Loic Remy insists he is ready to fill the gap left by the suspended Diego Costa when Chelsea face Newcastle United at St James' Park on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho’s side head to northern England, boosted by the league victory over Arsenal last weekend and the midweek League Cup win at League One side Walsall, that came on the back of the Champions League home win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Three successive victories are a sign Chelsea are finally finding their form and putting a testing start to the season behind them although they remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
The win against Arsenal, though, came at the cost of a three-match ban for Costa who was punished retrospectively for his part in a confrontation with Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Paulista.
Read more: Do Newcastle have any chance against Chelsea? Thomas Woods predicts the Premier League weekend
Mourinho was angered by the decision but, having already been forced to face Walsall without the Spain international, must now plan for the clash with Steve McClaren’s struggling side without Costa.
On Wednesday, the manager fielded both his back-up strikers, Rademel Falcao and Remy, but this time is likely to start with Remy leading the line and the France international insists he is ready to take up the responsibility against his former club.
The forward said: “Do I want to play against Newcastle? Yes, of course. It’s my old club and it’s always a pleasure to play against them.
“The manager knows he can use me as a striker or on the side. So I don’t have any pressure, I just want to feel better. With the games coming, maybe I have an opportunity to play more. We will see.”
Remy scored his first goal of the season against Walsall but, having been used a fringe player since arriving from Queens Park Rangers at the start of last season, admits he will take time to find his rhythm.
He added: “When you come in, you just need to do your best but of course when you are not playing much it’s more difficult.
“But I can’t complain. I want to play and when the manager wants me to come in, I do. I just try to score goals and give assists.
“I don’t put pressure on myself because I know my quality. I just try to play the way I do.”
John Terry returned to the starting line-up against Walsall and is expected to retain his place for the trip to the north-east.
Georginio Wijnaldum feels the visit of the defending Premier League champions gives Newcastle the perfect chance to turn round their disastrous form.
McClaren’s side are second bottom with two points from their first six games, with their abject start to the season taking its latest downward turn following their exit from the League Cup at home to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.
Newcastle were jeered off by their fans after another woeful display that leaves them with just four victories in 2015.
Netherlands midfielder Wijnaldum, a £12 million (Dh67.2m) summer signing from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, said: “The Chelsea game is an opportunity to get a good result. Beating them would give us a lot of confidence and faith in the team, and it would give us a good step to build on for the next game.
“We are in a difficult situation because we are losing games. Football is always difficult when you are losing because you lose confidence, but you must keep faith in yourself and each other. I’ve arrived from a team which won the Dutch title last season, so it’s hard. But it’s a situation I have to deal with, by working hard and staying positive.”
Dutch defender Daryl Janmaat is a doubt, after illness forced the full-back off at half-time during the 1-0 defeat in midweek. Midfielder Rolando Aarons is set to miss out with a calf problem.
Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is available after serving a three-match suspension, and Jack Colback and Papiss Cisse are expected to recover from minor knocks as Newcastle look to secure a fourth consecutive home win over Mourinho’s side.
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Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
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Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday, February 8 v Kenya; Friday, February 9 v Canada; Sunday, February 11 v Nepal; Monday, February 12 v Oman; Wednesday, February 14 v Namibia; Thursday, February 15 final
Freezer tips
- Always make sure food is completely cool before freezing.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
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Profile Periscope Media
Founder: Smeetha Ghosh, one co-founder (anonymous)
Launch year: 2020
Employees: four – plans to add another 10 by July 2021
Financing stage: $250,000 bootstrap funding, approaching VC firms this year
Investors: Co-founders
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The biog
Favourite pet: cats. She has two: Eva and Bito
Favourite city: Cape Town, South Africa
Hobby: Running. "I like to think I’m artsy but I’m not".
Favourite move: Romantic comedies, specifically Return to me. "I cry every time".
Favourite spot in Abu Dhabi: Saadiyat beach
The biog
Marital status: Separated with two young daughters
Education: Master's degree from American Univeristy of Cairo
Favourite book: That Is How They Defeat Despair by Salwa Aladian
Favourite Motto: Their happiness is your happiness
Goal: For Nefsy to become his legacy long after he is gon
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
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Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
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- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
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- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
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- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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%3Cp%3E%0DDeveloper%3A%20Ubisoft%20Bordeaux%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Ubisoft%0D%3Cbr%3EConsoles%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20Series%20S%26amp%3BX%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Messi at the Copa America
2007 – lost 3-0 to Brazil in the final
2011 – lost to Uruguay on penalties in the quarter-finals
2015 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
2016 – lost to Chile on penalties in the final
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
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Inside%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EKelsey%20Mann%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Amy%20Poehler%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%2C%20Ayo%20Edebiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The stats: 2017 Jaguar XJ
Price, base / as tested Dh326,700 / Dh342,700
Engine 3.0L V6
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 340hp @ 6,000pm
Torque 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined 9.1L / 100km