Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia came away with victories as the selectors watched closely

Andrew McGlashan24-Oct-20240:56

Steven Smith: ‘Bumrah is the complete bowler’

Openers stallYou may have noticed, but Australia’s specialist openers are not banging down the door. Marcus Harris dug in for two hours at the MCG but was then undone by Mitchell Starc. Cameron Bancroft’s nightmare start to the season continued and his returns now read 0, 0, 8 and 2 – three times caught behind nibbling outside off then top-edging to fine leg. Matt Renshaw collected 2 and 21 against South Australia. Sam Konstas showed some promising signs in the second innings against Victoria before giving it away against Todd Murphy. It’s hard to know who, if anyone, is leading the race.Related

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Steven Smith’s lean outingWe know he’s moving back to No. 4, but Steven Smith cut a frustrated figure at the MCG. Caught down the leg side off Fergus O’Neill in the first innings he was then less-than-impressed by the lbw decision against Scott Boland although there didn’t seem much wrong with it. “I actually felt pretty good out there, to be honest, for the 3 that I scored,” he said with a hint of a smile after the first innings. It now seems likely that the rest of Smith’s build-up to India will be against the white-ball with a One-Day Cup match against Victoria then the ODI series against Pakistan.The McSweeney solutionNathan McSweeney has made an excellent start to the season – scores of 55, 127 not out, 37 and 72 – to build on his success of last summer when runs were hard to come. He is certainly in the mix for Test selection; beyond who opens there will also need to be a spare batter in the squad. Despite the quick abort of Smith opening, there is a world where the selectors again go down the route of non-specialist which could open a space for McSweeney in the XI. He captains Australia A next week against India A.Nathan McSweeney has started the season strongly•Getty ImagesKeepers flyingMight Australia’s most in-form player heading into the Test summer be their No. 7? Alex Carey is churning out the runs following his successful return to the ODI side in England last month. He has now crunched two centuries and a 90 in four innings this season. Remember he also finished the New Zealand series in March with an unbeaten 98. Talk about his form feels a long time ago. But he’s not the only gloveman in fine fettle.Josh Inglis has played superbly for Western Australia and, like Carey, has two hundreds in two matches. If you were looking at the best six or seven batters on form, he’d be there. There is recent precedent for Australia playing two wicketkeepers in their Test side: Matthew Wade featured alongside Tim Paine from 2019 to 2021, including during India’s last visit when he also opened the batting for two Tests.Josh Philippe (45 not out and 88) also continued his impressive start to the season on a tricky MCG pitch after the move to New South Wales and Jimmy Peirson (94) led a Queensland fight back against South Australia. Both are in the Australia A squad.Starc looking goodNow, this looked encouraging. Mitchell Starc hit his straps at the MCG, finding swing at high pace. He could easily have had more than one wicket in the first innings then collected six in the second, although it wasn’t enough to turn things around for NSW. However, he produced some crackerjack deliveries and was gliding smoothly to the crease in his first red-ball outing since March. “Wickets aside, I think the rhythm was there,” Starc said. “I felt probably the best I have felt for a while actually. Across the two innings, it feels like it’s in a good spot.” In the last series at home against India he averaged 40.72 so will hope to improve on those numbers.Alex Carey has been prolific early in the summer•Getty ImagesThe ones we aren’t talking about (much) – Khawaja, Labuschagne, Marsh, LyonIt’s easy to forget, given all the chatter, that most of Australia’s squad for the first Test is locked in. It was a relatively lean week for Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne (who is bowling a lot of medium-pace bouncers) although the pair made runs in the opening round. Mitchell Marsh fell cheaply twice against Tasmania and didn’t return to the bowling crease as he had previously suggested he would. Nathan Lyon got through another 41 overs of work against Victoria. In the same game, Boland finished with the fewest wickets of the home side’s quicks (three) but was shaking off the early-season rust nicely. His around-the-wicket spell to Nic Maddinson was classy. His likely challenger as the back-up Test quick, Michael Neser, picked up four wickets against South Australia while Sean Abbott produced a reminder that he should remain in the conversation. Nathan McAndrew may not be a million miles away, either.What’s next?Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will feature for NSW in the One-Day Cup match against Victoria on Friday. Then the focus turns to the first Australia A vs India A match in Mackay which begins on October 31 and runs concurrently with the next round of Shield. Konstas, Harris, Bancroft and McSweeney are in the Australia A squad as is allrounder Beau Webster. Boland and Neser will also suit up in one of the matches. Of those left in Shield cricket, Renshaw and Maddinson will be in action in Sydney as NSW face Queensland. Lyon is expected to play that game, too, as his last outing before the Test series.

Chelsea got back to winning ways on the weekend.

Enzo Maresca’s side took on Tottenham Hotspur away from home, and as they tend to do in this fixture, left with all three points.

From front to back, the Blues looked back to their best, and more importantly, Joao Pedro got back on the scoresheet.

The Brazilian has the quality to be a hugely important player for Chelsea, and one of the club’s most exciting youngsters could help him one day reach Cole Palmer’s numbers, and no, it’s not Estevao.

Pedro's future at Chelsea

When Chelsea completed the £60m signing of Pedro from Brighton & Hove Albion, there was plenty of understandable excitement, as sections of the fan base assumed the club had their new long-term number nine.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This idea was further reinforced during the pre-season, as Maresca started him up top for three consecutive games during the Club World Cup, during which he scored three goals.

However, things quickly changed once the season began, as following the first game against Crystal Palace, the manager played the 24-year-old as a second striker for two consecutive Premier League games, in which he scored two goals and provided two assists.

Unfortunately, following Liam Delap’s hamstring injury, the former Brighton star was once again forced to lead the line.

So far, in the seven league games he has started there, he has scored just once and provided one assist.

In short, it has become abundantly clear that while hugely talented, the former Watford star is at his very best either as a second striker or a slightly more aggressive ten.

Now, for those fans who watched him on the south coast, this shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise, as while he did make 16 appearances up top last season, he also made 12 between second striker, attacking midfield and left-wing.

Centre-Forward

16

Second Striker

8

Left Winger

2

Attacking Midfield

2

So, if Maresca wants to get the most out of Pedro, he’ll have to start him behind another striker, and fortunately, someone who might help him reach Palmer-levels is joining Chelsea for next season.

The player who could help Pedro reach Palmer-levels

Now, while someone like Estevao could help Pedro up his output in the coming seasons, the 18-year-old is undoubtedly at his best out wide.

Therefore, what the former Brighton ace needs is another prolific forward to come in and start ahead of him, someone who will help not only boost his assist numbers, but also his own goal tally.

Fortunately, Chelsea might have just the young talent to do just that, joining in the summer: Dastan Satpayev.

The Khazak phenom is set to join the Blues at the end of this season, and while he’s still young and therefore a long way from the finished product, he looks like a superstar in the making.

With that said, why could he help Pedro put up Palmer-level numbers, though?

Well, simply put, while he can play in several positions, he is primarily a centre-forward, and a seriously exciting one at that.

For example, despite still being just 17 years old, the “future Ballon d’Or winner,” as dubbed by one analyst, scored 16 goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances, totalling 2409 minutes last season.

That works out to an incredible average of a goal involvement every 1.37 games, or every 100.37 minutes.

Just imagine a forward as dangerous as that competing for a place with Delap ahead of a Pedro who has had a year to get used to life at Stamford Bridge.

Ultimately, it’s still early in his career, but if Satpayev is even half the player many believe him to be, then he could certainly help the former Brighton man reach the creative and goalscoring levels of Palmer in the near future.

Maresca must drop Chelsea star who had fewer touches than Sanchez vs Spurs

Chelsea just about got over the line on Saturday evening as slim 1-0 victors at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 2, 2025

Celtic have won both of their matches with Martin O’Neill as the interim manager, after Brendan Rodgers tendered his resignation at the start of last week.

Following a 4-0 win over Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership, the Hoops beat Rangers 3-1 at Hampden Park in the semi-final of the League Cup.

Kieran Tierney, as shown in the clip above, came off the bench to provide an excellent assist for Callum Osmand’s first goal for Celtic, and he is a player who the next manager should look to get more from.

Why Celtic's next manager needs to make Kieran Tierney a priority

The Scotland international, who re-joined the club on a free transfer from Arsenal in the summer, should be a priority for the next manager because of his potential to be an elite attacking force down the left.

Tierney has delivered two assists in 12 appearances in the Premiership and European competitions, but he has also delivered two assists in three League Cup outings, per Sofascore.

The left-footed defender provided a regular threat at the top end of the pitch as a creator during his first spell at the club after coming through the youth ranks, as shown in the graphic below.

It was recently reported that Celtic are considering an approach for Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, who has a £5m release clause, and he could make Tierney completely unplayable at left-back.

Why Kieran McKenna would make Kieran Tierney unplayable

The 4-2-3-1 head coach could make the Hoops star completely unplayable because he has done an amazing job with Leif Davis during his time at Portman Road.

McKenna swooped to sign the English full-back from Leeds in 2021, after he managed one assist in 14 games for Bournemouth on loan, and has turned him into an assist machine.

The Northern Irish head coach, whose work with Ipswich was hailed as “incredible” by Jermaine Jenas, leans heavily on overlapping runs from his left-back to create chances by playing out from an opposition press to create overloads on the flank.

That is not limited to Davis’ individual quality, as shown in the clip above, as Conor Townsend proved to be effective in that tactic against Bournemouth in the Premier League.

McKenna’s way of using his left-back to create chances consistently has proven to be an effective tool, as he won promotion from League One and the Championship in successive seasons.

Leif Davis’ creative form under Kieran McKenna

Season

Appearances

Big chances created

Assists

25/26 (Championship)

13

3

1

24/25 (Premier League)

33

12

2

23/24 (Championship)

44

16

18

22/23 (League One)

45

12

14

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Davis has been unplayable for the majority of his Ipswich career under McKenna, with at least 12 ‘big chances’ created in all three of his full seasons at Portman Road, including in the Premier League last term.

These statistics show that the Ipswich manager’s tactics are effective and can allow an attack-minded left-back to truly thrive as a creative force at the top end of the pitch.

Given Tierney’s quality when he gets into advanced positions, as evidenced by his assist haul from his first spell, the Scottish defender could be unlocked under McKenna’s management.

The former Arsenal man, who has registered four assists in all competitions for the club this season, could become completely unplayable, just like Davis, because of his ability to provide overlapping runs and quality crosses.

Tierney, as shown in the clip above, has the quality to take players on to assist his teammates, so imagine how effective he could be in a side that is constantly looking to create space for him down the left.

Related Their own Klopp: Celtic can replace O'Neill with "kamikaze" 4-3-3 manager

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Posts ByDan Emery Nov 5, 2025

The Scottish star could become completely unplayable for the Hoops, which is one reason why McKenna could be an exciting appointment for the club.

أكد الدكتور حازم خميس رئيس المنظمة المصرية لمكافحة المنشطات، أن قرار المحكمة الرياضية العليا في سويسرا بإيقاف اللاعب رمضان صبحي ليس نهائيًا، إذ ما زالت أمامه فرصة قانونية أخيرة للطعن على الحكم.

وكان رمضان صبحي قد تم إيقافه عن مزاولة أي نشاط رياضي لمدة أربع سنوات، بعد ثبوت التلاعب في عينة المنشطات التي خضع لها، فيما تبقى خياراته القانونية الحالية مقتصرة على الطعن في الإجراءات دون المساس بالعقوبة ذاتها.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ماجد سامي يوجه رسالة إلى السيسي بسبب رمضان صبحي و”الـ6 آلاف محمد صلاح”

وقال خميس في تصريحات عبر بطولات: “قرار المحكمة الرياضية العليا في سويسرا بإيقاف رمضان صبحي 4 سنوات ليس نهائيًا، أمامه فرصة للاستئناف أمام المحكمة الفيدرالية في سويسرا خلال 30 يومًا من إصدار الحكم، ولكن لا يمكنه اللعب حتى صدور حكم الفيدرالية”.

وأوضح: “المحكمة الفيدرالية السويسرية لن تقوم بإلغاء القرار أو تخفيفه، فهي مختصة فقط بمراجعة اجراءات المحكمة الرياضية الدولية، وهذا إذا ما قرر اللاعب الطعن في تلك الاجراءات”.

وعند المقارنة بين حالة رمضان صبحي ونجم المنتخب الفرنسي بول بوجبا، شدد رئيس المنظمة المصرية لمكافحة المنشطات على اختلاف السياق القانوني بشكل كامل، قائلاً: “الأمر مختلف هنا، كانت منظمة مكافحة المنشطات الإيطالية هي من قررت إيقاف اللاعب 4 سنوات وعند الاستئناف أمام المحكمة الرياضية العليا في سويسرا قامت بتخفيفه لعام ونصف”.

وأضاف: “لكن بوجبا لم يذهب نحو الفيدرالية السويسرية لأنه كان يرغب في تخفيف الإيقاف وهو ما نجح فيه أمام المحكمة الرياضية نفسها، وبالتالي، رفض المغامرة لأن الطعن في الاجراءات قد يعيد الإيقاف بأربع سنوات مرة أخرى”.

الجدير بالذكر أن رمضان صبحي قد تم تجديد حبسه بالأمس حتى جلسة النطق بالحكم في قضية تزوير الامتحانات يوم 30 ديسمبر المقبل.

It came down to 14 runs needed off the last six balls. Nathan Edward took a single on the first ball, bowled by Shamar Springer, putting Kieron Pollard on strike. Game over, you’d think, and two-in-two for Trinbago Knight Riders in CPL 2025. Except that Pollard swung and missed the first two, got enough bat on the fourth ball but chose not to run, and then connected well but not well enough to get the ball to the fence. Four dot balls. He dug a yorker-length ball out for a four off the last, but Springer was the hero for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, while Pollard had fluffed his lines.Knight Riders came into the game having won their first match, and gave themselves enough chances to earn their first win over Falcons after two losses last season. In the end, though, they let the game slip through their fingers.First, all the bowlers bar Sunil Narine – 4-0-17-0 – got at least wicket, and Falcons looked out of it at 77 for 5, all their premier batters gone, by the 14th over.Fabian Allen scored quick runs towards the end to give Falcons a competitive score•CPL T20 via Getty Images

But Fabian Allen walked out, took off straightaway, and smashed 45 in 20 balls, to go with Imad Wasim’s unbeaten 27-ball 39, to take them to a competitive 167.The second ball Allen faced, off Usman Tariq, went for six over long-on. Then overs 15, 16 and 17 went for 22, 17 and 15, Allen doing most of the hitting, but Imad was slow only by comparison. Knight Riders needed to stop the bleeding, and Narine’s last over was the answer. It went for just four runs, and Narine could have had Imad’s wicket, except the ball was hit with great power back towards him, and though the bowler stuck his hand out, he couldn’t make it stick.Mohammad Amir picked up his 400th T20 wicket in the next over, that of Allen, but Imad and Springer finished strongly, taking Edward for 18 runs for the momentum to well and truly be on Falcons’ side at the break.Kieron Pollard’s innings featured some big hits and plenty of dot balls•CPL T20 via Getty Images

Enter Colin Munro, and the advantage swung Knight Riders’ way quickly. Not instantly, as Imad gave away just three in the first over, and Jayden Seales nine in the second. But in the third, by Imad again, Munro went 4, 4 and 6 off the first three balls, and finished with another four, to put Knight Riders on their way. Fifteen came off Seales’ next – all Munro, with Alex Hales, the other opener, facing just eight balls at that stage and scoring just 4.At 47 for no loss, Knight Riders were on top, but for the second time in the game, Falcons hit right back. This time, through Obed McCoy, who sent back Hales and Munro in the fifth over.That was a proper momentum-breaker, and from the end of the fifth to the end of the tenth, Knight Riders scored just 20 runs, and lost the wicket of Nicholas Pooran. The script didn’t change after the ten-over mark either, with 13 runs coming off the next three, plus the wicket of Darren Bravo. And at 83 for 4 after 13, and the asking rate at 12.14, the chase looked dead in the water.Keacy Carty got some sort of impetus going with a 16-run over, the 14th, but it was back to single-digits after that: 7, 3 and 8. Till it came down to 36 from 12. Pollard, at a-run-a-ball 17 at that stage, finally found his hitting range – he took three sixes and a four off the penultimate over, bowled by McCoy, to put the game in the balance. And then came that last over from Springer.

MatériaMais Notícias

Mais uma vez, Júnior Santos foi o grande nome do Botafogo na Libertadores. Com o gol sobre o Bragantino, o artilheiro alvinegro ultrapassou ou igualou artilheiros de 11 edições da competição neste século.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasBotafogoSTJD prepara denúncia a John Textor, do Botafogo, por não entregar provas de corrupçãoBotafogo14/03/2024Parceiro – Claro NotíciasBotafogo volta à fase de grupos da Libertadores; relembre campanhas anterioresParceiro – Claro Notícias14/03/2024BotafogoJohn Textor promete ‘bicho’ de  R$ 1 milhão ao elenco do Botafogo após classificação na LibertadoresBotafogo14/03/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Fogão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Botafogo

A história de Júnior Santos na Libertadores começou a ser escrita quando marcou o primeiro gol contra o Aurora. No jogo da volta, o atacante balançou a rede quatro vezes. Contra o Bragantino, o jogador marcou todos os gols do Alvinegro.

Estes números também fazem com que Júnior Santos tenha a segunda temporada mais artilheiras de toda a carreira. Ao todo são 11 gols em 14 jogos, ficando atrás apenas do ano de 2020, quando fez 13 gols pelo Yokohama Marinos, do Japão.

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ARTILHERIOS QUE JÚNIOR SANTOS IGUALOU OU SUPEROU:
2020: Fidel Martínel – 8 gols;
2015: Gustavo Bou – 8 gols;
2014: Julio dos Santos e Nicolás Oliveira – 5 gols;
2013: Jô – 7 gols;
2012: Matías Alustiza e Neymar – 8 gols;
2011: Roberto Nanni e Wallyson – 7 gols;
2010: Thiago Ribeiro – 8 gols;
Mauro Boselli – 8 gols;
2008: Marcelo Moreno e Cabañas – 8 gols
2006: Agustín Delgado, Aloísio, Daniel Montenegro, Ernesto Farías, Félix Borja, Fernandão, Jorge Quinteros, José Luis Calderón, Marcinho, Mariano Pavone, Nilmar, Patricio Urrutia, Sebastián Ereros, Washington – 5 gols;
2004: Luís Fabiano – 8 gols.

Tudo sobre

BotafogoJúnior Santos

Shohei Ohtani started his sixth game of the season on Monday night, striking out three batters in three innings pitched. Ohtani surrendered a season-high four hits and allowed his first earned run since his first start back in the middle of June as he allowed a lead-off home run to Byron Buxton.

While he did not earn a decision, the Los Angeles Dodgers did beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2, thanks it part to Shohei Ohtani who hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st.

Facing a 2-1 count with lead-off man Mookie Betts on first, Ohtani crushed a home run to centerfield to give the Dodgers a lead they would never relinquish.

Ohtani also threw in a casual, but effective bat flip to celebrate giving himself some early run support.

Ohtani has now homered in three straight games to raise his season total to 35. He's fourth in MLB in home runs and just three behind Cal Raleigh who has not hit a home run since the Derby.

West Ham striker Niclas Füllkrug is facing his final two months at the club, amid credible reports that the injury-prone forward is eyeing a January exit.

Fullkrug, who missed 28 games for club and country combined last season, has looked more and more like yet another torrid centre-forward investment by David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the Hammers board since his £27 million arrival from Borussia Dortmund last year.

Achilles tendon

08/09/2024

02/12/2024

16

Hamstring injury

11/01/2025

01/04/2025

12

The 32-year-old’s stay in east London has been marred by constant fitness issues and a struggle to adapt to Premier League football, with his stellar Euros and 16-goal haul for Dortmund at the end of 23/24 seeming like a lifetime ago.

Fullkrug’s managed three goals and two assists in 27 total appearances for West Ham when he has been available, but even that return is uninspiring at best.

Nuno Espirito Santo is poised to welcome Fullkrug back from his latest injury after the November international break, according to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee, but the former Bundesliga star may not be donning Claret and Blue for too long afterwards.

Supporters and critics alike held hope that Nuno could inspire a ‘Chris Wood-esque’ transformation for Fullkrug.

However, as backed up by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, the number nine has already decided to depart Rush Green once the transfer window reopens at the turn of the year.

The main questions now are: who would buy Fullkrug given his injury record, who could West Ham sign to replace him, how much money could the London side realistically recoup from his sale and what are the key conditions of his departure?

Well, as per an unnamed football agent, at least one of these queries has been answered.

West Ham set out key Niclas Füllkrug transfer condition before January

Speaking to West Ham insider Claret & Hugh, the mystery representative explained that, while the Hammers are actively looking to find him a new club, West Ham will not let Fullkrug leave at all unless they source a replacement first.

The attacker was brought in with high hopes of ending West Ham’s long line of failed striker signings, but Fullkrug actually ended up being one of their more disappointing buys in that area.

Right now, Nuno has precious few alternatives, with fellow injury-prone ace Callum Wilson and youngster Callum Marshall standing out as their only natural options.

West Ham’s boss experimented with Lucas Paqueta as the false nine against Brentford and Leeds to no avail, prompting him to start Wilson against his former club Newcastle last weekend as the Irons won their first home game of the season.

Even if they can’t find a buyer for Fullkrug, West Ham simply must bring in a number nine when the winter window opens, and it is believed that they’ve reached out to former Brentford star Ivan Toney over a potential loan to buy deal.

He suffered the injury while attempting a catch on July 26 against Australia

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2025

Rovman Powell picked up the injury during the T20I series against Australia that West Indies lost 0-5•AFP/Getty Images

Rovman Powell, the West Indies batter, was officially ruled out of the T20I series against Pakistan following the wrist injury he suffered during the preceding series against Australia. West Indies will not name a replacement.Powell, 32, sustained the injury while attempting a catch in the fourth T20I against Australia on July 26 in St Kitts. He did not feature in the fifth T20I against Australia following the injury, and neither was he part of the first T20I against Pakistan in Florida’s Lauderhill on July 31 that West Indies lost by 14 runs.West Indies and Pakistan face off again on August 2 and 4 in Lauderhill in the three-match T20I series. The two teams then fly to Tarouba in Trinidad & Tobago for a three-ODI series starting August 8. Powell is unlikely to feature in the West Indies ODI squad as he last played in the format in 2023.

That was certainly an entertaining game, but not for the reason Chelsea would’ve been hoping for.

Enzo Maresca’s side travelled to Baku to take on Qarabağ in the Champions League, but instead of building on their derby win at the weekend, they drew 2-2.

While there were a few players who looked good on the night, such as Estevao, most of the team played seriously poorly.

In fact, some of the team, like Jorrel Hato, have almost certainly played themselves out of the team for the Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Hato's dire display vs Qarabağ

When Chelsea signed Hato from Ajax in the summer, there was considerable excitement from the fanbase, as the 19-year-old is regarded as one of the best young defenders in world football.

After all, before the move, he had already made over 100 appearances for the Amsterdam side and won six senior caps for the Netherlands.

However, even with this experience, he’s years away from being in his prime years, and so there was an expectation that he would make mistakes for the Blues, and unfortunately, that is what happened on Wednesday night.

Appearances

111

Starts

102

Minutes

9121′

Goals

4

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.11

Minutes per Goal Involvement

701.61′

Points per Game

1.86

For Qarabağ’s first goal, the Dutchman was outmuscled and left on the floor for the first shot and then out of the way entirely for the rebound.

Now, one mistake in a game can be down to bad luck and happen to anyone.

Unfortunately, it was the teenager who, via a handball, gave away the penalty for the hosts’ second goal just ten minutes later.

In all, it was, as one content creator put it, a “horror” showing from Hato on Wednesday and one that should see him dropped for Saturday.

Unfortunately for Maresca, other starters also played themselves out of the team.

The Cheslea star who played himself out of the team

There really are a few players you could name here, such as Hato’s defensive partner, Tosin Adarabioyo, who looked just as inexperienced at the back.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, in this instance, the starter who has to be on the bench for Wolves on the weekend is Tyrique George.

The Cobham graduate was preferred to Marc Guiu and Liam Delap from the start on Wednesday night, and unfortunately, he did not repay the manager’s faith in him.

In his defence, he did not make a mistake that cost the side a goal, but he also did nothing to help them score one, which, given his position and the opposition, is just as bad.

In fact, the youngster was so anonymous that Maresca decided to hook him at halftime, and while Liam Delap didn’t set the world alight either, he was at least noticeable when the Blues had the ball.

That might sound overly harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by football.london’s Bobby Vincent, who gave the Englishman a 5/10 match rating and generously described it as ‘a fairly quiet evening’ for the striker.

Unfortunately, his statistics don’t make for pleasant reading either, as in 45 minutes of inaction, he produced a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.22, took a single shot which was blocked, took just 13 touches – 26 fewer than Robert Sanchez – lost the ball four times and completed just six passes.

Minutes

45′

Expected Goals

0.05

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.17

Assists

0

Shots on Target

0

Touches

13

Lost Possession

4

Passes Completed

6/7

Dribbles

0

Ground Duels (Won)

2 (0)

Ultimately, George isn’t a bad player, but he was utterly anonymous against Qarabağ and, therefore, must be dropped for the Wolves game.

Enzo Maresca makes January claim with Chelsea star "out for a while" through injury

The west Londoners could be without him until 2026.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 5, 2025