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In every great Manchester United side, you’ll typically find a midfield lynchpin, a driving force behind it all from the centre of the park.

In Sir Alex Ferguson’s pomp, he was blessed with two such figures in the form of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, the two men forming the bedrock of the side that would claim treble-winning glory in 1998/99.

Ironically, also the two men who actually missed the crowning moment at Camp Nou through suspension and injury, respectively, the Keane and Scholes pairing is arguably the best there’s ever been at Old Trafford.

There’s an argument, too, that they are the “best pair in the history of English football”, in the view of an – unbiased – Gary Neville.

It would be unfair to suggest that the modern-day duo of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are way off that status, considering their own individual quality, but this is still a brittle pairing, a short-term fix that Ruben Amorim has almost been forced to resort to.

Having bolstered the top end of the pitch over the summer, United are just about getting by despite a lack of midfield reinforcement – could that all change in 2026?

Latest on Man Utd's midfield search

There is a frustration that the Red Devils left themselves somewhat short in midfield for the new season, although it was fanciful to assume that after splashing out £250m on four senior signings, another sizeable investment would be dished out on a midfielder.

There was notable interest in the likes of Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba, with the latter man believed to be particularly keen on making the move to Old Trafford. A reported £100m plus price tag, however, proved prohibitive.

Rather than merely turning to a bargain alternative, United have perhaps wisely played the waiting game instead, ready to attack the market again, be it in January or next summer.

Transfer Focus

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

According to recent reports from Caught Offside, there is said to be a growing confidence that Jason Wilcox and co can strike a deal for Nottingham Forest star, Elliot Anderson, with the England international said to be ‘open’ to making the switch.

That willingness to join Amorim’s ranks has sparked hope back in Manchester that United can secure a ‘bargain’ fee for his signature, seemingly far below the widely touted £100m asking price that Forest are believed to have set.

As per the report, a figure closer to £60m might be more realistic, with Anderson perhaps representing the midfield solution that Amorim is desperate for.

How Man Utd's £60m target compares to Casemiro

Anderson is certainly man of the moment right now, with recent international breaks seemingly seeing him nail down a number six role alongside Declan Rice for England, ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Kobbie Mainoo might be a cautionary tale of what can happen to those who enjoy a meteoric rise at club and international level, but the Forest man can only be judged on what he’s doing right now.

At present, he’s looking sensational.

In the view of talkSPORT’s Max Scott, the 22-year-old simply “has it all”, with the reporter even going as far as to suggest that the ex-Newcastle United talent has “a bit of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane all rolled into one”.

A rising English star, like Scholes, Anderson could well follow in the footsteps of Keane by moving from the City Ground to the Theatre of Dreams, with that switch having proven so fruitful for the Irishman under Ferguson.

Those might be wild, hyperbolic comparisons to be making, although that is the level of quality that the £60m maestro possesses, having even been likened to a young Paul Gascoigne amid his prior emergence on Tyneside.

Newcastle’s PSR-related loss has certainly been Forest’s gain, with United now hoping that they can steal a march on the competition and tempt the £40k-per-week playmaker into jumping ship in 2026.

Casemiro is currently holding the fort alongside Fernandes, although the 33-year-old’s inability to last the full 90 minutes is a growing problem, having been substituted off on seven occasions this season, while seeing red against Chelsea.

Only five of the 20 goals United have conceded in all competitions have come when the resurgent Brazilian is on the pitch, but he certainly isn’t the Champions League-winning force that he once was. On current evidence, Anderson is looking a step above.

Non-penalty goals

0.44

0.00

Assists

0.15

0.09

Shot-creating actions

1.32

4.18

Passes attempted

52.77

76.45

Pass completion

81.4%

83.4%

Progressive passes

4.40

8.82

Progressive carries

0.15

1.36

Successful take-ons

0.29

1.27

Tackles

3.22

2.64

Interceptions

0.72

0.91

In the Premier League this season, for instance, the younger man ranks in the top 1% of midfielders for passes attempted and progressive passes, as well as in the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

Casemiro, by contrast, ranks in just the top 36%, the bottom 45% and the bottom 30% for those same three metrics, respectively, albeit while coming out on top for both non-penalty goals and tackles made.

That said, Anderson is certainly no slouch in that latter department – as his 2.64 tackles per 90 record illustrates – providing Amorim with a potential all-round, all-action, athletic upgrade who can instantly hit the ground running in the much-discussed 3-4-2-1 system.

While it remains to be seen if it will require a bid of closer to £100m or £60m to secure his services, United must do what they can to make Anderson the new centre-piece of Amorim’s ageing midfield.

Man Utd "confident" they'll sign Anderson for £40m less than Forest's asking price

He’s keen on an Old Trafford transfer.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 22, 2025

The PCB confirmed that renewal offers, as well as new franchise fees, were sent to “all compliant PSL franchises”

Danyal Rasool14-Nov-2025

Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has not received an offer from the PSL to renew his ownership of the franchise. The PCB confirmed that renewal offers, as well as new franchise fees, were sent to “all compliant PSL franchises”. A Sultans representative confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that they were not one of the franchises to receive such an offer.ESPNcricinfo has spoken to some franchises who confirmed they were sent renewal offers following a meeting between the PSL management and the owners, including Tareen, on Thursday. It is believed each of the other five franchises has been given the chance to extend their ownership, with the renewal valid for a further ten years. The Sultans representatives were invited to attend meetings concerning the scheduling and operations of the upcoming PSL, though Sultans believe they were not invited to meetings concerning financial discussions.A PSL representative declined to comment when asked if Sultans’ ownership did not receive a renewal offer owing to potential non-compliance.Related

Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi agree to extend PSL ownership rights for another ten years

Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen makes taunting apology to PCB

Multan Sultans owner faces threat of 'blacklist' from PCB

The long-running dispute between the PSL and Tareen spilled over into the open when Tareen publicly criticised the league in the build-up to its 10th edition for what he alleged was a lack of transparency and communication from the management. The criticism ramped up in the months that followed, and earlier this year, the PSL threatened to blacklist him unless he made a public apology.Following that threat going public, Tareen issued a taunting video apology to the management, in which he sarcastically apologised for “wanting to make the PSL better”. He ended the video by ripping up a copy of the notice the PCB had sent him.It appears evident that public “apology” is not regarded as such by the PCB. With all franchise rights up for renewal before the next season of the PSL, each franchise had the right of first refusal on renewing ownership. But the PCB had made clear to Tareen this only applied to franchises who were “compliant”, a standard they felt Tareen had fallen short of with his public critiques.According to a couple of franchises, they now have 10 days to respond to the renewal offers. All of them will have to consider paying increased annual franchise fees, at a minimum 25% more than what they pay now. Likely, with increased valuations, it will be 25% of the new value (whichever, ultimately, is higher).This year will also see the addition of two teams to the PSL. The PCB’s statement released a list of cities potential owners could name their new teams after. Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, and Rawalpindi are the new potential cities, from which two will be chosen.The new, eight-team PSL is scheduled to take place in April and May next year.

SA sealed their fifth successive win while Pakistan became the second team to be knocked out after Bangladesh

Shashank Kishore21-Oct-20253:27

Review: Wolvaardt sets it up for South Africa

At 35, Marizanne Kapp shows no signs of slowing down. Her unbeaten 68 off 43 balls, which helped power South Africa’s highest World Cup total, was just the appetiser to the main course – a menacing opening burst that brought her 3 for 20 to knock Pakistan out of the Women’s World Cup. This set up a dominant 150 run-win (via DLS) on a rainy Colombo night, where the groundstaff miraculously delivered a result that didn’t seem possible at different stages of the night.South Africa sealed their fifth win in a row that propelled them to the top of the points table, with one game still to play against Australia in Indore. It marked a sensational turnaround from an inauspicious start against England in Guwahati, three weeks ago, where they were shot out for 69 in a ten-wicket pounding.With semi-final match-ups determined by group-stage standings, South Africa – who had already confirmed their spot – would’ve felt frustrated about sharing points had the game been washed out. Such a result would’ve left them third on the table, behind Australia and England due to an inferior net run-rate. Eventually, they managed to get in 20 overs in the second innings to constitute a game.Sent in to bat, South Africa posted a mammoth 312 for 9 after the match was reduced to 40-overs-a-side with 140 minutes lost to the wet weather in the first innings. Chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 306, Pakistan were undone by Kapp’s incredible new-ball burst that left their feeble top order in tatters at 35 for 4 in 10 overs before the rain returned. When play eventually resumed, Pakistan’s target was merely academic; 234 off 20 overs. South Africa’s spinners tucked into the wickets; Pakistan finished with 83 for 7.Much of the drama from the second innings came before the lengthy rain interval in Pakistan’s chase. After Muneeba Ali toe-ended a slog to mid-on off Ayabonga Khaka, Kapp made a statement with the ball. Omaima Sohail was pinned plumb in front by a nip-backer, while Sidra Amin and Aliya Riyaz were out nicking to devious out swingers. Kapp’s figures read 5-0-20-3 at that point to go with her unbeaten half-century, one of three in the South African innings.Laura Wolvaardt, the captain, had top scored with 90. Her 118-run second-wicket stand off 92 balls with Sune Luus set the game up, before Kapp and Nadine de Klerk applied the finishing touches against an attack that looked nowhere near as threatening on a sticky Colombo pitch.De Klerk came in to bat with four overs remaining, and muscled 41 off 16 balls from No. 8 as South Africa walloped 72 off the last five overs. South Africa hit 11 sixes in all, the most a team has hit in a single innings in all World Cups; de Klerk and Kapp alone muscled seven between them.After Tazmin Brits bagged a third straight duck, Wolvaardt seemed in fine nick from get-go, negating any early movement the seamers may have got by stepping out to take the attack to the bowlers. Luus was a bit rusty, playing out 11 dots before getting off the mark with a slog sweep for six off left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal.That helped trigger an onslaught as Luus raised her fifty – her 17th in ODIs – with a reverse sweep off Iqbal. While she fell soon after, Wolvaardt continued to pile on the runs, bringing up her own half-century off just 42 balls in the 18th over.She went inside out over extra cover when the spinners looked to attack the stumps by going leg-side of the ball. And when they attempted to bowl outside leg, she was able to pepper the gaps between long-on and deep midwicket.Pakistan briefly found some respite, when they had Annerie Dercksen run out hot on the heels of Luus’ dismissal. However, that brought more misery for them, as Kapp joined forces with Wolvaardt and raised a 64-run stand at better than a run-a-ball.Wolvaardt was in sight of a hundred, when she ran past a sharp-turning ball from Sandhu to be stumped, in what was a double-wicket over that left South Africa 212 for 5 in 32 overs. Kapp then shifted gears in de Klerk’s company to inflict carnage on a hapless Pakistan attack.

Ollie Pope’s quickfire 56 not out underlined a dramatic second day turnabout in fortunes with Surrey taking charge of their vital Rothesay County Championship match against Warwickshire at the Kia Oval.Dom Sibley also made an unbeaten 64 as Surrey cruised to 181 for 1 in their second innings, helping Pope add an unbroken 89 after initially featuring in a 92-run opening partnership with Rory Burns, who scored 54 before being bowled through the gate by Ethan Bamber.The efforts of Surrey’s top three, indeed, had wrenched a previously hard-fought contest Surrey’s way on a clearly easing pitch for batting, with Pope’s runs taking him just 78 balls while Sibley’s 160-ball knock anchored the innings perfectly.Both Pope and Burns made their second fifties of the match and by stumps Surrey had moved ominously into an overall lead of 179 after earlier in the day bowling out Warwickshire for 248 to keep themselves in the game.Gus Atkinson led a first session fightback with the ball with 3 for 53 as Warwickshire failed to capitalise fully on an overnight 132 for 4 in reply to Surrey’s first-innings 246, although Tom Lawes’ 4 for 42 earned him the best figures following his stellar three-wicket burst late on day one.New Zealand Test batter Will Young top-scored for Warwickshire with 72, while Ed Barnard also reached a half-century and last man Nathan Gilchrist hit an unbeaten 25 to earn the visitors a slender two-run halfway lead.Will Young frustrated the Surrey attack•Getty Images

Young and Barnard, who had put on 85 in defiant style towards the end of day one, added just four more runs to their overnight partnership before Atkinson had Barnard caught at the wicket for 50 with a magnificent delivery, lifting and leaving the bat from just short of a length on the line of off stump, that the Warwickshire allrounder did well to touch.Atkinson, bowling with pace and control, was a difficult prospect although Young did slightly top-edge a pulled six wide of long leg before pulling more confidently through midwicket for four to reach an excellent half-century.At 174, though, Dan Mousley’s 44-ball 19 ended with an edge to second slip off Jordan Clark and Atkinson, recalled for a second spell before lunch, responded by removing Michael Booth with his first ball back.Booth, on 10, pushed at a sharp, rising delivery and Pope held on to his second catch of the morning at second slip before Atkinson, in his next over, also had Bamber comfortably caught at midwicket for 2 by Lawrence as he flapped an attempted pull.That left Warwickshire 204 for 8 and, in the fifth over after lunch, it became 216 for 9 when Young’s superb innings was finally brought to an end by a quite brilliant catch by Surrey keeper Ben Foakes.Diving low to his right, Foakes somehow managed to get his right glove underneath a dipping edge off Dan Worrall and it was no surprise that Young, having batted for four and a half hours and faced 166 balls, took several disbelieving backward glances at replays on the big screen as he left the field.An assault by Gilchrist on Clark, taking four fours in an over via an outside edge, an inside edge and then two perfectly-struck drives either side of cover, took Warwickshire into the lead but – two runs short of a first batting bonus point – Lawes fired a low full toss through Olly Hannon-Dalby’s effort to flick it away to have him leg-before for 7.

South Zone got four wickets in Central’s chase of 65, but Rathod and Akshay Wadkar held their composure

Ashish Pant15-Sep-2025

Yash Rathod’s career-best 194, Saransh Jain’s 69 with the bat in the first innings and a match haul of 8 for 179 with the ball, and Rajat Patidar’s quick 101 headlined Central Zone’s first Duleep Trophy win in close to 11 years. Chasing just 65 on the final morning, Central lost four wickets, but Akshay Wadkar and Rathod held their composure to give their side a six-wicket win over South Zone at BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.There was plenty of grip and bounce for left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma on the fifth morning, while fast bowler Gurjapneet Singh also found enough movement to keep South interested. They both picked up two wickets, but the 65-run target was never going to be daunting.Danish Malewar got off the mark with a clip through midwicket for two but fell soon after edging Ankit behind. It was a gently tossed up delivery from Ankit that pitched and turned sharply away from Malewar, who was drawn into a tentative drive.Shubham Sharma got away two streaky fours off Gurjapneet. He first edged the fast bowler to the right of wicketkeeper Mohammed Azharuddeen, who was wrong-footed, and then got a thickish outside edge that flew past gully. However, Shubham’s luck ran out the very next ball when he went after a fuller-length outswinger from Gurjapneet, but could only get an outside edge to Azharuddeen.Jain, promoted to No. 4, flashed Gurjapneet over point first up but fell the next ball, getting a thick inside edge on to his pad with short leg taking a simple catch as Central slipped to 24 for 3.Patidar played and missed a number of times early, but Central kept taking the aggressive route, even as Wadkar pumped Ankit through midwicket off the back foot, and then square drove Gurjapneet.Patidar survived a stumping chance, and once the early morning moisture dried out, he played a few more shots, notably two lovely on-the-up drives to the left of mid-off against Ankit. But he fell with Central 16 runs away, toe-ending a sweep off Ankit straight up, with the fielder at mid-on doing the rest.Wadkar, eamwhile, got the target down to single figures before Rathod fittingly hit the winning runs, punching V Koushik through covers to end the game in 20.3 overs. It was Central’s seventh Duleep Trophy title (including one shared), and their first since the 2014-15 season, where also they beat South.

Goalscoring, leadership and world-class quality are just three expressions used to describe the talents possessed by Harry Kane during his decade spell at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Englishman rose through the youth ranks in North London before making himself a staple of the club’s first-team setup between 2013 and 2023, before his move to Bayern Munich.

The centre-forward made 435 appearances and found the back of the net on 280 occasions – a tally which still sees him stand at the top of the club’s all-time goalscoring charts.

His goalscoring record, coupled with his link-up play and creativity, has made him one of the best players to ever play for the club – with Thomas Frank no doubt wishing he could rely on a player of his calibre.

Whilst Kane has moved on to pastures new in recent years, the new manager has already added one top-level talent to his ranks, with the summer addition making an immediate impact in North London.

The underlying stats behind Palhinha’s start to life at Spurs

Joao Palhinha joined Spurs on loan from Bayern Munich this summer, with such a deal that the fanbase wasn’t totally convinced by upon the announcement.

However, a couple of months on from his switch back to the Premier League, the Portuguese international has certainly proved a lot of the doubters wrong.

Despite his defensive midfield role, the 30-year-old has impressed in the final third, already registering four goals and two assists – two of which came in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Copenhagen.

However, out of possession is where the midfielder has thrived, as seen by his phenomenal tally of tackles won in the Premier League over the last few months.

He’s already made 44 tackles in his 10 league outings for the Lilywhites, with such a tally the highest of any player in the entire division at present.

Other figures such as 8.5 duels won per 90 – at a success rate of 63% – with his tally of 1.8 aerials won also highlighting his dominant ball-winning ability at the heart of the side.

Palhinha has immediately handed Frank the number six the side has greatly lacked over recent years, with such an addition one that has been their best in recent years.

The Spurs star who is becoming the best player since Kane

There’s little denying that Palhinha is rapidly making himself one of the first names on the Spurs teamsheet, with no other player in the squad able to do the job he does.

Many supporters have voiced concerns over his lack of progression with the ball at his feet, but ultimately, his main responsibility is to allow those ahead of him to create the magic in attacking areas.

Players such as Xavi Simons, Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr are more than capable of feeding off Palhinha and providing the goods with the ball at their feet – with the latter crucial in the Lilywhites’ three-man midfield.

However, his recent exploits in the final third showcase he is a lot more capable in forward areas than the fans give him credit for – with the 30-year-old now on more goal contributions than Mohammed Kudus.

He’s not alone in overperforming in forward areas, with centre-back Micky van de Ven another player who has taken his game to the next level in the attacking department.

The 24-year-old was brought to North London in a £40m deal back in the summer of 2023, undoubtedly being signed to provide needed quality to the backline.

However, in 2025/26, the Dutch international has massively impressed in the attacking department, already scoring five times this season – including a double in the Premier League win over Everton.

Van de Ven also managed to get on the scoresheet in the hammering of Copenhagen this week, running from the edge of his own box before coolly slotting him – just like Kane would do during his time in North London.

The centre-back, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has also dominated defensively this season – as seen by his tally of 1.1 tackles won and 1.3 aerials won per 90.

He’s been phenomenal at picking out a teammate too, completing 92% of the passes he’s attempted, subsequently contributing to his tally of 0.6 chances created per 90.

Games played

15

Goals scored

6

Pass accuracy

92%

Chances created

0.6

Tackles won

1.1

Aerials won

1.3

Dribble success

50%

Recoveries made

3.6

His all-round quality at both ends of the pitch has made him one of the best signings in the club’s recent history – arguably being their best player since Kane left.

Whilst the pair operate in hugely different positions, Van de Ven has assumed the role of being a crucial player in the first team and leading them to new heights in the process.

Spurs star is now "very similar to Saka" and he's better than Johnson

Tottenham Hotspur already have a star who could reach the levels achieved by Bukayo Saka.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 6, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Com o zagueiro Gustavo Gómez de volta da Seleção Paraguaia, o Palmeiras treinou na manhã desta quinta-feira (14), na Academia de Futebol, em sequência à preparação para o confronto com o Goiás, na sexta-feira (15), às 21h30, no Allianz Parque, pela 23ª rodada do Brasileirão. Assim, o time deve ter todos os convocados para o retorno do campeonato.

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Após uma sessão de vídeo no auditório do centro de excelência, o elenco foi a campo para um trabalho tático posicional com ações específicas de ataque e defesa traçadas pela comissão.

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A Lance! Betting já aqueceu os mercados para o jogo. Você acredita que o Verdão mantém a superioridade? Antes 8.00, a odd turbinada para o Palmeiras bater o Goiás por 3×0 está em 8.75! Apostando R$10, seu retorno é de quase R$90!

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+ Tem promoção exclusiva de boas-vindas pra você! Aposte a partir de R$10 e receba até R$200 de bônus na Lance! Betting

Gómez participou de todo o treino no campo, assim como Raphael Veiga, Piquerez e Richard Ríos, que retornaram da Data Fifa na quarta-feira (13). Dessa forma, os quatro estão à disposição de Abel Ferreira.

O Palmeiras ainda deve fazer mais um treino na manhã desta sexta-feira, dia do jogo contra o Goiás, para fechar a preparação e definir os titulares. Murilo, que foi expulso contra o Corinthians, está fora e será substituído por Luan.

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+ Palmeiras ainda sofre com os efeitos da grande queda de desempenho após a última Data Fifa

Um provável Verdão é: Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Luan e Piquerez; Zé Rafael, Gabriel Menino e Raphael Veiga; Mayke, Artur e Rony.

O Alviverde está invicto há três jogos contra o Goiás (um empate e duas vitórias nos dois encontros mais recentes). No primeiro turno, a equipe goleou o rival por 5 a 0, com gols de Artur, Sidimar (contra), Raphael Veiga, Endrick e Dudu. O Verdão ocupa a vice-liderança do Brasileirão, com 41 pontos, dez a menos que o líder Botafogo.

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Palmeiras

West Bromwich Albion’s inconsistent performances in the Championship so far this season let them down again versus Millwall.

After a 1-0 away win at Norwich City, spirits must have been somewhat high among the travelled Baggies contingent at the Den, only for all that positivity to be replaced by doom and gloom when a 3-0 loss was served up.

Truthfully, it was a car-crash showing, as every single big chance that fell to the hosts was put away, while Aune Heggebo, up top for Ryan Mason and Co, failed to fire a single on-target effort at the Lions’ net.

Again, Isaac Price also didn’t cover himself in much glory at the full-time whistle as the wheels continue to come off his own individual Championship season, after being heralded as a fan’s favourite early on.

Price's drop in form for West Brom

It has now been six straight second-tier games for the former Everton youth product without a goal or assist.

Amazingly, at the start of the campaign, Price chipped in with a breakneck four goal contributions from his opening three league clashes. But, since then, his form has dramatically declined.

Against the stern test of Millwall, long gone was the same confident performer who powered home two goals in quick succession against Wrexham, with the out-of-sorts Northern Ireland international managing just one effort – which was blocked – across his unmemorable 62 minutes on the Den turf.

Moreover, only 65% of his passes would find their intended target, with Price now no longer held in such high esteem as a potential Fellows replacement.

Mason would love to have Fellows available for selection right now, after the lightning-quick winger amassed 14 assists across all of last season, to be a constant thorn in the side of Championship sides up and down the division. Unfortunately, he moved to Southampton in the hectic summer transfer window.

However, even with Price going off the boil, the rookie head coach could well have a Fellows-like figure still up his sleeve.

West Brom's new Tom Fellows

The new Baggies manager will believe firmly in his ability to get the best out of the exciting attackers at his disposal in the long run, having worked with the likes of Mikey Moore at Tottenham Hotspur, who was tipped once upon a time to move to the Hawthorns.

That move not working out might well be a blessing in disguise now, however, with Samuel Iling-Junior recruited instead as a tricky and slick winger ready to leave a lasting impact on proceedings, out on loan from nearby Aston Villa.

Iling-Junior certainly showed off a similar burst pace to that of Fellows when gliding forward against Leicester City at the end of September, with the 22-year-old also possessing the necessary composure to finish off the opportunity after such a gung-ho gallop forward.

Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff would label the new Baggies’ number 22 as “brilliant” for his ability to open up the Foxes in a split second, with similar praise once handed out to Fellows, too, by former Hawthorns teammate Karlan Grant, who noted his “unbelievable” skill to carve out openings to change tense games.

Games played

172

Clubs played for

5

Goals scored

26

Assists

26

The 16-time England U21 international will also hope – in a similar fashion to the now Southampton number 18 – that he can use this formative stint in the West Midlands as a springboard to be a success elsewhere, having already been around the block with five different clubs in his early career, before moving to West Brom temporarily.

Despite once being lauded as a starlet who has “everything” in his locker to be a success by ex-youth coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, Iling Junior has yet to make a senior appearance at Villa.

Still, time is very much on the 22-year-old’s side, and if he goes on to fire home even more spectacular efforts to guide the Baggies to promotion, he will surely go on to be successful in the higher league, after becoming a short-term Fellows-style hero for Villa’s near neighbours.

88% passing, 7 duels won: 8/10 West Brom star was even better than Maja

This West Bromwich Albion colossus was even better than a returning Josh Maja away at Norwich City.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 2, 2025

Despite securing their first league win of the season last time out, Glasgow Rangers are still reportedly set to look at one particular candidate to replace Russell Martin.

Martin responds to Rangers fan backlash

Even after Max Aarons netted a last-gasp winner against Livingston, the travelling Rangers fans chanted against Martin. In their eyes, one win changes nothing. There’s still plenty of work for the Southampton manager to do before he gets his own supporters back onside. Whether he’ll earn the results or the time to do that is the big question.

After a disastrous start, the Gers have picked up two wins in their last three games and have the chance to secure back-to-back victories against SK Sturm Graz in the Europa League this Thursday.

The focus will then move straight back to the Scottish Premiership, when Rangers will play host to a struggling Falkirk in what is another must-win game.

For now, despite what the fans think, Martin believes he still has the faith of the players, having told reporters following Sunday’s win: “All I can say to that is… Hibs, and today in the first half is the best we’ve been. So it suggests to me that the players are desperate to do it and improve.”

Rangers star was "like the best of Zidane", now he's worse than Barron

This Rangers star who was once compared to Zinedine Zidane is now even worse than Connor Barron.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 30, 2025

That may not stop the 49ers from considering all their options, however. So far, their first managerial appointment in Scotland hasn’t exactly gone to plan and the likes of Kevin Thelwell are already reportedly set to look at one candidate who could arrive to replace Martin.

Rangers to "look at" Steven Gerrard

As the pressure persists on Martin, the 49ers and Rangers are set to “look at” Steven Gerrard, according to former scout Mick Brown. The former Liverpool midfielder endured an impressive spell as Gers boss from 2018 to 2021 and could now make an incredible return to replace Martin.

Brown told Football Insider: “Gerrard is always going to be one Rangers look at. He knows the club well, knows a lot of the staff and people around the place, and he was very well-liked by the fans when he was there as well, I’m sure the fans would love it if he came back.

“He did a good job during his time there, obviously won them the league and then got a move elsewhere which didn’t quite work out.

“I think he’s exactly the type of manager they need, because he’s somebody who the fans and the players can get behind and somebody who is going to push them forward.”

Gerrard is, of course, the last manager to win the Scottish Premiership at Rangers and dethrone Celtic, so a return wouldn’t be a bad idea for the 49ers. As for the 45-year-old, himself, he could certainly do with some managerial redemption after failed spells at Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq.

Strong showing on opening day of campaign puts new-look Warwickshire attack on back foot

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay04-Apr-2025Sussex 386 for 5 (Clark 140, Simpson 116*, Coles 51) vs Warwickshire Centuries by Tom Clark and John Simpson ensured that Sussex returned to the Rothesay County Championship Division One with a strong day’s work against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.Clark struck an accomplished 140 (279 balls) and Simpson an assertive unbeaten 116 (142) in a partnership of 200 in 44 overs as Sussex recovered from 40 for three to close on 386 for five.Three early wickets for debutant Ethan Bamber appeared to vindicate Warwickshire’s decision to bowl first, but thereafter it was a struggle for an attack missing injured first-choice opening bowlers Olly Hannon-Dalby and Chris Rushworth.Clark and Simpson took full advantage to post their fourth and 16th first-class centuries respectively.Warwickshire, their squad in deep transition, started the season with four debutants – Bamber, Vishwa Fernando, Tazeem Ali and Kai Smith – and two of the newcomers opened the bowling to very different effect. Fernando went for three fours in his first over of a fruitless spell but Bamber unfurled an excellent opening burst of 7-5-8-3. The former Middlesex all-rounder trapped Tom Haines lbw, playing across the line, then removed Daniel Hughes and Tom Alsop with successive balls. Hughes copped an arguable lbw decision before Alsop edged an outswinger to Rob Yates at second slip.The brittle foundation of 40 for three was diligently shored up by a stand of 121 in 37 overs between Clark and James Coles (51, 102). The latter played fluently to be first to his half-century but then rather gave it away when he skied an ill-judged leg-side swipe at Tazeem to give the 18-year-old leg-spinner his first championship wicket.Any hopes the sizeable home crowd harboured of another Sussex clatter proved ill-founded. Instead, Simpson joined Clark to make it back-to-back century stands.Sussex skipper Simpson enjoyed a superb first season at Hove last year, averaging 74.81 with the bat in the championship, and resumed in the same vein as he breezed to a 58-ball half-century. Clark, meanwhile, concentrated implacably and reached his fourth first class century, from 223 balls, with his 15th four, cut off a short delivery from Dan Mousley.On a pitch offering little assistance for the bowlers, the limitations of Warwickshire’s injury-hit attack became clear as the fifth-wicket pair’s partnership passed 150. The depleted nature of that attack does raise a question mark over Warwickshire’s decision to bowl first, though that decision might have a bit to do with the recent history of Edgbaston pitches to flatten out as the match goes on, making wickets even harder to acquire.Clark perished six overs before the close when he edged Ed Barnard behind but in the next over Simpson followed him to three figures, becoming the first Sussex player ever to reach a first class century with a three to backward point on a Friday in Birmingham. Sussex’s return to Division One has been highly encouraging.