All posts by n8rngtd.top

Sunderland haven’t always made Premier League survival look like a painless feat to achieve.

Indeed, the Black Cats have actually fallen victim to the terrible fate of relegation down to the Championship four times since the top division’s rebrand in 1992.

Thankfully, plenty of fight and quality to beat the drop this time around has already been on display, with two wins and two draws picked up from their opening five clashes in the unforgiving league, meaning Regis Le Bris’ men are sitting in a pretty seventh spot currently.

That isn’t to say there weren’t several fan favourites from Sunderland’s previous relegation dogfights, though, with Jermain Defoe a recent hero that sticks out, even as the Wearside outfit tumbled out of the big time.

Defoe's hero status at Sunderland

Defoe would arrive at the Black Cats in 2014 with the reputation for being a clinical goal machine in the Premier League, with a mammoth 126 top-flight goals already notched up, before finding himself in the midst of a relegation tussle at the Stadium of Light.

Joining mid-way through the season could well have unnerved others. Defoe, on the other hand, managed to instantly hit the ground running to guide Sunderland to safety, with his unbelievable first-time effort against fierce rivals Newcastle United still remembered to this day as an iconic goal.

In total, 34 top-flight strikes would be put away by Sunderland’s dependable number 18 across 87 games, with a return to the England set-up even coming the veteran’s way, off the back of such a blistering purple patch of form.

Unfortunately, though, even as he routinely put on the captain’s armband, relegation would still swallow the Black Cats whole at the end of his final goal-laden season in the top-flight.

Regardless, the experienced talisman had still left a lasting impact on supporters in Wearside, with his teammate at the time, Adnan Januzaj, hailing him as “unbelievable” to work alongside.

Defoe would even come back to the Black Cats towards the tail-end of his playing days, but away from the glittering marksman’s extensive career, Le Bris will hope he now has his own much-loved leader figure in a similar vein to the Englishman in this passionate Sunderland presence.

Sunderland's new Defoe

Immediately, the first name that might well spring to mind here in being a Defoe-like hero is Wilson Isidor.

After all, much like the much-loved number 18, Isidor has already proven himself to be a hard-to-contain attacker in the Premier League, with an impressive three goals being fired home this season, steering the Black Cats to some invaluable early victories.

However, even though he isn’t leading the line, the actual figure being touted as the next Defoe here is Granit Xhaka, as the Black Cats thank their lucky stars once more that they managed to pick up a Premier League-experienced pro on the cheap.

As part of an ingenious swap deal that saw Jozy Altidore move to Toronto FC while the attacking veteran relocated back to English shores, Defoe would undoubtedly further affirm his status as a Premier League great.

In the here and now, Xhaka swapping Bayer Leverkusen for the Black Cats for just £17.3m is going down much the same way.

Before embarking on a shock return to England, Xhaka did already have 225 Premier League appearances under his belt, with 17 goals and 24 assists next to his name for Arsenal in the daunting league, even seeing him be referred to as a “monster” by Gunners-based writer Connor Humm.

The concern would have been whether the Swiss international could roll back the years on his return to the English top-flight.

However, based on the table above, there didn’t need to be any major worries, as Sunderland has seemingly hit the jackpot on a new talisman – much like they jumped for joy with Defoe – in their tenacious number 34.

Already blending his obvious class with bags of determination to ensure Sunderland punch above their weight, it’s even clearer now why picking up Xhaka had been described as “masterstroke” of a purchase, as it had been labelled by Sky Sports’ Don Goodman when he first arrived on the scene.

Many would have viewed Defoe’s entry into the building way back in 2014 in the same glowing manner, with Le Bris and Co. now well positioned to go against their bleak relegation history and beat the drop with Xhaka placed at the centre of their plans.

Sunderland star Habib Diarra injury return date, how many games he'll miss

A blow for the Black Cats…

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 23, 2025

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made an interesting comparison between Cityzens midfielder Bernardo Silva and Lionel Messi, claiming after the Portuguese's goal against Villarreal on Tuesday night that both him and the great Argentine have a "hammer in their necks", capable of scoring great headed goals despite their comparatively short stature.

• Silva receives strange Guardiola praise after Villarreal goal

  Silva scored his side’s second goal as City won 2-0 away to the Spanish side, the inevitable Erling Haaland scoring the opener as Guardiola’s men climbed into the Champions League top eight, three matches into the league phase, despite the continued absence of Rodri.

  Bernardo powered home a header from the centre of the penalty area to double the scoreline for his side, leading to Guardiola’s comparison between his neck muscles and a “hammer”, a trait the Catalan believes is shared by Inter Miami superstar Messi, whom he famously managed during both men’s illustrious spell with Barcelona.

  Considering the substantial power behind the header, Guardiola’s comparison makes some sense, though it was a unique one to make, nevertheless.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Guardiola describes Silva's powerful goal

  “I’m pleased that Erling scored again; and pleased that Bernardo made an incredible header again. It’s a little bit like [Lionel] Messi, it’s a hammer. They have a hammer in their neck, they are so good. They are small but they are so good with their head contact.”

• Social media reacts to Guardiola's comments

  The commenters on Sky Sports News’ video of the clip in question from Guardiola’s post-match press conference had a field day, as football fans enjoyed the creative comparison made by the City manager.

  “Pep just be inventing anatomy at this point,” said @MaxRakeBitCom, alongside a laughing face emoji.

  “Only Pep could make heading sound like an art form,” laughed @Only1Justus.

  Another user, @0xa1_, added: “Bro’s built like a USB stick but headers like prime Ronaldo.”

  “Pep just compared a neck header to Messi? Try that with Ronaldo and the ball enters orbit,” added @olisaemekalum2.

  Another, @BavuFunzo, joked: “Always finding a point to involve Messi.”

  Another user questioned Guardiola’s use of vocabulary, @xwordz: “Ain’t the hammer, it’s the flexibility and the elastic strength.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Guardiola and Rico Lewis speak after Villarreal win

  "Tough place to come. We played really good. At the end they had one or two chances but we played a fantastic game. A good step for us in this tournament," said Guardiola.

  "It's good that not just Erling [Haaland] scored and we had more chances for others. Impact from Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders good too. Little disappointed with result in Monaco, we created chances and didn't win and played the same as today but today got the goals. Teams in La Liga are really tough and a top-class manager.

  “Spanish people know it, maybe English people don’t know it, Villarreal is a top, top team. So I know how difficult it is to come here. Indeed, in the way we played, I have the feeling that, in many ways, we are coming back to what we were in the past.

  "Our numbers in the Champions League in the last year are not bad. Personally my numbers are not bad. But last season was tough for us, the vibe and how the team are playing now make me feel fine."

  City’s Rico Lewis, who assisted the game’s opening goal for Haaland, told TNT Sports: "We felt in control for most of the game. There's always better things we can do and there were a few spells they had that we could've prevented but we have to be harsh on ourselves if we want to win the competition.

  "We've got some confidence back. When you're playing with confidence there's nothing to stop you but yourself. Everyone trusts each other as well and there's nothing better than us having each other's backs."

  Speaking about Haaland, he added "Impossible, amazing. To play with him in the team, he helps us more than people realise. He draws defenders to free other people and then that frees him up to score. He's impossible to defend. He's such a hard worker and never stops wanting to score."

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have been blessed to be able to watch some terrific midfield talents play for the club over the years, from Luka Modric, to Gareth Bale, to Rafa van der Vaart, to Moussa Dembele.

Modric, now 40, is still playing and shining for AC Milan in the Serie A, whilst the other three have since hung up their boots and moved on from football.

In the present day, Joao Palhinha has scored three goals in 11 matches in all competitions to start his career with the club on loan from Bayern Munich, but he is not a creative talent like Modric, van der Vaart, or Bale were.

Ranking Tottenham's best modern-day creators

The 2018 Ballon d’OR winner has to be up there as one of the best creators in Tottenham’s modern history. He laid on 24 assists in 160 matches for the club in all competitions before his move to Real Madrid, per Transfermarkt.

Christian Eriksen, however, has a strong claim to be above Modric in the ranking because he created 88 goals in 305 appearances for Spurs during his time in North London.

Dele Alli may rank between the two with his return of 59 assists in 269 matches for the club in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which would place Modric third, Dele second, and Eriksen first.

Chalkboard

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

However, there is a new player at Spurs who may top all three of them and has the potential to be the Premier League’s new Dennis Bergkamp for Thomas Frank.

Tottenham may have unearthed their new Dennis Bergkamp

As much as Tottenham fans may not want to admit it, Bergkamp is a Premier League legend who used to light up English pitches with his creativity and invention for Arsenal.

The Dutch playmaker assisted 116 goals in 422 games for the Gunners, one every 3.63 matches on average, per Transfermarkt, which illustrates the creative ability that he brought to North London.

Xavi Simons may be the next version of Bergkamp in the Premier League after his move to Spurs from RB Leipzig during the summer transfer window.

The Netherlands international may only have one assist to his name for Tottenham to date, but his form in Germany and some of the promising signs that he has shown in the Premier League so far suggest that there is far more to come from him.

Simons created 21 goals in two seasons with Leipzig in all competitions after his move from PSV in the summer of 2023, which shows that he can provide assists on a regular basis.

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman’s games per ‘big chance’ created rate was particularly impressive in both of those seasons in Germany, which suggests that he creates ‘big chances’ more frequently than Bergkamp registered assists for Arsenal.

His performance against Leeds United last weekend was a great example of inventiveness and creativity. On several occasions, Simons produced a moment of magic to open up the opposition’s defence when it looked secure, lifting the ball over defenders or playing through balls through the eye of a needle.

The assists will come for Simons, his history with Leipzig suggests as much. It just seems like a matter of time if he keeps doing what he was doing against Leeds; providing creativity, creating chances for teammates, being the spark in midfield.

His central midfield berth against the newly-promoted side could help him to be the creative hub of the team moving forward, and the Premier League’s next Bergkamp.

Like his compatriot, Simons is an incredibly creative and inventive player who can make things out of nothing, but it is now down to him to add the goals and assists to his game to match for the Arsenal man’s legacy and go down as one of Tottenham’s most creative players in their history.

Juventus are eyeing a move for Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand in the upcoming winter transfer window. The Bianconeri had shown interest in the Danish midfielder during the summer, but Sporting rejected their approach, as well as a reported offer from Manchester United. Juventus are also monitoring Sandro Tonali and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as alternative options.

• Sporting CP rebuff interest in Hjulmand

  According to , Hjulmand has a €60 million (£50m/$72m) release clause in his contract, which has drawn interest from several top European clubs. Juventus have been closely monitoring the Danish midfielder as an alternative to Douglas Luiz, viewing him as a strong addition to bolster their midfield. However, they were unable to make a move for Hjulmand as they needed to offload Luiz first to finance the transfer. 

  Meanwhile, United have already made an approach, submitting a €40m (£34m/$46m) offer in the summer that Sporting promptly rejected. United manager Ruben Amorim, who previously coached Hjulmand at Sporting, is reportedly keen to reunite with the midfielder at Old Trafford. The club sees Hjulmand as an ideal fit for their system and a potential alternative to Brighton's Carlos Baleba, who has also been on their radar. United are expected to return with an improved offer as they look to strengthen their midfield ahead of the next transfer window.

  Juventus are planning to make a significant investment in midfield, either in the upcoming January transfer window or in the summer of 2026. Juve to structure the deal by taking the player on loan with an option or obligation to buy, allowing them to defer the payment and manage their finances more effectively.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Juventus eyeing alternatives

  One of Juventus’ alternatives to Hjulmand is Newcastle United midfielder Tonali. The Italian spent three successful seasons at AC Milan, where he played a crucial role in helping the club win the Serie A title. His consistent performances made him one of Italy’s most promising midfielders, leading to a 2023 transfer to Newcastle. Since joining the Premier League side, Tonali has become a key figure in Eddie Howe’s midfield, playing an instrumental role in Newcastle’s qualification for the Champions League last season. However Given his importance to the team and his long-term potential, Newcastle are unlikely to part ways with Tonali easily, making any potential transfer a difficult and expensive pursuit for interested clubs.

  Another potential target is Milinkovic-Savic, who currently plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The Serbian midfielder’s contract with the club runs until 2028, making any move challenging for interested European sides. Before his transfer to Saudi Arabia in 2023, Milinkovic-Savic spent eight successful seasons at Lazio, where he established himself as one of Serie A’s top midfielders and won two Coppa Italia titles. His experience and physical presence make him an attractive option for clubs like Juventus. However, his current salary poses a major obstacle with the midfielder reportedly earning around €20m net per year (£17m/$23m) at Al-Hilal, a figure that would be extremely difficult for Juventus to match under their current financial structure.

  Another option could be Franck Kessie of Al-Ahli, who is reportedly open to a return to Europe. Juventus showed interest in signing the Ivorian midfielder during the summer transfer window, but his high salary of €10m (£9m/$11m) per year proved to be a major obstacle.

• New horizons for Juventus after change in coach

  Juventus began the season strongly, winning their first three matches, including a thrilling 4-3 victory over Inter in the Derby d’Italia. However, their momentum started to fade after a 4-4 draw against Borussia Dortmund, which marked the beginning of a difficult run. Following that match, Juventus drew five games, including the one against Borussia Dortmund, and went on to lose three consecutive fixtures. Worryingly, the team failed to score in their last four matches during this poor spell, raising concerns about their attacking form. As a result, the club decided to part ways with Igor Tudor and appointed Luciano Spalletti as the new head coach. Spalletti’s arrival brought an immediate boost, as Juventus secured a much-needed 2-1 win over Cremonese in his first match.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Juventus and Sporting go head-to-head

  Juventus are set to face Sporting today in the Champions League as they look to build on their recent victory under new manager Spalletti. The Italian coach will aim to make it two wins out of two since taking charge. The match will also give Juventus a chance to closely monitor their transfer target Hjulmand, as they get a first-hand look at the midfielder’s qualities.

The good times keep rolling on for Chelsea as they took their strong domestic form into the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Enzo Maresca made sweeping changes to the side that beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Saturday, but instead of looking dysfunctional, they demolished Ajax 5-1.

Granted, the Dutch side were a man down after just 17 minutes, but even then, it was an impressive showing from the young Blues side.

There were brilliant performances from several starters, including the incredible Estevao and someone else who is now emulating the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.

Estevao's performance vs Ajax

While he didn’t win the Man of the Match award on Wednesday, it was yet another sensational showing from Estevao.

Chalkboard

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

The young Brazilian was seemingly here, there, and everywhere throughout his time on the pitch, and Ajax simply could not live with him.

His first Champions League goal may have come courtesy of Enzo Fernández letting him take the penalty just before half-time, but it was he who won it in the first place.

Moreover, on another night, he could have easily scored at least one more from open play.

It really was an all-action performance, one that should see him start the game on the weekend and one that left quite the impression on the Express’ Bobby Vincent, who awarded him a 9/10 match rating at full-time.

Unsurprisingly, his statistics more than justify such a rating.

In 95 minutes of action, he produced a combined expected goal and assists figure of 1.69, took eight shots, took 70 touches, won one penalty, played two key passes, completed 92% of his passes, and made one interception.

Overall, Estevao once again demonstrated why he is one of the most exciting youngsters in the world, even though it’s one of his teammates who is now emulating Haaland and Mbappé.

The Chelsea gem emulating Haaland & Mbappé

There were several other standout displays for Chelsea last night, from Jamie Gittens to Moises Caicedo, but only one player who is now emulating Haaland and Mbappé: Marc Guiu.

Yes, as incredible as it might sound, it is the exciting young Spaniard who managed to do something that only the two international superstars have managed before: score for two different teams in the Champions League as a teenager.

It was the 19-year-old who opened the scoring with a close-range tap-in for Maresca’s side, but his first goal in the competition came for former side Barcelona, in a game against Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp in December 2023.

Now, it has to be said that while he has emulated the Manchester City and Real Madrid stars, nobody is really claiming that the youngster is going to be quite as good as them.

However, the Spanish gem is undeniably talented, and showed on Tuesday night and in the game against Forest that he is every bit the “nightmare” talent scout Jacek Kulig said he would be to come up against.

The Granollers-born forward is technically sound, agile, physical, has an impressive jump on him and knows how to finish, so while he might not match Haaland’s goal tallies, there is a world in which he could end up being an incredibly useful player for Maresca this season.

Ultimately, there is a long way to go before Guiu reaches his full potential, but his goal and performance against Ajax show he’s a real talent.

"Very happy" – Maresca says barely-used Chelsea player is now really impressing him

The Italian says he’s getting “better and better”.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 22, 2025

Marco Silva could reportedly be sacked by Fulham as the club are considering a change due to their poor start to the season and slow contract negotiations. A dismal 2-0 defeat at Everton last weekend has deepened the gloom at Craven Cottage. Goals from Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane condemned Fulham to another frustrating loss with the manager looking bereft of answers.

• From dream to disarray at Fulham

  According to , Fulham’s hierarchy are seriously considering showing the door to Silva amid growing fears of a relegation fight and a contract standoff that shows no sign of resolution. Eleven games into the Premier League season, and Fulham’s top scorer is not one of their players but 'own goals'. Harry Wilson and Ryan Sessegnon have each chipped in with two goals but they have scored three with help from the opposition. Their away form is also grim having collected just one point on the road this season, when a late equaliser from Rodrigo Muniz against Brighton helped them eke out a draw. All three of their wins have come at Craven Cottage, and even those have relied on fortunate own goals.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Contract chaos with Silva

  Behind the scenes, tensions have been simmering for months. Silva, who has a £15 million ($20m) release clause, has so far refused to sign a new contract, leaving Fulham in a precarious position. The Portuguese coach’s current deal expires next summer, meaning he could walk away as a free agent. According to , Fulham’s board, led by vice-chairman Tony Khan, have been desperate to tie Silva down to fresh terms since July. But negotiations have stalled, with the manager reportedly frustrated by the club’s lack of ambition in the transfer market. Fulham’s only major signing last summer was Kevin, a Brazilian winger from Shakhtar Donetsk, who was brought onboard for around £34.6m ($45.5m). For a side trying to build on mid-table stability, it wasn’t simply enough.

  Speaking in August, Silva didn’t hide his disappointment. "It’s not an ideal scenario," he admitted. "Did I expect more? Of course. But the market is the market."

• A familiar fall from grace

  This is uncomfortably familiar territory for Silva. His Premier League journey, from Hull to Watford to Everton, has followed a recurring pattern. There is always a bright start followed by dips in form and eventual dismissal. At Everton in 2019, he was shown the door with the club sitting 18th and history may be repeating itself in west London. Yet to his credit, Silva’s Fulham reign began in glorious fashion. After being appointed in July 2021, he guided the club to the Championship title. During the course of that campaign, they scored an astonishing 106 goals. Fulham’s return to the Premier League was smooth and they comfortably stayed up, even flirting with European qualification. But now, the magic appears to have faded. The intensity and the pressing that once defined them have given way to fractured and disjointed play. 

  What makes the situation even more awkward is that Fulham owner Shahid Khan recently went on record to declare Silva a vital part of the club’s long-term vision.

  "He’s been great," he told . "I really like him, not only as a person, (but) as a football manager, head coach. Definitely, I think he’s in our long-term plans."

  Silva admitted was frustrated following another poor performance at the weekend: "It was a disappointing result for us, but more than the result, it was a very disappointing performance. We got what we deserved from the game, definitely. We played 20 minutes in all the game, I think. We lost the game through the physicality, we could not handle at all the physicality of Everton side."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Critical period looms for Silva and Fulham

  Fulham’s upcoming fixtures could determine Silva’s fate. After the international break, they host Sunderland, one of the Premier League’s surprise packages this season, who are now fourth in the Premier League standings. Then comes a brutal double-header against Tottenham and Manchester City.

Walker Buehler made his spring training debut on Sunday and while he may be in a new uniform, his stuff looks familiar.

The 30-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $21.05 million deal with the Boston Red Sox this offseason, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers after spending the first eight years of his career there. He saw his first action with Boston on Sunday and looked right at home.

Buehler threw the first two innings against the New York Mets and looked dominant. In the first inning, he allowed a double to Jeff McNeil to open things up, then got a groundout from Francisco Alvarez before striking out Jesse Winker on three pitches. Buehler hit Jose Siri on his first offering, then struck Alexander Canario out on three pitches.

He was even better in the second inning. He struck out Brett Batty looking, got Jared Young to ground out to first, then struck out Jose Azocar. Buehler pitched two innings, allowed one hit and struck out four

That's an encouraging outing for the Red Sox. After returning from Tommy John surgery, Buehler struggled during the regular season last year. In 16 starts he went 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA and 1.55 WHIP, striking out 64 but walking 28 in 75 1/3 innings pitched. He looked much better in the postseason, as he went 1-1 in four appearances with a 3.60 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 13 strikeouts against five walks in 15 innings. He got the save in Game 5 of the World Series, pitching the final inning as the Dodgers closed out the New York Yankees to win the title.

While it's only a one-year deal, the Red Sox made a steep financial investment in Buehler to add to a rebuilt rotation that now includes Garrett Crochet. They need him to turn things around this season. His first start was a positive step in that direction.

Chelsea have now reportedly joined the race to sign Crystal Palace star Daniel Munoz, who has already revealed where his “dream” move away lies.

Those at Stamford Bridge aren’t wasting any time before thinking about 2026 reinforcements in an attempt to improve Enzo Maresca’s young side. They were at their ruthless best against Wolverhampton Wanderers, dispatching of the managerless relegation candidates to win 3-0.

Full of praise for his side following a convincing victory, Maresca expressed his delight whilst also admitting that Chelsea could have scored even more goals at Stamford Bridge.

That said, as happy as Maresca was, improvements could still be on the way. BlueCo haven’t exactly been shy when it comes to recruitment in recent years and that looks set to continue in 2026.

After spending big last summer, the Blues are already reportedly eyeing Karl Etta Eyong who has admitted that he dreams of completing a move to Stamford Bridge to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Didier Drogba.

The Levante star has scored six goals in 12 games this season and is now one of the hottest prospects in European football. When next summer arrives, he could yet get the chance to realise his Chelsea dream, whilst another transfer target also potentially gets his move.

Chelsea join Daniel Munoz race as "dream" move shared

According to reports in Spain, Chelsea have now joined the race to sign Munoz from Crystal Palace following an excellent spell at Selhurst Park. Joining the Blues in pursuit of the right-back, however, is Barcelona. The Spanish giants are looking to spoil Chelsea’s plans and help Munoz realise what he previously admitted is a dream move when playing for Belgian side Genk.

Having now ticked off his Premier League dream, it’s difficult to imagine a world in which Munoz turns Barcelona down if they come calling. The good news for Chelsea is that, either way, they’ll be able to bid farewell to playing against such a talented star.

6 passes & 2 duels won: Maresca must drop 5/10 Chelsea star after Wolves

Chelsea breezed to victory over Wolves, although it wasn’t all plain sailing.

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 9, 2025

Praised as “amazing” by Palace boss Oliver Glasner last year, it was only back in August that Munoz was pocketing Chelsea’s Jamie Gittens in a 0-0 draw – limiting the winger to just two touches in the opposition box.

Chelsea star criticised vs Wolves after having fewer touches than Sanchez

Ruben Amorim has offered a blunt assessment of Manchester United’s academy pathway, admitting Chido Obi was promoted “too soon” last season while warning young stars that first-team opportunities must be earned. With the Red Devils yet to start a homegrown player in the league this term, the remarks place fresh focus on Carrington’s emerging talents as the club navigates a growing attacking shortage.

• Amorim questioned about Obi and Lacey's first-team opportunities

  Ahead of Manchester United’s clash with Everton, Amorim was asked about the current state of the academy pipeline, particularly in light of injuries and upcoming Africa Cup of Nations absences. The head coach has yet to start a homegrown player in the Premier League this season, increasing scrutiny on whether young talent will feature during a congested winter schedule. His comments centred on two of United’s most promising teenagers, Chido Obi and Shea Lacey, and whether either is ready to contribute meaningfully at the senior level.

  With Benjamin Sesko out and both Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo set for Africa Cup of Nations duty, supporters have been looking toward Carrington prospects to fill upcoming gaps. Obi made eight senior appearances last season at just 16, while Lacey has excelled at the youth level since returning from injury. Amorim, however, stressed that first-team readiness demands more than raw talent, and that neither player will be rushed for the sake of short-term needs.  

  The manager also highlighted broader structural improvements within the club, emphasising the importance of bridging the gap between Carrington prospects and the demands of United’s high-intensity training environment. These measures, he explained, are designed to ensure that young players are physically and psychologically capable before stepping onto a Premier League pitch.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Amorim opens up on necessity of steady progress for Carrington prospects

  “He [Chido] played last year, but I think it was too soon,” Amorim said when asked about Obi’s chances of stepping in. “We didn't have a team we could put a young kid of 16 into and him not struggle. He's one of the guys but he started too soon. Sometimes it's hard to deal with that, with the kids, because they think that 'I'm already here'. We need to be careful with that.” 

  On Lacey, he added: “I'm really happy with him. He struggled a little bit with injuries but they did a very good job balancing his body and you can sense he can manage more load during training. He has a lot of talent but when they come here they can sense the speed is completely different, so they need to spend more time with us to be prepared because our training is hard.”

  Amorim also addressed the broader academy link: “When you call a kid up to the first team, they need to behave really well. This connection is really important. We are putting everything in place – a nutritionist for the academy starts now – in our club. That is something that should be basic. All these things we are doing, so I have more time with them and I'm more confident with them. When we put these kids in to play in the Premier League, they will struggle, but will struggle less I think.”

• Getty
  

  Obi and Lacey: Two of Man Utd's best youth talents

  Obi’s rise has been one of the most highly publicised academy stories of recent years. After breaking goal-scoring records at Arsenal, most notably scoring 10 in a single U16 game and netting 32 goals in just 18 U18 Premier League matches, he made the bold move to Manchester United in 2024. His early months at Old Trafford saw him fast-tracked through the youth ranks, ultimately making eight senior appearances and becoming the youngest Premier League starter in Red Devils' history at 17 years and 156 days.   

  Obi’s development since then has been steady, but Amorim now believes the rapid exposure came “too soon”, reflecting the physical and psychological demands placed on a 16-year-old competing at senior level. His time with the U18s and U21s has shown glimpses of his prolific instincts, but the club’s plan under Amorim is more focused on long-term growth. As United restructure their academy-to-first-team pathway, Obi is expected to spend more time under controlled development rather than immediate senior pressure.  

  Lacey, meanwhile, has enjoyed a resurgent 2025 after overcoming an injury that halted his momentum the previous year. The 18-year-old winger, often compared to Phil Foden for his tight control, balance and creative flair, signed a long-term deal until 2029 and has impressed for United’s U21s and England youth teams. Amorim has integrated him into first-team training consistently, even naming him in the senior squad earlier this month, and views him as a realistic option during the AFCON period. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Will Obi and Lacey be a part of Man Utd first team in December?

  With United facing a packed winter schedule and losing two wingers to international duty, both Obi and Lacey may find themselves in contention for minutes, but only under Amorim’s strict conditions. The Portuguese manager’s comments make clear that opportunities will be earned through training standards and tactical readiness, not handed out due to injury crises. 

  Manchester United will have a lot less tightly-packed fixture schedule in December compared to their European football-playing rivals. However, they will still play seven games in 30 days, starting with their clash against Crystal Palace on November 30.

Javier Baez was involved in a weird double play and might need to get some ice on his head.

The Detroit Tigers are facing the Tampa Bay Rays in spring training on Wednesday and Detroit's shortstop used his head in the worst way possible. Baez reached on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first inning, then on the next play he caused some chaos.

Outfielder Riley Green lined a ball up the middle but Rays shortstop Carson Williams made a diving play to catch the ball. He gathered himself and hurled the ball towards first to double up Baez, who was already close to the second base bag.

Baez realized he was cooked and would be doubled off but for some reason decided to jump just as Williams was throwing the ball. Thanks to his hop, the ball nailed Baez in the helmet. He was ruled out.

Video is below.

On replay it looks like it was a jump of frustration from Baez, but the timing made it look like he was trying to block the throw. It's clear he wasn't. Just a weird double play.