The start to the 2024/25 campaign has been underwhelming, to say the least, for West Ham United, with the club failing to have the immediate success desired after an ambitious transfer window.

Over £100m was spent on new signings to provide new boss Julen Lopetegui with all the ammunition needed to be a success during his debut campaign as the Hammers boss.

However, the Spaniard has endured a difficult start to life at the London Stadium, winning just two of his opening eight outings – with his only Premier League win coming over Crystal Palace back in August.

Pressure is already mounting on the 58-year-old given his below-par start to life in the capital, with this weekend’s fixture against Ipswich Town a pivotal outing if he is to be a success with the Hammers.

Whilst Lopetegui is yet to pull up any trees as West Ham boss, multiple of his new additions have also failed to impress, including one player who arrived at the London Stadium with high expectations.

Guido Rodríguez’s stats at West Ham

After arriving on a free transfer from Spanish side Real Betis this summer, midfielder Guido Rodriguez joined West Ham with real pedigree after his consistent displays in LaLiga which saw him rack up 173 appearances for Los Verdiblancos.

However, his start to life with the Hammers hasn’t been plain sailing, often failing to impress despite starting all six league matches since his summer transfer.

His most embarrassing moment undoubtedly came in the 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, with the Argentinian star hooked after just 38 minutes by Lopetegui, subsequently being replaced by Tomas Soucek.

Rodriguez still has time to turn around his below-par start to life in England, but given the club’s current poor form since Lopetegui’s arrival, he may find himself in and out of the team as the Spaniard looks to find a settled starting eleven.

The experienced boss may regret sanctioning the sale of one player who has starred away from the London Stadium after securing a permanent move during the summer transfer window.

The former West Ham star who’s outperformed Rodriguez

Boyhood West Ham fan Flynn Downes spent one season in the club’s first team before a loan spell at Southampton last season, in an attempt to gain more regular game time.

After helping the Saints secure an immediate return to the top flight, he departed the Hammers in a £18m deal, ending his stay in the capital without an appearance under the new boss.

However, it may be a decision that Lopetegui could regret given his form for Russell Martin’s side, which has seen him outperform new signing Rodriguez in numerous key areas for a midfielder.

Games played

6

6

Minutes played

540

460

Progressive carries

2

0.2

Progressive passes

4.8

2.4

Pass accuracy

93%

84%

Tackles won

1.2

1

Interceptions

2

1.6

The “monstrous” talent, as described by current boss Martin, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted this season, with more of his attempts being progressive compared to the Argentinian.

Downes has also started defensively, winning more tackles and completing more interceptions per 90, potentially showing Lopetegui what he’s missing by offloading the 25-year-old.

Does the club miss him? Potentially, with his box-to-box profile providing that dimension that the Hammers have been desperately lacking since his appointment during the summer.

It’s still early days for the 58-year-old during his time at the helm, but Downes’ desire to succeed for his boyhood club could’ve proved to be the difference for the club during their current slump in form at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

Moyes wanted West Ham to replace Rice with £50m ace but got Alvarez instead

West Ham could have signed “monster” but got Alvarez instead

ByConnor Holden Oct 3, 2024

Aston Villa reached the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, overcoming a potential banana skin against League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 away from home. It was a professional performance from the Villans, who now go into the hat for the next round, to be drawn on Wednesday night.

Unai Emery’s side did not actually take the lead until the second half, with Wycombe making life tough for the Villans in the first 45 minutes. However, Emiliano Bunedia, in his first start after picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2023, gave the Premier League outfit the lead.

Jhon Duran, irresistible as ever, got himself on the scoresheet 30 minutes after Buendia’s opener. The Columbian, who has five goals this season, scored from the penalty spot to double Villa’s lead.

The hosts managed to pull back a late goal in the 95th minute through Richard Kone. However, it was too late for the League One side, and Villa made it safely through to the next round.

There were certainly some standout performers against the Chairboys, with Villa’s quality unsurprisingly shining through. One player who was particularly impressive was Amadou Onana.

Onana’s stats vs. Wycombe

Belgian international midfielder Onana has been in superb form for Villa this term, and worked hard in the hour he played at Adams Park. The former Everton midfielder has already scored three times for his new club, in just seven appearances.

It was something of a surprise that the Belgian started against the third-tier outfit on Tuesday. Emery has selected him from the start in all of Villa’s games so far this season, and the trip to Adams Park presented him with a chance to rotate.

With that being said, Onana did start and was unsurprisingly impressive throughout the hour he spent on the pitch. He received a 7/10 post-match rating from John Townley of Birmingham Live. He noted that, whilst the Belgian ‘is a few levels above’ the Wycombe side, ‘they did their best to limit’ his impact on the game.

Onana’s Sofascore stats suggest he was busy throughout his night’s work. He had 60 touches of the ball, and completed 46 from 54 attempted passes, with a pass accuracy of 85%. The midfielder also completed two interceptions and won one duel.

It was a steady performance from Onana, who continues his good start to life at Villa Park. However, he was perhaps not the standout player on the night, with Bunedia also performing well against Wycombe.

Bunedia’s stats vs. Wycombe

It has been a long road to recovery for Buendia since he ruptured his ACL a little over one year ago. It is fair to say that the Argentine’s first start since his injury went superbly. Not only did he skipper the Villans on the night, but also managed to get on the scoresheet.

It was a smart finish from the former Norwich City midfielder, who leapt highest inside the penalty box to meet a deflected ball that ricocheted off the defender. He looped his header over Franco Ravizzoli in the Wycombe goal to give his side the lead.

It was a performance that earned him an 8/10 rating from Townley following the game. The journalist praised him for how well he ‘linked the midfield and attack’, crediting him for a ‘brilliant header’.

Indeed, his stats on Sofascore also reflected such an impressive performance. The Argentine had 48 touches against Wycombe, completing 85% of his passes and creating one chance. Off the ball, he worked hard, winning seven from 13 duels and his only tackle.

Stat

Number

Pass accuracy

85%

Passes completed

29/34

Touches

48

Duels won

7/10

Fouls won

5

Chances created

1

Goals

1

It was no doubt a performance that would have pleased both Buendia and Emery, given the length of his injury. It may put him in line for his first Premier League start since the 2022/23 campaign, ahead of Villa’s next outing against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon.

It would not be unsurprising to see Emery unleash him in the top-flight next.

Imagine him & Duran: Aston Villa could soon unleash incredible academy star

He could start alongside Duran for Aston Villa.

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 24, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

da brwin： O empate com o Ituano fora de casa azedou o clima no Grêmio e irritou comissão técnica e diretoria.Ao chegar no vestiário depois do resultado negativo, o técnico Roger Machado não perdeu a oportunidade de cobrar os atletas e chamou a atenção do grupo.De acordo com o vice-presidente Denis Abrahão, o “bicho pegou”.

– VEJA A TABELA DA SÉRIE B

RelacionadasGrêmioRoger Machado fica irritado com empate do GrêmioGrêmio17/05/2022GrêmioEmpate fora de casa tira o Grêmio do G-4 da Série BGrêmio17/05/2022GrêmioElkesson lamenta empate do Grêmio fora de casa: ‘Triste’Grêmio17/05/2022

da gbg bet： – O treinador está muito indignado. Vocês não sabem o que foi dito no vestiário, no intervalo e depois do jogo. O bicho pegou e tenho que relatar porque o torcedor está amargurado, como eu estou, como o presidente está, como toda a torcida tricolor está pelo o que viu aqui. Mas eu prometo que não vai se repetir – disse Denis Abrahão.

– Faltou atitude a nós. Está faltando alma a nós. Não vai faltar mais, o treinador já se convenceu disso. É uma mudança fácil, é entender que temos que disputar cada bola, desde o primeiro segundo. Se nós tivéssemos vencido aqui, seria injusto. Nós erramos novamente – concluiu Abrahão.

Com o empate fora de casa, o Grêmio agora ocupa a 6ª colocação da Série B, com 11 pontos.

Arsenal are now open to selling a “world-class” player in 2025, and it could be as early as January, as one key reason leads to his potential exit.

Players who could leave Arsenal next year

A host of senior players – including Hale End academy graduates Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah – departed north London over the course of the summer transfer window, but there are still a few current Arsenal squad members with uncertain futures.

Arsenal worried that £150,000-per-week star is also nursing an injury now

The Gunners have a few key players sidelined right now.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 24, 2024

Manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu Gaspar will be relieved that they didn’t offload either Thomas Partey or Jorginho, with both men proving pivotal to making up their numbers amid real injury blows.

Club captain Martin Odegaard is out with ankle ligament damage, while another midfield man in ex-Real Sociedad star Mikel Merino is sidelined after a shoulder fracture.

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

This has left Arsenal short in the middle, and it is believed Odegaard will be out for weeks until he’s able to return to action.

“They are, obviously (concerned). He’s a crucial player. He’s the captain. He’s a fantastic player,” said Fabrizio Romano in a recent update on Odegaard.

“So, obviously, they know this injury is a problem for them. But at the same time, they hope it’s not super long. So, in this moment, in terms of medical staff, they are doing their best to have Martin back as soon as possible. For sure, we will have to be patient. It’s not something imminent. It will take weeks before we see Odegaard back to action.”

The presence of both Partey and Jorginho has helped to mitigate both Odegaard and Merino’s absences, but their long-term futures are more uncertain. Partey has been described as almost certain to leave Arsenal next year, while Jorginho is also out of contract in the summer.

Alongside the duo, it is believed that currently injured defender Takehiro Tomiyasu could be shipped out as well. Tomiyasu missed Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Man City through a knee injury and is yet to feature this season, with an update emerging on the Japan international’s future.

Why Arsenal could now sell Takehiro Tomiyasu in January

According to CaughtOffside, Arsenal have concerns over Tomiyasu’s availability and fitness record lately, and that could force them to take drastic action.

The £100,000-per-week ace only signed a contract extension earlier this year, but Edu and Arteta may decide to offload next year. It is believed that Arsenal could sell Tomiyasu as early as January, however unlikely, with a summer transfer more possible as things stand.

Tomiyasu is attracting interest from elite Serie A sides as well. AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and Napoli are all monitoring the 25-year-old, who may soon have a chance to bring the “world-class” ace back to Italy.

“Tomi is amazing. He’s the best right-back I’ve ever played with. He’s always focused. It’s an honour to play next to him,” said Ben White to DAZN Japan (via The Metro).

“Tomi does the simple things at a world-class level. He is very alert and he isn’t careless in games. From the beginning he’s completely understood English and speaks as well as I do.”

da doce： Sunderland and Regis Le Bris have been handed an injury boost after a new update on a £15,000-a-week player emerged.

Sunderland Championship results and fixtures

da realbet： The Black Cats made a perfect start to the Championship season, winning their opening four games of the campaign. Despite suffering away defeats to Plymouth Argyle and Watford either side of a home win over Middlesbrough, they still sit on 15 points after seven second-tier fixtures.

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Looking back after the defeat at Vicarage Road on Saturday, Le Bris said: “We are disappointed because we lost that game and we want to win every game. We had this first 25 minutes when it was difficult to deal with their offensive shape with our 4-4-2 block.

“We used another shape and it was a good layer for us because this shape of 5-4-1 was interesting and we solved the problem. We went behind and then we dominated that game. In possession we were interesting with many switched plays and good chances. Then we equalised but with this kind of team, with many strong players, they have this ability in one-v-one situations and counter-attacks as well. So at the end we made two mistakes and lost that game.”

The games keep coming for Sunderland, with back-to-back home clashes against Derby County and Leeds United prior to the next international break.

Sunderland upcoming Championship fixtures

Date

Sunderland vs Derby County

October 1

Sunderland vs Leeds United

October 4

Hull City vs Sunderland

October 20

Luton Town vs Sunderland

October 23

Sunderland vs Oxford United

October 26

Ahead of the meeting with the Rams, the Black Cats still have some players sidelined, however, one member of the squad is available or selection again in a boost for Le Bris.

Latest Sunderland injury news

The Northern Echo relayed the latest Sunderland injury news ahead of the meeting with Derby, with Le Bris confirming that Dan Ballard and Eliezer Mayenda remain out with their respective injuries. However, Alan Browne, who had missed the last two with a knee problem he suffered against Plymouth, will be back available for selection.

“Alan Browne will be available, but Eliezer and Dan aren’t. We think that they will probably be back after the international break.”

Browne, on £15,000-a-week, made the move to the Stadium of Light over the summer after leaving Preston North End and has made four appearances in red and white so far. In fact, the Republic of Ireland international already has his first goal for the club, scoring in the 3-1 win at Portsmouth and has come in for praise from teammate Dan Neil, who labelled Browne as “unbelievable” back in August.

“Alan’s got an unbelievable engine, unbelievable legs. We knew that from when we played Preston previously. Every time we’ve come up against him, we’ve talked about the unbelievable engine he has.

“He’s a bit more of an experienced head in there as well, which helps us because me and Jobe are still young. We’ve got experience for our age, but Browney has been around for a long time.

“He’s a good leader on the pitch, and he’s got quality in possession as well. He did a few driving runs, and I thought him, Trai and Pat linked up really well on that right-hand side. I’m sure you’ll see more of that as the season goes on.”

Tourists suffer top-order implosion, losing eight wickets in a session in final bat before first Test

ESPNcricinfo staff28-May-2022

Devon Conway was dismissed cheaply for the second time in the match•Getty Images

County Select XI 247 and 112 for 1 (Compton 56*, Ajaz 1-12) need 152 runs to beat New Zealanders 362 for 9 dec and 148 (Jamieson 36, Wagner 36, Porter 5-31)After four playing days of largely serene progress in their build-up towards the first Test, New Zealand were blindsided by the County Select XI at Chelmsford. Jamie Porter ripped out five top-order wickets to belatedly remind the England selectors of his prowess in seaming conditions, and despite recovering somewhat from a parlous position of 9 for 5, the tourists have a scrap on their hands if they are to avert defeat on day four.This second four-day friendly, after a rain-affected outing down in Hove, has allowed New Zealand to rotate their personnel with a view to getting playing time for as many of the party as possible. But Kane Williamson, the Test captain, managed a nine-ball duck in his only outing before next week’s encounter at Lord’s, while there were single-figure scores for Tom Latham, Will Young, Devon Conway (his second of the match), Tom Blundell and Colin de Grandhomme – all likely starters in the Test XI.The dismissal of de Grandhomme completed a five-for for Porter inside five overs, leaving New Zealand on 19 for 6. That anaemic scoreline had improved to 70 when the eighth wicket fell, but the County Select XI were still eyeing up a target below 200, only for some timely lower-order resistance from Neil Wagner and Kyle Jamieson to stave off complete collapse. A 63-run stand pushed the New Zealanders towards something defendable, before Worcestershire left-armer Ben Gibbon picked up both to complete an impressive outing.The New Zealanders’ second-innings 148 meant the County Select XI would need to score 264 for victory – more than they had managed collectively the first time around. But Ben Compton continued his prolific summer with an obdurate, unbeaten half-century and although Ajaz Patel removed Dom Sibley after an opening stand worth 88, the ECB’s scratch team will return needing 152 more with nine wickets in hand in the morning.There had been little to suggest that New Zealand were in for such a torrid morning examination when the unbeaten openers, Young and Latham, resumed the innings in bright sunshine, having played out a maiden from spinner Liam Patterson-White the previous evening. But Porter struck with his third, 12th, 16th and 18th balls to leave the visitors five down and not yet into double-figures.Young was the first to go, lbw for a three-ball duck playing no stroke to one nipping back in. Williamson, who joined up with the squad this week after leaving the IPL early to witness the birth of his second child in New Zealand, had spent some time in the field on Friday and now walked out in place of Conway in his customary berth at No. 3. But quickly heading in the opposite direction was his deputy, Latham, who thick-edged Gibbon’s sixth delivery to third slip.Ben Compton led the chase with an unbeaten half-century•Getty Images

Williamson has not played Test cricket since November, having experienced issues with a chronic elbow problem. Although he was fit enough to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad at the IPL, his returns were underwhelming, and he would have been hoping for a lengthy stay in the middle ahead of his comeback. Instead, Porter found extra lift from a length outside off stump to induce a startled prod to slip.With Conway, another recent arrival from India, also looking for a workout against the red ball after making 4 off 14 in the first innings, Porter struck again from round the wicket, rapping the left-hander on the pads. Two balls later, wicketkeeper Blundell propped forward to also be given out lbw – although he lingered for some time after the decision, with a strong suggestion that he had got an inside edge.At that stage Porter, who has seemingly drifted out of contention for a Test cap despite being called up to the England squad in 2018, had figures of 4 for 4 from three overs; and they improved still further when de Grandhomme defended the ball softly down into the turf, only for it bounce back and dislodge the bails.The New Zealanders finally got the scoreboard moving with the arrival of Tim Southee, who cracked five fours and a six during a 17-ball innings. He scored 34 out of the 37 added in partnership with Daryl Mitchell for the seventh wicket, before another belligerent slap down the ground off Patterson-White was intercepted by the diving Gibbon at long-on. Mitchell then became the eighth wicket to fall, providing a success for Jack Blatherwick, as his ungainly attempt to pull ended up in the hands of point.From there, Wagner and Jamieson dug in for 20 overs of respectable batting that took the innings into the afternoon session. Gibbon eventually trapped Wagner with a full delivery angled into the pads, before Jamieson’s attempt to thrash the ball into Hayes Close ended up in the hands of Porter at long-off. Wagner and Southee both then delivered ten overs, their first proper bowl before Lord’s, as the County Select XI made a good start in pursuit of victory; Sibley fell cutting at Ajaz but the spinner dropped Tom Haines off Wagner in the penultimate over to sum up New Zealand’s day.

The temporary change in wicketkeeping duties, even for a Test, could indicate how South Africa’s new-look batting will present itself, with at least three young players waiting to be tested

Firdose Moonda in Galle15-Jul-2014Amla on the impact of the ODI series win

South Africa’s ODI side made history when they won their first-ever one-day series in Sri Lanka and breaking through that barrier has had significant run-on effects. Although they have not won a Test match in Sri Lanka in 14 years since their seven-run victory in Kandy in 2000 and a Test series on the island in 21 years, Hashim Amla said they are confident they can turn that record around too.
“The one-dayers have given the team a lot of confidence and a lot of belief that we can win here even though Test cricket is a largely different game,” he said. “We take confidence from the ODI win. The wickets were pretty good to bat on and they it got slower as the day progressed. That’s no different to Test cricket.
“After a series like that you need a bit of down time. Although it was only three or four days, that was a good call from the management (to give the players a break). We had a training session yesterday and today to slowly get the boys back in.”

First there was the change of captain which automatically brought about a change in the opening batsman but now South Africa are faced with a third major difference to the team of old as their new Test era begins. AB de Villiers is unlikely to keep wicket in Galle after hurting his hamstring while batting on Saturday. Quinton de Kock will take his place behind the stumps and although the move may only be temporary, it is a sign of where the team’s future is headed.Although de Villiers was a prominent figure in South Africa’s pre-practice football game, Hashim Amla said he is “unlikely,” to appear behind the stumps in the first Test because his right hamstring has not fully recovered from the strain it suffered in the ODIs. The niggle will not rule de Villiers out of participating completely and he should still be able to bat in his regular position.As a result, South Africa seem to be planning their XI around the possibility of de Villiers batting only and de Kock keeping. “With Quinny playing, it changes the dynamic of the team,” Amla said. “We will probably have one spinner and then JP – luckily he played a pretty significant part in the one-day series as well. If need be, we will use Dean Elgar (to bowl) as well. He’s had a bit of a golden arm. But it would be great if we don’t need him.”South Africa were unlikely to go into the match with two specialist spinners in Imran Tahir and Dane Piedt so their bowling plan is as expected but the inclusion of de Kock impacts on their batting strategy. For now, it will likely keep last season’s first-class competition’s top run-scorer Stiaan van Zyl on the sidelines but in the long-term it could affect the top three.De Kock is an opening batsman by trade and has excelled in that role for the Lions. His first-class average sits at 47.15 and includes four centuries. He has not always kept wicket for the franchise and was not among the top run-scorers last season when international duty interrupted his domestic availability, which will probably keep him confined to the lower middle-order at the moment, but that could easily change.Effectively, de Kock’s inclusion has put both Alviro Petersen and Elgar on notice. Petersen has not scored a century since January 2013 – 18 months and 17 innings ago. That probably means the pressure is higher on him than Elgar who, if he opens, will only be doing it for the second time despite it being his regular position. A lean run for either of them could see de Kock move up and van Zyl slotted in lower down.It has also opened the door for de Villiers to move up the order if needed. To properly explain this, the de Villiers debate needs to be dusted off. One of the chief reasons de Villiers was not slotted into Jacques Kallis’ place higher-up was because it was considered a strain on him given that much was already expected of him at No.5 and he was keeping wicket.If the gloves are taken away and with de Villiers also not weighed down by the responsibility of leadership – he was one of the frontrunners for the captaincy as well – there would seem little reason not to make best use of him higher in the order. At the moment, Faf du Plessis is in the position and has done fairly well with two half-centuries against Australia so it would take a lean run or a rethink of tactics to displace him but neither are impossibilities.To put the wide-angled lens on it, de Kock’s probable presence in Wednesday’s XI, albeit forced, shows that South Africa are thinking of how their new-look team will present itself. They have a variety of combinations to consider and an impressive calibre of players to choose from. The trio of de Kock, Elgar and van Zyl have all proved their capabilities in the first-class set-up and all three of them could soon be playing alongside each other in the Test team.But in the immediate term, it means South Africa also have the excitement and the anxiety that comes with uncertainty. They are conducting experiments at the moment not operating as the well-oiled machine that rose to No.1 in August 2012 and stayed there for 20 months. At the same time, they are trying to regain that position and the only way they can do that over the next few months is by beating Sri Lanka in this series.Ordinarily, a task that tough would have weighed South Africa down but they appear genuinely buoyed by what is being asked of them. The infusion of youth, not just in age terms because both Elgar and van Zyl are 26 and not all that young anyway, but in terms of fresh mindset it is obvious in the current set-up. There are new ideas and the unburdening of de Villiers is only one of them that may be applied in the near future. Who knows what the others may be?Things stayed the same for so long in South African cricket that perhaps this time change is being embraced so tightly, South Africa don’t mind it coming in threes.

Wayne Rooney is being tipped for a sensational return to Manchester United as a specialist coach, following his sacking as Plymouth manager.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ex-England captain is out of work again
• May fancy a break from management
• Knowledge would be useful at Old Trafford

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  After just 25 games at the helm, ex-England captain Rooney was relieved of his duties at Home Park on New Year’s Eve – with the mutual termination of his contract meaning that no compensation will be have to be paid. Having previously lasted just 83 days in charge of Birmingham, it remains to be seen whether another managerial post will be sought.

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• WHAT WES BROWN SAID

  Ex-United defender Wes Brown believes his former team-mate will step back into the dugout, telling : "I thought in some of the close games I saw that Plymouth were unlucky but this is a results business and they couldn’t find enough wins. The owners have decided to go in a new direction but Wayne is the sort of guy to keep his head up and wait to see if another opportunity arises. He’ll be ready to take a new challenge again in no time but of course he’ll be really disappointed as he was so determined to do well there.

  "It’s not quite gone to plan but we will have to wait and see, that’s football. Wayne is a good guy and it’s nice to see that they came to an agreement there. It definitely helps Plymouth going forward and he would’ve known that. He wanted to do well but it didn’t work out but he is a good human and would hate to put them under any strain in that sense."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  If Rooney does not fancy being a number one again in the coaching department, then there are other avenues for him to explore. Brown believes his vast experience could be put to good use at Old Trafford, adding: "If Wayne wanted to spend time as a striking coach he would be absolutely brilliant at it, he was one of the best goalscorers we’ve ever seen and was a top playmaker as well. If he wanted to do that he would be very good on movement and things like that, he was one of the best to do it.

  "Could he help Rasmus Hojlund at United? I think all young strikers would love to listen to Wayne and his knowledge. When I was a young player I remember getting a few tips from Laurent Blanc and the little things like that can really help. If Wayne was on hand to give out some advice I’m sure everyone would be willing to listen."

• WHAT NEXT FOR WAYNE ROONEY?

  Rooney may be willing to listen to offers from United as he will be returning to his family home in Cheshire from a forgettable stint in Devon. His son, Kai, is also on the Red Devils’ books as he continues to catch the eye in a fabled academy system.

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير، عن آخر التطورات المتعلقة بملف تعاقدات وتجديدات لاعبي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي خلال الفترة المقبلة.

وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأحد: “نعم، هناك مشكلة بشأن تجديد عقد رامي ربيعة مع الأهلي بسبب الأمور المالية، ياسر إبراهيم ومحمد الشناوي كانا متجاوبين في التجديد، ولا تسمعوا لما يتردد بشأن قيمة التجديد لكل منهما، لأن ما يتردد مُبالغ فيه بشكل كبير”.

وتابع: “علي معلول عقده ينتهي بنهاية الموسم، ومن الوارد أن يشارك في المباريات المقبلة ويثبت وجوده، بالنسبة ليحيى عطية الله، فإن حظه سيئ، تعرض لإصابات كثيرة، ولم يستفد منه الأهلي كما ينبغي، وقد لا يكون له وجود في الموسم المقبل بعد انتهاء مدة إعارته”.

طالع أيضًا | شوبير يرد على أنباء تلقي مصطفى شوبير عرضًا بـ7 ملايين دولار

وأضاف شوبير: “هناك مشكلة بشأن رضا سليم، لأنه مصاب، ومعلوماتي أن عمرو السولية لديه عرض من الدوري الليبي، هذا هو موقف اللاعبين”.

واستكمل قائلًا: “الجميع يتمنى تواجد أليو ديانج مع الأهلي في كأس العالم للأندية، بينما أحمد عبد القادر لن يكون مع الفريق في المونديال بسبب الإصابة، ومحمد الضاوي كريستو اعتبروه خارج الأهلي، وسيتم عمل تسوية معه، ومصطفى العش لم يُحسم موقفه بعد، وقد يتم إعارة عدد من اللاعبين خلال الفترة المقبلة”.

واختتم حديثه: “تردد كلام عن اقتراب الأهلي من التعاقد مع المدافع الجزائري زين الدين بلعيد، والذي كان قريبًا من الانضمام للفريق في الموسم الماضي، لكن كل شيء وارد هذا الموسم”.

Kane Richardson has been ruled out of Australia’s limited-overs tour of Pakistan due a hamstring injury and will be replaced by New South Wales left-armer Ben Dwarshuis.Richardson, who was the most experienced pace bowler in an already depleted squad, aggravated the injury during training in Melbourne ahead of the team’s departure to Lahore.”Although the injury is considered minor it was decided the long trip to Pakistan along with four games in eight days and short turnarounds it was in Richardson’s best interests to remain home,” a Cricket Australia statement said.Dwarshuis, who also plays for Sydney Sixers, is uncapped at international level but was previously part of Australia’s T20 squad during a tri-series in 2017-18 and has been part of the IPL. If he features in the ODI side during the three-match series, it would come after just nine List A matches for New South Wales.Richardson’s absence leaves the pace attack to be led by Jason Behrendorff and Sean Abbott alongside Nathan Ellis, supplemented by allrounders Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis.Multi-format quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have been rested for the white-ball portion of the tour. Hazlewood and Cummins are both part of the upcoming IPL.Captain Aaron Finch was confident the squad still had the depth to compete in Pakistan.”One thing that will help is the guys have played a lot of T20 cricket,” he said. “They’re quite inexperienced for Australia but I think playing T20 cricket will help them in that regard. There’s a lot of skill in the group and guys that have been around one-day cricket for a long time domestically as well.”Having a lot of a lot of faith in their own ability is really important. When you have got guys like Abbott, he’s been around for a long time [and] Behrendorff. They’ve played a lot of state cricket, so I think it’ll be fine.”Australia only played three ODIs last year – on the tour of West Indies – with home matches this season against New Zealand postponed due to Covid-19 border restrictions. They have won all three of their series in the ODI Super League with 2-1 victories over England (away) and India (home) alongside the West Indies success.