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Andy Robertson has now reportedly made his decision on returning to Celtic with Parkhead chiefs already preparing to commence talks with the Scotland captain as early as January.

The Hoops could certainly do with his experience on the European stage, having been well-beaten once again in midweek. This time, it was Midtjylland who reaped the rewards, easing to a 3-1 victory in a game that saw them take a three-goal lead before half-time. Whilst Martin O’Neill has managed to turn things around so far domestically, he could do nothing to stop the rot in the Europa League.

The defeat laid bare the task that the next permanent manager has on their hands and those at Celtic Park are yet to even discover who that will be.

O’Neill once again distanced himself from the job when questioned, telling reporters: “I will be here as long as the football board wants me, it’s as simple as that. That could be at the end of the week, it could be after the Kilmarnock game. I just don’t know.”

Related Celtic schedule first interview with 37 y/o manager who dreams of Hoops job

The Bhoys are still on the hunt for their Brendan Rodgers replacement.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Nov 6, 2025

Whoever is next in the hotseat – whether it be Nicky Hayen, Kieran McKenna or another name – must turn towards the transfer window to welcome some much-needed experience and quality.

Andy Robertson makes Celtic return decision

As reported by TeamTalk, Robertson is now open to making a return to Celtic and signing a pre-contract agreement as soon as January. Sources told TeamTalk that “it’s a move that would make total sense for him personally” and the Hoops are now ready to swoop in to strike an early deal.

If the Scottish giants are after experience and quality, then Robertson is their man. The iconic Liverpool left-back arguably still deserves the starting spot over new man Milos Kerkez at Anfield, but has less than 12 months remaining on his current contract. Given that the Reds bought Kerkez to act as Robertson’s successor last summer, a new contract seems unlikely at this stage.

That, as things stand, should allow Celtic to seal a bargain deal for a Champions League winner who, even at 31 years old, would take the Scottish Premiership by storm.

Once dubbed the “complete player” by former Liverpool left-back Fabio Aurelio, Robertson would be one of the signings of the summer if the Bhoys secured his arrival on a free deal.

Their academy graduate has won it all in English football and is now open to coming full circle and returning to end some unfinished business in Scotland.

Celtic now considering McKenna move

South Zone will count on a few big names to drive the batting, while the bowlers will have their task cut out against a confident North Zone top order

Ashish Pant03-Sep-2025

Big Picture: Both teams missing major namesA depleted South Zone without several key players due to injuries and national duty, will face North Zone in the semi-final of the 2025-26 Duleep Trophy in Ground A of BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, on the outskirts of Bengaluru.Already missing captain Tilak Varma (Asia Cup selection) and R Sai Kishore (finger injury), South Zone have been dealt another setback with fast bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak ruled out of the semi-final due to a side strain. Fast bowler Vasuki Koushik has replaced him in the squad.With KL Rahul also not around, South Zone will count on Devdutt Padikkal, N Jagadeesan and captain Mohammed Azharuddeen to drive the batting, while the bowlers will have their task cut out against a confident North Zone top order.North Zone come into the semi-final after a stellar quarterfinal where they qualified after a first-innings lead against East Zone. They scored 405 in the first innings and then bowled East Zone for 230. Having taken a 175-run lead, the North Zone batters piled on the runs in the second innings, with captain Ankit Kumar and Yash Dhull recording centuries and Ayush Badoni scoring an unbeaten double ton.While the batting unit is likely to remain unchanged, North Zone will be without two of their primary fast bowlers in Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, with the duo part of India’s Asia Cup squad. Punjab’s Gurnoor Brar and Haryana’s Anuj Thakral have been added to the squad as replacements.Related

Auqib Nabi shakes up the Duleep Trophy with four wickets in four balls

Ankit, Rasheed added to South Zone squad for Duleep semi-final

Shubham Sharma – a low-profile red-ball warrior in the T20 era

Iyer, Jaiswal in strong West Zone line-up against Central Zone

South Zone have made a direct entry to the semi-final by virtue of playing the Duleep Trophy final the last time the tournament was played in the zonal format in the 2023-24 season. The semi-final will not be televised.In the spotlight: Padikkal, Nabi, BadoniDevdutt Padikkal came back from an injury layoff and finished as the highest run-scorer at the recent Maharaja T20 Trophy. He will be looking to get back into the red-ball grind, with a busy season coming up. Padikkal hasn’t played for India since November 2024, when he played the Perth Test against Australia, and will want to return to the fray by scoring big.Despite Arshdeep and Rana in action, it was the four-in-four man Auqib Nabi who turned heads in the only innings North Zone bowled in the first game. He was nippy, extracted plenty of bounce off the surface and got the ball to move both ways. Nabi was the highest wicket-taker at the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy for a fast bowler and has retained that form at the start of the season. He will lead the North Zone bowling attack and could prove to be a handful against a weakened South Zone batting unit.Ayush Badoni scored a double century for North Zone in the quarterfinal•PTI

Ayush Badoni was Delhi’s highest run-scorer in the last Ranji season. While he didn’t have the most productive Delhi Premier League 2025, his red-ball form has been on point. He made a counterattacking 60-ball 63 in the first innings of the quarterfinal and then an unbeaten 204 in the second. Having had the hang of the surface at Ground A of BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, he will want to build on his form.Team news North Zone could bring in Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Yudhvir Singh Charak and Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar into XI to replace Arshdeep and Harshit. The rest of the unit is unlikely to change from the first game.North Zone (probable): 1 Ankit Kumar (capt), 2 Shubham Khajuria (vice-capt), 3 Yash Dhull, 4 Ayush Badoni, 5 Nishant Sindhu, 6 Kanhaiya Wadhawan (wk), 7 Sahil Lotra, 8 Mayank Dagar, 9 Auqib Nabi, 10 Yudhvir Singh Charak, 11 Gurnoor BrarTanmay Agarwal, Padikkal, Ricky Bhui and Jagadeesan are expected to form the top four of the South Zone XI, while they could go with three fast bowlers and two spinners in the mix.South Zone (probable): 1 Tanmay Agarwal, 2 Devdutt Padikkal, 3 Ricky Bhui, 4 Narayan Jagadeesan (vice-capt), 5 Mohammed Azharuddeen (capt & wk), 6 Shaik Rasheed/Salman Nizar, 7 Ankit Sharma, 8 Tanay Thyagarajan, 9 Vasuki Koushik, 10 Gurjapneet Singh, 11 Basil NP / MD NidheeshPitch and conditionsThere was some seam movement and bounce in the morning on all four days of the quarterfinal for the fast bowlers in Ground A at CoE, but the pitch eased out as the day progressed. Expect much of the same for the semis as well. There has been plenty of rain in and around Bengaluru over the last few weeks, and with cloudy conditions expected all through the semis, fast bowlers should get some help off the surface.

تم الكشف عن كافة المنتخبات المتأهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026 بعدما انتهت الجولة الأخيرة من تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة إلى المونديال.

ويشارك 48 منتخبًا في النسخة المقبلة من بطولة كأس العالم، صيف 2026، حيث تمتلك قارة أوروبا 16 مقعدًا في النظام المستحدث للمنافسة العالمية.

ويتأهل 12 منتخبًا بشكل مباشر، من قارة أوروبا، إلى منافسات كأس العالم وهم الذين يتصدرون المجموعات في إطار التصفيات.

أما المنتخبات التي تتواجد في وصافة مجموعاتها، في إطار التصفيات، فإنها تخوض مرحلة الملحق، بواقع 12 فريقًا، مع 4 منتخبات التي تحتل أعلى تصنيف في دوري الأمم الأوروبية وسوف تحدد قبل القرعة.

وتأهل منتخب بلجيكا مباشرةً إلى بطولة كأس العالم 2026 بعد فوزه على ليختنشتاين بعدما فاز بسباعية نظيفة، ليتصدر مجموعته بالعلامة الكاملة برصيد 18 نقطة.

اقرأ أيضًا | المنتخبات المتأهلة من أوروبا إلى كأس العالم 2026 (محدث باستمرار)

سجل أهداف بلجيكا كلًا من ثنائية بأقدام جيريمي دوكو وشارل دي كيتيلير، وهدفًا لكل من هانز فاناكين، براندان ميشيل، أليكسيس ساليمايكيرس.

وتأهل منتخب سويسرا مباشرةً إلى بطولة كأس العالم 2026 بعد التعادل مع كوسوفو بهدف لكل منهما ليتصدر مجموعته برصيد 14 نقطة.

وسجل هدف مباراة سويسرا الأول هو اللاعب روبن فارجاس في الدقيقة 47، وفي الدقيقة 74 سجل فلوران موسليا هدف التعادل لصالح منتخب كوسوفو.

وتأهل المنتخب الاسكتلندي بشكل مثير ورائع للغاية مباشرةً إلى كأس العالم 2026 لأول مرة بعد 28 عامًا بعدما فاز على نظيره الدنمارك برباعية مقابل هدف.

سجل أهداف منتخب الدنمارك كلًا من سكوت ماكتوميناي، لاورينس شاكنلاند، كيران تيرني في الدقيقة 93 وماكلين في الدقيقة 96، أما أهداف منتخب اللدنمارك أتت عن طريق كلًا من راسموس هويلاند وباتريك دورجو.

وتصدر منتخب اسكتلندا مجموعته برصيد 13 نقطة، فيما احتل منتخب الدنمارك المركز الثاني برصيد 11 نقطة. أهداف مباراة اسكتلندا والدنمارك في تصفيات كأس العالم

وتأهل منتخب النمسا مباشرةً إلى كأس العالم 2026 بعد التعادل مع نظيره البوسنة والهرسك بهدف لكل منهما.

بتلك النتيجة، تصدر منتخب النمسا المجموعة برصيد 19 نقطة، فيما أتى منتخب البوسنة في المركز الثاني برصيد 17 نقطة.

Weibgen rescued Queensland from 38 for 4 after Joel Curtis’ century had powered Western Australia to 321 for 9

AAP21-Sep-2025

Hugh Weibgen was the hero as Queensland recovered from a top-order collapse to post a thrilling two-wicket victory over Western Australia at Allan Border Field.Joel Curtis struck 116 off 108 balls and Sam Whiteman a run-a-ball 83 as WA posted a formidable 321 for 9 on Sunday.In reply, Queensland slumped to 38 for 4 before Weibgen (115* off 94 balls) produced a masterful knock to lift his team to victory with just five balls to spare. Jack Wildermuth (74 off 49) and Michael Neser (41 off 23) also produced important knocks in the remarkable chase.Weibgen, 20 and playing just his second List A match, cracked nine fours and five sixes in an unforgettable innings. Wildermuth provided plenty of fireworks with five fours and six sixes, while Neser (three fours, three sixes) produced a handy late cameo to ensure the required run rate stayed within control.Fittingly, Weibgen hit the winning runs when he crunched a Matthew Kelly full toss for four.WA looked to be in an unbeatable position after removing Queensland’s top order.Dangerman Marnus Labuschagne, who posted 130 in Queensland’s’ win over Victoria earlier this week, was out for 2 off 19 balls. Jack Clayton (5), Matthew Renshaw (5) and Jimmy Peirson (18) were also part of the top-order collapse.Weibgen walked to the crease with the scoreboard reading 38 for 4 in the 13th over.He was dropped on 109 by Sam Fanning with Queensland still needing 11 more runs for victory, and the miss proved costly.Earlier, third-gamer Curtis struck 12 fours and four sixes during his sparkling knock, combining with Fanning for a 124-run third-wicket partnership for WA. Curtis brought up his maiden One-Day Cup century by hooking Neser (1 for 62) for six.It would take something special to remove Curtis, and Mitchell Swepson obliged with a spectacular one-handed catch at mid-off while running with the flight of the ball. Cameron Bancroft’s quest for early-season runs went unfulfilled, as he was out for 12 when he edged Tom Straker behind.Legspinner Swepson snared 4 for 52 and Straker chipped in with 3 for 65, but it was Weibgen’s heroics with the bat that set tongues wagging.

Hammarby manager Kim Hellberg has now travelled to the UK to hold talks with Swansea City about taking their vacant managerial role, with the Championship side advancing their move during the international break.

Since making the decision to sack Alan Sheehan, Swansea have been linked with moves for a number of names with Hellberg at the very top of their list. Alongside the 37-year-old, former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has been linked with the job, whilst Russell Martin is reportedly open to making an unexpected return.

The former Swansea manager has endured a couple of years to forget in the dugout, having been sacked by Southampton in the Premier League and then by Rangers as one of their most unsuccessful managers of all time. Now, he desperately needs his next move to go well.

The Swans could also do with getting things right after sacking Sheehan. They currently sit 18th and seven points above the dropzone. Get things wrong and they face the risk of falling into a relegation battle this season.

With Middlesbrough and Norwich City also on the hunt for new managers, Swansea must also act fast if they are to secure their top managerial target. The last thing they want to do is miss their stop on the managerial merry-go-round in the Championship.

In an ideal world, those in Wales will have their top candidate through the door by the end of the international break and in time to face Bristol City on November 22. Whether that candidate will be Carrick, Martin or Hellberg is the big question.

Swansea advance Hellberg move

According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Hellberg has now travelled to hold talks with Swansea and is now in London as the Wales-based side look to advance their move for the Hammarby boss.

All signs are pointing towards the 37-year-old becoming the next Swansea manager as things stand, although things could still change. And if it is to be the Swede, then those in Wales will be welcoming yet another young manager.

Hellberg has only ever managed two clubs, with his time in Hammarby particularly standing out as a success. It’s there that he has maintained a points per game record of 1.89 across 73 games in charge to take his side into the top two of the Allsvenskan.

The Championship is another challenge entirely, but it’s not the first time that Swansea have thought outside the box when it comes to hiring a manager. They, of course, hired a young Graham Potter in 2018 after he left Swedish club Ostersunds FK.

Manager who called Swansea City fans "fantastic" now open to replacing Sheehan

سلطت صحيفة “ذا ميرور” البريطانية حالة الجدال والخلافات الكثيرة التي حدثت بين جيمي كاراجر، محلل قنوات سكاي سبورتس ومحمد صلاح، نجم ليفربول.

كان جيمي كاراجر، لاعب ليفربول السابق قد انتقد محمد صلاح بسبب عدم ظهوره إعلاميًا والحديث في ظل الأزمة التي يعيشها الفريق خلال الموسم الحالي باعتباره نجم الفريق، على عكس ما يقوم به فيرجيل فان دايك، (لمزيد من التفاصيل اضغط هنا).

جاءت تلك التصريحات بعد خسارة ليفربول الفادحة أمام نوتينجهام فورست بثلاثية نظيفة، في المباراة التي جمعتهما ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وسجل صلاح هدفين فقط في آخر سبع مباريات للريدز، انتهت 6 مواجهات منها بالهزيمة، ومع تدهور وضع ليفربول انتقد جيمي كاراجر ، نجم ليفربول الأول بشدة مع تزايد الضغوط على الجميع في آنفيلد.

تعليقات كاراجر ليست المرة الأولى التي يهاجم فيها صلاح، بما في ذلك العام الماضي عندما تحدث عن مشكلة عقده كما أنه هاجم وكيله رامي عباس.

في صيف عام 2022، شن كاراجر هجومًا على وكيل صلاح، رامي عباس عيسى، عبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وسط تكهنات حول مستقبل المهاجم.

في ذلك الوقت، كان هناك حديث عن عدم تجديد عقد محمد صلاح وهو ما كان جمهور ليفربول يتمنى بشدة أن يُطرح أمامه، بسبب المستوى المميز الذي كان يقدمه، لكن منشورات وكيل صلاح على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي زادت الطين بلة من وجهة نظر كاراجر.

كتب كاراجر عن ذلك على حسابه عبر “إكس”: “جميع مشجعي ليفربول يُحبون موكلك، وإذا غادر الصيف المقبل، فسنتمنى له التوفيق ونشكره جزيل الشكر لكن يُمكننا الاستغناء عن هذا الكلام المُبهم طوال الـ 12 شهرًا القادمة! قل كلمة!! (موجهًا كلامه لمحمد صلاح)”.

وبعد وقت قصير من تأكيد توقيع صلاح على عقد جديد لمدة ثلاث سنوات، قال كاراجر مازحًا إن صلاح ووكيله “خدعوهم جميعا”.

ثم انتقد كاراجر صلاح الذي وصفه باللاعب الأناني: “بالطبع كانت هناك نقاشات، أجل، في الوقت الحالي من الواضح أن هناك فرقًا كبيرًا في التقييم، أيًا كان ما يُقدره محمد صلاح ووكيله، سواءً كان ذلك ماليًا أو من حيث مدة العقد، وما يفعله ليفربول”.

هذه المرة، لا يوجد أي دراما تتعلق بعقد صلاح فقد تم مكافئته على مستواه المتميز بعقد جديد في نهاية الموسم الماضي لكنه لم يقدم مستواه المعهود حتى الآن هذا الموسم.

وهو ليس الوحيد الذي يعاني الآن في فريق ليفربول الذي يبدو أسوأ بعد الكثير من الإنفاق في سوق الانتقالات.

لكن كاراجر تساءل عن سبب ظهور فان دايك وحيدًا في الواجهة الآن ويريد سماع المزيد من صلاح، مُدعيا أن النجم يتحدث فقط “عندما يحصل على جائزة أفضل لاعب في المباراة أو يحتاج إلى عقد جديد”.

في حديثه عن وضع ليفربول السيء في برنامجه، قال كاراجر: “أعتقد أن فيرجيل فان ديك بعد المباراة، عاد ليتحدث كما ينبغي له كقائد، ووصف ليفربول بالفوضى، يجب أن أقول إنه بعد كل هزائم ليفربول كان فان ديك دائمًا هو من يخرج للجمهور وكما قلت، ينبغي على القائد أن يفعل ذلك، ولكن يجب أن يكون هناك لاعبون آخرون في غرفة الملابس يتحدثون باسم النادي”.

“قبل عام من هذا الأسبوع، لم يخجل محمد صلاح من الخروج والتحدث عن وضعه الخاص، وعن عدم عرض النادي عليه عقدًا، لا أسمع صلاح يتحدث إلا عندما يحصل على جائزة رجل المباراة أو يحتاج إلى عقد جديد، أتمنى أن أرى صلاح يظهر كأحد القادة، أحد أساطير ليفربول، ويتحدث باسم الفريق”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Corinthians e Cruzeiro são os finalistas desta edição da Copinha. O time paulista é o maior campeão do torneio, com dez taças, enquanto o time mineiro busca seu segundo troféu na principal competição de base do país. A decisão está marcada para esta quinta-feira (25), às 15h30, na Neo Química Arena, em São Paulo.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
CORINTHIANS X CRUZEIRO
Final da Copinha

Data e horário: quinta-feira, 25 de janeiro de 2024, às 15h30 (de Brasília)
Local: Neo Química Arena, em São Paulo
Onde assistir: Cazé TV, Globo, Premiere e SporTV.

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

CORINTHIANS
Felipe Longo; Léo Mana, João Pedro Tchoca, Renato e Vitor Meer; Ryan, Breno Bidon, Pedrinho e Kaike; Higor e Arthur Sousa. Técnico: Danilo.

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CRUZEIRO
Otávio; Carlos, Pedrão, Bruno Alves e João Gabriel; Henrique, Jhosefer, Xavier e Tevis; Fernando e Arthur. Técnico: Fernando Seabra.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Santos fez seu último treino antes do confronto contra o Mirassol, pela sétima rodada do Paulistão, diante de uma multidão. Centenas de pessoas aguardavam o time no Monte Libano, em São José do Rio Preto, para ver de perto o elenco e motivaram a equipe para a sequência do torneio.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Peixe agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Santos

O Peixe está embalado e em ótima fase, sendo o líder geral do Campeonato Paulista. O bom momento aproximou o clube de sua torcida, e o goleiro João Paulo enalteceu o carinho recebido.

– Sempre importante a gente receber o carinho da torcida, para manter essa sequência que vem tendo de vitórias. Queremos fazer mais um grande jogo, conquistar mais três pontos para seguir cada vez mais evoluindo em busca dos nossos objetivos. Nosso Carnaval é na arena. Dois jogos muito importantes fora de casa e esperamos fazer o melhor – disse João Paulo, um dos mais chamados pelos torcedores no local.

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O ex-lateral e ídolo Léo, que hoje é coordenador de futebol do Santos, lembrou quando o Alvinegro “morou” em São José do Rio Preto, em 2004, na reta final do Brasileirão.

– Esse é o legado de 2004. A gente queria fazer um treino para preparar a equipe para o jogo e você vê o reconhecimento. Esse orgulho, aos poucos, vai voltando. A muito tempo isso estava adormecido e o gigante está de novo acordando.

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O Santos enfrenta o Mirassol neste domingo (11), às 18h, no Estádio Campos Maia. A delegação permanece em São José do Rio Preto até terça-feira (13) e depois segue para a capital paulista, onde enfrentará o São Paulo na quarta-feira (14), no MorumBis.

Tudo sobre

Futebol NacionalPaulistãoSantos

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is planning to hand an exciting young player his first team debut at the London Stadium this season, according to a new report.

This comes in the aftermath of their 3-2 comeback win over Burnley at the London Stadium last Saturday – a clash which gifted Nuno two straight wins and the perfect sign-off before this November international break.

The Hammers have now won consecutive Premier League games despite conceding the first goal each time, having also beaten Newcastle 3-1 the weekend prior. It also marks West Ham’s first back-to-back home wins since October 2024, suggesting the dark clouds could be starting to lift after a torrid opening to the campaign.

With six goals in their last two games – having scored just seven in their previous nine – West Ham’s attack is finally clicking into gear. Crucially, Nuno has settled on a midfield he can trust, naming an unchanged lineup in his last two after criticism for questionable tinkering during his opening four matches.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Academy graduate Freddie Potts has become a fan favourite, if he wasn’t already, and could be working his way into becoming an undroppable after convincing performances alongside Lucas Paqueta in the engine room.

The partnership is providing much-needed stability, with striker Callum Wilson also repaying Nuno’s faith after two straight starts, despite credible reports the Englishman wasn’t fancied by Nuno at first (ExWHUemployee).

Nuno reserved special praise for Tomas Soucek as well, who scored West Ham’s third and ultimately decisive goal of the game on his 250th appearance for the east Londoners.

The 30-year-old won’t be around forever, though, and with his contract expiring in 2027, West Ham could already have an heir apparent in the form of youngster Mohamadou Kante.

Nuno plans senior debut for Mohamadou Kante at West Ham

West Ham agreed a deal to sign Kante from Paris FC last year and the 20-year-old gem spent the rest of 2024/2025 back out on loan in the French capital, with Kante since returning to Rush Green and plying his trade in the club’s academy for the Under-21s.

Kante is yet to make his first-team debut for West Ham, but according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, this is about to change.

The French ‘rising star’ is wanted by multiple sides in January, with numerous Championship clubs already enquiring about Kante and prepared to sign him either on loan or permanently.

Writing for Football Insider, O’Rourke states that Kante is “expected” to get minutes in the West Ham senior team soon and is “close to a first-team breakthrough” after impressing in the academy lately — so it remains to be seen whether the club will green-light a mid-season exit for him.

The midfielder, who’s notched three goals and two assists in 10 academy appearances this term, scored a cracker most recently against Liverpool’s Under-21s — rounding off a superb 3-0 win for West Ham as Kante looks to turn Nuno’s head.

West Ham could have yet another Potts situation on their hands with Kante, and he’s been given chances to impress in first-team training by Nuno lately.

“He wishes to utilise this period to build endurance, body resilience and work on his fitness,” BCCI secretary says

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-20255:11

Aaron: If Iyer says he has back issue, you have to believe him

Shreyas Iyer has requested the BCCI for a six-month break from red-ball cricket due to concerns about his back, which the board has approved*. ESPNcricinfo learned that Iyer sent an email to the board to that effect and pulled out of the ongoing four-day match between India A and Australia A in Lucknow.Confirming the update on Thursday morning, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a press statement that Iyer “has informed the BCCI of his decision to take a six-month break from red-ball cricket”. “Having undergone back surgery in the UK and managed his recovery well, he has recently experienced recurring back spasms and stiffness while playing the longer format,” Saikia wrote. “He wishes to utilise this period to build endurance, body resilience and work on his fitness. In view of his decision, he was not considered for selection for the Irani Cup.”Iyer was the India A captain in the first four-day game against Australia A, but withdrew from the second. He was likely to have been picked in the Rest of India squad to play defending Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha in the Irani Cup, but will now miss that game.Before scoring 8 in his only innings against Australia A last week in Lucknow, Iyer had played the Duleep Trophy semi-final for West Zone against Central Zone in September at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence on the outskirts of Bengaluru. He made 25 and 12 in that outing, his first competitive match since the end of IPL 2025.Iyer had problems with his back in December 2022 and the injury flared up during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at home in March 2023, after which he had surgery in April and missed the IPL that year. He returned for the Asia Cup in September and was a key part of India’s unbeaten run to the 2023 ODI World Cup final in November.He continued to have issues with his back, though, and skipped some first-class matches for Mumbai, as a result of which he was omitted from the BCCI’s central contracts list in February 2024. Iyer was back on the list of contracted players the following year. More recently, in February-March this year, Iyer was India’s highest run-getter (243 in five innings) and the second-highest run-getter overall in the run to the Champions Trophy title, after which he led Punjab Kings to the final of IPL 2025.