Stories By Graham Ruthven

• Sport

  Can Antonio Conte get Harry Kane back to his best?

  The Premier League table looks better for Tottenham Hotspur than it did a few weeks ago. While the North London club sat in eighth place at the point of Antonio Conte’s appointment in early November, Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Norwich City lifted them to within two points of the top four and Champions League qualification.

• Sport

  Is John McGinn beginning to outgrow Aston Villa?

  It didn’t take long for the £2m signing of John McGinn in the summer of 2018 to look like a bargain for Aston Villa. Indeed, the midfielder was an instant success at Villa Park, pushing the West Midlands club to promotion to the Premier League in his first season and playing a key role in re-establishing them in the English top flight.

• Sport

  Steven Gerrard off to a promising start at Aston Villa

  If any Aston Villa fans were unsure of what Steven Gerrard would offer their club, they surely have a clearer idea now. The former Liverpool and England captain has made a strong start to life at Villa Park with back-to-back wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace lifting the struggling side up to 13th place in the Premier League table.

• Sport

  Graham Potter has progressed Brighton despite winless run

  “We are sitting eighth in the Premier League but maybe I need a history lesson on this club,” an exasperated Graham Potter said in an interview after Brighton earnt a goalless draw with Leeds United.

• Sport

  Benitez feeling the pressure as Everton crumble

  Everton weren’t expected to take anything from the Etihad Stadium against the reigning Premier League champions. Indeed, a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City was no disgrace for the Toffees, but the manner of their performance prompted questions about the direction that the Goodison Park club is heading under Rafael Benitez.

• Sport

  Diogo Jota embodies many of Liverpool’s best qualities

  No Premier League team has scored more goals this season than Liverpool. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp’s side have found the back of the net 35 times in just 12 fixtures with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah forming the most formidable frontline in the European game at this moment in time.

• Sport

  Billy Gilmour could be the key to Norwich survival

  By the time the full time whistle blew on Scotland’s World Cup qualifying win over Denmark last week, Billy Gilmour had played more minutes for his country (589) than he had for his club (458) this season.

• Sport

  Where should free agent Zinedine Zidane go next?

  In retrospect, Zinedine Zidane probably shouldn’t have returned to Real Madrid for a second stint as manager. The Frenchman still managed to win a Spanish title in the 2019/20 season but, after an initial tenure that saw him leave after lifting three straight Champions League trophies, Zidane found a club in a state of transition upon walking through the door again.

• Sport

  Is it time for Aaron Ramsey to return to the Premier League?

  What started out as Gareth Bale’s night, with the Cardiff City Stadium packed to celebrate the winger’s 100th cap for Wales, ended with the focus on Aaron Ramsey as he scored twice in a 5-1 win over Belarus.

• Sport

  Conor Gallagher good enough to take Chelsea chance next season

  No player embodies the ideological revolution taking place at Crystal Palace under Patrick Vieira right now like Conor Gallagher. He epitomises how a new approach is being taken at Selhurst Park. While the 21-year-old might not have featured under the more pragmatic Roy Hodgson, he has become a key figure for the Eagles this season.

• Sport

  Declan Rice shouldn’t rush his inevitable rise

  Euro 2020 gave Declan Rice the chance to prove himself at the elite level of the game. Until then, the highly-rated midfielder had been spoken about in terms of his potential, but his role in Gareth Southgate’s England team that made it all the way to the tournament’s final proved his worth beyond any doubt.

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