Premier League

BURNLEY co-owner JJ Watt asked Manchester United legend Roy Keane if he was “smoking weed” when he labelled Erling Haaland a “League Two player” last month.Keane criticised the Manchester City striker following his performance against Arsenal on Easter Sunday.JJ Watt asked Keane if he was “smoking weed”Credit: YouTube/ The OverlapRoy Keane doubled down on his opinion about HaalandCredit: YouTube/ THE OVERLAPHe said: “The levels of his general play is so poor and not just today. I think laying stuff off, headers, whatever it might be. In terms of in front of goal, he’s the best in the world.”But his general play for such a player is so poor. Not just today, he has to improve.”He’s almost like a League Two player, that’s how I look at him. His general play, it has to improve and it will do over the next few years.”Keane’s rant left many football fans stunned, especially given Haaland’s Premier League goalscoring record.Read More on FootballFormer NFL star and Burnley co-owner Watt was also surprised by the United legend’s comments.In the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, he asked Keane: “League Two striker? Were you smoking weed?”But the former midfielder doubled down on his comments, admitting: “I don’t know what the big deal is, I give Erling Haaland praise every week, I give Manchester City praise, and I think he’s an amazing striker. But his general play is that of a League Two player.”And I’m glad you are not agreeing with me, I don’t expect people to agree with me.‌ His general play, week in, week out is nowhere near good enough. As a goal scorer and a striker, the best – and I said that.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”His link-up play, the way he lays the ball off, sometimes the options he gives his teammates or the options he doesn’t give them – as a striker and a goal scorer the best in the world, but his other play is that of a League Two player.”The game against Arsenal was tough because they did well to contain the whole game, but in general, I don’t think what I said was a big deal. ‘He’s good at it’ – Harry Kane tipped for stunning career change after Bayern Munich and England star retires”He’s a young player and he will improve, and I guarantee you that Pep Guardiola sits with his staff on everything and say that he needs to do more, specifically when he’s not getting of chances or loads of goals.”Man City currently sit third in the Premier League table, one point behind Arsenal and Liverpool.They next face Luton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. More

KALVIN PHILLIPS is set to be sidelined for a fortnight with a hamstring injury.The West Ham midfielder, who has endured a horror loan spell in East London, suffered the hamstring strain in training on Tuesday.Kalvin Phillips is set to be sidelined for a fortnight with a hamstring injuryCredit: ReutersPhillips has endured a horror loan spell in East London since his arrival in JanuaryCredit: GettyPhillips did not travel to Germany with the Hammers for their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Bayer Leverkusen and will miss the return meeting in London next week.The on-loan Manchester City midfielder will also miss Sunday’s London derby against Fulham and is likely to miss the visit to Crystal Palace on April 21.Phillips has had a horrid time since arriving at West Ham on loan in January.The former Leeds United man has lost his place in the England squad, gave away a cheap goal on his Hammers debut, was sent off at Nottingham Forest and sparked an almighty collapse at Newcastle.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWest Ham are still unclear as to when Jarrod Bowen will return from his back injury, though there is hope he will be able to feature in the second leg against Bayer Leverkusen next week.Meanwhile, Phillips’ place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 team for this summer is under threat.The midfielder was snubbed of a place during the Three Lions’ friendlies against Brazil and Belgium after Southgate opted for Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo instead.This injury setback means the England star’s prospects of returning to the squad are now hanging by a thread.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSouthgate will name his provisional squad for Euro 2024 on 21 May. Since he arrived in East London, Phillips has failed to make any impact with zero assists and goals in 11 appearances.Fans are speculating where his future lies at West Ham and according to reports the midfielder has been in contact with Leeds about a potential return to the Championship side.Leeds ‘make contact with Kalvin Phillips over emotional transfer return’ to end two-year nightmareFrench outlet Sports Zone revealed Leeds have enquired about re-signing him.The 28-year-old left Elland Road to join Manchester City in a £45million transfer two years ago.The Whites recently made contact with Man City regarding a possible transfer.City are allegedly willing to accept £25million for Phillips.The midfielder joined Leeds’ academy at the age of 14 and progressed through the club’s youth ranks before signing his first professional contract four years later.He went on to make 234 appearances for the Whites, scoring 14 goals.Phillips’ West Ham loan is a disaster… it’s toe-curlingly difficult to watch, says Dave KiddBy Dave Kidd
HE’S had an extraordinary career, Kalvin Phillips.
A Treble-winner and one of only 12 living Englishmen to have started the final of a major international tournament.
A home-town hero at Leeds, where he was the kingpin of Marcelo Bielsa’s buccaneering Championship-winning side and feted as the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’.
England’s Player of the Year in 2021, when the Three Lions reached a final for the first time in more than half a century.
Indeed, Phillips has featured in most of England’s best wins of the last three years — against Germany and Denmark at those Euros, home and away in qualifiers against Italy, against a Belgium side ranked No 1 in the world, the World Cup thrashing of Senegal and in last autumn’s hammering of the Scots.
That record for Gareth Southgate’s side points to a great irony.
If Phillips had stayed put as a Manchester City bench-warmer, he would be going to Germany this summer and quite possibly as a starter.
The mighty man-bun man has been a fine footballer and, at 28, he might become one again.
Phillips is also a good bloke too, much-loved in the England squad and attracting a full house from the entire Leeds staff when the club held a leaving do before his Etihad move in a £45million deal.
But right now Phillips has become unwatchable. Toe-curling, cringeworthy, hide-behind-the-sofa-the-Daleks-are-coming levels of unwatchable.
His loan switch to West Ham, which originally looked sensible for club and player, is an unmitigated disaster.
And it feels as if Phillips is at the centre of a football-wide conspiracy which has deemed that anything which could go wrong, will go wrong. More

NEWCASTLE sponsor Sela are bringing in revolutionary hi-tech shirts enabling deaf fans to experience the St James’ Park atmosphere.Supporters with hearing problems can wear the “groundbreaking” flashing tops at home to Tottenham in Saturday’s huge Premier League match.Deaf fans can wear this innovate shirt at Newcastle vs SpursFans Ryan and David have tried out the new topsBacking the initiative are Sela’s Ibrahim Mohtaseb, Toon’s chief commercial officer Peter Silverstone and Dr Lauren Ward of the RNIDThe shirts are haptic – meaning they respond to movement generated electronically or mechanically.Fans wearing them are promised a share of the St James’ Park vibe via “real-time touch sensation”. Newcastle’s front-of-shirt sponsor Sela are introducing the top for deaf fans and those with hearing loss.The Magpies say such supporters will be able to “experience the atmosphere of St. James’ Park for the first time ever”.READ MORE TOP FOOTBALLSela are donating their sponsorship from this weekend’s game to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), the charity supporting 12 million people in the UK with hearing problems.Newcastle said: “Using haptic technology, the shirts transform the noise of the stadium into real-time touch sensation…”Fans and the match day mascots, who are deaf or have hearing loss, will be wearing the shirts in the stands.”This is set to be a historic occasion, marking the first time a hearing loss charity has been promoted on a Premier League front-of-shirt, as well as the launch of the cutting-edge shirts. “Most read in FootballNewcastle’s chief commercial officer Peter Silverstone added: “When Sela shared the idea and technology behind the haptic shirts, we supported the concept immediately, knowing it would make such an impact to our supporters who are deaf or have hearing loss.“We believe that ‘Unsilence the Crowd’ will be truly game-changing for football and expect this campaign will revolutionise the football experience for any fan who is deaf or has hearing loss, regardless of which team they support.”Ireland legend Shay Given reveals daughter’s adorable reaction to Newcastle’s dramatic comeback against West HamRNID Director for Inclusion Teri Devine said: “It’s fantastic to see Sela and Newcastle United leading the way in championing this technology which has the potential to have a real and lasting impact.“We’re excited to be part of this collaboration and we hope this exposure opens up conversations amongst football fans about hearing loss and encourages other football clubs to raise their game and make sure deaf fans are fully included.” More

TYRELL MALACIA has gone missing since undergoing knee meniscus surgery nearly a YEAR ago.The Dutch left-back, 24, has not featured for the Red Devils since last season, while his most recent match came for the Netherlands against Croatia in the Nations League back in June.Tyrell Malacia suffered a serious knee injury last summerCredit: GettyExperiencing discomfort in his knee, he decided to have surgery during pre-season and did not travel with the rest of Erik ten Hag’s squad to the US in July.But after some light training in front of the media three months later, a scan revealed fragments of the cartilage remained around the meniscus.Corrective surgery was performed that pushed back Malacia’s return, before Man Utd confirmed he would be “on course to return to action early next year”.However, this has not materialised and The Athletic now understand the defender is not expected to play for the remainder of the season.READ MORE ON MAN UTDIt is a frustrating situation for Ten Hag – who has been without a recognised left-back for 22 of Man Utd’s 43 games this season, with Luke Shaw also suffering injury issues.Third choice Sergio Reguilon saw his loan terminated in January, with Ten Hag insisting last month he had done so because the medical team told him both Malacia and Shaw would be returning.He said: “They assured me they [Shaw and Malacia] will both be fit in January and so you will have two left full-backs”Then you have a third one, so I would always have to disappoint one full-back.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut three months on from the mid-season window and there is no sign of Malacia – who has also not posted on Instagram in nine months.His only appearances since last summer have been to model ForevaDifferent clothing, a fashion brand owned by his childhood friend.Man Utd wonderkid likened to Rooney tipped to ‘shock a lot of people very soon’ after training with first team at 15Due to the length of Malacia’s absence from the team, there are now concerns on both sides that the proper procedures were not followed correctly.Those specific concerns include a lack of attention from Man Utd’s medical department, and the fact that Malacia returned to the Netherlands in the summer and failed to update the club on his progress.Individuals close to the player claim this was because he did not do any rehabilitation work in the summer as he was still on crutches following the surgery.Malacia has been rehabilitating away from Man Utd’s Carrington training ground over the last few weeks in what the club hopes is the final part of his recovery.He is scheduled to arrive back at Carrington this week, but he will continue to travel between Manchester, Barcelona and the Netherlands until he can return to first-team training.His recovery is set to take until the final stages of the season, but there is not expected to be any long-term impact as he eyes a complete rehabilitation. More