Wijetunge, Abeywickrama appointed as spin-bowling coach and fielding coach respectively
Andrew Fidel Fernando17-Apr-2022Naveed Nawaz, the former Sri Lanka batter, has been named the Sri Lanka men’s side’s assistant coach under new head coach Chris Silverwood.Nawaz had recently been Bangladesh’s Under-19 coach, and had overseen that side’s victory in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup. The term of his appointment is two years.Related
Five key issues new Sri Lanka coach Silverwood must address
Chris Silverwood named Sri Lanka's new head coach
Also appointed to Sri Lanka’s coaching staff is former seam bowler Chaminda Vaas, who has been bowling coach in several stints over the past 10 years. Piyal Wijetunge, for years the lead spin bowling coach in the country, has also been added to the top team’s staff as well, while Manoj Abeywickrama has been named fielding coach. These coaches, however, have only been appointed until the end of Sri Lanka’s forthcoming Bangladesh tour, in May.Nawaz had even been considered for the head coach role as Sri Lanka sought to replace Mickey Arthur, over the past few months, but it is understood that eventually the decision was made to appoint a better-heeled international coach. In Bangladesh, Nawaz had played a role in developing young players such as Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shoriful Islam, and Shamim Hossain, who have all since graduated to the senior men’s side.As a player, Nawaz played one Test and three ODIs for Sri Lanka, and was a force in first-class cricket in the late 1990s and early 2000s, hitting 6892 runs at an average of 36.27Vaas’ reappointment, meanwhile, comes only months after the board declined to renew his contract in December last year. He had been Sri Lanka’s bowling coach under Mickey Arthur, but did not do the job on the recent tour of India.
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has explained why Mason Greenwood was left out of his starting XI for the defeat to arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
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Winger has 15 goals to his nameHas been dropped to the benchMust prove himself to managerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! đąđ±GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The former Manchester United forward has registered 15 goals this season, with a productive start to his debut campaign at Stade Velodrome being enjoyed. There have been suggestions that another big-money transfer for Greenwood could be lined up in the summer of 2025.
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He is, however, having to make peace with bench duty at present. Having been introduced at half-time in a 1-0 loss to Lens, Greenwood only entered proceedings against PSG as a 63rd-minute substitute â as Marseille went down 3-1 at Parc des Princes.
GettyROBERTO DE ZERBI SAID
De Zerbi told afterwards of why Greenwood is not figuring as prominently as many people expected, with PSG star Ousmane Dembele used as an example of how fortunes can change: "For me, he's not in the right physical condition to play. Mason is a crucial player for us. But if I'm not mistaken, at the beginning of the season Dembele wasn't in the starting XI. We need Mason, but he has to be in good physical condition. It's very important at this point in the season."
WHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?
Marseille remain second in the Ligue 1 table for now but need to rediscover a spark as individuals and a collective through their final eight fixtures as just six points separate them from sixth-placed Strasbourg and a standing outside of the European qualification spots.
Leeds United are a club on the up once again under the guidance of boss Daniel Farke, looking like a dangerous force to be reckoned with in the Championship.
The German was tasked with stabilising the ship after relegation at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, all whilst losing numerous members of their first-team squad.
His experience in Englandâs second tier is vital, previously winning the title twice with Norwich City, before narrowly missing out on promotion after losing to Southampton at Wembley last season.
However, with clever investment over the off-season, his side have returned with a point to prove, sitting top of the table after Tuesday nightâs emphatic victory over Middlesbrough at Elland Road.
Itâs safe to say heâs had nowhere near the budget of former managers in Yorkshire after their relegation, including Jesse Marsch, who had a huge chunk to work with after two big-money departures in the summer of 2022.
Leeds’ transfer window in the summer of 2022
After fending off relegation for the second time after promotion, the summer of 2022 was always going to be a massive window for the Whites if they were to secure their top-flight status once again.
However, the departures of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively would make such a task even harder for American boss Marsch.
The deals raised the club around ÂŁ100m alone, most of which was reinvested into the first-team squad to try and combat the losses in key areas.
Luis Sinisterra was the player brought in to replace the Brazilian, costing a fee in the region of ÂŁ21m with hopes of filling the boots of the fan-favourite – but was only able to score eight times during his one-year at Elland Road.
Marc Roca was also signed from Bayern Munich during the same window for ÂŁ10m – with the pair just two of seven summer additions during the aforementioned window.
However, the pair werenât the players to arrive at the club that summer, with one other joining the Whites with high hopes of being a hit in the Premier League.
The Leeds player who Marsch thought was 'very important'
After Marschâs appointment following the departure of hugely popular boss Marcelo Bielsa, there was an influx of American additions arriving to feature under their compatriot.
Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie were just two who followed the 51-year-old to the club trying to build on their survival the season prior.
Tyler Adams was arguably the most exciting, joining from RB Leipzig, brought in as a replacement for Phillips – giving supporters a reason to be excited despite the loss of the academy star.
The midfielder was dubbed âvery importantâ by Marsch upon his arrival, something which would be evident during his time as a player at Elland Road.
Adams would make 28 appearances during his only season in Yorkshire, leaving at the end of 2022/23 after the clubâs relegation back to the second tier.
Tyler Adams
He moved to Bournemouth for ÂŁ23m in a deal that would be a phenomenal one for the club, especially considering his lack of form after departing the Whites nearly 18 months ago.
The 25-year-old has been constantly plagued by various injury problems, restricting him from having any further impact for the Cherries in the Premier League after his big-money transfer.
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6 months, 16 days
Thigh
05/10/2023
09/03/2024
5 months, 4 days
Thigh
07/04/2024
10/05/2024
1 month, 3 days
Knock
19/07/2024
18/10/2024
2 months, 29 days
Back
During his time on the south coast, Adams has only featured for 463 minutes in Englandâs top flight – costing Andoni Iraolaâs side ÂŁ50k per minute heâs played for them since his transfer.
Given the nature of the fee and his lack of impact after his move, Leeds undoubtedly made the right decision, cashing in on the midfielder whilst his stock was at its highest.
Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams.
Thereâs no denying that heâs a hugely talented player, but his injury setbacks have prevented his growth – with the Whites certainly losing money on their investment had they kept hold of the former Leipzig star.
0 duels won, 0 shots: Farke simply must drop 5/10 Leeds star after Boro
Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship table last night.
"That's not something I'm going to talk about," Aguirre quickly said regarding who will be in the starting lineup. "Of course, they can fit into the same system…Both are in good form, and both can start."
'[Someone who] knows the position, is capable of handling last-man situations, communicates a lot, lives the game intensely, stays alert throughout the match – that's what I need, a player who defends," Aguirre said.
"We have to play good football, execute the game plan, and have a perfect match against Canada if we want to advance to the next round. We are capable of beating Canada; they will fight, but if we play the game we are planning, we can move forward," Aguirre said. "Our goal is to win it, and after seeing the group and training with them, I am sure they have the desire to turn things around."
Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?
Mexico is currently on a three-match winless streak against Canada. Before this, enjoyed five consecutive victories over their northern rivals. In their most recent official encounter, Canada defeated Mexico 2-1 at home.
Glasgow Rangers underwent something of a rebuild during the summer transfer window as Philippe Clement allowed several first-team stars to depart Ibrox while bringing in quite a few new players.
Out went the likes of Connor Goldson, Todd Cantwell, Sam Lammers, Scott Wright and Robby McCrorie as the Belgian sought to stamp his authority on his squad.
Rangers defender Connor Goldson.
Not much was known about the transfer fees that the Light Blues brought in for these five players, but recently, chief financial officer James Taylor confirmed at the AGM that the figure was ÂŁ800k.
Not just for one player, but for all five. An incredible revelation and proves just how poorly the club has been run in recent years.
Lammers is a prime example. He cost around ÂŁ3m from Atalanta in the summer of 2023 as Michael Beale was looking to bolster his team.
Former Rangers boss Michael Beale.
He left after just a year, but it is evident given Taylorâs comments that the club lost a massive amount of money on the Dutchman.
Sam Lammers' statistics at Rangers
Given that Lammers had scored a grand total of six goals across the previous three seasons for four different clubs, it was hardly the form of a player who was meant to spearhead a title challenge.
Between August and January, Lammers played 31 times for the Light Blues, yet managed to get on the scoresheet just twice, while adding two assists. It became clear that Beale had wasted millions on a player who lacked the physical nature to shine in Scottish football.
Sam Lammers
In the Premiership, Lammers created only one big chance in 17 matches, also averaging 0.3 key passes and succeeding with 1.1 dribbles per game. Beale preferred to utilise the Dutchman in an attacking midfield slot, believing that his technical ability could cut through defences.
Unfortunately, this tactical blueprint didnât quite work out, and he was loaned to FC Utrecht in January.
Whatever was lacking in Scotland finally emerged during his spell in the Eredivisie, as he scored 11 goals and provided four assists in just 20 matches for the club in what was a stunning turnaround in form during the second half of the season.
Any notion that he might make it at Ibrox was quelled when Clement sold him to Twente during the summer. This allowed the manager to get high wages off the bill while giving him space to bring in another player.
Goals
0
2
Assists
0
1
Big chances created
0
1
Total shots per 90
1.2
2.5
Key passes per 90
1
0.3
So far, however, the 27-year-old has been in the form of his life back in his homeland, emerging as one of the finest players in the Dutch top flight.
Sam Lammers' form after leaving Rangers behind
The attacker is certainly continuing the form he displayed last year into the current campaign for his new side.
While he may not have led them into the Champions League group stages, Twente are currently taking part in the Europa League, where the forward has scored twice in five games.
Domestically, however, is where Lammers is showcasing his finest form, thatâs for sure.
In 15 matches for Twente, the former Rangers player has netted six times along with chipping in with two assists, propelling the club to fifth place in the league table at the time of writing.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.
Not only does he rank second in the squad for goals and assists in the top flight, but Lammers also ranks second for shots (2.8), ninth for key passes (0.8) and fifth for successful dribbles per game (0.5) along with ranking second for big chances created (four), indicating just how impressive a signing he has been.
Rangers forward Sam Lammers.
Journalist Jonny McFarlane dubbed the move that brought Lammers to Scotland in 2023 as a âbaffling dealâ recently amid his form in the Netherlands.
Of course, Lammers wasnât anywhere at the level required to perform for a club the size of Rangers, but perhaps his attributes simply werenât suited to Scottish football.
As he has proven since the start of the year, the striker is not a bad player, far from it, but his move to the Light Blues was certainly a case of the wrong player at the wrong time.
His displays after leaving mean that the forward is now similar to a player who made a big-money move in the summer and was even touted for a ÂŁ35m move to Chelsea; Samu Omorodion.
The youngster didnât end up moving to London, joining Porto instead in a deal worth around ÂŁ12.7m, which appears to be a stunning bargain given his current form and potential to get even better.
Now boasting an ÂŁ85m release clause, the Spaniard has been good value for that price tag having scored 14 goals across 17 games, along with grabbing one assist in what has been an impressive start to life in Portugal.
According to FBref, Omorodion is the fifth-most comparable player to Lammers in the Europa League this term.
The pair have also registered similar statistics with regard to various performance metrics in the Champions League’s sister competition, such as goals and assists (2 vs 4), shots per 90 (2.68 vs 2.57), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.68 vs 3.42), goal-creating actions (2 vs 1) and touches in the attacking penalty area (24 vs 25).
These statistics prove that if the ex-Rangers man can continue performing well at this level, he could increase his market value substantially and finally realise his vast potential.
Although the forward didnât live up to expectations during his spell in Scotland, Lammers is now proving plenty of people wrong back in his homeland.
Who knows, these displays this term might just see him secure another move to a top-five European league next summer. At 27, there is still plenty of life left in him yet.
Rangers eyeing ÂŁ5m January signing who excels "physically and tactically"
Langeveldt, the South Africa bowling coach, was involved in a car accident, along with team security manager Zunaid Wadee, but both are understood to be well
Firdose Moonda10-Apr-2022Russell Domingo, Bangladesh’s head coach, and Charl Langeveldt, South Africa’s bowling coach, are both missing the ongoing Gqeberha Test after returning positive Covid-19 results*.A team source confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Domingo, who tested positive on Thursday, has been resting at home in Gqeberha and is in good spirits, and has also been in regular contact with the team during the match. “He is feeling better now and only has mild symptoms,” a BCB statement said.As for Langeveldt, he tested positive before the start of the Test and, in keeping with pandemic protocols, was released from the tour group to self-isolate. Langeveldt opted to drive to his home in Cape Town and was accompanied by security manager Zunaid Wadee, who had also tested for positive for Covid-19. The pair was involved in a car accident, but CSA has said that the two are safe and well.Charl Langeveldt had tested positive for Covid-19 on FridayâąAshley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images”The team’s medical personnel immediately instated the standing protocol that was agreed between the Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) before the start of the tour,” CSA said in a statement. “The pair, who are mildly symptomatic, opted to drive home and to quarantine from there.”They were unfortunately involved in a car accident a short distance from reaching their final destination. They are both safe, well and at their respective homes with their families.”As a result of the “soft bubble” conditions under which this series is being played, and changes to the close-contact rules in South Africa, there was no need for anyone who was in contact with Langeveldt or Wadee to isolate.This is the second time Langeveldt has been absent from national duties because of Covid-19. He missed last year’s white-ball tour to Sri Lanka after testing positive within the then-required 21-day period that the Sri Lankan government required visitors to have been Covid-free for before entering the country.
Chelseaâs transfer policy over the last few years has been to buy young players who have bags of potential to help them in the future. At first, it was tough going for the Blues, who finished sixth and 12th in the two seasons that followed their takeover, and this new transfer policy.
However, things have taken a positive turn this campaign under new boss Enzo Maresca. Chelsea are now in second place, four points behind league leaders Liverpool and two points clear of Arsenal in second. Their young players are certainly having an impact.
Given the quality and depth of the Blues squad now, it does mean some of their youngsters donât get a look in.
Serie A sides target young Chelsea star
21-year-old Italian midfielder Cesare Casadei is a highly rated youngster. His move to Stamford Bridge came in August 2022, joining from Italian giants Inter. He cost Chelsea ÂŁ12.6m up front, with an additional ÂŁ4.2m in potential add-ons.
Cesare Casadei
Sadly, he has not really been given much of an opportunity during his time with the Blues so far. Casadei has made just 17 appearances for the club, playing a total of 495 minutes. Six of those games have come this term, with none being in the Premier League.
Despite a tough time at Stamford Bridge, the youngster has enjoyed some spells on loan away from the club. He spent time at Reading and played for Leicester City for the first half of last term, under Maresca.
He impressed for the Foxes, playing 25 times in all competitions, scoring three times and grabbing two assists along the way. Two of those goal involvements came against Millwall in the FA Cup third round.
Despite the âoutstandingâ talent the midfielder has, as football talent scout Jacek Kulig said, he could well leave the Bridge soon. According to reports in Italy, a return to Serie A is on the cards, with Monza offering a loan deal and Lazio a loan deal with a buy option, which would see the midfielder leave permanently.
The news comes just days after it was revealed that Champions League regulars Juventus were also in the picture to sign him.
Losing Casadei would be a real blow for Chelsea given his talent, and could a repeat of another transfer which they surely regretted.
The transfer repeat Chelsea will hope to avoid
Chelsea fans may well look back on Kevin De Bruyneâs time at the club and wonder what could have happened if they had given him a chance to shine. As we now know, he is one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, winning six league titles in England, but things did not work out for him at Chelsea.
The Belgian attacking midfielder played just nine times for the Blues, all of which came in the 2013/14 season. It is fair to say there was no love lost between De Bruyne and former manager Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese manager explained the midfielder âdidn’t want to waitâ for a chance at Chelsea, explaining that he didnât âhave the patience to be calm and to wait for the right momentâ for a chance.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
So, two seasons after the midfielder went on loan to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, he moved back to Germany on a permanent deal, joining Wolfsburg in 2014. Manchester City then paid ÂŁ55m for him one year later, and the rest is history.
Looking back on it, it was obviously a mistake to sell De Bruyne, rather than loaning him out and trying to persevere. He has gone on to play 397 times for City, scoring 101 goals and grabbing 171 assists. Chelsea fans must be thinking, what could have been if he stayed?
Genk
113
17
36
Chelsea
9
0
1
Werder Bremen
34
10
10
Wolfsburg
73
20
37
Manchester City
397
101
171
The similarities between this situation and Casadeiâs current circumstances are incredible. Like the Belgian, he is a creative midfielder who has excelled on loan, but struggled to break into the Bluesâ first team.
Cesare Casadei
This is surely a deal Chelsea will want to tread lightly on. Losing De Bruyne ten years ago has proven to be a big blow, given how good he became. It is perhaps not a risk they want to take on Casadei, and Maresca might well decide to give him the chance in the first team to show what he can do, rather than lose him in January.
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Victoria wicketkeeper ends his professional career due to chronic finger injury
ESPNcricinfo staff12-May-2022Victoria wicketkeeper-batter Seb Gotch has been forced to retire due to a chronic finger injury while offspinner Todd Murphy has earned his first Victoria contract after being named in the Australia A squad to tour Sri Lanka.Gotch’s retirement has been a long-time coming. The 28-year-old has not played since the final Sheffield Shield game of the 2020-21 season and was unavailable for Victoria and Melbourne Stars all of last summer due to his finger issue. He finishes with 29 first-class matches for Victoria and played in two Sheffield Shield titles. He made 1187 runs at 33.91 with two centuries and completed 108 dismissals.Meanwhile, Murphy has been rewarded with a full contract for Victoria after making his Shield debut this season. He starred in his second game with match figures of 7 for 146 and 24 not out in a fourth-innings chase against Tasmania and will be heading to Sri Lanka with the Australia A squad in June.Todd Murphy has been upgraded to a senior contractâąGetty ImagesVictoria have also upgraded young quick Cameron McClure to their senior list after he made his List A and Sheffield Shield debuts in March.Australian Under-19 opener Campbell Kellaway and promising Casey South-Melbourne batter Ashley Chandrasinghe have both been handed rookie contracts.Opener James Seymour has lost his state contract despite making his maiden Sheffield Shield century against New South Wales at the MCG earlier in the summer. Xavier Crone and Tom Jackson have also been delisted.Victoria men’s contract list:Peter Handscomb, Scott Boland (CA), Travis Dean, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch (CA), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Jon Holland, Nic Maddinson, Cameron McClure, Glenn Maxwell (CA), Jono Merlo, Todd Murphy, Tom O’Connell, Wil Parker, James Pattinson, Mitchell Perry, Will Pucovski, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Ashley Chandrasinghe (Rookie), Brody Couch (Rookie), Sam Elliott (Rookie), Campbell Kellaway (Rookie), Fergus O’Neill (Rookie) In: Ashley Chandrasinghe, Campbell Kellaway | Out: Xavier Crone, Seb Gotch (retired), James Seymour, Tom Jackson
Argentine giants River Plate have been urged to sign Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne when his contract expires this summer.
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De Bruyne in twilight of careerIn final year of Man City contractRiver Plate urged to swoopFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! đąđ±WHAT HAPPENED?
It seems as though De Bruyne's time with the Premier League champions is drawing to a close and fans will be following his next move with interest. Rumours of a switch to Saudi Arabia or Major League Soccer have been swirling, but there is one man who believes the 33-year-old should instead head to Argentina and join River Plate.
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Former River Plate striker Carlos Morete is desperate to see the club bring De Bruyne to South America. He said in an interview with : "River has a manager and brains. Maybe they called and I don't know or it wasn't made public. Why didn't anyone take a plane to Manchester and go find out about De Bruyne?
"He's 33 years old. You pay him $20 million, he's free, and you see if you bring him in or not. He'll make you a champion, make you fight for championships, and solve all your problems. Go check out his physical condition. He's a real star, and he's not that old. Make him an offer.
"He leaves City for free, pay him 20million (ÂŁ16.7m) Euros a year and bring him in. If you buy a player for 14 like the Colombian or 12 for Driussi, you've made a million-dollar salad. Here you don't pay a penny for a transfer and you bring in a star. Everything River brought in doesn't solve anything."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Morete is right when he claims De Bruyne is not in his best physical condition, but there is no doubt that he still possesses world-class ability. He has still played a role under Pep Guardiola this season, albeit more often than not from the bench. Whichever club does pick up the Belgium international next, they will be getting a bargain, even if the player himself still demands a hefty contract.
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR DE BRUYNE?
City's playmaker will not be going anywhere before the summer and he may even choose to stay at the club if given the opportunity. Reports have suggested that have the ex-Chelsea midfielder would be willing to take a pay cut to stay in Manchester.
Glasgow Rangers dropped two points at Easter Road on Sunday after they failed to hold onto the lead against Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership.
The Light Blues had a 2-0 and a 3-2 lead at various points in the afternoon but were unable to hold on to secure all three points despite Hamza Igamane’s hat-trick, as the home side battled back hard to earn themselves a point.
Hamza Igamane
Philippe Clement will be disappointed that his team, who have now won one of their last four league games, could not maintain their composure defensively to prevent Hibernian from having the chance to score three times.
One of the players who failed to step up when they were needed most was goalkeeper Liam Kelly, who is standing in for the unwell Jack Butland.
Liam Kelly's performance against Hibernian
The Scotland international, who kept a clean sheet against Celtic at Ibrox on Thursday, conceded three goals from six shots on target against him on Sunday.
Martin Boyle’s first goal for Hibernian was one that the shot-stopper could do little about, however, as the winger fired a shot into the bottom corner with pace and power.
Whilst it would be tough to blame Kelly for not saving Boyle’s penalty, his part in the late equaliser from Rocky Bushiri should come under question.
The Rangers goalkeeper came off his line in an attempt to clear the cross from a corner and got absolutely nowhere near the ball, allowing Bushiri to head into a virtually empty net.
Kelly’s error contributed to the third Motherwell goal and led to the team dropping two points, but one player who was even worse than the stand-in goalkeeper was right-back Ridvan Yilmaz.
Ridvan Yilmaz's performance against Hibernian
The Turkey international was deployed at right-back once again to fill in for James Tavernier, who is injured, and it is a difficult task for him to play on his weaker side.
However, Yilmaz showed that he does have what it takes to put in a strong performance in that position because he impressed in the win over Celtic on Thursday in that role.
The left-footed defender’s use of the ball against Hibernian was less than ideal, as he lost possession 16 times in total. He stalled on the ball and waited too long to make the right decision on numerous occasions, much to the frustration of Vaclav Cerny at times.
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Duels won
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2/8
Tackles + interceptions
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1
Possession lost
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As you can see in the table above, Yilmaz’s performance level dipped significantly for the trip to face Hibs after an excellent showing against Celtic, in both his defensive and offensive contributions.
The Turkish lightweight lost the majority of his physical duels in the draw on Sunday, which helped the home team to pile pressure on Rangers in the second half, and he gave the ball away far too often.
Put it simply, Yilmaz let Clement down badly by allowing his performance level to drop as much as it did from his display against Celtic.
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With the injury issues, the defender could be needed as a starter at right-back in the weeks to come and the manager will need more consistency from him.