RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesTroy Deeney Staring | Credit: SmartFrame Images | News Images
Troy Deeney has picked his best 12 performers from the top tier action.
The Premier League team of the weeked (and manager) that have most impressed him.
Included in his dozen choices is one from Newcastle United .
This NUFC player putting in an eyecatching performance at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United drawing 2-2 against Liverpool
Troy Deeney explains why he has chosen Anthony Elanga for his Premier League team of the week and then the full eleven (twelve) are listed below:
“Last season I thought he was treated poorly by Eddie Howe because he was one that kept being put on the bench, being introduced late or would be the first one to come off. But he showed in a new formation, under a new manager and somebody who believes in him that he can use his pace and power. As a result he looks like a completely different player and he looked happy. He ran past Milos Kerkez like he wasn’t there despite the Liverpool left-back having a five-yard start and produced an unbelievable finish for his goal.”
A strange stick to beat Eddie Howe with.
Anthony Elanga had been a long-term target for Eddie Howe and after a near month-long saga in summer 2025, a £55m deal was eventually agreed after a season where he had been in the top two or three in the Premier League when it came to assists. Elanga started the season in the Newcastle United team away at Villa then home to Liverpool but 2025/26 proved to be a tough year for the new signing due to some injury issues and simply failing to reproduce his Forest form with Newcastle.
The reason(s) why Anthony Elanga was in and out of the team is summed up by the fact that the winger started 14 Premier League matches last season and came off the bench in another 18, didn’t score a single league goal and got one assist.
It was a brilliant run and finish against Liverpool on Sunday but the end product was so badly lacking last season. We very rarely saw Elanga use that undoubtedly electric pace to good effect, matches like the two goals away at Barcelona were the exceptions to the rule.
It was a class goal on Sunday and I was so pleased for Anthony Elanga, he did alright overall against Liverpool but was still a bit in and out and I thought got caught out of position at times when United were needing to defend. All in all though it was a positive first match and something for him to build on.
Reality though was that Anthony Elanga was nowhere near to having been the best player on the pitch. Yoane Wissa was quite rightly given the man of the match award, whilst I thought in a very good team performance, the likes of Dedic, Miley, Thiaw and Hall really stood out.
More of the same please!
Troy Deeney Premier League team of the week:
James Trafford (Leeds)
Keane Lewis-Potter (Brentford)
Nobel Mendy (Hull City)
Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea)
Maxim de Cuyper (Brighton)
Marc Guehi (Man City)
Vitaly Janelt (Brentford)
Christos Tzolis (Arsenal)
Anthony Elanga (Newcastle)
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Joao Pedro (Chelsea)
Manager:
Sergej Jakirovic (Hull City)
Source
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