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Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is reportedly playing at just half of his capacity due to a painful groin injury. Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll says the 18-year-old’s physical issue is severely restricting his movement and shooting ability, with the youngster’s ongoing struggle evident during Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.

• Yamal battling pubalgia as fitness concerns mount

  Barcelona’s teenage sensation is playing through significant discomfort as he battles pubalgia, a chronic groin injury that has limited his effectiveness in recent weeks. The issue, which causes persistent pain in the pubic region, is said to have reduced the forward’s mobility and explosiveness, traits that define his game.

  Yamal appeared visibly restricted in movement and reluctant to shoot as Barca suffered a 2-1 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu. According to medical experts, the pain associated with pubalgia can fluctuate in intensity but often worsens during high-intensity matches, precisely the kind of fixtures where Barcelona need Yamal’s creativity most. The youngster’s physical limitations have been increasingly noticeable this month, prompting concern within both Barcelona and the Spanish national team camps. Club doctors are reportedly managing his workload carefully to avoid aggravating the condition further.

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  Doctor explains Yamal’s condition

  Speaking to , renowned sports traumatologist Dr. Ripoll offered insight into Yamal’s physical struggles, describing pubalgia as a “disabling” condition that significantly reduces athletic performance.

  "It is an injury that is frankly difficult to treat. It's characterised by pain that reduces the player's ability to move and shoot by almost 50%, which is exactly what we saw in El Clasico," Dr. Ripoll explained.

  “He hardly shoots at goal, he has difficulty moving, he constantly stretches… It’s a disabling pain that allows the player to participate in matches but keeps him from his best level and significantly diminishes his performance.”

  Ripoll further clarified that while the injury does not involve structural joint damage, it can take weeks or even months to fully heal if not managed correctly. His assessment confirms what many Barcelona supporters have observed that Yamal, while still playing, is far from his peak physical condition.

• Carvajal’s latest setback adds to Madrid’s injury woes

  Dr. Ripoll also commented on the injury sustained by Los Blancos captain Dani Carvajal, who suffered another setback to his right knee, the same one that sidelined him for much of last season. Madrid announced that the defender is dealing with a “loose body” in the joint, a condition that can cause swelling, pain, and in serious cases, mechanical locking.

  “It’s a piece of the joint surface, normally cartilage and bone, that comes loose and moves uncontrollably inside the joint,” Ripoll said. "In very serious cases, can cause a blockage, which is quite serious for a joint. It depends on the size of the player and the amount of space left in the joint. If the space is in the joint's weight-bearing area, the problem will be more serious."

  The 33-year-old's recurring injury leaves Madrid short on the right flank once again, with options like Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has only recently recovered from a muscle injury, and Fede Valverde expected to provide cover. The defender’s absence could also impact Spain’s national setup, where both he and Yamal are regular call-ups – a concern ahead of next month’s international fixtures.

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  El Clasico chaos: Brawl, tension, and fallout

  The injury talk followed a chaotic post-match scene at the Santiago Bernabeu, where tempers flared between players from both sides. Carvajal confronted Yamal moments after the final whistle, allegedly telling him: “You speak too much. Speak now.”

  The exchange stemmed from Yamal’s pre-match Twitch comments in which he jokingly claimed “Real Madrid steal”, remarks that reportedly angered several Los Blancos players. A heated confrontation ensued, with Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham also involved before officials intervened to separate the teams.

  Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong later defended his young teammate, accusing Madrid players of overreacting and “trying to provoke” the 18-year-old. No disciplinary action has been taken so far, though the incident has sparked debate across Spain about professionalism and mutual respect between senior and emerging stars.

  The defeat leaves the Catalan giants five points behind Madrid in the La Liga standings, and with Yamal struggling for full fitness, Hansi Flick faces a major challenge to reignite his side’s attacking spark ahead of their next fixtures.

A new report has shared how Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis now feels about his decision to sack Nuno Espírito Santo, with the Greek billionaire also said to be considering a surprise replacement for Ange Postecoglou.

Ange Postecoglou under serious Nottingham Forest pressure

A run of zero wins from his opening seven matches in charge at the City Ground, which includes five defeats, has plunged Postecoglou’s long-term Forest future into serious doubt.

Arsenal 3-0 Forest

Premier League

Swansea 3-2 Forest

Carabao Cup

Burnley 1-1 Forest

Premier League

Real Betis 2-2 Forest

Europa League

Forest 0-1 Sunderland

Premier League

Forest 2-3 FC Midtjylland

Europa League

Newcastle 2-0 Forest

Premier League

While Forest are yet to pull the plug on the Australian, despite credible media sources suggesting he could be sacked if Forest lose to Newcastle, Marinakis is not afraid to make a ruthless decision and call time on Postecoglou’s short reign if results continue in this manner (Sky Sports).

The former Tottenham boss, if he’s handed his P45 in the coming days, could become the shortest reigning Premier League manager in history.

Postecoglou already has an unwanted record, having made the worst start of any new Forest boss for 100 years, but the 60-year-old sent a defiant message about his struggles to make a good start at the City Ground.

In terms of who could replace Postecoglou if Marinakis decides to call time, it is believed that Oliver Glasner could emerge as a top candidate for the Forest job, and they have a long-standing interest in Fulham’s Marco Silva (The Mail).

The tacticians are both doing excellent jobs at their respective clubs with limited resources, so it’s hardly a surprise to see them mentioned, but it is now rumoured that Marinakis has another “shock” candidate in mind.

Nottingham Forest internally discuss Graham Potter as a replacement for Ange

That is according to TEAMtalk, who claim that former West Ham boss Graham Potter, who was sacked by the Hammers over a fortnight ago, is being considered.

The Englishman recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, who relegated the Hammers in 2011, yet his name has apparently come up behind-the-scenes.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

TT claim that Forest are internally discussing the possibility of appointing Potter, and Marinakis feels personally accountable for the club’s current situation after his bold move to axe Nuno.

The chief is said to be furious over Forest’s form and the state of affairs right now, with Marinakis “on the verge” of sacking Postecoglou.

Hiring Potter would be a very controversial move, to say the least, following his torrid time at the London Stadium.

Even if West Ham players were fans of the tactician and gave him their full backing (The Telegraph), it would arguably be yet another backwards step for the Tricky Trees.

Elsewhere, Marinakis was spotted in close proximity to Rafael Benitez last week, who’s keen on returning to England, and the Spaniard could be a much better option than Potter.

The option that stands out among all the rest, though, is Glasner.

That being said, even though his contract expires in 2026, it could be very difficult to convince the Austrian to move there mid-season amid Forest’s current predicament.

The summer transfer window officially slammed shut for another year on Monday night, without Celtic adding any number nines to their first-team squad.

Adam Idah was allowed to complete a £6m transfer to EFL Championship side Swansea City on deadline day, but that exit was not followed up by a replacement.

This means that Celtic have sold Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored 85 goals in 165 games for the club, and Idah, who scored 29 goals in 76 matches for the club, in 2025.

Meanwhile, Shin Yamada, who has scored four goals in his last 39 matches in all competitions, is the only first-team striker who has been signed by Celtic this year, in January or the summer.

However, Celtic do still have a chance to bolster their squad because they can dip into the free agent market to find a striker to lead the line for them this season, after they failed to sign one before the end of the window.

Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph reports that the club will hold talks with former Manchester City star Kelechi Iheanacho after his contract at Sevilla was ripped up on Monday night, before the deadline.

Why Kelechi Iheanacho could be a good signing

Signing a free agent does not always have to be a bad thing, because plenty of players end up in unfortunate situations and may not have been able to show the best of themselves, leading to them being available at this time of the year.

Kelechi only played 11 matches in all competitions during his time with Sevilla in Spain, scoring three goals, which shows that he did not get too many opportunities to showcase his quality in front of goal.

He is a player Brendan Rodgers already knows incredibly well from their time together at Leicester City in England, which means that the Hoops boss knows that the striker has the quality to make an impact in front of goal at Parkhead.

Kelechi scored 43 goals in 143 matches with the Northern Irish boss as his manager at the King Power, per Transfermarkt, and has a lot of experience in the Premier League with Leicester and Manchester City.

22/23 (28)

5

5

21/22 (26)

4

5

20/21 (25)

12

2

19/20 (20)

5

5

18/19 (30)

1

3

17/18 (21)

3

3

16/17 (20)

4

3

15/16 (26)

8

1

As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old striker has a decent history of goals and assists in the English top-flight, including a 12-goal haul with Rodgers as his manager in the 2020/21 campaign.

These statistics and his relationship with the Celtic boss suggest that signing him could be a worthwhile gamble to bolster their options up front before they have a chance to reassess the situation in the January window.

Even if Kelechi comes through the door in the coming days on a free transfer, though, it does not mean that the Scottish Premiership champions have achieved what they set out to do.

Sky Sports reported that the Hoops wanted to sign two new strikers on deadline day, as Idah left to join Swansea, which means that they may have to make two free agent signings if they still want another number nine in the building.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

A quick look at the free agent market will tell you that there is another centre-forward available who will be well known to Rodgers, even if he has not managed him before.

Patrick Bamford was released by Leeds United last month after they were promoted to the Premier League, as they went with Joel Piroe, Lukas Nmecha, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as their frontline forward, and he could be an even better signing than Kelechi.

Why Celtic should sign Patrick Bamford

Rodgers will have managed against Bamford in the Premier League and will know what he is about, which could make him another sensible short-term addition on a free transfer to ensure that the club get two strikers in the building before the clash with Kilmarnock.

Like Kelechi, the 31-year-old marksman has excelled in the English top-flight in the past. In the 2020/21 campaign, when Kelechi scored 12 goals, the former Leeds man plundered an eye-catching haul of 17 goals and was hailed as “exceptional” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for his performances that term.

This shows that the former England international’s peak may be higher than the Nigeria international’s, because he scored five more goals at Premier League level that season than Kelechi did in any season in his career.

In recent history, both players failed to showcase their qualities with limited game time in the 2024/25 campaign, but they both featured for their sides in the 2023/24 Championship season, for Leeds and Leicester respectively, and Bamford came out on top.

Appearances

33

23

xG

9.52

6.30

Goals

8

5

Shots on target per game

0.7

0.5

Assists

1

1

Ground duel success rate

40%

38%

Aerial duel success rate

39%

17%

As you can see in the table above, Bamford scored more goals, offering a greater threat in front of goal, and was more impressive in his physical duels, particularly in the air.

These statistics suggest that Celtic may not get much in the way of hold-up or physical play from Kelechi, given his horrendous aerial duel success rate, and that could cause problems in European matches when the Hoops need their number nine to relieve pressure in big matches.

This means that Bamford, who won two Championship titles during his time at Elland Road, could be more effective as an outlet for Celtic in big games, domestically and in Europe, whilst also having the potential to offer a greater goal threat.

Therefore, bringing the English striker in as well as Kelechi could make a lot of sense for the Scottish giants, as it would give Rodgers the two number nine signings he wanted and offer the team different options in the centre-forward position.

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Bamford’s statistics also suggest that he would simply be a better signing striker for the team than Kelechi as the main man up front, which is another reason why the club should swoop for him.

MatériaMais Notícias

Recentemente, em uma visita à Universidade de Parma, Carlo Ancelotti ecebeu o título de Doutor Honoris Causa em Ciências e Técnicas de Atividades Motoras Preventivas e Adaptadas. Porém, o reitor Paolo Andrei acabou entregando o acerto de Ancelotti com a Seleção Brasileira, ao afirmar que será uma “aventura extraordinária”.

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– Em 2024, Carlo Ancelotti passará por uma aventura extraordinária que é apenas um sonho para muitos treinadores: treinar o Brasil. É o primeiro estrangeiro nos últimos 60 anos a dirigir a Seleção, o quarto em toda a história. A admiração que sentimos por ele é generalizada e vai além de qualquer lugar ou time. Será o último prêmio que Carlo entregará – afirmou o reitor.

Porém, Ancelotti, italiano, não seria o primeiro estrangeiro a assumir o cargo. Em toda a história da Seleção, três treinadores estrangeiros já estiveram no comando.

No caso, Ramón Platero, Joreca e Filpo Nuñez. Platero era uruguaio e foi o primeiro treinador estrangeiro a comandar a Seleção, durante o Sul-Americano de 1925. Na época, era para Joaquim Guimarães assumir, mas este ficou encarregado de ocupar o cargo de diretor técnico. Assim, Platero teve a autonomia de escolher os atletas que iriam ser convocados, sem sofrer nenhuma influência.

Jorge Gomes de Lima, conhecido como Joreca, foi o segundo estrangeiro a assumir a Seleção. Português, recebeu o convite para cuidar da ‘amarelinha’ após se destacar em seus trabalhos no São Paulo, quando foi campeão paulista em 1943. A Seleção estava sem treinador desde 1942. Por conta da entrada do Brasil na Segunda Guerra Mundial, que estava acontecendo neste período, a ideia era que o país participasse de dois amistosos, contra o Uruguai, em 1944. Joreca dividiu o posto com Flávio Costa, técnico do Flamengo na época.

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E por fim, o terceiro desta lista foi Filpo Nuñez, argentino (embora tenha sido naturalizado brasileiro também), que assumiu o comando em 1965. Este foi o caso mais recente. Na época, a CDB (que era equivalente a CBF na época), escolheu uma equipe para representar o Brasil no festival que marcou a abertura do estádio do Mineirão. A equipe escolhida foi o Palmeiras. Na ocasião, a Seleção também enfrentou o Uruguai.

Mas vale destacar: nenhum estrangeiro treinou a Seleção Brasileira em uma Copa do Mundo. Carlo Ancelotti seria o primeiro. Conforme publicado pelo Lance! nesta segunda-feira (19), Ancelotti não pode assinar com a CBF antes do semestre que antecede o fim do seu vínculo com o Real Madrid, que se encerra na metade da próxima temporada.

MatériaMais Notícias

A diretoria do Santos já estava pensando em um possível novo treinador antes mesmo da demissão de Odair Hellmann, que aconteceu nesta quinta-feira (21), após a derrota santista para o Corinthians, na noite desta quarta-feira (21). 

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Já na semana passada, por exemplo, a direção do clube alvinegro conversou com o estafe do técnico Roger Machado, um dos alvos para assumir a equipe. O papo não passou de uma consulta para saber como estava o treinador, livre no mercado desde setembro do ano passado, quando deixou o Grêmio, mas sinalizou uma possível movimentação da equipe na retomada do futebol brasileiro. 

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Desde o empate sem gols com o Coritiba, no último dia 10 de junho, o entendimento das pessoas que cuidam do futebol no Santos era de que o trabalho de Odair Hellmann já tinha atingido o seu limite. Porém, a falta de uma opção que fosse considerada consenso para substituir o profissional no comando santista foi o motivo para que mais um voto de confiança fosse dado e que o treinador permanecesse durante a pausa de 11 dias que o Peixe teve durante os jogos entre seleções internacionais.

Com a reação da torcida após o revés no Clássico Alvinegro, lançando bombas em direção ao gramado, e até mesmo o vazamento do número de celular de Odair, que recebeu diversas ameaças durante a madrugada após a partida, a situação ficou insustentável. O próprio treinador já tinha noção que seria comunicado sobre a demissão nesta quinta-feira (22). Ele foi procurado no início do dia e acertou um acordo com a direção santista. O profissional receberá o valor referente a multa rescisória, mas aceitou que o pagamento fosse feito de forma parcelada, modelo de pagamento que tem sido adotado com recorrência nas negociações feitas pela diretoria santista. 

A diretoria do Peixe tem procurado um novo treinador. O objetivo é que ele esteja à disposição já na próxima semana. Enquanto isso, o clube será comandado interinamente pelo coordenador esportivo Paulo Roberto Falcão, que também participa do processo de escolha do novo comandante.

Fábio Carille é a primeira opção do departamento de futebol santista, que entende que errou ao demiti-lo no início do ano passado e que fez muito mais por conta de um desejo do então executivo de futebol da época, Edu Dracena, que meses depois deixou o clube pelas portas dos fundos. Carille, no entanto, tem contrato com o V-Varen Nagasaki, do Japão, até o fim do ano que vem, o que deve impedir que ele acerte o retorno ao Santos.

Róger Machado naturalmente surge como plano B, mas a direção do Alvinegro Praiano analisa outras opções, como a de Rogério Ceni. Informações sobre o ex-técnico do São Paulo foram colhidas por membros da direção santista após o desligamento de Odair Hellmann.

A “barnstorming” Sunderland player has now agreed a move to a foreign club this summer in a last-minute permanent transfer.

Le Bris wary of Burnley threat

The Black Cats made a dream start to life back in the Premier League last weekend, beating 3-0 West Ham at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland cannot afford to rest on their laurels, however, with a trip to fellow promoted side Burnley up next on Saturday, and manager Regis Le Bris isn’t taking the Clarets for granted.

“It is always a different story. They (Burnley) enjoyed a really strong last year. They were really consistent and strong to beat. They conceded few goals and they were always well-organised so I don’t think it will be different for the next game.

“They still have many threats to score goals. Against Tottenham, they changed their system so they might change it again or keep the same one. At the same time, we have a different team. Players who played last season alongside the new players.”

It has been a relentless summer for Sunderland when it comes to new signings, with as many as 11 permanent additions coming in, but now an update has emerged regarding the exit of a current player.

Habib Diarra

Strasbourg

£27.1m

Simon Adingra

Brighton

£21m

Enzo Le Fee

Roma

£19.8m

Chemsdine Talbi

Club Brugge

£17.2m

Noah Sadiki

Union SG

£14.6m

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

£12.9m

Nordi Mukiele

Paris Saint-Germain

£10.3m

Omar Alderete

Getafe

£9.8m

Robin Roefs

NEC Nijmegen

£9m

Reinildo Mandava

Atletico Madrid

Free transfer

Arthur Masuaku

Besiktas

Free transfer

"Barnstorming" Sunderland player agrees "permanent" exit

Taking to X, O’Rourke said that Sunderland midfielder Nectarios Triantis has agreed a move to MLS side Minnesota United, striking a deal at the last minute before the window closed there on Thursday evening.

This feels like the right time for Triantis to seal a permanent exit from the Black Cats, considering he has spent the past two seasons on loan at Scottish Premiership side Hibernian.

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It may have been made clear to the 22-year-old that he didn’t have a long-term future at Sunderland, amid so much competition for places in the Premier League, and a move to the MLS could be good for him, having been hailed as “barnstorming” by producer Sacha Pisani after one goal for Hibs.

Triantis ultimately didn’t make the grade at Sunderland, only making five appearances, but he is young enough to enjoy a good career elsewhere as the years pass.

Glasgow Rangers have been focused on bringing players to Ibrox during the summer transfer window, as they have brought in the likes of Thelo Aasgaard, Emmanuel Fernandez, Djeidi Gassama, and Max Aarons, among others.

However, Russell Martin and Kevin Thelwell also have to be wary of the size of the squad and the reality that some players will have to move on, amid interest in some of the fringe members of the team.

As you can see in the post above from Sacha Tavolieri, there are at least three teams interested in a deal to sign central defender Clinton Nsiala.

Martin has already admitted that the centre-back, who was not included in the squad to face Panathinaikos on Tuesday, could be on his way out of Ibrox this summer, and the former AC Milan man may not be the only one.

Two teams have major interest in Rangers forward

Nsiala is far from the only player on the fringes of the squad ahead of next season, as there will be plenty of people looking at their futures beyond this summer.

Transfer Focus

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According to the Daily Record, Rangers forward Ross McCausland is attracting interest from a number of clubs ahead of a potential move away from Ibrox.

The report claims that Aris Limassol and two teams in the MLS have a ‘major’ interest in snapping up the Northern Ireland international before the end of the window.

It adds that they are weighing him up as a potential loan signing, whilst there are also unnamed teams from England monitoring his situation.

Why Rangers should allow Ross McCausland to go

The Light Blues should allow McCausland to leave, whether that is on loan or on a permanent basis, this summer because he is as dispensable as Nsiala, who Martin has already admitted could be on his way out.

In the 2024/25 campaign, the French centre-back started ten of his 11 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, but ended the season as an unused substitute in the last two matches.

McCausland, meanwhile, only started four of his 13 appearances in the division for the Scottish giants, who have since signed Aasgaard and Gassama to play in the attacking midfield positions.

Appearances

13

Starts

4

Goals

0

Big chances created

0

Key passes per game

0.6

Assists

1

Red cards

1

As you can see in the table above, the academy graduate offered very little in the final third from a right wing position, with zero goals and zero assists in those 13 games.

He ended the season with more red cards (one) than goal contributions in the league, having been sent off for two bookable offences against Aberdeen in April.

Pundit Tam McManus criticised the “poor” Rangers flop after those mistakes, as McCausland made a rash challenge whilst already on a yellow card to end up being sent off.

The 22-year-old dud is, therefore, just as dispensable as Nsiala is this summer, as both players failed to nail down a place as a regular starter in the league last season, and are now attracting suitors from elsewhere.

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If Martin is willing to allow Nsiala to leave, as he has suggested, then the manager should be willing to allow McCausland, who started even fewer games in the league last term, to go as well.

New Barcelona signing Marcus Rashford once called a Real Madrid icon the best he’s ever played against ahead of Nou Camp legend Lionel Messi.

Marcus Rashford signs for Barcelona from Man Utd

The forward has officially competed a season-long loan move to the Nou Camp from Manchester United, with Barca also having the option to buy Rashford in 2026 for an initial £26m next summer.

Rashford becomes the first Englishman to sign for Barcelona since Gary Lineker, who did so back in 1986. Taking the number 14 shirt number with the Catalan giants, Rashford has been quick to praise current Barcelona star Lamine Yamal, calling the Ballon d’or contender “one of the leading players in the world”.

“He is a very special talent, and for me, I feel definitely last season, he is one of the leading players in the world, if not the best. Everyone wants to play with the best, and there is a lot of talent in this squad. I am happy and eager to play with them on the pitch. Maybe I can help them, and for sure, they can help me. It is going to be exciting.”

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Rashford will also come up against England teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham in the El Clasico in 2025/26, with Barca looking to retain their La Liga title under Hansi Flick.

Marcus Rashford’s Man Utd stats

Games

426

Goals

138

Assists

77

Red cards

2

Trophies

6

Rashford calls Cristiano Ronaldo best he’s played against

Back in 2017 when talking to ESPN, relayed by Football 365, Rashford was asked for the best player he has played with or against.

Still just two years into his professional career, the attacker said Cristiano Ronaldo was the best he had came up against during his time at the Bernabeu. However, he also name-checked former Red Devils teammate Wayne Rooney, Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and Brazilian star Neymar.

Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Brazil striker Ronaldo also got a mention from Rashford, highlighting his World Cup displays.

“Brazilian Ronaldo has had the biggest World Cup performances, I’d say. And his were among the most enjoyable to watch. There were a lot of top players who performed in the World Cup and went to another level.”

Orla Prendergast’s 76 underpins Ireland innings but England side featuring five debutants get home

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2024Kate Cross claimed career-best figures with bat and ball on her captaincy debut to lead England to a four-wicket win over Ireland in the first ODI at Stormont.Cross, leading a side featuring five ODI debutants in the absence of most of England’s T20 World Cup squad, was largely responsible for limiting the home side to 210 all out, her haul of 6 for 30 including Ireland’s top-scorer, Orla Prendergast, for 76.She then helped repair the damage after Ireland had reduced the visitors to 156 for 6, hitting an unbeaten 38 that included the winning runs.”There was a lot of nerves out there today,” Cross said. “When you’re captaining one debutant it can be quite hard but to have five on the pitch was a lot to manage so I was just really pleased with the first half in general, how we managed to restrict Ireland to what I thought was a below-par total and then we’ve chased it down.”I’ve been there. When I was running in in Barbados for my debut I remember thinking, ‘just try and land it on the cut strip’ and that does go through your head as a player but sometimes it’s the unknown and a fear when they play on debut because they don’t know how they’ll go in international cricket. I think they coped with the occasion really well.”Ireland opted to bat first in the opening match of the series and were well placed at 151 for 3, with star allrounder Prendergast going well. But Cross returned to break a stand of 77 with Leah Paul, and then mopped up the tail for her second ODI five-wicket haul.Cross had struck in her first over, pinning Una Raymond-Hoey lbw, before Lauren Filer removed Ireland captain Gaby Lewis via a catch at slip. Hannah Baker, the legspinner winning her first cap in any format, then struck in her opening spell as Amy Hunter departed for 37.Prendergast, who scored her maiden ODI hundred last month in Ireland’s series win over Sri Lanka, led the rebuilding effort but the innings folded quickly after her departure. Ryana MacDonald-Gay, another England debutant, bowled Rebecca Stokell, then Paul was run out by a combination of Freya Kemp and Bess Heath – two players who will be going to the World Cup in the UAE.Ireland’s total was their highest in women’s ODIs against England, and they made a good start in its defence. Prendergast opened the bowling and removed Emma Lamb and Tammy Beaumont inside her first four overs to leave England 32 for 2.Two debutants in Hollie Armitage (previously capped in T20Is) and Paige Scholfield steadied the ship with a stand of 62, before they were both dismissed in consecutive overs. Kemp showed her power with 26 off 19, but after she fell Mady Villiers was run out to leave England six down.Heath was joined by Cross, with 55 needed and more than 20 overs in which to get them. The captain did the bulk of the scoring, finishing unbeaten with 38 from 36 balls, as England got home with 91 balls to spare.

Celtic are in the market for reinforcements and now appear to be closing in on the signing of a talented star who has been spotted at Lennoxtown.

Celtic find out their Scottish Premiership fixtures for the new season

Fans will already be marking dates in their diary now that the Scottish Premiership fixtures have been released and there are plenty of exciting occasions to look forward to at Parkhead.

Beginning with St Mirren at home, Celtic go on to face Aberdeen, Livingston, Rangers and Kilmarnock in their opening five matches, though their clash against David Martindale’s side may be moved to allow more time to prepare for UEFA Champions League qualifying.

Brendan Rodgers will be hell-bent on making sure his side deliver yet another title, but who could he add to his squad to make sure they are in the best position possible to succeed?

Kieran Tierney has already arrived at Celtic on a free transfer and will complete his emotional homecoming after joining on a five-year deal. Meanwhile, the Bhoys are also closing in on Benjamin Nygren for a fee of £1.7 million from FC Nordsjælland.

The quest for squad depth doesn’t stop there, though Rodgers will need to weigh up who to discard in order to make room for fresh impetus among his group.

He was once worth £55m: Celtic ready to launch move to sign Idah 2.0

Celtic are still searching for a centre-forward as Kyōgo Furuhashi’s replacement, so could the Hoops “gamble” and sign a “big talent” once worth £55m?

ByBen Gray Jun 19, 2025

Albirex Niigita defender Hayato Inamura is edging closer to Celtic as talks continue over a move to Scottish shores for the highly-rated Japanese defender.

Now, another star could be on the verge of joining the champions after being spotted at their training ground, according to reports.

Celtic-linked Callum Osmand spotted at Lennoxtown

According to Herald Sport, Callum Osmand has been spotted at Lennoxtown ahead of his move to Celtic as the Fulham striker prepares to sign on at Parkhead.

Set to come in for a nominal fee, the Welshman is out of contract south of the border and appears to be a smart piece of business by the club to offer competition for Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah.

Callum Osmand in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

22

Goals

11

Assists

4

Dubbed “lightning quick” by Jack Kelly, his move is now close to completion and all that remains is an official announcement from the Scottish champions before this one is put to bed.

Johnny Kenny has filled the gaps in place of Maeda and Idah at times. Still, Osmand’s arrival would put the cat among the pigeons regarding the future of the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international.

Either way, Celtic are strengthening their ranks early and look to be a surefire bet to put up a compelling challenge domestically, albeit their performances in the Champions League will be heavily scrutinised as Rodgers eyes making a splash on the continent.

Osmand fits the brief of a low-risk signing with high potential, which will please supporters even if he is yet to play a senior minute of club football.