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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is in line to receive a welcome boost, with one star now expected to make an earlier return from injury.

Mikel Arteta shares Arsenal injury update pre-Fulham

The return of Premier League football after another tedious international break, much to the delight of Gunners supporters, is now imminent.

Arsenal take on Marco Silva’s Fulham at Craven Cottage, with Arteta looking to extend his side’s seven-game unbeaten run in all competitions and maintain their place atop the Premier League table.

The North Londoners have failed to win at Fulham’s ground in each of their last two visits, losing 2-1 there at the end of 2023 and drawing 1-1 a year later.

Silva has worked wonders on a shoe-string budget since guiding Fulham to promotion and an immediate return back to the top flight in 2022/2023, and the Whites are currently faring much better than a few of last summer’s much more lavish spenders.

Premier League Clubs ranked by summer Net Spend

Rank

Club

Gross Spend

Sales

Net Spend

15.

Crystal Palace

£48.9m

£67.5m

+£17.7m

14.

Aston Villa

£28m

£43m

+£15m

13.

Fulham

£35.1m

£8.7m

-£26.4m

12.

Burnley

£97.7m

£31m

-£66.7m

11.

West Ham

£131.3m

£55m

-£76.3m

See where Arsenal rank here…

Arteta currently has a few key players out as well, with club captain Martin Odegaard, summer signing Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all unavailable for their trip across London.

Jesus is still recovering from his ACL tear, which has kept him out since last winter, and reports suggest that Arsenal could even sell the Brazilian in January following the arrival of Viktor Gyokeres.

Madueke was in red-hot form before he was sidelined with a knee problem, which was a major blow for the England international, and Odegaard swiftly returned to the treatment table with his own knee issue after just coming back from a shoulder injury.

Havertz, meanwhile, played just half an hour this season before he too suffered a knee complication.

Speaking of the German, reliable club insider HandOfArsenal has shared a very encouraging update on Havertz’s progress via X, which provides further insight into what Arteta said in his pre-Fulham press conference.

Kai Havertz could return "earlier than expected" with Arsenal staff "blown away"

It is believed the attacker is striving to make an earlier return than anticipated, and his performances in rehab have even left Arsenal staff blown away.

This is undoubtedly excellent news for Arsenal, as the 26-year-old has become a crucial figure for Arteta.

Last campaign, Havertz was a key man in their attacking lineup across all competitions, showcasing his creativity and versatility with 15 goals and 5 assists — including four strikes in the Champions League.

These numbers would’ve been even greater if not for a hamstring injury which kept him out for three months towards the end of 2024/2025, and his potentially imminent presence will relieve some of the creative burden on Arsenal’s available forward line.

Havertz will also keep Gyokeres firmly on his toes, with the Swede currently on a six-game streak without scoring.

West Ham are in the market for a new striker ahead of January, and signing one has been made all the more important as injury-prone centre-forward, Niclas Füllkrug, continues to prove he cannot be relied upon to lead Nuno Espírito Santo’s line.

West Ham turn to the two Callums after Fullkrug injury blow

Fullkrug, as confirmed by Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, has suffered a torn muscle bundle in his thigh and reports suggest the 32-year-old will be absent for ‘several weeks’ as a result.

This latest knock, coming after Fullkrug missed 28 games for West Ham and Germany combined last season, highlights why the ex-Borussia Dortmund star isn’t the ideal man to spearhead Nuno’s side away from the relegation zone long-term.

Brentford (home)

October 20

Leeds United (away)

October 24

Newcastle United (home)

November 2

Burnley (home)

November 8

With Fullkrug out, the spotlight falls on just two strikers — Callum Marshall and Callum Wilson.

Marshall, a promising young forward, offers energy and potential but lacks Premier League experience.

While he has shown glimpses of talent during his limited appearances and time on loan at Huddersfield last season, relying heavily on a developing player to lead the line in such a competitive league is a major gamble — even if supporters are keen to see the Northern Irishman get minutes.

The pressure to perform week in, week out at this level could expose Marshall’s inexperience, and West Ham’s attacking threat might suffer as a result.

Wilson, on the other hand, brings Premier League pedigree, but his injury history has been a persistent concern.

His recurring fitness issues have severely limited the centre-forward’s availability in recent seasons, making it difficult for Nuno to count on him as a dependable option. Should the 33-year-old struggle to stay fit, West Ham’s striking options become even thinner — placing further strain on the team’s goal-scoring capabilities.

Jarrod Bowen can play as a striker when required, and this will likely be considered by Nuno before West Ham take on Brentford in his first home game as manager.

Nevertheless, the need for a new number nine is crystal clear, but West Ham have already rejected the chance to sign Emmanuel Dennis on a free transfer.

West Ham make Ivan Toney decision after being offered ideal striker

In the build up to January, reports have suggested that West Ham could turn to ex-Brentford star Ivan Toney as a temporary solution.

The Hammers, amid claims they’ve considered a loan deal for the Al-Ahli striker, who earns £426,000-per-week in the Middle East, have apparently made a decision on bringing the 29-year-old back to England.

According to insider Claret & Hugh, Toney is not the right profile they’re looking for, as West Ham want someone with more pace and directness up top.

Expanding further, the source also claims that West Ham have been offered a mystery alternative to Toney who “fits the bill”.

We can only speculate as to who this striker could be, and there is a potential chance it could be Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović.

The Serbian, who’s scored at least 14 goals per season since his breakthrough campaign in 21/22, is out of contract in 2026 and reports suggest his agents are reaching out to Premier League teams in search of a new club.

That being said, Vlahovic is also on mammoth wages, so he’d have to take a seismic pay cut to join West Ham.

Liverpool won the Premier League last season and then underwent major surgery throughout the summer transfer window.

Perhaps you could frame the Reds as a team in transition. This could be asserted for the 2024/25 campaign, when Liverpool pranced their way through the term and, yes, won the league title in Arne Slot’s first year at the helm.

Maybe it could also be argued that this is a transitional year for Liverpool. After all, many ins and outs occurred down Anfield Road this summer.

Regardless of which side of the fence you stand on, none can argue that Slot’s Liverpool are not title contenders once again, having won all five of their opening Premier League fixtures to establish a five-point lead at the summit. It took them until November to achieve that last year.

It is early days, of course, but the Merseysiders are shaping into quite the force, having signed Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz and many more.

However, they are hardly impregnable, with Liverpool’s defensive issues made worse by the ACL injury sustained by Giovanni Leoni against Southampton on Tuesday evening in the Carabao Cup.

How Leoni's injury affects Liverpool

Leoni must be gutted. Impressive on his Liverpool debut after leaving Parma in the summer, the 18-year-old will now recover across his first campaign in England, unlikely to be match fit until the business end.

He had looked calm and assured and confident on the ball. Sadly, this is a significant setback for one so young. It’s about now that sporting director Richard Hughes might lament Crystal Palace’s failure to sign a Guehi replacement at the end of the transfer window, thus ending a move that looked all but complete and a summer in the making.

Such is football, but there’s no question the Premier League champions are now one Virgil van Dijk injury away from alarm bells to start ringing, with a four-front charge for silverware currently underway.

Guehi, too, may be frustrated at how things have panned out, with his chances of regular football at Liverpool almost certain had he indeed finalised that last-minute move.

Hughes and Slot may also be tacitly frustrated that they sold Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen for £35m, with the hierarchy unable to promise the homegrown talent regularity of minutes for the club.

But then there will also be much confidence in Liverpool’s capacity to pull through. The backline has been refashioned over the past few months.

However, Quansah’s isn’t the only signature that may have left with an air of ruefulness. In fact, far more regret could be attributed to the mood when Trent Alexander-Arnold left for Real Madrid in June.

Alexander-Arnold's value after leaving

Liverpool were hamstrung. Noise coming from the concerning contract situations of Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Alexander-Arnold dominated the 2024/25 campaign, Slot’s first at the helm.

It’s small wonder that many felt the Reds would fall apart following Jurgen Klopp’s departure, with the ‘big three’ all slated to follow him out the gates.

That wasn’t the case. The skipper and the attacking talisman both renewed their Liverpool vows, but Alexander-Arnold, 26, left for pastures new and is now a member of Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid team.

Premier League

257

18 (67)

Champions League

60

2 (13)

FA Cup

13

1 (3)

Carabao Cup

10

0 (6)

Europa League

5

0 (2)

Club World Cup

2

0 (1)

CL Qualifying

2

0 (1)

Community Shield

2

1 (0)

UEFA Super Cup

1

0 (0)

Hailed as a “generational” talent by content creator Asim Mahmood, Trent’s range of passing and his vision and inventions on the ball have

He might not be the answer to Liverpool’s central defensive issues right now, but it’s an underpinning of the upheaval that has beset Slot’s backline in recent months.

Having refused FSG’s offers, the England international was set to sign for Real Madrid on a free transfer before Florentino Perez decided to bring him over for the Club World Cup, paying the English outfit an £8m fee to release him from his contract several weeks early.

This is some distance below the figure Liverpool recouped from Quansah’s sale, and does at least highlight the club’s expertise at the negotiating table, spending heavily this summer but banking a pretty penny too.

Alas, what’s done is done, but Alexander-Arnold is one of the world’s best, even if he is struggling to click from the off with Los Blancos, in and out of the starting line-up before a cruel injury that has ruled him out of action for the foreseeable.

For Liverpool to have got anything from a player imminently out of contract is a testament to Hughes’ prowess behind the desk, but, as Transfermarkt record it, his market value has already shot back up to £66m, which stands taller than the £35m figure the Reds were willing to pay for Guehi.

Moreover, when Alexander-Arnold brings it all together in Spain – and he will – this value will only skyrocket further.

In spite of the signing of Frimpong, the continued development of Conor Bradley and Dominik Szoboszlai’s interesting rebrand into a right-back, when called upon, none of them is Trent.

He was truly one-of-a-kind, and the most painful part of all is that all of a red persuasion across Merseyside and beyond felt that he was on the pathway to immortality at Liverpool, sure to replace Van Dijk as club captain and then take his seat, one day, on a plinth beside Steven Gerrard.

“He’s been a superstar,” Alan Shearer said, acknowledging the Three Lions man at the end of his Premier League career.

Alexander-Arnold must always be treasured for his contribution toward a sustained period of success, but he sadly joins a different category now, and it’s one the fans will look back at regretfully for many years.

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Arsenal are now leading the race for a “world-class” Barcelona star, who has the same agent as Viktor Gyokeres, with Mikel Arteta personally keen on a creative midfielder.

Gunners eyeing new midfielder despite Zubimendi masterclass

After suffering a setback against Liverpool before the international break, the Gunners responded in perfect fashion against Nottingham Forest, chalking up a 3-0 victory, with summer signing Martin Zubimendi looking particularly impressive.

The Spaniard bagged the opening and final goal against the Tricky Trees, finding the back of the net with a superb volley from the edge of the box, which saw the 26-year-old pick up the Man of the Match award.

Arteta is well-stocked in the engine room, with the manager clearly a big fan of Mikel Merino, having trusted the 29-year-old to start ahead of Declan Rice against Forest, saying: “Mikel [Merino] comes back after scoring four goals in two games with a really high emotional state and I want to use that when a player is in that moment.

“I want to play him because he is going to bring something different with the qualities that they have and Declan comes in and it will have an impact immediately or he will play the next game.”

However, according to a report from Spain, Arteta has set his sights on bringing in another creative midfielder in the January transfer window, with Arsenal now keen on a deal for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong.

The Gunners are said to be the leading candidates for De Jong’s signature, despite interest from the Saudi Pro League, with the Dutchman keen to remain at an elite European club, although ideally that would be Barcelona.

However, the 28-year-old, who cost the La Liga club €75m (£65m), is yet to agree a new contract with Barca, which means his current employers could look to cash-in this winter.

"World-class" De Jong could take Arsenal's midfield to next level

There are perhaps some doubts over whether the Gunners need another central midfielder, having signed Zubimendi in the summer, who has made a flying start to life at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal intensify interest in signing "special" gem ahead of Liverpool

He’s a future star…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 13, 2025

However, with Arteta’s side clearly at the stage where they can go deep into the Champions League, having reached the semi-finals last season, it makes sense to have a deeper squad, and De Jong could take their midfield to the next level.

Simone Inzaghi has suggested the Netherlands international could be one of the best players in the world in his position, saying: “Let me say that Frenkie de Jong is just sensational, he’s a world class player. Frenkie surprised me at same level as Lamine Yamal did.”

The Barca star, who is represented by HCM Sports management, the same agency as Gyokeres, has considerable experience at the top level, picking up 19 goals and 23 assists in 261 games for Barcelona, so it is exciting news that he could be on his way to the Emirates Stadium this winter.

After nearly three months of stories, rumours and moves, the transfer window is finally closed, and it’s been a good summer for Arsenal.

While it could be argued that the team are still in need of a new left-winger, Andrea Berta and Co did an excellent job adding eight talented players to Mikel Arteta’s squad, including a few who have the potential to be game-changing.

However, for all the good work done by the Gunners, the talk of the window, and the biggest headline grabber over the last few weeks has been Alexander Isak.

The former Newcastle United goal machine finally got his move to Liverpool, and while it was a record-breaking one, Arsenal can be happy in the knowledge that one of their stars remains more valuable.

Isak's transfer and Arsenal's deals

While he had a reasonably slow start to life in the Premier League, Isak slowly transformed into one of the very best strikers in world football by the time Liverpool came calling for him.

Throughout his Newcastle career, the Swedish star managed to rack up a sensational tally of 62 goals and 11 assists in 109 appearances, totalling 7,977 minutes.

In other words, the 25-year-old game-changer was able to maintain an average of a goal involvement every 1.49 games or every 109.27 minutes across a three-season spell.

With numbers like that and the fact he’s such a pleasing player to watch, it’s not hard to understand why the Reds think he’s worthy of a £125m price tag and of being the most expensive signing in the league’s history.

Yet, while his move to Anfield has made the defending champions overwhelming favourites in the minds of many fans and pundits alike, Arsenal have made several top-quality additions to Arteta’s squad as well.

Viktor Gyokeres, for example, may have struggled on Sunday, but during his time with Sporting CP, he scored 97 goals and provided 28 assists in 102 appearances.

Likewise, Martin Zubimendi hasn’t necessarily hit the ground running in red and white, but he’s been one of the most sought-after midfielders in European football over the last few years and will undoubtedly come good in time.

Finally, Noni Madueke and Cristhian Mosquera looked reasonably impressive against the Reds, and, from what we’ve seen of him for Crystal Palace over the last few years, Eberechi Eze could be the man to help unlock the Gunners’ attack.

In all, the North Londoners have spent around £255m on signings this summer, and while they’ve not brought in anyone as valuable as Isak, Arteta already has a player worth millions more than him in the squad.

The Arsenal star who is worth millions more than Isak

While the club haven’t won anything with this current squad, Arsenal are blessed with an abundance of talent.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

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The likes of William Saliba, Declan Rice and David Raya, for example, would get into most teams around the world and have valuations to match their level of talent.

Yet, when we are talking about the most valuable player in the Gunners’ squad, the player who is worth millions more than Isak, there is one name that stands out above all others.

We are, of course, talking about the face of the club, the talisman on and off the pitch, Bukayo Saka.

The Ealing-born game-changer has transformed from promising academy product to world-class superstar in front of the adoring Emirates over the last five years or so, and his price tag more than reflects his status in the game.

According to Transfermarkt, the Gunners’ “legend in the making,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is worth a staggering €150m, which is about £130.1m, or £5.1m more than Liverpool just paid for their new striker.

Now, there is no denying that it is an extraordinary amount of money for a still relatively young player to be worth, but based on his performances over the last few years and his importance to the North Londoners, it’s hard to argue that it’s undeserved.

Saka’s Arsenal Career

Appearances

265

Starts

231

Minutes

20163′

Goals

71

Assists

72

Goal Involvements per Match

0.53

Minutes per Goal Involvement

141′

Points per Game

1.93

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For example, despite still being just 23 years old, and therefore three years away from his expected peak, according to research from The Athletic, the dynamic winger has made 265 appearances for Arsenal, in which he has scored 71 goals and provided 72 assists.

Moreover, despite missing almost four months with a hamstring injury and having to work his way back up to full match fitness, his numbers from last season aren’t too far off Isak’s.

In his 37 appearances for the Gunners, totalling 2619 minutes, the Englishman scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists.

That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.42 games, or every 100.73 minutes.

Saka vs Isak in 24/25

Players

Saka

Isak

Appearances

37

42

Starts

30

41

Minutes

2619′

3324′

Goals

12

27

Assists

14

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

0.78

Minutes per Goal Involvement

100.73′

100.72′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In contrast, the former Toon star scored 27 goals and provided six assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3324 minutes.

That comes out to a marginally better average of a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 100.72 minutes.

Moreover, when you take into account that the Swede was playing down the middle and expected to be his side’s primary goal threat, it’s even more impressive that, in an injury-riddled campaign, the Hale End icon put up comparable numbers.

Ultimately, Isak is an extraordinary player and looks set to make Arsenal’s hunt for a Premier League title far tougher this season.

However, in Saka, they have someone more valuable, and so long as he gets fit and remains so, someone who could be the difference come May.

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As Celtic gear up for yet another title defence, Brendan Rodgers now reportedly believes that they hold a key advantage in the race to sign an impressive midfield star.

Rodgers still aiming to "push" for arrivals

Despite welcoming as many as six fresh faces following another dominant Scottish Premiership campaign last time out, Rodgers admitted that he’s still pushing the Celtic board to secure more additions.

He told reporters: “We have gaps in the squad that are very clear. I have to convince the board to really push to get the players in that we really need. Clearly, I’m not doing that job well enough, but I will continue to push and hopefully we can get the players in by the end of the transfer window.”

Celtic make approach to agent of "very offensive" 20 y/o rising talent

Rangers also want to sign him this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Aug 1, 2025

“When you lose important players, you want to fill those gaps. That attacking department is the strength of my team. It always will be. We were very, very good last year in that front in terms of both the score and both the creativity.

“I’m fairly confident that we will do the business that will fill those gaps and with the necessary quality that’s needed to keep the team moving forward, because that’s what we all want. That’s what the supporters want. They want to see a team that’s exciting and that can dominate games and really attack games and that’s our goal.”

Just who those additions will be is the question. It looks as though the Bhoys are at least set to welcome Manchester City youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan, but that’s not to say other targets have fallen away from their radar.

Those at Celtic Park have also reportedly set their sights on winning the race to land a bargain deal in the next month and Rodgers believes that they hold one key advantage over the rest of the chasing pack.

Rodgers believes Celtic have advantage in Brownhill race

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Rodgers believes that Celtic have the advantage in the race to sign Josh Brownhill this summer thanks to their Champions League place. Whilst the likes of West Ham United and Everton chase his signature, the Bhoys will be able to offer the 29-year-old his first taste of Europe’s elite.

Dubbed “brilliant” by Burnley boss Scott Parker, Brownhill represents one of the few bargain deals still on the market and one that Celtic should go all out to snap up this month.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em noite marcada pela presença de Neymar, o Santos não conseguiu realizar uma grande exibição, pela Sul-Americana, diante do Audax Italiano e ficou no empate sem gols, em plena Vila Belmiro. Amigo do ídolo santista, Lucas Lima contou uma cobrança feita pelo 10 da Seleção Brasileira por não ter visto a vitória.

-Ah, foi legal. Ele mandou mensagem para mim e avisou que estaria aqui. Triste por não ter dado essa vitória para ele. Mas não dá para ficarmos lamentando porque domingo tem jogo […]. Ele queria (a vitória). Ele nos cobrou. Mas, é isso. É focar, pois logo tem mais – relatou o meio-campista.

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+ATUAÇÕES: Santos vacila em casa, não fura defesa do Audax Italiano e tropeça na Sul-Americana

Frustrado em perder pontos dentro de casa na Copa Sul-Americana, Lucas Lima manteve a cautela e a confiança para o decorrer da competição.

-Empate difícil, nada que a gente queria. Nós conseguimos ganhar fora de casa, o que foi importante. Continuamos mais ou menos igual para nós, temos mais duas viagens na Sul-Americana. Se conseguíssemos um resultado positivo, pegaríamos a liderança do grupo – disse o jogador.

De olho no próximo compromisso, o Alvinegro Praiano recebe o Atlético-MG, em duelo do Campeonato Brasileiro. O camisa 23 do Peixe analisou onde o clube pecou na partida de hoje e demonstrou confiança para projetar diante do Galo.

-Acho que hoje faltou fazer gol e caprichar no último passe. Acho que o grupo tá criando uma casca. Tá sendo intenso. A gente tá tentando dominar o adversário dentro da Vila, mas é ruim jogar contra adversário que vem assim. Não tem como lamentar. Domingo temos uma guerra. Temos que nos preparar, descansar e dar o nosso melhor – concluiu Lucas Lima.

O Santos enfrenta o Atlético-MG, na Vila Belmiro, no próximo dia 23 (domingo). A partida do Brasileirão começa a partir das 16h (de Brasília).

Carey has produced scores of 74 and 77 not out while incumbent Inglis has nursed a quad issue, creating a selection quandary

Alex Malcolm25-Sep-2024

Alex Carey scored his second successive half-century in the third ODI•Getty Images

Alex Carey’s stunning return to Australia’s ODI side will cause the selectors a headache ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025 when incumbent wicketkeeper Josh Inglis returns from a quad complaint, according to coach and selector Andrew McDonald.Carey was recalled to Australia’s ODI side at the start of the series against England – having been dropped during last year’s ODI World Cup – after Inglis was ruled out of the first ODI at Trent Bridge due to quad soreness he suffered in the second T20I against England on September 13.Inglis is still yet to recover and Carey has taken his chance with back-to-back scores of 74 and 77 not out, with both innings salvaging Australia from perilous positions to post competitive scores at Headingley and Chester-le-Street respectively.Related

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It has raised the question of whether Inglis will automatically reclaim his spot when he is fit to return. Following Australia’s loss to England in the third ODI, McDonald said the wicketkeeper’s spot would be a headache, but a positive one.”It’s always a good problem to have when you’ve got people competing for spots within your team,” he said. “Unfortunately, Josh was injured in the T20 series, and Alex has jumped into that spot and done incredibly well. So as I said, it’s always a good problem to have.”McDonald did suggest there was a possibility both men could play in the same team moving forward. The pair have played in the same ODI side for Australia on six occasions, four of those coming last year on the tours of South Africa and India immediately prior to the ODI World Cup, with Inglis playing as a specialist batter in all six games when Carey was the first-choice wicketkeeper.”It’s always something we will consider,” McDonald said. “If you think back sort of 12 months ago, we had Ingo and Kez in the same team. So it’s quite possible, and the way that Alex is batting is very impressive. Summing up the situation, navigating going through the middle against spin. He’s a quality player. He’s played a lot of international cricket, so the way he’s performing isn’t a surprise to us.”But it would seem a less likely option when all of Australia’s best players are fit and available. A more likely option would be Australia playing an extra allrounder to deepen the batting with Aaron Hardie putting his name up for the role with an impressive 44 from 26 balls at the death to help lift Australia’s total above 300 on Tuesday. Hardie wasn’t initially set to play until Adam Zampa was ruled out late with illness.Aaron Hardie clubbed his way to 44 off 26 balls•Getty Images

Australia have been keen to experiment with an allrounder at No. 8 since McDonald took over as coach in 2022 in the hope of potentially using that combination in major tournaments, only to consistently revert to playing seven batters and four specialist bowlers which was the model that won them the World Cup.Hardie’s form adds to their options, and potentially strengthens the case to play eight batters given he has bowled very impressively in the series so far. He can bowl with the new ball, and he provided a showcase of his death-hitting prowess despite having only limited experience in the role at the domestic level.”Aaron Hardie called into the team late, got some critical death hitting there to get us up to a total,” McDonald said. “He was definitely impressive today.”It’s something we’ve discussed over a period of time, and we’re on the record in saying, leading to the last World Cup, we wanted to have three distinct ways of playing, and one of those was with the eighth batter. So we’ve done that previously. The allrounders aren’t always available and fit, so therefore sometimes that team’s not on the table.”But we feel as though with the allrounders we’ve got with Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, you throw Marcus Stoinis also into that who’s not here, Will Sutherland’s been exposed across the journey as well. So you start to work through that. Matthew Short is an allrounder in his own right as well, along with Glenn Maxwell. So we’ve got options to be able to structure up that way. We do like to lean towards the three quicks with Adam Zampa, but clearly, that’s another way of playing.”The counterpoint is that Australia’s allrounder-heavy attack can lack potency, no matter how many runs they score. That was especially exposed without Zampa in the side and England’s batters took full advantage. McDonald is hopeful to have both Zampa and Travis Head available for the final two ODIs at Lord’s and Bristol on Friday and Sunday.”It’s always a different team when Adam Zampa is not there, an incredible performer for us over a long period of time,” McDonald said. “It was a late decision to leave him out. Clearly, we’ve had a little bit of illness in the camp, and that’s been well documented. Unfortunately, he was the latest casualty.”[Head] should be right for the next game. I won’t go into that any further, but he should be ready to go.”

قيم واين روني، أسطورة نادي مانشستر يونايتد، المدرب روبن أموريم، عقب الخسارة المذلة التي تعرض لها الشياطين الحمر يوم أمس الأحد أمام مانشستر سيتي بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

واكتسح مانشستر سيتي نظيره مانشستر يونايتد بثلاثة أهداف دون مقابل يوم أمس الأحد على ملعب الاتحاد، وذلك لحساب قمة الجولة الرابعة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

اقرأ أيضًا .. هالاند بعد الثلاثية أمام مانشستر يونايتد: هذا هو لاعب مانشستر سيتي الذي نحتاجه

ويرى روني في تصريحات إلى “بي بي سي سبورت”، أن مانشستر يونايتد يعاني بالفعل مع أموريم وربما يحتاج إلى تغيير المدرب في المستقبل.

وقال روني: “أريد أن أكون داعمًا وإيجابيًا قدر الإمكان للمدرب واللاعبين، لكن من الصعب جدًا الجلوس هنا والقول إننا نشهد تقدمًا، أو على الأقل نرى أشياءًا ستحقق نتائج في المستقبل القريب”.

وأضاف روني في حديثه: ”لا نرى أيًا من ذلك، وهذا صعب للغاية. كانت هناك صورة قرب نهاية المباراة رأيت فيها جماهير مانشستر يونايتد تغادر أرضية الملعب”.

وأوضح: ”كان بإمكانك سماع الجماهير تردد اسم أموريم، لكنني أعتقد أن ذلك كان مؤثرًا جدًا لدرجة أن جماهير يونايتد غادرت المباراة، كما تعلمون انتهت المباراة، وأعتقد أنهم شعروا بخيبة أمل كبيرة مما رأوه. من الصعب أن نرى كيف سيستمر هذا الوضع”.

وأردف روني: ”ما هي الأنماط؟ ما الذي نراه وما الذي قد يحسن الفريق في المستقبل؟ أعتقد أنه بعد العام الماضي الذي أقيل فيه إريك تين هاج وحل محله روبن أموريم بدأنا نسمع عن أداء الفريق، وأن الوضع سيتغير”.

واختتم: “أعتقد أنه لو كان المدرب صادقًا مع نفسه، لكانت الأمور قد تحسنت”.

Will Celtic sign another Premier League superstar?

Kieran Tierney has already returned to Parkhead this summer, following in the footsteps of manager Brendan Rodgers and Jota, who’ve also both re-joined the club in recent times.

Now, could another boyhood Celtic fan fulfil his dreams of wearing the famous green and white hoops?

Celtic targeting another statement signing

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Celtic are ‘interested’ in signing Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson, while admitting that ‘financial constraints’ would prove to be a stumbling block.

The Scotland captain is widely expected to depart Merseyside this summer, with David Ornstein and Mario Cortegana of the Athletic documenting Atlético Madrid’s interest, given that the Reds are targeting Bournemouth’s Miloš Kerkez, who they view as an upgrade.

Robertson, who was in Celtic’s academy between the ages of nine and 15, has always been open about his desire to represent the Hoops one day, admitting that “Celtic was my life” growing up, adding that he’d “love to pull on the Celtic top and walk out at Parkhead” one day.

So, could this move really come to fruition this summer?

How Andy Robertson compares to Kieran Tierney

It is all change in terms of Celtic left-backs this summer.

Greg Taylor is highly likely to depart following the expiration of his contract. PAOK are the latest European club interested in securing his services, while it’s not yet clear if Jeffrey Schlupp will be staying, following a brief loan spell.

Meantime, Tierney has of course returned but, as has been an interminable debate surrounding the national team for nigh on a decade, is he better than Robertson?

Let’s attempt to find out.

Tierney vs Robertson 2024/25 comparison
Statistics (per 90)	Tierney	Robertson
Appearances	20	45
Minutes	447	3,320
Pass completion %	79.8%	83.0%
Interceptions	0.2	0.6
Tackles	0.5	1.2
Clearances	0.7	1.3
Ball recoveries	2.2	3.8
Ground duel success %	71%	50%
Touches	72.5	76.9
Stats from Transfermarkt, FBref & Squawka.

First things first, due to injuries and the fact he was not first-choice at Arsenal, Tierney played fewer than 500 minutes of club football this season, which does offer a very small sample size.

That caveat aside, Robertson’s per-90 statistics are still pretty much more impressive across the board.

When he was still Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp described Robertson as a “world-class left-back”, while José Enrique, a former incumbent of the Reds’ full-back spot, asserts that he has been “the best left-back in the world” for many years.

Now though, James Pearce and Mark Carey of the Athletic outline that the Scotland captain’s form ‘has come under intense scrutiny’ this season, while also asserting that he is far from ‘finished at the highest level’.

Robertson still ranked 17th in the Premier League this season for crosses into the penalty area, as well as 11th for crosses overall, according to FBref.com, an attribute that has been viewed as his superpower for many years.

Gillian Kasirye of Total Football Analysis claims that Robertson is ‘passed their peak’, but still has a lot to offer at the elite level, so could he really be tempted to make a move to Glasgow this summer?

Celtic may make shock bid to re-sign £10m star who Rodgers called "sublime"

Hoops supporters could absolutely love this.

1

By
Henry Jackson

Jun 17, 2025