Usman Khawaja hopes to start forging something good with Sam Konstas in the West Indies in the lead up to the Ashes

Andrew McGlashan24-Jun-20251:10

Head not fazed by big-name absences

Usman Khawaja won’t overstay his welcome in the Australia team but is adamant he has more to contribute and sees a significant role for himself in helping nurture Sam Konstas on his return to Test cricket against West Indies.Khawaja scored a career-best double-century earlier this year against Sri Lanka but his form returned to the spotlight with twin failures against Kagiso Rabada in the World Test Championship final. That continued a trend of lean returns against pace bowling following the challenges posed by Jasprit Bumrah last season and New Zealand’s quicks earlier in 2024. However, speaking after Lord’s, head coach Andrew McDonald all but confirmed that Khawaja’s position was secure for the Ashes later this year.Khawaja, who was the second-highest-scoring opener in the last WTC cycle, behind Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Australia’s leading scorer overall, stands by his longer-term record and believes any downturn is more a symptom of his role in the side at a time when top-order batting has been a challenging prospect. Since the start of 2024 he averages 25.29 against pace, only a little below the global average of all openers of 27.84, compared to 65.80 against spin.Related

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“I can’t understand how I can [have a problem against seam bowling] if I can score so many runs in [Sheffield] Shield cricket or be the highest run-scorer for Australia in the WTC cycle,” he said in Barbados ahead of the opening Test. “I open the batting for Australia. So I get out to seam more than I get out to anyone else. It’s just part and parcel of the game.”I wish I could face more spinners, but you don’t always get that opportunity. So, I’m facing the new-ball bowlers with the new ball every single time. I went back from Sri Lanka to domestic cricket and scored a hundred against Tasmania. I pretty much faced seam the whole time there [and] against Riley Meredith, who is one of the fastest bowlers in the country.””I understand I’m 38 years old. People will be looking for an excuse. [But] I think I’ve got a role to play: open the batting, starting off, and setting a good platform for Australia.”Since David Warner’s retirement in early 2024, Khawaja has had five opening partners: Steven Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Konstas, Travis Head and, latterly, Marnus Labuschagne in the WTC final. Khawaja spoke of the rapport he built with Warner in their 41 innings together at the top, which included almost a sixth sense of what the other was thinking – “I knew when and where he was going to drop and run a quick single, and I was ready for it” – and hoped to start forging something similar with Konstas in the West Indies with an eye to the Ashes.”With young Sammy coming in, it’s an added role [for me],” he said. “To help Sammy along through his journey, trying to impart as much knowledge as I can. I won’t be around forever. But it’s very important that I can do whatever I can, obviously first and foremost, [to] have a solid partnership between us but then bit of stability at the top [and] also guide him through this journey. He’s still very young, he’s a 19-year-old boy, and it’s quite exciting.”There’s obviously this series and then a big Ashes coming up. [You] probably want a little bit of stability at the top. It’ll be tough to chop and change, and opening is a tough place. Mentally it can be very tough. Going out there against the new ball and sometimes just getting a good ball and low scores.Australia are hoping Sam Konstas is the answer to the spot left vacant by David Warner•Getty Images

“I’m just looking forward to playing with Sammy, as much as on the field as helping him off the field. I’ve been through a lot in my life, a lot of ups and downs. There are lots of things I’ve seen throughout my career and most of them are not technical. More mindset things. If I can help Sammy through this journey, especially over the next couple of series, try and impart as much knowledge I can to him.”The Sydney Test at the end of the Ashes is often referenced as a stepping-off point for Khawaja but, unlike Warner, he is not outlining a precise route to retirement. After the England series, Australia won’t play Tests again until Bangladesh visit for a series in the Top End in August.”For me, I feel like I have plenty to give still,” he said. “To be playing this series and the Ashes is the pinnacle. That’s the one we all love winning and being involved in… after that there is a bit of a gap between that and the next Test series. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there but for me it’s about making sure I stay in the moment. Because if I’m not in the moment, I don’t think I’m doing the right thing by myself and the team.”I’m not the guy who’s going, ‘I want to play for another ten years’. I’m very attuned to whatever is best for the team [and that] is what I’m trying to do. I’m not here for myself anymore. I’m here for the team. I could have stopped playing two years ago, really. But I found that I was still contributing, still trying to be the best player for the team at that opening spot, trying to do what I can do, [and] that hasn’t changed for me. When it does, you guys will surely find out.”

Bess Heath demonstrated maturity aplenty to carry Durham to a four-wicket victory over Somerset in the Vitality Blast women’s competition at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.Chasing 139 to win, the visitors were indebted to the 23-year-old middle order batter, who scored 38 not out from 25 balls under pressure to help the visitors reach their target with 11 deliveries to spare. Suzie Bates top-scored with 49, while Somerset seamer Mollie Robbins returned figures of 3 for 22 in a losing cause.Put into bat, Somerset were in good shape at 75 for 2, thanks to knocks of 36 and 31 from Bex Odgers and Niamh Holland respectively. But Sophia Turner and Mady Villiers claimed two wickets apiece as Somerset lost their way during the middle overs, and it required a breezy 31 from Amanda-Jade Wellington to haul the cider county to a modest 138 for 7.Durham have now won two of their six games in the short format, but Somerset remain without a victory and continue to prop up the table.Eager to make amends with the bat following a series of modest scores, Somerset made a disappointing start, Amelie Munday chasing a wide delivery from Grace Thompson and finding backward point in the opening over. Doing her best to redress the balance, Odgers pulled Lauren Filer for six, while Holland twice drove Thompson to the boundary as the powerplay gathered momentum.Katie Levick’s legspin proved expensive as Durham struggled to stem the flow of runs in the face of aggressive batting from Somerset’s second-wicket pair, Holland ramping Filer for another six as the partnership realised 50. The stand was worth 58 when Holland, having contributed a progressive 31 from 20 balls, attempted to drive Villiers over the top and found long-on with the score 63 for 2 in the eighth.Odgers advanced her score to 36 from 33 balls and had a half-century in her sights, only to then dance down the pitch to Sophia Turner and be comprehensively stumped by Mia Rogers as Somerset slipped to 75 for 3 at the halfway stage.Sensing an opportunity to apply pressure, the experienced Bates and Levick successfully restricted the scoring and Sophie Luff and Fran Wilson, tied down and unable to find the boundary, both succumbed to frustration as the home side slipped to 91 for 5. Charlie Dean came and went quickly, removed by Levick, as Durham continued to turn the screw and Somerset were 102 for 6 when Wellington joined Alex Griffiths in the middle.Again cast in the role of saviours, the seventh-wicket pair dug their team out of a hole, adding 36 from 22 balls to disrupt the opposition bowlers and carry Somerset to their highest short-format total of the season so far. Adept at working the field, Australia international Wellington scored 31 off 17 balls and accrued five fours, while Griffiths finished unbeaten on 11.Somerset needed early wickets and Robbins removed Leah Dobson for 11 in the fifth, but the indefatigable Bates proved an altogether different proposition. The New Zealand international dominated the reply, contributing four boundaries in a powerplay that yielded 49 and staging an opening stand of 38 with Dobson to afford the chase solid foundations.Villiers took on Wellington’s legspin, harvesting a brace of fours before falling to the Australian with the score 49 for 2, but Hollie Armitage proved obdurate in contributing 14 at a run a ball in an alliance of 38 for the third wicket with Bates. Griffiths bowled Armitage to give the home side renewed hope and, when Robbins had Bates caught at mid-on in the 13th, Durham were 87 for 4, needing a further 52 at 6.5 an over with two new batters at the crease.Robbins was enjoying herself and she induced Rogers to hole out to Griffiths in the deep to further reduce the visitors to 93 for 5, at which point the contest was back in the balance. Katherine Fraser was run out by Griffiths for 10 to set-up a potentially interesting finish, but Heath demonstrated sound temperament in an unbroken stand of 20 with Thompson to settle the outcome.

Fast bowler currently rehabbing after undergoing knee surgery in March

Vithushan Ehantharajah20-Jun-2025Mark Wood says he could yet make an appearance in England’s Test series against India as he steps up his rehabilitation after knee surgery.Wood, the 35-year-old, limped out of the Champions Trophy earlier this year with medial ligament damage in his left knee, and underwent an operation in March. The initial prognosis was for a four-month recovery period, which effectively ruled him out of featuring in the five Tests against Shubman Gill’s India, which began at Headingley on Friday.However, Wood has now revealed he could be in with a shout for the final Test, at the Kia Oval, which begins on July 31. It is understood he will make his competitive comeback for Durham in their County Championship fixture away to Somerset, a round with the Kookaburra ball in use, which begins on July 22.Related

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“Rehab is going well,” Wood told BBC Test Match Special. “I’ve just started bowling very lightly, so I’m on the comeback trail now officially.”I’m hoping still to play a part in this series, so I get to have a look at some of the players here who I might come up against. I’m still targeting probably the last Test. Anything before that is maybe a bit too soon. The last Test, I might not get there, but at the minute that’s still my focus that I might play a part.”It’s been a bit slow [coming back] to start with. I haven’t been able to do a lot, but starting to speed up now, getting some bowling in, hopefully not too much longer. [I am] still hoping that I can play a part right at the end of the series, but I’ll just wait and see.”England will be cautious with Wood given the Ashes tour of Australia on the horizon, and the fact their pace options have been limited by injury. Olly Stone’s own knee injury ruled him out of the entire Test season, while Gus Atkinson was not available for the first India Test after suffering a hamstring strain against Zimbabwe.Meanwhile, Jofra Archer’s carefully managed return continues, with the England management optimistic he could be available for the second Test in Birmingham, starting on July 2, whetting the appetite for a potential Test comeback after four years out batting stress fractures of the back and right elbow.The expectation is that Archer will turn out for Sussex against Durham from Sunday, having last played competitive red-ball cricket in May 2021.

Friday features a jam-packed slate of Major League Baseball action, and there are plenty of ways to bet in the prop market with so many teams playing. 

I’ve narrowed down my picks for Friday’s slate to just three, with two starting pitchers and one red-hot hitter getting the nod. 

The game of the night on Friday is likely between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge may need to have a big game after Juan Soto exited Thursday night’s contest with left forearm discomfort. 

Judge is one of the three players I’m targeting tonight, so let’s dive into the picks for June 7: 

Best MLB Prop Bets for Friday, June 7

• Chris Sale to Record a Win (-110)
• Aaron Judge OVER 0.5 Walks (-125)
• Griffin Canning UNDER 4.5 Strikeouts (-125)

Chris Sale to Record a Win (-110)

Atlanta Braves lefty Chris Sale is coming off a rough outing to open June, allowing eight earned runs in four innings against the A’s, but I think he’s due for a bounce-back showing against the Washington Nationals on Friday.

Sale was terrific in May, allowing just two earned runs across five starts (32.0 innings of work), so I’m not reading too much into his clunker to start June.

The Braves are 8-3 in Sale’s 11 starts this season, and he’s earned the decision in every win, posting an 8-1 record. Prior to his last outing, Sale had earned the win in seven consecutive starts.

Rather than laying the price on the Braves moneyline, I like taking Sale to earn the win against a Washington team that struggles against left-handed pitching, ranking 27th in MLB in OPS.

Aaron Judge OVER 0.5 Walks (-125)

Judge and Soto have been the best duo in baseball this season, but if Soto misses this game – or extended time – Judge may see less pitches to hit going forward.

As it is, Judge has drawn at least one walk in five straight games, and he’s racked 52 total walks in 64 games so far in 2024. 

Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto doesn’t walk a ton of hitters (just 14 in 12 starts), but I can’t imagine he’ll look to attack Judge every at bat with Soto likely out of the lineup on Friday. 

Judge has been great at drawing walks and getting on base for years, so I’ll gladly take him at this price on Friday. 

Griffin Canning UNDER 4.5 Strikeouts (-125)

Los Angeles Angels starter Griffin Canning has a tough matchup on Friday, as he’s taking on the Houston Astros, who strikeout a league-low 6.83 times per game this season.

Canning has cleared 4.5 strikeouts in just four of his 12 outings in 2024, and he struck out just two Houston batters across five innings in his first outing against the Stros this season. 

Overall, Canning ranks in just the 13th percentile in strikeout percentage this season, so I don’t see him racking up a huge number on this prop against the least strikeout prone offense in the league.

Paris Saint-Germain summer signing Lucas Chevalier is aware of the demands and the subsequent criticism at his new club if he fails to meet the expectations. The former Lille goalkeeper, who replaced Gianluigi Donnarumma in a team that lifted the Champions League last season, admitted that any player who underperforms at Paris Saint-Germain gets "put six feet under."

Chevalier signed as Donnarumma exits PSG

PSG made a shock move for Chevalier over the summer, signing him from Lille for a €40 million (£34m/$47m) fee. This came after reports during the summer claimed that PSG had informed Donnarumma that he would no longer remain the first-choice goalkeeper, with head coach Luis Enrique wanting to sign a new goalkeeper that fit the requirements of his system. Eventually, Donnarumma departed Parc des Princes and joined Manchester City in the Premier League.

AdvertisementAFPChevalier's first few months at PSG haven't been spotless

Chevalier has started the 2025–26 season as Luis Enrique’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, but his performances have at times fallen short of expectations. The former Lille star has shown moments of lapses in concentration and made questionable decisions, underscoring the need for further experience to thrive at a club of PSG’s stature.

That vulnerability was on full display at the Stade Velodrome in the 1-0 loss to Marseille in September, when Chevalier failed to deal with a cross from the right, allowing Nayef Aguerd to rise unchallenged and score with a commanding header. The goalkeeper was neither close to the ball nor in control, his right arm flailing and his back turned. The early strike immediately put PSG on the back foot, handing Marseille the chance to dictate the tempo of the match.

Chevalier’s struggles have not been limited to that encounter. In PSG’s 3–3 draw against Strasbourg, he was again culpable for costly errors, leaving the team exposed at critical moments. His performance drew scathing criticism from former France goalkeeper Lionel Charbonnier.

"He's not doing enough. He didn't do the job. In the first goal, at first I thought it was a complicated header and after analysing it, he was moving backwards. He shouldn't be moving backwards, he should be moving forwards," the 1998 World Cup-winning keeper told after the defeat to Roberto De Zerbi's side.

"He's leaning back, so he's jumping backwards and that's unacceptable. "On the second goal, he tried to stretch his leg out, his studs got caught in the turf. For me, for the moment, the suit is too big for Chevalier. You put it with his performances at Lille, he doesn't concede the two goals. He's very small. When you look at him, you get the impression that the goal is huge. He doesn't have the charisma at the moment. But he will grow, we have to give him time."

Chevalier learning to deal with the demands at PSG

Speaking to , Chevalier explained that he's slowly starting to adjust to life at PSG. "Everything is scrutinised, you can't afford to make a mistake, you have to be good right away," he said. "Honestly, they look for the little things… Good is normal. Not-so-good isn't. But ultimately, it's good to have that from the start. I think that when you're very good here, you're really put on a pedestal, more so than at Lille. But if you're not good, you're put six feet under.

"I'm feeling better and better. My arrival really accelerated in the last few days, and we immediately started preparing for the European Super Cup against Tottenham. So, the first few months, at least the first month and a half, there was a bit of discomfort. I was still staying in a hotel. And I'm quite a creature of habit, quite methodical, and at that point, it was a bit of a free-for-all. At the very beginning, it wasn't easy in general. But now, I'm starting to get into a routine, whether it's at the club, how I train, or outside of it."

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AFPLuis Enrique has complete faith in Chevalier

Ahead of PSG's clash against Bayer Leverkusen last month, Luis Enrique leapt to Chevalier's defence. He said: "It's the same every year, I'm very happy with your feelings. I'm very happy with Lucas Chevalier! For me he's one of the best options or THE best option. I'm very happy with his performances. And when we recruit a player, we think over a long period of time.

"And what I can say about Lucas Chevalier is that I like his personality, his level as player. We are very confident that he will be very important to the team for many years to come. That is the confidence we have in our player, and especially for me, when I see Lucas Chevalier's performance during these matches, I see what I want to see. And for me, that is enough."

Luis Enrique also voiced his disapproval of the media’s treatment of both Chevalier and Donnarumma. The PSG manager acknowledged that Donnarumma had faced considerable media criticism during his time at the club but conceded that such scrutiny is an inevitable aspect of playing for a club of Les Parisiens' stature.

"He has personality, he showed it and he still shows it in training and in matches. What I like… I think you don't remember for how many years you criticized Gigio Donnarumma. I remember perfectly!" he added. "The last four years, you killed him. You killed Gigio Donnarumma sportingly. So please… even when I wasn't the coach of Paris Saint-Germain. I felt all the time that you criticised Gigio Donnarumma. When you are a goalkeeper of a club like Paris Saint-Germain, you have to learn to live with that."

A “wonderful” midfielder has now made a significant decision regarding a potential move to Manchester United in the January transfer window.

Man Utd need long-term replacement for Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has continued to be a talismanic figure for the Red Devils, captaining impressively and maturing into a more experienced head alongside younger teammates.

The Portuguese is now 31 years of age, however, and while his durability and lack of injury problems means he should be able to go on for plenty more years, United have to make sure they have a plan in place to find a successor eventually.

Bruno now has less than two years remaining on his current Red Devils deal, with Fabrizio Romano providing an update about a potential release clause.

Man Utd target makes big transfer call

According to The Mirror, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham has decided against joining Manchester United in January, having “no interest” in heading to Old Trafford on loan for the time being.

The Englishman only joined the Bundesliga side in a £27m move in the summer window, but he has struggled for playing time, being linked with a move away in the process.

Bellingham is the type of player who United should be viewing as a possible Bruno replacement one day, albeit in a slightly more disciplined midfield role, with the 20-year-old following in the footsteps of his brother Jude by heading to Dortmund in the summer.

He starred for Sunderland last season, playing an important role in them sealing promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, and not only has he been compared to Frank Lampard by former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, but he is loved by his teammates.

“Listen, Jobe’s a wonderful player. I’m one of his biggest fans, more than his dad. Don’t tell him that. I think Jobe’s wonderful,” Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien said last season.

“He’s a wonderful addition. He even comes in at half-time to give his perspective. That’s how much he’s grown into the game. Even though he’s not playing, he’s in at half-time. We’re asking for his perspective on the game because he’s a leader in our team.”

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Bellingham is still so young that United shouldn’t consider this the end of the saga, and if he manages to get back on track and reaches his potential in the coming years, he needs to be viewed as a fantastic midfield option, bringing the box-to-box quality that Bruno does.

The managerial saga surrounding Rangers has been a mess at Ibrox, not just during their hunt for a new head coach but during Russell Martin’s ill-fated stint in Glasgow.

The former defender was relieved of his duties just hours after Rangers’ final game before the international break and the Gers hierarchy have been rather stressfully and frantically trying to find a replacement.

At first, it looked like Steven Gerrard would head back to Scotland. That move ultimately did not come to fruition. Next on the list was Danny Rohl, but he rejected advances.

So, the top brass at Rangers focused on Kevin Muscat instead. Currently with Shanghai Port, he had made it clear he was not willing to move before the Chinese Super League season had finished.

Yet, he was the clear frontrunner and was all set to take on the reins until things collapsed on Sunday.

Consequently, the Ibrox outfit headed back towards Rohl and thankfully, this time around they avoided any late twists. He was officially unveiled on Monday afternoon.

What does the future hold for them under the German? We’ve predicted what his starting lineup could look like, and there may be one or two new additions too.

1

GK – Jack Butland

Last season, during Barry Ferguson’s mixed interim tenure, he actually dropped previously undisputed first-choice goalkeeper Jack Butland, favouring Liam Kelly, who started both legs of the Europa League quarter-final against Athletic Club in April.

This season though, Butland has very much been restored as first-choice, starting 17 of the 18 fixtures, the League Cup win over third-tier Alloa the sole exception.

The highlight of his campaign, so far, has been saving a penalty from former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu against Genk, even if the Gers did lose that game anyway.

Butland has certainly been busy so far this season, particularly in the eight European ties, underling his quality, giving Rohl no reason to make a change.

2

RB – James Tavernier

He may divide opinion, but James Tavernier is a bona fide Rangers legend and, whatever supporters may say about him, he remains an integral figure in this team.

Already this season, the right-back has scored five goals across all competitions, netting four of the eight they have bagged in the Premiership.

Last Saturday, the club captain took his tally to 531 appearances and 135 goals for the club, still a pivotal figure in this team, at both ends of the pitch.

The 33-year-old was controversially left on the bench by Martin for crucial Champions League qualifiers against Viktoria Plzeň and Club Brugge, but he has since reiterated that he is undroppable.

3

CB – John Souttar

On paper, Rangers do actually have the makings of a solid centre-back pairing, not that they’re showing it very much this season.

Everyone connected with Scottish football has to be pleased to see John Souttar doing well given the injury misery he has endured, rupturing both anterior cruciate ligaments during his time at Hearts.

Last season, the 29-year-old managed to stay fit, accumulating 40 appearances, the most he’d ever managed in a campaign, so continues to be a solid contributor for both club and country, and should remain first-choice under Rohl.

4

CB – Derek Cornelius

Many of Rangers’ summer signings have been, to put it politely, underwhelming, underlined by the fact few feature in this dream XI.

However, one signing who, in the long run, will prove to be an excellent addition is Derek Cornelius.

After arriving on deadline day, before even making his debut in light blue, he gave Rangers supporters an amuse bouche of what he is capable of by scoring a sumptuous free-kick for Canada against Wales in Swansea.

Cornelius arrived from Ligue 1 giants Olympique de Marseille, following one season at Stade Vélodrome, having become something of a globe trotter, even at just 27 years old, having already played in Germany, Serbia, Canada, Greece, Sweden, France and now Scotland.

Since his debut against Hearts, Cornelius has started every match, instantaneously establishing himself as one of the first names on the team sheet, and he should very much remain that going forward.

5

LB – Max Aarons

If we’re being truthful, there is no dream solution to Rangers’ left-back conundrum.

Jayden Meghoma has started pretty much every match since arriving on loan from Brentford, but the 19-year-old has appeared out of his depth, really underlining his inexperience.

So, for now, Max Aarons would be the most solid solution, having filled in at left-back both during his career in general and this season.

In truth though, this’ll surely be one of the positions any manager seeks to strengthen come January.

6

CDM – Pierre Ekwah: new signing

According to a recent report, Rangers and Celtic are both interested in signing Pierre Ekwah.

The 23-year-old can play at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, and will certainly want to be on the move come January.

He spent last season on loan at Saint-Étienne from Sunderland, with les Verts making the move permanent for £5m over the summer, but this came after they had been relegated to Ligue 2.

Thus, reports claim that Ekwah has refused to play in France’s second-tier, thereby yet to feature at all this season, leaving him in the proverbial wilderness.

Highly rated from his time in Chelsea and West Ham’s academy, he may prove to be available at a cut-price and would represent an upgrade on someone like Joe Rothwell.

7

CM – Mohamed Diomandé

Ahead of the start of the new season, big things were expected of Mohamed Diomandé, who has so far endured something of a campaign to forget, albeit he’s not the only one.

The 23-year-old was sent off against Genk on the opening night of the Europa League, and his absence was felt as they were beaten 2-1 by Sturm Graz a week later.

He also sat out Saturday’s draw with Dundee United due to injury, but has certainly shown his quality in the past, so they’ll want him back in the line-up as soon as possible, possibly at the expense of Thelo Aasgaard.

8

CM – Nicolas Raskin

Likely to be World Cup-bound, Nicolas Raskin, has started four of Belgium’s last six qualifiers, including each of the last three, starting alongside Kevin De Bruyne, who isn’t bad, is he?

Despite this, Russell Martin decided he was surplus to requirements, leaving him out of four matches, not even on the bench for home games against Celtic and Hearts, with supporters choosing to side with Raskin, which is when the anti-Martin protests really ramped up.

Setting all that aside, the Belgian is clearly Rangers’ most talented player, named the club’s player of the year last season, so the new manager has to make him a central figure.

9

RW – Bobby Clark: new signing

It was actually reported earlier this week that Celtic were set to sign Bobby Clark from RB Salzburg for £6m, only for Brendan Rodgers to very much shut down those rumours. So, could the former Liverpool midfielder end up on the other side of Glasgow?

The 20-year-old, who made his senior debut at Liverpool, is currently on loan at Derby County, after a forgettable spell in Austria.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout describes him as a “roaming playmaker” who possesses “amazing technical quality” and can operate anywhere behind a striker, which sounds like exactly the type of player this Rangers team is lacking, does it not?

The fact he’s also been described as “the new Gazza” should also help convince those of a Rangers persuasion of his natural talent. He looks a fine replacement for Oliver Antman on the right flank.

10

LW – Djeidi Gassama

If only one Rangers player has shown glimpses of genuine quality this season, it has to be Djeidi Gassama.

After arriving from Sheffield Wednesday where he was managed by Rohl, he announced himself in style, scoring four goals in his first four appearances for the club, on target home and away against Panathinaikos in Champions League qualifying, before also bagging a double against Viktoria Plzeň in the following round.

The Frenchman has only scored once since, this also in Europe against Sturm Graz just before the international break, but is clearly a talented player that this current Rangers set-up is failing to get the best out of.

أدلى جاري نيفيل، لاعب مانشستر يونايتد السابق، والمحلل الرياضي الحالي بتصريحات بشأن هزيمة ليفربول أمام مانشستر سيتي، منتقدًا أداء أحد لاعبي فريق آرني سلوت، ووجه دانييل ستوريدج انتقادًا لنفس اللاعب.

وتعرض ليفربول للهزيمة من مانشستر سيتي بثلاثة أهداف دون مقابل، خلال مباراة الفريقين أمس الأحد على ملعب “الاتحاد” بالجولة الحادية عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

وقال نيفيل في تعليقه على قناة “سكاي سبورتس”: “إنه أداء مقلق للغاية لليفربول، إنه أسوأ أداء رأيته منهم منذ فترة طويلة، لقد خسروا كل معاركهم الفردية، كل واحدة منها، بدت أرجلهم ضعيفة في الشوط الأول”.

وأضاف: “كان أداء فيرجيل فان دايك غريبًا للغاية في الهدف الثاني لمانشستر سيتي، كان واقفًا هناك وترك الكرة تصطدم به، هناك حركة بسيطة من ساقه اليمنى ضربت حارس مرماه في مقتل”.

اقرأ أيضًا | روني ينتقد محمد صلاح بعد هزيمة ليفربول أمام مانشستر سيتي: ترك زميله معزولًا

وواصل: “سيشعر مشجعو ليفربول بالقلق، كان هناك قدر كبير من التفاؤل حول سوق الانتقالات، لكن هذا لم يحدث بعد، وهذه خيبة أمل كبيرة اليوم”.

كما شكك مهاجم ليفربول السابق دانيال ستوريدج في دفاع فان دايك في لحظة حاسمة من المباراة، مضيفًا: “قدم فيرجيل أداءً جيدًا، لكنه لم يكن حاسمًا”.

وأفاد: “كان أداء ليفربول ضعيفًا، توقعت تنظيمًا أفضل وضغطًا أفضل، توقعتُ أداءً أفضل بعد فوز ريال مدريد، لكن اللاعبين لم يُقدموا أداءً يُذكر”.

Manchester United look to be on an upward trajectory under INEOS and could now submit a sizeable bid for one of the world’s best attackers in January.

Man Utd summer signings deliver again in win over Brighton

Ruben Amorim has endured his fair share of criticism since arriving at Old Trafford. However, he will now feel vindicated in his decision not to change his complex 3-4-3 system after stringing together three consecutive Premier League victories.

Brighton & Hove Albion played some fine football at times at Old Trafford on Saturday. Nevertheless, this sometimes worked to their own detriment, and the Red Devils duly capitalised on a day where Bruno Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo were unrelenting.

False dawns have been a frustration in recent years, though this time feels different. There is a togetherness that seems to have been forged after a £225 million transfer spend at the club, and Gary Neville believes Matheus Cunha and Mbeumo’s previous experience of top-flight football has helped drastically amid both making an instant impact since arriving in Manchester.

He told Sky Sports: “With Cunha and Mbeumo, the risk of those signings was removed because in the sense they had played in the Premier League before and they had the hunger to deliver at a different level.

“Mbeumo looks like he belongs. He looks hungry and that he wants to score goals. Manchester United have something to build on. Cunha and Mbeumo will win a lot of matches for Manchester United.”

While the summer arrivals take a lot of the credit, January will be just as important if Manchester United want to make a fist of continental qualification.

Amorim could raid his old club Sporting to sign Ousmane Diomande, though he may also have designs on making a headline signing at the other end of the field.

Man Utd preparing bid for Rafael Leao

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are preparing a bid in excess of £87 million to sign Rafael Leao from AC Milan, while Liverpool and Manchester City are also lurking in the background, hoping to make their move.

Talks have been initiated with his camp, and the Serie A giants are unlikely to sell for any less than what the Red Devils are keen to put forward, and the final decision will be left with him to determine whether a transfer to the Premier League would be a smart move at this stage in his career.

Starting the campaign in fine form, Leao has scored four times in his opening five appearances across all competitions. Veteran AC Milan midfielder Luka Modric described him as a “truly fantastic” asset to the Rossoneri earlier this week, and it is easy to see why when you delve into his underlying numbers.

Fotmob shows that he has placed five of his nine shots on target in Serie A this season, providing evidence that his record in front of the target stems from acute awareness of his surroundings.

Ultimately, Leao is someone who could lift Manchester United into another dimension, though it remains to be seen whether they have the financial clarity to pull off such a move in mid-season.

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Tottenham Hotspur winger Mohammed Kudus has made an impressive start to life at the club since his move to North London from West Ham United in the summer transfer window.

The Ghana international has delivered one goal and four assists in seven appearances in the Premier League, per Sofascore, this season, which included a goal and an assist against Leeds United last weekend.

It remains to be seen whether or not he will provide consistent quality, though, as the forward ended last season with a return of just five goals and three assists for West Ham in the Premier League.

Whilst there are question marks over whether or not Kudus will produce consistent performances, it is worth thinking back to possibly one of the most consistent midfielders in the club’s modern history, Mousa Dembele.

What made Mousa Dembele a key player for Spurs

The Belgian midfielder, now 38, racked up 249 appearances in all competitions for the Lilywhites, per Transfermarkt, after his move from Fulham in the summer of 2012.

Dembele was never a central midfielder who was going to score and assist goals on a regular basis, as evidenced by his return of 10 goals and 11 assists, but he was an incredibly mobile talent who could get across the pitch to break up attacks defensively and keep play ticking on the ball.

Per WhoScored, he averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game throughout his career and only lost the ball through a miscontrol once per average, which speaks to both his combativeness and his ability to retain possession under pressure.

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He was so reliable and consistent defensively and on the ball under pressure from opposition players, which is why he was such a key player for Spurs for so many years in the engine room.

Whilst there is a question mark over Kudus’ consistency, there is another summer signing for Spurs who may be one of the club’s best signings since Dembele in the midfield, Joao Palhinha.

Why Joao Palhinha is one of Tottenham's best signings

The Portugal international arrived from Bayern Munich on an initial loan deal in the summer and already looks to be the best midfield signing made by the club since Dembele left in the summer of 2018.

Palhinha, whose work rate was dubbed “incredible” by reporter Kyle Bonn, has caught the eye with three goals in 11 appearances for Spurs this season, but it is his work off the ball that has been even more impressive.

The 30-year-old star, who previously excelled in the Premier League with Fulham, has been an enforcer at the base of the midfield for Thomas Frank this season, showcasing his immense tackling ability.

24/25

Joao Palhinha – 3.6

23/24

Destiny Udogie – 3.0

22/23

Yves Bissouma – 2.9

21/22

Cristian Romero – 2.8

20/21

Serge Aurier – 2.9

19/20

Japhet Tanganga

As you can see in the table above, he currently has the highest average of tackles made per game in the Premier League since the start of the 2018/19 season for Spurs, which was the club’s first year without Dembele in midfield.

This speaks to his ability to read the game, his desire to win the ball back, and his strength to complete the tackles successfully and consistently.

Palhinha averaged 5.0 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per 90 in his last full season for Fulham, per Sofascore, in the Premier League, which shows that he is a consistent defensive force in the middle of the park, and that he may have even higher levels to hit at Spurs.

Therefore, it is fair to suggest that the Portuguese star may be one of the club’s best midfield signings since Dembele because of the reliability and consistency that he brings to the team defensively.

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