STYLES ON VIEW

SOUTHAMPTON and Brighton scouts watched Barnsley starlet Callum Styles in his side’s FA Cup clash with Chelsea in midweek.

The 20-year-old (above), regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the Championship, impressed as Thomas Tuchel’s Premier League boys were made to work hard for their 1-0 win.

Styles was a target for several clubs in January, with Brentford among those linked with the midfielder.

But the Tykes were able to keep hold of him.

Barnsley chief executive Dane Murphy said: “There were a lot of conversations, plenty of interest in a number of our players, which comes hand-in-hand with putting in consistent performances at a high level. The likes of Callum, Mads Andersen, Michal Helik, Cauley Woodrow...

“But these clubs never really asked us to dance, so to speak. And as I’ve stated over the season, we weren’t actively encouraging bids, either.”

This summer the South Yorkshire side will face a battle to hang on to Styles, who joined Barnsley in 2018 from Bury, where he had, at 16, become the first player born in the 21st century to play in the Football League.

Bury were later deducted three points because Styles had not been registered properly.

SWANSEA have blasted Facebook’s response in the wake of the racist abuse Yan Dhanda received on Instagram.

Dhanda was targeted by a user on social media after Swansea’s FA Cup loss to Manchester City.

But despite police launching a probe, the person who abused

Dhanda in a private message sent to his official Instagram page didn’t have their account shut down.

A club statement said: “Swansea City is shocked and surprised by the leniency shown by Facebook.

“The abhorrent level of abuse we have witnessed this week means that once again we seek stronger action from social media companies to stamp this toxic behaviour out.”

Ireland v France

Tonday 3pm

RHYS Ruddock admits it will take a “huge” step up for under-strength Ireland to pull off a big Six Nations victory at home to France today.

Ruddock is making his first championship start at 30 along with half-back pairing Billy Burns and Jamison Gibson-Park as Andy Farrell counts the cost of losing Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray and James Ryan to injury, plus Peter

O’Mahony to suspension.

Already on the back foot in the tournament after last Sunday’s loss in Cardiff, Ireland are facing the title favourites and the world’s best player in Antoine Dupont.

But Ruddock claims that despite eight changes to the matchday 23, Ireland can cause a shock.

“Yeah absolutely, you don’t want to go into a game with any other thoughts than you’re going to win and we all believe we can and will,” stated