Featuring stamps from El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico and more, Jess Carter’s passport looks more like one belonging to a gap-year student than an England international as of late. Throw in all the flying that comes with playing your club football in the United States, for Gotham FC, and the two-time European champion must have more air miles than she knows what to do with. “I feel like you get used to it and then all of a sudden you don't,” Carter tells GOAL of all the travelling, just days before boarding her umpteenth flight of the year to report for Lionesses duty. “Everything you've then learned about how to manage yourself kind of goes out the window when you end up being on the west coast for 12 days.”

It's one of many new things the 27-year-old has had to adapt to since making the switch from Chelsea to Gotham in the summer of 2024. Be it the emphasis in American sports of winning in the play-offs rather than coming out on top in the regular season, the incredible top-to-bottom parity the NWSL has in comparison to England’s Women’s Super League or the misalignment of the U.S. and European seasons, and how that impacts her on some of the Lionesses’ camps, there are a lot of differences between what Carter is experiencing now and what she had been exclusively exposed to before.

But as she talks through each of those factors with a huge smile on her face, it’s clear that the England defender has taken it all in her stride. “I think it’s the happiest I’ve been in football in a long time,” she admits, even if, having been part of the Lionesses’ two European Championship triumphs and their run to the Women’s World Cup final in between, she misses how big a deal the women’s game is back home, compared to in the U.S.

Getty Images'Women's football deserves to be on a higher pedestal in the U.S.'

It's a point Carter makes right towards the end of her chat with GOAL, when delving into the off-pitch experiences she’s had in her 15 months or so Stateside. Talk of enjoying the beaches on the west coast, the variety of cuisines across the country and the NFL has gone by when the England star is asked if there is anything she misses about the country she calls home. “I wouldn't say I miss home,” she responds. “I do really love it here. Of course, I miss my family and my close friends that are in the UK still.”

There is then barely a pause before Carter delves into a particular difference between the two countries that she has observed. “I do think there's still a long way for the women's game to go in the U.S,” she says. “It's not at the level that it needs to be yet, from off the pitch stuff, not even just the football. It's away from that. I could walk around here wearing a Gotham top and people still don't know who Gotham are. Women's football deserves to be on a higher pedestal than what it is here in the U.S.”

There are cultural reasons that play a part in those differences, ones Carter notes herself. After all, women’s football “has many other sports to be competing with” in the U.S, whereas in England “football is the biggest sport”. But there’s clearly still a desire from Carter to play her part in growing the game even further in a country that has incredible history in it.

Indeed, for almost 23 years, the 90,185 attendance for the 1999 Women's World Cup final at the Rose Bowl, in Los Angeles, stood as a world-record for the women's game and the U.S – a four-time world champion – has spawned some of the biggest names the sport has ever known, be it Mia Hamm, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan or any of its current crop, such as Trinity Rodman. Throw in the massive off-pitch impact those USWNT stars have had and the country is a monumental player in the sport – it just has a stature within its own borders that can still grow. 

“I do miss how big women's football is in the UK, but I definitely think the U.S. has the ability to get to that level,” Carter adds.

AdvertisementRole model

It’s part of the reason she was keen to get involved with e.l.f. Beauty, too, despite describing herself as “not really a make-up girlie”.

“Once I saw the brief and I saw what they wanted to do, I think I felt like I couldn't say no to it, because I think that it gave me an opportunity to just show who I am. It was a really authentic piece,” she explains. “The fact that they wanted to work with me, someone who doesn't really wear make-up, shows that they wanted to be authentic. Rather than it being all about image it’s about showing who you are and being a really good representation for younger people that may look like me, which I didn't have growing up.”

Partaking in different initiatives with Gotham that engage with and encourage young girls at local teams is another area where Carter is trying to do her bit for the game as a whole, with it no surprise how passionate she is to see the sport grow given what she has experienced back home in England.

As part of a Lionesses team which has become the pride of a nation, she’s seen attendances skyrocket, interest go through the roof and, as a consequence, the desire among young girls to try and emulate their heroes grow with it.

“I never really thought about being a role model,” she says. “I was just kicking a ball around and it gradually happened. The more I speak to people and I see more young girls that say that I'm their role model, I think that's a pretty incredible thing to be able to just show exactly who I am and that being okay and good enough for the little girls to see that they can be what they want to be, really.”

Imagn ImagesStraight back to work

That passion to help take the game forward in the U.S. also clearly comes from how much Carter is enjoying her time there, so much so that she flew back to Gotham, based in New York and New Jersey, straight after England’s Euro 2025 triumph, missing a chunk of the Lionesses’ celebrations. “The girls were like, 'Why are you here? Why are you not in England celebrating?'” she recalls with a laugh. “I think that's a really nice thing that they wanted me to go.

“To be honest, I didn't feel comfortable missing out on another game. I feel like we were under-performing a little bit at Gotham and I wanted to be back to try and help get those points. I love being here, I love playing for Gotham and I'm really happy here.”

Carter has more than played her part in helping the team get back on track, too, with Gotham losing just twice since the Euros ended. “I think everyone feels like we're doing better but there's still a lot of things that we need to improve on if we want to be successful in the play-offs,” she says. “We're just taking each day as it comes and trying to work hard in training to fix those things that we want to improve on.”

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Getty ImagesSerial winner

It's a response that serves as a reminder of the six years Carter spent at Chelsea before moving to Gotham, because it is exactly the sort of thing that someone obsessed with winning would say. The 27-year-old lifted no fewer than 11 trophies before calling time on that chapter of her career, including five successive league titles, and the mentality that was required to be part of that winning machine has absolutely stuck with her. It's never more evident than when GOAL asks if it has sunk in that Carter is now a two-time European champion, after helping England defend their Euro 2022 title in Switzerland in July. “No, not really,” is her honest answer.

“I feel like I've just kind of got back into football and just got on with things. I think that maybe through playing with Chelsea – I don't know if it's a good or bad thing – I just learned it's like, 'Okay, great that you won, but now it's [what's] next. You've just got to go again and go again'. I guess that is what I learned from, luckily, being a bit of a serial winner at Chelsea, that kind of mentality. But Gotham is also teaching me to enjoy those celebrations, to enjoy those moments. They're great moments to have. I'm trying to do a little bit of both.”

Carter has already had a chance to do so after Gotham clinched the CONCACAF W Champions Cup back in May, beating Tigres in the final: “You have to start to create that winning mentality but to do that, you've got to win a trophy in the first place, in order to learn what you've got to do to be successful. I think that's a really good start to see what we have achieved, but also to see what we need to continue doing and improve on in order to be more successful going forward.”

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been told he needs to figure one thing out about summer signing Xavi Simons, as Spurs’ boss is informed of the “reality” surrounding his new statement arrival.

Tottenham experiment with Xavi Simons after potential £125m deal

As explained by Paul O’Keefe, the eventual cost of Simons’ £52 million transfer from RB Leipzig to North London could reach £125 million when factoring in wages and transfer fee over his potential seven-year contract.

The 22-year-old is already off and running with his first assist for the Lilywhites, which came 47 minutes into his Premier League debut against West Ham, when Simons swung in an excellent corner for Pape Sarr to head past Mads Hermansen.

Appearances

25

Minutes played

2,157

Goals

10

Assists

7

Bookings

5

Shots at goal per 90 minutes

2

Passing accuracy

82.9%

Average match rating

7.32

via WhoScored

However, since that delivery, Simons has failed to register another goal contribution despite coming close on a few occasions.

Frank has experimented with the former PSG sensation in a few different positions, including as a traditional centre-midfielder against Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup, with Simons making the rest of his appearances either out on the left or as a CAM in James Maddison’s role.

It is still far too early to properly judge the attacker, who was also a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, but Spurs will be hopeful he’s set to find his feet very shortly.

Simons is currently Tottenham’s joint-highest paid player alongside star defender Cristian Romero, and Frank was personally involved in talks to convince the Netherlands international to join Spurs over Chelsea, according to super agent Ali Barat.

Despite what could be seen as a slow start to life at N17, those who’ve watched Simons in the Bundesliga and Eredivisie are adamant that he will be a “sensation” for Tottenham.

Tottenham told Xavi Simons "reality" as Frank already gets one thing wrong

That being said, journalist Süleyman Öztürk is convinced that Frank needs to realise Simons is not actually a playmaker in the mould of Maddison.

Simons bagged 11 goals and eight assists in 33 total appearances for Leipzig last season, despite suffering an ankle injury early on in the campaign, and he did it in a mixture of positions.

The forward played seven of his final 2025 Bundesliga games out on the left, and one as a second striker. However, the majority of his German top flight appearances from January onwards actually did come as a CAM.

In that role, he scored and assisted in a match-winning performance against Borussia Dortmund, and bagged a brace against Werder Bremen in a central attacking midfield position before that.

On the left-hand side, among many of his contributions were racking up two assists in a thrilling 3-3 draw at home to Bayern Munich towards the end of 2025/2026 — so it is clear by the numbers that he can in fact deliver in both areas.

Glasgow Rangers are still yet to officially confirm their next head coach ahead of their clash with Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday at Ibrox.

The Light Blues parted company with Russell Martin prior to the start of the international break, after a 1-1 draw with Falkirk, and Steven Smith will be in charge as an interim this weekend.

Martin left after five wins in 17 matches in charge in all competitions, as shown in the graphic above, and Rangers are closing in on a head coach with a far superior record.

The latest on Kevin Muscat to Rangers

According to RangersReview, Kevin Muscat is set to ‘finalise’ a deal to become the next Rangers manager in a move that could be confirmed over the weekend.

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Meanwhile, the Daily Record reports that the Light Blues board are willing to allow him to see out the remainder of the Chinese Super League season before he makes the switch to Ibrox.

SH Port have three matches left to go in their season, as they sit top of the table, and their last game is on the 22nd November, which means that it could be over a month before Muscat takes the reins in Glasgow to finally replace Martin.

Once the Australian head coach is in charge at Ibrox, one thing that he will be tasked with is getting the best out of central midfielder Mohamed Diomande, who flopped under the previous head coach.

Why Kevin Muscat needs to revive Mohamed Diomande for Rangers

Muscat needs to revive the Ivorian star because he allowed his form to dip way too low under Martin, after an impressive 2024/25 campaign with the Scottish giants.

Diomande’s discipline was a notable cause for concern. He was given three yellow cards and one red card in his last four appearances for the club, and Tam McManus went as far as to call his performance “embarrassing” against Hibernian because of how many fouls he was committing.

The left-footed star was sent off against Genk in the Europa League, a game that the Gers lost, and he was booked against Hibernian, Celtic, and Falkirk, with the Light Blues winning just one of those matches. Embarrassing was a strong word from McManus, but the midfielder did let himself down with too many challenges that caught the referee’s attention.

Mohamed Diomande (Premiership)

24/25

25/26

Appearances

36

6

Sofascore rating

7.19

6.37

Goals

4

0

Assists

7

0

Dribbled past per game

0.5x

0.5x

Ground duel success rate

57%

46%

Aerial duel success rate

48%

17%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, his form in his six matches for the former Rangers head coach this season in the league was nowhere near as good as what he produced under Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson last term.

These statistics show that Diomande is capable of much better than he has shown in the 2025/26 campaign, which provides hope that Muscat can come in and get him back to his best in the middle of the park.

At his best, the 23-year-old whiz, who is valued at £7m by Transfermarkt, is a central midfielder who can provide a combative presence whilst also contributing with goals and assists for Rangers, as evidenced by his form from last season.

However, he has not been anywhere near his best this term, with no goals and one assist in 12 matches, per Sofascore, and that is why one of Muscat’s first jobs should be trying to revive the Ivorian ace.

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If the incoming Rangers head coach can unlock the left-footed star’s top level, Muscat will have a terrific player on his hands in the middle of the park.

Glasgow Rangers ended their months-long wait for a win in the Scottish Premiership thanks to a last-gasp strike from Max Aarons on Sunday afternoon.

The loan defender popped up in stoppage-time to find the bottom corner with a fantastic finish from Nicolas Raskin’s corner to claim all three points for the away side.

Russell Martin’s side had four draws and one defeat on the board from their first five matches in the Premiership before Sunday’s match, which is why Aarons’ goal was so important.

Despite picking up all three points, there were several players who may not come away from the game being pleased with their individual showing, including captain James Tavernier.

How James Tavernier performed against Livingston

The Rangers skipper will rue the fact that he failed to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the first half when he put his spot-kick down the middle, making it relatively easy for Jerome Prior to leave a leg out and block.

The English defender, who failed in three of his four attempted dribbles (Sofascore), will be disappointed that his penalty gave the goalkeeper a chance to keep it out.

Tavernier did, however, score the opening goal of the game with a terrific acrobatic finish from Oliver Antman’s cross to put Rangers 1-0 up early on, which may allow supporters to forgive him for the penalty miss.

Meanwhile, Bojan Miovski was even worse than the captain will be thankful that Aarons saved him from being blamed for a loss of points if the Gers had drawn the game.

Why Bojan Miovski should be dropped

The summer signing from Girona was selected to lead the line for the Light Blues ahead of Youssef Chermiti, after the £10m signing from Everton started the 1-0 defeat to Genk.

Football FanCast have suggested moving to a 4-4-2 against Sturm Graz with both Miovski and Chermiti for the Europa League clash with Sturm Graz on Thursday because of Mohamed Diomande’s suspension, but the left-footed striker should be dropped for the trip to Falkirk.

Rangers travel to Falkirk in their next Premiership match next Sunday and Martin must ruthlessly ditch the Macedonia international from the XI with the favoured 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, because he did not do enough as the lone marksman in the win over Livingston.

Minutes

90

Goals + assists

0

Shots

2

Big chances missed

2

Dribbles completed

0/3

Duels won

2/12

Key passes

0

As you can see in the table above, the Rangers number 28 was completely dominated by the Livingston defenders, losing ten of his 12 duels and failing with all three of his attempted dribbles.

On top of his incredibly lightweight play out of possession for the Scottish giants, the former Aberdeen star also spurned a glorious chance to find the back of the net in the first half.

Miovski, as shown in the clip above, was clear through on goal with the chance to score his first Premiership goal for the club, but blazed his effort well over the bar. Prior had committed and was already going the other way, which meant that the striker only had to keep his effort down and he would have been celebrating the opener.

The Gers forward was even worse than Tavernier, who won eight duels and scored the opening goal, and should now be dropped for the trip to Falkirk next weekend, providing Chermiti with a chance to lead the line.

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He’s a rising star.

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Miovski may have been saved from bucket loads of criticism for his performance by Aarons scoring the winner, but he may not escape being dropped from the starting XI in the league.

Jude Bellingham could face a potential ban after being caught making an X-rated gesture during Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Barcelona in El Clasico. The English midfielder was the match-winner at the Bernabeu, but his celebration has once again sparked controversy after cameras appeared to capture him repeating the same gesture that landed him in trouble at Euro 2024.

• Bellingham makes lewd gesture after winning Clasico for Real Madrid

  Bellingham played a crucial role in Real Madrid’s 2-1 triumph over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu, contributing both a goal and an assist in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season in La Liga. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring for Madrid, only for Fermin Lopez to level for Barcelona before Bellingham struck just before half-time to restore Los Blancos’ lead — one that ultimately proved decisive.

  However, celebrations took an unexpected turn when the England international was caught on camera making a lewd gesture, pointing toward his crotch while sticking out his tongue in front of supporters. The incident quickly spread across social media, drawing comparisons to the same gesture Bellingham made at Euro 2024 after scoring for England against Slovakia, for which UEFA issued him a £25,000 fine and a suspended one-match ban.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Real Madrid and Barcelona players clash in heated Clasico

  The gesture has once again placed Bellingham in an uncomfortable spotlight, overshadowing an otherwise stellar performance that helped Real Madrid extend their lead at the top of La Liga to five points. The match itself was a heated affair, with tempers flaring late on as Andriy Lunin was sent off in stoppage time amid a scuffle involving multiple players. La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) are expected to review the footage to determine whether Bellingham’s actions warrant disciplinary action, though a decision may depend on how seriously the governing bodies interpret his intent.

  If sanctioned, Bellingham could face a fine or even a short suspension, a setback that Real Madrid can ill afford as they prepare for a demanding run of fixtures. Head coach Xabi Alonso, who has praised the midfielder’s resurgence since the international break, will be keen to keep one of his most influential players available. Speaking after the match, Alonso said: “He’s had three very good games. We knew before the last break that he needed time and minutes to get going, and he’s done better than we expected. Jude is all about feeling, communicating, and connecting. That’s why he’s had some very good games.”

• Bale got away with a similar gesture in 2019

  This is not the first time a Real Madrid player has become embroiled in controversy for a similar act. Back in 2019, Gareth Bale made the infamous “corte de mangas” gesture toward Atletico Madrid fans — a motion considered deeply offensive in Spain — yet he escaped punishment from the authorities. That precedent could provide some comfort to Bellingham, who will hope that the Spanish FA takes a lenient view. The midfielder’s previous incident at Euro 2024, however, may not work in his favour, even though UEFA’s jurisdiction does not extend to La Liga matches.

  Barcelona boss Hansi Flick landed himself in hot water last week after being shown a second yellow card for making a gesture during a win over Girona. Flick also picked up a one-match ban and was suspended from the touchline for El Clasico. All eyes will now be trained on whether La Liga manage to clamp down on Bellingham’s X-rated gesture with similar vigour, while a lack of action could very well reiterate a dig made by Lamine Yamal before the Clasico, a sentiment shared heavily by fans of other La Liga teams through the last few seasons.

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• AFP
  

  Could Bellingham be banned for Valencia clash?

  Bellingham will now await any formal word from the league authorities regarding potential punishment, but as of now, no official statement has been released. If history is any indicator, a review process could take several days, with Real Madrid’s legal team likely to argue that the gesture was made in jest or misinterpreted by cameras. Even if he avoids a ban, the incident is likely to be discussed heavily in the Spanish media over the coming days, reigniting debates that have raged in the last few weeks.

  In the meantime, the 22-year-old remains focused on maintaining his fine form for Madrid, who are entering a critical phase of the season. After being left out of Thomas Tuchel’s most recent England squad, Bellingham will hope that his club displays — rather than his on-field antics — become the talking point ahead of the Three Lions’ upcoming fixtures against Serbia and Albania.

ظهر المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة، هانز فليك، في مؤتمر صحفي مساء يوم الثلاثاء من أجل الحديث عن مباراة الغد المرتقبة ضد كلوب بروج، في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويحل برشلونة ضيفًا على كلوب بروج، في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري موسم 2025/26.

وقال فليك، في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “الخصم يحب الاستحواذ على الكرة، ولديه حركة جيدة مع الكرة، الأجواء رائعة، وستكون مباراة صعبة، مشكلة الأطوال لديهم والصراعات الهوائية؟ حسنًا، نواجه دائمًا نفس المشكلة، لكننا عالجناها في مباريات أخرى، ما يعجبني هو أن اللاعبين مستعدون ذهنيًا لهذه المواقف، إنها ليست مشكلة”.

وأضاف: “أعتقد أنها ستكون مباراة مشابهة لمباراة إلتشي، سيرغبون في الاستحواذ على الكرة، كما أنهم يضغطون لاعبًا تلو الآخر، ستكون مباراة على أعلى مستوى”.

وفيما يخص حالة لامين يامال وما إذا كان يحتاج إلى إجراء جراحة لحل مشكلة مزمنة في العانة، وكذلك مشاركته مع منتخب إسبانيا من عدمها ذلك الشهر، قال: “هذا ليس اختصاصي، بالنسبة لنا الأهم هو أنه قدم مباراة رائعة وتدرب جيدًا، علينا أن نعمل بجد، وإذا كان قادرًا على اللعب، فسيلعب”.

اقرأ أيضًا | بـ 17 منشورًا.. رافينها يرد على غيابه عن التشكيل المثالي لعام 2025

واسترسل: “نسبة لياقة اللاعبين؟ حسنًا، لا يمكن مقارنة الوضع الآن بالموسم الماضي، لدينا الآن العديد من المصابين، افتقدنا ليفاندوفسكي ورافينها ولامين للإصابة، الآن يعودون وعلينا أن نرى كيف سيؤدون”.

وعن الحاجة للفوز، قال: “كما قلت سابقًا، علينا الفوز بالنقاط الثلاث، لا توجد مباراة سهلة؛ نحتاج إلى عقلية جيدة، عاد ليفاندوفسكي وأولمو ضد إلتشي، اليوم خضنا جلسة تدريبية رائعة وعالية الجودة، وهذا أمر جيد، ولكنه ليس سهلًا”.

وفيما يخص مخاطر اللعب بـ فرينكي دي يونج وكاسادو لمدة 90 دقيقة، حيث أنهما على بُعد بطاقة صفراء واحدة من الإيقاف، قال: “حسنًا، جميع اللاعبين لدينا سيكونون خيارًا للعب غدًا”.

واستكمل: “إريك جارسيا؟ في الموسم الماضي كان إينيجو مارتينيز قائدًا رائعًا في الدفاع، والآن أنا سعيد جدًا بـ إريك جارسيا وكوبارسي ورونالد أراوخو، الذين قدموا أداءً رائعًا ضد إلتشي، خيار آخر هو جيرارد مارتين”.

كما تغزل فليك في روبرت ليفاندوفسكي، حيث قال: “إنه جيد من الناحية الدفاعية كذلك، بارع للغاية في الركنيات، أنا سعيد جدًا في برشلونة، منذ أن أصبحت مدربًا، لم أرَ لاعبًا أكثر احترافية من روبرت ليفاندوفسكي”.

واختتم: “لقد عاد من الإصابة أسرع مما كان متوقعًا، نحن بحاجة للاعبين الشباب للوصول إلى أفضل مستوياتهم، أنا حقًا أحب هذا النادي وهؤلاء اللاعبين، أنا سعيد جدًا في هذا النادي وفي هذه المدينة، وسأبذل قصارى جهدي”.

Newcastle United fell to their third Premier League defeat of the season this afternoon, with Danny Welbeck’s double securing a 2-1 win for Brighton & Hove Albion.

Eddie Howe’s side must have thought they secured a point after Nick Woltemade netted his fourth goal in just five league outings after his summer arrival from Stuttgart.

However, it wasn’t meant to be, as the aforementioned star’s effort was in vain after Welbeck’s goal secured Fabian Hurzeler’s side all three points at the AMEX.

The Magpies now sit in the bottom half of the table at present, with just two wins to their name – needing a huge reaction in the coming games to get their campaign back on track.

Such a result will likely leave the manager bitterly disappointed, but more so, the failure to impress of numerous players who were handed chances to impress from the off.

Newcastle’s disappointing performers against Brighton

Despite being under fire for his lack of impact of late, Howe decided to stick with Brazilian international Joelinton as part of his three-man midfield.

However, his showing against the Seagulls was a hugely disappointing one, with the 29-year-old subsequently being withdrawn from the contest at the break.

He failed to create any chances for his teammates despite completing 21 passes, whilst also losing 100% of the aerial battles that he entered on the South Coast.

Joelinton wasn’t alone in failing to deliver against Hurzeler’s men, with full-back Dan Burn unable to help the Magpies secure all three points against his former employers.

The 33-year-old only managed to win four of the 14 duels he entered during his 90-minute performance, subsequently being dribbled past twice by former Newcastle star Yankuba Minteh.

Despite the showings from the aforementioned duo, one other first-team member produced an afternoon to forget, with Howe desperately needing to take action.

The Newcastle star who needs to be dropped after Brighton

After the sale of Alexander Isak during the summer window, it was vital Newcastle invested well into the squad to avoid a drop off in the Premier League standings.

As previously mentioned, Woltemade has hit the ground running for the Magpies, already looking like the club’s most threatening option within the final third.

The opposite end of the pitch also received hefty investment, with Malick Thiaw joining in a £40m deal from AC Milan – subsequently cementing his place in the starting eleven in recent weeks.

However, fellow summer addition Anthony Elanga has struggled to produce the type of displays that saw the hierarchy fork out a fee in the region of £55m for his services.

The Swede has failed to score or assist in any of his ten outings across all competitions, with his showing against the Seagulls highlighting his lack of impact to date.

He was named in the starting eleven for the clash against Hurzeler’s men this afternoon, but once again failed to match the faith shown in him by his manager, Howe.

Like Joelinton, Elanga was hooked at half-time due to his lack of impact, with his underlying figures showcasing how dismal he was during the Magpies’ latest defeat.

Minutes played

45

Touches

20

Passes completed

12

Crosses completed

0

Dribbles completed

0

Duels won

50%

Dribbled past

1

Match rating

4/10

He failed to complete any of the dribbles or crosses that he attempted, with only one of his attempted passes being made into the final third of the pitch.

Elanga also came out on top in just 50% of all the duels he contested, even being unable to create any chances for his teammates during his 45-minute outing.

To further highlight his lack of impact, he only achieved a total of 20 touches, a tally lower than that of goalkeeper Nick Pope, who achieved a total of 40.

As a result of his performance, Elanga was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by Newcastle World journalist Jordan Cronin – further showcasing his lack of impact.

Given his display, Howe desperately needs to get the winger firing, which should see the 23-year-old being dropped to the substitutes’ bench in the coming matches.

His mammoth price tag has certainly increased the pressure on his shoulders, but time needs to be handed his way to allow the attacker to adapt to the demands in the North East.

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ByWill Miller Oct 17, 2025

Allrounder feels he ‘snatched’ at early opportunities in England set-up but is keen to make his chance count

Vithushan Ehantharajah02-Jun-2025

Will Jacks played a crucial hand of 49•Getty Images

“Imagine getting us five-down and Will Jacks comes out to bat?” Harry Brook had reflected on Thursday evening in Birmingham.It certainly was novel. Prior to Thursday’s first ODI against West Indies, Jacks had never previously batted in that position in List A cricket. In fact, he’d only done it once in all white-ball cricket – a couple of months ago in the IPL, a forgettable 1 off 1 for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals.His match-morphing cameo at Edgbaston – a boundary-filled 39 off 24 deliveries, in a vital stand of 98 with Jacob Bethell that put England out of reach – was an impressive hard launch in a new position, albeit in step with an attacking batter. But it was Sunday’s innings in Cardiff, a more restrained 49 off 58, that highlighted the tactical dexterity he can bring to the role.Jacks struck just two fours while soaking up 20 dot-balls, but his entire role was geared towards handing the strike to an inspired Joe Root, whose unbeaten 166 went on to win England the match and the series. Root credited Jacks for his “maturity”, “skill level” and “calmness” throughout their stand of 143.There was a bit of Freaky Friday about it all. Root is usually the one getting the hitters on strike – a point not lost on either of them. “I did actually mention that to him at one stage,” Jacks said.”He played beautifully and made it very easy for me. I think the situation just required me to build a partnership. That’s all I looked to do really – try and build a score, taking as limited risks as possible, and that ended up just being ones and twos. When a boundary was required, he did that with ease, like he does.”The origins of Jacks’ new role are intriguing enough, and it’s worth walking backwards through the reasoning. When Brook took on the white-ball captaincy, he identified the need for a few more allrounders and a wider variety of spin.Under the previous regime, Liam Livingstone had been picked to perform a similar role, with his legspin/offspin repertoire and lower-order hitting potential. However, his combined total of 93 runs in nine innings at the 50-over World Cup and Champions Trophy highlighted a series of situational blindspots, and he has since been put out to pasture.Jacks and Bethell, Brook thought, with their right and left-arm fingerspin, could provide those options – combining as the fifth bowler – while deepening the batting. After two games, that logic is playing out perfectly.Jacks’ offspin broke through to end Keacy Carty’s century•PA Photos/Getty Images

At the time of conception, both players were out at the IPL, with Jacks operating with a similar “neither here nor there” remit with Mumbai. Bowling occasionally and batting without a set position had him thinking on his feet, trying to become a more malleable cricketer.With Jacks in particular, Brook knew he had the wares to do the job. The pair have come through the ranks together, notably when Brook was Jacks’ Under-19 captain. That pre-existing relationship, as far as Jacks was concerned, made transitioning into an allrounder role that little bit easier.”I’ve known Harry for a very long time. We played Under-19s cricket together almost a decade ago. When he mentioned this role to me, it came quite comfortably, and easy. Once I knew I had that trust and it had been spoken to me, I thought a bit about how I want to play it.”At the IPL just now, I was carded at No.3 and a couple of times I ended up having to go down No.6 and 7. That’s just limited-overs cricket, you have to be ready for anything. We practice that and I think it’s just about clarity of mind. Very rarely in 50-over cricket am I going to have to go out there and try and hit my first few balls for six. You always have more time you think, it’s just about adjusting to that with clarity.”The “clarity” Jacks speaks of around 50-over cricket has been learned the hard way by this group. Of the many talking points emanating from the blowouts at the 2023 50-over World Cup and this year’s Champions Trophy was the lack of List A experience among the players. Jacks, for instance, has made 17 of his 39 appearances in the format for England.It seems, though, the offshoots of the team’s recent ODI form – these victories over West Indies ended a run of seven defeats in a row – has been a greater understanding of the rhythms of the 50-over format, and a chance to bed in for a generation reared on 30 overs less.”I think watching 50-over cricket and thinking about it over the last year or two, we all realise there’s so much time. Coming from T20, that’s not something you always have the luxury of,” Jacks said.Related

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“Even going in the other day [first ODI], I came in during the 41st over – there was still so much time to go. That was on my mind [in the second ODI], and that was what we spoke about… even at 7-and-a-half, 8-an-over it got up to, there was no urgency. We know we can chase that with ease. It was just about staying calm, staying in control, and taking it as deep as possible.”Jacks’ experience of building into a T20 innings as an opening batter translates well for his new gig. Though he does have limited experience at the death – of his 202 T20 innings, he has only batted in the last four overs 11 times – he still strikes at 221.87 at an average of 53.25 in this period.This is still something of a make-over for Jacks. Despite 42 caps across all formats, including two Tests in Pakistan in 2022, he has never quite belonged to any of England’s three sides. A series of disappointments have punctuated the last two years, including missing out on the first tranch of multi-year central contracts in 2023 – despite being told he would be one of the 26 – before missing out on the Champions Trophy squad earlier this year.Though he has scratched his competitive itch with high-profile franchise gigs in the IPL and SA20, being back in the national reckoning clearly nourishes him. Particularly as he feels he snatched at the first part of his white-ball career.”I do,” Jacks answered immediately, when if he thought this was a new chapter. “I’ve come into it with a really fresh mindset, which has helped. Having that break… obviously I’d have loved to play every game, but that’s life. And I think it’s allowed me to reset.”I think my first time in the team I was just loving playing for England, and probably not performing how I wanted. I was ‘over-trying’ to get the results I wanted, whereas now I feel comfortable in myself, in the role and I think that’s really helped.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Neste sábado (16), às 15:30 (horário de Brasília) o Criciúma recebe o Mirassol no Heriberto Hülse  pela 28ª rodada do Brasileirão Série B, e opõe o sexto e o 11º colocado em uma partida decisiva para se aproximarem do G4.

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CAÇA AO G-4

O time de Santa Catarina vive altos e baixos no Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. De momento, o Criciúma soma duas vitórias nos últimos cinco jogos, ainda assim, vem de uma derrota e um empate. A equipe segue brigando pela parte de cima da tabela buscando o acesso e agora ocupa a sexta colocação com 45 pontos. A pontuação é a mesma do Novorizontino, primeiro time no G4, no entanto, soma uma vitória a menos.

EM BUSCA DA REABILITAÇÃO

Enquanto isso, o Mirassol voltou a encontrar o caminho das vitórias após seis rodadas, o time paulista bateu o Botafogo-SP em casa pelo placar de 1 x 0 e amenizou o momento ruim. No momento, ocupa a 11ª colocação com 40 pontos.

FICHA TÉCNICA
Criciúma x Mirassol

Data: 16/09/2023
Local: Estádio Heriberto Hülse, Criciúma – SC
Onde assistir: SporTV e Premiere

PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES:

CRICIÚMA (Técnico: Claudio Tencati)
Gustavo; Cristovam, Rodrigo Fagundes, Walisson Maia e Marcelos Hermes; Rômulo, Arilson, Fellipe Mateus e Marquinhos Gabriel; Éder e Felipe Vizeu

Desfalques: Felipe Marques (lesionado)

MIRASSOL (Técnico: Mozart)
Alex Muralha; Lucas Ramon, Luiz Otávio, Rodrigo Sam e Guilherme Biro; Danielzinho, Neto Moura, Chico, Gabriel e Negueba; Zé Roberto

Desfalques: Leandro Vilela e Manoel (lesionados)

Nitish Rana has decided to return to his original home state Delhi after spending two domestic seasons with Uttar Pradesh (UP). He has received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) and is likely to make the switch before the upcoming domestic season.”The experienced batter asked for an NOC and we have given it to him,” UPCA’s chief executive officer Ankit Chatterjee told ESPNcricinfo. “He mentioned family reasons for his decision.”Ashok Sharma, secretary of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), also confirmed that Rana had spoken to them about his decision and has already received the NOC from UP. “However, DDCA has not yet received a copy of his NOC. Only after receiving the NOC, we can say anything about the chances of him playing for Delhi,” Sharma said.Related

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Rana had played age-group and domestic cricket for Delhi until 2022. In 2023, he made the switch to UP and even went on to lead the side. However, his stint with UP was largely disappointing, and due to poor performances last season, he was dropped from the one-dayers and first-class cricket.In the 2024-25 domestic season, he played four Ranji Trophy matches, scoring only 150 runs in six innings, including just one half-century. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20s, he scored only 111 runs in nine matches, with an average of 13.87 and a strike rate of 114.43. In the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, he got to play only two matches and due to his continued poor form, he was dropped from the team.After that, he was also left out of the Ranji Trophy side when the second phase of the tournament started in January this year. Even in IPL 2025, before injuring his calf muscle, Rana scored only 217 runs in 11 innings with two half-centuries for Rajasthan Royals, struggling for consistency.When he was not included in the auction for this year’s UP T20 League, it became evident that he might not play for UP this year. Overall, he played ten first-class matches for them, scoring 447 runs, including one century and two half-centuries. Additionally, in seven List A matches, he scored 72 runs, and in 16 T20 matches, he accumulated 314 runs with two half-centuries. He also captained the UP team in six Ranji Trophy and four Vijay Hazare Trophy matches during the 2023-24 season, leading them to victory in one and three games respectively.Rana’s potential return to Delhi will be interesting, especially because during a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match last season, he had an on-field argument with Delhi’s current captain Ayush Badoni which required an umpire intervention. There is also stiff competition for middle-order spots in the Delhi squad.For now, if the DDCA accepts his NOC, Rana could feature in the Delhi Premier League (DPL) as well, scheduled for August.