Victoria allrounder Will Sutherland will join the four-day squad for the second of the two matches in Lucknow

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2025Allrounder Aaron Hardie has been ruled out of the Australia A tour of India due to a shoulder injury to add to the list of pace-bowling options to be sidelined.Hardie will be replaced by Victoria allrounder Will Sutherland, who was already part of the one-day squad for the tour and will fly out to India in time for the second four-day game in Lucknow. A replacement for Hardie in the one-day squad will be named at a later date.It is hoped that Hardie will be able to recover in time for the early rounds of Sheffield Shield matches – Western Australia’s opening game is against New South Wales at the WACA on October 4.Related

• Maxwell named for 50-over return for Victoria despite ODI retirement

• Morris ruled out for up to 12 months after opting for back surgery

• Vidler ruled out of Australia A tour of India with a partial stress fracture

• No regrets for Konstas as he prepares to fight for Ashes berth

Hardie featured in the recent T20I and ODI series against West Indies and South Africa but he struggled against the latter and had not been selected for the short New Zealand trip for three T20Is, instead being included in the A squad. Depending on how his recovery tracks, he may come into consideration for the white-ball series against India.Though an allrounder rather than a specialist bowler, Hardie’s injury adds to a growing list of players sidelined heading into the season. Pat Cummins is the most significant with question marks over whether he will recover from his back injury in time for the Ashes.Lance Morris, a team-mate of Hardie’s at WA, has been ruled out for 12 months having undergone back surgery, while promising quick Callum Vidler has been diagnosed with a stress fracture. Morris had been due to feature in the four-day leg of the A tour and Vidler the one-dayers. Brody Couch had initially been Morris’ replacement but he suffered a side injury during the Top End T20 final with South Australia’s Henry Thornton subsequently called up.The first four-day game against India A starts on September 16 followed by the second on September 23. The three one-dayers, which will all be in Kanpur, are on September 30, October 3 and 5.

Updated Australia A four-day squad

Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jack Edwards, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake, Josh Philippe, Corey Rocchiccioli, Liam Scott, Will Sutherland (second game only), Henry Thornton

Updated Australia A one-day squad

Cooper Connolly, Harry Dixon, Jack Edwards, Sam Elliott, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Todd Murphy, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachie Shaw, Tom Straker, Will Sutherland, Henry Thornton (one to be added)

Not quite a year on from the disappointing 2-1 reversal to Swansea City, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal presided over an opening day victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

Barely a classic, the Old Trafford side ground out a victory, with a host of new signings making their Premier League bows. Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmain and Sergio Romero impressed during the game, with Bastian Schweinsteiger coming on to become the first German to play for the club.

It was £25million man Memphis Depay, latest incumbent of the famous Number 7, who was under most scrutiny during the game. Operating just behind Wayne Rooney in the ‘Number 10’ role, the man who scored 25 goals with PSV last season showed some of his famous skills, but lacked the know-how to break Tottenham’s stubborn defensive lines. Ashley Young and Juan Mata were deployed in the wide positions of a 4-2-3-1, with captain Rooney the spearhead in the attack.

Despite linking nicely to force a Kyle Walker own goal, the Red Devils front line looked somewhat disjointed.

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Deploying Depay centrally, with Young and Mata either side, has been the plan for the majority of pre-season, but the system can actually prize the best away from both the Spaniard and the Flying Dutchman.

On his 64th birthday, Red Devils chief van Gaal appeared to blow out his candles and wish for a Gareth Bale-like-‘Number 10’ in his new signing. While at Spurs, Bale would utilise his pace and power into bulldozing teams, either running past defenders to slot past the opposition ‘keeper, or unleashing a trademark wonder strike from 25+ yards.

The new man may one day get to that level, he certainly has the attributes. Clearly, van Gaal is a huge fan of Bale, having been heavily linked with him all summer, so perhaps he is moulding Depay in a similar style. But to pay such a large fee for a prolific goal scorer from the wing, then move him centrally seems rather odd.

With Mata in the side, the £37.1m signing have one of the best Number 10’s in the world shunted to the wing. The former Chelsea man can of course perform well in the role, as shown by his performance at Anfield last year, but both players appear to be playing out of position.

What made Memphis such a sort-after property this summer was his ability to cut inside from the left wing and shoot. What makes Mata such a successful player is his vision, neat passes and quick thinking.

So, taking their best attributes into account, both men seem more suited to each other’s roles, rather than their own. With a single game gone it is unfair to label a tactic as a failure, and United ultimately won the contest – they must be doing something right.

Still, at times during the match, the Old Trafford side looked out of ideas after some neat passing in their own half. Dutch international Depay was slow in possession on occasion, where someone like Mata or substitute Ander Herrera may have upped the tempo.

With Wayne Rooney being the only notable striker likely to stay at the club this year, surely van Gaal will want to get the best out of the attacking unit behind his captain. Perhaps Memphis can be moulded into Gareth Bale mark II.

But as he beds in, selecting a World Cup and Champions League winning ‘Number 10’ in his favoured role may be beneficial.

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League leaders Manchester City were dismantled by an energetic Tottenham Hotspur, who came from behind to crush the travelling table toppers 4-1.Despite £55m man Kevin De Bruyne slotting home to put the visitors ahead, a long range Eric Dier effort levelled the scores on the stroke of half time.Spurs then raced to a 4-1 victory after Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane and Erik Lamela completed the rout.The game was marred by a succession of controversial offside decisions, with only Alderweireld’s header not a contentious decision.However, Mauricio Pochettino’s side grew throughout the game, with their front line wreaking havoc to a City defence that looked slow and lumbering.With Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and David Silva out of today’s clash, the Manchester side were without a strong core of usual first team players.Sergio Aguero was lively up front, but failed to regularly trouble Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.Here are three other things we learned during the clash.

Man City cannot handle pace

Granted, Vincent Kompany was unable to feature today with a reported illness. However, the remaining defenders looked helpless against the powerful running of the opposition

Argentine pair Nicolas Otamendi and Martin Demichelis really struggled to deal with the pace of Lamela, Kane and Son Heung-Min, as well as Clinton N’Jie when he appeared late in the second half.

The direct running and high pressing nature of Pochettino’s side seemed to have the City back line shaking in their boots whenever it was in full flow.

Kane is back

The hyperbole surrounding Harry Kane following his return to the scoresheet may be somewhat tongue in cheek, but the England man impressed today.

He ran himself into the ground, and deserved his goal – despite it clearly being offside. The 22-year old worked the channels, buzzed around the outside of the box and tested stand in ‘keeper Willy Caballero a few times.

The hitman possess the energy to cause real problems to opposing defenders.

He took his goal well, though the goal was gaping. Reacting first to a loose ball, he controlled an awkwardly bouncing ball and fired into the roof the net.

Dier & Alli for England

Tottenham’s young, English midfield partnership provided the defensive solidarity in order to allow the forward players to flourish.

The young midfielders stood strong against the likes Yaya Toure, Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne, calmly breaking up attacks in their half.

They acted with an assurance beyond their years, and have the technique to start attacks from the back.

Alli in particular looks like the kind of player Roy Hodgson requires, someone to sit back and scheme, allowing the faster players on the wings to push forward and hit teams on the counter.

Over half-an-hour played at the Etihad and Liverpool lead 3-0. Mental, eh!?

After Manchester City’s Mangala bundled the ball in to his own net from a Firmino cross in the eighth minute, many thought the hosts might begin to go in search for an equaliser.

Liverpool fully deserved their lead, and they fully deserved their next two goals as well after Firmino found Coutinho with a wonderful cross to send the travelling Reds fans in to raptures at the Etihad. And then to top it off, Coutinho returned the favour as he squared a lovely little pass to Firmino for his Brazilian compatriot to slide in to an empty net.

Jurgen Klopp’s side came out of the blocks here in devastating fashion and City have struggled to contain Liverpool in the opening 30 minutes.

And again, as expected, Liverpool fans took to Twitter to celebrate their surprise THREE goal lead! It was the Brazilian duo of Firmino and Coutinho who made the opening three goals, and that fact wasn’t lost on the delirious Liverpool faithful…

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Hats off to Manuel Pellegrini. Sometimes you have to play ugly and come away with the result you need. Over the last few seasons, you can’t fault Manchester City’s attitude towards the game, they’ve attacked and attacked and attacked. Last weekend away to Manchester United, however, that attitude changed significantly.

Setting up to defend against Manchester United at Old Trafford is hardly a new-fangled tactic, nor is it really that bad an idea. Over the last 30 years or so it’s really been the best way of getting something out of the game.

With United back in the Premier League title reckoning this season and with City missing key attacking stars such as David Silva and Sergio Aguero, it seems to make sense to try to keep the opposition from scoring and maybe try to nick a goal on the counter with the pace of Sterling and Navas, for example. And that’s how City played.

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We’ll never know how Pellegrini would have lined up if it weren’t for the injuries to his key players, of course.

Maybe with Aguero and Silva fit, City would have tried to control the game more themselves and look to attack United in a more ‘Pellegrini’ performance.

But they came away with a point, and it suits City down to the ground.

Last season, at the Etihad stadium in January, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal came into the game like all the other times they came into games against the big teams – fearing a heavy defeat. But instead of playing the silky attacking and frankly suicidal game that Arsenal sometimes play against the big sides, they sat back and defended like heroes and had Francis Coquelin to thank for a sterling performance.

The reason I mention this is because it looks like a watershed moment in Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal. The Gunners have gone on to beat Chelsea (albeit in the Community Shield), Manchester United and Liverpool as well as City since the turn of the year. Arsenal have discovered a backbone.

It’s not that City have lacked a ‘backbone’ over the years. City won the title in 2011-12 on goal difference, but when you score the most and concede the fewest – 29 goals conceded, fewer than Chelsea last season – no one can begrudge you a goal difference victory.

What is interesting, though, is that Pellegrini has changed when there has been no obvious reason for him to change. City were, perhaps, overrun by United in last season’s game at Old Trafford and missing some key players this time around, but it’s not as if City, like Arsenal, have a habit of disintegrating in big top-of-the-table clashes. A 5-1 win over Crystal Palace only days after shutting out United in such a defensive display shows normal service is resumed.

Instead, where City have consistently fallen apart is in Europe. So maybe that’s the reason. Maybe, with big European games coming up – away to Sevilla where a win would see City put one foot into the first knockout round and then a possible showdown for top spot with Juventus in Turin – Pellegrini is going to take a different approach in Europe this season. Where his 4-4-2 failed to make inroads over the last few seasons, his new-found defensive solidity may allow City to cause big European clubs more problems.

The Manchester derby may just have been a chance to try out a few new things and test out a new approach in what is probably the Premier League game most like a Champions League game these days. Louis van Gaal’s possession-based approach is the most like a Champions League approach that you’ll find in the Premier League.

And so pushing Yaya Toure forward relieves him of the defensive duties and, since City were sitting deep, still gave him the opportunity to bring the ball forward with his trademark marauding runs from deep on the counter attack.

Meanwhile, the inclusion of Fernandinho and Fernando playing together in the midfield shored up the defence behind it. They’re the most solid partnership City have in the middle of the park, and even though they’re certainly not the best in the league, you’d be hard pushed to find a stronger, more robust double anchor in front of a back four.

Bringing Martin Demichelis into the game late on adds an experience – especially in Europe – and even more solidity in front of a central defence made up of Otamendi and Kompany.

Add Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony into the mix and Pellegrini has surely created the hulkiest spine in the league.

Against Sevilla, Juventus and Monchengladbach, City might just play a more defensive game with or without Silva and Aguero. So hats off to Manuel Pellegrini. He has adapted his squad, and he’s done it quietly. He’s had success in England, winning the Premier League and the League Cup, and now he’s adapting for success in Europe.

He may not need to play so defensively in order to win the Premier League, but in Europe it’s a different story. If Arsene Wenger is adapting in order to win the league, then Pellegrini deserves the same credit for adapting in order to compete in Europe – his pact with the devil of defending may just bear forbidden fruit.

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After 73% possession and 21 shots on goal, it takes a special kind of failure to manage only two shots on target and absolutely no goals. It was a failure of Louis van Gaal proportions, and one which, despite the point the take from the game, cements Swansea’s place in the bottom three on Christmas day. Despite all of their fancy football in the middle of the park, the Liberty Stadium outfit are seemingly unable to breach their opposition’s goal during games. It’s unclear as to whether the system isn’t working, or the players are suffering a complete lack of confidence. However, what is clear, is that club lack the firepower to lift them out of this relegation scrap at the moment. For West Ham, the injury crisis has seen the East London side deliver a different kind of performance. Their away form has often been marvelled this term, taking scalps at Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal already under Slaven Bilic. Unfortunately for the Hammers, key injuries to the likes of Dimitri Payet, Andy Carroll and Manuel Lanzini have severely depleted the options available in recent weeks. Still, they were solid enough and may have nabbed a result in the dying embers of the game, though a draw may have been they could hope for considering the utter domination of the ball Swansea had. Here are FIVE things we learned during Swansea 0-0 West Ham.

SWANS LACK CUTTING EDGE

Today showed us that, even though Swansea look like a technically proficient team who are adept at passing the ball around with aplomb, they lack that most important of characteristics: a cutting edge.

We all know that if you don’t score, you won’t win, and without a cutting edge, stats live we’ve seen from Swansea today are a certainty. With all the possession, they managed almost double West Ham’s shot count, but with only two on target, it’s the lack of a real cutting edge that means they don’t get into the positions necessary to get their shots on target.

Or maybe they’re just terrible at shooting….

GOMIS LACKS FIGHT

Before today’s game, Bafetimbi Gomis had scored four goals in his first 10 shots in the Premier League this season, starting like a house on fire and propelling Swansea to victory. But then he managed just one goal from his next 21 shots as his form slid off the radar and into the doldrums.

Today’s game showed that he’s not at all up for the fight.

Swansea will now have to face the reality that they find themselves in a relegation scrap, and in order to get out of that, you need players who can score goals. And whilst Gomis has proven that he can score goals for Swansea, his lack of fight is worrying. After all, a relegation battle is a street fight, and if you’re not up for it, you’re going down. Literally.

WILLIAMS BACK TO HIS BEST

In stark contrast to his failing teammate at the other end of the pitch, Ashley Williams was truly stoic. The Welshman proved he can still be the beating heart of this Swansea team, putting out fires all over the shop with his stunning ability to read the game.

There were no last-ditch tackles, more a tactical nous to be marvelled. When Nikica Jelavic was through on goal, the Welsh captain stood his ground and proved an immovable object when many would have dived and left the goal at the Croat’s mercy.

ANTONIO WORTH THE WAIT

Ok, so it wasn’t a vintage winger performance where he dazzled the Swansea defence or turned them inside. However, Michail Antonio proved what a good player he is on a rainy miserable night in South Wales. The former Nottingham Forest man has had to bide his time from the sidelines, but an injury to Victor Moses was afforded him a starting berth.

The 25-year old was everywhere this evening, marauding up and down the right flank to bomb forward, as well as taking his defensive duties very seriously. If he can add some the creativity he showed in the Championship to his game, he’s some prospect.

REFS CAN BE CONNED

Unfortunately for the home side, they were denied a goal by James Collins’ hand, and a penalty by referee Lee Mason. The Welsh defender appeared to block Ki’s effort on goal with his hand, whether it was on purpose or not, as the ball sailed over the bar with just the ‘keeper or not.

Either way, a clear goalscoring chance was blocked by the use of his hand. The defender then held his head, think Rivaldo vs Turkey in 2002, rolling around on the floor to divert attention from his felony and playact his way out of trouble.

It’s a shame for Swansea, with goals at such a premium for the side at the present moment.

Despite setting his current employers back close to £30 million over the course of the summer transfer window, Roberto Firmino hasn’t exactly proven himself worthy of such a hefty price-tag so far across the 2015/16 campaign for Liverpool…

During the first half of the current season in-fact, the highly rated South American seemingly looked out of touch with the pace of the English game, somewhat unable to hold his own up-top at Anfield, and rather short of producing the supposedly ‘world class’ form he had previously displayed with Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga.

However, after bagging himself a succession of well taken goals in recent outings – and simply turning his overall performance levels up a notch under the charismatic management style of Jurgen Klopp – the 24-year-old Brazilian has admittedly shown some improved signs of potential for the Reds of late.

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So then, as a decent remainder of the 2015/16 campaign still remains to be played right in the here and now, is it fair to suggest that this £29 million man is just about to come good in front of the Liverpool faithful?

Well, although Roberto Firmino certainly hasn’t impressed every time he’s pulled on the Reds shirt this season, the former Bundesliga star now seems more settled in the Premier League after experiencing an admittedly forgettable start to his Liverpool career.

The former Hoffenheim man initially arrived at Anfield with a rather promising reputation under his belt of course. He was beginning to define himself as up and coming attacker certainly worthy of keeping a keen eye on – both on the back of his previous exploits in Germany, as well as on the international scene with Brazil.

And whilst the 24-year-old Reds man is definitely yet to set the Premier League alight with Liverpool thus far, Roberto Firmino nonetheless showed clear signs of intent even without registering himself on the score-sheet towards the beginning of the season. It therefore comes as little surprise that Liverpool’s new no. 11 is finally starting to show his very best form in front of the Anfield faithful.

When it comes to taking up effective positions in and around the opposition’s penalty area, attempting daring shots from just outside the box, and simply displaying that all-important sense of flair most English fans tend to expect from big-money South American imports – Roberto Firmino hasn’t quite thrived in 2015/16 as of yet – but in light of his most recent performances for the Reds, he certainly seems to be getting there it must be said.

Perhaps if the young Brazilian had eventually been captured for a far more realistic transfer-fee back in the summer however, very few would have seen fit to discredit the recently acquired Liverpool star as easily as they did at the start of the season.

WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news

He obviously fails to represent a £29million player yet if the burden of such an inflated asking-price doesn’t become too much for the player in question at the end of the day, there is no reason to suggest that this quick-footed attacker won’t successfully establish himself on Merseyside some day in the not too distant future.

Yes, Roberto Firmino will never likely replicate the same kind of legacy left by the likes of Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez during each of their respective spells at Anfield – but as his most recent performances in a Liverpool shirt have nonetheless alluded to of late – this is a player who simply has enough potential to impress the Reds crowd for a good few years yet to come.

So if Jurgen Klopp’s side simply have enough about them to keep progressively climbing the Premier League table,then the immediate future remains a promising place for Roberto Firmino and the Merseyside faithful.

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Following a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona and a 3-2 loss to Manchester United, seemingly ending Arsenal’s Champions League participation and Premier League title chances in just a matter of days, Arsene Wenger’s future at the Emirates has become the tabloids’ favourite talking point once again.

After all, if Le Professeur can’t guide the Gunners to their first league title in over a decade whilst reigning champions Chelsea are out of the picture, Manchester City are failing to fire on all cylinders and United have reduced their season aim to simply Champions League qualification, the chances are that he never will.

Yet, the Red Devils’ plight since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement provides a stark warning to the north London outfit, demonstrating the enormous void long-term managers leave behind and how debasing their departures can be to a club’s successes.

So if Arsenal are to part with Wenger this summer, after two decades at the helm, they need a strong replacement lined up first. With that in mind, Football Fancast have taken a look at TEN potential successors, asking you to decide whether the Gunners would be better off with one of them at the helm next season.

UNAI EMERY

Unai Emery hasn’t been mentioned as a potential Wenger replacement just yet but sooner or later, a top European club will have to take note of his consistent success with Sevilla.

Despite losing a series of key players in Ivan Rakitic, Alberto Moreno and Federico Fazio, the Spaniard has guided his side to consecutive Europa League titles and fifth-place finishes in La Liga.

Los Rojiblancos operate under a balanced philosophy and defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak is a known Gunners target who Emery could bring with him to the Emirates.

EDDIE HOWE

If one British manager has a genuine chance of breaking the stereotype of lower-mid-table survivalists, it’s Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe.

He’s guided the Cherries from League Two to the Premier League, insisting upon a core of home-grown talent and an attacking philosophy Arsenal fans would particularly appreciate.

The 38-year-old lacks experience at the top end of the game but ensuring top flight survival this season would be a miraculous achievement underlining his enormous potential.

PATRICK VIEIRA

Of all the Invincibles mooted to replace their former manager, Patrick Vieira particularly stands out.He captained the Gunners through their undefeated season, enjoyed World Cup success with France and has an in-depth understanding of the Arsenal identity.

Likewise, the 39-year-old offers relative experience when compared to his former team-mates, managing the Man City development squad for two years before taking over at New York City FC.

Moving to the MLS only in January, however, an Arsenal appointment seems more likely a few years down the line.

Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini’s proved what he’s capable of with a top-class squad and offers Premier League experience, lifting the league title and the Capital One Cup twice during his three years with Manchester City.

The Chilean insists upon attacking football and always conducts himself with the distinction in the public eye. Furthermore, he’ll certainly be available this summer with Pep Guardiola set to replace him at the Etihad.

FRANK DE BOER (and Dennis Bergkamp)

Frank de Boer has guided Ajax to four Eredivisie titles in five years despite continually selling on his best talents and remains revered from his playing days, as a former Champions League winner, Barcelona star and 112-cap Netherlands international.

A number of young players have flourished under his leadership and he’d certainly make good use of Arsenal’s academy ranks, whilst drawing some of the Netherlands’ most exciting technicians to the Emirates.

Perhaps more importantly, the 45-year-old would likely bring current assistant Dennis Bergkamp to north London in a managerial dream team. Many would like to see the iconic centre-forward heavily involved with his former club once again.

RONALD KOEMAN

Ronald Koeman’s win rate with Southampton stands at an impressive 46% and the Dutchman is an incredibly underrated manager, considering he’s previously claimed silverware with Ajax, Benfica, Valencia and PSV.

He’s somehow improved the Saints despite their infamous 2014 summer exodus and is currently on course to secure a second season of Europa League football with the seventh-placed side.

Testing adventurous back three formations, always giving young players the chance to impress and notoriously nice to almost painful levels, the 52-year-old is a well-rounded manager who deserves a chance at a top Premier League club.

DIEGO SIMEONE

Famed for an industrious philosophy and his cult-of-personality leadership style, appointing Diego Simeone would certainly buck up the ideas of Arsenal’s many underperformers. But regardless of preferred playing style, it’s the Argentine’s ability to maximise talent that should take precedent.

Despite lacking the resources, finance and quality of Barcelona and Real Madrid, he’s transformed Atletico into genuine title contenders and regular trophy winners – claiming a Europa League title, a Copa del Rey and a La Liga title during the former midfielder’s four-year reign.

Simeone would add some much-needed pragmatism and discipline to the Gunners’ game, heralding the days of one-nil to the Arsenal, but the transition from the Wenger philosophy would take some time and considerable spending in the transfer market.

CLAUDIO RANIERI

Claudio Ranieri’s role in Leicester City’s emphatic rise to the Premier League’s summit cannot be overlooked. Many of his substitutions have lead to vital points for the Foxes throughout the season and the manner in which he’s kept momentum going whilst fending off pressure has been phenomenal.

The Italian has worked at some of the biggest clubs in world football – including Fiorentina, Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus, Inter Milan, Monaco and Roma – and clearly has a good understanding of how to claim results consistently in the Premier League.

But if he guides Leicester to the title this season, the ‘tinkerman’ won’t be jumping ship to north London.

JOACHIM LOW

Joachim Low has committed his services to Germany until after the 2018 World Cup but the situation could drastically change depending on Die Mannschaft’s successes at the coming European Championship. He’s already served as Germany gaffer for a decade and is surely keen to test himself at club level once again at just 56 years of age.

During his time at the helm, the former midfielder has proved himself a formidable tactician, a developer of young talent and a manager capable of getting high-quality personnel to work effectively as a team.

A lack of success during prior spells in club football is notable, however, and convincing Low to leave Germany this summer will require either title-winning triumph or enormous failure at the tournament in France.

JOSE MOURINHO

He’s been tipped to take the hot seat at Manchester United but nothing seems set in stone just yet.

Appointing the Special One certainly wouldn’t please old nemesis Arsene Wenger but he represents the level of ruthlessness and pragmatism the north Londoners have consistently lacked during the last decade under Le Professeur.

Furthermore, Jose Mourinho’s success in terms of silverware is hard to overlook. He’s claimed two Champions League titles and domestic honours with Chelsea, Real Madrid, FC Porto and Inter Milan – and is still just 53 years of age.

But there’s so much bad blood between the club, the fans and the Portuguese that the Gunners may be forced to look elsewhere.

Let’s face it – although the current domestic season is yet to reach its final curtain-call, the 2015/16 campaign has so far proven to be an absolutely captivating, dramatic and unpredictable affair for all Premier League onlookers

Yet whilst the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy of Leicester City and West Ham’s recently acquired Dimitri Payet, as well as both Harry Kane and Dele Alli down at Tottenham Hotspur this season, clearly warrant their place among the PFA Player of the Year candidates, we’ve decided to take a look at several – albeit slightly subtler options – who possibly deserve to be talked about in the scrap for the the prestigious accolade.

So then, without further ado – here are five distinct outsiders for 2015/16’s hotly anticipated award. From some of last summer’s most impressive signings, to a selection of old favourites who seemingly aren’t looking to leave the Premier League spotlight any time soon, there are a few candidates…

N’Golo Kante

Although each of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy clearly deserve the recent plaudits that have come their way in 2015/16, N’Golo Kante is another in-form Leicester City star who must also receive his fair share of consideration.

The former Boulogne and Caen man has certainly proven a star performer for Claudio Ranieri’s impressive outfit so far this season, doing an under-appreciated job in midfield. He arrived at the King Power Stadium on the back of a rather modest fee, and simply hasn’t looked back since first taking to the turf, giving everything for the cause.

Via his tough tackling approach in the middle of the park and never-say-die attitude every 90 minutes, this recently capped France international is one player many Premier League sides would simply love to have on board for the 2016/17 campaign.

Mark Noble

Another determined centre-midfielder to make his way onto this particular list comes in the form of West Ham’s loyal and reliable captain, Mark Noble. The 28-year-old Englishman – who is yet to make his way into Roy Hodgson’s international plans – has been a solid performer for Slaven Bilic’s outfit this season, and seems to be in the form of his life under the Hammers’ new Croatian tactician.

Although Noble has never been blessed with the greatest level of pace across the park, everything the current West Ham man lacks in acceleration and technicality, he more than makes up for via his intelligent style of play with the ball at his feet and sheer determination for the cause.

England’s loss has seemingly proven West Ham’s gain throughout Noble’s Premier League career thus far, but seeing as Hodgson will most likely fail to include the 28-year-old midfielder at EURO 2016 this summer, it remains somewhat hard to envisage Noble ever being considered for the PFA Player of the Year vote in the cold light of day.

Romelu Lukaku

Whilst Roberto Martinez and Everton have clearly failed to set the Premier League alight for the most part this season, one player who has nonetheless failed to disappoint down at Goodison Park has to be a certain Romelu Lukaku.

The towering Belgian front-man has continued his fine goalscoring form this term, whilst serving to frustrate opposing defenders time and time again on the back of his overall game inside the final third. Lukaku has therefore sounded himself out as one of the most impressive young strikers in the whole of world football once again, regardless of Everton’s poor season.

Had Chelsea still been able to call the 22-year-old front-man theirs, then perhaps the Stamford Bridge faithful wouldn’t have witnessed such a dire domestic campaign from their side!

Toby Alderweireld

Despite the likes of Dele Alli and Harry Kane rightfully stealing much of the spotlight down at White Hart Lane this term on the back of their increasingly impressive exploits in front of goal, Tottenham Hotspur have also presented themselves as a distinctly solid defensive unit in 2015/16 – and summer signing, Toby Alderweireld, simply has a great deal to do with that.

The Belgian international has worked wonders in front of the Spurs faithful with countryman Jan Vertonghen alongside him this term, which hasn’t come as much of a surprise considering how well the 27-year-old defender had previously plied his trade in the Premier League for Ronald Koeman’s determined Southampton outfit.

Spurs nonetheless owe a fair amount to their extremely cohesive and ever organised back-line this season, for without the likes of Alderweireld and co. in place to keep things steady at the back, they wouldn’t still be sitting among the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Mesut Ozil

Perhaps the most controversial name to possibly stake their claim among this particular list arrives in the shape of Arsenal’s widely admired – yet sometimes equally ineffective – midfield maestro, Mesut Ozil.

The German World Cup winner certainly hasn’t impressed across the entire duration of the campaign thus far it must be said, but as the 27-year-old Gunners star nonetheless remains right at the very top of the Premier League’s individual assist table at this particular stage in the proceedings, he must therefore receive his fair share of credit.

However, if the former Real Madrid playmaker had managed to have a greater influence within some of Arsenal’s most significant matches, perhaps Arsene Wenger’s side would still be considering themselves genuine title contenders as opposed to regular old top four hopefuls.

A miserable Mersey night for Roberto Martinez has seemingly put his job as Everton manager in an almost untenable position.Frustrations have boiled over within sections of the club’s support, with one fan having to be restrained by stewards as he attempted to confront the Spaniard in the recent draw with Southampton.Considering the nucleus of talented young players in the squad, their constant struggles to string any sort of consistency together has baffled and frustrated the Toffees faithful in equal measure.Sections of the club’s support have taken to Twitter to vent their frustrations at the ex-Wigan manager following a miserable mauling at the hands of their greatest rivals, Liverpool.

A 4-0 decimation at Anfield this evening has seen the #MartinezOut campaign fire to the fore.

Though there’s the small matter of an FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United on the horizon, the tide appears to have fully turned on Martinez and Twitter has erupted with fans baying for blood.

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