Christmas Premier League club manager wishlists part three featuring Mourinho and Moyes

But, after clocking up some promising results, the Portuguese may instead simply ask to keep out of referees’ bad books to put an end to his sideline suspensions. Bottles of water can hopefully breathe a sigh of relief.

While, ‘the Special One’ should also be crossing his fingers that in-form Henrikh Mkhitaryan comes back from injury soon and stronger. Two Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s wouldn’t go amiss either, but one of Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford stepping up to the striker berth in the New Year would be handy if not.

Aitor Karanka (Middlesbrough)

Boro aren’t doing badly on the fitness front overall, but injuries to key men Cristhian Stuani, Viktor Fischer and Gaston Ramirez have put a dampener on festivities. The Riversiders may well be angling for a new striker recruit then to support goal gobbler Alvaro Negredo as they seek to stay away from the drop zone.

In this regard, a second away win of the season would also go down well, with just one recorded by Boro so far, though they are still odds-on at 1/10 to stay up this season.

Claude Puel (Southampton)

If no sales are sanctioned for his best and brightest mid-season, then the French boss may think a few more goals may not go amiss either. As despite Southampton’s three scored against rivals Bournemouth last time out, strikes have been hard to come by, with only six in their least eight PL outings, despite a staunch defence.

Mark Hughes (Stoke City)

Though it is a lack of “spark” up top the Welshman has been bemoaning but, instead of dipping into the January transfer market as rumoured, could Hughes hope for recently returned Bojan Krkic to be the attacking catalyst? The attacking midfielder won and converted a penalty last time out and his comeback could help the Potters improve on their paltry 19 PL goals scored.

David Moyes (Sunderland)

Again it is away form mainly responsible for Mackem misery with only win on the road, and a late Christmas present could come on Boxing Day if the former Man Utd manager can get one over his old club by claiming at least at point at Old Trafford.

Anything else at this point, including some winter transfer wrangling, would be a bonus.

Related

See our dedicated Premier League section for more features on your favourite clubs.

Read part one of our Christmas Premier League club manager wishlists.

Check out part two too.