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India captain Rohit Sharma said there was swelling on the knee after the blow on day two; he did not take the field on the third morning either

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Oct-2024

Rishabh Pant hasn’t taken part in the ongoing Bengaluru Test after getting hit on the right knee while keeping on the second day (effectively the first day after no play was possible on Wednesday). Dhruv Jurel kept wickets for the remainder of New Zealand’s first innings, but Pant did walk out for a brief throwdown session during the tea break on the third day.India went into tea at 57 for no loss in their second innings, having started with a deficit of 356. Pant is expected to bat if needed, which is likely given the match situation.Pant went out at the interval close to the edge of the boundary near the pavilion wearing just one pad – on the non-injured right knee – but was still hobbling a little bit. He, however, struck the ball cleanly with batting coach Abhishek Nayar keeping a close watch. The focus appeared to be on playing the drives, to stretch and test the knee. At the end of the 15-odd minute session, Pant also played a few aerial shots into the crowd much to their delight.Related

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India's counterattacking instincts backfire like never before

Rishabh Pant undergoes knee ligament surgery in Mumbai hospital

Rishabh Pant suffers multiple injuries in serious car crash

Rohit Sharma had said on the second evening that Pant had some swelling in the injured area and the team didn’t want to take any risks given Pant had recovered from serious knee injuries sustained in a car crash in December 2022. On the third morning, a BCCI statement said, “The BCCI medical team is monitoring his progress.”In the Bengaluru Test, Pant was hurt in the 37th over of New Zealand’s innings. Attempting to stump Devon Conway off Ravindra Jadeja, he failed to collect the ball and it hit him in the knee He went off the field immediately and was replaced by Jurel.”Unfortunately, the ball hit straight on his knee cap, the same leg on which he has got a surgery done. So he has got a bit of swelling on it,” Rohit said after the day’s play. “And you know the muscles are quite tender at this point in time, so it’s a precautionary measure. We don’t want to take a risk. Rishabh doesn’t want to take a risk because he has gone through a massive surgery on that particular leg. That was the reason for him to go inside.”After suffering career-threatening injuries during the car crash, Pant made his comeback only in IPL 2024.

Aston Villa are in a position where they may need to sell players to meet the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules and there is plenty of contention surrounding their situation from fans, pundits and journalists alike.

Aston Villa's PSR situation and who may leave the club this summer

In short, Aston Villa are one of the Premier League’s most at-risk clubs with PSR heading towards the deadline on June 30th. Per The Athletic’s projection, they can only lose £15 million in 2024/25 to remain within regulatory boundaries.

Unai Emery’s men have recorded a pre-tax loss of £206.2 million in the last two years, which is the highest deficit across the top-flight in that time and leaves the Birmingham-based outfit in danger of punishment.

Big money sales such as Jhon Duran leaving for Al Nassr and Leon Bailey’s anticipated move to Saudi Arabian outfit Neom SC have left hope that the Villans can evade any form of penalty.

However, they are teetering on the brink and their failure to qualify for Champions League football ended up being a massive setback, especially when Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio’s expensive loan deals formed part of their bid to secure a place despite already treading water in their efforts to balance the books.

There have been suggestions that Aston Villa could sell stakes in their women’s team to make ends meet, an option that remains active following a failed bill to cancel that practice after Chelsea flipped £90 million in losses to a £128 million profit in 2024.

Aston Villa now seriously interested in signing "aggressive" 13-goal rival

He could be on the move.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 5, 2025

Losing a maximum of £105 million over three rolling years is the limit for Premier League clubs in order to comply. Still, not everyone is happy at the rules that their clubs have to abide by to evade sanctions.

Journalist fumes at Aston Villa PSR latest

Taking to social media platform X, iNews correspondent Mark Douglas vented his frustration at Aston Villa’s need to sell and made the point that Newcastle United have suffered a similar fate in their efforts to progress as a club.

Admittedly, PSR has become a controversial topic among football fans for a number of reasons, with some feeling that the traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs are protected more than others due to the ease in making ‘pure profit’ sales or by filing via subsidiaries of their PLC’s entity.

Regulation is critical to promote fairness, though there are clear elements in the current system that leave a lot to be desired. Aston Villa find themselves in a frustrating situation and will need to meticulously ensure they don’t fall foul of the authorities.

Others will argue their wage to revenue ratio is a problem, brought on by decisions such as paying £227,500 of Marcus Rashford’s salary weekly during his stay. Either way, the rise of PSR over the last few years has become a contentious issue and continues to limit the progression of those attempting to challenge the traditional order.

da realsbet： Tottenham Hotspur chiefs hold a very real belief that they can now sign a “sensational” England international following their Europa League triumph on Wednesday, with the player himself also entertaining talks behind-the-scenes.

Ange Postecoglou makes Tottenham history after precious European win

da fezbet： Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou came under serious fire for his early-season comment that he ‘always’ wins silverware during his second season in charge, but the Australian’s decision to back himself with a bold statement was ultimately proved correct on a glorious night in Spain.

Related Tottenham: Ornstein shares Postecoglou sack update after Europa League win

His future is set to be a major talking point after the Australian’s triumph in Bilbao.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini May 23, 2025

Spurs parked the bus and shut up shop against a dominant but largely unthreatening Man United side in the Europa League final on Wednesday, following Brennan Johnson’s scrappy opener just before half-time, with Postecoglou’s side displaying a resoluteness we’ve scarcely seen this season.

Tottenham vs Man Utd – best performers on the night

Match Rating

Guglielmo Vicario

7.7

Yves Bissouma

7.6

Cristian Romero

7.4

Bruno Fernandes

7.4

Destiny Udogie

7.2

via WhoScored

The heroics of shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario in goal, not to mention the stellar performances of Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, helped Spurs to keep a rare clean sheet and end the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy.

Their 1-0 win over United in the Europa League final also marked their first European trophy since 1984, with the Lilywhites squad and Postecoglou celebrating long into the night after what was a monumentous occasion at Ruben Amorim’s expense.

The trophy drought is now officially over, and to put the cherry on top of an already-sweet cake, Tottenham are set to play Champions League football next season.

The significance of Wednesday evening cannot be overstated, with Spurs’ qualification for the Champions League handing the north Londoners a seismic financial windfall whilst also making them a far more appealing destination for the continent’s top talents.

The summer transfer window is right around the corner, and Tottenham have dramatically increased their odds of tempting world-class targets by hoisting the Europa League aloft in Spain.

According to reports, a centre-back signing is on the cards this summer, and they retain a keen interest in Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi.

Spurs actually made an ambitious £70 million bid for the England international in January, which was rejected by Eagles chairman Steve Parish, but the consensus is that Tottenham are still eyeing a move for Guehi as he enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Marc Guehi prepared to hold Tottenham transfer talks

According to GiveMeSport, who shared a new update on his future this week, Guehi would be keen to hold talks with Tottenham and find out what they have to say – providing a boost for Postecoglou’s side in pursuit of the defender.

As per their information, Spurs have been given “fresh” belief they can seal a deal for Guehi after their European conquest, and Palace may have to sell him for £50 million or less considering the player’s contract situation.

Club chiefs are also “adamant” behind-the-scenes that qualification for the Champions League could tempt the 24-year-old to N17, and it is clear why they wish to sign Guehi this summer.

He’s been a pivotal member of Palace’s backline for years, and is now an established England regular following his impressive performances in place of Harry Maguire during Euro 2024 last year.

Returning from a stress fracture, the 24-year old fast bowler now carries the weight of Kohli’s praise

Shashank Kishore in Jammu21-Feb-2020There is an air of curiosity around everything Prasidh Krishna does these days. Sure, he’s been an IPL regular for Kolkata Knight Riders since 2018. But, it’s not every day that a bowler outside the periphery of the national team, or maybe even India A, gets a special mention from the India captain. He has elicited interest because Virat Kohli had recently said “he could possibly be an X-factor” for India in the run-up to the T20 World Cup later this year.Such a compliment should make someone heady. You must beam with pride, right? For Prasidh, it’s the opposite. He doesn’t like people asking him about it. He doesn’t like that attention. He isn’t the flashy in-your-face character. He’s mild-mannered, doesn’t growl at batsmen and certainly doesn’t believe in giving send-offs. He likes his bowling to do all the talking.Little more about his mannerisms later. For now, it’s about Prasidh, the fast bowler. This was supposed to be the year he finally nailed down a regular spot in Karnataka’s first-class set-up. For four years, since a sensational five-for on debut against Bangladesh A in 2015, he had to sit out because Karnataka had a dominant pace-attacking of Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun, S Aravind, and later Ronit More. Chances were few and far between, and Prasidh was branded a white-ball specialist initially.Vinay’s departure to Puducherry this season opened the doors for Prasidh to be a shoo-in. He offered everything Vinay did, with the addition of 20kph speed. Things looked bright. Last September, he even earned the appreciation of his former captain, Vinay, when he picked up a match-winning five-for against Saurashtra, just before the game against Puducherry at the Vijay Hazare Trophy. But the same evening, he would receive a massive jolt. An injury. No ordinary one. A stress fracture of the fibula (a long thin bone) on his left leg. Except, at that stage, he brushed it off as a “normal niggle.””Everything was going well, and suddenly just like that it was gone” Prasidh says. “I know there’s no right time to get injured, but suddenly, I couldn’t even walk properly. There was an impingement in my hip. The pain got worse and just before the T20s, I had stiffness in my calf.”Initially, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, I didn’t notice it. I thought it was a niggle. During T20s when I was bowling, it started hurting a lot. When I got it scanned, it was a stress fracture. I knew then that I had to take some time off. I was at the NCA. I had to simply rest for two months. No running, nothing to do with physios and trainers. Just rest and static strengthening. Only in January, I started training, bowling and all of that.”ALSO READ: From net bowler to frontline quick – the Prasidh Krishna story (May 2018)As Prasidh spent time sitting out, his mind couldn’t help but wander back to the Karnataka camp. He kept going into the ‘why me, why now’ circle even as Karnataka went on to win the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Mushtaq Ali trophies. But slowly, he realised the need to get out of that zone quickly.”It was very hard initially because I was there with the team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” he recalls. “I was at least in the dressing room [even if I wasn’t playing], so I was at least satisfied I was part of the team. T20s, I know, they were doing well, but it was hard sitting at home and watching the team win and me not being able to play a part.”But I also realised I had the time off to work on things I lacked, give priority to my fitness and skill so that when I come back, I am one step ahead of what I was. It didn’t put me down so much after a while. I became optimistic and took it in the right spirit.”When he eventually received the green signal from the physios to resume bowling, Prasidh realised he had to work that much extra because he was walking back, literally, at the business end of the Ranji Trophy season. Returning for the must-win final league game against Baroda in Bengaluru, Prasidh bowled all of six overs in the first innings.Prasidh Krishna celebrates a wicket•BCCI”I had to bowl a lot [in the build-up to my comeback] since I was coming into the four-day format,” he acknowledges. “It would’ve been easier to come back to one-day or T20 format. I had to take the extra week’s time too get back to full fitness only because it was first-class cricket and Ranji Trophy.”I’m not yet in full rhythm. Even in the last game, I bowled just six overs in the first innings. In the second innings, I was on the tired side. It was my first game upon return, so it was on the back of my mind. I didn’t know how much I could push myself. Sometimes, I tried to push from the mind but my body wasn’t coping with it. I can’t say I’m at my best, but I’m getting there. I can’t play thinking ‘what happens if I get injured’, then you’re just going to be unnecessarily burdening your mind. Hopefully, I will peak at the right time.”ALSO READ: Karnataka, and the art of finding a way to winPrasidh has played seven first-class games over five seasons now. Match-time has been a challenge, but he’s also had to work on his red-ball temperament. Prasidh has taken time off to iron out his flaws like working on his run-up, load-up, cutting down on angles and generating greater speed into his delivery stride.”I think the IPL and whatever cricket I’ve played has helped me get matured and understand what is needed,” he says. “It’s not just about coming in and bowling, but about being smart. I worked on my run-up to begin with. I’m feeling good mostly.”I worked under physio Amit Tyagi at the NCA. It was a good environment to work my way back in, and the Karnataka team has welcomed me back with open arms. I love coming back here, no matter how tired I am.”As a batch, we’ve built on a foundation that was set six-seven years ago. The kind of bonding there is in the group makes you feel like home. We’re all pushing each other to make the next step up, we all understand in every batch one, two or maybe three will go through. All of us are looking to upgrade ourselves to the next level.”When asked about replacing Vinay, Prasidh spontaneously replies: “irreplacable.” He has utmost respect for his former captain, and brushes aside comparisons. Instead, he delves into how every member of Karnataka’s core group has silently taught him precious lessons along the way.”Vinay is a legend, what he’s done for Karnataka will be hard to emulate,” he says. “He is irreplacable. What we can do in our control is when we get chances, ensure we are all match ready. Being picked isn’t in our hands. What I have personally learnt is to be persistent and never give up.”You look at Manish Pandey, whenever he gets a game [for India], he makes sure he’s there. Everybody looks up to him here. Karun Nair has been trying hard. Numbers may not present the right picture, but we’ve seen the hard work behind the scenes. Mayank Agarwal, what he did all those years ago to break open the door was inspirational. KL Rahul came back for the Vijay Hazare [after being dropped from the Test team], showed his hunger, made runs and we know what he’s gone on to do. In this dressing room, there is something to learn from every single person, that is the best thing about the group.”

شهدت مباراة ريال مدريد وإسبانيول في بطولة الدوري الإسباني، على ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو”، مساء اليوم السبت، واقعة غريبة من الجماهير.

وحل إسبانيول ضيفًا على ريال مدريد بملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” في إطار مباريات الجولة الخامسة لبطولة الدوري الإسباني “الليجا”.

وبحسب ما ذكرت صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، بدأت جماهير إسبانيول في الهتاف ضد برشلونة بهتافات مسيئة، قبل بداية المباراة ضد ريال مدريد.

ولاحقًا انضمت جماهير فريق ريال مدريد لجماهير الخصم إسبانيول، في الهتاف ضد الغريم برشلونة، واستخدم كلاهما لفظ نابٍ في الهتاف.

وعندما انتهى الهتاف، بدأ جميع جماهير البرنابيو بالتصفيق، ومن المرجح أن يكون تم الإبلاغ عن هذه الهتافات لرابطة الليجا.

اقرأ أيضًا | كارفاخال: ما فعلته لا يليق بـ ريال مدريد.. وأعتذر للجماهير

وبحسب ما أوضح التقرير، هذه الهتافات المسيئة ضد برشلونة ستُدرج في الشكوى إلى مكتب المنافسة ومكافحة العنف بعد كل مباراة، وقد تؤدي إلى غرامة مالية على ريال مدريد.

وكان ريال مدريد قد حقق فوزًا على حساب إسبانيول بهدفين دون رد، ليرفع رصيده في صدارة الدوري الإسباني إلى 15 نقطة.

ويستعد برشلونة لمواجهة خيتافي غدًا الأحد، وذلك أيضًا ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة لبطولة الدوري الإسباني.

A commanding performance in the Under-19 World Cup final capped a tournament which they dominated from start to finish. India, the fourth is with you!

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Feb-2018

What a win for the U19 boys, take it as a stepping stone; Long long way to go! Enjoy the moment! @BCCI #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/D8mGdakxZu

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) February 3, 2018

Congratulations to the entire unit for lifting the #U19WorldCup. Very dominant throughout the series.

— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) February 3, 2018

Congrats to the Indian team on winning the ICC Inder 19 World Cup, they have been ruthless and professional through the tournament. It's a proud feeling and well done to the entire team and the support staff. #ICCU19CWC

— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) February 3, 2018

Huge Congrats to the U-19 boys for winning the #U19WorldCupFinal ! Incredible performance!!! Truly a special bunch of Cricketers. Hats off to Rahul bhai and the support staff as well.

— ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) February 3, 2018

This Indian team has outplayed everyone in this #U19CWC Congratulations boys for winning the #U19CWCFinal with such dominance. Proud of you all.#BleedBlue

— Jasprit bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) February 3, 2018

Great performance boys. You were ahead by a country mile all the way. Enjoy the moment #INDvAUS #U19CWCFinal pic.twitter.com/tuXpI9oRY7

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) February 3, 2018

WITH GREAT TEAM WORK, BIG DREAMS WORK. Congratulations to our WORLD CHAMPIONS!! We are proud of you. A big congratulations to Rahul and Paras for their guidance. #ICCU19CWC #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/w0heorY8g6

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 3, 2018

Congratulations to the under 19 team ,..great show ..great show rahul,Paras and Abhay @bcci…#RahulDravid

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 3, 2018

A big congratulations to the young guns of Indian cricket on winning the under19 Cricket World Cup !! #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/k3gmNWNTei

— zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) February 3, 2018

Congratulations to the young lads on winning #U19CWC! Fantastic performances all around. #INDvAUS

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) February 3, 2018

Well done India under 19s! That the triumph came overseas makes it even more special. #ICCU19WorldCup

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 3, 2018

Every Indian is delighted, all credit to Rahul Dravid for committing himself to these young kids ,and a legend like him deserves to lay his hands on the WC. Only Fitting. #INDvAUS

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 3, 2018

Congratulations to the Indian team on dominating the #U19WorldCup and being the deserved champions. Everyone stood up and maintained the intensity throughout the tournament. Truly memorable win. Cherish and soak in this moment. #INDvAUS

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 3, 2018

Huge congratulations to the Indian U19 team. Thoroughly deserved win #U19CWC

— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) February 3, 2018

Pure dominance by India under 19 boys.Congrats to the boys n the support staff who worked towards the victory #ICCU19WorldCup

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 3, 2018

Well done India on winning your 4th U19 World Cup! Superbly coached by Rahul.. bad luck to our boys… good effort! #U19WCFinal

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) February 3, 2018

Congratulations India! Winners of the @ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2018! Well done to all the teams, all the sponsors, and all the fans for a great World Cup! Crickets future is in strong hands! #U19CWC #FutureStars

— Corey Anderson (@coreyanderson78) February 3, 2018

Big congrats to @BCCI India U19 team… way to classy at this #U19CWC Tremendous opportunity for this group… #FutureStars well done

— Danny Morrison (@SteelyDan66) February 3, 2018

WoW.. how good are these young Indians !!! At a different level and deserve all the successs #FutureStars #U19CWC Congratulations @BCCI Good job Rahul Dravid … well groomed !!

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) February 3, 2018

MatériaMais Notícias

da wazamba： O Santos enfrentou o Atlético-MG e ficou no empate por 0 a 0, na Vila Belmiro. Com explicações para dar após ficar três partidas sem vitórias, Odair Hellmann frisou evolução na competitividade do elenco.

-Eu acho que nós temos evolução precisamente na parte defensiva, na parte de competição , de intensidade de compactação do time. Temos que corrigir a parte final. ́ Último passe, última tabela. Hoje erramos no primeiro tempo em boas situações. Evoluímos nos outros aspectos e competimos contra Grêmio e o Atlético-MG, que são times experientes – declarou o comandante.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosATUAÇÕES: Santos tem atuação irregular, e Ângelo sai vaiado de campo em empate com o Atlético-MGSantos23/04/2023SantosSantos não aproveita Vila Belmiro, Atlético-MG desperdiça chances, e o empate prevaleceSantos23/04/2023SantosSantos venceu apenas um dos últimos cinco jogos contra o Atlético-MG; veja o retrospectoSantos23/04/2023

da spicy bet： +ATUAÇÕES: Santos tem atuação irregular, e Ângelo sai vaiado em empate com o Atlético-MG

Após o treino de sábado (22), Mendoza, por ter entrado em contato com um medicamento que contém substância proibida pelo controle de doping, foi cortado dos relacionados para a partida. Além dele, as ausências de Soteldo (suspenso) e Lucas Braga (transição) limitaram a utilização de peças da posição, e a complicação para a formação do elenco foi exposta por Odair.

-Se vocês visualizarem, os jogadores que a gente tem de profundidade, velocidade e força não tenho nenhum à disposição. A gente está usando meias nas pontas e tivemos um jogo mais de posse e profundidade – relatou o atleta.

Contestado pela conclusão das jogadas ofensivas, Ângelo ficou distante de realizar uma boa exibição contra o Galo. Em defesa ao jogador, Odair reforçou que ele possui todo apoio que um jovem de 18 anos precisa para evoluir.

-Não falta liderança, Ele tem apoio quando precisa ter apoio. Ele é um jogador promissor de talento inegável. Ele tem um aspecto que precisa evoluir, que é a parte final de jogada. São evoluções que a gente precisa buscar pessoalmente, a gente precisa dar apoio, a gente precisa dar colo e isso ele vai ter da gente – explicou Odair.

Ainda sobre o assunto, o treinador criticou o método ‘de pular etapas’ para colocar o jovem no profissional.

– Quantas situações a menos o Ângelo fez na base? Quantos jogos a menos o Ângelo fez em sair com 16 anos para o profissional? Aí ele sobe, a gente coloca ele lá num pedestal e depois lá na frente a gente visualiza o que faltou evoluir – concluiu Odair Hellmann.

As they potentially look to replace Callum Wilson this summer, Newcastle United have reportedly made contact with the entourage of a Champions League-winning striker.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies are closing in on what must be an important summer at St James’ Park, with exit rumours continuing to surround star man Alexander Isak. In what would be the move of the transfer window – perhaps in terms of both valuation and the impact it would make – both Liverpool and Arsenal are reportedly targeting the Swede, who’s worth £150m.

Whilst there’s no doubt that his exit would leave a gaping hole, Newcastle would at least be free from any PSR constraints to finally welcome reinforcements of their own.

That said, Isak may not be the only one to depart this summer, with Callum Wilson currently on course to leave as a free agent when his contract comes to an end in the coming months. In one swoop, it’s certainly a real possibility that Eddie Howe could be left without both of his strikers.

£42m Newcastle star who Howe loves "will" leave in future, agent reveals

He’d be a huge loss for the Magpies.

By
Barney Lane

Mar 8, 2025

If that does prove to be the case, the arrival of one particular target will be more important than ever and the Magpies seem to be well aware of that. According to CaughtOffside, Newcastle have now made contact with Tammy Abraham over a summer move from AS Roma.

The former Chelsea man has spent the campaign on loan at Milan in a mixed spell and has since found himself on the radar of the Tyneside club, along with the likes of Aston Villa and West Ham United.

Whether a return to the Premier League beckons for the 27-year-old remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that he’s one to watch amid growing rumours. An experienced goalscorer these days, he could instantly ease Newcastle’s Wilson blow.

"Amazing" Abraham could make Premier League return

Eyebrows were raised when Abraham swapped Chelsea for Milan in 2021 after winning the Champions League with the Blues, but the forward’s Italian adventure has proved more than worthwhile when fit and firing. Now, five years later, he looks destined to receive the chance to return to England’s top flight as a far more complete player.

Earning the praise of Jose Mourinho during their time together in Rome, the so-called Special One told reporters after a 3-0 win over Monza in 2022: “Today he was my Tammy.

“He played how I wanted him to. He won everything, he kept the ball, he provided an outlet, he won the first ball and he gave us an option in behind to push them back.

“We always talk about strikers when they score and obviously tonight was Paulo [Dybala]’s night, but Tammy was amazing.”

After scoring eight goals in all competitions in more of a backup role on loan at Milan this season, Abraham could yet become the perfect option for Newcastle behind Isak next season.

It’s a role that Wilson has struggled to fulfil amid injury issues, but one which could yet see the former Chelsea man thrive at St James’ Park.

It was an evening for celebration. Manchester United defeated Leicester City 3-0 with relative ease in the Premier League. While they remain 13th, Ruben Amorim’s side are starting to rediscover their touch.

Or, perhaps, unearth new qualities for the first time, with Amorim’s teachings slowly seeping in by some process of osmosis.

With a Europa League quarter-final tie awaiting against French club Lyon after the looming international break, hope has been restored that, just like last year, something can be salvaged from this dreary campaign.

And of course, there was one man, quite literally, who was at the centre of all good at Leicester’s King Power Stadium. Bruno Fernandes truly is a marvel.

Bruno Fernandes' performance at Leicester

In a deeper berth, Fernandes went about his business impeccably in midfield, allowing the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho to take the limelight while pulling the strings in the middle.

The captain was the architect, creating both of his younger peers’ goals before getting in on the action himself in the late stages, getting his name on the scoresheet to seal the rousing victory.

Football is more than just metrics, but the Portugal star certainly gave a good statistical account of himself, dominating a range of different areas to ensure his squad take off for an international sojourn with spirits high and belief higher still.

However, not everyone shared Bruno’s individual success, with Christian Eriksen struggling to impress from a more advanced position.

Why Amorim must drop Christian Eriksen

Eriksen has been a diligent servant since joining Old Trafford’s cause on a free transfer in 2022, but at 33 he looks past his best and will depart when his contract expires in the summer.

Though Amorim will enjoy three points, there’s little doubt the experienced Dane’s performance will linger in his mind, making any number of misplaced passes early on and lacking the incisiveness or athleticism that a younger and hungrier ball-carrier could have enjoyed in his position to the left of Hojlund.

Though he hit the post with a stunning effort from range ran about, Eriksen was handed a 5/10 rating by GOAL and didn’t prove himself as a standout in the Man United side, failing to win a single duel while also being thwarted with both attempted dribbles.

Minutes played

69′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

42

Shots (on target)

3 (0)

Accurate passes

21/29 (72%)

Key passes

1

Possession lost

14x

Dribbles

0/2

Tackles + interceptions

0

Duels won

0/4

Though Eriksen saw off the match with a bit more polish and consistency, he’s got to be aware he may be among the first names for the chopping block this summer.

INEOS have shown a ruthless streak in recent weeks, and they may want to act on that with this one. Eriksen is a household Premier League name, but he’s no longer able to produce the goods for the Reds, and needs to be axed this summer.

Amad 2.0: Amorim can ease Dorgu blow by handing Man Utd star a new role

Manchester United face Leicester City this afternoon, looking to build on their Europa League triumph.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 16, 2025

The USMNT legend sat down with GOAL at TST 2025 to discuss Pulisic's Gold Cup absence and more

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Article continues below

Article continues below

Altidore speaks exclusively about the USMNTGives opinion on Pulisic's Gold Cup absenceShares excitement for next calendar year of soccerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

CARY, N.C. – U.S. men's national team legend Jozy Altidore said he has no issue with Christian Pulisic requesting not to be a part of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster. Rather, the 35-year-old is excited to see the group that there for the tournament, ahead of what he describes as a "massive opportunity" for the national team program.

Speaking at The Soccer Tournament 2025, where he is coaching AFC Bournemouth, Altidore reflected on the AC Milan star’s absence and what it could mean for the USMNT heading into the continental competition.

"Listen, this is an opportunity for the team," Altidore told GOAL. "No one player replaces Christian, and if he needed the time off, he needed the time off. This is a chance for the group to come together and really step up with some big absences."

Altidore also shared his excitement about the next year of the footballing calendar for the country. Beginning in June 2025, the CONCACAF Gold Cup and FIFA Club World Cup will both be held in the U.S., and come next summer, the FIFA World Cup will follow in 2026, with matches played in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

"It’s a massive opportunity for soccer in this country, and a chance at a real rebirth for the game here. I’m excited, fans are excited, and the players are excited," he said. "It’s a real opportunity and I’m looking forward to it."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The U.S. roster for the Gold Cup this summer will feature plenty of new faces, amid an injury crisis, along with a handful of regulars being unavailable. In addition to Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna are unavailable due to the Club World Cup, while teammate of Pulisic's, Yunus Musah, is absent due to "personal reasons."

In the striker position, the U.S. is particularly going to be tested in the competition. Both Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun are missing out due to injury, and after a tough performance in the March Nations League, Josh Sargent was left out of the squad this summer.

An area where Altidore excelled for the USMNT for over a decade, he believes it's a wide-open race at the moment – but with the group available for Mauricio Pochettino this summer, it's all about opportunity. MLS strikers Patrick Agyemang and Brian White are joined by uncapped 20-year-old prospect Damion Downs, Coventry's Haji Wright and FC Utrecht's Paxten Aaronson.

"The striker position is an interesting one," Altidore said. "It’s hard and not easy to play. There is a group of talented guys there, and any one of them could emerge. I’m looking forward to seeing them all."WHAT ALTIDORE SAID ABOUT TST

Altidore was offered the coaching role with Bournemouth at the 7v7 tournament in North Carolina, thanks to U.S. international Tyler Adams – who plays for the senior team in England – and co-owner Michael B. Jordan, via a personal training initiative they collaborated on.

"The conversation stemmed from all of us at Sogility – a soccer tech training facility – and so Bournemouth was interested in partnering with businesses that are trying to push the envelope in soccer, and we started discussing how we could work together on this," Altidore explained. "There were some conversations with Michael's team, that's who I got in touch with originally, and he's getting more and more into soccer, so there was a lot of synergy there. Our groups are partnered on a couple of other ventures, so that just made a lot of sense."

The Soccer TournamentWHAT NEXT?

The USMNT begins their June slate of matches with an international friendly against Turkey on Saturday as part of their preparation for the Gold Cup.

Altidore, meanwhile, will look to lead Bournemouth out of the Group Stage at TST into the knockouts as they hunt for the $1M prize in the 7v7 competition.