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علق جوزيه جوميز المدير الفني لفريق الزمالك على الفوز في مباراة اليوم أمام البنك الأهلي بـ افتتاح مشواره للموسم الجديد من الدوري المصري، مؤكدًا على إمكانية استغلال الثنائي أحمد فتوح ومحمد حمدي في عدة مراكز.

واستطاع الزمالك الفوز في مباراة اليوم على البنك الأهلي بنتيجة 3-2 في اللقاء الذي جمعهما بالجولة الأولى من المسابقة المحلية.

طالع.. فيديو | عبد الله السعيد يقود الزمالك لفوز مثير على البنك الأهلي بثلاثية في الدوري المصري

وقال جوميز في تصريحات خلال المؤتمر الصحفي: “أعتقد أن قبل الهدف الأول الذي أحرزناه لم نسدد أي كرة على المرمى”.

وتابع: “بعد الهدف كان من الممكن أن نتحكم في المباراة أفضل من ذلك حتى نهايتها، لكن في كرة القدم ليس دائمًا يحدث ما نريده”.

وأردف: “خسرنا إحساسنا في الملعب، وبدأنا نلعب بالروح أكثر من العقل، وفزنا بسبب الجماهير التي تدعمنا وبروح اللاعبين”.

وأكمل: “أحمد فتوح وحمدي يستطيعان أن يلعبا في 3 أو 4 مراكز مختلفة، ومن الممكن أن يلعبا في مركز قلب الدفاع ناحية اليسار، والحمد لله إننا نمتلك لاعبين يستطيعون اللعب في مراكز مختلفة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | موعد مباراة الزمالك القادمة بعد الفوز على البنك الأهلي في الدوري المصري

وأضاف: “أنتم تعرفون فتوح أكثر مني، فنيًا يمتلك مهارات مختلفة، ليس لأنني أحبه لكنه يُمكنه مساعدتنا في أكثر من مركز، وبنتايج يُمكنه اللعب في الجانبين الأيمن والأيسر”.

وواصل: “أحمد مصطفى زيزو يعاني من إصابة في الخلفية وهو لاعب أساسي، وسيخضع لفحوصات طبية لتحديد حجم الإصابة، وناصر ماهر لاعب الفريق تعرض لإصابة وطلب الاستبدال”.

وعلق جوميز على مشاركة عمر فرج: “هذه أول مباراة له يبدأها رسميًا مع الفريق، ويحتاج للمساعدة واللعب لدقائق أكثر مع الزمالك”.

واختتم: “لا توجد مشاكل مع محمود عبد الرازق شيكابالا وهو شارك مع الفريق من قبل لأنه يستحق اللعب بسبب مجهوده البدني والفني مع الفريق”.

BCCI ethics officer “dismissed” the complaint filed against Dravid because it was “bereft of merit”

Nagraj Gollapudi14-Nov-2019

Former India captain Rahul Dravid has been cleared of conflict of interest charges by the BCCI ethics officer Justice (retd.) DK Jain. Justice Jain issued the order on Thursday after conducting two hearings in response to a complaint filed by Sanjeev Gupta, a life member of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA).Gupta had alleged that Dravid, who was appointed the director of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) this July by the BCCI, was guilty of conflict of interest because he was occupying more than one post at the time, which was not permitted as per the board’s rules. The second post that Dravid was serving, Gupta said in his complaint, was as vice-president of India Cements Pvt. Ltd, which he claimed had ties with the Chennai Super Kings franchise in the IPL.However, in his order, Justice Jain said “a case of conflict” against Dravid could not be made and hence he had “dismissed” the complaint because it was “bereft of merit.”In the order, Justice Jain noted that Dravid had rejected the allegation straightaway, in a written response on August 9. Dravid told Justice Jain that on the “advice” of BCCI and to “avoid any kind of conflict of interest” he had taken “leave of absence” without salary from India Cements during his stint at the NCA. Dravid pointed out that he had been an employee of Indian Cements for two decades, but never had “any connection, relationship or obligation” towards the Super Kings.The BCCI also told Justice Jain that the Super Kings franchise was run by Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd., registered in 2013 under the Indian Companies Act. It had nothing to do with India Cements, which was an independent entity. Hence, the BCCI said Dravid could not be an employee of the Super Kings, as Gupta had alleged.”He (Dravid) has asserted that his employment with India Cements Limited, is not and cannot be construed as an employment with the CSK franchisee, regardless of any relationship between the two entities, viz India Cements Limited and Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd.,” the order said. “He has further pleaded that at no point in time, has he been a “Team Official” of CSK.”Gupta, however, did not accept that. At the hearing on September 26 in Mumbai, Gupta told Justice Jain that Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd. was a “wholly owned subsidiary” of India Cements with “some” of the directors sitting on boards of both firms. Gupta said “a mere change in nomenclature” could not absolve Dravid of the conflict of interest allegation.The ethics officer was clear about one thing. “The concept of ‘conflict of interest’, is not necessarily a question about something one does or intends to do but a question of what one can possibly or potentially do,” Justice Jain said in his order.Justice Jain even referred to the judgments he had served in the cases concerning two of Dravid’s former India team-mates – Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, both of whom were held guilty of conflict. The complaint against Ganguly had been filed by more than one member of the public, while Gupta had pressed the conflict charge against Laxman.Justice Jain pointed out that Ganguly and Laxman suffered from “tractable conflict” and fell foul of the one-man-one-post rule stated in the BCCI constitution.Dravid’s case allowed him to examine the rules deeper. “For examining an instance of ‘conflict of interest”, mere holding of posts by an individual associated with the BCCI may not per-se be sufficient for arriving at the conclusion of existence of ‘conflict of interest’,” Justice Jain said in the order. “But whether holding of such post(s) gives rise to ‘conflict of interest’ or not must also be tested on the anvil of reasonable apprehensions of, or actual favoritism, lack of objectivity, bias, benefits, etc., as contemplated in the definition of ‘conflict of interest’.”Accordingly, Justice Jain needed to test whether the two posts Dravid held “give rise to an apprehension of, lack of objectivity or bias” in each of those positions. “At least, I am unable to fathom any such circumstance (none has even been pointed out by the Complainant), which would come in the way of Mr. Rahul Dravid in fairly discharging his duties as a ‘Team Official’, without being influenced or influencing, in any manner, as a person who is in governance, management or employment of a franchisee or vice versa.”According to Justice Jain, to avoid any complications at the behest of the BCCI, Dravid had handed a written copy from Indian Cements giving a leave of absence until he was employed by the board.

West Ham have made an out-of-window approach to sign one defender who's been tipped to become one of the best in world football.

West Ham eyeing new centre-back amid Aguerd and Zouma concerns

The Hammers and technical director Tim Steidten are being more regularly linked with signing a new centre-half this summer.

Related Door open for West Ham to complete ambitious Toney swoop after development

The Hammers are genuine contenders.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Mar 27, 2024

Concerns surround the ability of current mainstay Nayef Aguerd, who has been prone to the odd error this season and has often been subject to inconsistent displays alongside partner Kurt Zouma.

“It felt like one of those days from West Ham, defensively they were all over the shot. This is Aguerd on the ball, trying to play, there’s no urgency, there’s no movement," said pundit Shay Given on Match Of The Day after their 5-0 defeat to Fulham.

“Nobody’s sticking a tackle in, there’s nobody getting tight to people. Look at Willian, look how much space he has on the ball and again, it’s a free shot on the edge of the box from Iwobi. Pereira cuts it back, with no clearance in the middle of the box.

“I know it’s a Sunday, but you’d see it on a Sunday morning sometimes at Sunday League football.”

Both Zouma and Aguerd are thought to be attracting interest from Saudi Arabia, and if West Ham opt to do business with Middle Eastern sides over the duo, then their backline could look pretty different next season.

West Ham actually agreed a deal to sign Harry Maguire from Man United last summer, but the England international opted against a move to east London, with David Moyes instead turning to Konstantinos Mavropanos.

West Ham's next league matches

Date

Newcastle United (away)

March 30th

Tottenham (home)

April 2nd

Wolves (away)

April 6th

Fulham (home)

April 14th

Crystal Palace (away)

April 21st

West Ham have conceded five-plus goals in a game on multiple occasions this term, which has been a real cause for concern as Steidten looks to add more star quality.

Tosin Adarabioyo has attracted West Ham interest as he nears the end of his Fulham contract, while some reports suggest that Steidten is keeping tabs on Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah.

Another good option, according to Italian journalist Mirko Di Natale is Juventus defender Dean Huijsen.

West Ham make Dean Huijsen approach

Indeed, according to Di Natale, West Ham are among the sides who've made an approach for Huijsen ahead of this summer.

Currently on loan at Roma, the young Dutchman is already garnering quite a reputation, with Daniele De Rossi tipping him to become one of the best defenders in world football.

“Huijsen is becoming more and more mature. He does a lot. He’s very smart,” the 2006 World Cup winner told ESPN. “He doesn’t look 18-years-old on the field. He knows what he is doing. But sometimes a little too well. (Huijsen) is good with the ball at his feet, but sometimes a little too calm.

“I think he needs to learn some more ‘Italian tricks’ in his own box. If he does that, he will become one of the best players in the world.”

MatériaMais Notícias

A boa atuação de Eder na derrota do São Paulo para o 4 de Julho-PI por 3 a 2 pela Copa do Brasil, pode fazer o atacante acirrar a briga por uma vaga ataque titular do Tricolor na sequência da temporada.

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Recuperado de uma lesão na coxa que o tirou de algumas partidas da equipe, o ítalo-brasileiro atuou pela primeira vez durante os 90 minutos e marcou os dois tentos da equipe de Hernán Crespo.

Baixe o aplicativo do LANCE! e acompanhe o Brasileirão

Se consideramos a titularidade de Luciano, Eder concorre diretamente a uma vaga no time titular com Pablo. O camisa 23 inclusive, tem números melhores do que o atual dono da posição, mesmo jogando menos. Eder fez quatro gols em nove jogos, sendo que Pablo deixou o seu seis vezes em 16 partidas. Se pegarmos a média, o ítalo-brasileiro tem 0,44 contra 0,37 do ex-Athletico.

Apesar do bom momento, o jogador deixou de lado a disputa pela titularidade, ressaltando que a escolha é exclusiva do técnico Hernán Crespo.

– Estou começando a me sentir melhor depois da lesão que tive no começo do meu caminho no São Paulo. Questão de titular cabe sempre ao mister, me coloco à disposição e ele que decide se é cinco, 45 minutos, 90 minutos que vou jogar. Eu como profissional treino sempre para estar à disposição – afirmou o jogador após a partida no Piauí.

Agora, o Tricolor se prepara para o jogo diante do Atlético-GO, no próximo sábado (5), às 19h, em Goiânia, pela segunda rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

MatériaMais Notícias

Rolo compressor alvinegro. Neste domingo, o Botafogo goleou o Remo por 3 a 0, em partida válida pela 3ª rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro no Estádio Raulino de Oliveira, em Volta Redonda. Chay, Rafael Navarro e Pedro Castro fizeram os gols do duelo.

Desta forma, o Botafogo chegou aos sete pontos e subiu para a terceira posição na classificação da Série B. O Remo, com quatro, é o 10º colocado.

+ Veja a tabela da Série B do Brasileiro e simule os próximos jogos

Sem tanto tempo para descansar, o Botafogo volta aos gramados na próxima quarta-feira para enfrentar o Londrina no Estádio do Café, às 19h, pela 4ª rodada da Série B. O Remo joga um dia antes diante do Vitória, às 16h, no Estádio Baenão.

PRESSÃO DÁ RESULTADO
O Botafogo iniciou a partida em alta. Presente no ataque, os mandantes pressionaram no campo de ataque desde os minutos iniciais. O Remo, em linha baixa, pouco criou na primeira parte da partida.

Não demorou muito para o Botafogo abrir o placar. Após recuperação de bola, Oyama acionou Rafael Navarro no alto, o atacante deu uma “casquinha” que deixou Chay na cara do gol e o atacante não desperdiçou: finalizou no canto e estufou o fundo das redes, tirando o zero do Alvinegro.

RITMO CAI
O Botafogo perdeu ritmo a partir do gol de Chay. O Alvinegro, que até então dominava as ações da partida, perdeu ímpeto ofensivo. Quem se aproveitou, claro, foi o Remo, que conseguiu mais espaço para atacar e passou a gostar da partida.

O Leão Azul chegou a balançar as redes com Renan Gorne, mas o atacante estava em posição irregular e o lance foi anulado. De qualquer forma, o primeiro tempo terminou com as duas equipes em um pé de equilíbrio.​

ROLO COMPRESSOR!
Se o Botafogo terminou o primeiro tempo de forma lenta, voltou para a etapa complementar em um ritmo acelerado. A equipe dobrou a vantagem no placar ainda cedo: em contra-ataque, Ronald acionou Rafael Navarro, que, cara a cara com o goleiro, apenas teve o trabalho de deslocar e sair para o abraço.

Não demorou muito para o Botafogo comemorar de novo. Cinco minutos depois, em um novo contra-ataque, Pedro Castro, que havia acabado de entrar, acertou um chute de fora da área, sem chances de defesa para o goleiro Vinícius.

FICHA TÉCNICA
BOTAFOGO 3 x 0 REMO

Data/Hora: 03/06, às 16h
Local: Estádio Raulino de Oliveira, em Volta Redonda (RJ)
Árbitro: Alisson Sidnei Furtado (TO)
Assistentes: Fábio Pereira (TO) e Fernando Gomes da Silva (TO)
Gramado: Bom
Cartões amarelos: Guilherme Santos e Gilvan (BOT); Anderson Uchôa, Paulo Bonamigo e Rafael Jensen (REM)
Cartões vermelhos:

Gols: Chay (1-0, 14’/1ºT)/ Rafael Navarro (2-0, 14’/2ºT); Pedro Castro (3-0, 19’/2ºT)

BOTAFOGO: Douglas Borges; Warley, Kanu, Gilvan, Paulo Victor; Luís Oyama, Guilherme Santos (Pedro Castro 16’/2ºT); Ronald (Daniel Borges 33’/2ºT), Marco Antônio (Ricardinho 33’/2ºT), Chay (Diego Gonçalves 16’/2ºT); Rafael Navarro (Rafael Moura 38’/2ºT). Técnico: Marcelo Chamusca.

REMO: Vinícius; Thiago Ennes, Romércio, Rafael Jensen, Marlon; Anderson Uchôa (Igor Fernandes 19’/2ºT), Lucas Siqueira; Jefferson (Érick Flores 19’/2ºT), Felipe Gedoz (Rafinha 19’/2ºT), Dioguinho; Renan Gorne. Técnico: Paulo Bonamigo.

Liverpool are believed to be planning to activate a clause in a "talented" manager's contract, seeing him as the front-runner to replace Jurgen Klopp this summer.

Liverpool manager latest

Klopp's decision to leave Anfield at the end of the season is something that very few saw coming, leaving anyone of a Reds persuasion both shocked and bereft.

FSG now have an almost impossible job on their hands when it comes to replacing the charismatic German, as they look to hire someone capable of being a worthy successor, keeping Liverpool at the top of the English game in the process.

For a number of months, it looked as though Xabi Alonso was the clear front-runner to come in for Klopp at Anfield, but he has now decided to stay on at Bayern Leverkusen for at least another season.

There are plenty of other candidates in the mix to come in, however, with highly-rated Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim linked with the Liverpool job a number of times. The 39-year-old has guided his side to the top of the Primeira Liga table, but may feel that he wants a new challenge this summer, admitting that he "can't guarantee" staying put.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann are two others who are also seen as potential options for the Reds, as FSG weigh up all the different choices.

Update on Liverpool's pursuit of "talented" Amorim

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, Liverpool have "identified" Amorim as their number one choice this summer, seeing him as the best possible option to fill the gaping void that Klopp will leave.

The Reds are plotting to trigger the release clause in his contract that will allow them to snap him up, having to pay around £12-13m to get their man.

With Alonso out of the picture, it does now feel as though Amorim is the clear favourite to be Liverpool's next manager, as this update suggests, with failure to bring in either arguably feeling like a disappointment at this point.

Ruben Amorim's managerial stats

Matches

Points per game

Sporting CP

205

2.24

Braga

13

2.38

Casa Pia

4

2.25

At just 39 years of age, the Portuguese is still such a young manager with fresh ideas, and he represents a vibrant option, playing some superb football with Sporting and often playing three at the back, encouraging his defenders to play it out from defence and build attacks.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has described Amorim as a "very talented" manager overseeing an "extremely interesting project" at the Portuguese giants, and the fact that he is on the verge of title glory this season further highlights what an exciting choice he could be for Liverpool.

Related Report: Edwards and Hughes set to offer major Liverpool star new contract

It could be worth over £10m a year.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Apr 6, 2024

None of the other candidates arguably stand out in the same way that Amorim does, and the fact that his release clause exists also makes it easier for FSG to get their man, making this one to watch.

أرسل النادي الأهلي، خطاباً رسميا اليوم الإثنين إلى الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، بشأن أزمة تسنين الناشئين، يدعو فيه إلى ضرورة إجراء تحقيق شامل وعاجل بشأن ظاهرة “التسنين” للعديد من اللاعبين المشاركين في دوريات فرق الناشئين بالأعمار المختلفة.

وكان منتخب مصر قد أجرى بعض الفحوصات التي أثبتت تسنين 7 لاعبين منضمين لمعسكر منتخب مصر، بينهم 4 من القوام الأساسي للفراعنة الصغار.

وقال النادي في خطابه إن هذه الظاهرة تعد خطرًا حقيقيًا على مستقبل الكرة المصرية، ويجب التصدي لها لما تمثله قاعدة الناشئين من أهمية بالغة في دعم الأندية والمنتخبات الوطنية.

طالع أيضاً.. خاص | اتحاد الكرة يكشف تفاصيل أزمة التسنين في منتخب مصر 2008

وكانت أزمة التزوير في سن بعض اللاعبين قد ضربت منتخب مصر في معسكره الأخير الذي أقيم بالإسكندرية وتخلله مواجهات ودية مع منتخب روسيا.

وعلم بطولات في وقت سابق أن علاء نبيل المدير الفني لاتحاد الكرة كان قد قرر عقد مؤتمر صحفي للحديث عن أزمة التسنين، واللاعبين الذين ثُبت التزوير في أعمارهم في منتخب مصر مواليد 2008.

The visitors have most bases covered with their batting, but their bowling is need of a lift against a strong India line-up

The Preview by Saurabh Somani21-Dec-20194:40

The Shami factor and the holy trinity of the WI batting

Big pictureThis is the second successive bilateral series at home in which India have come to the deciding ODI with the series still even. The last time it happened, against Australia, India ended up losing.Is a repeat likely? Perhaps not, given India’s strength in the 50-overs format, but it’s not out of the question. West Indies showed in the first ODI that when their batting and bowling come together, they are a side hard to stop.India have had injury issues with their bowling attack, but the batting wears an extremely powerful look. Shreyas Iyer has settled in as a No. 4 who can explode if coming in late, or rebuild if early wickets have fallen. With Rishabh Pant and Kedar Jadhav to follow, Iyer has become the link between an irrepressible top three and a power-packed finish.Sheldon Cottrell leaps into his action•BCCI

West Indies also have most bases covered with their batting, but their bowling has the tendency to fall apart under pressure. To be fair, when a batting line-up like India’s gets going in familiar conditions, any attack will be under pressure. The best way to counter that for West Indies will be early wickets.Form guideIndia WLWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
West Indies LWWWWIn the spotlightTwo matches, five balls, four runs, two dismissals. This is alien territory for Virat Kohli, especially in ODIs, and especially against West Indies. He set the scene on fire in the T20Is, but he has barely given spectators enough time to settle down from applauding him to the crease when he has been walking back. Cricket odds don’t work in this fashion but it will take a brave, possibly foolhardy, person to bet against Kohli making a big score in this match. Despite the two failures in this series, he is averaging 71.66 at a strike rate of 97.06 against West Indies.He’s coming into this match on the back of becoming an IPL millionaire, but Sheldon Cottrell had a below-par outing in the second ODI, though he was quite brilliant in the opening game. His first spell there read 5-3-12-2, the wickets being of KL Rahul and Kohli. His left-arm angle, changes of pace, and ability to move the ball off the pitch make him a consistent threat.Virat Kohli watches the ball intently•BCCI

Team newsIndia lost Bhuvneshwar Kumar to injury earlier, and are now without Deepak Chahar too. Their replacements are Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini. India’s choice of playing XI will depend on whether they want to go with three seamers or three spinners. If they pick only two seamers, Saini will have to beat Thakur to make it to the XI. He was impressive for Delhi in the recent second round of the Ranji Trophy, while Thakur wasn’t particularly penetrative in the second ODI.India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Navdeep Saini, 11 Shardul Thakur/Yuzvendra ChahalWest Indies need a lift in their bowling, but they might want to keep faith in the same attack that did duty in the second ODI. One of the swaps possible is bringing back legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr for left-arm spinner Khary Pierre, but Walsh Jr didn’t seem to have his captain’s confidence in the first ODI, when he bowled only five overs. And considering India plundered 387 in the second ODI, Pierre’s economy rate of 6.88 across nine overs was commendable.West Indies (probable) 1 Ewin Lewis, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Shimron Hetmyer, 4 Roston Chase, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Keemo Paul, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Khary Pierre, 11 Sheldon CottrellPitch and conditionsThe last ODI at this ground was played nearly three years ago, and it was a very high-scoring one. India made 381 for 6 and England responded with 366 for 8. There haven’t been List A matches at the ground since March 2017, though in the domestic T20s earlier this year, the scoring rates, in general, were not high.Iyer said on the eve of the match that the pitch will be “really fast” in the second innings and the dew factor will play a “massive role”.Stats and trivia The last time India lost two consecutive multi-game bilateral series at home was back in April 2005, when Pakistan beat them 4-2, with West Indies having won 4-3 in November 2002 in the bilateral series before that. India haven’t played Chahal and Yadav together in a game in a while, but the stats when they do play together are pretty good, with India having a win-loss ratio of 2.66. They have won 24 games and lost just nine, with one no result.

Kumar Sangakkara will captain MCC team in matches against PSL opposition next month

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2020

Former England allrounder Ravi Bopara has been named as part of a 12-man MCC squad to tour Pakistan in February. The team will be captained by Sri Lanka great, and current MCC president, Kumar Sangakkara, and coached by former England quick Ajmal Shahzad.Also included in the touring party are Scotland’s Safyaan Sharif and Michael Leask, Netherlands duo Roelof van der Merwe and Fred Klaassen, along with county players from Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Kent and Worcestershire. England internationals Samit Patel and Liam Dawson, as well as Sussex’s Phil Salt, will each feature in one match, as part of a link up with the Pakistan Super League.MCC are set to play games against two PSL teams, Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans, as well as Pakistan’s domestic T20 champions, Northerns. The tour is aimed at encouraging support for international teams returning to play in Pakistan, more than a decade after the 2009 terrorist attacks.The MCC’s chief executive, Guy Lavender, will take on the role of team manager, supported by MCC assistant secretary (cricket) and former England, Essex and Hampshire allrounder John Stephenson.”We are thrilled to be able to name a strong squad for this tour, which blends youth and experience for a strong side of high quality,” Stephenson said. “We have really appreciated the collaborative approach from the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Pakistan Super League, which has enabled us to arrange fixtures against sides preparing for this year’s PSL tournament as well as to secure the services of some of those participating.”As a club, we share the PCB’s wish in wanting to see international teams returning to play in Pakistan on a regular basis and we hope that this tour contributes to those objectives.”MCC squad:Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Ravi Bopara, Michael Burgess, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Fred Klaassen, Michael Leask, Arron Lilley, Imran Qayyum, Will Rhodes, Safyaan Sharif, Roelof van der Merwe, Ross Whiteley

Newcastle United have enjoyed a brilliant run of form in recent weeks under boss Eddie Howe, despite the club’s horrid luck with injuries this season.

The Magpies are unbeaten in their last four Premier League outings, after convincingly picking up their latest win at St James’ Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Howe’s side dominated top-four hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur, beating Ange Postecoglou’s outfit 4-0, allowing his side to close the gap on the Champions League places to ten points with six games remaining this campaign.

Fabian Schar, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon all found the back of the net in the victory, with the latter two impressing in forward areas once more for the Magpies.

The two attackers managed to contribute to all four goals in the victory, with the duo potentially benefitting further next season should one player arrive on Tyneside this summer.

Newcastle interested in "monstrous" talent this summer

Injuries to the Newcastle squad have seen the Toon often look depleted in multiple key areas, such as the midfield, with the likes of Joelinton and Sandro Tonali missing for large periods of the season.

The club are looking to strengthen this summer, with targets from all over Europe being targeted to add key squad depth for Howe’s side.

According to Tutto Juve via Sport Witness, the Magpies have identified Borussia Mönchengladbach’s French midfielder Manu Kone as a potential signing this summer and they are the favourites to acquire him over Juventus.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a successful campaign in the Bundesliga this season, making 18 appearances, scoring once and assisting twice.

His form in Germany has also caught the eye of Juventus, but the report states that the Italian side are behind Newcastle in the race to sign the youngster.

How Kone would benefit Isak and Gordon

Isak and Gordon have both excelled in the Premier League this campaign, scoring a combined 26 goals between them as they help to secure another season of European football at the club. The idea of a midfield powerhouse behind them, therefore, could give the duo extra freedom in the final third.

When delving into Kone’s stats per game this season, the 22-year-old has been tremendous, with it being no surprise he’s being linked with a big move.

He’s averaged 2.1 progressive carries per 90 so far this season, with the midfielder also managing a tally of 2.2 successful take-ons per game – ranking him within the top 2% of all midfielders in Europe. Such metrics make him a true powerhouse, potentially capable of bursting forward to provide even more chances in attack for the Magpies.

It’s not just in possession where Kone has impressed, but also without, as he’s achieved 2.3 tackles per game and 1.4 blocks as he’s showcased his ability at both ends of the pitch.

Kone’s Bundesliga stats 2023/24

Statistics

Tally

Progressive carries

2.1

Successful take-ons

2.2

Tackles

2.3

Blocks

1.4

Pass completion

85%

Shots

1.4

Stats via FBref

The “monstrous” talent as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, looks to be an exciting talent and one that Newcastle should look to pursue closely in the summer.

Although there’s no rumoured fee for the Frenchman, he does have a market value of £21m, as per Transfermarkt, which would be a bargain for a player of his quality.

His ability to get on the ball and drive forward to create opportunities in the final third would be a huge asset to Howe’s side, with his talents potentially allowing Gordon and Isak to thrive off more chances in attacking areas and subsequently improve their impressive goal tallies further.