The new captain takes over at a time where the team has sunk to its lowest ICC ranking in 19 years

Mohammad Isam13-Jun-2025

Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s natural leadership qualities face a significant test as he attempts to revive Bangladesh’s flagging ODI fortunes. The new captain takes over just as his team has sunk to its lowest ICC ranking in 19 years.Mehidy’s first assignment will be in Sri Lanka where Bangladesh play their hosts in three ODIs from July 8. He has said that he is targeting a series win in a country where Bangladesh has won just four out of 36 ODIs. Bangladesh will be playing 50-over cricket for the first time since the Champions Trophy in February this year, where they made a swift exit after defeats to India and New Zealand.”We want to win our first ODI series in Sri Lanka,” Mehidy said at the pre-departure press conference on Friday. “The first match is very important as we haven’t been playing a lot of ODI cricket lately. We didn’t play many last year. It is going to be challenging as we used to playing 15-20 every year usually.”Related

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Mehidy Hasan Miraz appointed Bangladesh's ODI captain for next 12 months

Mehidy has previous experience of leading Bangladesh in the 3-0 ODI series defeat against West Indies in December, where he was deputising for Najmul Hossain Shanto, whom he has replaced this time permanently.”I made my captaincy debut in a different circumstance. I was the vice-captain so I had to step up as Shanto got injured. It is difficult to captain the side in that situation. It was Shanto’s set-up. I just had to run the field. I gathered experience in those four ODIs but captaincy is better on a long-term basis. I will try to get the team to a good position in 12 months.”Bangladesh are scheduled to play 23 ODIs during this period. Mehidy has been one of their standout performers, with his batting improvements highlighted since the 2023 World Cup. He has also been a steady operator with his offspin, but beyond those tangible details. Bangladesh are looking to his strong temperament to tide them through this tough time. His track record in leadership positions and his ability to fight back from adversity are good signs.Mehidy led particularly well at the age-group level. He is the most experienced Under-19 captain of all time, with a win percentage of 62.5 in Youth ODIs. Mehidy led Bangladesh to their first appearance in the semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup in 2016, also winning the Player-of-the-Tournament award.He went from cricket for boys to men in the same year, taking 19 wickets in his debut Test series against England. Mehidy settled into the senior team quickly and gained a reputation as a fast learner and an avid listener.”I have learned a lot from my captains in the past,” he said. “I will use that knowledge as the ODI captain. I have always followed how they took their decisions strongly. A captain has to take strong decisions in tough situations. You might not get a second chance. How you take the decision, is an important thing.”I will help the younger players just like our senior players used to help us when we were starting our careers. It is now time for us to take the responsibility. I have gained a lot of experience playing for eight or nine years. Those in the dressing room must not feel he is alone, he should feel that I have others with me.”Mehidy: Those in the dressing room must not feel he is alone, he should feel that I have others with me•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Mehidy already has a high point as Bangladesh captain – a stirring Test match win over West Indies in Jamaica last November. Many of his team members were down with flu and others were battling poor form but they all rallied together to draw the series 1-1.Mehidy was battered by bouncers and verbals in both Tests, but he fought hard against West Indies’ fast bowlers. It was a short stint but it gave a window into Mehidy’s style of leadership.”The captain is responsible for the team result but he also has to perform himself,” he said. “We are giving priority to the team result. We want to play together, and take Bangladesh to a better stage. We used to be a very good team, and I hope we can go back there again.”Mehidy has been a successful top- and middle-order inclusion in ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, but he is open to a change if it suits the team better.”Runs from the top-order batters makes life easier for the middle and lower order. I want my top-order batters to do well in ODIs. It doesn’t matter whether I get to bat or not, the team must win regardless. I got three fifties batting at No 4. I think there are scoring opportunities if I bat up the order. My bowling is very important so if I bat too high up the order it might affect my bowling. I want to bat in a position that benefits the team and me.”Mehidy’s first real test, however, is off the field. His appointment was reportedly handled clumsily by the BCB, hours after Shanto told a press conference that he was waiting to hear from the board about the ODI captaincy. Mehidy and Shanto go back a long way, so it will be up to the pair to communicate clearly about the way forward.”Shanto and I have been playing together since our Under-15s,” Mehidy said. “We spoke about taking Bangladesh forward, it doesn’t matter who is the captain. I don’t think it will have an effect in the dressing room. We are all playing for the country. These things won’t bother Shanto and me. I helped him a lot during his captaincy. He will do the same. He will help me.”Shanto could feel hard done by, as he was averaging 51.27, including a century and four fifties, as the ODI captain. Bangladesh, however, won just four out of 13 games. Shakib Al Hasan, who was captain just before Shanto, also won just four out of 12 games.Mehidy has said that he appreciates the board appointing him for an extended period – 12 months – but whether he will continue till the 2027 World Cup is a different matter. “Longer term captaincy is always ideal, but I think it is up to the board (whether the captaincy goes on till the 2027 World Cup). The thinking is to get the team out of the current struggle. We have a number of ODIs in the next 12 months. Two senior players [Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim] retired from ODIs recently so those who will get the opportunity, have to get settled in the next 12 months.Bangladesh’s ODI performance has been its only saving grace in international cricket for the last 15 years. The steady captaincy in this format, for the better part of the last 11 years under Mashrafe Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal has had a positive effect on the ODI performances. They have now landed on their third captain in two years. A natural leader, Mehidy will be expected to bring back some consistency into the role.

Tottenham Hotspur were forced to settle for a point at the AMEX on Saturday when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

Thomas Frank’s side had beaten West Ham United and Villarreal in their last two matches without conceding a goal, but they were unable to add to those wins with a third successive victory.

A late own goal from Jan Paul van Hecke ensured that the Lilywhites did not come away from the match without anything to show for their efforts.

Despite it being a fairly disappointing result, as they were almost beaten and only picked up one point, there were some positive performances across the pitch.

One player who caught the eye with his display in the middle of the park was summer signing Joao Palhinha, who started in the number six position for Spurs.

It was his fourth start of the Premier League season since signing on loan from Bayern Munich, and it is already clear what kind of player the club have brought in.

Why Joao Palhinha is not the perfect player for Spurs

Palhinha is an out-and-out defensive midfielder. If you were told to list the attributes you would want in a pure defensive midfielder, he has all of them.

The Portugal international is tall, mobile, strong, wins tackles well, competes in the air, and covers gaps in midfield. All of the things that you would associate with a defensive-minded midfielder.

So far this season, per Sofascore, Palhinha has averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per game and won 65% of his ground duels and 54% of his aerial duels in the Premier League, which is evidence of his defensive strength in the middle of the park.

However, despite getting on the scoresheet against Manchester City, the former Fulham star does leave a bit to be desired with his use of the ball.

The best number six types in world football are not pure defensive midfielders, because they are expected to dictate play and be impactful in possession as part of a team that wants to win the biggest prizes.

As you can see in the table above, Palhinha falls well short as a progressive passer in comparison to some of the best defensive or deep-lying midfielders, whether they play as a number six or a number eight, across Europe.

This does not mean that the Portugal international is a bad player, by any means, but his lack of progressive play in possession may be why Bayern were willing to send him out on loan in the first place.

Palhinha may not be the perfect player, therefore, to deploy in matches when Spurs are expected to be the dominant force and need to break teams down, but may be ideal in the biggest games, like against Manchester City, when they need backs-against-the-wall defending.

Spurs did once have a promising young player, though, who had the potential to be a defensive monster like Palhinha, but with the progressive passing to make him the club’s own version of Declan Rice.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Given what has happened to him in recent years, it may seem ridiculous to suggest, but Oliver Skipp could have been Tottenham’s own Rice in different circumstances.

Why Spurs may rue selling Oliver Skipp

The English number six came up through the youth ranks at Spurs and made a smattering of appearances for the first-team before going out on loan to Norwich City in the 2020/21 campaign.

Skipp played in 45 of Norwich’s 46 Championship matches that season, per Sofascore, and played a pivotal role in their promotion to the Premier League, winning the title in the process.

As you can see in the table above, the England U21 international provided quality as both a progressive passer and carrier, whilst also excelling defensively with his ability to make tackles and blocks in his own third.

After that season with the Canaries, former Spurs striker Paul Stewart claimed that he could be as effective as Rice, who was at West Ham United at the time and ranked well above Palhinha in the earlier table for progressive passes for Arsenal last season.

The pundit stated: “You know what, I’d like to see him do what Declan Rice does. I think he’s got that in him and I think he showed that at Norwich. The plaudits that have come out of East Anglia have been massive about Oliver Skipp. I think he can go on and be as effective as Declan Rice at West Ham.”

Unfortunately, Skipp only started 37 Premier League matches in the next three seasons combined, fewer league starts than he managed in one season with Norwich, which meant that the midfielder was unable to really hit his stride in North London.

Ange Postecoglou opted to part ways with the English midfielder in the summer of 2024, selling him to Leicester City, and that is a decision that they should regret.

Skipp has failed to impress with the Foxes, having been thrown into a season that ended in his club being relegated from the Premier League, but things could have been so different for him.

It is all hypothetical now, but what if the defensive midfielder had been given a real run of games to show what he could do after returning from that superb loan spell with Norwich? Maybe he would have become the club’s own version of Rice in the number six position, as a player who could progress play as well as disrupt it.

Instead of cashing in on him, Spurs could have given him a chance to nail down a place in the side and get his confidence back. Now, playing in the Championship, it seems like his career is heading in the wrong direction.

He's outperforming Kudus: Spurs' star was offloaded by Postecoglou for £0

Tottenham Hotspur may have made a mistake in allowing one former talent to depart the club for free.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 22, 2025

Steven Smith will take charge of Rangers against Dundee United on Saturday while the club look to confirm their new permanent boss.

Former Rangers player Kevin Muscat remains the frontrunner for the post vacated by Russell Martin following the 1-1 draw at Falkirk before the international break.

Rangers full coaching staff to face Dundee United confirmed

Rangers Under-19 coach Smith, 40, who had two spells as a player at Ibrox, is currently overseeing first-team training on an interim basis along with B team coach Brian Gilmour, goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo and head of performance Rhys Owen.

With such an important game on the return to domestic football, and negotiations ongoing and reaching the final stages, Rangers are looking for some certainty for the weekend.

Muscat established himself as the outright favourite for the post on Wednesday when former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl took himself out of the running after reportedly impressing the Ibrox hierarchy in talks over the past week.

The former Australia international has guided Shanghai Port to top spot in the Chinese Super League, where they are two points clear with four games left. Their domestic season ends on November 22 and the Light Blues may have to wait for his services.

Steven Gerrard, who won the 2021 William Hill Premiership title with Rangers, had been an early bookmakers’ favourite but had also ruled himself out of a return to Ibrox.

Martin departed the club after securing just five wins in 17 fixtures and having to get a police escort out of the Falkirk stadium as fans attempted to block the team bus from leaving.

Ahead of the visit of the Tannadice side, Rangers sit eighth in the Premiership, 11 points behind leaders Hearts and nine behind Celtic.

Duo share seven wickets as Lancashire collapse

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Jun-2025Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Phoebe Franklin shared seven wickets to spark a Lancashire collapse and lead Surrey to a 53-run victory at the Oval – their seventh win in eight games.Franklin’s 3 for 19 and MacDonald-Gay’s 4 for 14 wrestled back control as the visitors crumbled from 102 for 3 to 118 all out chasing 172 for victory. Their heroics followed a 70-run stand between Emma Lamb, who scored 64 off 46 balls, and Ellie Threlkeld (32) which threatened to snatch an unlikely win for the Red Rose county.All this drama came after Grace Harris scored 57 from 31 and shared a fifth-wicket stand with Paige Schofield worth 69 to help the hosts recover from 17 for 3 to 171 for 9.For the second home game in a row, Surrey’s much-vaunted batting line-up was soon in trouble. Skipper Bryony Smith slapped the first ball for four, but was bowled by the second from Sophie Morris which skidded onto middle stump. Sophia Dunkley inside-edged a full toss onto off stump and confusion in running left Kira Chathli stranded.Danni Wyatt-Hodge, involved in the mix-up, was starved of strike and became fretful before dancing down the pitch to Morris to be stumped by Threlkeld to leave Surrey 50 for 4.Harris looked like she was batting on a different pitch, striking the ball powerfully down the ground before pulling a short one from Morris over deep-square for six as she marched to 50 in 28 balls.Scholfield struggled initially and was dropped in the deep by Eve Jones on 11. The reprieve loosened her shoulders – a huge six over midwicket the pick of her shots in the stand.However, England stars Kate Cross and Lamb removed both batters in quick succession and thereafter only a few late blows from Tash Farrant carried the hosts to what looked an under-par 171.An early missed stumping chance by Chathli off Tilly Corteen-Coleman which reprieved Lamb didn’t help the cause, but the unlucky bowler struck later in the same over trapping Eve Jones lbw.The slow left-armer returned to castle Seren Smale and when MacDonald-Gay found the edge of Fi Morris’s bat, Lancashire were 32 for 3 at the end of the powerplay.Lamb though, who also survived a close call for a run out, creamed one from Harris to the cover fence to signal she remained a threat, while Farrant just failed to hold onto a flashing drive from Threlkeld.Lamb and Threlkeld hoisted Corteen-Coleman over the ropes at midwicket and mid-off respectively, the former moving to 50 from 36 balls, before four boundaries in the next over from Alice Davidson-Richards suggested a momentum shift.Franklin struck back to have Threlkeld stumped to end their stand in a brilliant over which conceded only one and brilliant fielding by Franklin and MacDonald-Gay in the next over had the dangerous Ailsa Lister run out for nought.Lamb was then bowled by Macdonald-Gay, who in company with Franklin routed the tail.

Manchester City's youth academy is one of the most productive talent factories in the world, although the reality is the vast majority of graduates end up having to seek their fortune away from the Etihad Stadium. Phil Foden is the pride and joy of City's youth system, but for many years he was the exception that proved the rule.

Exceptionally talented players like Cole Palmer have chosen to leave City in search of regular first-team football while the likes of Romeo Lavia, Jeremie Frimpong, Jadon Sancho, Morgan Rogers and Michael Olise departed without ever appearing for the senior side.

But in the last couple of years, a pathway – albeit a very narrow one – has opened up from the academy and into Pep Guardiola's squad. Rico Lewis is into his fourth season in the first-team ranks while Nico O'Reilly has established himself as a regular less than a year after making his competitive debut and recently signed a bumper new contract with the club and earned his first England call-up.

Now, another player, Divine Mukasa, is slowly forcing his way into Guardiola's plans after being fast-tracked into the team just one month after his 18th birthday. GOAL has everything you need to know about the creative midfielder who doing all he can to earn the coach's trust…

• Where it all began

  Mukasa was born in London to a Lithuanian mother and a father from Uganda. He enrolled in West Ham's academy when he was five years old and spent a decade there, forming part of an exciting generation of players who won the Under-18 Premier League South and FA Youth Cup double. Aged just 15 at the time, Mukasa scored in the title-clinching win over Arsenal befor the Hammers then outclassed the Gunners 5-1 in the Youth Cup final at the Emirates Stadium, although Mukasa was an unused substitute that day.

  After lifting the league title, Mukasa said: "We are a relentless team, and we will never sit off. We will always try to win, and we will always try to score goals. We have won the title today, but we are not finished yet."

  Mukasa, however, was about to finish his journey with the Irons. He spoke to Rangers and Newcastle that summer, but eventually decided to join City, one month after turning 16. He won his second FA Youth Cup in his first season, this time starting in the final as City rolled over Leeds United 4-0.

  However, it was not the smoothest of transitions, as he admitted to the : "The first six months were tough, especially with City playing such a different way and the high standards from the club. "t wasn't just me getting used to the club, it was the staff getting used to me, what my attributes are, trying to help me optimise them. It was a little bit tough, getting used to the system and adjusting it a little bit has helped as well.

  "It was that sense of freedom that I had at my previous club. I didn't get it at first, but that's natural. The coaches are used to having a set structure so I can't just come in and change that. It took some getting used to."

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• Getty
  

  The big break

  Mukasa began to settle more in his second season at City as he started more often and took more responsibility. Fans subsequently began to sit up and take notice of him after he netted a hat-trick in a 7-1  trouncing of Newcastle in December 2024.

  The first goal in particular was impossible to ignore as Mukasa scored directly from kick-off. Newcastle had just given themselves a bit of hope by making the score 4-1, but Mukasa brought them right back down to earth with a single kick, leaving his opponents dumbstruck as he lobbed the ball downfield and high into the net.

  It wasn't the only demonstration of his innovation that day, as he scored his next goal by glancing the ball into the net with his chest. Mukasa's treble against the Magpies contributed to him ending the season with 17 goals and 25 assists in 37 age-group games, and his excellent campaign vindicated the youth team coaches' decision to keep him in the U18s for the majority of the season rather than promote him full-time to the U21s.

  "I was expected to dominate a bit more this season, help lead the team," he explained. "I think I've done that, It's been a good season. For my own confidence and relationship I've built with the managers, playing all the time has helped me a lot."

• Getty
  

  How it's going

  Mukasa was earmarked for the U21s this season, but he has effectively jumped up a level and gained first-team experience. He got the call to join Guardiola's side for their only pre-season friendly of the summer against Palermo and impressed in his short cameo, assisting Tijjani Reijnders' second goal in the 3-0 win with a classy flick.

  He continued to train regularly with the first team and featured on the bench for the Premier League games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Burnley, as well as Champions League clashes with Napoli and Monaco. Mukasa eventually made his competitive debut when he started City's Carabao Cup third round tie at Huddersfield Town in September.

  He produced an impressive performance, too, as Mukasa filled the centre-forward role usually reserved for Erling Haaland. He had never played up front before and revealed that Guardiola had told him to operate more as a false nine. In doing so, Mukasa laid the ball off for Phil Foden to score the first goal and led the line admirably as City walked all over their League One opponents.

  "Divine played unbelievable, he’s an incredibly top player in the pockets, he had two or three chances to score," gushed Guardiola.  "Divine is top, top. He has a sense of touch, quality with the ball, and he fought a lot. He played really well."

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• Getty
  

  Biggest strengths

  While his strike rate is impressive, particularly for a midfielder, Mukasa's greatest quality is his technique, which makes him a brilliant dribbler as well as someone who can play line-splitting passes under pressure.

  "He is so brilliant on the ball. What he can do with the ball sometimes is unbelievable," City's U18 coach Oliver Reiss said. "It looks sometimes too easy for him, because of his quality. He's good with both feet, normally he's left-footed but then delivers to the corner with his right foot. So no problem, the way he's thinking, what he sees, it's incredible for me."

  'Confidence' is another word that crops up a lot in discussions around Mukasa, and it's easy to see why. You do not score from a kick-off if you are lacking in self-belief, after all!

شارك المصري عمر مرموش في مباراة فريقه مانشستر سيتي أمام بورنموث، ببطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.

واستقبل مانشستر سيتي خصمه بورنموث على ملعب “الاتحاد”، ضمن مباريات الجولة العاشرة للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز موسم 2025-2026.

ودفع بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي بلاعبه عمر مرموش كبديل للنرويجي إيرلينج هالاند في الدقيقة 82.

وخلال الدقائق القليلة التي لعبها، سدد مرموش تسديدة واحدة، ومرر تمريرة دقيقة وأخرى في نصف ملعب المنافس.

اقرأ أيضًا | موعد مباراة مانشستر سيتي القادمة بعد الفوز على بورنموث في الدوري الإنجليزي

ولمس مرموش الكرة 3 مرات، واعترض الكرة مرة واحدة، وقد حصل على تقييم 6.3 من 10 بحسب شبكة “سوفا سكور”.

وتغلب مانشستر سيتي على بورنموث بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، وسجل له إيرلينج هالاند (هدفين) ونيكو أوريلي.

ورفع مانشستر سيتي رصيده إلى النقطة 19 في المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي، خلف آرسنال المتصدر الذي يملك 25 نقطة.

Manchester United have now joined the race for a “sensational” Champions League midfielder, with manager Ruben Amorim personally an admirer.

Man Utd eyeing new midfielder amid Mainoo issues

After scoring in the shock 2-1 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City in 2024, few would’ve predicted Kobbie Mainoo’s Man United career would pan out the way it has, with the midfielder falling down the pecking order considerably.

Former striker Teddy Sheringham has made it clear he doesn’t believe Amorim is a fan of the youngster, saying: “He’s [Mainoo] obviously not Amorim’s type of player. He’s very casual on the ball, but obviously plays the game in his own way. I’m not saying that in a derogatory manner; I’m saying that he has a certain style that Amorim obviously doesn’t appreciate.

The 20-year-old has featured for just 113 minutes in the Premier League this season, and it has now been suggested he could be the next player to leave United and go on to flourish elsewhere.

With Mainoo’s future up in the air, the Red Devils are now looking to sign a new young English midfielder, according to a report from BILD (via Sports View), which names Borussia Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham as a target.

Amorim is said to be a fan of Bellingham’s robustness and physicality, with Man United now plotting a move for the former Sunderland man, who is a few months younger than Mainoo. There is set to be competition for his signature, with Crystal Palace also named as potential suitors.

The 20-year-old only arrived at Dortmund in the summer, joining in a package widely reported to be worth £31m, but his start to life in Germany has been far from ideal, with his dad causing controversy after entering the dressing room after a draw against St. Pauli in August.

"Sensational" Bellingham would be risky signing for Amorim

Given that Jude Bellingham has already established himself as one of the world’s best midfielders at just 22, the Dortmund youngster is likely to be feeling the pressure, although it is important to remember he is still just 20-years-old.

Fabrizio Romano shares what he's heard from Man Utd on £190k-p/w star's Old Trafford future

The Red Devils hold him in high regard and he would be a big loss…

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 13, 2025

Much like his brother, the starlet has been impressing at senior level since a very young age, with journalist Josh Bunting hailing him for a top display for Sunderland just over two years ago.

That said, Bellingham would be a risky signing for Man United, given that he is yet to establish himself at the top level, making two Champions League appearances, and it may be a better idea to bring in a midfielder who has more experience.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo deve apresentar novidades em sua retomada do Campeonato Brasileiro após a pausa da Data Fifa. O técnico Bruno Lage acenou com mudanças no treino com o elenco nos últimos dias para definir a equipe que medirá forças com o Atlético-MG, sábado (16), às 21h.

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A principal é fazer com que Di Plácido retome sua titularidade na lateral direita. O argentino foi preterido para JP Galvão ser lançado como titular na derrota por 2 a 1 para o Flamengo, no Nilton Santos.

+ Já pensou em trabalhar com futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

Lage, porém, segue com uma dúvida no setor ofensivo. O comandante ainda não definiu se Júnior Santos ou Matías Segovia será o titular na ponta-direita.

Outra mudança acontecerá no meio de campo. Com Gabriel Pires cumprindo suspensão, Tchê Tchê deve voltar a ser titular.

O Glorioso tende a atuar com: Lucas Perri; Di Plácido, Adryelson, Victor Cuesta e Marçal; Marlon Freitas, Tchê Tchê e Eduardo; Júnior Santos (Matías Segovia), Tiquinho Soares e Victor Sá.

Relacionados para o jogo com o Atlético-MG, neste sábado, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. ⚽️???? #VamosBOTAFOGO pic.twitter.com/orVkpC4U7Q

— Botafogo F.R. (@Botafogo) September 15, 2023

O Botafogo tem 51 pontos e segue na liderança com folga. O Atlético-MG tem 31.

A “talented” England international is now interested in completing a move to Aston Villa, should the Villans like the idea of bringing him in.

McGinn happy after "important" Aston Villa win

Unai Emery’s side got back to winning ways on Thursday evening, winning 1-0 at home to Bologna in the Europa League, courtesy of John McGinn’s strike.

Speaking after the game, the Scot was in positive spirits, as Villa look to build on the victory heading into Sunday’s Premier League clash with Fulham at Villa Park.

“It was important. We got a bit nervy towards the end. They play mental football, man-to-man, and it reminds me of (Marcelo) Bielsa when he was at Leeds. It’s tough and you need to be concentrating because they leave a few players up. You need to be clean going forward with the ball and I don’t think we were.

“I thought we were a little bit rusty going forward, but we created chances and we could have won by more. I thought we played better in the first half than the second, but the important thing was to get the win with a very important clean sheet with a good save from Marco at the end.”

New signings could be needed in January, or at least next summer, in order for Villa to keep improving, and they have now been linked with a move for a 10-cap England international.

England international "open" to Aston Villa move

Speaking to Football Insider, former scout Mick Brown claimed that Ruben Loftus-Cheek is “open” to joining Aston Villa from AC Milan, although no approach has been made for him.

“He’s always showed a lot of promise and at his best he can be excellent, but for me he’s never quite hit the levels people expected of him, even though he’s clearly got a lot of talent. Since his move to AC Milan, he’s done well, and Tuchel obviously sees something in him.

“The qualities he’s got could be an asset to a lot of sides, there’s no doubting that, it’s just about whether he’s going to perform consistently enough. There’s been some talk of a move to Aston Villa, but I’m not sure he’s the player they need right now, he might be better off somewhere else.

“I think it’s something he’s open to, he wants to come back to the Premier League, to compete and potentially put himself in the [England] manager’s thinking. I’m sure if Aston Villa came calling, it’s a move he’d like to make, but I am doubtful about whether they’d push for that one at the moment.”

Loftus-Cheek, thoguht to be valued at £17m, could be a shrewd signing by Villa, having been hailed as a “talented” player by Owen Hargreaves in the past, especially if he has the hunger to win his place back in the England squad before next summer’s World Cup.

Journalist reveals how Monchi leaving will impact Emery's Aston Villa future

A journalist has explained how the recent off-field issues at Villa could affect Unai Emery.

By
Dominic Lund

Sep 25, 2025

At 29, he is still young enough to enjoy three or four good years at Villa Park, and his pace and power in midfield areas could be a weapon for Emery, also adding depth in the middle of the park.

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Santi Canizares has criticised Barcelona’s handling of Lamine Yamal’s injury, warning that the club could risk worsening the youngster's condition. The 18-year-old has been struggling with groin pain for several weeks and was nowhere near his best during Barca’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid in El Clasico.

Yamal’s ongoing fitness battle raises alarm

Concerns about Yamal’s fitness are growing both inside and outside Barcelona. The young winger has been struggling with pubalgia, a persistent groin injury that is affecting his speed and agility. Medical experts say the pain can come and go but often worsens during intense matches, making recovery difficult without proper rest. The 18-year-old missed four matches for the Spanish club after returning from international break due to same issue but has played regularly since then.

Sports traumatologist Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll recently discussed Yamal's condition and revealed that the injury can reduce a player’s movement and shooting power by almost half, and rushing a player back only makes it worse. Barcelona’s medical staff are managing Yamal’s workload carefully, but with so many injuries across the squad, the Spaniard continues to play regularly, a decision that’s beginning to raise eyebrows among experts and former players.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportCanizares questions Barcelona’s injury management

Speaking on , Canizares openly questioned Barcelona’s medical management and believes the club isn’t handling Yamal's recovery properly, which could put the Spaniard at greater risk.

"It’s not the best club for recovery. They have a lot of injuries, and some of them are relapses. This worries me more than giving Lamine a rest or two," the former Real Madrid shortstop said.

However, Yamal’s situation wasn’t the only example Canizares highlighted. The 55-year-old also pointed to the recurring injuries of Gavi, Ansu Fati, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, adding that Barcelona's medical staff "isn’t getting their players’ recovery right".

Meanwhile, former Madrid forward Alberto Bueno warned that Yamal's situation may worsen if his playing time is not handled well, saying: "I don't see him at 100%. Barça needs his best version, but perhaps he should take a short break."

Injury crisis piling up at Barcelona

Barcelona’s injury crisis is showing no signs of slowing down. Key players like Raphinha, Ter Stegen, Gavi, Christensen, Dani Olmo, and Joan Garcia remain sidelined. Robert Lewandowski, meanwhile, is nearing his return from a muscle issue and could feature in the weekend’s clash against Elche. With so many stars missing from last season’s title-winning squad, it’s no surprise that Flick continues to rely on Yamal, who is clearly not 100%. The decision might make sense short term, but with pubalgia known to worsen under fatigue, the risk of aggravation is high and could sideline the Spain international for the long term. 

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Getty ImagesHansi Flick and Co. under pressure to respond

The 2-1 defeat to Madrid has left Barca five points behind their arch-rivals, who lead La Liga with nine wins from 10 games. Yamal’s limited impact in the El Clasico alongside the team’s growing injury list, has put more pressure on Flick to manage his resources wisely. The German manager, who served a suspension after being sent off in last weekend’s game against Girona, will return to the touchline as Barcelona face Elche on Sunday. The Blaugrana will be hoping to bounce back and cut the gap at the top of the table. But as the fitness worries grow, the club may have to decide what’s more important – chasing Real Madrid or protecting one of their brightest young stars.