Che Adams

#PLStories – #SirKennyDalglish admires #CheAdams and feels hopeful about his #Scotland national team contribution #SaintsFC

SIR Kenny Dalglish believes the cheers of a grateful nation can inspire Che Adams to be a Euro 2020 star for Scotland. The former England Under-20s youngster has switched allegiances to hand Steve Clarke’s squad a major boost ahead of this summer’s tournament. Scotland have lacked a natural goal-getter in recent years but they now have a player of genuine threat up top following Adams’ decision to nail his colours to the Dark Blues’ mast. As Scotland’s joint-record goalscorer, Dalglish knows what it takes to impress the Tartan Army. And he reckons 24-year-old Saints striker Adams – who struck nine times in the Premier League last season, as well as scoring his maiden international goal on his third cap against the Faroe Islands – has the tools required to help Scotland build a path to the latter stages. “I think it’s important to get someone who can score goals,” said the country’s most capped player. “Getting Che Adams into the squad is a brilliant bonus for us. “The boy worked his socks off in the games he had. “He’ll enjoy it even better when the crowds get back in and get right behind him. “It’s a difficult position to fill, striker. There aren’t too many about. Not too many are born in Scotland and you can’t manufacture one. “We’re grateful for him coming in and I’m sure he’ll be an asset.” The former Liverpool icon joked he would like to see ex-Anfield skipper Steven Gerrard offer up more than just Jon McLaughlin and Nathan Patterson from his title-winning Rangers squad to the national cause. But Dalglish is delighted to see Clarke’s side packed with Premier League experience, with the likes of captain Andy Robertson of Liverpool, Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay and Aston Villa’s John McGinn certs to play key roles as Scotland look to escape a group stage for the first time at a major tournament. “The stronger the depth of the squad, the better chance you have of being successful,” said Dalglish, who won 102 caps. “The players now, there are four or five who are first choices in the Premier League. It’s a while since we’ve had that and that’s good going forward. “Steven Gerrard could do with signing another couple of Scottish players to get them in the Rangers team – that might improve their performances as well. “Steven’s got a few English and foreign players in there which doesn’t help us and they’re the best team in Scotland by far at the moment. “But in saying that, Celtic still have a couple of boys playing for Scotland. “They’re playing at a higher level, I think, although this year has been difficult for them. It all looks pretty promising but we’ve got a really, really difficult section. Just to be there, as long as we can compete, I’m sure we’ll get satisfaction. “Stevie Clarke has done a fantastic job. The squad that he’s getting to pick from is getting stronger and deeper the longer we go on. “There are more boys playing at the top level in the Premier League in England than what there was before when he came in. “I think we’re heading positively in the right direction.” Scotland have the honour of hosting both the Czech Republic and Croatia at Hampden in between a trip to Wembley to face England. But with three of the four teams in Group D potentially qualifying for the second round, Scotland will fancy their chances. But Dalglish cautioned: “It’s a great opportunity until you mention who we’ve got to play. Croatia beat England in the semi-final at the last World Cup and then you’ve got England who aren’t too shabby either. “If you can get past those then you’ve got a chance. “What do you think the other sides will be saying about Scotland? They’ll be going ‘Och, we’re alright, this will be a doddle, we’ll beat them.’ “You don’t think England will be saying ‘We’ll beat them?’ I’ve not seen or heard an England player say, ‘That’s a hard game for us’. “I don’t think they’ll underestimate us, but they’ll still be confident of beating us. Just let’s hope that confidence turns into complacency and gives us a better chance.”

#PLStories – Burnley boss #SeanDyche does not want to think about moving to other clubs and explains his satisfaction at Burnley #BurnleyFC

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has indicated he expects to hold talks over a new contract at the club in the coming weeks. With one year left on his existing deal, speculation over Dyche’s future is sure to ramp up following confirmation that Roy Hodgson will leave Crystal Palace this summer, but the Clarets’ owners ALK Capital are keen to keep the 49-year-old. “I made it clear the main focus for me was making sure we were in the Premier League,” said Dyche, who should now find his negotiating position strengthened considerably. “Now that’s achieved, it’s different on that score, so I’m sure over the coming weeks they will be speaking to me. They’ve certainly mentioned that they want to.” In his eight-and-a-half years at Turf Moor, Dyche has twice guided Burnley to promotion to the Premier League, and next season will be a sixth consecutive campaign in the top flight. Dyche guided Burnley into Europe three years ago, and has defied the club’s financial restraints to establish them in the top flight. The attraction of leaving for better-funded employers could potentially lure Dyche, frequently linked with jobs elsewhere, though following the takeover over Burnley by Alan Pace’s investment group earlier this year, the picture appears to be changing for the better. “I’ve always maintained the same thought: Eventually things in football change,” Dyche said when asked if he was happy at Burnley. “I’m always flattered by any links because I respect the whole of football. I played through my career up and down the levels of football, smaller clubs, bigger clubs, etc etc, so my respect has always been there. “My role here is still what it is, I’m working hard, I think that’s been shown this season with myself, my staff and my players and I never lose sight of that. Things can change in the future, who knows? You can’t guarantee things in football. “It’s not easy to plan a future in football – doors open and doors close. At the moment I’m still the Burnley manager. I must have said that down these eight and a half years a number of times.” Dyche has declared this season a success with safety assured despite a lengthy injury list, but the odds will be against them ending what is already a club-record run of nine home top-flight games without a win when they host Champions League-chasing Liverpool tonight. England goalkeeper Nick Pope could again be missing with a knee injury after sitting out Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat to Leeds, with Robbie Brady, Kevin Long, Phil Bardsley and Dale Stephens all ruled out. Injuries have hit Burnley hard this term after a lack of investment across previous transfer windows even as the contracts of several first-team players were allowed to run down. A willingness to address that could be key to the club’s chances of persuading Dyche to extend his stay. “We’ve got to make sure we’re securing the right players, and then looking outside of our group to secure players too,” Dyche said. “I think any work we can that benefits the team is a major plus. It is tricky. We do have open lines of communication here with all our players and their agents, and trying to recruit is a tricky side of the industry – probably the toughest. “That’s part of the challenge. We’ve been down this road before and we’re going to go down this road again.”
Ralph Hasenhuttl

#PLStories – #RalphHasenhuttl admits Southampton had no answer to Leeds playing style in 2nd half #LUFC #SaintsFC

MANAGER Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted Saints failed to find another gear in the second half as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Leeds United The hosts had a good number of chances in the opening period against Marcelo Bielsa’s side – and even hit the woodwork from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick early in the second half. But Hasenhuttl was left to ponder defeat in front of the 8,000 returning Saints fans in attendance. Patrick Bamford put Leeds in front on 73 minutes before Tyler Roberts slotted home a second in stoppage time. Hasenhuttl said: “I think it was a very good first half from us but without the final goal – which was absolutely possible I think. “We cannot play much better than we did for the first half. It was against a physically strong team – we were only dominating. “But in the second half, you can say that very often, it is normal that the opponent had more chances. “I didn’t have the feeling that we gave a lot of chances away in the second half but you could feel they had another gear that we didn’t find. “It was tough, it was tight and finally we hadn’t been the team who scored after a lot of goals we scored in the past here. “We have been a little bit closer to them, like the last game but still not enough.”
Che Adams

#PLStories – #RalphHasenhuttl reveals #CheAdams was taken off at half time due to injury #SaintsFC

BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl revealed frontman Che Adams was forced off against Leeds United at St Mary’s due to a slight injury. The Scotland international was replaced by Danny Ings at the interval, despite fashioning a couple of chances against Marcelo Bielsa’s side. The former Birmingham frontman twice worked keeper Kiko Casilla in front of the returning 8,000 Saints supporters before having to be replaced. Saints went on to lose 2-0 with Patrick Bamford and Tyler Roberts on target for the visitors in the second half. Asked about replacing Adams at the break, Hasenhuttl said: “It was a little bit of a groin problem. “He gave us the signal that he could not go on. I think he was also tired. “Saturday-Tuesday and, again, against a team that is physically very strong.” Adams has played 45 times for club and country this season, scoring 10 goals.