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Former England, Yorkshire and Warwickshire allrounder ends 20-year playing career

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jan-2022Tim Bresnan, the former England allrounder who played a pivotal role in the Ashes triumph in Australia in 2010-11, has retired from professional cricket.Bresnan, 36, announced the decision through his club, Warwickshire, on Monday, ending a 20-year playing career after he helped them secure an eighth County Championship title in 2021.”This has been an incredibly tough decision, but after returning to winter training I feel that this is the right time,” Bresnan said. “I have continued to work hard throughout the off-season to prepare for my 21st professional year, but deep down I feel I can’t reach the high standards that I set myself and my teammates.”The hunger and enthusiasm that I have for the game I love will never leave me, but whilst my head is willing to tackle the 2022 season, my body is not.”Bresnan, part of the England side that won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11 and on home soil in 2013, represented his country on 142 occasions, including 23 Tests. Having made his Test debut against West Indies at Lord’s in 2009, Bresnan was called into England’s Ashes side for the Boxing Day Test in 2010 as a replacement for Steven Finn and ended up playing a crucial role, helping to bowl Australia out for 98 in the first innings and taking 4 for 50 in the second as England sealed their defence of the Urn.With his broad-shouldered bowling style, allied to a composed batting technique that grew in stature particularly on the county circuit in his later years, Bresnan was an under-rated but crucial component of the England team that rose, in the summer of 2011, to become the No.1 Test side in the world. From making his debut against West Indies at Lord’s in 2009, through to the opening match against the same opponents, at Trent Bridge in 2012, he featured in 13 consecutive England wins, and was also in the England team which won the World Twenty20 in 2010.During his first-class career, Bresnan amassed 7,138 runs and 575 wickets with seven centuries and nine five-wicket hauls.”I will always look back at my career with immense pride and it’s been an absolute honour to represent Warwickshire, my home county and country,” Bresnan said. “Growing up I never would have believed how lucky I was to play with and against some of the finest cricketers to grace the game… the opportunity to wear the Three Lions is something that should never be taken for granted and I’m proud to have played a very small part in our country’s storied history.”I’m excited for my next chapter and am determined to throw everything into it, like I did on the cricket field for so many years.”Bresnan joined Warwickshire from Yorkshire in June 2020, initially on loan before signing a two-year deal intended to take him through to the end of the 2022 season. He had played for Yorkshire from 2001 to 2019, helping them to County Championship titles in 2014 and 2015.Bresnan was implicated in the investigation into institutional racism at Yorkshire when Azeem Rafiq named him in testimony to November’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee hearing into his accusations of racism and bullying at the club. Bresnan denied making racist comments but apologised “for any part I played in contributing to Azeem Rafiq’s experience of feeling bullied at Yorkshire”. Warwickshire subsequently said that Bresnan would join its players, coaches and management in cultural awareness and appreciation training.Paul Farbrace, Warwickshire’s director of cricket, praised Bresnan for making the difficult decision to retire well before the start of the new season.”Tim has had an astounding career,” Farbrace said. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with him throughout his cricketing journey and he has been a marvellous servant to the game. When Tim joined Warwickshire, I believed he could make a huge impact to our side with his experience, knowledge and attitude, and as a County Champion he has certainly achieved that.”His performances for the club have been exemplary… during his international career, Tim rose to the occasion when his country needed him and his achievements on the biggest stage show how talented and driven, he is.”

Celtic are flying this season. Not only are the Hoops undefeated at the top of the Scottish Premiership, but they are also, aside from a thumping at the hands of Borussia Dortmund, doing well in the Champions League.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have won two of their four games so far, most notably beating German outfit RB Leipzig, and currently sit 15th in the new-look league phase table, ahead of the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and AC Milan.

As a result of their good form, Premier League teams are now understood to be tracking a number of Celtic’s biggest stars, most notably forward Nicolas Kuhn.

The German wing has been the Hoops’ standout player this season, providing 10 goals and 11 assists from the right-wing. According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, he’s now been the subject of inquiries from multiple teams from England’s top flight.

Celtic want young duo

According to a report from reliable reporter Alan Nixon of The Sun, Celtic are keen on Airdrie midfielders Cole and Dylan Williams.

The 16-year-old twins, described as sensations, who were on the books at Celtic Park as youngsters, have played for Airdrie’s U18s and have appeared on the bench for the first-team on three occasions this season, but are yet to make senior debuts for the Scottish Championship side.

Nixon claims that Premier League clubs West Ham United and Southampton are also interested in the duo, and currently have the edge in the race to sign them. The two clubs have had people watching the Williams twins in recent weeks, though it’s unlikely that either player would be a major part of the squad were they to join.

Amid the interest in them, Cole and Dylan are free to quit the Diamonds as they are on short-term agreements and it looks as if Celtic are ones to watch in a potential transfer race.

Everton and Crystal Palace are also interested

A separate report from Football Insider earlier this month claimed that both Crystal Palace and Everton are also eyeing moves for the Williams twins.

The publication reported that both clubs want the young midfielders to join their academy setups, which have been responsible for producing a number of Premier League stars in recent years.

Anthony Gordon, Lewis Dobbin, and Ellis Simms are among the most high-profile graduates at Goodison Park. Meanwhile, Tyrick Mitchell, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi all came through the ranks at Selhurst Park.

Football Insider reported that Airdrie are desperate to keep hold of both the Williams brothers, and want to tie them down to professional contracts to avoid losing them for free.

North Lanarkshire outfit Airdrie finished fourth last term in the Scottish Championship, but are currently bottom this term having lost 11 of their 14 games so far. Despite their poor start, however, manager Rhys McCabe believes it won’t be long until his side return to form.

“We’re not a million miles away,” McCabe said following his side’s 2-0 defeat to Bairns at the weekend. “Anybody can see that we have got 10 injuries at the moment.”

“It has been frustrating because you are not having the full squad to pick from every week, but there’s no excuses,” he added.

The greatest player of all time was never happy at the Parc des Princes – and the fans were never happy with him

Lionel Messi turned 38 on Tuesday. Paris Saint-Germain's X account wished him a happy birthday and then playfully added, "See you Sunday".

Some supporters weren't a bit impressed – because they do not have fond memories of Messi's time at the Parc des Princes. And nor does the Argentine, in fairness. He's made that painfully clear over the past couple of years.

In that sense, this weekend's Club World Cup clash between PSG and Messi's Inter Miami is being billed as something of a grudge match.

As the courteous and rather light-hearted social media post illustrated, though, it's more akin to a cordial reunion between former partners who came to realise that they never should have got together in the first place – and are now far better off without one another.

Getty Images SportThe tearful break-up with Barcelona

Messi never wanted to leave Barcelona. It was more than a second home to him. He had spent more of his life living in the Catalan capital than his native Rosario and started a family there. The goal had been to finish his career at the only club he had ever known as a professional.

But both Messi and Barca were betrayed by former president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who left the Blaugrana on the verge of bankruptcy with his reckless spending, leaving his successor, Joan Laporta, to try to pick up the pieces with his lever-pulling and legal loopholes.

However, the latter quickly realised that Barca simply could not afford to renew Messi's colossal contract, making a parting of the ways inevitable – contrary to what was being said in public at the time.

The departure devastated Messi. This wasn't like Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool. The tears the Argentine shed at his farewell press conference were very real, the emotions heartfelt. Even Luis Suarez, who had gone through his own bitter break-up with Barca, was taken aback.

"I had never seen Leo cry like that at Barcelona," the Uruguayan admitted. "He suffered a lot. It really hurt him."

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Given the traumatic nature of his exit, Messi should have taken some time to reflect on his next move before rushing into anything. As he's said himself, there were other offers on the table. Less than two days after his breakdown in Barcelona, though, he was announced as a PSG player.

"We came to an agreement with PSG quite quickly," he told in October 2021. "I was obviously won over by the project, the players it has, the quality of the group… all these elements made it easier to find an agreement.

"Knowing that I had friends in the locker room allowed me to tell myself that things were going to be simple for me to adjust.

"And I was not wrong, because it was very easy to integrate myself, especially because there are many players who speak Spanish like me."

However, while Neymar's presence at the Parc des Princes was a plus, Messi's spell in Paris was almost overwhelmingly negative.

"I had two years where I was so unhappy on a personal level that I didn't enjoy it," he admitted to . "I had that month (in 2022) that was spectacular for me because of winning the World Cup, but apart from that, it was a difficult period for me."

AFPThink of the children

Arriving without a proper pre-season because of Argentina's 2021 Copa America campaign certainly didn't help Messi hit the ground running in Paris. Nor did a mid-season bout of Covid-19.

But the main reason Messi struggled off the field during that first year at PSG was that he was struggling off it.

His problems may have been very much of the first-world variety – Messi was particularly irritated by the traffic congestion in Paris – but it took longer than he or his partner, Antonella Roccuzzo, expected to find a house, which resulted in the family spending six weeks staying in a hotel.

"The children couldn't take it any longer," the forward lamented in .

However, PSG fans rightly expected more from Messi, and not just in terms of goals (he only managed 11 in all competitions in 2021-22 – his lowest tally for 16 years).

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AFPThe 'fractured' relationship with the fans

Parisians were acutely aware that Messi had a deep bond with Barcelona. But they rather understandably presumed that he would at least attempt to establish some sort of rapport with PSG and its supporters.

Messi has since insisted that he still has no idea why his relationship with the fans "fractured", but he did very little to suggest that he ever had any genuine affection for them.

For example, only once during his entire stay did he go to acknowledge the fans after a game – and even on that occasion, he only did so at Neymar's behest.

Consequently, an underperforming Messi almost inevitably became a target of the boo boys – particularly as he demonstrated in the most scintillating fashion possible at the 2022 World Cup that he was still the most gifted player on the planet.

Inevitably, PSG's frustrated, fervent fans wanted to know where that version of Messi had been while they were suffering yet another embarrassing Champions League capitulation at the hands of Real Madrid eight months previously.

Nagaland are staring up the barrel already, having conceded over 400 runs on the first day

Himanshu Agrawal12-Mar-2022Quick centuries from middle-order batters Kumar Kushagra and Virat Singh helped Jharkhand score 402 for the loss of five wickets on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy pre-quarter-final against Nagaland at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.The two added 175 for the fifth wicket in less than 36 overs, both finding the boundary almost at will – 17-year-old Kushagra hit 16 fours and a six, and Virat hit 13 fours.While wicketkeeper-batter Kushagra got to his landmark off just 105 balls, Virat reached his second century of the season, after getting 103 in a tight win against Delhi, from 141 deliveries, as Nagaland lost the grip after four wickets halfway into the day. And despite left-arm spinner Imliwati Lemtur breaking the stand with the end of the day approaching, Kushagra, who ended unbeaten on 112, and No. 7 Anukul Roy took Jharkhand past 400 in only 87 overs of play.Both Kushagra and Virat, who fell for 107, rode their luck during the aggressive stand. With Virat on 78, his attempted loft over the covers in the 66th over landed just wide of a fielder’s outstretched hands. And two overs later, when Kushagra was on 44, he was dropped by the midwicket fielder, who only had to move slightly to his left to reach the ball. This, after he was also put down on 10.Earlier, all of Jharkhand’s top six got off to starts but Kumar Suraj’s 66 was the best effort. Like Kushagra and Virat after him, Suraj was positive at the crease, hitting 11 fours and a six in his innings of 91 balls. But the base was set by the openers Nazim Siddiqui and Utkarsh Singh, who started with 60 in the first 14 overs before right-arm quick Chopise Hopongkyu broke through.Nagaland tried seven bowlers on the day, five of whom got a wicket each, while as many conceded at least four runs an over to the opposition batters.

Leicester City are now prepared to shell out £2m to secure their next manager after parting ways with Steve Cooper, it has been reported, and he is keen to move to the King Power Stadium.

Leicester part ways with Steve Cooper

Leicester City announced that they had parted ways with Cooper 24 hours after their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in their most recent Premier League outing, with the news coming as a shock to plenty.

Though they had only won twice all season, the Foxes remained clear of the relegation zone and had faced tough fixtures that included games against Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea in their opening games.

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“Leicester City Football Club has parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as first-team manager with immediate effect”, an official statement read.

“Assistant manager Alan Tate and first-team coach and analyst Steve Rands have also left the club. Steve, Alan and Steve depart with our thanks for their contribution during their time with the club and with our best wishes for the future.

“Men’s first-team training will be overseen by first-team coach Ben Dawson, supported by coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, as the club begins the process of appointing a new manager, which we hope to conclude as soon as possible.”

There has since been plenty of speculation about who could come in to take the hot seat at the King Power Stadium, with Ruud Van Nistelrooy heavily linked with the vacancy, while the likes of David Moyes and Graham Potter have also been touted as possibilities. Now, though, a new option has emerged.

Leicester ready to pay £2m to secure top choice manager

That comes according to reports in Spain, which insist that the Foxes are continuing to keep close tabs on West Brom boss Carlos Corberan, and are now ready to trigger the £2m release clause in his contract at The Hawthorns.

Corberan has enjoyed a strong spell at West Brom, though he is currently going through something of a slump himself, with the Baggies having won just one of their last 11 outings and having drawn eight of those games.

Nonetheless, he has been labelled an “elite” coach by Football recruitment expert Petar Petrov on X, who claimed that “the job of an elite coach is to push his team to a level above what is expected of that group of players. That’s what Carlos Corberán is doing at West Brom and what he did previously at Huddersfield Town”.

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That would certainly be what he would have to do at Leicester too, with the current Foxes squad awash with Championship talent and few true superstars among their ranks.

As per Marca [via Sport Witness], Leicester City are ready to pay Corberan’s £2m release clause at West Brom, and they believe that he could be the man to steer them away from the drop zone.

Meanwhile, GiveMeSport add that “Corberan would be keen on the job, and he would even be willing to leave West Brom during the middle of the season if he was offered the job in the East Midlands”.

The Baggies boss is “seen as a strong, stylistic fit and Leicester believe that the Spaniard would be able to build upon Maresca’s system”, with the players having shown their desire to return to that sort of football already this season.

Will Corberan be the next man in the Leicester hot-seat?

Chelsea chiefs have set an eye-watering price tag for superstar forward Cole Palmer, as European champions Real Madrid signal their interest in tempting him with a move to the Bernabeu.

Cole Palmer praised after 4-3 Chelsea win over Tottenham

With 36 goals and 21 assists from just 62 appearances in all competitions since joining Chelsea from Man City in 2023, Palmer is shaping up to be one of the biggest bargains of the last few years considering he was snapped up for just £42.5 million.

Chelsea considering £180k-per-week Man City star in "massive" transfer

It would be a real statement of intent.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 10, 2024

The £130,000-per-week winger also made an impact for England at Euro 2024, consistently showing flashes of brilliance and intent when given the chance by ex-boss Gareth Southgate, and he scored a wonderful equaliser against Spain in the final.

Palmer is fast emerging as the Premier League’s next big superstar, with his heroics against Tottenham reinforcing his prowess as a player who is surely one of England’s biggest hopes for the next decade and beyond.

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The 22-year-old’s breakthrough season of 27 goals and 15 assists in all competitions last term was by no means a flash in the pan, with there being serious debate over whether Palmer is actually the biggest star in England right now.

“For us, for sure. But in the Premier League, there are top players, top talents. Cole belongs to those players,” said Maresca on whether Palmer is the Premier League’s best player.

“I had Cole with one year four years ago at Man City Under-23s, so I know Cole from then. The best thing about him, he was then in one way and now after two years, 20 goals, 25 goals last season, and considered one of the best – he is exactly the same guy.

“Loves football, humble, no strange things and this is the best thing for Cole. Today, young players, if they play one good game they already think… and then they lose the balance. Cole is always the same.”

Palmer helped to sweep Tottenham aside on Sunday as Chelsea ran out 4-3 winners in north London, with the forward dispatching two penalties and dinking a cheeky panenka beyond the hapless Fraser Forster.

Chelsea set eye-watering price tag for Cole Palmer

According to reports out of Spain, La Liga giants Real have even started to take note of his exploits, which is hardly surprising.

The Galacticos are believed to have set their sights on Palmer as a possible target, but club president Florentino Perez will run into quite a few major obstacles. Palmer signed a contract extension in August, which will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2033, so Chelsea have all the leeway in negotiations with any interested side.

It also allows Chelsea to demand an eye-watering £165 million for Palmer, which is their apparent asking price via a Spanish media source.

This figure reportedly makes the Three Lions star unattainable for Real, who could now put a compelte halt to making any move for him next year or in the near future.

“If it starts clicking well, it will definitely add a new dimension to my game”

PTI14-Apr-2022Kolkata Knight Riders’ mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy is banking on a new bowling variation to turn around what has been a subdued start to his IPL season.Varun was the leading wicket-taker for Knight Rider last season with 18 wickets from 17 matches, but has only four scalps from five games this season.”It is bound to happen, people will have plans against me. Last year in the Indian leg, I had six to seven wickets in seven matches. Later on, I picked up more wickets, so you cannot predict how many wickets you are going to get,” Chakravarthy said.”I am working on a new variation which I am looking forward to bowl more. If it starts clicking well it will definitely add a new dimension to my game.”Asked further about the new variation, he said, “I am working on a legspin (variation). I have been working for it in the last two years. I have bowled in few matches and I have got a wicket out of that also.”I need to be a little more confident (bowling the new variation) and start bowling it more.”Chakravarthy returned to competitive cricket in the IPL after featuring in the T20 World Cup last year, where he failed to pick a wicket before being sidelined due to a calf injury.”I was at the NCA for the treatment of my injury. Now it is resolved very well. I could take the field without any pain killer. So, I am feeling fitter and that has helped me to bowl a lot better.”Asked what kind of adjustments he used to make on wickets which favour batsmen, he said, “Stick to your basic plan, stick to your strength rather then focussing on the batters. So, to change the mental set-up.”Varun said he considers Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan as the best spinner currently in world cricket.”In cricket, you are bound to be hit. The best spinner right now is Rashid (Khan) and even he has gone for runs (in some matches) but he is still the best. It happens in a few matches, you will have a bad day and you just need to bounce back.”Varun also said that he shares a special relationship with fellow Knight Riders spinner Sunil Narine.”Sunil is like a big brother to me. If I go through a lean patch he will come to me and talk to me. He has also shared to me personal things of which he is vulnerable.”It is great of such a legend to talk to me about such things, to let me know he is vulnerable and he also goes though lean patches and tough times. So, talking to him gives you confidence and reinforces self belief.”Varun said that the current competition among Indian legspinners does not put any pressure on him as far as securing a national spot is concerned.”I see it as healthy competition. I messaged Yuzi (Chahal) also, the way he bowled, he is in amazing form right now, Ravi Bishnoi is bowling brilliantly, Kuldeep is doing very well for his team, Rahul Chahar is brilliant. I just feel nice when a legspinner does well.”

Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams are locks, Matt Turner needs to perform, and U.S. boss is challenged to put puzzle together

LOS ANGELES – The CONCACAF Nations League semifinals are Thursday night, and the U.S. men's national team has already had to chop and change its squad based on unexpected departures. And that doesn't even include the expected absences of Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest, all of whom would be no-doubt inclusions in a full-strength USMNT squad.

All of that is to say that Mauricio Pochettino has some problems to solve, decisions to make and puzzle pieces to assemble for the team's semifinal against Panama at SoFi Stadium.

Antonee Robinson is out. So, too, are Johnny Cardoso and Auston Trusty. All three could have played a part in this game, but were ruled out Tuesday with injury issues. In their place, Max Arfsten, Brian Gutiérrez and Jack McGlynn have been called in, dramatically altering the USMNT squad just days before the match.

So how does Pochettino respond? Does he stick with a 4-3-3, trusting some players who likely weren't his first-choice starters? Does he swap formations in response to the absences, notably Robinson? Can he both maximize the chances of winning on Thursday, but also prepare the USMNT for a potential final just a few days later?

GOAL projects the USMNT lineup for Thursday's match against Panama.

Getty Images SportGK: Matt Turner

Despite his lack of minutes on the club level, there's still little doubt that this is Matt Turner's spot. That's true until it isn't but, so far, we haven't really seen any indication that Pochettino is ready to hand off the No. 1 spot.

When he has played for the national team, Turner has largely been good. With his club situation, though, margins will be razor thin as he looks to hold onto his spot through this competition and beyond.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLWB: Tim Weah

With Robinson's absence, there are some significant issues at left-back, so it wouldn't be surprising to see Pochettino change systems to better fit the players he has.

Weah has been playing at right-wingback for Juventus, but Pochettino's staff determined in November that they see him as a left-sided player after an ocular test revealed that that was his dominant side. To get everyone into the team, slotting Weah in as the left-wingback makes sense, opening up other positions to get other USMNT stars into the XI.

Getty Images SportCB: Mark McKenzie

This is a tricky one. Tim Ream has the experience, but that may be something Pochettino calls on for the finale, should the U.S. get there. Cameron Carter-Vickers is a wild card, largely because we don't really know where Pochettino stands on him – this is the Celtic defender's first camp under the Argentinian coach.

That brings us to McKenzie, who has a strong argument to be in the XI. He's been solid at Toulouse, having acclimated well to the step up a level to Ligue 1. McKenzie and Chris Richards have played together just once, which could give Pochettino some pause, but this is as good a time as any to get them out there in a competitive game.

It's worth noting, too, that McKenzie has played almost exclusively in a three-centerback setup with Toulouse, particularly as the left-sided option. Another note: McKenzie started in a 2-0 win over this same Panama team in Pochettino's first game in charge last fall.

Getty ImagesCB: Chris Richards

For several years, Richards has been earmarked as a potential USMNT mainstay. He may finally be a level in which his name is one of the first on the USMNT team sheet.

The 24-year-old centerback is playing the best soccer of his career this season at Crystal Palace. Particularly over the last month or so, Richards and Palace have been among the best in the Premier League. He heads into camp in good form, which gives Pochettino plenty of reasons to be confident in him in these two massive games.

Leeds United, as they look to at least stay within touching distance of Sheffield United at the top of the Championship, have been dealt fresh injury news with another star man now a doubt to face Derby County.

Leeds injury news

After a tumultuous summer transfer window saw the likes of Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville depart, the last thing that Daniel Farke needed was consistent injury problems at Elland Road. But since the window has slammed shut, the former Norwich City boss has been handed headache after headache at times, losing Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev to leave his midfield incredibly short on options.

January move: Leeds target "prolific" £8.5m star to finally ditch Bamford

Daniel Farke will be looking to add more firepower to his Leeds United attack.

1 ByEthan Lamb Dec 6, 2024

It’s only as we enter December that Ampadu – a crucial member of this Leeds side – is working his way back to fitness. Farke confirmed the news, telling reporters as relayed by Leeds Live: “Ethan is back in full team training since this week and he looks good. He can handle the load.

“Normally when a player is out for such a long time, the first time the player is back in the squad after two or three weeks you would say he needs that two or three weeks of team training until he can come on.

“He’s ahead of schedule being back in team training and this is testament to his professional and good work. he was also desperate to come back as soon as possible. We still will be a bit careful, but for us and for me, he is not a normal player. He is our captain and the most important player in the whole squad and for that I am tempted to bring him in a little bit earlier instead of waiting two or three weeks.”

Just as Ampadu returns, however, the Whites have seemingly been dealt a further blow. According to BBC Sport’s Adam Pope, Junior Firpo is now a doubt to face Derby after a training ground injury and could miss this weekend’s game alongside Sam Byram, who is also unavailable.

"Leader" Firpo is enduring a frustrating spell

Dubbed a “leader” by Farke at the start of the season, Firpo is in the middle of a fairly frustrating spell after missing three games prior to his return in a shock defeat against Blackburn and now potentially sidelined once again ahead of the Derby game. An important player at Elland Road, the left-back will hope to finally get a run of games under his belt throughout the festive fixtures.

Just three points adrift of leaders Sheffield United and sitting third in the Championship, the coming weeks could quickly leave the Whites on course for automatic promotion if results go their way. Of course, after suffering playoff heartbreak at Wembley last season, Farke will undoubtedly be keen to avoid anything but an automatic place in the Premier League.

The return of his “leader” Firpo – should he miss Derby this weekend – will act as a welcomed boost, as will Ampadu’s surprise return ahead of schedule. As their injury problems finally ease, Leeds could set their sights on the top spot.

Hosts sweep Hampshire aside by an innings and 17 runs

Alan Gardner16-Apr-2022There are any number of vacancies to be filled at the top of English cricket right now – captain, coach, director of cricket, head of paperclips*. But with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Olly Stone all at various stages in recovering from injuries, a genuinely fast bowler hitting their straps during the opening weeks of the County Championship has every chance of vaulting into the mix for the Test team.If that fast bowler happens to be named Jamie Overton, now 28 but long tipped to play at international level, then the anticipation sharpens. His maiden five-wicket haul for Surrey since moving to London from the west country in 2020, followed up with three more in the second innings for career-best figures in an innings win, will have had the selectors scribbling in their notepads. Or would have, if there were currently any in post.Never mind, the word will get out. Overton cranked up the intensity and cracked open the game for Surrey on day three at the Kia Oval, Hampshire brusquely swept aside as if caught up in the bank holiday weekend rush. Having picked up two wickets on the second afternoon, as the visitors struggled in reply to Surrey’s 467, Overton returned to quell a minor uprising by the eighth-wicket pair of Keith Barker and James Fuller, then bombed out the tail with enough alacrity that Rory Burns was happy to enforce the follow-on despite being a bowler down.Each of Overton’s five first-innings wickets was a capsule RF bowler’s dismissal. The left-handed Nick Gubbins was drawn into edging one angled across him; Liam Dawson beaten by a peach of an outswinger that hit the top of off. And after a tranquil start to the third morning, Overton came bullocking back into the fray to end a partnership worth 90, and the innings in the space of four balls: Barker bounced out from round the wicket, Kyle Abbott fending another bumper to short leg, Fuller’s resistance ended by a yorker that crashed into middle and leg.Overton was left out of the XI in Surrey’s opening fixture at Edgbaston – a tactical decision, according to the head coach, Gareth Batty – but showed the benefit of some technical changes made over the winter. “I don’t like singling people out but I think we’ve all seen Jamie Overton do something pretty special there,” Batty said. “Particularly that first innings, the bowling was electric, and that’s some hard work that he’s done. It’s nice that first outing he gets the rewards in wickets.”With Kemar Roach missing from the attack due to a hamstring injury, Overton carried straight on into a spell with the new ball. James Taylor made the breakthrough, straightening one a fraction to find the outside edge of Ian Holland’s bat, Ollie Pope taking a brilliant diving catch at slip – but it was perhaps no coincidence that the lapse came after Holland had been struck a blow on the hand in the previous over from Overton.The game again settled down for a period, despite Hampshire losing Gubbins before lunch. Joe Weatherley had weathered the initial storm, surviving a top-edged swipe at Overton that cleared Ben Foakes running back, and seemed to be progressing steadily towards a second hundred in consecutive Championship fixtures. But the return of Overton, this time menacing the middle of the pitch from the Vauxhall End, shook up the innings. His second ball, rearing past the gloves, brought a sustained appeal for caught behind, and although Weatherley slashed the next through backward point for four, he was immediately defeated by a short-pitched ball that stayed low and arrowed back at him, even as he tried to keep the hands down; Foakes’ leaping, one-handed take ended a century stand between Weatherley and James Vince.Overton removed Dawson for the second time in the match, this time flinching a pull to long leg, and Vince’s dismissal after a typically mellifluous half-century, tickling Taylor down the leg side shortly before tea, raised Surrey’s hopes of finishing the contest inside three days. Burns again turned to Overton, who claimed his eighth wicket when Felix Organ jabbed a sharp chance to gully, enabling him to better the 8 for 143 claimed for Somerset at New Road in 2018. With Taylor and Jordan Clark picking off the last four, Surrey secured victory well before the scheduled close.Overton has been on the England radar ever since he and twin brother, Craig, stomped out of Barnstaple and on to the county scene with Somerset as teenagers. But while Craig has been capped in eight Tests and four ODIs, and was involved on their most recent tour of the Caribbean, the closest Jamie has come is twice being called into white-ball squads without being picked.Related

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His performances at Surrey to date have not encouraged thoughts of a recall – remarkably, this haul more than doubled his first-class wicket tally for the club, after nine appearances in which he had averaged 87.33. Nevertheless, his pace and hit-the-deck approach remain coveted by England. And with Craig taking a career-best 13-wicket bag in Somerset’s one-wicket defeat at home to Essex – at one point, the brothers simultaneously took two in an over 150 miles apart – it raised the prospect that both could be involved in the summer, becoming the first twins to represent England in the process.Hashim Amla had suggested after the first day that this was “not a 300 for 3 pitch”, and that assessment was borne out. Resuming on 152 for 7, Hampshire had already shipped their best chance of getting something from this game – but losing by an innings still represented a mighty comedown after they had dished out a similar mauling of Somerset. Vince suggested after victory in the opening round that there wasn’t much room for improvement, but after seeing his side succumb twice in far-from-treacherous conditions, that position will have to be reassessed.