West Ham United are looking to build some momentum under Nuno Espirito Santo, though they now appear to have suffered an injury blow at the London Stadium.

Nuno Espírito Santo makes early judgements on West Ham squad

Nuno has only been in East London for a matter of weeks. However, the former Nottingham Forest boss is already laying down the law as he aims to secure Premier League survival at a minimum this term.

Coming as a surprise to some, West Ham have put James Ward-Prowse up for sale, with Guido Rodriguez also an apparent target for Saudi Pro League clubs.

Nevertheless, the Argentina star reportedly rejected a switch to the Gulf region despite being offered a £30,000 pay increase, as an unnamed agent delivered the lowdown on his situation, via Claret & Hugh.

They said: “Rodriguez had five interested clubs in the summer but didn’t want to move. One offer from Saudi would have given him an extra £30k per week, but he said no.”

On the other hand, Ward-Prowse has been withdrawn from West Ham’s matchday squads against Arsenal and Everton, signalling that Nuno isn’t willing to offer any chance of redemption to players he doesn’t believe will fit his tactical framework.

Taking decisions for the benefit of his group, Nuno will be keen to add a sense of physicality to his side, who have been too passive this term and easy to cut through, conceding more than anyone else in the top-flight with 16.

The Hammers have also scored the joint-second fewest goals at just six, and they may now be struggling for firepower even more following the latest developments coming out of the international break.

With George Earthy out until November after sustaining a hamstring problem (ExWHUemployee), Nuno has been dealt another injury blow.

West Ham star Niclas Füllkrug suffers injury blow

As relayed by Kicker, Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann confirms that West Ham striker Niclas Füllkrug has suffered a “torn muscle bundle in his thigh” on international duty, and will now be out for ‘several weeks’ as he looks to work his way back to fitness.

The 32-year-old has gone through a series of unfortunate absences since arriving in London and will now be out for the foreseeable, leaving Callum Wilson and youngster Callum Marshall as Nuno’s only two available strikers for Brentford.

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Struggling to get his West Ham career off the ground, Fullkrug, on around £90,000 per week at the London Stadium, has netted three times in 27 appearances for the club and is yet to get off the mark this term.

Jarrod Bowen may also be a candidate to feature through the middle in his absence, with Nuno searching for his first win ahead of a potential six-pointer next weekend.

Luck hasn’t been on Fullkrug’s side since joining the Hammers from Borussia Dortmund, albeit everyone connected with the club will hope he can make a speedy recovery as West Ham look to kick on after a poor start to the campaign.

Celtic full-back Colby Donovan is the current poster boy for the pathway from the B team to the first-team at Parkhead with his emergence this season.

Injuries to Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston convinced Brendan Rodgers to bring the 19-year-old right-back into the senior squad to fill in for several matches.

The Scotland U21 international started against Kilmarnock, Partick Thistle, Red Star Belgrade, and Braga before being left out of the matchday squad for the 3-2 win over Motherwell last time out.

Whilst he may not have been too pleased with dropping out of the squad last weekend in the Scottish Premiership, Donovan was delighted after he made his full European debut against Red Star Belgrade.

His appearances across all competitions in the 2025/26 campaign do show that Rodgers is prepared to bring through young players if they are ready and there is a space in the team to play them.

One position that the head coach could look to fill by utilising the B team is the number six position, as he starts to look to life beyond captain Callum McGregor.

Why Celtic may need to replace Callum McGregor

At the age of 32, the former Scotland international is not yet at the retirement stage or the point where Celtic have to worry about him becoming unplayable.

However, there have been some concerning performances at the start of this season that suggest that the veteran central midfielder’s influence on the team may be waning.

The left-footed star has never been the most powerful or intense player out of possession, due to his relaxed and composed nature in the number six position, but that has worked to his detriment this season.

Appearances

35

7

Goals

8

0

Assists

3

0

Ground duel success rate

54%

46%

Fouls committed

0.4

1.6

Fouls won

0.6

0.4

As you can see in the table above, McGregor’s physical output is down in comparison to the 2024/25 campaign in the Premiership, losing the majority of his ground duels and committing four times as many fouls per match on average.

This suggests that the captain has been a little off the pace in the league this term, as opposition players have been sharper than him to win duels and force him into committing fouls on them, whilst he has not provided as much of a threat in front of goal at the other end of the pitch.

The Scottish midfielder has also lost 64% of his duels in the first two outings in the Europa League, per Sofascore, losing 62% of his ground duels and 100% of his aerial battles.

With this in mind, Rodgers may start to think about what life will look like once McGregor is not a guaranteed starter, whilst also considering adding competition for his place.

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One option could be to look to the academy to find a long-term replacement for the captain, as well as competition for his position in the short-term.

19-year-old Jude Bonnar, who is on loan at Ayr United, may be a player supporters would earmark as a McGregor successor from the youth team, but he has played on the wing and as an attack-minded midfielder, which may not suit the number six role.

The Celtic youngster who could replace Callum McGregor

Samuel Isiguzo, unlike Bonnar, has experience playing as a defender and as a central midfielder, per Transfermarkt, which may put him in a better place to develop into a holding midfielder or the Hoops.The 18-year-old star is typically deployed in a central midfield position, where McGregor plays, and has caught the eye in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign.

Isiguzo, who can play in defence, as a wide midfielder, or as a central midfielder, has scored five goals and provided one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions for the academy this term, per Transfermarkt.

The teenage talent, who scored four goals in 13 outings in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, has shown that he has a knack for scoring goals from a midfield position, as McGregor did last season with his eight-goal haul in the Premiership.

Isiguzo, who was praised for his “dangerous” play by journalist Josh McCafferty, could also be the heir to McGregor’s position in the team because of his leadership skills.

The 18-year-old starlet has captained the B team in 13 of his 16 appearances this season, which shows that he is a respected leader at youth level who can lead by example and rally the troops, as the current first-team captain does.

Of course, there is a difference between captaining a youth team in front of a small crowd, if any crowd at all, and captaining Celtic on European nights with thousands of fans in attendance, but it does show that Isiguzo has the leadership potential.

With Bonnar out on loan and potentially suiting a number eight role more, the Scottish youngster could be the player to look to give McGregor some competition for his place this season.

Academy graduates used

2

3

Academy graduate appearances

5

4

Academy graduate starts

0

0

Academy graduate minutes

90

25

As you can see in the table above, Rodgers has not given loads of opportunities to young players in recent seasons, but Donovan’s emergence in recent weeks shows that the manager is not completely against bringing through academy talent.

Therefore, Isiguzo could be an interesting player to watch out for in the coming months if the Hoops end up in a position where they feel that McGregor needs a rest, as the B team star could step in as a natural replacement.

Forget Tounekti: Celtic's "exciting" star could become their new Kuhn

Celtic may be brewing their next version of Nicolas Kuhn in this winger, and it is not Sebastian Tounekti.

ByDan Emery Oct 7, 2025

Visitors will have Mehidy Hasan Miraz back and could go with three spinners at SSC

Madushka Balasuriya24-Jun-2025Big Picture: WTC points at stake for both sidesAfter a draw in the first Test in Galle, the action moves to Colombo with more World Test Championship (WTC) points on the line for a Test arguably more important for Sri Lanka than Bangladesh. As their remaining two home series in this cycle are against India and South Africa, two Tests without a win against a lower-ranked Bangladesh might leave the hosts feeling like they left points on the table.As for the visitors, they were the closer of the two sides to getting a positive result in Galle, and will be heading to Colombo with the belief that they can go one better. And with their remaining two away series this cycle against WTC 2025 finalists Australia and South Africa, the points might prove more valuable than most.It is also Sri Lanka’s first Test of the post-Angelo Mathews era, with the search for his replacement now moving into full gear. The first to get a go looks likely to be spin-bowling allrounder Sonal Dinusha, whose slow left-arm spin makes him a handy option – particularly in home conditions. With no Tests on Sri Lanka’s cards until next year, he’ll be itching to make this opportunity one to remember.Related

Dhananjaya de Silva bets on pace in second Test against Bangladesh

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If Sri Lanka opt to throw all their spin eggs in the Prabath Jayasuriya basket, then one of Pavan Rathnayake, Pasindu Sooriyabandara or even Oshada Fernando could come in.Bangladesh, meanwhile, welcome Mehidy Hasan Miraz back after he missed the first Test with fever. You would expect the No. 2-ranked allrounder in the world to be welcomed back with open arms. But his replacement Nayeem Hasan was arguably the best bowler on show in the first Test.With the SSC surface expected to be dry and batter-friendly, both teams will be trying to decipher the ideal combination. Dhananjaya de Silva hinted that three seamers were likely for Sri Lanka – which could potentially mean a debut for Isitha Wijesundara – but if Bangladesh were to follow suit, it might mean Nayeem misses out.Bangladesh, though, have the seam options to go with a three-pronged spin attack, with both Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain available for selection. With Ebadot just returning from an injury layoff, Khaled could get the nod, particularly owing to his proficiency with the new ball.Form guideSri Lanka: DLLLL
Bangladesh: DWLWLLAnamul Haque fell for 0 and 4 in the Galle Test•Associated PressIn the spotlight: Dhananjaya de Silva and Anamul HaqueFor most of his career, Dhananjaya de Silva has batted at No. 6 or lower. He was tried at No. 5 for the entire 2021 as well, and to some success. But with Mathews retired, Sri Lanka’s Test middle order is getting its first real shake-up in over a decade. The biggest beneficiary of that might be the Sri Lanka captain himself. Dhananjaya looks set to slot into that No. 4 role – at least initially – a position he has batted in on only six prior occasions, and one where he averages just 20.33. DDS, as he’s commonly known, has always been the man for a crisis in Sri Lanka’s lower order, and Sri Lanka will be hoping that crisis-management mode kicks in upon the retirement of one of the country’s stalwarts.Anamul Haque’s Test career hasn’t been one to write home about. Having made his Test debut back in 2013, he was in the wilderness from 2014 to 2022. Anamul’s return to the national team was brief, though, as he was dropped after a single Test for another three years. At 32 years of age, his return against Zimbabwe this April was less comeback, and more a reintroduction. He scored 39, his highest Test score, the only time he batted in that game. The Galle Test brought Anamul scores of 0 and 4, not ideal either. But on an SSC track that is expected to be as batter-friendly – if not, more – now, if ever, is the time to deliver.Mehidy Hasan Miraz will be back in action after a fever•AFP/Getty ImagesTeam newsSri Lanka will be pondering Mathews’ replacement, as well as whether to play three seamers. Milan Rathnayake’s injury has left open a spot for a bowling allrounder, and Dinusha seems likely to fill that role. Tharindu Ratnayake will be the one to make way if Sri Lanka go for an extra seamer.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Lahiru Udara, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Sonal Dinusha, 7 Kusal Mendis (wk), 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Vishwa Fernando, 10 Kasun Rajitha/Isitha Wijesundara, 11 Asitha FernandoBangladesh will have to decide how to slot in the returning Mehidy, while also pondering whether to go with three seamers or an extra spinner. It could be Nayeem who misses out if the extra seamer does come in. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also picked up a finger injury at training, but it doesn’t look likely to rule him out.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Anamul Haque, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Jaker Ali (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Nayeem Hasan/Khaled Ahmed/Ebadot Hossain, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Nahid Rana, 11 Hasan MahmudOf active Sri Lanka players, Prabath Jayasuriya’s ten wickets are the most at SSC•AFP/Getty ImagesStats and trivia Sri Lanka have lost four of their last eight Tests at the SSC. Prior to that, they had gone 21 Tests without defeat at the venue. Of active Sri Lanka players, Jayasuriya’s ten wickets are the most at the SSC. Bangladesh have beaten Sri Lanka just once across 27 Tests.Quotes”Runs in the first innings is the key. Then we can try and take 20 wickets in the game. Toss will not be a major factor. Even in Galle, we were able to score the same number of runs as them.”
“To leave Naeem out is difficult. But we make sure everyone is on the same page, and if a decision has to be made, people understand that it’s what’s best for the team.”

Vinicius Junior has issued a public apology to Real Madrid for his reaction after being substituted in the 2-1 win over Barcelona at the weekend. The Los Blancos star was hooked with fifteen minutes to go in El Clasico, prompting a furious reaction from the Brazilian, who appeared to ignore Xabi Alonso before heading straight down the tunnel. The 25-year-old has now shared his apologies for the moment, but gave no mention to his boss.

• Getty Images
  

  Vini Jr's public apology

  The Madrid winger stole the headlines during the huge win over title rivals Barca for his reaction to being hooked with time to spare at the Santiago Bernabeu. Vinicius headed straight down the tunnel before returning to the bench before full-time, but not before he could exchange some heated words with Alonso, who was stone-faced during the moment.

  Now, in a statement released on social media, Vinicius has cleared up the situation and apologised. He said on : "Today I want to apologize to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologize again to my teammates, the club, and the president. Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

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• Alonso omitted from statement

  Notably, there is one man Vinicius seemingly forgot to mention in his apology statement, head coach Alonso. The Spaniard took the brunt of his players' fury on Sunday evening, all with a game still going on in front of him. By omitting him, the Brazil star is only going to ramp up speculation that their relationship is fractured, and that one, or both, could leave the club. 

  Fans were quick to latch on to the absence of Alonso in the apology. On X, @cruelkroos said: "And the apologies to the coach, where are they? Because he's the first one you owe them to."

  @maarcoloopez93 opted to back the player over the manager, adding: "Never apologize for having an inept coach It's not your fault."

  @MrGafan was on the same line, posting: "Much honor Vini. The change was terrorism and your reaction was perhaps disproportionate but apologies can only be made by those who truly feel things. No one doubts your madridismo. Keep it up."

  But the eagle-eyed @Petrelli86 was nother to notice the absence of Alonso's name, he towed the line of getting behind both. He said: "We love you, Vini. You're going to win the Ballon d'Or with Xabi, whom you haven't mentioned, by the way."

  Finally, @ahosani65 said: "What about the coach? Doesn’t he deserve an apology as well ??!!"

• Road to redemption?

  Vinicius' apology was the second in as many days after the 25-year-old attempted to explain the mass brawl that broke out between players during the derby. That time, he was apologising on behalf of Real Madrid as a whole for any young fans witnessing the ugly scenes. But in this post, the Los Blancos hero was holding his own hands up. It is a sign of his strong character to apologise despite the constant scrutiny on him both during games and away from the pitch. However, it still does not clear up the rumours of a strained relationship with Alonso, who currently has his side sitting top of La Liga.

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  Moving forwards in the capital

  Vinicius and Alonso will have to settle their differences if they are to compete for both domestic and European honours this season. They sit five points ahead of Barcelona after Sunday's win, and also find themselves in a strong position to compete for the Champions League. Next up is a clash at home to Valencia on Saturday, where fans will get the latest glimpse into the relationship between player and head coach.

Following a second defeat in a matter of days, Arne Slot is set to hand one player his Premier League debut against Chelsea in a game that must feature an improved performance from Liverpool.

Carragher: Time for Slot to "earn his money"

It’s a slump that looked on the cards as each late goal found the back of the net against Bournemouth, Arsenal, Southampton in the Carabao Cup and against Atletico Madrid, but it’s now one that the Reds must deal with before a panic turns into a crisis.

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After suffering back-to-back defeats for just the second time under Slot, all eyes will be on Liverpool when they travel to Stamford Bridge this Saturday. Defeat would signal plenty of questions for those at Anfield, who Jamie Carragher believes are playing more like a basketball team than the defending Premier League champions that they are.

The Liverpool legend then went on to say that it’s time for Slot to “really earn his money” after a smooth ride last season. Just what that means for a number of struggling stars is the big question.

The Dutchman has already proved that he’s not afraid to get ruthless at Anfield and that could be on show this weekend with one player in line to make his Premier League debut.

Slot set to hand out Premier League debut vs Chelsea

Liverpool’s night became worse when Alisson Becker went down after what appeared to be a muscle injury and Slot has already confirmed that the Brazilian will not feature against Chelsea. As such, Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to make his Premier League debut. The former Valencia man has been waiting for his chance and now he’s set to get it.

A lot of questions were asked about Mamardashvili’s game time when Alisson stayed put this season, but the 25-year-old wasn’t just signed to succeed the world-class shot-stopper. Alisson has an extensive injury history and one which has almost had an inevitability about it in recent seasons, making Mamardashvili’s arrival incredibly important.

Described as “magnificent” by scout Jacek Kulig in 2024, the summer arrival offers Liverpool the chance to replace the injured Alisson without losing much quality. Mamardashvili is more than ready to step up, particularly in the shot-stopping department.

Brenden Aaronson’s strong run of form reached new heights with a goal in Leeds United’s 2-1 victory over West Ham, earning plaudits from USMNT legend Alexi Lalas. The FOX Sports analyst praised Aaronson’s steady improvement and work ethic, saying the midfielder has played his way back into U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino’s plans.

Getty Images Sport'He's got an opportunity'

Lalas emphasized that Aaronson's previous solid form for the U.S. and his current strong run for Leeds make him a strong candidate for the upcoming U.S. call-ups in November. 

“Well, stock up again,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “It's in the context of his club performance. We have seen Brendan Aaronson play well, not necessarily be the best player on the field for the U.S. men's national team. He's got an opportunity. I think he's worked his way back into the, not the good graces, because I don't think Pochetino didn't like him."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportReassessing Aaronson's ceiling

Lalas said that critics might have placed limitations on what Aaronson could achieve at the highest levels of European football.

“Always when we talked about Brenden Aaronson, it was about that ceiling and what he was,” Lalas said. “Maybe there's still a little room, and maybe we shortchanged him in terms of what he can be. But this is not surprising to me… people, and I'm talking about coaches, mostly fans, fans alike, too, recognize and I think they see value in his 'work ethic.'"

Getty Images'Very good soccer player'

Lalas emphasised how Aaronson's work rate has translated into appreciation from both the coaching staff and Leeds supporters. 

“Sometimes that can happen when you say someone works hard, it's, you know, damning with faint praise, right?” Lalas said. “It's they work hard. And what you are almost implying is that they're not really good at soccer. And so they make up for it with hard, with hard work. Very good soccer player. I think he’s kind of like a Cristian Roldán, who has done more with less than others…

"This is a good thing, and it's a good thing that he's being recognized and he's playing well. I don't necessarily think it's going to translate into him starring for the national team, but this is better than him not playing well and not even being involved in the national team going forward.”

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Road ahead for Aaronson and Leeds

face Brighton and Hove Albion next on Oct. 31 in the Carabao Cup, and then they’ll face Nottingham Forest on Nov. 8.

Things have not gone West Ham United’s way so far this season.

The Hammers were knocked out of the League Cup by Wolverhampton Wanderers and have lost four of their last five Premier League games.

While it’s still early, it feels like it is just a matter of when and not if Graham Potter is replaced in the dugout.

Especially as the club have now been linked with an experienced coach who could turn things around and has been compared to David Moyes.

West Ham's manager search

With their form as poor as it is, it’s not been much of a surprise to see West Ham linked with a host of potential Potter replacements over the last few weeks.

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One of those who has been constantly touted for a return to the club is Salven Bilic, who has been out of work since leaving Al-Fateh last year.

Another equally underwhelming candidate linked with the job has been Gary O’Neil, who has remained out of work since being fired by Wolverhampton Wanderers last season.

Fortunately, a far more inspiring manager has also been heavily linked with the role, although he has also been compared to Moyes.

At least that is according to a recent report from Claret & Hugh, which claims that West Ham are still very interested in Nuno Espírito Santo.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Portuguese coach ‘remains the most likely candidate’ to replace Potter at the moment.

While some fans might not like the fact that he has been compared to Moyes, Nuno could be just the answer for West Ham at the moment.

Why Nuno could be another Moyes

So, in this instance, the comparison to Moyes stems from former West Ham player Paul Konchesky, who argued that “his style is much like David Moyes.”

He goes on to explain that, like the Scotsman, Nuno set his Nottingham Forest team up to “defend on the edge of their box and tried to hit teams on the counter-attack.”

Now, while there is certainly some truth in that, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss also took the Tricky Trees from relegation candidates to European football.

Perhaps even more impressive than that was his achievement of winning promotion with the Old Gold and eventually leading them into the Europa League.

In other words, while his teams might not always be the most entertaining, he has a proven track record of taking teams from the bottom of the table all the way into continental competitions.

Moreover, the numbers behind his time in the Premier League are more than impressive considering the teams he has managed.

For example, the “outstanding” coach, as dubbed by commentator Adam Summerton, has now overseen 184 Premier League matches during his time with Wolves, Spurs and Forest.

Games

184

Wins

72

Draws

45

Losses

67

Goals For

233

Goals Against

242

Points per Game

1.42

Of those 184 games, 72 have been wins, 45 have been draws and 67 have been losses, which gives him an average of 1.42 points per game.

His teams have also scored 233 goals, which works out to 1.26, and once again, that does not sound too bad considering the fact that some of his teams have had to fight off relegation.

Ultimately, fans are certainly entitled to wanting a manager who’ll play enthralling football, and perhaps Nuno wouldn’t be the long-term answer for West Ham.

However, given the club’s current predicament and the wonders he has worked with other sides, the Portuguese coach might be the perfect man to come in for a year or two.

Manager demanding big wages to join West Ham after holding talks with Sullivan

He’s by far the most viable candidate.

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South Africa’s men had their day at Lord’s and it might well have roused the women’s team because they came back from 0-1 down in the ODI series against West Indies with a power-packed performance. There were contributions all the way down the batting order to put up 309 for 9, led by Sune Luus’ enchanting 76 off just 65 balls. Nondumiso Shangase produced a career-best 55 having been trusted with the No. 3 position for only the second time ever. And Annerie Dercksen was around to provide the flourish at the end, even though wickets were falling, as South Africa picked off 106 runs in the last 10 overs.West Indies, in reply, built their innings around fifties from Hayley Matthews and Shemaine Campbelle but their challenge wilted in the face of some miserly spin bowling from Nonkululeko Mlaba, who brought up her best figures in ODI cricket with 4 for 33. Her dismissal of Matthews came at a crucial time with West Indies keeping up with the required rate at 107 for 2 in the 20th over largely thanks to their captain’s fluency. She made 56 off just 58 balls with nine fours.Cambelle kept fighting – 53 off 58 even though she hit just five boundaries – and West Indies arrived into the last 10 overs of the game with 221 runs on the board – 18 more than South Africa at the same time and only 89 away from victory with five wickets in hand. Mlaba and the eternally gifted Marizanne Kapp took a game that was in the balance and broke it with three wickets in 11 balls. Campbelle was gone. The West Indies’ lower order had been opened up and the game petered out to its only conclusion.Scoreboard pressure played a big part in all that. Having been put in, South Africa found the going a little tough with even their free-flowing captain Laura Wolvaardt only able to score 28 off 47 balls. But the openers’ willingness to weather that period – Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits stayed together for 15.1 overs – ensured the rest of the line-up had better conditions to bat in. It showed in how only one of the remaining top seven batters had a strike rate below run a ball. Luus was the major driving force for the innings, scoring her first ODI fifty in the last 20 innings, a sequence that goes back to September 2023. Her partnership with Shangase lit the torch paper – 85 off 69 – and that fire spread. Dercksen came in and kept up the tempo, adding 40 off 23 balls with Luus before Luus fell. But that was just a reason to go harder and Dercksen and Chloe Trying put on 57 off 34 for the seventh wicket.Tuesday’s ODI now becomes a decider before the two teams get together for a three-match T20I series.

Arsenal have built an outrageously talented squad over the last five years or so, one capable of winning the Premier League and Champions League.

However, for all the incredible stars Mikel Arteta has signed over the seasons, from Declan Rice to David Raya, it would be fair to say his most important player remains Bukayo Saka.

The Hale Ender has transformed from an academy prospect into a world-class forward, and the fact that he produced his 100th league goal involvement on his 200th appearance at the weekend is a testament to that.

So, it’s incredibly exciting to see that the club are producing another academy talent who looks destined to become someone of Saka-level importance in the years to come.

Saka's academy career

Saka joined Arsenal in the Arsenal academy set-up at seven years old, after spending some time with Watford.

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The youngster’s first game for the Gunners’ U18 side came in a 4-1 loss to Fulham’s U18s in August 2017, and while he failed to make much of an impact in that game, he did end that season with eight goals and four assists in 22 games.

The following season started with the “future legend,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, continuing to play for the U18s while also making appearances for the U23s.

However, while he was used in the FA Youth Cup at the turn of the year, and the final of the U18s Premier League, it was increasingly clear that the young dynamo was too good to stay in that age group, and so the U21s became where he spent most of his time.

In all, the Ealing-born gem made 24 appearances for the U23s across 18/19, in which he scored six goals and provided nine assists, but something else happened that season: he made his first-team debut.

Former manager Unai Emery gave him a chance off the bench in a Europa League clash with Ukrainian side Vorskla Poltava in November, and then started him at home against Qarabağ FK a month later.

Appearances

28

25

Goals

16

6

Assists

6

9

With him now featuring for the senior side, he would make his final appearances in junior football the following season, playing a single game against Everton in late August for the U23s.

In all, Saka produced 37 goal involvements in 53 appearances for the junior sides before establishing himself as Arsenal’s most important player over the following years, and now it looks like Hale End has produced someone else capable of doing the same.

Arsenal's future Saka

While last season saw Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly make it into the first-team, the Hale Ender set to become as crucial as Saka is someone even younger: Max Dowman.

It feels like the 15-year-old is the most talked-about youth prospect Arsenal have had in a generation or more, and it’s not just coming from supporters.

For example, at the start of last season, respected talent scout Jacek Kulig went as far as to claim the teenager was the “most exciting prospect” he had seen “since Lamine Yamal”, and considering the Spaniard’s absurd ability, that is an astounding thing to say.

As if that wasn’t enough, you also had senior professionals waxing lyrical about the youngster, with Rice labelling him “the best 15-year-old in the country.”

Finally, away from players and scouts, Hale End expert Will Balsam probably had the boldest opinion of the lot, arguing that the Chelmsford-born gem is “one of the greatest footballing brains that’s ever come through Hale End.”

Appearances

23

Minutes

1945′

Goals

19

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

81.04′

As if that wasn’t enough, he also claimed that he’s “the biggest talent in England,” a statement supported by his statistics for the youth sides last season.

For example, in just 23 appearances, totalling 1945 minutes, he scored 19 times and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.

Finally, what makes it really feel like he could become as big a star for the first team as Saka has is that in his few senior appearances, he has looked incredible, most notably against Leeds United at home and Newcastle United in pre-season.

Ultimately, there is still a long way to go for Dowman, but as things stand, he looks destined to become a world-beater for Arsenal.

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أعرب إمام عاشور، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن سعادته الكبيرة بالتواجد مع بعثة الفريق في الإمارات، ومشاركة زملائه الأجواء قبل انطلاق بطولة السوبر المصري، بعد فترة من الغياب.

وقال عاشور في تصريحات للموقع الرسمي للأهلي: “سعيد للغاية بوجودي مع الفريق هنا في الإمارات، ومعايشة هذه الأجواء المميزة قبل بطولة مهمة مثل السوبر المصري، أتمنى دعم زملائي بكل قوة، وأن نكون جميعًا على قلب رجل واحد؛ من أجل الفوز باللقب والاحتفال مع جماهيرنا كعادتها دائمًا في كل المناسبات”.

وأضاف: “المشاركة في جزء من المران الجماعي خطوة مهمة جدًا بالنسبة لي، وأنا ملتزم بالبرنامج البدني لتجهيزي للعودة الكاملة، ولا شك أن شعور العودة والتواجد مع الفريق لا يوصف خاصة بعد فترة صعبة من الغياب”.

طالع | موقف رباعي الأهلي المصاب من السوبر المصري.. ومفاجأة بشأن محمد شريف

وقال: “الفترة الماضية لم تكن سهلة، لكن ـ بفضل الله ثم دعم عائلتي وجماهير الأهلي وجميع من في النادي ـ استطعت تجاوزها، أشكر الدكتور أحمد جاب الله، طبيب الفريق على متابعته المستمرة والدعم طوال الوقت والتواصل المستمر للاطمئنان على حالتي”.

وتابع: “أتطلع للمشاركة في كل المباريات القادمة، وسأبذل كل جهدي للعودة بأفضل شكل ممكن، ومساعدة الفريق لتحقيق البطولات.. دعم جماهير الأهلي كان أكبر دافع لي خلال تلك الفترة”.

واختتم إمام عاشور تصريحاته بتوجيه رسالة للجماهير قائلاً: “جماهير الأهلي دائمًا على الموعد، ونثق في حضورهم ومساندتهم للفريق في بطولة السوبر، وأتمنى أن نسعدهم ونحتفل معهم بكأس السوبر المصري”.