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They may well be in the Premier League relegation zone, but things are starting to look up for West Ham United.

Importantly, Graham Potter is now ancient history, and Nuno Espírito Santo is already getting the team to play better.

For example, they managed to fight back from a goal down and claim a point away to Everton, and while they didn’t really lay a finger on Arsenal, they also were not blown away.

However, there are still, of course, problems to solve, such as the team’s dire strikeforce of Niclas Füllkrug and Callum Wilson, although that problem could potentially be addressed through the academy.

West Ham's Füllkrug & Wilson problem

Even though West Ham are undoubtedly better than where they currently sit in the table, there are a few areas of the team that desperately need attention, like the striker department.

Go back to last summer, and it looked like the East Londoners had gone some way towards doing just that when they signed Füllkrug from Borussia Dortmund.

The German international was just coming off a season in which he scored 15 goals and provided ten assists in 43 appearances for the Bundesliga side and featured at the Euros in his homeland.

Unfortunately, the player the Hammers got their hands on has looked nothing like that clinical striker, as so far, in 27 games for the club, the 32-year-old has scored just three goals and provided two assists.

Worse yet, all five of those goal involvements came last season, and so far this year, he has been less than effective up top.

Now, it might seem harsh to judge Wilson so early on in his West Ham career, but even as a free signing, he’s an underwhelming addition to the team at best.

So far, he has scored one goal in six appearances, which just isn’t good enough for a club of this size, and considering he scored just once in 22 games for Newcastle United last season, it seems unlikely he’s going to rediscover his form anytime soon.

In all, it is clear as can be that West Ham need a new striker, and while they could, and probably should, sign one in January, Nuno might already have a solution in the academy.

West Ham's Füllkrug & Wilson replacement

While the first team has been underwhelming at best for West Ham over the last couple of years, the academy continues to produce promising talent after promising talent like Emeka Adiele, Elisha Sowunmi and Chuk Obi.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Moreover, the academy could provide Nuno with a solution to his Füllkrug and Wilson problem in the shape of Callum Marshall.

The 20-year-old centre-forward is currently plying his trade with the club’s U21 side and has racked up a reasonably impressive tally of four goals and one assist in just three appearances, totalling 270 minutes, which is an average of 1.33 goal involvements per game, or one every 67.5 minutes.

However, what makes the Northern Irishman a prime candidate to come and start ahead of the more senior strikers at some point this season is that he’s already got a good amount of senior football under his belt.

For example, he was given 29 minutes against Arsenal on Saturday, but more importantly, he spent last season on loan with Huddersfield Town, where he made quite an impact.

In all, the Glengormley-born poacher made 46 appearances for the Terriers, totalling 2841 minutes, in which he scored ten goals and provided four assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.28 games, or every 202.92 minutes.

Now, that might not sound outrageously impressive, but it’s important to remember that it was the youngster’s first proper season of regular first-team football, and he clearly did something right as he was named the club’s Player of the Year.

Moreover, with 12 international caps already under his belt, the “natural goalscorer,” as dubbed by former Huddersfield boss Michael Duff, is unlikely to be fazed by the task of starting a league game or two in the coming months.

Ultimately, it might not be the perfect solution, but with neither Füllkrug nor Wilson being good enough to lead the line for West Ham, Nuno should turn to Marshall.

West Ham think signing £105k-a-week Man United player would be perfect for Nuno

They’re convinced he’d slot in seamlessly.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 8, 2025

Arsenal have become a far smarter club when it comes to the transfer market over recent years.

Mikel Arteta and Co have overseen a host of incredible additions to the squad that have turned them from a mid-table side into consistent Premier League and Champions League contenders.

Yet, the North Londoners lag behind their rivals when it comes to the selling side of transfers.

However, at least they don’t lose future stars for nothing anymore, like they did with a current world-class talent who is playing as well as Bukayo Saka.

Youngsters Arsenal released too soon

As with all big clubs, there are a number of international superstars that Arsenal let go as youngsters, only to regret that decision later.

However, unlike a lot of other clubs, they have gone on to re-sign one of them in a statement deal: Eberechi Eze.

The club released the summer arrival as a teenager and after spending time with Fulham, Reading and Millwall’s academies, he’d finally get a professional contract with QPR, where he’d be spotted and signed by Crystal Palace in the summer of 2020.

During his time south of the river, the Greenwich-born dynamo would rack up a brilliant haul of 40 goals and 28 assists in 169 appearances, which was enough to convince his former side to bring him home.

Another player who came back to North London after being released by Arsenal, although to the wrong side, is Harry Kane.

Released after just one season with the Gunners, the young Englishman would go on to join Tottenham Hotspur a few years later, and by the time he left the capital, he had scored 280 goals and provided 63 assists in 435 games.

The England captain is now tearing it up for Bayern Munich, and he’s not the only former Arsenal prospect doing so.

The former Arsenal youngster now looking like another Saka

There are actually two former Arsenal gems plying their trade for Bayern alongside Kane, and one of them is, of course, Serge Gnabry.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

However, while getting rid of the German international was a mistake, the Gunners did at least get a fee for him, which they did not for Michael Olise.

Yes, before spending time in the academies of Chelsea, Manchester City, and Reading, the dynamic youngster spent a short period at the famous Hale End of the North Londoners, before leaving for nothing.

It was during his time with Reading that Crystal Palace spotted him, and in 2021 he earned an £8m move to the South London side.

During his three seasons with the Eagles, the French international scored 16 goals and provided 25 assists in 90 appearances, which caught the attention of Bayern, who agreed to pay £50m for him last summer.

Now, when we say that the 23-year-old is playing ‘like Saka’, we don’t necessarily mean in playstyle, but more in how important he is to his team from an output perspective.

For example, despite missing almost four months of action last year, the Englishman still racked up 26 goal involvements in just 37 appearances for Arteta’s side.

Appearances

62

Minutes

4410′

Goals

24

Assists

26

Goal Involvements per Match

0.80

Minutes per Goal Involvements

88.2′

In comparison, the former Eagles star scored a staggering 20 goals and provided 23 assists in 55 appearances, totalling 3842 minutes.

In other words, he averaged a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 89.34 minutes, and as he’s already racked up seven goal involvements in seven games this season, it would be fair to say Oliver Glasner has been proven more than right when he claimed the Frenchman was “one of the best talents in the world.”

Ultimately, Arsenal have a brilliant team this year, but just imagine how dangerous they’d be with Saka and Olise in the squad.

Saved by Martinelli: 5/10 Arsenal man was even worse than Merino vs City

It was a game to forget for Mikel Arteta and this Arsenal star.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 22, 2025

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has confirmed midfielder Enzo Fernandez has missed his side’s trip to Nottingham Forest through injury, but allayed fears over the severity of the problem by saying it is “not a big concern”. The Blues head to Forest on Saturday as they look to secure back-to-back Premier League victories following the last-gasp win over Liverpool before the international break.

Fernandez was an injury doubt for Chelsea's clash with Forest

Chelsea boss Maresca confirmed ahead of the game against Forest that Fernandez – alongside in-form midfielder Moises Caicedo and winger Pedro Neto – was an injury doubt for the lunchtime kick-off at the City Ground.

“They didn't take part in the session yesterday, but we will see if they can train today,” Maresca said in his pre-match press conference. “Otherwise, they would be out for tomorrow.”

But while Neto has been included in Chelsea's starting line-up for the clash with Forest, with Caicedo also included among the substitutes, Fernandez has been unable to recover in time and therefore misses out altogether.

Chelsea’s XI for Forest: Sanchez; James (c), Chalobah, Acheampong, Cucurella; Gusto, Lavia; Neto, Andrey Santos, Garnacho; Pedro. 

Chelsea substitutes: Jorgensen (GK), Adarabioyo, Gittens, Hato, Caicedo, George, Guiu, Estevao, Buonanotte.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMaresca confirms Enzo has missed the trip to Forest through injury

But while Fernandez will not be able to help Chelsea as they go in search of three points against a Forest side who have failed to win any of their first seven games under manager Ange Postecoglou, Maresca is hopeful the Argentina international will not spend too long on the sidelines through injury.

Speaking to ahead of the game, Maresca said of Fernandez’s absence: "It's not a big concern. He's out for a problem, for an injury, and hopefully he can be back very soon."

Argentina midfielder Enzo has been on song for Chelsea in 2025-26

Fernandez has been in fine form for Chelsea in 2025-26, scoring three goals and recording one assist in his side's first seven league games. The 24-year-old found the back of the net in the victories over London rivals West Ham and Fulham, while he also scored in the 3-1 loss at the hands of Brighton.

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Chelsea still reeling from the loss of Palmer after injury setback

While Maresca is optimistic over Fernandez’s recovery time, Chelsea are continuing to combat injury problems with other players. Alongside Caicedo and Neto, defender Tosin Adarabioyo and midfielder Andrey Santos have travelled to Forest following their recent injury woes, though Maresca’s men are still reeling from the loss of star man Cole Palmer. Having been absent since the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United on September 20 with a persistent groin injury, Maresca revealed the England international will be out for a further six weeks before the Forest game.

“Unfortunately, he (Palmer) needs to be out for probably six more weeks, this is the update,” said Maresca. “We try to protect Cole as much as we can and the most important thing is that when he comes back, he is fully fit. We hope the six weeks will be enough, but it’s a problem that we need to look at step by step, week by week, but for sure he is going to be okay.”

Maresca also confirmed Chelsea will be without defender Benoit Badiashile until December, adding: “Benoit will be out until December. He is injured again with a muscle problem. He was doing fantastic, showing how good he is, and how we need him. So we will wait for him.”

It’s starting to feel like it might be game over for Graham Potter at West Ham United.

The former Chelsea boss ended last season in 14th place, and has already lost three of four Premier League games this year.

On top of that, the team crashed out of the League Cup and simply aren’t playing good football.

Some fans would surely love for the club to re-hire David Moyes, but while that is almost certainly impossible, West Ham do seem interested in another of their former managers.

The latest on West Ham's managerial situation

Given the form West Ham have been in this season, it’s not been much of a surprise to see them being linked with a host of managers.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

One name that seems to continuously pop up is Frank Lampard, who is currently plying his trade with Coventry City and has overseen two wins and three draws in the Championship this season.

Another manager touted for a move to the London Stadium is Nuno Espírito Santo, who Nottingham Forest recently fired despite getting them back into Europe for the first time in a very long time.

However, neither of these managers could really be seen as another Moyes-esque appointment, unlike Slaven Bilic.

Yes, according to a recent report from Ben Jacobs, the Croatian coach is now someone West Ham are interested in.

In fact, Jacobs has revealed that David Sullivan currently “favours” the 57-year-old over other candidates.

It remains to be seen who, if anyone, replaces Potter this season, but Bilic may well be a great option, and something of a Moyes 2.0.

Why Bilic could be Moyes 2.0

So, while it might sound incredibly simplistic, the primary reason hiring Bilic would be a Moyes-esque move is that he, too, would be coming back to West Ham.

The Scotsman was in charge of the club between November 2017 and May 2018, and then came back for a second, more successful spell between December 2019 and June 2024.

In Bilic’s case, he was sitting in the hot seat at the club between July 2015 and November 2017.

During that time, the Croatian took charge of 109 matches, overseeing 42 wins, 30 draws and 37 losses, which resulted in a points per game average of 1.43.

That’s light years better than Potter’s record of six wins, five draws and 13 losses in 24 games at the helm, which comes out to a dreadful average of 0.96 points per game.

Games

109

24

Wins

42

6

Draws

30

5

Losses

37

13

Points per Game

1.43

0.96

Goals Scored

160

29

Goals Conceded

167

39

It’s also not much worse than Moyes’ second stint at the club, which saw him rack up 103 wins, 43 draws and 84 losses, which saw him average 1.53 points per game and crucially, win the club some European silverware.

Now, while potentially mirroring the Scotsman’s return to the club is an enticing prospect, there are some other reasons the Hammers might want to re-hire Bilic.

For example, within a year of being appointed manager of West Brom, the “absolutely immense” manager, as dubbed by former professional Lee Hendrie, had led them back up to the Premier League.

Ultimately, while there might be more prestigious options out there, re-hiring Bilic might be the way to go for West Ham, as he’d certainly be an upgrade on Potter, and when Moyes made his return, he won the club a major honour.

West Ham source shares potentially imminent Graham Potter sack timeline

The Englishman may be out of a job soon on one condition.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 18, 2025

Manchester United have reportedly added Gareth Southgate to a three-man shortlist as they weigh up whether to sack under-fire manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese is under pressure after presiding over a torrid start which has seen the Red Devils lose four of their opening seven games in all competitions in 2025-26.

• Southgate reportedly an option should United sack Amorim

  In a new report from , Southgate is reportedly an option for United should they decide to sack Amorim. The report claims that the former England manager was considered when the Old Trafford club decided to hire Amorim in November 2024, with Southgate unwilling to return to club management at that time. He has been out of work since leaving England just two days after their defeat by Spain in the 2024 European Championship final.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Minority owner Ratcliffe makes contact with ex-England boss

  However, the report states that United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made fresh contact with Southgate in recent weeks, amid the club’s struggles on the pitch. The report concludes by claiming Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola make up United’s three-man shortlist. After guiding Palace to their first piece of silverware with victory in last season's FA Cup final, Austrian Glasner has presided over an unbeaten start to the 2025-26 Premier League season which has seen the Eagles rise to third in the table. Iraola, on the other hand, has won early plaudits at Bournemouth having led the club to three wins and one draw from their opening six league fixtures. The Cherries lost several key players in the summer including Kepa Arrizabalaga, Illia Zabarnyi, Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez, yet the club currently sit sixth under Iraola's stewardship.

• AFP
  

  Southgate widely considered England's second greatest manager

  Southgate is widely regarded as the second greatest England manager of all time, only behind 1966 World Cup-winning coach Sir Alf Ramsey. After taking over the national team helm in 2016, the 55-year-old guided the Three Lions to successive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024 – losing both against Italy and Spain respectively. The former Middlesbrough boss received widespread praise for the positive culture he instilled at St. George’s Park, avoiding a repeat of the cliques which undermined the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ of the 2000s. Southgate was also hailed for reconnecting the England squad with supporters, making the team more likeable and relatable. He received a knighthood for his services to football at Windsor Castle in June.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  United have lost four of their opening seven games in all competitions

  Pressure has intensified on Amorim following United’s 3-1 Premier League defeat against Brentford on Saturday. Amorim’s side have won just two matches so far this term – against both Burnley and Chelsea in the Premier League – while they also drew with Fulham on August 24. But United have suffered defeats against Arsenal, Manchester City and Brentford in the league, while they were also eliminated from the Carabao Cup in embarrassing fashion as they fell to a 12-11 penalty shootout loss to League Two outfit Grimsby Town on August 27. Since replacing Erik ten Hag in the United dugout, Amorim has won just nine of his 33 league matches in charge of the club. He is also yet to win back-to-back league games at United, 10 months after arriving from Sporting CP.

This summer has very much been about the incomings as far as Arsenal are concerned. It’s been unprecedented too. We were promised it would be.

Nine days ago, the Gunners confirmed the marquee arrival of Eberechi Eze, who signed from Crystal Palace, eventually fulfilling his dream of playing for the Arsenal first-team.

With that move finalised, we all thought Andrea Berta and Co were done in the market. Well, think again. They have tied up a move for Bayer Leverkusen on transfer deadline day, a switch that allows Jakub Kiwior to head for Porto.

That move takes the club’s spending past £300m, something that meant sales had to be made.

How Arsenal's transfer window ended

Hincapie has moved to the Emirates Stadium in a deal worth around £45m, lower than his proposed release clause of £52m.

Initially signed on a season-long loan move, it’s a switch that will become permanent next summer, allowing for Arsenal to balance the books in the meantime.

So, how will they balance those books? Well, Albert Sambi-Lokonga departed the Gunners for Hamburg on transfer deadline day, joining Reiss Nelson in fleeing.

Transfer Focus

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

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Nelson will depart north London but remain in the capital, heading to Brentford on a loan move that could become permanent next summer.

Arsenal have also tried to move on Oleksandr Zinchenko who received interest from Marseille but he ultimately stayed with Mikel Arteta’s side. It’s unlikely he’ll receive many minutes with Hincapie having now signed.

Yet, there was another move that happened, one that signified the end of one of Arteta’s worst signings since becoming the club’s manager.

Arsenal sell player similar to Martin Odegaard

Back in 2022, Arsenal agreed a £34.2m move to bring one of Europe’s most exciting young playmakers to the club.

It wasn’t one met with a huge amount of fanfare but Fabio Vieira’s arrival was a crafty one as they looked to provide competition for Martin Odegaard.

Indeed, during his time at the Emirates, club icon Gilberto admitted that he was like the Norwegian, saying: “In terms of his style and the coach’s vision, he’s very close to (Martin) Odegaard. He has good ideas and dynamics, but he has to recognise that and the quality he has.”

Sadly, Vieira didn’t realise that hotly-tipped potential. He played just 50 times for Arsenal, scoring four goals and supplying ten assists. That tally of assists isn’t a bad haul by any means but the fact of the matter is that the Portuguese looked far too lightweight to make it in the Premier League.

A loan spell with boyhood club, Porto, rather sealed his fate in 2024/25. Granted time to show what he was capable of, the now 25-year-old scored just five goals and supplied six assists, hardly numbers that inspired Arteta to give him another go.

Vieira at Arsenal

Season

22/23

23/24

Appearances

33

17

Goals

2

2

Assists

6

4

Stats via Transfermarkt

As a consequence, the big-money signing was told to find a new club and he finally did so on transfer deadline day.

Coincidentally, Vieira joined Lokonga in Hamburg, heading to join the German side on an initial loan move.

The Athletic reported earlier on Monday that he had been given permission to fly to Germany to undergo a medical.

It marks the end of a really disappointing stay with Arsenal. From being tipped to take up an Odegaard-like role in the side, he leaves London behind as a forgotten figure.

Aston Villa’s rise under Unai Emery has been defined by sharp recruitment, shrewd coaching, and an ability to identify players who are ready to step into the limelight away from the shadows of Europe’s biggest clubs.

In Morgan Rogers, Villa found exactly that: a player once on the books at Manchester City, who needed a platform to showcase his ability.

Just 18 months on from swapping the Etihad for Villa Park, Rogers has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s brightest attacking midfielders, demonstrating the value of spotting untapped potential.

That model has become central to Villa’s approach in a summer where financial pressures have forced them to balance ambition with pragmatism.

The club has already lost academy graduate Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United in a bid to meet Profit and Sustainability Regulations.

Aston Villa enter the race for Barcelona talent

As long as Emery’s side seek to compete at the highest level, their transfer strategy must be both precise and opportunistic.

It is within this context that Villa are eyeing their next move.

Transfer Focus

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

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The profile of the target is clear: highly talented, underused at an elite club, and brimming with the potential to grow into a genuine superstar once given a consistent role.

In other words, another Rogers-style signing.

Reports via Sport Witness revealed that Aston Villa have joined Wolves and Marseille in the battle to sign Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado, a player described by “spectacular” Sergio Busquets.

The 21-year-old is valued at €30m (£25m), with Barça facing a difficult dilemma over his future, and the player has already received an offer from Villa to leave Camp Nou behind.

Casado is a La Masia graduate and a Catalonia native, factors that make the political optics of a sale complicated.

The club knows moving him on could cause friction among supporters, yet their long-standing financial problems remain unresolved.

The midfielder currently earns €10,000 a week, and Wolves are reportedly prepared to quadruple that to tempt him into a Premier League move.

Why Casado could be the next Rogers

Villa’s interest comes at a time when Emery’s squad has stumbled slightly at the start of the campaign, collecting just one point from their opening two fixtures.

With a Europa League campaign to navigate and squad depth already tested, adding quality in midfield is a priority.

Casado, who featured 23 times in La Liga last season and played ten Champions League matches, fits the bill as both a ready contributor and a long-term investment.

Wolves have been proactive in making contact, particularly as they look to rebound from a difficult start under Vítor Pereira, losing their first two league games after selling key players Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri.

Yet Villa possess a crucial advantage: the opportunity to offer a proven pathway of development.

Rogers’ success after leaving City is proof of what can be achieved at Villa Park.

Casado’s qualities suggest he could thrive in the same way Rogers has at Villa.

A deep-lying playmaker with the versatility to cover at right-back or centre-back, he brings both defensive solidity and creative incision.

His underlying numbers are striking.

According to FBref, he ranks in the 91st percentile compared to positionally similar players in Europe for assists per 90 (0.20), the 94th percentile for touches (86.03) and passes into the final third (7.49), while completing 90.1% of his passes – evidence of his reliability in possession.

Defensively, he averages over three tackles per game, highlighting his work rate and adaptability.

What makes Casado particularly intriguing is how his career echoes Rogers’ trajectory. Like the English midfielder at City, Casado is blocked by world-class competition at Barcelona.

Both players require a club prepared to give them consistent minutes in a competitive environment without the suffocating expectation that comes with being part of an elite, star-studded squad.

Rogers grasped that opportunity with both hands, making 54 appearances last season across competitions, scoring 12 goals and assisting 14, while playing a key role in Villa’s Champions League run.

His initial £8m transfer fee now looks like one of the bargains of the decade, and his market value has since risen to £50m.

Casado, at £25m, represents a bigger outlay, but one that could prove similarly shrewd if his development mirrors that of Rogers.

There is also the question of timing.

Casado recently left his agent and will be represented by Jorge Mendes from October, a move designed to secure his long-term future.

While he has publicly insisted it is not a step motivated by salary, Mendes’ involvement inevitably increases the likelihood of a move abroad, given his extensive Premier League connections.

For Villa, the chance to repeat the Rogers model is obvious. Casado is young, versatile, technically gifted, and already tested in both La Liga and the Champions League.

He might not yet be a guaranteed starter for Barcelona, but under Emery, he could become an essential cog in a side that thrives on midfield dynamism and tactical flexibility.

If Casado makes the move, his ceiling is immense.

Busquets’ endorsement underlines his pedigree, while his statistical profile suggests a player capable of dictating play at the highest level.

Like Rogers, the conditions are right for him to flourish away from the glare of his current surroundings.

For Aston Villa, it is about recognising that the next superstar might not be the finished article, but a rough diamond ready to shine.

Related He's like Duran & Benteke: Aston Villa make £65m star their top target

Aston Villa are eyeing up a new striker who is a mix of Jhon Durán and Christian Benteke.

Posts ByWill Miller Aug 23, 2025

Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the India A squad on their tour of Australia later this month.Gaikwad, who has begun his Ranji Trophy season with scores of 86, 0 and 145 for Maharashtra, is one of the contenders for the role of reserve opener for India’s five-Test tour of Australia, which will closely follow India A’s tour. That role has gained extra significance with India captain and opener Rohit Sharma set to miss one of the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series for personal reasons.Apart from Gaikwad, the 15-member India A squad also includes two other candidates for that role in Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has been named vice-captain, and Sai Sudharsan.The matches against Australia A could provide match practice, or serve as an audition, for a couple of other back-up players likely to be picked in the Test squad. Devdutt Padikkal, B Indrajith and Ricky Bhui are set to be the middle-order batters in the India A squad; Abishek Porel and Ishan Kishan the wicket-keepers; Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar the allrounders; and Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed and Prasidh Krishna, replacing the initially picked Yash Dayal, the fast bowlers.Abhimanyu, 29, has been part of India’s Test squad previously – in Bangladesh in 2022 – and he has been in superb form this domestic season, scoring two hundreds in the Duleep Trophy, another century in the Irani Trophy, and beginning the Ranji Trophy season with a ton for Bengal. Sudharsan, 23, made a first-class hundred for English county Surrey in August, before scoring a century in the Duleep Trophy and a double-hundred in Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy match in Delhi.Having recovered from a hernia, 21-year-old allrounder Reddy made his T20I debut for India against Bangladesh earlier this month and is currently a reserve player in India’s Test squad for the home series against New Zealand. He is seen by India’s selectors as a promising allrounder who could improve with more experience and exposure.

India opt for intra-squad warm-up

India A are scheduled to play Australia A in two four-day matches in Mackay from October 31 to November 3 and in Melbourne from November 7 to 10. They will then play the India squad in a warm-up match in Perth from November 15 to 17 before the first Test against Australia begins on November 22.India have opted for this intra-squad game as their warm-up to the Test rather than a practice match against an Australian domestic side. This is a departure from their preference on their last two tours of Australia. They began the red-ball leg of their 2020-21 tour with a three-day game against Australia A, and played a four-day game against a Cricket Australia XI before their Test series in 2018.19.

India A squad for tour of Australia

Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), Abhimanyu Easwaran (vice-capt), Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan, B Indrajith, Abishek Porel (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Mukesh Kumar, Ricky Bhui, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Manav Suthar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, Tanush Kotian, Prasidh Krishna

أعلن أحمد جاب الله، طبيب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، عن سبب غياب 4 لاعبين من قائمة الفريق لمباراته المرتقبة أمام حرس الحدود في الدوري المصري.

ويخوض فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي مباراة هامة غدًا أمام حرس الحدود في إطار لقاءات الجولة الثامنة من بطولة الدوري المصري.

وشهدت قائمة الأهلي غياب الرباعي، محمد مجدي أفشة ومحمد بن رمضان وأحمد نبيل كوكا وأحمد رمضان بيكهام.

طالع | قائمة الأهلي لمباراة حرس الحدود في الدوري المصري.. موقف أحمد عبد القادر

وكشف طبيب الأهلي، عن تعرض محمد مجدي أفشة لآلام في عضلة السمانة خلال المران الأخير، مشيرًا إلى أن اللاعب سيخضع لأشعة خلال الساعات المقبلة لتحديد موقفه الطبي من المشاركة.

وأضاف جاب الله أن الجهاز الطبي استبعد الثلاثي أحمد رمضان بيكهام، وأحمد نبيل كوكا، ومحمد بن رمضان من قائمة مباراة حرس الحدود، وذلك بسبب معاناتهم من إجهاد في العضلة الخلفية وعدم الجاهزية الطبية.

تلقى لوكا مودريتش لاعب خط الوسط الكرواتي المخضرم إشادة بعد مشاركته في فوز منتخب بلاده ضد الجبل الأسود برباعية نظيفة في تصفيات أوروبا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

ونشرت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية أن مودريتش أثبت مع بداية موسم 2025-2026 أن العمر مجرد رقم حيث قدم أداء رائعا بالتزامن مع عيد ميلاده الأربعين.

وقدم لاعب خط وسط ريال مدريد السابق تمريرة حاسمة وأداء رائع مع منتخب كرواتيا ليذكر البعض بأفضل أيامه مع ناديه الإسباني السابق.

ونشر مودريتش عبر منصة “إكس” بعد فوز منتخب بلاده كرواتيا ضد الجبل الأسود: “العمر مجرد رقم”.

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وقد تم تفسير الرسالة بأنها رسالة خفية موجهة إلى ريال مدريد الذي رحل عنه في نهاية الموسم الماضي بعد فشله في التوصل لاتفاق لتجديد عقده.

وكان مودريتش قد انتقل لصفوف ميلان الصيف الماضي بعد أكثر من عقد من الزمان في سانتياجو برنابيو حيث أصبح أحد أبرز لاعبي القرن الحادي والعشرين.

ولعب لاعب خط الوسط الكرواتي دوراً محورياً في أول مباراتين لفريقه في الدوري الإيطالي ليثبت أنه لاعب خط وسط محوري لا يزال قادرا على صنع الفارق.

وإلى جانب بدايته المميزة مع ميلان في الدوري الإيطالي تظهر مستوياته الدولية مع منتخب كرواتيا أنه لا يزال يمتلك الكثير ليقدمه سواء من حيث الرؤية أو القدرة على تحمل المسؤوليات في اللحظات الحاسمة.

وكان تشابي ألونسو مدرب ريال مدريد قد أوضح رغبته وحاجته للتعاقد مع بديل بعد رحيل مودريتش لكن المديرين الرياضيين لم يتعاقدوا مع أي لاعب، رغم ارتباط النادي بلاعبين مثل إنزو فرنانديز من تشيلسي وماك أليستر من ليفربول وأبقى النادي على لاعبه داني سيبايوس.