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Manchester City return to FA Cup action on Wednesday night as they take on Championship side Swansea City away from home.

Pep Guardiola’s side have now won 14 games on the bounce following their 4-1 win against Liverpool at Anfield at the weekend, and will be full of confidence ahead of the trip to the Liberty Stadium.

However, the Swans are also in strong form, as they sit third in the Championship table and also thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-1 to seal their place in the fifth round.

Guardiola rotated heavily for the game against League Two Cheltenham Town in the last round and was nearly caught out, so may go with a stronger side for the game against Steve Cooper’s side.

The Citizens do face Spurs in their next Premier League fixture, however, so changes seem likely with that in mind.

Here’s how Football FanCast expects Guardiola to set his side up for the game against Swansea, with six changes from the team that started at Anfield…

Zack Steffen reclaims his place in goal after impressing in Ederson’s absence earlier in the season.

There are two changes in defence, as Benjamin Mendy and Aymeric Laporte come in for Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ruben Dias, who are both rested.

Fernandinho will provide an experienced head in midfield, as he replaces Rodri, with Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan keeping their place after impressive displays against Liverpool.

Riyad Mahrez starts on the right but can interchange with Ferran Torres throughout the game, whilst Gabriel Jesus starts up front, leaving Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva on the bench.

And, in other news… Man City can sign “exciting talent” who only scores screamers

Leeds United will be reeling off the back of their latest Premier League performance.

Despite banking important results like their 3-1 win over Leicester, their trip to Arsenal put a stop to their solid run of form. The Gunners put in a convincing display with their 4-2 winning scoreline, leapfrogging the Whites in the league table.

Whilst they’re in no imminent danger where they are, Leeds will want to improve on their current 11th place position. Focus now shifts to Wolves, who will host the Championship winners at Molineux on the weekend.

There’s a lot to be positive about at Elland Road right now, though.

Leeds could very well push for a spot in the Europa League next season after wasting no time in reasserting their dominance at the top level. Familiar club faces and recent signings have worked in harmony together, with the likes of Raphinha and Patrick Bamford especially impressing.

However, one man who doesn’t seem to be as happy as the rest of the camp is Pablo Hernandez.

The Spaniard hasn’t started a match since Leeds were ejected from the FA Cup at the hands of Crawley Town last month. Summer signing Rodrigo has seemingly usurped the veteran’s position in midfield and frustrations could be mounting.

Hernandez, who has just 18 months left on his £19k-per-week contract, recently took to Instagram to post a cryptic message following the Arsenal defeat.

As quoted by Graham Smyth, the 35-year-old wrote on his Instagram story: “Although it was impossible for you, never claim anything in life, swallow the poison of hatred and accept injustices, rest assured that everything is balanced in the end.”

This isn’t the first time tension has built and has driven a wedge between Hernandez and Bielsa. La Vanguardia claimed that the Argentinian was furious with the playmaker after he threw down an Armistice Day armband in anger back in November.

This is reportedly why Bielsa decided to drop the Whites veteran, who has just 11 senior appearances for Leeds under his belt this season, as per Transfermarkt.

If Hernandez feels he isn’t being treated fairly, then it’s not unforeseeable that another spat between him and the manager could be on the cards.

In other news, Ezgjan Alioski’s performance vs Arsenal may have sealed his fate…

The Manchester United shot-stopper came up with a huge save late on to ensure the European champions won their opener in Australia

European champions England kicked off their Women's World Cup campaign on Saturday in what proved to be a tricky opening encounter with Haiti, the Caribbean nation causing lots of problems despite the Lionesses winning 1-0.

Georgia Stanway's penalty was the difference in an entertaining game, one she had to take twice for it to count. There were plenty of chances for England aside from that, too, but none of which were taken.

It's rare that a title contender produces a world-class performance in their first game – just look at Australia's victory by the same scoreline or the United States' surprisingly low-scoring triumph over Vietnam. But there were concerns for England in this match.

That said, there were also positives for head coach Sarina Wiegman to take, and a thrilling performance from a particularly exciting young player on the opposing team, too.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane…

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  WINNER: Georgia Stanway

  England's best player on the night, it was fitting that Stanway proved to be the match-winner. No one created more chances than the Bayern Munich star, whose passing around the edge of the penalty area was as excellent as her crossing into the box.

  She was denied by an excellent save first up from the spot, but her second penalty attempt showed coolness and composure that was crucial to the Lionesses getting the result. She put in her shift defensively, too.

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  LOSER: Millie Bright

  This was Millie Bright's first official match since March, a knee injury having ended her season with Chelsea early, and it was evident in her performance. She had the chance to shake some of that rust off in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Canada last week, but with roll-on, roll-off subs used, and no media watching, there's no info on how much the England skipper actually played.

  Sadly for her, that rust was on show still in Brisbane, with her misjudging the ball several times and caught out of position at others to allow Haiti some opportunities.

  She and her team will hope that is all the cobwebs gone now, with the Lionesses' next game, against Denmark, anticipated to be their toughest of the group stage.

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  WINNER: Jess Carter

  While Bright struggled next to her, Jess Carter played well at centre-back having got the nod to be her partner while Alex Greenwood played on the left. She completed all but four of her 102 passes attempted, came out on top in both of her tackles, made four clearances and won possession back on seven occasions.

  It was a very strong outing on her World Cup debut, with the Chelsea defender more than justifying her place in the starting XI.

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  LOSER: Ella Toone

  England continue to have a problem in the No.10 role, with Ella Toone once again not at her best in this game. She rarely picked up the pockets of space in front of the defence, instead dropping into deeper or wider positions that meant the Lionesses didn't have someone dedicated to pulling those strings in that dangerous area.

  It was surprising that she played the 90 minutes with Lauren James having impressed in the position against Portugal earlier this month, but perhaps Wiegman was trying to let her find her rhythm. Sadly, though, she didn't and the coach will surely be pondering what to do in that area from here on out.

Aston Villa will reportedly seek to loan out Wesley in the summer transfer window following horrendous injury problems for the striker.

The Lowdown: Injury hell for Wesley

The Brazilian arrived at Villa Park in the summer of 2019, costing £22m and becoming the most expensive signing the club’s history at the time. He has since been usurped by Ollie Watkins in that respect, but it’s fair to say big things were expected of the striker.

Sadly, a cruciate ligament injury suffered at the beginning of last year halted Wesley’s progress significantly, with the 24-year-old playing just 15 minutes of Premier League football this season.

The Latest: Villa looking to sell striker

According to Football Insider, Villa don’t intend to keep Wesley in their squad for next season, moving him on to pastures new instead. The report claimed that Dean Smith had been unconvinced by the Brazilian even before his horrific injury in January 2020.

The plan is to loan him out and sign another striker, which suggests that he has no future at Villa Park moving forward.

The Verdict: Time to move on

There was so much promise when Wesley arrived, but unfortunately the severity of his injury means that he may never be the same player again.

There is a feeling that Smith’s side have moved on without him, too, with Watkins leading the line excellently in his place, scoring 13 goals in the league this season and justifying his club-record outlay.

Wesley will hopefully be a reliable player again one day, but with another striker potentially coming in, it is hard to see how he can revive his abortive Aston Villa career.

In other news, one Villa player has been linked with a shock move to a ‘big six’ club this summer. Find out who it is here.

A number of Aston Villa supporters have hit out at Ross Barkley on social media for his first half display against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.

Dean Smith named the same side which beat Everton 2-1 last time out, with Jack Grealish unavailable for the 12th game in succession.

However, it was Barkley’s performance which had a number of Villa fans talking online, and not for the right reasons.

The 27-year-old was making his 17th Premier League start of the season and 26th appearance in all competitions during the current campaign. His display in the opening stages didn’t exactly impress some fans, though, with many venting their frustrations on Twitter.

The attacking midfielder was lining up in front of Douglas Luiz and John McGinn at Villa Park but failed to really get involved, leaving many Villa fans frustrated as he wasted a 14th-minute cross, a moment indicative of his display.

Villa fans react to Barkley’s performance

Here is what these Villa supporters had to say about the England international, with one describing his display as ‘poor’.

“Traore and Barkley really doing us no favours”

Credit: @_C45EY_

“Barkley is a waste of a man on the pitch”

Credit: @MJDodge84

“Dross Barkley strikes again”

Credit: @b0ngs12

“Traore and Barkley are so so poor”

Credit: @UTV_LC

“Can we send Barkley back now?”

Credit: @kandemanUK 

“If Barkley had just some footballing IQ”

Credit: @josh_priv3

In other news: Villa make contact for in-demand defender; report shares brilliant reason for weekend absence, find out more here. 

West Ham United have their sights set on a new striker this summer, if emerging reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to TEAMtalk, The Irons are among several Premier League teams keeping a close eye on Young Boys forward Jean-Pierre Nsame ahead of the transfer window.

It’s claimed that the Cameroon international has emerged as a potential target for the East Londoners, though they’re likely to face competition from Newcastle United and Southampton, as well as Celtic.

Whilst no fee is mentioned in the report, Transfermarkt currently value the 27-year-old at just over £6m, with his contract due to expire in 2023.

The ‘Haller’ worry

The Hammers have been here before – a striker scoring for fun in Europe, so they must approach with caution.

Nsame has proven to be one of the most consistent goalscorers on the continent, bagging 78 goals in 120 appearances since joining the Belgian top-flight, also featuring in the Champions and Europa League, too.

That’s one goal every 1.5 matches, whilst this season alone, he has found the net 25 times in all competitions, including a pair of strikes against AS Roma, as per Transfermarkt.

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Back in 2020, the 6 foot 2 powerhouse was lauded for his ability by Young Boys manager Gerardo Seoane, who told kick442:

“Jean-Pierre Nsame has had an extraordinary season. He has really progress especially in terms of taking responsibility in the team. He is very physical, with an unbelievable ability in front of goal,” claimed the 42-year-old. “He is very present in the penalty area and all the balls that come, he puts them in the back of the net, thanks to his technic and strength.”

He also went onto suggest he was “hard-working” and “not egotistical,” which only bolsters claims to sign him this summer.

However, the blunder over Sebastien Haller must be considered with any talisman overseas.

Having cost £45m in 2019, the French-born Ivory Coast international moved to Ajax in January for less than half that price (£20.2m), via Sky Sports.

After a lucrative season for Frankfurt, bagging 20 goals in all competitions, everyone at the London Stadium had every reason to be excited for his arrival but in return, he struggle to adapt to the English top-flight.

The Irons saw him score only 14 goals in 53 appearances – once every 3.7 matches – and his time will always be remembered for the wrong reasons.

Belgium’s elite division is still some way off the standard in the Premier League, and we’ve seen players like Wesley and Mbwana Samatta come over and struggle.

GSB must approach any deal here with caution, otherwise, Moyes will be left in another sticky situation.

AND in other news, Hammers dealt hammer blow amid ExWHUemployee injury update, Moyes will be gutted…

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans has delivered a major update on Aston Villa defender Matt Targett.

What’s the story?

The left-back has been an absolute revelation for Dean Smith’s side this season, even earning suggestions over a potential call-up to the England squad.

Evans has now revealed that Villa are in talks with the 25-year-old over a new contract at the club, and that they “are committed to rewarding their best players with enhanced terms and security for the future as they look to build again for next season.”

He added: “Villa may decide to strengthen the full-back areas this summer, as both Neil Taylor and Ahmed Elmohamady are out of contract in June. Right-back Matty Cash has been impressive in his debut season, though, and talks over a new deal for him are also likely to follow in the months ahead.”

Dean Smith surely buzzing

The £35,000-a-week earner has been a bit of an unsung hero for Villa since his arrival in the Midlands, something echoed by Alan Hutton as he told Football Insider: “I think he just quietly goes about his business and you’re right, because of the other players within that squad, he probably doesn’t get the praise that he’s due this season.

“He’s definitely went under the radar but I think the proper football fans and people will see exactly what he does for the team, much like Matty Cash on the opposite side.”

After his name was being mentioned as someone who Gareth Southgate should be calling up to the England senior squad, Smith was quick to praise Villa’s Mr Reliable, saying: “Matt’s having a fantastic season – his consistency has been great. He’s getting better all of the time. He’s been one of our stand-out players this season.”

It’s exactly why news of a potential contract extension for the left-back will no doubt be music to the ears of the Villa manager.

Meanwhile, Villa boss Dean Smith should unleash this academy starlet…

Leicester City have reportedly made an offer to sign Florian Thauvin, according to Estadio Deportivo.

The report claimed that the East Midlands club offered him a four-year deal and a salary of €3.5m (£3m) per season, but Thauvin has not yet made a decision over his future at Marseille.

Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma and Napoli are also closely following any further developments with the player, but it has not been ruled out that he may leave in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Leicester should sign Thauvin

Brendan Rodgers’ team could do with a player like Thauvin in their ranks in order to boost the numbers in their squad for the 2021/22 season.

The 28-year-old has a lot of pedigree in the beautiful game, having won the World Cup with France back in 2018. He has been enjoying a good campaign so far, with no fewer than eight goals and a further nine assists in 37 games across all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Football legend Paolo Maldini described him as a ‘high level’ player back in November of last year, which is noteworthy praise given the Italian’s glittering CV.

Currently rated at £28.8m by Transfermarkt, the French winger is certainly a player who the Foxes should be looking at signing come the end of the season.

In other news, find out which ‘outstanding’ ace Leicester are eyeing!

West Bromwich Albion fans have been reacting to their U23 side losing 5-0 against Leeds United.

The Baggies are currently struggling at the bottom of the Premier League. As it stands, they are 19th in the table and have picked up just 18 points from their first 29 games in the competition (Sky Sports). They are 10 points from safety with just nine matches left to play – it looks increasingly unlikely they will survive amongst the elite.

It seems their development squad is not fairing much better. They were in action against the Whites on Monday, and they were hammered 5-0. They are now bottom of their section with just 17 points from as many matches (flashscore.com). Not only that, the 5-0 scoreline was the same one the senior side were on the end of against the same opponents in December.

West Brom’s official Twitter account shared the result, and it attracted plenty of attention from the Baggies supporters. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the West Brom fans had to say about the result below

“I’m no expert on the academy scene, but surely such consistently poor results is having no great influence on our youngsters. Don’t blame the coaches though, all down (to) Dowling.”

Credit: @joekapalo

“Not again”

Credit: @joshiecole2003

“When is it gonna end robbie”

Credit: @bruno_prest1

“Somethings clearly not right in our youth setup, I know Dowling has done some restructuring and coaches have moved on. I’d like to see more senior pros who are not getting a game time play in there, would be good experience for the U23’s too.”

Credit: @PallettJack

“I guess some things never change”

Credit:@BigAjayi

“well…at least Barca won’t rip us off anymore.”

Credit: @RobertsWBA23

In other news, West Brom fans were delighted with this club update.

The last few weeks have been a triumphant affair for Sunderland. Lee Johnson’s team are now fourth in the League One table and are unbeaten in their last eight matches, winning seven in that time frame.

It would seem that promotion could finally be on the cards for the Black Cats this season.

Before they prepare for the run-in, however, they face Tranmere in the Papa John’s Trophy final. The Mackems travel to the capital and Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon to face the League Two opposition in what should be a comfortable win on paper.

That being said, all form goes out the window when you play in a final. Sunderland have been at this stage before but tasted defeat to Portsmouth in 2019; they know they cannot afford any slip-ups.

With such a crucial match ahead, Johnson will have plenty of dilemmas to mull over in terms of his team selection. Here’s the XI we’re predicting him to pick.

Life at the Stadium of Light is never simple and that has been evident this week.

Sunderland defeated Portsmouth but, as the week drew to a close, it became apparent that injuries were going to bite them once again.

They are already missing a number of players including Denver Hume and Bailey Wright, but Jordan Jones is now a major doubt to play after suffering a minor injury. Both he and Aiden O’Brien are set to face late fitness tests but Johnson claims O’Brien is far more likely than Jones to play.

That being said, we suggest both could miss out. Consequently, Sunderland may make as many as four changes from the Pompey clash. Chris Maguire comes into the side for O’Brien while Conor McLaughlin, fit again after hernia surgery, is in for Jones.

He shifts into a central area in defence, with Max Power preferred at right wing-back in a five-man backline.

Wright is set to miss out while Dion Sanderson is cup-tied, having already played for Wolves under-21s in this competition. Fortunately, they have Tom Flanagan back, who can take the place of Sanderson.

The final replacement is in the middle of the park, where Carl Winchester has to sit out. The midfielder has already played for Forest Green in this year’s competition so, like Sanderson, he is cup-tied.

Johnson revealed that Grant Leadbitter is set to return from a dislocated shoulder, so he slots in for Winchester.

AND in other news, Dreyfus may be on the verge of repeating one of Donald’s biggest SAFC mistakes already…