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The 2018/19 season hasn’t been full of too many reasons for Rotherham fans to celebrate but last Sunday night they were able to praise one of their players following the EFL awards.

Midfielder Will Vaulks was presented with the PFA Player in the Community award for his work with the Bluebell Wood hospice, who are dedicated to helping children and young adults with shortened life expectancy or complex medical needs.

Vaulks’ work with the hospice is exemplary and as such, he gained a terrific number of plaudits for picking up the award.

Reacting to the news on Twitter, fans of the Millers praised the 25-year-old who was described as a legend by one supporter.

Another fan said he hoped to see the player wear the captain’s armband at the club for years to come whilst one more eluded to how good of a role model he is.

The Rotherham man has featured 36 times in the Championship this season and also earned his first international cap for Wales this year.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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Wigan’s Gavin Massey is out of contract at the end of the season, but the club have begun contract talks in the hope of preventing him from joining reported admirers QPR and Nottingham Forest. However, should the Reds actually be looking to sign him?

What’s the word?

Should Massey fail to agree on new terms with Wigan, then he could make the move to Martin O’Neill’s Forest side in the summer. According to the Daily Mail, there is interest from the Reds but it’s unclear whether they have formal plans to make him part of their squad.

It is understood that the winger would like to stay at his current team but that could depend on whether they stay in the Championship.

Wigan are relegation threatened at the moment, just three points adrift of the dreaded drop zone so the likelihood of a departure could be increased with that in mind.

Promote from within instead

Forest’s problem this season has been a lack of pace and despite Massey being able to supply them with that, they have an equally promising option already at the club.

Although a brilliant player this season, that alternative doesn’t come in the form of Joe Lolley. Rather than him, O’Neill has a young prodigy right in front of his eyes with Arvin Appiah waiting in the wings.

There have been calls for him to feature more often in the first team and instead of seeking an external solution to their problem, Forest need to look closer to home.

The 18-year-old is capable of playing out wide and has already displayed his potential, scoring one goal in the two first-team opportunities he’s been afforded this term.

The England youth international possesses pace and the ability to beat a man, something that could help add an extra level of creativity.

Massey is a player who has struggled for consistency at most of the clubs he’s played for – developing Appiah and promoting him next season would be of greater benefit.

علّق المدرب الإسباني ميكيل أرتيتا، المدير الفني لنادي آرسنال، على تغريدات صانع ألعاب الجانرز مسعود أوزيل، قبل وخلال وبعد مباراة رابيد فيينا في الدوري الأوروبي.

وتم استبعاد مسعود أوزيل من تشكيلة أرسنال في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز والدوري الأوروبي في هذا الموسم، ولن يُشارك في أي مباراة رسمية مع الجانرز، حتى يناير القادم على الأقل.

آرسنال قلب تأخره أمام فيينا وفاز بهدفين مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما مساء اليوم الخميس على ملعب “أليانز”، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات للدوري الأوروبي.

أوزيل قبل المباراة، كتب عبر حسابه بموقع “تويتر”: “عندما لا أستطيع الدعم على أرض الملعب ومساندة فريقي سأفعل ذلك أمام التلفزيون في لندن”.

وأضاف: “توقعاتي للمباراة أن آرسنال سيفوز 4/1 خارج الأرض، سيسجل الأهداف كولاسيناك، النني، لاكازيت، وبيبي”.

وتأخر آرسنال بهدف بعد خطأ من بيرند لينو، مما دفع أوزيل ليُغرد مجددًا، حيث كتب: “ما زال لدينا الوقت الكافي لتغيير هذا الأمر يا رفاق، هيا يا آرسنال”.

وعقب نهاية المباراة غرد لاعب ريال مدريد السابق: “من الجيد أن تبدأ البطولة بثلاث نقاط، من كان رجل المباراة؟ خياراتي الأربعة: توماس بارتي، أوباميانج، محمد النني، ديفيد لويز”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. أرتيتا يشيد بـ بارتي بعد انتصار آرسنال على رابيد فيينا

وقال أرتيتا في المؤتمر الصحفي عقب نهاية المباراة؛ عندما سُئل عن الأمر: “هذا عظيم، هذا ما أريده من كل اللاعبين غير الموجودين في فريقنا، لم أتوقع أي شيء مختلف، لذلك من الجيد أن أسمع ذلك”.

وعما إذا كان يجد أنه من المحبط أن هناك الكثير من الحديث عن أوزيل: “لا.. أنه جزء من الوضع الذي نواجهه”.

وتابع: “عندما يكون لدينا لاعبون كبار في هذا الموقف، فمن الطبيعي أن يرغب الناس في معرفة ذلك، والمٌشجعون يريدون معرفة المزيد من المعلومات”.

وأتم: “أنا أتعامل مع الأمر بطريقة طبيعية، وأحاول الرد بصدق ووضوح وإعطاء المزيد من المعلومات”.

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Celtic fans have taken to Twitter to heap praise on Kristoffer Ajer, after the centre-back put in a match-winning display in the 2-1 win over Rangers in the Old Firm Derby.

The young Norwegian international was making his 16th league start of the season, and handled the heated occasion admirably amidst a scuffle between Scott Brown and Alfredo Morelos and a brawl following the final whistle.

Check out Keith from C’mon the Hoops’ fascinating video on the origins of the Old Firm derby below…

For a player just 20 years of age to compose himself and focus in arguably one of the biggest games on the calendar for Celtic fans takes some doing.

Ajer didn’t have to deal with the threat of Morelos after the striker’s 31st-minute red card, although he still adequately handed anything that came his way with ease to draw praise from a lot of Hoops supporters.

He also made a huge last-ditch block just one yard from his own goal line with minutes remaining to maintain the lead – a truly heroic effort that essentially sealed the result in Celtic’s favour.

Let’s see what the Celtic fans on Twitter have been saying about the youngster’s performance…

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Newcastle United and Crystal Palace will both be looking to edge nearer to the ‘magic 40-point mark’ when they meet at St James’ Park on Saturday, with Stuart Attwell being appointed to officiate the match on Tyneside earlier this week.

Both teams come into the clash having suffered defeats this week, with the Magpies losing 2-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, and the Eagles on the end of the same scoreline just a few miles down the road at Tottenham Hotspur’s brand new stadium on Wednesday night.

The south London outfit’s form in their previous six games in all competitions has certainly been up and down – mainly the latter in all truth – as they have been beaten four times and picked up all three points on two other occasions.

One of those was against already-relegated Huddersfield Town at Selhurst Park last weekend, where they really toiled before getting two goals later on in the proceedings.

The frustration with manager Roy Hodgson is there for all to see, especially at home where they have the 18th-best home record in the division.

Compare that to seventh-best away and it is clear to see where Palace are stronger, and the presence of Attwell in the middle of the park on Saturday may just be a lucky charm that hands Hodgson yet another reprieve.

The 36-year-old has officiated in 17 Premier League matches this term, with 41.2% of those ending with the away team winning, as per stats-based website WhoScored.

That is the fifth-highest percentage out of the 18 referees that have taken charge in the top flight during the current campaign.

When you combine that statistic with Palace’s record on the road, you would have to fancy Hodgson’s men to record another memorable away day – they’ve certainly had their fair share of those already this season.

A Crystal Palace fan shares his most gutting moment of the last 10 years supporting the Eagles in the video below…

The hosts will certainly have something to say about though and while they flatter to deceive on their travels, they have actually won their previous five fixtures at St James’ Park.

An interesting spectacle awaits, and Hodgson will hope that the gods are shining down on him against the Magpies to give him some more breathing space from an irritated and demanding set of supporters.

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Arsenal are lining up a summer bid for Argentina international Walter Kannemann, per the Daily Mail.

The 28-year-old has won three caps for his country since making his debut in September 2018.

What’s the word?

Gunners boss Unai Emery is reportedly keen to bolster his defence this summer.

And the Mail report that the Gremio star, who plays as a left-sided centre-back, has a £10.2million release clause in his contract.

A number of South American sides, including Boca Juniors and Independiente, are also said to be interested but they will struggle to trigger his release clause.

The Gunners, however, should have no such trouble.

Emery is aware that Laurent Koscielny will turn 34 in September, while Shkodran Mustafi has endured a torrid season in terms of his performances.

Kannemann can also play as a left-back but has never played in Europe, starting his career with Argentine club San Lorenzo, before a move to Mexican side Atlas and then, most recently, to Brazilian outfit Gremio.

An untested talent

This is a risk for Arsenal.

Kannemann would clearly come in to replace Koscielny, who, while still a quality defender, is beginning to show signs of ageing.

However, it is rare that players signed from South America instantly adapt to life in Europe and there may well be a bedding-in period.

That is not what the Gunners need; they would be well advised to instead hunt for an assured, experienced centre-back with European pedigree.

While his scouts will surely be doing their homework, Emery could very easily end up with another Mustafi on his books if he is not careful.

After fifteen years away, a return to the top flight of English football is within touching distance for Leeds United.

The club’s transformation under manager Marcelo Bielsa has seen them emerge as one of the best footballing sides in the Championship this season and with just five games left to play, they are in a superb position to secure automatic promotion in May.

After securing a vital 2-0 victory away at Preston North End in midweek, the Whites moved ahead of Sheffield United in the standings after Chris Wilder’s side were held to a draw by Birmingham City.

Although they may only have a one-point advantage over the Blades, the key thing for Leeds is that they are now in control of their own fate. Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post ahead of Saturday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday, Bielsa acknowledge the current situation by outlining that: “We have to win the five games left.

When you have few points left to win because you’re in the last few games of the league, the gap or the space for mistakes reduces. Anything can happen in one football game.”

By securing maximum points between now and the end of the season, Leeds will guarantee promotion and so it is correct that their Argentine manager is striving for perfection.

Whether they can achieve this could depend on who scores the first goal in these games. In the nineteen games this season in which the Whites having taken the initial lead, they have won every single game which is an astonishing statistic at any level of football.

Whilst the club’s supporters will understandably be keeping an eye on what is happening at Bramall Lane on Saturday between the Blades and Millwall, by focusing entirely on what his side has to achieve, Bielsa is giving Leeds the best possible chance of securing promotion.

What do you think Whites fans? Can your side win all five of their remaining fixtures? Could they still overtake Norwich City and win the league title? Let us know below.

A desperate state at Aston Villa means Dean Smith and his men need to achieve the nigh on impossible if they want to see any activity in the next window.

No one is safe from the harsh and unforgiving grasps of financial instability, and Aston Villa, one of our nation’s most iconic clubs, has demonstrated that.

According to the Birmingham Mail, the former Premier League side needed to make up a huge £40 million deficit at the beginning of the season in order to comply with Financial Fair Play regulations.

The issue was then exacerbated further by the £45 million wage bill they would be carrying into the following season, which is apparently more than current Premier League sides Brighton and Huddersfield, and the mammoth £87.9 million gamble they took on spending big in the 2016/17 transfer window, with which they still owed £30 million to other clubs.

Indeed, the reality of their current weakness in the market is made painfully obvious by the fact that loanee Tyrone Mings, a fringe player at Bournemouth, can only be signed if Villa secure Premier League promotion, according to Birmingham Live.

And it is perhaps easy to see why: apparently, it cost the Midlands side over £160 million when they were beaten by Fulham in the playoffs last year.

The inability to manoeuvre in the market this summer will undoubtedly make the job of convincing star players, like Jack Grealish and Josh McGinn, not to leave the club when the Premier League come knocking. As they have done many times before already.

Aston Villa fans, do you see any hope of making the jump into the Premier League this season – and if so would Mings be at the top of your priority list? Let us know in the comments below…

The race for automatic promotion in League One has seen supporters of the five clubs involved experience a roller-coaster of emotions this season.

Barnsley looked to be in a superb position to finish in the top-two alongside runaway leaders Luton Town last month yet by dropping points in their last two outings against Coventry City and Burton Albion, Daniel Stendel’s side have squandered their advantage over the likes of Sunderland, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic.

Although the Black Cats failed to fully capitalise on the Tykes’ 2-1 defeat to the Brewers, their draw against the same opponent in mid-week was still good enough to see them to leapfrog their rivals in the standings. With Jack Ross’s side now holding a one-point lead over Barnsley and still having one more game to play between now and May, it is looking increasingly likely that the Yorkshire-based outfit may have to settle for the play-offs.

However, despite having a good recent relationship with the competition having achieved promotion via the final in 2016, the Tykes’ entire season could be shaped by the outcome of their clash with Fleetwood Town at Oakwell on Saturday. If they fail to secure a victory against the Cod Army, it could be disastrous for their hopes of making an immediate return to the Championship.

By embarking on a bad run of form towards the crescendo of a season, it can be extremely difficult for a side to bounce back when they enter the play-offs. For Barnsley, the last thing that they want is to enter a two-legged clash with either Charlton, Portsmouth or Doncaster Rovers without any confidence as all three of those sides have experienced a resurgence in recent weeks.

Therefore, by beating Fleetwood convincingly later, the Tykes could build up some much-needed momentum for their remaining fixtures in League One.

What do you think Barnsley fans? Can your side still secure automatic promotion? Or do they now need to prepare for the lottery of the play-offs in May? Get in touch below.

Newcastle manager, Rafa Benitez held his usual pre-match press conference this afternoon, during which he admitted talks about a new contract with the club have taken place, and stressed his eyes are firmly on The Magpies and nothing else.

It will be a relief to fans to hear that finally there is dialogue between the manager and Lee Charnley, particularly with the speculation building up day by day as the process keeps dragging on.

When asked about the rumours of approaches from the likes of Celtic and the Chinese Super League, Rafa quipped: “I can read the same as you.”

He added that there has been “some contact” with Charnley and that talking to Newcastle is his “priority”, but stressed that his main focus was on the games ahead.

The Spaniard said: “I can read what is going on in press. My priority is to keep talking Newcastle and see where we are. I’m not thinking about anything else.

“We have some contact, I see (managing director) Lee Charnley sometimes. It’s too early (to talk). We have to concentrate on the games.”

Newcastle travel to Arsenal on Monday Night Football this week, and Benitez confirmed that skipper Jamaal Lascelles is fit for the game, and added that, although he is suspended for Monday’s game, Schar is now fine, following the head injury he picked up in Georgia playing for Switzerland last weekend.

Benitez knows his side are just one win away from reaching the self-imposed target to be considered safe, and the speculation surrounding his future is an unwanted distraction.

He, naturally, wants to concentrate purely on the football, for now, and says that the key is to stay calm for the run-in, especially if they don’t get the win he wants at the Emirates on Monday.

He said: “We know we have to win maybe just one more game.

“But if we can’t win the next one, we just have to keep going.

“I will not put us under pressure.

“We just need to stay calm and focus on the next game, then see what happens.

It is, obviously great news for Newcastle fans that he and Charnley are talking about the future now, but as we stated in an earlier article, Rafa putting all talks off until safety has been guaranteed is, in many ways applying added pressure to the survival race.

That said, once the three points Benitez craves have been pocketed, there will be no more excuses, and no more hiding from the barrage of questions coming his way until a definitive decision is made and announced.

Everyone associated with the club — including Rafa himself by all accounts — hopes for a positive conclusion to the saga that seems to have been going on for an eternity.

What do you think Newcastle fans? Is it good news that Rafa and Charnley are talking? Will he be able to convince him to stay? Or have you lost all trust in Charnley to get any deal done? Let us know…