Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has had an incredible impact in a short time at Ibrox, winning his first three Scottish Premiership matches in the dugout.

The Light Blues had only won one of their first eight matches in the division, under Russell Martin and Stevie Smith, which meant that the German tactician took over the club in a difficult position.

His tactical flexibility has been particularly impressive across his first six matches in the dugout for the Gers, as he has been willing to change systems, formations, and the style of play to suit each game.

For example, he utilised a 3-4-2-1 formation to grind out a 1-0 win away at Hibernian, but then switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation to dominate and thrash Dundee 3-0 in their most recent outing.

On top of improving the results in the short-term, Rohl has also helped some of the players in the squad to show more quality than they did under the previous coaching team.

Youssef Chermiti has been under the microscope since Kevin Thelwell decided to splash £8m to sign the striker from Everton, making him the club’s most expensive signing since Tore Andre Flo for £12m in 2000, but he has shown signs of life under the new boss.

Why Rangers should not give up on Youssef Chermiti

Football Insider recently claimed that pressure was mounting from some fans pushing the club to immediately cash in on the Portugal U21 international when the January transfer window opens for business.

However, the report added that there are no plans in place for the Light Blues to do that, six months on from their £8m deal to sign him, as they hope he can turn his fortunes around at Ibrox.

The 21-year-old centre-forward did not manage a single goal or assist in seven appearances under Martin and Smith before Rohl’s arrival at Ibrox, which is why it is understandable that some supporters have not been pleased with his start to life at the club.

However, Chermiti has delivered one goal and one assist in three league games under the former Sheffield Wednesday head coach, which is more like what supporters should expect from a player signed for £8m.

Minutes

21

77

45

Shots

1

1

1

Goals

1

0

0

Key passes

1

1

1

Assists

0

1

0

Aerial duels won

1/1

2/6

4/5

As you can see in the table above, the Portuguese marksman has been fairly effective with the minutes that he has been given under Rohl, with productivity in front of goal and strength in aerial duels on the whole.

This shows why the Light Blues should not give up on Chermiti, yet, because the 21-year-old talent is still learning and developing as a player, and should be given time under the new manager to prove his worth, given his age and inexperience.

Whilst the former Everton centre-forward has shown signs of life under Rohl and has time on his side to improve as a player, there is another summer signing who has been an even bigger waste of money.

Chalkboard

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

Rangers have spent a lot of money on attacking signings in recent seasons and Sam Lammers has arguably been one of their worst, as the Dutchman was signed for £3m from Atalanta in 2023 and scored two goals in 31 matches before leaving the following summer.

Now, Bojan Miovski looks to be on course to be the club’s biggest waste of money since the signing of Lammers, because of his struggles this season.

Why Bojan Miovski looks like a waste of money for Rangers

The Light Blues signed the striker from Girona in the summer for a fee worth up to £4.2m, which means that he could cost more than the Dutchman did, and it appeared to be a sensible signing at the time.

Miovski’s form for Aberdeen, as shown in the graphic above, suggested that Rangers were onto a winner with the Macedonia international, as he had proven himself as a goalscorer in the Premiership in the past.

However, the left-footed forward had also just come off the back of scoring four goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for Girona, per Sofascore, which shows that the Light Blues brought in a striker who had been struggling in front of goal last season.

Given the money that was spent on him and his impressive record at Aberdeen in the past, it was fair to expect that Miovski would hit the ground running as an instant impact signing for the Gers, but that has not been the case.

Youssef Chermiti

25/26

£8m

Danilo

23/24

£6m

Bojan Miovski

25/26

£4.2m

Cyriel Dessers

23/24

£4m

Oliver Antman

25/26

£4m

Mohamed Diomande

24/25

£4m

Sam Lammers

23/24

£3m

As you can see in the table above, the Macedonia international is the club’s third-most expensive signing since the summer of 2023, with only Chermiti and Danilo, who has scored two goals in his last three league games, above him.

Miovski has only scored two goals in 15 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants so far, per Sofascore, with one against Hibernian in the League Cup and one against Falkirk in the Premiership.

On top of his lack of goals, the 26-year-old marksman has lost 68% of his ground duels and 70% of his aerial duels across eight appearances in the league for Rangers this season, per Sofascore, which shows that opposition defenders have found it far too easy to get the better of him.

Miovski has no goals and no assists in six appearances under Rohl so far, whilst Chermiti has a goal and an assist and Danilo has scored twice, which shows that he has been the worst-performing striker out of the manager’s three options.

He is five years older than Chermiti, who the club have invested even more money in, which suggests that the Portuguese striker may be preferred as the first-choice option in the mid-to-long-term, because of that investment.

That means that all the pressure is on Miovski to deliver in the short-term and his performances show that he is not doing that, which is why he may be the club’s biggest waste of money since Lammers unless he can turn things around.

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MatériaMais Notícias

Revelado pelo Grêmio e pedido por Jorge Jesus no Fernerbahce, Lincoln é o novo reforço do RB Bragantino. O meia assinou um contrato por empréstimo até o fim de 2024 com opção de compra.

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Em entrevista ao Lance!, atleta comemorou seu retorno ao Brasil e revelou os motivos que o fizeram decidir defender a camisa do Massa Bruta na temporada. O meia afirmou estar feliz com a decisão e espera corresponder em campo o esforço do clube feito para o contratar.

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

– A expectativa é muito boa, muito alta. Espero que possa corresponder ao máximo dentro de campo com meus companheiros e conquistarmos nossos objetivos. O que me fez voltar ao Brasil foi a confiança que o Bragantino depositou no meu trabalho e voltar para casa. Uma nova oportunidade, uma nova jornada e estou feliz com essa decisão.

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Lincoln também comentou sobre a chance de disputar a Libertadores, onde o RB Bragantino inicia a competição na segunda fase diante do Rionegro Águilas. Na sequência, o Massa Bruta pode encarar o Botafogo, mas o atleta afirmou que não escolherá adversário.

– A Libertadores é uma competição muito importante, muito tradicional, mas não cabe a nós decidir sobre os confrontos. Queremos jogar e vamos entrar para buscar a vitória independentemente do adversário.

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Neste sábado (10), o RB Bragantino entra em campo pelo Campeonato Paulista, onde enfrenta o São Bernardo. A equipe dirigida por Pedro Caixinha faz sua estreia na Libertadores apenas no dia 21 de fevereiro.

Tudo sobre

RB Bragantino

Big picture: Mercurial Pakistan v hungry Bangladesh

Pakistan’s hot-and-cold campaign meets Bangladesh’s hunger in a virtual semi-final to book their spot against India in the Asia Cup 2025 final. Pakistan haven’t won two matches in a row in the tournament but despite the hiding against India, they bounced back against Sri Lanka. Bangladesh haven’t done too badly in the tournament despite their T20I misgivings in recent years. They have emerged as a young team in transition, now playing with more confidence. But they have a quick turnaround after their defeat to India on Wednesday.Pakistan would take heart from their batting comeback against Sri Lanka. They lost four wickets for just 12 runs, slipping to 57 for four chasing 134. Hussain Talat and Mohammad Nawaz were the unlikely batting heroes, taking Pakistan home comfortably in the end. They had earlier bowled well to restrict Sri Lanka, who were the favourites going into the game following their group-stage performance.Talat and Nawaz showed the advantage of being underrated batters in the team, as Sri Lanka took their foot off the gas after removing the more heralded Mohammad Haris. Nawaz has had an interesting tournament, having been unused as a bowler in Pakistan’s last two games. This, despite coach Mike Hesson calling him the best spinner in the world. Nawaz, however, has bailed out Pakistan with the bat a couple of times in the tournament. Talat too did well against Sri Lanka, picking up two wickets in an over to go with his rescue act with the bat.Related

• Mohammad Nawaz reinvents himself

Unlike Pakistan, Bangladesh would want to quickly forget how they fared in their last match against India. They would bank on the confidence they gained from beating Sri Lanka and Afghanistan earlier in the tournament. They also beat Pakistan 2-1 at home in July, one of their three consecutive T20I series wins coming into the Asia Cup.To be fair, Bangladesh’s bowlers came back well against India after Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill got off to an electrifying start. Legspinner Rishad Hossain took the first two wickets before Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mustafizur Rahman put the brakes on the scoring rate. Saif Hassan’s back-to-back fifties will also give him reason to believe he can add a third against Pakistan. Bangladesh will also hope that Taskin Ahmed and Litton Das, reported to return for this game, can use their experience to get Bangladesh to the final.2:14

Why did Bangladesh make four changes against India?

Form guide

Bangladesh LWWLW (last five T20Is, most recent first)
Pakistan WLWLW

In the spotlight: Rishad Hossain and Shaheen Shah AfridiRishad Hossain has answered the big question about legspinners in Bangladesh – whether he can deliver under pressure. After his 14 wickets in last year’s T20 World Cup, he has impressed in the Asia Cup as well with six strikes in four games, including a spirited show against India. He took the first two wickets and then ran out the marauding Abhishek. He is growing in his stature as a legspinner and has the most wickets for Bangladesh since his T20I debut.It is crucial for Pakistan that Shaheen Shah Afridi gets them the early breakthroughs in the Asia Cup. It not only gives them an early advantage but also helps Afridi maintain his rhythm in the match. He has had a decent tournament so far despite his wicketless outings against India. He dismissed both the Sri Lankan openers, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, early to set the tone. And his batting lower down the order is also helping him add value to the team.Saim Ayub has found runs hard to come by in this Asia Cup•AFP/Getty Images

Team news: Will Pakistan leave Saim Ayub out?

Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed are likely to return. Parvez Hossain Emon and Mohammad Saifuddin could make way for them.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Litton Das (capt & wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shamim Hossain, 6 Jaker Ali, 7 Rishad Hossain, 8 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 9 Nasum Ahmed, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPakistan could bring back Hasan Nawaz or play Khushdil Shah for Saim Ayub, who has tallied only 23 runs in five games in the tournament.Pakistan (probable): 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Saim Ayub, 4 Salman Agha (capt), 5 Hussain Talat, 6 Mohammad Haris (wk), 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed

Pitch and conditions: Win toss, bowl first the Dubai mantra

The pitch in Dubai continues to be slow and slightly difficult for the side batting first, even though India won batting first against Bangladesh. Teams are likely to field first given the heat as well.

Stats and trivia

• For the first time in his T20I career, Nawaz hasn’t bowled for Pakistan in consecutive innings.
• Mustafizur became the fourth bowler to take 150 wickets in T20Is, behind Rashid Khan, Tim Southee and Ish Sodhi.
• Jaker Ali leading Bangladesh in their last match was a first for him in all competitive cricket.

It might go against everything you’d expect to see from a right wing-back, although the decision to deploy Amad in that role is currently working wonders for Ruben Amorim and Manchester United, with the Ivorian striking up a devastating partnership with Bryan Mbeumo in recent weeks.

The presence of two left-footers both seeking to cut inside had caused problems in the early knockings of the campaign, not least when they collided in the area in the opening day defeat to Arsenal, with doubts creeping in over whether the duo were simply too similar to thrive together in tandem.

Since the win over Sunderland, however, in which the pair showed shades of Yorke and Cole with their interchanges, this right-wing pairing has simply taken off, with the two men combining at Anfield and at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

For all the question marks over Amad’s defensive prowess, having been caught out for Morgan Gibbs-White’s header at the City Ground, the 23-year-old is certainly making up for those shortcomings by dominating proceedings at the top end of the pitch.

That impact has no doubt been highlighted even further by the issues on the other flank, with Amorim still yet to find a permanent solution at left wing-back.

Man Utd's solutions at left wing-back

Heading into the January window, this might be an area that Jason Wilcox and co look to strengthen again, amid links to the likes of Inter’s Federico Dimarco, despite having seemingly solved that problem almost 12 months ago.

Indeed, the addition of Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu looked to have handed Amorim a perfect fit for this system, with the versatile Dane having previously featured as a winger, as well as at full-back, making him ideal for a rampaging left-sided role.

Perhaps as to be expected for a player who only recently turned 21, however, Dorgu is undoubtedly still a work in progress, a fact heightened most notably at the Etihad, where he had the most touches in the opposition box for United (12), yet had little to show for it.

An improved display did follow last time out against Spurs, having won nine duels in total, although that rawness to his game was seen in the final third, as he lost possession 24 times, as per Sofascore.

That is perhaps why Amorim had turned to Diogo Dalot as an unorthodox option prior to that, albeit with the Portuguese full-back not exactly shining in that role either, having been caught out for Nicolo Savona’s goal against Nottingham Forest.

The 26-year-old, as is to be expected for a right-footer, looks distinctly uncomfortable on that flank, forced to cut in repeatedly, rather than burst into potential space ahead of him down the left.

There is something of a wildcard option in the form of summer arrival, Diego Leon, although the 18-year-old – who did score a stunning solo goal for the U21s against Spurs – is still finding his feet in the youth ranks, having yet to make a competitive senior appearance.

The Paraguayan, thankfully, isn’t the only teenage sensation that Amorim can turn to in the near future.

How Man Utd can replace Dorgu

It will take more than one transfer window to get this squad where both Amorim and INEOS want it to be, although the Old Trafford side can’t simply rely on incomings and investment – the academy set-up also needs to be utilised.

Perhaps in midfield, the Portuguese coach could look to a player like 17-year-old sensation, Jim Thwaites, while at wing-back, a future star is brewing in the form of 18-year-old, Harry Amass.

The ex-Watford starlet – who made his senior debut last season against Leicester City – ended 2024/25 with seven senior appearances to his name under Amorim, having most notably come off the bench in the 5-4 thriller against Lyon in the Europa League.

Tipped to be “Luke Shaw’s successor” by journalist Alex Turk – with Shaw himself singling out his compatriot as one to watch – Amass has long been tipped for a starring role in the first-team, a fact only heightened by his displays out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.

The teenager joined the struggling side on loan over the summer, having since gone on to make a real impression for the Owls, notably netting a delightful strike from range in the recent defeat to Southampton.

That effort showcased everything Amorim would surely want from a wing-back, as Amass took it upon himself to drive into the centre of the pitch, before providing a real quality end product.

Lauded as “one of the most exciting teenage full-backs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the diminutive talent has started all 11 games since moving to Hillsborough, with ten of those seeing him play the full 90 minutes.

Games (starts)

11 (11)

Goals

1

Assists

0

Big chances created

2

Key passes*

0.7

Pass accuracy*

79%

Successful dribbles*

1.4

Total duels won*

50%

Tackles & interceptions

3.2

Such is the success of that loan spell so far, in which he has featured in a left midfield or left wing-back berth, there is already talk of further moves between the clubs, with United academy stars such as Victor Musa and Gabriele Biancheri in line to potentially follow him to Sheffield.

Whether Amass does actually see out the season in his temporary home remains to be seen, however, with recent reports revealing that there is the presence of a break clause in January, ensuring he could return to United in the New Year.

Should that occur, it would likely be with another loan in mind, although with neither Dorgu nor Dalot nailing down that left-sided role this season, Amorim should certainly consider bringing Amass back into the fold.

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AC Milan have been linked with a move for a Manchester United ace who Ruben Amorim rates and now a new update has dropped regarding their pursuit.

Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to fully ignite in a Red Devils shirt to date, with Fabrizio Romano recently talking up his potential exit, even though Amorim values him as a player.

“Yeah, we have to follow the situation closely in the next weeks because the calls have started. First was West Ham, now also Roma have made some calls to understand the situation of Joshua Zirkzee. So the market is moving around the Dutch striker again. Let’s see what happens with Sesko because now with the Sesko injury, again, it’s not a super serious one probably.

“Let’s wait for Manchester United statement. But obviously when you have a player like Sesko injured, there is still the opportunity to have a player like Zirkzee who can cover cover several positions as number nine, as number 10. Ruben Amorim according to my sources never wanted to let Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee leave because he believes that also Zirkzee can cover several positions and can be very important.”

Now, a fresh update has appeared over Zirkzee’s next step in his career, with a move away from United in 2026 still potentially looking on the cards.

AC Milan make contact over Zirkzee signing

According to a report from Corriere dello Sport [via Caught Offside], Milan have held talks with Zirzkee’s representatives over a move from Manchester United.

The January transfer window will be a chance to get a deal over the line, with the Red Devils striker in need of more regular playing time, in order to boost his 2026 World Cup chances with the Netherlands.

It has been a tough spell for Zirzkee at United, scoring just seven goals in 54 appearances, so it is only natural that a move away could be best for all parties.

The 24-year-old remains a popular figure among United supporters, always giving his all, but the summer arrival of Benjamin Sesko has pushed him further down the pecking order.

As mentioned, the World Cup is only around the corner, so warming the substitutes’ bench most weeks is going to do little to aid his chances of being a fixture in the Netherlands’ team, as he battles former Red Devils striker Memphis Depay to lead the line for his country.

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If Zirkzee does leave permanently, it will be yet another attacking signing that hasn’t worked out for United, but equally, if a move doesn’t materialise, Amorim will surely be content to have him around until at least the end of this season.

Amorim's "modern-day Berbatov" is now already on borrowed time at Man Utd

كشف ييس توروب المدير الفني لفريق الأهلي، عن بدلاء فريقه أمام شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، في إطار دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

ويواجه فريق الأهلي نظيره فريق شبيبة القبائل الجزائري، في تمام الساعة السادسة من مساء اليوم بتوقيت القاهرة، على ملعب القاهرة الدولي، في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا. 

طالع.. خاص | فينيزيا الإيطالي يحسم مصير سعد الحداد.. ورد مفاجئ على اهتمام الأهلي

ويقع الأهلي في المجموعة الثانية من مجموعات دوري أبطال إفريقيا رفقة أندية شبيبة القبائل الجزائري والجيش الملكي المغربي ويانج أفريكانز التنزاني.

يذكر أن الأهلي قد تأهل إلى دور المجموعات من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا عقب تخطي عقبة إيجل نوار البوروندي في دور الـ32 من دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

بدلاء الأهلي أمام شبيبة القبائل الجزائري 

يجلس على مقاعد البدلاء كل من: 

مصطفى شوبير وعمر كمال عبد الواحد وأحمد رمضان بيكهام ومحمد علي بن رمضان ومحمد مجدي أفشة وإمام عاشور وكريم فؤاد وطاهر محمد طاهر وحمزة عبد الكريم.

Cameron Green will return to bowling duties while eyes will be on whether South Australia can defend their title

Alex Malcolm and Andrew McGlashan02-Oct-2025New South WalesCaptain Jack Edwards
Coach Greg ShipperdSquad Sean Abbott, Charlie Anderson (R), Pat Cummins (CA), Joel Davies, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Matt Gilkes, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood (CA), Ryan Hicks (R), Riley Kingsell (R), Sam Konstas (CA), Nathan Lyon (CA), Nic Maddinson, Blake Nikitaras, Jack Nisbet, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, William Salzmann, Tanveer Sangha, Jake Scott (R), Lachlan Shaw, Steven Smith (CA), Mitchell Starc (CA), Charlie Stobo, Chris Tremain, Adam Zampa (CA)CA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Charlie Stobo (WA), Riley Kingsell, Jake Scott
Out Jackson Bird (Tasmania), Chris Green, Ryan Hackney, Moises Henriques, Daniel Hughes, Hayden Kerr (Queensland)Last season FourthHow they shape upThey were in the mix for the final into the last round but ultimately finished with one win fewer than the previous season. The loss of Jackson Bird to Tasmania leaves a significant hole in the pace attack after he claimed 34 wickets at 17.20. They will hope Charlie Stobo can help fill the breach and will look to Liam Hatcher, Jack Nisbet and Ryan Hadley to grow.Kurtis Patterson’s resurgence was one of the stories of the season and he led the run-scorer followed by Sam Konstas either side of his dramatic Test debut. However, they were the only two batters to average more than 34 (aside from Ben Dwarshuis in one outing) while the return of Nic Maddinson fell flat as he averaged 17.80 so more will be expected of him alongside greater returns from Josh Philippe – whose positive start faded last season – and Ollie Davies, the only player to appear in all 10 games.Related

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Player to watchIf he can put together a strong season, 25-year-old Jack Edwards, who is the NSW captain in both formats, will be pushing for an international call-up. He will feature for Australia A in both formats against India A having averaged 33.46 with the bat and taking 29 wickets 24.03 with the ball last season – certainly the right way round for an allrounder. If he can lift the batting numbers closer to 40 it will be a compelling case. He is also a brilliant slip fielder.Australia impactKonstas will be front-and-centre of the early-season bat-off, with the outcome of that to determine whether NSW have him for the whole pre-BBL stretch. They are likely to get good use out of Nathan Lyon before the Ashes with the offspinner in line for at least three outings – he will also captain the opening game – then he should be available again in February given he isn’t in Australia’s T20 plans. How much Steven Smith plays before the Ashes is still to be confirmed, but now that he’s not in Australia’s white-ball sides he could have significant availability.Pat Cummins’ back injury makes it unlikely he will make a rare Shield appearance, but Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood could squeeze in a game before facing England. Sean Abbott’s scheduling could need some juggling given he is part of the white-ball sides and he will be in the frame as an Ashes reserve as well. Edwards, Tanveer Sangha and Lachlan Shaw will miss the opening round while on Australia A duty in India.Marnus Labuschagne needs Shield runs for Queensland to build his Ashes case•Getty ImagesQueenslandCaptain Marnus Labuschagne
Coach Johan BothaSquad Lachy Aitken (R), Tom Balkin (R), Xavier Bartlett (CA), Max Bryant, Hugo Burdon, Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Usman Khawaja (CA), Marnus Labuschagne (CA), Angus Lovell, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Jem Ryan (R), Matthew Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Jack Sinfield, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Mitch Swepson, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Tom Whitney, Jack WildermuthCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Tom Balkin, Zanden Jeh, Hayden Kerr (NSW)
Out Liam Guthrie, Ben McDermott, Bryce Street, Connor SullyLast season Runners upHow they shape upHaving squeezed into the final amid a congested table, when they reduced South Australia to 28 for 3 chasing 270 it looked as they would emerge as champions despite being bowled out for 95 in their first innings. In the end, however, they had to settle for second but that was an improvement on the previous season’s bottom place albeit with only one more victory.The squad hasn’t seen too much change, the most significant movement being Ben McDermott’s request to leave and return to Tasmania where he doesn’t hold a contract. Jack Clayton and Jimmy Peirson led the batting last season with over 600 runs apiece while Usman Khawaja was productive when available until struggling in the final. It was a mixed season for Matt Renshaw who despite two centuries only averaged 29.17.The loss of the exciting Callum Vider to a stress fracture is a blow to their early-season plans but in Tom Whitney and Tom Straker they have two more promising young quicks, although the former is also carrying an injury. Ideally, legspinner Mitchell Swepson needs to take his wickets at a lower figure than last season’s 49.26Player to watchIn the first part of the season, at least, a lot of attention will be on Marnus Labuschagne and whether he can win back his Test place for the Ashes. While he will be in contention to open against England he is expected to continue to bat at No. 3 for Queensland who could benefit from a highly-motivated player. His last Shield century came in October 2022, although due to his international schedule that only represents nine matches.Australia impactAhead of the Ashes selection call, Labuschagne may miss a round of matches due to the ODI series against India. Khawaja will play a game or two, but it remains to be seen what route his career takes following the Test summer after last season’s tensions with the state and whether he calls time.Xavier Bartlett will go from Australia A duty to the T20I tour of New Zealand and will continue to be around the white-ball set-up. Should the Test side need reinforcements Michael Neser’s name could be in the frame. Renshaw has made a strong case to be considered for Australia’s one-day side but seems a fair way down the list for Test cricket. Straker is with Australia A’s 50-over side so will miss the first round of Shield as will late call-up Lachlan Hearne.Brendan Doggett will lead the attack as he pushes for an Ashes berth•Getty ImagesSouth AustraliaCaptain Nathan McSweeney
Coach Ryan HarrisSquad Wes Agar, Jordan Buckingham, Aidan Cahill (R), Alex Carey (CA), Brendan Doggett, Daniel Drew, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mackenzie Harvey, Travis Head (CA), Douwtjie Hoogenboezem (R), Henry Hunt, Hanno Jacobs, Spencer Johnson, Thomas Kelly, Jake Lehmann, Ben Manenti, Harry Matthias (R), Nathan McAndrew, Conor McInerney, Nathan McSweeney, Harry Nielsen, Lloyd Pope, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Campbell Thompson (R), Henry ThorntonCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Hanno Jacobs (NSW), Douwtjie Hoogenboezem
Out Harry Conway, Kyle BrazellLast season ChampionsHow they shape upHow do you follow last season? By aiming to do it again, according to head coach Ryan Harris. Now South Australia have that winning feeling they want to channel it into more success. One of the notable aspects of their title was hard far ahead of the pack they were in the regular season: six wins from 10 matches and 16 points more than second place.They retained a very stable list with Hanno Jacobs adding some more depth to the pace-bowling options. Three batters passed 700 runs in the 2024-25 season with Alex Carey doing so in just five matches and Jason Sangha six. Opener Henry Hunt also contributed three centuries, although his overall average was just 31. Their pace attack, led by Nathan McAndrew and Brendan Doggett, is impressive although the latter will miss the opening match with a hamstring niggle.Player to watchJason Sangha thanked South Australia for saving his career after a resurgent run which culminated in him hitting the winning runs in the final. Over the winter he has scored a career-best double century for Australia A against Sri Lanka A. He remains some way down the pecking order, but more of the same volume of run-scoring in the first part of the season won’t go unnoticed. And, having just turned 26, if it doesn’t happen this season he still has plenty of time.Australia impactCarey should get at least a couple of outings ahead of the Ashes but Travis Head’s availability will be limited by white-ball internationals. Jake Fraser-McGurk has slipped down Australia’s pecking order and there is a keenness for him to string together some red-ball cricket, but he needs to find a spot in the XI. He will be in India with the Australia A side during the opening round.Doggett could be around the Test squad once the Ashes starts so he will likely have his workload managed. If either Nathan McSweeney or Sangha go on an early-season run-scoring surge they could come into the selectors’ calculations. Liam Scott will miss the first round with Australia A in India.All eyes are on Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald•Getty ImagesTasmaniaCaptain Jordan Silk
Coach Jeff VaughanSquad Marcus Bean, Gabe Bell, Jackson Bird, Iain Carlisle, Nick Davis (R), Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Nathan Ellis (CA), Bradley Hope, Matt Kuhnemann (CA), Caleb Jewell, Raf MacMillan (R), Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Aidan O’Connor (R), Mitch Owen, Will Prestwidge, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Jordan Silk, Billy Stanlake, Charlie Wakim, Tim Ward, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster (CA), Mac WrightCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Marcus Bean, Jackson Bird (NSW)
Out Jarrod FreemanLast season FifthHow they shape upTasmania were one two-run loss away from making a second straight Shield final last season. They have strengthened their squad over the off-season with the addition of Jackson Bird who is only 34 wickets shy of becoming the second highest wicket-taker in Shield history. Their attack looks strong with Gabe Bell, Kieran Elliott, Riley Meredith and Billy Stanlake set to give them plenty of options to mix, match and manage across the season alongside Test spinner Matt Kuhnemann.The batting is deep too with Jake Weatherald, Tim Ward, Caleb Jewell, Jordan Silk and keeper Jake Doran as the mainstays plus Beau Webster will be available around his Test duty and Mitch Owen around his Australia white-ball duty. Brad Hope is an able back-up allrounder who can fit in when needed. They will be tough to beat in all conditions and have some excellent depth behind that which includes seasoned players like Charlie Wakim and Mac Wright as well as youngsters in Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Aidan O’Connor, Raf MacMillan and Marcus Bean.Player to watchJake Weatherald will be one of the most closely watched players in the country at the start of the Sheffield Shield season as he vies for a Test debut in the Ashes. In theory he should not have anything to prove after last season and his Australia A performances in the winter but last season was an outlier against his career record and early season performances would allay any doubts about his worthiness to open the batting for Australia in Perth.Australia impactTasmania will miss Owen and Kuhnemann in the opening round of the season due to Australia’s short T20I tour of New Zealand and Owen will likely miss the first four rounds due to the two India series that follow. Nathan Ellis’ red-ball availability will be limited and it is unlikely he will be called upon at all. Webster is set to be available for the first four rounds but may be rested at some point depending on his workload and then he will miss rounds five and six if selected in the Test squad. But he will return for the second half of the summer. The same applies for Weatherald if he is selected in the Ashes but that is an unknown at the start of the season.Campbell Kellaway celebrates his second Shield century•Getty ImagesVictoriaCaptain Will Sutherland
Coach Chris RogersSquad Austin Anlezark (R), Liam Blackford, Scott Boland (CA), Dylan Brasher, Ashley Chandrasinghe, Xavier Crone, Harry Dixon, Sam Elliott, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Jai Lemire, Blake Macdonald, Glenn Maxwell (CA), Cam McClure, David Moody, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Oliver Peake (R), Tyler Pearson (R), Mitch Perry, Tom Rogers, Matt Short (CA), Callum Stow (R), Will Sutherland, Doug WarrenCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Blake Macdonald, David Moody, Oliver Peake, Callum Stow
Out Peter Siddle (retired), Will Pucovski (retired), Jon Merlo, Josh Brown, Reiley MarkLast season ThirdHow they shape upVictoria’s best side will be very strong again having narrowly missed the final last year but their depth will be tested, especially with the ball given Scott Boland will have limited availability and they have lost the experience of Peter Siddle who was invaluable as a replacement for whenever Boland was absent last year. The batting is a superb mix of youth and experience with three of the most exciting young top order prospects in the country in Campbell Kellaway, Harry Dixon and Oliver Peake to be settled around the experience of Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb. Dixon looks set to open, although he will miss round one with Australia A duty. When that happens, Harris may slide to No. 3 despite being a candidate to open for Australia in the Ashes.Matt Short may add some dynamism when he does not have Australia white-ball duties while the first-choice attack of Boland, Fergus O’Neill, Will Sutherland and Todd Murphy looks as good as any in the competition when fully fit and available. The likes of Cam McClure, Xavier Crone and Sam Elliott will have to step up at times when Boland is absent while Victoria need a big season out of wicketkeeper Sam Harper as their lower order batting has been fragile at times in recent years.Player to watchCampbell Kellaway took a major step forward in the second half of last season scoring centuries against Queensland at the Gabba and Western Australia at the WACA, the latter an unbeaten 165 to set up victory in the final round. He also made scores of 80, 79 and 77 in two games against eventual Shield winners South Australia and 55 against a NSW attack that featured Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon on a tricky MCG pitch. Those performances got him into the Australia A side and he made 88 against India A in India recently. He is down the list Test candidates for now but a hot start to the summer will vault him up the queue very quickly.Australia impactSutherland, Dixon and Elliott will all miss the opening Shield round because of Australia A duty in India but Boland is set to play the first match against South Australia. How many he plays after that before the first Test remains to be seen but there is a hope he can feature in at least one more before the first Test. He should be fine for the second half of the season though.Short’s availability is the other unknown. He could be available for rounds four to six but it may depend how his body is after three consecutive white-ball series against New Zealand and India. He is likely to be part of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad which may also see him miss most of the second half of the season.Cameron Green could play three of the first four Shield rounds for WA•Getty ImagesWestern AustraliaCaptain Sam Whiteman
Coach Adam VogesSquad Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman, Simon Budge (R), Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Joel Curtis, Albert Esterhuysen (R), Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Cameron Green (CA), Jayden Goodwin, Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Baxter Holt, Josh Inglis (CA), Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Mitch Marsh (CA), Lance Morris (CA), Joel Paris, Jordan Quiggin (R), Jhye Richardson (CA), Corey Rocchiccioli, Ashton Turner, Corey Wasley (R), Sam Whiteman, Teague WyllieCA = Cricket Australia contract | R = Rookie contractIn Mahli Beardman, Joel Curtis, Simon Budge, Albert Esterhuysen, Jordan Quiggin
Out Hamish McKenzie, D’Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo (NSW), Sam Greer, Josh VernonLast season SixthHow they shape upTwelve months ago WA were gunning for a historic fourth straight title. This season they start as the defending wooden-spooners, albeit they still nearly made a Shield final last year despite finished sixth on a congested table. They are still laden with talent and their best XI is international quality. But managing the comings and goings of their Australia and Australia A representatives whilst keeping some continuity in their team will be the key.The batting will be strong with Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman back healthy again and Hilton Cartwright is the bedrock of the middle-order while young keeper Joel Curtis has started the season in exceptional fashion in the Dean Jones Trophy. Add in Cameron Green for up to three of the first four games and it is an imposing batting order. The attack will be well led by Joel Paris, Cameron Gannon and Corey Rocchiccioli while the return of Matt Kelly from injury is a welcome addition. But it gets a little thin thereafter with Lance Morris out for the whole year and Jhye Richardson recovering slowly, while exciting youngster Mahli Beardman is unlikely to play any red-ball cricket in the first half of the season coming off stress fractures.Player to watchCameron Bancroft is the forgotten man in the race to fill an opening spot for the Ashes. At the start of last season he was one of the favourites to fill the vacancy against India but endured a horrid run of form early in the summer. He is coming off a good winter for Gloucestershire in all forms and returned early from England to get a brief rest before setting himself for a new summer. His technique hasn’t changed but he knows how to score big runs in Shield cricket and anyone scoring runs early in the season will be looked at for the Ashes.Australia impactFew states have as many moving parts to navigate as WA. Green’s availability in the early part of the summer has changed several times but he could play Shield rounds one, three and four for WA and bowl in a couple of them under restrictions, but he may also be absent for round two and possible round three due to ODI duty. Josh Inglis is injured at the moment but when fit is likely to be away for most of the summer on Australia duty.Mitch Marsh is notionally available for rounds four, five and six after Australia’s white-ball series against India but it remains to be seen whether he plays any red-ball cricket this summer. Cooper Connolly will miss the first round with Australia A duty but should be right for round two unless he is called up for ODI cricket. Aaron Hardie is recovering from a shoulder injury but may play quite a bit for WA if Australia don’t pick him for the India white-ball series.

Former Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has proposed a new points-based plan to bring an end to the Premier League’s reliance on set pieces and encourage more attractive football. The ex-France international is frustrated with the direction English football has taken but he has stopped short of criticising his old club, who lead the way when it comes to corners.

Free kicks, long throws and corners back in vogue in 2025-26

Free kicks, long throws and corners have all surged in popularity in the 2025-26 Premier League season. Once seen as a sign of weakness for a team to put so much emphasis on being proficient at set pieces, often due to a lack of quality from open play, those very tactics are now widespread across the division, with all 20 clubs getting in on the act.

However, with free kicks, long throws and corners now back in vogue, football fans have become split on whether the new-found dependency is good for the game or a terrible habit which needs to be banished. While some see the set-piece craze as a breath of fresh air, others feel the game has become uglier as a result.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportEx-Gunners ace Clichy proposes plan for more attacking football

Clichy, who spent eight years with Arsenal between 2003 and 2011, is very much a believer that English football has gone backwards, but he reckons he has now come up with a solution which will inspire more teams to play attacking football.

In an interview with he said: “Unless we change the rules to encourage teams to play offensive football (that could become a problem). Say you are losing 4-2 but scoring a third goal in a game counts as 0.5 points. It means you can still get something out of it rather than a team defending, which is counterproductive to the love of the game.

“Every time there is something in place, it is hard to make changes. When you talk about what I just said about 0.5 points or a throw-in becoming a kick-in, people are going to laugh but remember a few decades ago when you could pass the ball back and forth with the goalkeeper (picking the ball up)? The person who proposed (changing that) that probably got laughed at too, because change is uncomfortable.”

Former left-back refuses to criticise Arteta for changing Arsenal's style

Leading the way when it comes to corners are Clichy’s old club Arsenal, who – under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta and led by the aerial skill of defender Gabriel Magalhaes – strike fear into their opponents every time the ball goes out of play. However, while Clichy believes Arteta has made Arsenal far more physical than they were under former manager Arsene Wenger, he has refused to criticise the Spaniard for changing the club’s style of play.

“Mikel has changed how people see Arsenal,” Clichy continued. “In the Premier League, if you are disrespecting the physicality of the game and the set-play moments, you have a big problem. Mikel has done what he felt was needed for Arsenal to win.

“They are first and you still have people arguing that they don’t play the Arsenal way. It doesn’t make any sense. The Arsenal way is to win trophies. Pretty or not, the fans will be happy.

“We keep on talking about Wenger’s Arsenal playing really good football 20 years later. This is not the same game. It is not the same league. It is not the same generation of players. People who still think Man United need to play with the same DNA of (Sir Alex) Ferguson and are comparing that side to the current one. It is not the coach who is wrong. It is the people who are still comparing these teams.

“If Arsenal win 1-0 with a set piece, then that is all we need to know. We need to accept the coach has a different vision. In the end, you need to win because then pretty much everyone will say it is good enough.”

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Getty Images SportArsenal's next match: Arteta's men face Tottenham in north London derby

Arsenal will be hoping to continue their set-piece prowess when the Premier League returns this weekend following the conclusion of the international break. Arteta’s men – who are currently top of the table – play host to Tottenham in the north London derby at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Thomas Frank’s Spurs are currently fifth in the standings and eight points (18) behind their fierce rivals (26).

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have been handed a transfer boost, with a La Liga star now open to an Old Trafford move.

Man Utd midfield options heading into 2026

It feels as if Amorim’s midfield is the one area that may need the most work in 2026. The Man Utd boss has gone with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes more often than not this season, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte falling out of favour.

Mainoo has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, whereas Amorim criticised Ugarte in front of his Man Utd teammates following the Europa League final against Tottenham.

Casemiro is also out of contract in 2026, and it has been suggested that there is a real possibility he will leave for free at the end of the season.

This comes despite the fact Amorim wants to keep the Brazilian, however, INEOS are looking to cut the wage bill and could do just that with the £350,000-a-week top earner.

A number of midfielders have been linked with arriving in Manchester, and one name that won’t go away is Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher.

There was speculation over a deadline day move in the summer, but the English “machine” remained at the Wanda Metropolitano, where he has made just two La Liga starts in 2025/26 under Diego Simeone.

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Manchester United made a huge mistake in spending big money on one first-team member.

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It has been suggested that Amorim has already given the green light for Man Utd to bring Gallagher back to the Premier League in 2026, and another promising update has now emerged.

Gallagher open to Man Utd move

According to United in Focus and transfer expert Graeme Bailey, Gallagher “has become increasingly frustrated at Atletico” and appears to be open to the idea of moving to Man Utd to improve his chances of making the England squad.

On around £150,000-a-week in Spain, Gallagher has been compared to some impressive midfielders across Europe in 2025, including former Red Devils man Scott McTominay.

Midfielders similar to Conor Gallagher

Club

Gavi

Barcelona

Sandro Tonali

Newcastle

Scott McTominay

Napoli

Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle

Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa

Now, United and INEOS need to decide whether or not to firm up their interest in the Englishman, amid rumours of a £44m January offer being lined up.

Man Utd now leading Barcelona & Liverpool in race to sign "absolute beast"

Somerset recover from 99 for 5 to leave visitors looking over their shoulder

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025

Kasey Aldridge made a career-best 149 not out•Kieran McManus

Somerset 381 for 7 (Aldridge 149*, Abell 118) vs HampshireCenturies from Tom Abell and Kasey Aldridge saw Somerset recover from a perilous position on the second day of the Rothesay County Championship Division One match against Hampshire at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.After the first-day washout, the hosts slumped to 99 for 5, having won the toss, before Abell and Aldridge put together a sixth-wicket stand of 221, Abell making 118 and Aldridge 149 not out. Keith Barker was the pick of the Hampshire bowling attack with 2 for 35 from 13 overs.For Abell, it was a second Championship hundred in successive games, while 24-year-old Aldridge’s score was a career-best, beating the 101 not out he made against Lancashire at Old Trafford in 2023. Together they enabled their team to close on 381 for 7.After a slightly delayed start due to a shower, Somerset had reached 21 without loss in the fourth over when Tom Kohler-Cadmore, on 10, pulled a catch to square leg off Barker, who quickly followed up by having Tom Lammonby caught behind for a duck.James Rew struck a six over fine leg off Barker before more rain interrupted play at shortly before 11.10am with Somerset 35 for 2. A further ten overs were lost when the action resumed at 10.45am with relegation-threatened Hampshire looking to maintain momentum.They did exactly that as with only eight runs added Archie Vaughan edged a defensive push off Kyle Abbott through to wicketkeeper Ben Brown. It was 69 for 4 when Rew, on 30, dragged a delivery from James Fuller onto his stumps.The lunch score was 83 for 4 off 21 overs. That became 99 for 5 when Lewis Goldsworthy, who had contributed 22 to a stand of 30 with Abell, was caught behind down the leg side by Brown to give offspinner Washington Sundar, making his Hampshire debut, a wicket.That was as good as it got for Hampshire, Abell and Aldridge settling in to play some sweetly-timed strokes. Aldridge pulled a six off Fuller as the pair put together a half-century stand off 88 balls.Abell moved to fifty with a firm clip off his legs for four off Eddie Jack, having faced 99 balls, and Aldridge, who is leaving at the end of the season to join Durham, followed to the same landmark off 76 deliveries. The century partnership was brought up off 143 balls and at tea Somerset had recovered to 208 for 5.The final session saw Aldridge reverse sweep a six off Washington, while a similar shot for four by Abell brought Somerset a first batting point and took the partnership past 150. A single off Fuller then took Abell to 96 and 1000 first class runs for the season.His 20th first class hundred was reached with a boundary through mid-off, Fuller again the bowler, having faced 164 balls and hit 13 fours. It followed an innings of 130 in the previous Championship match against Yorkshire at Taunton.When Aldridge played Washington through the off side for two it took the stand to 190, a Somerset record for the sixth-wicket against Hampshire. Aldridge had also been involved in the previous highest, 188 with James Rew at Taunton in 2023. He celebrated with a pulled six of Jack as the light closed in.A single of Felix Organ took the allrounder to his second first-class century, off 155 balls with 11 fours and three sixes. He cleared the ropes for the fourth time with the cleanest of straight hits off Organ before the spinner responded by bowling Abell as he stretched forward.Abell had faced 189 balls. His departure meant a second bowling point for Hampshire, who then lost Nick Gubbins to injury two balls into his fourth over of the innings. It was completed by Washington.Aldridge slog-swept a fifth six off Washington before Abbott bowled Ben Green in the first over with the second new ball. At stumps, Aldridge had faced 206 deliveries and extended his boundary count to 16 fours and five sixes.