WA quick will play in Australia’s 50-over domestic competition to start the summer but is waiting to be cleared to play red-ball cricket after a slow recovery from a back injury

Tristan Lavalette10-Sep-2024

Lance Morris is recovering from a back injury•Getty Images

Emerging quick Lance Morris admits it’s been “frustrating” working his way through another rehab from a back injury, but hopes a cautious approach will prove beneficial as he earmarks playing in the Sheffield Shield ahead of Australia’s Test series against India this summer.The 26-year-old has not played since the ODI series against West Indies in February. After making his international debut in the series opener, Morris claimed two early wickets in the third match in Canberra before suffering a side strain which ended his season.Morris had been due to line-up for Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket before post-season scans showed a hot spot in his back and he wasn’t considered for Australia’s current tour of Scotland and England. It was a recurrence of the injury that ruled the West Australian paceman out of the Ashes tour in 2023.Related

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“It’s been a bit frustrating,” Morris told ESPNcricinfo. “I guess you call it a stress fracture, but when we scan it, it doesn’t have the natural characteristics of a usual stress fracture. So there was some confusion at first around exactly what it was.”The tricky one for me was I didn’t actually have any back pain when I was bowling. I get monthly check-ins with an MRI on my back to make sure things are heading in the right direction. And it’s been clearing up… healing, so that’s a positive.”While he maintained his fitness levels through running and regular gym, Morris was unable to do any skills work for around eight weeks.”Frustrating to have to stop for a couple of months. I’m at that stage in my career with a Cricket Australia contract….it’s a transition into a 12-month cricketer,” he said.”I was continually preparing to go [to MLC], but never managed to get over there.”But the silver lining is I’ve stayed fit and I feel stronger than ever. Whereas if I ignored it and cracked on with things, there’s every likelihood that I would spend 12 months on the sidelines.”Lance Morris suffered a left side strain in his second ODI in February•Getty Images

Dubbed ‘The Wild Thing’ – in a nod to former tearaway Shaun Tait – Morris garnered considerable attention for his ability to bowl over 150kph. Regarded as arguably the fastest bowler in Australia, he became an enforcer for Western Australia on bouncy WACA decks and rose to the fringes of Australia’s Test team over the past couple of seasons.Having slowly built up his bowling loads, Morris had been left wondering whether he could reach maximum speed again until going “full tilt” in recent weeks restored his confidence.”The tricky thing with loading up really slowly is that you have restrictions on the pace you can bowl at different intervals,” he said. “You sort of wonder how you’re going to get back up to top speed.”But over the last couple of weeks, it’s been basically shackles off. It’s been nice to let the ball go.”Morris is set to make his return through Australia’s domestic 50-over competition starting later this month before eyeing a red-ball comeback in the Sheffield Shield. Three-time defending champions Western Australia start their Shield season against Queensland at the WACA on October 8.”Conversations so far… basically it’s ok to start playing one-day cricket, so [I might play] one of the first two white-ball games,” Morris said with WA opening the One-Day competition against New South Wales on September 22 before playing South Australia two days later.”There will be a little bit of a process in building up and getting ready for Shield cricket. But I think all going well, I should be available for round one or round two. I’m not too sure exactly yet, but we’re not far off.”There are four rounds of the Shield before the first Test in Perth. A solid base of competitive cricket might propel Morris into the mix with concerns over Australia’s depth behind incumbent pace trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.”I have no expectations at all. But if the opportunity does arise, hopefully I can jump on it with both hands,” Morris said of his Test prospects. “Fingers crossed I can stay on the park this season because I think there could be a few opportunities that arise.”Liam Haskett will miss the first half of WA’s season with a back injury•Getty Images

Meanwhile, WA left-arm quick Liam Haskett is set to miss the first half of the Sheffield Shield season as he recovers from a stress fracture in his back.Post-season scans confirmed a recurrence of an injury Haskett suffered a few years ago. The towering six-foot seven-inch paceman emerged during a breakout debut season when he claimed 20 wickets at 24.75 from six Shield matches. Haskett, 23, starred in the final round with six wickets against Victoria at the Junction Oval, but missed the Shield final against Tasmania due to a heel injury.”A rough timeline would be getting back towards the end of November-early December, but that could change with a scan result,” Haskett told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s frustrating coming off the season I had, but we’ll keep working towards getting back on the field around the middle part of the season.”

يلعب الآن نادي مانشستر سيتي مع نظيره مانشستر يونايتد، وذك ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب الاتحاد.

ويشهد ملعب الاتحاد قمة الجولة الرابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز والمعروفة بديربي مانشستر بين مانشستر يونايتد ومانشستر سيتي، حيث يهدف الفريقان إلى تعديل وضعهما في جدول المسابقة المحلية.

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وتشير النتيجة في الوقت الحالي إلى تقدم مانشستر سيتي بهدف دون رد على مانشستر يونايتد، حيث منح فيل فودين التقدم لصالح الفريق السماوي.

وجاء هدف فودين من رأسية رائعة في الدقيقة 18، حيث اخترق جيريمي دوكو دفاع مانشستر يونايتد ومن ثم أرسل عرضية ليستقبلها فودين برأسه ويضعها في شباك حارس المرمى ألتاي بايندير.

فودين عاد من جديد إلى تشكيلة مانشستر سيتي، وذلك بعدما غاب اللاعب البالغ من العمر 25 عامًا عن صفوف السيتيزن خلال الفترة الماضية بسبب الإصابة.

ويعتبر فودين من بين اللاعبين المفضلين في تشكيلة مدرب مانشستر سيتي، بيب جوارديولا، والذي أكد على أهمية اللاعب قبل بداية المباراة.

هدف السيتي الاول فودين pic.twitter.com/HEtZ93HRa5 — OMA (@OmairPL) September 14, 2025

Liverpool’s diligence and careful planning over the past several years has allowed Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards to ride the crest of a wave of intent in the summer transfer market.

While the Reds’ defensive line was hampered by the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold at the end of last season, Anfield’s vice-captain now coloured in Real Madrid white, FSG acted incisively to wrap up deals for new full-back pairing Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong, joining from Bournemouth and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

The latter was the first to arrive, and boasts an electric kind of skill set which lends itself to a more attacking berth too. In this way, he can contest with Conor Bradley for a starring role while covering for Mohamed Salah on the right wing.

Frimpong certainly has offensive quality, once hailed as a “monster in the final third” by The United Stand’s Beth Tucker. Excitingly, he’s not even Liverpool’s best Leverkusen addition this summer, with Florian Wirtz welcomed to the fold for a British-record £116m fee.

The attacking midfielder has the lot, and will likely upgrade on the club’s existing attacking midfield options while concurrently replacing Alexander-Arnold’s limitless creativity.

Why Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz

Slot opened with an interesting gambit this summer, reorienting Liverpool’s creative focal point. Trent has long been regarded among the crème de la crème of playmaking in the Premier League, but he’s gone, and the champions were right in signing world-class talent more aligned with tactical conventions.

Wirtz, 22, has been an utter menace for Bayer Leverkusen over the past several years, bursting from the youth scene with gusto, flooring seasoned professionals with his bounding strides. In 2023/24, he earned the honour of Bundesliga Player of the Year, vital in toppling Bayern Munich after an invincible domestic campaign.

He’s the real deal and will add more flair and flavour to a title-rich Liverpool team. Wirtz has something most every attacking midfielder yearns for: he brings completeness defined by its artful and industrious mix.

For example, Dominik Szoboszlai is a fantastic player, crucial for Liverpool, but he lacks the potency and speciality that Wirtz brings to the table.

League 24/25 – Florian Wirtz vs Dominik Szoboszlai

Stats (* per game)

Wirtz

Szoboszlai

Matches (starts)

31 (25)

36 (29)

Goals

10

6

Assists

12

6

Touches*

73.4

46.1

Shots (on target)*

2.5 (1.3)

1.9 (0.6)

Pass completion

82%

86%

Big chances created

17

12

Key passes*

1.8

1.6

Dribble success

2.6

0.6

Ball recoveries*

3.6

3.7

Tackles + interceptions*

1.3

1.4

Duels won*

5.2

2.8

Data via Sofascore

Harvey Elliott’s feet wear a similar magic, but he lacks the clear definition of his German counterpart. Elliott, 22, has been touted with a move away from Merseyside this summer, Brighton and Borussia Dortmund among the frontrunners.

Should the Young Lion leave, Slot will want a replacement, and while Liverpool have one of the very best in Wirtz, they appear keen on signing yet another attacking midfielder who could bloom into one of Europe’s finest.

Liverpool prepare bid for La Liga sensation

According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez this summer. Fermin, 22, has enjoyed a fast rise from La Masia and is valued at €80m (roughly £69m).

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However, Hansi Flick’s focus on bringing attacking additions to Camp Nou has cast doubt over the Andalusian midfielder’s future, and Liverpool are ready to take advantage.

In fact, Anfield’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, is believed to be preparing a bid for the versatile star.

Liverpool might have signed Wirtz, but there’s room for such a profile to work on improving and blooming into a player of the highest class.

Why Liverpool want Fermin Lopez

Fermin is still young but he’s already established himself in a Barcelona side currently celebrating their La Liga and Copa del Rey double last year. The Spaniard also played a part in winning UEFA EURO 2024.

In total, he’s played 88 matches for the La Blaugrana senior side. With 19 goals scored and 11 assists laid on for his teammates, Fermin has a developing sharpness that has been utilised both centrally and out on the left flank.

In this manner, he’s not too dissimilar to Wirtz, especially when considering he ranked, per 90, among the top 10% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goal contributions, the top 12% for pass completion, the top 9% for passes into the final third and the top 20% ball recoveries, as per FBref.

His positional fluidity and ball-playing focus link Fermin together with Liverpool’s new record man. However, there’s more. Digging deeper into the comparison, Fermin has been described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as being “simple and genius at the same time”.

There are exciting similarities in regard to the playmaking and pass-focused sides of the respective midfielders’ games, but don’t expect Fermin to bring as flashy and electric a game to Merseyside. He’s not that type of player.

However, Fermin’s alternate variation would give Liverpool the added dimension they need to continue to go from strength to strength under Slot’s wing.

Across 28 La Liga fixtures in 2024/25, as per Sofascore, he scored six goals and supplied five assists, so he might be a somewhat more pragmatic player but he’s certainly not without his offensive uses.

Without overextending with his creativity, Fermin manages to play that Wirtz-esque passing game in an industrious and controlled manner. He will collect the ball so many times across the 90, parcelling it out this way and that.

Liverpool enjoyed a stunning 2024/25 campaign, but they were felled at points – in particular in crash-out losses against Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United – with both fixtures underscoring the need for more control and technical proficiency in the engine room.

Not that the Reds are lacking in that regard, just that they could do with that extra injection to win the lot next season. Wirtz and Fermin in tandem would likely help in that regard, for sure.

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Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 8, 2025

Thomas Frank will be the next Tottenham Hotspur manager to try and catapult the club back into a Premier League title battle over the next couple of seasons.

The Dane will certainly come under scrutiny if he’s unable to push the Lilywhites up the league table, needing to right the wrongs endured under former boss Ange Postecoglou.

However, the Aussie did secure the Europa League title, handing his successor the chance to build on the triumph and be competitive in the Champions League throughout 2025/26.

A balance will need to be struck if the club are to be a success in various competitions, subsequently allowing the new manager to be an instant hit with the supporters in the coming months.

If the Dane is to thrive in North London, he will need quality and depth in certain key areas to help balance the quest for success in Europe and domestically.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Mohammed Kudus has been a player who’s been firmly on Spurs’ radar over recent days, with the Lilywhites submitting a £50m offer, but it was swiftly rejected with the Hammers demanding a hefty fee for his signature.

He currently has an £85m release clause in his contract, but it’s been reported that he could be available for a lower fee, but it remains to be seen if the player himself would be keen on a move across London.

However, they could be about to make a move for another Premier League star in the form of Fulham full-back Antonee Robinson, according to journalist Paul O’Keefe.

He confirmed earlier this week that the Lilywhites are closely monitoring the American international, who featured in all but two league games last season.

O’Keefe also confirmed that the 27-year-old is seen as a key option for Frank this summer, after he registered ten assists in the Premier League throughout 2024/25.

Reports earlier this year suggested Fulham would be open to letting him leave if they received a £40m bid.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be a more important signing than Kudus

There’s no denying that a move for Kudus would bring added excitement to the fanbase, ahead of what’s set to be a new era under the guidance of Frank in North London.

Given the other targets this summer, it’s evident that the Dane is targeting attacking reinforcements, with the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo also being linked with a move to the club.

However, given the side’s tally of 64 league goals last season, they clearly have the firepower to cause problems for multiple sides in the division, potentially leading them to future success.

As a result, the new boss should look to prioritise a move for new defenders, with Robinson just one player who would be a more important addition than Kudus this summer.

Spurs currently only have one senior left-back in the form of Destiny Udogie, but the Italian has also had his injury struggles, missing 13 league games in the 2024/25 season.

Right-back Djed Spence has subsequently had to operate out of position at times to cover for the Italian, highlighting the need for depth in such a department this summer.

When delving into Robinson’s stats from last season, he’s managed to star at both ends of the pitch, handing Frank the talent that he craves during his first season at the helm.

Antonee Robinson’s stats for Fulham in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	36
Goals & assists	10
Pass accuracy	81%
Chances created	1.3
Dribble success	53%
Tackles won	1.7
Duels won	5.8
Stats via FotMob

The full-back, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Toby Bryant, created 1.3 chances per 90, along with a 53% dribbling success rate – having the tools to get forward areas in North London.

Out of possession, he was just as impressive last campaign, winning 1.7 tackles per 90, whilst winning 5.8 duels per 90 – handing the side the added defensive quality it needs in 2025/26.

It’s unclear how much a deal would set the hierarchy back this summer, but from the stats produced in recent months, it’s evident that he’s coming into the prime years of his career.

He would be a phenomenal pick-up, undoubtedly handing Frank an excellent star in a position that has undoubtedly been one of the hardest to fill over the last couple of years in North London.

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Jul 3, 2025

If he was left out of a match Tom Latham would step up to the lead the side

Andrew McGlashan12-Aug-2024Tim Southee, New Zealand’s Test captain, may be left out of some of team’s upcoming matches on the subcontinent if conditions dictate a different balance to their side.Southee will lead a 15-player squad, which includes five-spin bowling options, for the one-off Test against Afghanistan and two matches against Sri Lanka, which ESPNcricinfo understands will both be staged in Galle, but he is no certainty to feature in them all or the three Tests which follow against India.Should Southee, who only took six wickets in four home Tests last season, not be part of an XI vice-captain Tom Latham would step up to captain the side.Related

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“Test tours to the subcontinent can ask some really tough questions of pace bowlers due to the nature of the pitches and the heat and humidity,” head coach Gary Stead said.”While we’re going over with an open mind around conditions, there is an understanding that all our bowling options may be needed across the different Tests. Tim and I have discussed this, and the need during these overseas tours to balance the workloads of the pace-bowlers, including himself, to ensure the team is best served.”The squad announced on Monday does not cover the India series in October and November, but it’s likely a very similar group of players will be involved.There had been some doubt over whether Kane Williamson would play the Afghanistan Test, which will be staged in Greater Nodia, but he has been included for the first occasion the two teams will play each other in the format.ESPNcricinfo LtdOffspin allrounder Michael Bracewell returns 18 months after last featuring for the Test side. Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner are also included while Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips will likely play important roles with the ball.Alongside Southee, the pace options are Matt Henry, Ben Sears and Will O’Rourke. The latter two impressed on their Test debuts last season while Henry was outstanding against Australia with 17 wickets in two matches. Kyle Jamieson was not considered as he continues his recovery from a stress fracture of the back.”It’s always great when young guys force their way into squads through performance and I know Will and Ben are really looking forward to the challenges of Test cricket in the sub-continent,” Stead said.”Michael’s had to show plenty of resilience to rehabilitate his injuries and force his way back into the Blackcaps across all three formats. His all-round skills, and ability to take the ball away from the left-hander make him a great asset, especially on what we expect will be turning wickets in India and Sri Lanka.”Saqlain Mushtaq will rejoin New Zealand as bowling coach for the three away Tests, while former England wicketkeeper James Foster returns as an assistant coach.The Afghanistan Test, which is not part of the World Test Championship, takes place between September 9-13 and the Sri Lanka matches between September 18-22 and 26-30.New Zealand play nine Tests from September to December with a home series against England starting in late November. They are currently third in the WTC as they push to reach next June’s final at Lord’s.New Zealand Test squad to face Afghanistan and Sri LankaTim Southee (capt), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Kane Williamson, Will Young

England have handed first white-ball call-ups to Jacob Bethell, Josh Hull and Dan Mousley for next month’s home series against Australia. Brydon Carse returns after serving a three-month suspension for betting breaches, while the uncapped John Turner is also included in both squads.There was no place for veterans Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali or Chris Jordan, all of whom were involved at the T20 World Cup in June, while neither Tom Hartley, who was with the squad in the Caribbean but has yet to be capped in T20Is, nor Rehan Ahmed are included. Mark Wood also misses out through injury.England will be led by Jos Buttler, alongside interim head coach Marcus Trescothick, for three T20Is and five ODIs. Buttler has not played since the T20 World Cup, having strained a calf while preparing for the Hundred, but is hoping to be involved in Lancashire’s T20 Blast quarter-final at Hove next week, ahead of the first T20I against Australia on September 11.England white-ball squads to play Australia•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Bethell and Mousley, the Warwickshire spin-bowling allrounders, had been tipped for inclusion on the back of their T20 Blast and Hundred form, while Leicestershire’s 6ft 7in fast bowler Hull has now been called up by England for all three formats in the space of two days. Bethell and Hull have been named in both squads, while Mousley is only included for the T20Is.Jordan Cox is another player who could make his T20I debut, almost two years after he was first called up for England’s tour of Pakistan. Cox was a member of the Oval Invincibles side that sealed back-to-back Hundred titles a fortnight ago and is currently the spare batter with the Test side. Saqib Mahmood, Player of the Match in the Hundred final, is also back in contention in T20Is after two years interrupted by back stress fractures.Carse, who was banned after an anti-corruption investigation by the Cricket Regulator, has not played any cricket since May – his suspension is due to lift later this week. He will add to England’s pace-bowling options alongside Turner, who toured the Caribbean last winter and has continued to impress for Hampshire and Trent Rockets.Related

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The ODI series with Australia will see England begin to focus on next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Five members of the Test squad, who could not be involved in the T20I series due to the short turnaround after the series with Sri Lanka, are included – Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith and Matthew Potts – but Joe Root has been rested.Jofra Archer was also named in both squads, and is set to play his first ODI since the 2022-23 tour of Bangladesh, after which he suffered a recurrence of his elbow injury.England T20I squad: Jos Buttler (capt), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John TurnerEngland ODI squad: Jos Buttler (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Reece Topley, John Turner

Celtic are looking to bring some attacking reinforcements into the building, and a fresh update on their hunt for a centre-forward has entered the public domain, courtesy of journalist Pete O’Rourke.

Celtic's state of play in their pursuit of a striker

The Bhoys find themselves in the hunt for another striker after losing Kyogo Furuhashi’s services in January, which led to Daizen Maeda taking on a prominent role through the middle alongside Adam Idah.

Johnny Kenny is another offensive option, and Brendan Rodgers has confirmed he wants the Irishman to sign a new contract at Parkhead before determining whether he will go out on loan or be part of the first-team picture this term.

He explained after his side defeated Cork City last week: “We would like to sign him to a new deal. And then we will see what path it takes, whether he stays or whether he needs to go and get games.”

Callum Osmand arrived for nominal compensation from Fulham earlier in the window. Nevertheless, Celtic have Napoli’s Giuseppe Ambrosino on their radar to fill the void following his encouraging displays at the Under-21 European Championships.

Furthermore, Shin Yamada is expected to join the Bhoys from Kawasaki Frontale after both clubs agreed on a transfer fee of £1.5 million for the Japan international.

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With plenty of potential options to choose from, you do wonder whether Celtic’s wish for quantity is a systematic ploy from Rodgers to ensure he has variety in the final third, which lacked towards the end of last term due to a shortage of recognised strikers. Either way, they could now be set to step up their hunt for a new centre-forward with the competitive campaign now only weeks away.

Celtic set to escalate hunt for a new striker

According to Football Insider’s O’Rourke, Celtic could look to sign two strikers this summer to complement Rodgers’ attack amid their potential loan pursuit of Italy Under-21 international Ambrosino.

He stated: “It would be a gamble, bringing such a young player to a new league if Celtic were to pursue his signature. Ambrosino is a young player, who’s obviously got big potential as well.

What other strikers could Celtic turn to excluding Giuseppe Ambrosino and Shin Yamada?

Club

Bojan Miovski

Girona

Evan Ferguson

Brighton

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Free agent

“He’s a player that Celtic could develop and give minutes to, but I think Brendan Rodgers will also be looking to bring in a big-name striker signing as well. I fully expect, from what my sources are telling me for Celtic to sign two strikers, a big name and a younger one they can develop.”

Whether Yamada and Ambrosino is the plan remains to be seen amid a groundswell of names being linked to the club over the past few weeks.

Given the Bhoys are edging closer to the start of the league campaign, supporters may not have to wait too long to find out who could be competing for a place in their starting XI.

Glasgow Rangers have used the loan system to great effect in recent seasons and are currently looking for a player to replace their latest loan success, Vaclav Cerny.

The winger spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Ibrox, and caught the eye with his impressive performances on the right flank for Philippe Clement and Barry Ferguson’s side.

Cerny, 27, ended the Scottish Premiership season with an excellent haul of 12 goals and four assists for Rangers, which shows that he offered a threat in the final third on a regular basis.

It was the latest example of the Light Blues’ excellent use of the loan market, and there have been plenty of other great examples over the years, going all the way back to the signing of Ryan Kent on loan under Steven Gerrard.

More recently, though, the Light Blues snapped up a promising talent from a Premier League club by signing Abdallah Sima on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, in a deal that was another big success.

Rangers hit gold with Abdallah Sima

In the summer of 2023, the Gers swooped to sign the versatile attacker on a season long-loan from Brighton, but they did not include an option to make the deal permanent the following summer.

Despite only having the Senegal international on loan for one season, Rangers will surely look back on his time at Ibrox as a success due to his quality on the pitch.

As you can see in the graphic above, Sima ended his time in Glasgow with a return of 16 goals and two assists in 39 games, which shows that he posed a big threat as a goalscorer.

The 24-year-old star also started the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, and the final of the League Cup as Rangers won the competition, scoring in the quarter-final against Livingston.

Appearances

25

Starts

17

Goals

11

Big chances created

2

Assists

2

Dribbles completed per game

1.2

Duels won per game

6.4

As you can see in the table above, Sima was particularly prolific in the Premiership, despite injuries limiting his minutes, as he scored 11 goals in 17 starts in the division for Michael Beale and Philippe Clement.

The right-footed forward hit the ground running in Scottish football and proved to be a reliable forward who was depended on by both managers that season.

Overall, it was a brilliant deal for Rangers because they had a high-quality player who made a big impact on the pitch and helped the team to win a trophy, without having to pay a transfer fee for him.

Rangers eyeing move for Brighton talent

The Light Blues could repeat that Sima blinder by signing another young star on loan from Brighton this summer, amid interest in one of their current crop of talents.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to Football Insider, Rangers are interested in a deal to sign Brighton’s young English goalkeeper Carl Rushworth on a season-long loan to bolster Russell Martin’s squad.

The report claims that the Light Blues are ‘accelerating’ their efforts to bring in a new shot-stopper to improve the team, as they look for competition for Jack Butland and Liam Kelly.

Carl Rushworth

Football Insider adds that Rangers are working to agree a deal for Rushworth this week, although it remains to be seen if they will be able to wrap up a move before the 17th July deadline for the Champions League squad to face Panathinaikos later this month.

The outlet reveals that the Gers would like to replace Butland and that the Brighton youngster is looking for a club where he can play regular football again.

Why Carl Rushworth would be an Abdallah Sima repeat for Rangers

Rangers would repeat their Sima masterclass with Rushworth because he would be another young loanee from Brighton who could arrive to make an instant impact at Ibrox as a key player on the pitch.

In the 2024/25 campaign, Butland conceded 2.22 more goals than expected based on the xG of the shots against his goal in the Premiership, which shows that he underperformed as a shot-stopper.

Rushworth only played two games on loan at Hull, as they preferred their permanent number one option, but his form on loan at Swansea in the Championship in the 2023/24 campaign suggests that he has the potential to come in as an upgrade on Butland.

In that season with the Swans, the former England U21 international started all 46 league games and caught the eye by preventing 4.02 goals (xG) between the sticks, which shows that he could be a better shot-stopper than the current Gers number one based on the quality of his shot-stopping that term.

It was his all-round game in that season for the Welsh side, though, that really suggests that Rangers could find their next Sima success by raiding Brighton for another young gem on loan.

Post-shot xG minus goals conceded

+0.12

Top 14%

Save percentage

70.9%

Top 22%

Touches

50.48

Top 6%

Percentage of passes that were launched long

31.8%

Bottom 49%

Defensive actions outside of the box

1.39

Top 29%

Average distance of defensive actions

16.3 yards

Top 26%

As you can see in the table above, Rushworth is a modern goalkeeper who can act as a sweeper behind the defence as well as being comfortable and composed in possession, taking plenty of touches without launching it long very often.

These statistics suggest that the left-footed star, who was hailed as “fearless” by former boss Matt Taylor, would suit Martin’s ball-dominant style of play, as he will need to be competent at drawing in a press and playing around it, rather than constantly launching the ball long.

Factor in that his shot-stopping form for Swansea suggests that he could be even better than Butland with his hands and the potential is there for Rushworth to be the dream all-round goalkeeper for Rangers.

This is why he could be a Sima repeat because the 24-year-old titan could step in and instantly be the best option to be the number one for Martin, hopefully helping the team to achieve success on the pitch next season, if they can land him on loan.

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Chelsea are now through to the Club World Cup final after brushing aside Fluminense with ease 2-0 in New Jersey.

After just about getting the better of Brazilian outfit Palmeiras 2-1 in the last round, Enzo Maresca’s Blues managed to progress through to the final stage by beating yet another South American side, as either Real Madrid or Paris St. Germain now await the West Londoners for a chance at pre-season glory.

João Pedro would steal most of the headlines from the straightforward win by popping up with both of Chelsea’s goals on the day, as the brand-new attacker looks to instantly settle into his new environment after leaving Brighton and Hove Albion behind.

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Joao Pedro's performance in numbers

After clearly impressing Maresca with a lively 26-minute run-out against Palmeiras, the Italian would hand the exciting 23-year-old attacker the first-team reins as Chelsea’s main man up top against Fluminense.

It was an inspired decision from the former Leicester City boss to axe Liam Delap in favour of starting the fresh number 20, with Pedro only needing an hour to score a brace to hand his new employers an uncomplicated passage through to the Club World Cup final.

It was a confident and assured performance from a star who will want to make that sole striker spot his own ahead of the new Premier League season getting underway, with Pedro firing home a clinical 30 goals across his last two seasons at the Seagulls, before Chelsea came calling.

Based on Nicolas Jackson’s selfish miss in the second half, which sent Cole Palmer into a frenzy, he could well make that up-for-grabs position on the pitch his own very soon.

But, he wasn’t the only standout performer as Chelsea’s Brazilian opponents were dealt with comfortably, with this fellow attacker for the Blues sticking out once more, as some now even herald him as Chelsea’s finest player of the entire Club World Cup tournament.

The 8/10 star turning into Maresca's "best player"

Of course, those with connections to Stamford Bridge will be rightly enthused by Pedro’s flashes of excellence.

But, there have been other key individuals for Chelsea across the whole span of the tournament who have stood out even more than the much-talked-about South American, with Pedro Neto definitely fitting into this bracket.

Across his five games in the United States heat, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers winger has tallied up a crucial three goals, with his goal against LAFC in the middle of last month getting Maresca’s men up and running in the competition.

Whilst he didn’t collect another memorable strike against Fluminense, it wasn’t through lack of trying, with the tireless attacker seeing his only effort of the game be blocked, away from just shining as a vibrant and slick option down the Blues’ left flank when running forward with pace to burn.

Neto’s performance in numbers vs Fluminense
Stat	Neto
Minutes played	68
Goals scored	0
Assists	0
Shots	1
Touches	34
Accurate passes	18/18 (100%)
Successful dribbles	4/6
Total duels won	5/8
Stats by Sofascore

Amazingly, Neto would complete four successful dribbles across his standout 68-minute spell, with his surges up the field constantly allowing for openings to happen, with Neto also accurately completing every single pass that came his way when feeding the likes of Pedro to shine.

Whilst the former Brighton striker did snatch most of the plaudits come the full-time whistle, Neto wasn’t short of admirers himself either, with journalist Zach Lowy taking to X to declare the Portuguese entertainer as Chelsea’s “best attacker” this tournament and “arguably their best player” full stop.

That is quite the call to make, but it was backed up by The Standard’s Sam Tabuteau post-match, who also declared him ‘Chelsea’s best performer’ in America, amidst a high 8/10 rating for his efforts against Fluminense.

It will be intriguing to see if Neto can kick on after all this pre-season praise when Premier League football returns to West London, with the Club World Cup trophy also perhaps making the trip back to England very soon if all goes to plan.

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India A declared at 380 for 3 in the final session, setting up a massive target of 488

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2024

Tilak Varma scored an unbeaten 111•PTI

Tilak Varma and Pratham Singh scored centuries each to stretch India A’s lead and further put them in a strong position against India D on Saturday. From the overnight score of 115 for 1, when they had a lead of 222 runs, India A posted 380 for 3 on the third day before declaring in the final session to set up a target of 488. India D were 62 for 1 at stumps and were 426 runs behind India A.Resuming from 59, Pratham brought up his second first-class hundred off 149 deliveries and stitched a 104-run stand with Tilak for the second wicket. Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar dismissed Pratham for 122 in the 60th over. But Tilak played the long innings and put India A in control. Only one wicket fell in the morning session as India A piled on 145 runs to take lunch at 260 for 2.However, India D struck immediately after lunch as Riyan Parag fell to Saurabh for 20. India D’s bowlers were then made to toil as Shashwat Rawat joined Tilak. The left-handed duo shared an unbroken stand of 116 runs for the fourth wicket. In the second session, Tilak converted his half-century. He hit a total of nine fours in his 193-ball stay, out of which six were scored between the cover and the long-off region.Rawat ticked along briskly, notching up seven fours to remain unbeaten on 64 off 88 balls before India D declared in the final session. In contrast to Tilak, Rawat targeted the leg side, hitting three fours towards long-on and one through midwicket.In the fourth innings, Khaleel Ahmed struck in his second over to opener Atharva Taide for a duck. However, that did not slow India D down as Ricky Bhui, at No.3, scored an unbeaten 44 off 52 at stumps. Bhui slammed eight fours and a six while his partner Yash Dubey was unbeaten on 15 off 60. The pair added 61 runs for the unbroken second-wicket partnership.