DOUBLE BLOW: KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL LIMPS OFF AS MOYES FACES NDIAYE-GANA ABSENCES
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall left the Chelsea game with a suspected hamstring injury, compounding Everton's woes as they face Arsenal and a busy schedule without AFCON stars.
Following Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, David Moyes gave an update on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who left the game early due to injury.
Chelsea snapped their four-game winless streak with a solid win at Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto both scored in the first half.
Everton hoped for a good result, having won three of their past four games. Dewsbury-Hall has been in top form in the league.
The midfielder has three goals and two assists in his last five appearances. After being sold to the Toffees last summer, he was hoping to make an impact against Enzo Maresca’s team.
His return to Stamford Bridge was cut short after just 16 minutes when the 27-year-old went down, holding the back of his leg. It looked like a hamstring injury.
Former Chelsea captain Reece James comforted the Englishman, who was able to walk off the field into the tunnel and was replaced by Carlos Alcaraz.
Moyes looked worried and said that Dewsbury-Hall wasn't fully fit going into the match.
The manager told Sky Sports, ‘I’ll see what it is later. He already felt a bit tight, and then he felt it during the game.’
He later said to BBC Match of the Day, ‘Losing Kiernan hurt us, but I think we adjusted OK.
‘I know we lost with a result that was not good, but the performance was. We did a lot of good things.’
The defeat leaves Everton eighth in the league right now. Next Saturday night, the Toffees will play league leaders Arsenal at home.
Moyes’ team then has a busy schedule, travelling to Burnley and Nottingham Forest before starting the new year at home against Brentford and Wolves.
Adding to their troubles, Everton will also be without key players who are going to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Moyes added, ‘It will be hard to replace [Iliman] Ndiaye and Gana [Idrissa Gueye]. They are both great players who have played well.
‘But when you sign African players, you know they will go to Afcon. We want them to do well for their countries.’
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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