By Daily sports on January 23, 2021

MIKEL VS TROOST-EKONG

Stoke City and Watford lock horns this weekend but Nigerians will have a keen interest in this one, given the prospective involvement of Mikel John Obi and William Troost-Ekong.

The ex-Nigeria captain’s stomping ground is at bet365 Stadium these days and he could face off with the former Udinese centre-back in the encounter as Stoke look to edge closer to the top six in Championship.

As for the Hornets, a win could see them end the gameweek in second place if results go their way and it’s a possibility Watford boss Xisco will welcome.

SIMY

Scoring twice and setting up another last time out, Simy was beyond instrumental in Crotone’s 4-1 success over Benevento last time out.

That was the Pythagoreans’ third win since regaining promotion and first success in four games, something they’ll hope to build on against Fiorentina this weekend.

The Viola are reeling from a 6-0 thrashing by Napoli last week and Simy and co. will aim to worsen the situation for Saturday’s 14th-placed hosts who could still be sucked into the relegation battle.

SAMUEL KALU

Kalu was quite lively in Bordeaux’s 3-0 win over Nice until his substitution just after the hour.

The wideman is likely to play from the off when the Girondins host an Angers side sitting right above them in Ligue 1.

Success for Kalu and his teammates could see them not only supplant their opponents in eight but take Jean Louis Gasset's team as high as sixth in the table.

ANTHONY NWAKAEME

A goal and assist in Trabzonspor’s 3-1 success over Konyaspor not only took Nwakaeme’s total goal contributions in the league to eight, but he’s now been involved in four goals in his last four appearances.

The Black Sea Storm are unbeaten in four games, winning three, and they’ll fancy themselves to increase that run to five against a Genclerbirligi side in poor form.

Success for the Trabzon outfit could take them into fifth spot and closer to contending for a spot on the continent.

MADUKA OKOYE

The goalkeeper was on the receiving end of five goals against a rampant PSV side that defeated Sparta Rotterdam 5-3 in the previous gameweek.

Okoye ought to keep his place in Henk Fraser’s line-up as the Castle Lords seek a response vs Utrecht hoping to prevent another loss.

A reverse at the hands of this weekend’s opponents will see the Rotterdam side supplanted by their hosts, a turn of events they’ll look to avoid. (Goal)

•PHOTO: Samuel Kalu (L) in action for Bordeaux

Source Daily sports

Posted January 23, 2021

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