![\"Louise](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Louise-Taylor,-L.png\")
Louise Taylor<\/p>\nEddie Howe expects Newcastle\u2019s Fabian Schar to be sidelined for an extended period but is hopeful that the former Switzerland central defender will recover from an ankle ligament injury in time to play again this season.<\/p>\n
Schar was taken to hospital following a collision with Dominic Calvert-Lewis during Wednesday\u2019s 4-3 home win against Leeds but Newcastle\u2019s manager is now cautiously optimistic that the damage is not quite as bad as initially feared.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe it\u2019s not as bad as it first looked, there\u2019s no fracture,\u201d said Howe, whose side host his former club, Bournemouth in the FA Cup<\/a> third round on Saturday. \u201cBut Fabian will be seeing a specialist in the next few days to get some more definitive answers. At the moment we\u2019re confident Fabian will be back before the end of season but let\u2019s see. We still have to get a definitive assessment on the scale of the injury,\u201d<\/p>\n With England\u2019s Dan Burn still recovering from a punctured lung and broken ribs, Howe has limited defensive options but will resist the temptation to rush into the transfer market. \u201cIt\u2019s not ideal but, at the moment, we\u2019re taking a watching brief,\u201d said Newcastle\u2019s manager. \u201cWe\u2019ll see how we go in the next few games and that will have a bearing on what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n One option is to recall the full back, Matt Targett from his loan at Middlesbrough but it is believed the player would be unhappy to leave the Riverside where he is playing a key role in Boro\u2019s Championship promotion push.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking at all options,\u201d said Howe. \u201cBut with Matt there is not just our wants and needs, there is his as well and we have to balance both.\u201d<\/p>\n Newcastle\u2019s manger also revealed that Jamaal Lascelles, the club captain and once the mainstay of his defence, is currently unable to train and could leave St James\u2019 Park this month. \u201cJamaal is not training with us currently,\u201d said Howe. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t felt well enough physically to train. I don\u2019t think he\u2019s injured particularly but his body isn\u2019t ready. There is a possibility he could leave but Jamaal has been an excellent leader for us over the years behind the scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A rather withering assessment of current events here. Kev The Poet from Uffculme writes in an email entitled \u2018The Beautiful Game\u2019: \u201cSo Man City buy a player they don\u2019t really need, whilst whistling and walking the other way when Exeter City ask for an extra tenner. Meanwhile, a player accuses another player of feigning injury, apologises on Instagram. Let\u2019s all cheer The Villa (not even my team); they might be managed by Alan Partridge, but they appear to have a thread of humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Everton’s Keane red card appeal rejected<\/p>\n Everton\u2019s appeal against the red card shown to Michael Keane for violent conduct against Wolves has been rejected. It means the defender starts a three-match ban against Sunderland in the FA Cup<\/a> tomorrow.<\/p>\n Keane was sent off for pulling Tolu Arokodare\u2019s hair as the pair leapt for a high ball during the team\u2019s 1-1 draw at Hill Dickinson Stadium. David Moyes insisted the offence did not meet the criteria for violent conduct and Everton appealed on Thursday, but a three-man FA panel has upheld the original decision.<\/p>\n \u201cWe appealed in the firm belief the incident did not meet the threshold for violent conduct as defined in the rules, and that the action was neither forceful nor intentional,\u201d read an Everton statement.<\/p>\n \u201cOur appeal was also lodged in support of Michael Keane, a player who plays the game with the highest ethical standards and who, prior to Wednesday, had never been dismissed for violent conduct in his career. It is our firm belief that the severity of the three game suspension is clearly excessive, and we are surprised and disappointed that this point of appeal has also been rejected. Michael\u2019s suspension begins immediately, and he will now not be available for our forthcoming fixtures against Sunderland, Aston Villa and Leeds United.\u201d<\/p>\n And to think, I only just transferred him into my fantasy team last week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The third round of the FA Cup<\/a> threw up plenty of intriguing ties. Check out some of the storylines ahead of the action which gets underway with four matches tonight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Today\u2019s Rumour Mill has been released into the wild. How many bloody defenders do Arsenal need?!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some quotes from Antoine Semenyo after his move to Manchester City. A nice mix of knowing his worth but also keeping humble.<\/p>\n On his own game…<\/p>\n \u201cPowerful, quick, strong, clinical player. I\u2019m still improving and I feel like I\u2019m still yet to reach my peak. I feel like I\u2019ve got a learning to do and joining City is the best thing for my development. The best coaches and best players \u2013 taking my game to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n On improving his game…<\/p>\n \u201cIt starts in the mornings when I\u2019m praying. Day and night I make sure I always pray; I make sure I\u2019m always writing down things where I can improve and get better and just having the right people around me. Those three things are what has got me the success I\u2019ve got today. I just need to keep them around me, keep improving, keep writing down and keep praying.\u201d<\/p>\n On playing with personality…<\/p>\n \u201cI feel very chaotic on the eye, just spontaneous and can do anything at any moment. I\u2019ll be playing with a smile on my face, and I hope I do for the fans as well.\u201d<\/p>\n On his two-footed ability…<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes it so difficult for defenders to mark me \u2013 it\u2019s my God-given talent.\u201d<\/p>\n On choosing the No.42 shirt…<\/p>\n \u201cIt was my first number I got at Bristol City when I first signed. It\u2019s always stuck me. I was either 42 or 24 \u2013 24 wasn\u2019t available so I went back to my first number. That\u2019s the inspiration behind it.\u201d<\/p>\n On his journey so far…<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had to be a strong character. Emotionally and mentally, I\u2019ve had to get really strong. I have my family, friends and fianc\u00e9e around me \u2013 keeping me uplifted and always pushing me. I\u2019ve had to push myself quite a bit to get through a lot of hard times \u2013 it\u2019s made me the man I am today; strong, fearless and ready to attack the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a> The new West Ham head coach, Rita Guarino, has said her priority is staying in the Women\u2019s Super League but she has full belief in the squad\u2019s quality. The 54-year-old, formerly in charge of Juventus and Inter, replaced Rehanne Skinner during the WSL\u2019s winter break on an 18-month contract, with West Ham second bottom after winning one of 11 games.<\/p>\n Guarino said: \u201cI analysed not just the results of the team but also the performances, and in certain games I saw a high performance level. In certain games, they deserved more than what they obtained. So I think they have a good quality. I believe in this team.\u201d<\/p>\n The Italian spoke in English throughout her first press conference, only once needing to turn to her translator to double-check the meaning of a question. She was calm and professional and said she was excited by the challenge in the WSL: \u201cFor me it\u2019s a great opportunity for me to coach here in one of the best leagues in the world, so it\u2019s exciting to start and I think this environment fits with my values, so I\u2019m very happy to be here. I think here there is more intensity in the game, so it\u2019s much faster than Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked what she would like to achieve at West Ham, she said: \u201cIn this moment, I am very focused on staying in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Weather causes postponements<\/p>\n Storm Goretti \u2013 a winter weather threat that sounds like a medal contender at a hip, new sporting event being introduced at the 2028 LA Olympics \u2013 is having an effect on the football calender. All good so far in the FA Cup<\/a> but a couple of games in League Two have gone. We\u2019ll keep you updated throughout the day.<\/p>\n League Two Share<\/a><\/p>\n More reaction from Arsenal 0-0 Liverpool. This is Jonathan Liew\u2019s take.<\/p>\n \u201cArsenal, we must remind ourselves, are the country\u2019s outstanding team right now, their five-point gap at the top extended to six by full-time. They are top of the Champions League table. They have players who can blow the back of your head right off. And yet. Is anyone in this stadium actually enjoying themselves?\u201d<\/p>\n And here\u2019s the match report from Ed Aarons.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Manchester City sign Semenyo<\/p>\n It\u2019s official: Antoine Semenyo is now a Manchester City player after signing a \u00a362.5m deal. The 26-year-old\u2019s transfer from Bournemouth, who could receive \u00a31.5m in add-ons and are due 10% of any future profit, was confirmed this morning. Semenyo could make his debut against Exeter in the FA Cup<\/a> on Saturday.<\/p>\n A great move for everyone? Or will Semenyo find himself in an Eberechi Eze situation i.e. going from being the main man to one who occasionally looks devastating but spends plenty of time warming the bench?<\/p>\n Antoine Semenyo signs for Manchester City. Photograph: Manchester CityShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.06 EST<\/p>\n As for Connor Bradley\u2019s injury, we\u2019ll likely get an update today. Slot had this to say in his press conference last night.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know yet but it didn\u2019t look great if you have to go off on a stretcher. When we see the video, we both think probably the same but we have to wait on the scans if it\u2019s that bad. Or maybe he can play on Monday – let\u2019s hope so.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Martinelli offers apology to Bradley<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start with the big talking point last night \u2013 Gabriel Martinelli trying to shove the injured Connor Bradley off the pitch. The Arsenal winger has now offered an apology to the Liverpool right-back, who was taken off on a stretcher.<\/p>\n Martinelli posted on Instagram: \u201cConor and I have messaged and I have already apologised to him. I really didn\u2019t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment. I want to say I\u2019m deeply sorry for reacting. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n At the time, Gary Neville on co-comms wanted half of the Liverpool side to knock seven bells out of the Brazilian although Reds boss Arne Slot had a much calmer take.<\/p>\n \u201cYou cannot expect from Martinelli that he thinks so clear in the 94th minute. I am 100 per cent sure if he knew what the injury might be that he we would never do that.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it doesn\u2019t look great if he has the injury which we fear he might have, of course. But football, time-wasting, diving has come to the situation that players think in the 94th minute that probably that is happening again. Because I have seen it happening against us so many times this season that I can understand that Martinelli might have thought that this was time-wasting as well and he couldn\u2019t have thought, \u2018This is Liverpool, they don\u2019t do this.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n The Premier League steps aside this weekend after Arsenal showed just what worthy champions they\u2019d be were outplayed in a 0-0 home draw with a Liverpool side that only they seem to be afraid of. The Gunners didn\u2019t have a shot between the 44th and 90th minutes in Thursday night\u2019s encounter but, hey, Mikel Arteta\u2019s side are six points clear with 17 games to go so it\u2019s up to everyone else to do better.<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tom_Garry.png\")
Tom Garry<\/p>\n
Oldham Athletic and Notts County – OFF
Chesterfield vs Colchester – OFF<\/p>\n