Football Mar 04, 2026

Ref Watch LIVE! Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership incidents analysed by Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Ref Watch LIVE! Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership incidents analysed by Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd

Mateta set to return to training next week

Jean-Philippe Mateta should be back in Crystal Palace team training next week as he manages a knee injury.

The forward has not played for the Eagles since a move to AC Milan in the January transfer window fell through, which hinged on his injured knee.

Mateta had been considering surgery, but did not go under the knife as he aims for a spot in France's World Cup squad this summer. 

He is set to return for Crystal Palace in the coming weeks, with Glanser saying: "We plan for him to be partly integrated on Monday in team training and to be available for the Larnaca game [in the Conference League]. 

"Not for starting, but maybe for 15 or 20 minutes because he was out for a long time.

"His knee looks better and thats why we decided now to reintegrate him step-by-step because he hasnt been on the pitch for almost six weeks now and we have to be really careful.

"The goal is that hes available for the Larnaca and Leeds games.

"Eddie Nketiah wont be available before April, [Christantus] Uche is not registered for the Conference League so thats why JP and I were pushing hard to have him back in the team and it looks realistic now."

'No comment' on Guessand contract conditions to make deal permanent

Oliver Glasner has said 'no comment' when asked if reports are true that Evann Guessand needs five more goal involvements to make his move from Aston Villa permanent.

The forward moved to Crystal Palace in January on loan with an obligation to buy for 28m if certain conditions were met.

The 24-year-old has already notched three contributions for the Eagles, with two goals and an assist, including a last-minute winner against Wolves.

While Glasner was not drawn on the contract conditions, he did have plenty of praise for the player overall.

The Eagles boss said: "Hes had a good start. Hes always able to create something, but he still has to learn our structure and the way we are playing.

"He didnt play so many minutes at Villa, thats why I rested him at Old Trafford because hed had [his first] 90 minutes for many weeks against Mostar.

"Hes a player who can score and assist and he can do something special, something nobody expects, which helps."

Could Man Utd sign a left winger this summer?

Michael Carrick has said Manchester United could move for a left winger in this summer's transfer window. 

Matheus Cunha is currently United's only real option on that flank with Patrick Dorgu out injured. Amad Diallo has deputised on the left, but is far more comfortable on the right. 

Not long ago, United were stacked with left wingers but find themselves short after selling Alejandro Garnacho and loaning out Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho

Neither Rashford nor Sancho are expected to have futures at Old Trafford when their loans end and Carrick has said there is a chance United address that position in the summer, with Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig one of their targets. 

When asked if United could be in the market for a left winger, Carrick said: Yeah, quite possibly, in certain ways.

But I think we can still be dangerous and I still think we can fill that spot. I think weve got players to be able to do it. Its not a huge concern at the moment. 

We always want to improve and were always thinking of that perfect scenario of mixing players together and connections and how it suits on the pitch.

But Matheus has played that role and caused some problems and caused big problems and had big moments from playing wide or inside, so hes doing well as well.

I think youre always looking at the balance of the team and the squad to give you the utmost flexibility, so its definitely something to look at for sure.

But I think Matheus can play that at times. Amad can do that at times. He played off the left against West Ham.

There are different ways of doing it. I think weve got really good options across the frontline and we can change things in games and we have done quite a lot actually.

Sometimes smaller things, sometimes bigger things, certainly Matheus when he plays wide one-v-one, hes tough to stop.

Guessand needs five more goal contributions to make Palace move permanent

Exclusive by Your Site News' James Savundra and Rob Dorsett:

Evann Guessand needs five more goal involvements to seal a permanent move to Crystal Palace from Aston Villa.

The forward moved to Selhurst Park in January on loan with an obligation to buy for 28m if certain conditions were met.

Your Site News can exclusively reveal that the Ivory Coast international needs to contribute eight goal contributions to trigger this clause.

The 24-year-old has already notched three contributions for the Eagles, with two goals and an assist, including a last-minute winner against Wolves.

Palace also hold an option to buy Guessand for 28.5m if he fails to record eight goal involvements, but they still wish to sign him permanently.

The former Nice attacker has already agreed a four-year contract with the Eagles if the loan move is made permanent.

Jacquet set for shoulder surgery

Incoming Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet is to undergo surgery on his shoulder injury 'in the coming days', his current club Rennes have confirmed the news in a statement.

Liverpool announced they'd completed a deal to sign the centre-back in the January transfer window with the player to officially arrive at Anfield on July 1.

Aberdeen looking at other managerial options after delays

Latest from Your Site News' Anthony Joseph:

Aberdeen are looking at other options for their managerial vacancy due to the delay in finalising a deal with Eirik Horneland. 

The Dons were closing in on the appointment of Horneland last month, but he has a lot of uncertainty around a personal issue which has caused his move to stall for now. 

If his issues can be resolved soon, then Horneland remains in the frame for the job. 

But the Dons are now speaking to other candidates, including former New York Red Bulls boss Sandro Schwarz. 

The 47-year-old has had previous spells managing Mainz, Dynamo Moscow and Hertha Berlin. 

The German left New York Red Bulls in October last year. He is well known to sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel. 

Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack released a statement last week confirming the delay in appointing a new head coach.

Its believed the club hope to have a new boss in by the summer.

Peter Leven has been taking interim charge of first team affairs since they sacked Scottish Cup-winning boss Jimmy Thelin in January. 

Former Dundee manager Tony Docherty has also returned to Pittodrie to assist until the end of the season, alongside Ian Burchnall.

Russell rejoins Dundee United - and could make debut this evening

Johnny Russell has rejoined Dundee United 13 years after leaving Tannadice, signing a deal until the end of the season.

The winger, who signed for Derby County in 2013, then moved to the MLS and played nearly 200 times for Sporting Kansas City before signing for Real Salt Lake last season. 

Dundee United take on St Mirren in a rearranged game on Tuesday evening and if the paperwork is processed in time Russell could make his second debut at Tannadice tonight 

Nuno tells Traore: Your time will come

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has urged Adama Traore to stay patient and promised his chance will come.

Traore returns to former club Fulham on Wednesday short of minutes since he made a permanent move across London during the winter transfer window.

Former Wolves and Barcelona winger Traore has been consigned to four short cameos off the bench in the Premier League since his January arrival.

Nuno told a press conference: He brings new energy to us and weve been trying every day to improve him.

There has been spells in the game but of course ahead of him he has two players at the top of their game. He is patient enough to recognise his chance will come.

Luis sacked by Flamengo despite cup thrashing

Is this the harshest managerial sacking weve ever seen?

Filipe Luis remember him? The former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid left-back has been sacked by Brazilian giants Flamengo just a day after winning a cup semi-final 11-0 on aggregate.

Flamengo thumped Madureira 8-0 on Monday, with Luis then sacked just minutes later. This is a manager who just a few months ago guided Flamengo to the Brazilian league title and Copa Libertadores trophy in the space of a few days. He also averaged a trophy every 13 matches at Flamengo.

So why has this happened? Well Flamengo have endured their worst start to a season in a decade. They lost the Brazilian and South American Super Cup finals and began the league campaign with one win, one draw and one loss.

Thats despite Flamengo investing nearly 50m into their squad before the start of the season, including 36.5m on Lucas Paqueta.

At 40-years-old Luis has rubberstamped his reputation as a top young coach and will come back from this. But its shown that Brazil is one of the most passionate and harshest places to manage in world football. 

Brighton trigger Welbeck's one-year option

Latest from Your Site News' Elliot Cook:

Brighton striker Danny Welbeck has triggered a one-year option in his contract to remain at the club until the summer of 2027.

The 35-year-old put pen to paper on a two-year deal in 2024 and the option for a further year is now in place.

Welbeck has scored ten Premier League goals this season and is preparing to face one of his former clubs and top of the table Arsenal at the Amex on Wednesday.

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