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Pep Guardiola has shared the latest on Ilkay Gundogan’s injury and it could be a huge blow for Manchester City if it keeps him out of upcoming fixtures.

What’s the word?

The German midfielder was on the end of a heavy challenge in the final moments of City’s 1-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon, seemingly injuring his arm in the process.

Following the game, Guardiola shared the latest on the former Borussia Dortmund man, saying:

“It was something in his shoulder. We will see what happens tomorrow with the doctor. it looks like something happened.”

The 30-year-old is one of few first-choice Man City players to enjoy essentially a full pre-season at the club, following Germany’s early exit from the European Championships this summer, and Guardiola would have been hoping to keep him fit for what is a very tough opening couple of months for the Citizens.

Guardiola’s side face Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester City in September before a trip to Anfield in early October, and could well find themselves playing catch up in the title race if they struggle in those fixtures.

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Given that Kevin De Bruyne is also suffering with injury problems, not having Gundogan fully fit and available could be a huge blow to the Spanish manager, as he was one of the key performers last season as City ran away with the title.

In 28 top-flight appearances, the midfielder would contribute an impressive 13 goals and two assists, averaging a superb 7.29 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Guardiola is a huge fan of the midfielder, singing his praises in 2019, saying:

“He can play in many roles. When he plays close to the box, he’s a guy who scores goals and has personality.

“I didn’t expect after one year, two years he would be so consistent as a holding midfielder, defending that position. He’s an exceptional player, honestly. He’s one of Europe’s best players, in fact.”

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Therefore, it would be a huge blow if this shoulder injury were to keep him out for an extended period, especially considering the timing and City’s difficult opening run of games.

And, in other news… Athletic journalist claims City are scouting six-foot-nine forward

The PCB is in favour of England resuming its tour of India, believing the move will send out a “positive signal for cricket in the subcontinent”

Cricinfo staff03-Dec-2008
Will Kevin Pietersen and his team head back to India? © Getty Images
The PCB is in favour of England resuming its tour of India after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, believing the move will send out a “positive signal for cricket in the subcontinent”.”If England returns despite the carnage caused by the Mumbai attacks it would give out positive signals for cricket in the subcontinent. We feel it will also go a long way in India playing us,” Saleem Altaf, the Pakistan’s board’s chief operating officer, told . “I fully support the statement of England captain Kevin Pietersen that we can’t let cowards run cricket. These terrorists who caused so much carnage in Mumbai have to be given out a clear message that people in the region want to live a normal life.”England were five matches into their ODI series against India when the attacks took place last month. The teams were due to play the second Test in Mumbai starting December 19, and were slated to stay at the Taj Mahal hotel, one of the locations targeted. In the wake of the attacks, the final two ODIs of the seven-match series were called off, and the England squad headed back home.The ECB is now awaiting a report from their Reg Dickason, their security expert, who is assessing the situation in Chennai and Mohali, the new venues for the two Tests instead of Mumbai and Ahmedabad. However, there are doubts whether all of England’s first-choice squad are go to India if the tour does proceed as planned; the board has maintained it will leave the decision to the individuals concerned.Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said the board would make a sensible choice. “Under no circumstances will we allow our cricket to be dictated to by terrorists,” he said. “India is an enormous country and there are large parts of it that have never seen terrorist activity. In 2005 [when terrorists attacked parts of London], the Aussies were sensible and we are doing the same here.” Clarke’s statements came after the ICC chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, urged England to tour India if the security situation is deemed safe.The Pakistan board is also expecting a decision on India’s visit to the country next year. There have been reports the tour would be cancelled as the Indian government take a tough stance on ties with Pakistan after the attacks.”So far the Indian board has just told us that they are waiting for directives from their government and that is the present status quo,” Altaf said. “Our [PCB] chairman Ijaz Butt will meet with his Indian counterpart in Colombo this week during the Asian Cricket Council meeting to discuss things while I am also going to attend the ICC chief executives meeting and we hope to make some headway on the Indian’s tour.”Altaf was hopeful the tour goes ahead; the PCB in the past has said neutral venues would be considered if India are wary about the security situation in Pakistan. “Cricket has to resume in the subcontinent,” he said. “We know that the Indian board wants to support us. Hopefully, the series will be played on schedule right now that is the most important thing for us.”

John Dyson has tagged Brendan Nash as an example for emerging West Indies batsmen to follow. The head coach described the reliance on four or five players in the recent two drawn Tests against New Zealand as “unfortunate” but noted that Nash had made a “s

Tony Cozier30-Dec-2008
Brendan Nash featured in two vital partnerships at difficult stages in the second Test against New Zealand. The first with centurion Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the first innings and with captain Chris Gayle in the second. © Getty Images
West Indies coach John Dyson has tagged Brendan Nash as an example for emerging batsmen to follow. Dyson described the reliance on four or five players in the two recent drawn Tests against New Zealand as “unfortunate” but said Nash had made a “significant contribution” in his first series.”We’re obviously challenging the other players, the younger players, to step forward and show their true ability,” he said. “With the experienced players, they’re the stars because they’re the long-term performers. Every team looks to its experienced players to perform but we need the lesser lights to go with them and make significant contributions.”He noted that some members of the team “have been around for a little while” and are due to make an impact in the remaining limited-overs matches on the tour.In his first Test series since leaving his native Australia two years ago to fulfill his goal of qualifying for Jamaica, the country of his parents, and the West Indies, the diminutive Nash was one of five key players against New Zealand along with captain Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards.His 162 runs in three innings included scores of 74 and 65 in the second Test and two vital partnerships at difficult stages: with centurion Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the first innings and captain Chris Gayle in the second.The West Indies were reduced to 74 for 4 before lunch on the first day of the second match in Dunedin after opting to bat, when Nash stayed for three-and-a-half hours in helping Chanderpaul revive the innings. After he drove a catch to short extra-cover, the next five batsmen contributed 29 between them, as Chanderpaul advanced to his unbeaten 126.Behind by 64 on the first innings, the West Indies were 106 for 4 the second time round as Xavier Marshall and Chanderpaul, the rock, were dismissed by successive balls from off-spinner Jeetan Patel. When Nash was bounced out by James Franklin later, Gayle had passed his hundred and the total had moved to 230 for five.When Denesh Ramdin and Jerome Taylor followed cheaply, Fidel Edwards was promoted from No. 11 to No. 9 to partner Gayle. It was a strong message to Daren Powell and Sulieman Benn who were relegated after their first innings dismissals to careless strokes.Edwards recognised it for what it was. He remained almost two and a half hours all told, a lesson in lower order responsibility, and actually outlasted Gayle in a stand of 70.West Indies altered the balance of their attack from one Test to the next, preferring Benn’s left-arm spin to debutant Lionel Baker’s pace.Neither caused problems on ideal batting pitches, Baker going without a wicket from 25 overs in the first Test, Benn claiming one (on an lbw referral) from 41 overs in the second.Dyson repeated the point he has made since taking up the post just over a year ago – that the ideal situation would be able to travel with a pool of players, enabling the selection of a balanced team “for all surfaces”.”Unfortunately, numbers dictate you can’t do that,” he said.He noted that, during his time, the West Indies have played on “some dead-set flatties,” using Australian cricket-speak to describe lifeless pitches.”It’s important that we choose a squad that does enable us to pick a spinner if conditions so dictate,” he said. “Whether it’s Sulieman Benn, Nikita Miller, Amit Jaggernauth or Dave Mohammed would depend who we’re playing against, on what sort of wicket you end up with, on the ground you’re playing on. So there are a number of factors”.

Manchester City bounced back from defeat against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend to record a resounding 5-0 win against Norwich City at the Etihad.

An own goal from Tim Krul sent Pep Guardiola’s side on their way before goals from Jack Grealish, Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez secured a comfortable win, to earn the Citizens their first three points of the new campaign.

Guardiola is still getting back players to full fitness due to the extended holidays many players had during the summer, with the likes of Kyle Walker, Laporte and Gabriel Jesus making their first starts of the season after featuring heavily at the Euros and the Copa America.

One man who impressed with his performance against Daniel Farke’s side was Laporte, with the Spain international sending Guardiola the message that he is more than good enough to start regularly this season after he spent much of the last campaign as the third-choice centre-back behind Ruben Dias and John Stones.

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As per SofaScore, the former Athletic Bilbao man, who was once dubbed “incredible” by his manager, would earn a superb 8.1/10 rating for his performance, which was the joint-best score of any player to feature in the game.

Whilst it is difficult to judge the centre-back’s defending against a Norwich side that failed to register a shot on target at the Etihad, he was confident in everything he did and scored City’s third goal with an impressive finish on his right foot.

His passing, however, was a joy to behold at times, as he completed a remarkable 111/113 passes during the 90 minutes which was the most of any player in the game.

Despite having so much of the ball, he only lost possession on two occasions, when two of his 11 attempted long balls went astray, which emphasises just how much quality he has with the ball at his feet, which led Guardiola to label him as the best left-footed centre-back in the world when it comes to build-up play following the game.

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It had been rumoured earlier in the summer that Laporte could be one of the first-team players to be sold in order to fund moves for Grealish and Harry Kane, but if this performance is anything to go by, Guardiola needs to keep him at the club.

And, in other news… Man City handed huge boost over “world-class” star, Txiki must act

Ricky Ponting is not known for his generosity to opposition teams but his sporting declaration has set up a fascinating final day at the SCG, where South Africa need 314 more runs with nine wickets in hand

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale06-Jan-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Ricky Ponting was in fine form after an early scare © Getty Images
Ricky Ponting is not known for his generosity to opposition teams but his sporting declaration has set up a fascinating final day at the SCG, where South Africa need 314 more runs with nine wickets in hand. The match is a dead rubber but that’s a deceptive term; a South African victory will bounce them up to the No. 1 Test ranking and Ponting would go down in history as the first captain to lead Australia to a 0-3 loss at home.However, for that to happen South Africa would need their third miracle of the series, almost enough to push for sainthood, and with Graeme Smith unlikely to bat their task is even tougher. Still, by Ponting’s conservative standards his decision to set the visitors 376 in nearly four full sessions was a brave one. This was a team that had chased 414 in Perth. Ponting had found the cracking surface easier than it looked in posting a half-century and Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie also seemed relatively comfortable after coming together at 1 for 2.Morne Morkel was an odd choice to open in the absence of the injured Smith and it was a plan that took only two balls to fail. Morkel spooned his second delivery to mid-on to give Doug Bollinger his first Test wicket but it was the only reason for Australia to cheer in the final two hours. Amla and McKenzie were tested by balls that jagged off the cracks but they showed impressive concentration to survive and post a 60-run partnership.Brad Haddin put down a tough chance diving to his right when Amla was on 5 and it could yet prove a costly miss on a day when Australia had until then tightened their hold on the match. It was also a day when Matthew Hayden’s grip on his position at the top of the order weakened further. Hayden came into the game dead-batting speculation that it could be his final appearance but his inability to post a half-century in the home Tests has left him vulnerable. He did manage 39 in this innings and it was the first time this summer that he has scored more than his age, but openers are not there to post handy 30s.A few cracking drives and clips over leg hinted at a change of form but the teasing moments have been there all series and reality kicked back in when he tried to launch Morkel over mid-on and inside-edged onto his stumps. As he walked off the ground to a standing ovation, with onlookers eagle-eyed for any tip-off that he might retire, a small bat-raise was the only clue that it could have been his farewell. There was no cause for celebration but he had at least helped Australia move closer to a win or a draw.Ponting, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey all made contributions after Hayden departed but Australia’s effort was not breathtaking, it was more an innings than meandered like the snaking crack around which the batsmen played. The out-of-form Hussey was pleased not to lose his wicket and he finished unbeaten on 45, having struck a couple of boundaries that would bring him confidence.The declaration came when Clarke holed out to Paul Harris for 41, ending a 76-run stand with Hussey that had begun when Katich was lbw for 61. It was a strange dismissal: Dale Steyn came around the wicket and struck Katich in line but made no appeal whatsoever. However, Mark Boucher asked the question and Asoka de Silva made the fair call that the ball would have hit leg stump, surprising not only the batsman but the bowler as well.Katich’s innings was a tough grind, for him and the spectators. Early in the day he faced five consecutive maidens from Jacques Kallis and it took him 40 balls and nearly an hour to tick his score over from 17 to 18. Ponting was the only batsman who looked truly comfortable with the breaking surface and he launched nine boundaries, including some classic pulls and back-foot drives.He had come to the crease on a king pair and nearly completed it when he tried to leave his first delivery from Morkel but didn’t get the bat out of the way and the edge flew past the stumps and off to the boundary. Eventually it was an inside edge off Morkel that did for Ponting on 53 and he headed inside to ponder declaration times. Overnight he may wish he’d pondered for a bit longer.

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha would be a “typical Wolves signing”, says Express & Star reporter Luke Hatfield.

According to Portuguese journalist Filipe Dias, Wolves are interested in signing Palhinha before the transfer window closes, though they face competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham.

Spurs’ interest in the 26-year-old complicates things. But if the Midlands club manage to get a deal over the line, then he would be joining compatriots Ruben Neves, Pedro Neto and Joao Moutinho at Molineux, adding to that Portuguese core.

On Palhinha’s potential arrival, Hatfield told FFC:

“We all know what Wolves’ transfer business has been like over the past few years. It’s normally from that Portuguese market.

“Palhinha is one who’s been linked on numerous occasions with Wolves. It would be a typical Wolves signing.”

Given that Wolves have been tapping into the Portuguese market in recent years, it really would not be a surprise if Palhinha did end up at Molineux.

With a midfield spot at Tottenham potentially opening up due to the uncertainty surrounding Tanguy Ndombele’s future, though, perhaps they could make a real push for the Sporting man before the end of the month. This could be an interesting one.

Brad Haddin’s maiden one-day international century pushed Australia to 9 for 301 as they stayed in the Chappell-Hadlee Series

The Bulletin by Alex Brown at the SCG08-Feb-2009Australia 9 for 301 (Haddin 109, Clarke 64, Hussey 51) beat New Zealand 269 (Elliott 115) by 32 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Brad Haddin picked an ideal time for his maiden ODI century and his 109 put Australia on target for a crucial victory © Getty Images
Australia’s influx of youth has dominated discussion of late, but it was the team’s mainstays who completed a successful series-salvaging mission at the SCG. Brad Haddin’s maiden one-day international century was complemented by half-centuries to Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey, propelling Australia to an intimidating 9 for 301 that proved just beyond the grasp of the hard-finishing New Zealand.The hosts appeared set for a comfortable victory at the fall of Tim Southee’s wicket in the 37th over, but a brilliant partnership of 69 from 49 deliveries between Grant Elliott, who struck 115 from 124 balls, and the injured Brendon McCullum (36 from 27) raised hopes of a stunning upset. McCullum, playing with the assistance of a pain-killing injection after hurting his shoulder in the field, punished Nathan Bracken from the uncustomary position of No. 9, while Elliott adopted a more measured approach in compiling his maiden limited-overs hundred.Elliott, however, holed out to Michael Hussey off the bowling of James Hopes in the 45th over to effectively end New Zealand’s surge. McCullum followed in bizarre circumstances – his bat flying to midwicket, the ball to wide mid-off – and Jeetan Patel fell with 15 balls remaining to seal a 32-run victory for Australia that ended an inglorious five-game losing streak.McCullum’s brave decision to bat could cost the team in the days to come. He had been struck a serious enough blow standing up to a rearing Kyle Mills delivery for the team management to call in Gareth Hopkins as cover for Tuesday’s match in Adelaide. McCullum, the vice-captain, will undergo scans to the damaged right shoulder on Monday, with his availability to be determined the following morning.McCullum’s opposite number, Haddin, experienced vastly contrasting fortunes at the SCG. Haddin may have been overlooked in the Indian Premier League draft last week, but proved immensely valuable to Australia’s embattled limited-overs unit with a brilliant innings of 109 from 114 deliveries defined by clean, straight hitting and authoritative footwork.Haddin became the first Australian batsman to post a one-day international century since June last year, and his timing could not have been more opportune. Faced with a second consecutive home series defeat, Haddin – in just his fifth appearance as a limited-overs opener for Australia – combined with Michael Clarke (64 off 69) for a 135-run opening stand that set a solid foundation for a large total.Haddin, 31, batted watchfully in the opening exchanges and accelerated over the course of the afternoon. He blasted Daniel Vettori for a straight six upon reaching 90 and, after a few nervous moments stationed on 99, completed his hundred with a single off the bowling of Tim Southee. Haddin was eventually run-out from the second ball of the batting Powerplay, but not before he had confirmed his status as a pariah to New Zealand. Widely criticised for his controversial role in Neil Broom’s dismissal in Perth last week, Haddin added to the tourists’ frustration with the bat.Australia might well have posted a more imposing total if not for another middle-order tremor, but a brisk sixth-wicket partnership of 62 between Michael Hussey (51 off 32 balls) and Callum Ferguson (28 off 23) still allowed the hosts to pass the 300-run barrier in an ODI for the first time since the tour of the West Indies. With the SCG wicket showing signs of holding, the run-a-ball target always appeared a difficult ask.New Zealand’s run-chase began poorly when Martin Guptill (6) and Ross Taylor (4) were dismissed by Bracken and Ben Hilfenhaus respectively inside the first six overs. Taylor was most unfortunate to have been adjudged lbw by the umpire Steve Bucknor to a delivery he appeared to edge, somewhat negating the earlier incorrect leg-before decision awarded against Ferguson.Wickets fell at a steady clip until the union of Elliott and McCullum. Their entertaining stand enthralled the SCG crowd, but fell short of their ultimate objective of leading New Zealand to a series-sealing victory.For the Australians, the victory provided the comforting feeling that normal programming had resumed – even if that programme was tape-delayed by into Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

Evening Standard football writer Jack Rosser believes that Kurt Zouma is a good signing for West Ham. 

Zouma made six assists.

According to BBC Sport, the 26-year-old is set to make a move across London and join West Ham for a reported fee of £25m.

During his time at Chelsea, Zouma has had plenty of success as he has helped the club to lift, two Premier League titles, one UEFA Champions League, one League Cup and the UEFA Super Cup this season, where the Blues beat Villarreal in the final 1-0.

Rosser believes that West Ham are getting a really good signing, telling Transfer Tavern: “I think it’s a good signing for them. I don’t know how interested Spurs were, but I think it shows the sort of level that West Ham are operating at now with you know the consistency they’ve built under Moyes to move up not just away from relegation but into contention for Europe. 

“So, I think it’s a good signing, it’s a good price, and I think he’s exactly the sort of player that they’ve been looking for.”

West Ham have made a fantastic start to the season and currently sit top of the Premier League table after back-to-back wins against Newcastle United and Leicester City, with the Hammers scoring four goals in each game!

England batsman Owais Shah, who was purchased by the Delhi Daredevils for US$ 275,000 in the second IPL auction, has said nothing will give him greater fulfillment than a secure career with England

Cricinfo staff07-Feb-2009
Owais Shah: “I want to play for England in the near future and with the Ashes around the corner, I want to play Test cricket” © Getty Images
England batsman Owais Shah, who was purchased by the Delhi Daredevils for US$ 275,000 in the second IPL auction, has said nothing will give him greater fulfillment than a secure career with England. Shah was speaking after he was omitted from the squad for the ongoing first Test against West Indies in Jamaica.”We all want to play Test cricket because there is pride and honour playing for your country against another nation,” Shah told . “There’s no feeling to beat it.”Shah began his England career in 2001 as an ODI specialist but has struggled to find a regular place in the side, playing 52 ODIs in that period. He had to wait another five years for his Test debut, but despite making an impression with an important 88, he has played only one more Test since.He admitted his disappointment at not making the line-up for the Jamaica Test but vowed to win his place back, with the Ashes coming up at home this summer.”The captain (Andrew Strauss) told me that it was a tough decision (to leave him out of the first Test), but that I was close and I have to keep knocking on the door,” Shah said. “I’m only 30. I want to play for England in the near future and with the Ashes around the corner, I want to play Test cricket. I’m allowed a four-week period for the IPL, then I have to be back in England. Hopefully, I’ll make the one-day squad.”He said he wasn’t entirely surprised to see his England team-mate Ravi Bopara being auctioned off for US$ 450,000 by the Kings XI Punjab – exactly three times his base price – given his worth as an allrounder. Both are relatively inexperienced at the Test level but Bopara fetched a much higher bid, despite playing 19 fewer ODIs.”His value is a lot more than mine because he is an allrounder,” Shah said. “He’s a good one-day player. He’s played for England so good luck to him.”Bopara admitted he even feared being unsold at the auctions and didn’t have too many expectations when the bidding started.”I was just hoping that someone would bid for me at the base price of US$ 150,000. I was a little worried that I might be unsold,” Bopara told the website cricketheroes.co.uk. “There was a period of ten seconds before the first bid came in but I was more than happy once that came in.”When I looked at the TV and saw this bidding war going on for me it was quite exciting but I’m not letting it go to my head.”

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern on James Ward-Prowse’s future, former Southampton midfielder Carlton Palmer thinks he could have a release clause in his new contract.

Ward-Prowse was the subject of heavy interest from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window, with the Midlands club reportedly having a £25m bid turned down for the player.

The 26-year-old then went on to sign a new five-year deal while the window was still open to put an end to all the speculation, but Palmer reckons he could still leave in the near future and believes his latest contract may have a release clause in it.

“I think what’s happened with James is Aston Villa were in for him and a few other clubs, but nobody met the valuation that Southampton had on him,” the ex-Saint said.

“If the club comes in, offers you a new contract, they safeguard themselves by signing him on a new long-term contract, they put in a release clause of whatever that may be.

“I’m sure clubs will revisit Southampton over him time and time again. The release clause, I’m sure it will come out.”

All things considered, Southampton will probably be glad to see the back of the 2021 summer transfer window after being forced to sell a couple of key players.

During it, they lost both Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard to Premier League rivals and could have also watched Ward-Prowse depart.