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Arsenal are currently waiting to discover the extent of Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury after the star centre-back sustained a thigh injury during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal, and he’s now a doubt for this weekend’s crunch North London derby clash against Tottenham as a result.

The league leaders head into Sunday’s derby aiming to rediscover their winning touch after Brian Brobbey’s last-gasp equaliser saw Sunderland snatch a 2-2 draw in their last Premier League game, a result that halted their imperious eight-game winning run without even conceding a single goal.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

The Gunners’ head-to-head record against their arch rivals makes for pretty reading, and they haven’t lost a single league game against Tottenham at the Emirates for 14 years. However, that being said, Mikel Arteta faces a significant defensive concern with Gabriel’s likely absence.

No detailed prognosis has yet been made available, though it is expected that the centre-back could miss at least a short stretch of games, including Spurs, with Gabriel a major injury doubt.

The Brazilian has been instrumental for Arsenal this season, both defensively and as a set-piece threat going forward, so his absence is poised to be a considerable blow.

The injury concerns don’t end there. Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke (all knee) are out but pushing for a return to the side in time for Tottenham, while summer signing Viktor Gyokeres and winger Gabriel Martinelli also face potential late fitness tests.

Riccardo Calafiori was also nursing a hip problem on international duty with Italy, and it remains to be seen whether Arteta starts the left-back who’s been one of Arsenal’s players of the season so far, even keeping Hale End sensation Myles-Lewis-Skelly out of the side.

Now, as per The Independent, there’s been an update on Gyokeres’ condition.

Arsenal given Viktor Gyokeres injury update ahead of North London derby

According to the news outlet, the Sweden international could also miss this weekend’s vital clash.

Gyokeres is described as another Arsenal injury doubt to face Tottenham, with Gyokeres missing their last two matches against Slavia Prague and Sunderland after picking up a muscle injury in the 2-0 win away to Burnley at the very start of November.

After a barren goalless run, the 27-year-old was just beginning to find his feet with three goals in his last three appearances.

While Mikel Merino has performed impressively as a makeshift striker once again, having scored more league goals than any other Arsenal player this calendar year and bagging a brace against Slavia Prague, Arteta will be hoping that he can call upon Gyokeres once again to take on Thomas Frank’s side.

Gyokeres is their top scorer in the league with four thus far and six in all competitions, but his impact extends beyond goals.

According to WhoScored, only Eberechi Eze has averaged more shots per 90 than Gyokeres in Arsenal’s squad, with Arteta praising how he brings something unique to the side.

Tottenham are in the midst of an injury crisis of their own with a host of their players missing, and Arsenal know victory would tighten their grip on the title race.

However, derbies rarely follow the script, and Arteta will need his squad depth to compensate for any absences if they are to claim local bragging rights once again.

Glasgow Rangers finally confirmed their new head coach on Monday afternoon after a search that lasted just over two weeks, following the sacking of Russell Martin.

The Light Blues decided to part ways with the former Scotland international after their 1-1 draw with Falkirk, but they were unable to have a manager in place for their next Scottish Premiership match against Dundee United two weeks later.

Danny Rohl has, now, come through the door at Ibrox, though, and will be in charge of the Scottish giants when they face Brann in the Europa League on Thursday.

The German head coach has signed a deal that will take him through to the summer of 2027, having left Sheffield Wednesday at the start of this season.

After five wins in 18 matches so far this season in all competitions, supporters are understandably lacking in patience and want to see an instant improvement in the team’s form.

So, with this in mind, what can the fans at Ibrox expect from Rohl once his team walks out onto the pitch to play their first game against Brann on Thursday?

What Rangers fans can expect from a Danny Rohl team

The word ‘pragmatism’ is often misused in football. It gets used as a substitute for saying a manager plays defensive or passive football that is awful to watch, instead of the actual meaning of the word, which is to play logical football that makes sense with what you have at your disposal and who you are up against.

Rohl, fans may be pleased to read, is a pragmatist in the literal sense of the word. The German tactician, who worked as an assistant at Bayern Munich and for the German national team, changes his tactics and style of play to give his team the best chance of winning.

An interesting example of this came in March when Sheffield Wednesday travelled to Norwich City. They went direct in the first half, attempting to use physicality to gain possession, and found themselves 2-0 down at the break.

At half-time, Rohl brought on Nathaniel Chalobah and Michael Smith and looked to take control of the game in possession, dominating in midfield, and it led to a brilliant comeback to secure a 3-2 win, capped off by a winning goal from Djeidi Gassama.

Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)	23/24	24/25
League finish	20th	12th
Points	53	58
xG	50.2	62.7
Goals scored	44	60
Goals conceded	68	69
xGD	-8.4	-0.2
Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, the Owls significantly improved from the start of Rohl’s tenure to the end of it, as a result of his pragmatism and willingness to adapt and evolve his side.

Despite his willingness to change styles and formations, one thing that was almost a constant for the German boss was that he played with one striker. Per FBref, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, 4-1-4-1, 5-4-1, and 3-4-3 were his most-used formations in the Championship last season.

This suggests that, irrespective of what style he chooses to go with for each match, he is likely to go with one central striker in his team for the Light Blues.

With this in mind, there is a centre-forward on the books at Ibrox who could find himself on the chopping block when the January transfer window opens for business.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The first player Rohl should look to brutally ditch from his Rangers squad after the turn of the year is Brazilian forward Danilo, as it seems unlikely that he will play a major role for the new head coach.

Why Rangers should sell Danilo in January

Rangers splashed a whopping £8m on Youssef Chermiti and another £4.2m on Bojan Miovski to bolster their options in the number nine position.

This means that the club have spent over £12m on two strikers to be ahead of Danilo in the pecking order, which makes him the third-choice striker for a manager who predominantly wants to play with one player in that role.

Danilo, therefore, is in a difficult position at Ibrox. That is further evidenced by the fact that he has not played a minute in the Scottish Premiership since August, and has been an unused substitute in four of his last five appearances in the matchday squad.

The Brazilian striker started against Motherwell on the opening day of the season, and pundit Kris Boyd immediately stated that it was not working with him in the team.

Danilo has scored one goal and provided one assist in 11 appearances in all competitions this season, per Transfermarkt, so it is hard to disagree with Boyd’s assessment.

The £26k-per-week centre-forward, who was once described as being “sloppy” on the ball by pundit Steven Thompson, is also a constant injury concern for the Light Blues, as he has missed far too many games through injury in the last couple of years.

Danilo’s Rangers injury history	#1	#2	#3
Type of injury	Broken cheekbone	Knee injury	Knee injury
Date of injury	September 2023	December 2023	September 2024
Return date	October 2023	May 2024	November 2024
Days out	43	171	65
Matches missed	9	32	12
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Danilo has missed 53 matches through injury since his move to Ibrox to join Michael Beale’s side from Feyenoord in the summer of 2023.

This means that there should be doubts over both his durability and his quality in a Rangers shirt, which is not a good combination for a player who reportedly earns £26-per-week.

Therefore, Rohl should immediately sell the Brazilian striker from the squad when the January transfer window opens for business, to save money on wages and bring in funds to bring in players in other positions.

As the manager typically likes to play with one centre-forward, it makes logical sense to go with Miovski and Chermiti, who were both signed in the summer, and sell Danilo instead of paying a third-choice striker £26k-per-week to sit on the bench, or miss out on the matchday squad.

Danny Rohl can help "complete" Rangers star emulate Lewandowski at Ibrox

Danny Rohl could unearth his next Robert Lewandowski in this Rangers star at Ibrox.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 20, 2025

Traffic-light outage near the ground causes issue for team bus on journey from Chelsea

Matt Roller03-Jun-20250:22

England arrive at The Oval on bikes after traffic delay

West Indies captain Shai Hope joked that his team “probably should have walked” to The Oval after heavy traffic prompted a farcical half-hour delay to their third men’s ODI against England.Traffic-light failures in the Vauxhall Area and the closure of Lambeth Bridge prompted England’s players to get off the team bus and use e-bikes to reach The Oval, but West Indies’ journey from their team hotel in Chelsea was so long that the toss was delayed by 40 minutes and the start pushed back by half an hour.”Due to a delayed arrival of one of the playing teams, who are stuck in heavy traffic north of the river, the scheduled start of play will be delayed,” an ECB statement said. “Once all members of the playing teams arrive, the match officials will coordinate updated timings and discuss any impact on the schedule of play.”Related

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England rush to 3-0 series win as Smith, Buttler star in rain-reduced chase

Holder, Russell in West Indies T20I squad to face England

Windies seek series consolation to ease World Cup qualification woes

Jacks embraces 'clarity' at No.7 as second England coming begins

The West Indies bus eventually arrived at around 12.40pm, 10 minutes after the scheduled toss, and their players immediately began to warm up. They were staying four miles away from The Oval at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel and Spa, prompting Hope to joke: “We probably should have walked.” A CWI spokesperson simply said: “There were some road closures.”Gudakesh Motie, the left-arm spinner, said after West Indies’ seven-wicket loss that the delay had significantly disrupted their preparations. “It was very tough this morning,” he said. “Two hours on the bus in the traffic is very hard… When we got to the ground, we had five or ten minutes before [the toss]. We had to speed up our routine, basically.”England had faced similar issues on their journey south from their hotel in High St Kensington, but decided to use alternative transport on their journey. “We were all playing cards on the back of the bus, and then next minute, we looked at the time and thought, ‘We’re going to have to get on some bikes.'”Shai Hope was a late arrival to the toss•Getty ImagesSome London-based players travelled in on the tube or walked, but around a dozen used Lime bikes to cycle in, riding up the Harleyford Road before parking behind the Micky Stewart Members’ Pavilion. Brook credited Jos Buttler for his quick thinking, saying: “It was his idea.”The start might have been delayed in any case due to inclement weather, with some drizzle around London on Tuesday lunchtime. West Indies’ first innings was later interrupted by rain for over 90 minutes, with England winning the reduced game comfortably.

Liverpool’s lavish spending this summer has given them one of the best starting elevens in Europe. New signings like Hugo Ekitiké and Alexander Isak have elevated their attack from players like Darwin Núñez and Luis Diaz, who struggled at times last season.

However, even with their big spend, there is still room for them to improve in January and next summer. On deadline day, they secured the signing of Isak but failed to get a deal for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi over the line.

Centre-back is one of the positions where the squad is thinnest, and when Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate are out, they only have Joe Gomez and new youngster Giovanni Leoni as naturals in the position. Guehi will be available as a free agent next summer, but Real Madrid are now looking to snatch him up.

Another position that needs some reinforcement is the deeper part of the midfield. Alexis Mac Allister, Dominic Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch are the three most common faces in midfield, but when they’re rotated, options are only really Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo, with the latter often being utilised in a makeshift defensive role.

Due to this, the Premier League champions are looking at bringing in another midfielder so they can compete across the Champions League and the domestic competitions.

Stiller the new name in midfield hunt

A number of midfielders have been linked with the Liverpool midfield role next summer but a new name in contention is Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller. On Liverpool’s 2026 summer transfer business, transfer journalist Graham Bailey said: “In my opinion, Liverpool are going to want another CDM next year, a top-class one.

“Angelo Stiller would do that role, but I do personally wonder whether Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton would be higher up in the pecking order; obviously, they would come with significantly higher price tags. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see Liverpool getting involved in those conversations a bit more.”

Stiller is currently valued at around £40 million, but Wharton and Baleba could both be double that or even more. In the summer, Manchester United decided not to pursue the Brighton midfielder after it was made clear they wouldn’t drop their asking price below £100 million.

Stiller indicates shift in desired profile

The shift in focus from Wharton and Baleba to Stiller is not just a monetary change but a stylistic one. Wharton and Baleba’s strengths lie defensively, whereas Stiller is more of a ball-playing footballer, more in the vein of Pedri, who FBREF rank as a similar profile.

24/25 Season Stats Per 90

Passes

Tackles

Baleba

38.8

2.67

Wharton

37.5

2.33

Stiller

72.8

1.61

Pedri

75.1

1.91

Based on these metrics, it seems that Liverpool is after a different profile midfielder rather than a cheaper one. Slot is clearly looking for a player who can play the ball well and support with ball progression.

This season has demonstrated that even the midfielders who would be expected to be contributing defensively, like Gravenberch, are also expected to contribute in attack. While Slot’s side has conceded a significant amount of goals this season, they are winning games by outscoring teams, and this may be why there has been a shift in target to a midfielder like Stiller.

First Test meeting in more than two decades looms at Trent Bridge as England warm up for big summer

Andrew Miller21-May-2025

Sean Williams fields the ball during Zimbabwe’s training session•Getty Images

Big picture: The end of a two-decade hiatusIt puts it into context somewhat. Five months between Test matches feels like an eternity in England’s ultra-jampacked cycle, but how about 22 years between contests for this week’s lesser-heralded visitors to Trent Bridge?June 7, 2003 at Chester-le-Street was the last time England and Zimbabwe came together for a Test match, when Richard Johnson – now Middlesex’s grizzled head coach – claimed five lbws in a debut haul of 6 for 33, only days after a certain James Anderson had picked up 5 for 73 at Lord’s in the first of his eventual 188 Test appearances.And it’s saying something when not even Anderson’s gargantuan career was quite long enough to span the two decades of bilateral silence that ensued. This encompassed Zimbabwe’s self-imposed exile from top-tier cricket, and England’s nose-holding attitude to the late stages of Robert Mugabe’s regime, all wrapped up in a sense that the challenge would no longer be worthy, even if it was entertained.Now at least, that latter aspect has been agreed upon, although the precise worthiness of Zimbabwe’s modern Test team remains to be ascertained, given that last week they lost their only warm-up to a bunch of county fringe players and Under-19 starlets at Grace Road.Nevertheless, they are here as part of a bumper year of Test ambition from Zimbabwe Cricket, who have scheduled a remarkable 11 Tests for 2025 – the joint-most they have ever contested in a calendar year, and more than they had managed in the preceding five.Already they’ve won one of their four to date this year, against Bangladesh in Sylhet last month, in which Blessing Muzarabani made history with his third six-wicket haul in as many matches. The IPL has since come calling for his services, which just goes to show that this ancient art-form remains a shop-window for high performers. Zimbabwe might not need extra motivation to produce their best against such illustrious opponents, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that the world is still invested in their exploits.Bigging up the old format, of course, has been much of the mission for Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum throughout their three-year alliance. However, as McCullum admitted in his pre-match comments on Tuesday, there’s been a curious disconnect between the team’s perceived entertainment value and the actual output of a side that, since that first heady year of 2022, has now won 13 and lost 11 of its 25 subsequent contests.In all likelihood, that ratio will have widened by Sunday evening, but nevertheless, the signs are already there that this is the year in which the England team gets serious about winning and losing, having previously insisted (with some initial justification) that the process was all that really mattered when it came to extracting the best from one’s players.Much as was the case when Ireland came to visit in 2023, right on the eve of that summer’s Ashes, the week ahead offers a curious preamble that is unlikely to prove much for the hosts, beyond the smooth running (or otherwise) of the Bazball bandwagon.Certainly, it seems unlikely that individual success or failure will have much bearing on the squad selection for the India series next month. Zak Crawley, in the midst of a horrendous run of form for club and country alike, will surely retain the management’s backing as their likeliest source of momentum in the bigger engagements to come. Ollie Pope – a centurion in his last home Test against Sri Lanka last summer – likewise will remain in the mix come what may, even with the likely return of Jacob Bethell to the squad after the IPL.And on the bowling front, Shoaib Bashir remains England’s first-choice spinner, irrespective of a ghastly loan stint with Glamorgan in which he claimed fewer wickets (two) than he played matches (three). Sam Cook’s long-awaited debut implies a summer-long role is there to be grasped, given the impact that Chris Woakes (set to return to action for England Lions next week) had previously had after taking over from Anderson as the skills-savvy attack leader. Meanwhile, Josh Tongue’s third Test appearance – after two fraught years of injury – reinforces the sense that England have found a good’un with his energetic length-hitting approach.All such minutiae can take a back seat in the short term, however. On Thursday morning, eleven representatives of a nation that might have believed this day would never return will line up for their national anthem in front of the Trent Bridge pavilion. It will be a moment that seems a lifetime removed from the political angst that overshadowed their first coming as a Test nation. And regardless of whether their current Test enthusiasm is a passing fad, or the start of a genuine push to regain the recognition that was first conferred on them more than 30 years ago, it’s a vote of confidence in the old format that a few other Full Member nations would do well to replicate.Related

Switch Hit: Zim bunnies?

Brendon McCullum wants England Test team to reconnect with fans

Ben Curran on his journey with Zimbabwe: 'Everyone's got their own path'

Sam Cook confirmed for Test debut as England name XI to face Zimbabwe

Form guide England LWWLW
Zimbabwe LWLLDIn the spotlight: Ben Stokes and Blessing MuzarabaniSam Cook may feel he has the most to prove on Thursday, when he takes the field for a Test debut that sometimes never seemed likely to come to pass. But those who’ve seen him in action for Essex can second-guess what he’s going to bring to the occasion – namely, zippy, stump-threatening new-ball energy, with an intelligent command of seam and swing, and the nous to adapt his methods when the shine comes off the ball.Quite what version of Ben Stokes turns up is another matter, however. By all accounts, he’s fighting fit and ready to play a full and committed role with bat and ball – he’s looking noticeably lean, having not touched alcohol since January 2. However, this will also be his first competitive outing since tearing his hamstring in December, which means all bets are off as to how his form stacks up. For what it’s worth, he’s averaged 28.66 with the bat since the start of 2024, and hasn’t made a Test century since his Lord’s onslaught in the Ashes. As for his bowling, it looked handy enough in New Zealand, where he claimed seven wickets in the final two Tests. But the effort that entailed was precisely what set him back.Blessing Muzarabani is enjoying his moment in the sun. At a towering 6’8″, he has natural attributes aplenty, and when allied to a whippy action that is reminiscent of Kagiso Rabada, he can be a match for any batter … as shown in his surge to 51 Test wickets at 21.84 in just 12 Tests. If he can resist the temptation to bang the ball down too short, and attack the splice with the natural lift that his beanpole frame can generate, he could be the ideal weapon to halt one or two Bazballers in their tracks. Crawley, whose dreadful winter was epitomized by his six consecutive dismissals to New Zealand’s tall seamer Matt Henry will make for an obvious first target.England’s squad assembles for the pre-match photo•Getty Images

Team news: Cook, Tongue confirmed, Zimbabwe waitSam Cook’s England debut was earmarked from the moment he was rested by Essex for their County Championship match with Worcestershire in April, and sure enough he will be the newest recruit to a notably inexperienced seam attack led by the one-season veteran Gus Atkinson (11 caps). Josh Tongue impressed in two Lord’s Tests against Ireland and Australia in 2023 before a series of injuries, but his early-season form for Nottinghamshire has been ominously good. Ollie Pope returns to No.3 after his middle-order / wicketkeeping flirtations in New Zealand, with Jamie Smith restored to the gloves after missing that tour on paternity leave.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith (wk), 7 Ben Stokes (capt), 8 Gus Atkinson, 9 Sam Cook, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Shoaib BashirZimbabwe have chosen to name their XI on the morning of the match, but the spine of the side is likely to be provided by the team that took on, and lost to, a County Select XI in Leicester last week. Sikandar Raza missed that warm-up match because he was on duty for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL.Zimbabwe: 1 Brian Bennett, 2 Ben Curran, 3 Nick Welch, 4 Sean Williams, 5 Craig Ervine (capt), 6 Wessly Madhevere, 7 Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), 8 Clive Madande, 9 Wellington Masakadza, 10 Richard Ngarava, 11 Blessing MuzarabaniZimbabwe’s squad are all smiles ahead of the Trent Bridge Test•Getty Images

Pitch and conditions: A typical Trent Bridge wicket is anticipated across the four days: dry, flat, with good carry and plenty of runs, not least on the invariably short boundary on the Bridgford Road side of the ground. The weather could yet be a factor. After an improbably glorious month, there is rain threatening for the weekend.Stats and trivia This will be the seventh Test between England and Zimbabwe, and the first in almost 22 years. England have won three of those games, all by an innings, with three further draws. Joe Root needs 28 runs to become only the fifth batter – behind Tendulkar, Ponting, Kallis and Dravid – to reach 13,000 in Tests. Shoaib Bashir is one short of 50 Test wickets. This will be his 17th match for England. Sean Williams, who made his ODI debut for Zimbabwe in February 2005, has passed 20 years as an international cricketerQuotes”You want to test yourself against the best. And England’s right up there with the best. So to have this opportunity, you really want to put Zimbabwe on the map. You want to come in with the right mindset that you’re coming in to win. You’re not just coming to fulfil a fixture. I think you want to turn up here and hopefully cause an upset.”
Zimbabwe’s captain, Craig Ervine is confident of a good showing from his team.“We have Zimbabwe coming up tomorrow. That’s our sole focus at the moment. We know what we have coming up, but we will deal with the challenge of Zimbabwe then, as we get closer to India starting, turn our focus to that.”

Tottenham have sent shockwaves through the footballing world by announcing that former chairman, Daniel Levy, has stepped down from his role overseeing club operations — 25 years after he took the reins from Sir Alan Sugar.

During his two-and-a-half-decade-long stay at Spurs, Levy transformed the club into a financial powerhouse off the field.

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

Their state-of-the-art new stadium and training facilities are among the best in world football, with Levy deserving credit for departing N17 in a much more stable condition than he inherited.

However, on the field, it was a different story.

Levy attracted consistent criticism for his lack of spending compared to other members of the Premier League ‘big six’, and that is widely seen as a real factor in Tottenham only winning two major trophies during the 63-year-old’s tenure.

Levy was at the centre of mass protests, particularly last season, with ENIC taking the decision to part company despite the official statement reading that he left of his own accord.

This is backed up by other reliable media sources, with ENIC’s plan to get more involved at Tottenham essentially weakening Levy’s cast-iron grip on the club, according to insider Paul O’Keefe.

The brutal way Tottenham told Daniel Levy he'd be leaving

Now, according to The Times, it is believed that Levy was told he’d be stepping down from Tottenham in rather brutal fashion.

Indeed, as per their information, Spurs informed Levy of the decision just hours before the club publicly announced it.

Given just how big a role he’s played in making Tottenham a powerhouse away from the pitch, perhaps this wasn’t the most dignified of endings for Levy, despite his mixed reviews from supporters.

In any case, Spurs are adamant that a “new era” has begun after Levy’s departure, which comes months after the ex-chair’s statement that he wanted to win both the Premier League and Champions League.

Four players originally selected are absent meaning there is uncertainty for the ODI World Cup champions as they prepare to head to Pakistan

Andrew McGlashan11-Feb-2025Big Picture: Australia hit by injury, retirement; SL not at the partyAustralia’s four-day victory in Galle gave them an extra 24 hours before flicking into one-day mode as they enter a brief period of preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025. Originally there was just going to be a single ODI in Colombo but a second was squeezed in which will basically be the team’s warm-ups before heading to Pakistan.Injuries to Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh along with the surprise retirement of Marcus Stoinis means there is a bit of a patched-up feel to the Australia squad although a familiar core of the 2023 World Cup-winning team remains with the likes of Travis Head, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa around.Related

Stoinis makes shock decision to retire from ODIs, out of Champions Trophy

Cummins and Hazlewood ruled out of Champions Trophy

Sri Lanka leave out Chamindu Wickramasinghe for two-ODI series against Australia

Six players have been added to the originally selected group: Jake-Fraser McGurk, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson and Tanveer Sangha. It is likely they will all get at least one of the two matches in Sri Lanka as some of those who played both Tests are given a short break. Smith appears set to take the captaincy.It appears likely that Head and Matt Short will form the first-choice opening partnership although Fraser-McGurk could make a late entry. He and Short struggled in the home series against Pakistan in November. Another point of interest is whether Alex Carey finds himself a place in the middle order.Sri Lanka missed out on the Champions Trophy due to their poor ODI World Cup so these matches have little immediate context although they can have half an eye on the road to 2027. They have, however, played the most matches in the format since the previous World Cup (21), notching 13 wins in that time including five series victories. Ironically, they are probably as attuned to the one-day format as anyone.Form guideSri Lanka WLLWW
Australia LLWWLAustralia’s depth will be tested due to injury•Associated PressIn the spotlight: Dunith Wellalage and Matt ShortIt was during Australia’s previous visit to Sri Lanka in 2022 that Dunith Wellalage burst onto the international scene with nine wickets in five matches. He only played a bit-part role in the 2023 World Cup but either side of that tournament claimed five-wicket hauls against India in the Asia Cup and last year’s ODI series. He has also shown his prowess with the bat with a top score of 67 not out in a tied match against India. Clearly a key part of Sri Lanka’s future.Matt Short couldn’t quite take his opportunity at the top of the order against Pakistan but the absence of Mitchell Marsh means he’s likely to find a spot in the first choice XI. His 109 off 54 balls for Adelaide Strikers against Brisbane Heat in the BBL was a reminder of what he can bring against the white ball. His offspin is another handy string to his bow and he’s an excellent fielder.Mitchell Starc could be rested for the ODIs•Getty ImagesTeam news: Starc likely to restGiven the odd nature of this series and the short turnaround, it’s tricky to know what each side will do. It was announced on Wednesday that Mitchell Starc had withdrawn from the Champions Trophy and was also unavailable for these two ODIs.Australia squad: Travis Head, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer SanghaSri Lanka squad: Charith Asalanka, Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga, Mohamed Shiraz, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dunith WellalagePitch and conditionsThe R Premadasa Stadium has not staged a day ODI since 2014 so statistics are not that relevant although in recent times, matches at the venue have been on the lower-scoring side. The forecast is for warm and sunny days.Stats and trivia Glenn Maxwell needs 50 runs for 4000 in ODIs and Alex Carey needs 22 for 2000
Wanindu Hasaranga needs five wickets for 100 in ODIs
Overall, Sri Lanka have a 35-64 win/loss record against Australia

حسم التعادل الإيجابي بنتيجة 1-1 مباراة الاتحاد أمام نظيره الفيحاء، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين.

والتقى اتحاد جدة مع الفيحاء مساء اليوم الجمعة، في إطار منافسات الجولة الخامسة من عمر الدوري السعودي.

طالع | أبرزهم يورجن كلوب.. 5 مدربين عالميين على طاولة الاتحاد السعودي لخلافة بلان

وسجل فاشون ساكالا هدف التقدم لصالح الفيحاء في الدقيقة 45 من عمر اللقاء، وتعادل أحمد الغامدي للاتحاد في الدقيقة 64.

وأضاع كريم بنزيما فرصة فوز الاتحاد بإهدار ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة 88 من عمر اللقاء، لينتهي 1-1.

ورفع الاتحاد رصيده إلى 10 نقاط في المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي، بينما وصل الفيحاء إلى المركز التاسع برصيد 8 نقاط. أهداف مباراة الاتحاد والفيحاء اليوم في الدوري السعودي

  ركلة جزاء بنزيما الضائعة أمام الفيحاء

بتألق من موسكيرا 🧤🔥
كريم بنزيما، يُضيع ركلة الجزاء ❌#الفيحاء_الاتحاد pic.twitter.com/EqgKMD0PPT — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) October 17, 2025

Trinidad & Tobago batter Amir Jangoo has earned a maiden call-up to the West Indies Test squad for the two-match series against Pakistan, which begins on January 16 in Karachi. Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie returns to the side, having missed the two Tests against Bangladesh at home last month as he was playing at the inaugural Global Super League in Providence.Motie will be leading West Indies’ spin-bowling contingent, which also has Kevin Sinclair and Jomel Warrican.Jangoo and Motie replace the fast-bowling duo of Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph. While Shamar is suffering from shin splints which forced him to miss the ODI series against Bangladesh earlier this month, Alzarri is unavailable because of a clash with the ILT20 in the UAE, where he will be turning out for MI Emirates, which CWI termed as “other engagements” in their release.Jangoo was rewarded for his consistent performances in the domestic four-day competition in 2023-24, when he scored 500 runs in five matches at an average of 63.50, with two centuries and a fifty, to be Trinidad & Tobago’s highest run-getter. Jangoo also recently smashed a century on ODI debut against Bangladesh to help West Indies ace their third-highest chase in the format.”Motie rejoins the squad to bolster the spin attack, while Jangoo’s selection comes on the back of his consistency across formats in regional cricket, as well as his demonstrated high level of competency against spin bowling,” West Indies head coach Andre Coley said. “For the Test series against Pakistan in January 2025, the focus is on building on what we have done well, and transforming the learnings from 2024 into tangible results.”The rest of the squad remains on expected lines. Kraigg Brathwaite will lead the side, with wicketkeeper-batter Joshua Da Silva as his deputy. Mikyle Louis, Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty and Justin Greaves will form the crux of the batting unit.On the fast-bowling front, Kemar Roach will lead the attack, and will have Jayden Seales and Anderson Phillip for company.Next year’s tour of Pakistan will be West Indies’ first Test series there in more than 18 years. They had last played Tests in Pakistan in November 2006, although they did play Pakistan in a Test series in the UAE in October 2016.The 15-member West Indies squad will depart on January 2, and arrive in Islamabad on January 6. The first Test will run from January 16-20 in Karachi, before the teams depart for Multan, where the second Test will be played from January 24-28.

West Indies squad for Pakistan Tests

Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), Joshua Da Silva (vice-capt), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Tevin Imlach, Amir Jangoo, Mikyle Louis, Gudakesh Motie, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Jayden Seales, Jomel Warrican

Newcastle United have submitted an offer to sign another Manchester United target, amid the two clubs’ pursuit of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

Newcastle and Man Utd both make Sesko offers

The Magpies haven’t had things all their own way during the summer transfer window, missing out on numerous targets while also facing the possibility of losing star striker Alexander Isak.

Liverpool are keen on signing the Sweden international before the September 1 deadline in a deal that could break transfer records. However, Eddie Howe recently admitted that “nothing has changed” regarding Isak’s future despite him missing pre-season.

“Nothing has changed. It is very much the mindset of business as usual for the players. You don’t get a chance to think of anything other than training or the next game when you come on these tours. The level is so high that we still have to be at our best.

“Naturally, we are going to miss a player of his quality and the group are going to feel that. I cannot sit here and claim that they won’t, but they are a very professional group of players. They are doing brilliantly, as far as I can see, in terms of managing the current situation.”

Newcastle and PIF will need to sign a replacement for Isak before letting him go, and one forward they are battling to sign is Sesko. Both the Magpies and Man Utd have made proposals to the player, who looks set to decide his next move over the coming days.

However, those at St James’ Park and Old Trafford aren’t just battling for Sesko, as per a recent transfer update.

Newcastle have offer for Real Madrid player rejected

According to a report from Spain, both Newcastle and Man Utd are fighting over a move for Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

In fact, it is claimed that Newcastle moved to sign Lunin ‘on loan with an option to buy, but their initial offer was rejected’.

Meanwhile, at Old Trafford, the possible departure of Altay Bayindir and the need for competition for Andre Onana has seen them eye Lunin, but those at the Bernabeu ‘aren’t considering his departure anytime soon’.

As we know, Newcastle have now got their new goalkeeper in Aaron Ramsdale in a similar deal to the one they proposed to Madrid for Lunin.

Newcastle enquire for £33m Sesko alternative who made the Ballon d'Or top 30

The Magpies could take full advantage of the situation.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 31, 2025

Signing from Southampton on a season-long loan with the option to buy, Ramsdale will provide competition to Nick Pope after they missed out on bringing James Trafford to St James’ Park.

Whether or not Newcastle still want Lunin remains to be seen, but it looks as if they recently made their move.