Kevin Mirallas (Fiorentina)
Mirallas returned from his winter break this week, starting on the left wing for a 2-0 win over Torino. He had a good chance saved in the first half, but was brought off after 52 minutes after doing next to nothing for the rest of the time.
Sandro Ramirez (Real Sociedad)
Sandro has sat out the last few games due to injury, and missed this week’s 3-2 win over Espanyol.
Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray)
Galatasaray’s first competitive match back from the winter break was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions in Turkey. He also sat out a friendly away at RB Leipzig last week.
Matthew Pennington (Ipswich Town)
Pennington moved out to right-back for the 1-0 win over Rotherham United to accomodate new signing James Collins, and performed very well in his defensive duties, making nine clearances and winning ten of fourteen duels, particularly commanding in the air. Getting forward again might take some getting used to, having played at centre-back throughout the season so far.
Luke Garbutt (Oxford United)
Garbutt was back on the bench for the 2-2 draw with Fleetwood Town, and didn’t make an appearance off it.
Antonee Robinson and Callum Connolly (Wigan Athletic)
Connolly stayed on the bench for the 3-0 win over Aston Villa while Robinson continues his recovery from ankle surgery.
Ashley Williams and Cuco Martina (Stoke City)
Williams made several good interceptions and clearances but couldn’t prevent a 3-1 defeat to Brentford, before performing equally as solidly for most of the FA Cup game against Shrewsbury Town but fading for the last half-hour, allowing Shrewsbury to come through to win the game 3-2.
Martina has been out of both new manager Nathan Jones’ matchday squads so far, with no suggestion of injury.
Muhamed Besic (Middlesbrough)
Besic had a decent game against Birmingham City but played a few misplaced passes, so was sacrificed for Stewart Downing after 69 minutes, as Boro went on to win the game 2-1.
Yannick Bolasie (Aston Villa)
Bolasie had a bit of a shocker in the 3-0 defeat to Wigan, with one shot going close to the corner flag summing up his day. He lasted the full 90, though, as several of his teammates had equally as bad a game.
Joe Williams (Bolton Wanderers)
Williams continues his recovery from a thigh tendon injury, watching his side lose 2-1 to Bristol City who were interested in him this transfer window before being rebuffed by Everton.
Kieran Dowell (Sheffield United)
Dowell came on as a central attacking midfielder for the last 22 minutes of the Blades’ 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, but didn’t have much time to make an impact despite being booked.
Mason Holgate (West Bromwich Albion)
Holgate excelled on his Championship debut after impressing in the FA Cup last week, getting an assist for his side’s only goal of this week’s 1-1 draw with Norwich. He had a powerful shot himself with his left foot, as well as putting in some solid defensive work, making five clearances and blocking two shots, also winning thirteen of his seventeen duels. Getting stuck in at right-back.
Shayne Lavery (Falkirk)
The young striker came off the bench late on again for his side’s 1-1 draw with Partick Thistle.
Joe Hilton (Marine)
The young ‘keeper captained his new side to a 3-0 away win over Buxton.
Nikola Vlasic (CSKA Moscow)
Nikola Vlasic continues his winter break, after making some interesting comments this week about playing under Sam Allardyce, saying Everton played ‘awful football, if you could call it football’. Can’t say we disagree with him, to be fair.
– @TomClarke40
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