There is always plenty on the line in a local derby but for Bournemouth keeper Artur Boruc, there is an added spice for the Cherries’ clash with Southampton on Sunday.

The former Saints No.1 was displaced by Fraser Forster before moving along the south coast to join Eddie Howe’s revolution at Bournemouth in 2014, joining permanently the following year.

Both sides came into this weekend in the top half of the table, tied on 21 points, and the clash at the Vitality Stadium continues a busy Christmas period.

And Boruc admits he would like to get one over his former employer.

“I really enjoyed my time there. It was fantastic and I wish them all the best.

“But I’m a Bournemouth player now so I’m going to give everything to win this game.

“Every derby is exciting and this one is very important for me.”

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The Cherries have five clean sheets so far this season, including an impressive 1-0 win over defending champions Leicester City in midweek.

“The clean sheet was so important and the desire to achieve it was amazing,” added Boruc.

“We had defenders throwing their bodies on the line and I’m really pleased for them as well.

“I’m working hard every day to stay in the team and hopefully the manager sees that so that’s why I’m playing.”

They are one of just three teams to ever survive after being bottom at Christmas, but Sunderland manager David Moyes insists his charges cannot afford to bank on history repeating itself.

The Black Cats were at the Premier League basement on December 25, 2013, remarkably finishing 14^th that term, a result which perfectly demonstrated their late-season resolve.

It followed in the footsteps of West Brom in 2004/05, with Leicester completing the feat a year after Sunderland – going on to win the Premier League a season later.

But while history is in their favour, Moyes admits he would rather start January on a positive note in a bid to avoid the drop.

And that is what the former Everton manager is eyeing up for his side’s home tie with Watford on Saturday, with at least one point needed at the Stadium of Light in their last game before the festivities.

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“Six or seven weeks ago we were at the verge of being cut adrift before a couple of wins,” he said.

“This week is so important not to lose and get cut off, we need to have a good Christmas period and get some points on the board, and I see the Watford game as a chance to do that.

“We’ve been on a good run, with the exception of the defeat to Swansea, we’ve picked up some good wins or good performances and been a little bit unlucky too.

“For us to be a Premier League teams we have to win our home games, and Watford is a big opportunity to get three points.”

Michael Dawson is hopeful that the return of Dieumerci Mbokani can help Hull City turn their recent poor form around.

Mbokani has been suspended for the past three games after getting sent off in Hull’s EFL Cup tie with Newcastle United.

The Tigers have failed to win in their past five Premier League matches to slip into the relegation zone.

Mbokani has failed to score since joining on loan from Dynamo Kyiv at the end of August but centre-back Dawson is convinced the 31-year-old striker’s return will be a boon to the ailing outfit.

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“As a group we’ve got to stick together,” said Dawson. “The manager is doing a great job in getting everybody rallying round.

“Having Dieumerci Mbokani available again will give us a different option. He’s a threat and we know what he brings to the team. It’ll be good to add him back to the squad.”

The latest Hull defeat was a 3-0 reverse to Dawson’s former club Spurs in midweek but the 33-year-old believes the result did not reflect the game as a whole.

“The final scoreline felt a bit harsh,” insisted Dawson. “Spurs dominated possession in the first half and ‘Marsh’ (David Marshall) made a couple of good saves but after the break we were right in the game and Hugo Lloris has made a great save from Jake Livermore at 1-0.

“It’s disappointing that we didn’t take our chance when we were on top and when you don’t, you know the quality that Tottenham have to punish you. They did that.”

Claudio Ranieri is ready to give his Leicester City squad a facelift in January after seeing the defence of their Premier League title go from bad to worse this season.

The Foxes were unlikely winners last season, with the likes of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Wes

Morgan starring as they finished ahead of Premier League heavyweights Arsenal in second.

But their title defence is not going to plan with just two wins from their last ten league games, leaving them 14^th prior to their Midlands derby clash at Stoke.

Ranieri admits a lot of his players on the fringes of the squad have voiced their displeasure at the lack of playing time on offer this season, and the Italian has no plans to keep unhappy players – saying everyone can be replaced.

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“I don’t like to maintain players who are unhappy,” Ranieri said.

“This is my point of view – afterwards, there is the club. If someone goes, and we have to replace this or that player, we can get rid of him easily.

“But it will cost a lot of money to replace him with someone else. That is the balance we have to achieve.

“I want to help those players but at the end of the month, they take the money. They are professionals and it’s a business.

“There are rumours and everybody knows very well that if they are happy and want to stay with us and want to fight with us it is okay.

“If someone is not happy then they should come to me and speak and we will see what is best for the club.”

Burnley manager Sean Dyche is hoping lady luck will be on the Clarets’ side as they look for their first Premier League away win of the season.

Burnley lost against West Ham United at the London Stadium in midweek, and face a tough trip to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

They have amassed just a solitary point on the road in seven matches this season, but Dyche has taken heart from their performances against West Ham and Stoke City, despite both ending in defeats.

However, he is under no illusion about the scale of the task facing them against Spurs.

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“There’s been some good signs from Stoke and [West Ham], but now we need to turn it into results, we’re not naive,” said Dyche.

“We could do with a scratch of luck along the way as well, and we haven’t had that.”

“It doesn’t get any easier, [Tottenham] are fantastic,” he said.

“I really like Mauricio Pochettino, what he’s done there, the way they work, the energy and quality. It’s a different challenge to [West Ham].”

Dyche has also admitted to selection headaches as he bids to find the right balance in the team for away-day success.

“It’s a conundrum with a number of players, that’s the thing about having a deeper squad. I think we certainly looked productive, which was pleasing, and we did at Stoke, more than we have in other journeys away from home.

“It’s an interesting one to try and find the absolute solution.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the perfect role model for up-and-coming young players, according to Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

The Swedish striker joined the Red Devils in the summer from French champions Paris Saint-Germain and hit the ground running with four goals in his first three games.

The 35-year-old has made 24 appearances in all competitions this season, more than any other United player – which is a testament to his remarkable physical condition.

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And Mourinho, who also managed Ibrahimovic at Inter Milan, insists age is no barrier, suggesting that the forward is his most important player.

“Now and again, I will find a way to give him a rest, but as our target striker we can say he’s the only one. The way we play, we need him,” he said.

“He’s a great example, to be honest, in every aspect. He’s very professional, even in something that is really difficult in today’s football players’ lives – he’s great in his family life and keeping it as private as possible. With his lifestyle, very professional too.

“I think it’s a great thing and, with him and [Michael]Carrick at 35 years old, I think the kids couldn’t have better players to look at.”

Alexis Sanchez has been the star of the show for Arsenal this season, but the Chilean forward believes it’s his off-the-field development that has given him the perfect chance to shine.

The forward has been in mesmeric form in front of goal so far, with his 14 goals in 22 games the main support for a potential Gunners title push – a tally he feels is boosted by his desire to learn English.

That haul has only added to Sanchez’s superb goal-scoring record at the Emirates, closing in on 50 for the club – despite not always being used as the focal point of the attack.

But having joined from Barcelona in July 2014, the 27-year-old has gone from strength to strength, his impact vital in helping Arsene Wenger’s side top their Champions League group.

And Sanchez, believing his understanding of the language and culture is a far from trivial pursuit, was quick to exert its importance to his time on the pitch.

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“At the beginning I took lessons for two hours a day. Then I had to make use of what I learnt so I could communicate with my team-mates and the manager,” he said.

“I truly like the English language. Learning it helps me grow as an individual.

“My team-mates in general have helped me a lot. I have also learnt English in some other contexts, such as having a stroll in the street.

“People approach me, talk to me in English… my listening and my conversational English are improving a lot thanks to people.

“A few days ago I did a live interview in English for the first time in my life. I found it a bit difficult, but at the same time I felt comfortable too. I must keep on learning the language so I can develop as a person.”

Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko is confident he is finally finding his feet at White Hart Lane after struggling for form since his summer arrival.

Sissoko signed for a club-record £30million from Newcastle United on the final day of the transfer window, but two international breaks, suspension and a bout of concussion have prevented the Frenchman from proving himself worthy of the hefty price tag.

He was left out of the squad for last month’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, with Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino suggesting he had not been deserving of selection.

But on Sunday, Sissoko pulled a fine performance out of the bag against Manchester United before shining in Wednesday’s victory over Hull City, and he insists he took no offence to his manager’s criticism.

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“For me the manager said what he thinks,” he said.

“For me it was the same, just to come into training and try to give my best. I know what I can do for the team. I know what is my level.

“I just needed some time to be ready on everything because it was a big change for me. Now I understand everything and everything is better for me and that’s good.”

And Sissoko admits that while he struggled to adapt to Pochettino’s style of play upon his arrival in the capital, the 27-year-old insists he has turned a corner and is looking forward to further cementing his position in the Argentine’s starting 11.

“What we do at the training. It was a lot of change. Every manager has his style of training so now I understand everything,” he said.

“That was a big change for me because in my old team it was totally different. I needed to understand his philosophy but now it is okay.

“I know what he wants, I know what to do, and that’s what I will do.”

Bournemouth are up to their highest-ever league position thanks to Marc Pugh’s winner against Leicester and the winger insists there is more to come.

The 29-year-old volleyed home the winner against the Foxes on Tuesday night to lift the Cherries up to eighth in the table.

And having downed the defending champions, Pugh is confident that Eddie Howe’s side are still climbing the Premier League table.

“It’s a massive boost for me, especially coming back into the team. It’s been a difficult season personally, but to get a goal on my first start – I’m delighted,” he said.

“I’m absolutely buzzing and it’s great just to get the win. That puts us up to eighth and who knows where we can go if we keep performing like that.

“We battled superbly. In the first half I thought we showed our class. We kept the ball for long periods and they were hard to break down, but we kept persisting and got the goal in the end.

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

“In the second half we had to dig in. They made it difficult for us and pressed a bit more but, fair play to the lads, because we were superb from one to 11, and it was a great save from Artur (Boruc) at the end.

“We needed the clean sheet. Premier League strikers are ruthless and we’ve been punished in recent weeks.

“But we showed our solidarity and I’m absolutely delighted for the boys.”

Harrison Reed has set his sights on more playing time at Southampton after signing a new deal, and insists manager Claude Puel is willing to give everyone a chance.

The 21-year-old midfielder signed a four-and-a-half year deal this week securing his long-term future at St Mary’s, and is now keen to establish himself in the Saints’ first-team squad.

He has had to bide his time so far this season, but with French manager Puel in charge, he believes it’s only a matter of time until he gets his chance.

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“It’s been great under him,” Reed said. “Since he came in the door it was obvious that he wanted to give everyone an opportunity and that everyone started from a clean slate.

“I really like his training style because there is lots of tactical stuff as well as the technical side of it, which is everything you need to work on.

“It’s been really good and I am enjoying my time here, that’s why I’ve signed a new contract – I am looking forward to pushing on under him.

“My aim now is to get more game time. We are going on a good cup run at the moment, so hopefully if I keep working hard in training I can get in the team for that (EFL Cup) semi-final against Liverpool.

“Hopefully I can also get more minutes in the Premier League, but at the moment I just want to keep working hard so that the manager knows I am ready if he needs me.

“I’ve learned that you never know when your chance is going to come. It could be just around the corner, so you need to always be ready.”