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Luke McCowan says Celtic need to show their character in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup final against St Mirren at Hampden Park.

Wilfried Nancy became the first Hoops manager to lose his opening two matches when Italian giants Roma won 3-0 at Parkhead in the Europa League on Thursday night, which followed on from a 2-1 home defeat to leaders Hearts in the William Hill Premiership last weekend.

Celtic fans, some of whom booed at the end of the defeat by Roma, are approaching the final against the Buddies with more nerves than they would have done before the Frenchman took over from interim bosses Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney, who in turn had taken over from Brendan Rodgers.

McCowan calls for players and fans to stick together

McCowan, the 28-year-old midfielder, who joined from Dundee in August 2024, called for unity and a demonstration of the traits that have made the Parkhead club so successful in recent times.

He said: “I can’t really talk for the fans, but we are fully bought-in. We need to buy-in, it’s kind of non-negotiable.

“We need to back everyone in this building, regardless of who’s been playing well, who’s not.

“We are a team and we need to back each other through the good and the bad because everybody’s all high-fives and cuddles when we are winning but this team doesn’t go through two or three bad results and this is where the true characters are shown.

Worse than Engels: Nancy must drop Celtic flop who looks awful in new role

Wilfried Nancy must drop this Celtic flop who was even worse than Arne Engels in the 3-0 defeat to Roma.

ByDan Emery 3 days ago

“So we need just to be together and I know I’ve said so many times, stick together.

“It’s when you go through bad spells – personally I’ve done it with Dundee and Ayr – then we just need to kind of have that same attitude of work hard, move on to the next game.

“The games are coming thick and fast in this period and it’s a good thing that if you get one win it can propel you to get a few hopefully and we just need to start with that on Sunday.

“We just need to get on top of it again.”

Aston Villa have recently submitted an offer for Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia, and the Spanish club’s stance on sanctioning a departure has now been revealed.

Villa have stepped up their pursuit of a new centre-forward with Ollie Watkins failing to reach his usual lofty standards in the Premier League this season, netting just one goal and receiving criticism from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright back in September.

Wright said: “As a player, I think that he should be doing more for what he’s capable of doing.

“He’s a channel runner, gets in the box, he gets on the end of things. I think he could be a lot sharper with his finishing, and I thought that’s what he’d be working on.”

Fortunately, the Villans have managed to find goals from other sources, which have propelled them up the table in recent weeks, rising to sixth after a dominant 4-0 rout of AFC Bournemouth in their final match before the international break.

That said, Watkins’ poor form is likely to still be a concern for Unai Emery, and the manager has seemingly decided to bring in another striker capable of challenging for the Englishman’s place in the starting XI.

Aston Villa submit offer for Gonzalo Garcia

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa have offered €20m (£18m) offer for Real Madrid forward Garcia, and they are looking to finalise a deal as quickly as possible, given that the Spaniard’s value could plausibly rise as the season goes on.

Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers have lodged bids of their own, so there will be competition for the 21-year-old’s signature, but a deal could be there to be done, as the Spanish club view cashing-in as an ‘attractive financial opportunity.’

As one of the first clubs to make contact with Madrid, Villa should be well-placed to get a deal done, not least because their main rivals seem to be newly-promoted Sunderland and a Wolves side at serious risk of relegation.

Hopefully, it will only be a matter of time before Watkins starts scoring again, but the 29-year-old having some healthy competition could kick him into gear, and there are signs the Real Madrid starlet could push for a starting spot.

Lauded as a “goal machine” in the media, the youngster performed remarkably well at youth level in the 2024-25 campaign, netting 26 goals in 37 games for RM Castilla, before going on to impress considerably at the Club World Cup, netting four goals for the senior side.

That said, it would be a risk to sign Garcia, given that he is yet to prove himself in the Madrid first team over a sustained period, and 21-year-old FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, who scored 19 league goals last season, could be an interesting alternative option.

Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa amid interest from Tottenham and Arsenal

Recent reports have indicated that Aston Villa would be keen on signing Porto forward Samu Aghehowa.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

Leeds United are now plotting a January transfer swoop for an “outstanding” striker, who just scored in the Champions League this week.

Leeds eyeing new striker amid Dominic Calvert-Lewin's struggles

On paper, it was a savvy move to bring in Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer, given that the former Everton man has plenty of experience in the Premier League, but he is yet to pull up any trees since completing a move to Elland Road.

The centre-forward has scored just one goal in 11 matches in all competitions, failing to find the back of the net in his last seven outings, and Lukas Nmecha has recently emerged as the first-choice striker, scoring the opening goal in the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa last time out.

With Daniel Farke clearly doubtful that Joel Piroe is capable of replicating his form from last season, having predominantly limited the Dutchman to appearances as a substitute, the manager may need to bring in a new striker in the January transfer window, and a new target has been identified.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Leeds are now plotting a January bid for Union Saint-Gilloise striker Promise David, who could be available for a relatively low fee, with the Belgian club willing to listen to offers of around £17.5m.

At the moment, David is viewed as a back-up option if the Whites are unable to bring in their other targets, with AZ Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia also of interest, and Farke is personally keen on bringing in the Spaniard.

There may also be fierce competition for the Union Saint-Gilloise star’s signature, with West Ham United believed to be leading the race, while Wolverhampton Wanderers are said to be plotting a rival bid.

"Outstanding" David impressing in the Champions League

Lauded as “outstanding” by scout Jacek Kulig courtesy of his performances in the 2024-25 campaign, the striker has gone on to make a name for himself in the Champions League this season, scoring two goals in Europe’s elite competition.

Most recently, the 24-year-old scored the only goal of the game as his side prevailed as 1-0 winners away at Galatasaray, finding the back of the net for the ninth time this season across all competitions.

Promise David’s goalscoring record

Appearances

Goals

Jupiler Pro League

13

6

Champions League

5

2

Croky Cup

1

1

As such, the Canadian clearly has the quality to help fire Leeds to safety, and £17.5m could be a bargain fee for a striker who has proven that he can deliver in the Champions League.

Transfer twist at Leeds with 49ers ready to back Farke with £20m forward

The Whites are ready to produce a show of strength by backing Daniel Farke in the transfer market.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 24, 2025

That said, it remains to be seen whether David would be interested in a move to Elland Road, given that Leeds are now looking like real relegation contenders, having lost five of their last six matches in the Premier League.

Whilst long throws, set pieces and teams centred around physicality are back in fashion, a lot has changed in the Premier League since 1992. It’s now the richest league in the world, featuring some of the best players and managers in world football. It is the ultimate destination. But, how much has the table changed in that time?

FootballBlog has released a full ranking of the Premier League table from its very first season in 1992 up until the beginning of the recent November international break. The table includes deductions issued by the Premier League and has tallied the wins, draws and losses by teams over the last 33 years. A total of 51 teams have featured in the top flight over the last three decades, but only 20 can make the all-time standings.

Related Premier League table by transfer spend per point 2025/26

The top flight would look very different.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Nov 14, 2025 20 West Bromwich Albion: 490 points

They may be languishing outside the top six in the Championship these days, but there was a time when an away trip to face West Bromwich Albion was a day of frustration for any top side. They sit 20th thanks to the fact that they haven’t returned to the top tier since 2021, but it’s hard to forget just how impressive they were at their best – finishing as high as eighth in the 2012/13 season. And who could forget the form of Romelu Lukaku during his time at the Hawthorns?

19 Bolton Wanderers: 575 points

Ever seen a player so good they named him twice? That was Jay-Jay Okocha. The former Bolton Wanderers star formed the most unlikely partnership with Sam Allardyce during the club’s impressive 11-year stay in the Premier League. Their best finish saw them reach as high as sixth in the 2004/05 season and there still exists the famous video of Allardyce attempting his best dance moves with his star midfielder in 2003.

18 Sunderland: 637 points

Sunderland have been back to where they belong this season and are even on course for their highest-ever Premier League finish. The Black Cats have fought their way back from the depths of League One and may yet get the chance to move up the all-time Premier League table by the time that May arrives. A club built on the memories of stunning Jermain Defoe volleys and Kevin Phillips’ goalscoring heroics could now be about to form their most historic campaign yet.

17 Middlesbrough: 661 points

This time next year, we could be welcoming Middlesbrough back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017. It was then that they welcomed the likes of Alvaro Negredo, only to struggle in front of goal when it wasn’t the forward finding the back of the net. It was the third time that they suffered relegation from the Premier League in their history and everyone around Riverside will be desperate to earn redemption almost a decade later.

16 Crystal Palace: 728 points

Whilst there is a running joke that Crystal Palace always end the season sat in 13th, the all-time table has them 16th and their form over the last year suggests that they could be destined for better things. From mid-table mediocrity, the Eagles have soared to become FA Cup winners, Community Shield winners and a side competing in European football. This is without doubt one of, if not the best Crystal Palace side in the club’s history.

15 Fulham: 804 points

Like Palace, Fulham have often been accused of ending their seasons sat in mid-table, but they won’t mind that. The Cottagers have become an established Premier League side once again under Marco Silva and have caused plenty of upsets on their way. Alas, it’s their time under Roy Hodgson that stands out the most, with the veteran manager taking the West London side all the way to the Europa League final in 2010. 15 years later, no one’s forgotten the stunning comeback victory against Juventus at Craven Cottage.

14 Leeds United: 831 points

Like Sunderland, Leeds United are back where they belong in the Premier League. The Whites are full of top flight history and still have their place on the all-time table after the success that they had in the early Premier League years. Their most successful campaign remains a third-place finish under David O’Leary in 2000 to bring Champions League football to Elland Road, as Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith all starred.

13 Leicester City: 846 points

It’s still absurd, isn’t it? Leicester City: Premier League champions. It remains the most impressive achievement in English football history, as the Foxes took the fight to the big six and somehow came out on top in the 2015/16 campaign. We’re unlikely to see a repeat anytime soon, if ever. Even after they suffered relegation last season, it’s tough to think about the Premier League without picturing Claudio Ranieri’s title winners.

12 Blackburn Rovers: 970 points

It’s been over a decade since Blackburn Rovers were relegated from the Premier League and they remain one of the biggest sides yet to earn promotion back to the top flight. From winning the title in the 1994/95 campaign, Blackburn were relegated in the 1998/99 season and then once more in 2012. History, however, will tell the story of how Sir Kenny Dalglish, with Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton, took his side to glory in 95.

11 Southampton: 1,100 points

For a while, Southampton couldn’t get much wrong in the Premier League. They thrived under Mauricio Pochettino then hired Ronald Koeman to pick up where he left off. The Saints also quickly became Liverpool’s favourite club, with Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Virgil van Dijk all heading to Anfield for impressive fees. Although some will be quick to remember last season’s disaster, Southampton were once one of the best ball-playing teams outside the top six.

Game 1 of the New York Yankees-Los Angeles Dodgers World Series will be underway in a matter of hours. There's so much to discuss as these two blueboods square off in their first shared Fall Classic since 1981. Two incredible atmospheres will host all the drama as baseball crowns its ultimate champion.

Joey Votto was asked about the differences between playing in New York vs. playing in Los Angeles on , and his answer didn't disappoint.

"No disrespect to LA, but there is nothing like being in New York with a good Yankees team, at Yankee Stadium. There is nothing like it. I'll tell a quick story. I was in New York at the old stadium. First time. The roster was Jeter, A-Rod, Hideki Matsui, the roster was deep. It was the seventh inning and I was on the field up 3-1 thinking sort of thing. And all of the sudden you could just feel the energy of the crowd. This is a regular season game. You could feel the ghosts. There's no ghosts. I'm not a ghosts believer but you could feel the ghosts inside the stadium."

Votto added that with this Yankees roster replete with stars and the brightest lights descending on the Bronx that there's a chance to create a new aura there.

Time will tell. About a week's time.

MatériaMais Notícias

A manhã deste sábado (30) trará um gosto especial para os torcedores do Botafogo. O reencontro com a torcida será marcado com um treino aberto no Estádio Nilton Santos, sinalizando que a mobilização do grupo se estende à arquibancada.

Vindo de três resultados abaixo do esperado, a equipe de Bruno Lage tem um estímulo a mais para acreditar em uma reação no Campeonato Brasileiro. O mais recente treino aberto para os torcedores culminou em uma reação alvinegra.

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

O Botafogo vinha fazendo uma campanha entre altos e baixos até que, antes da partida com o Corinthians, decidiu abrir a atividade para seus torcedores no Niltão. A reação em campo aconteceu prontamente: com gol de Rodrigo Lindoso, a equipe venceu o Timão por 1 a 0.

Depois, vieram mais vitórias nos confrontos com Flamengo, Chapecoense, Internacional e Paraná, além do empate em 1 a 1 com o Santos. Uma sequência que o Alvinegro precisa para retomar sua confiança no Brasileirão.

Porém, o desfecho da edição de 2018 deixa o alerta: na última rodada a equipe perdeu por 2 a 1 para o Atlético-MG e o sonho de classificação para a Libertadores escapou. O técnico Bruno Lage tem de deixar seus jogadores com atenção redobrada até o final.

Líder do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Botafogo vai a campo contra o Goiás no dia 2, uma segunda-feira, às 20h, no Niltão.

It’s always nice to see a player rebound from adversity. Ahead of England’s comfortable 3-0 win over Wales on Thursday evening, Manchester City’s John Stones said he considered retiring last season amid endless injury problems.

But the 30-year-old Stones has already started five matches across all competitions for the Citizens this term, and he cruised through the win at Wembley, albeit suffering but surviving a fitness scare.

Stones isn’t the only one of a City persuasion to be targeting renaissance at the more mature end of their career, though, with Jack Grealish starting to look like a £100m player once again.

Only, he’s doing it over on Merseyside, in an Everton shirt.

Why Man City loaned out Jack Grealish

Pep Guardiola broke the bank when signing Grealish from Aston Villa for a British record £100m fee. It was 2021. The Three Lions star was silky and stylish and all the rest, but he got lost somewhere within the Man City mechanics during his four years at the Etihad.

Still, the 30-year-old is a Citizen, shipped out on loan to Everton this summer. But Grealish has returned to his finest form so far this season, notching four assists in August to claim the Premier League Player of the Month and scoring the recent winner at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to end Crystal Palace’s 19-game unbeaten run.

Grealish, perhaps, is at his best when the leading figure in a team, the talisman. Under Pep’s wing, something went awry, and he toiled on the margins for his past two Premier League campaigns.

If the Sky Blues succeed in selling the £300k-per-week talent permanently next summer, they will not recoup anything near the figure once paid.

Across 157 outings for Man City, Grealish scored 17 times and supplied 23 assists for his teammates.

He was never a prolific player, per se, but there’s no doubt plenty was left to be desired, and Guardiola knew it, handing his record signing just 17 Premier League starts across his final two terms. During this period, he notched six goal contributions.

Grealish isn’t the only one who might have been ferried out this summer, though, with Pep and co maybe looking back at the opportunity to sell Bernardo Silva for a hefty figure with something akin to regret.

Pep should have sold Bernardo Silva

Silva, 31, is one of the definitive superstars of the Guardiola era at Manchester City. A six-time Premier League champion, his 419 appearances for the club place him ninth in the all-time charts.

But he’s beginning to dip. Even though the boss named him captain this summer, Silva has lost some of the magic that has so often been discernible throughout his career, and Fabrizio Romano has said only this week that the veteran “has chances to leave Man City” ahead of 2026.

It’s been a long and storied career for Silva at Manchester City, but Guardiola’s side are evolving, and habitually have the rumours of the Iberian talent’s potential departure emerged in recent years.

Last season was a struggle for everyone at the club, but Silva felt the upheaval and tumult more than most. His output was halved, and he was placed on the substitute’s bench seven times across the latter half of the top-flight term.

17/18

53

9 (10)

18/19

51

13 (13)

19/20

52

8 (10)

20/21

45

5 (9)

21/22

50

13 (7)

22/23

55

7 (7)

23/24

49

11 (11)

24/25

52

6 (5)

25/26

9

0 (1)

Altered in his role, Silva no longer produces goals and assists with the same regularity, and Sofascore record he is averaging just one chance per Premier League game this season, losing 70% of his duels so far.

He’s captained Man City six times across all competitions this season, and remains one of the most fleet-footed and intelligent players in the Premier League, even described as “one of the best players” Guardiola has ever seen.

But, aged 31, there’s a sense he’s into the autumn of his career in English football, and is not indispensable as he once was.

He’s still a tenacious and layered attacking midfielder, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe for pass completion, the top 10% for tackles and the top 7% for carries per 90, but the Portugal international could have fetched a pretty penny indeed for City in the past, with Transfermarkt recording the ace once bore a market value of €100m (£86m).

Silva is among only the top 54% for goals and assists combined, which isn’t enough for a City side looking for different attacking dimensions, easing the burden on Erling Haaland.

Saudi Arabian suitors presented themselves last year, got their bids at the ready. It came to nought, but since the Portuguese star has hinted this coming season could be his last as he stares at the culmination of his contract in Manchester, might there be a touch of ruefulness that a big sale could not have been engineered, and instead City must wave goodbye to one of their best on a free?

News is indeed growing over the possibility of Silva’s summer departure on a free, with Benfica and AC Milan considered among the frontrunners. This is a reality that Man City must accept. Perhaps they should have sold him last season, or the year before, but having signed him way back in 2017 for £43.5m, there are some who would suggest City have received bang for their buck.

Concerning the regret over not selling sooner to speed up the rebuild, the same logic might be attributed to Grealish, who languished on the side at Man City for two years before earning a move to Everton and resurrecting his career. Had City cashed in on either before they dipped and waned, a hefty figure may have been had.

He's a "cheat code": Man City sold bigger talent than O’Reilly for £300k

Man City might wish they’d kept hold of another academy star in recent years

ByJoe Nuttall Oct 9, 2025

Mikel Arteta has overseen a complete transformation of Arsenal since taking the job over five years ago.

The Spaniard has changed the North Londoners from a mid-table side spiralling out of relevance, into a lean, mean, winning machine that feels so close to finally getting over the line in a major competition.

A significant reason for this comprehensive transformation is the club’s out-of-this-world defence, which is anchored by arguably the best centre-back partnership in the Premier League, if not Europe: William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.

The duo are the perfect combination of elegance on the ball and tenacity off of it, and it now looks like Arteta has picked up a player who is a hybrid of both, and no, it’s not Cristhian Mosquera.

What makes Saliba & Gabriel such a brilliant duo

Now, while both of them can do a bit of everything at the back, it would be fair to say, at least in the minds of most fans and pundits, Saliba and Gabriel have complementary skill sets.

For example, when it comes to the Frenchman, sure, he can tough it out with any attacker who comes his way, but at his very best, the 24-year-old is a smooth operator.

He’s someone who can time a tackle to perfection; someone who can bait the opposition’s press just to pass the ball around them, and he can ping a ball into the frontline for a classic route-one goal if needs be.

There is a reason so many people, including his defensive partner, refer to him as a “Rolls-Royce” of a defender, and the fact that FBref rank him in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion only reinforces such an idea.

So, with that said, what makes Gabriel such an incredible stalwart in Arteta’s defence?

Well, it should be said that, like the Frenchman, he too is no slouch when it comes to on-the-ball excellence, and he knows how to time a tackle.

However, what the Brazilian really brings to the table is his dogged tenacity, unwillingness to ever give up and a monstrous towering presence that is often enough to put attackers off on its own.

More than that, though, the former LOSC Lille ace is also a leader; he’s someone who’s gone through his own issues at the club and come through the other side so much stronger. He also really gets what it means to wear the badge.

This was on show in the game against Newcastle, as, despite getting it wrong for the opening goal, he rallied and put in a masterful defensive display afterwards, making 11 clearances, blocking two shots, making three interceptions, and then putting in three tackles to boot.

Finally, and this is a hugely important attribute in this team, which was also on show at St James’ Park: he’s a goal threat.

It was the “colossal” titan, as dubbed by Statman Dave, who headed home the late winner on Sunday, and despite being what many would consider a rather old-school centre-back, it was just one of many goals he’s scored for the club.

In total, the São Paulo-born superstar has scored 21 goals for the club in 218 appearances and provided five assists for good measure.

In all, it’s hard to think of a better centre-back partnership in world football than Saliba and Gabriel’s, so it’s great news that Arsenal have signed someone who’s a hybrid of both.

The Arsenal star who is a Saliba & Gabriel hybrid

Now, Mosquera has undoubtedly had a brilliant start to life at Arsenal this season, and looks like he could go on to be a star.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, from what we’ve seen of the silky Spaniard thus far, it feels like he’s far more in the mould solely of Saliba rather than a hybrid of the Gunners’ two defensive stalwarts, unlike Piero Hincapié, who signed on a season-long loan with a £45m option to buy in the summer.

Starting with the former, then, one of the key similarities he shares with the former Saint-Etiene gem is his passing mastery and comfort level on the ball.

For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, the top 2% for crosses into the penalty area, the top 4% for key passes, the top 7% for passes into the penalty area and more, all per 90.

While these numbers do paint the picture of someone slightly more attacking than the Gunners’ number two, it also shows that he’s as comfortable with the ball at his feet.

npxG + xAG

0.18

Top 1%

Progressive Passes Rec

2.54

Top 2%

xA: Expected Assists

0.10

Top 2%

Crosses into Penalty Area

0.27

Top 2%

Crosses

1.33

Top 2%

Touches (Att 3rd)

12.72

Top 2%

Carries into Penalty Area

0.18

Top 2%

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.30

Top 3%

Fouls Drawn

1.33

Top 4%

Progressive Carries

1.78

Top 5%

Carries into Final Third

1.45

Top 5%

Key Passes

0.56

Top 6%

Dead-ball Passes

5.77

Top 6%

Touches (Att Pen)

1.60

Top 6%

Passes into Penalty Area

0.56

Top 7%

SCA (Shot)

0.15

Top 9%

Touches

81.83

Top 12%

Touches (Live-Ball)

81.83

Top 12%

Moreover, it’s not just the ease with which he passes the ball, but also the fact that he’s clearly been entrusted to make progressive and aggressive passes by managers, which shows an immense level of trust from them in the international ace.

What about Gabriel, then? What parts of his game does the Ecuadorian share with Arsenal’s Brazilian wall?

Well, while it’s far harder to quantify the similarities he shares with Saliba, the former Leverkusen star appears to be as much of a fighter as the 27-year-old.

For example, U23 scout Antonio Manfo has described him as “an absolute beast”, and his agent has gone further than that, calling him “a warrior” and “a leader.”

Finally, while no defender is as dangerous as Gabriel in the penalty area, the Esmeraldas-born titan can chip in when it comes to the attacking side of the game, as he scored two goals and provided two assists in just 32 league games last season.

Ultimately, while he’s unlikely to reach the incredible heights of Saliba or Ganriel, Arsenal look like they have got their hands on another defensive star in Hincapié, and the sooner he’s back to full fitness, the better.

Arsenal's "world-class" striker left for £0, now he's outperforming Gyokeres

The experienced striker is currently looking more dangerous than the Arsenal star.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 30, 2025

Kashvee Gautam, N Shree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay have been handed their maiden national call-ups in a much changed India ODI squad for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka, where South Africa are the third team.Harmanpreet Kaur is back as the captain after sitting out the previous series, against Ireland at home in January, while Sneh Rana, Yastika Bhatia, Arundhati Reddy and Amanjot Kaur have all come back. Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Titas Sadhu, the fast bowlers, are both injured and were not considered for selection.

ODI tri-series schedule

April 27 – Sri Lanka vs India
April 29 – India vs South Africa
May 2 – Sri Lanka vs South Africa
May 4 – Sri Lanka vs India
May 7 – India vs South Africa
May 9 – Sri Lanka vs South Africa
May 11 – Final

Shafali Verma, meanwhile, continued to be out of the picture despite a strong showing at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) earlier this year, when she scored 304 runs from nine innings (fourth on the table for highest run-scorers) with a strike rate of 152.76.When India hosted Ireland, and swept the series 3-0 with comprehensive wins in all three games, Smriti Mandhana was India’s captain. That squad also had Uma Chetry, Raghvi Bist, Sayali Satghare, Tanuja Kanwar, Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra and Saima Thakor, who have all been left out.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Gautam, 21, was one of the star performers at the WPL this year, picking up 11 wickets – the most by an Indian – in nine games and impressive with her control. Twenty-year-old Charani, a left-arm spinner, played just two games in the WPL, for Delhi Capitals (DC), picking up four wickets. Left-arm spinner Upadhyay, meanwhile, was the third-highest wicket-taker at the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy held in December last year. She picked up 18 wickets then at an economy rate of 3.48 and an average of 15.44 in nine innings. She was named the Player of the Tournament as her team, Madhya Pradesh, won the trophy.The series is an important one for all three teams keeping in mind the ODI World Cup later in the year – in September-October – in India.

India squad for women’s ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka

Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Tejal Hasabnis, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay

Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer believes wantaway striker Alexander Isak needs to “sack” his agent immediately after his recent statement.

Isak and Newcastle transfer latest

The Swedish striker has been trying to force a move out of St James’ Park all summer but was frustrated earlier this month when the Magpies rejected an offer from Liverpool, reportedly worth £110m plus add-ons.

Isak missed Newcastle’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa last weekend and looks set to be absent once again as the Reds visit St James’ Park on Monday evening.

Earlier in the week, Isak put out a statement, believing Newcastle have “broken” their promise this summer and the “trust is lost”.

“The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To act now as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue.”

Newcastle responded by denying that Isak had been granted any assurances over a potential move. “We are clear in response that Alex remains under contract and that no commitment has ever been made by a club official that Alex can leave Newcastle United this summer.”

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The transfer window shuts on September 1, so there could be more to this transfer saga before the deadline, although Newcastle are now adamant selling Isak is now not possible, despite bidding for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

Shearer reacts to Isak and Newcastle latest

Speaking this week, relayed by PA Media, Shearer said the situation is now an “absolute mess” as he pointed the finger at Isak’s agent Vlado Lemic.

Isak’s current contract runs until 2028, and with no release clause, Newcastle hold all the cards in the final days of the window.