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The 49ers and Rangers are now reportedly considering an approach to hire a 42-year-old replacement for Patrick Stewart, who they recently sacked.

Rangers sack Thelwell and Stewart

Despite a recent turnaround on the pitch courtesy of Danny Rohl’s arrival, the 49ers have remained in ruthless mood and recently sacked chief executive Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell. It follows a disastrous summer of decisions, which instantly failed to get fans at Ibrox onside.

Explaining the decision, Andrew Cavenagh said: “Paraag and I have analysed the club’s needs, and as we reflect on what the club needs today, and where Kevin and Patrick are, we think we need something different.

“Our focus the first part of this season, the first part of our ownership period, has been on the sporting side and that’s where all of our attention went to for obvious reasons.

“With Danny coming in, he has started to improve the on-pitch performance, and that has created the space to allow Paraag and I to look at other parts of the club with new eyes and assess what we need going forward.

“I think responsible change has to be measured. I don’t think you can come in and tear something completely apart all at once. You’re likely to get something wrong.”

It’s certainly a big decision from the 49ers, but one that will please Rangers fans who particularly aired their frustrations at Thelwell in recent months.

Just who they turn to now is the big question. Potential candidates are already being mentioned, and that includes James Taylor who reportedly has internal support at the club amid a potential promotion.

Rangers considering James Taylor approach

According to the Scottish Sun, Rangers are now considering an approach to hire Taylor in the CEO role. The 42-year-old has already impressed as their Chief Financial Officer and played a huge part in recording a record revenue of £94m for the year. Now, he could get the chance to step up to the CEO role.

Not just Djiga: Thelwell flop who lost ball 17x looks finished at Rangers

Rangers’ wait for a first Europa League victory goes on, held to a 1-1 draw by Braga at Ibrox, and a summer signing was just as bad as Nasser Djiga.

By
Ben Gray

Nov 28, 2025

Whilst he’s not the only name on the list, Ibrox chiefs are reportedly fans of Taylor and that will undoubtedly help him along the way in the interview process.

It almost goes without saying that it would be a big step up for the current Rangers chief, but he has more than proven his worth at the club in the last year.

Whether the Gers decide to make a decision as soon as possible or remain patient for the right candidate is the question. In a season of so much change, they desperately need to get things in order ahead of the January transfer window both on and off the pitch.

Rohl must bin Chermiti for Rangers star who was the SPFL's "best player"

“There will be more miracles going forward,” Abhishek Sharma says of the India T20I team

Shashank Kishore29-Sep-2025India opener Abhishek Sharma is happy he took the stairs and not the elevator to the national team like some of his 2018 Under-19 World Cup team-mates – Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw, for example – had, saying he wouldn’t have “learned some things” if that had been the case.”There have been ups and downs,” Abhishek said at the end of the Asia Cup, where he was the Player of the Tournament. “Some players get in easily. Some come in after some difficulty. But I feel this [domestic grind] was necessary. If I had made it quicker as a [national team] player, I wouldn’t have learned some things.”While Shaw was fast-tracked to the national team, making his Test debut in 2018 itself, Gill broke through in early 2019. For Abhishek, the turning point came only after the pandemic, in 2021, by which time he had refined his game. With Yuvraj Singh’s guidance, he transformed from a middle-order finisher and part-time left-arm spinner into an opener with an enhanced power-hitting game.Related

• The night Tilak and Dube went from promise to performance

• India refuse to accept Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi

• Stats – India 9-0 in chases against Pakistan

Abhishek ended the Asia Cup as the top run-getter – 314 in seven innings, including a run of three straight half-centuries leading into the final. Pathum Nissanka was a distant second, with 261 runs.Abhishek’s robust powerplay approach, and his takedown of Shaheen Shah Afridi in successive games against Pakistan, earned him a lot of plaudits, which he attributed to the freedom given to him by the team management. This run of form more or less guarantees him a spot as India’s first-choice opener as they build towards their T20 World Cup title defence.”Since the time I have been in the [national] team, I have not felt is a pressure match. We prepared for every match in the same way,” he said. “Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] and GG [Gautam Gambhir] have given me confidence. When you want to play a high-risk game, failures do come. But the way they handled me, I am able to play like this because of that.”Abhishek stressed that the template of aggressive batting he had adopted was something the entire team had bought into, and would look to carry forward.”It is very important to get such support from the team,” he said. “We have been wanting to play this brand of cricket with intent from the start. Irrespective of the opposition, we will continue playing like this.”I’ve had more time to work on a few things. So I’ve worked a lot on those things. I feel this is the start for the team. There will be more miracles going forward.”

Clayton Kershaw is certainly enjoying his last go-round with the Dodgers.

L.A. clinched the NL West on Thursday with an 8-0 win over the Diamondbacks. While other champagne celebrations may be ahead for last year's World Series champions, Kershaw made sure to enjoy this one. Last week, he announced that this season would be his last after 18 years in Dodger blue.

He made his last start on Friday, which the Dodgers won although he recorded a no-decision after throwing 4 1/3 innings and striking out six batters while letting up two earned runs. L.A. has won six of their last eight games and officially clinched the division Thursday with their lead on the Padres.

A shirtless Kershaw was absolutely joyous in the locker room, relishing every moment as he gave an epic interview to AM 570 LA's David Vassegh, who asked the veteran lefthander if he wanted his shirt back.

"No, I don't want my shirt back. I don't want goggles, I don't want a shirt. I hardly want pants, Dave!" Kershaw responded via SportsNet LA.

He made sure to enjoy a victory cigar, too:

You can watch the full celebratory interview below which Vassagh somehow conducted with Kershaw's shirt draped over his head.

The Dodgers wrap up their regular-season schedule with a three-game series in Seattle against the Mariners this weekend where Kershaw is scheduled to pitch the finale Sunday. We'll see what he has in store if more champagne celebrations are in L.A.'s future.

Elche head coach Eder Sarabia has still not gotten over the 2-2 draw against Real Madrid at the weekend, which saw Xabi Alonso's men come back twice from behind. Los Blancos equalised just three minutes from the end of normal time thanks to Jude Bellingham, but controversy erupted during and after the game as the Elche players and manager blasted the officials for what they believed to be an incorrect decision.

• Madrid held to a draw by Elche after controversial Bellingham goal

  Real Madrid endured yet another frustrating evening at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on Sunday, as they were held to a 2-2 draw by the newly-promoted but daring Elche. The result stretched their winless run across competitions to three games. 

  After a goalless first half, former Real Madrid youth player and Elche captain Aleix Febas fired the hosts into the lead just eight minutes after the restart, capping off a brilliant team move that cut Madrid open. Dean Huijsen then pulled things back, scoring his first goal for Los Blancos in the 78th minute. However, Sarabia's troops didn't budge. Substitute Alvaro Rodriguez, a La Fabrica product who has featured in several games for Madrid, scored a great individual goal just six minutes later to restore Elche's lead.

  That wasn't the end of the drama. In the 87th minute, Madrid came back from behind for the second time in the game, courtesy of a Bellingham equaliser. Controversy, however, ensued, as the Elche players religiously protested Vinicius Junior's challenge on goalkeeper Inaki Pena, which left the latter bleeding from his nose. 

  The pleas from Elche players could only go in vain. The goal stood, and the match finished all-square, leaving the home team's head coach furious after the game.

  "It's a clear foul. Not a normal part of the game. That's what VAR is for. It's a very clear foul; it hits the goalkeeper and even draws blood. It's crystal clear," ranted Sarabia. "It's to Inaki's credit that he said it was a normal part of the game, but it really wasn't. It's a clear foul.

  "I'm not at all happy with the result, especially considering the decisive moments of the match. Vinicius's foul for the 2-2 equalizer was crystal clear. Inaki didn't see the play, but it wasn't just a normal part of the game, it was a clear foul. It makes me angry to waste time on these things, but you take the lead twice and you feel that there were factors that influenced the final result. It makes you angry."

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  Sarabia takes his anger to social media

  Sarabia took to his official account to express his contempt over the controversial refereeing over the weekend. He wrote: "My apologies to those who make decisions, but for more than 25 years now, "voluntariness/intentionality" has been removed from the regulations (except for hands). Therefore, the fact that an action is "fortuitous" is not a correct argument for deciding whether it is an infraction or not." 

• Alonso reflects on Madrid's poor form

  Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso addressed the media after the game and assured that the team is not in a crisis. "We haven't fallen apart," he told reporters. “That’s football. After a good run, we’re now getting results that aren’t what we wanted. But we still know what we want. We have to keep moving forward.

  “We're not happy because we know perfectly well that we always want to win, and when we don't, we can't be happy. There are still many games left before the end of the year, and we have to start thinking about the next one by analysing what we've done today.  

  “The team never gave up. We’re still competing. We know that the context of each game is different. Obviously, the result could be better. We're aware of that and we're self-critical, but the direction is clear, the spirit remains good and we have to respond in the face of adversity. This is Real Madrid and every unfavourable result attracts criticism, which we have to live with. We want to improve. The team never gave up.

  “The connection is improving because we have more time, we interact more and we're getting to know each other better. We're all in the same boat, everyone together in the same direction. We celebrate victories, we suffer, as we did today, and we're not happy when we don't get the desired result. The connection is good, the day-to-day is good. We need to turn this moment around a little bit and we have the opportunity to do so starting in Athens.”

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• AFP
  

  Olympiacos and Girona up next for Madrid

  Despite their recent woes, Madrid hold a one-point lead over rivals Barcelona in La Liga and are in a strong position to secure a top-eight spot in the Champions League. They will visit Greece on Wednesday to lock horns with Greek champions Olympiacos in Europe's premier club competition, followed by another away game against Girona in the league this weekend.   

India’s new Test captain and vice-captain face intense scrutiny before their first assignment. Here’s how they can hush the doubters

Sidharth Monga19-Jun-20253:18

Gill: ‘Can’t win a Test without taking 20 wickets’

Aura is arguably the most abused term in sports discourse in recent times. If you know what I mean, you have seen videos mocking Shubman Gill’s slightly high-pitched voice chirping from behind the wicket. In comparison to Virat Kohli’s supposedly more manly and aggressive sledging, that is. You may have seen videos of Gill goofing around with his friend Ishan Kishan, and worried about the aura, or lack thereof. You may have scoffed at the PRINCE on his bat, and felt he hasn’t earned it yet.What of his deputy Rishabh Pant then? Babysitter for the opposition captain during a heated series, singer of Spiderman, Spiderman into the stump mic, somebody who can be called “stupid, stupid, stupid” on air in an age when commentators have been sacked for saying far less about his predecessors. Where is the fear? Without the fear, where is the aura?Related

• Rishabh Pant moves to his own beat

• Buttler: Gill's captaincy 'a mix of Kohli and Rohit'

• Pant relishes 'senior' tag but also focuses on 'individual' game

• Gill says India will go all out to take 20 wickets: 'You could maybe see four proper bowlers'

• Tendulkar confident Gill will do 'something special', predicts 3-1 series win for India

Temba Bavuma wasn’t supposed to possess aura. Over one week at Lord’s, Bavuma has not just acquired aura but has graduated to the next level. He has “drip” now.Imagine if the internet had discovered the term aura last year, when New Zealand visited India. They would have just laughed and refused to let them play and go on to win 3-0, the first time anyone had beaten India in India in a Test series since 2012. Forget aura, New Zealand didn’t even have Kane Williamson. What chance did they stand against RoKo, the King and the Hitman?Before they became the King and the Hitman, of course, those two players were widely derided as a disrespectful punk and “Nohit”. Gill is now at a similar stage of his career to Kohli’s when Test captaincy first happened to him. Kohli was 26 and coming off a horror tour of England that made observers doubt if he would ever fulfil his potential. He averaged 39.46 before his first Test as captain. He still had six hundreds in 29 Tests, suggesting that the potential was there. Gill, 25, has played 32 Tests, scored five hundreds, and averages 35.05 in a more bowler-friendly era. Like Kohli then, he has had two seasons as an IPL captain and has established himself as an ODI virtuoso.Gill’s numbers at the start of his Test captaincy aren’t dissimilar to Kohli’s at the same stage of his career•ESPNcricinfo LtdThere is a blueprint in place, but it is not easy to start captaining a high-profile team such as India when there is still some doubt around your Test batting. Gill started off beautifully in Australia in 2020-21, but currently averages 25.7 in 11 Tests outside Asia and the West Indies, with no century. In his last series, he missed one Test with injury and was dropped from the XI in another. On two of the most difficult surfaces in the series, in Adelaide and Sydney, he scored 31, 28, 20 and 13.For somebody who has forever been the next big thing, these are not ideal returns. The scrutiny will only grow more intense. It will be in the back of Gill’s mind as he gets to play the entirety of a long series in these countries for the first time in his career. The fight and the competitiveness you need to succeed at this level were never in doubt in Kohli’s case, which is perhaps what those getting nostalgic miss in Gill’s demeanour.But not everyone shows fight in the same way. It was a different time in Indian cricket when Kohli took over. The team had been whitewashed on their last tour of Australia. In their last 17 Tests outside Asia and the West Indies, they had won one and lost 13. That time called for a kicker and screamer.This is a different Indian team in a different time: more used to away success, with more streamlined channels for talent to come through. Gill and Pant are talking about love and care in the dressing room, and the need to make players feel validated and secure.Outside that, Gill just needs to assert himself and walk his pre-game talk of going all out for 20 wickets. It needs conviction from him and Pant. Their coach may not be as in tune with their convictions as the two previous ones were with those of the two previous captains.India’s new Test captain and vice-captain have begun their tenures speaking of love and care in the dressing room, and the need to make players feel validated and secure•Bipin PatelThe right to have convictions, though, comes from runs. The real decision-makers are less anxious about Gill’s handling of the bowlers or the aura discourse than they are about how quickly he can pile on the hundreds and cast the doubters away. This has always been the way. Batters are generally made captains because bowlers – like Jasprit Bumrah now – are not usually available for every Test. And only runs give batters the authority to run the team the way they want. That Gill is a special batter is not in doubt; he just needs the runs now.Batting in Tests is a fickle pursuit reliant on many variables. You can be at your best and prepare your best, but sometimes you just don’t have the luck. That said, this year is a great chance for Gill. Bazball-era pitches are flatter than English pitches used to be before Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes got together. Only Chris Woakes in England’s frontline pace attack at Leeds has played more than five Tests. Even though Bumrah will be available for only three Tests, India have the bowling that can match England if not outdo them.The England batters will look to put India under pressure in the field right away. Gill and Pant – and Bumrah when he plays – will have to react on their feet much more than leadership groups usually have to in Test cricket when they have good attacks.There are so many things to look forward to as India start a new era; aura is not one of them. What Gill and Pant’s plan to take 20 wickets is, as is how they respond to England’s flashing blades, and how well they bat in what could be the best batting conditions India have faced in England in a decade.This is not to suggest there should be any special allowance for the new leadership. There will be scrutiny on them of course. How they deal with it will define their era. Or if they have an era. If they can take care of their own batting, select well, and respond well to Bazball, the aura will take care of itself.

There are fewer than two months left in the 2025 MLB regular season, and the playoff races in the American and National Leagues are really starting to heat up. 

In the American League, five teams are within five games of the final wild card spot, while the No. 4 team – the Texas Rangers – is just a half-game out of the third spot. A lot could change in the next few months, especially with teams like the Minnesota Twins and Tampa Bay Rays selling at the deadline, but there likely will be a team – or two – that misses the playoffs that was expected to make it in.

In the National League, the top wild card teams (New York, Chicago and San Diego) seem pretty set in stone, but the Cincinnati Reds (three games back) are still within striking distance with plenty of games to go.

Here’s a look at the playoff odds for every team in the hunt, and a few storylines to watch when considering bets for these playoff markets. 

American League Playoff Odds

Division Leaders

• Toronto Blue Jays: -2500
• Detroit Tigers: -5000
• Houston Astros: -1000

Toronto (19 games over .500), Detroit (17 games over .500), and Houston (14 games over .500) all appear to be locks to make the playoffs in the 2025 season.

Detroit has a seven-game cushion in the AL Central – the largest of these three division winners – which is why oddsmakers have it priced at -5000 to reach the playoffs for the second straight season.

It would be relatively surprising to see any of these teams fall out of the race, especially since they’d slot in pretty high in the wild card standings if a team were to overtake them in the division. 

Wild Card Race

• Boston Red Sox: -450
• Seattle Mariners: -360
• New York Yankees: -330
• Texas Rangers: +115
• Cleveland Guardians: +320
• Kansas City Royals: +650
• Tampa Bay Rays: +950
• Minnesota Twins: +1800
• Los Angeles Angels: +2500
• Baltimore Orioles: +5000

The AL wild card race is going to be extremely fun to watch down the stretch of the season.

Entering Wednesday’s action, the Texas Rangers could overtake the New York Yankees, who are just a half-game ahead of them in the standings. New York has played under .500 ball over the last few months, and despite some trade deadline moves, it is fading fast in this market.

Oddsmakers project the Yankees to be the team that is currently holding a spot to be the closest one to drop out (-330 to make the postseason). 

While Cleveland, Minnesota, and others are long shots to make the playoffs, Texas is a team to watch since it has been elite at home (36-20) and still has 25 games at Globe Life Field left in the 2025 season. 

National League Playoff Odds

Division Leaders

• Philadelphia Phillies: -3000
• Los Angeles Dodgers: -20000
• Milwaukee Brewers: -10000

All three of these division leaders appear to be locked into a playoff spot, as the implied probability for Philadelphia (the team with the worst odds) to make the playoffs is 96.77 percent.

There’s a chance that all three of these teams could lose their spot atop the division (Milwaukee has the largest lead at four games), but they’d all just fall into a wild card spot, barring a crazy run from the Reds or another fringe wild card team. 

Wild Card Race

• Chicago Cubs: -1400
• New York Mets: -650
• San Diego Padres: -575
• Cincinnati Reds: +250
• San Francisco Giants: +600
• St. Louis Cardinals: +1100
• Arizona Diamondbacks: +2500
• Miami Marlins: +3000
• Atlanta Braves: +5000

There is a lot less intrigue in the National League, as the Reds – who made some big moves at the deadline to acquire Ke’Bryan Hayes, Zack Littell, and others – are the only team that seems to have a chance to supplant New York, Chicago, or San Diego.

However, there is a lot of time left for a team like the Giants or Cardinals (both hovering around .500) to get hot and make some inroads in this race.

For now, Cincinnati is the only team at plus money that I’d consider in the NL playoff market. 

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign striker Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus for a much lower price than expected.

Particularly last season, much was said about Man United. The club endured what was, in terms of points return and league finish, their worst-ever Premier League campaign. Many of the club’s attacking options, such as Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, struggled for form.

This, no doubt, contributed to their business ahead of the 2025/26 season. In what marked their first summer transfer window with Ruben Amorim as manager, the Red Devils signed Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko in what was a complete renovation of their attack.

The trio have since secured their places in the first team at Old Trafford, helping Man United record three successive Premier League wins for the first time under Amorim’s guidance before the draw at Nottingham Forest.

It would appear, however, that the Red Devils may look to further reinforce their attacking line in the upcoming January window.

Man United show interest in Vlahovic

As per TEAMtalk, Man United could pursue a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic this winter. Such a transfer, however, would only be explored if there is first a departure. Zirkzee could leave, having lost his place in the first team due to both new signings and poor form.

Vlahovic, who reportedly earns £375,000 per week in Turin, will become a free agent in July if he does not depart Juve at an earlier date, having been unable to negotiate a contract extension with the club. Were Vlahovic to remain, he would seemingly have to take a pay cut.

Having been called a “superstar” for his ability, Vlahovic would be available for just £17.5 million according to TEAMtalk, in no doubt due to his contract situation. Were Zirkzee to depart permanently, it would presumably provide Man United with the adequate funds to pursue Vlahovic. Even if the Dutchman left only on loan, it would free up a position within their first-team for the 25-year-old.

Given his lack of minutes so far this season, it can be presumed that Zirkzee has fallen down the pecking order. In Vlahovic, Man United would be signing competition for summer signing Sesko which, in turn, could benefit the Slovenian international.

Reportedly, Man United are “informed” of Vlahovic’s situation, but “that does not mean they will necessarily pull the trigger on the move” and whether a transfer materialises remains to be seen.

"Deadly" Man United academy star is another Bruno Fernandes

Head coach Ryan Harris says South Australia have talked about still hunting ahead of the domestic season after last summer’s memorable scenes

Andrew McGlashan16-Sep-2025Having waited 13 years for a one-day title and 29 for the Sheffield Shield, somewhat like London buses they came along at once for South Australia last season during an incredible few weeks for a state that, especially in four-day cricket, had for so long propped up the table.So now they head into the 2025-26 season as double defending champions; their One-Day Cup campaign starts on September 20 against New South Wales and the Sheffield Shield on October 4 against Victoria.The message from head coach Ryan Harris during pre-season has been a simple one: that was great, but we need to do it again.Related

• Sheffield Shield preview: Ashes selection race adds intrigue

• Doggett 'definitely ready' if Ashes reinforcements needed

• South Australia still soaking in 'unreal' Sheffield Shield scenes

“We spoke about what lies ahead of us,” Harris told ESPNcricinfo. “We want to make sure that we don’t get comfortable in what we’ve done because, although we’ve had a great achievement last year, we haven’t achieved much at all yet.”We have mentioned that we don’t want to be the hunted. Obviously, when you win, people want to beat you, no doubt. Our terminology is we are still hunting. We’ve had one year of great achievements, [but] we haven’t really achieved anything yet. If we sit here in three or four years’ time and we’ve won a few more, then we’ve been a pretty good team.”[The players] like the feeling of winning. Obviously, we haven’t had a lot of it for a while. The boys really enjoyed it. They knew it was hard work. We had a little bit of luck go away last year, but we hadn’t always had a lot of luck go away in the past. You need a little bit of luck to win. They’ve trained as if they’re preparing to win again.”The scenes at Karen Rolton Oval on March 29 when the winning runs were scored went viral around the world as thousands swarmed onto the ground. South Australia had hoped to host the final at Adelaide Oval – where they will begin their Shield defence in October – but couldn’t reach an agreement with the Australian Football League (AFL).Fans mobbed Jason Sangha after he hit the winning runs last season•Getty Images

Perhaps, in the end, it was the ideal outcome: a boutique venue packed out in late summer sunshine as Jason Sangha played the innings of his life and Alex Carey produced one of the finest hours to rebuild a chase of 270 from 28 for 3.”I remember ushering the boys to the corner of the first level of Karen Rolton,” Harris recalled. “And when they came around the corner and saw the field and how many people were out there, I think it took them a little bit by surprise.”They always knew how important this was to win but, obviously with a few guys that are out-of-towners, that are not necessarily born in South Australia, I think it was that moment that they actually realised big it was. They knew it was big, but they didn’t realise it was big.”Sangha has recently spoken about how that day is still talked about around Adelaide, and Harris is happy for his players to delve back into the special memories if it helps them prepare to go again.”I’ve got no problem drawing on the feeling that they had, the success, and obviously the confidence that they have in their own games,” Harris said. “If they need to think back to a game or two or a final to realise where they are and what their gains are, then I’ve got no problem with that.”Again, it’s not about we’ve done it, we’re going to relax and just let it happen again. It’s the hard work that counts, and I can guarantee that they’ve worked hard again. If someone or all of them need to draw on that feeling and that memory of all those people and how popular it was down here, they can do it as long and as much as they want, but they know obviously going forward that that is a moment in time and now it’s time to do it all again.”A lot needs to go right to win titles in any sport, and backing up success is tough. Four-day cricket tests squad strength, injuries are inevitable, and Australia call-ups have to be factored in. Carey is keen to play as much as possible ahead of the Ashes, but it’s yet to be confirmed what South Australia will see of Travis Head.Captain Nathan McSweeney is with Australia A for the four-day leg of their India tour but will be back for the start of the Shield, however allrounder Liam Scott is in both squads. Jake Fraser-McGurk, who faces a crucial season, is in the one-day squad for that tour but was unlikely to find a place in the Shield XI to start the season.Injury-wise, the list isn’t too long for Harris. Left-arm quick Spencer Johnson is out until at least the New Year – “[he’s] not in a great way at the moment,” Harris said – while spin-bowling allrounder Ben Manenti is recovering from a foot niggle and seamer Nathan McAndrew returned from the UK with an inner infection so may miss the start of the one-day competition.”We didn’t have too many bad injuries [last season],” Harris said. “If a bowler missed out, then we had another bowler to come in and take his spot and we’re hoping that we can have that this year. We’ve been challenged in a good way in terms of Australia A selection. That’s obviously a great thing [for them], but we’ll definitely miss those guys.”Last season McSweeney vaulted into Test contention and ended up opening against India while Sangha is back on the radar of the selectors after averaging 78.22 in the title success and has since made a career-best double century for Australia A. At this stage, neither are expected to feature at the start of the Ashes, but Harris knows things can change and as a domestic coach there is the dual challenge of producing international cricketers, who will then be called away, and also wanting to win competitions.”Jason’s been told he just needs to go and do what he did last year, the same [with] Nathan, just find that form that got him in the Test set up,” he said. “That’s one of those things we’ve spoken about, but we don’t talk a lot about because we know that George [Bailey] can ring me and say, no, we’re not looking at you right now. Then [the player] goes out and makes two or three hundreds in the first two or three games, then all of a sudden someone else has failed and he’s in. I’d rather lose them to [a Test call] than injury.”

Manchester United have now gone four games undefeated in the Premier League, which is perhaps a sign of things changing for Ruben Amorim’s side. His first year in charge at the club has been underwhelming to say the least, and it has taken time to adapt to his infamous 3-4-2-1 system.

Well, one of the most important positions in Amorim’s system are the two number 10s. It took him some time to find the right solution in those roles. Bruno Fernandes has been operating in the pivot, with Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount two key options.

Bryan Mbeumo has also made a fast start to life at United.

Mbeumo’s exceptional October

October felt like the month where Mbeumo truly arrived at United. He had played well in the weeks before that, scoring against Grimsby in the Carabao Cup and Burnley in the Premier League, but it was last month that he began to shine truly.

Mbeumo played three games in October for United, chipping in with at least one goal or assist in each of them. In total, he contributed four goal involvements in three games last month for the Red Devils.

It is perhaps easy for United fans to pinpoint which was the most important. Mbeumo’s strike at Anfield against Liverpool just seconds into the match summed him up.

Their number 19 managed to run in behind the Reds’ defence and fire home first time on his weaker right foot.

After grabbing an assist for Mount against Sunderland at the start of the month and scoring twice against Brighton and Hove Albion, Mbeumo was nominated for Premier League player of the month.

Club legend Wayne Rooney said the Cameroonian star is “by far United’s best player of the season.”

It is certainly exciting that United are brewing the new version of Mbeumo in the academy.

United’s homegrown Mbeumo

For decades, United have produced some exceptional players in their academy. In the current crop of youngsters, there are some exciting talents. JJ Gabriel is a player who has a lot of hype surrounding him.

Another young talent United fans can get excited about is 18-year-old Shea Lacey. After overcoming injury issues in recent seasons, the Liverpool-born attacker has shown exactly how good he is this season.

In nine games across all competitions, Lacey has found the back of the net on three occasions and assisted two other goals for teammates.

They have come in just 507 minutes, leaving him with an average of a goal involvement every 101 minutes.

In The Pipeline

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One of the best examples of Lacey’s talent came in the under-21s’ recent 2-0 EFL Trophy victory away to Notts County. Operating on the right-hand side, the 18-year-old scored one and created one chance.

The “wing wizard” – as hailed by the Daily Mail’s Chris Wheeler – was a handful for defenders all night, completing three from five dribbles and winning two fouls

One of the striking things about Lacey is his technical ability. He thieves in tight spaces in the right half-space, which could certainly make him suitable for Amorim’s system, playing in the right 10 role just like Mbeumo does now.

The England under-20 star was described as a “creative talisman” by Academy Scoop on X, a page dedicated to the Red Devils academy sides. That is easy to understand, with the 18-year-old having passes like this in his locker.

It is certainly easy to see how Lacey can be United’s own Mbeumo. The talented youngster is comfortable on the right wing or as a number 10, just like the Red Devils’ number 19.

Both are left-footed attackers, too.

It remains to be seen when Lacey will get his first-team debut at United, but it is bound to happen sooner or later. He is a superb talent who has even trained with England’s first team this season. United have another gem on their hands.

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