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Tottenham's Carabao Cup clash with Doncaster has been thrown into the spotlight after a bizarre twist in the script as academy gem Damola Ajayi is set to line up against his parent club. The 19-year-old attacker, who only burst onto the scene last January with a thunderbolt debut strike against Elfsborg in the Europa League, was sent on loan to Rovers in the summer. Now, in a rare exception to the usual rules, he's been given the green light to feature on Wednesday night against Spurs.

Ajayi chasing big moment

Ajayi had only one senior Spurs outing to his name before being loaned out. And now, head coach Thomas Frank, who took the reins at Tottenham earlier this year, insists he has no problem with him taking to the field in north London. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFrank remains unfazed

Frank said: "I think it's OK. He's on loan at another club. I know the Premier League have this if you're on loan from a club, you're not allowed to play [rule]. We decided to loan him out because it was good for his development. I've done that a thousand times. Maybe not a thousand times, a lot of times at Brentford, but we haven't been that lucky to face one of our own players. It is what it is. I think it's a great opportunity for him."

Frank vows strong side despite rotation

Frank has made it clear that Tottenham won’t take the contest lightly. The manager confirmed that backup goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky will start, but promised a heavyweight lineup otherwise. Injuries have forced a few changes. Ben Davies and Randal Kolo Muani are sidelined, but there is hope that youngsters Kota Takai and Dominic Solanke will at least make the bench after returning to training.

"Of course I’d like to win. No doubt about that. For me, I think we probably need to take one game at a time," Frank added. "I’m very aware (of the expectation). I think it’s that balance that as I said, I would like us to get there where we can compete in all four tournaments throughout the year. If you want to compete in all four tournaments, you need to be good enough to pick the right team every single time. And I promise you before I pick the team, it looks like an unbelievably good plan. I think we’re also aware that no players can play 60 games x 90 minutes. So, it’s that balance we need to hit throughout the season. Not only because we are facing Doncaster. We need to hit that perfect number of players that rotates and then a strong team. And it will be a strong team.”

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Getty Images SportWolves up after in hectic week

After Wednesday night’s clash with Doncaster, Spurs are back in Premier League action at the weekend, with Wolves arriving in north London on Saturday. Frank will hope his balancing act keeps the squad fresh enough to avoid any slip-ups.

Newcastle United are now reportedly willing to pay £86m for the signing of an “extraordinary” player this summer, quadrupling his wages at the same time.

Newcastle closing in on Woltemade signing

After the heartbreaking late defeat at home to Liverpool on Monday night, and the continued saga surrounding Alexander Isak, Magpies supporters needed a boost and they’ve got on.

On Thursday, news quickly gathered steam regarding Newcastle making a move for VfB Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade, with things moving quickly and the German heading to the UK to complete a medical.

It is the shot in the arm that the Magpies have needed during what has been a frustrating summer transfer window, and they are reportedly also still looking to snap up Yoane Wissa from Brentford, with the Premier League attacker one of their primary summer targets.

Granted, this all means that Isak’s exit to Liverpool is now more likely, which is an undoubted blow, but it was always imperative that top-quality replacements were brought in. Now, another new target has also emerged late in the day.

Newcastle pushing to sign "extraordinary" £86m ace

According to El Chiringuito journalist Jose Alvarez Haya on X, Newcastle are interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez, willing to pay as much as £86m for his signature.

“NEWCASTLE GOES FOR FERMIN! They would be willing to pay 100M euros to Barça and quadruple the player’s salary. Tottenham also joins the race for his signing.”

This is a move that has seemingly come from nowhere, and if Newcastle did manage to sign Fermin, it could be an inspired piece of business so late in the window.

The 22-year-old has also made 89 appearances for Barca, which is impressive, with Spain manager Luis de la Fuente calling him “extraordinary”.

Lopez could be an excellent additional option in attacking midfield areas for Newcastle, also being able to do a job out wide, and given his age, the Magpies would be signing a player whose best years are still ahead of him.

Bruno will love him: Newcastle open talks to sign "£100m-plus footballer"

Newcastle could make an ambitious late move, much to the benefit of Bruno Guimaraes.

ByWill Miller Aug 29, 2025

With minutes potentially hard to come by for him at Barca, given the world-class options they have, the hope is that he loves the idea of a move to St James’ Park, making this one to keep an eye on over the coming days.

He has been among the runs as well as wickets in the Major League Tournament, Sri Lanka’s domestic first-class competition, this season

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Feb-2025Ramesh Mendis has been added to Sri Lanka’s squad for the second Test against Australia, while seamer Vishwa Fernando and top-order batter Lahiru Udara have been released from what had been an 18-member squad. Sri Lanka team manager Mahinda Halangoda confirmed the changes, and said Ramesh had joined the squad on Monday.Ramesh had been dropped both from the Test XI, and later from the squad entirely, on account of what Sri Lanka’s team management believed to be a sub-par bowling performance against New Zealand in November.But having conceded 654 for 6 in the first innings of the first Test against Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka have brought back Ramesh. Partly this is down to his bowling form in the ongoing first-class competition – the Major League Tournament – in which he has claimed 24 wickets at an average of 21.91 plus scored 260 runs at an average of 52 from six innings.His bowling returns among the top Test teams has been more modest, however, though he has played all 15 of his Tests so far in Asia. Against Australia, for example, he has seven wickets at an average of 40.85 from two matches that were played in Galle in 2022.Sri Lanka will seriously consider him for a spot in the XI given the inexperience in their spin attack. In the previous match, in which Sri Lanka slipped to their worst Test defeat in history, Sri Lanka had two frontline spinners playing their second Test.The second Test starts in Galle on Thursday.

An “unbelievable” Manchester City player could now leave the club when January arrives, despite reportedly closing in on a contract extension at the Etihad.

Ederson sends goodbye message to Man City fans

It is officially the end of a glorious era between the sticks at City, with the legendary Ederson’s time at the club coming to an end earlier this week.

The Brazilian has been an unbelievable servant for Pep Guardiola’s side, winning six Premier League titles, and he has spoken glowingly about his time at the club after sealing a move to Fenerbahçe.

“For me, it’s amazing. Six Premier League titles in eight seasons. I remember after my last Premier League title, I spoke with Fred Caldeira (TNT presenter) and said after winning four-in-a-row it’s like normal now! It’s not normal.

“In the future when you stop, you will see you made history with your team. No other team has won four-in-a-row. We made history, my team made history. The players, the staff, this club made history.”

Ederson’s brilliance on the ball could be a big loss for City, even though the elite Gianluigi Donnarumma has replaced him from Paris Saint-Germain, and now another exit rumour has emerged.

"Unbelievable" Man City ace linked with exit

According to Caught Offside, Manchester City are “facing serious January transfer window interest” in youngster Nico O’Reilly, with numerous Premier League clubs eyeing him up.

Bayer Leverkusen, Lyon, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Brighton are all eyeing a move for the in-demand Englishman, so it looks as if Guardiola will have to beat off suitors with a stick.

This is despite Fabrizio Romano recently reporting that the 20-year-old is set to sign a new deal at the Etihad, even though his current contract doesn’t expire until the summer of 2028.

Losing O’Reilly this early in his career would be a risk for City, assuming they are happy to potentially offload him when the January window opens.

The Englishman has emerged as one of the best young players at the club, displaying and being hailed by teammate Bernardo Silva, who is clearly a big admirer.

“He was unbelievable. Against Plymouth it showed the impact that he can have on the game and the energy he brought into the game changed completely the game for us so well deserved I’m happy for you and that’s what we needed.”

More rounded than Isak & Haaland: Man City must rue losing 'world's best CF'

Manchester City must regret selling a centre-forward sensation who could rival Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak

ByWill Miller Sep 6, 2025

Ultimately, the decision rests with Guardiola, who must assess how important O’Reilly is to him and City moving forward, but it would be a shame to see a young homegrown talent leave so early in his career, as was also the case with Cole Palmer, for example.

KL Rahul, meanwhile, is back from paternity leave and is set to make his Delhi Capitals debut

Sreshth Shah29-Mar-2025Big picture – KL Rahul set to make DC debutTravishek fear no one. Except, maybe, Mitchell Starc. Travis Head does not like facing Starc, and after taking strike and being bowled by the big left-arm quick for a two-ball duck in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024, he let Abhishek Sharma take first strike in the final, and you know what happened next.Starc now takes the new ball for a different team, and he’ll be up against Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) gun opening pair again on Sunday afternoon. If Starc can have the same sort of impact, it would be a major relief for a Delhi Capitals (DC) bowling unit that also includes Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar. Last season, these three were on the receiving end of an onslaught from Head and Abhishek that blasted SRH to a record IPL powerplay score of 125 for 0. That was in Delhi. This time, the battle shifts to Visakhapatnam, where DC staged a stunning comeback win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their most recent game. SRH, meanwhile, are coming off a defeat to the same opponents.Related

LSG mute SRH with death bowling before the death overs

Awe-inspiring Ashutosh brings DC back from the brink

The two Starora overs that defined the IPL final

DC’s opening victory was built on resilience. With the ball, they clawed back to restrict LSG to 209 despite letting them get to an ominous 161 for 2 in 13 overs. With the bat, they resurrected themselves from 66 for 5 to scrape past their target with three balls to spare. Even when they crumbled in both powerplays and both post-powerplay phases, they refused to tap out.That resilience will be key as they seek a second win, armed with fresh insights on containing SRH. LSG’s strategy of treating the full 20 overs like the death proved effective, and DC have the personnel to replicate it. Mohit Sharma and Mukesh have the skillsets, and Axar and Kuldeep bring another year of wisdom.But DC are not without problems of their own. Their top order misfired against LSG, and they can’t keep relying on their lower order to keep bailing them out. New father KL Rahul is set to make his franchise debut, and DC will have to figure out the best way to fit him into their line-up. And they’ll be wary of an SRH unit that will be desperate to prove that Thursday’s loss was a mere aberration.Away game for SRH, home game for Nitish Kumar Reddy•Associated PressTeam news and likely XIIsWith Rahul set to play, he is expected to slot in at No. 4, likely replacing Sameer Rizvi. Mukesh’s availability remains uncertain after he sustained an ankle sprain against LSG, while T Natarajan, who is recovering from a shoulder issue, is unlikely to feature against his former team. If Mukesh is ruled out, Darshan Nalkande could step in. Another possibility is retaining Rizvi, dropping Fraser-McGurk, and bringing in fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera.Delhi Capitals: 1 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Abishek Porel (wk), 4 KL Rahul, 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Vipraj Nigam, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mohit Sharma, 12 Mukesh Kumar/Darshan Nalkande.There are no injury concerns in the SRH camp and they could field an unchanged team.Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Travis Head, 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Abhinav Manohar, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Simarjeet Singh, 12 Adam Zampa.Big questionWhere is Rahul best used? No. 4 seems to be the likely slot, and why not: that’s his best position (min. five innings) in terms of both average (49.08) and strike rate (139.90).It’s as opener that Rahul made his mark in the format, however, and a position from where he once smashed a 14-ball fifty, at the time the quickest in the IPL. With Fraser-McGurk out of form, is there a case for Rahul to partner Faf du Plessis at the top?In the spotlight – Kuldeep Yadav and Nitish Kumar ReddyAgainst SRH in Delhi last season, Kuldeep Yadav endured a brutal start, getting hit for four sixes in his first seven balls by Abhishek. But he responsed by dismissing Abhishek, Head, Aiden Markram and Nitish Kumar Reddy, three of whom will feature on Saturday. He conceded 55 in four overs, but his breakthroughs prevented SRH from soaring beyond their final total of 266. Head, in particular, has shown signs of struggling against left-arm wristspin, being dismissed twice in nine balls against that style of bowling in the IPL, which makes Kuldeep a option to bring on early if the South Australian starts ominously against the new ball. As LSG proved against SRH, wickets are the only way to contain their explosive line-up.Though SRH play this as an “away” game in Visakhapatnam, Nitish Kumar Reddy will be right at home in the city of his birth. SRH have earmarked him as a long-term player and he has started the season with scores of 32 and 30. Sandwiched between them at No. 4, Reddy is the perfect foil for Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, and he’s a major threat against spin, as his IPL strike rate of 170.19 since the start of 2024 suggests.Last year in Delhi, Kuldeep Yadav was instrumental in DC ‘restricting’ SRH to 266 after they flew to 125 for 0 in the powerplay•Associated PressPitch and conditionsIt’s an afternoon game on a batting-friendly surface, so a 200-plus first-innings score should be the expectation. In the IPL, the team batting first has won 50% of all matches in Visakhapatnam. The last three first-innings totals in the IPL here have been 191, 272 and 209.Key stats Head vs Starc in all recognized cricket: seven innings, eight runs, 29 balls, five dismissals, 0 boundaries. Of the five dismissals, four have been bowled and one caught behind. Faf du Plessis has a favourable match-up against Mohammed Shami in the IPL, scoring 106 runs in 61 balls for only two dismissals. However Shami has been brilliant against KL Rahul, allowing only 28 runs to be scored in 31 balls while dismissing him twice. In the IPL, Axar Patel has an economy rate of just 6.51 against right-hand batters, but has gone at 9.07 against left-hand batters.Next three fixturesDC are on the road next to play against Chennai Super Kings (Apr 5) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Apr 10) before returning to Delhi for a home match against Mumbai Indians on April 13.SRH fly to Kolkata for a match against Kolkata Knight Riders (Apr 3) before playing Gujarat Titans (Apr 6) and Punjab Kings (Apr 12) at home.Quotes”KL Rahul is back in our team and that will help us a lot with our balance. But you can’t judge any team from one game. All our players are really good, they are experienced, and hopefully we’ll do well in this match.”
“The press has made 300 a target [for us], but we have [almost] achieved it, [with totals of] 286, 287. You never know if it will happen. Two batters have to score big and get it there. Nothing is impossible in cricket.”

GOAL ranks the top three soccer players produced by every state in the Northeast, including Pulisic, Howard and Geoff Cameron

With the 2026 World Cup less than nine months away, the United States has steadily progressed into a genuine force in the global soccer scene. Major League Soccer now boasts superstars such as Lionel Messi, Son Heung-Min and Thomas Muller, sure, but decades of groundwork have given rise to great American players, as well.

Elite talent ranging from A.C. Milan’s Christian Pulisic to rising Mexico international Obed Vargas were born in the U.S., along with legends such as Tim Howard and rising stars such as Patrick Agyemang.

Some regions in the U.S. have deeper player pools than others, so who is the best of the best? Which state has been the most fertile ground for developing American soccer talent?

GOAL ranks the top three men's soccer players from each of the 50 states, starting with the Northeast.

Getty Images SportConnecticut: Patrick Agyemang

Hometown: East Hartford

Clubs played for: Charlotte FC, Derby County

USMNT caps: 12

Why he’s No. 1: Connecticut doesn’t generally have the depth of talent that produced by its neighbors in the tristate area, but it has made its imprint, led by two talented young footballers – Patrick Agyemang and Luca Koleosho. 

Agyemang ultimately gets the nod due to his international success. He’s risen to become a fixture under Mauricio Pochettino on the USMNT and could be on the World Cup roster next summer. Koleosho, still undecided on his international future, has played for both the U.S. and Italy youth teams, and was even called up for Canada in 2023.

Runners-up: 

2. Luca Koleosho (Norwalk): Famously went the full length of the pitch against Leeds to score for Burnley in a stunner. Currently on loan at La Liga side Espanyol. 

3. Andres Jasson (Greenwich): He won the 2021 MLS Cup with NYCFC. Currently stars for AaB Fodbold in Denmark.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMaine: Roger Levesque

Hometown: Portland

Clubs played for: San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders

USMNT caps: 0

Why he’s No. 1: The Pine Tree State is known for its lighthouses, lobster, and craft beer. Soccer hasn’t made as big a mark – though USL club Hearts of Pine hopes to change that. But Maine has produced two notable MLS players: Wyatt Omsberg and Roger Levesque. While both were role players, Levesque retired with eight trophies.

He lifted the 2003 MLS Cup as a bit player for a star-studded San Jose Earthquakes team featuring Landon Donovan and Dwayne DeRosario. He later joined the Seattle Sounders, winning two USL First Division titles, the A-League Western Conference Championship, and the Commissioner's Cup.

Released by the Sounders before their MLS expansion, he was quickly brought back and became a fan favorite, helping the club lift three U.S. Open Cups from 2009 to 2011. His famous scuba goal celebration against the Red Bulls and the fan-branded “Levesque testimonial" for his retirement cemented his legacy – the city even declared a day in his honor.

Runners-up:

2. Wyatt Omsberg (Belgrade): He was the first Ivy League soccer player to be selected in the Superdraft, having previously starred for Dartmouth. Currently on the New England Revolution. 

3. Ben Brewster (Cape Elizabeth): Had a cup of coffee with clubs in America's lower division. Now the head coach of the men's soccer team at Bates College. 

Getty Images SportMassachusetts: Geoff Cameron

Hometown: Attleboro

Clubs played for: Houston Dynamo, Stoke City, Queens Park Rangers, FC Cincinnati 

USMNT caps: 55

Why he’s No. 1: Geoff Cameron’s career – much like his rise with both club and country – was unexpected. A true tweener, he shuttled between defense and defensive midfield, yet that versatility became one of his greatest assets. Using his 6-3 frame, solid speed and passing, Cameron catapulted from the Houston Dynamo to become a surprisingly important cog for Premier League side Stoke City, where he spent six seasons.

At his peak, he was indispensable to U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann, helping the Americans to a semifinal run in the 2016 Copa América. Former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas once raved about Cameron’s skill set.

“He has the physical attributes to bang when he needs to, but he also has a real confidence in the way he handles the ball and the way he passes out of the back,” Lalas told ESPN.

Throughout his career, Cameron played 36.9 percent of his games at centerback, 32 percent as a defensive midfielder, 24.6 percent at right back, 2.9 percent at left back, 2.6 percent in central midfield, and 0.9 percent at right midfield.

Runners-up: 

2. Miles Robinson (Arlington): Started his career as a rotational player on Atlanta United's 2018 MLS Cup-winning team and blossomed into one of the league's elite defenders. Has 35 caps with the USMNT and won the 2021 Gold Cup and two Nations Leagues. 

3. John Souza (Fall River): Was a part of the USMNT's famous 1-0 upset over England in the 1950 World Cup – still widely considered the greatest sports upset of all-time.

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Getty Images SportNew Hampshire: Conor Casey

Hometown: Dover

Clubs played for: Dortmund, Hannover 96, Karlsruher SC, Mainz, Toronto FC, Colorado Rapids, Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew

USMNT caps: 19

Why he’s No. 1: At the peak of his powers, Charlie Davies appeared to be a shoo-in for the best player from New Hampshire. He was instrumental in helping the USMNT reach the 2009 Confederations Cup, which dared Americans to dream ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

However, he was involved in a serious car accident in 2009 that changed the trajectory of his career. While he enjoyed a successful 11-year run, he is one of the biggest what-ifs in U.S. soccer history. 

With that, Dover's Conor Casey edges Davies as New Hampshire's No. 1. The towering striker started his professional career in Germany, kicking things off with Dortmund before going on loan with Hannover and Karlsruher SC and playing in the top two levels in the country. 

Casey didn't gain much traction abroad, but he had some strong seasons in MLS, including being immortalized by Rapids fans for his involvement in their 2010 MLS Cup win. He also lifted the 2005 Gold Cup with the USMNT and had two national team goals.

Runners-up: 

2. Charlie Davies (Manchester): Scored the opening goal against Egypt in the Confederations Cup group stage that ultimately sparked an improbable run by the USMNT. Impressed at both Hammarby and Sochaux before returning to MLS in 2011. 

3. Jay Heaps (Nashua): Started his career with the now-defunct Miami Fusion, then becoming an icon for the New England Revolution with 243 league appearances. Lifted the Open Cup in 2007 and the North American Super Liga in 2008. Also served as New England's head coach for six years. 

Tottenham Hotspur have endured some early success under Thomas Frank after the Dane took the reins during the off-season, only tasting defeat once across all competitions to date.

The 51-year-old had the opportunity to improve and strengthen the front line, subsequently making various additions ahead of his first campaign in charge of the Lilywhites.

Mohammed Kudus was the highest profile addition in such a department, costing a fee in the region of £55m from West Ham United – but a figure that looks to be a bargain given his immediate impact.

The Ghanaian has already registered four assists in his first five Premier League outings, being a part of nearly 50% of the first-team’s league goals in 2025/26.

Randal Kolo Muani was also brought into the club during the summer window, but has been restricted to just 13 minutes of senior action due to injuries and fitness setbacks.

However, the club could’ve been in a much better place had Frank had the opportunity to work with one player who managed to thrive under his guidance at Brentford.

Ivan Toney’s time playing for Frank at Brentford

During his seven years in charge of Brentford, Frank was able to rely on Ivan Toney for a four-year period, with the striker constantly producing the goods in front of goal.

The Englishman netted 72 goals in his 141 appearances for the Bees, averaging nearly a goal every two games – with 36 of his efforts coming in England’s top-flight.

Toney came up against the Lilywhites on five occasions, failing to win any of the encounters, but he did manage to find the back of the net on two separate occasions.

It was also reported that former boss Ange Postecoglou was monitoring the 29-year-old, but they decided to pursue a move for Dominic Solanke instead – with Toney subsequently joining Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia.

Had the hierarchy made a move for the former Brentford star, it could’ve proved to be a blessing in disguise – especially after Frank took the reins in North London in recent months.

However, such a move will remain a case of what could’ve been, but the hierarchy may have also made a mistake in allowing one other talent to depart the club.

The Spurs star who could’ve been Frank’s next Toney

Top-level attacking talents haven’t been alien to Tottenham Hotspur supporters, as seen by Harry Kane’s decade-long spell as a first-team member in North London.

The England international racked up over 400 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring on 280 occasions – subsequently becoming the club’s record goalscorer in their history.

Whilst he didn’t win a single trophy with the club’s first-team, he produced numerous moments of magic, none more so than in the North London Derby against local rivals, Arsenal.

He managed to score on 15 occasions against the Gunners in his 21 appearances, the third-best record against any team in his professional career at present.

However, another attacker who could’ve been Frank’s next talisman is Troy Parrott, with the hierarchy potentially offloading the talisman way too soon, given his recent form away from the club.

The Irishman joined the Lilywhites at the age of 15, spending various years in the youth system, before being sent on countless loan spells away from North London.

He joined the likes of Millwall, Ipswich Town and Preston North End, but it wasn’t enough to catapult himself into the first team plans – subsequently joining Excelsior on loan in 2023/24.

Such a spell would catapult him to stardom, scoring 17 times in his 32 appearances for the Dutch outfit – a spell that saw him permanently depart Spurs for a fee in the region of £7m, with former chairman Daniel Levy sanctioning his departure.

He would join Dutch side AZ Alkmaar on a permanent basis, already making himself a fan favourite in his 12 months in the Netherlands – registering a total of 30 goals in his 54 appearances.

Appearances

30

Starts

28

Minutes

2191

Goals

14

Assists

2

Shot on target accuracy

49%

Goal involvements per match

0.53

Minutes per goal involvement

136

Parrott, who’s been labelled “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has since become one of Europe’s hottest talents, especially after netting 10 goals in his first seven outings of 2025/26.

Given such a record, Spurs must be regretting their decision to sell the talent, with the Irishman having all the tools to star under Frank had they kept hold of him a couple of years ago.

Parrott could have been the Dane’s next leading talisman, just like Toney was, but he will now remain a case of what could’ve been after his £7m departure last summer.

90% passing, 82 touches: 9/10 Spurs star is now as undroppable as Simons

Tottenham Hotspur have found another talented first-team star alongside Xavi Simons.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 25, 2025

Ethan Bamber adds four wickets to his first innings five-for to take match figures of 9 for 107

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay03-May-2025Warwickshire survived a fine 90 from England star Joe Root to set up a target of 185 in order to secure victory in their Rothesay County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Headingley.Yorkshire were bowled out for 232 in their second innings late on day two, with visiting new-ball seamer Ethan Bamber adding four wickets to his five in the first innings, completing impressive match figures of 9 for 107.Warwickshire then closed on 15 without loss from three overs of their run chase.The day started with the Bears, replying to a first-innings 205, advancing from 161 for six overnight to 253 all out, with Australian Test all-rounder Beau Webster completing a superb 85 off 86 balls on debut.He helped secure a lead of 48 but was the last visiting wicket to fall, caught trying to attack against New Zealand quick Ben Sears, who finished with four wickets.Ed Barnard removed Root for one in the first innings, though the chances of that happening again were realistically slim. But Warwickshire’s bowlers chipped away at the wickets when they started bowling again 35 minutes before lunch.They built early pressure. Bamber bowled locum opener Dom Bess in the third over, leaving the score at 9 for 1.And, either side of lunch, that was the first of seven successive maidens bowled by him and new-ball partner Olly Hannon-Dalby, who hails from down the road in Halifax.James Wharton was run out at the non-striker’s end during the early stages of the afternoon following a mix-up with opener Adam Lyth, who then went on to share a third-wicket 71 with Root from 19 for 2.Both look assured, though Lyth’s effort was curtailed 10 runs short of a fifty when he edged behind off the back foot to Ed Barnard’s seam, leaving the hosts at 90 for 3 in the 28th over.The ICC’s No. 1 and No. 2 ranked Test batters, Root and Harry Brook, then shared 53 for the fourth wicket, though the latter’s stay was too brief for Yorkshire’s liking. He fell lbw for 20, playing around a full ball from seamer Michael Booth shortly before tea, where the hosts reached at 152 for 4 with a lead of 104.Jonny Bairstow top-edged a pull at Bamber behind on six, with wicketkeeper Kai Smith taking a smart running catch, before George Hill edged Barnard to second slip. And when Jordan Thompson miscued to cover as Barnard struck for a third time, Yorkshire were 190 for 7 in the 60th over, leading by 142.All the while, Root looked commanding at the crease in his 100th first-class innings for the county, hitting 13 fours in 131 balls. He reached his fifty off 64 balls, and one driven boundary straight of mid-off against Webster was particularly memorable. However, he missed out on a century when he top-edged a pull to backward point off Bamber to make it 219 for 8.Dan Mousley was the catcher, and the same combination did for Sears soon after before Ben Coad was bowled by Booth for 28, giving Warwickshire a short period of batting to navigate before close.With the bat in the first innings, Webster was excellent before lunch in getting the Bears up to and just beyond 250.A tall and imposing figure at the crease, he mixed power with invention in moving from 32 overnight to reach his fifty off 54 balls and give his new county a decent lead and a batting bonus point.He scooped Coad for six and muscled expensive compatriot seamer Jordan Buckingham, also on debut for Yorkshire, through the off-side for a trio of boundaries to help the Bears into the lead.He dominated a 74-run partnership for the eighth wicket with keeper Smith before pulling Sears to midwicket to end the innings. Smith contributed 19.Sears and Hill claimed two wickets apiece, three of them caught behind by Bairstow.

Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres were signed for a combined £185 million ($247m), becoming two of the most controversial transfer stories of the summer, but the pair flopped spectacularly when it mattered most for their country after they failed to hit the target during a damaging 2-0 defeat by Switzerland. The defeat leaves Sweden’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

World Cup hopes fade for Sweden

Sweden's star strikers both played the full 90 minutes, but failed to test Swiss goalkeeper Viktor Johansson during the World Cup qualifier. Isak hit the crossbar with an early shot and later set up a clear chance for Lucas Bergvall, which was also missed. The performance leaves Sweden at the bottom of Group B with only one point from three games and has further dampened their hopes of qualifying for the next summer’s World Cup.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesBlockbuster summer transfers

Isak’s move concluded a lengthy summer transfer saga which saw the striker pull out all the stops to leave Newcastle. He notably missed the club's pre-season and opening Premier League fixtures due to his efforts to secure a move, even training alone at one point. Isak subsequently accused the Magpies of "broken promises" regarding his future, a claim the club denies. Newcastle had rejected an initial £110m ($146.7) bid from Liverpool, but eventually accepted the increased offer. Gyokeres joined Arsenal in a deal worth £60 million ($80.1m) after Sporting's president had adopted a hard stance on his departure, criticising Gyokeres' behaviour to force the move. 

Gyokeres joined Arsenal after two prolific seasons, scoring an impressive 97 goals in 102 appearances across all competitions and winning back-to-back Primeira Liga titles. However, the initial months of his Arsenal career have failed to hit those heights, seeing him score three goals in 10 appearances across all competitions. 

Isak slammed over fight for fitness

When asked about Isak’s conduct during the transfer process, former Liverpool, West Ham and Everton midfielder Don Hutchison told onlinecasino.com: "There’s no doubt (that he’s been unprofessional). Alexander Isak should have been more professional over the summer, and he’s paying for it now. He should have seen the bigger picture. Walking away from the training camp was poor in the first place, and then when he came back to Newcastle, he should have thought two things. One, he was either going to go to Liverpool or stay at Newcastle. So either way, he needed to be match fit. He shouldn’t have been selfish and trained with Newcastle even if he knew he would force himself out. If the move didn’t happen, he’d then be match fit for Newcastle. It was unprofessional and naive not just to down tools, but to sacrifice his match fitness for whoever he was going to play for. I think he’s been managed and advised really badly by his agent all summer. It comes down to the player, ultimately. He’s under contract with Newcastle, he owes them fitness and professionalism. Bigger picture, if you end up at Liverpool you have to hit the ground running. Now he’s playing catch-up and it’s because of how he behaved."

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Getty Images SportUphill battle for World Cup berth

So, will we see Isak and Gyokeres at next summer’s tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico? It’s looking tricky, but not impossible. Winning all their matches would be a good start, to give themselves a chance of finishing in the top two of their group, but their best hope is to progress via the playoff berth which they earned courtesy of winning their Nations League group.

Sweden have three more World Cup qualifiers to play, against Kosovo, Switzerland, and Slovenia. While it is unlikely they can catch the Swiss, who have won their three qualifiers thus far, second-placed Kosovo have just four points, meaning the fixture between the pair could be termed as a six-pointer. Sweden desperately need to win that fixture, and will be boosted by the fact it will take place on home soil, in Gothenburg. 

It was very much smooth sailing for Liverpool when Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the dugout. Overlooked by critics, the Reds dominantly won the Premier League despite minimal transfer investment.

Now, the defending champions have spent liberally across the summer but have lost their finely-woven fluency, lacking control and coherence across the opening weeks of the season.

The winning, never-quit mentality is still intact, but that alone will not carry the Anfield side through the campaign and to glory. Back-to-back defeats within the past week make a firm comment on that.

Tactically imbalanced and struggling through a bedding-in period, Liverpool have it all to do, with Slot dealing with a number of underperforming stars right now.

Liverpool's biggest strugglers this season

Where to start if not with Florian Wirtz? The German playmaker joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m this summer, billed as a world-class talent with unrivalled game-changing quality.

But, since playing a neat assist for Hugo Ekitike (who is certainly not an underperformer), Wirtz has blanked across nine fixtures in all competitions, with his performances leaving so much to be desired.

There is hope and expectation that the 22-year-old will hit his stride soon, but there may be more consternation over the form and future of Ibrahima Konate, who is out of contract at the end of the year, and with Real Madrid lurking, that’s not a good sign.

So far, the French centre-back’s campaign has been littered with mistakes. With Giovanni Leoni sidelined for the long term, this is ominous, with the durability of Liverpool’s starting defensive partnership essential to the success of the team.

Mohamed Salah has also endured a quiet start to the season, and he has received criticism for his toils. However, there’s another Redman who has struggled to get going so far, and he is quietly one of the most important cogs in the Slot machine.

Liverpool's quiet underperformer

Alexis Mac Allister has been a revelation since joining Liverpool from Brighton & Hove Albion for £35m in 2023. The Argentine World Cup winner has played influential and contrasting midfield roles across his two years on Merseyside, and has been hailed as a “superstar” by pundit Joe Cole for his efforts.

Matches (starts)

35 (30)

5 (5)

Goals

5

0

Assists

5

0

Touches*

55.8

48.4

Pass completion

87%

87%

Key passes*

1.3

0.8

Dribbles*

0.5

0.0

Ball recoveries*

4.2

3.6

Tackles + interceptions*

3.3

1.8

Ground duels (won)*

4.3 (50%)

1.8 (43%)

But there’s no denying that he hasn’t been right since the off-season. The 26-year-old star has lacked his energy and incisiveness, his hunger to win the ball back and progress play into the final third.

Given the importance of his form in the middle of the park, making everything tick for the Reds, it’s not outrageous to suggest that Mac Allister has been one of Liverpool’s worst performers this season, rarely offering any significant positivity.

Even Wirtz and Konate have enjoyed flashes of promise this term, but Mac Allister has yet to get going at all; he’s not protecting the defence, and neither is he carving out chances with slick passing.

Wirtz, after all, has created 21 chances across all competitions for Liverpool, and no Premier League player has created more since the summer. Clearly, there is a world-class player in there, and he will bloom before long.

It might even be that Slot needs to take his trusted lieutenant out of the firing line, with Curtis Jones producing an impressive, industrious performance in Istanbul.

In any case, there is plenty for Slot to sort out at Liverpool right now, and the changes need to happen sooner rather than later.

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