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And what is the lowest total that was enough for an innings victory in a Test?

Steven Lynch04-Jan-2022On the first day of the Melbourne Test, one of the few England batting “highlights” seemed to be shots that went for three runs: 16 in all, adding up to just over 25% of the total of 185. How unusual is this high proportion? asked Charles Barr from England
I had to rope in the eminent Australian statistician Charles Davis for this one: he’s spent a large proportion of his life re-scoring Test matches, from scorebooks and other sources, and now has a database covering between 80-85% of all Tests played. And so I asked – but inadvertently caused a problem down under: “This question crashed my computer, but I noticed before the screen went blank that when South Africa scored 258 for 3 at the MCG in 1993-94, they hit 30 threes, or 34.9% of the runs.”When normal service resumed next morning, Charles was able to confirm that this was the highest of 11 known instances of more than 25% of a side’s total (of 100 or more) coming in threes. All of them were in Australia, with seven at the MCG, where the boundaries have always been long. He added: “When Bob Cowper scored 307 against England at the MCG in 1965-66, his innings included 26 threes, and some of his 20 fours were all-run.”There were 14 people out caught behind – seven by each wicketkeeper – in the Centurion Test. Was this a record? asked Nikhil Tandon from India
The 14 caught-behinds in the first Test between South Africa and India in Centurion last week stands equal 12th on this list. It is headed by the 17 wicketkeeping dismissals in another Test in South Africa – against Pakistan in Johannesburg in January 2019, when Sarfaraz Ahmed made ten dismissals and Quinton de Kock seven.The recent Centurion Test was the ninth in which both wicketkeepers made at least seven dismissals. The first such instance was at Lord’s in 1956, when Godfrey Evans made seven for England and Gil Langley nine for Australia. Denis Lindsay (who also scored 69 and 182 for South Africa) and Brian Taber (making his debut for Australia) made eight apiece in Johannesburg in 1966-67.Where does Australia’s 267 at Melbourne stand on the list of totals that were enough for an innings victory in a Test? asked Ken Cahill from Australia
There have been only seven lower totals that turned out to be sufficient to win a Test by an innings than Australia’s 267 against England in Melbourne last week. The lowest of all also came at the MCG, on a sticky, rain-affected pitch in 1931-32, when Australia managed only 153, but rolled South Africa over for 36 and 45. Left-arm spinner Bert Ironmonger – three months short of his 50th birthday – took 5 for 6 and 6 for 18.The only lower such total in the Ashes came at Old Trafford in 1888, when England’s 172 proved enough to defeat Australia (81 and 70) by an innings and 21.Australia were 82 ahead after the first innings at the MCG. Only two slimmer leads have resulted in innings victories, the smallest of all being England’s 46-run advantage over New Zealand (246 to 200) in Auckland in 1954-55. New Zealand then folded for 26, still the lowest total in any Test match. Then in Kingston in 2008-09, West Indies led England by 74 (392 to 318) before skittling them for 51 to win by an innings and 23 runs.Joe Root made more than three times as many runs as the next Englishman on the list, Rory Burns, in Tests in 2021•PA Photos/Getty ImagesJoe Root came close to breaking the record for Test runs in a calendar year, and was more than 1000 clear of the next Englishman. Was this a record in itself? asked Derek Chadwick from England
The short answer is yes: Joe Root amassed 1708 Test runs in 2021, some 1178 ahead of the next England player, Rory Burns with 530. The previous biggest discrepancy was 881 in 1976, when Viv Richards made 1710 runs for West Indies, with Roy Fredericks next on 829 (coincidentally, the number of runs Richards made in four Tests in England that year alone). The only man to score more runs than Richards and Root in a calendar year is Pakistan’s Mohammad Yousuf, with 1788 in 2006.Apparently there was an Australian player in the 1950s who went on a Test tour when his father was the manager, but I can’t work out who it was! Can you help? asked Terry Matthews from Australia
The player in question was the hard-hitting Queenslander Peter Burge. He made his Test debut against England in 1954-55, and shortly afterwards toured the West Indies in a side managed by his father, TJ “Jack” Burge. There wasn’t really any conflict of interest, since Burge senior wasn’t one of the tour selectors.In Gideon Haigh’s classic book The Golden Age, he recounted Peter Burge’s memories of his father, who died of a heart attack early in 1957. “My dad was the best frustrated Test cricketer I ever knew. He always wanted to play, was involved in it for as long as I could remember. When I was born, my family reckoned he gave me a rattle in the shape of a bat and ball.”After struggling a little at first, by the early 1960s Peter Burge had become a dependable middle-order bulwark for Australia, finishing after the 1965-66 Ashes series with 2290 runs in 42 Tests. In later years, an expanding waistline led to the popular Burge being dubbed “the fastest-growing Sport in Queensland”. It’s a humorous nickname which, judging by the TV coverage of the latest Ashes series, might affectionately now be applied to Matthew Hayden!Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answersUse our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Celtic have struggled to extract goals and assists from their wide players so far in the Scottish Premiership this season, which is why it was pleasing to see Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s assist for Daizen Maeda.

The summer signing from Royal Antwerp provided his first goal contribution for the Hoops with an excellent cross for the Japan international to score the winning goal against Motherwell last weekend.

Sebastian Tounekti has caught the eye with 14 completed dribbles in five games, per Sofascore, but he has yet to register a goal or an assist in three outings in the Premiership.

Veteran forward James Forrest, meanwhile, has settled into his role as a back-up option because he is unable to influence matches in the way that he once could.

The role James Forrest plays for Celtic

The 34-year-old winger is a reserve player for the Hoops who is thrown on in matches as a substitute if things are not going their way, or if Brendan Rodgers wants a hard worker to see out a game.

Instead of being the influential player he once was, having produced ten goals and 18 assists in the 2019/20 Premiership campaign, Forrest is not a first-choice forward on the right flank, and his output reflects that.

James Forrest’s Celtic output in recent seasons
Season	Appearances	Goals + assists
25/26	7	0 + 0
24/25	23	1 + 6
23/24	21	6 + 1
22/23	16	4 + 2
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Forrest has yet to deliver a goal or an assist in seven matches this season, after scoring once in 23 league games last term.

That should be expected, though, because the Hoops academy graduate turned 34 this summer and has naturally declined as a player as he heads towards the latter stages of his career.

There is another Celtic player, who is even older than the winger, in the squad on the way to becoming the next Forrest after another disappointing showing at the weekend, Kasper Schmeichel.

Why Kasper Schmeichel could be the next James Forrest

The 38-year-old shot-stopper conceded two goals from three shots against Motherwell and may feel that he should have done better with the penalty that he failed to keep out after going the right way.

67HailHail gave him the same rating (5/10) as right-back Anthony Ralston, whose poor concession in midfield led to the opening goal for the away side.

Whilst Schmeichel was as bad as Ralston at the weekend, the experienced Dane was also partially to blame for the 2-0 defeat to Braga in the Europa League last week.

25/26 Europa League	Kasper Schmeichel	Percentile rank vs GKs
Save success rate	70%	Bottom 44%
Goals conceded	3	Bottom 13%
Goals prevented	-0.39	Bottom 31%
Clean sheets	0	Bottom 3%
Errors leading to goals	1	Bottom 3%
High claims	1	Bottom 26%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the former Premier League title winner is among the worst-performing goalkeepers in the Europa League so far this season, albeit after just two gameweeks.

Age catches up with all players eventually, which is understandable, and Schmeichel is currently in danger of becoming the next Forrest, by losing his place in the starting XI and becoming a back-up option at Parkhead.

If the ex-Leicester City star continues to turn in concerning performances, like against Motherwell and Braga, then Rodgers may have a decision to make on who starts between the sticks.

Viljami Sinisalo has conceded five goals in nine appearances for the Hoops, per Sofascore, since his move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2024, and the Finland international may be pushing to take Schmeichel’s place in goal in the coming weeks.

Therefore, the 38-year-old colossus must show that he can defy age and recapture his best form if he wants to avoid following in Forrest’s footsteps.

Celtic must rue binning "magic" outcast who's now outperforming Tounekti

Brendan Rodgers must rue moving on from this Celtic star who is now outperforming Sebastian Tounekti.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 7, 2025

While there were some early jitters against the likes of Brentford and Leeds United, Nuno Espírito Santo has been able to somewhat steady the ship at West Ham United.

Now, things are far from perfect, but the Hammers have gone from losing every week to losing just one of their last six games and sit just two points off Nottingham Forest in 17th and the Peacocks in 16th.

However, there are still some potential problems on the horizon, like the uncertain future of Lucas Paqueta.

Fortunately, West Ham already have the perfect replacement for the Brazilian if he does end up leaving.

Why Paqueta will need to be replaced

Now, the first thing to say is that at his best, Paqueta is an incredible footballer and someone who could play for some of the very best teams in the world.

Chalkboard

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However, there are two major problems for West Ham: his contract and his recent output.

Starting with the first one, as things stand, the Brazilian’s current deal will have just a year left at the end of the season, meaning he either needs to be sold or handed an extension to protect his value.

However, given reports that he is open to leaving next month and his admission that he almost pushed for a return to Flamengo in the summer, it certainly seems he would turn down another deal.

In other words, the East Londoners should not only be open to selling the 28-year-old, but also be pushing for it.

This would also perhaps be more palatable at this point compared to a couple of years ago, as, on top of being sent off against Liverpool, his output has been underwhelming for some time now.

For example, he has scored only four goals this season, three of which have come in the Premier League, and last season he ended the campaign with a paltry tally of five goals in 36 games.

Paqueta’s recent form

Seaon

24/25

25/26

Appearances

36

14

Minutes

2536′

1217′

Goals

5

4

Assists

0

0

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In all, while Paqueta is an undeniably talented footballer, the combination of his contract and form might mean it’s time for West Ham to start thinking about selling him, especially as Nuno already has the perfect replacement.

West Ham's perfect Paqueta replacement

West Ham made several exciting signings in the summer, from El Hadji Malick Diouf to Soungoutou Magassa, but the one who could have the highest ceiling is Mateus Fernandes.

The East Londoners spent around £40m to get him out of Southampton, and while he looked a little rusty to start with, he’s now looking every bit worth that fee and then some.

Moreover, he’s the player who could end up being Nuno’s ideal Paqueta replacement, and the first reason why is his attacking ability.

Like the Brazilian, the 21-year-old is more than capable of being the most attacking midfielder, and is blessed with incredible vision and an excellent range of passing.

In fact, respected analyst Ben Mattinson was bold enough to describe the midfielder as someone who is capable of playing “those KDB-type passes” with relative ease.

However, he can do more than that, though, as on top of also having the ability to get past opposition defenders, the Olhão-born maestro isn’t afraid to chip in with the dirty work.

This ability to seemingly do it all, and to a high standard, was on show in the draw against Brighton.

Fernandes v Brighton

Minutes

82′

Key Passes

1

Tackles (Won)

8 (5)

Touches

61

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (3)

Interceptions

4

Clearances

3

Blocked Shots

2

Recoveries

6

Ground Duels (Won)

17 (16)

Fouls Won

5

All Stats via Sofascore

For example, in 82 minutes of action, he played one key pass, took 61 touches, won five fouls, completed 100% of his dribbles, won 16 of 17 ground duels, made four interceptions, three clearances and five of eight tackles.

Ultimately, it might take him a little longer to fully get up to speed, but as things stand, Fernandes is looking like an excellent signing for West Ham and could just be the perfect Paqueta replacement.

Related West Ham now lining up concrete January move for £80k-a-week Chelsea player

The Hammers are looking to sign a “leader” in the upcoming transfer window.

Posts ByDominic Lund Dec 7, 2025

Manchester United’s midfield department has so often been littered with quality, but it’s clear that Ruben Amorim is yet to stumble across his best partnership at the heart of the side.

The 40-year-old has been constantly shuffling his pack, often utilising various different players together, with Bruno Fernandes now seemingly his starting number eight.

He’s started every Premier League game in 2025/26 to date, but has often had to adapt to different combinations with other first-team members in recent times.

Casemiro has been the most consistent player to partner the Portuguese international, with the pair helping the club maintain a five-game unbeaten run for the first time in Amorim’s tenure.

However, with the Brazilian now aged 33 and set to leave in the summer, it’s crucial the hierarchy line up numerous targets to strengthen such an area in January and beyond.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new midfielder

Ahead of the upcoming January window, a whole host of young and talented midfielders have been linked with a big-money move to join Amorim’s United side.

Adam Wharton has been a star who has constantly been on the Red Devils’ radar over the last couple of months, with the Crystal Palace star just one option being considered.

It’s unclear how much a deal for his services would cost this winter, but it’s safe to say it wouldn’t be a surprise if the hierarchy made a beeline for his signature in the coming months.

However, he’s not the only player they’re targeting, with INEOS reportedly now said to be eyeing up a move for the signature of Atalanta midfielder Ederson.

A report from one source claims that the Red Devils is the most likely destination for the Brazilian star, with the hierarchy at the club expected to commence talks with the player and the two clubs.

It also states that such a deal could reach around €50m (£43.7m) this winter, with personal terms not expected to be an issue given his previous agreement with Amorim’s side.

Why United’s latest target would be a huge upgrade on Gomes

As part of the club’s hunt for a new central midfielder this winter, numerous players have appeared on their radar – with Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes just one option being considered.

Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported that the 24-year-old would be extremely keen on a move to Old Trafford in the coming months, with his current side sitting bottom of the Premier League.

As a result, a £44m price tag has been mooted for the midfielder’s signature in recent times, which could be a potential bargain for a proven English top-flight talent.

However, given the nature of the hunt for a new deep-lying option, the supporters will no doubt be hoping for a more high-profile and top-level addition to bolster the ranks.

Whilst many fans may crave a deal for a player of Wharton’s calibre, a winter deal may be somewhat unrealistic, with the Eagles potentially demanding up to £100m for his signature.

As a result, a deal for Ederson certainly could be on the cards for Amorim’s men, with the Brazilian certainly a better option than Gomes in the upcoming window.

When comparing their stats from the ongoing campaign, the Atalanta star has dominated in numerous key areas, showcasing why he would be the better addition at present.

Ederson, who’s been dubbed “out of this world” by former England boss Fabio Capello, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts per 90 going into the final third.

Such numbers highlight the Brazilian’s ball-playing ability, which could allow him to dictate the play for United for a deep-lying position – allowing Bruno to take up a more advanced role as a result.

How Ederson & Gomes compare in 2025/26
Statistics (per 90)	Ederson	Gomes
Games played	8	12
Minutes played	588	925
Progressive carries	1.4	1.2
Progressive passes	7.5	5.6
Pass accuracy	90%	84%
Passes into final third	6.6	4.1
% of tackles won	53%	51%
Interceptions made	1.6	1.1
Take-on success	50%	47%
Stats via FBref

Out of possession, the Atalanta star has been just as dominant over Gomes, as seen by his higher tackle success rate and more interceptions completed per 90.

The aforementioned tallies could certainly provide Amorim with the ball-winning option he’s been craving, at a bargain, too given his current asking price.

All-round, Ederson is a more complete option for the Red Devils, with his higher take-on success and progressive carries per 90 tally reaffirming his incredible ability to transition the play.

£43.7m for a player of the 26-year-old’s quality in the current market is an excellent price, with the hierarchy needing to work tirelessly to complete a deal for his signature.

There’s no denying Gomes would be an impressive addition too, but when a player of Ederson’s quality is currently available, it’s a no-brainer as to who the club should pursue in the coming weeks.

Shades of McTominay: Man Utd star is now their "most underrated player"

Manchester United now have a player who has certainly gone under the radar over the last couple of months.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 28, 2025

Has Viktor Gyökeres lived up to pre-season expectations at Arsenal?

Well, so far, the Swedish international striker has scored six times for the Gunners, most notably bagging a brace during the 4-0 Champions League demolition of Atlético Madrid.

However, as the saying goes, in absence the heart grows fonder.

Gyökeres hobbled off at half time against Burnley, having opened the scoring at Turf Moor, thereby sitting out subsequent trips to Prague and Sunderland, his absence truly felt during the 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light, with Mikel Arteta really lacking someone capable of running in behind, as well as reinforcements off the bench, so perhaps his importance was only crystallised when he wasn’t there.

Before suffering this injury, Gyökeres had started all 13 of Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures, completing 90 minutes on nine occasions due to a lack of alternatives, with Kai Havertz having not been seen since sustaining a knee injury at Old Trafford on the opening weekend.

Ahead of a North London derby following the international break, Arteta is hoping to have the cavalry back, with all six of Arsenal’s injured attackers nearing a return, so could “the best finisher at the club” challenge Gyökeres for his previously undisputed starting spot?

Kai Havertz's importance to Arsenal

If Arsenal are going to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title, they’re going to need their key players to remain fit and available.

For Arteta, these are William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka; one could argue Jurriën Timber has entered this exclusive group too, while Martin Ødegaard was certainly there too prior to his injury issues both this season and last.

If you ask the manager, if not certain onlookers, even if this zeitgeist has changed for most supporters, Kai Havertz is in Arteta’s top-tier of importance too.

So far in 2025, the German international has played just 817 competitive minutes, 754 of which came prior to a serious hamstring tear during the warm-weather training campaign in February before, just when he had got an entire pre-season under his belt, a knee injury picked up against Manchester United in August required surgery.

Initially signed to play a completely different role, Arteta stating upon his arrival that “he will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield”, after the Havertz as a left-eight experiment did not go as planned, he thrived as a centre-forward, scoring 29 goals for the Gunners to date.

So, what Arteta has shown is that, if Havertz is available, he is going to find a place in his team for him, so the idea that Gyökeres’ arrival would end his Arsenal career was never going to be the case.

Clearly, the pre-season plan was for the pair to timeshare the centre-forward role which, who knows, may have prevented Gyökeres’ injury, but certainly would have benefited him, given that the Swede’s best two performances, coming at St James’ Park and Turf Moor, both occurred after EFL Cup ties where he had been afforded a rest.

However, once Arteta has his full complement of forwards available again, the fabled ‘when everyone is fit’ bliss managers rarely ever enjoy, could there be another challenger for the number nine spot?

Why Mikel Arteta's "best finisher" could lead the line

As already outlined, Gyökeres, Havertz and Ødegaard as well as Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus are all hoping to make their eagerly-anticipated returns in the coming weeks.

Down to threadbare options, Arteta has been forced to return to the well that never seems to run dry that is Mikel Merino up front, something Gooners thought they had seen the end of after last season, but all the absentees have given Leandro Trossard the opportunity to seriously stake a claim.

The Belgian leads the way at Arsenal in terms of combined goals and assists so far this season, having bagged four of each, while this is also the case across 2025 to, as the table below documents.

Leandro Trossard

10

10

Mikel Merino

11

6

Declan Rice

9

10

Martin Ødegaard

5

9

Gabriel Martinelli

9

3

Bukayo Saka

9

Zero

Ethan Nwaneri

5

2

Viktor Gyökeres

6

Zero

Trossard has scored crucial goals on the road against both Fulham and Athletic Club this season, before firing home this absolute rocket on Wearside last Saturday night.

Ever since he joined the club from Brighton for £27m in January 2023, probably a better signing than Mykhailo Mudryk would have been, Trossard has been prolific in front of goal, scoring 32 goals and accumulating 27 assists, the most of any Arsenal player during this timeframe.

Thus, the Belgian has been labelled “the best finisher at the club”, while Tim Stillman of Arseblog agrees, describing him as an ‘excellent shooter and finisher’, something Arsenal’s squad lacks in general, praising his ‘positional versatility’.

Thus, given his output, Arteta is going to want to have Trossard on the pitch somehow.

With Madueke and Martinelli vying for minutes on the left-wing, could we see Trossard challenging for minutes as the centre-forward, certainly offering something different to Gyökeres, at the very least putting pressure on the Swede to perform, something he has not had due to the lack of a genuine alternative up until this point?

£150k-p/w star who's "better than Saka" could end Trossard's Arsenal stay

No Arsenal player has more goals & assists in 2025 than Leandro Trossard, but does Mikel Arteta boast a star “better than Saka” that will replace him?

ByBen Gray Nov 12, 2025

When it comes to truly brilliant players who have represented West Ham United over the last decade or so, the same names will tend to pop up.

Jarrod Bowen is undoubtedly a club legend for his Conference League-winning goal and loyalty, and while Dimitri Payet might have left on poor terms, he was utterly incredible for that year and a bit.

Finally, while he did leave to join another London side, it’s also impossible not to include Declan Rice in this conversation, as he developed from an academy gem into a world-class midfielder at the London Stadium.

The Hammers haven’t been able to replace the Englishman just yet, but Nuno Espírito Santo might have a player who could get close in his current squad.

West Ham's potential Rice heirs

The youngest West Ham gem who could potentially develop into a new Rice-type player for Nuno in the coming years is academy gem Preston Fearon.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The 18-year-old has been making waves in the junior sides for some time now, and was even given his first taste of senior football during pre-season, when he made a cameo in the game against Manchester United, after which Bowen described him as a “special player.”

While he has played in various positions on the pitch during his time in the academy, the exciting prospect is at his best when he plays in central or defensive midfield.

Central Midfield

14

0

5

Defensive Midfield

9

0

2

Attacking Midfield

2

0

0

Right Winger

1

0

0

Right Midfield

1

2

0

Centre-Back

1

1

0

His final similarity to the former Irons captain is his ability to chip in with a goal or assist, as even though he spends much of his time in deeper positions, he has scored three goals and provided seven assists in 39 appearances.

Moving on to an older academy graduate now, and Freddie Potts could eventually become the club’s new Rice.

Like Fearon, the 22-year-old started his footballing career with the East Londoners, joining them at the age of six and making his way through the junior sides before making his debut in late 2021 and then going out on a couple of loans to Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth.

The Barking-born ace is another player who can play in central and defensive midfield, and also has some experience at centre-back, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he lacks technical quality.

For example, respected analyst Ben Mattinson highlights his “ball-security, passing range and powerful carrying” as strong points, noting that he is “so smooth on the half-turn and composed under pressure.”

However, while either Potts or Fearon could become West Ham’s future Rice, there is another promising midfielder who could lay claim to that title.

West Ham's potential new Rice

Signed in the summer from Ligue 1 side AS Monaco for a fee of around £17.3m, Nuno could help transform Soungoutou Magassa into West Ham’s new Rice in the coming seasons.

The key reason for this is that, despite having a somewhat mixed start to life in East London, the young Frenchman seems to exhibit the skills necessary to follow in the Englishman’s footsteps: defensive nous and an ability to get the ball forward with purpose.

Mattinson also believes the 22-year-old can fulfil both roles, highlighting his ability to “spray passes wide out to the wings” but also making it clear that “defensively there’s a high potential” in the youngster.

Both sides of the Stains-born gem’s game can be seen in his underlying numbers.

For example, when it comes to the defensive side of things, FBref ranks him in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for dribblers tackled and blocks, the top 3% for ball recoveries, and the top 4% for tackles plus interceptions, all per 90.

Dribbles Challenged

3.59

Top 1%

Dribblers Tackled

1.80

Top 2%

Blocks

2.07

Top 2%

Ball Recoveries

6.98

Top 3%

Passes Blocked

1.52

Top 4%

Tkl+Int

4.84

Top 4%

Tackles

3.25

Top 6%

Interceptions

1.59

Top 7%

Switches

0.76

Top 8%

Tackles (Def 3rd)

1.38

Top 8%

Through Balls

0.41

Top 11%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.48

Top 11%

Shots Blocked

0.55

Top 12%

Tackles (Mid 3rd)

1.38

Top 14%

Touches (Def 3rd)

17.28

Top 14%

Touches (Def Pen)

3.59

Top 15%

Successful Take-On %

61.9%

Top 15%

Goals/Shot

0.13

Top 17%

And then on the other hand, he still ranks in the top 8% for switches, the top 11% for through balls and the top 15% for successful take-on percentage, also per 90.

This combination of a tenacious ball winner and top-notch passing range could be game-changing for the Hamemers this season.

With Bowen on the right and the duo of Crysencio Summerville and El Hadji Malick Diouf on the left, getting the ball out wide as soon as possible could be crucial for quick counter-attacks.

Ultimately, while it might take some time, West Ham’s new “effortlessly” brilliant Magassa, as dubbed by Mattinson, could become Nuno’s own Rice.

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The Al-Ahli forward has been linked with a loan move to East London.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Oct 16, 2025

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke has confirmed winger Daniel James’ ankle injury will rule him out for up to six weeks.

James, who has recently struggled with a core muscle injury which kept him out of last week’s home draw against Bournemouth, has turned an ankle in training and will be sidelined until November.

The Wales winger will miss Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Tottenham at Elland Road and both his country’s upcoming matches against England at Wembley and the World Cup qualifier against Belgium.

Farke said: “Daniel James will be out for a few weeks, he’s rolled his ankle sadly in training.

“The doctors say he’s likely out four to six weeks so realistically we expect him back just after the November international break.

“If he would be back before it would be a bonus and a surprise. It’s not great news.”

Gnonto and Gray could also miss Spurs

Farke, whose side currently sit 12th in the Premier League, also revealed Willy Gnonto has not yet recovered from a calf injury which has kept him out of the last two matches.

Teenager Harry Gray will also miss out against older brother Archie’s Tottenham after sustaining a hip flexor injury.

Farke can drop Aaronson by starting "dynamite" Leeds star & it's not Gnonto

Leeds United can take Brenden Aaronson out of the XI by bringing this star into the team.

ByDan Emery Mar 29, 2025

On the plus side, goalkeeper Lucas Perri has returned to training following a thigh problem, although the Brazilian summer signing will not be included in Farke’s squad this weekend.

Tottenham made the long trip to the Arctic circle in the Champions League on Tuesday night, fighting back to draw 2-2 against Bodo/Glimt, but Farke does not think this will have a bearing on Saturday’s encounter at Elland Road.

The German added: “I don’t think so because nowadays you don’t travel with a bicycle or on a ship or a coach. They have their private jets, so it shouldn’t be too uncomfortable.

“It’s not like in my generation when the travel was horrendous. They have chefs around.

“But it could be tricky sometimes, say if it was a Wednesday night (match) and then early Saturday kick-off.

“From Tuesday, I wouldn’t expect anything (adverse) and I also expect he will bring some fresh legs on the pitch.”

Tottenham are fourth in the table having lost one of their eight league matches this season and head to Leeds after drawing their previous two, against Brighton and Wolves.

Chelsea have by no means made a perfect start to the 2025/26 season, but their dramatic victory over Liverpool before the October international break ensured they stayed within a distance of the Premier League leaders.

Eyebrows were raised when BlueCo parted with Mauricio Pochettino in 2024 and replaced him with Enzo Maresca, a ‘Pep Protege’ and newbie on the scene, albeit excelling in the Championship with Leicester City. But Maresca has taken Chelsea back into the Champions League, and he won the Conference League and Club World Cup last year.

Now, sights are set on the next level, and while the Londoners hope to hit their targets and surpass them this season, with talents such as Estevao Willian cutting their teeth at Stamford Bridge, there’s more than a little cause for optimism.

Estevao is Chelsea's new star

Sometimes, you can just tell. When Cole Palmer clicked into gear two years ago, after joining from Manchester City, you could just tell. And now, the same is true for Estevao.

Described as having the potential to be a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the Brazil international, still only 18, has already scored and assisted in the Premier League this season, averaging 1.8 dribbles per game, as per Sofascore.

His goal against Liverpool rubber-stamped his reputation as a high-level talent, but Estevao has long been regarded as a one-of-a-kind sort of up-and-comer. To put that another way, Chelsea feel they have signed a player who will dominate across England and Europe for many years to come.

A versatile and fleet-footed winger, he joined Chelsea from Palmeiras this summer after an initial £29m deal was put in place in May 2024. Estevao is representative of an impetus on signing the finest youth prospects across the globe.

Chelsea’s prudence isn’t restricted to just teenagers, though. Potential stars are found and signed ahead of time; this is a common theme in west London.

And, with Maresca still questing for a highest-class striker, fans might get excited over the reminder that such a talent has indeed been tied to Chelsea’s future, and he’s showing shades of one Didier Drogba.

Chelsea's new version of Drogba

Drogba is one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history, and the talisman throughout the richest period of sustained success in modern times at Chelsea.

The club have been dealt a mixed bag at number nine since the Ivorian left London, but in centre-forward Emmanuel Emegha, they might just find the second coming.

The 6 foot 5 Emegha, 22, will join Chelsea from partner club Strasbourg in 2026, with the Ligue 1 side’s captain rejecting interest from other top clubs to move to Stamford Bridge.

As per FBref, the Netherlands native ranks among the top 14% of strikers across Europe for goals scored, the top 3% for pass completion and the top 14% for carries into the penalty area per 90, highlighting his natural striking ability and indeed a mobility and technical skill beyond most of his positional peers.

Emegha, in fact, has been hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his “simply phenomenal” finishing, and after scoring 14 goals and providing three assists across the 2024/25 campaign, he has already notched six contributions from as many matches this year.

Given that he is sharpening his tools in the French top flight and boasts a strong and dynamic physical profile, he may well arrive at Chelsea and draw comparisons to Drogba, who left Marseille for London in 2004 for a £24m fee.

Chelsea’s Record Goalscorers

Player

Apps

Goals

Frank Lampard

648

211

Bobby Tambling

362

194

Didier Drogba

381

164

Kerry Dixon

363

157

Roy Bentley

352

144

Data via Transfermarkt

Drogba is one of Chelsea’s all-time record scorers, and his big-game mentality was an iconic thing. Across nine seasons and two stints as a Blue, the 47-year-old won the full gamut. His tenacity and consistency once led an awed Jose Mourinho to describe him as a “remarkable” footballer.

Chelsea are building for the future, alright. But there’s also a sense that this new crop of acquisitions has been made with an eye on the past formulas too. Estevao evokes that X-factor emotion that the likes of Eden Hazard and more before him provided to the club’s doting fanbase.

With a towering and commanding talisman like Emegha in the centre, and Estevao running riot across the flanks, there’s no telling how dangerous Chelsea’s frontline will look in a few years time.

The likes of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, who is nursing a muscular injury, both joined Maresca’s side this summer, and the former in particular looks a real threat.

But strength in depth has always been Chelsea’s way, and Emegha has the completeness of style in the final third to make a real difference in the fight for prizes in the Premier League and Champions League.

A pacy runner who has not quite mastered the aerial game that his long frame should enable him to flourish within, Emegha remains a work in progress. Last season in Ligue 1, for example, his 14-goal haul was also met with 25 missed big chances, emphasising the work still to be done in front of goal.

Alongside Estevao, though, he would surely find his shooting boots and maintain a fearsome presence in front of goal. After all, alongside his electric pace, the youngster also ranks among the top 8% of positional peers for shot-creating actions per 90 (FBref).

The jury will remain out until Emegha gets going in the Premier League; many a talented prospect has fallen by the wayside when arriving in England.

But there’s such quality there, and Emegha’s physical robustness and quality on the ball suggest he might just have the skills to replace the legendary Drogba and lead Chelsea to illustrious success.

Related Estevao 2.0: Chelsea let one of "the best young wingers in Europe" leave for £0

The incredible former Chelsea talent could end up being as good as Estevao.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 10, 2025

Ed Barnard, Olly Hannon-Dalby share seven wickets but hosts stumble in final session

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-May-2025Lower-order resistance led by James Fuller lifted Hampshire to 300 all out after their batting fragility had surfaced again on the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship game against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Bowled out twice for under 200 in last week’s 366-run defeat to Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, Hampshire this time dipped to 130 for 5 and 223 for 8 before Fuller’s bullish 52 not out from 52 balls marshalled the addition of 77 for the last two wickets.Ed Barnard took 4 for 56 and Olly Hannon-Dalby 3 for 47 for a Warwickshire team full of confidence after their strong start to the season. They then wobbled themselves, however, as they lost both openers before closing the first day on 27 for 2 in reply.Hampshire elected to bat but lost Fletcha Middleton in the fourth over of the day when he edged Hannon-Dalby to second slip and Rob Yates took his 147th catch for Warwickshire.Mark Stoneman and Nick Gubbins gritted out 62 from 24 overs but, with the lunch interval beckoning, that fragility kicked in. Gubbins edged an outswinger from Beau Webster to wicketkeeper Alex Davies and Tom Prest nicked a firm-footed jab at Barnard.Hannon-Dalby struck the biggest blow with the 32nd ball after lunch when the obdurate Stoneman gave Davies his third catch. Ben Brown followed the pattern of batters getting in then getting out he when dug in for 29 from 56 balls but then dragged a drive at Webster on to his stumps.At 130 for 5, Hampshire were in jeopardy of coming in under 200 again, on a good batting pitch, but Dawson and Toby Albert applied themselves to add 68 in 19 overs. Both then perished in the space of ten balls. Dawson edged Barnard high to second slip and Albert flicked Tazeem Ali to midwicket to give Yates his 148th and 149th catches for Warwickshire.That left the sun-soaked crowd on tenterhooks to see if Yates would get the opportunity to take his 150th catch for Warwickshire. They didn’t have to wait long before Kyle Abbott drove mightily at Barnard but sliced to second slip when Yates triumphantly seized the ball above his head.That was 223 for 8 and Hampshire appeared well under par but the tail wagged. Former Warwickshire loanee Brad Wheal counterattacked for a 24-ball 28 before falling lbw, struck on the back pad, to the impressive Barnard. John Turner, recalled to the side in place of Sonny Baker, helped Fuller add 34 before edging Hannon-Dalby behind.Warwickshire were left with eight overs to bat during which Hampshire hit back hard. Yates’ day took a downward twist when he was trapped lbw by Abbott and, with 16 balls left in the day, Davies top-edged an inexplicable heave at Wheal and Middleton took an excellent catch running in from deep backward point.

Cristiano Ronaldo has risked an Al-Nassr backlash by admitting he would only play for Portugal if he could. Ronaldo is showing no signs of slowing down despite being at the tail-end of his career at the age of 40. But in a candid interview, the iconic forward expressed a deep passion for representing his country above all else.

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  Ronaldo targeting World Cup glory in 2026

  As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, Ronaldo is focused on the ultimate goal: to add the most coveted trophy in football to his already impressive collection. Portugal, now stacked with a host of talent, is primed for a serious World Cup challenge. With Ronaldo at the helm, they believe they have the perfect chance to deliver a historic victory.

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• Ronaldo not obsessed with the final frontier

  Despite spending years conquering club football across Europe and now in the Middle East, Ronaldo remains deeply committed to his national side. He was awarded the Globo de Prestigio trophy at the Portugal Football Globe gala on Tuesday night, and after laying his hands on it, he let his heart out on the stage. 

  "I don't see this trophy as the end of a career, but rather as a continuation of everything I've done, my entire career," he said. "I've been with the national team for 22 years; I think that speaks for itself: the passion I have for wearing the jersey, for winning trophies, for playing for the national team. I often say: if I could, I would play football only for the national team; I wouldn't play for any other club because it's the culmination and the peak of a football player."

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  A heartfelt tribute to Portugal's golden generation

  Ronaldo’s extraordinary international career has spanned more than two decades. He made his debut for Portugal back on August 20, 2003, when players like Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, and Joao Felix were still in their early childhood. Since then, Ronaldo has carried his country on his shoulders, winning a European Championship and two UEFA Nations League titles, but the World Cup continues to elude him. During the award ceremony, he fondly remembered his past team-mates, many of whom were instrumental in his rise to stardom. 

  "That's why I'm still here," he said. "I want to thank everyone who's here. So many generations have passed through the national team. I see so many former players here who were my team-mates. I see Rui [Costa], Pepe, Jorge Andrade, Beto, [Ricardo] Quaresma… and seeing them, I say: 'I'm still here.'"

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• A legend chasing immortality

  But there’s more at stake for Ronaldo than just national glory; he’s also chasing an individual milestone that would further cement his name in history. The forward is close to smashing through the 1,000 career goals barrier, a remarkable feat that would make him the first player to achieve it. At 40, the hunger and drive are still there, and Ronaldo is aiming to break records and lead his country to the World Cup.