Farooq Nazar, the fan in question, refused to cover his Pakistan shirt during the fourth England vs India Test and was “asked to leave the stadium” by security officials
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2025Lancashire have apologised for an incident at the Old Trafford Test between England and India where a fan was ejected from the ground after he refused to cover his Pakistan team t-shirt.Farooq Nazar, the fan in question, posted a video on social media documenting the sequence of events, which started with a request from a member of the security staff that he cover the shirt, a replica of Pakistan’s traditional green limited-overs kit.The security guard, who identified himself as working for Lancashire, said he had been sent by “control” to ask for the shirt to be covered. Nazar refused. He was subsequently escorted away by police officers and, according to a statement from Lancashire, “asked to leave the stadium by stewards and police officers due to unacceptable behaviour directed towards the stewarding team”.In the days since – the incident took place on the last day, a Sunday, of the Test – the club conducted an internal review and apologised for “any upset and offence caused which was not intended and will review its procedures for handling similar situations in the future”.Lancashire, however, explained that a separate incident at the ground between a set of Indian and Pakistani fans on the Saturday of the Test influenced their handling of the situation with Nazar.
“A stand supervisor politely asked the individual to cover his shirt in the interest of his own safety and to avoid any potential escalation. Despite several courteous requests from the supervisor and the response team, the individual repeatedly declined to comply”Lancashire statement
“Firstly, we wish to make it clear that there was no intention to remove the individual simply for wearing a Pakistan cricket shirt,” the club said in a statement. “The approach taken was informed by an incident on Saturday, during which a group of supporters waved a Pakistan national flag, leading to tensions with nearby Indian fans. In that case, our stewards were able to de-escalate the situation by respectfully asking the individuals to put the flag away, which they did without hesitation.”In light of this context, our team adopted a precautionary, safety-first approach on Sunday. A stand supervisor politely asked the individual to cover his shirt in the interest of his own safety and to avoid any potential escalation. Despite several courteous requests from the supervisor and the response team, the individual repeatedly declined to comply.”Earlier, the ECB CEO Richard Gould had said Nazar was known to the ECB from previous years.”There may well be a context [to what happened] and I know the ground is looking at that, and we’ve also referred it along to the Cricket Regulator to make sure that they’re aware,” Gould said.Relations between India and Pakistan, have been at a low following a brief military skirmish between the two countries in May. Those tensions have filtered into relations between the BCCI and PCB; the two sides have not played a bilateral series since 2012-13 and no Test cricket since 2007-08. Their participation in ICC events hosted by either country has also recently become an issue, with a neutral venue added in to stage their games as part of a hybrid solution to the issue.Earlier this week, an India veterans team refused to play their Pakistan counterparts in two games – including the semi-final, which they forfeited – of a legends tournament in Birmingham.
The MLB All-Star break is almost here, which means we are already past the halfway point of baseball’s marathon regular season. And what a season it’s been. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani continue to amaze. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is doing things no backstop has ever done. Tarik Skubal has separated himself as the best pitcher in baseball. As the woeful Colorado Rockies continue to trend towards the worst kind of MLB history, they—and a few other teams—parted ways with their manager during the first half. Oh, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers have emerged as early World Series favorites.
Baseball’s biggest stars will take center stage at the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game on July 14 and 15, respectively, and that will be our focus here in another edition of Fact or Fiction.
Paul Skenes should be the National League’s starting pitcher for the second straight year
Verdict: Fiction
This is a tough one. The honor could realistically go to one of three guys: Skenes, Zack Wheeler or perhaps even longtime Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, an addition to the roster as a “Legend Pick,” if NL manager Dave Roberts is feeling particularly partisan.
But if we’re being realistic, this decision will come down to Skenes and Wheeler. And in many ways, it’s a toss-up. Skenes leads the NL in ERA. Wheeler, second in the NL in ERA, leads the league in strikeouts. Wheeler, as a result of playing for the better team in the Phillies, has racked up nine wins compared to Skenes’s four. But the margin between these pitchers is razor thin, as evidenced by their ERAs (Skenes: 1.94, Wheeler: 2.17) and WAR (Skenes: 4.8, Wheeler: 4.8).
I’m giving the slight edge to Wheeler. Since May 1, Wheeler has been the undisputed best pitcher in his league. He leads all NL starting pitchers in the following categories since that date: ERA, K-BB%, opponents’ batting average, WHIP and opponents’ barrel rate. To put it simply, he’s been unhittable.
Look no further than Wheeler’s most recent start, a complete game one-hitter in which he allowed one run and struck out 12 Cincinnati Reds. It put a bow on a convincing case for Wheeler to toe the rubber for the NL.
I’d typically be the first guy to advocate for Skenes to start again. Who want to see him face off against Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh back-to-back, depending on how American League manager Aaron Boone writes up the lineup card?
But the honor should go to Wheeler, not only for his success this season, but his overall body of work over the last several years. Plus, at 35 years old, this may realistically be the last shot he has at starting the All-Star Game.
Roberts should give Wheeler that shot. And if given the chance, Wheeler will be the first pitcher on the mound for the NL on July 15 at Truist Park, just a few miles away from where the Smyrna, Ga., native grew up.
Cal Raleigh will win the Home Run Derby
Verdict: Fact
I have, admittedly, been a bit doubtful of Raleigh’s ability to keep up his torrid pace in past iterations of Fact or Fiction. So consider this a mea culpa of sorts to the Big Dumper’s success.
Before I outline why I like Raleigh to win here, let me be clear about one thing. The field for the Derby is not fully set yet, so we don’t yet know exactly who will be opposing Raleigh aside from Ronald Acuna Jr., James Wood, Byron Buxton and Oneil Cruz.
That said, I like Raleigh to emerge here for several reasons. Aside from the fact that he’s been the best home-run hitter in baseball in the first half, he also leads all Derby contestants—regardless of who enters—in several statistics that are highly predictive of home runs. He owns a Derby-best .372 isolated power. He leads all of MLB in fly-ball rate. Raleigh trails only Cruz in barrel rate, essentially the number of baseballs he connects with that are hit at the ideal exit velocity and launch angle to leave the park. And lastly, Raleigh’s MLB-high average launch angle of 24.5 degrees is right near the typical sweet spot of 25 to 35 degrees for home runs.
His swing is also perfect for Truist Park, which features especially short dimensions to the corners. In fact, Truist Park’s 335-foot left field corner and 325-foot right field dimensions are extremely similar to those of Raleigh’s home park with the Mariners, T-Mobile Park, which is 331 feet to left and 327 feet to right.
That would seem to play right into the hands of Raleigh, who leads all Derby entrants with a 55.2% pull rate. This means that no one in the Derby will be better equipped to take advantage of the shortest parts of Truist Park than Raleigh, who will have the added benefit of batting from both sides of the plate, which he apparently intends to do.
Working against Raleigh is the fact that he’s a catcher—no backstop has ever won the Derby. But he’s already doing things no other catcher has ever done. Why not add another to the list?
Juan Soto is the biggest All-Star snub
Soto wasn’t selected for the All-Star Game despite leading the NL in on-base percentage. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Verdict: Fact
Another tough one, because there were, as always, plenty of snubs (it’s tough to please everyone!). There’s Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who leads MLB in RBIs. There’s Houston Astros southpaw Framber Valdez, who ranks among the top 20 starters in ERA, quality starts, innings pitched and WAR. And there’s Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, the NL leader in hits and one of the best defensive shortstops in the game.
But the biggest snub of them all is Juan Soto.
The first two months of Soto’s career in Queens were underwhelming, as he was on pace for the worst OPS of his career while simply looking… off, both in terms of his approach at the plate and his demeanor. Those days are long gone, though. After a torrid June and red-hot start to July, Soto ranks third in MLB in OBP and sixth in the NL in OPS.
Since May 1, Soto ranks first in walk rate, sixth in OPS, fourth in wRC+, and in the top five in average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate. He’s been a terror to opposing pitchers.
Soto likely didn’t make it because of his lackluster start, as well as the Mets’ June swoon. But it’ll be unfortunate to play a game that supposedly features baseball’s biggest stars without Juan Soto on the field.
The Blue Jays will win the AL East
Verdict: Fiction
How about those Blue Jays? They’ve won nine games in a row entering Tuesday and recently swept the New York Yankees in a four-game series to overtake them for first place in the AL East. But this has been far from just a hot streak for Toronto.
Since May 25, the Blue Jays own the best record in baseball and have been powered by a mighty offense that has scored more runs than all but one team during that stretch of play.
So, to be clear, this is no fluke. But there are at least a couple of reasons why some healthy skepticism about the Blue Jays’ chances of winning the AL East is warranted.
Toronto currently has a plus-16 run differential, which is the worst of any current division leader in MLB. In fact, that plus-16 run differential is just the fourth-best in the AL East, behind the Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. The Blue Jays’ Pythagorean win/loss record is 47–44. The club’s actual record? 53–38. Could there be some regression to the mean incoming for the Blue Jays? It’s possible.
The other reason I’m a bit leery to anoint them atop the AL East right now is that the Blue Jays’ starting pitching is suspect. Toronto’s starters have compiled the sixth-worst ERA in the majors. Conversely, both the Rays and Yankees have better and more reliable starting pitching staffs. Perhaps the Blue Jays’ front office swings a deadline deal for a top-of-the-rotation starter. Maybe that tilts the race in their favor. But for now, if asked to bet on the Blue Jays or the field winning the AL East, I’ll take the field.
Manny Machado’s 2000th hit secured his Hall of Fame enshrinement
Verdict: Fiction
is a bit strong for my taste, but that’s the only thing holding me back from calling this a fact. Machado is on the statistical path to the Hall of Fame, and 2,000 hits was an important checkpoint.
Consider this. There are 19 third baseman in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Only 14 of them compiled at least 2,000 career hits. Machado, 33 and with eight years left on his San Diego Padres contract, already has 2,001 and counting. Of the five third basemen who have ever hit 400 or more career home runs, four are in the Hall. Machado, who currently has 357 career homers, will almost certainly surpass 400 and already ranks 10th at his position.
The remarkably durable Machado, who has nine times played 150 or more games in a season, could, with continued good health, realistically flirt with 3,000 hits and 500 career homers, numbers that would ensure a one-way ticket to the Hall. Even if he were to fall short of those landmark numbers—think 2,700 hits and 450 career homers—I still like Machado’s chances.
So, too, do the advanced metrics. In both WAR and JAWS (a metric that compares players to those already enshrined in the Hall of Fame using career WAR and seven-year peak WAR), Machado is already approaching Hall of Fame territory.
The numbers are working in Machado’s case. What isn’t is the fact that he’s never won an MVP, often considered a good prerequisite to the Hall, despite having four top-five finishes. There’s also a chance that Machado rubbed some of the baseball writers the wrong way with his views on hustling. He once rather infamously said that hustling was “not his cup of tea” after he came under fire for not running out a grounder during the 2018 National League Championship Series. Would 33-year-old Machado make the same comments? Who knows. However, it’s fair to wonder if that will be held against him, as some might view that attitude as not very becoming of a Hall of Fame player.
But it’ll be hard to keep Machado out if he reaches certain statistical milestones. And if he continues his remarkably consistent statistical compiling, it’ll be easy to envision him one day being enshrined.
Muhammad Waseem will lead UAE’s 17-member squad at the 2025 Asia Cup.Right-arm quick Matiullah Khan and left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh are the two additions to UAE’s side from the ongoing T20I tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the rest of the players retaining their places.Matiullah, 32, has played one ODI and five T20Is so far. The last of those T20Is came against Nigeria in the Pearl of Africa Series in July. Thirty-five-year-old Simranjeet has played five ODIs and 11 T20Is. He last represented UAE at the Gulf T20I Championship last December.UAE previous Asia Cup appearance was in 2016 in Bangladesh, when the tournament was played in the T20 format as well.Related
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Asia Cup: Matches pushed back by half an hour due to UAE heat
UAE are part of Group A in this year’s Asia Cup, which starts on September 9, and will be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The other three teams in their group are India, Pakistan and Oman. UAE start their campaign on September 10, when they face India in Dubai. While they are yet to beat India or Pakistan in any format, they have beaten Oman in five T20Is.The top two teams from the group will progress to the Super Fours stage.
UAE squad for Asia Cup
Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh and Saghir Khan
Manuel Akanji has made his stance clear after a strong start to life in Italy, revealing he hopes Inter activate the €15 million option to sign him permanently from Manchester City. The Swiss defender has played every league minute so far and quickly become a key figure in Cristian Chivu’s backline. His future now hinges on Inter’s season targets and his own consistency, but he wants to stay.
Akanji’s fast rise at Inter and why his future is in focus
Inter snapped up Akanji on deadline day, taking the City defender on a €2 million loan that includes a €15m option, one that becomes mandatory if Inter win the 2025-26 Serie A title and if Akanji features in at least half of their matches. Since arriving, the Swiss international has fitted into Cristian Chivu’s system seamlessly. He has started every league match without missing a single minute, nine full games and added four more Champions League appearances. From a late-window gamble to an automatic starter, his rise has been central to Inter’s early-season stability.
Inter’s board are already evaluating whether to commit long-term, impressed by his consistency and readiness to take responsibility in a title-chasing squad. And with interest from rivals like AC Milan, who tried to sign him before Inter intervened, resurfacing in the background. Akanji’s public declaration adds pressure and clarity to Inter’s medium-term planning. Akanji’s remarks came during a media interaction where he discussed his move, his ambitions, and how quickly he has settled in Italy.
AdvertisementAFPAkanji makes his intentions clear
Before sharing his remarks, the ex-Borussia Dortmund defender was asked about his adaptation in Milan and the uncertainty around whether Inter will activate the €15m (£13m/$17m) clause. He expressed how comfortable he already feels at the club: “Yes, I hope Inter sign me permanently. I’m very happy here, we’ll see what happens.”
In September he reflected on his decision to join the Nerazzurri, highlighting the pull of the club’s stature and ambitions: “Because it’s one of the best clubs in Europe, nothing could be simpler. As for the objectives, it’s difficult to talk about them because I’ve only just met my new teammates. I’m not sure what the expectations are, but obviously winning the league, always. When you play for Inter, all of this is normal. And the Champions League too. They came so close, I hope to help them achieve that goal this year.”
What Akanji's comments mean for Inter, City & rivals
At 30 years old, Akanji offers not only short-term defensive stability but also acts as a mid-term mentor for younger defenders joining the squad, reinforcing Inter’s broader defensive project.
From City’s perspective, the move has freed up space in an already crowded defensive unit while allowing Akanji to gain the regular playing time needed to stay sharp ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The conditional buy clause included in the loan deal reflects City’s recognition of Inter’s long-term interest in the player while keeping their options open.
Rivalry also plays a role in this transfer story. Before Inter completed the deal, the Rossoneri attempted to hijack the move, reaching out to Akanji in late August while he was still negotiating with Galatasaray. He ultimately declined Milan’s approach, prioritising Champions League football, something Milan could not guarantee. The Nerazzurri moved swiftly to secure him, and both City and the player agreed, adding a competitive edge to the transfer narrative as Inter not only strengthened their defence but also outmanoeuvred their local rivals.
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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Akanji & Inter
Looking ahead, Inter’s path with the 30-year-old is clear yet dependent on performance and results. If they win the 2025-26 Serie A title and he plays at least 50 per cent of matches next season, the €15m buy clause will automatically become mandatory. Even if those conditions are not met, the club is leaning towards making the deal permanent given the Swiss defender’s impact on the team.
In the short term, Akanji’s focus is on maintaining his place in the starting lineup, driving Inter’s title challenge forward, and contributing to another deep Champions League run. As the season unfolds, both his consistency and Inter’s results will determine how quickly the permanent deal is confirmed. All eyes are now on the winter and spring periods, when Inter’s board are expected to initiate formal talks with City to secure his long-term future in Milan.
Roberto De Zerbi is now in the frame to replace Pep Guardiola, amid a new update on the Manchester City manager’s future at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola’s contract isn’t due to expire until the summer of 2027, having penned an extension last season, and Man City fans will no doubt be hoping he stays for the foreseeable future, given the unprecedented success he has brought to the blue side of Manchester.
Trophies Pep Guardiola has lifted at Manchester City
Number of times won
Premier League title
6
Champions League
1
UEFA Super Cup
1
Club World Cup
1
FA Cup
2
League Cup
4
Community Shield
3
However, Jurgen Klopp resigning as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023-24 campaign due to fatigue displayed just how draining it is to be a Premier League manager for a sustained period of time, and there will come a point where City need to start seriously thinking about successors.
At the moment, the former Barcelona boss will be focusing on closing the gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table, while also attempting to win a second Champions League, but there has now been a new update on when he could leave the Blues.
Man City targeting De Zerbi amid Guardiola future update
According to reliable reporter Paul Hirst, in a report for The Times, an exit at the end of the 2026-27 campaign is on the cards as the 54-year-old has won everything there is to win since arriving at the Etihad Stadium back in 2016.
The three-time Champions League-winning manager is expected to see out his current contract, but Man City may then be faced with the difficult task of bringing in a successor, and De Zerbi is in the frame, as the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss has admirers within the club.
Guardiola is personally a fan of the Marseille manager, who has made a fantastic start to the 2025-26 campaign, with his side currently second in Ligue 1, just two points behind Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the Ligue 1 table.
Not only is the 46-year-old impressing in France, but he was also hailed by Statman Dave for the work he did during his first year as Brighton manager.
The Italian is well-known to favour a possession-based style of football, so he may not need to make wholesale changes at Man City, which is another bonus, alongside his experience in the Premier League.
The only concern will be that De Zerbi is yet to lift many major trophies, winning only the Ukrainian Super Cup with Shakhtar Donetsk in the 2021-22 season.
In truth, whoever replaces Pep will find it almost impossible to eclipse what the Spaniard has achieved at City, and supporters will be hoping he extends his stay beyond the end of next season.
Every current manager in the Premier League has been ranked
Every current manager in the 2025/26 Premier League ranked
Every current Premier League boss ranked from best to worst.
Sunderland fans will be hurriedly counting down the days now until their beloved Black Cats do battle again in the Premier League.
In an ideal reality, those of a Wearside persuasion love to have seen their high-flying team continue to play during the international break, instead of having to take an enforced pause.
Indeed, Regis Le Bris’ men find themselves in an uncharted fourth position in the Premier League table at the time of writing, which is some feat, considering the Frenchman has only just guided the Black Cats back up to the big time.
A huge part of their whirlwind success story so far has been Granit Xhaka, who is already being viewed as one of Sunderland’s most cherished figures of recent years.
How Xhaka compares to other Sunderland captains
Before delving deeper into Xhaka becoming an instant fan favourite at the Stadium of Light, he isn’t the only notable recent captain who plied his trade on Wearside.
Just last season, Luke O’Nien would bravely battle for the Black Cats all campaign long, donning the armband, with Sunderland’s former number one goalkeeper in Anthony Patterson, even going out of his way to hail him as a “leader.”
With three goals and 16 clean sheets under his belt, it’s clear why he was described in such glowing terms, with O’Nien arguably as important to his side’s promotion efforts, as Xhaka has proven to be in punching above their weight in the league above.
Other notable faces who have been given the weighty pressure of the Black Cats armband in recent years include John O’Shea, who made 256 appearances for the Wearside outfit, all of which came in the Premier League.
Of course, there was also the no-nonsense approach of Lee Cattermole, but not even his full-bloodedness for the cause, nor his six-goal contributions in the big time, could keep Sunderland from eventually slipping down to League One.
This is where Sunderland has undoubtedly hit the jackpot with Xhaka, with his £13m arrival through the door in the summer raising the standards of everyone around him, so much so that relegation already feels very unlikely.
The Swiss has also singlehandedly been a force to get Sunderland over the line in tense matches, too, with a goal fiercely put away against Everton at the start of November, securing a 1-1 draw, which was also collected off the back of the ex-Arsenal warrior, winning five duels to keep the Toffees at bay.
The concern will be that Xhaka, despite looking like a fine wine now, is 33 years of age, meaning he won’t be a long-term captain option.
Thankfully, Le Bris may already have a future captain on his hands.
Sunderland's future captain
While the majority of the talk so far this season has centred on the number of brand-new signings that have made the step-up to the Premier League look effortless, Le Bris should also be commended for what he’s managed to get out of stars who have been there since the club’s Championship days.
Wilson Isidor is already up to four Premier League goals after bagging 13 in the second tier last season. Moreover, Daniel Ballard has looked formidable in the heart of Le Bris’ defence when handed opportunities to shine, having been noted as a “diamond” for how much he puts his body on the line, early into his Sunderland career by his former Stadium of Light boss in Tony Mowbray.
In the here and now, much like Xhaka, he has become a dependable warrior for Le Bris to trust in, with the Northern Ireland international firing home that effort past David Raya last time out in league action to hand the hosts a shock one-goal advantage over top-of-the-table Arsenal.
His underlying numbers aren’t that far off the 33-year-old’s either, with his similar fight and passion, as Sunderland try to gain as many early-season victories as possible, standing him in good stead to succeed the midfield veteran as the Black Cats’ next dominant and assured captain.
Games played
9
11
Goals scored
2
1
Assists
0
3
Touches*
42.2
70.4
Accurate passes*
24.3 (83%)
44.9 (83%)
Clearances*
6.6
3.8
Total duels won*
6.6
6.1
Amazingly, despite starting just six Premier League games this season, owing to injury problems popping up, Ballard has trumped Xhaka notably in terms of duels won per match, with a mighty six won just against Mikel Arteta’s Gunners.
He isn’t a million miles away in other areas, either, with Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley highlighting Ballard’s sharp rise to become a Premier League-calibre defender as “phenomenal”.
For the time being, the Black Cats will continue to rely on the experience and know-how of their Basel-born midfielder.
Still, the commanding number five is definitely a worthy heir to Xhaka’s intimidating throne.
Talks open: Sunderland willing to make record £70m offer for Barcelona star
The Black Cats’ potential record pursuit could hinge on one key factor.
Newcastle United haven’t gotten going this season, not in the Premier League.
The form on the road is becoming a real concern for Eddie Howe’s side, whose victories this season have been limited to St. James’ Park, and who have lost four on the bounce when detached from that vociferous home support.
Change is needed, and while the turbulence of the summer transfer window has made a transitional period inevitable, it’s clear there are some on Tyneside who must be shipped out for the sake of tactical continuity.
The endangered Newcastle stars
Newcastle are struggling this season, and no mistake. However, Howe has transformed this club in the years since his arrival, and he must be afforded ample time to sort things out.
However, this might mean that several stars need to be shipped out next year, with a stagnancy crawling across the squad’s fabric this season.
Sven Botman was all over the place as United slumped to defeat at Brentford last weekend, but there is surely hope that the 25-year-old, who has endured a series of injury-riddled years, will recover his once imperious Premier League form.
He’s not been helped by the widemen; Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn are limited as a full-back pairing. The veterans do combine, after all, for an age of 68, and the lack of dynamism and width and energy has impeded the Magpies.
Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga, for example, have neither scored nor assisted in the Premier League this term, and likely cannot wait for the return of Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento as a duo.
How Howe approaches 2026, the January transfer window and the summer market after that, is anyone’s guess, but it’s clear changes are needed. And one of these changes will sting the Tyneside crowds, but sadly, this Newcastle mainstay is no longer at his best and is a clear weak link in the middle of the park, showing certain shades of Moussa Sissoko long before him.
Newcastle's new Moussa Sissoko
Sissoko is something of a cult hero on Tyneside. The versatile French midfielder played 133 matches between 2013 and 2016, so tenacious and powerful from the centre of the park or out at right midfield.
Now 36 and playing for Watford in the Championship, Sissoko has not played in black and white for a long time, leaving for Tottenham in a £30m deal in 2016, but the case of Joelinton is throwing certain similarities toward the spotlight.
Joelinton, 29, arrived in England but lacked the composure and finishing skills to succeed. He looked to be drifting toward anonymity before being refashioned into a robust midfielder.
It’s delightful to see the Brazil international hailed as a “club legend” by content creator Adam Pearson, having featured 236 times across all competitions and played a defining role in lifting the Carabao Cup last year.
But his performances this season have left much to be desired, and United blogger Thomas Hammond has even suggested that this is “the start of the end” for the stalwart, who isn’t as sharp in his defensive duties as before; neither has he looked that effective in attack.
Sissoko was younger when leaving United for Spurs, but he too was inconsistent during that final, relegation-condemned campaign.
Joelinton has run himself into the ground over recent years, and now it might be time for Newcastle to cash in while they can and replace him with a fresher midfield cog to complement Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.
Howe’s Most-used Players at Newcastle
Rank
Player
Apps
1
Bruno Guimaraes
170
2
Dan Burn
165
3
Fabian Schar
163
4
Jacob Murphy
150
5
Joelinton
145
Data via Transfermarkt
For Joelinton to have been one of Howe’s mainstays at this golden age at Newcastle bears testament to his unwavering belief and drive.
But he can only drive forward for so long and it might be nearing the time to part ways with this all-action star and turn the page toward the new chapter.
They lost the ball 37 times: Newcastle duo must never start together again
Eddie Howe must never play this Newcastle United duo together again when Premier League action resumes.
Sandro Tonali maintained an interesting stance about a move away from Newcastle United earlier this week and now Real Madrid are reportedly preparing a move worth over £40m.
It’s an all too familiar feeling for Newcastle, who were forced to bid farewell to Alexander Isak for a Premier League record in the summer as they scrambled to find his replacement. Now, they potentially face the prospect of losing more key men amid reported interest from around English football in Sven Botman and, of course, Tonali.
It’s the last thing that Eddie Howe needs in the middle of the Magpies’ current domestic form. In the Champions League, his side have been close to perfect, but that couldn’t be further from the case in the Premier League with just three wins in their opening 10 games.
The Newcastle boss admitted in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brentford that his side must rise up the ranks in the Premier League after a disappointing run.
Missing out on Champions League qualification would only make Newcastle’s attempts to keep hold of key men even tougher, especially if Real Madrid do come calling for Tonali.
Tonali shares exit stance as Real Madrid prepare move
According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid are now preparing a move to sign Tonali from Newcastle worth €50m (£44m) in 2026. Now, whilst the Magpies are unlikely to accept such a low offer for a player that cost them £55m, Madrid’s attempts would certainly spark some interesting questions about the midfielder’s future.
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Despite recent reports revealing that the Italian has already signed a new deal which could keep him at St James’ Park until 2029, Tonali refused to rule out an exit away from the club when questioned about his Newcastle future earlier this week.
Described as “excellent” by Howe, Tonali’s admission will undoubtedly concern those on Tyneside, who saw Isak force his way out of the club in the summer. The last thing they need is another summer-long transfer saga.
PIF's "massive overpay" is quickly becoming Howe's new Almiron
Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill said that defender Cameron Carter-Vickers will miss the rest of the 2025-26 season with a severe Achilles injury, a setback that also threatens his chances of representing the United States at next summer’s World Cup. Carter-Vickers has 19 USMNT caps and was in contention for a potential spot next summer.
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Celtic interim manager confirms injury
O'Neill delivered the disappointing news during his pre-match press conference ahead of Celtic's weekend fixture against St. Mirren, revealing that the 27-year-old center back faces a lengthy rehabilitation process following the injury sustained during Celtic's 2-1 Europa League victory over Sturm Graz last month.
"We will not see him," O'Neill said to reporters before Saturday's match at St. Mirren. "I think it might be April before he's even on grass. Funnily enough, I did ask him yesterday, did he think he would be ready for the World Cup? And he said he thought that would be very doubtful."
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Injury creates significant void for Celtic
The American defender had made 13 appearances across all competitions this season before his injury, bringing his total to 172 appearances since joining the club initially on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in September 2021.
How this impacts USMNT
The 27-year-old has earned only one cap for the USMNT since Mauricio Pochettino took over, but was on the roster for the team's October friendlies – showing he was in contention for a spot in the Argentine's three-man backline.
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What's next for Celtic?
Celtic will now be without its American center-back until at least April as he recovers. The club also has U.S. international Auston Trusty available, with the defender recently featuring for the national team in November. Celtic return to action on Thursday against Dutch side Feyenoord after a 1-0 win over St. Mirren on Saturday.
Stats highlights from the high-scoring thriller between KKR and LSG at Eden Gardens
Sampath Bandarupalli08-Apr-20252:04
Does Nicholas Pooran have any weakness?
5 Consecutive wides bowled by Shardul Thakur in the 13th over of Kolkata Knight Riders’ chase at Eden Gardens. No bowler had done that before in the IPL. Four bowlers have bowled four wides in a row previously – Jasprit Bumrah (2015), Praveen Kumar (2017), Mohammed Siraj (2023) and Khaleel Ahmed (2024). Thakur also equalled the record for the longest over in the IPL (11 balls).15 Number of wides Lucknow Super Giants bowled against KKR, the most by a team in an IPL innings. Thakur bowled eight, the most by any bowler in an IPL match.1198 Number of balls Nicholas Pooran took to complete 2000 runs in the IPL – the second quickest behind Andre Russell (1120 balls).238 for 3 LSG’s total against KKR at Eden Gardens – their second highest in the IPL. It was also the second highest total against KKR in the IPL.Shardul Thakur bowled five wides in a row, a first in the IPL•Associated Press70.81 Win probability as per ESPNcricinfo’s forecaster for KKR in the chase after 12.5 overs, when they needed 77 runs with eight wickets in hand. It came down to 21.99 % at 16.1 overs after they lost five wickets for 23 runs in the space of 20 balls.87* Pooran’s score against KKR is the second highest in the IPL by any batter coming in after ten overs. Andre Russell’s 88 not out against CSK in 2018 is the highest.12.64 Combined economy of the pace bowlers in the KKR-LSG game, having gone for 316 runs in 25 overs. It is the fourth highest economy for fast bowlers in an IPL match, for a minimum of 150 balls bowled.