No side has won three of their first four Tests. Afghanistan have a chance to change all that

The Preview by Sreshth Shah26-Nov-2019

BCB

Big pictureDon’t let Afghanistan’s two-day loss on their Test debut against India fool you. Incidentally then, Phil Simmons was their head coach. Today, he’s in the opposition camp, perhaps with a bank of knowledge he’d want to share with his West Indies team. Since that insipid debut, of course, Afghanistan have beaten Ireland in India and Bangladesh in Bangladesh. If they beat West Indies in Lucknow, they’ll become the only team in the history of the sport to win three of their first four Tests.The possibility is real. Under captain Rashid Khan, who has taken three five-wicket hauls in his last four Test innings, Afghanistan will run into a wonky West Indies batting line-up. The win in the T20I series should boost the ‘hosts’ to that effect. In their last three Tests, only twice have the West Indies batsmen gone past fifty. On a ground that is hosting it’s maiden Test, there are a lot of unknown variables, not least of all the pitch. Against a spin-based attack, West Indies will be tested.That said, Afghanistan would also do well to worry about their batting weakness. Barring Rahmat Shah, few have shown the tenacity to bat long. In both of Afghanistan’s Test wins, Rahmat’s contributions have been as integral as Rashid’s. But with senior allrounder Mohammad Nabi having retired from Tests, someone else too needs to step up.For West Indies, the series is about showing that they aren’t falling behind in the red-ball format. For Afghanistan, it’s time to say that, they too, possess the quality to find a spot in the next cycle of the World Test Championship.Form Guide(last five completed matches, most recent first)
Afghanistan WWL
West Indies LLLWW
In the spotlightIt appears that the job of filling the Nabi void has been given to 21-year-old allrounder Karim Janat, who has earned a Test berth after a splendid T20I series against West Indies. He struck an 18-ball 26 and picked up 5 for 11 in the second game before finishing the series with 1 for 33 in the third. He can find speeds of 140kph regularly, and with his elder brother Asghar Afghan there for company, Janat can find an arm around him for comfort, instead of being intimidated by the prospects of a main Test appearance.The form that made Kraigg Brathwaite ESPNcricinfo’s opener of the year in 2016 has gradually diminished as the decade comes to a close. He’s gone 19 innings without a Test fifty, and since February 2019, his only first-class century was one for Glamorgan in the English County Championship. It’s West Indies’ last Test match of the year, and with no other Test till they face England in June 2020, the team’s seniormost batsmen will ache to end 2019 with an impactful performance.Getty Images

Team newsAfghanistan coach Lance Klusener said it would be desirable to keep faith with the XI that won the Test in Bangladesh, though they’ll have to find a replacement for the retired Mohammad Nabi of course. Given the way Karim Janat performed in the T20Is, and that he offers an all-round option, he could well be the man to replace Nabi, even though he bowls seam up rather than spin. Afghanistan having plenty of spin options already with Rashid, Qais and Zahir.Afghanistan XI (probable): Ibrahim Zadran, Ihsanullah, Rahmat Shah, Javed Ahmadi, Asghar Afghan, Karim Janat, Afsar Zazai (wk), Rashid Khan (capt), Qais Ahmed, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zahir Khan.Rahkheem Cornwall had an ice-pack strapped to his left knee and didn’t take part in the warm-up drills or training session for West Indies. Coach Phil Simmons, however, said a final call on Cornwall would be taken only on the morning of the match. John Campbell is recovering from a stomach bug.West Indies XI (probable): Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell/Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope, Shamarh Brooks, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (capt), Shane Dowrich (wk), Rahkeem Cornwall, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican/Alzarri Joseph.Pitch and conditionsThe match will be played on the same surface as the second ODI was played on. It’s a red-soil pitch, and is expected to aid spin bowling. Expect foggy mornings at the onset of winters up north in India. As such, conditions for red-ball cricket is relatively unknown at the ground, with only three first-class games being played at Lucknow since 2017.Stats and trivia In the last three first-class games at Lucknow, an average of 2 centuries and 3.33 half-centuries have been witnessed per match With 333 runs, Jason Holder is West Indies’ highest run-scorer in 2019, averaging over 55 runs per innings. The second-highest run-scorer, Roston Chase, is more than 100 runs behind Holder. Rashid Khan averages 18 runs per wicket in TestsWhat they said”Obviously one day I’d like to play at ‘home’ home, but this is home away from home for us. The surfaces have suited us, and that’s the important thing if you’re going to have home advantage”.
“They’ve had three Tests, and did well to win in Bangladesh, but it’s still a learning phase for them and hopefully we can capitalise on that.”

Aston Villa returned from the international break in wonderful form, securing a much-needed 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

The win ensures that they remain fourth in the league table, three points clear of Tottenham Hotspur, albeit they have a game in hand.

Unai Emery is clearly building something special at Villa Park. By securing Champions League football for next season, he will be able to attract even better players, using the financial boost to strengthen his side.

He recruited well in January, with Morgan Rogers an exciting signing who was signed from Championship side Middlesbrough.

The youngster enjoyed arguably his finest performance in a Villa jersey against Wolves.

Morgan Rogers’ game in numbers against Wolves

The winger was given a start by Emery with the hope that he could use his creativity and dribbling skills to good effect.

It certainly paid off. During the clash, Rogers attempted five dribbles, succeeding with all five, while he was fouled twice, indicating that the player was a big danger in the final third for the Midlands side.

The former Boro gem was also impressive when taking on opposition players, winning eight of his 12 ground duels contested, and he is swiftly becoming a reliable figure in the Villa first-team squad.

Goals

0

Assists

0

Key passes per game

0.4

Successful dribbles per game

2.2 (92% success rate)

Shots per game

0.8

Another player who was even more impressive than Rogers during the comfortable win over the Old Gold was Moussa Diaby, as the Frenchman is becoming undroppable due to his displays of late.

Moussa Diaby shone for Villa against Wolves

The former Bayer Leverkusen winger has been deployed in a more central role of late, tending to partner Ollie Watkins up top in Emery’s 4-4-2 formation. It certainly worked a treat on the weekend.

The 24-year-old opened the scoring for his side, smashing home a shot which no goalkeeper would have stopped, giving him a much-needed confidence boost.

Diaby also managed to grab an assist for Ezri Konsa to score the goal that sealed all three points, proving how important he can be if deployed as a centre-forward.

Along with his goal contributions, the 5 foot 7 dynamo succeeded with 50% of his dribble attempts, made two key passes, delivered a cross and lost possession just nine times during the clash.

If he can replicate this form over the coming weeks, Emery’s men will have a wonderful chance of securing a top-four finish, securing a spot in the promised land of the Champions League.

Previously hailed as “wonderful” by Statman Dave during his time in the Bundesliga, it has taken a few months for Diaby to really hit the ground running and showcase his true potential.

With eight Premier League matches to go, the Frenchman has scored five goals while registering nine assists, which is a solid return for a player who has struggled in spells at Villa.

Should he add another few goals and assists between now and the end of the season, he could give himself a solid platform to build on ahead of next season.

Aston Villa's 7/10 star enjoyed his best performance yet vs Wolves

Aston Villa recorded a solid 2-0 win over Wolves on Saturday evening

ByRoss Kilvington Mar 31, 2024

يستضيف فريق ليفربول خصمه برايتون، مساء اليوم السبت، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2024/25.

تأتي تلك المباراة في خضم لقاءات الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإنجليزي، على ملعب “الأنفيلد”.

ويسعى ليفربول إلى تحقيق الفوز في مباراة اليوم بعدما فقد نقطتين في الجولة الماضية بعد تعادل صعب مع آرسنال، بهدفين لمثليهما.

وفاز ليفربول على برايتون بصعوبة، بنتيجة 3/2، في مباراتهما يوم الأربعاء الماضي في دور الـ16 من كأس كاراباو على ملعب “فالمر”. تشكيل ليفربول المتوقع أمام برايتون في الدوري الإنجليزي

حراسة المرمى: كيليهر.

خط الدفاع: أرنولد، كوناتي، فان دايك، تسيميكاس.

خط الوسط: ماك أليستر، جرافنبرخ.

خط الوسط الهجومي: محمد صلاح، سوبوسلاي، جاكبو.

خط الهجوم: داروين نونيز.

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

CSA chief executive Moroe hopes to address issues such as the Director of Cricket position still being vacant

Firdose Moonda03-Dec-2019The Cricket South Africa Board will hold a special meeting on Saturday to find a way out of the crisis it is currently in and, at the end of it, CEO Thabang Moroe hopes to see clarity on various issues, including the director of cricket role, which is yet to be filled even as the home series against England is set to begin on Boxing Day.”This [meeting] will be immediately followed by a media conference to communicate the outcomes and next steps to South Africa via the media, including but not limited to the Director of Cricket role, team selection processes for the England tour, and all other Cricket South Africa issues relevant to the South African public,” Moroe said in a statement.The CSA CEO sent this statement out on Tuesday evening soon after the board was hit with its first resignation. Professor Shirley Zinn stepped down as an independent member of the board citing problems with CSA’s “principles of corporate governance”. Her decision came in the aftermath of CSA receiving severe criticism from several high-profile voices including former president Norman Arendse for the recent crises.ALSO READ: Graeme Smith resumes Director of Cricket discussion with CSACSA is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) over its proposed domestic restructure and is facing severe losses – projections are at Rand 654 million (US$ 44 million approx.) – over the next four-year cycle.Then, on Sunday, CSA revoked the accreditation of five journalists without giving any reason, prompting backlash from the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and SACA. Major sponsor Standard Bank even demanded that the Board “clean up their act”.CSA has since met with Standard Bank, who issued a statement saying it is “reasonably satisfied” that the Board will “urgently implement remedial actions to address stakeholder concerns, including the unacceptable manner in which it treated members of the media”. All five reporters’ match access has since been reactivated but a fair bit of damage had already been done by then.”There are a lot of issues‚” Zinn, who had been serving on the board since 2018, told . “Some of them are being fixed‚ but one of them is the relationship with the South Africa Cricketers’ Association‚ the accreditation of journalists being withdrawn‚ which is something that I thought was an appalling approach in terms of dealing with journalists.”I was absolutely shocked to see that and how that was authorised from a governance perspective in terms of who decided that that was the best step to follow.”Moroe apologised for the incident and committed to ensuring “far more frequent” communication and transparency. “Too many people have made the ultimate sacrifice for the privilege of free speech and I’d like to apologise to SANEF and all of your members for any harm that was caused during our accreditation error in judgement,” he said. “I would also like to apologise to our sponsors for the ambiguity of the CSA tweet yesterday where we thanked our sponsors for their support – it wasn’t our intention for that tweet to infer support for the accreditation blunder but instead to thank them for our longstanding partnerships.”The CSA Board consists of 12 members – president Chris Nenzani, the six presidents from the affiliated provinces – Beresford Williams, Zola Thamae, Tebogo Siko, Donovan May, Jack Madiseng and Angelo Carolissen – and five independent directors, namely Mohamed Iqbal Khan, Dawn Mokhobo, Zinn, Steve Cornelius and Marius Schoeman CS. The inclusion of independent members came in 2012 after Gerald Majola was forced out because of the 2009 IPL bonus scandal.

Liverpool have made contact with an "amazing" Premier League player over a move to Anfield in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update.

Liverpool eyeing new centre-back

The Reds' focus last summer had to be on rebuilding the midfield, following a horribly below-par 2022/23 campaign that saw Fabinho and Jordan Henderson struggling in the middle of the park, whereas Naby Keita and Thiago continued to be dogged by injury problems.

Jurgen Klopp oversaw a fantastic transformation of the midfield, signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, and it has allowed Liverpool to return to being a huge force in the Premier League again, as they still search for a legendary quadruple this season.

This summer, it could be the defence that the Reds focus on, albeit without Klopp around, with too much onus on Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to stay fit currently. Jarell Quansah is still a young player learning his trade, while Joel Matip could leave when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

Various defenders have been linked with joining Liverpool, including Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio and Bayer Leverkusen ace Piero Hincapie, both of whom possess the added luxury of being able to do a job at left-back. Meanwhile, highly-rated teenage Lille defender Leny Yoro was linked with the Merseysiders in the January window, and could yet emerge as a target again in the near future.

Liverpool make contact with "amazing" ace

According to a new update from TEAMtalk, Liverpool have contacted Marc Guehi's representatives over a move to the club this summer, with the Crystal Palace centre-back potentially moving on to pastures new.

The report states that "another defensive partner for Van Dijk and Konate is the top priority for the club", and they have "now taken the first concrete step towards" signing the England international at the end of the season.

Guehi could represent a brilliant option for Liverpool this summer, ticking so many boxes for the Reds, even though Palace will understandably demand huge money for his signature, possibly £50m as the report states.

Still only 23 years of age, the Englishman has proven himself in the Premier League over a consistent period of time now, and perhaps more importantly than anything, he is robust in terms of not getting injured often, missing just nine games across four years.

Appearances

22

Starts

22

Clearances per game

3.9

Aerial duel wins per game

1.3

Tackles per game

1.2

Interceptions per game

0.8

Pass completion rate

86.9%

It could be argued that Guehi deserves to start for England alongside John Stones at Euro 2024 this summer, and he has been hailed by Harry Maguire, who said:

"Marc has done amazing. I think he left Chelsea at an amazing time when he had to play football. When you watch him play he doesn't look like a young boy playing football.

"He's a captain of Crystal Palace. He’s going to have a long career in the game. He has all the attributes you need to be a centre-back. The friendly in the first half at Scotland unfortunately he had to come off. He's such a young boy playing with so much maturity."

That being said, the English premium that can happen when signing homegrown players could mean that Inacio and Hincapie represent greater value for money, but the Palace ace has the advantage of knowing the Premier League inside out.

Cristiano Ronaldo is back on the grind, with Georgina Rodriguez filming the Al-Nassr superstar training hard in their back garden.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Ronaldo had a disappointing Euro campaignEnjoyed holiday with Rodriguez and familyRecharged and back in training modeWHAT HAPPENED?

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner looked like a shadow of his former self with the Portugal national team at Euro 2024 in Germany as he failed to score a single goal in the continental showpiece. The Selecao's lacklustre campaign came to a frustrating end at the quarter-final stage following a heartbreaking defeat to France in a penalty shootout.

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Ronaldo has since been unwinding on holiday alongside his partner Rodriguez and kids on a luxurious sea cruiser. However, the forward appears to be back in Riyadh and has already started to train in an individual capacity in his back garden.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ronaldo performed a series of short sprints after indulging in some resistance exercises using bands. Meanwhile, two of their kids were enjoying themselves in a poolside kickaround with Rodriguez capturing the moment on film.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

Ronaldo had a sensational individual season with Al-Nassr in 2023-24 as he found the net 50 times, but failed to inspire them to the Saudi Pro League title. He will be hoping to hit the ground running in 2024-25 and achieve collective glory while inching closer to the 1000-goal target that he has set for himself.

To borrow a phrase from a vastly more dignified political era Matt Parkinson is a coming man. Where he is going, on the other hand, is anybody’s guess, including his own.In the short term Parkinson’s diary is settled. Having just returned from the tour of New Zealand, in which he made his T20 international debut, he will very shortly fly out to South Africa as a member of England’s Test party. Ideally, of course, the Lancashire legspinner would then like to be named in the squad for the white-ball games against the Proteas and for the two-Test tour to Sri Lanka.Thereafter, however, things get more complicated. Fearful he might not be selected in Lancashire’s team for any of the half-dozen County Championship matches they are due to play in April or May, Parkinson has made himself available to interested franchises at next week’s IPL auction. That tournament is due to begin four days before England’s second Test against Sri Lanka and it is reasonable to think the selectors will want as many of those players in contention for next winter’s T20 World Cup squad to take a part in the biggest short-form show on earth.Parkinson understands all this, of course, but his rationale is rather simpler: he would just like to be playing cricket for someone and he particularly wants to avoid the situation he faced last year when he didn’t play a championship match until July and only played four Division Two games in all.”I am keen on playing red-ball cricket, but it gets to the point where if you’re not getting picked, it’s easy to get pigeon-holed as a white-ball cricketer, even if you don’t want to be,” he said. “I’m 23 and I’ve still got time on my side, but people are getting pigeon-holed quite early now because there’s so much white-ball cricket out there.”It is surely unfair to blame the hierarchy at Emirates Old Trafford for the various dilemmas faced by one of England’s most talented young spinners. Picking a leggie who bats at No.11 for matches played on green pitches in April and early May would be a supreme indulgence, especially in a Lancashire team whose pace attack is of Test match quality. ECB officials, on the other hand, might come in for rather more criticism. What remains remarkable is that Parkinson was selected for the South Africa tour on the strength of his 20 first-class wickets. The England selectors clearly know a good thing when they see it, however brief their glimpse might be.”I wouldn’t say it’s embarrassing to have only played four games and got picked for England but it says a lot, really,” said Parkinson. “There’s a lot of talk about a lack of Test-quality spinners, but if we’re not playing matches, no one’s going to improve. It says a lot that I’ve been picked on the back of 20 first-class games. It shows I’ve done something they like but I’d like to play all 14 [championship] games and get picked off the back of 50 first-class wickets in the season, then there isn’t muttering that he’s only been picked because the cupboard’s bare. I do think something needs to be done.”Matt Parkinson was an unused member of the Test squad in New Zealand•Getty Images

Let there be no doubt that Parkinson wants to play Test cricket. He saw how talismanic England cricketers like Ben Stokes prepared for the New Zealand series and he was properly impressed. And he is greatly looking forward to working with Jeetan Patel in South Africa. But as the final stages of last summer’s World Cup were being played he was wondering whether his future lay in 50-over cricket and the various T20 circuses. And young cricketers remember such things.”If you aren’t picked for the first couple of games, it’s almost like your season is starting again,” he said. “I feel that every summer I’m starting again and having to prove myself in red-ball cricket. When it got to July and I hadn’t played a game, I was worried, but the way it went at the end of the season and my selection for England has moved things back a bit,” he said.”In twelve months it could be completely different but I am keen on playing red-ball cricket. The back-loading’s good. I’ve played most of my games in the last month of the season. But playing seven games in the first seven weeks of the summer isn’t ideal although if you can bowl spin on a greentop in April, you can perform on a dust-bowl in September.”Parkinson’s ability to adapt to different conditions ensured he ended the New Zealand leg of England’s winter tour with his reputation bolstered. His four wickets at Napier in the second T20 game was a lovely way to end a year which had been scarred far beyond cricket’s compass by the death of his mother, Maria. That tragedy was mentioned by Nasser Hussain when he presented Parkinson with his first England cap at Nelson.”The words he said will stay with me for a long time, said Parkinson. “You sometimes forget how lucky you are, being paid to play cricket in New Zealand in November when most lads are in the indoor school or working. You get lost in the here and now. It gets tough at times but something like that definitely gives you perspective.”I was pleased to make my debut and pleased it went so well. I was nervous and it’s one of those situations when if you get a wicket in your first over, you’re okay then. It was a challenge to bowl on the small grounds in New Zealand but fingers crossed I’ve learned some lessons I can use.”There are things I’ll try and stick to whether it’s with England or Lancashire. The nerves are still there when you make your England debut but it helped that it was in New Zealand. You weren’t at the SCG or MCG with nearly 100,000 people there. We knew before the series that we were going to get a go, so that helped as well.”Parkinson must now wait to find out when he will next get a go. His many supporters hope he might get the nod for a Test in South Africa or Sri Lanka. They also hope that the stress freshly placed on five-day cricket by England’s hierarchy might have an impact on the shape of the domestic season. Parkinson, meanwhile, will carry on working very hard in the hope that excellence will receive its proper reward. He knows there is more for him to do.”Every cricketer has their work-ons and if I could bat like my brother [Callum at Leicestershire], that would be happy days.” he said. “All three facets of my game need to improve for me to be an international cricketer who plays most of the time. I class myself as a luxury. I don’t want to be a luxury. I want to get picked regardless of the surface. Nathan Lyon plays all over the world and he’s a No.11.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O lateral Rafinha provocou o atacante Yuri Alberto, do Internacional, que perguntou ao lateral gremista onde ele teria jogado na carreira, durante confusão no GreNal que deu o título ao Grêmio, neste fim de semana. Ao lado de Diego Souza, o jogador que bombou nas redes improvisou versos com o nome do rival e levou o elenco que assistia ao delírio (veja o vídeo no fim da nota).

+ Confira os confrontos do Grêmio no Brasileirão

-O Yuri Alberto é gente boa. O Yuri Alberto é sensacional. Eu vou tirar dois títulos da minha coleção e passar para o Internacional – disse Rafinha em um trecho do vídeo, e completou.

-Eu gosto de maçã, de uva e até de fruta do conde. Aquele menino falou para mim: ‘Rafinha, você jogou onde’?. Olha aí, Yuri, eu vou tocar no seu. Eu vou te levar pra casa pra você conhecer os meus troféus.

Rafinha se envolveu em uma confusão com o atacante aos 37 minutos do primeiro tempo. Os rivais bateram boca por alguns momentos, a discussão ficou próxima de descambar para algo mais sério e ambos jogadores foram expulsos pelo árbitro Leando Vuaden.

Durante a comemoração do título, o lateral não perdeu a chance de ironizar a expulsão em entrevista à TV Globo:

– Feliz pelo título, mas primeira vez na minha carreira que sou expulso sem ter feito nada. Acho que era isso que eles queriam. Queriam me tirar do jogo e conseguiram, mas do título não. O título vai ficar aqui – disse.

Escutem até o final 🤣🤣🇪🇪💙🏆 pic.twitter.com/6NkPb39f0Y

— Jhonata Robert (@Jhorobert11) May 24, 2021

Manchester City are monitoring the situation of a "magnificent" Premier League player ahead of a summer move to the Etihad, according to a new transfer rumour.

Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola could soon be eyeing exciting new signings in the summer transfer window, and some top-quality players have been linked with moves to the Etihad recently.

Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala has emerged as a target at the end of the season, as he continues to outline his status as one of the best young players in world football currently. The 21-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season for the Bundesliga giants, registering 16 goal contributions (10 goals and six assists) in 21 league appearances.

Another hot prospect is also reportedly being looked at by City this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz linked with a switch to join Guardiola's side. He has played a massive role in his side topping the Bundesliga table by 10 points currently, bagging 10 assists and scoring seven goals in the league in 2023/24 to date.

Joshua Kimmich is another German player who has been touted as an option for the Citizens once this season has come to an end, with Guardiola knowing him extremely well after their time together at Bayern.

Now, a new transfer report has emerged, with City believed to be turning their attention to an impressive Premier League ace.

Man City eyeing move for "magnificent" Premier League ace

According to The Daily Mail, Manchester City are monitoring £60m-rated Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite ahead of a potential move this summer, but there are other clubs keen, too, including Manchester United who have been leading the push.

The report states that the Englishman's "performances have attracted attention from a number of top sides and City have also posted their interest". It goes on to add that "in their intent to keep competition high they are keeping an eye on Branthwaite's progress, particularly with him being homegrown, his age, and showing technical traits similar to John Stones who has been deployed in midfield this season."

Branthwaite looks like an enormous prospect currently, standing out for a struggling Everton side this season, and boosting his chances of making England's Euro 2024 squad. Across 25 league appearances, the 21-year-old has averaged impressive stat in a number of areas.

Branthwaite's Premier League stats this season

Total

Appearances

25

Goals

2

Clearances per game

4.2

Aerial duel wins per game

2.6

Tackles per game

2.0

Interceptions per game

1.6

Pass completion rate

79.4%

Newcastle United legend and BBC pundit Alan Shearer has waxed lyrical over the Englishman, too, saying of him recently: "Magnificent at the back. Nothing got past him against West Ham."

Related Wow: Man City set to launch move for generational superstar this summer

They want him in their 2024/25 squad.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Mar 23, 2024

The fact that there are comparisons between Branthwaite and John Stones suggests that Guardiola could feel he can mould the former into a similarly elite level player, and his long-term potential is enormous, making him a strong option to bring in.

Rangers have been dealt a blow as it has emerged that one star could find himself sidelined for longer than initially feared.

Rangers eyeing up title

Though currently second in the Scottish Premiership, Rangers' fate remains in their own hands. They sit a point behind Glasgow rivals Celtic, but have a game in hand on the hoops after their game against Dundee was postponed.

Alex Neil says Rangers have "one of the best" defensive talents he's seen

He’s been full of high praise for one man in particular.

ByBen Browning Mar 27, 2024

They also play host to Brendan Rodgers and Co in a game which will likely prove decisive. It could cap an impressive campaign for Philippe Clement's side, who boast the best defence in the division and have seen their goal breached on just 16 occasions to date, while they have scored the second most goals in the division (64), behind only Celtic (71).

The latest news, however, is less than ideal for the Ibrox outfit.

Rangers man set for spell on sidelines

Despite their impressive season, it has not been all rosy for Clement and co. They have suffered their fair share of injuries, and they may now have been dealt yet another blow on that front.

That comes as an update has been provided on Ross McCausland, who was taken off after just 35 minutes in their most recent Scottish Premiership outing, the 2-1 defeat to Motherwell. He was on the substitutes bench against Benfica, suggesting that it wasn't too severe, but never made it onto the pitch.

Though initially described as a knock, he missed both of Northern Ireland's matches over the international break and his injury was described as 'complex' by national team boss Michael O'Neill, which will have set off alarm bells at Ibrox.

McCausland in the SPL 2023/24

Appearances

22

Goals

1

Assists

2

Shots per 90

1.78

Tackles and interceptions

1.93

Medical expert Dr Rajpal Brar has now claimed that the complication could see McCausland miss several weeks.

“Initially, he was potentially available for the next match and the injury was described as a knock, so at the time, the injury didn’t seem too serious", he told Ibrox news.

“The main goal of treatment then will have been reducing pain and dysfunction to allow him to return to training. However, there has been a development over it being a complex issue and that puts him at risk of something more serious. There are not too many specifics provided, but this appears something that can keep him out for weeks.“

Rangers are already without a host of stars thanks to injury layoffs, with Rabbi Matondo, Kieran Dowell and Danilo all sidelined. They will be hoping that McCausland's recovery is swift, and that he can still play a meaningful part in the Scottish Premiership run-in and help Rangers lift another title.