Serie A – Italy
Kevin Mirallas (Fiorentina)
Mirallas came on for the second half of La Viola’s 1-1 draw with Lazio, replacing Edimilson Fernandes in midfield – currently on loan from West Ham United. The Belgian got the assist for Luis Muriel’s equaliser on the hour mark, as well as dribbling past a couple of players and getting three shots off, none of which were on target.
La Liga – Spain
Sandro Ramirez (Real Sociedad)
Sandro was given 90 minutes up front for Sociedad’s 5-2 defeat at Sevilla, barely entering the opposition box, having three shots off target and one blocked. Real Sociedad were then quoted in El Diario Vasco to have decided to send the forward back to Everton at the end of his loan spell as they have no interest in signing him. He’s not actually scored for them yet.
Super Lig – Turkey
Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray)
Onyekuru bagged a brace in a 5-0 demolition of Antalyaspor last weekend, scoring with both of his only shots of the game from the left wing. He made two key passes as well in a clinical performance. It may be difficult to keep hold of this lad in the Summer if he gains a work permit, but he could be special if Everton manage it.
Premier Liga – Russia
Nikola Vlasic (CSKA Moscow)
Vlasic started out on the right wing for CSKA’s 3-0 win over Rubin Kazan, but popped up all over the field when the action wasn’t coming down his flank. The Croat saw three shots saved as well as having another blocked.
Eredivisie – Netherlands
Cuco Martina (Feyenoord)
Cuco continued at centre-back for the 1-1 draw at Vitesse, making three clearances and three interceptions as well as blocking a shot. But, wait for it, he did give away the opposition’s equaliser. It was going so well.
First Division A – Belgium
Yannick Bolasie (Anderlecht)
Bolasie turned provider this week after last week’s brace, assisting Sven Kums for Anderlecht’s opener in a 2-0 win over KV Kortrijk from the left wing.
Super League – Switzerland
Shani Tarashaj (Grasshoppers)
Tarashaj didn’t make the squad for the 1-0 defeat to Young Boys.
Scottish Championship
Shayne Lavery (Falkirk)
Lavery didn’t make the squad for neither his side’s 2-0 win over Ayr United or the 2-1 defeat at Ross County.
Premier League
Oumar Niasse (Cardiff City)
Oumar didn’t have the best of games despite his side beating West Ham 2-0, but did put himself about keenly, winning 12 of 27 duels. He had three shots off target and saw one saved.
Championship
Matthew Pennington (Ipswich Town)
Pennington has missed the last couple of games (1-1 draws with West Bromwich Albion and Bristol City) through illness but is hoping to return for this weekend’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
Antonee Robinson and Beni Baningime (Wigan Athletic)
Antonee Robinson is back! After four months out and ankle surgery, the American left-back returned for the 3-2 defeat at Reading, and caused problems with his pace as well as making three interceptions, blocking a shot and making an interception. He dribbled past three players, but was booked for a foul too.
He didn’t have as good of a game in the 3-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in midweek, though, and struggled in difficult conditions up against Bradley Dack. He won seven of his 12 duels, but it was a day to forget.
Beni has been out injured for several weeks so made the squad for neither of Rovers’ games last week.
Ashley Williams (Stoke City)
Williams came off the bench in both 0-0 draws at Queens Park Rangers and Derby County respectively, chipping in at the back to keep a couple of clean sheets. He was interestingly deployed just in front of the defenders for the last 20 minutes at QPR – Ashley Williams as a midfielder?! However, he joined a back three against Derby for the final half hour.
Muhamed Besic (Middlesbrough)
Besic started alongside John Obi Mikel for Boro’s 2-1 defeat at Brentford before being swapped for Jordan Hugill with a quarter of an hour remaining, and it was his initial shot which led to the visitors’ only goal.
It was the same arrangement for the 2-1 defeat to Preston North End, with Besic again subbed for Hugill after a strong showing in which he made two key passes as well as popping up all over the park both going forward and tracking back.
Joe Williams and Callum Connolly (Bolton Wanderers)
Both youngsters started together for both Bolton’s 2-1 win over Millwall and 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last week, and both put in excellent performances in the first game in bagging an assist each as central midfield partners. Williams put himself about fantastically and won nine of his 15 duels, making two key passes – the same as Connolly as Bolton found a promising partnership in the middle of the park.
Strangely, Connolly was moved back to left-back for the midweek game against Wednesday (sorry, it was on Tuesday) and didn’t have as good as a game, and neither did Williams. It wasn’t a bad performance by the pair, with Williams winning eight duels of 17, but it would have been nice to see Phil Parkinson stick with the pair in midfield.
Kieron Dowell (Sheffield United)
Dowell was left on the bench for the 2-0 win over Rotherham United, but started as a No.10 for the win over Brentford by the same scoreline. He showed some promise on the ball in the first half, but was unluckily sacrificed at the interval following the dismissal of Blades striker Gary Madine.
Mason Holgate (West Bromwich Albion)
Holgate missed the 1-1 draw with Ipswich after picking up a slight knock at the end of the previous game at Leeds, but made a scoring return to the starting eleven in the 3-0 win over Swansea City in midweek. Not bad for a ‘centre-back’.
League One
Luke Garbutt (Oxford United)
Garbutt started on the left wing for Oxford’s 1-0 defeat at Gillingham, linking up well with teammate Mark Sykes before being brought off after an hour. He stayed on the bench for the 0-0 draw at Rochdale in midweek.
Anthony Evans (Blackpool)
Evans was left on the bench for the 2-2 draw with Southend United when Blackpool welcomed their fans back to Bloomfield Road after a four-year boycott against their disgraced former owner. The youngster came on for the last ten minutes of his side’s 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers in midweek, and had a chance to snatch it at the death but missed the target from inside the box.
Evo-Stik Premier League
Joe Hilton (Marine)
Hilton and Marine were on the wrong end of a couple of 2-1 scorelines against Scarborough Athletic and South Shields respectively last week.
@TomClarke40
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