by United, is out of the equation having taken the United States job.Thomas Tuchel would also have been a popular and gettable option – but England got in there first.Likewise, Roberto De Zerbi, now at Marseille after his brief Brighton stint sparkled then fizzled out.Kieran McKenna — a gifted former United coach who has won back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town — is an intriguing candidate but the imminent vacancy may come a year or so too soon.Marco Silva, the extremely under-rated Fulham boss, has been on United’s radar and should not be discounted.Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, last season’s ‘next big thing’, was passed over by West Ham as well as Liverpool this summer and is not an easy man to pin down.Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over from Alan Curbishley as a 20-1 shot for every Premier League job, is a ‘figurehead’ manager and not an Ashworth type.Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former United goal machine who joined Ten Hag’s coaching team in the summer is the bookies’ favourite. Simply because he’s in the building and he’s Dutch.So, yes, getting rid of Ten Hag is the easy part. More

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      Captaincy options for Gameweek 10: Should gaffers target Mohamed Salah’s Anfield double header?

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      WITH Saturday’s 11am deadline drawing near, Dream Team managers need to choose a captain (and vice captain) for Gameweek 10.There are many, many gaffers who prefer to keep the armband on Erling Haaland (£8.9m) regardless of the fixtures and it’s difficult to argue with that approach given he averages 12 points-per-game this season.However, could it be that Mohamed Salah (£7.4m) is actually the better option for the coming Gameweek?Home comfortsCredit: Dream TeamManchester City are due to travel to Bournemouth and Sporting CP amid an injury crisis; Pep Guardiola claimed he had just 13 players available after his side’s midweek defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup.The champions have a flawless record against the Cherries but Andoni Iraola’s side knocked off Arsenal in their last home game and held Aston Villa to a draw last weekend.And it’s a bad time to visit the Portuguese champions as Ruben Amorim’s side have won all nine of their league games this season and remain undefeated in the Champions League.Haaland is a prolific goalscorer who could easily make a mockery of this double header but with many of his providers sidelined it might be an opportune moment to captain somebody else.Haaland has a habit of punishing his doubtersCredit: GettyThis is not to say Salah has exceedingly favourable fixtures.Liverpool are due to face Brighton again after their 3-2 win in the Carabao Cup on the south coast, only this time on home soil. The Seagulls are currently sixth in the table and are not to be underestimated but they tend to concede their fair share of goals and an injury to Lewis Dunk might render them more vulnerable than usual.Most read in FootballArne Slot’s troops will then host Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.The defending Bundesliga champions represent tough opposition but they’re not the all-conquering underdogs they were last season – they’ve failed to win half their league games this term and are already five points behind Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.Score PredictorPlay Score Predictor with Dream Team this season!FREE to play£250 weekly prizePredict scores of five selected Premier League fixtures and earn points for accuracyMost points wins weekly cash prizePLAY NOWWhat Salah has over Haaland is the luxury of back-to-back home games.Liverpool boast such a strong record at Anfield and their Egyptian No11 remains the most potent threat – he’s racked up 133 points via eight goals and seven assists across the first nine Gameweeks of the season.The temptation to back Salah in back-to-back home games is strongCredit: GettyElsewhere, Bukayo Saka (£6.8m) is the most transferred-in player ahead of Gameweek 10 following his return to fitness and some Dream Team bosses may be tempted to strap the armband to Dream Team’s top midfielder.However, like Haaland, Arsenal’s No7 faces back-to-back away games in the form of Newcastle and Inter.The Magpies aren’t at their best right now but still those match-ups aren’t overly appealing.Last week, we suggested Bryan Mbeumo as a strong captaincy choice for those who wanted to go against the grain.Gaffers who took the risk were rewarded with a whopping 25-point return (doubled to 50!) from Brentford’s talisman.WildcardCredit: RexThis week, how about Alejandro Garnacho (£3.9m) as a left-field skipper?READ MORE SUN STORIESManchester United’s 20-year-old winger banked 20 points in Gameweek 9 and registered the most shots on target among midfield assets this season.The Red Devils will host Chelsea and PAOK in Gameweek 10 and if Garnacho starts both fixtures he could thrive again.BetMGM sign up offerBetMGM: Get £40 in free bets — HERE**New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org More

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      Dan Ashworth ‘getting revenge on Newcastle’ as ‘Man Utd analyst forced to do gardening leave before switching to rivals’

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      DAN ASHWORTH is reportedly getting revenge on Newcastle in their pursuit of a Manchester United analyst.The United sporting director was forced into a period of gardening leave when he decided to swap Newcastle for Old Trafford in February.Dan Ashworth is reportedly getting his revenge on NewcastleCredit: PAAshworth did not officially start his role at Old Trafford until June, after United and Newcastle agreed a compensation package.Now the shoe is on the other foot with Newcastle chasing United analyst Luke Dickson.Earlier this year Dickson reportedly told his United bosses he wanted to leave to take a job at Newcastle.But United chiefs told Dickson he would not be able to start his new role at St. James’ Park until November, according to the Daily Mail.READ MORE ON MAN UTDThe blockage reportedly frustrated key figures at Newcastle who viewed the move as a tit-for-tat response to Ashworth’s attempt to leave the club.Dickson, 28, has spent five years at Old Trafford as the club’s lead academy analyst and had to see out the remainder of his contract on gardening leave.Newcastle is his boyhood club and Dickson is set to join Eddie Howe’s first-team set-up.Ashworth, 53, left Newcastle on bad terms after he reportedly revealed his secret talks with United chief executive Omar Berrada.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe pair are alleged to have held a conversation at the start of February which led to Ashworth following it up by sending Berrada an email to an Ineos account.He is claimed to have made it clear he wanted to accept the chance to become sporting director at United.Danny Welbeck lifts lid on ex-Man Utd players’ WhatsApp group including one huge star who just ‘chats and chats’ However, Ashworth “clumsily” disclosed to his employers the negotiations with Berrada by sending a blind copy to his own Newcastle club email account at a time when United had not informed Toon of their interest. More

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      Ten Hag ‘wanted to bring former Man Utd striker back to Old Trafford’ in desperate bid to solve goalscoring woes

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      ERIK TEN HAG reportedly wanted Manchester United to re-sign Danny Welbeck this summer in a desperate attempt to solve the club’s attacking woes.The Dutchman was sacked by United on Monday following a poor start to the season.Erik ten Hag wanted to sign a former United striker this summerCredit: ReutersDanny Welbeck was among Ten Hag’s transfer targetsCredit: GettyWelbeck graduated from United’s academy and remained at the club until 2014Credit: Getty – ContributorHis departure came just 116 days after he signed a one-year contract extension.Club officials gave Ten Hag around £200million to spend in the transfer window after he extended his deal.He went on to sign Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Leny Yoro, Joshua Zirkzee and Sekou Kone.But Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Co did not entertain his desire to sign former United ace Welbeck.Read More in FootballAccording to The Athletic, Ten Hag believed the Brighton striker would be an “excellent” addition to his squad.The 33-year-old’s name was brought up in recruitment discussions at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.He was heading towards free agency, with his Brighton deal set to expire in June.Ten Hag and his team saw Welbeck’s experience as a positive for the dressing room.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThey were also impressed that he ranked among the top performers at Brighton based on physical tests.But a concrete offer for the ex-England striker – who previously scored 29 goals in 142 appearances for United – did not materialise.’Something seriously wrong!’ Ex-Prem ref reacts to huge Man Utd call which saw Erik Ten Hag sackedInstead, he penned a new two-year contract with Brighton.Welbeck has since scored six goals in nine Premier League appearances this season, with Brighton sixth in the table.Meanwhile, United are down in 14th with 11 points from nine games.Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim is in line to replace Ten Hag at Old Trafford.He will reportedly join during the November international break – which starts on Monday, November 11. More

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      Gary Lineker reveals how he was able to stamp on opponent without picking up a single yellow card in his career

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      GARY LINEKER was famously never booked during his football career – but that didn’t stop him from engaging in the dark arts.The England legend has admitted he somehow avoided a yellow at Euro 1992 after “stamping” on an opponent’s toe.Gary Lineker has revealed he stamped on an opponent in Euro 1992Credit: BBCThe former England and Spurs star was famously never booked through his entire careerCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdLineker played almost 600 professional games in a career spanning 16 years.The 63-year-old was never cautioned and in 1990 was honoured with the Fifa Fair Play Award.But in a recent episode of the The Rest Is Football podcast. Lineker admitted how close he came to that famous record disappearing. Discussing his toughest defensive battles with co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, he said: “Mine would probably be a defender from France called Basile Boli.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL”I remember playing in the Euros and he was marking me from corners but he wasn’t just marking me. He was giving me a bear hug.”Not in a romantic way, in the way that I couldn’t breathe and he was squeezing.”He was just arms around me, and this is obviously before VAR, and he just held me and held me. “So he did this about two or three corners, whatever we had, and I said to the ref ‘I mean come on’.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSLineker revealed he finally snapped and gave Boli a swift response.He continued: “Eventually I thought ‘sod this’ and I stamped on his toe.Gary Lineker reveals how his views on Match of the Day can sometimes get him into trouble “You could get away with something like that but it was only so I could breathe.”So I think it was self-defence in some ways.”Earlier in the conversation, Shearer revealed his own tussle with Arsenal colossus Tony Adams.The former Newcastle star overlooked Man Utd’s Roy Keane as his toughest opponent, despite their infamous 2001 dust-up at St James Park.Forgotten England stars could benefit from Tuchel appointmentWITH Thomas Tuchel announced as the next England manager, a few forgotten stars might be hopeful of a return to the international set up.The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager usually uses a 3-4-3 formation.That could provide an opening for Mason Mount, who’s not been involved in the England set-up since the World Cup in 2022.The now Manchester United star enjoyed his most successful spell under Tuchel while the pair were at Stamford Bridge.Tuchel could also offer lifelines to other previously capped players such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Eric Dier.RLC has excelled since his move to AC Milan and with England struggling to find a partner for Rice, he could be the surprise answer.Meanwhile, Dier played for Tuchel at Bayern Munich as part of a back-three last season.The defender did enough to convince the club to make his loan move permanent after he had fallen out of favour at Tottenham.Click here to see the full England XI who could play under Tuchel.Shearer said: “[My toughest opponent] would be Tony Adams.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I remember walking off Highbury once and had seven stitches in my lip, right up the middle and a broken nose.”That was a decent battle, yeah.” More