Kohli back to lead both squads, while Dube and Shami also picked in ODIs and T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2019Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav have returned to India’s squads for the three T20Is and three ODIs at home against West Indies. Virat Kohli, who had been rested for the T20I leg of the Bangladesh series, also returned to lead both limited-overs sides.India’s limited-overs squads

ODIs: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
T20Is: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Mohammed Shami, who last played a T20I in 2017, also made a comeback to the shortest format, having already been part of the ODI squad. Khaleel Ahmed and Shardul Thakur, who were both part of the squad for the T20I series against Bangladesh, were left out. Krunal Pandya also missed the cut, with Ravindra Jadeja slotting back in as a like-for-like replacement. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson and legspinner Rahul Chahar, who both didn’t get a single game in the T20Is against Bangladesh, were also left out.Opener Shikhar Dhawan, who had injured himself while diving to reach the crease during Delhi’s Syed Mushtaq Ali game against Maharashtra in Surat, is likely to miss only one match in the domestic T20 competition, and will be available well in time for the T20Is and ODIs against West Indies.Bhuvneshwar was undergoing rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru in the past few months, with chief selector MSK Prasad having spoken about the pacer suffering from a ‘niggle’. It is understood that Bhuvneshwar had a muscle issue, but he has now recovered from it and even trained with India’s Test squad in Indore on the eve of the first Test against Bangladesh. Bhuvneshwar then proved his fitness in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament, returning figures of 0 for 13 and 1 for 23 for Uttar Pradesh.Kuldeep, who had played alongside Bhuvneshwar for Uttar Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, will reunite with fellow wristspinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Fingerspin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar retained his place in the T20I squad while seam-bowling allrounder Shivam Dube was picked for both limited-overs squads.Dube is set to make his ODI debut, having impressed in the T20Is against Bangladesh. Kedhar Jadhav, who was part of India’s most recent ODI assignment in the Caribbean, retained his place, as did Manish Pandey. Navdeep Saini, who was part of the ODI squad in the West Indies, is currently recovering from injury and isn’t part of Delhi’s squad in the domestic T20 tournament. Deepak Chahar, who bagged record T20I figures of 6 for 7, against Bangladesh, has a chance to add to his solitary ODI cap.This might be the last selection meeting headed by MSK Prasad, the former India wicketkeeper. Prasad and Gagan Khoda, the former Rajasthan and India batsman, are likely to be replaced as their tenures will end when the BCCI convenes its annual general meeting on December 1.The limited-overs series against West Indies begins with the first T20I in Mumbai on December 6.

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the rise of Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho embodies the core spirit of Manchester United.

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Ferguson lauds Man Utd's young starsMainoo & Garnacho represent key valueCourageous enough to be first-team playersWHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking at a golf event, Ferguson was asked by TikToker Jamal Niaz about the impact of Mainoo, 19, and Garnacho, 20, in recent months. The legendary former manager pointed to one of the most ingrained Manchester United values.

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Having become increasingly involved in the United first-team in 2022-23, Garnacho made 50 appearances across all competitions last season and scored 10 goals. He was also part of Argentina's Copa America-winning squad this summer. Mainoo followed suit, becoming an undroppable starter eight months ago, scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final and making himself indispensable for England at Euro 2024. Both were FA Youth Cup winners as recently as 2022, a competition that has been held in high esteem at Old Trafford since its 1952 inception.

WHAT SIR ALEX FERGUSON SAID

"It's the foundation isn’t it?" Ferguson said. "It's the heart and soul of what Manchester United has been since the days of Sir Matt Busby, who started the whole process of trusting young players playing. They're young. What they’re showing at the moment, the composure and confidence to play in the first-team, and not be daunted by it. In a way, it shows you the kind of courage they have."

@jnmediauk

Brilliant time interviewing Sir Alex Ferguson for the fifth time at his annual Golf Classic and he gave me his thoughts on the rise of Mainoo & Garnacho at Manchester United and the fearlessness in which they play with 🔥 Look out for the full interview on Morson and JNMEDIAUK’s socials 🎤 JNMEDIA is proudly sponsored by Morson Group: Morson is a community of expert recruiters, matching talented candidates with purposeful organisations and game changing projects across the STEM landscape. This isn’t ‘bums on seats’, transactional recruitment. We support corporate strategies through impactful hiring and workforce solutions. We nurture careers, from first hire to retire and everything in between. We invest, paving the way for the next generation of STEM talent. Come for the job, stay for the career. Find your next role at www.morson.com #SirAlexFerguson #ManchesterUnited #MUFC #Football #PremierLeague #Euros #WorldCup #Mainoo #Garnacho #ManUnited #Footballfans #Soccer #Fifa #England #Ronaldo #Messi #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #reel #reels #footballtiktok #footballedit #footballtogether

♬ original sound – Jamal Niaz

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DID YOU KNOW?

Manchester United founded a youth team back in 1938 amid an ambition to create side composed entirely of local players. And while times have changed drastically, the club has continued to include at least one home-grown player from the academy for every single first-team game in the 80-plus years since. The idea of utilising young talent became an unshakeable philosophy under Busby from the late 1940s onwards and was revived in spectacular fashion by Ferguson in the late 1980s. Ethan Wheatley became the 250th academy graduate to debut for the senior side when he came off the bench in a Premier League game against Sheffield United in April.

What, in all honesty, have England learnt from their two-Test stopover in New Zealand? In one sense, it was a trip that lived down to its pre-series expectations, as a superbly well-drilled home team handed out a succession of lessons to a side that has neglected the longer format for several years now, and was unsurprisingly found wanting when those rusty attributes were suddenly called upon.But on the other hand, it was a missed opportunity, not so much in terms of the scoreline – England haven’t won a single Test match in New Zealand since 2008, let alone an entire series – but in terms of how, and to whom, those lessons were handed out. With an arduous series in South Africa looming, the past month has served more as an exercise in confirmation bias rather than a Test reboot, leaving England no closer to answering their eternal selection issues than they were at the end of the home summer.With the possible exceptions of Ollie Pope with the bat and Chris Woakes with the ball, no player in the course of the two Tests performed much better than the baseline of their pre-series expectations – a state of affairs which arguably reflects well on the three batsmen, Joe Root, Rory Burns and Ben Stokes, who arrived in the country with their places in the side secure and who duly topped the averages.Unfortunately, the steady returns of those three (or in Root’s case, his dramatic upturn in form from first Test to second) were offset by the fact that more than a few of England’s squad members performed distinctly worse than anticipated. With the South Africa Test squad being announced on Saturday, we take a look at the movers and shakers in England’s brave new Test world.

Joe Root is congratulated by Ollie Pope after bringing up his 150•AFP / Getty Images

Ollie Pope (110 runs at 36.66)Forget his absurd dalliance with the wicketkeeping gloves (honestly, of all the cupboards that England should find bare, when did that one get emptied?), Pope’s display of doughtiness in the second innings at Hamilton was the single biggest discovery of the series. Admittedly, it came on the flattest deck in humanity, so it would be advisable to curb the enthusiasm just a touch. Nevertheless, it was the performance that England needed to revive any hope of a series-squaring win, and the chance to spend the best part of two sessions watching and learning from England’s modern master, Joe Root, will have been invaluable.Chris Woakes (4 wkts at 23.75)There were some seriously slim pickings on the bowling front for England, as their haul of 20 wickets across two Tests amounted to their worst collective strike-rate in Test history. But Woakes was a relative revelation, albeit from a similarly low base. His self-confessed “surprise” at earning a recall in Hamilton was reflective of a pretty terrible overseas record – just 18 wickets at 61.77 in 12 previous Tests. But, by focusing on a relentless line and length and accepting any lateral movement as a bonus, Woakes was able to emulate the “bowling dry” tactics that James Anderson and, before him, Matthew Hoggard espoused when out of their comfort zones. And when he did finally nip one off the seam, he was already in the right areas for Tom Latham to nick to slip.

Marginal gains

Sam Curran celebrates with team-mates after claiming the wicket of Jeet Raval•AFP / Getty Images

Sam Curran (6 wkts at 39.66, 40 runs at 40.00)The jury is still out on what, exactly, Curran brings to this England team, besides bucket-loads of competitive spirit (which is not a trait to be under-valued) and an unconventional line of attack. His pace is pop-gun, and his bouncer brings to mind Dominic Cork’s, in that it looks innocuous but is often well-enough directed to trouble batsmen who ought to know better. But when armed with the new ball, he extracted as much movement as any player on either side, and thanks to a brace of not-outs with the bat, his allround attributes had been enhanced by the end of the tour too. Vernon Philander is living proof that there is a place for medium-pace in South Africa. But Curran’s yo-yo selection record shows no sign of an early end.Joe Denly (113 runs at 37.66)The less said about that catch, the better – or about the second Test as a whole, really, where Denly succumbed cheaply to one of the better balls of the series. However, his efforts in the innings defeat at Mount Maunganui are worthy of recognition, in that he came about as close as any England batsman to meeting the cautious, crease-occupational demands of England’s new era. No-one truly believes that Denly is the answer to all of England’s problems, but he’s a senior player in this side by dint of his long county experience, and with five fifties in his last five Tests, he’s giving himself a chance to be the stop-gap that they so desperately need.Joe Root (239 runs at 79.66)No-one should doubt the value of Root’s extended net at Hamilton. Ten-and-a-half hours of crease occupation on the deadest of decks may not be definitive proof of an overdue return to form, but it gave him the in-game opportunity to iron out the flaws that have dogged his game all year long, particularly his balance at the crease which was notably more fluent by the end. And by then he had answered his critics in emphatic style at precisely the moment when the doubts about his captaincy were at their loudest. Arguably, his leadership from the front merely deferred that issue rather than quashing it – Root remains a grimly reactive leader whose win-loss ratio resembles a coin toss. But with the mounting exception of Rory Burns, there’s really no-one else in the squad remotely qualified for the role.Rory Burns (184 runs at 61.33)For the first time since Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook were bankers at the top of the order, England are set to start and finish a calendar year with the same opening batsman in situ. It’s a fact that both underlines Burns’ achievement in bucking a trend that has devoured previously likely lads such as Adam Lyth, Mark Stoneman and (in seaming conditions at least…) Keaton Jennings, but also emphasises how small his sample size still remains. Nevertheless, it’s hard to quibble with a fifty and a century in consecutive Tests, even if he was monstrously fortunate to survive a messy third evening at Hamilton.

Steady as she goes

Ben Stokes bowled despite pain in his knee the previous day•Getty Images

Ben Stokes (145 runs at 48.33; 2 wkts at 84.00)Expectations are heightened for this year’s BBC Sports Personality-elect, and so the fact that he did not exceed them doesn’t mean that Stokes had an especially poor series. Nevertheless, he seemed in a bit of a bind as England’s new era began – he was seeing the ball so well at Mount Maunganui until a single mistake derailed England’s first innings, and thereafter he seemed reluctant to trust his fluency, as if uncomfortably aware of what would happen if he gave his wicket away again. His bowling was typically wholehearted but England’s attitude to his dodgy knee is terrifying.Stuart Broad (4 wkts at 41.25)We learnt nothing about Broad that we didn’t already know – which on the one hand is reassuring, for his four-wicket haul in the first innings at Hamilton was a real old pro’s performance: canny, patient and resilient, and evidence that he’s still got it as England embark on a new Test cycle. But he has started to become the fall guy for England overseas – he missed three of England’s six Tests in Sri Lanka and West Indies last winter – and if James Anderson and Mark Wood are fit for South Africa, there are no guarantees he won’t be squeezed again. It is, you could argue, a better problem to have than most.Jos Buttler (43 runs at 21.50)Caught in two minds like Stokes, but with extra jeopardy, given that there’s only room for one wicketkeeper, and Jonny Bairstow will be gunning for his gloves in South Africa. Buttler’s back injury in Hamilton was terrible timing in so many ways, for the suspicion is growing that No.7 is his only viable berth now that the Test team has pivoted towards old-school values – and if Bairstow finds form in South Africa, it’s hard to see how England make room for them both. Served up a handy rearguard in the first innings at Bay Oval, but his indecisive leave on the final day epitomised a team that is no longer sure whether to stick or twist.

Slipping off the pace

Jofra Archer sees the funny side after Joe Denly’s dropped catch•AFP / Getty Images

Jofra Archer (2 wkts at 104.50)He’s not the messiah! But that might actually prove to be a blessing in the long term, given the unreasonable expectations that had been placed on Archer before the tour. He looked, more than anything, like a man in need of a rest – who can imagine how drained he was by that meteoric rise in England’s summer to end all summers. But he’ll have learnt a huge amount on this brief trip – about the Kookaburra ball, about overseas pitches, overseas crowds, and workload management. On the plus side, his variations were in full working order … even if his fielders weren’t.Jack Leach (2 wkts at 76.50)Irrespective of a bout of gastroenteritis that made his non-selection a moot point, Leach’s omission at Hamilton was a huge vote of no-confidence for the only specialist spinner since Graeme Swann to even remotely look the part. England missed him by the end of the match too – in his short Test career, he’s claimed 23 wickets at 20.26 in the third and fourth innings, so it’s not as if he’s been an abject failure in his primary role. But for whatever reason, England have seen fit to send a message that he’s not quite what they are looking for.Dominic Sibley (38 runs at 12.66)He’ll surely get another go in South Africa, because England prefer to give too many chances, not too few, but there wasn’t a whole lot of encouragement to be taken from Sibley’s initial forays in New Zealand. Granted, his first act in Test cricket was to play a part in a fifty-run opening stand, and England haven’t produced too many of those in recent times. But the manner in which he was twice clocked on the helmet – once in the Whangarei warm-up, once in the Hamilton Test – was a concern, especially on pitches this slow. Kagiso Rabada will doubtless have taken note, let alone Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Co.Zak Crawley (1 run at 1.00)One innings, six balls, one run, one nick-off to the keeper. What can you read into that? Next to nothing, especially as he’s surely going to be squeezed out for the South Africa tour, but at least he’s been blooded at Test level now. His fielding lacked a touch of co-ordination too, but at least he wore a smile in adversity (not least when his Kent team-mate Denly dropped that clanger).

Rising in absentia

Jonny Bairstow walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket on the first day of the fifth Ashes Test•AFP / Getty Images

Jonny BairstowHis absence was felt when Buttler went lame, but to give the selectors their due, they were right to stick to their guns having chosen to drop Bairstow for the New Zealand Tests. It would have been easy to keep him on as cover when Denly rolled his ankle in the warm-ups, but that would have amounted to a pretty lame kick up the backside. After all, Bairstow has averaged 20.25 in his last nine Tests – a woeful return for a player of his talent. On the plus side, everyone knows what Jonny can do when he feels he’s got a point to prove.James AndersonWill his calf hold up? That’s the only concern as England prepare to welcome back their all-time leading wicket-taker. The ultimate takeaway from those dead-deck drubbings in New Zealand is that the attack sorely misses Anderson’s mastery of his craft – his relentless accuracy as much as his ability to make the new ball talk.Mark WoodHe bowled like the wind in his last Test appearance, against West Indies in St Lucia in February, and having missed the Ashes with a side strain, he’ll be gagging to make up for lost time on the eve of what will be his 30th birthday in January. Injury management comes as part of the package where Wood is concerned, but like an over-eager spaniel, he rarely holds back in anticipation of another breakdown.Moeen AliIs he ready to get back on the Test treadmill yet? Moeen sounded pretty ambivalent during the Abu Dhabi T10s last month, but Joe Root’s sweet-talking could hardly have been more earnest in the wake of the New Zealand Tests. He’s a team man, ultimately, and that will probably tip the balance.

Chelsea are reportedly one of a number of Premier League sides who have made contact to sign a talented new attacking midfielder this summer.

Chelsea eyeing new attacker

The Blues, under Mauricio Pochettino, have struggled in front of goal at times this season, despite chairman Todd Boehly once again splashing the cash last summer.

Only three players have scored more than five league goals as we enter the business stage of the campaign, with Chelsea’s only hope for success now in the FA Cup, where they will take on Manchester City in the semi-final.

Cole Palmer

11

Nicolas Jackson

9

Raheem Sterling

6

Mykhailo Mudryk

4

Enzo Fernandez

3

Once the season is over, attention will once again be on the transfer market, and it looks as if a new marquee attacker could be on the to-do list for Boehly, Pochettino and Chelsea.

Recently, Tammy Abraham has been linked with a return to Stamford Bridge in a potential swap deal involving Romelu Lukaku, although the top target looks to be Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.

The Blues are already thought to be preparing a huge contract for the Nigeria international which could be worth over £90m in a seven-year deal.

However, another attacking addition to play behind Osimhen could also be of interest to Chelsea, something where Shakhtar Donetsk’s Georgiy Sudakov may come in.

Chelsea make contact over Georgiy Sudakov move

According to reporter Mirko Di Natale on X, Chelsea are one of the clubs “that have requested information” over a deal for Sudakov this summer.

Alongside the Blues, top-flight rivals Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle have done the same, with Sudakov having a €100m (£85.46m) clause in his current contract.

Sudakov is 21 years of age and appears to be at the peak of his powers with a career-high Transfermarkt valuation. Primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play deeper or out on the left, Sudakov has progressed through Shakhtar Donetsk’s youth system.

A Ukraine international, the two-footed attacker has been a regular in recent years and is now approaching 100 senior appearances for his current employers, contributing to 29 goals in the process.

Chelsea eye World Cup winner to replace Pochettino with internal talks held

He’s been out of work since September.

ByCharlie Smith Mar 20, 2024

Sudakov has also come in for praise during that time, with coach Marino Pusic recently saying: "He is an exceptionally talented footballer. Talent comes from nature or God, but you have to do something with it to develop it.

"As we always say, hard work beats talent. Sudakov is a player who can and wants to work hard, develops every day, is a smart footballer, and can learn very quickly. All these are characteristics that will make him better."

As we know, Chelsea have a recent history when it comes to a big deal for a talented Shakhtar Donetsk attacker, with Mykhailo Mudryk joining last year, so who knows, Sudakov could follow in his national teammate’s footsteps.

New Bayern Munich star Lena Oberdorf will miss the Olympics after suffering an ACL injury while playing for Germany in Euro 2025 qualifiers.

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• Oberdorf out with ACL injury
• Suffered setback during Euro qualifiers
• Will miss Olympic Games

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 22-year-old defender who completed a move to Bayern Munich from Wolfsburg just a week ago, has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while representing the Germany in the final game of the Euro 2025 qualifying round against Austria. Germany were leading 3-0 around the 70th-minute mark when Oberdorf clashed with an opposition player and went down on the ground in pain.

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• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Confirming the player's condition, the Germany women's football team wrote on X, "Lena Oberdorf suffers a cruciate and medial ligament injury in the match against Austria. It hurts our hearts, Obi! We are with you!"

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The holding midfielder was closely linked with a move to reigning Women's Super League champions Chelsea earlier this year, however, the German giants decided to match the €400,000 (£340,500/$429,000) release clause in her Wolfsburg contract.

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR LENA OBERDORF?

  Oberdorf will now miss the upcoming Olympic Games, which is a huge blow to a Germany team set to face the United States women's national team, Australia and Zambia in the group stages.

West Ham United were dealt a blow in the race for European football after dropping points against Burnley, with David Moyes' side ultimately unable to complete their late comeback.

West Ham 2-2 Burnley – match report

The Irons endured an opening first 45 minutes to forget in east London on Sunday. Amid the noise surrounding Moyes' future, with his contract still set to expire at the end of this season, the manager's case to remain wasn't exactly helped by a torrid start against Burnley – who themselves look like real favourites for the drop.

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There’s been lots of talk about staff shake ups, but this wasn’t it.

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David Datro Fofana breezed past West Ham challenges to smash a thunderbolt past Alphonse Areola, opening the scoring around 10 minutes in, before defender Konstantinos Mavropanos' own goal handed the Clarets a two-goal cushion heading into half-time.

Lucas Paqueta

8.0

Danny Ings

7.6

Mohammed Kudus

7.3

Jarrod Bowen

7.1

Moyes' men did mount a second half come back after some clever substitutions, with star midfielder Lucas Paqueta grabbing one back just after the restart but striker Danny Ings rolled back the years with a brilliant finish in added time.

It was too late by that point for West Ham, though, who had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Burnley and couldn't quite nick all three points in the end – despite their valiant late efforts.

“The decisions today went so badly against us,” said Moyes on West Ham's draw against Burnley, who took aim at the officials.

"The offside for the goal, then there is one in the first half where the linesman puts his flag up and Jarrod Bowen is onside. Even if he wasn’t, the rules are supposed to be that you wait until he’s got to be sure he’s offside. He doesn’t. He puts his flag up straight away and I’ve seen it and he’s onside.

“Then you’ve got Sander Berge heads the ball or tries to head the ball in front and it hits his arms. There have been quite a few decisions today which really went against us.”

There were a few players whose performances were brought into question during the contest, like January signing Kalvin Phillips, who has been criticised yet again as he struggles to dust off the cobwebs from his days sitting on Man City's bench.

James Ward-Prowse was slammed for his Burnley display by West Ham media as well, with TalkSPORT commentator Tom Rennie also dropping quite a damning assessment of Mavropanos' display.

Mavropanos slammed in West Ham draw against Burnley

Rennie, taking to X, said Mavropanos was playing like he'd "been struck in the head" during West Ham's draw against Burnley.

Barring his own goal, WhoScored detailed that Mavropanos was one of West Ham's lowest rated players on the day – with the Greek only completing just over half of his passes in what was an afternoon to forget for him.

أعلن نادي فلومينينسي في بيان رسمي، منذ قليل، فسخ عقد النجم البرازيلي مارسيلو، بعد التوصل إلى اتفاق بينهما، وذلك بعد الواقعة الغريبة التي حدثت السبت.

وخاض فلومينينسي مباراة في الدوري البرازيلي ضد نظيره جريميو، حيث تعادلا بهدفين لمثليهما.

وكان مدرب فلومينينسي، مانو مينيزيس، مستعدًا لإدخال مارسيلو كبديل في الشوط الثاني.

وشوهد مارسيلو وهو على خط التماس خلال تلقيه التعليمات، قبل أن تنشب مشادة قوية من قِبل مدرب فلومينينسي، حيث ظهر وهو يتحدث بحدة، دون معرفة السبب وراء ذلك.

ولم ينخرط مارسيلو في تلك المحادثة العنيفة، وظهر وهو يهز رأسه استجابة للتعليمات، ولكن مدرب فلومينينسي قرر تغيير رأيه ولم يدفع بالبرازيلي، واستعان بلاعب آخر.

xiiii

Mano Menezes x Marcelo

TRABALHE @gustavomachadog
pic.twitter.com/FaOOuLOgTx — Broca (@alexcrfla) November 2, 2024

وبرر مدرب فلومينينسي تصرفه القاسي تجاه مارسيلو بكونه سمع شيئًا لم يعجبه من جانب اللاعب، دون الكشف عن ماهيته.

وقال فلومينينسي في بيان رسمي منذ قليل: “يعلن نادي فلومينينسي لكرة القدم ومارسيلو فييرا إنهاء العقد بالتراضي بين الطرفين”.

وأضاف: “لا تزال الروابط المؤسسية والعاطفية بين فلومينينسي ومارسيلو قائمة”.

واختتم: “تم تخليد اسم الرياضي مؤخرًا في الملعب في مركز التدريب، ونود أن نشكر مارسيلو حيث سنستمر، كما هو الحال دائمًا، في دعم نجاحه في جميع تحدياته”.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has showcased his willingness to trust and develop academy talents in his debut season with the Yorkshire-based side.

The German boss worked the likes of James Maddison, Ben Godfrey, Max Aarons, and Emiliano Buendia during his time with Norwich City, and has now provided Mateo Joseph and Archie Gray with opportunities to shine this season.

Gray, who was 17 at the start of the campaign, made his senior debut under the Whites manager this term and has racked up 36 appearances in the Championship so far.

The England U21 international is the first-choice option for Farke at right-back, whilst Joseph is currently the back-up to Patrick Bamford in the number nine position, and this shows that the tactician is prepared to bring academy gems into the team if they are good enough and ready to feature.

This bodes well for the array of talent currently occupying the U21 and U18 teams at Thorp Arch, as they know that the club have a manager who will not ignore them if they perform to a high level, in matches and in training.

Current U18s star Josh McDonald is one player who could have his eyes on a future place in the first-team, and Farke could eventually unearth him as a homegrown heir to Dan James, who has had somewhat of a revival at Elland Road this season.

Dan James' initial struggles at Leeds

In the summer of 2021, former Leeds duo Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta swooped to sign the Wales international from Manchester United for a reported fee of £25m.

The forward started regularly throughout the 2021/22 campaign for Bielsa, and then his replacement Jesse Marsch, but failed to deliver goals and assists at an impressive rate.

He produced four goals, with eight 'big chances' missed, and assisted four for his teammates, with 0.8 key passes per game, over 31 Premier League starts.

His less-than-impressive form at the top end of the pitch, after a big £25m move to Elland Road, led to a loan to league rivals Fulham for the 2022/23 campaign.

22/23 Premier League

Dan James

Appearances

24

Starts

7

Goals

2

Assists

1

Key passes per game

0.4

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, James also struggled during his time with the Cottagers as he only racked up three direct goal contributions in 24 matches.

His lack of end product on the wing in the Premier League may have contributed to Fulham's decision to send him back to Elland Road last summer, instead of attempting to sign him on a permanent basis.

That did, however, provide Leeds and Farke with an opportunity to help him regain his confidence by playing regular football in the Championship this season.

Dan James' impressive form this season

The 26-year-old speedster has started 24 of his 34 appearances in the second tier for the Whites so far this season, and has showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

James has plundered an eye-catching 12 goals and seven assists in those 24 starts – a return of one goal or assist every 1.26 starts on average in the league.

Only Wilfried Gnonto (2.72) has outscored his Expected Goals by more than James (1.8) within the Leeds squad, as the electric winger has found the back of the net 12 times from an xG of 10.2.

This shows that the former Manchester United forward has been efficient in front of goal, and not wasted many opportunities to get his name on the scoresheet.

The Welsh wizard has also showcased his creativity with 12 'big chances' created and 1.5 key passes per game across his 34 league matches for Leeds this term. He ranks within the top 5% of Championship attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals (0.29) per 90, and the top 8% for assists (0.30) per 90.

These statistics show that the Whites star has been an excellent operator as both a scorer and a creator of goals, whilst having the quality to operate on either the right or the left wing for Farke.

In total, James has racked up 16 goals and 12 assists in 77 appearances in all competitions since he made the move to Leeds in the summer of 2021, which is a return of 2.75 matches per game on average.

Josh McDonald's Leeds potential

Leeds swooped to sign McDonald from Scottish side Hamilton Academical in the summer of 2023, at the age of 16, amid interest from Premiership giants Glasgow Rangers.

Football Insider quoted an unnamed Scotland U18 coach as describing the talented teenager as an "exceptional" young gem, which is why he played for his country at U18 level despite being just 16 at the time.

The outlet noted the club's desire to bolster the quality of their youth teams across the board, which is why they were keen to sign the 16-year-old to add him to their U18 group.

McDonald has been playing for Leeds at that level so far this season and has caught the eye with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Like James, the Scottish wizard has the ability to play on either the left or the right side of the attack, rather than being restricted to one or the other, and that could help his first-team chances as he could fill in for multiple positions.

As you can see in the table below, McDonald has featured regularly for the club in the league and the cup during his debut campaign in English football.

23/24 season

Josh McDonald

FA Youth Cup

U18 Premier League

Appearances

4

17

Minutes played

344

1,028

Goals

0

5

Assists

1

3

Stats via Transfermarkt

He has racked up eight direct goal contributions in 17 appearances for the U18s this season, which is a return of one goal or assist every 2.13 outings on average – better than James' Leeds career average of one every 2.75 games.

These statistics show that McDonald, like the Wales international, can both score and create goals at a decent rate from either the right or left wing.

At the age of 17, the Scottish maestro also has plenty of time left to develop and progress over the years to come, and could be a player Farke keeps an eye on for the future as a possible long-term homegrown heir to James, who is nine years older than him.

It would be a dream scenario for Leeds and the German boss as the club would not need to splash out millions on a replacement for the Welshman, should McDonald continue to progress and emerge as a senior option.

Manchester United defender Leny Yoro has been spotted wearing a protective boot and on crutches after coming off injured against Arsenal.

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Man Utd sign Yoro from Lille for £52mDefender picks up injury against ArsenalSeen on crutches & with protective bootWHAT HAPPENED?

Yoro swapped Lille for United earlier this month in a £52 million move ($68m) but less than two weeks after signing for the Premier League team, the 18-year-old may face a spell on the sidelines. After being forced off in the first half of Saturday's pre-season loss to Arsenal, the centre-back was filmed getting onto the team bus with the protective boot and crutches at their UCLA training base.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

United edged out Real Madrid, among others, to sign the talented defender – who is seen as one of the world's most promising teenagers. The Red Devils had a hefty injury list last season, particularly in defence, and manager Erik ten Hag will be praying Yoro makes a speedy recovery – or else they may need to strengthen in that part of the field again.

WHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID

After the 2-1 loss to Arsenal, Ten Hag said on Yoro's injury: "It is too short [notice] we have to wait over 24 hours and then we know hopefully more. We were very careful especially with Leny. He did only 50 per cent from the sessions so it was very disappointing that he had to come off but let’s be positive and see what is coming out."

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

According to BBC Sport, manager Ten Hag will speak to the media about this topic and more ahead of United's pre-season friendly against Liverpool in South Carolina on August 3. Before then, the Red Devils will take on Real Betis on Wednesday in San Diego.

Whilst the attention of much of the Arsenal fanbase will be on the Premier League title race and upcoming Champions League quarter-finals, it appears that negotiations to keep a star player at the club have ground to a halt.

Arsenal braced for busy summer

Stan Kroenke looks set to give heavy backing to Mikel Arteta in the transfer market as the Gunners look to consolidate their recent successes. The big money spent on the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz looks set to continue as Arsenal look to build a squad capable of challenging the likes of Man City and Liverpool.

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The most prominent link ahead of the summer has been Arsenal's interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney. The 28-year-old has scored four goals in ten Premier League appearances since returning from a long-term suspension. Also on the Gunners' radar have been midfield reinforcements, with Arsenal reportedly interested in moves for Weston McKennie and Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi.

With the middle of the park an area of the pitch that Arsenal are eager to strengthen, reports of a midfielder edging closer to leaving the club may come as a shock to the Gunners faithful.

Arsenal stop talks over new deal for Jorginho

As relayed by Sport Witness, the Italian press is claiming that negotiations over a new deal for Arsenal midfielder Jorginho have come to a stop. The Italian midfielder had supposedly been offered a new deal until 2025 with a club option of a further year, with his current contract set to expire this summer.

Jorginho-martinelli-arsenal

The outlet states that "having officially started talks to renew the player’s contract, it’s claimed Arsenal have ‘suddenly stopped’ negotiations," with no clear reason as to why. This development will be music to the ears of Juventus, who have held a long-standing interest in the former Napoli man and are reportedly "waiting for the right moment to present a proposal for the player".

Jorginho has become a surprise success in north Londonm with the 32-year-old joining the Gunners in a £12m move from rivals Chelsea. After being deemed 'too old' for the Premier League by the Blues, the Italian has become a vital part of Arteta's side as they push for the Premier League title.

As a result of Thomas Partey's struggles with injury this season, Jorginho has often been required to step up for his side and start games, a duty he has fulfilled with aplomb. Particular highlights from this campaign have been the midfielder's performances against Liverpool and Newcastle, both of which saw the Italian earn the Man of the Match award.

Speaking after the Newcastle win back in February, Arteta was quick to praise Jorginho, telling the press:

"He’s a top player, especially when the opponents have certain behaviours or [a] certain setup. The way I can imagine the game, he is going to have a big impact. He is certainly [world-class]."

Currently on a reasonably modest £110,000-per-week salary, it should not be a question of finances when it comes to renewing the Italian's deal. Overall, failing to tie Jorginho down to a new contract would see them lose out on an experienced head still capable of putting in quality performances.