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Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris has withdrawn from international duty with the France national team after suffering an injury, according to reliable journalist Rob Guest.

The Lowdown: International fixtures

France manager Didier Deschamps is preparing his side for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Austria and Denmark this week, with World Cup squad selection just around the corner.

Lloris, who is also his national team’s captain, has made an incredible 139 appearances for his country since making his debut back in 2008.

During his tenure, the 35-year-old has kept 62 clean-sheets.

The Latest: Lloris’ injury

Guest has now shared an update on the French goalkeeper, revealing a potential injury blow for Tottenham boss Antonio Conte.

Taking to Twitter, the reliable journalist said:

“Hugo Lloris is now not part of the France squad for this week’s games due to injury. He was at their Clairefontaine base on Monday morning but an issue was detected by the team’s doctor.”

In the adjacent article, he reports the shot-stopper had a small injury to his right thigh diagnosed by the medical team, resulting in his immediate withdrawal from France’s squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures.

The Spurs hierarchy will be hoping this injury isn’t too serious, with north London rivals Arsenal as their next opponent in the Premier League.

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The Verdict: Fingers crossed…

Having made a stunning 425 appearances for the Lilywhites, it is fair to say Lloris is crucial to Spurs’ success, as he has been the only constant in the squad since he signed for the club in 2012.

So far this season, the goalkeeper has played every minute of Premier League and Champions League football. In the English top-flight, he has averaged 2.3 saves per game – 0.7 saves in the penalty area and 1.6 saves from outside the box (via WhoScored).

Conte will be hoping his captain can make a swift recovery in time for the north London derby. Otherwise, new addition Fraser Forster may have to make his debut for the club.

Everton defender Nathan Patterson faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines after sustaining an injury blow whilst on international duty with Scotland, according to The Times’ Paul Joyce.

The Lowdown: Patterson’s injury

The 20-year-old has risen to prominence at Goodison Park this season after becoming Frank Lampard’s first-choice option at right-back. As a result, the youngster continues to play a big part for his national team, having made his Scotland debut last summer.

However, during the Tartan Army’s 3-0 victory over Ukraine last Wednesday, Patterson was forced off the pitch with an injury after just 26 minutes of play.

The Latest: Patterson injury timeline

According to Joyce’s report for The Times, Patterson is set to be sidelined for six weeks as a result of his knee injury.

That length of time would see the full-back ruled out of action until the first week of November, returning just days before Everton’s final fixture of the first half of the Premier League season.

Consequently, it would see Patterson missing seven games in total.

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The Verdict: Big loss

Having earned statistical comparisons to legendary Everton right-back Seamus Coleman, it is easy to see why Lampard has placed such trust in the 20-year-old.

As per FBRef, compared with positional peers across Europe over the past year, the Scotland gem ranks in the 96th percentile for tackles, the 93rd percentile for pressures and the 81st percentile for dribbles completed.

As a result, Patterson has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ by journalist Josh Bunting for the start that he has made to his first full season with the Toffees, with WhoScored citing him as the squad’s second highest-rated outfield player so far in 2022/23.

Therefore, his absence is sure to come as a blow to Lampard and Everton, at time when they had already been dealing with several other defensive injuries.

Nottingham Forest are currently struggling in the Premier League after five straight defeats and as a result, are at the bottom of the table at the moment.

With just four points taken from their first eight outings in the top flight, Steve Cooper’s side are struggling to make their presence known which will need to improve drastically over the coming weeks and months if they are to have any chance of retaining their status in the Premier League.

Although the problems are mounting at The City Ground, some of the young players who are waiting for their golden opportunity to feature in the senior Forest team are thriving out on loan, with striker Will Swan proving his worth whilst at Mansfield Town.

The talented 21-year-old is making his mark in League Two and could become the next prodigy that Cooper could unearth when he returns next summer, with the player possessing “lovely” ability in the words of journalist Josh Bunting.

Swan has scored three goals and delivered one assist over his 12 appearances, with a goal contribution every 140 minutes so far which will surely catch the eye of the Forest boss as his side struggle back in Nottingham.

More recently, the talented centre-forward featured in the starting line-up against Derby County in the EFL trophy, with the game going down to a penalty shoot-out last night.

Swan scored his spot kick, had six shots on goal, completed 100% of his crosses and made two tackles and two interceptions over the course of the game, proving that he is a positive presence in the team, both from an offensive and defensive point of view.

The centre-forward was lavished with praise by his current manager Nigel Clough who hailed Swan a upon his arrival at Field Mill, saying:

“He’ll bring youth and energy to the team. He’s a good all-round striker and a good finisher, given the opportunity.”

If Swan did get the chance to play for Forest in the Premier League it wouldn’t be the first time he has been promoted to the senior team. He impressed for Forest U21s, scoring 12 goals in 22 appearances which saw Chris Houghton give him a chance in the Championship over the 2020/21 season.

However, the opportunity may have come too soon for the young striker as he failed to make an impact on the side and was quickly replaced after just two appearances.

With that being said, if Swan can continue to develop his talents and abilities with Mansfield over the season ahead it could finally be the perfect time for Cooper to unleash the young talent in his team when he returns from loan.

After a summer in which they added a plethora of new signings, a talented player such as Swan could well save them millions in forthcoming windows.

Southampton have suffered in the early stages of this Premier League campaign, and despite having impressed throughout his tenure at times, their loss to Everton might be the final nail in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s coffin. Following the defeat, a reliable source has offered an update on his future.

What’s the latest?

According to The Daily Mail, the Austrian is in serious danger of losing his job following three straight defeats.

Martin Semmens and the hierarchy at the club seem to already have plans in place, with Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper under consideration to replace him.

With the Tricky Trees boss also on thin ice, it could represent something of a managerial switch-up should they both lose their jobs after their next games.

He’s a dream Hasenhuttl heir

Although many might question the decision to bin off Hasenhuttl, having won just twice this season, his Saints side sit within a point of the relegation zone.

It has hardly been a sensational campaign, and despite what seemed like a fine summer transfer window, their lack of experience on the pitch is starting to show in their performances.

To replace him with Cooper could mark a fresh start for both club and manager, with the 42-year-old having earned plaudits for finally leading Forest back to the Premier League last season after their 23-year wait. It was a feat that Jurgen Klopp described as “crazy”.

He would bring in a pragmatic style that might suit this Saints side more, solidifying them whilst allowing their more technical players to thrive on the break.

One thing that will certainly impress those selecting the new boss is Cooper’s well-known ability to work with youth.

Having started his career as a part of Wrexham’s coaching staff, he was soon promoted to manager of Liverpool’s academy before moving on to the England U16s and then the U17s, where he triumphed at the World Cup.

With Southampton having the second youngest average age squad in the league, at just 24.1, this does seem like a match made in heaven.

It is hard to see Hasenhuttl surviving much longer given their poor form, and with Cooper seemingly set to become an option for his replacement, it might force their hand even sooner.

Sunderland reporter for The Chronicle James Hunter has been left thrilled by some injury news involving Niall Huggins.

The Lowdown: Rarely seen

Having signed a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light from Leeds United back in the 2021 summer transfer window, with manager at the time Lee Johnson praising his versatility, physicality and speed, the youngster looked a really exciting capture.

However, his career on Wearside has been plagued by injuries so far, and he has only managed to make four senior appearances since joining, and none since September of last year.

The Latest: U21s comeback

Taking to Twitter, Hunter gave his reaction after Huggins played 45 minutes for the Black Cats’ U21s in a 3-1 loss to Reading on Friday night, calling it a ‘big positive’:

“Despite the result, big positive takeaway from the U21 game was Huggins’ comeback. Just played the first 45mins but looked pretty sharp – you wouldn’t have known he’d been out for 13 months. Needs more gametime, but this was a good first step.”

He of course won’t be involved in the first-team this week against Wigan, but getting minutes under his belt is the first major step in making that leap back into the senior squad.

The Verdict: Promising signs

The fact that Huggins looked ‘sharp’ upon his return is a positive sign that he can recover from his long-term injury quickly and hopefully get back to playing regular football without any more problems.

There was a lot of promise when he first joined, and there could still be a place for him in Tony Mowbray’s squad.

A player capable of playing at both right-back and left-back, Mowbray only has two other natural full-backs in his senior squad, and so the 21-year-old could yet play a key role in the rest of the season.

Aston Villa's rise under Unai Emery has been quite something. The Villans have gone from battling relegation to qualifying for a place in the Europa Conference League. And, now, if their start to the current Premier League season is anything to go by, they're on course to reach unprecedented heights at Villa Park.

Emery deserves a lot of praise for his side's transformation, but the recruitment has also been a great success story. Villa have flexed their financial muscles to welcome a number of improvements, creating a squad worthy of beating just about anyone in England's top flight on their day. They could yet add to that squad in the January transfer window, too, especially after news emerged of one particular target's desire to leave his current club.

Latest Aston Villa transfer news

During the summer transfer window, the likes of Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, and Nicolo Zaniolo all came through the door at Villa Park. Diaby has particularly impressed since making the switch from Bayer Leverkusen, with five goal involvements in eight Premier League games representing a blistering start. Those in the Midlands will be hoping to see any January reinforcements make a similar impact, which could include Dani Ceballos.

The latest Ceballos transfer news has claimed that the midfielder wants to leave Real Madrid. According to reports in Spain, the former Arsenal loanee has requested a transfer away from the La Liga giants after struggling for game time at the Santiago Bernabeu. Previous Aston Villa transfer news suggested that the Villans were lining up an offer for the Spaniard, and could spend up to €18m (£15m) to secure his signature.

When the January transfer window swings open, Ceballos will certainly be one to keep an eye on, it seems, as Aston Villa seek further reinforcements for Emery's side.

How has Dani Ceballos performed at Real Madrid?

Since returning to Real Madrid at the end of his Arsenal loan spell in 2021, Ceballos has struggled to ever really make his mark at the club, culminating in a struggle for minutes this season. So far this season, the 27-year-old has made just four appearances, with none of those being starts. Part of that has been down to injury, but even since returning to full fitness, Ceballos has struggled to break into the side.

It's not much of a surprise, either, given the quality that Madrid have in midfield. If it's not Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, it's Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, and that's without even mentioning Jude Bellingham, who's been playing slightly more advanced. With that said, if Ceballos wants minutes on the pitch, then it's unlikely to come at the Bernabeu.

A move could suit all parties then, especially if the midfielder's next club get the best out of him. When at the top of his game, Ceballos has earned deserved praise, including from Robin van Persie, who said after the then-Arsenal man scored in his side's victory over Sheffield United, via The Metro: "It was a very good finish. He’s a very clever player because most players would cross it there. He waits, he sees that the back-post is free for a cross but he’s guessing, hoping that the ‘keeper gambles.

"I think the ‘keeper doesn’t do great but it’s a great goal. His idea to play it out like that from the first touch to his third touch. Great goal. Beautiful play."

Nathan Patterson is reportedly ‘back fit’ and ‘expected’ to be in the squad for Everton for their trip to Fulham in the Premier League this evening.

The Lowdown: Out since September

Patterson has been out since September with an injury to his ankle suffered during international duty, and has missed the Merseyside club’s last five matches in the top flight.

The right-back had previously started every game ahead of club captain Seamus Coleman, showing how much Frank Lampard rates him.

The Latest: Back in squad

Taking to Twitter on Thursday afternoon, Toffees reporter for The Athletic Patrick Boyland has shared that Patterson is ‘back fit’ and ‘expected’ to be in the squad against Fulham:

“Nathan Patterson back fit and expected to be in Everton’s squad to face Fulham at the weekend. Good news – has been missed.”

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The Verdict: Huge boost

Having Patterson back and available is no doubt a huge boost for Lampard and his side.

The Scotland international has ranked as the Blues’ fourth-best performer in the Premier League so far this season, and no player in the squad has averaged more tackles (four) per match than him (WhoScored).

Some of his performances have really stood out, notably in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool in September, when journalist Paul Brown claimed that he was ‘absolutely tremendous’, ‘phenomenal’ and ‘one of the best players on the pitch’.

Nonetheless, to get a result against high-flying Fulham, Everton will need their best players on the pitch, and Patterson certainly gives them an extra dimension at right-back.

Sunderland have had their fair share of transfer flops and gaffes over the recent years, as they have struggled to land the right player in the market at times.

They have also allowed players to leave too early and may look back on some of their decisions with regret as they have watched them go on to greater things.

One player with whom the club had a howler was Jon McLaughlin. They allowed the goalkeeper to leave the Black Cats on a free transfer in the summer of 2020 after failing to agree fresh terms with him.

He played 90 games in all competitions across two seasons with Sunderland from 2018 through to 2020, keeping 27 clean sheets in that time. This included 11 clean sheets in 32 League One outings in the 2019/20 campaign, keeping a shutout roughly once every three matches.

Then-Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson revealed that he did not want the veteran shot-stopper to depart the Stadium of Light, saying: “Jon is someone we would like to keep. The chairman and [Head of Football Operations] Richard Hill will be working on that.

“Jon’s recent record puts him up there as one of the best in this division. He is calm and has a lot of experience. At Bradford, he played in a lot of big promotion games. He played in big cup games too, and always handled the pressure well.”

Stewart Donald had valued the goalkeeper at £5m a year previously but was unable to convince the Scotland international to remain at the Stadium of Light as they did not offer him an acceptable contract.

This led to him signing a contract with Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, and he has enjoyed a superb time with the Light Blues over the last two years or so.

He keep an eye-catching eight clean sheets in nine Premiership matches in his first season as his side won the league title under Steven Gerrard, whilst also playing once in the Europa League that term.

McLaughlin started the current campaign as Rangers’ number one ahead of Allan McGregor and played in all Champions League qualifying matches as the club made it through to the group stages. He then made his full debut in the competition against Ajax in September.

The 35-year-old, who Joshua Barrie once dubbed “really sharp”, is now a Champions League player, whilst Sunderland are playing in the Championship, and his achievements in Scotland suggest that Parkinson was right to want him to stay at the Stadium of Light.

However, Donald was unable to agree a new deal with the player, and that failure ended up being a howler as the shot-stopper has made his mark on the continent since leaving Wearside.

Aston Villa will be keeping an eye on the performances of Watford winger Ismaila Sarr for Senegal at the World Cup, according to journalist Ed Aarons.

The Lowdown: Sarr impressing for Watford

The 24-year-old stayed put at Vicarage Road during the summer despite the Hornets’ relegation to the Championship and he has continued to thrive for the club, with Villa initially agreeing a deal to sign him at one point.

Sarr has scored five goals and registered four assists in the league so far this season and he will be hoping to star for Senegal at the upcoming World Cup. He already has 10 goals in 47 caps for his country and will likely start for them at the tournament.

The Latest: Villa to scout Sarr at World Cup

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Aarons backed Villa to be one of the clubs tracking Sarr’s performances in Qatar as they eye up a potential move for him.

When asked if he thinks Villa will be scouting the winger at the World Cup, The Guardian reporter said:

“Yeah, I would definitely say so. I know Crystal Palace have had a lot of interest in him, and obviously, Man United a couple of years ago tried to get him on loan on transfer deadline day.

“So, I wouldn’t be surprised if he is in the sights of other clubs, bigger clubs as well, eventually, if the price comes down.

“But maybe it’ll be a move to a smaller club in the Premier League first and then to a bigger club, but I honestly think that he’s good enough to play for one of the top clubs.”

The Verdict: Could be a worthy target

Sarr could be a great squad addition for new Villa manager Unai Emery, giving them a fresh option in attack and giving them the natural width that they are lacking on the left.

The likes of Philippe Coutinho and Emiliano Buendia can operate in that position but they lack the Watford man’s pace, power and natural width there.

Ben Foster has described his former team-mate as a ‘freak’ and a ‘game-winner’, such is his ability; and at 24, the prime years of Sarr’s career should be arriving soon.

How great would it be if he spends those at Villa Park…

Liverpool come into their match with Tottenham Hotspur today fearful that yet another defeat in the Premier League could take them firmly into the division’s midfield.

They are eighth at the moment and their hopes of securing European football next term are dwindling. Jurgen Klopp’s men haven’t won their last two domestic matches, with the concession of goals a real problem.

Indeed, the Reds have shipped 15 times, with the vast majority of those coming early in matches too.

Spurs showed against Marseille in midweek that they aren’t always too willing to be expansive in big games, so perhaps that could play to Klopp’s advantage.

However, they will have to take on Antonio Conte’s side without the injured James Milner, someone who has enjoyed a renaissance period at the top level this term. He shone at right back against Manchester City in that surprise win and has even played in midfield again throughout 2022/23.

It is perhaps damning of Liverpool’s midfield depth, though, with injuries running rife throughout that particular area of the squad.

One player who has benefitted from this is Harvey Elliott, with the teenager perhaps staking a late claim to be in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.

England are hardly swamped with options in that area of the pitch either, with Elliott’s Liverpool teammate, Jordan Henderson, struggling for fitness this term and Kalvin Phillips only set to return from a spell on the sidelines in the forthcoming week.

A good performance against Tottenham, therefore, could put him firmly in Southgate’s crosshairs.

The 19-year-old is a wonderful technician and has shown as much this term, with the midfielder scoring twice in the Champions League.

Although he has contributed to just a solitary goal in the Premier League this term, it is surely only a matter of time before the youngster finds the net more often.

He has bounced back tremendously from a horrendous injury at the start of last season to become a key figure in this Liverpool team.

Fascinatingly, he ranks in the top 9% of players in his position across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions per 90 while he’s also in the best 13% for progressive passes. That shows just how creative Elliott is, with his eye for a pass and ability to pick up spaces in dangerous areas something that sets him apart from other options Klopp has.

Indeed, the very fact he ranks in the top 13% as well for progressive passes received shows how well he can pick up those pockets of space between the lines.

However, it’s not a flashy number 10 that he’s been mentioned in the same breath as, with Andy Brassell comparing him to David Beckham when he first arrived at Real Madrid.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the European football expert once said: “The fact that Harvey Elliott stands out now, of course it’s a lot to do with his excellent form, but it’s also because he reminds me of David Beckham playing in the midfield of the melted Galacticos in 2003/04.

“He’s just so much faster than everyone else. Beckham was like a flying ant in a forest of sloths really.

“Not knocking the quality of the players around him, but no one did anywhere near as much running as him in that season.”The term ‘flying ant’ could easily be applied to Elliott, who has been running the show in the middle of the park, acting as a fresh pair of legs compared to his elder colleagues.Indeed, Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Milner and Fabinho are all 29 and above, demonstrating that the young England hopeful is very much the future of Liverpool’s midfield.With that in mind, the club’s German tactician must continue to turn to the former Fulham man, with his very own ‘flying ant in a forest of sloths’ possessing the tools to unlock Liverpool on Sunday evening.