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Everton have received a potential injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash with Brentford over the weekend after it was revealed the club are hopeful that Yerry Mina will be able to make his return to action.

What’s the word?

The 27-year-old last featured in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United on 2nd October before picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty.

However, according to the Liverpool ECHO, Mina could be in line to make his comeback for the trip to west London after making a full recovery.

Phil Kirkbride’s report states that: “Everton are hoping Yerry Mina is passed fit to play in London at the weekend.

“The Colombian centre-half has missed the last four league matches because of a hamstring issue but it is believed he was left out as a precaution.”

Rafa Benitez will be buzzing

News that Mina could play some part against the Bees on Sunday will have Everton manager Rafa Benitez buzzing with excitement, given his importance to the first-team squad.

Prior to his fitness woes, the South American had made six Premier League appearances this season, losing on just one occasion.

In his absence, the Toffees have lost four of their five encounters, keeping just one clean sheet in the 0-0 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. And his underlying numbers indicate why.

As per WhoScored, Mina has averaged 1.5 interceptions per top-flight fixture, four clearances and 0.7 blocks, placing him in the top four amongst his teammates for each metric.

With Everton currently in desperate need of a positive result against Brentford, Benitez will be delighted to have Mina back at his disposal, providing a huge boost to their chances of securing all three points.

And, in other news…Forget Iwobi: Rafa must unleash rarely-seen 18 y/o “top-player” amid huge EFC setback

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Unai Emery threw away any chance Arsenal had of beating Manchester City by setting his side up to play in a 4-4-2 formation at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

On the chalkboard

An injury to Hector Bellerin and the absence of Ainsley Maitland-Niles meant Stephan Lichtsteiner had to play at right-back on Sunday, which immediately raised concerns over the Gunners’ chances of getting even a point at Man City.

Granit Xhaka’s absence raised concerns too, as the Swiss midfielder is the anchor that connects the defence and attack, and without his presence the midfield needed reshaping.

For whatever reason, rather than including Aaron Ramsey or Mohamed Elneny from kick-off so Arsenal could retain numbers in the engine room, Emery opted for just the two central midfielders, meaning that Alex Iwobi and Sead Kolasinac on the wings had to continually drop back to help out in defence.

A 4-4-2 was never going to work against Pep Guardiola’s side because the current Premier League title holders do not need to drag play towards the byline to open up defences. Instead, they cut between the lines and Arsenal offered no one to occupy this space.

Look away Arsenal fans! American Soccer Fan is back to troll more fans at the London Stadium in the video below…

Losing before a ball was kicked

Emery had to acknowledge the brilliance that City can muster, which is why he deployed Iwobi and Kolasinac as wide midfielders, to try and prevent the creation of chances on the wings.

Unfortunately, by also playing the Gunners’ two best strikers from kick off, it meant that Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi could not cut the space in between the lines as, with no one ahead or behind, they were forced to be everywhere and everything for Emery.

It is also why Arsenal conceded an opening goal within the first minute. Iwobi had to lift his head to try and spot someone to clear the ball to, only to realise he had no one available – that split second hesitation was all City needed to snatch possession back and play a killer pass.

When Arsenal beat Chelsea last month, the Gunners played on the front foot with the attackers applying pressure, and this was the only way they could have challenged City.

But by playing in a 4-4-2, the pressure could never be applied leaving gaps behind, and Arsenal essentially lost the game on this basis before a ball was kicked.

A major development has emerged on Newcastle United’s search for a director of football…

What’s the talk?

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed that the Magpies are prime for talks with a candidate over taking up the position to assist Eddie Howe moving forward.

He Tweeted: “Brighton have given Newcastle permission to speak with Dan Ashworth over director of football role. #BHAFC want 50yo to stay but won’t block talks. Ashworth on rolling contract so #NUFC would need to agree settlement if situation develops.”

Buzzing

Newcastle fans will surely be buzzing with this news for multiple reasons. Firstly, it suggests that PIF are finally closing in on an appointment that could be key for the club in the years to come, as the person entrusted with this role will be making major decisions and, essentially, sculpting the future of the side.

Ashworth, if he now takes the job, will be tasked with dealing with managers and transfers and that means that the on-field results will be directly linked to how well he performs. He needs to get the best coaches/staff in place along with as many top players, by Premier League standards, as he can to give the side the greatest chance of achieving success and that is why this appointment is pivotal.

Fans will also be delighted because the chief has an impressive track record. The 50-year-old worked with The FA for six years and was a key cog in the recent successes of England at senior and youth level. Current Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate previously lauded the impact he had, saying:

“I told Dan (Ashworth) as we walked in that he should feel really proud. The last time we came to one of these it was in St Petersburg three years ago but this time we walked in as world champions at U17 and U20 and we’ve been to a seniors’ semi-final, so we deserve our place at the table.

“That is a great credit to everyone involved, the backing the FA has given us in building St George’s Park and investing in the teams, to the work being done in youth development and to Dan in particular for putting those plans in place, which we have seen pay off for Spain, Germany and France. It’s up to us now to continue the work that’s been started.”

Since joining Brighton in 2019, the Seagulls have finished 16th and 15th in the Premier League and they are currently 13th in the table. This shows that he has been able to oversee a steady top-flight team without any major relegation scares, amassing more than 40 points in both campaigns.

This, along with his excellent work with England, shows why fans will be buzzing with this update from Ornstein on Newcastle’s pursuit of his services.

AND in other news, Forget Clark: £44k-p/w NUFC liability who was dribbled past 3x was shocking v Man City…

Leeds United were subjected to another heavy defeat on Saturday evening as they lost 4-1 at home to Arsenal, just four days after being thrashed 7-0 by Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Whites are in the midst of an injury crisis, particularly with key players Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford and Liam Cooper all sidelined, which hasn’t helped their fortunes of late.

However, that doesn’t excuse some of the defending on display against the Gunners, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville labelling it as “like an under-9s team defending.”

All four of Marcelo Bielsa’s side’s defenders could be subject to criticism, with Luke Ayling being told by 90min’s Tom Gott that he needs to make sure he “knows the offside rule.” However, centre-back Robin Koch was particularly woeful, with the German being handed a 5.9/10 rating by SofaScore for his display, the lowest of anyone on the night.

Despite being a defender, the 25-year-old only made one tackle and three clearances throughout the 90 minutes, as well as winning just 43% of his duels. He also lost the ball 11 times whilst making 52 touches, which amounts to a loss of possession once every 4.7 touches.

The £15.3m-rated centre-back hadn’t played in the Premier League since the opening day of the season, in what was also a humbling defeat as Leeds lost 5-1 to Manchester United.

According to Transfermarkt, illness and a pubis bone contusion have kept the German out of action for three months, which may partly explain why Koch struggled against Arsenal.

Gary Neville highlighted the centre-back and Bielsa’s management of him after the match, stating: “That’s what happens when your centre-back is not there. Koch is out of position on this side.

“I just don’t see the benefit of Koch going, leaving his space and chasing Lacazette all over the pitch. Then leaving so much for the defenders to do.

“It’s not for me to talk about how Marcelo Bielsa plays the game but I am not having that, not against Lacazette. If that was a great player up front, who maybe could turn, get on the ball and run at you. Messi or someone like that. then you would want to go in and man-mark. But Lacazette is pulling the Leeds centre-backs, who are leaving enormous gaps and they aren’t good enough to fill them.”

On a night to forget for Leeds, and in particular their defence, it was Koch who was perhaps the biggest villain.

In other news – Forget Raphinha: Leeds’ £3.6m gem with 3 key passes was Bielsa’s shining light v Arsenal

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong has been savaged by former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart, who compared him to a "postman".

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De Jong criticised by countrymanBarcelona drew 1-1 with Napoli in Champions LeagueVan der Vaart insists De Jong was at faultWHAT HAPPENED?

Barcelona drew 1-1 with Napoli in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, and Van der Vaart was left unimpressed by De Jong's performance. The former Tottenham and Real Madrid star claimed that his compatriot plays "like a postman" and simply does not keep up with the required pace.

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Van der Vaart said on in the Netherlands while working as a pundit (via ): "Frenkie de Jong plays football like a postman. He takes too long to pass the ball forward, instead he keeps running and carrying it to his teammate. Once you move away from your opponent, you must keep the ball moving and pass the ball."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

De Jong has seen his season disrupted by injury, with an ankle strain ruling him out for seven La Liga matches earlier this term. He has only managed to score one goal this season, regardless, and has failed to provide an assist.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR DE JONG?

De Jong has been linked with a move away from the Catalan club as he is yet to sign a new contract and has subsequently been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea. Barcelona have handed him an ultimatum to either sign a new deal or leave permanently.

England Lions moved into a 104-run lead against the West Indians in Northampton after the visitors had fought back during the morning sessions

Andrew McGlashan at Northampton11-May-2012
ScorecardLions captain James Taylor gave the England selectors a nudge with an impressive century•Getty ImagesThe news coming from Chelmsford of concerns surrounding Ravi Bopara’s fitness added extra interest to events on the second day in Northampton, where James Taylor, the England Lions captain, went about reaffirming his international credentials with a superb century while Jonny Bairstow produce another eye-catching innings. The West Indians were left facing a tough challenge to avoid defeat ahead of the Test series as they closed in trouble on 28 for 3, still 166 behind.Bopara is widely expected to be given the No. 6 spot for the start of the international season, having carried the drinks during the two winter Test series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This latest injury worry appears to be at the minor end of the scale but even if it precluded him from bowling for a period that should not dent his Test chances, unlike they did in Sri Lanka when a side strain cost him a likely opportunity. On that occasion England felt they needed a reasonable fifth bowler, whereas in England during May the four frontliners will be more than enough.However, if batting cover (or ultimately a replacement) was required it would come from this Lions side so it was a timely moment to impress, although it is Bairstow who is probably ahead of Taylor at the current time, despite the latter’s hundred. Taylor has slipped down the pecking order over the last six months, to the extent that he was not included in the 26-man England Performance Squad for the season ahead, which is a rough guide of the way the selectors are thinking. He had a disappointing winter with the Lions during the one-day tours of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, so this was an important innings to put him back on the agenda.Last season he impressed in Lions colours with 76 against the Sri Lankans at Derby, where he opened the batting, followed by 76 and 98 against Sri Lanka A back in the middle order. Before this match Taylor said he saw himself as a middle-order player – although, as players do, he added he would bat anywhere – and it does appear his natural home. Here he was at No. 5, the same position he currently occupies for Nottinghamshire, with Samit Patel, who did not do himself any favours with a lazy chip back to the bowler, above him; although anyone with aspirations to bat top six for England should ideally bat top four for their county.This innings was exemplary and the only life he got was on 104 when he was caught at slip off a no-ball from Fidel Edwards. He had initially played second fiddle to Bairstow, but caught up as he moved to fifty off 91 balls and became increasingly dominant as he started to lose partners. The pull shot was working well and the West Indian bowlers did not always adjust their length and he was lightning between the wickets which helped with the outfield remaining sluggish.When Jack Brooks was ninth out Taylor was on 86 but Jade Dernbach, who took a painful blow on the arm from Edwards which prevented him from taking the field, hung around to see his partner towards three figures, which arrived with a thumping cover drive. The confrontation between Dernbach and Edwards was feisty and included a few words from the fielders which led to the umpires stepping in to calm the situation. The final-wicket stand was extended to a 64 in 10 overs as Dernbach and Taylor opened their shoulders and the final three wickets added 130 to take the Lions lead from useful to intimidating.During the morning session a lead of such a size was a long way off as the Lions slipped to 98 for 5, which brought Bairstow to the crease to join his captain. Entering the game in good form, having made two Championship centuries for Yorkshire this season, he stood tall and played impressively through the off side off front and back foot. His fifty came from 89 balls before, against the run of the play, he lofted Shane Shillingford to mid-off just as the tourists were starting to flag.The only member of this Lions team certain to be in the first Test squad is Ian Bell, who asked to play in this match after Ben Stokes withdrew with injury and he played confidently for his 29. At one stage when facing Shillingford he had to pull out of his stance as Andy Flower, the England team director, who is at the ground with the other selectors to discuss the squad for the first Test walked behind the bowler’s arm. Flower immediately raised his arms in apology and Bell had a smirk on his face but that turned to a grimace when Ravi Rampaul, the pick of the West Indian quicks, nipped one between bat and pad.The tourists will need to decide which of this four-man attack makes way for Darren Sammy at Lord’s. Edwards had moments when he cranked up the pace but continued to have no-ball problems and spells of lethargy, while Kemar Roach left the field after claiming his third wicket, although if all the quicks are fit it could be Shillingford who misses out. They may not get the chance of another run-out before the Test as the top order stumbled again before the close, as Brooks and Matt Coles shared three wickets, and the visitors will have to make huge improvements to be competitive next week.

Tottenham Hotspur technical director Steve Hitchen reportedly faces being sidelined by Antonio Conte, who has taken aim behind the scenes.

The Lowdown: Poor recruitment

As per Football Insider, Hitchen was the most senior member of the recruitment team between the summer of 2019 and January 2020, a period in which they signed Tanguy Ndombele, Steven Bergwijn, Ryan Sessegnon, Giovani Lo Celso and Jack Clarke for combined transfer fees of over £150m.

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However, none of them have emerged as regular starters, with Lo Celso playing the most out of all those so far this season with 14 outings, but Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg tops the appearances chart with 20 matches under his belt (Transfermarkt).

Nonetheless, Hitchen has to take some of the blame for Spurs’ poor recruitment over the last couple of years.

The Latest: Frozen out?

According to Football Insider, Conte now wants to take full control of the recruitment process in the upcoming January transfer window with managing director Fabio Paratici, as Hitchen faces being sidelined by the manager.

The 52-year-old Italian has dropped public hints that he is ‘not too happy’ with the squad he has inherited, and behind the scenes, he is said to have been ‘very critical’ to Tottenham’s hierarchy of the signings that they have made in recent years.

However, a source from the Lilywhites has told the news outlet that Hitchen is ‘likely’ to keep his job in any potential cull, as he is ‘close’ to Daniel Levy.

The Verdict: Give Conte control

By signing the likes of N’Golo Kante and Antonio Rudiger, who are still in the Chelsea squad, Conte has already shown that he can be trusted with recruitment.

The changes that he made at Stamford Bridge earned them a Premier League title as well as an FA Cup (Transfermarkt), highlighting the success that he can bring when he is allowed to bring in his own players.

Therefore, Tottenham should allow him to collaborate with Paratici, with whom he has worked before and Juventus and therefore knows well, to take charge of their recruitment strategy in January.

In other news, a Tottenham insider expects this starlet to sign for Spurs soon

Fede Valverde has hailed former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo for the rapid "progress" of the Saudi Pro League.

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Ronaldo first megastar to shift base to Saudi ArabiaNeymar & Karim Benzema followed suitValverde lauds Ronaldo for football revolutionGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese forward sent shockwaves across the world when he announced his decision to sign for Al-Nassr after the 2022 World Cup. His move to the Middle East ignited an influx of superstar signings in the Saudi Pro League over the summer, which included Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema and Brazilian forward Neymar, at Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal respectively.

Valverde had the fortune of sharing the dressing room with both Ronaldo and Benzema at Real Madrid. The Uruguayan midfielder hailed Ronaldo as a pioneer for the development of the game in the Middle East.

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Speaking to reporters, Valverde said: "I think there’s been a lot of progress with the players who have come here. For example, Cristiano, who started all this. It shows what they want to do and to have players of that quality is important."

Getty Images THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Pro League continues to be a popular attraction among players for the hefty wage structures and even Liverpool's Mohamed Salah is being linked to a move to Riyadh. However, Valverde also made it clear that even a blank cheque would not convince him to choose Saudi at this point in his career as he is enjoying his stint with Los Blancos.

"It is really impossible for me to go to the Saudi League," he added to . "No chance. 10, 20 or 30 million will not change my life. I'm at Real Madrid, the best club in the world. I love my life in Madrid, the same goes for my family and that's it."

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

The transfer bandwagon to Saudi Arabia shows no signs of stopping and it is expected that it will only grow in the next few years. Michael Emenalo, the Saudi Pro League director of football, has insisted that they are still pursuing a deal for Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, despite the forward rejecting a move in the summer transfer window. If they manage to pull off the Salah and Mbappe signings it will undoubtedly be another major coup for Saudi Arabia.

Chelsea hit rock bottom as they slipped to another Premier League defeat against Fulham, with new signing Joao Felix seeing red on his debut.

Life, death, taxes – and Chelsea beating Fulham in the Premier League. That's the way it's supposed to be. That's the way it's been ever since the Cottagers last avoided defeat against their dominant, less sophisticated neighbours all the way back in 2012.

But this isn't the Chelsea of old. This Blues team has a soft underbelly, don't know how to finish their chances and now look at their lowest ebb in recent history.

The 2-1 loss didn't always feel inevitable. The inclusion of new signing Joao Felix gave Graham Potter's team something resembling a fresh impetus in the opening exchanges, and even with Fulham entering half-time 1-0 up – thanks to a goal from former Stamford Bridge hero Willian – it felt like they could recover.

Those hopes increased when Kalidou Koulibaly bundled home, but things went very wrong very quickly after that. Clearly infected by the virus that is Chelsea's recent malaise, Felix left his brain in the dressing room and flew into a studs-up tackle on Kenny Tete. It resulted in him becoming the first Chelsea player to be sent off on his Premier League debut.

It was Fulham's game to win from there and they delivered – with Aleksandar Mitrovic stand-in Carlos Vinicius losing his man and powering a header home.

Defeat for Chelsea then. Just their eighth ever against Fulham, and their second in the Premier League era. We think you call that rock bottom.

Below, GOAL takes a look at the Chelsea winners and losers from a damaging night at Craven Cottage.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Willian:

In the early exchanges of the derby a packed-out away end serenaded the former Blue, who won a pair of Premier League titles during his time at Stamford Bridge, but the affection they still hold for the Brazilian did little to soften the blow of him opening the scoring for Chelsea fans. After becoming a bit of a punchline during his Arsenal spell, Willian has enjoyed a wonderful renaissance by the River Thames, with the strike bringing his goal involvement tally up to five for the season.

Benoit Badiashile:

If Chelsea's new £34m signing from Monaco can't get in defence he may as well hang up his boots. Again, the Blues looked mightily uncomfortable whenever they were put under any form of pressure, while Chalobah and Koulibaly seemed to be competing to see who could make more individual errors in the first half. Whether Potter sticks with a back three or reverts to a back four, you'd have to expect Badiashile to feature in some capacity against Crystal Palace.

Liverpool, West Ham & Everton:

There always has to be at least one crisis club in the Premier League. That's just the way it works. And right now, Liverpool, West Ham and Everton will be delighted that the Blues are stealing that honour away from them. Another disastrous evening ensures Chelsea will be dominating the back pages once again and incredibly leaves them in an even weaker position than when they entered the game. It'll take some disasterclass to take the crisis-club crown away from them.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Joao Felix:

Goodness gracious me, that was quite the eventful debut. A surprise inclusion in the starting XI before he'd even had time to drop his wash bag at Cobham meant all eyes were on Felix on Thursday night. And after a spritely but wasteful start to his Chelsea career, Felix's Premier League bow descended into farce. The forward's wild flying lash out was ironically a challenge that his arch-nemesis, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, would have been proud of. His current manager will be less pleased. Felix has just given Potter yet another selection headache to deal with.

Graham Potter:

Fulham fans revelled in informing Potter that he was "being sacked in the morning" throughout proceedings. While that is probably not true, there is now a genuine argument that he has guided Chelsea to their post-Abramovic nadir. This defeat leaves them a humiliating 10 points shy of fourth-placed Manchester United, with their Champions League prospects now fanciful. A battered and bruised Crystal Palace are next up for Potter and Co. Lose that, and parroting lines about the club being in transition simply aren't going to cut it.

Kepa Arrizabalaga:

Another Chelsea game, another appearance in the losers section for the most expensive goalkeeper in the world. My oh my Kepa, we thought you were past this? It would appear not. A second piece of game-changing goalkeeping – and not in a good way – on the bounce will have fans yearning for the return of Edouard Mendy between the sticks, but the Senegal international was in similarly shaky form pre-injury. Whatever way you spin it, it's not good news for Chelsea.

Getty ImagesChelsea Ratings: Defence

Kepa Arrizabalaga (5/10):

Made a few good stops, but spilled one on the stroke of half-time and might have been punished. All at sea as Fulham took the lead.

Trevoh Chalobah (4/10):

A slip, which allowed Bobby Decordova-Reid to rattle the crossbar, sent the tone for a nightmarish first half. Lost Vinicius for the goal.

Thiago Silva (6/10):

Emerged with some credit. Chelsea could really do with finding the fountain of youth so he can play for another five years.

Kalidou Koulibaly (5/10):

Guilty of some seriously sloppy moments in the opening exchanges. Partially redeemed himself by bundling Chelsea's equaliser over the line.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Cesar Azpilicueta (5/10):

Had a few uncomfortable moments against the more athletic Antonee Robinson. Offered very little going forward.

Mateo Kovacic (5/10):

Usually one of the most accurate passers in world football, but tonight more than a few of his attempts failed to find their man. .

Denis Zakaria (6/10):

Fired up. He wasn't perfect, but it's that sort of intensity that'll help Chelsea out of their current funk. His injury is another big blow.

Lewis Hall (4/10):

Should have scored inside three minutes. Never looked comfortable and a tricky situation risks killing his confidence.

The England midfielder helped Spurs get the better of Chelsea while Alexis orchestrated a victory over Swansea, earning their places in the latest XI

Dele Alli and Alexis Sanchez are the highlight names in this week's Premier League team of the week after helping their respective sides to important wins.

Alli was the star for Tottenham with two goals as they came from behind to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. His first, aided by his wonderful first touch to control a Eric Dier pass before beating Willy Caballero, stunned the onlooking crowd before he put the game beyond doubt to all but secure his side's place in the top four at the Blues' expense.

Alexis, meanwhile, shook off his early struggles at Manchester United to fire them to a win over Swansea City. With a goal and an assist, he gave Jose Mourinho's men a two-goal lead within 20 minutes to keep them in second place.

Check out the full team below…

GettyKasper Schmeichel | Leicester CityThe Leicester City goalkeeper has saved three of the 14 Premier League penalties he’s faced – the same number his father Peter saved during his time in the competition (21 faced).AdvertisementGettyDeAndre Yedlin | Newcastle United

As well as helping his side keep a clean sheet, Yedlin also made six crosses from open play down the right-hand side, creating two chances in the process.

GettyVictor Lindelof | Manchester United

The centre-back had the best pass accuracy of any Red Devils player in Saturday's 2-0 win, with no team-mate making more clearances or interceptions than his three of each.

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GettyJamaal Lascelles | Newcastle United

Lascelles was solid in defence in Newcastle's 1-0 win over Huddersfield – no Magpies player made more clearances than his eight or gained possession on more occasions than the 13 he did.