Jose Mourinho insists it is only a matter of time before Luke Shaw becomes his undisputed first-choice left-back amid a frustrating season for the England international.

The 21-year-old has faced long fitness battles since breaking his leg in September 2015 – but was also criticised by Mourinho for not playing through the pain barrier when he withdrew from a squad to face Swansea City in November.

Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Matteo Darmian have all featured at left-back more often than Shaw this season, despite it not being their preferred position, but the former Southampton defender started in Saturday’s draw with Bournemouth.

And Mourinho has offered Shaw further hope that he can work his way into his long-term plans by insisting that he has the potential to become his best option.

“In practical terms, we have lots of left-backs,” said Mourinho. “The reality is that Blind, Shaw, Rojo and Darmian can all play left back – but they are different players.

“I think that, in a couple of years, one of them should become the best of all – because he has all the attributes to be the best – and that’s Luke Shaw.

“Because of his age, his physicality, his intensity, his aggressiveness and his ability going forward – he can be the best. But to be the best you need to work – you need to work hard and that’s what he’s trying to do.”

Les Ferdinand rates Harry Kane as one of the best strikers of the ball he has ever seen and the secret to the Spurs forward’s success is simple – hard work.

Kane has already scored two hat-tricks in 2017 as Spurs have climbed to second in the Premier League standings behind Chelsea.

Sunday sees them take on in-form Everton and Ferdinand cannot wait to see what Kane brings to bear on the Toffees’ defence.

“In terms of striking a ball, Harry’s right up there with the best I’ve seen,” he said.

“I had the privilege to be working the Stoke game for TV, for the Premier League, and I watched him thinking ‘he’s just going from strength to strength’.

“Harry can hit the ball with his right foot, left foot and score all types of goals. As well as the volley, he also had that curler with his left foot in the second half, where he cut inside and the goalkeeper made a great save. In the first half, he hit a right-foot shot just wide from 30 yards.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“It’s about hard work on the training pitch and that’s something Harry absolutely epitomises. I’ve always said, when you watch Cristiano Ronaldo ping a free-kick into the top corner for Real Madrid, it’s not because he woke up that morning and he could just do it, it’s all about work, work, work.

“Now you see Harry hit that volley against Stoke, scoring his penalties, that is constant practice on the training ground, something he’s been brought up on at Spurs.”

Manchester City youngster Aleix Garcia has had to bide his time for opportunities at the Etihad but the youngster insists he’s grateful to see his efforts recognised.

The 19-year-old played the full 90 minutes during the week as City cruised to victory in their FA Cup replay with Huddersfield, eventually running out 5-1 winners.

Garcia, who sat as a defensive midfielder against the Terriers, has now made seven appearances for City this season and is relishing the chance to work under Pep Guardiola.

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“I’m very happy because of the opportunities the manager is giving me,” he said.

“I work hard every day to try to get them, and when they arrive I try to make the most of them.”

City had gone a goal down early on Wednesday at the Etihad but responded in style and Garcia admitted it was crucial to hit back immediately.

“When they scored, we knew we had to react or they would beat us,” he added. “We did and we won the game.

“They got us by surprise in the start of the game, but the team took a step forward and we proved we were a better team by winning 5-1.

“The team did a great effort. Now we have to rest, we have another big game on Sunday.”

Jordan Henderson accepts that no European football could be an advantage in the run-in, but the Liverpool captain insists he is desperate to ensure his side never enjoy that advantage again.

Liverpool’s horror slump in form since the turn of the year could cost them a Champions League place next term, with Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur in impressive form.

But Henderson believes the final two months of the Premier League season provides the opportunity for Jurgen Klopp’s side to show their mettle and rediscover the form which made them so exciting to watch in the early parts of the campaign.

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“The players never need reminding about this and there is no doubting the commitment and desire within our dressing room to be involved in it [Europe],” he said.

“We know it’s important to the club and to the supporters, but people shouldn’t underestimate how much passion the players have for achieving this.

“I’ve hated Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights this season when other Premier League clubs have had big Euro matches and we’ve had to watch at home on the TV.

“People have said at times during this season that not playing in Europe is an advantage in the league.

“Well if it is, it’s an advantage I don’t ever want to have it again because we want to qualify each and every season.”

Arsenal’s Player of the Month Alexis Sanchez drives the standards at the club according to team-mate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Sanchez scored twice against Hull City before scoring the Gunners’ only goal in their Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

It is the fourth time that the striker has won the monthly fans vote this season and Oxlade-Chamberlain insists his influence on the club extends far beyond just goals and assists

“He’s definitely one of those players who will tend to bring out the best in you because he’s very demanding on himself and on everyone,” he said.

“The number of times we come off the pitch and we’ve won, but he’s still not happy with something.

“The Crystal Palace game for example, obviously we won 2-0 but right at the end of the game he’s cut in, passed it to me and then I shot, but (Wayne) Hennessey just about saved it.

“The boys were all happy in the dressing room but Alexis came to me in the shower and he’s like ‘My friend are you going to score?! Oh no my friend… I passed you the ball, you have a cup of tea, you wait… and then you shoot!’.

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“I was just laughing like ‘Yeah, sorry my friend…’ He always wants assists, he wants goals and that’s what makes him the player he is.

“He’s always hungry for that and he passes that onto us all. We’ve got a lot of those sorts of characters in the team.

“Alexis is probably one of the strongest ones that will voice his opinions at all times. He is one of those that keeps demanding and trying to bring the best out of you.”

Sam Allardyce has intimated that consistency is the name of the game if Crystal Palace are to pull themselves out of relegation trouble in the next couple of months.

Unfortunately, Palace have been the definition of inconsistent in recent weeks – a two month winless Premier League run ending with an impressive 2-0 win at Bournemouth at the end of January, before following that with a 4-0 pasting at the hands of dismal Sunderland.

A gritty 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough was what the Eagles achieved last weekend but after the pattern of disappointment following success recently, boss Allardyce is warning his team not to get carried away.

“I would remind the lads about the lift we got at Bournemouth and then what we did against Sunderland,” said Allardyce.

“That was with three minutes of madness but we can’t afford to make the same mistakes we made in that game.

“Last week we didn’t and we won the game – I am looking for consistent performances from the players at a high level between now and the end of the season to achieve the desire to get the team out of the position it is currently in.

“We have got to fight and try and get some points because we have lost too many. We should have drawn four or five more than we have.”

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has all the potential to become a club legend according to Kerry Dixon, so long as he doesn’t get tempted away from Stamford Bridge.

Costa has become a well-loved figure with the Blues, instrumental in their 2014-15 Premier League title success in just his first season in English football, racking up 20 top-flight goals in the process.

And while he struggled alongside his teammates last-season, the Spanish international has returned to his destructive best under Antonio Conte with 20 goals to his name in all competitions this term, from just 31 games.

But Dixon – who himself spent almost a decade in West London as a player – believes there is plenty more to come from the 28-year-old.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

That’s as long as he can resist the allure of overseas football, with Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Quanjian among those vying for his signature after a £90million offer in January.

“The term legend is bandied around very easily. Diego has had a couple of decent seasons,” Dixon said.

“You have to serve your time and prove yourself to the fans and be consistent over the years. You don’t come here for two or three years and become a legend.

“He’s a wonderful player. I hope he does go on and achieve legendary status at the club by staying and seeing out his career [at Chelsea].

“Over the years Chelsea have had some wonderful players come and grace the turf. Legendary status is for fans to decide.”

Walter Mazzarri has backed Isaac Success to shake off his injury woes and become a force again in Watford’s Premier League campaign.

The 21-year-old made a huge impression during the early stages of the Premier League season, scoring a crucial goal in Watford’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth back in November.

But he has struggled for form and fitness since the New Year and has just 44 minutes of football under his belt across four games in 2017.

But 55-year-old Italian Mazzarri has backed the Nigerian youngster to shine when he achieves full fitness.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“He did play the last few games but was not as brilliant as at the beginning, but we are waiting for him and as soon as he’s ready he’ll show us what he can do,” he said.

“When you are a player coming back from an injury and only training, it’s difficult to say when he will be back.

“He did play some part last weekend, but he’s a player who is slowly coming back and we can’t wait to have him back because he will help the team.

“Unfortunately, he started once when he was ok, and got injured immediately. He’s a very young player but needs more equilibrium and needs to understand where he’s standing.”

All-time record Premier League goal scorer Alan Shearer has admitted he believes his record could be broken by Spurs striker Harry Kane.

Shearer netted 260 times in his career with Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United but believes England ace Kane, who has scored 17 times this term, will break his record in his career.

Kane has scored two league hat-tricks in 2017 taking him to 66 career goals in just 107 appearances and Shearer believes his goal to game ratio will help him surpass his own tally.

“He is a player I really like and I would want him in my team for sure. I do see a little of myself in him and a bit of Teddy Sheringham, too. His goal-ratio is different class,” said Shearer.

(Photo by Ian Horrocks/Newcastle United via Getty Images)

“He has now scored more than 20 goals in each of the last three seasons (in all competitions) which suggests he is here to stay at the top level.

“He is very good at most things. If there is one thing he can improve on it is his hold-up play, but that is me being picky. If he stays at Spurs for the next 10 years and remains fit, he is one of the players who could break my Premier League goal scoring record.

“It will be broken one day I am very sure of that. I’ve met Harry and he is a good guy so I would be very happy for him if he did go on to break it. But I hope it takes a while as I’d like to enjoy it for a few more years yet!”

Wes Morgan admits Leicester City have 12 cup finals between now and the end of the season if they are to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Last year’s fairytale champions have struggled this season and saw manager Claudio Ranieri sacked last week with Craig Shakespeare taking temporary charge.

The first game under the caretaker boss saw them cruise to an impressive 3-1 win over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side.

And skipper Morgan insists there must be no let up from his side between now and the end of the season.

“It was a big, big game for us. At the weekend results put us into the relegation zone so we had to put on a display,” he said.

“Credit to the boys, everyone was bang at it and I think we deserved three points.

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“We have struggled [in front of goal] this season. To get that early goal was fantastic and to just continue on the front front was fantastic. It was good to see Vardy get his goal as well. We had to be resilient. They keep possession and they are always a good team and always dangerous.

“The fans were fantastic tonight. They all stood behind us and it was great to see. Thank you very much. We need everyone behind us. We are still not out of trouble yet.

“We’ve got 12 games left which are 12 finals for us and we need everyone pointing in the right direction then we can do it.”