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Different India teams for the different formats – that’s been discussed. Harbhajan Singh feels a different coach for T20Is, like England had with Matthew Mott in their run to the T20 World Cup title recently, is the way to go for India, and the man for the job, in his opinion, is Ashish Nehra.”He knows this [T20 cricket] better than” Rahul Dravid, the all-format India coach, Harbhajan feels.”In T20 format you can have someone like Ashish Nehra who recently retired from the game,” Harbhajan told PTI in Abu Dhabi, where he is a part of the Delhi Bulls line-up for the T10 league. “He [Nehra] knows this better than – with all due respect – Rahul.Related

• Shastri: 'No harm in identifying new T20I captain'

• Maxwell: Suryakumar 'makes everyone else look worse'

• India's T20 approach needs a reboot, not a refresh

“We [Dravid and he] have played together for so many years; he has vast knowledge, but this is a tricky format. Someone who has played the game more recently is better suited for the coaching job in T20s. I am not saying you remove Rahul from T20; Ashish and Rahul can work together to build this team for the 2024 World Cup.”Dravid played his last representative match in T20s in October 2013, while Nehra finished up in November 2017. he has since turned to coaching, and was in charge of the back room at Gujarat Titans in the IPL earlier this year, when they won the tournament in their first season.”With such an arrangement [split coaching], it is easy for Rahul as well, who can take a break as well like he did for New Zealand tour and Ashish can do the job in his absence,” Harbhajan said. On the ongoing New Zealand tour, where India won the T20I series, VVS Laxman has filled in for Dravid.‘The approach has to change in the T20 format’
At the recent T20 World Cup, where India exited in the semi-finals after a ten-wicket loss to England, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, the openers, scored 116 and 128 runs respectively, scoring at strikes rates of 106.42 and 120.75. Virat Kohli, at No. 3, was much more impressive, topping the overall scoring chart for the tournament with 296 runs at a strike rate of 136.40. But he, too, failed to up the tempo at times, and there have been suggestions that India need to take a serious look at their top three.KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma failed to up the scoring rate consistently in the powerplay overs•Getty Images

“The approach has to change in the T20 format,” Harbhajan said. “The first six overs are important. If that doesn’t happen, you will be depended on Hardik [Pandya] or Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] for scoring 50 off 20. If they don’t fire, you will end up with a below-par total.”England changed their approach and they have won two World Cups [including the 2019 ODI World Cup]. T20 has to be played like T20 not like ODIs.”Talking specifically about the trio of Rohit, Rahul and Kohli, Harbhajan said, “All the top three need to do is increase their strike rate. It is tough when you bat at 110 or 120 strike and try to make 180. They have to score at least nine runs per over in the first 10-12 overs.”I am no one to comment whether they would want to play [T20Is] or not. They are quality players. If they can remain fit, why not, provided the approach is different. Players can’t be changed overnight, the approach has to change.”

Chelsea has been the home to countless elite-level attackers over the years, helping the club transform into one of the biggest names in England and across Europe.

Eden Hazard will go down as one of the most memorable, featuring over 300 times for the Blues, scoring some crucial goals – helping them claim the Premier League title twice during his seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

The Belgian would also make the club a hefty profit in the process, leaving for Real Madrid for a fee in the region of £150m in the summer of 2019 – making them a profit of £118m on their investment from 2012.

Frank Lampard was another who featured at the very top level during the entirety of his time in West London, making just shy of 650 appearances for the Blues, breaking their record and becoming the top scorer in their history with his tally of 211.

The Englishman has since returned to manage the first-team squad on two separate occasions, trying to stabilise the ship in uncertain times such as embargoes and poor on-field performances.

One striker will remain in the hearts of almost all supporters forever after his impact at the club following his out-of-the-blue transfer under José Mourinho.

Didier Drogba’s stats for Chelsea

Didier Drogba will always be remembered for his goalscoring ability with his array of different finishes following his time at the Bridge, scoring 147 times in his 344 appearances for the Blues during a combined 11-year stint in West London.

He joined the club in the summer of 2004 from Ligue 1 side Marseille, with then-manager Mourinho having to convince former owner Roman Abramovich to splash the cash for his signature – with the Ivorian his number one target.

Drogba scored various key goals for the Blues, but his ability to create an opportunity or an opening in front of goal, essentially out of nothing, made him as popular as he was, with the fans adoring him for his efforts.

The now 46-year-old achieved double figures in every season he played in England bar his final one in 2014/15, providing the goals when the side needed them most.

Undoubtedly, his most memorable moment for the club came in the 2012 Champions League, where he scored the crucial equaliser, before scoring the winning penalty in the shootout – cementing himself in the club’s history forever.

It’s now been nine years since his final game for Chelsea, with various managers and behind-the-scenes staff trying to find the club their new version of the African superstar.

However, their attempts are yet to be successful, with one player previously having high hopes upon his move to England.

Chelsea's next Didier Drogba not living up to the hype

Fellow Ivorian David Datro Fofana followed in the footsteps of his compatriot, joining the Blues in an £8.4m deal from Norwegian side Molde back in January 2023.

The striker would make four appearances in the second half of the 2022/23 season, which remain his only appearances for the club to date after his transfer.

His move to the Bridge was an exciting one, with Turkish commentator Hakan Gulec, dubbing the 21-year-old as the “baby Drogba” – a huge heap of pressure that up to now, he’s failed to live up to.

Fofana has since been sent on various loan spells across Europe to allow him to reach his potential and have an opportunity to prove that the comparisons really on in his career were accurate.

Union Berlin and Burnley were the sides who signed the youngster on temporary loans, before returning to West London this summer for pre-season ahead of 2024/25.

However, he wouldn’t get his chance under new boss Enzo Maresca, being shipped on loan to Turkish side Goztepe after a failed move to join Greek outfit AEK Athens.

Fofana’s stats on loan at Goztepe (2024/25)
Statistics	Tally
Games played	6
Goals scored	1
Pass accuracy	71%
Dribbles completed	33%
Duels won	34%
Shots taken	3
Aerials won	48%
Stats via FotMob

Given his young age, there’s still a lot of time for Fofana to progress and reach the levels he was credited with before his move to England, but he needs to do so quickly if he is to remain at the Bridge.

Owner Todd Boehly isn’t afraid to axe or sign new players if he feels that an area needs strengthening, with the centre-forward area undoubtedly the one in need of most attention – but Fofana could find himself on the brink if he doesn’t impress this season.

Chelsea set to unearth their own Yamal in "crazy" £100m star in the making

Chelsea could have their very own Lamine Yamal with this “crazy” talent.

By
Connor Holden

Nov 14, 2024

Former South Africa Under-19 player had been hospitalised after an assault near Taunton in May

Firdose Moonda08-Sep-2022Mondli Khumalo, the former South Africa Under-19 and Kwa-Zulu Natal Inland bowler, has had a final, successful surgery after being assaulted in Somerset in May. He is now able to move around without a protective helmet and hopes to be able to return to professional cricket by early next year.”That was the final piece of the puzzle,” Rob Humphries, Khumalo’s agent, told ESPNcricinfo. “Now it’s about healing and the pathway back to professional cricket. He is in great spirits and physically, he is really good. He can get up and walk about. It’s about being able to get back in the gym and rebuilding his fitness. He is fit and strong and in a really good space.”Khumalo, who was on his first trip as an overseas professional at North Petherton Cricket Club, was attacked outside a pub in Bridgwater, near Taunton, where he was celebrating a win with his team-mates.A 27-year-old man was arrested and released on investigation and the case awaits the go-ahead from the crown prosecution service.Khumalo was unconscious at the scene and then placed in an induced coma for four days. He had three operations to relieve pressure and bleeding in the brain. Ten days after being hospitalised, Khumalo was able to stand unaided and his club team-mate Lloyd Irish shared a video of Khumalo catching a sponge ball.His fourth and final operation, to replace the piece of skull that had been removed to attend to the brain injury, took place on September 7. It would have taken place sooner, but was delayed by several weeks after Khumalo contracted Covid-19. He will remain in England until he is cleared to travel, with Humphries aiming for a November return. Khumalo’s mother and uncle, who made the trip across from South Africa to England soon after the attack, have already returned home and Khumalo has been in the club’s care.In June, they organised a crowd-funding campaign to help with the costs of Khumalo’s treatment, which is chargeable by the NHS, and raised £27,379. Further funding will be needed, as his bills have exceeded this amount.

Fast bowler currently in UK, and unlikely to be risked with series beginning on December 1

Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Nov-2022England fast bowler Mark Wood is a doubt for the first Test against Pakistan.Wood has been in the UK recovering from a hip injury sustained during England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign and will join up with the Test squad in Rawalpindi this weekend. Though the injury ruled the 32-year-old out of the semi-final against India, he was considered fit to play in the final against Pakistan before it was decided not to take a risk with selection for such a high-profile match.His rehabilitation is said to be tracking well. However, with just three training days ahead of the start of the series on December 1, it seems unlikely he will be able to accrue the necessary number of overs at a high enough intensity to prepare himself for the rigours of a Test match.Wood returned to international duty in Pakistan during the T20Is after missing the 2022 summer and showed how crucial his pace was as a point of difference, with six wickets at 7.33 in his two appearances in the seven-match series. He carried that form into the World Cup, with nine wickets at 12.00 in four matches, bowling the fastest spells and even walking away with the fastest delivery of the tournament – a full delivery at 154.74kph to New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips.Wood’s absence from the Abu Dhabi leg of this winter, where the squad has been warming up alongside England Lions ahead of their first Test series in Pakistan for 17 years, is unrelated to his injury. Both he and Yorkshire batter Harry Brook were given two weeks at home after the World Cup to rest as they were the only two players in all three first-team squads (Pakistan T20Is, World Cup, Pakistan Tests) before the end of the year.Speaking on Friday after the final day of England’s warm-up match, which was swapped for a two-hour training session, England captain Ben Stokes was optimistic on Wood’s fitness and said there will be no cover drafted into the squad.”No, we’re sticking with it,” said Stokes. “We’re not going to call up another seamer to this group.”We took the decision to let Brooky and Woody spend that time at home, obviously being at Pakistan and the World Cup,” Stokes said. “We felt a week at home for them would be more beneficial, just to get their batteries recharged, and obviously with Woody’s injury, getting home and being around his wife and child would be better than being out here and getting all his rehab, which he could do at home.Ben Stokes looks on during England’s practice session in Abu Dhabi•ECB Images

“We’ve let them go home. I haven’t had much contact with them, just to let them chill out and relax. From all reports, Woody’s coming on nicely and we’ll see how he is when he gets out here.”One addition to the original party of 15 has been Rehan Ahmed. The leg-spinning allrounder was part of the Lions, and officially called up to the main squad on Wednesday. Director of cricket Rob Key revealed on Thursday that this had been the intention all along.It was a huge show of faith in an 18-year-old with just three first-class matches to his name, but those at the ECB, particularly performance director Mo Bobat, are convinced he is ready for this elevation.Stokes evidently feels the same. When asked if he would have any qualms selecting Ahmed in an XI this winter, he was unequivocal in response: “No, absolutely not. That was one of the things where we said ‘yes, we are bringing him into the squad to give him that experience and get him involved’. If anything came down to it and we felt like we wanted to select him, then we definitely would.”He’s obviously not the finished article yet, but we feel with someone like that – the way that he bowls, the way that he bats – getting him into this environment will do him the world of good. Being around all the senior players and getting to work with the best coaches in the world, in my opinion, is only going to do him the world of good.Related

• Ollie Pope to captain England in warm-up as Ben Stokes sits out

• Rehan Ahmed could become youngest man to play a Test for England after call-up for Pakistan tour

• Jofra Archer makes encouraging return to England colours after long injury lay-off

• Rob Key: Rehan Ahmed's Test fast-tracking was the plan all along

“I don’t think this should be looked at as a huge amount of pressure put on his shoulders. I think it should be looked as a great opportunity for a young lad to come in, to be in this environment, and be able to work on his skills. And then hopefully, who knows where the next two or three years will take him. We just wanted to get him in and make him feel comfortable around the ground.Stokes himself has been stepping up his work since the World Cup. He took no part in the first two days of the match between the Test squad and England Lions, instead opting to net and bowl in the middle during the intervals.”I looked at this fixture here in particular, and honestly thought I’d get more out of these three days training,” Stokes said. “Getting my bowling workloads back up again after having a break after the World Cup in particular. I like working on my skills in the nets rather than being out there in the middle. I’ve really benefited from these three days, definitely, and just because I’ve missed this game, I don’t feel like I’ve missed a trick or feel underprepared. We’ve still got three days out in Pakistan to prepare for the first Test.Liam Livingstone has been dealing with a sore ankle this week. But after getting through eight overs of bowling on the field on Thursday, as well as a few more out in the middle during the breaks, Stokes was happy to report a clean bill of health.”There’s no injury within the group which is great – the first time in a while, so that’s good. We’ve had a few lads on the Test tour be out here with the Lions a couple of weeks before we met up. It’s all about peaking at the right time and the message at the start of the camp was to build up towards two days before that Test, and still have something left in the tank to get going, because you don’t want to burn yourself out now and almost be ready a week too early.”

Everton have fallen victim to a number of expensive misfires in the transfer market over recent years, especially under the topsy-turvy running of the club from higher up in the form of Farhad Moshiri.

Significant fees have been chucked around with little to no care attached, with Moise Kean joining the Toffees for an eye-watering £29m back in 2019, only for the Italian striker to go on to bag a paltry four goals playing in England.

The incomings of Jarrad Branthwaite and Dwight McNeil in recent times – to name a few – have at least shown that the Toffees can operate astutely, but there are far more blots than positives on Moshiri’s CV, with this flop one that Everton fans will curse remembering.

Moshiri's costly Everton signing

Cenk Tosun goes down as another costly mistake on the end of Moshiri and Co, costing £27m to get in through the door back in 2018.

The Turkish striker would also join with a reputation for being a deadly finisher, one that he was expected to uphold in Merseyside as a new hero for Everton fans to cheer, having bagged a mightily impressive 20 goals from 33 league appearances during his final full season at Beskitas.

Despite initially impressing the Goodison Park masses with five strikes from 14 league games during the 2017/18 campaign, after joining mid-way through the campaign as a statement January acquisition, Tosun’s goals would eventually dry up.

In total, the former Blues number 14 would only fire home 11 goals from 61 appearances, which resulted in football journalist Luke Gardener once describing Tosun as being “toothless” when Crystal Palace picked him up on loan in 2020.

The Turkish attacker has since relocated to familiar shores back in the Beskitas ranks, with a move to Super Lig giants Fenerbahce even coming his way this summer off the back of finding his shooting boots once more, but that hasn’t stopped his transfer value from falling off a cliff compared to his previously flashy £27m price-tag.

Tosun's transfer value in 2024

It’s fair to say Everton paid well over the odds for Tosun at the time, with his value now all the way down at a bleak £1.4m according to Transfermarkt.

Of course, the hit-and-miss forward is considerably older now at 33 years of age compared to his Everton stint, but he will feel equally shamed by how far his value has fallen since being regarded as a bumper buy for the Toffees.

Tosun’s transfer value over the years
Date	Value
October 2024	£1.4m
June 2023	£2.6m
June 2022	£1.6m
March 2021	£5m
April 2020	£10m
December 2019	£12.5m
January 2018	£27m
Sourced by Transfermarkt

This fall in value hasn’t just occurred overnight, however, with Tosun’s price falling throughout his poor time playing in England, with his price plummeting from that much-talked-about £27m price-tag all the way down to £12.5m barely two years into his spell.

Now, the veteran marksman will be worried about the amount next to his name crashing even more playing in his native country, with Tosun experiencing a goalless start with Fenerbahce to date from five clashes.

Tosun did have some wretched luck with injuries during his lacklustre time in England, with the ex-Everton number 14 missing for 16 games during the 2021/22 season owing to a tendon rupture, but Frank Lampard wouldn’t extend any sympathy towards the Toffees dud when he let him walk away in 2022.

Everton will just hope they don’t fall victim to any more shockers like this when the transfer window reopens in January, as Sean Dyche aims to keep his troops afloat in the Premier League for another season.

Everton dud who left for £0 has been way better than Calvert-Lewin in 24/25

One Everton flop is amazingly outperforming Dominic Calvert-Lewin this season.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 14, 2024

England leaned on youth, South Africa on experience – of sorts – as Marizanne Kapp’s brilliant century rescued her side from near oblivion on an enthralling first day of their Test in Taunton.Kapp, who with Lizelle Lee represents the sum total of their team’s Test experience having both played in South Africa’s last one which ended in an innings defeat to India in 2014, played the flawless innings the tourists desperately needed to reach 284 by the time they were bowled out, ending the day’s play.Kapp came in with her side 45 for 4 after England’s two international debutants, Issy Wong and Lauren Bell, combined with the new, old hands of the side, Kate Cross and Nat Sciver, to reduce them to rubble in England’s first Test in 11 since 2008 without either of their retired seamers Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole.Kapp shared a 72-run stand with Anneke Bosch before Bosch gifted her wicket to left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclesteone, a veteran at just 23 years of age, cutting straight to backward point for 30. But it was a resolute stand with Sinalo Jafta, only worth 25 but during which Jafta faced 39 deliveries for her 4 runs which saw Kapp to her ton. Another stand worth 49 for the ninth wicket with Tumi Sekhukhune took Kapp to 150, making her the first woman since Mithali Raj in 2002 to reach the milestone.In the meantime, England took the second new ball as soon as it became available after 80 overs and Wong drew the first false shot of Kapp’s innings when she was beaten attempting to defend one on a length that jagged away from her.It’s facetious to suggest Kapp’s experience amounts to one previous Test. She has also played 210 white-ball games for her country and she exuded calm and authority to manoeuvre her side to a first-innings total that seemed incredibly unlikely earlier.She cruised to her fifty from 80 balls, including eight fours, and raised her century with the first of three fours in one Cross over, slashed over the slips cordon before carving the next through backward point and then edging over keeper Amy Jones to take her past the previous highest Test score for a South African woman.Kapp was prolific on the off side, scoring 100 of her first 135 runs in that area, though by the time she reached 150 she had scored 45 runs on the leg side as she continued to manipulate the field. It took a spectacular catch from Tammy Beaumont, launching herself to her right at mid-off to pull the ball down after Kapp had tried to flay Bell over the infield, to end her stay.”It looked like she’s been playing Test cricket for years,” Cross said of Kapp after she had bowled Nonkululeko Mlaba to claim her fourth wicket of the innings.Cross had made the initial breakthrough for England in the fifth over when she dismissed Andrie Steyn, who shouldered arms and left her off stump exposed to a line Cross had been probing throughout her opening spell.Wong, the 20-year-old quick promoted from her position as travelling reserve on Saturday to replace Emily Arlott, who is still recovering from the after-effects of Covid, was selected ahead of Freya Davies, who has played 24 limited-overs internationals but is yet to play a Test.Having been presented with her cap by Brunt, who travelled with the squad to continue her preparation for the white-ball portion of this multi-format series, Wong, struck with just her 12th delivery in international cricket. She lured the dangerous opener Laura Wolvaardt into an attempted cover drive with one that nipped back off the seam and shot through the gate to clatter into middle and off.It didn’t take long for Lauren Bell to pick up her first Test wicket for England•PA Images/Getty

Lara Goodall fell lbw to Sciver after England reviewed umpire Sue Redfern’s original not-out decision, with the DRS showing the ball right on target to hit middle stump.Bell returned after a solid four-over opening spell and secured her maiden wicket with her fourth ball back, rapping Lee on the pad with a fuller ball which struck seemingly just in line with off stump. Lee reviewed but her dismissal was upheld on umpire’s call on impact, meaning she departed for an eight-ball duck.Wong could have had a second in the final over before lunch when Sune Luus, the South Africa captain, split Sophie Ecclestone and Cross at second and third slip, the latter appearing to get a finger to the ball before it raced away for four. But when Cross removed Luus in the second over after lunch, with Sciver taking a sharp catch at third slip, South Africa were still struggling at 89 for 5.From there, Kapp set about her wonderful rebuilding effort with Bosch, then Nadine de Klerk, who was caught behind of another England Test debutant, Alice Davidson-Richards, a 28-year-old batting allrounder who provides another seam bowling option but who hasn’t played for her country since six white-ball games in 2018.It took a catch rivaling Beaumont’s effort which ended Kapp’s knock to remove Jafta and it was Wong who provided it, back-pedalling in the covers and flinging her right hand high and almost behind her to pluck a leading edge off Cross from thin air, holding on tightly as she tumbled to the ground.Cross ended with 4 for 63 from 17.4 overs to be the pick of the England bowlers who all ended the day satisfied with what they had achieved and having set up an intriguing second day’s play.

Arsenal are big admirers of a man who could finally fill the gap in Mikel Arteta’s squad that he intended Mohammed Kudus to occupy, it has been claimed.

Arsenal missed out on Kudus

In 2023, West Ham announced the signing of Kudus from Ajax, but it could have been very different. Arsenal and Chelsea were both interested in signing the Ghanaian, Kudus later confirmed, as they looked to bolster their attacking ranks ahead of the 2023-24 Premier League season.

“It’s true they were in contact”, Kudus explained. “But when West Ham came it moved fast and I made my decision based on speaking to people around the club, their project and how they see me as a player.

“I made the decision based on my gut feeling. That’s how I make my decisions. Whatever the ramifications are, I take it upon myself.”

One of the major draws for Mikel Arteta was Kudus’s versatility, with the 24-year-old able to play in central midfield, on the wing or even as a lone striker, all of which he did to good effect at Ajax and which attracted the attention on Mikel Arteta as well as David Moyes.

He has enjoyed a strong start to his Premier League career too, grabbing ten goals and six assists in 41 outings for the Hammers and attracting attention from clubs across Europe.

However, he will not come cheap, with a release clause believed to be around £85m in his contract at the Hammers, suggesting that perhaps for Arsenal that particular ship has sailed. Now, they could have found a younger alternative.

Arsenal big admirers of "difference maker"

That comes as Caught Offside claim that Arsenal are one of two sides chasing impressive Juventus talent Kenan Yildiz.

Arteta must axe 5/10 Arsenal man who lost 100% duels vs Liverpool

Arsenal have been suspect defensively in recent weeks.

ByMatt Dawson Oct 28, 2024

The Turkish international penned a new £59,000 a week deal in Turin in August, and has enjoyed a strong start to the new campaign under Thiago Motta.

He came off the bench to score twice and rescue a draw in their most recent outing against Inter Milan, a cameo that led Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig to hail the 19-year-old a “difference maker” on X.

His form has caught the attention of both Liverpool and Arsenal, and the report claims the Gunners are “big admirers of Yildiz and would be keen to sign someone of his profile to take the burden off Bukayo Saka”.

Still just 19-years-old, the Turkish international would be an expensive addition but would offer a decade of potentially top level football to whoever managed to lure him away from Juventus. He would also likely be cheaper than Kudus, and, listed among “similar players” to the Ghanaian on stat-site FBref, it is easy to see why.

Also capable of playing in midfield or on the left-wing, both have started the season in similar fashion.

Mohammed Kudus vs Kenan Yildiz 24/25

Mohammed Kudus

Kenan Yildiz

Appearances

8

9

Pass Accuracy

81.9%

82.5%

Shots on target per 90

1.36

0.71

Progressive carries per 90

5

5.29

Carries into the penalty area per 90

2.3

2.29

Shot creating actions per 90

3.4

3

Successful take on %

50%

48%

Having missed out on Kudus, would Yildiz be the perfect piece for Mikel Arteta’s side in the seasons to come?

Leeds United have given an injury update on winger Manor Solomon as international duty gets underway, as reported by Graham Smyth.

The second international break of the season is now underway, and it probably comes at the right time for the Whites as they try to get some of their injured players off the treatment table and back onto the pitch.

Sky Sports: Club now plan to sign £10m Leeds player who Farke doesn't want

It looks like one to watch.

ByBrett Worthington Oct 8, 2024 Latest Leeds United news

Leeds are going to have to deal with being unable to call upon Max Wober, Ethan Ampadu, and Ilia Gruev for the next few weeks and possibly months. But in a positive injury update, Leeds could welcome back Daniel James for their clash against Sheffield United, as revealed by Daniel Farke. The winger has been missing since August but could be set for a return in some capacity against the Blades.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Farke plans to stick with Meslier for that game against Chris Wilder’s men, as his blunder against Sunderland is seen as a “freak issue” and he will not be judged by one mistake. The ‘keeper stopped his side from getting all three points over the weekend, but Farke plans to keep the faith for their next crucial clash.

The January transfer window is still a bit away, but Farke could be about to get a flurry of cash coming his way, as Eintracht Frankfurt are already planning on signing Rasmus Kristensen. The defender is on loan to the Bundesliga side from Leeds, and they plan to use the buy option they have and sign him on a permanent basis.

While Leeds will be pleased to have James back for the Blades game, they will also be pushing to have Solomon, and there has now been an update on his situation.

Graham Smyth shares injury update from Leeds on Manor Solomon

As reported by The Yorkshire Evening’s Graham Smyth, Solomon has remained at Thorp Arch despite appearing to be called up to the Israel squad for the forthcoming games. Israel are set to play France and Italy in this international break, and the winger was named in the squad, appearing in their squad graphics published by the Israel Football Association, but he has remained at Leeds’ training ground.

This is because the winger, who is said to earn a weekly wage of £60,000 while on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, has missed the last four Championship games for Leeds due to a back complaint and a hamstring issue.

Solomon’s decision to remain at Thorp Arch is so he can continue his rehabilitation, as he would like to be back fit and available for the Yorkshire side as soon as possible. The 25-year-old was at the training ground on Tuesday morning for treatment, and the hope from Farke is that he can welcome back the winger after the international break, along with James.

Apps

2

Minutes played

152

Goals

0

Assists

1

Solomon joined the Whites on loan from Spurs during the summer after he only played six times for the Premier League side last season. The winger earned his move to Tottenham after impressing while playing for Fulham, scoring four goals in 19 league games.

Australia allrounder says “we’ll probably need to make a decision in the next day or two”

Annesha Ghosh28-Mar-2022Ellyse Perry’s availability for Australia’s World Cup semi-final against West Indies on March 30 remains uncertain two days out from the fixture, she confirmed before heading into her first training session in nearly a week.Perry, who had suffered back spasms and had to go off the field during Australia’s win in the league-stage fixture against South Africa last Tuesday, said she hadn’t trained or “done anything cricket-wise” since.”My back’s going pretty well,” she said. “Obviously, a couple of days still before the match, so I think we’ll still just keep playing that by ear, but [by] bearing in mind that we’ll probably need to make a decision in the next day or so.”At this stage, it’s going really well. But obviously just need to make sure that I’m in the best possible spot to be able to contribute if I was to play, so I think we’ll do a couple more things at training in the next few days. If I get there, I do. Fingers crossed.”During the South Africa match, she appeared to be hurt when tumbling over a boundary rope in a fielding attempt. She didn’t bat as Australia romped to a sixth consecutive win in the tournament.Perry said on Monday she had never had back spasms before in her career, but she made clear the injury was “not hugely serious” and that it “definitely has been improving.” She added “there’s a pretty high percentage that I’ll be able to play at some point” and Australia’s practice session on Monday was likely to offer more insights on her recovery.Before being sidelined from title favourites Australia’s last league game – against Bangladesh on Friday – Perry contributed with both bat and ball in her side’s undefeated campaign. Having shouldered new-ball responsibilities regularly, she took five wickets in six innings, and also scored 146 runs in five innings while being the Player of the Match in back-to-back matches against New Zealand and West Indies.

“They pose a great challenge because they’ve got a really good history of finals cricket in World Cup events”Perry knows West Indies will be up to try and grab a spot in the final

Asked if she would consider missing the semi-final if that makes her a definite inclusion for the final, Perry said such an approach doesn’t sit well with the unpredictability of knockout matches.”I think that is largely up to what’s best for the team and what our team management want to do,” Perry said. “But no, I don’t think you can have that approach to World Cup games, and semi-finals and finals. You just got to play each game, and that’s the most important thing at the time rather than casting your mind ahead to the next match and the final.”West Indies would dearly love to be in that final on Sunday and they will do everything they can to beat us to get there. So it’s the most important match for us this Wednesday at the moment.”Australia had routed West Indies when the two teams met in the league stage at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, the same venue as their semi-final.But despite that result, and their unbeaten run so far, Perry said Australia would not let their guard down against a side they had defeated in the 2013 ODI World Cup final but lost to in the 2016 T20 World Cup equivalent.”They’re a great side. They’re somewhat mercurial in the way that they play,” she said of West Indies. “But they’ve got some incredible weapons – particularly with the bat, [and] with the ball as well. Looking at the way that a lot of teams have played against us and bowled a lot of spin, I think Hayley Matthews has been particularly successful for the Windies with that in this tournament. We will sort of probably face a bit of that.”Deandra Dottin is unbelievably potent with the bat up at the top, especially if she gets going… They pose a great challenge because they’ve got a really good history of finals cricket in World Cup events. They’ll be right up for it, and I kind of hope it’s really cold here in Wellington because that’s a lot different to the Bahamas. Whereas we get a bit cooler weather in Australia sometimes. That’ll be interesting.”A hamstring injury during Australia’s last league fixture in the 2020 T20 World Cup on home soil had ruled Perry out of the semi-finals and the final. So regaining fitness to play this World Cup’s semi-final, she said, would mean a “tremendous amount” to her.”But I think that [feeling] is not new unique to me; the whole team’s really excited about it,” she said. “This tournament’s been coming for a little while too, with the delay last year not being able to stage it. So it’s really exciting that we’re finally at this stage of the tournament, like we’ve been here for a long time as well if you include the quarantine that we had to do before starting out the campaign.”It’s kind of the reason why you play I suppose at this level is to compete in big events and in big moments. So certainly the girls are really excited for that. It’s certainly great to be here. I’m really looking forward to it and seeing what we’re capable of.”

Keira Walsh has opened up on her reasons for leaving Barcelona after completing a sensational move to Chelsea.

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Walsh swaps Barcelona for ChelseaDelighted to join WSL leadersOpens up on Barca "struggles"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After being linked with a move to the Blues, the Women's Super League leaders announced the arrival of Walsh on a four-and-a-half-year deal. The 27-year-old said it was "unbelievable" to join the west London team, while explaining why moving on from Barca was the right call.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT KEIRA WALSH SAID

She told Chelsea's website: "It’s unbelievable. I’m very happy to be here and very excited to get started. You look at the history of the trophies Chelsea have won and I’m an ambitious player and person, so for me, it is a good fit. Speaking to Paul Green, Sonia [Bompastor] and Camille [Abily], I just got such a good feeling from them. It has been really positive. I want to play for this club and fight for the badge."

Walsh added: "It was a massive motivator. I’ll be honest, I didn’t realise how difficult it would be to be away from my family and friends when I went abroad. It was such a quick transfer that I didn’t have time to process how I would be on my own. Sometimes, it was actually really difficult and I did struggle away from the pitch sometimes. This season was a bit easier because Ellie Roebuck came in and me and her have been such good friends for a long time. It’s no secret that I wanted to come and wanted to play closer to my friends and family. Just having my family back in the stands, it’s something I’ve just wanted for a long time. When I spoke to Chelsea, I knew that I wanted to come here."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

England international Walsh had two-and-a-half years at Barcelona, winning a whopping eight trophies in that period. But being away from her friends and family took its toll and now she has moved to another top team in Europe.

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Walsh's new Chelsea side return to WSL action on Sunday away to Aston Villa as they seek to extend their lead at the top of the division.