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Celtic will be looking to get back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership when they take on Kilmarnock in their first match since the first international break of the season.

The Hoops travel away from home to face Kilmarnock in the fifth match of the campaign, having won three and drawn one of their first four outings in the division.

Brendan Rodgers may look to hand debuts to new signings Kelechi Iheanacho and Sebastian Tounekti, who both signed for the club after the 0-0 draw with Rangers last time out.

The Celtic boss will be without Alistair Johnston once again at right-back, though, because he was ruled out for 12 weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Kairat last month.

Rodgers confirmed at the time that the club would not look to dip into the transfer market to sign a replacement right-back because of the injury, which is exactly how the rest of the window played out.

Instead of going for a new signing to fill that gap, academy graduate Anthony Ralston has stepped in once again to provide cover in that position.

Why Celtic should drop Anthony Ralston

The Scotland international should be ruthlessly dropped to the bench by Rodgers because he does not provide the attacking thrust and quality that the team need in that area of the pitch.

There were several moments in the bland 0-0 draw with Rangers when a teammate went to find Ralston with a pass but he was sat too deep and not on the front foot and ready to move forward to receive the pass.

He does not possess the attacking qualities that Johnston has or the front-footed mentality that his fellow right-back has, which is evidenced by his form in all competitions so far this season for the Scottish giants.

Appearances

5

Minutes played

332

Shots

2

Goals

0

Key passes

1

Big chances created

0

Assists

0

As you can see in the table above, Ralston has created one chance, and no ‘big chances’, in 332 minutes of action across five appearances this term, which speaks to his lack of quality on the ball.

Johnston, meanwhile, provided four key passes and created two ‘big chances’ in his two appearances in the Premiership this season before his injury, per Sofascore.

The Canada international also scored four goals, created 15 ‘big chances’, and delivered ten assists in 32 appearances in the Premiership last season, per Sofascore, which shows that he can provide a huge threat in the final third from a right-back position.

Celtic have clearly missed his quality down the right in the last two matches, as they created just two ‘big chances’ in 210 minutes as a team against Kairat and Rangers and failed to score a goal in either game.

Chalkboard

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

This is why Rodgers must drop Ralston to experiment with Reo Hatate in a brand-new role for him at right-back, inspired by Arne Slot’s decision to play Dominik Szoboszlai in a similar role for Liverpool in the Premier League.

Why Celtic should unleash Reo Hatate at right-back

It is not a completely unfamiliar position for the Japan international because he did play four times at right-back during Ange Postecoglou’s time at the club in the 2022/23 campaign.

However, he has not played a single match outside of central or attacking midfield in two-and-a-bit-seasons since Rodgers returned to the club in the summer of 2023, which means that this would be a brand-new role for him in the current system.

The Northern Irish head coach has utilised inverted full-backs in build-up for a lot of his time in charge of the club, with Greg Taylor and Johnston inverting into central midfield and Callum McGregor dropping between the centre-backs to create overloads in central positions during build-up.

Hatate could suit this role perfectly in the short term until Johnston is back from injury because he is a natural central midfielder, who is also combative and can hold his own defensively.

The Japan international, who was hailed as “incredible” by Rodgers earlier this year, was only dribbled past 0.6 times per game and won 53% of his attempted tackles, per FotMob, which shows that he can stop opposition players from getting past him fairly effectively.

Goals

10

Top 1%

xA

7.95

Top 3%

Assists

4

Top 11%

Dribble success rate

88%

Top 12%

Touches

2,101

Top 5%

Duels won

95

Top 32%

As you can see in the table above, Hatate is a well-rounded midfielder who is incredibly comfortable on the ball in midfield and in the final third, whilst he also excels at winning his duels.

This suggests that he could be well-suited to playing in an inverted right-back role under Rodgers because he has the defensive qualities and the possession-based attributes to pull it off effectively.

Of course, having a player who can make an impact at the top end of the pitch with goals and assists in that position would also improve the team’s chances of creating more in matches than they have with Ralston in recent weeks.

As aforementioned, Ralston has not done enough on the ball to make up for the attacking quality that has been lost through Johnston’s injury, which is why Hatate should be unleashed in this brand-new role in the meantime.

This move would also free up Luke McCowan, who scored eight goals and provided eight assists in the Premiership last season, to play in the middle of the park with McGregor and Benjamin Nygren.

Overall, Hatate’s qualities on and off the ball and his prior experience at right-back in a different system under Postecoglou could make him the perfect candidate to fill in for Johnston in a brand-new role under Rodgers against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

He's worth way more than Dolberg: Celtic nearly signed Haaland-esque striker

A star who once had trials with Celtic is now worth £25m more than Kasper Dolberg.

ByDan Emery Sep 10, 2025

This is why the Celtic head coach should ruthlessly drop Ralston from the starting line-up to see how the Japanese star fares in a new position this weekend.

With a World Cup looming, Mauricio Pochettino and his squad still have questions – can they answer vs Ecuador?

AUSTIN, Texas – For months, fans have been clamoring for Mauricio Pochettino to deploy the strongest version of the U.S. men's national team. They'll get something close on Friday. There are a few absences, yes, but, by and large, the A-Team has arrived for Friday's clash against Ecuador.

That, in it of itself, is a reason for optimism and excitement.

Yes, it's good to see names like Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie and Antonee Robinson back in the mix, but what matters most is the result. There aren't many must-win friendlies and it would be unfair to classify the Ecuador match as that for the USMNT. A must-perform friendly, then? Yeah, that's more like it.

"It's difficult to convince you all that the most important thing today is not really the games," Pochettino said. "The most important thing is what we are building here in camp. Of course, we need to play and perform and we need to win because that gives credibility to our work, but I think we all have to be together to create a dynamic of the group that makes sure, in an important way, that we can perform."

As the USMNT build towards the World Cup, this is another chance to show progress. The win over Japan last camp was encouraging, and it certainly bought Pochettino and his staff some goodwill with a fanbase that was growing tired of losing and experimenting.

There's little experimentation in this camp, but that doesn't mean there's none. There are still some decisions and moves to be made, and they could be key to the result on Friday, next week against Australia and beyond.

"I promise you that no one is sure that they are going to be on the roster of the World Cup," Pochettino said. "I don't believe it was the same way before. Today, I can promise you that all of the guys feel the need to fight to be there. That is priceless. They all feel the need to get out of their comfort zone."

GOAL looks at five keys to the USMNT against Ecuador.

GettyWhat to do with Weah?

There's been a change in system and that change brings options. No player exemplifies that more than Tim Weah, who is an option both in the attack and defense for this game and for future matches.

Weah, traditionally, has been a winger for the USMNT. He was a right winger throughout the entirety of Gregg Berhalter's tenure. He has played on the left under Pochettino. Weah started his career on the wing and, given the pace he brings to a team, it's easy to see why he's always been there from a national team perspective.

Berhalter often used the team "verticality" to describe Weah, who keeps defenses in check with his ability to get in behind them, opening up space for others. However, in recent years, Weah has played a whole lot of wingback. He featured there prominently at Juventus, consistently playing that right-wingback role during his time in Turin.

Again, it's easy to see why. While Weah does bring that pace and dribbling ability, he's never quite been a lethal goalscorer. In that sense, he's a great fit for the role, which allows him to roam up and down the sidelines.

So, with the U.S. likely playing in a five-back system, where does Weah start? Is he in attack with Pulisic, continuing to push the defense back while letting a wingback such as Antonee Robinson cut inside? Or do you start him at wingback, allowing a player like Malik Tillman to enter the XI as a creative option?

It's an interesting dilemma, and the roster construction seems to indicate that Weah is, at the very least, depth at right-wingback, considering Alex Freeman is the only primary right-back in the team.

AdvertisementGettyThe third centerback spot

Chris Richards is starting. Tim Ream, more than likely, is too. So who's No. 3? If the U.S. rolls with this new system, who joins them? Mark McKenzie is one contender. He played in this system with Toulouse, which makes him a natural fit for that third spot. Furthermore, it seems Pochettino has been in his ear to discuss a role model, one that has played on the highest of levels.

“At Tottenham, there’s a player like Cuti Romero," McKenzie said on Morning Footy. "He’s a player Mauricio and I talk about constantly. It’s a balance between being a good guy off the pitch, very humble and calm, but as soon as he steps on the pitch, you feel his presence. He has a special aura. Any player who faces him will think it’s going to be a long day.

"So that’s an example of a player Mauricio and I sit down together and watch videos of. That’s the style he wants me to adopt. Once on the pitch, it’s about doing everything possible to benefit the team and get a win.”

Richards, meanwhile, was asked about McKenzie on Thursday, and how their partnership dates back years.

"Me and Mark have known each other for probably eight years now," he said. "Every time we step on the field together, it means a lot. I think we have really good chemistry, I think, because we have spent so much time off the field together. That makes it a lot easier on the field to know where the other person is going to be.

"This is stuff that we've been talking about since we were 17 years old – being on the senior national team and how we want to play. Hopefully, we get the chance."

McKenzie, of course, isn't the only candidate. Both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Miles Robinson will have something to say, too. No matter who starts, though, that third centerback spot is one to watch, and this game could offer some insight into who Pochettino sees as the top contender.

AFPWhat's up with midfield?

Tyler Adams isn't in camp, and it's for a good reason. He's due to welcome a baby into the world. That said, that leaves a hole in the USMNT midfield. Who fills that hole?

"It's a team sport, so we always have that next man up mindset," Richards said. "We love Tyler. We miss Tyler, but someone's gonna pick up his spot when he's not here. It's their chance to earn a starting spot even when he is here. When you're in camp, regardless of what reason, it's your chance to earn a spot."

A real contender to take that chance? Tanner Tessmann, who enters camp in incredible form with Lyon. That has him riding higher than ever as he heads into this game.

"I know that, yes, I can be the one that makes the difference," Tessmann told GOAL, "and, when those moments come, I'm going to go for it."

Is it Tessmann's spot to win? What about the likes of James Sands and Aidan Morris, two others with points to prove in midfield? How does the veteran Cristian Roldan fit in? All big questions. So, too, is what comes next for the biggest name in midfield, Weston McKennie?

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GettyWelcome back, Weston

McKennie admitted it on Thursday – it was a stressful summer. There were more questions about his future at Juventus, per usual. Every summer, those questions pop up. McKennie, thus far, has answered them every time and is determined to do so again.

"If you guys have followed my career, the summer is always a rollercoaster for me," he said. "Nothing's really changed. I'm kind of used to it now…. I don't think anyone wants to have their head messed with every summer, but I'm used to it. Whenever it comes around to summer time, I know it's the best time for me to put my head down, do my best and get to work to prove people wrong. But more importantly, prove myself right."

The thing is that, at the moment, McKennie also has a point to prove to Pochettino. Absent since March's Nations League defeat – including missing the Gold Cup with Juventus playing in the Club World Cup – McKennie faces a fight to stay in that midfield picture.

If the U.S. does go with two holding midfielders, one is going to be Adams. The other? It could be any of the names listed above: Tessmann, Sands or Morris. Down the line, it could be Johnny Cardoso or Yunus Musah.

All of that is to say that McKennie is closer to the pack than he is to Adams right now. Conveniently for him, in this camp, he is the big dog in midfield in terms of USMNT experience. That opens the door for him to put in some big performances that could remind everyone of why he has been so key over the years.

It's up to him, though, to perform. Once again, he looks to prove his doubters wrong and himself right.

Birmingham City has seen their positive start to the brand-new Championship season unravel somewhat in recent games.

Indeed, the Blues raced out of the blocks very quickly after promotion with two wins and a draw, kickstarting their season on an unbeaten footing.

However, since an unexpected EFL Cup exit at the hands of Port Vale, the usually confident side have lost their way, as seen in the unfamiliar feeling of back-to-back defeats greeting Chris Davies recently.

Birmingham now find themselves all the way down in 11th position in the early league standings off the back of these two losses, with Davies praying he can get a tune out of his underperformers again very shortly, with Kyogo Furuhashi and Jay Stansfield – in particular – looking uncharacteristically rusty.

Birmingham's woes in attack this season

Birmingham are no longer the feared team in the division, having once bagged a weighty 86 goals on the way to lifting the League One title on a resounding 111 points.

Now, they find themselves in a middle-of-the-road position in the league above, with their recent attacking performances leaving a lot to be desired, arguably.

Frustratingly, since being in the right place at the right time to convert a golden opportunity back in August, summer arrival Kyogo, has regularly fired blanks.

Indeed, his lacklustre showing against Leicester City at the end of the month saw him make no accurate passes, while also struggling to catch out Jakub Stolarczyk with a goal-bound effort.

Having cost a reported £10m to bring to St. Andrew’s this summer, there will be a lot of worries already in the air that the former Celtic attacker isn’t cut out for the intense pressures of the EFL, and he will be viewed, down the line, as a costly mishap.

It’s not just new signings who have failed to settle up top, however, with Birmingham’s usually dependable number 28 in Stansfield also misplacing his shooting boots.

His last three outings in the cup and league have seen goals pass him by, with just 69 touches coming his way across those clashes, as the ex-Fulham youngster recedes into his shell.

Davies does have Marvin Ducksch as an alternative option in this department, but he will surely be resentful of Birmingham’s decision in the summer to part ways with this EFL-experienced marksman, who is now outperforming both Kyogo and Stansfield.

Kyogo & Stansfield being outperformed by ex-Blue

An unfortunate consequence of promotion glory is the rash decision-making that follows, as certain individuals are cast aside for flashier purchases who they hope will star in the league above.

In all fairness, there was plenty of logic behind Birmingham’s decision to part ways with electric goal machine Alfie May this summer, considering the hard-working veteran has never fired home a goal in the challenging Championship across his lower-league career to date.

Still, unwanted records like that are meant to be broken, and with May fresh off a promotion-winning return of 16 goals and eight assists in the third tier, Birmingham might well have been better placed to persevere with their experienced 32-year-old and see what he could do if given a chance up a league.

Birmingham’s loss has ended up being Huddersfield Town’s gain, though, with the brand-new Terriers number 26 now outperforming both Kyogo and Stansfield, situated back in League One, as he prepares to be yet another driving force for a side attempting to push back into the EFL’s elite division.

Games played

6

Games started

4

Mins per game

64 mins

Goals scored

2

Assists

2

Shots per game

2.4

Big chances missed

2

When looking at the table above, in league action for Lee Grant’s men this season, May boasts one more goal involvement than both the Englishman and the Japan international, with those four goals and assists coming about despite making just four starts.

His ability to be a “wonderful” option from off the bench – as he was once labelled by ex-boss Nathan Jones – would certainly boost Birmingham right now, with Davies no doubt now growing impatient with the wasteful displays of both Stansfield and Kyogo.

Of course, there’s no guarantee May would come back into the fold and be an instant success in such a daunting division.

But, there are certainly worse shouts out there, as Davies now tries to get his team firing again to ensure they don’t slide down the competitive league even more.

"Strange" – Reaction as Birmingham linked with signing 29 y/o free agent

Could the Blues get their man?

ByHenry Jackson Sep 11, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now in talks to sign a “world-class” £43m star, who is ready to fly into London to complete a move.

Spurs looking to sign forward before 7pm deadline

As we enter the final hours of the summer transfer window, Tottenham remain keen on signing a new forward, having failed to bring in a like-for-like replacement for Son Heung-min, with Manchester City’s Savinho remaining at the Etihad Stadium.

Taking to X, Fabrizio Romano revealed that Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani, who can play at both centre-forward and on the wing, has now emerged as an option for Thomas Frank’s side.

However, Spurs are also ramping up their interest in a different forward of a similar mould, with a report from The Boot Room revealing they have now entered talks over a deal for wantaway Atalanta star Ademola Lookman.

The Italian club are looking to receive £43m for Lookman, and they could be willing to accept an initial loan deal, which would include an obligation to buy, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey adding: “Lookman has emerged as an option for Tottenham, not dissimilar to their Xavi Simons deal. They were in the right place at the right time.

“I am told Lookman is keen, Tottenham are keen, and this has a chance ahead of Monday’s 7pm deadline.”

Promisingly, with the Atalanta forward keen on a move to N17, he is now ready to fly to London to complete the deal.

Tottenham in late transfer race to sign £25m Manuel Akanji alternative

Spurs have now identified a Champions League-winning defender as a target.

ByDominic Lund Sep 1, 2025 "World-class" Lookman would be exciting signing for Spurs

Much like Kolo-Muani, the Nigeria international is able to play at both striker and on the wing, making him a versatile option for Frank, and the 27-year-old has maintained a fantastic record in front of goal during his time with Atalanta.

Season

Serie A appearances

Goal contributions

2022-23

31

21

2023-24

31

19

2024-25

31

20

Not only has the London-born forward impressed in the Serie A, but he memorably caught the eye in the 2024 Europa League final, scoring a hat-trick to secure a 3-0 victory for his side over a Bayer Leverkusen side that won the Bundesliga undefeated.

Courtesy of the hat-trick against the at-the-time German champions, the Atalanta star scooped up a prestigious award and received very high praise from the BBC’s John Bennett.

Lookman would clearly be a top-quality addition to Tottenham’s squad, and a £43m fee seems reasonable, given the level of his performances in the Serie A and Europa League.

The fast bowler will miss the remainder of the SA20 season as well

Firdose Moonda15-Jan-2025South Africa have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the Champions Trophy after Anrich Nortje was ruled out with a back injury. Nortje has not played any international cricket since the T20 World Cup last June and was due to make a return for the white-ball series against Pakistan but broke his toe in the nets. He has since not played at all for his SA20 franchise, Pretoria Capitals, and has also been ruled out of South Africa’s marquee T20 tournament. South Africa will name a replacement for the Champions Trophy squad imminently.Gerald Coetzee, who has returned to action for the Joburg Super Kings after sustaining a groin injury in the Durban Test against Sri Lanka last November is the likeliest replacement. South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter, who is also the sole selector of his squads, explained his initial selection was a straight shootout between Nortje and Coetzee, and he opted for Nortje’s experience over Coetzee. He also indicated he was confident in Nortje being declared fit. “He’s an ultimate professional. He looks after himself, takes care of his conditioning. From my side, I trust him and trust that he’ll be ready to go,” Walter said on Monday.Just over 48 hours later, a Cricket South Africa press release said Nortje had undergone scans on Monday afternoon and “is not expected to recover in time for the 50-over tournament.”This is the third time in the last six ICC events that Nortje has been ruled out through injury, and all of them are ODI tournaments. He was due to play at the 2019 World Cup but broke his thumb in the lead-up to the tournament, then missed the 2023 World Cup with a suspected stress fracture of the lower back and is now out of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Nortje has played in all three T20 World Cups he has been available for – 2021, 2022 and 2024 – but has opted out of a national contract as he aimed to manage his workloads. He has not played ODIs since September 2023 and Tests since March 2023.In a summer where South Africa suffered a spate of fast bowling injuries, Nortje’s is among the most severe. Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi (both groin) and Wiaan Mulder (broken finger) have all returned to play but Nandre Burger (lower back stress fracture) and Lizaad Williams (knee) are out for the rest of the season.

Thiago Alcantara has started his new role as Barcelona assistant coach under Hansi Flick, bringing his vision and experience to the first-team setup.

• Thiago confirmed as Barca coach
• La Masia graduate returns
• Work already underway with Flick

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Thiago has officially began work at Barcelona as a first-team assistant coach to Flick. The 34-year-old, who previously starred for Barca before winning titles with Bayern Munich and Liverpool, was spotted at the club’s facilities earlier this week and joined the players on the pitch in his new role. He will be responsible for tactical preparation, planning training sessions and providing his vision to support the squad’s daily work. His first day back at the club coincided with the return of the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo and Roony Bardghji from international duty.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT BARCELONA SAID

  The Catalan giants officially welcomed Thiago back into the fold with a statement confirming his new role on Flick’s coaching staff. 

  "First official day on the job for Thiago Alcántara as a member of the coaching staff. The former blaugrana player started work on the grass today as a member of the first team coaching staff as an assistant coach to Hansi Flick. His role will involve helping with tactical aspects and preparing training sessions, among other things, bringing his experience and vision of the game to enrich the squad's day to day work," the club announced.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Spaniard's return is a symbolic and strategic move as Barca undergo a rebuild under Flick. A La Masia product with Champions League pedigree, he blends deep knowledge of the club’s style with an understanding of Flick’s high-pressing system, having worked with him at Bayern during their historic sextuple campaign in 2019-20. His presence also serves as a bridge for younger talents like Pedri and Gavi, who have previously praised his guidance, while his fluency in German strengthens communication across the squad.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  With Thiago now embedded in the coaching staff, Barcelona shift focus to Sunday’s home clash against Valencia at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. Flick will use the remaining sessions this week to fine-tune tactics, with Thiago actively involved in preparations as the club aim to secure their first home win of the new campaign and bounce back from their 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano.

Essex skittled Notts for 96 in their first innings before the visiting captain’s century earned back some respectability

ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2024

Jamie Porter took his third five-wicket haul of the summer•Getty Images

Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer shared nine first-innings wickets as Essex skittled Nottinghamshire for 93 on a morning of utter carnage at Chelmsford.Seam bowler Porter took his third five-wicket haul of the season, and second in consecutive Vitality County Championship matches, to finish with 5 for 35, season’s best figures that included three wickets in five balls.Simon Harmer also claimed his best bowling figures of the summer with 4 for 16 from 12.5 overs and then took the first two wickets of Nottinghamshire’s second innings. Allied with a season’s best 51 in Essex’s 457, it was a welcome return to form for the off-spinning all-rounder who has been dogged by persistent injury.Nottinghamshire’s inability to cope with Porter’s pace and Harmer’s guile on a wicket that had become less benign overnight, left them 364 runs adrift on first innings. When they followed on, captain Haseeb Hameed led the fightback with a patiently crafted unbeaten 100 from 151 balls and put on an unbroken 131 with Joe Clarke (62 not out) for the third wicket. At the close, Nottinghamshire were 180 for 2, still 184 runs from making Essex bat again.It was the perfect repost from Essex on the day the ECB confirmed their 12-point deduction after opening batsman Feroze Khushi was found to have used an illegally-sized bat in the reverse fixture at Trent Bridge in April. It does, however, end their dwindling hopes of challenging for the title.Nottinghamshire’s first innings fell apart spectacularly on a sunny, though chilly morning as 48 for 1 became 93 all out, with nine wickets clattering in 87 minutesThere was no sign of what was to come in the first half-hour as Ben Slater and Freddie McCann added 31 to their overnight score. But then Harmer came on and struck first ball when McCann moved forward half-cock and was the first of five LBWs in the morning. Harmer had two of the next three wickets to fall as Ben Slater was snaffled at slip and Jack Haynes was the second lbw victim.In between Porter replaced the unlucky Sam Cook, who had discomforted McCann on several occasions and might have had something to show for a venomous opening spell had Matt Critchley not dropped Joe Clarke at gulley. It did not prove too expensive as Porter had Clarke pinned lbw in his first over.Nottinghamshire’s South African wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne came out all guns blazing, reverse-sweeping Harmer for four and driving Porter over the long-off boundary. However, his nine-ball cameo ended on 12 when he drove Porter uppishly into the covers.Lyndon James departed to a stunning full-length dive low to his left by Michael Pepper to spark Porter’s three-quick-wicket burst. Luke Fletcher, first ball, and Liam Patterson-White fell lbw before Harmer wrapped things up by having Rob Lord caught at bat-pad.Following on, Hameed and Slater looked comfortable for a dozen overs after lunch before Slater misjudged a delivery from Harmer that beat the outside edge and bowled him. The teenaged McCann was bamboozled for a second time by Harmer, the sixth player to go lbw during the day.Hameed was particularly strong off the back-foot, punching the ball through extra cover for a succession of boundaries, and reached his sixth fifty-plus score of the season from 70 balls. That Nottinghamshire made a better fist of it in the second innings was illustrated by the fact they had overhauled their first-innings total by tea for the loss of just two wickets.Hameed found a willing partner in Clarke and the pair steadied things by putting the first fifty of their stand in 14 overs, taking another 15 for the second fifty. As confidence grew, Clarke came down the wicket and smashed Harmer over midwicket for six on the way to reaching his half-century from 105 balls.A quick single took Hameed to three-figures just before stumps off his 151st ball.

Batter calls time on England having not featured since 50-over World Cup in 2023

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Aug-2024Dawid Malan, England’s former No.1-ranked T20I batter, has announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 37.Malan, who played 22 Tests, 30 ODIs and 62 T20Is, is one of only two England men’s batters (alongside Jos Buttler) to have made centuries in all three international formats. However, he had not featured in an England squad since the 50-over World Cup in India last year, and confirmed his decision after his omission from the forthcoming white-ball series against Australia.”It has been an incredible journey since July 2017,” Malan said. “I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to play for England in all three formats.”Cricket, like most sports, is an industry where almost everyone eventually retires wishing they had done that little bit more. Whether you’ve played ten Tests or 100, many step away regretting not playing just one more, scoring a few more runs, or winning more trophies.”Right now, as I retire from international cricket, I can say I am genuinely satisfied. It has not been easy. It may be my nature, but for whatever reason, it has always seemed that I had something to prove and often felt as if I was playing for my place. The pressure goes with the territory, but it does take a mental and physical toll. Even so, I look back with pride on what I have been able to achieve.”Despite announcing himself with a free-flowing innings of 78 from 44 on his T20I debut against South Africa in 2017, Malan’s initial breakthrough with England came on the following winter’s Ashes tour, where he made his only Test hundred, 140 from 227 balls, in partnership with Jonny Bairstow at Perth.However, it was in the T20I format that he truly made his name, most particularly in the aftermath of England’s ODI World Cup victory in 2019, when he forced his way into the team’s 20-over plans through his sheer weight of run-making, including a 48-ball hundred at Napier on that winter’s tour of New Zealand.In September 2020, he reached the top of the ICC’s batting rankings for T20I cricket, and the following March, he became the fastest men’s player to reach 1000 runs in the format, from just 24 innings, all but one of which had been at least double-figures. He was also a T20 World Cup winner in Australia in 2022, although he missed the knock-out stages after tearing his groin in the field against Sri Lanka.Due to the success of the 50-over squad, Malan took longer to break into the ODI team – despite the prevailing sense that it was the format for which he was best suited, with his tendency to begin an innings cautiously before unfurling his full range of strokes at the back end often attracting criticism during his T20I performances.Nevertheless, he seized his chance when it came, scoring five ODI hundreds in the space of 15 innings between June 2022 and September 2023, to make an unequivocal case to replace England’s incumbent opener, Jason Roy, in the 2023 World Cup squad. He then added a sixth hundred in the second match of the tournament to guide England to victory over Bangladesh in Dharamsala, but he could not survive the fall-out from the team’s disappointing overall campaign.Speaking to The Times, Malan said that he had “exceeded all expectations of myself in white-ball formats”, but admitted that his inability to forge a more consistent Test career would be a regret. Ten of his 22 appearances came on consecutive tours of Australia in 2017-18 and 2021-22, where his average of 33.00 is bettered only by Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow among regular England performers of the past decade. However, he never played the format again after England’s 146-run defeat at Hobart in January 2022.Related

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“Test cricket was always the pinnacle for me growing up,” he said. “At times I played well but in between just wasn’t good enough or consistent enough, which was disappointing because I felt I was a better player than that.”I took all three formats extremely seriously but the intensity of Test cricket was something else: five days plus the days building up. I’m a big trainer; I love hitting lots of balls and I’d train hard in the build-up, and then the days were long and intense. You can’t switch off. I found it very mentally draining, especially the long Test series that I played, where my performances dropped off from the third or fourth Test onwards.””But, you know, on the field I always did what I felt was right to win a game for the team. I never walked off the field if I got runs not caring about whether we had won or lost. It was always about winning and I’d always question myself as to whether I’d made the right decisions on the field to do that.”Malan is likely to be in high demand on the T20 franchise circuit with his England career behind him. He was most recently in action for Oval Invincibles, helping the team to victory in the Men’s Hundred, two years after he was part of the Trent Rockets squad that claimed the 2022 title. Last winter, he helped Sunrisers Eastern Cape win the second season of the SA20, and was also in action for Multan Sultans in the PSL.Rob Key, the managing director of England Men’s Cricket, added: “Dawid Malan retires after an excellent international career marked by resilience and determination.”Early on, he had to fight for every opportunity, often facing some of the best teams in the world. His contributions were pivotal, particularly during the memorable World Cup victories in Australia, where he played an integral role in the team’s success.”His legacy will be remembered as one of tenacity and achievement on the international stage – traits any player would be extremely proud to have.”

Fulham have now opened talks to sign a “spectacular” U21 European Championships star, having expressed a concrete interest in securing his signature, according to a report from Sky Sports.

Cottagers set sights on U21 Euros star

Several players put themselves in the shop window courtesy of their performances at the recent U21 Euros, with former Fulham man Harvey Elliott playing a vital role in England’s triumph, picking up five goals throughout the tournament.

The Cottagers have expressed an interest in signing Elliott in the past, and the midfielder’s recent performances are only likely to have driven up his value, with Liverpool now thought to be holding out for a fee of £40m.

However, the Liverpool ace was not the only midfielder who excelled at the tournament, with a report revealing Marco Silva’s side have now taken steps towards securing the signature of a different midfielder…

Leeds leading Fulham in race to sign £8.5m defender alongside Bornauw

Leeds United are now in a race to sign a defender who has been impressing in Germany.

ByBrett Worthington Jul 1, 2025

According to Sky Sports (via Sport Witness), Fulham have now expressed a concrete interest in signing Borussia Monchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz, submitting an enquiry over a potential summer deal.

Reitz has a £17m release clause which becomes active next summer, and he is attracting widespread interest from within the Premier League, with West Ham United thought to be leading the race for his signature.

Monchengladbach are worried by the interest in one of their key players, with the German club determined to retain his services, but the fact the midfielder is set to be available for £17m next year could lead them to auctioning him off this summer.

"Spectacular" Reitz impressing for Germany U21s

Germany ultimately came up short in the U21 Euros final, with England prevailing 3-2 after Jonathan Rowe’s extra-time winner, but Reitz impressed throughout the tournament, being singled out for high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Fellow scout Antonio Mango has lauded the maestro as “spectacular” in the past, and he has proven himself to be exceptional at winning back possession, ranking in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

After losing Joao Palhinha last summer, Fulham brought in Sander Berge, but there are signs the Mönchengladbach midfielder could be more of a like-for-like replacement for the Portugal international, considering his defensive qualities.

As such, Reitz could be a shrewd acquisition for Silva this summer, and the manager will be hoping that Fulham finishing higher than West Ham last season will give them the edge over their Premier League rivals in negotiations.

Alexander Isak’s form in the 2024/25 campaign for Newcastle United has been sensational. Around a month ago, at the end of April, Jamie Carragher described the Swede as the “best striker in the Premier League right now”, and looking at the numbers, it is not hard to see why.

In 33 games in the English top flight, the striker has scored 23 goals and grabbed six assists. He has featured for 2,684 minutes in the Premier League, leaving him with an extraordinary average of one goal every 116 minutes.

With Isak’s superb form, it is no surprise Newcastle are looking to bolster his attack and bring him even more support in forward areas ahead of next term.

Newcastle’s latest attacking target

There might not be a more eye-catching signing to go along with Isak and winger Anthony Gordon in the Magpies’ attack than Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. It has been an impressive campaign for the Englishman, and he could well leave the Bundesliga this summer.

Transfer Focus

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According to a report from former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, in conversation with Football Insider, Newcastle ‘are working on a move to sign’ the young winger this summer. Brown confirmed that the North Eastern side have ‘had scouts watching him this season’ and could now swoop in to sign him.

Surprisingly, although Gittens is a player with high potential, this is a deal that could come cheap.

A report from talkSPORT last month claimed he is valued at just £35m by Dortmund. However, they also link Chelsea to a move for the winger, meaning Newcastle might face strong competition.

Why Gittens would be a good signing

It has been a strong campaign for Gittens, despite a tough time of it as a team for Dortmund. Described by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley as “England’s best winger in 24/25”, the 20-year-old has certainly made a difference at times in that famous Black and Yellow shirt.

In 48 games this season across all competitions, Gittens has managed to find the back of the net on 12 occasions and has also created five goals for his teammates. In total, 12 of those goal involvements have come in the Bundesliga.

However, if there was one game where Gittens really showed what he can do, it was away to Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage. The former Manchester City academy man impressed against the La Liga giants, executing an incisive counter-attack to give his side a 2-0 lead.

One thing that really stands out about Gittens is his ability with the ball at his feet. He is a fantastic ball carrier, deadly in one-vs-one scenarios and confident in taking a defender on and beating him in those situations.

In fact, the stats on FBref from the Bundesliga season show just how good he is when carrying the ball. For example, Gittens averages 5.73 progressive carries and 3.9 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, both of which rank him in the top 1% of wingers in the Bundesliga.

Gittens dribbling numbers in 2024/25 Bundesliga
Stat (per 90)	Number	Percentile vs. attackers
Take-ons attempted	8.67	99th
Take-ons completed	3.9	99th
Progressive carries	5.73	99th
Carries into final third	2.84	94th
Carries into penalty area	3.19	99th
Stats from FBref

Well, Newcastle will be hoping that Gittens can replicate Isak’s impact at St James’ Park. Just like the young England U21 star, Isak was formerly a Dortmund player, where he made 13 appearances but only scored once.

However, his impact in the North East has been colossal, proving that you can certainly make a fine transition from Germany to English football.

108 games and 62 goals later, he is, as Carragher said, one of the stars of the Premier League, and a far better player than he was at Dortmund all those years ago.

Newcastle would surely love for Gittens to replicate that sort of impact. He could well become the second coming of Isak, that is to say, a former Dortmund player who has a fantastic impact on the North Eastern club.

At just £35m, Gittens seems like a bargain, and this feels like a move Newcastle must do, to further elevate their attack.

A dream for Isak: Newcastle plotting move for £50m "wonderkid"

Howe has sent scouts to watch a Bundesliga wonderkid for Newcastle United.

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Ross Kilvington

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