Ex-Arsenal starlet Marcus McGuane poised for Barcelona debut

Luke Littler is one night from world domination and a cheque for £500,000 as he reduces Stephen Bunting to darting rubble to set up a final for the ages, writes KIERAN GILL
Pep Guardiola targets Bundesliga hotshot in bid to shore up his creaking squad this month - but there WON'T be a clearout of struggling stars
NEWCASTLE CONFIDENTIAL: Inside Toon's hunt to sign Tyler Dibling, the £25m Manchester City star on transfer radar and a double defensive injury boost ahead of Tottenham clash
Revealed: Marcus Rashford has REJECTED three huge offers from Saudi Arabia - worth £35m-a-year - with Man United willing to let wantaway star leave in January
Michael van Gerwen makes X-rated comment in live interview after beating Chris Dobey at World Darts Championship as Sky Sports forced to apologise
Steve Smith and Virat Kohli to score the most runs in the first innings for their respective teams is 25/1 - as Australia and India clash in the fifth and final Test in Sydney
Arsenal 'still keen on raiding Premier League rivals for star striker' in shock move - as Mikel Arteta looks to boost forward options ahead of title run-in
Inside Everton's Sean Dyche dilemma: The players love him and he knows the Premier League inside out, but fans hate his 'negative football' - even when it gets results
While this resounding Old Firm victory may not change anything in terms of the destination of the title, it was hugely significant for Rangers manager Philippe Clement, writes JOHN McGARRY
PLAY TEAMSHEET: Can YOU remember the Tottenham side that thrashed Fulham 5-1 on Boxing Day in 2007?
PREMIER LEAGUE REPORT CARD - PART ONE: Arsenal need to make do without Bukayo Saka, Chelsea's brief title charge is slipping away, while Bournemouth are knocking on the door
The secrets of Evangelos Marinakis' ambitions for Nottingham Forest, Man United players start their own hunt for team news mole and Bukayo Saka's club-v-country dilemma: THE SAMI MOKBEL COLUMN
Ange Postecoglou looks lonely at Tottenham - but Newcastle's Jason Tindall could show him an unlikely route to success, writes IAN LADYMAN
Luke Littler sends warning to Michael van Gerwen ahead of World Darts Championship final - after smashing Stephen Bunting 6-1 to book showdown
Michael van Gerwen cruises past Chris Dobey to reach World Darts Championship final for the seventh time as he eyes his first title for six years
Revealed: The Premier League fixture where Thomas Tuchel will make first scouting trip as England manager this weekend
Players move on so Liverpool fans will just have to get over Trent Alexander-Arnold, writes SIMON JORDAN - the club is bigger than one of its parts
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD's 10 wishes for 2025: How to get England playing rugby from the gods, a World Cup win and how RFU should spend Allianz's £100m
Inside Ruben Dias' love life as Man City defender sparks Maya Jama dating rumours after romantic New Year's Eve celebrations... with exes including a singer and ANOTHER Love Island star
Liverpool set to REJECT Real Madrid's pending £20m offer for Trent Alexander-Arnold - and make decision on Federico Chiesa's future amid interest from Italy
Man City weighing up surprise move for Lens starlet to ease defensive injury concerns... but the champions face competition from TWO Premier League rivals
Aston Villa submit improved offer for Borussia Dortmund striker Donyell Malen - as Unai Emery looks to land the first big-money deal of the January transfer window
Revealed: When Everton fans can get their first glimpse of new £550M stadium
Ruben Amorim's plan against Newcastle was football suicide, writes DANNY MURPHY - but here's how the Man United boss can tweak it to stop the rot

Former Arsenal prodigy Marcus McGuane is set for his Barcelona debut
The youngster made a surprise switch to the Nou Camp in the January window
McGuane has been called up from Barcelona B for the Catalan Super Cup final
Should he play, McGuane will be Barca's first Englishman since Gary Lineker

Published: 07:08 EST, 7 March 2018 | Updated: 12:27 EST, 7 March 2018

e-mail

Former Arsenal starlet Marcus McGuane is in line to become the first Englishman to play for Spanish giants Barcelona since Gary Lineker.

McGuane, 19, made the surprise switch from the Emirates Stadium to the Nou Camp during the January transfer window, and has been impressing during his time in Spain.

His form has been rewarded and McGuane has been called up to the first team by manager Ernesto Valverde ahead of Barca's Catalan Super Cup final against Espanyol.

Former Arsenal starlet Marcus McGuane is in line to make his debut for Barcelona

Should McGuane get the nod and make it onto the field in Barca colours, he would be the first Englishman to do so since Lineker ruled at the Nou Camp.

McGuane, a dynamic midfielder, made one senior appearance for Arsenal in the Europa League earlier this season but opted to make the switch from English football to try his hand in Spain.

The youngster featured in the Europa League for Arsenal this season, but headed off to Spain

McGuane will be the first Englishman to represent Barca since Gary Linker, should he feature

A dream come true. Today I signed for the biggest club in the world and tomorrow I start work. What a special day it has been for me and my family. Now I am ready to start this new chapter and challenge�� @FCBarcelona @FCBarcelonaB #ForçaBarça #FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/fHsOb8z6nM
— Marcus McGuane (@marcusmcguane58) January 30, 2018

LINEKER'S DREAM DEBUT

Should McGuane feature for the first team, he'll be hoping to have a competitive debut much like Lineker's.

Following his summer transfer from Everton, Lineker made his bow in a La Liga clash with Racing Santander and struck twice to secure a 2-0 win.

He kept up a steady scoring rate throughout the season, and would end with 21 goals from 50 games.

The youngster is one of 12 Barcelona B players called up to the seniors in a heavily altered squad.

B team coach Gerard Lopez has been impressed by McGuane in the short time he's been in Spain.

'In a short time he has already earned my confidence, and I hope he can become an important player for us,' Lopez told ESPN.

'I can use him in a lot of positions and at his age, he still has a lot of room for improvement.'

Star trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and new recruit Philippe Coutinho have been afforded a rest following the recent victory over Atletico Madrid, though McGuane could potentially turn out alongside the likes of Ousmane Dembele.

Dembele has featured infrequently since his £96m move to Barca due to injury, though has been included in the squad for Wednesday's final.