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Do our highly paid Premier League players really need a kicking coach? There are specialist coaches for ball striking, throw ins and even subs - and they insist they make a big difference

When Danny Ings scored with a scissor kick on his home debut for Aston Villa two weeks ago, analysis of his effort sparked a debate that revealed a sharp divide on one aspect of modern coaching.

While Dean Smith paid tribute to Ings, the Villa manager was also quick to credit the work of his new set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, who had apparently worked on the long throw-in and flick-on that led to the goal.

In the Match of the Day studio, while admitting that this particular set-piece appeared not the most complex, Gary Lineker and Jermaine Jenas agreed that the recruitment of specialist coaches could only benefit a side seeking the marginal improvements crucial to success.