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A week after being left out of the T20I squad for the tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, Devon Conway has earned a recall as a replacement for the injured Finn Allen. Allen sustained a foot injury while playing for San Francisco Unicorns at MLC 2025.Conway hasn’t played a T20I for over a year, but he has remained active in the franchise circuit. Most recently, he turned out for the Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket, scoring 135 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 127.35.”We’re really gutted for Finn,” New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said. “I was looking forward to working with him and to see him continue his form from the MLC but unfortunately injuries happen. We’re lucky to be able to call on someone of Devon’s quality to replace Finn.”Related

• Matt Fisher earns first NZ call-up, Williamson remains unavailable for Zimbabwe Tests

• Allen out of MLC playoffs and Zimbabwe tri-series with foot injury

• Richard Ngarava back in Zimbabwe's T20I squad for tri-series

The other additions include batters Mitchell Hay and Tim Robinson, and allrounder James Neesham. The trio will join the squad as additional cover for Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra – all of whom will be featuring in the MLC final on Sunday.”We knew there’d be a possibility that a handful of players could be involved in the MLC final, so we’re bringing in Mitch, Jimmy and Tim as possible replacements.”New Zealand will be led by allrounder Mitchell Santner as Walter begins his stint as the new coach, with Luke Ronchi, Jacob Oram and James Foster part of the support staff. The team is without a number of key players, including Kane Williamson, who made himself unavailable for the tour.While Williamson is currently playing for Middlesex in the county circuit in England, fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been rested as part of his workload management. Kyle Jamieson has opted out of the tour as he awaits the birth of his child, while tearaway quick Ben Sears is out with a side strain.New Zealand open their campaign on Wednesday against South Africa. Each team will play the other two in a double-round-robin format, with the top two teams playing the final on July 26. All the matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club.

New Zealand squad for tri-series

Mitchell Santner (capt), Devon Conway, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchel, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Mitch Hay, Jimmy Neesham, Tim Robinson

أعلنت رابطة البريميرليج عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبورنموث، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، والتي أقيمت مساء اليوم الأحد.

وحل بورنموث ضيفًا على مانشستر سيتي بملعب “الاتحاد”، في إطار مباريات الجولة العاشرة للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز موسم 2025-2026.

وتمكن مانشستر سيتي من تحقيق الفوز على حساب خصمه بورنموث، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، خلال مواجهة اليوم.

وحصل على جائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبورنموث، المهاجم النرويجي إيرلينج هالاند بعد الأداء الذي قدمه خلال مواجهة اليوم.

اقرأ أيضًا | تقييم عمر مرموش في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وبورنموث بـ الدوري الإنجليزي

وسجل هالاند هدفين لصالح مانشستر سيتي خلال المباراة، وقد حصل على نسبة تصويت بلغت 89% عبر الموقع الرسمي للبريميرليج.

ورفع هالاند رصيده في صدارة ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز للموسم الجاري، إلى 13 هدفًا.

Cristiano Ronaldo marked another historic milestone in style, scoring a spectacular long-range goal as Al-Nassr demolished Al-Fateh 5-1 in the Saudi Pro League. The 40-year-old reached an unprecedented 800 club career goals before delivering a trademark post-match message that reiterated his belief that hard work is central to everything that he has ever achieved.

• Ronaldo bags stunner in 5-1 win over Al-Fateh

  Ronaldo continued to defy time and expectations as he led Al-Nassr to a commanding 5-1 victory over Al-Fateh on Saturday in the Saudi Pro League. The Portuguese forward missed a penalty in the 59th minute but made amends moments later, unleashing a stunning long-range strike to seal his 800th club goal. The Al-Nassr captain also grabbed an assist on the night, underlining his continued influence on the team.

  His strike saw him become the first player in football history to reach the 800-goal mark in club competitions, an extraordinary record achieved across four major teams in his glittering career – Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus – before his latest chapter in Saudi Arabia. Joao Felix netted a hat-trick, while Kingsley Coman added another in an emphatic display. The result lifted Al-Nassr to the top of the league table with 15 points from five matches.

  At 40 years old, Ronaldo remains Al-Nassr's talisman and continues to inspire his teammates with his relentless drive and professionalism. His latest goal not only carried historical significance but was also a reminder of his enduring ability to perform on the grand stage. For a man who has broken nearly every record imaginable, the night in Riyadh represented yet another golden chapter in a remarkable career.

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• CR7's reaction to goal & milestone

  After the match, Ronaldo took to Instagram to share his reaction to the milestone, posting a concise yet powerful message to his 666 million followers: "Success is not an accident."

  The post perfectly encapsulated the mentality that has defined his two-decade-long career – a mix of determination, discipline, and self-belief. It was not just a celebration of numbers, but a statement of intent from a player who refuses to be defined by age.

• How Ronaldo reached 800 club goals

  Ronaldo's 800-goal milestone is one of the most remarkable feats in sporting history, reflecting two decades of consistency at the highest level. The breakdown of his club career goals reveals just how dominant he has been across multiple eras and leagues. His 450 goals for Real Madrid remain a  Los Blancos record that may never be broken, while his 145 strikes across two spells at Manchester United showcase his adaptability in different footballing cultures.

  At Juventus, the forward found the net 101 times, helping the Italian giants to consecutive Serie A titles. Now, with Al-Nassr, he continues to deliver, adding yet another milestone to an already unmatched career with his 105th goal for the team.

  Ronaldo's stunner against Al-Fateh also carried extra drama. Just moments after missing from the penalty spot, he struck a long-range effort that arrowed into the top corner – the kind of instant redemption that has long defined his career. It was a goal that symbolised his mentality: unshaken by setbacks, always ready to respond with brilliance.

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  Al-Nassr to take on FC Goa next

  With Al-Nassr flying high at the summit of the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo's focus now shifts to continental competition. The Riyadh-based club are preparing to face Goa in the AFC Champions League Two on Wednesday at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in India. That fixture will give Ronaldo another opportunity to add to his historic tally and extend his influence on the international stage.

  Beyond individual milestones, Ronaldo's mission remains to lead Al-Nassr to glory both domestically and abroad. His leadership has been pivotal in transforming the club into one of Asia's most talked-about sides, and the Portuguese forward continues to draw global attention wherever he plays. For a player often described as 'driven by records', the 800-goal mark might simply be another step toward redefining what longevity in football truly means. Overall, he's hurtling towards 1,000 career goals when you also consider his 143 for Portugal.

Gabriel Milito’s influence at Chivas was on full display as his team earned a third straight win, defeating Pumas 2-1 away on Matchday 12. The result pushed Chivas into ninth place with five matches left, reviving belief in Milito’s project even as their postseason hopes hang in the balance. Chivas currently sit ninth in Liga MX.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  A significant turnaround

  Milito emphasized that his team must continue to treat every match as a final as they chase a spot in the postseason. Guadalajara are now clinging to a Play-In position – a significant turnaround after a difficult start to the season.

  “We’ve reached the decisive stretch,” Milito said after the match. “If we want to reach the goal we set at the beginning, we have to keep earning points – ideally three at a time. We don’t have much margin for error. We’ve climbed in the table, but there are still five games to go, and every match will continue to be a final.”

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• AFP
  

  The rise of a new star

  The Argentine manager also praised 20-year-old forward Armando González, whose six goals this campaign have made him a key figure in Chivas’ recent surge.

  “He’s still developing, but he’s got a great mentality,” Milito explained. “He presses, he fights, and he has a natural instinct for scoring – something that’s hard to find at his age. The team depends on his goals, and he gives us confidence up front.”

• Getty Images Sport
  

  González dreams of joining El Tri

  After the match, González spoke to about the joy of scoring past Costa Rican legend Keylor Navas, calling it “a special moment.”

  “Keylor is one of the greats,” González said with a smile. “I’m happy and thankful to God for the experience.”

  Although he wasn’t called up by Javier Aguirre for Mexico’s latest international window, González admitted that representing El Tri at a future World Cup remains a dream.

  “Playing in a World Cup? Of course,” he said. “If I keep doing things right, I believe my time will come. For now, I just have to stay focused on Chivas.”

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  Tough schedule ahead for Chivas

  Looking ahead, Chivas will face Mazatlán FC, Querétaro, Atlas, Pachuca, and Monterrey, with the clash against Monterrey shaping up as the toughest test in their remaining schedule.

  “There’s no more room for mistakes,” Milito concluded. “We’ve made progress, but we have to keep improving and avoid getting too comfortable with recent results.”

أوضح رئيس برشلونة، خوان لابورتا، رأيه في إمكانية فقدان النادي لملكيته الجماعية وانتقاله إلى نموذج الشركات المساهمة الذي تتبعه أندية أخرى في أوروبا مثل مانشستر سيتي وباريس سان جيرمان.

وتحدث لابورتا عن موقفه الحازم من هذه الفكرة، مؤكدًا أن الوضع القانوني لبرشلونة يشكل درعًا يحميه من الوقوع تحت سيطرة جهات خارجية.

ودافع لابورتا عن القيم الإنسانية لبرشلونة، قائلاً في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “نعم، يمكننا أن نكون أكثر من مجرد نادٍ في عام 2025، نحن نادٍ عالمي حافظ على جوهره التأسيسي، الذي يُعرّف بأنه أكثر من مجرد نادٍ، وفخرنا بجذورنا الكتالونية، وفي الوقت نفسه، القدرة على استيعاب وفهم جميع أنماط تفكير جماهير برشلونة”.

وأكمل: “لا يمكنك فصل الجانب الرياضي عن الجانب المؤسسي أو التمثيلي، برشلونة مؤسسة، ولا يمكن التعامل معه بمعايير تجارية بحتة، فالأمر أكثر تعقيدًا من ذلك، يجب إدارة برشلونة بكفاءة مالية وإدارية، نعم، لكن مع حساسية خاصة تجاه القضايا الرياضية والاجتماعية”.

واسترسل: “المفتاح لإدارة كل هذا معقد، ولا يمكن فصله إلى أجزاء مستقلة، عليك أن تجمع بين معايير مبنية على أسس اقتصادية، وأخرى تتطلب حسًّا إنسانيًا واجتماعيًا أكبر، وجميعها يجب أن تتعايش بانسجام تام”.

اقرأ أيضًا | لابورتا يبرر انفعال فليك: تصرف إنساني نابع من الشغف والحكم أخطأ في حقه

وحول مخاطر أن ينتهي الأمر بنادي برشلونة في يد صندوق استثماري ويتحوّل من نادٍ مملوك لأعضائه إلى شركة رياضية مساهمة، أوضح لابورتا: “بسبب وضعنا القانوني، من الصعب جدًا أن يتم استغلال برشلونة أو السيطرة عليه من قبل جهات خارجية”.

وأتم: “تلك الدول التي تمتلك صناديق استثمارية تهتم بالاستثمار في الأندية، لكن في حالة برشلونة الأمر معقد للغاية، نحن نسعى إلى إقامة علاقات من خلال رعاية تجارية، لا من خلال المساهمات في رأس المال، لأننا لسنا شركة مساهمة، نحافظ على مسافة واضحة من هؤلاء المستثمرين المحتملين، ونرسم خطًا فاصلاً لا يمكن تجاوزه”.

يستعد منتخب إنجلترا، بقيادة المدرب توماس توخيل، لخوض مباراته في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026 مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، وذلك ضد نظيره منتخب لاتفيا.

ويستضيف ملعب “داوغافا” مباراة منتخبي إنجلترا ولاتفيا، في خضم تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم الصيف المقبل.

ويمتلك منتخب إنجلترا 15 نقطة حيث يحتل حاليًا صدارة المجموعة الحادية عشر، بينما تمتلك لاتفيا 5 نقاط في المركز الرابع في المجموعة نفسها.

وسبق أن تواجه المنتخبان في خضم التصفيات نفسها حيث فازت إنجلترا بثلاثة أهداف دون رد، وذلك في شهر مارس الماضي. موعد مباراة إنجلترا ولاتفيا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

تنطلق المباراة في تمام الساعة 9:45 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية. القناة الناقلة لمباراة إنجلترا ولاتفيا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

تُذاع المباراة عبر قناة beIN SPORTS 4. معلق مباراة إنجلترا ولاتفيا اليوم في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

سيعلق جواد بده على أحداث مباراة الليلة.

ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا

Glasgow Rangers have utilised the loan market to great effect in recent seasons to bolster their squad with talents they would otherwise be unable to afford.

Malik Tillman from Bayern Munich. Vaclav Cerny from Wolfsburg. Abdallah Sima from Brighton & Hove Albion. These are all recent examples of exciting forwards who thrived at Ibrox after joining on loan.

However, not every talented loan player has found success in Glasgow, as Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo failed to hit his stride with Rangers.

The current Red Devils star spent the second half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Ibrox and only delivered three goals and zero assists in ten matches in the Scottish Premiership, a far cry from the 11 goals and eight assists he produced for United last season.

Rangers schedule medical to sign teen star

Rangers and Russell Martin may now have to be careful with their latest reported target, as they are looking to bring in another teenage loanee from the Premier League.

Transfer Focus

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

According to journalist Paul Gilmour, Rangers have scheduled a medical for Tottenham Hotspur winger Mikey Moore for later this week, if all goes to plan.

The Gers are closing in on a season-long loan deal for the England U19 star, and Gilmour describes it as a ‘mutually beneficial’ deal for all parties involved.

He adds that Birmingham, Charlton, West Brom, and Coventry were also among the teams interested in a deal to sign the 17-year-old forward, which shows that Rangers have beaten off plenty of competition to close in on a deal for the Spurs gem.

Why Mikey Moore may be an Amad Diallo repeat

As was the case with Amad, there is no doubt that Moore is a young talent with huge potential to be a star in the future, as he has already made a first-team breakthrough at Spurs at the age of 17, playing 21 times.

However, this move to Ibrox would be the English dynamo’s first experience of playing senior football on a regular basis and there is no telling how he will adapt to that, as the youngster could struggle to make the transition at first.

That was the case for Amad, who had only played 14 first-team games before his loan to Rangers, and he then only managed three goals and zero assists in 13 games for the club.

Analyst Ben Mattinson claimed that Moore has “superstar potential”, as Amad – who now stars for Manchester United in the Premier League – did, but it is down to him to realise that potential on the pitch in Scotland.

Tottenham

21

1

2

Tottenham U21s

5

2

2

Tottenham Youth League

5

0

0

Tottenham U18s

24

19

13

England U19

11

3

3

England U17

12

10

4

England U16

14

7

2

England U15

4

1

0

As you can see in the table above, the English forward has all the tools to be a success if he can translate his youth form over to senior level, as he scored and assisted goals on a regular basis for club and country at various age groups.

Moore has only scored one goal for Tottenham’s first-team, as shown in the post above, though, and this means that it remains to be seen if he can make an immediate impact at Rangers.

Ultimately, this is an exciting move for the Gers but it is also a gamble as there is the potential that he follows in Amad Diallo’s footsteps at Ibrox, as an incredibly talented player who will use this loan as an initial struggle before going on to thrive in England in the future.

He's as bad as Propper: £5m Rangers flop "edging closer" to an Ibrox exit

This Rangers flop who was as bad as Robin Propper is now closing in on an Ibrox exit.

ByDan Emery Jul 27, 2025

Of course, Martin will be hoping that he can help Moore to enjoy a successful first loan spell, unlike Amad’s, if this deal gets over the line as planned.

The England opener has opened up a controversial episode in his career saying it was ‘a really, really tough time’

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2024Ben Duckett has lifted the lid on the incident that saw him sent home from Australia during the 2017-18 Ashes after pouring a drink over James Anderson, revealing Anderson threw a drink over him first before feeling bad and encouraging Duckett to return the favour.Duckett was part of the Lions tour at the time, desperate to add to four Test caps picked up from tours of Bangladesh and India at the end of 2016. The indiscretion ended up setting him back as he was sent home with a fine and suspension from the ECB. He eventually returned to the Lions set-up at the end of 2018.The incident took place before the third Test against Australia, at Perth’s Avenue Bar, with England 2-0 down and subject to intense scrutiny of their off-field behaviour. The venue had already gained notoriety on the tour after Jonny Bairstow “greeted” Cameron Bancroft at the bar by butting heads ahead of the series, a story that emerged with falsely malicious undertones during the culmination of England’s loss at the Gabba in the first Test.Related

Duckett 'poured drink over' Anderson

Bairstow 'headbutt' allegations 'blown out of proportion' – Strauss

Dynamic Duckett gives England a puncher's chance on turning deck

The ECB was already on high alert heading to Australia after Ben Stokes was charged with affray in September of that year, before being found not guilty in 2018. Duckett’s misdemeanour ended up being the final straw, prompting a midnight curfew instilled following the Bairstow-Bancroft episode to be made permanent, though it has been relaxed intermittently since.At the time, head coach Trevor Bayliss could not contain his anger, telling reporters: “It’s a fairly trivial incident but, in the current climate, it’s just not acceptable”. Anderson used his column in the to downplay what he regarded as “a pretty silly incident”.Both Bayliss and managing director Andrew Strauss – who had to insist England players were not “thugs” after losing the first Test in the wake of the Bairstow’s “headbutt” – put their foot down as allegations of a booze culture prevailed. England ended up succumbing to a 4-0 series defeat. By then, Duckett had already returned home as part of the collateral.Seven years on, Duckett is an established international, and with Anderson now retired – though he remains part of the Test set-up as a bowling consultant – he is comfortable clarifying that he was not the instigator on that fateful night in Perth, and that he feared his England career was over.”Jimmy actually threw a drink on me, but no one knows about that,” Duckett told podcast. “And then said, ‘oh, we’re just messing around. You can just lob one on my head. That’s fine.’ Genuinely. So then I just poured one on his head and the security guard saw me from the ECB, who looks after us, and it filtered back.”That was kind of basically the story. We carried on the rest of the night together, getting on well. That’s the story that’s got blown up. Then obviously when things start getting out in the media and everyone’s saying all this stuff, then everyone believes that like that. And as soon as a story or a headline’s out there, ‘well that’s what happened then’.”But then you can’t really come out and say what I’ve just said, because I’m a young lad trying to break into the England team. It’s one of the best ever England players, you know? And people didn’t really want to hear me.The 2017-18 Ashes tour was largely a miserable one for England•Getty Images”It was actually a really, really tough time. People look back and it’s probably funny and stuff like that. But when you’re in Australia and you’re kind of being told you can’t go to training, you can’t play – it’s a lonely place for a 22-year-old.”And being in Australia, you’re not getting much sympathy from any anyone out there, are you? But yeah, it was one of those things where… it feels like your world’s ending. The time difference, you’re not speaking to family much. The lads around me in that group at the time were amazing.”Duckett’s subsequent emergence as an England regular across has allowed him to put a positive spin on that period of his career. Only Joe Root (2250) has more than Duckett’s 1980 runs since returning to the Test side as an opener at the end of 2022, at a strike rate of 88.55, with four centuries.The left-hander was one of just three batters to average over 50 in the recent 2-1 series defeat to Pakistan. He is also set to be a vital cog in the rejuvenation of the limited overs set-up, led by Test head coach Brendon McCullum who will assume control of England’s white-ball sides in the new year.While Duckett feared for his future after that 2017-18 winter, he believes the resolve it bred has been integral to developing as a mainstay across all three formats.”It’s not that moment that was the issue. It was, you know, for the next 12 months, it was, ‘you’re basically on hold now for a little while’. Which for a 23 [year-old]… that’s kind of a bad time to basically get told you’ve got no chance here.”It does make you grow up a little bit faster and stuff and dealing with what I had to deal with probably made me a little bit more resilient as a person and probably a bit tougher.”All these things now, in a really weird way, I wouldn’t change much of it because, where I am right now, when I play for England, it’s like I don’t want to give that shirt to anyone else.”I’ve probably not made things easy at times. I’m not a saint and an angel, and I probably was an easy target at the time. That would be the only thing I’ll say – whether it was dealt right or wrong, that’s for people to make their own mind up.”

Sunderland fans will be very excited for the upcoming Premier League season now as the Black Cats attempt to cause an instant storm on their arrival, rather than just being content with making up the numbers.

Regis Le Bris and Co. have been extremely busy this summer fine-tuning their options to give themselves the best possible chance at sealing survival and achieving even more, with the standout purchase of Granit Xhaka finally happening, sending shockwaves through the top-flight.

For £17m, the Black Cats have won themselves a potential steal, as the Swiss international prepares to return to the division where he made a name for himself as a tough battler from the middle of the park for Arsenal.

Why Xhaka is a standout deal

The 32-year-old also boasts vast experience in top divisions beyond just the Premier League, having been a staple at Bayer Leverkusen over the last two seasons, before returning to English shores.

Indeed, across the last two campaigns, Xhaka was an ever-present force centrally, with six goals and nine assists coming his way at the BayArena from 99 appearances.

But it’s his no-nonsense, battling attitude that will have caught Sunderland’s eye even more as they attempt to stave off the drop zone in the Premier League, as seen in Xhaka averaging 5.4 ball recoveries per Bundesliga clash last season when tirelessly fighting for his side’s cause.

For the Gunners, the 32-year-old battled with even more intensity, with Xhaka throwing himself into a high 1001 duels in total across his 225 league appearances in North London.

17 goals and 24 assists were also tallied up in the brutal division, with the brand new Sunderland number 34’s ideal blend of skill and grit making him a top asset for Le Bris’ men as they venture up a level.

He could soon be joined by another talent that is also both sleek and combative, if necessary, as Le Bris’ midfield options become more and more stacked by the day.

Xhaka's "incredible" potential midfield partner

It will all be about reining in Xhaka’s aggressiveness, however, as the two-time FA Cup winner did end up with four red cards during his Emirates career.

However, they won’t want to eradicate this side of his game completely, with fellow new recruits that are set to join the building also potentially possessing this bite in their varied game.

New Sunderland target Gabriel Sara – who has been tipped to make a £26m move back to England – certainly showed a spiky side when donning Norwich City yellow and green, as seen in him averaging 4.8 duels won on average across his swansong Championship campaign with the Canaries.

This attritional side to his character means he could well happily line up as a defensive midfield option alongside Xhaka, but in Le Bris’ trusty 4-2-3-1 set-up, the well-rounded Brazilian might be better suited to a number ten role, as the Swiss international prepares to set the 26-year-old up for plenty of chances on Wearside from deep.

Games played

40

46

Goals scored

7

13

Assists

4

12

Touches*

53.4

76.6

Accurate passes*

29.8 (80%)

47.9 (86%)

Key passes*

1.7

2.6

Big chances created

6

16

Total duels won*

3.3

4.8

From this role at Carrow Road, Sara would turn into an “incredible” star for his second-tier outfit – as he was dubbed by U23 football scout Antonio Mango – with his final offering during the 2023/24 season seeing him pick up a staggering 25 goal contributions from 46 league clashes.

He has since refined his game even more in Turkey with Galatasaray, with two goals and ten assists coming his way from 45 games, further allowing him to live up to his “exceptional” billing by Canaries-based journalist Conor Southwell.

Both Xhaka and Sara together have the shared class to enhance Sunderland centrally, as the pair prepare to potentially link up with each other to help their new side succeed in the Premier League.

Bigger talent than Adingra: Sunderland race to sign "outstanding" £26m star

Sunderland could be about to win themselves a bigger talent than Simon Adingra by signing this £26m ace.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 31, 2025

Gus Atkinson will miss the final of the men’s Hundred after being made unavailable by the ECB ahead of England’s Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.Atkinson took 22 wickets in his debut series against West Indies and was named Player of the Series. He has only featured once for Oval Invincibles this year, returning figures of 0 for 28 in 10 balls against Trent Rockets on Wednesday night, and will not feature in Sunday’s final at Lord’s as he prepares for the Test series.”Gus has been withdrawn, which is quite understandable,” Sam Billings, the Invincibles’ captain, said. “It’s disappointing for him but Saqib Mahmood has been phenomenal for us all tournament and showed his class the other night. He’ll stay in the side.”The Invincibles are also missing Spencer Johnson through injury, but Tom Curran will return after he was rested on Wednesday.The ECB is taking a cautious approach to England players’ availability after Ben Stokes tore his hamstring playing for Northern Superchargers, ruling him out for the rest of the summer. Chris Woakes has already been withdrawn from the tournament, though Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett (both Birmingham Phoenix) and Jordan Cox (Invincibles) are available this weekend ahead of the first Test.Related

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“Jordan will be available and I think that’s great for him,” Billings said. “I’ve been in that position before where as a young player, you get withdrawn and miss out on playing time. For anyone to play in a final at Lord’s in the leading domestic competition in the country, in front of a packed house is perfect preparation for international cricket.”Jofra Archer, who is being managed carefully after long spells on the sidelines with back and elbow issues, is expected to be available for both Saturday’s eliminator and Sunday’s final, if Southern Brave qualify. He was made unavailable for two group-stage games to manage his workload, but Brave captain James Vince is not anticipating any restrictions in the knockouts.”I’ve not heard otherwise, so I’m hoping that’s the case,” Vince said. “Obviously we’ve got tomorrow to take care of first, but as I understand it, he is available for both should we make the final. I can’t give you 100% confirmation because I don’t know that myself, to be honest. But there’s not much travel involved and it’s only 20 balls [per match] so I’m sure he’ll be fine.”In the women’s Hundred, Chamari Athapaththu is unavailable for the Invincibles in their eliminator against London Spirit on Saturday, having linked up with Sri Lanka’s squad for their ODI series in Ireland. Laura Harris has returned to the squad as cover, while Megan Schutt has also been with the squad throughout and will come into contention.