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Soumya Sarkar again pushed up the order in latest of his many roles in the team

Mohammad Isam20-Mar-2021There have been two contrasting views about Soumya Sarkar. Among Bangladesh cricket’s decision-makers, he is believed to be the solution to many of the team’s batting problems. In the first ODI against New Zealand in Dunedin, Sarkar was sent in to bat at No. 3 in place of Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has been recently talked up as the batsman to be given a fair run at this position. Shanto made only 38 runs in Bangladesh’s last ODI series, but today Sarkar lasted just three balls before playing a strange dinky shot to be caught at cover. The other view about Sarkar is that he gets far too many opportunities as he is fitted into every gap that appears in the Bangladesh side. For much of the last 18 months, this group has been mostly correct.After he lost his regular place as an opener around 2018, the team management insisted on having Sarkar as a back-up option. He was flown into the middle of the 2018 Asia Cup campaign as a middle-order batsman. Against Afghanistan during the 2019 Test in Dhaka, Sarkar first opened the innings and then batted at No. 8.A few months later, the Bangladesh team management declared that he was their finisher in T20Is. However, he is yet to play a convincing innings in that position. More recently, his sudden inclusion in the second Test against West Indies sparked a major debate.In Bangladesh’s last international game, the second Test against West Indies last month, Sarkar was suddenly included in the side in place of Shakib Al Hasan even though the regular opener Saif Hassan was in the squad already. He ended up making only 0 and 13.The big – and generic – argument in favour of Sarkar is that he can play pace but it has become a bit hit-or-miss lately. Often the team management has failed to address that Sarkar hasn’t worked out his battles against deliveries outside the off stump.If the plan was to surprise the New Zealand attack, it was with a batsman who hasn’t dominated a pace attack in two years.In this game, Sarkar was walking into a cauldron of swing in the fifth over. Trent Boult had given Tamim Iqbal a memorable working over with unplayable, late-moving outswingers. Iqbal countered with a slashed six and started to look comfortable against Matt Henry at the other end, but Boult lulled him into missing an unsuspecting inswinger. Sarkar lasted all of three balls when he jabbed at one – rather softly – only to be caught at cover.

” Soumya was our sixth bowling option and he was well suited to bat at No. 3 in today’s team. He had played at No. 3 in New Zealand before.”Tamim Iqbal after the first ODI against New Zealand

It was a dismissal reminiscent of how he had missed a Tim Southee inswinger in the third ODI in Dunedin in 2019. On that occasion, Sarkar’s feet were stuck as he tried to waft at the ball that hit the top of off stump. In that game, Bangladesh were reduced to 2 for 3 in the third over, and despite a middle-order revival, went down by 88 runs. This time, they were bowled out for 131 to lose by eight wickets.After the match, Iqbal said that they had to pick Sarkar to be their sixth bowler, and from the XI they chose, only he had the capability to bat at No. 3 as he had done that before in New Zealand.”I know I had said that we are seeing Soumya at No. 7 but if you look at our combination, we didn’t have a sixth bowler,” Iqbal said. “[Mahmudullah] Riyad isn’t bowling because of his back injury. Soumya was our sixth bowling option and he was well suited to bat at No. 3 in today’s team. He had played at No. 3 in New Zealand before.”Soumya Sarkar has failed to make the most of an opportunity at the top of the order•BCBBangladesh’s top three had scored only 65 runs at an average of 7.22 in the ODI series two years ago. Their top order has struggled in New Zealand, averaging between 19 and 32.22 in the three ODI series since 2007. Iqbal has made three fifties in 13 innings while only Imrul Kayes has scored a century. There have also been only four 50-plus stands for the first two wickets.But it is in New Zealand that Bangladesh’s top three should have batted with more discipline. As batsmen used to pitches that offer almost nothing to new-ball bowlers, their real test is on pitches that are often lively – at least in the first hour. New Zealand have also consistently had one of the best bowling attacks in the world in the last two decades, and with Bangladesh’s only foray to that part of the world limited to New Zealand – having hardly ever played in Australia – doing well here should have always been on the top of their agenda.Instead, they have often promoted big-hitters like Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Ashraful, Sabbir Rahman and Sarkar at No 3. The plan is to blast through the new-ball, but it has almost always failed to give them a good platform.Since early last year, Sarkar has been considered as a big-hitter down the order. He has made a name for himself – even if inconsistently – for his attacking play against fast bowling. One of his most memorable knocks was a 149 against New Zealand in the Hamilton Test during the 2019 tour. But since then, he has had several roles in all three formats, enough to confuse him about his actual job.Ahead of their previous ODI series against West Indies in January, the Bangladesh team management were at pains to explain why they were giving Shakib’s batting spot to Shanto, a left-hander who was yet to transform his great domestic record to the highest level.Shanto, however, has made only 73 runs in five ODIs at No. 3 in the last 12 months. His most recent failures against West Indies – 38 runs in the three ODIs and 40 runs in two Tests – got him dropped for the first game in Dunedin.But Bangladesh have been quite impatient with their No. 3s over the last ten years, with not a single batsman having played more than 23 innings from that position. The biggest example of this impatience was how they ignored Shakib’s tremendous run of form at No. 3 during the 2019 World Cup.Certainly, Shakib’s 606 runs while averaging 86.57 played a major role in Bangladesh winning the three games in the World Cup. It gave their top order not just a settled look, but also consistent aggression with Iqbal and Sarkar often firing alongside Shakib. And in the past decade, overseas ODI series have often hinged a lot on how the top three have batted. When they have done well, it has had a positive effect on the team’s overall performance.The visitors may have to do a rethink about their top three, but how would even going back to Shanto, a young batsman who is yet to play a breakthrough knock, help a team that has already been battered in the first game?

The Guardians, despite their perennially small payroll, are a team that deals in outsized superlatives—the longest World Series drought, the longest no-hitter drought, and the largest in-season comeback in baseball history.

Despite accomplishing the last of those feats this season, Cleveland's 6–3 loss in Game 3 of its wild-card series against the Tigers Thursday ensured the first will continue. The Guardians had a runner on third in the ninth inning of Game 1 trailing by one run and won Game 2—only for the wheels to come off in a Game 3 that laid out the team's litany of flaws.

When the dust settles, Cleveland—rudderless and sub-.500 in early July—can reminisce fondly on essentially stealing a quality year as it phases in a new generation of talent. Here's a look at the problems that cost the Guardians against Detroit and the lessons the losing team can draw from them.

1. An already threadbare offense disappeared

The number ".226" followed Cleveland around like a specter during its short playoff stint—that was the team's batting average this year, the worst in the franchise's long history. The Guardians' .296 on-base percentage was a 53-year low; their .373 slugging percentage was a low for any full season this century. Even in September and October, the team hit just .242.

Lazy an observation as it may be, it is almost impossible to hit as poorly as Cleveland did all year and do protracted damage in the playoffs—even with a pitching staff as effective as the Guardians'. Thus, a one-run lead for the Tigers in Game 1 became insurmountable, and only a big eighth inning could save Cleveland in Game 2.

The Guardians, zealous platoon advocates, gave a glut of at-bats early on to some of their worst hitters: right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez (.197), first baseman Jhonkensy Noel (.162), and catcher Austin Hedges (.161) took seven at-bats combined (Hedges drew two walks in Game 1). When they rolled the dice on young talents such as right fielder George Valera and center fielder Chase DeLauter from Game 2 onward, the offense seemed to receive a modest jolt—perhaps a preview of coming attractions for 2026.

2. Small mistakes proved costly

Cleveland's defense-and-fundamentals-first approach—while undeniably entertaining to watch—had the adverse effect of shrinking the Guardians' margin of error to near zero. The trouble began for Cleveland in the first inning of Game 1, when Rodriguez misplayed a fly ball that opened the door for Detroit to score the first run of the series. Noel, too, made a costly error while playing out of his natural position (though manager Stephen Vogt correctly gave him credit for ensuring the play didn't go even more haywire).

Even third baseman José Ramírez—the Guardians' nerve center for over a decade now and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer—wasn't immune to the blunders Cleveland so carefully avoided late in the season. He ran into a crucial out in the ninth inning of Game 1, and in Game 3 appeared to slow up running to second base after a Tigers error—only for pitcher Will Vest to throw him out and extinguish the Guardians' last significant threat.

3. The Tigers beat them at their own game

On Sept. 23, Cleveland beat Detroit during its furious push for the division title with the help of a classic display of small ball. The Guardians stitched together two bunts, an infield hit, a wild pitch, a balk and a groundout to scrounge out three of their five runs in a 5–2 victory. It was part of a streak where every break in the American League seemed to be vacuumed into a black hole on the shores of Lake Erie.

As it turns out, the Tigers—a team, as ESPN announcers Sean McDonough and Todd Frazier pointed out, had five sacrifice hits —are quick learners. Detroit turned that formula back on Cleveland on multiple occasions this series, taking the lead in Game 1 on a well-placed bunt by third baseman Zach McKinstry (dubbed the "Zachrifice" by the Tigers' X account). Center fielder Parker Meadows, too, chipped in with a critical bunt in Game 3. The moral of this story for the Guardians may be the sheer fungibility of their luck-centric approach over the long term—but Cleveland fans can take heart in the knowledge that their front office's eagerness to control every variable has kept the Guardians one of baseball's most vital organizations for a decade and counting.

Glancing at the box score, Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos's removal against the Miami Marlins on Monday may not have looked like much. The move, however, appears to have rankled the two-time All-Star.

Castellanos made an inappropriate comment to Phillies manager Rob Thomson that resulted in his benching Tuesday, Thomson told reporters Tuesday via Charlotte Varnes of .

“It’s his decision. He’s the manager," Castellanos said succinctly.

Thus, Tuesday's game will be the first the Hialeah, Fla., native has failed to start since September 2023. In 72 games this season, he's slashing .278/.321/.425 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs.

Castellanos went 1-for-4 Monday in Philadelphia's 5–2 win, which saw him yield right field to veteran Max Kepler.

The Phillies are currently 43-29 on the year—two games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East division. Castellanos is in his fourth year with the team; he made the NL All-Star team, his second, in 2023.

Manchester United have finalised the signing of 13-year-old defender Socrates, a rising prospect who rebounded from failed trials at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace before earning a place at Old Trafford. The Elite London Academy product has impressed scouts with his maturity and intelligence, completing a move that highlights United’s renewed focus on youth recruitment under INEOS.

Man Utd sign 13-year-old defender Socrates

United have secured the signature of 13-year-old centre-back Socrates following an impressive trial period that convinced academy staff he was ready for the step up. The London-born prospect will relocate to Manchester, combining his football development with a place at a high-performing school in the area as part of his long-term pathway at the club. Having spent five years at the Elite London Academy, he evolved from a promising winger into a composed and technically refined defender, catching the attention of Premier League sides across the country.

Before joining United, Socrates underwent trials at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, experiences that did not lead to formal registration but proved instrumental in sharpening his mindset and improving his game, which eventually helped him sign with United.

His signing aligns with the Red Devils' current recruitment strategy, which emphasises identifying emerging talent early and providing an environment designed to accelerate long-term growth. United have become increasingly proactive in targeting elite prospects across Europe and South America, making Socrates part of a broader youth-focused rebuild.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportElite London Academy open up on Socrates' move

Posting on Instagram, the Elite London Academy celebrated the move and praised both the player and his journey: “From ELA ➝ Signing for one of the biggest club in the world. Today we congratulate Socrates on officially signing for Manchester United. Socrates has been with us for five years — five years of development, hard work and belief.”

The academy highlighted his standout qualities and early promise: “From the moment he joined Elite London Academy, you could see he had something special: technically gifted, intelligent on the ball, brave in duels, and always hungry to learn. Along his journey, we organised trials for him at Arsenal, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. He completed full trials at these clubs but these did not result in registration. Arguably, missed opportunities for the clubs.”

ELA then praised his response to adversity, calling him a model professional even at 13: “But what makes Socrates different is how he responded. He didn’t sulk. He didn’t lose confidence. He showed resilience, maturity and a mindset far beyond his age. Instead, he pushed harder. Soon exciting opportunities have followed. Socrates was offered registration at a top Cat 1 club in the North in August after a successful trial.”

Finally, they explained why he chose United and praised his character: “However, he declined the offer as the school opportunity did not feel it would stretch him fully. His reading of the game, distribution, physical presence and calmness under pressure have grown to elite standards.

"Off the pitch, he’s exactly the type of boy every academy wants: Humble, well-mannered, intelligent, respectful and driven. And behind him is a family who supports him in all the right ways — patient, positive, and trusting the process.”

AFPINEOS pushing for massive youth signings at Man Utd

Socrates' arrival at United comes during a renewed emphasis on the academy system, where INEOS are pushing for a stronger link between youth development and future first-team integration. The club has widened its scouting network considerably, aiming to identify high-potential youngsters before they are priced out of reach or locked into long-term contracts elsewhere. As part of this shift, United have targeted players not only on technical ability but also on psychological attributes, making resilience and maturity key indicators of long-term potential.

The move also comes at a time when United’s youth system is seeing a wave of new talent. Charlie Hardy and Cristian Orozco represent the club’s desire to fortify key positions early, with Hardy viewed as a long-term goalkeeper option and Orozco projected as a future midfield anchor. Socrates’ addition adds defensive depth to the younger age groups and ensures United continue to build a balanced academy pipeline.

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Socrates set to join Man Utd's U14 squad

Socrates will now join Manchester United’s U14 squad, where his immediate focus will be adapting to the club’s training methods, increasing his physical robustness and settling into his new academic environment. The expectation is not for rapid acceleration but for steady, long-term development, with coaches planning a personalised programme to nurture his natural attributes. United’s hope is that he will progress through the age groups and eventually earn a scholarship deal at 16.

For Manchester United, this signing is another step toward re-establishing their academy as one of Europe’s strongest talent factories. With more young players being integrated into development squads and the club widening its global recruitment footprint, United are clearly planning for a future where homegrown talent plays a major role.

Kane Williamson will miss the T20I series at home against England, but targets a return for the following ODI series. Williamson, who had returned to New Zealand from overseas on Thursday, had last played international cricket in the Champions Trophy final against India in Dubai in March earlier this year.Williamson, 35, is among a group of players who have a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC). He had earlier made himself unavailable for the three-match T20I series against Australia and missed the Zimbabwe tour to play county cricket and the Hundred as part of his deal with Middlesex.New Zealand coach Rob Walter said that Williamson was also dealing with a “minor medical issue” in the past month and that it was agreed that he needed more time to recover.”He’s obviously a world class player and we’re hoping these two weeks will ensure he’s ready for the ODIs against England and the following tour by West Indies,” Walter said in a statement.Regular white-ball captain Mitchell Santner returned from an abdominal surgery to take charge of the team while fast bowler Ben Sears was sidelined with a left-hamstring injury, sustained during training last week. An MRI scan revealed a hamstring tear, which will require three-four weeks to recover.Sears’ good friend and Wellington team-mate Rachin Ravindra, though, is set to return to action after being ruled out of the Australia T20Is with a facial injury. The allrounder had collided with the boundary boards during fielding practice at Bay Oval in the lead-up to the first T20I.Finn Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Lockie Ferguson (hamstring) were all unavailable due to injury.There was no room for wristspinner Ish Sodhi, who became New Zealand’s most-capped T20I player earlier this month. Ravindra will be the third spin-bowling option behind captain Santner and Bracewell. Mark Chapman can also pitch in with left-arm spin, if needed.”It’s great to have Mitch back,” Walter said. “Alongside being our leader, he’s one of the very best white-ball spinners in the world and his skills and experience will be a welcome addition.”Likewise, it’s nice to welcome back Rachin who was unlucky to miss out on Australia and I know is really excited for this series.”Auckland mates Jimmy Neesham and Bevon Jacobs are part of New Zealand’s T20I squad•Zimbabwe Cricket

Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes have all been retained along with allrounder Jimmy Neesham.Neesham had originally been picked as a replacement player for the Australia T20Is after Ravindra had hurt his face, but he was particularly impressive in the third T20I in Mount Maunganui where he cut through Australia’s middle order with figures of 4 for 26.Neesham, who turned 35 last month, has ambitions of playing for New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.”I want to win a World Cup for New Zealand and that’s the reason I’m still playing and I’m still available,” Neesham said at his press conference after the third T20I against Australia. “It’s a very, very clear goal of mine. What happens with selection in the six months leading up to the tournament is up to powers above me. But no, I’ll just stay ready. If I’m in the squads or not leading up to the tournament, I’ll just take that in my stride and try and provide performances as best as I can when I’m selected in most teams.”The T20I series against England will kick off at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 18. Hagley Oval will also host the second T20I, on October 20, before the teams will shift to Auckland for the third – and final – T20I. The three-match ODI series will run from October 26 to November 1.Williamson could make his New Zealand return at his home ground, Bay Oval, on October 26.

NZ T20I squad

Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk)

Pakistan have had a good build-up to the tournament, having won the recent tri-series involving Afghanistan and UAE

Danyal Rasool11-Sep-20253:12

Jaffer: Pakistan clearly taking a new T20 route

Big picture: Another Asia Cup mismatch?Pakistan could not have asked for a softer start than the one they will get at the Asia Cup – against tournament first-timers Oman. If the qualification event was held this year rather than 2024, Oman may not have made it to the UAE. The team that qualified 18 months ago bears little resemblance to the one that will line up against the two-time champions.Oman were embroiled in a messy pay dispute earlier this year after the cricket board failed to pay its players in time for the 2024 T20 World Cup. While those dues have been cleared, most of the established players from that team are no longer with Oman; more than half the names in the Asia Cup squad were not part of the 2024 T20 World Cup. They last played T20I cricket in February, when they lost three games to the USA. Any attempt to build this side up as a credible challenger to Pakistan, and later India, stretches optimism.Fresh off an impressive victory in the final of the tri-series, an otherwise imperfect tournament involving UAE and Afghanistan, Pakistan will treat this game as a useful warm-up against the stratospherically bigger challenge on Sunday against India. The defending champions put a marker down in a mauling of the UAE, taking just 106 deliveries to seal victory. The comparison with Pakistan is notable: while Salman Agha’s men did defeat the UAE comfortably each of the two times they played, those games were significantly more competitive.The game against Oman is also an opportunity for Pakistan to play in Dubai ahead of Sunday’s clash, and their bowling combination remains a point of interest. Having rotated their quick bowlers and opted for a solitary wristspinner in the league games of the tri-series, they changed tack in the final, going with both wristspinners Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed. Surfaces in Dubai normally take plenty of turn, and Pakistan’s combination could be a dry run of their plans against India.Despite the heavy slant one way, Pakistan will not want to be stung again by an underdog. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, they lost to the USA before their game against India, where defeat knocked them out of the tournament. Despite the form Pakistan have shown coming into this Asia Cup, perhaps no team is more aware of the damage three hours of mayhem can do to three months of preparation.Related

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Form guidePakistan: WWLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Oman: LLLLLIn the spotlight: Sahibzada Farhan and Jatinder SinghPakistan may have won the recent tri-series, but the inability of their top order to fire like it did against West Indies last month is a concern. Sahibzada Farhan stuck to the attacking game he has been given license for, but struggled to translate cameos into more meaningful scores – 21 in the tri-series opener was his highest score in five games. The contest against Oman is one last opportunity for him to play with that same kind of risk without the pressure that will build in games that follow, especially the one against India.In a side that has suffered much upheaval, Jatinder Singh is a stabilising presence. The captain and opener has been a titan of Oman cricket for a decade, and at 36 continues to be their talisman. He is their highest scorer and made half-centuries in two of the three games Oman played this year. His career strike rate may be on the lower end, but it’s ticked into the mid-120s in the past couple of years. In the slow conditions Dubai is expected to throw up, that might just about be fine if he can bat deep enough to post a competitive total.Yasim Murtaza and Jatinder Singh at the Asia Cup press conference•Asian Cricket Council

Team news: New-look OmanPakistan favoured rotation of their quick bowlers through the tri-series but may play their best XI before the contest against India.Pakistan (probable): 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 5 Hasan Nawaz, 6 Mohammad Haris (wk), 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar AhmedThe recent pay dispute means much of this Oman side is new, which makes it tricky to determine a playing eleven.Oman (probable): 1 Aamir Kaleem, 2 Jatinder Singh (capt), 3 Hammad Mirza, 4 Mohammad Nadeem, 5 Ayaan Khan, 6 Aryan Bisht, 7 Vinayak Shukla (wk), 8 Shakeel Ahmad, 9 Ashish Odedra, 10 Hassnain Shah, 11 Zikria IslamPitch and conditions: Spin to win?The surface in Dubai is believed to offer more spin than the one in Abu Dhabi, the other venue in this tournament. The weather continues to be excessively hot, with temperatures in the mid-30s.Stats and triviaPakistan have lost four of their last five T20Is in Dubai, their only win coming against India – their opponents on Sunday – in the 2022 Asia Cup.UAE’s Haider Ali has picked up 22 wickets in 14 T20Is this year at an economy rate of 5.54. Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz (20 wickets in 11 games) is the highest wicket-taker among bowlers from the Full-Member nations in T20Is this year.

Newcastle United struck victory late on against Fulham to escape from the lower levels of the Premier League and build on the Champions League victory over Benfica, which reminded fans of their attacking quality.

Though injury-hit Fulham proved pests at St. James’ Park on Saturday, nearly escaping with the spoils shared before Bruno Guimaraes’ late goal, slotted smoothly into the net after fine work from substitute William Osula, Benfica were outclassed, and Eddie Howe is beginning to get a tune out of his side.

The Magpies are all about evolution, and the rise of Sandro Tonali and Lewis Miley’s newfound confidence have seen the midfield refashioned, a glimpse of things to come shown over these past few weeks.

But evolution may come at some players’ expense, and Joelinton’s place in the Tyneside engine room is not quite so nailed-on as it once was.

Joelinton's Newcastle future

Joelinton’s is one of the most rousing success stories in the Premier League. Written off after his first couple of seasons in Newcastle as the club’s record signing, the wasteful striker has been repurposed as a physical beast of a midfielder, combining strength and smartness to bulldoze through to the final third.

But the 29-year-old has lacked clarity this season, and Miley’s form at number six and Jacob Murphy’s hints of promise in a dynamic midfield berth suggest the Brazil international may not be quite as indispensable as he once was.

Indeed, United blogger Thomas Hammond has even gone as far as to suggest that Joelinton might have reached “the start of the end”, still as crafty and physical as ever, but undoubtedly the weakest link in a midfield also comprised of Guimaraes and Tonali.

Joelinton has played 11 matches in all competitions this season, and he has only scored twice, both strikes coming against Bradford City in the Carabao Cup.

This is a natural part of any footballer’s career. Joelinton has plied his trade for the club for five years, and he has been an instrumental part of the rise.

But he’s not the only one who might be on borrowed time. In fact, there’s a mainstay who’s been on Tyneside for even longer, and he too is in danger of being replaced.

The Newcastle "legend" on borrowed time

Newcastle have signed some corkers over the past four years, but Howe’s brilliance can be found in the rebirth of several existing stars.

Joelinton is one, while Jacob Murphy is a marvel in polishing his skillset and becoming a purposeful player in a European squad. But Fabian Schar’s rise is just as impressive.

Once hailed as a “walking mistake” by journalist John Gibson, the 33-year-old arrived on a three-year deal from Deportivo La Coruna in 2018 for a nominal fee and ebbed and flowed through those first years on Tyneside.

But he kept working and won Howe over when the English tactician was appointed, not only with 237 total appearances in black and white to his name, but with 21 goals and ten assists and only Guimaraes above him on the outing tally since Howe’s arrival.

1

Bruno Guimaraes

164

2

Fabian Schar

160

3

Dan Burn

159

4

Jacob Murphy

145

5

Joelinton

139

But for all this experience, Newcastle’s newbies are starting to shine. Take Malick Thiaw, who arrived from AC Milan in a £34m deal this summer and has won Tyneside over with strong and dynamic defensive performances. The 24-year-old exudes composure and style on the ball.

A continuation of these five-star displays may make Schar’s berth in the team somewhat redundant. The Swiss international, after all, had sat through three of his past four available fixtures on the bench before being used as a second-half substitute during the weekend win over Fulham.

For Schar and Dan Burn to have forged such a steely alliance at the back is quite the thing. Below you see the partnership listed among the division’s greatest, and that duo have worked wonders in spite of injuries to the likes of Sven Botman.

As things stand, Schar, hailed as a “true legend of the club” by one Newcastle content creator, is among the list of ageing Newcastle players who face the end of their Toon careers come the close of the campaign.

Howe has rooted his project in the experience and intelligence of his mature squad, but with the likes of Guimaraes and Tonali and Botman all younger but cultured members of the squad, it may be that veterans such as Schar could depart having given so much to the city, and leaving at the right time at that.

Everton

19

28.0

Aston Villa

23

27.9

Newcastle

21

27.5

Fulham

22

27.5

Burnley

22

27.0

Whether the defender pens another extension on his current deal remains to be seen, but there’s no question that his significance in Howe’s squad is diminishing after many years of tireless service.

He is less than two months away from his 34th birthday, and while there’s a sense he could still play a part in Newcastle’s journey, Schar may grow warm to the prospect of trying his hand somewhere new before the autumn years of his career.

like Joelinton, Schar might be on borrowed time, with signs that he is falling from a once-untouchable position in Howe’s line-up. But, as with Joelinton, the Switzerland native has worked so hard over the past several years, and if he is approaching the final stretch, he would leave with his head held high and with silverware in tow.

Newcastle's “outstanding” talent can help Woltemade reach Shearer levels

Eddie Howe has an outstanding star at his disposal at Newcastle United who can help Nick Woltemade reach Alan Shearer levels.

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Gloucestershire reply with gusto through Charlesworth and Phillips but still trail by 378

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025

Gloucestershire 179 for 1 (Charlesworth 104*, Phillips 60*) trail Lancashire 557 (Green 160, Hartley 130, Hurst 106, Zaman 4-85) by 378 runsChris Green and Tom Hartley produced record-breaking performances with the bat as Lancashire assumed the upper hand on day two of the Rothesay County Championship Second Division match against Gloucestershire at the College Ground, Cheltenham.Both made their highest individual first-class scores, Green raising a superb 160 from 199 balls with 13 fours and eight sixes, and Hartley 130 via 153 deliveries with 14 fours and six sixes as the Red Rose county posted a formidable 557 in their first innings. Together, the pair staged Lancashire’s biggest ever ninth-wicket partnership of 212, eclipsing a long-standing record set by Australians Les Poidevine and Alexander Kermode in a match against Sussex in Eastbourne way back in 1907.Opening-day centurion Matty Hurst made a career-best 106, while Gloucestershire seamer Zaman Akhter and spinner Graeme van Buuren claimed figures of 4 for 85 and 3 for 117 respectively as their side waged a campaign of damage limitation on an essentially sound if slow Festival pitch.Demonstrating character aplenty, Ben Charlesworth and Joe Phillips launched a spirited counter-attack thereafter, staging an impressive unbroken alliance of 159 in 43.3 overs as Gloucestershire reached the close on 179 for 1, trailing by 378 runs. Charlesworth produced a dazzling display of stroke-play to score the fastest century of the match so far and finish on 104 not out, while Phillips played the supporting role to perfection, posting a stubborn undefeated 60 from 135 deliveries to dampen Lancashire’s hopes of forcing a second consecutive victory in the red-ball format.Again without the services of injured paceman Marchant de Lange, Gloucestershire deployed four spinners, van Buuren taking two wickets in four balls to check northern progress after Lancashire resumed on 290 for 6.Hurst had added just one run to his overnight career-best 105 when he pursued a wide delivery and sliced to Akhter at backward point, while Jack Blatherwait miss-timed a drive and skied to mid-off as the visitors slipped to 302 for 8.That was as good as it got for Gloucestershire. Pulling and driving with growing confidence, Green raised 50 from 87 balls and, together with Hartley, helped secure a third batting bonus point. Putting Todd Murphy under pressure for the first time, Green pulled the Australian Test spinner for two successive sixes over mid-wicket, in the process causing some among a healthy Festival audience to seek cover. No slouch himself and especially strong off the back foot, Hartley also opened his shoulders to good effect as the eighth wicket alliance realised 50 inside 12 overs.Green raised the hundred partnership in 151 balls with an imposing six over square leg off Singh Dale as Lancashire went past 400.Hartley brought up his 50 via 78 balls with a single on the leg side off Singh Dale as Lancashire reached lunch on 415 for 8. Their partnership was already the highest for the ninth wicket for Lancashire in matches against Gloucestershire, improving upon the 107 staged jointly by Billy Tyldesley and Bill Huddlestone at the Spa Ground, Gloucester in 1914 and by Alan Wharton and Malcolm Hilton at Blackpool in 1951.Tom Hartley celebrates his maiden first-class hundred•Getty Images

Green went to his hundred from 156 balls in the first over after lunch, the Australian driving Murphy through the off-side for the ninth four of an increasingly authoritative innings. When Hartley nudged a ball from Murphy into the covers and ran a single to move the score onto 445 for 8, he and Green had established a new Lancashire record ninth-wicket partnership. The occasion was marked by a gentle ripple of applause from a small handful of aficionados in front of the pavilion.By now slog-sweeping with impunity, Green plundered a further two sixes off Murphy to establish his highest first class score, surpassing the 121 made against Derbyshire at Chesterfield last month. Not to be upstaged, Hartley posted a career-best score of his own moments later, eclipsing the 73 not out made against Essex at Chelmsford in 2023. Green’s sixth six at the expense of Murphy carried him to a maiden 150 and, six runs later, he claimed the highest score by a Lancashire number eight, eclipsing the 155 mustered by Wasim Akram and Glenn Chapple in 1998 and 2001 respectively.Amid the blizzard of landmarks was a small success for the home side, Charlesworth bowling Green to offer respite. It proved short-lived, Hartley driving Charlesworth to the long-off boundary to register his maiden hundred from 145 balls with his 13th four later in the same over. The England spinner then launched a murderous offensive, smashing a further 29 runs in eight balls, including a quartet of sixes, before hoisting Charlesworth to long-off.Gloucestershire’s suffering continued, Cameron Bancroft shuffling in front of a straight delivery from Jimmy Anderson as the home side lost their first wicket with 20 on the board. Charlesworth and Joe Phillips mustered stubborn resistance thereafter, as tea was taken with the score 59 for 1.Charlesworth then went to a 54-ball half century in style, straight-driving Hartley for six as the second wicket pair continued to frustrate the bowling in the final session.Phillips offered staunch support, eschewing risk and compiling steadily as the Kookaburra ball softened. The hundred partnership occupied 161 balls, after which Charlesworth allowed his natural attacking instincts to take over, the 24-year-old left hander going to his fourth career first-class hundred from just 123 balls with 16 fours and a six. Rather more sedate in his approach, Phillips raised a chanceless 50 from 111 deliveries.

In need of an attacking boost, Aston Villa are now reportedly preparing a 2026 offer to sign a Champions League winner in a repeat of their previous deal to welcome Marco Asensio last January.

What Aston Villa need in January

The positive for Aston Villa in the summer was the fact they managed to keep hold of Emiliano Martinez amid interest from Manchester United and the goalkeeper’s own desire to depart. But that’s not enough to take away from what was otherwise another disappointing transfer window.

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Evann Guessand, Marco Bizot, Victor Lindelof, Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho all arrived in what felt more like a panicked late flurry rather than a well-executed plan. On paper, arrivals such as Elliott, Guessand and Sancho should stand out, but all three are yet to prove their worth to Unai Emery, who may have preferred returns for former loanees Marcus Rashford and Asensio.

As a result of a frustrating summer, those in the Midlands have endured a slow start to the season – especially in attack. So much so that it took Ollie Watkins eight appearances in all competitions to find his first goal of the season, which came against Fulham.

Whilst Emery’s side have shown signs of life in previous weeks, the January plan must still centre around attacking reinforcements. It was the plan last January when Villa welcomed both Rashford and Asensio, who helped them push Paris Saint-Germain all the way in the Champions League, and they must now look for a repeat in 2026.

Just who this season’s versions of Asensio and Rashford will be is the big question. The likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and one other impressive talent have already been linked with winter moves.

Aston Villa preparing Kang-in Lee offer

According to reports in Spain, Aston Villa are now preparing an offer to sign Kang-in Lee from PSG in what would be a repeat of their deal to sign Asensio from the French giants last season. The Villans are seemingly turning towards the European champions to pick up another out-of-favour star who could thrive in the Midlands.

Emery reportedly wants the South Korean and the player himself would be wise to look for a move elsewhere after starting just three of PSG’s last six Ligue 1 games and none of their first two Champions League outings.

Even though he sits outside of Luis Enrique’s starting side more often than not, Lee has still earned plenty of praise from the PSG boss, who previously told reporters:

“Kang-In Lee, he’s small but he can play up front, behind, go inside, on the side, defend, score. He’s a complete player. He’s a big signing for the club. When we signed him, we knew his potential. He still needs to improve but he’s working well.”

That versatility to play across the entire frontline would prove particularly key for Villa, who currently lack the squad depth they need to push for a European place once again.

يستضيف فريق ريال مدريد خصمه فالنسيا، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم موسم 2025/26، وذلك مساء يوم السبت.

تأتي مباراة فريقي ريال مدريد وفالنسيا في خضم لقاءات الجولة الحادية عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني لهذا الموسم، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”.

ويمتلك ريال مدريد 27 نقطة في صدارة الدوري الإسباني، في حين أن فالنسيا يحتل المركز الثامن عشر في جدول البطولة برصيد 9 نقاط.

وشهدت قائمة ريال مدريد المستدعاة لخوض مباراة فالنسيا اليوم عودة الظهير ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد بعد تعافيه من الإصابة.

تشكيل ريال مدريد أمام فالنسيا في الدوري الإسباني.. موقف أرنولد وفينيسيوس تشكيل ريال مدريد المتوقع أمام فالنسيا في الدوري الإسباني

حراسة المرمى: تيبو كورتوا.

خط الدفاع: فيدي فالفيردي، ميليتاو، دين هويسن، ألفارو كاريراس.

خط الوسط: أردا جولر، تشواميني.

خط الوسط الهجومي: كامافينجا، جود بيلينجهام، كيليان مبابي.

خط الهجوم: فينيسيوس جونيور.

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