Premier League stats: Man Utd's striking options, Milner's magic 49 and super subs
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford both scored for Manchester United on Saturday - but who should lead the line in next Sunday's Manchester derby? By looking at the key Premier League stats from the weekend, BBC Sport looks to provide the answer. We also look at Arsenal's comeback record, reveal James Milner's incredible goalscoring run and identify the league's long-range specialists. But first... Who should play up front for Manchester United? That's been the question many have been asking this season, due largely to Romelu Lukaku's lack of form. The Belgium striker has not scored for United since mid-September but Martial has stepped up to the plate - scoring five goals in his past four Premier League outings. Rashford, another of Jose Mourinho's forward options, also proved his worth on Saturday, as he scored their 92nd-minute winner at Bournemouth. And who could forget about Alexis Sanchez? A once talismanic figure at Arsenal, he now struggles to hold down a starting berth at United. Well, if Mourinho wants goals, Martial is his man. The Frenchman has scored more than any of his team-mates, at the impressive rate of one every 106 minutes, and his shot conversion rate is a whopping 62.5%. By contrast, Lukaku has scored one fewer than Martial, his strikes have come at almost half the frequency and he only coverts a quarter of his shots into goals. Martial is also up there in terms of creativity. Only Sanchez has created more chances than the former Monaco man this season, although he is yet to provide an assist. So, with a tricky Champions League trip to Juventus on Wednesday and the Manchester derby on the horizon, the stats say Mourinho should put his faith in Martial.
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2018-11-05 02:00:00
Wayne Rooney to play for England again: Does it cheapen an England call-up?
Wayne Rooney's expected one-off England return for the friendly against the United States at Wembley is certain to raise eyebrows - and even prompt ridicule - in many quarters. Rooney's England career, which he initially ended with 119 caps and a record 53 goals, did have a low-key conclusion in a 3-0 win against Scotland in November 2016. But, while the game on 15 November will raise money for the Wayne Rooney Foundation, there is a strong argument that giving the 33-year-old one last outing in an England shirt is an indulgence too far and cheapens the honour of winning a cap. There will be the counter view that Rooney's years of England service, which he ended with the formal announcement of his international retirement in August 2017, deserve a proper send-off in front of an appreciative home gallery. Should it be, however, as a player in an England game, effectively reducing the status of the international to a testimonial fixture in all but name? And, for all the arguments against, that is what it will be as a player who self-evidently was out of serious international form and consideration two years ago, and is now in the autumn of his career with DC United in Major League Soccer, is parachuted back into the team (however briefly) to officially pull down the curtain. Rooney was arguably allowed to slip away from England without the fanfare he merited, but it is a major shift in policy and emphasis to allow a player whose international day was done years ago to say his goodbyes decorated in the Three Lions jersey. England manager Gareth Southgate has also been keen to give younger players an opportunity, and has complained about the amount of playing time his new generation have been getting. No matter how ceremonial, does what effectively amounts to a testimonial appearance for Rooney in what is meant to be the new modern era after England's unlikely achievement of reaching the World Cup semi-final seriously chime with this fresh, new-blood approach? This is the argument of realism. Others will be pleased there is still a place for such sentimental gestures amid the hard-nosed environment of international football. Rooney was unfailingly loyal to England, shouldering the heaviest burden and much of the worst criticism when things went wrong - as they did many times in an international career that never hit the heights hoped for when he arrived on the scene as an 18-year-old at Euro 2004 in Portugal. But he never shirked responsibility and was always the player opposition coaches spoke about and feared most when facing England. Rooney's many supporters will be delighted he will get the grand Wembley occasion against the United States; the question is whether he should be given the accolade accompanied by another England cap. England are meant to be moving into a new age, leaving the past, its players and its under-achievements behind. Rooney was an outstanding England player - his record stands as a monument to that - but is he actually worth a place in the current squad? The answer to that was delivered a long time ago - of course not. Is Southgate not better served using this friendly to give experience to the coming generation who may play a significant role in the qualifying campaign for Euro 2020? Rooney will no doubt receive a warm Wembley ovation as he wins his 120th and final cap. He would have had he simply made an appearance on the pitch without taking part in the match its
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2018-11-05 02:00:00
Jayden Stockley: Harry Kane and Mo Salah outscored by Exeter City striker in 2018
I saw one stat with Messi, Ronaldo, Stockley the other day and I was laughing my head off." Exeter City's Jayden Stockley seems to be taking his goalscoring prowess very much in his stride. But it's no laughing matter for League Two defences who have been up against him in 2018 - he has 22 goals so far in this calendar year, more than any other player in England. In fact, only megastars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have found the net more often in club matches than the 25-year-old former Bournemouth youngster. "I'm just doing my job really, I'm not even thinking about how many goals I can get, but the balls keep coming in and I get in the right places," he says. Unsurprisingly he was on the scoresheet in City's 2-0 win over Swindon Town at St James Park on Saturday that kept them second in the table - and now has a division-high nine goals for the season, three of them in the last two games. "I'm not one to set targets, I just want to try my best," he continues. "It'd be nice to hopefully chip away at that total throughout the season and end up anywhere on that list really would be nice, a top-10 finish would be lovely. "But it's all about promotions at the end of the day, it's all about the team and I know it's the same old clich
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2018-10-16 02:00:00
EFL: Frank Lampard's misdemeanour and Blackpool team-mates squabble
The English Football League was back to full strength on Saturday, with the return of Championship action after the international break. Of course it did not let us down, with broken records, team-mates scuffling and arguably the league's most notable name given a ticking off. BBC Sport brings you five things you may have missed in the EFL. Blackpool show fighting spirit Anyone remember Newcastle team-mates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer getting sent off for fighting each other? It was 13 years ago, believe it or not. Well, something similar happened between Blackpool's Marc Bola and Donervon Daniels in the closing stages of their 1-0 League One victory at bottom side Plymouth. The pair were given their marching orders after a disagreement got physical, but the Seasiders held on for the points. Asked to describe stoppage time, new Blackpool boss Terry McPhillips said it was "mayhem" and "carnage". He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I personally thought, watching it live, it was harsh. Whatever's happened, we'll discuss it on Monday." The pair will have plenty of time to kiss and make up, with three-game bans likely to be heading their way. Hat-trick hero Henderson's 'naughty' finishing Veteran striker Ian Henderson has scored 126 career goals, reaching double figures in the league in each of his past five seasons at Rochdale. But the former Colchester man, 33, netted his first senior hat-trick in Dale's 3-0 triumph over Gillingham in League One, taking him to 95 goals for the club. "Maybe three years ago I said one of my goals and ambitions was to become the top goalscorer ever in the club's history," Henderson told BBC Radio Manchester. It is no surprise that he has such confidence - the forward was denied a fourth goal by the referee's whistle - and Henderson's description of his third, an acrobatic scissor kick, was entertaining. "Fortunately enough the technique and timing was right and it went in - it was a little bit of a naughty finish." In a good day for experienced campaigners in the third tier, James Coppinger scored to make it 14 seasons in a row that he has got on the scoresheet for Doncaster. They thrashed previously unbeaten Walsall 4-1. Lampard sees red at Rotherham Frank Lampard made a career out of arriving late in the area, but on Saturday a foray outside his technical area landed him in hot water. The former Chelsea and England midfielder was sent off as 10-man Derby were beaten by Rotherham in the Championship. Having already seen his team concede a penalty and have Tom Lawrence dismissed, Rams boss Lampard lost his rag at another decision that went against him and was sent off. "I didn't get a word from the ref. I need to go back to the rulebook myself because I do not want to be leaving the game," he told BBC Radio Derby. "I was upset with a handball. If those are the rules, managers will get sent off every game. "I like communication with officials but there was none of that. It wasn't a penalty. They got a soft one but we didn't get one." Welcome to football management, Mr Lampard!
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2018-10-16 02:00:00
Kory Roberts: Walsall centre-back extends contract until 2020
Walsall centre-back Kory Roberts has signed a one-year contract extension with the League One club. The 20-year-old will stay at the Bescot Stadium until the summer of 2020. Roberts has played 28 times since coming through the club's youth ranks, but has been ruled out of the current campaign after breaking his leg in a pre-season friendly with Stoke City. "It's important for the lad psychologically," Walsall manager Dean Keates told the club website. "I am told we could possibly have him back at the end of the season. "But I've said to Kory 'forget about this season, just make sure you are ready for when you come back for pre-season'."
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2018-10-16 02:00:00
Dean Smith: Aston Villa appoint new head coach with John Terry as assistant
Aston Villa have named Dean Smith as their new head coach, with ex-Chelsea defender John Terry as his assistant. Smith, 47, leaves Brentford, who he led to top-10 finishes in the Championship in each of his three seasons as boss. Former England captain Terry, 37 retired on Sunday after leaving Villa in the summer, while Jesus Garcia Pitarch joins as sporting director. Villa sacked Steve Bruce on 3 October after a run of one win in nine Championship games. Former centre-back Smith - whose first managerial role was with Walsall - is a lifelong Villa fan and joins from a Brentford side who are three points and eight places above them in the table. Terry earned 78 England caps, won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups and a Champions League title in his time at Stamford Bridge before leaving in 2017 after two decades at the London club. Pitarch has been director of football at Spanish sides Valencia and Atletico Madrid, helping both sides win the Europa League. "Dean has a clear and successful coaching philosophy as well as a real understanding of Aston Villa Football Club. He is also knowledgeable about the Championship," said Villa CEO Christian Purslow. "John is one of the most decorated players in English football, has an affinity with the club and is ready to make the next step in his career working alongside Dean." Villa had to identify other candidates to replace Bruce after their initial choices; Thierry Henry, Brendan Rodgers and former Manchester United assistant Rui Faria all ruled themselves out of contention. Smith's first game in charge will be against Swansea at Villa Park on 20 October, with the club still only four points outside the play-offs in a congested Championship table. The Bees say assistant head coach Thomas Frank will take training on Thursday following Smith's departure. "Not only an excellent head coach but a thoroughly decent man. I wish him all the best in the future," said Brentford CEO Mark Devlin. All change since Wembley defeat Villa, relegated from the Premier League in 2016, reached the Championship play-off final in May, but they lost to Fulham and missed out on a return to the top flight, which would have been worth in excess of
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2018-10-16 02:00:00
John Terry: Dean Smith 'flattered' Aston Villa assistant wants to learn from him
New Aston Villa head coach Dean Smith says he was "flattered" that John Terry wanted to develop as a coach under him. The former Chelsea and England captain, 37, retired from playing on 7 October, after playing for Villa last season. Terry and Richard O'Kelly, who joined Smith at Brentford and Walsall, will both assist the ex-Bees boss at Villa. "I can tap in to John's knowledge base, from the coaches he has played under. It is a team that will work very well together," Smith told BBC WM 95.6. "John knows the football club and he is starting now his fledgling coaching career. "To be honest, I was quite flattered that he wanted to work under us and develop as a coach under me as well. I'm really pleased that he has chosen to do that. "I want people who are there to challenge me, who want to get better and improve." Terry's role with the Championship club has been described as an "excellent fit" by chief executive Christian Purslow. Speaking as Smith, 47, was unveiled to the media on Monday, Purslow added: "He [Terry] is going to help Dean very much in the early days to hit the ground running. "John has familiarised himself with all aspects of the club, beyond simply the normal duties that a professional footballer would focus on. "And I think it's tremendous that a former great footballer has taken a decision now to dedicate himself to trying to become a leading coach, and this is the first step on that long journey. "To have somebody with his background as a player make those first steps in our great club, learning from a hugely experienced coach like Dean, felt to us like an excellent fit." On taking charge of the club he supported as a boy, Smith - who arrived following Steve Bruce's sacking on 3 October - added: "It's a great job. "As a kid, I wanted to play for Aston Villa, but I was never good enough and ended up in the lower leagues. "The next best thing, you become a coach - what better than to be the head coach of the football team you supported?" Relive Smith's first Villa press conference as it happened Promotion still 'a realistic aim' - Smith Villa are 15th in the Championship after winning three of their first 12 league games, but only four points outside the play-offs. Asked if he could guide Villa to promotion this season, Smith said: "It's a realistic aim, I believe, to get promoted this season. That has to be the aim. "This is the most even league I've seen since I've been in it [the Championship]. At the moment, I don't see anybody who looks like they are going to run away with it. "There's not an insurmountable gap between us and the top two or top six." Villa, who are in their third consecutive year in the second tier following their relegation in 2016, finished 13th and fourth under Bruce, losing last season's play-off final to Fulham at Wembley. Analysis - Smith and Terry combination 'could be win-win' Former Villa striker Garry Thompson told BBC WM 95.6: Smith is a progressive manager, he's young, he's hungry. He's not one of the merry-go-round managers. The fact that it's his boyhood club makes it even sweeter for the Villa fans. His connection to the club will give him more time and Terry coming in will give him more time as well. Terry knows the players and their characters. In a way, he will perform a very good function and he is learning the ropes too. It could be win-win.
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2018-10-16 02:00:00
Pontus Jansson: Leeds defender given FA charge for comments after Brentford draw
Leeds defender Pontus Jansson has been charged by the Football Association for comments after their Championship draw with Brentford on 6 October. Jansson questioned referee Jeremy Simpson's decision to award Brentford a penalty during a live TV interview. The 27-year-old scored the equaliser but later apologised for his comments. "It is alleged his comments were abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute," said an FA statement. He has until 18:00 BST on 17 October to respond to the charge. The FA are also investigating Leeds after objects were thrown at Brentford's Neal Maupay by the crowd after the striker scored the penalty at Elland Road.
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2018-10-16 02:00:00
Spain v England: Harry Kane could flourish in La Liga - Sergio Ramos
Venue: Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville Date: Monday, 15 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 live; follow text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app Spain captain Sergio Ramos believes England counterpart Harry Kane has the ability to succeed in La Liga - and sees him as the dangerman in Monday's Nations League match in Seville. Tottenham's Kane, 25, has gone six games without an international goal. But, asked whether any England players would flourish in Spain, Ramos replied: "Harry Kane is physically a fantastic striker but also technically. "He can surprise you - but not me as we have prepared for him." Spain are in pole position in their Nations League group after back-to-back victories - including beating England 2-1 at Wembley last month. But Ramos, who is set to win his 160th cap, has been impressed by the Three Lions, who finished fourth at the World Cup in Russia. "There are always very technical players in the England team that are dangerous but I can assure you we have been watching them," said the 32-year-old Real Madrid defender. "We know the level of difficulty will be very high. We know we have a fantastic national team in front of us, and even though we played a great game at Wembley there are things we can improve. "England had a fantastic World Cup. They have a lot of personality despite being very young, and offensively they are very dangerous. "Harry Kane is a very good player. We have to keep his scoring drought going because that will be a good sign for us." After England's 0-0 draw with Croatia on Friday, Kane dismissed suggestions he needs a rest, saying he does not think his "game has dipped". While Ramos praised Kane, Spain coach Luis Enrique declared his admiration for England counterpart Gareth Southgate. "I really like Gareth Southgate as a manager," he said. "Maybe historically England haven't always been playing possession football but Southgate likes to play with possession and he is someone I have always followed with curiosity. "I really like the way he interprets football. I hope he won't be lucky against us but I wish him luck every game after that."
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2018-10-16 02:00:00
New Tottenham stadium not affecting transfer policy, says chairman Daniel Levy
The construction of Tottenham's new stadium will not directly affect the club's transfer policy, chairman Daniel Levy has again told fans. Spurs made no signings in the summer, becoming the first Premier League club to do so since the current transfer window system was adopted in 2003. Tottenham have since made their joint-best start to a Premier League season, with 18 points from eight games. Levy said the club had a "certain amount earmarked for transfers". Spurs' new 62,062-seat arena is estimated to have cost