Burnley manager Sean Dyche has no plans to sit down with Joey Barton and discuss his future at the club for now – after it was confirmed the controversial midfielder had been training with his former side.

Barton saw a brief spell at Rangers come to an end earlier this month after he was suspended over a row in training following his side’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of fierce rivals Celtic in September.

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

The 34-year-old had helped the Clarets gain promotion in the Premier League before deciding on his ill-fated move north of the border over the summer.

For now Barton is merely looking after his fitness back in the north west, though Dyche was non-committal on a potential contract offer.

“I said last week if he wanted to come in he’s more than welcome and he has been with us for a number of days now,” said Dyche.
“He’s not with the first team though, just a bit of background fitness work with our sports scientists. That’s an ongoing thing until things change, at the moment that’s what it is.

“I have no plans at the moment (to sit down and talk future), he’s enjoying being back and getting fit.
“He’s always been fit but topping that up that he had an indifferent time up in Scotland. It’s about getting him good and sharp which is good for him of course.”

Antonio Valencia has won plaudits for his swashbuckling play from right-back this season but least surprised by his form is Jose Mourinho – who revealed he tried to sign him while manager of Real Madrid.

The versatile Valencia has found a permanent home at right-back for Manchester United this season after filling in at the position over the years.

The 31-year-old, a natural winger, has given United an added attacking dimension down the right flank while also proving earnest with his defensive duties.

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

And if Mourinho had had his way while coaching Madrid between 2010 and 2013 – the Colombian would instead be wearing white.

“I tried to sign Antonio a number of years ago, when I was at Madrid,” Mourinho said. “Even though he was not playing right-back at the time, I thought he could be phenomenal in that position. As it was, United told me ‘no chance!

“I am not surprised by his form this season. He has been clean of injuries, save for an operation on his arm which did not keep him out for long, and I have also been able to keep him fresh by resting him in certain Europa League games.

“I think he is the right-back to give us the maximum we can in terms of our attacking football.”

Shane Long is not one to shy away from responsibility insisting the pressure of finding the net for his team only serves to drive him on.

The Saints seemingly have plenty of options up front with Long competing with the likes of Jay Rodriguez, Charlie Austin and Nathan Redmond for a starting spot in the team.

Despite creating chances, however, Southampton are one of the lowest scorers in the Premier League this season with 12 goals – only Burnley, Middlesbrough, Hull City, Sunderland and Swansea failing to find the net on more occasions.

(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

And Long, who stepped up his return from a hamstring injury by appearing as a substitute in last Saturday’s goalless draw with Liverpool, knows the side needs to try and be more clinical.

“The manager brought up stats and we are creating the chances,” said Long.

“Some of them are hard chances, but we know as a team that we can take more of them, and it’s all over the pitch.

“Obviously the strikers are the ones who get the goals, but we’ve got players all over the pitch that can produce from set-pieces, corner-kicks and stuff like that.

“It’s a pressure we like to have. Being a striker I like to score goals, now that I’m back to full fitness that’s what I need to do.”

The Premier League’s basement side will be relying on the support of their home fans if they are to turn their form around, according to new Swansea City assistant manager Paul Williams.

Swansea are glued to the bottom of the table at the minute, winless in the Premier League since the opening day of the season, and new arrival Williams has highlighted the importance of Saturday’s home clash with Crystal Palace in their quest to escape the drop zone.

Palace sit in 16th place, five points above the Swans, meaning a first win for Bob Bradley on Saturday would see the Jacks move to within two points of Alan Pardew’s side.

And Williams has called upon the Swansea faithful to help cheer their side on to success.

“What the players do will be vital, of course, but I also think the fans are going to be important for us,” said the former Nottingham Forest caretaker boss.

“This is such a passionate area – there are fantastic fans here. Hopefully they are going to be our 12th man this weekend.

“To get out of the position we are in, I think it’s really important that we all come together – the team, the fans and the club. We all have a common goal.”

Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

Swansea’s points tally could have been looking healthier had they held onto the lead last time out at Everton.

Ronald Koeman’s side came back to earn a point in 89th minute, and Williams is keen for history not to repeat itself.

“The result at Everton was not ideal, but in terms of the way we went about it, I thought especially the first half was really pleasing,” he added.

“We have got ourselves a base now and hopefully we can start building on that in the coming weeks.

“What is really important I think is that we learn from the second half at Everton.

“At times it is about the Swansea identity – keeping the ball and therefore keeping the ball away from the opposition.

“But there were positives and we hope to build on those when we play Crystal Palace.”

Idrissa Gueye may have become a permanent fixture in Ronald Koeman’s Everton side, but the midfielder says he still has much to improve on.

Gueye signed for the Toffees from Aston Villa in the summer, a move which raised eyebrows considering they went down with such a whimper last season.

But the 27-year-old has become a firm fans favourite, forcing his way into the starting 11 at the expense of Republic of Ireland international James McCarthy, and former Manchester United man Tom Cleverley.

Photo by Lynne Cameron/Getty Images

However, Gueye is not yet content and wants to start adding more goals to his game – as he is yet to find the net for his new club in 13 matches.

“I know I need to score because when you are in midfield you have to do your job and score some goals. I work on that every day after training,” he said.

“Of course, the manager tells me every day to go forward [when possible], to try to press and score a goal, so I try to do it.

“I normally score one or two goals [a season] and, if I can do that, it will be good for me. But if Romelu [Lukaku] and other players are scoring and we win the game, that’s the most important thing.”

Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson admits his side’s sluggish starts are costing them dear at the moment.

The Gunners have had to battle back from behind to earn a share of the spoils against both Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain in the last week alone.

Jenkinson has started both of those games at right back in place of the injured Hector Bellerin.

And the defender, who has one England cap, admits it is high time at they hit the ground running in games rather than having to dig themselves out of a hole each time.

“At Manchester United we especially didn’t start at our best and [against PSG] similarly,” Jenkinson said.

“It is something we have got to be aware of because it has happened a couple of times lately.

“You can look at it as a tough night, but it is always going to be when playing a top team.

(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“To go behind against a team of this calibre and then to come back, we have got a lot of character in this squad and we are showing it time and time again and on another day we win tonight, so it is frustrating but that is football.

“It makes a big difference, not just at this level but in the Premier League as well. You look at the stats and whoever scores the first goal, they generally go on to win the game. We have let that drop a bit lately and if we get the goal first, nine times out of 10 we win and we need to get back to doing that.”

While Baggies fans celebrated a rare 4-0 victory on Monday night, defender Craig Dawson had extra reason to smile as he reached his 100th Premier League appearance.

As well as the win pushing West Brom up to ninth in the Premier League, Monday was day the 26-year-old made his 57th consecutive start in the league for his club.

It hasn’t always been plain sailing for the defender who joined the Baggies from Rochdale back in 2010, was initially loaned back to the club before a spell at Bolton.

He eventually broke into the West Brom first team in the 2014/15 season, where he made 30 appearances, and has been an ever-present in the side ever since.

“It’s taken a while to reach 100 Premier League appearances,” he said.  “It’s a great achievement.

(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“It was a great performance from everyone and the lads worked ever so hard.

“To get a goal would’ve been nice but I’m happy with the three points.

“We have had some good performances this season without getting the results but there have been two good performances on the bounce now.

“Hopefully we can have a good week in training and make it three on Saturday at Hull.”

Bournemouth striker Benik Afobe has insisted emotions won’t affect him in the build up to Sunday’s clash with his former club Arsenal.

The English born Congolese forward joined his boyhood side when he was six and graduated through the academy and after numerous loan spells left for Wolves in January 2015.

He was signed on a four and a half year contract by Bournemouth a year later and returns to the Emirates this weekend.

And while the 23-year-old admitted the match will always stir up memories, he’ll remain fully focused on getting three points for his new side come kick-off.

“A lot goes through your mind. You think about your childhood, where you grew up, supporting the team and coming through the youth systems,” he said.

“At the end of the day though we all move on, and we have a job to do.

January 2009: Carl Jenkinson, Benik Afobe, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Emmanuel Frimpong of Arsenal before the U21 League Cup match between Fulham and Arsenal (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“I love my time here, I loved my time at Arsenal but now I’m looking forward to being a success with Bournemouth, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of facing them.”

Despite the prospect of coming up against many familiar faces, Afobe remains unfazed by the occasion.

“To be honest I’m used to it, I always play against my friends,” he explained.

“I’ve played with English youth systems and you play against team mates and friends and it’s enjoyable, you can talk about it afterwards.

“Leading up to the games though you’re rivals and you just want to do the best you can for your team.”

After nine seasons with Tottenham in the Premier League, current Hull City captain Michael Dawson knows how to make the English top-flight grade and he is certain his men have what it takes to push up the table.

Mike Phelan’s men are just inside the relegation zone, but with just five points separating 18th from tenth, the 33-year-old believes his side can build on promising wins over Leicester City and Southampton to turn their season around.

“This squad is good enough to stay in the Premier League. It’s going to be a fight and there are a number of other teams in the fight but we’ll keep going and keep believing,” Dawson said.

“We’re one point behind the teams above us at the moment, and it’s a case of looking to the next game and making sure we’re better than the last one.

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

“We’re 12 games in and if we had won last weekend, the table would be looking a lot different.

“We had opportunities against Sunderland last weekend and we know we have to be more clinical in the final third, but we also have to start keeping clean sheets.

“It’s very tight in the bottom half and we’ve got some big games coming up. West Brom are coming to us on Saturday and we’ll be going into it looking for a win.”

Pep Guardiola was understandably delighted to wrap up a place in the Champions League last-16 with a game to spare, but the Manchester City manager believes they must turn their focus to the Premier League.

Man City are third in the English top flight – behind Liverpool and Chelsea – but after sealing a spot in the knockout stages thanks to a 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach, former Barçelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola is bracing himself for a testing festive period.

After what should be a straightforward trip to Burnley, Guardiola’s men have a brutal run-in to Christmas.

Chelsea and Arsenal arrive at the Etihad, while City have a New Year’s Eve trip to Anfield to face Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

And though Champions League progression was top of Guardiola’s to-do list, he knows that City must be prepared for a congested period that could well determine their title credentials.

“I’m so happy to be there [in the knock-out phase],” he said. “The first part of the season is so important, to qualify for the next round. We did it – and now we can focus on the Premier League.

“I am so satisfied for all the games. I was a trainer here in Germany and know how difficult Gladbach are. But we did it, which is why it is big congratulations to the team.”