Who is the best fit for the role?

Jose Mourinho says he has never been happier with Paul Pogba as the Manchester United manager dismissed talk that tensions had come to a head this week.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is confident leading scorer and multi-award winner Mohamed Salah can cope with the demands which have been placed on him over the last couple of weeks.

Brighton 1 Manchester United 0: If ever there was ever any confusion as to why Manchester United have not been able to challenge their noisy neighbours for the title this season it was cleared up and summed up in a tepid defeat against Chris Hughton’s excellent Brighton & Hove Albion.

Much like the persistence of racism, to be still talking about a problem that existed in the days when Graeme Souness had a moustache and a perm feels like a depressing indictment of humanity’s inability to change for the better, writes Tommy Martin.

The Football Association has condemned the Burnley supporters who booed Brighton defender Gaetan Bong during Saturday's Premier League game at Turf Moor.

Tottenham 2 - Brighton 0: Tottenham, who seem to be playing the Premier League in the shadow of their own Champions League excitement, needed a fortunate goal from defender Serge Aurier and a late deflected Heung-min Son effort to beat Brighton and keep their top-four challenge alive.

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld will be out until February with a hamstring injury.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton has challenged his players to channel the frustration of a narrow defeat at Old Trafford into getting the better of rivals Crystal Palace.

If ever there was going to be a calming influence in the aftermath of the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off calamity, there was always a possibility it might come from Chris Hughton, a man who has built his successful managerial career on the kind of understated common-sense approach which encourages a steady ship.

It’s not often that the great minds of the Irish management team and the Irish media think alike but such was the case this week when we asked Roy Keane for his thoughts on how Shane Duffy has progressed to the point where he is now widely regarded as the rock of the Irish defence and one of the most consistent centre-halves in the Premier League.

Premier League clubs have agreed to close the summer transfer window the day before the start of the 2018-19 season.

It was a list that should have embarrassed Stoke City’s manager: West Ham, Stevenage, Sunderland, Hull, Swansea, Watford, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, and Southampton.

The last step is always the hardest. Just ask Chris Hughton. Two weeks ago he saw his Brighton side secure promotion to the Premier League after a 2-1 win over Wigan. 

Chris Hughton, the quiet man of football, appears to be more than happy working under the radar, but his achievement of taking Brighton & Hove Albion to the Premier League is about to awaken a wider audience to his coaching talents and must surely place him on the FAI’s list of potential future appointments.

It was a mixed weekend for the Irish contingent at Championship outfit Preston as Aiden McGeady’s sixth goal of the season rescued a 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest on an afternoon when Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle were hauled off at half-time.

Aiden McGeady maintained his recent fine form as Preston continued their play-off push with a 2-1 win over QPR in Saturday’s Championship clash at Deepdale.

Carlos Carvalhal hailed Keiren Westwood as “a fantastic goalkeeper” after his first-half penalty save helped Sheffield Wednesday to a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest in Championship action.

Daryl Horgan’s first start for Preston proved a memorable one, the former Dundalk star creating the second goal and nearly scoring a third as North End beat Chris Hughton’s Brighton 2-0 in Saturday’s Championship clash at Deepdale.

David McGoldrick came off the bench to ease the pressure on Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy in Saturday’s Championship action.

These are difficult times for Mick McCarthy but Ipswich eased the pressure on their beleaguered manager by claiming a 2-1 Championship win at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Chris Hughton isn’t the revenge type but you’d have to suspect Saturday’s 5-0 mauling of Norwich City in the Championship meant plenty to the Brighton boss.

Wes Hoolahan picked up where he left off on Saturday, following up a brilliant display in Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova with another superb showing as Norwich beat Rotherham 3-1 to go top of the Championship table.

Aiden McGeady began the latest chapter of his career by scoring on his Preston debut on Saturday but his fine strike from 25 yards wasn’t enough to earn his new employers anything in their Championship clash with Barnsley.

Daryl Murphy has set his sights on promotion after completing his move from Ipswich to Newcastle yesterday.

With Robbie Keane expected to retire from international football, Martin O’Neill’s need to unearth a striker who regularly finds the net grows ever more urgent.

It was a contrasting weekend for the two Irish managers dreaming of pitting their wits against the Premier League elite next season. 

The goals may not be flowing as freely as last season but if Ipswich are to make the promised land of the Premier League, the contribution of Daryl Murphy will be crucial.

Richie Towell says it will be a privilege to work under former Ireland international and coach Chris Hughton but insists he also plans to give the Brighton manager a selection headache.