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For the biggest cynics, Wayne Rooney’s head injury came at the perfect time. Here was another opportunity for a major star to pull out of the England squad ahead of another set of meaningless fixtures. No, no one likes international football.

The criticism of the Manchester United forward was profound, with many suggesting that he could have travelled with the England squad despite being unavailable for selection. What was interesting was that there were few highlighting the importance of Rooney returning to match fitness for Manchester United, as if it was a commonly held belief that international football was paramount.

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Yes, there does need to be an acceptance from the media that perhaps England’s stars don’t hold international football with as much importance as they do club football – and isn’t that correct? Manchester United pays Rooney, not the FA. Will England compensate David Moyes or force a rule break of the transfer market to accommodate United if Rooney is lost to injury while on injury duty? It doesn’t really need an answer, does it?

There has been plenty of discussion as to why England’s players can’t perform to their max or replicate their club form when representing the national team. All the questions are aimed elsewhere instead of looking closer to home. Maybe the coaching isn’t right (it isn’t), maybe England don’t have a player who can dictate the tempo of a game like a Xavi or Andrea Pirlo (they don’t, at least they haven’t realised).

But if a player is injured, then there needs to be an acceptance of it. Not a volley of criticism and a questioning of how legitimate the injury is or whether he can still be of use. Yes, I’m sure Rooney, one of the Premier League’s best paid, will be happy to lay out the cones and put together the end-of-training refreshments.

But on top of that, is it such an unspeakable horror that most players, like fans, maybe don’t care too much about international football? There’s being patriotic, and that’s fine. But take a look at the fixtures throughout a domestic season and maybe some are happy to see the arrival of an international break, especially when it signals a week of the ultimate in pointless football – an international friendly.

Why isn’t there more of a campaign or criticism towards international governing bodies for putting together these fixtures and disrupting the domestic calendar? How can the same media who criticised Rooney champion the Premier League as the best product and then immediately begin a witch hunt when players start to underperform due to fatigue?

But of course, there is the option of sacrificing England’s best forward in a pair of fixtures in which the rest of the England team should gain maximum points, only to then jeopardise his involvement in the World Cup next year. We can talk about how great football is, but it doesn’t always make sense, does it?

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Were the English media right to criticise Wayne Rooney during the international break?

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While some referees always seem to create controversy through questionable decisions, Anthony Taylor represents one of the Premier League’s more trusted officials. There’s an aura of authority about the 39-year-old and although every referee has a bad decision in them, he seems to produce a lot less than most.

That can never quite be illustrated accurately by statistics alone, but Taylor tellingly ranks amongst the middle of the pack from the 20 referees to work in the Premier League this season for fouls per tackle, fouls per game, yellow cards per game and penalties per game – no higher than seventh or lower than 14th.

It suggests a balanced approach to officiating, not needlessly awarding fouls and spot kicks but not shying away from the important calls either, and because there’s Champions League qualification on the line in Taylor’s match this Sunday, that only bodes well for Chelsea and Liverpool – who will both want a fair game.

In terms of omens though, results this season hint the Blues are in for less luck than this weekend’s visitors to Stamford Bridge. No club has been refereed by Taylor more times in the Premier League than Chelsea this season with five, but they’ve only actually won three of those games – drawing with Arsenal and losing to West Ham.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are undefeated with Taylor in the middle this term, winning two of three, and those matches have produced amongst the Manchester-born referee’s lowest fouls per tackle rates of the season – just 0.52 compared to Chelsea’s 0.63.

And in even worse news for the west Londoners, just 44% of the games Taylor has officiated this season have ended in home wins. While that’s not a huge extreme compared to the rest of the Premier League – the remaining referees to oversee more than one game ranging between 63% and 27% – the fact is Chelsea need a victory this Sunday to keep their Champions League homes alive.

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A draw or better, on the other hand, will seal Liverpool’s place in Europe’s top competition next season excepting a gigantic turnaround in goal difference. Evidence so far this term suggests that outcome is more likely than Chelsea grabbing the win they desperately need.

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Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino thinks that Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli would benefit from some time on the sidelines.

The England international has struggled for consistency this season and has so far failed to recreate the performances that helped the North London club to second place in the Premier League in the 2016-17 campaign.

Since moving to Tottenham from MK Dons in 2015, Alli has transformed into a first-team regular and established international, yet he is only 21 years old.

At the moment, the midfielder is suffering from a dip in form and he had an overall disappointing weekend in a 4-1 loss to league leaders Manchester City.

Not only did Spurs slip 21 points behind top spot, the midfielder attracted criticism for his challenge on Kevin De Bruyne, which reminded everyone of his ‘dirty’ streak.

Cascarino has suggested that manager Mauricio Pochettino should give Alli a rest away from the spotlight.

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The pundit told talkSPORT:

“I think he’s played too much football. When managers are rotating and leaving people out – I felt he should have been taken out of the firing line. He’s a young man. I’ve been there myself where you just struggle and you’re not quite on it.

“I haven’t seen Dele Alli really make an impact in the last month since the Real Madrid victory, and especially yesterday, where he was certainly second best.”

Monday morning could have been the most bitter and unbearable ‘morning after’ in a long time for Arsenal fans had Newcastle found a way to equalise at St James’ Park. Actually it would have seemed quite appropriate for Arsenal to hit that self-destruct button in the manner in which they had done so many times over the years. In contrast, celebrations were befitting, not just because it’s the Champions League – Arsenal supporters understand there is a long way to go before the team can genuinely challenge the best in Europe for that trophy. But the importance of finishing fourth this season is that it holds significance over the long term and short term for Arsenal. This summer should be seen as the marker for change.

I get it, from the outside it’s very easy to mock Arsenal for the way they celebrated. But who wouldn’t have done the same? Tottenham certainly. Everton. Manchester City celebrated their first trip into the Champions League because they knew it would be an important step. Moreover, for Arsenal it just went to showcase how big this rivalry with Tottenham has become in recent seasons.

That’s a part of the problem. Tottenham have put together their best points total in a Premier League season and have fallen just one point behind Arsenal; credit to them for making up the ground. But then what about Arsenal? Yes, the club have regressed. It would have been easy to comment on Tottenham’s best points total still being too short to overcome Arsenal, but this is a place and a situation Arsenal fans surely don’t want to be in again. For the second season a row, the call was far too close.

Forget for a moment what the immediate future may bring off the back of another top four finish, the fact of the matter is that Arsenal and Spurs were not competing for a title; Arsenal have been reduced to fighting for a qualifying position in the Champions League. To reiterate, Arsenal don’t want to be in that position again.

It will act as a wakeup call for Arsenal. The experience of Champions League football is engrained in this club, so too is the mentality of winning trophies; although it would be fair to say that aspect has been a little lost on the club’s hierarchy in recent years. The club need to move on from selling their best players every summer. Sure, Tottenham do the same, but it has played a vital role in closing the gap between both clubs.

For Arsenal, the winning mentality over their local rivals has also been lost, or at least chipped away from what it used to be. The 4-4 draw at the Emirates in 2008 can arguably be seen as the turning point. From then on, Tottenham have beaten Arsenal at the Emirates, have regularly taken all three points at White Hart Lane and even offered a scare when a man light during this past season’s 5-2 result. It draws necessary and valid comparisons with the rivalry between Atletico and Real Madrid. It’s a set a fixtures that used to be fairly routine for the traditionally bigger club. For the Premier League rivals, Arsenal have allowed themselves to fall down from the heights of title challengers to those in the race for the top four. It doesn’t matter that Spurs have won a trophy, been to two finals, finished in the top four (twice, technically), and risen up the standings in the market in order to compete for some of the best names available. Likewise in Spain, it shouldn’t matter that since 2010 Atletico have won more trophies than Real. The difference here is that Real will be mindful of keeping their distance. There may be a one-off title race involving both sides from Madrid, but it won’t last.

Arsenal have come out on top on yet another occasion in which they opted to play with fire. Tottenham won’t sit back this summer because they can’t really afford to. Arsenal, however, have a history on being quite content with what they have – and that is what has brought about a new dimension to this rivalry. It’s about being a football club first. There might be criticisms for the way in which Tottenham conduct their business in the market, but you still look to them as a club who want to progress for football reasons and not those which are deemed secondary.

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Maybe you can put together a valid argument that Arsenal had to endure these past few seasons because of the move to the Emirates. The important factor here, and the reason why Arsenal celebrated in such a manner is that many view this as the end of a difficult cycle.

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Bitter rivals Manchester United and Liverpool look set to be Manchester City’s two closest challengers for the Premier League title next season, but they are going about clawing their way back to the top in very different ways.

What they have in common is a substandard defence; United have four-time Player of the Year David de Gea to bail them out while Virgil van Dijk has made a major difference at Anfield.

Yet Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho have very different ideas on how to protect their shaky backlines; the German presses the ball to keep it as far away from Liverpool’s goal as possible, while the notoriously cautious Mourinho uses a low block and conservative style to keep the goals down.

While United’s big game record has improved since the turn of the year, Klopp’s blockbuster style has taken Liverpool into the final of the Champions League, where they will face Real Madrid.

It is fair to say that fans of the Red Devils would like to see Mourinho show a bit more of the attacking impetus favoured by Klopp…

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Harry Kane’s rise has been phenomenal. We all know the story, but let’s re-cap… He was barely a first-team player when the first ball of 2014/15 was kicked, he shone in the Europa League, Mauricio Pochettino gave him a chance, Kane quickly established himself as the key man at White Hart Lane, he’s scored 30 goals in a season – the first Spurs player to do so since Gary Lineker – he’s captained the club and he’s a goalscoring England forward – he netted on his debut. Not bad, eh?

And now Manchester United are keen, with reports suggesting that Louis van Gaal has earmarked him for a £40m move to Old Trafford this summer. A switch to one of the biggest sides on the planet would undoubtedly be another big milestone, but we at FFC Towers think he’d be a fool to chase a deal this summer… and here are FIVE reasons why.

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Andy Carroll syndrome…

A massive fee for a young English striker with around half a season of impressive football under his belt… Hmmm, that sounds familiar. Although different styles of player, Andy Carroll situation should serve as a warning for Kane, with the pit falls of too much, too soon clear for all to see. The burly Geordie was signed for a mind boggling £35m by Liverpool back in January 2011, with his decent adaptation to the Premier League with Newcastle convincing the Merseysiders to lash a large chunk of the Fernando Torres £50m in his direction.

There were brief moments of success at Anfield – a decent full debut against Manchester City springs to mind – but on the whole the pressure and expectation that came with the inflated fee for his signature weighed heavy on his, albeit broad, shoulders. A little warning for Kane then.

Will he ever get game time?

Even though Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao look likely to be sacrificed, United still have captain Wayne Rooney and are being linked with some of the biggest forwards around on an almost daily basis. So, it’s entirely feasible that Kane could rock up at Old Trafford at a cost of £40m, only to then be forced to win a spot from the bench. Far from ideal.

Already a key man at Spurs

Building from the last point, Kane is guaranteed playing time at Spurs. At the age of 21, he needs to be in the XI week in, week out to build on the potential he undoubtedly has, and Pochettino has made him his main man ahead of experienced stars such as Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado.

Another season of regular playing time awaits, which is by far the best thing for Kane, who has time on his side.

Still early in his career

As mentioned before, Kane is at the very start if his career. At only 21 and with his breakthrough having been bewilderingly fast, the striker needs to take stock and continue to work towards gradual improvement. He has the time at his disposal to do so and White Hart Lane is the right ground to do it at.

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Is he actually good enough?

A bit controversial, but is Kane actually that good? He has not genuine standout characteristic, with his work ethic and desire knitting together a player who is, perhaps, more than the sum of his parts. This may be wrong, but until he’s proved himself over two/three seasons, it’s hard to justify him as a forward leading the line for a club aiming to win Premier League titles and the Champions League.

Newly promoted Cardiff City have made Fenerbahce attacker Dirk Kuyt a summer transfer target in a bid to build a Premier League squad, according to the Metro.

The former Liverpool striker left Anfield for Turkey last summer for just £1million and has enjoyed success in his first season at Fenerbahce that could even end in Europa League glory.

Kuyt was a fans favourite on Merseyside with his tenacious, energetic style but also for popping up with crucial goals in huge games.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay wants Premier League experience in his squad before the new season begins and Kuyt will be 33 years old by the time the Bluebirds kick their first Premier League football.

The finances should not be an issue and so the Dutch international will have a big decision to make as to whether he wants to return to the Premier League or remain in Turkey.

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Mauricio Pochettino is seriously considering walking out of Tottenham to join Real Madrid, according to Yahoo Sport, following Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Manchester United.

If he did so, that would be an incredibly impetuous decision, which would erode all pretences of incremental progress that the club and the Argentine have claimed are taking place in North London.

What’s the story, then?

The report claims that Madrid are running out of patience with Zinedine Zidane and are beginning to sound out Pochettino as their lead candidate to replace the Frenchman.

It goes on to say that Pochettino may well be willing to sacrifice his long-term vision to realise his ambition of managing the Spanish giants.

Following the defeat against United last weekend, Pochettino also referenced the progress that Spurs could make under him “or another”, sparking fears that his time at the club could be coming to an end.

It would spark chaos at Spurs

The draw of Real Madrid is understandable but Pochettino has constantly preached the virtue of gradual progression and his continued loyalty runs through the heart of that.

His commitment is essential to ensure that the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli stick around to see the project through, looking past the immediate absence of trophies to remain at a club where there is the feeling of something building up.

Pochettino walking out for a genuine European giant would knock all the stuffing out of the Spurs revolution and it would be all the more damaging as it feels like a temperamental reaction to a defeat in a big match.

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Tottenham have made a lot of progress under him but it would be a body blow to everyone connected to the club if he walked away at this stage. It simply cannot be allowed to happen.

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Most Premier League teams have three games left of their season. For some, the year is dead and buried, for others there is pride and prestige to play for. For others their status as a top flight club rests on these final games.

For QPR and Burnley, the situation is dire. Their fates can be sealed this weekend with defeats or even just if other results go against them. Others like Leicester and Hull have the chance to save themselves, something that didn’t seem likely for either club just a few short weeks ago.

But there is one club down at the bottom with more than three matches left – Sunderland have four games in which to save their skin. And yet they look very much like the third team to go down.

But it is probably harsh and definitely premature to say that Sunderland will go down. They do look in real trouble but on paper it’s not insurmountable: they are in the relegation zone, yes, but they are only a point from safety. They have a worse goal difference than the teams above them except Newcastle, but if they gain the points they need, that won’t matter.

So although their situation doesn’t look all that bad, it doesn’t look good either. A point behind with a game in hand? You’d probably take it.

And then you look at the four games they have to play.

They have only one home game – against an in-form Leicester side – and the rest are away from home against some tough opposition.

Sunderland did win last weekend, however. It was a crucial win against Southampton, but Leicester’s form makes them favourites for that game, and it’s a vital one for both teams.

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The Leicester game isn’t just important for Sunderland because it’s at home, though. The grounds they have to go to in the last few weeks of the campaign are very daunting indeed.

They travel to Goodison Park, The Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge. Taking even two or three points out of those three fixtures would surely have looked good to Sunderland at the start of the season, but that just won’t do any more. They’re going to need wins if they’re to stay up.

Leicester are in form and have winnable games, Hull play Burnley this weekend and will fancy their chances of three points, even Newcastle will surely – surely – get something from their final three games – West Brom, QPR and West Ham.

That leaves Sunderland in a perilous position. Go to those big grounds and win and they’ll stay up, get beat and they’ll go down. Their season is turning into all or nothing.

Yet there might be one thing on their side.

They might have the toughest fixtures and they might already be playing catch up – in games, goal difference and points – but they are playing three teams with next to nothing to play for.

Everton are looking to finish the season strongly – they’ve had a tough year and they’ll just be looking for pride now. That will make it tough for Everton, and Sunderland will seek to capitalise. The best the Toffees can hope for is a more respectable spot in the table, so Sunderland might have the motivation edge in this one.

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Chelsea have won the league, and they might just play kids. You never know with Mourinho, but it’s a good chance for him to try out the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Dominic Solanke. In fact, i’d be disappointed if he doesn’t – Chelsea are home and dry, they have nothing left to play for and they have some good youngsters they can use these final games to blood into Premier League football. It’s a no brainer.

And Arsenal are in a similar position themselves. They might be slightly fearful of Manchester United coming up behind them and beating them for third. If Arsenal come fourth they’d have to qualify for the Champions League instead of getting in automatically, but they should still have enough in their squad to fend off the challenge should there be one. Wenger, just like Mourinho, has lots of young talent he can give game time to.

Sunderland might have the toughest fixtures of the sides in the relegation battle, but the fact that this is the end of the season and the title and most of the European places are pretty much sewn up makes them more winnable for Sunderland.

If they are to stay up, they’ll have to win some important games over the course of the next few weeks. It would be a great escape from here, but they might just have the perfect scenario in which to do it.

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Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin has accepted his time away from the German top flight could have gone much better.

The playmaker decided to leave Borussia Dortmund to join Real Madrid back in 2011, before making a loan move to Premier League outfit Liverpool earlier this season.

Sahin is still contracted to Real but is currently on an 18-month loan spell back at Dortmund, after spells at the Santiago Bernabeu and Anfield.

The 24-year-old has admitted he enjoyed working under Madrid boss Jose Mourinho but has accepted his time away from Germany did not go as he would have wished.

He told Sport Bild: “It was an honour to work with Mourinho. He was always honest to me and treated me fairly. He always said everything to me in private.

“From the outside, people will perhaps say that I failed abroad. It was simply not meant to be, though, and I also played my part in it.”

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