Stokes has encouraged his players to be “smarter” in their decision-making and to get better at “soaking up pressure”

Matt Roller19-Jun-20253:16

Does England’s inexperienced bowling even the scales?

Ben Stokes had a simple message for his England team at Headingley: “It’s about winning.” Speaking ahead of Friday’s first Test against India, Stokes called on his players to show that they are capable of “adapting better” under pressure and prove that they have substance to underpin their attacking style during this series, as he looks to take England “to the next level”.England have won 23 and lost 12 Tests since Stokes took over from Joe Root as captain and now face a defining seven months, with five-match series against India and Australia. They have become the fastest-scoring team in the world and pulled off some historic victories, but Stokes wants his team to be more resilient when they are behind the game.”We have a team identity about how we want to go out there and play the game,” Stokes told the BBC. “We’ve had time to talk as a group, identify areas where we know that we are incredibly strong, but also identify areas that we think we need to get better at. One of those areas was adapting better when we’re up against the wall.Related

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“We know that when we are on top of teams, we are very, very good, and where we maybe have let ourselves down in the past over the last three years is when we have been behind the game, we’ve not given ourselves the best chance of wresting ourselves back into the game, and that’s an area that we have looked at and know that we need to get better at if we want to end up being where we want to end up being as a team.”We still want to be known as a team who play an exciting style of cricket,” Stokes added. “[It’s] not that we never wanted to win every game that we played, but it’s changing what we say and how we say it. We want to be playing exciting games of cricket because we know that’s what brings the best out of individuals and us as a team. But it’s about winning.”England’s recent Test losses have often been thrashings, epitomised by a 423-run reverse in Hamilton at the end of last year, and defeats by 434 runs and an innings and 64 runs during their most recent series against India, 18 months ago. As a result, Stokes has encouraged his players to be “smarter” in their decision-making and to get better at “soaking up pressure”.”It’s just being smarter in those situations when it’s obvious that the opposition is on top of us,” he said. “We just felt like, as a team, that the area of improvement… is actually soaking up that pressure, and allowing ourselves a better opportunity to then apply the pressure back onto [the opposition] in the way that we know we can.”When we have lost, we probably look back on those moments [and think], ‘Could we have been a lot better at slowing everything down, and understanding where we are in the position of the game to then allow us to play in that natural way that we like to go about things?’ Having those reflective moments and honest conversations within the group is what can take teams to the next level.”Ben Stokes – “[It’s] not that we never wanted to win every game that we played, but it’s changing what we say and how we say it”•Getty ImagesStokes batted away any questions about the forthcoming Ashes series, insisting his team are focused only on India. He separately hinted at his desire to turn England into a great team. “We have been good over the last three years. I think results show that,” he told talkSPORT. “But we want to be better than good.”He is also expecting a stern challenge from India despite the recent retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin. “The pool of talent that Indian cricket has is just ginormous,” Stokes said. “[They are] three massive names, three people who have done wonderful things for their country, but it’s not going to be any easier for us because those three big names aren’t here.”England announced their team on Wednesday, with Ollie Pope beating Jacob Bethell to the No. 3 spot in their main selection decision. “Having him at No. 3 since I’ve been captain, over a three-year period, averaging over 40, it speaks for itself,” Stokes said. “Scoring 170 in his last Test match [against Zimbabwe] has shown how well he’s handled that extra scrutiny.”Bethell is set to play for Warwickshire against Somerset in the County Championship from Sunday, while Jofra Archer – who has not played a Test match since early 2021 – will also make his red-ball comeback for Sussex at Durham. Stokes said that the prospect of unleashing Archer against India was a “very, very exciting” one.”Jof’s tracking really, really well to be available,” he said. “I know he’s been absolutely desperate to play Test cricket again for England… Seeing him back out playing and being in a situation now where he’s building back up to be in contention for selection for the Test team again is very, very exciting.”

Bethell and Pope are in direct competition for the spot in England’s first Test against India

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2025

Ollie Pope scored 171 in England’s most recent Test•Getty Images

Rob Key, has insisted that England’s looming selection call between Jacob Bethell and Ollie Pope will not define either player’s career ahead of Friday’s first Test against India in Leeds.Bethell and Pope are in direct competition, with one of the pair set to walk out as England’s No. 3 at Headingley and the other likely to miss out on selection altogether. Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket, has framed the call as a decision as to “which really good player” they should pick, and said: “It’s a good position to be in.”Pope batted at No. 3 in England’s most recent Test against Zimbabwe and scored 171 to extend his strong record in the role, where he averages 43.06. But Bethell, 21, scored three half-centuries in the same position during December’s tour to New Zealand when Pope kept wicket and batted down the order, and is English cricket’s coming man.Related

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“I don’t see it as a problem, really,” Key told the ‘s cricket podcast. “You win either way, really. You’ve got two brilliant players that can do that role. Ollie Pope’s been fantastic in that tough spot; he played brilliantly in New Zealand… alright, he was in a different role, but we’ve got two brilliant options in those spots.”A tough decision is when you’ve got no options, and you’ve got to just then try and find something from nowhere. That’s when I’m sort of scratching my head. This one is: ‘Which really good player are we going to pick?’ It’s a good position to be in.”Bethell missed England’s win over Zimbabwe because he was playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL. Michael Atherton has been a prominent critic of the decision to allow him to stay in India rather than returning for that Test, but Key said that he had no regrets.”I don’t think [that] the careers of Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell are defined by what happens this week, or whether he came back to play the Zimbabwe Test. He may not have played that Test match,” Key said. “Watching his development has been extraordinary, and him going out there and playing in the IPL, I think was brilliant for him. We’ll get the return on that in the future.”Key also suggested that Mark Wood, who is sidelined with a knee injury, retains an outside chance of being fit for the end of the five-match series. “He potentially could be ready for the back end,” he said. “You may see him by the end of the series, but certainly then when you fast-forward to the Ashes, he should be fine for that.”

غادر نجم فريق باريس سان جيرمان، أشرف حكيمي، ملعب المباراة الجارية حاليًا ضد فريق بايرن ميونخ، في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويستضيف ملعب “حديقة الأمراء” مباراة فريقي باريس سان جيرمان وبايرن ميونخ، في خضم منافسات الجولة الرابعة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، موسم 2025/26.

وشهدت اللحظات الأخيرة من عمر الشوط الأول، الوقت المحتسب بدلًا من الضائع، تعرض المغربي أشرف حكيمي لإصابة خطيرة بعد تدخل عنيف من لاعب بايرن ميونخ، لويس دياز.

وشوهد لويس دياز وهو يتدخل بقوة على ساق أشرف حكيمي، مما جعل الأخير يغادر الملعب وهو يبكي من قوة الإصابة، فيما تحصل الكولومبي على بطاقة حمراء، بعد تدخل تقنية الفيديو.

وكتب يويفا عبر موقعه الرسمي: “استخدم لاعب بايرن ميونخ رقم 14 القوة المفرطة، ما أدى إلى تدخل عنيف على ساق المنافس، مما عرض سلامة المنافس للخطر بشكل واضح”.

وساعد الطاقم الطبي، أشرف حكيمي، على النهوض وخروجه من الملعب، حيث بدا عاجزًا عن وضع ثقله على قدمه.

وتُعد تلك الضربة هي الثانية لـ باريس سان جيرمان حيث اضطر عثمان ديمبلي إلى مغادرة الملعب، في الدقيقة 25، بسبب الإصابة.

وتشير النتيجة في الوقت الحالي إلى تقدم بايرن ميونخ بهدفين دون رد، حيث سجلهما لويس دياز في الشوط الأول.

وذكرت صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية أنه بينما ينتظر باريس سان جيرمان التقرير الطبي الرسمي، فإن كل الدلائل تشير إلى أن الظهير المغربي تعرض لإصابة بالغة الخطورة، مع اقتراب كأس أمم إفريقيا في ديسمبر المقبل في موطنه. إصابة إشرف حكيمي وطرد لويس دياز في مباراة باريس سان جيرمان وبايرن ميونخ

Danny Murphy has revealed why he thinks Leeds United “will” get relegated, despite the victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, and named Daniel Farke’s “biggest problem”.

Leeds four clear of the drop after impressive start

Undoubtedly, Leeds’ number one goal this season will be to avoid relegation from the Premier League, and they have certainly made an impressive start to the season, collecting seven points from their opening five games.

Consequently, the Whites are now four points clear of the drop at this early stage of the season, after picking up what could be a vital result come May, defeating a struggling Wolves side 3-1 at Molineux.

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The Peacocks’ summer signings were responsible for turning the game on its head, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelling out Ladislav Krejci’s opening goal, before Anton Stach and Noah Okafor got in on the act to secure all three points.

Although Farke’s side have made a solid start to the campaign, Murphy has since claimed he still believes they will get relegated, saying: “I still think Leeds and Burnley will go.

“I think the biggest problem for Burnley and Leeds is firepower. I agree with what we talked about earlier. I think all the newly promoted sides doing well is great for the Premier League.

“I’d like to see them all stay up, actually. But I don’t think it’ll be the case. Burnley struggled in front of goal. Leeds had only scored one, and that was a penalty, until Wolves kept giving them goals the other day. I like Leeds. Calvert-Lewin is a handful; that’s a great goal he got.”

Leeds' summer signings could lead them to safety

After making a poor start to life at Leeds, missing four big chances in the EFL Cup defeat against Sheffield Wednesday, Calvert-Lewin got off the mark against Wolves, and the 28-year-old’s top-flight experience could be key to their survival.

The former Everton man is vastly experienced in the Premier League, scoring 58 goals in the competition, and BBC Leeds’ Adam Pope was left very impressed with his all-round performance against Wolves, saying: “His attitude and confidence said ‘even if I don’t score, I’ll be fine’. His performance was fantastic from everywhere and having players like that in your team who know the Premier League makes such a difference.

“It’s not just the fact he scored, it was his overall play. His hang-time, winning headers, winning free-kicks.”

The Englishman is not the only new signing that has caught the eye in the early stages of the season either, with Stach receiving an 8.4 SofaScore rating against Wolves, the highest figure of any player.

It is understandable that Murphy thinks the Whites will go down, given that none of the promoted teams have managed to stay up across the past two seasons, but Farke has clearly recruited well in the summer transfer window, and Leeds have a fighting chance.

Alex Carey’s previous day of Test cricket at Lord’s was interesting. So was this one against South Africa.Missing a reverse sweep against Keshav Maharaj, and then spilling a regulation edge offered by Wiaan Mulder meant he was in the spotlight. However, Australia’s strong finish, which left them ahead of the game despite being restricted to 212, has perhaps lessened the significance of the two moments.The reverse sweep has been a regular theme of Carey’s career. A few years ago, his wife, Eloise, made clear her thoughts on it. “My wife is the harshest critic of the reverse. She says, ‘don’t play the bloody reverse sweep, not again’,” Carey joked in 2022 when it was a focal point of a tour of Sri Lanka. “But I just politely tell her, ‘you haven’t played the game; yes, you’re going to get out to reverse sweeps and sweeps… but it can also produce some success as well’.”Related

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His decision to play it when he did on the opening day at Lord’s will come under scrutiny. He used it to excellent effect in Sri Lanka earlier this year, but conditions at Lord’s were certainly not Galle. From 192 for 5, and the prospect of reaching 300 if he and Beau Webster could continue under clearing skies, suddenly turned into a lower-order collapse of 5 for 20 from 34 balls.But there was a gap in the field and, as for so many modern players, Carey sees it as just another of his shots. It went wrong, but it’s unlikely to stop him doing it again if he feels the moment is right.Carey’s numbers with the reverse sweep illustrate the risk-reward factor. In Test cricket, he has scored at more than a-run-a-ball with it (129 runs from 113 balls) and been dismissed on six occasions.Alex Carey loses his stumps to Keshav Maharaj attempting a reverse sweep•AFP/Getty Images

Since ending a period of limited returns with a series-winning, unbeaten 98 in New Zealand last year, Carey has been on a wonderful run across formats, so there is plenty of credit in the bank. He has also been outstanding behind the stumps, which made his dropped catch perhaps the more surprising mis-step.In the fifth over of South Africa’s innings, Mulder edged a drive against Mitchell Starc, Carey only had to move fractionally to his right but the ball burst through his gloves. Starc had started celebrating in anticipation of the wicket but had to hastily abort.”I think it was just one of those ones that swung a little bit on him, which can happen with the Dukes ball,” Steven Smith said. “You quite often see the ball go past the bat and swing late. It was one of those ones that just swung a little bit on him and got himself in a bit of an awkward position with where it got to his chest.Alex Carey started at a high tempo•ICC/Getty Images

“It’s a tricky place to catch behind the wicket sometimes when the ball does that. He’s been keeping so well the last two years. We’re all allowed to drop one every now and again.”Meanwhile, Smith did not expect batting to become too much easier as the game progresses after the opening day produced 14 wickets, nine of which came in the last session.”It might take a bit more spin as the game wears on,” he said. “It’s pretty dry. The seam might go down as the game goes on as well, potentially. I think the bounce is going to be variable throughout the game, as we’ve seen already on day one.”I think we’re in a good spot, we probably had a few missed opportunities with the bat to try and get a bigger total but I think the wicket’s offered something all day as we’ve seen and we’re in a pretty good position, 169 in front when they’re four down. Hopefully it does a little bit in the morning like it did today.”

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.

Xhaka – 25/26 PL stats
Stat – per 90 mins*	Xhaka
Games played	5
Goals scored	0
Assists	2
Touches*	73.2
Accurate passes*	48.8 (83%)
Key passes*	1.4
Ball recoveries*	4.2
Total duels won*	6.8
Stats by Sofascore

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.

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A blow for the Black Cats…

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It was a night of mixed emotions for Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who saw his side end their four-match losing streak courtesy of a dominant 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, but there was a massive blow in the first-half as Jeremie Frimpong pulled up and had to be substituted. And there was further bad news as it was revealed after the match that record signing Alexander Isak had to come off at half-time due to feeling pain in his groin.

Liverpool end woeful run in style

Slot will have allowed himself a massive sigh of relief after watching his team dismantle Eintracht Frankfurt in thrilling style. The Anfield side recovered from going a goal down to secure a crucial away win at Deutsche Bank Park after Frankfurt took a surprise lead on 26 minutes when former Leeds defender Rasmus Kristensen scored, benefiting from a deflected strike. However, the visitors quickly responded, with Hugo Ekitike levelling against his former club just nine minutes later with a composed finish and the Reds seized control with two quick-fire headers from corners by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to go into the break with a 3-1 lead. Slot’s side continued to dominate in the second half and Florian Wirtz, who was pivotal throughout, provided two assists. He set up Cody Gakpo for the fourth goal on 66 minutes, before Dominik Szoboszlai capped off the impressive performance with a long-range strike shortly afterwards. The win will be a huge confidence boost for the squad after their recent slump in form.

AdvertisementAFPInjuries pile up for Reds boss Slot

Liverpool are managing several significant senior player injuries, including goalkeeper Alisson, who is sidelined with a hamstring issue and expected back around early November. Recent knocks have also affected other key players, including midfielder Ryan Gravenberch who sustained an ankle injury during the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United at the weekend, ruling him out of the clash in Germany. And now new summer signings Isak and Frimpong have added to the Reds' mounting headaches.

Frimpong suffers early injury blow in Frankfurt

Netherlands international Frimpong was substituted with a hamstring injury just 19 minutes into the Reds' Champions League clash at Deutsche Bank Park. The 24-year-old was replaced by Conor Bradley after he pulled up during a sprint down the right side. Frimpong initially attempted to continue playing before signalling to come off. The injury is a frustrating setback for the Dutchman, who has already experienced a stop-start season with a previous hamstring issue and Slot expects him to be "out for a few weeks". And there were even more concerns after big-money summer signing Isak had to be subbed off at the break.

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Slot told after the game: "Unfortunately he (Isak) didn’t score yet, but he had to go off at half-time because he felt his groin a little bit. So that’s a pity, but I’ve said it many times, it’s such a difficult balance to find with a player that missed out three months. You bring him slowly, you bring him slowly and people sometimes arguing that that you can not play him more, not longer. And now we’ve played him for the second time in three days and unfortunately he’s had to go off, so we hope for the best. But it’s not an easy balance to find when a player’s been out for so long."

There’s no respite in Liverpool's upcoming schedule, which includes a Premier League away game at Brentford on October 25, followed by a Carabao Cup tie against Crystal Palace. November brings a league fixture against Aston Villa, a Champions League clash with Real Madrid, and a trip to face Manchester City.

Aston Villa will look to conduct some smart business in January as they bid to rise up the Premier League table and could now turn to an exciting attacker who is making waves in South America.

Aston Villa embroiled in Maccabi Tel Aviv fan controversy

The Villans have been in the headlines over the last few days through no fault of their own, amid controversy surrounding West Midlands Police’s refusal to let Maccabi Tel Aviv fans attend Villa Park, alongside advice on the same lines from multi-agency forum The Safety Advisory Group.

High-profile figures such as Keir Starmer have called for the decision to be revoked before the Europa League clash, which has come as a surprise, given Prime Ministers don’t usually interfere with decisions made by senior authorities relating to football match attendance.

Whether the away fan ban gets overturned or not remains to be seen. Ultimately, Aston Villa are merely stuck in the middle of an unfortunate situation and won’t necessarily have the deciding say on this matter, albeit it has become global news.

Back to footballing matters, John McGinn is close to signing a new deal in the West Midlands, while they could also make an approach for Galatasaray star Wilfried Singo in January.

Unai Emery has managed to recover his side from an uninspiring start to the campaign, and there is a feeling they will kick on over the next few weeks, albeit he will be the first to admit his squad needs serious surgery in 2026.

With that in mind, the Villans have now made an approach to sign one of South America’s most exciting talents, who is garnering worldwide attention.

Aston Villa make Rayan enquiry

According to NTVASCAINOS, Aston Villa have made an enquiry to sign Vasco da Gama attacker Rayan, who has also shot onto the radar of Tottenham and Newcastle due to his goalscoring exploits in South America.

Villa are said to have contacted members of Vasco’s coaching staff about his prospects of a Brazil call-up from Carlo Ancelotti too, so it is clear just how highly they rate Rayan.

Predominantly used as a right-winger, the Brazil Under-20 international has registered 15 strikes and an assist in 45 appearances across all competitions this term, though he is also capable of featuring on the left flank or as a central striker.

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Likely to be a long-term investment, Rayan is set to be out of contract in his homeland at the end of December 2026, potentially offering the Villans a route to land him for an affordable fee over the next few months.

Reported to be keen on a Premier League move, the 19-year-old appears to have no shortage of interest in his services, and it will be intriguing to see if Emery can tempt him to pitch up at Villa Park.

Rayan is a highly-sought after talent, and recently became the youngest Vasco player to reach 10 Brazilian top flight goals since Dinamite in 1973, breaking a 52-year record in the process.

His manager, Fernando Diniz, said the teenager has “enormous game-changing ability” and players of his attacking prowess are “very rare”.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be overjoyed by how his side reacted to their first defeat of the season away to Liverpool, with the Gunners going unbeaten in their last seven games since then and topping the Premier League table.

By contrast, Liverpool have got a taste of their own medicine in the last fortnight after previously winning games in dramatic late fashion — losing their last two successive top flight matches against Crystal Palace and Chelsea in the final minutes.

Arsenal have now leapfrogged the Reds into pole position, with Arteta just reigning victorious in his 300th game in charge of the club against West Ham.

Saka also reached two impressive milestones against the Hammers, marking his 200th Premier League appearance by reaching a century of goal involvements in the competition.

Bukayo Saka’s career at Arsenal so far in all competitions

Stats

Appearances

270

Goals

73

Assists

71

Bookings

31

Red cards

0

Minutes played

20,448

Sporting director Andrea Berta, after sealing new contracts for star defender William Saliba and goalkeeper David Raya recently, is in talks with Saka’s camp to extend the winger’s terms beyond 2027.

The 24-year-old could get a salary increase to north of £250,000-per-week and the North Londoners are optimistic they can agree a deal by Christmas (Football Transfers), with defender Jurrien Timber also poised to be handed a new deal after his excellent form.

With a host of players looking likely to commit their futures to Arsenal for the foreseeable, the same cannot be said of summer signing Christian Norgaard, who has already decided his next club and revealed when he’s going to leave.

Christian Norgaard reveals Arsenal exit timeline with next club decided

Speaking to Bold, Norgaard says that Arsenal will definitely be his last club abroad, and he wants a return to Brondby once his contract expires in 2027 or 2028.

The 31-year-old former Brentford captain was brought in as an experienced utility player and a replacement for Thomas Partey, missing Arsenal’s first four league games of the season with a knock, and is yet to play a single top flight minute for his new club.

Norgaard started the Carabao Cup third round win away to Port Vale last month, playing one minute in the Champions League against Athletic Bilbao, but this is the summary of his game time under Arteta so far.

The Denmark international would’ve been made aware of his bit-part role before he signed from Brentford, and going by this message, he doesn’t appear to have any issue with his squad-player status.

Tottenham Hotspur defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha scored his third goal for the club in their 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Saturday night.

The Portugal international rescued a point for his team with a cultured finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a lay-off from Pape Matar Sarr, and it is safe to say that he enjoyed it.

Palhinha raced away to the corner, shirt ripped off, to celebrate with the Spurs fans, although some may argue that he should have taken the ball back to the halfway line to push for a winner in the final seconds.

The Portuguese ace has been a strong addition to the squad since his loan move from Bayern Munich in the summer, averaging 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League, per Sofascore.

Palhinha, who has won 65% of his duels in the top-flight this season, is a defensive enforcer at the base of the midfield, but he has added goals to his game in recent weeks.

Whilst he will hope to continue his fine form and go on to be remembered as a great midfielder for the club, he will never be the silky and elegant operator that Luka Modric was in the middle of the park.

Where Luka Modric ranks among Tottenham's all-time midfielders

Tottenham have had some terrific talents in midfield throughout their history. From the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Glen Hoddle to Christian Eriksen and Moussa Dembele.

In terms of what they achieved in their careers as a whole, Modric may well have the right to be called the best central midfielder to ever play for the club, even if his best performances came after he left North London.

The main reason for that is that he is the only central midfielder in the club’s history, whilst at Spurs or not, to have won the Ballon d’Or. In 2018, the Croatia international was crowned the best player in the world, six years after switching London for Madrid.

As you can see in the post above, the midfield maestro saw off competition from Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the award that year.

Modric is also the most decorated player in the history of Real Madrid, having won 28 trophies in 13 seasons before his move to AC Milan this summer.

It is not just his accomplishments for Real Madrid and Croatia that make him arguably the best midfielder in Tottenham history, though, as he also delivered 17 goals and 24 assists in 160 matches during his time in England, per Transfermarkt.

Modric was a wizard in the middle of the park for Spurs. He glided across the pitch and used his energy and quality to unpick defences and provide moments of magic for fans to enjoy.

Palhinha is not that kind of midfielder. He is more of a destroyer at the base of the midfield. However, Thomas Frank does have another star who could be the club’s next Modric in the making.

Chalkboard

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

Before his exit from North London, former chairman Daniel Levy sanctioned the signing of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for a fee of £51m. The early signs are that they may have found their next Modric.

Why Xavi Simons could be the next Luka Modric for Spurs

Unlike Palhinha, the Netherlands international is a silky and technical midfielder who is a joy to watch when he is at his best. Supporters have already had plenty of glimpses of that early on in his Spurs career, even if he has yet to score a goal.

When an attacking midfielder arrives for £51m with the reputation that Simons had, it is understandable for fans to expect goals and assists instantly. Particularly given that he produced 21 goals and 21 assists in two seasons with RB Leipzig, per Sofascore.

However, the 22-year-old star is finding his way into English football and within Thomas Frank’s system, which means that it is going to take time for him to show the very best of his ability.

Most of Simons’ outings in a Spurs shirt to date have come on the left flank, but it could be in a central midfield role where Frank is able to get the best out of him.

The Dutchman keeps wanting to drift inside to take the ball in central positions so that he can drive at the defence and make things tick in midfield, but then Destiny Udogie is left as the only player holding the width on the left.

His statistics in a left wing position also suggest that he would far better in the middle of the park, as he ranks highly among his positional peers in a host of statistics that you would expect a central-based player to excel in.

xG

0.14

Top 48%

xA

0.19

Top 25%

Assists

0.51

Top 11%

Chances created

2.02

Top 7%

Accurate long passes

3.54

Top 3%

Long pass accuracy

77.8%

Top 13%

Successful dribbles

1.52

Top 30%

Successful passes

33.37

Top 20%

As you can see in the table above, Simons has impressive output as a creative player and as a passer, whilst getting into goalscoring positions and dribbling past players are not two of his standout attributes.

This suggests that playing the Dutchman in the midfield three, possibly on the left, with a natural winger on the left for him to link up with could get the best out of the summer signing.

Simons was described as “tactically flexible” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, and Frank should make use of that flexibility by attempting to mould him into his own version of Modric.

The former Paris Saint-Germain starlet has the technical quality, elegance, creativity, and passing qualities to emulate the Croatian in North London, as another central midfielder who could be a joy to watch for supporters.

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He may not go on to win the Ballon d’Or, although you never know, but Simons has the potential to be a truly exciting player for Tottenham in the middle of the park, rather than out on the wing.