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Danny Welbeck is often the centre of ridicule for many fans who don’t support one of the few teams he has played for.

For Arsenal fans, he has been an injury prone liability who cannot find consistency. For Manchester United fans, he was the local lad who never quite managed to make the cut. But for England, Welbeck often finds that extra level of form which has seen him get 14 goals in 33 appearances.

With his return to football coming in the shape of a dramatic injury time winner against title rivals Leicester City at the weekend, could Welbeck be the secret to success for Arsenal’s 13 year wait for Premier League glory, as well as England’s hopes of success in the summer.

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This season Arsenal have relied solely on the talent of Mesut Ozil to set up Olivier Giroud, but they have no other strike options, unless they put Alexis Sanchez or Theo Walcott upfront.

Welbeck creates another choice for Wenger to utilise. If Welbeck starts, he can play off Giroud and help provide the goals. However, you can guarantee he’ll more than likely be the substitute striker, and will be relied upon to score off the bench.

Wenger, though, has a knack of playing Welbeck out of position. The Arsenal boss often plays Welbeck either as a lone striker, where he struggles for goal scoring opportunities, or on the left wing. Even though the England international does have the ability to cut in off the flank, more often or not he is wasteful in front of goal.

Giroud has done so well this season and Arsenal are fighting for Premier League honours, but the return of Welbeck still couldn’t have come at a better time. There have been a few times when the Gunners have struggled for goals, and hopefully in the business end of the season Welbeck can contribute.

For England, it will be a lot harder for Welbeck to force his way in to Roy Hodgson’s plans. Since his injury, Harry Kane, Saido Berahino, Danny Ings, Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin have all been called up for the national squad, as well as Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney.

Out of all of those strikers, you would feel that Sturridge, Rooney and Kane will be definitely in the squad that travels to France. If Sturridge stays fit and scores goals, he will most probably start alongside Rooney. Kane, too, if he continues to score and fires Spurs to glory before the end of the season, it will be hard to see Welbeck getting called up.

For the Arsenal striker to be considered, he will need to be consistent and score regularly for Arsenal between now and May. For a player that isn’t a consistent goal scorer, it will be very hard for him to be included.

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Leicester City’s footballing miracle is showing no signs of letting up – and some fans are already convinced that they’ll clinch this season’s title.

Earlier today, the Foxes recorded a one-nil win over Southampton – their fifth single-strike victory in their last six league games – courtesy of a goal from Wes Morgan to push seven points clear of second-place Tottenham Hotspur at the Premier League’s summit.

The King Power stadium outfit are now just a handful of games away from lifting the English crown amid the most unexpected title bid the Premier League has ever witnessed and one cheeky chappy is shrewdly cashing in on the club’s miraculous rises

Indeed, an unnamed entrepreneur travelled to the Midlands for today’s game to flog a unique line of scarves already declaring the Foxes as Premier League champions.

The phrase ‘don’t count your eggs before they hatch’ certainly comes to mind and many have drawn comparisons with Liverpool’s capitulation in 2014. Reds supporters began celebrating in April after an apparent title-grabbing win against Manchester City, only for the Merseysiders to eventually fall short and finish in second place.

Nonetheless, after today’s triumph against Southampton, you can understand why fans are already convinced Leicester will win the league. Here are some of the best responses on social media:

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West Ham have had a truly remarkable season in the Premier League.

Leicester’s unlikely title bid has rightly stolen most of the plaudits, but the Irons, almost under the radar for much of the campaign, have been steadily winning games and now find themselves in a great position.

Slaven Bilic’s men are mixing it with Manchester’s big two in the fight for Champions League football and if results go their way at the weekend, they could leapfrog United into fifth place with five games to play.

There have been plenty of standout performers in the Hammers’ ranks, but the diminutive Dimitri Payet stands head and shoulders above the rest.

Sir Alex Ferguson famously referred to Eric Cantona as the “the catalyst” that sparked success for his team. Payet has been a revelation in the same mould. His contribution to Bilic’s side this term is all the more incredible given that he suffered a five-week injury lay off mid-season.

So good has the Frenchman been, so pleasing on the eye his play, that he has been the subject of multiple rumours linking him with the exit door, despite being in his first season with the club.

Could the West Ham faithful really lose their star man after such a short love affair, or will Payet be lighting up the Olympic Stadium for years to come?

Some would argue that whether or not the East London outfit can secure Champions League football will be the deciding factor. The talent of the Reunion-born man and his ability to be a match winner over the remaining games would therefore go some way towards defining his own fate.

A strong showing from the playmaker at Euro 2016 with France would also increase interest in his services.

With Payet though, things are not that clear cut. If he were a younger player, then a move would be much more likely, while in another season, dominated by the usual forces in the Premier League, things might be different, too.

This summer though, those clubs that would normally be potential destinations, could well find that their stock has fallen below that of Payet’s current employers. West Ham are likely to finish above Chelsea for example, and it is not unlikely that they could also surpass one, or both, of the Manchester powers.

The former Marseille man is also a late bloomer and at 29 years old is undoubtedly a player at his peak. While he would represent a quality signing for most teams, one thing he certainly would not be is an investment, nor will he prove to be long-term value for money.

He has 18 international caps, but did not make his debut for Les Bleus until late in 2010 and the £14m West Ham forked out to acquire him was by no means a sure bet. Having floated around in French football for most of his career, Payet had one standout season with Marseille which prompted the Upton Park outfit to produce the cash. In an almost unique turn of events, the attacking midfielder has gathered further momentum and has been even better since his move to England.

With considerable delay, the former Lille and St-Etienne man has become the player he always promised to be. His current form, however superb, is surely the peak of his powers.

West Ham also had the good sense to tie down their talisman in February this year to a deal, which will keep him at the club until 2021. By that time, Payet will be 34. This means that only a huge offer for a player nearing 30 would release him for transfer. Such a bid is unlikely from most of Europe and reduces the number of potential suitors dramatically.

Should West Ham finish in the top four then the chances of Payet moving to another English club would be virtually zero.

Looking abroad, the player has been linked with PSG, but apart from that the big clubs around Europe seem like non starters.

At this stage of his career, and in the form of his life, Payet needs to be virtually guaranteed a starting berth. West Ham can offer that.

Clubs currently just below the very top echelon of the European game – such as the Italian heavyweights, Borussia Dortmund or perhaps Atletico Madrid – would all be places a player with such natural ability could continue to flourish.

But in reality, at the present time they can guarantee little more than West Ham, who could have the potential to become a genuine European name virtually overnight.

They are set to move into a new stadium, have a young, talented and energetic manager, a passionate fan base and the bright lights of London to attract talent.

A top four finish would all but guarantee Payet’s commitment to a club on the up and even if they just miss out, West Ham United remains a place he would surely be keen to stay.

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There’s a problem when you do well. In fact, it’s worse when you do better than you were expected to.

West Ham have just had a better season than anyone would have thought was possible before a ball was kicked, and now on the back of that success, more will be expected and required by the board, but more importantly by the supporters, inn 2016/17.

Realism will vanish and be replaced with fervent optimism to the point of disappointment should the Hammers fail to capitalise on Slaven Bilic’s first season.

To come into a club and stamp your mark, not just on the team but on every aspect of that club, with more than 11 new players arriving takes some doing, but Bilic achieved that and more. West Ham’s academy looks to be thriving once again, too, and a few of the players were given a chance at the beginning of the season – many have recently signed new contracts, as well. Reece Oxford is expected to stay after the usual transfer rumours, which again is a positive.

But with all of the exultation of a past season comes the realisation that West Ham need to keep competing and remain a serious challenger for the title, for Champions League football and for silverware.

Where do West Ham’s problems begin? Well, here are FIVE big ones…

Deal with expectation

This will be the biggest problem for everyone connected with West Ham. Some of the fans will be on cloud nine, and rightly so, but the need to stay competitive is a necessary evil that will haunt clubs that cannot keep pace with the very best. West Ham are nowhere near in terms of pulling power or spending power yet, but without doubt they will be in the next three or four seasons.

For now, the board and the fans will need to realise that this is a club with great ambition, but not the kind that will be fulfilled overnight. They may not sign exactly who they would like, they may not break into the top four next season and they may not win a trophy, however, if they can stay close to 2015/16’s efforts, then West Ham must be satisfied.

Improve the defence

Although West Ham struggled to put out a defence that played consistently together, there were occasions when they seemed tight and adept at dealing with all that was thrown at them. With replacement right-backs, who deputised exceptionally well, West Ham still leaked goals – often at a rate of two per game in the last quarter of the season. For a team to push up the league, this record is a concern. The left-back spot appears safe, but the right-back slot will be a challenge and the centre-halves need to play together more frequently.

Wing additions

The midfield was one of West Ham’s strongest positions with Mark Noble becoming a better player as the season progressed and Cheikhou Kouyate developing into a significantly influential individual. Pedro Obiang’s stay looks tenuous, even though the fans like him, but with Manuel Lanzini and the wonderfully gifted Dimitri Payet attacking at the head of the midfield, any strengthening here will be on the wings. With a defensive midfielder already signed, there’s not a lot of tinkering to be done here.

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Bring in an attacking focal point

The biggest problem. Payet was the leading scorer for West Ham last season, but the line of Enner Valencia, Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, Mauro Zarate and then Emmanuel Emenike, just didn’t do enough. Carroll, once fit, did make a contribution, especially with his hat trick over Arsenal, but largely the forward line lacked bite and a killer touch, and subsequently the team had to rely too much on Payet for goals. A number of potential additions have been circulated, but time will tell and whomever comes in will be expected to do a whole lot better, especially if the Hammers spend £30m on one player.

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Ease the burden on Payet

It is fair to say that Bilic and the team were possibly too reliant on the Frenchman. When he was out injured, the team struggled and once he returned, West Ham picked up. The Hammers averaged 0.9-goals-per-game without Payet compared to two goals per game with him in the side. Equally their win percentage also dropped from 53.8% to 25% in his absence.

His trickery on the ball, the way he draws defenders in when he attacks make him the stand-out player, but West Ham will hope that others around Payet and any new signings, will hopefully take any pressure off the 29-year-old and allow him even more freedom to express his edge-of-the-seat talents.

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How do you improve a squad that is already made up of global superstars? Simply add more.

This philosophy has been implemented at Manchester City ever since Sheikh Mansour poured his billions into the club seven years ago.

However, after two years without a major trophy (excluding the comparatively insufficient League Cup silverware), a major change was required…and it duly arrived in the form of Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard faces a tough task in implementing his system to the Premier League while giving the Man City team a much needed facelift.

The concern for City fans should be Guardiola’s ability to choose players who can fit into the system and play in the unrelenting Premier League without issue.

Here are five players Manchester City won’t sign, but really should…

N’Golo Kante

Arguably the best player in the Premier League last season, N’Golo Kante was incomparably impressive and really displayed all the attributes of a world class modern day defensive midfielder.

One thing that is lacking in the middle of the park for Man City is a bit of bite. Kante will certainly provide that; the Frenchman made more tackles than any other player in the Premier League last season by some distance.

Aymeric Laporte

If any aspiring young defender wants to learn a thing or two about no-nonsense, classy defending, look no further than Aymeric Laporte.

The youngster is not the tallest or the quickest but more than makes up for this with his incredible tactical reading of the game – a perfect attribute for a Pep Guardiola team.

However, the Frenchman has only just put pen to paper on a new contract at Athletic Bilbao so will not be moving to Manchester this summer.

Toni Kroos

The perfect answer to the absence of a deep-lying midfielder playmaker that works so well in Guardiola’s teams, Toni Kroos could well establish himself as the key man at Man City if he ever makes a move to the Etihad.

However, Zinedine Zidane will unlikely want to sell one of his most prized midfielders and unless City make an outrageous bid of £60 million, the German will be staying in Madrid for the foreseeable future.

Jerome Boateng

After another exceptional display at the heart of the German defence at Euro 2016, Jerome Boateng firmly established himself as the best centre-half in world football today.

Formally at City, Guardiola would be severely disappointed that they didn’t keep hold of the 27-year-old for longer than one season.

However, the big defender will likely never return to the Etihad; his dire experience at City first time around means that a reunion with former boss Pep Guardiola is off the table.

Gonzalo Higuain

After netting 38 times for Napoli last season, Gonzalo Higuain is one of the most wanted men in the football world right now.

The 28-year-old has more than a goal every other game during his time in Italy and would no doubt provide similar tallies in the Premier League.

A striking combination with compatriot Sergo Aguero could truly set the Premier League on fire. However, the Argentinian does not fit the formation or style of play for a Pep Guardiola team, therefore making any transfer deal very unlikely.

Not too long ago the Bundesliga wasn’t considered as one of the top three leagues in Europe.

Those places were always reserved for the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A and that can be seen in the list of recent winners in the Champions League. Between Bayern Munich lifting the trophy in 2001 and then again in 2013 no German side lifted the trophy whereas England saw their clubs win it three times, Italy the same and Spanish sides took four victories in that period.

It was a barren spell before the Bundesliga’s watershed moment – the 2013 final. Bayern Munich would lift the trophy beating fellow German side Borussia Dortmund in the final, it was a moment for the German domestic game to rejoice and it has since gone on from strength to strength, dislodging Serie A from the top three.

Pep Guardiola was a large part of securing the league’s longer term appeal in building on the Bayern side and whilst not winning the Champions League in his time his old team are arguably in their best health in years. Guardiola got the German game instantly as he now hopes to do at Manchester City and he’ll no doubt try to attract some of the best players he saw week in week out to the club.

So here are FIVE we could be seeing in the Premier League in the near future…

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Sign him and City win the title – sounds simple enough doesn’t it? A forward line of Aubameyang and Sergio Aguero with players like Kenvi De Bruyne and David Silva providing the chances would be one to both fear and cherish.

They’d go very close to the Champions League too and that’s Guardiola’s ultimate aim – make City kings of Europe for the very first time.

Julian Weigl

Weigl is going to be a real star over the next decade and Dortmund will be desperate to keep hold of him because of that. He dictates the tempo of a match despite his young age and that makes him a player bound to be of interest to Guardiola.

It would take a massive bid to try and dislodge him but if there’s any side in the Premier League that can do it, it’s probably City.

Jonathan Tah

Jonathan Tah only turned 20 earlier this year but has already left an impression at both Hamburg and now at his latest club Bayer Leverkusen. The young German joined Leverkusen at the start of last season and managed to win a place in the side going on to make 29 appearances.

With City already signing John Stones bringing in Tah would allow for a defensive partnership to flourish in the years to come.

Ricardo Rodriguez

It feels like Rodriguez has been around for ages but he’s actually only 23. The Swiss international would be ideal for City whose left back area could do with some work.

Rodriguez is better than Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov in this position and with his great left foot he’d be well suited to when Guardiola asks his full-backs to tuck into central midfield.

Mitchell Weiser

Weiser can play as both a right midfielder and a right back and was part of the Hertha Berlin side that impressed so much last season. Much like City’s left side of defence, the right could also do with improving and Weiser might be the answer.

He’s a lot younger than Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna but Guardiola might feel that makes him easier to mould into his type of player – watch this space.

Everton fans will feel fairly confident going into tonight’s Premier League clash with Sunderland.

The Black Cats have taken just one point from their first three league fixtures of the season and are still searching for their first top flight win under new manager David Moyes.

But the Toffees need to take this fixture seriously, especially away from home.

Indeed, it’s actually Sunderland who boast the better record in terms of recent encounters, winning three and drawing two of their last six meetings with the Merseysiders.

Likewise, if there’s anybody who knows Everton’s inherent weaknesses, it’s Moyes – who reigned over Goodison Park for more than a decade before leaving for Manchester United.

Therefore, it’s imperative Everton gaffer Ronald Koeman gets his starting XI exactly right for tonight’s game.

And in case the Toffees boss is in need of some advice, we’ve come up with the Everton XI that WILL claim all three points at the Stadium of Light this evening.

GOALKEEPER – MAARTEN STEKELENBURG

Maarten Stekelenburg has enjoyed a solid start to his Everton career, yet to concede more than one goal in a game, and is a safe pair of hands between the sticks. Unquestionably, he’ll start tonight.

RIGHT-BACK – SEAMUS COLEMAN

Mason Holgate has earned rave reviews in the opening weeks of the season but after featuring for Ireland last Monday, the time is right to bring Seamus Coleman back into the starting XI. He’s one of the

He’s one of the best attacking full-backs in Europe, let alone the Premier League, when in top form.

CENTRE-BACK – PHIL JAGIELKA

Everton’s captain and most experienced centre-half, Phil Jagielka will be at the heart of defence once again tonight. One concern, however, is whether Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe will catch him for pace on the counter-attack.

One concern, however, is whether Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe will catch him for pace on the counter-attack.

CENTRE-BACK – ASHLEY WILLIAMS

Ashley Williams looked solid alongside Jagielka against Stoke City two weekends ago and is a good partner for the England man, offering relative speed and quality on the ball. He could be a better candidate for keeping Defoe in check.

He could be a better candidate for keeping Defoe in check.

LEFT-BACK – LEIGHTON BAINES

Last season was tough for Leighton Baines but the cultured full-back is enjoying a strong start to the current campaign, averaging 2.7 tackles and one created chance per match. He offers Everton rare quality of delivery on the overlap.

He offers Everton rare quality of delivery on the overlap.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD – IDRISSA GUEYE

Everton’s swoop for Idrissa Gueye initially raised some eyebrows but the stats speak for themselves – namely a whopping 5.7 tackles per match. The Senegal star’s speedy

The Senegal star’s speedy play breaking could be an integral asset for the Toffees in matches like tonight’s, when they’re expected to dominate away from home.

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD – GARETH BARRY

Gareth Barry may be 35 years of age but he still offers Everton plenty in the middle of the park, specifically great experience, intelligence and guile. Fortunately,

Fortunately, Gueye’s got the energy to compensate for Barry’s ageing legs.

ATTACKING MIDFIELD – ROSS BARKLEY

Ross Barkley remains Everton’s intrinsic link to the final third and he’s certainly produced so far this season, claiming one goal and one assist in three Premier League outings. Sunderland

Sunderland look set to sit deep tonight, so his ability to shoot from long range could be what breaks the deadlock.

RIGHT WING – YANNICK BOLASIE

Yannick Bolasie still has some way to go before justifying his price-tag but the Congo winger brings a lot to Everton’s starting XI, particularly width and directness in the final third. He could run riot against Sunderland left-back Patrick van Aanholt, who isn’t the strongest defensively.

He could run riot against Sunderland left-back Patrick van Aanholt, who isn’t the strongest defensively.

LEFT WING – AROUNA KONE

Our wildcard suggestion for tonight’s game but with some logic behind it. Arouna Kone boasts three goals and one assist from two outings against Sunderland, including a hat-trick at Goodison Park last season. With Romelu Lukaku yet to find the net this term and the Black Cats seriously struggling for form, adding another goal threat on the flank could prove a shrewd move from Ronald Koeman.

With Romelu Lukaku yet to find the net this term and the Black Cats seriously struggling for form, adding another goal threat on the flank could prove a shrewd move from Ronald Koeman.

STRIKER – ROMELU LUKAKU

As aforementioned, Lukaku is still waiting for his first Premier League goal of the new campaign. But there’s no doubt the Belgium international is one of the most lethal strikers in the top flight and facing a ropy Sunderland side represents a fantastic chance to break his duck.

But there’s no doubt the Belgium international is one of the most lethal strikers in the top flight and facing a ropy Sunderland side represents a fantastic chance to break his duck.

This Saturday sees Scottish football’s most definitive derby, the Old Firm, return to the top flight.

Indeed, Rangers have spent the last four seasons in the wilderness of the lower tiers after going into liquidation, slowly but surely clawing their way back to the Scottish Premiership.

But with the rest of the competition in the top flight not exactly fierce, it could well be Rangers and Celtic battling it out for the title once again this season – adding even more intensity to Saturday’s 12pm kickoff at Celtic Park.

The atmosphere between two sets of fans whose rivalry spans politics, history and religion will be intense and electric. But we at Football FanCast have never been ones for aggro.

Rather, we’d prefer to consider what would happen if Celtic and Rangers joined forces. And thus, we’ve come up with a Combined XI, bringing the most talented stars from both clubs together.

How would this XI fare in the Old Firm Derby on Saturday?

GOALKEEPER – WES FODERINGHAM

Celtic may boast two more experienced alternatives in Craig Gordon and Dorus De Vries but it’s the youthful promise of Wes Foderingham that appeals to us at Football FanCast.

The 25-year-old consistently impressed at Swindon Town and helped Rangers claim the joint-healthiest goals conceded record in the Scottish second tier last season.

RIGHT-BACK – JAMES TAVERNIER

James Tavernier’s lethal finishing from set pieces, the predominant source of his staggering 15 goals from right-back last season, is a huge asset for this combined XI. Furthermore, he always finds the net against Hibernian – much to the delight of the Ibrox faithful.

CENTRE-BACK – KOLO TOURE

Kolo Toure may only be a few games into his Celtic career but copious experience sees the Ivory Coast icon instantly claim a place in our combined XI.

The 35-year-old’s CV boasts two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and countless appearances in the Champions League. That experience represents an excellent counterweight in an otherwise youthful backline.

CENTRE-BACK – DANNY WILSON

Rangers aren’t the strongest outfit defensively but Danny Wilson is a talent who stands out. The centre-back didn’t quite make the grade at Liverpool but still aged just 24, there’s plenty of time to reach his full potential. The aforementioned Kolo Toure could bring the best out of him for this combined XI.

LEFT-BACK – KIERAN TIERNEY

Kieran Tierney was linked with a Premier League move during the summer, which is no surprise considering the levels his form reached at times last season.

The 19-year-old left-back boasts a phenomenal left foot and having him on the opposite flank to James Tavernier is a mouthwatering prospect.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD – SCOTT BROWN

Any Old Firm Derby requires passion and grit and they don’t get much gritter or passionate than Celtic skipper Scott Brown.

Even at the age of 31, the former Scotland captain still offers great energy and aggression at the heart of the engine room – whilst his consistent contribution of around three league goals per season is another huge selling point.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD – JOEY BARTON

They may have partook in a war of words in the media but Joey Barton and Scott Brown would make a phenomenal midfield partnership for any derby – and especially the Old Firm. Barton’s a little more cultured on the ball than his Celtic counterpart but equally as feisty.

That being said, a red card never seems too far off for the former Manchester City and Newcastle United midfielder.

RIGHT WING – JAMES FORREST

No player will enter Saturday’s game in better form than James Forrest, having bagged three goals in three Scottish Premiership appearances so far this season.

A cunning winger of great industriousness and flair, he offers the Hoops real quality in the final third.

LEFT WING – SCOTT SINCLAIR

Scott Sinclair’s Celtic career has got off to a flyer, with four goals in six appearances across all competitions for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

And in a top flight not exactly known for it’s abundance of natural athleticism, the former Manchester City winger’s scintillating pace could make a real difference for this combined XI.

STRIKER – KENNY MILLER

Having represented both sides of the Old Firm divide throughout his career, Kenny Miller was always going to claim a place in our combined XI.

Furthermore, the 36-year-old has started the season in decent knick, grabbing goals against Dundee and Motherwell. He’s got the experience to bring the best out of a more youthful partner, which brings us onto…

STRIKER – LEIGH GRIFFITHS

Leigh Griffiths may be a controversial character off the pitch but it’s hard to dispute his talent on it.

Indeed, the 26-year-old boasts 74 goals in 115 appearances for Celtic and has begun the campaign brightly with two strikes in the top flight.

If there’s one concern, however, it’s that both he and Kenny Miller measure in at well under 6 foot.

Leicester City became well renowned all over the world last season after an unbelievable campaign that ended in the Premier League trophy coming back to the King Power Stadium.

Whilst few expect them to canter to the title again this term, their more than stuttering start has surprised a fair few Foxes supporters up and down the country.

They have picked up just eight points from their opening eight fixtures and things aren’t looking as rosy in the East Midlands as they did a few months ago.

But a tournament that has brought the Foxes a reasonable amount of success is the Champions League, which has provided some fantastic results so far this campaign.

Wins over Brugge and Porto have put somewhat of a gloss on this current season and we think the Foxes really need to focus on their European adventure going forward.

So with that in mind, here are FOUR reasons Leicester City’s season is all about the Champions League…

It’s wielded them much-needed success

Whilst it may seem slightly obvious, it’s pretty important to point out how the Champions League has been the only real source of success for the Foxes this season.

It’s the world’s biggest European competition and to be unbeaten going into the third game is a real achievement. Leicester should take great pride from that and try and take confidence from it going into their next European game.

It’s a unique experience

Based on their current form in the Premier League, it’s clear Leicester City probably won’t get into the Champions League again next season and might even have to settle for a top-ten finish.

In that respect, they really need to make the most of this fantastic opportunity and take it for what it is. We’re not completely ruling Leicester out of qualifying again in the next five years or so, but unfortunately, the chances are slim.

For some of these players and supporters, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

They’re beating European heavyweights

Say what you like, convincing wins over Brugge and Porto are huge successes in Leicester City’s history.

They’re European heavyweights in their respective countries and to beat both pretty comprehensively is impressive stuff.

They should take heart in those wins, especially with things not going so swimmingly in the Premier League.

They’ve got every chance of winning it

Call us silly, call us unrealistic, but once Leicester City inevitably progress through the group stages, they have just as much chance of winning it as anyone else.

We’ve seen it in tournaments all over the world – once you’re in knockouts, it’s a different game entirely.

Leicester City, over 90 minutes, are a match for anyone – and there won’t be many teams keen on facing them in the next rounds of the competition.

“If Romelu was to play at Everton until the end of his career I know he has left something behind.”

Ronald Koeman rather rocked Everton’s fanbase a few days ago with this quite frankly astonishing utterance, in which he openly advised his star player, Romelu Lukaku, to move away from Goodison Park in search of bigger and better things.

This got us at Football FanCast Towers thinking… are there other players at other clubs in a similar position to the giant Belgian? An interesting study on this front is West Ham, who have slipped down the table this season after seemingly bashing their head on the ceiling of what is possible in east London last term when they mounted a top four challenge.

Here are THREE players who may well need to leave the Irons to progress…

Dimitri Payet

Rarely are players simultaneously on the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist and embroiled in a relegation fight, but Payet finds himself in just that situation. The Frenchman had a stellar 2015/16 and EURO 2016 with France, and has even managed to shine in an under-performing Hammers side thus far this term.

By the end of the season the playmaker will be 30, and he will surely find it hard to spend another campaign battling in midtable. Although his age may count against him, it’s likely that a team such as Paris Saint-Germain will be eager to lure him back to his homeland.

Aaron Cresswell

In line for his England debut over the coming days, the left-back has become one of the standout players in his position in the Premier League. Defensively responsible and a willing attacking threat, Cresswell is surely being looked at by the division’s elite, and, although it’s pure speculation, he appears to be the perfect solution to Liverpool’s problems at no.3.

Cheikhou Kouyate

Athletic, imposing and technically adept, Kouyate has the makings of a great central midfielder. The Senegalese star, who has been capped 24 times by his nation, has been a bit hot and cold in the claret and blue shirt, but in a better side surrounded by better players his level could be dragged up, while the removal of the need to be a key player may alleviate some pressure from his shoulders.

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