Leeds United were the opposition as Dennis Cirkin marked a major personal milestone, making his first Premier League start in Sunderland’s clash with Daniel Farke’s side at the Stadium of Light.

The encounter against Leeds not only signalled Cirkin’s return from a six-month injury absence, but also brought renewed focus on his contract situation, with the defender entering the final six months of his current deal.

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Cirkin Reflects After Leeds Clash: ‘We’ll See How It Goes’

Speaking after facing Leeds United, Cirkin was careful not to be drawn into contract discussions, choosing instead to focus on his long-awaited return to action.

“Look, I’ve just played my first game in six months, so that’s the first step — just getting back out there on that pitch. We’ll see how it goes now.”

The Leeds match marked Cirkin’s first appearance since May’s play-off final and completed his journey through the divisions with Sunderland, from League One to the Premier League.

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Disappointment Against Leeds Despite Dream Premier League Debut

While making his Premier League debut against Leeds was a moment to savour, Cirkin admitted the result overshadowed the occasion.

“First and foremost, I’m disappointed with the result. That comes before everything else.

“But I’m sure I’ll look back on this game and never forget it. It’s a dream come true.”

The defender highlighted how facing Leeds at the top level underlined the progress Sunderland have made in recent seasons.

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Leeds Match Highlights Premier League Step Up

Cirkin offered an honest assessment of the demands he faced against Leeds United, admitting the intensity of the Premier League was immediately noticeable.

“I started cramping up around 60 minutes, so definitely the speed. Everything is quicker — even the speed of your thinking.

“You have to stay switched on the whole time. There were moments where I lost concentration, but that’ll come with more games.”

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Injury Layoff Made Leeds Appearance Even Sweeter

Having watched from the sidelines for much of the season, Cirkin says the opportunity to face Leeds made his return even more meaningful.

“You try to turn adversity into something positive. Being out for six months gave me time to learn and come back stronger.

“Now I just want to keep improving and find those extra one or two per cent every day.”

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Champions League Talk Emerges After Leeds Test

When asked if there could be more chapters to write following his return against Leeds, Cirkin allowed himself to look ahead.

“I hope so. The Champions League.”

Pressed further, he insisted the ambition is shared within the squad.

“I don’t think it’s far-fetched. From where we were at the start of the year, it’s achievable. That’s what we’re working towards.”

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Praise for Teammates After Leeds Encounter

Cirkin also praised his teammates following the Leeds fixture, singling out Simon Adingra for his impact.

“That was our first game together. I was delighted for him to get his first goal.

“The standards in training are so high — everyone pushes each other every day. It’s a pleasure to play with players like that.”

Earlier today, I was asked a brutally honest question by a heartbroken West Ham supporter — one who still clings to the hope that the club can be fixed under its current structure.

With Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva both likely to be available in the summer, the question was simple: if West Ham somehow stayed up this season, would either of them take the job?

It was a sad question for two reasons.
First, because it was rooted in the fragile hope that our beloved club might survive in the Premier League.
Second, because it assumed that mere survival would somehow reset everything — that once the season ended, normal service could resume.

I left the survival part unanswered. As long as it remains mathematically possible, who am I to burst that bubble?

But the second part of the question needed addressing.

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A Reputation Problem That Can No Longer Be Ignored

On that front, the reality is grim: the game is up. West Ham are viewed across football as a broken club.

While fans debate Nuno Espírito Santo’s tactics — his reluctance to play a recognised striker or his constant reshuffling of the starting XI — the wider football world sees something very different. There is no illusion outside the London Stadium: this is not Nuno’s fault. West Ham are simply unmanageable.

There was a brief window after David Moyes’ second departure when the belief still existed that success could be rebuilt here. That belief has now evaporated. Speak to former managers, players, or agents and the message is consistent: the club’s internal structure is not fit for purpose.

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The Word Is Out: West Ham Are a Poisoned Chalice

Within football circles, the verdict is clear. West Ham is now viewed as a poisoned chalice.

The uncomfortable truth is that neither Iraola nor Silva would go anywhere near the job — not because they lack ambition, but because taking it would actively damage their careers. Yes, someone will always step forward out of desperation or necessity, but an ambitious, upwardly mobile coach? Forget it.

Ironically, Nuno is in a relatively protected position. Whatever happens here is unlikely to seriously harm his reputation. Relegation would look ugly on paper, but the prevailing view is that he has been completely hamstrung by the club’s structure.

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The Worst of All Worlds Behind the Scenes

Recent episodes involving Kyle Macaulay and Tim Steidten have not gone unnoticed. West Ham have demonstrated that they neither want a proper director-of-football model nor are they willing to hand real control of recruitment to the manager.

Instead, the club exists in an awkward, outdated middle ground — one where David Sullivan still has the final say on transfers. That setup is deeply unattractive to modern managers and head coaches.

The dismissals of Newman, Steidten, and Macaulay show a consistent pattern: even when senior football figures are appointed, stability never follows.

Macaulay is now head scout at Manchester United — a club that had no issue hiring him for free less than a year after West Ham paid £1m in compensation to bring him in. That level of churn and chaos at the top simply does not happen elsewhere.

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An Outdated Model in a Modern Game

Many of Sullivan and Brady’s long-standing allies within football have disappeared, replaced by a new, largely overseas ownership class that neither identifies with nor tolerates West Ham’s outdated governance model.

And that is precisely why, should Nuno fail to win either of his next two matches, his most likely replacement will be Slaven Bilić. Much as fans love Slav, he is no longer a “hot” managerial commodity — and crucially, he already understands the job and the people running the club.

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What Comes Next

As for Nuno? My suspicion is that within the next 12 months, he will find himself in a far better role than the West Ham hot seat.

And that, more than anything, tells you everything you need to know about the state of this football club.

The final Scottish Premiership fixtures of 2025 take place this week, with Celtic and Rangers both looking ahead to a crucial January transfer window.

Celtic have a major opportunity to apply pressure on Hearts before the new year. With the Jambos not playing again until January, Brendan Rodgers’ side could draw level on points at the top of the table following Hearts’ 3–2 defeat to Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby.

Rangers, meanwhile, have quietly been closing the gap on their Old Firm rivals in recent weeks and will be eager to carry that momentum into 2026.

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Celtic Could Land Leeds United Keeper for Free

Celtic may receive a significant boost in their pursuit of Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

The 25-year-old, once a key figure at Elland Road, has fallen into a backup role and has not played a single minute this season. Leeds were open to selling Meslier last summer, but with his contract expiring next year, potential suitors were unwilling to meet their valuation.

Earlier this month, TEAMtalk reported that Celtic are keen on Meslier as a long-term replacement for Kasper Schmeichel, who is out of contract next summer and approaching his 40th birthday.

Now, according to The Athletic, Leeds could agree to an early mutual termination of Meslier’s contract in January. That scenario would allow Celtic to sign the French goalkeeper as a free agent midway through the season, while also removing his wages from Leeds’ books.

Despite his lack of game time in the 2025/26 campaign, Meslier remains a highly-rated option, and Celtic continue to be strongly linked with the former £5 million signing.

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Rangers Considering Loan Exit for Findlay Curtis

Rangers are also assessing their squad ahead of the winter window, with one possible move involving winger Findlay Curtis.

According to Record Sport, manager Daniel Rohl is looking to free up funds to strengthen his squad for the second half of the season. Sending Curtis out on loan could be part of that strategy.

The 19-year-old has seen limited action this term, making just 181 minutes of Premiership appearances so far. While that marks progress compared to last season, regular first-team football elsewhere could accelerate his development.

Curtis is unlikely to be short of interest, with Kilmarnock, Dunfermline Athletic and Hamilton Accies all previously linked with the winger earlier in the campaign.

Former Everton striker Andy Gray has admitted it is frustrating to see Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring consistently for Leeds United, but he maintains the forward had lost his way at Goodison Park.

Calvert-Lewin extended his scoring streak to six consecutive games on Sunday, December 28, 2025, during Leeds’ 1-1 draw away at Sunderland. The 28-year-old moved to Elland Road on a free transfer in August 2025 after a nine-year spell with the Toffees came to an end.

While his stock was low when he left Merseyside due to recurring injuries, he has undergone a “stunning revival” under Daniel Farke. Gray noted that while it is painful for Everton fans to see him thrive elsewhere, the consistency he is now showing was absent during his final three years at Everton.

Speaking on beIN SPORTS 1, Gray remarked: “It is frustrating, of course. These are the figures he never showed at Goodison in the last few years. He’s back in the six-yard box where a centre-forward should be. He lost his way at Everton—he was hardly ever fit, and we needed more reliability than that.”

With Calvert-Lewin as the leading English scorer in the league this season, Leeds United have moved seven points clear of the relegation zone, while Everton continue to search for a regular goal-scorer.