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Robert Vilahamn does not have a Robbie Williams song just yet but the comparisons with Ange Postecoglou are clear.

The Swede arrives on the eve of the new Women’s Super League season as a champion but one who is desperate to prove himself in English football.

Inspired by the successes of fellow Scandinavian coaches Jonas Eidevall and Brian Sorensen, he takes over a Spurs side battling the tides of mediocrity, without the striker – in this case, the injured Beth England – who dragged them out of the mire, and a squad he believes were “not in the best shape”.

Postecoglou has already given him the blueprint of how to overcome those hurdles. The aim now, his WSL counterpart says, is to “have an identity that looks like Tottenham.”

“Tottenham want to play a style with the men’s team and the women’s team, academy and I think me and Ange try to do the same stuff with how to play – not the same formation all the time but trying to be brave enough to play good, offensive football and in the long run, win games.

“The men’s team’s already winning games… In the long run you’re going to see a Tottenham [who] dictate games, press high, want to lean forward – and try to score a lot of goals.

“It’s going to be that identity where you see ‘now it’s Tottenham playing football’, even if it’s the women’s team or the men’s team.”

“Tottenham football” has immediately ended Vilahamn’s vernacular. It will be music to the ears of supporters who witnessed the collapse from the highs of Rehanne Skinner’s first season, when a fifth-placed finish led to hopes that Spurs could become the WSL’s great disruptors and even push for Champions League football.

By the time Skinner was sacked earlier this year, Spurs had been decimated by injuries, and staying up was the only goal. Somewhere along the way, Vilahamn believes, they had “lost their identity”.

There is now a determination to put that right – and spending half an hour in Vilahamn’s company, you get the feeling that whatever happens, the football could be exquisite.

His side could not have been handed a more daunting start to the new campaign, with a trip to face champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

There is hope, however, that even if the new season kicks off with a defeat, the end will be worth the means. Vilahamn recalls his first six months in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan with Hacken, which by his own admission were “terrible”.

“I didn’t really understand how to reach them,” he says. By the end, he won 14 of 17 games “playing our style all the way and scoring lots of goals”.

Determined to move to one of the top European leagues, Vilahamn was ultimately convinced by his final interview with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy. Meetings have been held with Postecoglou too, as well as chief football officer Scott Munn and head of global football development Andy Rogers.

“It’s one club now,” Vilahamn says. The message from Levy was clear: “It was mainly about making sure the women’s team is something we are proud of, a team that everybody can watch – that’s Tottenham standard.”

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Spurs have already played one of their pre-season friendlies against Aston Villa, was a selling point too. “This is a spaceship. Wow!” was their new head coach’s first reaction.

Champions League qualification within two years is the dream, though it is accompanied by a note of caution. We shouldn’t expect Tottenham to win the league this year,” Vilahamn stresses. Still, he is adamant that “Tottenham is one of those clubs who could be the best clubs in the world”.

Having been determined not to panic buy this summer, he was still able to make six new additions. Scotland international Martha Thomas – who caused England serious problems in their recent Nations League encounter – is arguably the most promising.

Beth England has been sidelined with a hip operation but her influence will remain off the field after playing in a World Cup final this summer, her new manager asking her to “teach the other players how to be a winner”.

Vilahamn hints he will likely target Scandinavian players on free transfers in January. Tottenham, he points out, are not “like Arsenal or Chelsea” with the budget to overhaul their squads each summer. It will be about recruiting cleverly, and making sure the players he already has buy into a way of playing.

“If we can be there and make sure everybody’s proud of Tottenham, that’s the mission we have,” Vilahamn sums up.

“I have a high belief that my philosophy, connected to the Tottenham philosophy, will be what the players need and want and they can perform the best way. And hopefully, we can do magic together.”

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Newcastle’s reward for beating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup is a fourth round draw against Manchester United.

The Magpies will be hoping for revenge after defeat to United in last year’s final as they seek a first major trophy since 1955.

Elsewhere in the last 16, Liverpool play away at Bournemouth, while West Ham take on Arsenal at home and Chelsea host Blackburn.

Carabao Cup fourth round draw in full

• Mansfield vs Port Vale
• Ipswich vs Fulham
• Man Utd vs Newcastle
• Bournemouth vs Liverpool
• Chelsea vs Blackburn
• West Ham vs Arsenal
• Everton vs Burnley
• Exeter vs Middlesbrough

When is the Carabao Cup fourth round?

Carabao Cup fourth round ties will be played in the week commencing 30 October 2023.

Sky Sports are the exclusive broadcasters for the Carabao Cup in the 2023-24 season, with two matches shown per round.

What else to look out for in last 16

Of the remaining Premier League clubs, Everton go up against manager Sean Dyche’s former club Burnley, while Fulham face a tough test at Championship high-flyers Ipswich.

A lower league club is guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals after League Two side Mansfield were drawn to play League One Port Vale at Field Mill.

In-form League One side Exeter will face Championship strugglers Middlesbrough at home for a place in the last eight.

How Newcastle’s season took off and left Pep in a rage

By Mark Douglas, i‘s northern football correspondent

So Pep Guardiola’s pre-match air rage turned out to be prophetic.

The Manchester City coach was apopletic beforehand that his Treble winners could not charter a jet back from the North-East on Wednesday night and his mood will only have darkened on that long coach ride home as Newcastle United’s season achieved lift-off on an electric evening.

Guardiola’s City have been so superlative for so long that Newcastle’s win – the result of a scintilating second half display – feels like an upset. In truth it felt more like the Magpies shaking off their sky blue inferiority complex as they inflicted City’s first defeat of the campaign.

This was Eddie Howe’s first victory over a Guardiola side and a triumph for a half-time recalibration that has the locals dreaming of a return to Wembley. A first win over City feels like a significant statement.

For 45 minutes, you would have got long odds on that outcome. Newcastle’s mantra under Howe is that intensity is their identity but they were far too passive in the first half to disrupt the easy rhythm of Guardiola’s sky blue machine.

The Spaniard had complained bitterly about injuries but then rolled out an XI full of heavyweights to jab away at a Newcastle team that included 17-year-old debutant Lewis Miley and Paul Dummett, whose last first team action was in this competition 13 months ago. The second team Guardiola had promised to pick here would have been a match for almost any side in Europe, and they made life uncomfortable for Newcastle.

Their control was total, beavering away with the intelligence that had been the hallmark of Guardiola’s Treble winners. Newcastle seemed mesmerised and it was a difficult night for their youngest charges. Much is expected of Miley and fellow black and white debutant Lewis Hall but neither was able to assert themselves, the latter’s night typified by a back pass under pressure that ballooned into the Gallowgate end.

It was only City’s profligacy that ensured this remained a contest. Oscar Bobb teed up Julian Alvarez but he was unable to beat Nick Pope. Jack Grealish briefly threatened to spring Newcastle’s deep-lying defence only for Dummett to roll back the years with a crunching tackle.

It looked unsustainable for the home side and to Howe’s credit he rectified his selection mis-steps by calling for Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon for the second half. Miley and Hall made way and the ­injection of experience added impetus.

ALEXANDER ISAK!

Newcastle look a different team this half! pic.twitter.com/q6U6o01uL9

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 27, 2023

Gordon is enjoying a purple patch that has alerted Gareth Southgate and an England call-up is surely in the post next week. He was the man who set the wheels in motion for Sunday’s Bramall Lane blitzing and it was his crunching tackle on Sergio Gomez that turned this game.

It sent a surge of electricity through St James’ Park that the players fed off. The returning, outstanding Joelinton burst through to tee up Alexander Isak for a simple finish.

After Newcastle’s early season wobbles, it feels like they have reasserted themselves as a force.

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Fantasy Premier League players rejoice, for the first double gameweek of the season is finally upon us, which means there are more points are up for grabs than usual.

Now for those who aren’t familiar with FPL, this happens on the rare occasion when some teams play twice, or in this case Burnley and Luton Town respectively.

For some FPL managers, they may choose to use a wildcard chip to start again from scratch. However, as we mentioned previously, it is probably best to save it for later, given the teams involved, as it can only be activated twice a season anyway. Either way, it is your call, so use it wisely.

Premier League fixtures are crucial when considering which players to transfer in or out, with Gameweek 7 offering several games to take advantage of.

Saturday starts with Aston Villa hosting Brighton at lunchtime, while Liverpool face Tottenham in the afternoon.

i‘s top three scorers in Gameweek 6

• Kaoru Mitoma – 14 points vs Bournemouth: A brace from Mitoma helped Brighton come from behind to beat Bournemouth 3-1. No wonder everyone is jumping on the bandwagon for Gameweek 7.
• Bukayo Saka – 13 points vs Tottenham: Not a bad game for Arsenal’s star boy after finishing with a goal and an assist against Spurs. The only downside being he apparently picked up a knock during the north London derby.
• Erling Haaland – 12 points vs Forest: The Norway international scored his eighth goal of the season against Nottingham Forest in Gameweek 6. He also broke the FPL record for the most captained player in history on the same day. Machine.

Elsewhere, Brentford visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday, before Chelsea take on Fulham a day later.

Of course, it ends with Burnley making the trip down south to face Luton at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday.

This week’s deadline is at 11am on Saturday:

Gameweek 7 fixtures

Saturday 30 September

• Aston Villa vs Brighton
• Bournemouth vs Arsenal
• Everton vs Luton
• Man Utd vs Crystal Palace
• Newcastle vs Burnley
• West Ham vs Sheff Utd
• Wolves vs Man City
• Tottenham vs Liverpool

Sunday 1 October

• Nottingham Forest vs Brentford

Monday 2 October

• Fulham vs Chelsea

Tuesday 3 October

• Luton vs Burnley

David Raya (Arsenal)

Raya has been impressive for Arsenal since joining on loan from Brentford in the summer.

With only 2.9 per cent of players selecting him in their team, he could make for a safe pair of hands if you decide to take a punt.

Price: £4.8m Points: 10 Gameweek 7 fixture: Bournemouth (a)

Kieran Trippier (Newcastle)

Newcastle United’s right-back offers a strong option at both ends of the pitch at home to Burnley.

Trippier has helped the Magpies claim four consecutive clean sheets in all competitions, on top of offering plenty of attacking output as well, with a tally of three assists to his name.

The only snag is he won’t come cheap, with his current price set at £6.6m. But given his impressive points haul it is surely worth it.

Price: £6.6m Points: 31 Gameweek 7 fixture: Burnley (h)

Sven Botman (Newcastle)

Another Newcastle defender, you ask? Well, there is a reason for that, specifically Burnley’s seeming inability to put the ball in the back of the net.

And yes, Vincent Kompany’s side put four past Salford City, but that was in the Carabao Cup. In the Premier League it is a different story, with just four goals in five games for the Clarets this season.

Botman also bagged players 12 points in Gameweek 6, which is a nice added bonus.

Price: £4.7m Points: 30 Gameweek 7 fixture: Burnley (h)

Sergio Reguilon (Man Utd)

If you’re looking for a differential in Gameweek 7, look no further than Sergio Reguilon.

At first, the Spaniard’s points tally is a little bit off-putting, which is probably why he is only owned by less than two per cent of all the managers out there. But with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia both out for a number of weeks, we’re backing him to come good sooner rather than later.

Manchester United host Crystal Palace on Saturday, Brentford on 7 October and are away at Sheffield United on 21 October. You would expect them to keep a clean sheet in at least one of those.

Price: £4.4m Points: 5 Gameweek 7 fixture: Crystal Palace (h)

Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)

As i reported back in August, Bowen has very quietly snuck under the radar in FPL this season, with just over 10 per cent ownership.

Given he has three goals and one assist in his last four games, including scoring against Liverpool in the 3-1 defeat at Anfield, he could be good value for money.

With Sheffield United up next at home, Bowen will surely be licking his lips.

Price: £7.1m Points: 39 Gameweek 7 fixture: Sheffield United (h)

Mo Salah (Liverpool)

A favourite of Liverpool fans and FPL managers alike, Jurgen Klopp’s refusal to take the money from Saudi Arabia has been repaid by Mo Salah’s continued proficiency in front of goal.

What that means for his long-term future, we’re not quite sure, as the Reds are reportedly preparing for further bids in January.

But for now he’s a virtual shoo-in for every team until if and when he does depart.

Price: £12.5m Points: 43 Gameweek 7 fixture: Tottenham (h)

Phil Foden (Man City)

No Kevin De Bruyne, no problem. Phil Foden has enjoyed a superb start to the season, occupying a more central berth in the absence of the injured Belgian.

Granted, the England international, like everyone else, is at the mercy of the dreaded “Pep Roulette”, but was an unused substitute in Newcastle which means he is likely to start against Wolves.

Price: £7.6m Points: 34 Gameweek 7 fixture: Wolves (a)

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)

With everything going on at Old Trafford, it is easy to forget how good Fernandes has been of late.

His stunning volley gave United a much-needed 1-0 win over Burnley at Turf Moor last time out.

Given his recent record against Palace, with two goals in as many games, it’s hard to bet against him doing the same again.

Price: £8.4m Points: 29 Gameweek 7 fixture: Crystal Palace (h)

Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)

Gordon’s difficult start to life as a Newcastle player is now a thing of the past.

An impressive cameo against City in the Carabao Cup only further backs this up.

Like Bowen, one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Price: £5.6m Points: 12 Gameweek 7 fixture: Burnley (h)

Carlton Morris (Luton)

Did someone say double gameweek?

If you’re willing to take a gamble, Morris is probably your safest bet. At £5.5, he gives you the chance to free up some of your budget, too.

He’s also on penalties, which only increases his potential, having scored a controversial equaliser against Wolves last week.

Price: £5.5m Points: 26 Gameweek 7 fixture: Everton (a), Burnley (h)

Erling Haaland (Man City)

Honestly if you don’t have him in your team at this point why are you even playing?

Last season’s highest points scorer has picked up where he left off from the previous campaign with the Norwegian already up to eight goals in six appearances.

Price: £14.1m Points: 51 Gameweek 7 fixture: Wolves (a)

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Jadon Sancho believes he is within his rights to voice his disapproval at Erik ten Hag’s questioning of his commitment in training, sources close to the player have told i, with the England international feeling like he was singled-out while others received “preferential treatment”.

The Manchester United winger believes that if he were simply to apologise now and admit the manager was right, it would undermine going public with his views and invite similar treatment in the future, insiders said.

However, with the player training alone since 14 September and eating with academy players at the training ground, some in the forward’s entourage have concerns. Especially after Ten Hag doubled down on his belief that the ball is in Sancho’s court after United’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

“He is a great player, that doesn’t go away, so he will have offers in January if we are where we are now – with first-team football at United a distant dream,” an insider said.

“But clubs need to see something that would encourage them to bring him to their club. Talent alone won’t get him a move to another top team.

“We are aware of how this all looks for him, and the longer United leave him in the cold, the lower his appeal drops.”

Concerns over Sancho’s timekeeping and overall attitude are nothing new. Sancho himself admitted he had trouble with timekeeping when turning up late for Borussia Dortmund training in 2019 and was fined by the club a year later for returning from England duty late.

Reports also claim timekeeping has been a problem for Sancho when on England duty. He has not been called up by Gareth Southgate for any squad since 2021.

i understands one particular problem with Sancho is around sleep, or lack thereof, caused partly by playing computer games at night – something several of his clubs have noticed.

United have stood by Ten Hag over his forthright stance on the player’s attitude, with club sources insisting the Dutchman has the backing of director of football John Murtough and CEO Richard Arnold.

Despite Brazilian forward Antony remaining unavailable even though he is back in the UK to answer allegations of assault, other options have presented themselves to Ten Hag, with young Uruguayan Facundo Pellistri finally given his first-team chance and Alejandro Garnacho’s stock growing by the week.

Alternatives give Ten Hag further cause to stick to his guns on Sancho. Ill-discipline at United has been endemic in the post Sir Alex Ferguson era, with the club impressed how the Dutchman dealt with Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit.

Senior players in the squad have done all they can to persuade Sancho to knock on his manager’s door. The feeling among team-mates is one of “bewilderment”, given how reconcilable they feel this whole thing is.

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has also offered to mediate any dialogue between parties, i understands. They do not want a player who spent a period away from the club last season for “physical and mental health” reasons to be left to fight any battle alone.

There remains the underlying feeling, though, that the relationship between Sancho and Ten Hag cannot be repaired. Last season, other than Sancho’s period of absence, which the player remains grateful for, the 23-year-old could not command a regular first-team spot or even work out what his best position was.

The breakthrough came in pre-season when Sancho excelled in a No 10 role, one Ten Hag has openly suggested plays to Sancho’s strengths.

Ahead of the trip to Arsenal earlier this month, Sancho had not started a single game, while others were given that “preferential treatment”. The social media fallout since leaves us at the current impasse.

And the longer it goes on, the more everyone loses out.

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Premier League sides could be monitoring the growing rift between defending Serie A champions Napoli and their record-breaking striker, Victor Osimhen, with the fallout from a now-deleted social media post by the club seeing the Nigeria international’s agent threaten legal action.

With 26 goals in the league and 31 in all competitions last season, Osimhen helped Napoli run away with the 2022-23 Serie A title – the club’s first in 33 years – as the in-demand front man shattered scoring records held by George Weah and Samuel Eto’o.

Despite also grabbing three goals in the defending champions’ first five games since the start of this season, Osimhen has found himself the subject of a bizarre video shared on his club’s official TikTok account that appeared to mock the player following his missed penalty in a goalless draw at Bologna on Sunday.

The video has since been deleted, but prompted a statement on Tuesday night from Osimhen’s agent Roberto Calenda.

Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Calenda said: “What happened today on Napoli’s official profile on the TikTok platform is not acceptable. A video mocking Victor was first made public and then, but now belatedly, deleted.

“A serious fact that causes very serious damage to the player and adds to the treatment that the boy is suffering in the last period between media trials and fake news.”

Calenda added: “We reserve the right to take legal action and any useful initiative to protect Victor”.

It comes after the 24-year-old striker appeared to voice his disagreements with Napoli manager Rudi Garcia regarding the new head coach’s decision to substitute him with four minutes of regular time remaining in the Bologna draw.

Though the in-game situation was reportedly resolved the following day, with Osimhen speaking to Garcia and the rest of the squad, the video posted by the club has seemingly reignited both the spat and transfer talk surrounding the player.

Osimhen has also removed all traces of Napoli from his Instagram account, leading the comments on his remaining posts to be flooded with a mix of responses, ranging from further ridicule to messages of support.

New beginnings in Naples

With his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2025, Osimhen has not signed a new deal with Napoli since being the subject of heavy transfer speculation this summer from clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea.

It was reported that a new agreement was close to being reached during the summer, which may have included a release clause worth £130m, but these recent developments could well have stalled those discussions.

Victor Osimhen’s record-breaking numbers

26 – the number of Serie A goals Osimhen scored in Napoli’s title-winning 2022-23 campaign, becoming the first African player to finish as the Italian first division’s top scorer. That tally also made the Nigerian striker the highest scoring African player in a single Serie A season, surpassing Samuel Eto’o’s mark of 21 goals for Inter Milan back in 2010-11.

7 – the number of consecutive league games Osimhen scored in during a stretch last season, making him the first player to do so in Napoli’s history since the introduction of the “three-points-for-a-win” era in Italy in 1994-95.

53 – including three in five games so far this season, Osimhen’s 53 goals so far for Napoli makes him the African player with the most goals in Serie A history. He has pulled clear of the previous record of 46 goals, held by George Weah since 1999, after passing that mark towards the end of last season.

Meanwhile, Napoli’s title-winning manager, Luciano Spalletti, stepped down at the end of last season before later taking up the Italian national team job vacated by Roberto Mancini, while former sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli joined Juventus and top centre-back Kim Min-Jae was snapped up by Bayern Munich over the summer.

Spalletti was replaced by former Al-Nassr coach Rudi Garcia, but Sunday’s pitch-side argument seemingly indicated Osimhen’s discontent with the new boss, who has so far struggled to replicate the team’s form under his predecessor.

Sunday’s draw at Bologna left Napoli trailing league leaders Inter Milan by seven points, their two wins in five matches only good enough for seventh in Serie A. The reigning champions finished last season sixteen points clear of second-placed Lazio.

Osimhen on the move?

Should the Nigerian No 9 take action to try to force an early move rather than simply running down his contract in Naples, it is reported that Chelsea could be among the sides vying for Osimhen’s signature once again.

The Blues have struggled so far under Mauricio Pochettino, floundering in 14th place after taking just five points from their first six Premier League matches.

While injuries in other areas of the pitch have no doubt played a role in that poor early-season form, only newly-promoted sides Luton (three) Burnley (four) have a worse league goal-scoring record than Chelsea’s tally of five so far in 2023-24.

Those deficiencies in front of goal extend back much farther than August, and don’t look likely to stop any time soon.

Christopher Nkunku arrived at Stamford Bridge full of promise this summer before succumbing to a knee injury that will have kept him out for the first several months of the Pochettino era by the time he returns to action.

In the Frenchman’s absence, Nicolas Jackson has failed to provide Chelsea the attacking spark they so desperately need, racking up five yellow cards (and a subsequent suspension) compared to just one goal.

If Chelsea could persuade Osimhen to ditch Naples for south-west London, and Blues owner Todd Boehly is willing to shell out another potentially eye-watering sum of cash to land the striker’s services in January – when Pochettino has reportedly made clear he would like another front man to be brought in – then perhaps he could shirk the recent number nine curse at Stamford Bridge and provide some relief to Chelsea’s long-time goal-scoring woes.

While Boehly’s sizeable and seemingly ever-open wallet might make Chelsea the most likely landing place if Osimhen does indeed leave Napoli, a few other top sides could also make for fitting suitors.

Interest from Manchester United may have dampened somewhat since their summer courtship of the Napoli striker, with the Red Devils having since signed 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund to fill their gap up front, while Liverpool‘s fluid frontline and multitude of attacking options means Jurgen Klopp may not be in any rush to jam an out-and-out striker like Osimhen into the mix.

Like Chelsea, Manchester City have big pockets – but the three-time defending champions also have one Erling Haaland, now supported by an in-form World Cup winner in Julian Alvarez, to make sure the back of the net is bursting each weekend.

In terms of team fit and needs, the north London duo of Arsenal and Spurs could be the other English sides most likely to inquire about Osimhen.

Despite Mikel Arteta‘s insistence to the contrary, the Gunners have themselves been reported to be scouting potential January pick-ups to bolster their options up front, as Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah continue to search for their shooting boots this season.

Brentford‘s Ivan Toney has been the man most heavily linked with a move to the Emirates, while Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez is another option reportedly of potential interest.

Both Toney and Gimenez would almost certainly come at a cheaper cost than Osimhen, for an Arsenal side who would already need to offload fringe players to avoid breaching Financial Fair Play regulations if making a big-money move in the next transfer window. Regardless, the Napoli front man certainly matches the profile of player Arteta is reportedly searching for – if Arsenal can stomach his hefty price tag.

Meanwhile, 15 goals for fourth-placed Tottenham so far has proven that Ange Postecoglou‘s men might not struggle as much in their post-Harry Kane life as some may have initially thought.

Yet however productive it has been in recent games, playing Heung-min Son out of position while the likes of Richarlison struggle to regain top form in front of goal may not be a sustainable long-term strategy for Spurs. Owner Daniel Levy is notorious for his reluctance to spend big, but perhaps some of the money brought in by the departure of their former captain this summer could go towards a potentially ideal replacement in Osimhen, should he become available.

Outside the Premier League, an argument could certainly be made that the side most in need of Osimhen’s goal-scoring abilities is Real Madrid.

Karim Benzema bid adieu to the Spanish giants over the summer, and he was replaced – perhaps only in position on the pitch, rather than ability – by 33-year-old Espanyol loanee Joselu.

With the former Stoke and Newcastle striker Brazil winger struggling somewhat to get off the mark, and usually prolific Brazil winger Vinicius Junior having missed games through injury, Madrid have already scored seven goals less than fierce rivals and La Liga leaders Barcelona (albeit with a game in hand).

Rather than rely solely on Joselu, or resort to having Jude Bellingham lead the line as has already happened this season, Carlo Ancelotti‘s side could benefit from Osimhen’s finishing if they are able to swoop in with a big offer during the January window. One caveat to that, of course, is whether Real’s higher-ups would be willing to splash the cash Napoli will likely demand, when a future move for Kylian Mbappe remains of interest and could cost even more.

Napoli are back in action against Udinese – with Osimhen named in the 24-man matchday squad – in the league on Wednesday night, before taking on Lecce this Saturday ahead of a Champions League clash with Real Madrid on 3 October.

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Erik ten Hag talked the talk then Sofyan Amrabat walked the walk on a night that could well give Manchester United’s season lift-off.

Yes, it was the Carabao Cup third round. Yes, it was a United side that made seven changes beating a Crystal Palace side that also made seven changes. But the positive signs should not be ignored.

And that all started when before kick-off United head coach Ten Hag explained his selection of Amrabat, who would go on to shine when making his full debut as an inverted left-back in the 3-0 win at Old Trafford.

“We need a full squad and also competition,” Ten Hag told MUTV. “We had to be able to make choices from a tactical perspective. Amrabat is a midfielder, but he’s previously played as a full-back a while ago.

“He was one of the best players at the World Cup in the position as a holding midfielder, but he can play there [left-back] and he’s a warrior, he’ll fight for the badge. He’s someone who will play where his manager needs him.”

At a time when Tag Hag and Jadon Sancho are mid stand-off – an impasse that will reportedly only be resolved if the player apologises, which he currently refuses to do – it is impossible to ignore the former’s pointed comments about Amrabat. The warrior. The desire to fight for the badge. The will to play anywhere.

Every. Blade. Of. Grass. pic.twitter.com/KJStVr3V3p

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 26, 2023

Amrabat backed that up with an accomplished performance that suggests he could yet force his way into Ten Hag’s first-choice XI for Premier League and Champions League matches, and at the very least the Moroccan proved he is a versatile asset within this United squad.

“It’s a perfect night,” Amrabat would go on to tell Sky Sports, with Casemiro once again impressing and both Harry Maguire and Mason Mount getting valuable minutes.

“Since I was a child I worked for this, I worked very hard my whole life. It’s amazing to play here, it’s fantastic. I told the manager play me where you need me, goalkeeper, anywhere. Today it was left back but I had a free role to play in midfield. I like to touch and have the ball.

“It hasn’t been an easy time but it’s clear that this is a huge club and we need to win. The pressure is high but we want this. The manager says every day we need to win, that’s we want, we push very hard every day.”

Amrabat’s desire to get “stronger” and “better” is an ethos that could yet make him a leader in this dressing room, an attitude that can spread through a United squad who need to cling onto this confidence-boosting night after a difficult start to the season.

Defeats to Tottenham, Arsenal and Brighton in the Premier League have already put them on the back foot in the top-four race, but United may yet build some momentum in the coming weeks with three more home matches on the horizon.

First is a rematch with Palace, a Saturday 3pm offering where both sides should return to full strength, with Ten Hag potentially rewarding Amrabat by handing the 27-year-old his first league start this season.

Then to follow is a Champions League home match against Galatasaray before Brentford head to Old Trafford the following weekend.

No gimmes, of course, but with Sheffield United away to follow and another home encounter in Europe against FC Copenhagen, Ten Hag would be right in thinking five wins from five is possible – and realistic – before their next major test: Manchester City at Old Trafford on 29 October.

The gulps can be heard beyond Manchester, with City having got off to a flier, but previewing that can wait, for a week can feel like a season sometimes at United, so despite the upwards trajectory the Palace win has kept them on – building on the weekend win at Burnley – there will surely be some twists to come before City.

That, or five more wins and talk of a derby win suddenly seems possible. Let’s see.

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