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Door left ajar for Pat Cummins to return as captain with Australia still debating the make-up of their side

Alex Malcolm03-Dec-2025

Pat Cummins is a chance of making a stunning comeback to Australia’s XI for the second Test against England at the Gabba with a final decision to be made by selectors on Wednesday afternoon following a further inspection of the pitch.Australia’s stand-in captain Steven Smith did not confirm the final XI on Wednesday’s press conference, with an update later in the day saying it would be named at the toss, keeping the door open for Cummins to return as captain and also leaving open the possibility of Australia excluding their sole specialist spinner Nathan Lyon for the second day-night Test in a row.Australia also need to replace injured opener Usman Khawaja, and Josh Inglis appears the favourite to come into a middle-order role ahead of Beau Webster, with Travis Head to shift up to open. But Smith could not confirm that either.Related

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“A whole heap of things I think are on the table,” Smith said. “We’ll wait and see what the wicket looks like, and from there we’ll determine a playing XI.”Cummins’ inclusion would be a surprise given he was not named in Australia’s 14-man squad for the Gabba Test when it was announced last Friday. However, he was never officially ruled out because of how well he had been bowling in the nets in Perth and Brisbane after recovering from the bone stress injury in his lower back.”He looks pretty good to me the way he’s bowled in the nets,” Smith said. “Obviously, games are a different intensity, for sure, but he’s tracking really nicely. He knows his body well, and yeah, we’ll wait and see.”There is a possibility that he could replace Brendan Doggett in the XI but that would come with risks regarding his workloads. Given he has not played any cricket since July, there would be more comfort among Australia’s medical staff if he played in an all-pace attack given his bowling loads would likely be less in such a scenario if Australia’s selectors decided Lyon was surplus to requirements in the pink-ball game.0:46

McGlashan: An unfortunate end if Khawaja’s Test career is over

Lyon was left out of Australia’s most recent day-night Test in Jamaica in July and only bowled one over in last year’s pink-ball Test in Adelaide against India. He also did not bowl a ball in Australia’s last Ashes day-night Test in Hobart in 2022. He only bowled two overs in the first Test in Perth, both of which came in the first innings, as England only batted for 67.3 overs across the two-day Test.Lyon did bowl 50 overs in the last day-night Test as the Gabba in 2024 but Smith wasn’t sure if he was assured of his place.”I’m not sure,” Smith said. “We’ll look at the surface, as I said, and we’ll sum things up from there. And I think here’s a place where Nathan’s done really well in the past. He’s a quality bowler. But we’ll weigh up the options and we’ll see how we go.”The Gabba surface has looked very green from afar in the build-up to the Test match. There is warm, dry weather expected in Brisbane for the first three days of the game.”It’s still quite grassy, a little soft,” Smith said. “It’s obviously going to bake under the sun again today, and I think [the curator] is going to take a little bit off it, so might look a little bit different in a couple hours’ time.”

Opener’s willingness to produce a tempo against type allowed England to build towards another famous win

Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Jun-20251:53

Did we see a refined version of Bazball?

The initial concept of Zak Crawley was simple.A languid driver, a devastating puller, sharp reactions to the quick stuff, good interception points for the bouncy stuff. The judgement outside off stump… steady, don’t worry about that. Faults against medium pace? Who cares mate. Get him in and let him loose against the best bowlers, particularly when Test matches need to be seized, and lie back and think of England. Tall bloke goes brrrrrr – England win.Yet, despite being the one constant in the opening partnerships that have launched England’s highest successful chases, Crawley has somehow become the straight man. Outscored by Alex Lees (56 to 46) in the 107-run stand that toppled 378 against India in 2022, he “reprised” the subdued role on Tuesday, against India once more, in a stand of 188 that helped topple 371. Crawley’s 65 off 126 balls – his slowest of 22 Test half-centuries – came while Ben Duckett managed 41 more having faced just three extra deliveries. Duckett would eventually finish on 149, earning him the player-of-the-match award and the back page of every British newspaper. Not for the first time, the smaller bloke went brrrr, and England won.Sensing this one-way love-in, Ben Stokes made a note including Crawley when answering almost every post-match question about Duckett. “The way Zak played was huge,” was the England captain’s variation of that message to the written press.Duckett offered similar: “Massive credit to Zak. The way he played… I take my hat off to him.” Magnanimous from the bloke who has often done most of the scoring in their increasingly fruitful alliance.Since coming together for 2022’s winter tour of Pakistan, Duckett and Crawley have been England’s most productive partnership. Their 2,114 runs in tandem have come at an average of 44.97, and their rate of notching fifty every three stands is the best globally among the 10 opening pairs to have had at least 20 partnerships since Crawley’s debut in November 2019.Duckett and Crawley left India floored with their 188-run stand•Getty ImagesInterestingly, of their 16 fifty-plus stands, Duckett’s runs have come at a strike rate of 92.55, while Crawley has gone at 77.28. It is as much a recognition of the gumption that underpins the former’s consistency as the peculiar route the latter takes. Peculiar, because it is an evolution of sorts, even though his overall numbers haven’t advanced that much.Since Brendon McCullum and Stokes took over, Crawley averages 33.41, which remains unspectacular even if it is a five-point improvement on his 21 Tests prior to the 2022 summer. His overall Test average is 31.55, while his first-class figure is similar at 32.20. Even his four-match start to this season with Kent in Division Two reads 31.28. He remains achingly early thirties, like a tote bag with a Substack.As Crawley says, he “doesn’t really think like that” when it comes to worrying about his place during bad patches, which has been a luxury afforded to him throughout by this management group. And while he did finish the 2023 Ashes series and the 2024 tour of India as England’s most productive run-scorer, he has not used that freedom to be more daring. Think of this as public funds being misappropriated to fix the potholes, rather than build the big slip-and-slide we were promised in the public square.”He is definitely thinking about batting differently now,” Duckett said, having had a front-row seat to Crawley’s move towards conservatism. “He’s still smacking the bad ball away, but his thought process is so calm.”The same, Duckett said, had been true in their 231-run stand against Zimbabwe in their previous Test at Trent Bridge, when Crawley’s share had been 124 from 171 balls.”Zak getting a hundred against Zimbabwe, you’d probably guess it was off 75 balls,” he added. “But the way he was so determined and ground out a score was huge. Same today.”Crawley, himself, feels in a good spot, particularly when it comes to patience and concentration. “I was glad to hang around with Ducky,” he said, a sentiment which also goes against his apparent type, but was absolutely what was required. Said patience allowed him to have a clear-headed approach to Jasprit Bumrah.Related

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“I’ve faced him a lot now and you know there’s a couple of crackers in there and you put it behind you,” Crawley said. “A lot of teams have star bowlers who you’re eyeing up to take it a little easier against, and Bumrah is certainly one of those. I feel like I kind of know how I want to play against him, but he’s a massive threat and a great bowler.”No one has faced Bumrah more often in Tests – 204 deliveries since the start of 2024 – and yet the dismissal at Headingley, caught at first slip at the end of the first over of the match, was only the second time Crawley has fallen to him.Crawley currently averages 48.50 against a fast bowler who, rightly, is being talked about as one of the greatest of all time. And he is doing so not by trying to hit him off his lengths, or put pressure back on him, but offering the utmost respect.Has the Crawley story jumped the shark? The one player with a licence to be an island unto himself – freely expressive, expansive strokes, the large adult son of Bazball – is now the sensible one. Negotiating, grinding out, surviving and existing, like every other opener to have played the game.Some England fans reading that will wonder if they’ve been hoodwinked all along. Crawley’s century-less 2024, with an average of 27.80 across 14 Tests and a list of potential replacements for this summer, already seems a little out of date. The alternative to the original Crawley, an opener with traditional values, is now seemingly this one. You either die Zak Crawley or live long enough to become a different Zak Crawley. This Crawley is coming from inside the house.None of this has been straightforward. It certainly has not been easy for the man himself.”I wasn’t playing how I wanted to play in the winter and I feel a lot better about my game now,” Crawley said, referencing a run of 10 single-figure scores in 19 innings since the end of last summer. That included such a torturous tour of New Zealand, averaging 8.66, that he probably still checks to see if Matt Henry is lurking under his bed. That was followed by an SA20 campaign in which he was dropped from the Sunrisers Eastern Cape side, the worst fate for any overseas signing.”The leadership of the team don’t really talk about these things,” he said. “If my place was under pressure, they certainly wouldn’t tell me, so it was never explained to me like that.”I wanted more runs but I was pleased with how I played, and my patience. I knew that was what the team needed at that point. But for me it’s all about how I’m playing, and I’m playing a lot better now.”A 1-0 lead in a five-match series, and victory at the first attempt in a 10-match blockbuster against India and Australia, all delivered with a chase to savour. And done so with Crawley, the one player relied upon to push the tempo against the very best teams, playing it slower and steadier than ever before.

Who is going to be the new Celtic manager? Well, who knows!

Martin O’Neill remains in caretaker charge for now, having been parachuted in following Brendan Rodgers’ shock resignation, winning three of four matches in charge to date, that Europa League hammering at the hands of Midtjylland the only blot on his copybook.

With no obvious front-runner for the job, and given that we’re in the middle of the season, could a left-field appointment be required?

Well, this was the case back in the summer of 2021 when, after seeing their Premiership streak of nine in a row come to an end, Ange Postecoglou was appointed completely out of nowhere, having only ever worked in his native Australia and Japan beforehand.

Despite this, and the widespread ridicule when he arrived in Glasgow, Postecoglou would go on to win five trophies across his two seasons in charge, thereby remaining, possibly, the most popular Celtic manager of modern times.

So, could another lesser-known name become the next Postecoglou, emphasising that he is the outstanding candidate for the vacancy, as opposed to the other front-runners?

Kieran McKenna to Celtic latest

Ever since Rodgers resigned, Kieran McKenna has been one of the names most frequently mentioned in terms of becoming the new Celtic manager.

As reported by Ewan Murray of the Guardian, he is a ‘leading candidate’ with the Ipswich Town boss boasting ‘longtime admirers’ on the Celtic board, while Sky Sports add that he is one of the names near the top of the club’s shortlist.

However, any approach would not be straightforward.

The 39-year-old is under contract in Suffolk until 2028 and Ipswich would surely demand a sizable compensation fee if they’re going to allow their most prized asset to depart.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

McKenna, in his first-ever head coach role, worked miracles at Portman Road, guiding the Tractor Boys to back-to-back promotions, going from EFL League One to the Premier League in double quick time, the first time Ipswich had competed in England’s top-tier since 2002.

However, his team did really struggle to compete at the top level, winning just four Premier League matches all season, relegated with a whimper.

Right now, Ipswich are seventh in the EFL Championship, hammering Swansea 4-1 on Saturday, thereby sat just outside the play-off positions,

Before moving to Suffolk, McKenna worked as an assistant manager to José Mourinho and then Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Manchester United, so has some experience at an elite level, but many supporters remain unconvinced, so should the Celtic hierarchy target a more left-field coach who could be their new Postecoglou?

Celtic should appoint the new Postecoglou

According to a report by TEAMtalk on Wednesday evening, Wilfried Nancy, a man supporters may be very unfamiliar with, has been ‘officially invited’ for talks with the Hoops over the Parkhead vacancy.

It’s further reported that the Celtic board are ‘very keen’ to interview Nancy and could complete a deal by January should compensation be agreed, with the season in America, where he manages Columbus Crew, set to end this month.

So, who is he? Well, the Frenchman was named 2024 MLS coach of the year, but that does not begin to tell his story.

His first head coach role was with CF Montréal, staying in Québec for two seasons, before spending the last three years at Columbus Crew, enjoyed huge success in charge of both, as the table below documents.

2021

18th

Canadian Champ

2022

3rd

2023

3rd

MLS Cup

2024

2nd

Leagues Cup

2025

7th

First and foremost, if you’re not dialled into MLS, we’re guessing you’re probably not, it’s really difficult to properly put into words how impressive an achievement it is to finish 3rd in the overall standings, and second in the Eastern Conference, with Club de Foot Montréal.

Owner Joey Saputo essentially does not care about the team, meaning Montréal have one of the lowest budgets in Major League Soccer, finishing 28th, out of 30, this year, showing that Nancy can seriously elevate an underperforming side.

In Canada, Nancy succeeded Thierry Henry, after he resigned, and the Arsenal legend spoke glowingly about his former assistant during CBS’ Champions League coverage.

Nevertheless, Nancy’s true success has come since moving to Columbus Crew, winning MLS Cup at the end of his first year and then Leagues Cup last season, also leading the Black and Gold to the club’s first-ever CONCACAF Champions Cup Final, ousting two Mexican heavyweights along the way, before defeat to Pachuca.

The Crew’s 2025 season is now over, dumped out of the MLS play-offs by local rivals FC Cincinnati at the weekend, which may make him available, so could he soon swap Ohio for Glasgow?

Well, he has certainly earned rave reviews, with Joe Lowery praising his “patient possession” style of play which he believes is “so much fun to watch”, while Tom Bogert describes the Crew as “attractive” to watch and “courageous” on the ball.

Meantime, former USA striker Herculez Gomez notes that Nancy is “immensely respected”, adding that his style of play is “so pleasing to the eye”, boasting a clear philosophy featuring both possession and high pressing, comparing him to Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique.

Well, another high-profile manager that sounds reminiscent of is, well, Postecoglou and his now infamous, certainly in Premier League circles, Ange-ball.

As already mentioned, Postecoglou was a lesser-known name in British and European football prior to his arrival in Glasgow but, as he likes to remind everyone, he wins everywhere he goes, joining with a J League, multiple A-League titles and an AFC Asia Cup to his name, among other honours.

Well, the same can be said of Nancy, who created something of a dynasty in MLS, something that is so tough to do in a league that is so parity-focused.

Thus, just like Postecoglou, Nancy has the personality, the playing style and the will to win to succeed at Celtic, seemingly making him the ideal candidate to come in and lead the Hoops to a fifth successive Premiership title.

Upgrade on Nancy: Celtic considering move for "unbeatable" 4-2-3-1 manager

Celtic are considering a move for this 4-2-3-1 manager who would be an upgrade on Wilfried Nancy.

2 ByDan Emery Nov 12, 2025

In his annual State of the League address, Don Garber said MLS is ready to compete with the world’s biggest leagues and wouldn’t rule out promotion/relegation.

WASHINGTON – MLS Commissioner Don Garber delivered his annual State of the League address Thursday night at a glitzy event at Audi Field. It was familiar fare from the league’s top executive, who rattled through the past year’s achievements and offered a generous assessment of what comes next. To be fair, there’s plenty to shout about. MLS has unquestionably cashed in on Lionel Messi’s presence, and it now has a dream MLS Cup final: the league’s biggest and second-biggest stars facing off on Saturday.

But that wasn’t the only talking point. Thursday’s event was defined by the prospect of potential change, with Garber alluding to ideas that would have seemed unthinkable not long ago. Chief among them was promotion and relegation. For years, he flatly dismissed the concept as incompatible with American soccer. Now, though, he stopped short of ruling it out.

"Let's see how it plays out. Maybe as the development of the lower divisions continues to grow, as they've been doing so well over the years, there will be a proper ecosystem. Frankly, I don't believe that ecosystem exists today, but who knows? I've learned to never say never," he said, before adding, "that doesn't mean we're having promotional relegation."

And there were broader changes on the table. For a while now, he has touted "MLS 3.0" as his future vision for the league. In his eyes, that means further changes to a league that, after years of struggling to take big swing to grab a bigger foothold, has finally started to take calculated gambles. It started with a calendar switch, announced last month. It will continue with new stadiums and perhaps a new approach to the TV deal.

"It will elevate the overall quality of play on the field," Garber said. 

But other changes might come, too. Everything at this point is a bit speculative – and Garber is a true pro when it comes to navigating the peppering of questions from curious journalists. Still, his tone was one of optimism, and perhaps a little bit of a victory lap as the league nailed its 30th season. GOAL takes a look at the main takeaways from Garber's yearly summary of the league…

• Opening the door to promotion and relegation

  It is the question that is always asked of American soccer. When will it align with the rest of the world? When will it embrace that crucial facet of the game that soccer fans know too well. Those who watch European football week in, week out will tell you that promotion-relegation is a core part of the sport. The United States has avoided it for years. And Garber has routinely batted the question away, too.

  But on Thursday evening, he was curiously noncomittal.

  "Back in the day, I would say 'never.' Today, I say there's no real point of saying never, because I don't know what the future would look like," he said. 

  His remark came on the back of another major change as part of MLS's so-called MLS 3.0 initiative: a switch to a fall-spring calendar. That, too, has been a point of contention that the league seemed eager to avoid. Garber admitted that making that change could leave an opportunity to others.

  "I certainly never thought we would adapt to the international calendar. I remember getting those questions saying, how could we play in eight cities in cold weather? Now we have fans that are coming out from thick and thin, and I believe that with 92 percent of our schedule being exactly the same will have no impact at all," he added.

  It also comes in the context of other shifts in U.S. soccer. USL recently announced it is introducing promotion and relegation to its leagues, with a 2028 target start date. There is perhaps tangible pressure in a way there wasn't before. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Eyes on competing with the world’s best

  This had been coming for a while, Garber admitted. MLS first started tinkering with the idea of a calendar switch a few years ago. But it took some time to come together. There were variables to consider here: retaining the authenticity of MLS, weather, clashing with other parts of the American sports calendar. Yet last month, MLS officially ratified what it perhaps should have done a long time ago, and moved their dates of play to something roughly similar to a European calendar. The season will start in the late summer and play until late Spring, with a break in the winter to account for harsh weather and give players a mid season break. 

  Perhaps more importantly, though, it will see MLS mix in with the usual cadence of the global market. It's been a no-brainer for years, and Garber lauded it getting over the line.

  "This decision aligns our transfer windows with the top leagues in the world, reduces conflicts with international windows, elevates our playoff schedule and will unlock new commercial opportunities," he said. 

  Of all the things to shout about, this was surely the one where Garber could take the most pride. 

  "We're not just aligning with the world's best. We're aiming to compete with them," Garber said. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  What the World Cup means

  In 1994, the United States had to do something with its domestic league. More accurately, it had to actually form one. The primary condition of the U.S. hosting a tournament, in fact, was that they start a professional setup to kick off either the year after or soon following the '94 tournament. Back then, it was a question of momentum. America had been shown soccer, now it had the chance to shape the sport in its own way.

  "The 1994 World Cup became the most attended World Cup in history, a record that still stands today. It captured the imagination of our entire country, and it ignited a soccer movement across North America, and importantly, the World Cup laid the foundation for the lead that we promised FIFA we would deliver," he said.

  This time, the U.S. doesn't to put on a World Cup. But Garber intends to use it as an inflection point. And after hinting at it for a while, he expanded. This is supposed to be a showcase.

  "In 2026, we will show the world how far we've come and how much bigger and better and more popular our sport will be in the future," Garber said.

  It's impossible to predict, of course. There is a chance that MLS doesn't take strides forward, and the league runs in place. But Garber insisted that the pieces and the initiative are there. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  The impact of Messi staying

  Of course, Garber had to talk about his main man. It is impossible to overstate just how significant Lionel Messi's impact in MLS has been. Suddenly, there are eyes when there weren't before. This league feels that little bit more relevant on the global stage. Some people now care who didn't before.

  He's been around for two years now, and just penned a three-year deal to stick around for Inter Miami. As a result, he will be in the mix to compete for further MLS Cups, represent Miami in their brand new stadium and, undoubtedly, draw another star or two to MLS – to play with him or otherwise. Garber has repeatedly insisted that this league is about more than just the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner. But his influence was a topic: 

  "Global superstars, as we all know, are making MLS their league of choice on Saturday, the greatest player to ever play the game, Leo Messi, will go up against another World Cup champion and one of the world's most decorated players in Thomas Muller," he said.

  Critics remain skeptical of Messi's impact. His lack of media appearances has been questioned by some. But the eyeballs he has drawn cannot be ignored.

Tottenham Hotspur have now submitted a £62m opening offer for Athletic Club forward Nico Williams, and they are confident a deal will be finalized soon.

Spurs are now stepping up their pursuit of a new forward, amid doubts over the capabilities of some of Thomas Frank’s current attacking options, with Jamie O’Hara particularly scathing of the frontline after the 1-0 defeat at home against Chelsea earlier this season.

The former midfielder said: “We’ve got a garbage team – going forward at home at the minute is absolutely terrible. “We’ve spent £60m on Xavi Simons, £60m on Richarlison, £60m on Ndombele. The money we spend on some players… our recruitment is an absolute disgrace.”

Not only that, but Dominic Solanke has been unable to overcome his persistent injury problems, with the striker missing 15 Spurs games already this season due to an ankle issue, and Mathys Tel has scored just two Premier League goals so far this season in the Englishman’s absence.

The Lilywhites need goals from somewhere if they are going to push for the Champions League places this season, and they have now made their first move to sign a new forward…

Tottenham submit opening offer for Athletic Club star Nico Williams

According to a report from Spain, Tottenham have now submitted a €70m (£62m) opening offer for Athletic Club forward Williams, matching the bid made by London rivals Chelsea, with both clubs confident they will be able to finalize a deal soon.

The 23-year-old’s future at the Spanish club is now up in the air, with Spurs looking to triple his salary, having emerged as serious contenders for the winger’s signature, given that he is viewed as a perfect fit for their forward line.

The north Londoners are trying to get a deal done in the January transfer window, and there is every indication the Athletic Club star could be a real difference-maker in their bid to secure Champions League football for the second season running.

Perhaps the Spaniard’s most impressive attribute is his dribbling, averaging 3.33 successful take-ons per 90 over the past year, which places him in the 99th percentile, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers, while also ranking in the 90th percentile for progressive carries.

Lauded as “world-class” by journalist Zach Lowy, the 30-time Spain international has also made a promising start to the season in La Liga, chipping in with two goals and two assists in nine matches for Athletic Club.

With a number of Tottenham’s current attackers struggling, including Simons, who is yet to score since making the move to north London, bringing in a new winger in January might be necessary, and Williams has proven he could be an excellent addition to Frank’s squad.

Nico Williams has been named as one of the best wingers in the world The Best 15 Wingers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best wide man in world football right now?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 28, 2025

It might go against everything you’d expect to see from a right wing-back, although the decision to deploy Amad in that role is currently working wonders for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United, with the Ivorian striking up a devastating partnership with Bryan Mbeumo in recent weeks.

The presence of two left-footers both seeking to cut inside had caused problems in the early knockings of the campaign, not least when they collided in the area in the opening day defeat to Arsenal, with doubts creeping in over whether the duo were simply too similar to thrive together in tandem.

Since the win over Sunderland, however, in which the pair showed shades of Yorke and Cole with their interchanges, this right-wing pairing has simply taken off, with the two men combining at Anfield and at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For all the question marks over Amad’s defensive prowess, having been caught out for Morgan Gibbs-White’s header at the City Ground, the 23-year-old is certainly making up for those shortcomings by dominating proceedings at the top end of the pitch.

That impact has no doubt been highlighted even further by the issues on the other flank, with Amorim still yet to find a permanent solution at left wing-back.

Man Utd's solutions at left wing-back

Heading into the January window, this might be an area that Jason Wilcox and co look to strengthen again, amid links to the likes of Inter’s Federico Dimarco, despite having seemingly solved that problem almost 12 months ago.

Indeed, the addition of Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu looked to have handed Amorim a perfect fit for this system, with the versatile Dane having previously featured as a winger, as well as at full-back, making him ideal for a rampaging left-sided role.

Perhaps as to be expected for a player who only recently turned 21, however, Dorgu is undoubtedly still a work in progress, a fact heightened most notably at the Etihad, where he had the most touches in the opposition box for United (12), yet had little to show for it.

An improved display did follow last time out against Spurs, having won nine duels in total, although that rawness to his game was seen in the final third, as he lost possession 24 times, as per Sofascore.

That is perhaps why Amorim had turned to Diogo Dalot as an unorthodox option prior to that, albeit with the Portuguese full-back not exactly shining in that role either, having been caught out for Nicolo Savona’s goal against Nottingham Forest.

The 26-year-old, as is to be expected for a right-footer, looks distinctly uncomfortable on that flank, forced to cut in repeatedly, rather than burst into potential space ahead of him down the left.

There is something of a wildcard option in the form of summer arrival, Diego Leon, although the 18-year-old – who did score a stunning solo goal for the U21s against Spurs – is still finding his feet in the youth ranks, having yet to make a competitive senior appearance.

The Paraguayan, thankfully, isn’t the only teenage sensation that Amorim can turn to in the near future.

How Man Utd can replace Dorgu

It will take more than one transfer window to get this squad where both Amorim and INEOS want it to be, although the Old Trafford side can’t simply rely on incomings and investment – the academy set-up also needs to be utilised.

Perhaps in midfield, the Portuguese coach could look to a player like 17-year-old sensation, Jim Thwaites, while at wing-back, a future star is brewing in the form of 18-year-old, Harry Amass.

The ex-Watford starlet – who made his senior debut last season against Leicester City – ended 2024/25 with seven senior appearances to his name under Amorim, having most notably come off the bench in the 5-4 thriller against Lyon in the Europa League.

Tipped to be “Luke Shaw’s successor” by journalist Alex Turk – with Shaw himself singling out his compatriot as one to watch – Amass has long been tipped for a starring role in the first-team, a fact only heightened by his displays out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

The teenager joined the struggling side on loan over the summer, having since gone on to make a real impression for the Owls, notably netting a delightful strike from range in the recent defeat to Southampton.

That effort showcased everything Amorim would surely want from a wing-back, as Amass took it upon himself to drive into the centre of the pitch, before providing a real quality end product.

Lauded as “one of the most exciting teenage full-backs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the diminutive talent has started all 11 games since moving to Hillsborough, with ten of those seeing him play the full 90 minutes.

Games (starts)

11 (11)

Goals

1

Assists

0

Big chances created

2

Key passes*

0.7

Pass accuracy*

79%

Successful dribbles*

1.4

Total duels won*

50%

Tackles & interceptions

3.2

Such is the success of that loan spell so far, in which he has featured in a left midfield or left wing-back berth, there is already talk of further moves between the clubs, with United academy stars such as Victor Musa and Gabriele Biancheri in line to potentially follow him to Sheffield.

Whether Amass does actually see out the season in his temporary home remains to be seen, however, with recent reports revealing that there is the presence of a break clause in January, ensuring he could return to United in the New Year.

Should that occur, it would likely be with another loan in mind, although with neither Dorgu nor Dalot nailing down that left-sided role this season, Amorim should certainly consider bringing Amass back into the fold.

Their own Wharton: Man Utd teen looks like he's "stepped out of La Masia"

Manchester United could save themselves millions in the transfer window, by looking for an in-house Adam Wharton.

ByRobbie Walls Nov 14, 2025

A rapid powerplay meant the Afghanistan batters were never troubled during their chase of 126

Alagappan Muthu31-Oct-2025Afghanistan cruised to a series victory over Zimbabwe, with Ibrahim Zadran backing up a disciplined bowling performance with a half-century of his own. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Abdollah Ahmadzai and Rashid Khan had limited the hosts to 125 all out in Harare, setting up a straight-forward chase.

Mujeeb stifles

Zimbabwe tried to do the right thing. Their batters realised the importance of getting set. They attempted to regroup when wickets fell. There was no collapse this time, but there was no redemption either.Opener Dion Myers looked to be doing well against Mujeeb, only to sweep him straight to short fine. He was aiming to clear the fielder because there was no one in the deep. Good plan. Bad execution.Brendan Taylor was less adventurous, perhaps wanting to make amends for a low-percentage shot that led to a first-ball dismissal on Wednesday. But Mujeeb kept building pressure. It was the last over of the powerplay. Zimbabwe were 34 for 2, having only hit three boundaries. Trying to exploit the field restrictions before they ran out, Taylor was caught at mid-off, trying to hit the bowler over his head.Zimbabwe had the best of intentions. It didn’t stop them backfiring.

Abdollah the enforcer

The pitch was slightly on the slower side – except whenever Abdollah came on to bowl. The 22-year-old fast bowler is all hustle and bustle, hitting the deck and troubling batters with bounce. Ryan Burl, who was in the middle of patching things up with his captain Sikandar Raza, fell trying to swat one of Abdollah’s well-directed short balls off his face. Zimbabwe slipped to 57 for 4. They couldn’t score more than a run a ball in seven of the first 10 overs.Sikander Raza held Zimbabwe’s innings together•Zimbabwe Cricket

Raza’s resistance

Raza tried to do his best to shepherd the innings forward. He came in during the fifth over and showed that run-scoring was still possible, hitting two fours off his first two balls – though both of them were overpitched and allowed him the freedom of his super fast hands. His best shot was an inside out, one-bounce four over extra cover, against a yorker gone wrong from Abdollah.All this happened while the Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan was tending to an injury to his right hand in the field. He had only bowled one over till then. When he picked the ball back up in the 17th, he knocked over Raza, which left the score at 104 for 6, and then ran through the tail. Zimbabwe’s highest partnership was just 24 runs.

Ibrahim anchors the chase

Afghanistan ransacked nine boundaries in the powerplay, three times as many as their opposition. Some of that was good strokeplay. The rest of it was just Zimbabwe offering what every batter wants on a sluggish pitch – width and the chance to get under the ball.Ibrahim Zadran helped himself to back-to-back T20I fifties, though this one was a little more hard work. Afghanistan went 43 balls without a boundary after the powerplay but they’d done enough damage while the field was up, scoring 54 of the required 126.Questions remain over Afghanistan’s middle order. Sediqullah Atal – who had turned his right ankle while fielding and required attention – and Darwish Rasooli combined to score just 25 runs in 32 balls through the middle overs.

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O São Paulo visita o Cobresal-CHI nesta quarta-feira (8), pela quarta rodada da fase de grupos da Copa Libertadores. A bola rola a partir das 21h30 (de Brasília), no Estádio Zorros del Desierto, em Calama, no Chile, com transmissão da Globo e do Paramount+.

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Aposte R$100 no Lance! Betting e ganhe R$384 se o São Paulo vencer os dois tempos contra o Cobresal

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

No Lance! Betting, as odds apontam 1,58 para vitória do Tricolor, 4,03 para o duelo terminar empatado e 5,95 para o triunfo do Cobresal.

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
Cobresal x São Paulo – Libertadores
4ª rodada – Fase de grupos

🗓️ Data e horário: quarta-feira, 8 de março de 2024, às 21h30 (hora de Brasília)
📍 Local: Estádio Zorros del Desierto, em Calama (CHI)
📺 Onde assistir: Globo e Paramount+

➡️ Assine o Star+ e acompanhe o melhor da Libertadores quando e onde quiser!  

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

COBRESAL (Técnico: Gustavo Huerta)
Requena; Pacheco, Bechtholdt, Alarcón e Sandoval; Navarro, Mesias, Munder e García (Valencia); Diego Coelho, Lezcano.

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SÃO PAULO (Técnico: Zubeldía)
Rafael; Igor Vinícius, Arboleda, Diego Costa e Welington; Pablo Maia, Alisson, James e Luciano; Ferreira e Calleri.

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Futebol NacionalLibertadoresOnde assistirSão Paulo

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O Corinthians observa o Flamengo buscando a contratação do volante Maycon e, teoricamente, possui uma chance de melar a negociação.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

➡️ Tudo sobre o Mengão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Flamengo

O Shakhtar Donetsk, da Ucrânia, detém os direitos econômicos do volante e teria aceitado a oferta do Rubro-Negro. Agora, o Timão tem até 48 horas para exercer sua preferência e igualar a proposta para adquirir o meio-campista em definitivo.

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

Os dois dias que o Corinthians possui como prazo são justamente os maiores aliados do clube nas tratativas entre Maycon e Flamengo. Isso porque na quinta-feira (7) a janela de transferências brasileira fecha, e os clubes do país poderão registrar novos jogadores apenas na metade do ano. Em teoria, o tempo hábil para regularizar o atleta seria curto, o que dificultaria a tratativa.

O caso do volante não se aplica à “janela extra” disponibilizada pela CBF, que disponibiliza um prazo até o dia 1 de abril para atletas que seguirem na disputa dos estaduais possam acertar com outros clubes ao fim dos torneios. Como o Corinthians não é dono dos direitos de Maycon, e sim o Shakhtar, o prazo para transferência ao Flamengo seria até quinta-feira.

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Revelado nas categorias de base do Timão, o meio-campista está em seu terceiro ano de empréstimo no clube. Titular absoluto, ele soma 11 partidas na temporada, marcou dois gols e deu duas assistências.

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CorinthiansFlamengo

By winning the World Cup, they have lived up to long-held expectations, taken their place in the mainstream, and made a statement for their sport

Sidharth Monga11-Nov-2025In the warm, fuzzy afterglow of India Women‘s World Cup win, I have found myself thinking of Vinesh Phogat.For two days last year, she made us learn all about the cruelty and finality of the weigh-in rules in Olympic wrestling. How athletes artificially lose weight through extreme dehydration before the weigh-in, then load up to regain strength for the bout, and then lose weight again before the weigh-in for the next round. If they miss their target weight at any point – even by 100 grams, as Phogat did after making the final, along the way ending Yui Susaki’s 82-match winning streak – they are disqualified. Over those two days we learnt all about the appeals process. We went from the ecstasy of anticipating a rare Olympic medal for India to denial to conspiracy theories to finally accepting the heartbreak.Less than a year later, Phogat is a forgotten sportsperson. She won a legislative assembly election in Haryana, but who remembers her outside her constituency? And it didn’t take long for the country to go from championing women’s sport to tainting Phogat’s participation in MeToo protests against the Indian wrestling federation boss of the time.Related

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Women's World Cup final equals viewership record of 2024 Men's T20 World Cup final

A culmination for India Women, a beginning for India's women

The women’s cricket team seemed headed for a similar fate when they failed to close out their league match against England from a dominant position. Some influential reporters and popular social media influencers led what can only be called a nasty tweetstorm against these women, who were losing seemingly despite everything Jay Shah had done for them.This was the wrath of the proverbial uncles, a term not limited to a certain gender or age group. Uncles, as described by filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee, who often portrays them as antagonists, can be identified by their apathy, love for dictator-style leaders, and veiled bigotry. These uncles will stand for so-called pay parity for women sportspersons only if the women win. They will post against female infanticide only when women win medals. They will support only the perfect victim, not one who overshoots by 100 grams despite nearly killing herself to make the desired weight.The night India lost to England and their qualification for the semi-final became reliant on beating New Zealand, these patriarchs began to warm up. They wanted the women cut to size.This abuse of the women’s cricket team roused a larger audience into supporting them, in addition to their already large, organically built support base. The Bucket Hat Cult, for example, follow the women’s team, are acknowledged by the players, and are not a commercial tour organiser of the sort that fan armies generally tend to turn into.The women respond with more than lip service to anyone who cares. They have gone to a hospital to check on a journalist who covered them and was fighting terminal illness. They have written a rap song for their captain’s 100th match. They make silly reels. Their social media is full of photos and videos of their pets. They go crazy over an opponent’s baby. They are more like you and me than arguably any other sportsperson we have followed. Just with the extra ability and drive to be high-performance athletes. Following them and cheering them on gave an outlet to fans who perhaps felt outnumbered in the saturated land of men’s cricket, where it is not possible for players to share any more than they do.A win for us all: fans celebrate the World Cup title in Mumbai•Hindustan Times via Getty ImagesAll of a sudden, though, the women were representing not just the diehard hipsters who have kept the flame burning, but everyone in the country who has been cut to size by patriarchy. Every woman whose father will spend millions on her wedding but not on her higher education. Every girl who has seen her brother get away with much more than she can. Every woman who is taunted for choosing to not marry. Even men whose dreams have been considered too big; patriarchy might be practised by men but it affects both sexes. Every father who, like Amanjot Kaur’s carpenter dad, faces ridicule for supporting his daughter’s dream. Everybody who has been told they are a failure “despite being given everything”.Imagine the outrage if India hadn’t beaten Australia in the semi-final. Or worse still, not made it to the semi-final. Imagine the price they would have to pay for everything “given” to them. A tournament organised as an apology, away from premier venues, announced so late it became near impossible for travelling fans to attend. A misleading term, “pay parity”, that extended only to match fees, which are a minuscule part of what players earn. A stable coaching and selecting unit.To be fair to the BCCI under Jay Shah (and Sourav Ganguly, who pushed for better retainers and the WPL as BCCI president), it has taken steps to help women’s cricket grow. The WPL has perhaps improved players’ temperament, but India was still the third country, behind Australia and England, to have a women’s league despite boasting the biggest consumer base. Retainers have given players some financial security, but administrators don’t pay out of their pocket. Shah and Ganguly possibly faced internal resistance from a board that is apathetic at best. Shah probably deserves credit for finally overriding this apathy, but this bare minimum is well short of what the richest board in the world should be investing in women’s cricket.The very sport they were fighting for tested India thoroughly. They won just one toss in the entire tournament. The pitches didn’t neutralise their opponents. They lost their second-highest run-getter to injury. One of their three must-win matches was against Australia, who had last lost in a World Cup eight years ago. A team that had beaten India despite scores of 281 and 330 leading up to this match. Australia then asked them to mount a world-record chase in order to play the final.Some magic took place that Thursday night at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, entering which had been a nightmare for fans when it rained earlier in the tournament. Jemimah Rodrigues, whose dismissal in the corresponding fixture in the 2023 T20 World Cup started a collapse that resulted in India falling just five short of Australia, muttered verses from the Bible under her breath as she overcame her anxiety to play an innings that, to repeat Zohran Mamdani’s quoting of Jawaharlal Nehru, comes but rarely in history. Her interview immediately after offered a rare window into the mind and heart of a human being who happened to be a high-performance athlete. Harmanpreet went from Kaur to Thor just as the asking rate started to get out of hand. Richa Ghosh provided the finishing touches as she would in the final.

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