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Jamie Smith joins Ben Duckett in sitting out T20Is with World Cup just six months away

Matt Roller08-Sep-2025

England will go into their T20I series against South Africa without both Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith this week, prompting head coach Brendon McCullum to concede they must learn how to cope better with their busy international schedule.Duckett, Smith and Harry Brook have been ever-present for England across their 15 international fixtures to date this summer, and all spent August playing in the Hundred. All three players will miss next week’s brief tour to Ireland, and McCullum has prescribed an additional week’s rest for his ODI openers so they can “freshen up” ahead of a busy winter away.It means that Duckett and Smith will miss consecutive T20I series less than six months out from a World Cup in the format, when better planning would have seen them skip the ODIs instead. In their absence, Phil Salt – who missed England’s most recent T20Is on paternity leave – looks set to open the batting alongside either Tom Banton or Will Jacks.Related

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England face a tight turnaround between the Ashes and the T20 World Cup this winter, interspersed with white-ball tours to New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Rob Key, England’s managing director, claimed last year that their upcoming schedule was “easing” when expanding McCullum’s role to cover white-ball cricket but it shows few signs of doing so.A one-day gap after the Hundred final meant that England’s players did not train together as a full squad ahead of Tuesday’s first ODI in Leeds, in which they were thrashed by seven wickets. ECB chair Richard Thompson acknowledged the crammed fixture list was an issue on Sunday, but admitted that it is unlikely to change significantly within the ongoing broadcast rights cycle.”The scheduling isn’t ideal,” McCullum said after England’s consolation win in Southampton. “That’s just the way it is and it’s not going to change, so we’re going to have to find ways to deal with it… We’re just going to have to find ways to be able to hit the ground running a bit quicker than what we did in this one.”I spoke to [Duckett] and I said, ‘I think you need to freshen up. You’ve played so much cricket and you’re such an influential player for us over the next few months.’ He’ll have a decent break at home, as will Jamie Smith… It gives the other guys opportunities, and it’s exciting, too. If we just rely on 11 players, then we’re not really going to be competitive.”One of those “other guys” is Sam Curran, who will bat in the top six against South Africa after winning a recall through his performances for Surrey and Oval Invincibles. McCullum has never previously picked Curran for one of his teams, and told him in an “honest conversation” over breakfast earlier this summer that he needed to “bang the door down” as a batter.”The message to Sam was that a lot’s come to you quickly and you’ve had a lot of success and a lot of fame, and a lot of things have fallen your way,” McCullum said, “but, of late, your performance had just tailed off a bit… With us resting both Jamie and Ben, it gives us the opportunity to bring Sam in and he’ll get his chance to bat in the top six.”England are expected to stick with the spin-heavy strategy they trialled against West Indies in June for this week’s series as they prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Curran will likely be their third seamer, with Jacob Bethell and Jacks supplementing Adil Rashid and either Liam Dawson or Rehan Ahmed as spin options.Bethell and Jacks acted as England’s fifth bowler in the ODIs against South Africa but their combined 10 overs in a tight defeat at Lord’s were hammered for 112 runs. McCullum said it was “really hard” to balance the side without a genuine allrounder, but has already spoken to Brook about how to give his part-time options “slightly more in their favour”.”We’ve just got to be a bit smarter with it… Utilising the big side of the ground, or also trying to set slightly more defensive fields,” McCullum said. “They don’t need to take 3 for 30 off 10 overs. They’ve just got to find a way to be able to create pressure and hold for a period so that our attacking guys can come in.”We won’t always be married to that [balance] but at the moment, we want to make sure that we’ve got that familiarity within our batting group – particularly in the middle order, as they adjust to some new roles so that they get more and more comfortable with how each of them is going to play.”McCullum said that England’s record 342-run thrashing in Southampton had provided them with “an incredible blueprint” in ODIs during an “oscillating” series. “We got hammered in the first one, we were within one blow in the second, and we dished out a pretty good performance in the third… It shows that there’s not a huge gulf between the two teams.”

The Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Sunday to avoid a post-All-Star sweep at Wrigley Field. Leadoff hitter and possible trade chip Jarren Duran went 0-for-3 at the plate during the game, but was clearly willing to leave it all on the field to get the win.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth a fly ball was hit to left-center where Masataka Yoshida settled under it. As Yoshida caught the ball Duran ran into him at full-speed. In Duran's defense, he timed the hit perfectly, led with his shoulder and did not hit his teammate in the head or neck area so no flag was thrown.

A few innings later, after walking, Duran tried to advance to third on a ball hit by teammate Roman Anthony. As Duran rounded second he collided with Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner. Duran threw out a little stiff-arm to make sure the umpire, who he also had to try to avoid, saw the illegal contact.

Duran was thrown out at third, but thanks to the interference call, he was safe.

Let this be a lesson to anyone who might be on a baseball field at the same time as Jarren Duran. Get out of his way because he will run into you. It doesn't matter if you're trying to get him out or yelled "got it!"Keep your head on a swivel.

Nadine de Klerk’s career-best 84* trumped Richa Ghosh’s counterpunching 94 in the battle of No.8s as South Africa emerged victorious in the Women’s World Cup’s first thriller. South Africa completed the fifth-highest successful chase in World Cups and their eight highest in women’s ODIs in a match where the advantage changed sides several times and overflowed with tension.Put into bat, India started well when they scored 55 in the powerplay before South Africa stormed through the next 16 overs and reduced India to 102 for 6. Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur put on 51 for the seventh wicket before Ghosh and Sneh Rana, who produced a cameo of 33 from 24 balls took India to a competitive total. In their last 10 overs, India scored 98 runs which may have knocked the wind out of South Africa’s sails.It seemed that way as their reply started poorly. They were 81 for 5 in the 20th over and looked all but out of the game. Laura Wolvaardt and Chloe Tryon put on 61 for the sixth wicket, Chloe and de Klerk shared a stand of 69 but when Tryon was dismissed, South Africa still needed 41 runs off 25 balls. De Klerk scored 39 runs off the next 15 balls she faced to take South Africa to victory with seven balls to spare. South Africa moved up to fourth on the points table, level with England and India but with a lower net run-rate.Having chased 275 against India at the 2022 World Cup, South Africa would have known what’s possible but they were off to the worst possible start. Tazmin Brits was dismissed for the first duck of her ODI career when Kranti Gaud pulled off a stunning return catch, reacting in a time of 0.5 seconds to grab the ball with her left hand. Sune Luus reviewed successfully when given out lbw to Amanjot but went fishing at a wide ball in the next over and nicked off. India thought they had Kapp six balls later but it bobbled out of Rawal’s hands at point.Kapp and Wolvaardt recovered decently with a 39-run third-wicket stand but were separated by a magic ball from Rana which held its line as Kapp played inside and was bowled. Anneke Bosch’s wretched run continued and she popped a return catch to Deepti to extend her run of scores under 20 to eight ODI innings. SInalo Jafta continued to look convincing at No.6 but was the first South African done in by left-arm spin. She was lbw to Shree Charani as she shuffled across and missed a flick.Through all that Wolvaardt was stoic and patient. She reached fifty off 81 balls, by which point Tyron was on five off 22. The pair worked well together, Tryon found some scoring rhythm and their partnership grew to 61 before Gaud was brought back for a second spell. Her fifth ball was full and straight and Wolvaardt could not keep it out as it smashed into middle stump.Richa Ghosh rescued India’s innings again•ICC/Getty Images

Tryon kept things going with de Klerk and South Africa entered the last 10 overs needing 81 runs. What they didn’t have was a player with Ghosh’s power. Tryon may be as close as it comes but she struggled with a calf niggle that was protected by a compression sock and then required heavy strapping. They needed 60 off the last six overs. Tryon tried to get Amanjot away but it was de Klerk who got a short, wide ball away for four and she found her touch at the right time.In the next over, she hit Rana for six and four before taking a single to put Tryon on strike. She came down the track and was hit on the pad and given lbw and a review could not save her. Then, it was all de Klerk. She took on Gaud and sent her over midwicket and down the ground for back-to-back sixes – the first got her to fifty – and then made room to carve her away for four. At that point, Ghosh went down needing treatment on her hamstring a la Rishabh Pant in the T20 World Cup final. Then, South Africa lost their heads. This time, de Klerk kept hers.She took a smart single to keep strike. 23 needed off 18. The game was all but done but de Klerk still needed to stay there. She hit two fours off Deepti, over square leg and covers and then South Africa needed 12 off 12. De Klerk finished it off with two sixes over deep midwicket and long-on as Wolvaardt fist-pumped and a small contingent of South African fans sang louder than the several thousand home crowd.Earlier, India started well as boundaries came easily in the opening exchanges with two off Kapp’s first over and five in the first five overs. Pratika Rawal hit all of them and survived an lbw shout off Kapp after the South African overstepped. Smriti Mandhana struggled for fluency but hit a glorious shot in anger when she advanced on Khaka and hit her back over her head for six. With that she become the batter with the most runs in ODIs in a calendar year, going past Belinda Clarke.After a solid powerplay, Mandhana became the first to fall when she went after Nonkululekho Mlaba’s second ball and toe-ended it to Luus at long-on. Mlaba and de Klerk dried up boundaries, with only one between overs 10 and 17 and then Mlaba struck again. She spun the ball past Harleen Deol’s outside edge, bowled her and waved goodbye for good measure.South Africa’s fourth seam option Tumi Sekhukhune was brought on in the 18th over and immediately found a good length. In her second over, she foxed Rawal with a slower ball. Rawal was too early on the stroke and got a leading edge that went up high enough for Brits to comfortably make her way from midwicket to take it.Wolvaardt departed after a valiant fifty•ICC/Getty Images

That brought Jemimah Rodrigues to join Harmnapreet Kaur. But they were only together for just an over. Rodrigues was dismissed for her second duck in three matches when she attempted a sweep against Tryon and missed. She was given out lbw and reviewed unsuccessfully, making it the third time in the tournament she has been dismissed by left-arm spin. Overall, India are the team that have been most susceptible, with 11 dismissals in the tournament to left-arm spin.Harmanpreet laboured her way to nine off 24 balls before she tried to force Tryon away on the off side but top-edged and Kapp took a low catch at backward point. With India 100 for 5 at the halfway mark, Wolvaardt went for the kill and brought back Kapp. Deepti followed her down leg and was caught behind but reviewed in vain. India were 102 for 6 but Amanjot and then some to come.After digging India out of a similar hole – 124 for 6 against Sri Lanka – Amajot recovered from the fever that kept her out of the Pakistan match and found herself needing to do it again. Ghosh almost deserted her when she nearly popped a return catch to Kapp but then hit Tryon over mid-on for four for the first boundary in 14.3 overs. A rare Luus misfield gave Ghosh a second four off Khaka and it was clear she would become the senior partner. She swept Tyron and Mlaba, hit Sekhukhune over long-on for six and contributed 36 runs in a stand of 51 with Amanjot. By the time Amanjot was ready to get going, Tryon was delivering her last ball and Amanjot mis-hit her over mid-off. Luus ran backwards to take her 56th international catch, equally Dane van Niekerk for the most outfield catches by a South African in ODIs.India lost Amanjot with the last 10 overs looming but Ghosh provided momentum. She picked up a de Klerk slower ball and hit it for six and got back-to-back boundaries off Mlaba and reached her seventh ODI fifty off 53 balls. Ghosh reverse swept Mlaba, hit Kapp over cover for four and then took on Khaka, taking 19 runs off seventh over. She entered the 90s when she hit de Klerk over her head for four and then moved to 94 with a slice past point. She hit the next ball to long-on but reviewed for a no-ball and ball tracking showed the ball would have passed her 4cm below her waistline. South Africa finished with two wickets in two balls which may have been crucial to their victory march.

Paul Pogba claimed he was "touched" following his return to football more than two years after his last professional appearance. The Frenchman moved to Monaco over the summer after his worldwide ban following a failed drugs test in 2023 expired. Pogba was initially banned for four years for the offence, which was reduced to 18 months last October, meaning he has been eligible to play since March.

• AFP
  

  Pogba hadn't played competitively since September 2023

  As a result of the ban, Pogba and former side Juventus agreed to mutually terminate his contract last November and it wasn't until June this year that the 2018 World Cup winner signed for a new club, penning a two-year deal with French side Monaco. In the time since, Pogba has been building up his fitness and at long last made his Monaco debut on Saturday night in a 4-1 loss to Rennes.

  Goals form Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Kamara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas saw Rennes go into the final knockings of the weekend's game at the Roazhon Park with a four-goal lead. Mika Biereth bagged a late consolation for Monaco, who were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half after Denis Zakaria received his marching orders, but the moment of the night came in the 85th minute as Pogba replaced Mamadou Coulibaly.

  The moment marked Pogba's first appearance since September 2023 in Juventus' 2-0 win over Empoli, and the midfielder admits he was "touched" by the reception he received from the home support.

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• Midfielder sends his thanks to those who supported him

  Speaking in the mixed zone after the 4-1 loss, Pogba said: "I was disappointed to lose this match. It's Paul Pogba's return, but I play for Monaco, and I don't like losing. I was really happy on one hand, but on the other, I was disappointed with the result and what we did on the pitch. The reception? It touched me. Seeing the crowd stand up and applaud, I wasn't expecting that. A big thank you to the fans who personally supported me."

  Pogba, who was in tears when he signed his Monaco contract earlier this year, had been expected to return to action earlier in the season but suffered a setback during the October international break having pulled up with a thigh injury to delay his first outing for Sebastien Pocognoli's side.

  "There were a lot of emotions. I was happy, but there's a bit of sadness with the result. We've come a long way. Today was a step to take. I did it and I'm happy about that," Pogba added on Saturday night.

  "The rest, we're a bit gutted to have lost. I feel good, there's been a lot of work. I still need time to be fit and play 90 minutes. But it will come with time. We're training for it. We're going to try to help the team as much as possible. It felt strange at first to get back on the plane with the group. I've settled back in well. We have a very good group. We're getting back into the right routine."

• AFP
  

  Pogba's return sends 'positive vibes to French football'

  Monaco boss Pocognoli was insistent that Pogba's return to action is a good thing for French football, saying on Saturday: "I'm happy for him, even if the circumstances are a bit unfortunate. He came on at 4-0, with 10 men against 11. It was planned that he would come on today, regardless of the scenario, because he had put everything in place. It will do him good, it will do the team good. Apart from our defeat, it sends positive vibes to French football."

  "We are all happy, even the Rennes supporters who are not Monaco fans. I hope he can bring us his experience," Monaco team-mate Lamine Camara added.

  Pogba's first appearance in over two years also resonated well with the Rennes squad, as Mahdi Camara said at full time: "Everyone knows Paul Pogba, he's a legend of French football. "It's great to see him on a Ligue 1 pitch. We've already seen… seen how he plays, you can see he's already at a good level. As spectators, we can't wait to see him at his best. It's fantastic. He tried to put a sombrero on me!"

  Former Monaco man Embolo, who scored Rennes' third, added: "Paul deserves it, he's a truly great player, a truly great man." And on the reception from the fans, the Swiss striker commented: "Well done to our fans. He deserved it, I'm very happy for him, I hope he'll bring good things to his team."

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• Pogba's home debut could come against Ligue 1 powerhouse

  Monaco will look to build upon an indifferent start to their Champions League campaign when they face Pafos on Wednesday night. While unbeaten in three in European competition, the French side have won just the once in the Champions League this season as they claimed a 1-0 victory at Bodo/Glimt earlier this month having opened up the league phase with a 4-1 defeat to Club Brugge before back-to-back draws with Premier League pair Manchester City and Tottenham.

  And Pogba may make his first appearance at the Stade Louis II next weekend when Monaco host defending Ligue 1 and European champions PSG. Luis Enrique's side reclaimed top spot in France's top tier on Saturday night as they eased to a 3-0 win over Le Havre having briefly dropped to second as rivals Marseille tore Nice to shreds on Friday night.

After the 15th-place finish in the Premier League during 2024/25, all eyes were on Ruben Amorim this campaign to try and resurrect his career as Manchester United boss.

The 40-year-old was certainly on borrowed time before a ball was kicked, but there’s no doubt the pressure has been eased, given the recent results in England’s top-flight.

He’s led his side to a five-game unbeaten run in the last couple of weeks, with such a period even seeing the Red Devils claim three wins in a row for the first time in his tenure.

As a result, Amorim claimed the division’s Manager of the Month award for October, also achieving such a feat for the first time since taking the reins a little over 12 months ago.

However, he wasn’t the only United representative to receive recognition for their efforts, as one player endured a month to remember at Old Trafford under his guidance.

Why Bryan Mbeumo won the October Player of the Month award

Like Amorim, Bryan Mbeumo was a player with expectations placed upon him by the United faithful, after the hierarchy splashed a reported £71m on his signature in the summer window.

The Cameroonian scored a staggering 20 league goals at Brentford last season, with the supporters placing faith in the forward to transform the club’s fortunes in the final third.

However, upon his move to Manchester, it was evident he would be asked to operate in a slightly different position compared to his right-wing role in West London during 2024/25.

Amorim’s system operates with two narrow number tens behind the striker, with the big-money addition being brought into the club to feature in such a position rather than out wide.

However, it hasn’t seemed to have hindered his progress, as he scored his first league goal against Burnley back in August, before springing into life at Old Trafford back in the month of October.

The 26-year-old featured in three games during the aforementioned month, subsequently registering a goal or assist in every one of his appearances for Amorim’s side – leading to his Player of the Month award.

His first contribution came at the start of the winning run, with his assist for Mason Mount helping secure the Red Devils a 2-0 victory over newly-promoted Sunderland.

Mbeumo’s biggest moment in October undoubtedly came against Liverpool at Anfield, with the forward slotting home just minutes into the clash and securing the club their first win at Anfield in nearly a decade.

His final outing came against Brighton & Hove Albion on home soil, with the Cameroonian netting twice and securing a phenomenal 4-2 triumph over the Seagulls.

The United star who’s been a better signing than Mbeumo

Whilst it’s still early days in his career at United, Mbeumo has already made an immediate impact and is starting to showcase why the hierarchy splashed such a huge fee on his signature.

He’s already found the back of the net on five occasions, with his latest effort against Tottenham Hotspur cementing his place as the club’s top scorer in 2025/26.

Other figures, such as 1.3 shots on target per 90 and a 2.5 assist xG, rank him top within the Red Devils squad, further highlighting his incredible start to life in Manchester.

Mbeumo wasn’t alone in moving to Old Trafford during the off-season, with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko also joining him in the final third to transform the club’s fortunes in front of goal.

Senne Lammens was the final addition made by the United hierarchy in the summer window, with the Belgian coming in to provide competition in the goalkeeping department.

Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir both struggled to nail down the starting position last campaign, with the former of the duo registering eight errors that led to goals last season alone.

The Cameroonian was subsequently shipped out on loan to Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, leaving new addition Lammens to stake his claim for the number one shirt under Amorim.

Whilst he was an unused substitute in each of his first three matches for the Red Devils, the 23-year-old was handed his maiden start against Sunderland at the start of October.

Since then, the player and supporters haven’t looked back, with Lammens providing the quality which the first-team have massively lacked between the sticks in recent seasons.

He’s already claimed two Man of the Match awards in his first five appearances, with the club yet to taste defeat when the Belgian is named in the starting eleven.

His underlying stats further prove his importance to Amorim’s men, as he’s undoubtedly saved the side in numerous key matches since his arrival at Old Trafford.

Games played

5

Minutes played

450

Saves made

14

Goals prevented

0.3

Goals conceded

7

Clean sheets

1

High claims

5

Passes completed

75

The goalkeeper is currently averaging 2.8 saves per 90, whilst he also has a positive goal prevented record, with most of his efforts coming in the superb triumph over local rivals Liverpool last month.

Lammens, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has also made 1.2 high claims per 90, subsequently offering the needed aerial presence in the 18-yard box – something which Onana massively struggled with last season.

One of his most important assets is his ball-playing ability, which has seen him register 9.1 long balls per 90 – which ranks him in the top 5% of all ‘keepers in the division.

There’s little denying that Mbeumo has transformed the club’s frontline in recent weeks, with his transfer one that has proved to be a success in the early stages.

However, the goalkeeping situation was the glaring problem for Amorim last season, with Lammens now handing the club an incredible option to rely upon for at least the next decade and beyond.

Should he carry on such a path, there’s no reason why the Belgian can’t play a vital role in any success endured during Amorim’s tenure at the Theatre of Dreams.

Their own Anderson: Man Utd to make £53m bid to sign "world-class" CM

Manchester United are set to make a January move for another top-level central midfielder.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 13, 2025

Newcastle United have not been at the races this season. Wheeling off quickly at times – mostly at St. James’ Park – but suffering from dismal away form that is pulling Eddie Howe’s squad away from their potential.

We all know this, and Howe most of all. However, identifying solutions and then finding the right answers can be two wholly different things in football.

11

Games

8

8

Wins

1

0

Draws

3

3

Losses

4

16

Goals scored

8

8

Goals conceded

10

2.18

PPG

0.75

But the English tactician has done so countless times across his four years on Tyneside, adapting and overcoming obstacles that fall into his path.

Take, for example, the fumbled signing of Chris Wood from Burnley in 2022. One of the first to establish this new PIF era, the Kiwi striker flattered to deceive.

Remembering Chris Wood's time at Newcastle

Wood is one of the most consistent Premier League strikers of his time. Something of a journeyman, he has nonetheless enjoyed success throughout his career, truly coming into his own over the past several years with Nottingham Forest.

However, a brief stint at Newcastle stands as a blot on the copybook. Howe purchased the New Zealand star from Burnley for £25m in January 2022, right at the start of this new era.

Sometimes, it’s just not your day. And Wood simply didn’t click in black and white. The veteran goalscorer only scored five times across 39 appearances before leaving for Forest on loan and then making the move permanent.

Pundit Tam McManus said that he looked “a bit lost” at St. James’ Park, and the one bit of solace from the misfire of a signing was that Newcastle were otherwise going from strength to strength, and they signed Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad after realising Wood wasn’t going to make the grade.

Of course, no one would deny that Wood is a top-class Premier League striker. He was one of the most prolific in the division last season, after all.

Mohamed Salah

38

29

Alexander Isak

34

23

Erling Haaland

31

22

Bryan Mbeumo

38

20

Chris Wood

36

20

But this only emphasises the blunder on Newcastle’s part, one they would not wish to repeat.

For the most part, they haven’t. Newcastle’s success under Howe’s wing has been a product of care and accuracy in the market. But they don’t always get it right, having signed the new Wood this summer.

Newcastle's biggest disaster since Chris Wood

Maybe there’s just something that isn’t working for ex-Forest stars moving to Newcastle.

Anthony Elanga has not been a success since joining the club from the City Ground for £55m this summer, yet to score or assist across 16 appearances.

Renowned for his “special ability” on the ball, as said by Nuno Espirito Santo, the Swedish winger simply hasn’t succeeded in translating his physical strengths over to St. James’ Park.

It’s not just his output causing concern. As per Sofascore, Elanga has succeeded with only 17% of his attempted dribbles in the Premier League this season. For a player whose standout skill is his fleet-footedness on the ball, this isn’t good enough.

Elanga, 23, must be afforded more time, but given the desperate need for an efficient right winger in recent years at the club, his woes have been a concern, salvaged only by the ever-industrious Jacob Murphy’s consistency.

He’s still relatively young, and he has proven himself capable in the Premier League across the past two terms with the Tricky Trees.

But the early readings are not all that promising, with analyst Raj Chohan picking up on the winger’s poor form and claiming that the deal was a “massive overpay” on PIF’s part.

While he is young and with much potential still untapped – unlike Wood – Newcastle expected bang for their buck when filling a hole on the right wing.

If Elanga doesn’t improve quickly, the Toon are going to need to dig back into their pockets.

Bigger liability than Pope: Howe must finally bin Newcastle "legend"

Newcastle need to make some changes going forward.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 28, 2025

Barcelona have received a major boost ahead of their blockbuster Champions League trip to Chelsea, with Marcus Rashford returning to full training after a spell on the sidelines against Athletic Club. But Pedri is set to miss the decisive clash as his hamstring recovery stalls, leaving Hansi Flick without one of his most influential midfielders for Tuesday’s showdown at Stamford Bridge.

Rashford fit for Chelsea clash — Pedri to miss out

Barcelona’s preparations for their crucial Champions League meeting with Chelsea took a dramatic turn as Rashford returned to full training on Sunday after several days away from the squad. The England international had missed Thursday and Friday’s sessions and was not present at Camp Nou on Saturday, with shifting explanations from personal problems to minor physical issues and eventually the flu, creating confusion over his condition. His reappearance at the Ciutat Esportiva, however, has eased concerns, and he now looks set to be included in the travelling squad.

Meanwhile, Pedri has been definitively ruled out of the trip to London after failing to train with the group on Sunday, ending any lingering hopes of an early return. The midfielder has been sidelined since suffering a left hamstring injury in El Clasico on October 26, and despite optimism in recent weeks, Barcelona have opted for caution. With his recovery still incomplete, the club now expects him to return at the weekend against Deportivo Alaves or, at the latest, Atletico Madrid on December 2. 

Frenkie de Jong remains available in the Champions League after missing the clash with Athletic Club, serving a suspension on Saturday, providing a timely boost for Flick as he prepares to face Chelsea’s aggressive midfield. Alejandro Balde is also expected to feature despite hobbling off in the 4-0 win over Athletic Club, while several first-team regulars underwent recovery sessions following Saturday’s match.

AdvertisementBarcelona slowly recovering from injury crisis

Rashford’s availability comes at a pivotal moment for Barcelona, who remain determined to build on an encouraging start to their European campaign under Flick. The English forward has become one of the team’s most dynamic attacking outlets this season, and his return ensures the club retains a key source of directness and creativity on the left wing. With Ferran Torres returning to form against Athletic Club and Raphinha returning, Flick now faces a healthy but challenging selection dilemma.  

Pedri’s absence, however, highlights a recurring issue for Barcelona as they prepare for the intense winter stretch. The midfielder endured multiple muscular problems between 2022 and 2024 before an injury-free last season; as such, Barcelona remain intent on protecting him from further long-term setbacks. His unavailability for such a high-profile match underlines the need to manage his workload carefully despite the temptation to accelerate his comeback.

Getty Images SportRashford's re-emergence at Barcelona

Rashford’s renaissance at Barcelona has been one of the stories of the season, with the loanee delivering 15 goal involvements in 16 matches across all competitions. He has rediscovered his confidence under Flick, thriving in a system that encourages aggressive wide play and fast breaks. His Champions League form has been particularly impressive, making his return ahead of Stamford Bridge a significant tactical advantage.

Barcelona’s broader injury landscape has improved recently, with Alejandro Balde, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski available and several players regaining fitness at the right time. Nonetheless, major fixtures like the Chelsea clash magnify the impact of any missing key player, especially one with Pedri’s influence. However, Fermin Lopez's dictation of play during Camp Nou's reinauguration will likely mean that the Spaniard will play alongside Frenkie De Jong at Stamford Bridge.

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Barcelona prepare for Chelsea showdown at Stamford Bridge

Barcelona now prepare for Tuesday night’s heavyweight meeting with Chelsea, where Rashford could feature from the start depending on his condition on matchday. Flick will assess his forward options closely, balancing Rashford’s explosiveness with Torres’ form and Raphinha’s return as he aims to craft a cohesive frontline for the biggest match of the month. Whatever his decision, the Englishman’s recovery offers a major tactical boost.

The focus then shifts to Pedri’s imminent return, with the club hopeful he will be fit for Saturday’s match against Deportivo Alaves. Should he need additional time, the following fixture against Atletico Madrid is expected to mark his comeback, allowing him to reintegrate gradually before the December schedule intensifies. Barcelona’s medical team believe he has shaved around ten days off the original prognosis, but insist the priority is ensuring he avoids further setbacks. 

Fabrizio Romano has now dropped a key injury update on Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori, after the defender was forced to leave the Italy squad.

The Gunners have already had to deal with their fair share of injuries this season, and Mikel Arteta now has more problems to contend with, as two of the manager’s most important players have recently suffered setbacks on international duty.

Indeed, there are now doubts over the fitness of Gabriel, which will be a major concern for Arteta, given that the Brazilian has started every Premier League match this season, and Carlo Ancelotti has now issued an apology.

When asked about the extent of the injury, the Brazil manager said: “Bad? I don’t know, he had a problem on his adductor the medical staff have to check tomorrow. We are really sorry for this, really disappointed, when players have an injury I hope they can recover well and soon.”

Fabrizio Romano drops update on Riccardo Calafiori's injury

It recently emerged that Calafiori has also dropped out of the Italy squad due to a hip injury, and Romano has now taken to X to provide an update, stating Arsenal staff are informed and “not anticipating a big problem or issue”, which will be a relief for Arteta.

The Italian has returned to London to be assessed by the medical team, but it is promising news that the injury is not expected to be a major issue, with the North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur penciled in for next weekend.

With Gabriel also suffering an injury blow, it is of increased importance that the 23-year-old is available, as Arteta is unlikely to want to re-jig his defence too much heading into such an important game.

Much like the centre-back, the £120k-a-week defender has been one of Arteta’s most important players so far this season, featuring in all 11 Premier League games, and the Arsenal boss singled him out for high praise after the 2-0 win at Burnley earlier this month.

The Spaniard said: “Very good. He’s been really stable, some big performances. He’s a big contributor to what we’re doing defensively as well. He gives us a lot in attack with his position and his threat. He continues to create chaos for the opposition.”

As such, it will be a relief that the recent injury is seemingly unlikely to keep Calafiori out of action for too long, as the Gunners look to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table next weekend, with Manchester City making the difficult trip to St. James’ Park.

The closest title races in Premier League history The closest title races in Premier League history

Manchester City and Arsenal have delivered a Premier League title race for the ages – here are some of the tightest from years gone by…

ByStephan Georgiou May 20, 2024

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has revealed he recently underwent cancer treatment and has urged others to 'get checked' in an emotional social media post. The striker came through the ranks at Liverpool, and scored 120 league goals in 236 appearances before leaving for Leeds in 2002 having lost his spot in the Reds first team to iconic strike duo Emile Heskey and Michael Owen.

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  'Just need to get a club now'

  Fowler, though, posted on X over the weekend that he recently underwent a procedure to remove a blemish just above his left eye. The spot was confirmed to be skin cancer, which was successfully removed from his face.

  "Before and After… been a few people lately saying the same thing, go and get those blemishes/spots checked, basal cell carcinoma," Fowler posted on X. "Caught early thankfully so all good…just need to get a club now."

  The former striker went on to receive a number of messages of support following his procedure, with former Reds star Luis Garcia posting: "Get well soon mate." Additionally, ex-goalkeeping coach John Achterberg said: "Good all is ok mate." CBS reporter Christine Cupo added: "Heal up well! Great awareness for early detection."

  A number of fans also posted their support for Fowler, who was routinely referred to as "God" during his time at Liverpool, despite growing up as an Everton fan.

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• What is basal cell carcinoma?

  The NHS describes basal cell carcinoma as a type of non-melanoma skin cancer that starts in the top layer of the skin, while outlining the main cause of the form of skin cancer and stating that it can be easily treated.

  "The main cause is ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds," the NHS website reads. "Things that increase your chances of getting non-melanoma skin cancer include your age, having pale skin and having had skin cancer in the past.

  "It's possible to reduce your risk of skin cancer by being careful in the sun – for example, by using sunscreen and reapplying it regularly. There's another type of skin cancer called melanoma. It's less common and usually more serious than non-melanoma skin cancer."

  The NHS went on to add: "They are often first noticed as a scab that bleeds and does not heal completely or a new lump on the skin.

  "Basal cell carcinomas can develop as a nodule that progressively and slowly enlarges. Some Basal cell carcinomas are superficial and look like a scaly red flat mark on the skin. Others form a lump and have a pearl-like rim surrounding a central crater and there may be small red blood vessels present across the surface. Any new lesions need to be shown to a doctor."

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  Who else did Fowler play for?

  While Fowler is best remembered for his time at Liverpool, the forward also played for Manchester City after leaving Leeds in 2003 before a brief return to Anfield in 2006. Fowler departed Liverpool for a second time in 2007, and went on to play for Cardiff and Blackburn.

  The former frontman then made the move to Australia in 2009 with North Queensland Fury, then on to Perth Glory in 2010. Fowler finally ended his playing days in 2012 following a brief stint with Thai side Muangthong United, who he'd go on to take over as a player-manager in 2011.

  Fowler also managed Australian side Brisbane Roar from 2019 to 2020, before leaving to take over as East Bengal boss. The former England forward briefly took over as Al-Qadsiah head coach in 2023, but his time with the Saudi side lasted just four months, with Spaniard Michel appointed as his replacement.

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• Records held by Fowler

  Robbie Fowler previously held the record for the fastest hat-trick scored in Premier League history. Fowler scored three times in just four minutes and 33 seconds against Arsenal in 1994.

  And it was a record that stood for over 20 years before being broken by Sadio Mane for Southampton in May 2015, where the forward bagged a hat-trick in just two minutes and 56 seconds. Mane would go on to move to Liverpool in 2016.

Bayern Munich honorary president Uli Hoeness has launched a blistering attack on Liverpool’s disastrous season, claiming that new arrival Florian Wirtz has been left to suffer because Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and others “want to play with their own ball”. With Liverpool in crisis after spending £450 million ($595m) on summer transfers, Hoeness insists the squad is full of “chiefs and no workers”.

Liverpool struggling while Wirtz fails to find his feet

Liverpool’s 2025-26 season has spiralled into turmoil despite a record-breaking summer outlay of almost £450m, leaving the Premier League giants sitting eighth and already nine points off leaders Arsenal. A humiliating 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League deepened the crisis, with fans labelling the performance one of the club’s worst in Europe in recent memory. Head coach Arne Slot now finds himself under intense scrutiny as pressure mounts and rumours of a potential exit swirl.

The high-profile arrivals of Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike were intended to launch a new era of dominance, yet the Reds have instead struggled with cohesion, balance and consistency. Defensive frailties, disjointed pressing and ineffective attacking patterns have contributed to repeated lapses, with six defeats in seven matches across all competitions representing an alarming collapse. These shortcomings have allowed critics to accuse the squad of lacking structure and leadership, prompting scrutiny from figures across European football.

Wirtz, signed to be the new creative heartbeat of the team, has endured an especially difficult adaptation to the Premier League, failing to score or assist in his first 12 league matches. As the Reds sink deeper into an early-season crisis, frustrations have intensified and external voices have begun to lay blame squarely at the feet of Liverpool’s expensive signings.

AdvertisementAFPBayern chief Hoeness defends Wirtz but takes shots at Liverpool

Hoeness delivered one of the most scathing assessments yet, arguing that Liverpool’s fundamental problem is a squad overloaded with individualists rather than functional team players. He said: “They have spent 500 million euros and are playing a catastrophic season… In my opinion, that’s because you only have superstars. You only have chiefs and no workers.”

Hoeness went further by accusing Liverpool’s attackers of refusing to share the ball and undermining their own playmaking unity. He claimed: “I always say: at Liverpool, they’ll soon have to play with five balls because the stars don’t want to give up a ball.”

In what has become the most headline-grabbing portion of his outburst, Hoeness expressed sympathy for Wirtz while placing blame squarely on Salah and Szoboszlai. He added: “Poor Florian Wirtz, he doesn’t get the ball at all because Salah and Szoboszlai and what they’re all called want to play with their own ball.”

Slot under pressure as failures pile up

Liverpool’s slump has unfolded across multiple tactical and structural elements, creating a fractured team unable to execute Slot’s high-intensity principles. Their once-feared press is now inconsistent, leaving spaces for opponents to exploit while simultaneously limiting their ability to counter quickly and effectively. As a result, matches have been dominated statistically but lost through decisive moments, poor finishing and lapses in defensive concentration.

The summer departure of wide man Luis Diaz have left a noticeable drop in pace and directness, stripping Liverpool of the explosiveness required to break low blocks. Even though players like Cody Gakpo remain influential in carries and build-up play, the final ball has repeatedly fallen short, preventing the team from converting favourable attacking positions. These deficiencies have fostered an overreliance on individual flashes rather than coordinated patterns, intensifying the pressure on midfield creators.

Wirtz’s struggles mirror the wider issues, as his skillset relies on rapid combinations, synchronised movements and team-mates who recognise early passing triggers. At Bayer Leverkusen, he thrived in a system built around habit-forming repetitions. At Liverpool, he often drops deep only to find passes arriving too late or not at all.

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Getty ImagesSlot fighting for his job as Wirtz looks to find form

Liverpool now face the task of stabilising their season before it drifts into an outright collapse, beginning with the need to rebuild confidence and restore structure in possession and transition. Slot must find immediate solutions within the squad, especially in creating a functional environment for Wirtz while reducing the reliance on isolated star moments. Should results fail to turn quickly, continued pressure could force Liverpool into major January decisions – both in personnel and potentially in the dugout.

After getting somewhat back on track by beating West Ham on Sunday, the Reds will be up against Sunderland and Leeds United before taking on Inter in the Champions League.