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He has done his homework diligently, and has been a reassuring presence for India at the top

Nagraj Gollapudi12-Aug-20211:47

Laxman: This innings will work as a template for Rohit Sharma going forward

Till James Anderson did what only he can do, Rohit Sharma made us think ahead of ourselves. What would he do if he became the first Indian batter to score a Test century at Lord’s since Ajinkya Rahane in 2014? Would he do Misbah-ul-Haq style push-ups? Would he passionately kiss the badge on his helmet like Michael Slater? Or would he just be Rohit Sharma, and flash a sunlit smile to the dressing room, and his wife and daughter?You can get carried away easily by Rohit. KL Rahul has beautiful hands that unleash gorgeous drives, but even he would agree that few make batting look as easy as when Rohit is in full flow. And when he flows, the opposition shudders.The beauty about Rohit is that he will not get saddled with doubts and worries and what-ifs. Take the pull off the first bouncer England fired at him at the stroke of lunch on the second morning at Trent Bridge. Without even a blink, Rohit swivelled in his crease to pull Ollie Robinson high, but straight to Sam Curran at deep fine leg.Related

Laxman's advice to Rohit: 'Focus on leaving outside off'

KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma make it comfortably India's day at Lord's

“If I see the ball in my area I have to play the shot. That’s my shot. I have got runs playing that shot,” Rohit explained to the media later that day.He was not being cocky. Having studied batters who have succeeded in England, Rohit felt the way to do that was look to score while respecting the conditions. That is also his strength. His great success in white-ball cricket allows Rohit to punish bad balls effortlessly, like he did when he hit four boundaries in a single over from Curran in the first session.However, Rohit has not tried to hit his way out of difficult questions asked by the opposition. Instead, in the short time he has been opening in Test cricket overseas, one standout factor has been his defensive game outside the off stump.Assured footwork, judging lengths and lines accurately to leave balls alone or take a big stride – all these factors have allowed Rohit to stay solid at the crease, having batted thrice in this series, each time walking out with Rahul under overcast conditions, confronted by clinical and probing spells of fast bowling from Anderson and Robinson in particular.That Rohit has been ready is only because he has been doing his homework diligently. On Wednesday, Rohit, Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were the only three Indians at an optional training session. The session might have lasted about three quarters of an hour but Rohit’s sole focus was whether he was judging the lengths and the seam position well while leaving balls that pitched on a length in the channel. It did not matter when at times he was beaten, or the ball sharply slanted into his pads, or he was opened up by a zinger. What mattered was he was reacting to the ball. And each time the ball was short, Rohit played shot.That mindset came into play on Thursday morning when England took advantage of the cloudy conditions and a pitch full of moisture by throttling the run rate. After the first 10 overs India had just 11 runs. After the first hour they had 35. It was the same pattern in both innings at Trent Bridge, where India started watchfully and then built momentum quickly. The 97-run alliance between the openers in the first innings at Trent Bridge was India’s highest opening stand outside Asia since 2010. On Thursday, they bettered that by putting on 126.In the first two decades of this century, Indian openers had batted for more than 20 overs in an innings on just five occasions in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. In 2021 alone, Rohit – along with Shubman Gill before this series and Rahul now – has helped India last at least 20 overs five time already in those countries.Rohit Sharma acknowledges the cheers after getting to his half-century•Getty ImagesOne reason Rohit has been successful as a Test opener is because he has worked out the balance between attack and defence. In the first hour of the second session, Mark Wood had a chuckle after squaring him up with a fast legcutter delivered from wide of the crease. Rohit did not mind. Presented with a short 142kmh/88mph delivery on the middle stump, he quickly moved outside the line of the delivery to pull it for a boundary.The last ball of the same over, Rohit nearly chased a wider delivery, on the fuller side, but backed out at the very last moment. That he could resist any temptation was because, just like Rahul, he kept the bat close to his body, stayed still in the crease, and had not pushed or poked unnecessarily. One way to measure the success of both Rohit and Rahul is to see how England have played on the vulnerabilities of the duo that come after them, Pujara and Virat Kohli, in the first two Tests – despite their vast experience, both batters have attempted to play at deliveries which Rohit and Rahul were mostly leaving.Late in the afternoon, Rohit stood up to applaud Rahul when the latter became the first Indian to score a century in the series. More than having missed a chance to raise the bat, Rohit would have celebrated his opening partner’s success because he had played a big role in the first two sessions when Rahul played the holding role.This series was going to be the litmus test for Rohit, the Test opener. He has answered that with calm assurance.As for how he might celebrate when he gets to the landmark, we can wait for that.

With Ibrahima Konate’s contract yet to be resolved, Liverpool have reportedly set their sights on signing a Premier League star to replace the towering Frenchman.

Update on Liverpool's centre-back search

In less than nine months, Konate will become a free agent and follow in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s footsteps by leaving Anfield without a transfer fee. It will be yet another frustrating blow for Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, who should be desperate to keep hold of their central defender for years to come.

Whilst talks are ongoing about a new deal, the Reds are already planning for the worst and have reportedly identified a number of defenders who could arrive to replace Konate.

Top of that list is likely to be Marc Guehi. The Crystal Palace star came within hours of becoming a Liverpool player on deadline day before the Eagles pulled the plug amid their failure to land a replacement.

When next summer arrives, however, those at Selhurst Park will be powerless to stand in the way of the defender’s departure, with his contract set to come to an end.

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That should allow Liverpool to land a bargain deal, but it’s unlikely to be that simple. This time around, they’ll reportedly have competition from around the Premier League and familiar foes Real Madrid, which may force those at Anfield to expand their search.

The same can be said for Dayot Upamecano. Another centre-back who’s set to become a free agent if nothing changes before next summer, both Liverpool and Madrid are reportedly interested in securing his signature in a bargain deal from Bayern Munich.

Competing with Madrid in the transfer market rarely goes well for any club and Liverpool could be left with no choice but to look at another Premier League rival to replace Konate.

Liverpool now targeting Sven Botman

According to Caught Offside, Liverpool are now targeting Sven Botman among others as they look to add a centre-back to their ranks next summer. The Newcastle United defender has often impressed during his time at St James’ Park and has found himself on the Reds’ radar as a result.

Convincing the Magpies to sell is unlikely to be an easy task, however, following the Alexander Isak saga in the summer. Eventually, Liverpool got their man and it’s easy to see a world in which Newcastle are still hurt by that lengthy ordeal.

There should also be concerns about Botman’s injury history. As impressive as the Dutchman is, the last thing that Liverpool need is another injury-prone defender alongside the likes of Joe Gomez.

So, whilst Eddie Howe went as far to describe Botman as “transformative”, there’s certainly a number of issues for Liverpool to think about before they make their move.

Manchester United have now moved into pole position in the race for a “sensational” star, and a £30m offer is being prepared.

Ruben Amorim identifies top midfield target

It is becoming increasingly clear that Man United will look to sign a new midfielder in 2026, and Ruben Amorim has now identified Elliot Anderson as his top target, although a deal could be on the expensive side, with a £100m fee being touted.

However, the Red Devils may be forced to move on to alternative, potentially more affordable options, with it recently emerging that the Etihad Stadium is Anderson’s preferred destination.

It would be disappointing to miss out on the Nottingham Forest star, who is now an established England international, having picked up six caps since the start of September.

The 23-year-old is not the only English midfielder of interest to Man United though, according to a report from Spain, which states they are now leading the race for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, who has fallen down the pecking order at the Spanish club.

Several Premier League clubs have emerged as potential suitors for Gallagher, but United are the frontrunners, and a £30m opening bid is in the works, with the La Liga side willing to sanction a departure for a fee in that ballpark.

With the Englishman not receiving much game time under Diego Simeone, a January move could make sense for all parties, with Man United certainly in need of additional reinforcements in midfield…

"Sensational" Gallagher could be solid addition for Man Utd

Despite not being the flashiest of signings, the former Crystal Palace man could be a solid addition for the Red Devils, who need to sign at least one new midfielder, amid the uncertainty surrounding Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo’s future.

It has now been revealed that United could be willing to let Mainoo leave this winter, should they manage to find a replacement, while Casemiro’s future is under review, with the Brazilian’s contract due to expire in the summer.

As such, two new midfielders may be required, and Gallagher could be a good squad player, having been lauded as “sensational” by journalist John Cross.

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The 25-year-old is very experienced in the Premier League, making 136 appearances in the competition, while he has also tested himself in the Champions League, netting one goal in five appearances this term.

£30m feels like a reasonable fee to pay for the 22-time England international, so it makes sense for Man United to pursue a January move, although Anderson should remain their top target.

Over the years, Tottenham Hotspur fans have often voiced their displeasure over the lack of money spent by the hierarchy, which has no doubt restricted them in the Premier League.

However, when money has been splashed on new additions, it has not always been spent in the best way, as seen by their first-team dealings in the summer of 2013.

Gareth Bale’s £85m move to Real Madrid generated huge funds to splash on potential replacements, which led to the arrivals of Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela.

Both cost a reported £60m combined, but neither managed to fill the void left by the Welshman, with the club growing frustrated by the lack of quality additions made in the market.

Such a feeling has become evident once again in recent years, with one member of Thomas Frank’s squad struggling to match the expectations of the supporters.

The stats behind Rodrigo Bentancur’s decline in 2025/26

Back in January 2022, Spurs paid a reported £22m for the signature of midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur from Italian side Juventus – a deal that was seen as a potential bargain at the time.

The Uruguayan managed to rack up a total of 113 first-team appearances before the start of the 205/26 campaign, but his 18 outings this season have been littered with errors.

He’s so far struggled to meet the demands of the Dane’s various systems in North London, but he’s certainly not been aided by the manager’s selection of partnering alongside Joao Palhinha.

Both are predominantly better out of possession than with the ball at their feet, as seen by their combined tally of just one pass into the final third against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

However, even before the North London Derby, Bentancur has struggled for the Lilywhites, with his underlying figures in 2025/26 showcasing his lack of success to date.

He has only created 0.6 chances per 90 this season, which ranks him in the bottom 25% of all players in the division – backing up his lack of quality in possession.

Without the ball, he’s been just as ineffective, as Bentancur has also struggled under Frank, only making 0.5 interceptions per 90, which also places him in the lower quarter of all midfielders in England’s top-flight.

The midfielder has also been dribbled past more than 75% of other players in the league, further highlighting his all-round failures in the Premier League this campaign.

The Spurs star who’s become worse than Bentancur

The midfield department at Spurs has been one that has been questioned over recent months, especially given Frank’s continuation of utilising Bentancur and Palhinha together at the base of the side.

The club is home to a plethora of young talents who have previously showcased their talents, but ultimately, they’ve been unable to do so on a consistent basis since the Dane’s arrival.

Lucas Bergvall, Pape Sarr and Archie Gray all started the opening day victory over Burnley in North London, with the trio at one stage looking like the players to take the side forward.

However, it’s the only time they have all operated alongside one another in 2025/26 – a decision that has no doubt taken many of the supporters by surprise.

All of the aforementioned stars racked up over 40 appearances across all competitions under Ange Postecoglou last season, but it remains to be seen if they will reach such numbers under Frank.

New additions have also struggled to make their mark in North London, with attacking midfielder Xavi Simons yet to set the world alight after his £52m switch from RB Leipzig this summer.

The Dutchman arrived with huge expectations, no doubt aided by the transfer fee, but it’s safe to say his move to the Lilywhites has been nothing short of a disaster to date.

He’s featured in nine Premier League matches to date, failing to register his first goal for the club and only providing one assist for his teammates – with such an effort coming on his debut.

One of his darkest moments no doubt came against Chelsea at the start of the month, with the 22-year-old coming off the bench to replace Bergvall, but was later substituted himself amid his lack of impact.

To top off his recent struggles, former transfer target Eberechi Eze netted a hat-trick against the Lilywhites on Sunday, whilst Simons was brought off the bench at the break and only registered 36 touches in total.

His underlying figures from the whole campaign showcase his recent struggles, with the youngster so far being a massive waste of the hierarchy’s money.

Simons, who’s been “miles off it” according to Jamie O’Hara, has achieved an xG of just 0.06 in the Premier League – a tally that ranks him within the bottom 12% of all players in the division.

He’s also created just 0.9 chances per 90 and registered just 1.7 touches in the opposition box per 90, with both tallies ranking him in the bottom 15% of attackers in the league.

Other figures, such as 0.9 shots taken and a 16% cross accuracy, further indicate his struggles, with many fans undoubtedly wishing a deal was completed for Eze instead.

There’s little denying that at his tender age, he has bags of time to resurrect his career in North London, but it’s safe to say he already has a huge number of supporters on his back.

At present, his £52m transfer fee looks to be a massive waste, with such a deal having the potential to go down as one of the club’s worst-ever signings.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers have placed starting pitcher Blake Snell on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, the team announced Sunday. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers have called up right-hander Matt Sauer.

Snell lands on the IL after he made two starts for the Dodgers in his first season with the team. Snell started the franchise's home opener 10 days ago, allowing five hits, two earned runs and four walks while striking out two in a 5–4 win over the Detroit Tigers. He made his most recent start on Wednesday, giving up five hits, no earned runs, four walks and striking out two over four innings in a 6–5 win over the Atlanta Braves.

Snell was one of the Dodgers' biggest additions this past offseason, signing with Los Angeles on a five-year, $182 million deal.

The team's starting rotation was hampered by injuries last season, prompting the organization to revamped its arsenal of starters. Just two weeks into the 2025 season, however, one of their prized additions already hit the IL.

Snell, a two-time Cy Young winner, missed time last season with the San Francisco Giants due to shoulder and elbow injuries, but managed to return strong after the All-Star break, and finished the season with a 3.12 ERA.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com o objetivo de classificar de forma técnica as equipes do futebol brasileiro, o ranking da CBF é estabelecido com base no desempenho dos clubes em competições nacionais – Campeonato Brasileiro e Copa do Brasil – nos últimos cinco anos.

Cada temporada considerada no ranking recebe um peso distinto, com os pontos do ano vigente multiplicados por cinco, e do mais antigo, multiplicado por um. Confira na tabela abaixo as regras de pontuação.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

➡️ Ranking CBF 2024: Flamengo se mantém na liderança, com Palmeiras e São Paulo no top 3

OUTROS CRITÉRIOS DO RANKING

◼️ A pontuação máxima de cada Série (A/B/C/D) representa o dobro da pontuação da série inferior;
◼️ A pontuação do clube vice-campeão de uma série é sempre 80% da pontuação do campeão;
◼️ A pontuação dos terceiros e quartos lugares de uma série é sempre, respectivamente, 75% e 70% da pontuação do campeão;
◼️ A menor pontuação de uma série é sempre superior à atribuída ao campeão da série imediatamente inferior;
◼️ Na tabela 1, da classificação 24 em diante repete-se a pontuação da posição 23.

Romeo Lavia’s luckless spell at Chelsea took another cruel twist as the midfielder limped off just eight minutes into their 2-2 Champions League draw with Qarabag. Manager Enzo Maresca admitted he and the club “feel very ashamed” over the Belgian’s relentless injury troubles, which have restricted him to only 30 appearances since his £58 million move from Southampton in 2023.

• Lavia picks up another injury as Chelsea draw with Qarabag

  Chelsea’s Champions League trip to Azerbaijan turned from frustrating to disastrous as Lavia suffered yet another injury setback in the opening stages of Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Qarabag. The 21-year-old midfielder, who had only recently returned from a long-term hamstring issue, pulled up within the first ten minutes of the contest and was replaced by Moises Caicedo after receiving treatment. It was a devastating blow for both the player and Maresca, who had warned before the match that Lavia needed to be carefully managed following his fragile injury record.

  The Belgian was making just his 30th appearance for the club in more than two years, a statistic that underlines the extent of his unrelenting fitness issues since arriving at Stamford Bridge. His latest setback is believed to be a quadriceps injury rather than a recurrence of his previous hamstring problem, but initial reports suggest another extended spell on the sidelines is likely. Chelsea’s evening went from bad to worse when, despite taking an early lead through Estevao, they fell 2-1 behind before half-time, only salvaging a draw through Alejandro Garnacho’s second-half equaliser.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Maresca 'very ashamed' regarding Lavia's injury crisis

  Speaking after the match, Chelsea manager Maresca cut a dejected figure as he addressed Lavia’s latest injury in his post-match press conference. “We feel very ashamed, especially for him, because he’s not able to be fit for a long, long period,” Maresca said. “It’s not a recurrence of his hamstring problem; it looks like a quad injury. We’ll need to assess him further, but it doesn’t look good.”

  The Italian had expressed similar concerns just 24 hours earlier, emphasising that the club’s primary goal was to protect Lavia’s fragile fitness. “The main target for Romeo now is to be fit. Don’t get any injuries,” Maresca said on Tuesday. “For me, at this moment, Romeo is where Reece [James] was one year ago — coming back after a long period out. We need to manage him every minute, every day, every second. The target is to keep him fit and help him enjoy football again.”

  Maresca also praised Lavia’s attitude in training and insisted the club would not give up on helping him recover. “We are happy with the way he’s progressing. The only thing we want is to keep him fit,” he added. “It’s my duty to protect him, even if that means limiting his minutes. He’s an important player for us and a wonderful person, so this hurts everyone inside the club.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Lavia's injury-riddled Chelsea career

  Lavia’s Chelsea career has so far been defined by a cruel series of injuries that have derailed his development and tested the club’s patience. Signed amid huge excitement in August 2023, the Belgian’s debut was delayed for months by an ankle issue. When he finally donned the Blue shirt for the first time, as a substitute against Crystal Palace in December, he picked up a thigh injury in the same match, ruling him out for the rest of the campaign.

  The following 2024-25 season offered glimpses of hope, including a promising spell alongside Caicedo in midfield. However, those moments were fleeting, with recurring muscle problems cutting each return short.

  Lavia’s situation is a particularly bitter pill for Chelsea, given the £58 million they invested to secure his services from Southampton in 2023. Since then, the midfielder has spent over 500 days out injured, missing more than 80 competitive matches across all competitions. His latest injury marks the eighth distinct injury of his Blues career. Across all competitions, Lavia has played fewer than 1,000 minutes for Chelsea and the midfielder has never completed a full 90 minutes for the club.

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• How will Chelsea solve Lavia's injury issues?

  Chelsea’s immediate priority will be to conduct medical scans to determine the extent of Lavia’s latest injury, with early suggestions pointing to a multi-week layoff. Maresca’s options in midfield have once again been stretched, leaving Enzo Fernandez and Caicedo as the club’s only fully fit senior central midfielders ahead of a crucial run of fixtures. The Blues’ medical staff are expected to take a cautious approach, with no timeline set for Lavia’s return until the full diagnosis is confirmed.

  Internally, there is growing concern about the long-term viability of Lavia’s career if his injury pattern persists. Club sources have indicated that Chelsea may look to bring in additional midfield cover during the January window to ease the pressure on their existing options. The coaching staff, meanwhile, are reportedly considering a revised rehabilitation plan for Lavia, potentially involving an extended conditioning program away from match action to fully rebuild his strength.

Manchester United are struggling for momentum under Ruben Amorim and could look to replace their current boss if results don’t improve at Old Trafford.

Man Utd fail to impress in Brentford defeat

Once again, the Red Devils failed to build from a position of strength following their victory over Chelsea last weekend, falling to a defeat at Brentford that will be remembered due to a sliding doors moment.

After Benjamin Sesko halved the hosts’ lead, Bruno Fernandes spurned the chance to level the scoring from the penalty spot before Mathias Jensen ended Manchester United’s hopes of salvaging a result in the capital.

Amorim is a man under pressure at Old Trafford, and Ashley Williams has made it clear he can’t see improvement at the Premier League giants unless the Portuguese boss is relieved of his duties.

He stated on Final Score: “I don’t want to say they change manager, but how long can this continue? It seems to be every week that we’re talking about it. I’m a fan of managers who have a style and stick to it. That isn’t working. You have to adapt. I don’t see where Manchester united go with this unless they change manager.”

Slipping back into the bottom half won’t do Amorim any favours, and his side will now prepare to take on Sunderland at Old Trafford next weekend – a fixture that has now entered must-win territory.

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Change is needed fast to avoid a seemingly inevitable parting of the ways, which many would attribute to the Red Devils’ refusal to alter their complex 3-4-3 formation.

Potential successors are already being floated, and a surprise name has emerged as a candidate to take over at Old Trafford should Amorim leave the club.

Man Utd could replace Ruben Amorim with Graham Potter

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United could take the surprise step of replacing Amorim with Graham Potter despite the Englishman being sacked by West Ham United earlier in the week. The report claims that the ex-Irons manager is a leading contender to come in at Old Trafford.

The 48-year-old has won 191 times during his managerial career, albeit his spell at the London Stadium was unsuccessful to say the least. Brighton & Hove Albion supporters will attest to his excellent work on the South Coast, though he also endured frustration while in charge at Chelsea.

Graham Potter’s managerial record at West Ham

Matches in charge across all competitions – 25

Wins

6

Draws

5

Losses

14

Intriguingly, the outlet claim results over Amorim’s next few matches will determine his fate. Potter, who shares the same Wasserman agency as Mikel Arteta and Steven Gerrard, would offer something different with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, but moving to appoint someone with a recent record similar to Amorim isn’t something that would appease supporters.

Nevertheless, he would have the luxury of working with offensive talent such as Bryan Mbuemo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha, three players who are yet to gel under the current management team.

Newcastle United and Eddie Howe have inched closer to a successful Carabao Cup title defence, beating Bradford City in the third round and then drawing Tottenham Hotspur.

There’s a tough test, but Newcastle have a fine recent record against the Lilywhites, and the fluency of Howe’s side is building by the day.

It’s quite understandable in hindsight that the sale of Alexander Isak would disrupt the harmony and snap of United’s frontline, with goals scored in only two of their five Premier League games so far.

Isak left for Liverpool on deadline day, and Newcastle banked a record-breaking £125m fee. They lost one of the world’s finest strikers, who scored 27 times in black and white last season and who bagged against Arne Slot’s Reds at Wembley.

Newcastle did replace the Sweden striker with Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, but William Osula is also staking his claim for a big role this term.

William Osula's early-season form

Howe issued rotation as the top-flight and European action took a breath. Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon and brace-scoring Joelinton all featured, but so too did the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley get some more minutes under their belt.

However, Osula might feel he was the biggest winner, scoring twice against the high-flying League One side to take his haul to three goals this season, also scoring in that frantic game against Liverpool in August.

Having signed from Sheffield United for £15m last summer, Osula scarcely played across his debut campaign at St. James’ Park, scoring once in the league.

But he’s making headway now.

Osula got himself on the scoresheet before 20 minutes had been played, and then again in the closing stages, sealing his side’s 4-1 victory.

He might have had a hat-trick save for some poor finishing after neat work from Gordon, but, as Howe noted during his post-match press conference, the Danish forward offered more than just goals, holding up well and linking up with his teammates. He looked dangerous and dynamic when playing down the wing.

“He’s done his chances no harm,” Howe said, discussing the potential of the 22-year-old starting in the Premier League once again.

However, Newcastle turned down a £30m approach from Eintracht Frankfurt for the fringe forward this summer, and Howe may come to regret rejecting such a hefty sum, especially when the Magpies have an academy talent who might be even better than his peer.

Newcastle have a bigger talent than Osula

The word on the street is that Newcastle still expect to sell Osula, perhaps next summer. There’s a player in there, but Osula is very much unrefined, and after what Howe described as a “turbulent” summer for the number nine, he finds himself third-fiddle on Tyneside.

Wissa is currently sidelined with a knee injury and has yet to make his debut after joining from Brentford, but Woltemade has shown plenty of promise after completing a club-record £69m move from Stuttgart, scoring on his debut and showcasing his talent thereafter.

Osula has been left somewhat in the lurch, even after scoring against Liverpool.

And with an up-and-coming talent like Sean Neave knocking on his door, Osula may well find himself completing that transfer away next summer.

A natural-born finisher, Neave, 18, has been riding the crest of a wave in Newcastle’s academy. He has always been a reliable goalscorer, but the youth’s ability to carry his form up the levels with relative ease suggests he may soon be knocking on Howe’s door. In fact, he might already be.

Six games into the season for Newcastle’s development side, Neave has scored three goals and provided one assist. No longer playing for the U18s, he is a regular starter in the Premier League 2, despite having reached adulthood only at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Neave is a “good finisher”, all right, as has been said by Newcastle blogger TomTalksToon, and he already stands at 6 foot 1. A gangly frame that does not inhibit his pace and athleticism, the teenager is akin to Isak, but let’s just wait and see if he can match the former Toon man’s almighty scoring record in the English top flight.

Perhaps Neave was somewhat frustrated to have been left out of the matchday squad against Bradford. However, his professional debut is sure to be right around the corner, with his electric pace and threat in the final third sure-fire ingredients for success in the Premier League.

Osula is more refined physically, but Neave is on a programme that is giving rise to his strength and athletic focus on the field. It’s only a matter of time.

And when that time comes, might Howe and co not regret cashing in on Osula when they had the chance? If Neave continues his meteoric rise with such speed, he may well overtake his goalscoring rival, which would do United’s chances of shipping him out for a big fee no favours.

Newcastle’s 4.6 xG (expected goals) total in the Premier League this season puts them 16th. Not great, but neither is it an accurate representation of the talent and the creativity coursing through Howe’s team.

Instead, Newcastle will continue to go from strength to strength, and Wissa and Woltemade will too.

It’s difficult to see how Osula surpasses either, so unpolished is the Denmark U21 international. And when considering Neave is waiting in the wings and bound to make his senior debut sooner rather than later, Howe may come to wish he had taken the £30m and ran.

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