Category Uncategorized

ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the second ODI between Pakistan and England in Abu Dhabi

George Dobell in Abu Dhabi15-Feb-2012Drop of the day
Alastair Cook had only made 28 when he edged a delivery from Shahid Afridi. It should have been a routine catch for the wicketkeeper but instead the ball bounced straight into and then straight out of the iron gloves of Umar Akmal. It was a reminder that, for all his ability as a batsman, Akmal is, at present, some way short of the required standard for an international keeper. Cook went on to score another 74 runs and play the match-defining innings. Pakistan must decide whether to persevere with Akmal in the hope of improvement or rethink the balance of their side. At present, Umar is losing them more games with the gloves than he is winning with the bat.Run-out of the day
Imran Farhat was batting well. He had just thumped James Anderson over mid-on and, as Pakistan reached 92 for one in the 22nd over, he seemed to be pacing the reply nicely. But then, having edged a Stuart Broad yorker on to his pads, he lost track of the ball and, belatedly realising that it had rolled obligingly into the hands of the bowler, was unable to regain his ground before Broad’s throw hit the stumps. It was an alert piece of work by Broad but a somewhat sloppy end to a decent innings from Farhat.Cool head of the day
Sometimes it takes confidence to remain scoreless. It takes composure to battle through the barren periods without allowing the pressure to build or force a batsman into a rash stroke. Alastair Cook did not score from his first nine deliveries and, in the first three overs of the England innings, there were only two scoring strokes. The powerplay overs were ticking by but Cook is not the type to allow himself to be flustered. He is batting with immense assurance and backed himself to come through a testing period. As it was, he scored from his tenth delivery and it happened to be a high-class shot: a back foot drive through extra cover off Aizaz Cheema that skimmed to the boundary. Cook never looked back and became the first England captain to register successive ODI centuries.Choice of the day
Misbah-ul-Haq preferring Aizaz Cheema to Umar Gul in the final overs of the England innings. It was a brave decision. Cheema had delivered three wides in succession in his first over, one of which went to the boundary. Gul is the senior seamer, having played 93 more ODIs than his junior partner but the choice paid off with Cheema conceding 18 in a three-over spell that ended the innings. Bearing in mind that England had seven wickets in hand with six overs to go, that represented a decent return from Cheema.Catch of the day
The game was in the balance, 72 were required from 68 balls and Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq had looked fairly comfortable in adding 37 in six overs. Then Akmal cut Steve Finn to cover where Samit Patel dived low to his left and clung on to a low catch. Indeed, so low was it that the third umpire was called to clarify the legitimacy of the catch. Patel could be forgiven for feeling particularly satisfied: he had spent some time the previous day defending his weight, his fitness, his diet and his fielding to a group of journalists. Here he proved his point in the most eloquent way of all – with his performance.

They may not have a Test win in New Zealand since 1976 but India are focused on winning the series instead of worrying about past performances

Sidharth Monga in Hamilton17-Mar-2009

	Sachin Tendulkar hasn’t won a Test in New Zealand © Associated Press

The ODI series win will have changed a few notions inside the Indian camp. Some of the players who hadn’t been here before, including the captain, will be wondering what the fuss about New Zealand was about. Twenty-seven days into this tour, the previous tour already sounds like fiction.Others who have been here before have only the freakish conditions in 2002-03 as explanation for not having won a Test. Sachin Tendulkar, for example, has played eight Tests in New Zealand and hasn’t been on the winning side even once. He will know, given the team’s form and the conditions this time around, that this series represents his best chance – and most likely his last. So too for Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.Then there’s the middle group, the likes of Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, whose only experience of Tests in New Zealand are those losses in 2002-03. But all three are strong characters, capable of putting past failures well behind them. Sehwag has made a living out of forgetting the previous ball he has faced.However, history is against India. The facts are startling: India last won a series here more than forty years ago and even their last Test victory here came back in 1976.A lot will depend on how successfully India ignore history. Of late, this team has made a mockery of history and reputation. They were supposed to be the worst of the big teams at the World Twenty20, they were supposed to lose easily in the ODIs in Australia, they were not supposed to win a Test there.Ask Mahendra Singh Dhoni if past record matters to this team and he says: “We hadn’t won a one-day series [in New Zealand] either.” This time they cruised through the series, just missing out on a clean sweep.”I am not bothered about whether we have won here or not,” Dhoni said. “I am just bothered about the things we need to do over here as a team. We are not thinking about what happened in the past. I am not great when it comes to stats, so that really helps.”Fast forward to the present, and what India need to do here as a team. They have almost everything sorted out going into the first Test. They couldn’t have asked for a better team, with 10 players picking themselves. All they would have hoped for is a third pace bowler who they can repose their faith in. Munaf Patel is not that bowler as of now. L Balaji, on his comeback, is too untested to be that man.Dhoni made clear that Munaf’s poor outings in the ODIs would not be held against him. “You know he is a much better bowler than what he did in the one-dayers,” Dhoni said. In two ODIs Munaf bowled 9.3 overs for 93 runs for no wickets. “Often he bowled as one-change seamer, and wickets were quite placid. We had big scores, and most of the times New Zealand got off to a good start, which meant basically the batsmen targeted the third seamer. It’s always tough to judge on the basis of one-day especially.”We will see who the best bowler is and who is bowling better right now, and accordingly we will pick the third seamer.” Munaf, though, has bowled fewer overs than Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma and L Balaji in the nets over the last couple of days.India will fix that quandary on Wednesday morning. Another historical blip they need to fix is the first-Test blues while touring. Even on their two most recent tours, first Test losses to Australia and Sri Lanka set the tone for series defeats. India cannot afford a slow start here. If they suffer one here, that coupled with their past record in New Zealand, could weigh heavily on the rest of the series.That said, India have the right mix, the conditions are good and this is not the toughest New Zealand side they have faced. They have players to whom history means nothing, players who have suffered and have lessons to share, and they have players who are very good at putting the past behind them. From tomorrow, they will look to set right what they believe is an aberration.

Ahead of this week's midsummer matchup, GOAL looks at the all-time best players from past MLS All-Star Games

The 29th edition of the MLS All-Star Game arrives Wednesday night. Top MLS players will host the Liga MX All-Stars at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Dating back to 1996, the ASG has showcased the best players in the league – and some of the world's best – in multiple formats, ranging from intra-league matches to games against European powerhouses such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Who have been the best from MLS to play in the summer series?

From superstars such as David Beckham and Thierry Henry to stalwarts such as Darlington Nagbe and Chad Marshall, GOAL looks at the MLS All-Star All-Time XI.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games now

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper

  Matt Turner: Although Turner only played in one ASG, it was more than memorable for the now-established U.S. international. In the 2021 game, Turner came on in the 60th minute and kept a clean sheet in regulation, sending the match to a penalty shootout.

  Turner came up huge, saving attempts from both Rogelio Funes Mori and Salvador Reyes, while watching Erik Lira's penalty launch over the bar as the MLS All-Stars won 3-2 in the shootout. He was named MVP and made MLS history.

Advertisement

• Imagn
  

  Defenders

  Walker Zimmerman: Zimmerman, one of two active players on this list, has been one of the most consistent defenders MLS has ever seen. The 32-year-old is a four-time All-Star, having been elected in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In each of those seasons, as well as 2020, he was named to the MLS Best XI, and was named MLS Defender of the Year in '20 and '21, as well.

  Eddie Pope: Pope is one of the great defenders of the game, even if modern-day fans might not know much about him. For anyone familiar with his game, they'll know that he is widely considered one of the best defenders in MLS history. He was a five-time MLS All-Star, from 1997-2000 and in 2002. He's since been inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

  Chad Marshall: A genuine defensive monster, Marshall was a four-time All-Star – in 2009, 2010, 2014, and 2015 – and played crucial roles in victories over Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur in back-to-back ASG appearances. He went on to be named MLS Defender of the Year in '09 and '14 as well, capping off two remarkable campaigns.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfielders

  Darlington Nagbe: You see Nagbe's name, and you don't need stats, numbers, or justifications for his inclusion. Just nod, agree, and read on. Surprisingly, Nagbe was only a three-time All-Star. He was a fan vote selection in 2016 and a commissioner's pick in both 2022 and 2024.

  Carlos Valderamma: A five-time ASG selection from the first installment in 1996 through 2000, Valderamma was the epitome of brilliance in MLS's early years. In both the '96 and '97 All-Star Games, he was named MVP, guiding the East All-Stars to victories. Valderamma still holds the single-season record for the most assists with 26.

  Ricardo Kaka: Named MVP of the 2015 ASG after securing a goal and an assist in a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, Kaka etched his name into MLS history, an historic performance from the former Ballon d'Or winner. He was a three-time MLS All-Star selection, named to the team in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

  Dwayne De Rosario: A seven-time selection, De Rosario is a player of legend in MLS. From 2006-2012, he was named to seven consecutive All-Star rosters, and in his 2006 debut, he was named MVP after he scored the game-winner in a narrow 1-0 victory over Chelsea FC.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Forwards

  Thierry Henry: Henry was named to the ASG four times, from 2011-2014, representing the New York Red Bulls. The former Barcelona and Arsenal ace never scored in the ASG, but helped them to major victories over Chelsea in 2012 and Bayern Munich in 2014. At a time when MLS needed a world-renowned star to be the face of the All-Stars against world heavyweights, Henry more than delivered.

  Landon Donovan: Donovan was selected to the MLS All-Star team not once, not twice but… 13 times. Yeah, you read that right. From 2001-2014, he was selected every year, but missed out in 2006 due to a hamstring injury. In 2001, he scored four goals for the West in a thrilling 6-6 draw against the East, earning MVP honors. Then, in 2014, he was once again named MVP as he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich. In terms of star power at an ASG, Donovan was man.

  David Beckham: Beckham, MLS's first bona fide international superstar, was named to the ASG in 2008, 2011, and 2012 as a representative of the LA Galaxy. In 2008, he recorded an assist as MLS defeated West Ham United 3-2, and in 2012, he recorded another crucial assist as MLS defeated Chelsea 3-2. Although he was only selected three times, he directly contributed to two major victories over European opposition.

While allrounder Cameron Green is on the cusp of a major IPL deal, he’s been left with a “weird” feeling after playing a minimal role in Australia’s strong start to the home Test summer.Green, 23, has attracted enormous interest ahead of the upcoming IPL player auction, but his obvious talents with bat and ball haven’t been greatly required of late.With Australia’s top-order rampant against West Indies, No. 6 Green barely had a chance to spend time in the middle. He didn’t bat in the Perth Test – his first at home – then only made 9 and 5 in Adelaide when declarations were in the air.Related

• Green's growing pains on a steep learning curve

• Stokes to Green – six players who could fetch big money at the IPL auction

• Brisbane pitch earns 'below average' rating from ICC

On a bowler-dominated Gabba surface, Green played fluently in the first innings for a run-a-ball 18 to briefly curb South Africa’s quicks then faced just three deliveries as Australia staggered over the line in the chase.He has also bowled just 32 overs across the three Tests, including three during the Gabba match. Green didn’t play in the Sheffield Shield ahead of the Tests after being a late inclusion into Australia’s T20 World Cup squad.”It’s definitely been a weird start to the summer for myself not having to do too much,” Green told reporters. “Being an allrounder you’re the guy to help out when the team needs. At the moment it feels like I’m not really needed.”It’s probably a sign of how well the team is playing. We’ve been winning games of cricket and that’s what you want.”Cameron Green leaps in the gully to catch Sarel Erwee•Getty Images

Green, however, remains confident he can have an impact if required in the pivotal Boxing Day Test against South Africa.”All you can look at is how you are training and I feel in a pretty good space,” he said. “I’m hitting the ball well. If you can’t get much game time that’s the only way you can tell how you are going. I feel pretty good in the nets.”He hasn’t been entirely a spectator with Green’s fielding in the gully a particular highlight in Brisbane, where he claimed several sharp catches and five overall.The towering Green is perhaps an unusual presence behind the wicket but his agility and safe pair of hands have made him especially reliable.”I was always in the slips, [gully is] pretty similar,” he said. “The only change is in the gully you’re watching the batter instead of the ball.”Even though he didn’t spend much time batting on the much debated Gabba surface, which was deemed “below average” by match referee Richie Richardson, Green fronted a vicious short bouncer from tearaway Anrich Nortje which sailed over his head to the boundary for byes to end the match.”He [Nortje] has shown what he can bring to the team…that raw pace,” Green said. “You don’t get to face it too much, facing 150 [kph]. I think most of the batters are happy they got to face that. If we can withstand that, and we know we can, it gives us a little insight into how to face him at the MCG.”After enjoying an unexpected few days off, Australia can clinch the series with victory in the traditional Boxing Day Test – the first between the countries since 2008.”Three days to recharge is pretty invaluable. A lot of the guys were lucky enough to go home…been on the road for a long time. ” Green said. “Very special [the Boxing Day Test]. The national anthem always gets to you, it’s loud out there. We’ve had some special games there.”

The 18-year-old shined with El Rebaño in the Clausura 2025, drawing attention from Europe.

• Valued at close to $3 million
• Twenty-one appearances for Chivas
• One goal in Liga MX

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  With 21 appearances for Chivas and one goal in Liga MX, Guadalajara’s rising star Hugo Camberos has reportedly already attracted a lucrative offer from Belgian First Division side Club Brugge. The European club has reportedly made a bid to purchase 100 percent of the forward’s rights, according to TUDN.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Currently, Club Brugge sits sixth in the 2025-26 league table with six points, the result of two wins and one loss in their first three matches.

  Hugo Camberos made his Liga MX debut this past January in a victory over Santos Laguna on Matchday 1 of the Clausura 2025. Since then, the Mexico youth international has scored once in that tournament and remains scoreless in the Apertura so far. 

  He also featured in three matches of the last Concacaf Champions Cup and once in the 2025 Leagues Cup, though he did not find the net in either competition. With the Mexican national team, he was called up for the Maurice Revello Tournament (formerly Toulon Tournament) with the U-20 squad.

  Recently, Club Brugge advanced past RB Salzburg in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and are now in the playoff round, where they will face Scotland’s Rangers.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Camberos has been a regular across multiple Mexican youth national teams, scoring five goals in 12 matches with the U-16s, adding two goals in 12 appearances with the U-17s, and making two appearances with the U-18s.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHIVAS?

  Chivas will host FC Juárez this Saturday in Matchday 5 of the Apertura 2025.

On a track typical of the ones we’ve seen at Chepauk in seasons past, Super Kings handed Knight Riders their first loss of IPL 2024

Ashish Pant08-Apr-20243:17

What made Jadeja so difficult to score off?

After two back-to-back defeats on the road, Chennai Super Kings returned to the comforts of home and to winning ways, consigning Kolkata Knight Riders to their first loss of IPL 2024.On a surface that was typical of the one we have been used to at Chepauk in seasons past, CSK bowled first and restricted KKR to 137 for 9. This after KKR had raced to 56 for 1 in the powerplay. But as the ball got older, the CSK bowlers, led by Ravindra Jadeja who picked 3 for 18, came into their own.In the chase, Ruturaj Gaikwad got back into form, shepherding the innings with an unbeaten 58-ball 67 to take CSK over the line with seven wickets and 14 balls to spare. He added 70 off 55 balls with Daryl Mitchell (25 off 19) before Shivam Dube came in and tonked 28 off 18 to take CSK closer.With three to win, in walked MS Dhoni, causing bedlam in the Chepauk stands. But it was Gaikwad who fittingly finished off the chase by crashing Anukul Roy through covers.Gaikwad’s welcome return to formIt hasn’t been the strongest of starts for Gaikwad in IPL 2024. Coming into the game, he had only managed 88 runs in four innings, averaging 22 in the tournament. But with a modest target in front of him, he bedded in for the long haul. After a watchful first over, he got going with a ramp off Vaibhav Arora and moved from 4 off 9 to 32 off 23 by the end of the powerplay.Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni saw CSK home•BCCIThe early impetus was provided by Rachin Ravindra who went after Mitchell Starc, but once he fell, Gaikwad made sure to keep the things moving forward. With Ajinkya Rahane struggling with a calf strain, he had additional responsibility and took up the role well.Gaikwad took on the left-arm spin of Anukul Roy, backing away first ball of the fifth over and creaming him through covers. He repeated those shots twice over before smashing Vaibhav Arora for two back-to-back fours. CSK had raced to 52 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.CSK make it 3/3 at homeGaikwad got excellent support from Mitchell and Dube in helping CSK get over the line. Mitchell, promoted up the order to No. 3, hit his straps by thumping Sunil Narine for a six and four immediately after the powerplay. The duo did not always keep the boundaries flowing but they kept the scoreboard ticking. In the 36 balls between overs six to 12, they scored 44 runs – 17 singles, five doubles, two fours and one six – and that was all CSK needed as the asking run rate crept below the six an over mark.Once Mitchell fell, it was the Dube show as he continued his merry run in IPL 2024. He hammered Varun Chakravarthy for back-to-back sixes and then muscled Arora for another one over deep midwicket. Dube is the current leading run-scorer for CSK this season and has a strike rate of 193.93 against all spinners. On Monday, he only enhanced his credentials. It didn’t take long for CSK to finish off the chase after Dube fell, wrapping up the game in 17.4 overs.Win contribution CSK vs KKR•ESPNcricinfo LtdSunil Narine – the powerplay kingAfter losing the toss and a wicket off the first ball of the game, KKR were propped up by Sunil Narine, their powerplay wrecker-in-chief this season. He went after Tushar Deshpande in his second over. A four through square leg, one over mid-off and then a six over deep square – Narine was up and away. Not even a shoulder injury seemed to stop him.During his innings, Narine also went past Virat Kohli to now have the most runs in the powerplay this season – 127 at a strike rate of 201.58. He found an ally in Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who continued on from his debut innings as the duo added 56 runs off 36 balls for the second wicket.The slowdown courtesy Ravindra JadejaThe CSK spinners had not picked up a single wicket at Chepauk in the first two matches there in IPL 2024. And Jadeja seemed to take it personally. He picked up three wickets in his first eight balls of the match, putting a big dent in the KKR middle order.Ravindra Jadeja turned the game on its head with three wickets in eight balls•BCCIHe first sent back Raghuvanshi, who shaped up for a reverse sweep, missed and was caught right in front. Then he got rid of Narine for the fourth time in five T20 innings, the batter slicing a length ball straight to long-off. Venkatesh Iyer was Jadeja’s third victim holing out to deep midwicket with Mitchell taking a good catch diving forward. Normally Jadeja’s plan in these conditions is to be as accurate as possible. Here he knew he had to do one other thing as well. Not bowl full. Let the natural variation that this pitch was offering do its thing.After scoring 56 in the first six overs, KKR only managed 43 in the next nine, losing four wickets in the process.The quicks go slowOnce 15 overs were done, Gaikwad got the fast bowlers into play, and they relied more on the cutters. Deshpande had Rinku Singh chopping one back onto his stumps before Mustafizur Rahman took over. He might have been coming off a long run-up but got slower cutters in, which would have made any slow left-arm orthodox spinner proud.He delivered a stellar final over picking up two wickets and conceding just two runs. While Deshpande finished with 3 for 33 off his four overs, Mustafizur picked 2 for 22, and became the highest wicket-taker in the competition. Sixteen of the 24 balls delivered by the duo in the last four overs were cutters, and KKR had no clue.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians está escalado para encarar o Fluminense na Neo Química Arena, nesta quarta-feira (26), às 21h45, pela 34ª rodada do Brasileirão. Vítor Pereira levará a campo: Cássio; Fagner, Gil, Balbuena e Fábio Santos; Fausto Vera, Du Queiroz e Renato Augusto; Gustavo Mosquito, Róger Guedes e Vital.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoVÍDEO: Felipe Melo se irrita com provocação de torcedora do Corinthians e entra em discussãoFora de Campo26/10/2022CorinthiansCorinthians tem estratégia traçada para derrotar ‘obra do…’Corinthians26/10/2022CorinthiansCorinthians vive dias de apreensão, na torcida pela permanência de Vítor PereiraCorinthians26/10/2022

+Fagner vai passar Rivellino! Veja os 10 jogadores com mais partidas pelo Corinthians

A partida terá transmissão pela Rede Globo, Premiere, tempo real do L! e em áudio na parceira LANCE!/Voz do Esporte.

O Timão soma 57 pontos e ocupa o quarto lugar na tabela. Na última rodada, os comandados de Vítor Pereira venceram o Santos, na Vila Belmiro, por 1 a 0.

+ Veja tabela e simule a reta final do Campeonato Brasileiro

RESERVAS E DESFALQUES

No banco de reservas, Vítor Pereira tem as seguintes opções: Carlos Miguel, Lucas Piton, Bruno Melo, Robson Bambu, Raul Gustavo, Robert Renan, Bruno Méndez, Roni, Cantillo, Ramiro, Giuliano e Giovane.

Os desfalques do Corinthians são: Rafael Ramos (Covid-19); Maycon (recuperação pós-jogo e condicionamento); Yuri Alberto (suspenso);Xavier (tendinite joelho esquerdo) Adson (lesão muscular na coxa esquerda) e Paulinho (ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho).

CORINTHIANS X FLUMINENSE
CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO – 34ª RODADA
Local: Neo Química Arena, São Paulo (SP)
Data e hora: 26 de outubro de 2022, às 21h45
Árbitro: Leandro Pedro Vuaden (RS)
Assistentes: Rafael da Silva Alves (FIFA) [RS] e Tiago Augusto Kappes Diel (RS)
Árbitro de vídeo: Wagner Reway (PB)
Onde assistir: Globo, Premiere, tempo real do L! e em áudio na parceira LANCE!/Voz do Esporte

continua após a publicidade

Dua Lipa has been awarded an honorary Lionesses cap after performing two gigs at Wembley Stadium.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Dua Lipa awarded Lionesses cap
• Performed at Wembley
• Popstar posts image on Instagram

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The popstar performed two sets at Wembley last week before posting an image of a Lionesses cap she was awarded.

Advertisement

• THE GOSSIP

  Due Lipa's tour of football grounds is not over as she prepares for her first gig at Liverpool's Anfield on Tuesday evening. She then plays at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Friday.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Dua Lipa was also present at the Emirates Stadium during the 2024-25 season, in attendance as Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the Champions League thanks to two memorable Declan Rice free-kicks.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Entertainment
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR DUA LIPA?

  Her tour continues for the rest of 2025, including venues in USA and South America later in the year.

As Manchester United prepare to face off against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League next week, there is every likelihood that an intriguing milestone will be achieved.

Should captain Bruno Fernandes feature against the Midlands side, it will mark the 30-year-old’s 278th game for United in all competitions, drawing the playmaker level with teammate Luke Shaw.

Why is that significant? Well, Shaw signed for the Red Devils back in the summer of 2014. Fernandes, meanwhile, did not make the move to Manchester until January 2020.

While that highlights the remarkable durability of the former Sporting CP star, who has missed just three games due to illness or injury since signing for the club – according to Transfermarkt – it also showcases just how unfortunate Shaw has been by contrast, with the Englishman so often finding himself on the sidelines.

2024/25

2

68

0

2023/24

12

963

0

2022/23

31

2556

3

2021/22

20

1604

3

2020/21

32

2655

6

2019/20

24

1735

0

2018/19

29

2592

5

2017/18

11

788

0

2016/17

11

691

1

2015/16

5

450

1

2014/15

16

1127

0

The 29-year-old – who signed a new long-term deal back in 2023 – has not actually started a game for the club since back in February 2024, with it yet to be seen just whether he will actually make his long-awaited return before the season is out.

The latest on Luke Shaw's injury

Like any player would be, Shaw admitted he was “devastated” to have suffered a setback in his recovery late last year, with the long-serving full-back breaking down again after making three substitute appearances following Ruben Amorim’s arrival.

Those three outings remain the only time the England international has featured for the club this season, with the defender also missing the final three months of 2023/24 – despite ultimately then playing a cameo role at Euro 2024.

As for this latest absence, Amorim suggested last month that the £150k-per-week star had just a “small issue”, although only now has the experienced defender been pictured back in first-team training.

This follows claims from the former Sporting boss that Shaw could be among those to return before the campaign wraps up, with there seemingly a role for the experienced asset in Amorim’s ranks, amid his ability to operate at left centre-back, or at left wing-back.

On the other hand, with Amorim evidently unable to rely on the former Southampton man, he has found other solutions in those roles in the form of Ayden Heaven and Harry Amass, with the emergence of the pair perhaps marking the beginning of the end for Shaw’s time at United.

Equally, the left-footer’s decline may also have INEOS reflecting on their decision to cash in on a potential replacement last summer, with Alvaro Fernandez having enjoyed a real rise since then.

Man Utd already sold the perfect Shaw replacement

As the man who scored England’s opener in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, Shaw has showcased that he can be an ideal fit at left wing-back under Amorim, albeit while hardly offering a long-term solution.

In the case of Fernandez, United could well have had a figure for both the present and future, with the young Spaniard notably operating as a wing-back during his time on loan at Preston North End.

An attack-minded talent, the 22-year-old initially made the move to Manchester in the summer of 2020 from Real Madrid, as part of a trio of Spain-based imports, including Atletico Madrid’s Alejandro Garnacho and Barcelona’s Marc Jurado.

Described by talent scout Jacek Kulig as a player with an “amazing engine and quality” during his time in the Carrington youth ranks, Fernandez chalked up 14 goals and assists in 47 U23 games for the club, while also registering six assists during his temporary stint at Deepdale.

Frustratingly, however, such form did not lead to a chance at first-team level for the rampaging full-back, even with Erik ten Hag having been forced to deploy the likes of Sofyan Amrabat in that left-sided berth last season.

Indeed, back in January 2024, United moved to end Sergio Reguilon’s loan move, before then allowing Fernandez to make an initial temporary switch to Benfica. That decision was a head-scratching one, considering the absence of Tyrell Malacia, with that then compounded amid Shaw’s blow soon after.

Even despite starting this season without either Malacia or Shaw, Ten Hag and INEOS still opted to allow Fernandez to move to Lisbon permanently for a reported fee of just £5m, with the Spain U21 international having since registered eight goals and assists in 41 games in 2024/25.

That form had even led to talk of a return to Old Trafford in the most recent window, amid the presence of a £15m buy-back clause, albeit with Amorim and co instead forking out £30m for Patrick Dorgu.

That interest in a potential reunion has only served to showcase why United will “regret selling” Fernandez in the first place, as per analyst Ben Mattinson, particularly considering he is now deemed to be worth £15m, as per Transfermarkt. Shaw, by contrast, is now worth just £13m.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

The question now remains as to whether the 6 foot 1 starlet will ever end up back in Manchester, although having found his feet in Lisbon, would the youngster even be keen to return?

Man Utd could have their own Alexander-Arnold & he's a "major problem"

Man Utd could be set to lose one of their own homegrown talents this summer

ByRobbie Walls Mar 26, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Depois de conseguir vantagem mínimanas quartas de final das Copas do Brasil e Sul-Americana contra América-MG e Ceará, respectivamente, o São Paulo pode completar três meses sem conseguir uma vantagem de dois ou mais gols contra equipes do futebol brasileiro.

RelacionadasSão PauloPatrick volta a treinar sem limitações; Alisson reforça parte física e pode ser opção no São PauloSão Paulo04/08/2022São PauloTreinado por Alex, São Paulo perde para a Portuguesa no Campeonato Paulista Sub-20São Paulo04/08/2022São Paulo‘Em busca de energia’, Ceni projeta São Paulo escalado com reservas contra o FlamengoSão Paulo04/08/2022

+ Confira como estão as negociações para renovações de contratos do elenco do São Paulo

A última vez que venceu um adversário nacional por dois ou mais gols foi em 12 de maio, quando bateu o Juventude por 2 a 0 pela Copa do Brasil.

Desde então o Tricolor acumula 19 jogos nessas condições, com seis vitórias, nove empates e apenas quatro derrotas.

Em apenas três oportunidades no período, o Tricolor venceu um adversário por vantagem ampla no placar, todos pela Sul-Americana: 3 a 0 no Jorge Wilstermann e 4 a 2 e 4 x 1 na Universidad Católica.

Melhorar o desempenho ofensivo é um dos problemas a serem resolvidos pelo técnico Rogério Ceni para subir as posições do clube na classificação do Brasileirão (atualmente é o décimo colocado, com 26 pontos). O próximo adversário na competição será o Flamengo, às 20h30 (de Brasília) do próximo sábado.