Sai Sudharsan finished on 108 not out off 61 balls and Gill on 93 not out off 53 as they overhauled DC’s 199 for 3 with an over to spare

Hemant Brar18-May-20251:58

Moody: Not having fixed batting positions a ‘nightmare’ for teams

Gujarat Titans (GT) became only the second team in all T20 cricket to chase down a target of 200 or more without losing a wicket. That’s how clinical B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill were against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday night as they took GT into the playoffs. Sai Sudharsan finished on 108 not out off 61 balls and Gill on 93 not out off 53 as they overhauled DC’s 199 for 3 with an over to spare. That meant KL Rahul’s 112 not out off 65 balls ended in a losing cause.The result also took Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) into the playoffs. DC, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants are the three teams in contention for the remaining one spot.The Sai Sudharsan-Gill showSai Sudharsan came out all guns blazing. He got off the mark with a four off Axar Patel before hitting three more fours and a six off T Natarajan in the second over. By the end of the third over, he had scored 35 off 13 balls. Even though Mustafizur Rahman and Dushmantha Chameera gave away only 16 in the second half of the powerplay, GT were 59 for no loss after six overs.While Sai Sudharsan brought up his fifty off 30 balls, Gill had a slow start. He was on 21 off 19 after eight overs. But in the next three, he hit three sixes – one each against Axar, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam. He reached his fifty off 33 balls, with a four off Chameera. It was his first four of the innings. As if he had committed a mistake, he hit the following delivery for a six over square leg.GT reached 154 for no loss after 15 overs. As a last throw of the dice, Axar brought Mustafizur for the 16th. Sai Sudharsan hit his first two balls for fours to stamp GT’s domination. Two overs later, he hit Kuldeep for a straight six to bring up his second IPL hundred, off 56 balls. Fittingly, it was Sai Sudharsan with yet another six that sealed GT’s win.1:07

Moody: ‘Rahul has managed to adjust again to a different role’

DC’s slow startEarlier, DC’s struggled to get going after being sent in. Mohammed Siraj and Arshad Khan stuck to good length with the new ball and gave little room to free arms. There were 15 dot balls in the first four overs. Faf du Plessis, who tried to break the shackles and charged at Arshad, was caught at mid-on for 5 off ten balls. After five overs, DC were 28 for 1.KL Rahul takes chargeRahul played plenty of exquisite shots during his hundred. In the first over of the match, he had punched Siraj through covers off the back foot. Then he injected momentum into the innings by hitting Kagiso Rabada for two sixes and a four in the last over of the powerplay. This was Rabada’s first match after a one-month ban for using recreational drugs. He bowled just two overs, was wicketless and went for 34.Coming into this game, Rahul had a strike rate of 96.96 (64 runs off 66 balls) against Rashid Khan in T20 cricket. Here, he took him for 19 off 14. It was with a four off him that Rahul brought up his fifty, off 35 balls. Alongside Abishek Porel, who made 30 off 19, Rahul added 90 for the second wicket in just 8.4 overs.KL Rahul toasts a majestic IPL hundred•BCCILuck also favoured Rahul. In the 14th over, he got three fours off R Sai Kishore’s first three balls, all through luck. The first one was drilled back and went through R Sai Kishore’s hands. Rabada misfielded the next before an outside edge sped past short third.The late flourishAxar has been superb against spin this season. Still, Gill gave the 16th over to Sai Kishore. Axar ensured he faced all six balls and took 15 from them. Prasidh Krishna returned in the next over and dismissed Axar with his second ball.Rahul brought up his hundred off 60 balls. In the 19th over, he hit Prasidh’s hard-length delivery for a straight six with a straight bat. Two balls later, he pulled him to square leg for four to get to the three-figure mark. Tristan Stubbs played a hand of 21 not out off ten, as DC scored 48 from the last four overs. But it was not enough.

تمكن فريق ليفربول من تسجيل الهدف الثاني في شباك نظيره أستون فيلا، في مباراتهما الجارية حاليًا في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26.

ويستضيف ملعب “الأنفيلد” مباراة ليفربول وأستون فيلا، في الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي.

وتمكن ليفربول من تسجيل هدف ثاني في شباك خصمه أستون فيلا، في الدقيقة 58 من عمر المباراة الجارية في الوقت الحالي.

جاء الهدف عن طريق ريان جرافنبيرخ، بعد تمريرة من زميله كودي جاكبو، لتصل إلى الهولندي الذي توغل وراوغ وسدد في شباك إيميليانو مارتينيز. هدف جرافنبيرخ في مباراة ليفربول وأستون فيلا

وتشير النتيجة في الوقت الحالي إلى تقدم ليفربول بهدفين دون رد، حيث سجل النجم المصري محمد صلاح الهدف الأول قبل نهاية الشوط الأول من اللقاء.

Despite some nervy moments, Manchester United managed to hold on against Chelsea last weekend to win 2-1 at Old Trafford. The Red Devils secured the three points thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, despite a late Trevoh Chalobah header.

Despite playing against 10 men for much of the first half after Robert Sanchez’s early red card, Ruben Amorim’s side also had a man sent off. Casemiro was dismissed late in the first 45 minutes for a second bookable offence. It means that the experienced Brazilian will miss their Saturday lunchtime trip to the capital to face Brentford.

Amorim certainly has options as to who could replace Casemiro in the lineup, however.

The options to replace Casemiro?

Losing Casemiro in the centre of midfield is a huge blow for the Red Devils. However, it does give Amorim the chance to test the depth of his squad and allows another player to stake a claim and start more often.

It is incredibly puzzling that Kobbie Mainoo is unable to get into the starting lineup at Old Trafford. He burst onto the scene and is a sensational talent, but can’t get into the team under Amorim. Ex-United midfielder Owen Hargreaves said after the Manchester Derby loss, “I’ll never know” how he doesn’t get into United’s XI.

Mainoo is yet to start in the Premier League, and has played just 174 minutes across all competitions, despite performing strongly when given the chance.

Against City, he completed 100% of his passes, won 100% of both his duels and tackles, and created two chances.

If Amorim does choose to keep Mainoo out of the side, then Manuel Ugarte is another option. The Uruguay midfielder has struggled in that famous Red shirt of United, and has never managed to lock down a permanent starting spot under Amorim.

The former Paris Saint-Germain man perhaps lacks the on-ball quality needed in that pivot under Amorim. Last season in the Premier League, he averaged just 39 completed open play passes and lost the ball an average of 9.1 times per 90 minutes.

If Amorim continues to stubbornly overlook Mainoo, or deems Ugarte not the right profile for the trip to Brentford, there is another option he could go with.

United’s alternative to Casemiro

So, the obvious choice would surely be to pick Mainoo, or Ugarte if Amoirm decides against selecting the youngster again. But he does have another player in his squad who could be the ideal alternative to Casemiro.

Although he has operated as a number ten this season, Mason Mount could be ideal for the pivot next to Fernandes. Firstly, the pair played next to each other in that role earlier this season, away to Fulham.

Mount, with major injury issues now hopefully a thing of the past, has been a vital cog in the works for the Red Devils in 2025/26.

The 26-year-old has played five games across all competitions and has one assist in that time, against Grimsby in the Carabao Cup.

In terms of what he can offer United, playing in a deeper role, he obviously brings lots of quality on the ball. This season, he’s created 2.3 chances on average per 90 minutes.

Off the ball, he’s also impressed, winning five duels and making 4.1 ball recoveries.

Statman Dave said Mount is a “pressing monster”, and it is the out-of-possession energy the England star can bring that could mean Amorim selects him in the pivot. He’s no slouch on the ball either, with two of his four United goals to date having come against the Bees.

With Mount’s ability to press high from midfield and spring attacks from deep, it could be a shrewd selection from the Portuguese boss if he wants to add quality on the ball in midfield.

It would certainly be a bold call away to a physical Brentford team, but one that could be a good decision.

Bigger mistake than McTominay: Man Utd sold their own Trent for just £5m

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By
Robbie Walls

Sep 23, 2025

David Moyes knows his stuff. This was a well-known fact across the blue streets of Merseyside and merely underscored upon the Scots’ return to Everton in January.

He lifted Everton away from the relegation zone, up and up to the security of a mid-table Premier League finish. Positivity was restored as Goodison Park said farewell to the Toffees’ men’s team, and the summer that has since passed has welcomed exciting signings capable of lifting the club higher still.

Would a challenge for some form of European football be too ambitious? Certainly not. The Blues are playing with confidence and quality, even if the focal strikers are leaving plenty to be desired.

What Everton could do with is an academy star to emerge and contribute effectively over the coming months. Moyes has welcomed his share of top talents, and the production line has remained strong in the many years between the 63-year-old’s two tenures.

Everton's best academy talents

The staple of Everton’s modern academy success would, of course, be that man Wayne Rooney, who dazzled when breaking through under Moyes’ wing in 2002, scoring a sumptuous strike against Arsenal and playing with true quality before earning a record-breaking £27m move to Manchester United, aged 18.

He might be the Finch Farm showpiece, but Everton continued to strike gold at academy level after Rooney and then, years later, Moyes left the club, both headed toward Old Trafford.

Ross Barkley was actually forced to downplay “natural” Rooney comparisons as he emerged over a decade later, a powerful and commanding attacking midfielder whose start to life at his boyhood club was a truly remarkable thing.

But Barkley tapered off when completing a £15m move to Chelsea, and now it’s Anthony Gordon who has proved the top youth talent to have surfaced from Everton in recent years.

Gordon completed 78 first-team appearances for Everton before forcing his way out and joining Newcastle for £45m in January 2023. Worth more now, Farhad Moshiri likely felt he had received bang for his buck, given the prospect had only scored seven times.

He’s gone from strength to strength at Newcastle and now stands as a fully-fledged England international and the first-choice option for Thomas Tuchel, it would appear, as we edge ever closer to the 2026 World Cup.

But he could have been so much more on Merseyside, and would have been brilliant under Moyes’ wing. Instead, every mishap suffered when facing his former club is celebrated by the supporters.

The new conditions Moyes and the Friedkin Group have created at the Hill Dickinson Stadium suggest up-and-coming hopefuls may think twice about jumping ship.

And it’s a good thing too, for Everton might actually have an even bigger talent than Gordon on their hands.

Everton may have a bigger talent than Gordon

Gordon is a testament to tenacity and a focus on ironing out the creases in a player’s game. Now he is one of the most prominent English forwards in the country.

Likewise, if Braiden Graham maintains his impressive start to life in Liverpool, he could soon be knocking on Michael O’Neill’s door as he looks to wedge his way into the Northern Ireland set-up.

Graham, 17, might just be the cream of Everton’s academy crop, having been hailed by U21 boss Paul Tait for being a “cool finisher” with all the attributes needed to succeed at the highest level in the Premier League.

Joining Everton from Linfield, based in south Belfast, in 2024, the teenage forward has been an absolute credit thus far, featuring 31 times for the respective Toffees development teams and posting 15 goals and five assists.

With the mark of a natural goalscorer, it’s surely only a matter of time before the teenager, yet to even turn 18, starts knocking on Moyes’ door. While many tests lie ahead regarding the young striker’s technical and physical growth, the progress made already has told of his potential. Indeed, Graham has already made his senior bow, featuring 14 times for Linfield’s men’s team and scoring twice.

Yet to discover his best position, the Northern Irishman has been shuffled across the park, but he’s scored twice from six appearances in the Premier League 2 this term despite featuring in four different positions. His pace and potency in the final third lend themselves to a future as a frontman or an inswinging left winger.

Centre-forward

11

5 (2)

Attacking midfield

9

8 (1)

Left winger

4

3 (1)

Right winger

2

1 (0)

Centre-midfield

3

0 (0)

The right-footed talent might even prove to be a bigger talent than Gordon, who was 18 years and ten months old when Carlo Ancelotti handed him his senior debut in the Premier League against West Ham United in January 2020.

It would not appear out of the question that Graham might be handed his senior bow at some stage in the next 12 months, especially if Everton land a favourable opponent in the FA Cup third round.

Graham’s movement is what sets him apart from those of a similar age bracket, and his multi-positionality is something Gordon has embraced within his own game at Newcastle, often deployed as a stand-in central striker by Eddie Howe.

Graham’s link-up play and intelligence marry up with a natural ease on the ball and an eye for goal, and there’s every chance that, within a new era at Everton, he might earn a promotion and decide to stay and foster his skills under Moyes’ wing, becoming not just a debutant for Everton but a mainstay down the line for a team that continues to show signs of getting better and better.

Moyes' next Grealish: Everton want red-hot winger likened to young Leroy Sane

The Toffees are looking to provide David Moyes with plenty of offensive weapons.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 13, 2025

أجرى النجم البرتغالي رونالدو، لاعب النصر السعودي، مقابلة جديدة مع الصحفي البريطاني الشهير بيرس مورجان، وسُئل عن الأفضل بينه وبين منافسه التقليدي ليونيل ميسي لاعب إنتر ميامي الأمريكي الحالي.

وتم تداول مقطع صغير من المقابلة، نشرته صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية، وقال مورجان لرونالدو: “يقولون إن ميسي أفضل منك، ما رأيك؟”، فأجاب كريستيانو: “هل ميسي أفضل مني؟ لا أتفق مع هذا الرأي، لا أريد أن أكون متواضعًا”.

وسُئل أيضًا عن كونه أول رياضي ملياردير قبل بضعة أسابيع، فأجاب مازحًا: “هذا ليس صحيحًا، لقد أصبحت مليارديرًا منذ سنوات عديدة (يضحك)”.

اقرأ أيضًا | سلوت يُثير قلق أرنولد من جماهير آنفيلد.. ويؤكد غياب ثلاثي ليفربول أمام ريال مدريد

وبخصوص تصريحات واين روني بأن ميسي أفضل من كريستيانو، رد البرتغالي: “هذا لا يزعجني إطلاقًا”.

وستنشر مقابلة كريستيانو رونالدو مع بيرس مورجان كاملة، غدًا الأربعاء الموافق 4 من شهر نوفمبر الجاري.

وسبق وأجرى رونالدو مقابلة مطولة مع بيرس مورجان قبل ثلاث سنوات في برنامج “Piers Morgan “Uncensored، حيث أعلن أنه سيترك مانشستر يونايتد بعد مونديال قطر 2022.

England spinner has struggled for game-time at home county, with Leach and Vaughan ahead of him

Matt Roller02-Jun-2025England spinner Shoaib Bashir looks set to leave Somerset at the end of the summer in a bid to play more regular first-team cricket outside of his international commitments.Bashir has become England’s first-choice spinner in the last 18 months, playing each of their last 15 Tests, and was player of the match in their recent win over Zimbabwe. But he has struggled for gametime at Somerset, who have preferred the left-arm spin of Jack Leach and the all-round ability of Archie Vaughan in their County Championship side.Last year, Bashir played four Championship matches and a single 50-over match for Somerset and went out on loan to Worcestershire ahead of the Test summer. This season, he made a similar short-term move to Glamorgan, where he took two expensive wickets in three Championship fixtures, and he has not been involved in Somerset’s T20 Blast plans.Bashir signed a two-year extension with Somerset in 2023 and ESPNcricinfo has learned that there have been no discussions around a new deal. Bashir has praised Leach’s impact on him as a mentor at Somerset but conceded last week that his situation is “unique”, saying: “It’s hard to fit two of us [in the side], at the start of the year especially.”Sunday marked the opening of county cricket’s effective transfer window, with players in the final year of their current contracts now free to talk to other clubs ahead of next year. While no approach has yet been made, Surrey – where Bashir played his age-group cricket – could be a potential suitor, as could Warwickshire and Worcestershire.Bashir is centrally contracted by the ECB and if his deal is extended as expected, then a prospective new county would not immediately pay him a salary. He would instead sign a ‘shadow’ contract, outlining terms of payment in the event that he loses his central contract, a standard mechanism for England players.Graeme Swann, whose own career took off after he left Northamptonshire for Nottinghamshire, has previously encouraged Bashir to leave Somerset to accelerate his development as a bowler.Swann, who has coached Bashir in the England Lions set-up, told talkSPORT last year: “Long-term, if the ECB can just say, ‘Look, this is bonkers. He’s the best spinner in England. If you’re not going to play him, then you have to let him go and play for someone else.'”Meanwhile, Surrey have lined up Adam Zampa as a potential replacement signing in the T20 Blast. Zampa has previously played for Oval Invincibles in the Hundred – though will not return this year due to Australia commitments – and could act as cover for Mitchell Santner when he captains New Zealand in a T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe in July.Elsewhere, Todd Murphy has lined up a short-term stint in the County Championship. Murphy, who has played seven Tests for Australia but has slipped behind Matthew Kuhnemann as Nathan Lyon’s understudy, was a late withdrawal from Australia A’s squad to tour Sri Lanka and will play four matches for an undisclosed county in June and July.

Arsenal just can’t catch a break this season.

Mikel Arteta has already lost Kai Havertz, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Piero Hincapie and others to injury since the start of the campaign.

The latest name on that list now is Noni Madueke, who looks set to miss up to eight weeks of action due to a knee injury.

So, with a League Cup clash against Port Vale tonight, the manager needs to decide who’s going to replace him, and we don’t think it should be Saka.

Arsenal's recent League Cup form

It would be fair to say that, since taking over at Arsenal, Arteta has not had a great time in the League Cup.

Chalkboard

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

In his first stab at the competition, the side fell to a humbling 4-1 home defeat at the hands of eventual winner Manchester City.

Things actually improved the following season, as the club advanced to the semi-finals.

However, a nil-nil draw away to Liverpool in the first leg, followed by a 2-0 defeat in the home leg, saw the Gunners dumped out of the competition.

Even though the club mounted their first title challenge the following season, they did terribly in the cup, losing 3-1 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

It was another disappointing effort in the 23/24 campaign as the North Londoners lost a Fourth Round tie against West Ham United by the same scoreline.

Interestingly, even though Arteta’s side made it to the semi-finals last season, the terrible manner in which Newcastle United knocked them out almost made it the worst exit of the lot.

In all, Arsenal have massively underperformed in the League Cup for a long time and need to win it this year.

With that said, Arteta should be bold when replacing Madueke in the lineup tonight.

The Arsenal star Arteta should start over Saka

Firstly, it is clear that Saka is the best player at Arsenal and should therefore play as many games as possible.

However, therein lies one of the primary reasons he shouldn’t start tonight: he already plays too many games.

Moreover, he only just returned from his second hamstring injury in as many seasons on Sunday, and therefore cannot be risked ahead of another hugely important game against Newcastle at the weekend.

Finally, even with Madueke out injured, Arteta has another option he can pick instead of the talismanic winger: Max Dowman.

Yes, it would be an incredibly bold move from the manager, but given the need to keep Saka fit, the level of opposition and the teenager’s incredible talent, it’s one he should make.

After all, this isn’t just your run-of-the-mill academy player we are talking about here; this is someone that respected talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed is the “most exciting prospect” he has seen “since Lamine Yamal.”

Appearances

23

Minutes

1945′

Goals

19

Assists

5

Goal Involvements per Match

1.04

Minutes per Goal Involvement

81.04′

Moreover, in just 23 appearances across several youth teams last season, totalling 1945 minutes, he scored 19 goals and provided five assists, averaging 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.

Finally, we’ve already seen what he’s capable of against Premier League teams.

For example, in pre-season, he looked incredible against Newcastle, and then in the league proper, on debut, he earned a penalty against Leeds United.

As respected analyst Ben Mattinson puts it, the 15-year-old is an “insane” talent, and even if Madueke were fit, there would be a genuine argument for starting him tonight.

Ultimately, some may say it’s too early, but Dowman looks like a future superstar and deserves to start against Port Vale.

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ByCharlie Smith Sep 23, 2025

James Anderson took the remarkable figures of three for 17 from four overs in his first T20 match since August 2014 to inspire Lancashire to a four-wicket victory over Durham at the Banks Homes Riverside.Anderson’s spell helped to restrict the home side to 150 for six in their 20 overs but it needed Michael Jones to score 55 against his former county to give Keaton Jennings’ side the impetus they needed.Even then, a single was needed off the final ball of the twentieth over to complete the victory after Durham’s bowlers had battled superbly to restrict Lancashire. Nonetheless, the visitors will be content to have recorded their third successive victory in this year’s Blast while Durham have suffered their first defeat in the 2025 competitionThere is, however, no doubt as to which name will resonate after this performance. Bowling as if T20’s more eccentric variations had never been devised, Anderson stuck to a tight line, a hard length and his considerable skill to dismiss Graham Clark, caught at deep mid-off for 10 and Alex Lees, caught at mid-on for 16 a three-over spell with the new ball that cost only 15 runsLees had earlier hit Anderson for six but the former England bowler removed both Durham’s openers and helped restrict the home side to 39 for two off their powerplay overs.Durham’s problems were increased when Ollie Robinson holed out to Tom Aspinwall at deep midwicket off a Luke Wells long hop for only 11 and Anderson returned to the attack in the eleventh over, which cost just two runs and also saw the departure of Colin Ackermann, caught at third man by Charlie Barnard for 18.Ben Raine and Jimmy Neesham tried to rescue their side from a mediocre 71 for four in the eleventh over but their 33-run stand was ended when Raine, having made 29, pulled Aspinwall to long leg, where Anderson took the catch.Jack Blatherwick then had Somerset loanee Kasey Aldridge caught behind for four but Neesham made a 25-ball unbeaten 40 and 28 runs came off the last two overs as Durham finished on 150 for six. It didn’t seem like a par score at half-time in this game.After four overs, though, Lancashire were 23 for two, Wells having been caught at cover by Nathan Sowter off Zak Foulkes for 11 and Matty Hurst, caught at backward square leg by Ben Raine off Neesham for four.Foulkes had begun his spell with two maidens but he conceded 12 runs off his third over and Lancashire were 44 for two, a five-run improvement on Durham’s position, at the end of the powerplay. That, though, was not the prelude to a major acceleration.Jennings was caught at long-on by Aldridge off Sowter for 24 and Lancashire were 72 for three at the midpoint of their innings. Jones continued to attack the bowling and Lancashire needed 71 off the last nine overs. However, they immediately lost Ashton Turner caught at cover by Lees off Aldridge for seven and the visiting batsmen struggled to find the boundaries they needed.Lancashire needed 52 off the last six overs and 45 off the last five but Jones eased the tension when he whacked Sowter for a six that went through the rear window of a Mercedes in the car park at the Lumley End. That over cost 14 runs and it also saw the former Durham opener reach his fifty off 35 balls.Next over, though, the crucial wicket of Jones was taken by Raine, who bowled the former Durham opener for 55 but Chris Green smashed Foulkes for a six to leave Lancashire needing eight runs off the final over of the game.The outcome seemed to have been settled when Bohannon cut Neesham for four off the second ball of that over but Lancashire’s vice-captain was sensationally caught and bowled by the New Zealander for 31. Blatherwick’s scrambled single to Aldridge at mid-off sealed the victory. Neesham finished with two for 31 from four overs and Foulkes’ figures were 4-2-22-1.

Newcastle United didn’t rest on their laurels after winning the Carabao Cup and restoring their place in the Champions League last season, breaking their transfer record for expenditure in a summer transfer window.

Of course, Eddie Howe’s side parted ways, rather acrimoniously, with centre-forward Alexander Isak, who had refused to train throughout August in order to force his way out and to Premier League champions Liverpool.

There is no two ways about it: this was a big blow for a club on the up. However, if you are going to lose your star man, swap him with an elite-class replacement.

Having banked £125m for the Sweden star’s signature, funds were redirected toward Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade, who completed a £69m move at the end of August.

Why Woltemade could be one of Newcastle's best signings

Given that he’s Newcastle’s club-record purchase, you’d hope that Howe would be receiving bang for his buck when welcoming the striker to the fold, not least because he is stepping into Isak’s boots.

But seven games into his career in black and white, the German international has scored four goals from seven matches and is grasping the opportunity to nail down his spot as Yoane Wissa continues to recover from a knee injury suffered before he could make his debut.

Praised by Stuttgart captain Atakan Karazor in the past as “the two-metre Messi”, the 6 foot 6 striker is as rangy as they come, but he’s anything but ungainly.

Endowed with a deft technical skill and an awareness that allows him to link up fluidly with his teammates, there’s so much potential for Howe to tap into over the coming years, and if he continues as he has started, Toon fans will remember Isak as little more than an afterthought.

It’s hard to hit the ground running in the Premier League, and the likes of Isak and Anthony Gordon stand as evidence at St. James’ Park as to why it’s important to give players time to integrate.

Howe's original Woltemade-type signing

Though his first foray into English football was heavily disrupted by a ten-month fan as a result of betting breaches, Sandro Tonali started as he would eventually go on, netting on his debut for Newcastle against Aston Villa in August 2023.

It was clear from the off that Howe had signed a high-quality midfielder, welcoming Tonali from AC Milan in Italy for a £55m fee. Hailed by Italian reporter Carlo Garganese for his “world-class” potential when cutting his teeth in his homeland, Tonali has rebounded from that first-season setback and now plays as the linchpin at the heart of the Magpies’ engine.

Elegant and effortless on the ball, the 25-year-old works perfectly alongside Bruno Guimaraes, with his control and reading of the game opening up avenues for the Brazilian, whose athleticism and ability to cover vast stretches of ground have seen Howe nudge him into a slightly more advanced berth.

As with Woltemade, Tonali’s signature came at a heavy financial cost, but he is playing with a gusto and quality that suggests he could be one of the key pillars of Howe’s tactical vision for many years to come.

Both players have yet to hit their prime, and that’s an exciting thing. Moreover, Tonali is becoming ever more important as the architect of Newcastle’s ball-playing fluency, just as, with Wissa injured, Woltemade is tasked with scoring the goals for this title-chasing team.

Kieran Trippier

6

10.4

Sandro Tonali

7

7.31

Jacob Ramsey

2

7.14

Bruno Guimaraes

6

6.33

Lewis Hall

3

6.00

He’s been ever-present in the Premier League so far this season, and there’s a reason Howe has entrusted him with such an important role.

Tonali, like Woltemade, faced questions upon completing a big-money move to Tyneside, but his quality on the pitch has prevailed and he has risen to a standing in Howe’s squad as one of the most significant cogs in the machine.

Forget Gordon: Newcastle's "Geordie striker" could be England's next superstar

Newcastle have replenished their academy system in recent years.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 15, 2025

As Marcus Rashford prepares to face Real Madrid as Barcelona's most productive player this season, fresh from scoring two classy goals against Olympiacos in the Champions League, it is worth remembering that the striker was mocked in some quarters for having the audacity to think he could even play for the Blaugrana after two disappointing seasons, let alone rip it up for them.

Former Manchester United forward Teddy Sheringham said Rashford "didn't deserve to make the step up" to Barca after leaving Old Trafford. European football pundit Gabriele Marcotti told Rashford to "get a grip of where you are right now" and laughed at his entourage's trip to Barcelona last May to try to persuade the Catalans to sign him. 

No-one is laughing now though. Rashford not only got his move, he has convinced the doubters in England and the sceptics in Spain. And his next stop is a first-ever visit to the Santiago Bernabeu to play in the biggest club fixture in the world and take on Barca's eternal rivals Real Madrid.

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  Best season yet

  Rashford is yet to play for Barca at the Camp Nou as it is still being renovated although he lit up the famous stadium nearly three years ago when United drew 2-2 with the Catalans in the Europa League. That was one of many high points of the 2022-23 season, when he scored 30 goals and notched 12 assists. It landed him a lucrative new contract at Old Trafford, but for many Red Devils fans their homegrown star was never the same after signing on the dotted line. 

  He got only eight goals in the next season and was soon bombed out of the squad by Ruben Amorim due to a clash of personalities. But right now Rashford is in even better form than he was at the same stage of that incredible season three years ago. He has five goals and five assists in 12 games, while in that same period in 2022 he had five goals and three assists.

  Rashford has really risen to the occasion in the Champions League, getting at least one goal contribution in Barca's three games in Europe's premier competition. He produced a stunning match-winning brace at Newcastle in the first game of the season and on Tuesday he finished off Olympiacos by scoring twice, as well as winning the penalty which allowed Lamine Yamal to restore Barca's two-goal cushion in the eventual 6-1 win.

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  Real coup

  Although hat-trick hero Fermin Lopez took the majority of plaudits after the hammering, there was high praise for Rashford. "The Englishman's move is a real coup. No-one doubts the success of his signing anymore," read 's match report. The paper also praised Lopez and Rashford for being "two players who don't make much noise, but who always contribute something to the team".

  said Rashford had "proved he belongs in the team", predicting "he could be a weapon to be reckoned with in El Clasico. "Shirts with Rashford's name and No.14 on the back are beginning to proliferate among Barca fans," wrote .

  So often caught sulking or appearing disinterested in his last 18 months at United, Rashford has looked radiant in his first couple of months with Barcelona. Waking up each morning to sunshine and blue skies will always help but the nicer weather is not the only reason why he looks much happier in Catalonia than in his last two years in Manchester.

  There was a lot of attention on Rashford's private life and he did not always help the perception of him with his ventures out into the city, such as going to a nightclub after the derby defeat by Manchester City or his boozy night out in Belfast which led to him missing a training session. Being in a different city means being away from his usual entourage and that is perhaps helping him knuckle down.

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  Just needed a change

  Asked what went wrong for him towards the end of his time at United, Rashford seemed to suggest he simply wanted a change of scenery after spending most of his life at the club.

  "It's difficult to put your finger on what it was," he told . "In my mind it's so many years in one place, 23 years of my life was with Manchester. Sometimes you just need a change. Maybe this was the case with me. At the minute  I'm enjoying everything, so I just continue the way I am and keep pushing to do that little bit extra.

  "I don't think there's much change in me, it's just a new environment, a new culture, it's one I looked forward to. I feel like I've taken good steps in my first few months here. I'm completely positive about the situation, I have to continue to be in this mindset. When I'm in this mindset it's easier for me to learn what I have to learn."

  A clear difference is the relationship Rashford has with his coach at Barca and the one he had with his last two at United. Ten Hag possibly indulged Rashford as he knew how important he was, bringing him off the bench at Wolves after dropping him for being late and then starting him at Wolves a year later just days after the Belfast saga. Rashford scored in both of those games, underlining his importance.

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  Running faster and longer

  Amorim, however, knew from the start that Rashford had the potential to be a problem for him. And even though he had scored twice against Everton after his night out, Amorim took issue with it and not long after he dropped him from the squad. Most United fans backed the coach. But Hansi Flick has taken a different approach. He had admired Rashford for a long period and when he learned he was available he urged the club to sign him as soon as possible. 

  He revealed: "I told Deco [sporting director] we have to do it. Marcus is an outstanding player, exactly what we needed." Rashford was fortunate in some respects that Barca failed to land their two other targets, Nico Williams and Luis Diaz. The Englishman proved to be a much more affordable option to a club with well-known financial issues. He has also benefitted from his team-mates suffering injuries; Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo have all had spells on the sidelines while Rashford has remained fit, being the only forward to play in every game this season. Rashford is also working hard and looking sharper than in his final season in England.

  He has almost doubled the amount of sprints he does per game, according to , from 18.9 per 90 minutes in the Premier League (with United and on loan at Aston Villa) to 34.9 per 90 with Barca in La Liga. He is also covering more ground at a higher speed, covering 630 metres at a rate of 21km/h per match in Spain compared to just 122 metres at the same speed in England.