Miguel Almiron and Eddie Howe have each claimed monthly Premier League awards in a stunning Newcastle United treble.
Almiron is the Player of the Month for October and also takes the Goal of the Month prize, with coach Howe named the Manager of the Month.
Newcastle become the first club to collect all three awards in a single month since November 2016, when Chelsea trio Diego Costa, Pedro and Antonio Conte stood out in their title-winning campaign.
The Magpies' wins are reward for an outstanding October, in which Newcastle claimed 16 points from a possible 18 and scored 16 goals in the process – two league highs.
No player contributed more to that success than Almiron, scoring six often spectacular goals in six matches from chances worth just 2.7 expected goals (xG).
Only Erling Haaland matched Almiron's October goals return, while no player in the Premier League outperformed their xG for the month by such a margin.
Almiron, who also scored in his first appearance of November to move to eight for the season, had never previously netted more than four goals across an entire Premier League campaign.
The winger is the first Newcastle player to receive the award since Joe Willock in May 2021, although two of Almiron's team-mates – Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes – were also nominated in October. Guimaraes encouraged fans to vote instead for Almiron.
A Goal of the Month triumph is a little less rare, given Allan Saint-Maximin's volley against Wolves was the August pick, while Almiron himself earned the honour in April of this year when he netted at home to Crystal Palace.
It was the first of two Almiron goals in the 4-1 defeat of Fulham that saw him recognised on this occasion, a dipping strike from Guimaraes' pass.
Howe likewise followed up late-season 2021-22 success in his own category, having been the Manager of the Month back in February.
That was Howe's first such win as Newcastle boss but his fourth in all, taking the award on three occasions in his time with Bournemouth.
Howe beat off competition from Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola – the only two managers above Newcastle in the table heading into the final round of fixtures before the World Cup.
Stuart Attwell named in VAR team for Euro 2024 amid Forest controversy
Stuart Attwell will be one of the VARs at this summer’s European Championship in Germany, with Anthony Taylor among the on-field referees.
The news comes two days on from the pair being on duty for Nottingham Forest’s 2-0 loss at Everton, after which the officiating was attacked in a social media post from the visitors that referenced Attwell being “a Luton fan”.
The post said there had been “three extremely poor decisions – three penalties not given – which we simply cannot accept”, adding: “We warned the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game, but they didn’t change him.”
On Monday, Forest said they had submitted a formal request to PGMOL for audio of discussions between Attwell and Taylor in relation to the three incidents to be made public.
They also called on PGMOL to change its rules on officials’ allegiances “to account for contextual rivalries in the league table’, not just local rivalries”.
Three Forest members of staff – boss Nuno Espirito Santo, referee analyst Mark Clattenburg and full-back Neco Williams – have been asked by the Football Association for their observations following comments they made after the match at Goodison Park, while the Premier League is examining the club’s social media post.
As well as Taylor, with assistants Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn, Michael Oliver will be the other English on-field referee at the Euros, assisted by Stuart Burt and Dan Cook, UEFA said on Tuesday. The other English VAR alongside Attwell will be David Coote.
Barcelona could demand Real Madrid replay if ‘phantom goal’ deemed legal
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has threatened legal action and could demand a replay after his side were denied a goal against Real Madrid at the weekend.
Lamine Yamal thought he had scored in the 28th minute of Sunday’s 3-2 LaLiga loss at the Bernabeu but, after a lengthy VAR check, it was ruled the ball had not cross the line.
The Spanish competition does not use goalline technology.
Laporta has requested footage and audio of the decision-making over this “phantom goal” incident from the Spanish Football Federation and will then consider further action.
He said in a statement on the club’s website, fcbarcelona.com: “If, once this documentation has been analysed, the club understands that an error was made in the revision of the incident, we will take all available measures to reverse the situation, without discounting, obviously, any necessary legal action.
“If it is confirmed that it was a legal goal, we will move ahead and we do not discount requesting that the game be replayed, just as has happened in another game in Europe due to a VAR error.”
Laporta was referring to a decision to replay a Belgian Pro League between Anderlecht and Genk because of a VAR error earlier this season.
Real went on to win the match 3-2 with a stoppage-time winner from Jude Bellingham and are now 11 points clear of Barca at the top of the table.
Football rumours: Five clubs in the race to sign Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise
Five clubs are in the race to sign Crystal Palace forward Michael Olise, Football Insider reports, with Arsenal and Manchester United joining Manchester City, Juventus and Chelsea. The 22-year-old has scored seven goals in 14 games for Palace this season.
The Sun says Barcelona have joined Arsenal in the fight for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak with the Spanish club hoping to strike a deal with the Magpies for a player reported to be valued at around £90million. The 24-year-old Sweden international has scored 17 goals in 24 Premier League games for Newcastle this season.
Meanwhile, the credentials of Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will be assessed by new technical director Jason Wilcox as the club decides on the Dutchman’s future, according to the Telegraph, while the same outlet says former Wolvers manager Julen Lopetegui is a contender to replace David Moyes at West Ham.
Social media round-upPlayers to watchViktor Gyokeres: The 25-year-old Sporting Lisbon striker is Arsenal’s top target as the Gunners prepare to make several signings this summer, Football Transfers reports.
Wilfred Ndidi: Crystal Palace are interested in the Leicester midfielder who is available for a free transfer this summer, according to Talksport.
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