Paul Pogba could be facing another delay in his bid to make a competitive debut for Monaco, with the World Cup winner still working his way towards full match sharpness. Pogba has been out of action since September 2023, having been stung with a doping ban, and is yet to open a new adventure in Ligue 1 – with no unnecessary risks being taken on his fitness.
Marcus Tavernier scored an 'Olimpico' goal directly from a corner to put Bournemouth ahead midway through the first half against Nottingham Forest. The Cherries went in at the interval 2-0 up as Eli Junior Kroupi doubled Bournemouth's advantage with a superb long-range strike, leaving Sean Dyche staring down the barrel of defeat in his first league game as Forest boss.
Getty Images SportTavernier beats Sels from a corner
Bournemouth were looking to make it eight games unbeaten when they welcomed Nottingham Forest to the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Cherries have made a flying start to the season having bounced back from the opening day loss to Liverpool.
Andoni Iraola's side had collected 15 points from the opening eight matches ahead of Sunday's game against Forest. The Tricky Trees, meanwhile, had hoped for a new manager bounce following Dyche's appointment last week, and he oversaw a win over FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night.
However, Forest made a disastrous start to Sunday's game as they found themselves 2-0 down at the break. And one of those was a stunning Olimpico goal from Tavernier as the Cherries man beat Matz Sels directly from a first-half corner.
AdvertisementWatch the clipGetty Images SportWhat is an 'Olimpico' goal?
An 'Olimpico' goal, or an Olympic goal, is a goal scored directly from a corner. Son Heung-Min scored one against Manchester United in the League Cup last December, while the likes of Neymar and Megan Rapinoe have also scored Olympico goals.
"How did that happen?!" Sky Sports commentators proclaimed on Sunday when Tavernier struck midway through the first half.
The 'Olimpico' stems from 1924, as Argentina player Cesareo Onzari scored against reigning Olympic champions Uruguay from a corner kick. While there were initially disputes over whether the goal should stand, the rules-making body IFAB has permitted that such goals can be scored.
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Forest not happy about corner
Tavernier's 'Olimpico' was his second league goal of the season having opened his account with the only goal of the game against Wolves back in August. The 26-year-old has never scored more than five Premier League goals in a season, doing so in the 2022-23 campaign, where he also provided four assists.
However, Forest weren't happy that the corner was awarded at the Vitality Stadium as replays showed that a Bournemouth player rather than a Forest player last touched the ball before it went behind. VAR is unable to intervene in these matters, though, so the decision to award a corner to Bournemouth couldn't be overturned.
South Africa finished the day one on 418 for 9 against sloppy Zimbabwe
Himanshu Agrawal28-Jun-2025How much luck is too much? Long before 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius became the youngest ever to score 150 in men’s Test cricket, he had been given four reprieves thanks to a mixture of the umpiring and the absence of DRS. After getting lives on 30, 54, 55 and 127, Pretorius ended up scoring 153 off 160 balls. At the time of his dismissal, he alone had scored more than half of South Africa’s total against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.By the end of the day, Corbin Bosch’s maiden Test hundred added to fellow debutant Dewald Brevis’ counterattacking 51 from 41 deliveries earlier in the day, as the visitors finished day one of the first Test on 418 for 9.Pretorius arrived when South Africa were reeling at 23 for 3 in the 15th over. At the time, Tanaka Chivanga had all three wickets, while Blessing Muzarabani and Hamilton Masakadza supported him by keeping it tight. Masakadza’s figures at that stage were 5-0-9-0 and Muzarabani’s were 5-4-5-0, having started with four maidens.Related
Stats – Lhuan-dre Pretorius, youngest to score 150 in men's Tests
T20 star Brevis wants to be 'the same guy that plays all formats'
The extra bounce on the pitch meant Muzarabani beat the bat several times early in the day, even as Chivanga struck thrice. The first breakthrough came in the sixth over when Tony de Zorzi edged to Brian Bennett at third slip for a 16-ball duck. The next wicket came when off the last ball of the 13th over, Mathew Breetzke also jabbed to Bennett at the same position. The appreciable bounce left Breetzke looking at his fingers as he walked back.The third wicket then fell in the 15th over when David Bedingham pushed hard at a length ball on the fifth stump and edged to first slip. That was when Pretorius began to hit back at Zimbabwe. Facing Masakadza in the next over, Pretorius launched him for six over long-off and then drove for four wide of mid-off. He ended the 18th over with another boundary, motoring along to 17 off his first 16 balls.Muzarabani continued to bowl tightly at the other end, but could only manage to keep the runs down. Like de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder also struggled to find rhythm, apart from driving Masakadza for four. But Mulder was run out in the 23rd over after a mix-up with Pretorius left him well short at the non-striker’s end; Muzarabani’s direct throw broke the stumps cleanly.At 55 for 4, it was down to the two debutants, Pretorius and Brevis, and they repaid South Africa’s faith. But Pretorius was living a charmed life. In the 25th over, Chivanga could have had his fourth when Pretorius, on 30, chased a ball outside off. There was a clear noise as the ball passed the bat, prompting a loud appeal for caught behind, but the umpire remained unmoved. The absence of DRS only added to Zimbabwe’s frustration.File photo – Tanaka Chivanga struck early on the first morning•Getty ImagesJust after lunch, Pretorius reached his half-century off 53 balls, after which Brevis deposited Vincent Masekesa for six over midwicket and followed up with a straight four to end the 30th over. Chivanga, Muzarabani, and Masekesa managed to restore some control briefly.Masekesa trapped Pretorius plumb in front on 54 with a delivery that turned in and beat an attempted reverse sweep, but again, the umpire was unmoved. In the next over, on 55, Pretorius mistimed a pull off Chivanga, but the ball flew over the keeper’s head, his third lucky escape.Brevis, meanwhile, showcased his attacking instincts in the longest format. He smashed Masekesa for three sixes in the 36th over, bringing up his fifty in just 38 balls. However, in the next over, Muzarabani dismissed him for 51, as he toe-ended a pull to mid-off, ending a game-changing 95-run stand.Pretorius soon lost Kyle Verreynne, but continued to find boundaries regularly. He reached his century off 112 balls, hitting his third six with a beautiful punch over long-off off Bennett. Bosch, at the other end, played more calmly, focusing on rotating the strike. Their partnership crossed fifty as South Africa maintained a steady scoring rate, thanks largely to Pretorius.Pretorius’ final slice of luck came on 127, when he attempted a punch off Bennett and was beaten on the outside edge. Once again, there was a faint sound, but the umpire ruled in his favor. Eventually, he was dismissed after tea, in the 65th over, when Pretorius skied a pull off Chivanga to mid-on.That ended a dominant 108-run stand for the seventh wicket, but Bosch took over and frustrated Zimbabwe alongside the tail. He reached his fifty in the 71st over, flashing at a wide delivery from Muzarabani that flew over the slips for four. Keshav Maharaj supported him with a handy 21, including two sixes, in a 41-run stand, which ended when Masekesa stuck.With two wickets remaining and South Africa nearing 350, Bosch went on the offensive. From 61 off 91 balls, he accelerated to finish unbeaten on 100 off 124, hitting five boundaries in the process, including a drive, a pull, and a swat off consecutive deliveries from Masekesa. Codi Yusuf, also on debut, supported Bosch with 27, including five fours.Bosch was on 84 when Muzarabani dismissed Yusuf. At that point, South Africa had 389 runs on the board. In the company of last man Kwena Maphaka, Bosch not only reached his century in the final over of the day but also took South Africa past the 400-run mark.
نجح فريق الكرة الأول بنادي بيراميدز، في تسجيل الهدف الثاني في مرمى الاتحاد السكندري، ضمن مباريات الدوري المصري الممتاز.
ويواجه فريق بيراميدز نظيره الاتحاد السكندري، في الجولة الـ13 من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز، على ملعب الدفاع الجوي.
طالع.. فيديو | مروان حمدي يسجل هدف بيراميدز الأول أمام الاتحاد السكندري
وتمكن أحمد عاطف قطة لاعب بيراميدز من إحراز الهدف الثاني لصالح فريقه في مرمى الاتحاد السكندري، بعد تمريره من مروان حمدي لأحمد عاطف ليضعها في شباك زعيم الثغر في الدقيقة 79 من عمر الشوط الثاني.
وفي الدقيقة 82، تحصل الاتحاد السكندري على ركلة جزاء، نجح كريم الدين مدافع زعيم الثغر في تقليص الفارق أمام بيراميدز، لتصبح النتيجة تقدم السماوي بهدفين مقابل هدف.
ويطمح فريق بيراميدز في مواصلة الانتصارات أمام الاتحاد السكندري، من أجل استمرار المنافسة على لقب الدوري المصري الممتاز. هدف بيراميدز الثاني أمام الاتحاد السكندري
For the first time since the initial period after the Saudi-backed takeover, Newcastle United’s transfer business carried the air of planning rather than panic.
Last summer had been defined by a scramble to meet Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which led the club to reluctantly cash in on academy graduates to balance the books.
Twelve months on, the Magpies appear to have learned their lesson.
The sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £125 million and Nick Woltemade’s arrival from Stuttgart for £69 million dominated headlines this window.
Newcastle also pushed through a £55 million deal for Yoane Wissa from Brentford, finally landing the striker they had pursued after failed attempts to sign other targets.
The additions of Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, and Anthony Elanga further highlight the blending of established professionals with younger, developing talents.
Newcastle have adopted a strategy resembling that of Chelsea, who invest heavily in youth prospects that can be integrated into the first team or later sold for a profit. The policy shift feels directly linked to the scars of last summer, where the club’s lack of foresight in sales forced them into unwanted departures.
The most painful of those was Elliot Anderson, a boyhood product whose departure still lingers among supporters.
Few transfers captured Newcastle’s PSR reality quite like the exit of Elliot Anderson.
Born in the North-East, Anderson represented pure profit under financial rules, having come through the academy system.
In 2024, he left for Nottingham Forest, with goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos heading the other way in a deal that neither the player nor the club truly wanted. Newcastle’s desperation at the time was obvious.
Winger Yankuba Minteh was reluctantly sold to Brighton while late moves for Isak and Anthony Gordon had even been considered to balance the books. The decision to sanction Anderson’s departure was a clear by-product of heavy spending in the early takeover years without meaningful outgoings.
For Anderson, however, the move proved beneficial.
At Forest, he escaped Newcastle’s midfield, where Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton occupied all the available slots.
Instead, he became a vital cog in Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, registering 37 league appearances last season, with two goals and six assists.
The statistical profile underlines his all-round game.
|
Elliot Anderson – 2024/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Matches Played |
37 |
|
Goals |
2 |
|
Assists |
6 |
|
Progressive Carries |
52 |
|
Progressive Passes |
143 |
|
Source: FBref |
|
Anderson ranked in the 88th percentile for assists per 90 (0.19) and 77th for shot-creating actions (3.07), demonstrating his ability to influence the final third, per FBref.
Off the ball, he impressed too: 88th percentile for tackles per 90 (3.07) and 87th for clearances (2.40), showing a willingness to work in deeper areas.
His successful take-ons, at 1.18 per 90 (89th percentile), reflect a player capable of carrying the ball under pressure.
That form earned Anderson his first senior England call-up, switching allegiance after previously representing Scotland at youth level.
For Newcastle, it was bittersweet: a homegrown talent thriving elsewhere, sacrificed in the name of compliance.
While Anderson may be the one that got away, Newcastle could yet be vindicated in their youth-first policy if Alfie Harrison fulfils his potential.
Signed from Manchester City in January 2024, Harrison has been described by The Secret Scout as “one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in England.”
The 19-year-old has already clocked up 40 appearances for Newcastle’s youth sides, producing six goals and 13 assists, per Transfermarkt.
He even featured against Atlético Madrid in pre-season with the first team, a sign of how highly he is regarded by Eddie Howe’s coaching staff.
Though a loan move was discussed over the summer, Harrison has stayed put to train alongside senior internationals – exposure that could only accelerate his development.
Harrison operates best as a classic No.10, thriving between the lines where he can execute key passes or make late runs into the box.
That, however, is the tactical sticking point.
Howe rarely employs a traditional playmaker, preferring a midfield trio built on intensity and physicality.
Still, the hope is that a pathway is there.
Newcastle’s push to stockpile young talent in anticipation of both PSR pressure and long-term squad building creates room for players like Harrison to emerge.
If his numbers at youth level translate to the senior game, the Magpies could have unearthed a future star without the financial sting of another enforced sale.
For all the disappointment of losing Anderson, Newcastle’s recalibrated recruitment could ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.
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If Harrison is given the right platform, the Magpies might just find their next homegrown success story waiting in the wings.
Former Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck spoke highly of Ruben Amorim's Red Devils after Brighton's 4-2 defeat at Old Trafford on Saturday. After enduring a difficult start to their 2025-26 campaign, United seem to be on a roll, having now won all three of their Premier League fixtures in October, including a victory over arch-rivals and reigning champions Liverpool.
New signings star in United's win
United spent heavily in the last transfer window to sign attacking stars like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko as Amorim wanted to rebuild the squad following a disastrous debut campaign at Old Trafford in 2024-25.
The new arrivals took time to adjust to life in Manchester as the club initially struggled to perform in the 2025-26 campaign, however, since the start of October, the Red Devils have displayed terrific form. On Saturday, Amorim's side picked up their third successive victory in the Premier League as they beat Brighton 4-2 at Old Trafford.
Cunha scored his first goal for United as he broke the deadlock in the 24th minute before Casemiro doubled the team's lead. Bryan Mbeumo then scored a brace in the second half to seal an important win for his club. Welbeck and Charalampos Kostoulas both scored consolation goals for the visitors.
Following the victory, former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves lavished praise on the new United players, telling Premier League Productions: "I don’t think the performances have been amazing but the results speak for themselves. If you think back to the first game of the season against Arsenal, that was a good performance but they somehow lost the game. The results are the most important thing. When you have players like Matheus Cunha who have a real personality… I just love the way he talks and plays. Cunha and Mbeumo along with Bruno Fernandes are guys that you can rely on and trust. Manchester United are scoring goals and look dangerous, I would say they’re conceding more than they would like, 14 is a lot after nine games. But I like the look of the team and the direction they’re going in. The goalkeeper [Senne Lammens] has made a difference as well."
AdvertisementAFPWelbeck delivers verdict on Amorim's United
Welbeck, who started his professional career at Old Trafford, spoke highly of Amorim's improving side after the game.
Speaking on after Brighton's loss at his former home ground, Welbeck said: "It is the best [Manchester United] side we have faced in a while. They were really organised and structured, they always have incredible players and today they really punished our mistakes. A difficult game but one we can look back and analyse. I do believe we can come here and get the three points."
'We are up against quality'
Further analysing the game at full-time, Welbeck told reporters: "We are a bit gutted. There was part of the game early on where we dominated but a few silly mistakes led to goals. We are up against quality so they will punish you. It is a learning curve of us. We showed great character at the end but it wasn’t good enough. We put ourselves in a really difficult position. We have a great group and everyone is going to keep fighting, whatever the score is. We got two goals and were closing to maybe getting a third. It didn’t happen but it is a good sign we showed character."
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AFPWhat lies ahead for United?
United leapfrogged rivals Liverpool – who lost to Brentford later in the day – to occupy fifth place in the points table after the Brighton triumph. Amorim's side will now aim to build on their performance from the last three games and hope to win their upcoming clashes against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League before the third international break of this season kicks in.
Pundit Jamie Carragher has switched sides when asked for his favourite Scottish club out of Celtic and Rangers.
A Liverpool legend, Carragher made 737 appearances for the Reds across 17 years and has since been a regular for Sky Sports alongside former Manchester United right-back Gary Neville.
As a player, Carragher won numerous domestic cup competitions but never lifted the Premier League title. In Europe, the defender won the UEFA Cup in 2001 and the Champions League in 2005, featuring in the historic final against AC Milan in Istanbul.
Champions League
2005
UEFA Cup
2001
UEFA Super Cup
2001, 2005
FA Cup
2001, 2006
League Cup
2001, 2003, 2012
Community Shield
2001, 2006
Interestingly, the former Reds defender never played against Rangers in his career but did feature on three occasions against Celtic.
In 1997/98, Carragher was an unused substitute in the 2-2 draw at Celtic Park in the UEFA Cup First Round first leg. In the return fixture, Carragher started as the Reds qualified on away goals with a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
When the two sides met again in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2002/03, Carragher played every minute of action as the Hoops famously won 3-1 on aggregate.
Martin O’Neill’s side would go on to reach the final at the Estadio Olimpico in a historic European run before losing to Jose Mourinho’s FC Porto 3-2 in extra time.
Carragher chooses between Celtic and Rangers
Players and managers who aren’t associated with either Celtic or Rangers are often asked who they prefer, and Carragher is no different.
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Talking on American network CBS Sports as he covered the Champions League in 2024, Carragher was asked to pick out of Celtic and Rangers by fellow pundit Micah Richards. The former England defender simply said:
However, back in 2020, Carragher was asked the same question on an Instagram Q&A, and replied at the time: “Right now it’s Rangers because of Steven Gerrard but as soon as Steven leaves it’ll be Celtic.”
Steven Gerrard, a long-term teammate of Carragher’s at Anfield, left his role as Rangers manager back in 2021, which has resulted in Carragher swapping back to green and white.
Winning the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox, Gerrard had a successful spell in charge of the Gers but departed for Aston Villa.
His stint in charge at Villa Park wasn’t as positive as he’d have hoped, which led to Gerrard moving to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq until 2025.
One figure who has gone down in history at Leeds United is former manager Marcelo Bielsa. The Argentine manager is adored by the Elland Road faithful, after spending three and a half successful years at the club between 2018/19 and 2021/22.
Of course, he was the man in charge when the Whites were promoted back to the Premier League for the first time in over a decade, and he helped them survive comfortably.
That initial campaign back in the top flight in 2020/21 saw the Yorkshire side come ninth in the table.
Statistically, they were one of the most exciting teams to watch in 2020/21. They certainly stack up well against their start to this season.
How Leeds’ key stats from 2020/21 compare to 2025/26
We are seven games into the new season, and Leeds, now managed by Daniel Farke, have impressed fans and pundits with how well they’ve played.
Many people, including Bill Connelly of ESPN, had them down to be relegated, predicting they’d finish 18th.
Yet, at the October international break, the Whites have done well to keep themselves above the relegation zone. They have eight points to their name and sit 15th in the table.
The expected points tally, as per Understat, has them on 9.96xPTS, suggesting they’ve played better than their current tally suggests.
Seven games into the 2020/21 campaign under Bielsa saw Leeds doing slightly better than their current points total. At the same stage that season, they had ten points to their name and were 12th in the top flight, again impressing given they’d only just been promoted.
Whilst the squad five seasons ago had outscored Farke’s team seven games into the season, the current Leeds side are more defensively sound. They’ve conceded 11 goals this term, with an expected goals against total of 8.87xGA.
In comparison, Bielsa’s men had let in 13 goals in seven matches, at 12.85xGA according to Understat.
With that in mind, there is one man from the current Leeds side who would have surely made Bielsa’s team stronger.
The current Leeds player who'd strengthen Bielsa’s team
There have been several standout players in a Leeds shirt this season. New signing Sean Longstaff has transitioned to life at Elland Road seamlessly.
He’s already created 13 chances in the top flight, averaging 2.5 per 90 minutes.
However, it is defensively that the famous 2020/21 side could have done with reinforcements. That is why current Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu would have slotted seamlessly into Bielsa’s squad.
The Welshman is an “indispensable” member of Farke’s side, according to football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
His entire Elland Road career has come under the German’s tutelage, racking up 91 appearances and even chipping in with a couple of goals back in his first season at the club.
One of the great things about the Whites number four is his versatility. He’s equally adept at playing as a centre-back and the base of the midfield, operating as a number six who can screen the back four.
In a Leeds shirt, he’s played 48 times in the latter role, and 40 at the back.
The above graphic shows Leeds’ most common starting lineup from the 2020/21 campaign. It is easy to imagine Ampadu slotting into the back four next to then-club captain Liam Cooper, displacing Diego Llorente.
Alternatively, he could have played alongside Kalvin Phillips in midfield to make them even more defensively astute. That is a duo which would have won plenty of duels in the middle of the park.
Some stats show Ampadu’s quality, too. Last season in the Championship, and this term in the Premier League, he’s been extremely consistent.
For example, in 2024/25, he made 5.1 ball recoveries per 90 minutes on average, which has slightly dropped to 5 each game in 2025/26.
Ampadu – last 2 seasons
Stat (per 90)
2024/25
2025/26
Pass accuracy
90.44%
86.01%
Duels won
5.9
4.8
Clearances
3.5
2.5
Interceptions
1
1.3
Ball recoveries
5.1
5
Stats from Squawka
It is certainly not too far-fetched to imagine Ampadu operating in this successful Bielsa side. Knowing the versatility he offers, as well as the quality he can bring to a side on and off the ball, he would have made a fine addition to a heavy-metal, transitional team.
Of course, we’ll never know how well this could have worked out, but Ampadu’s contributions could have made Bielsa’s famous Leeds side even better.
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Tottenham Hotspur return to action at the end of this week with a clash against Aston Villa at home in the Premier League after the international break.
The Lilywhites are currently third in the table, with one loss in seven matches, and Thomas Frank will be hoping that his team continues to thrive in the top-flight.
He may, however, look for more from certain players in the coming weeks. Xavi Simons, for example, is yet to score a goal since his move from RB Leipzig in the summer.
The Netherlands international, as shown in the graphic below, hit double figures for goals in the 2024/25 campaign for the German outfit before his move to England.
These statistics suggest that there is more to come from the attacking midfielder, who played in a central midfield role against Leeds United last time out, as a goalscoring threat.
Frank needs the Dutchman to step up with more goals and assists this season because the Danish tactician will be without James Maddison for some time yet.
Why James Maddison's injury is a big blow for Spurs
The England international suffered an ACL injury in pre-season and is set to be out for the majority of this season. He recently revealed that his target is to return before the end of the campaign.
This means that the former Leicester and Norwich star will not be available for selection to Frank until near the end of the season at the earliest, which is a big blow because of the quality that he can provide at Premier League level.
Maddison, who has 107 goals and assists in his top-flight career (Transfermarkt), ended the 2024/25 league campaign with a return of nine goals and seven assists in 21 starts for Spurs.
The English attacking midfielder proved that he is worthy of wearing the number ten shirt for Tottenham with his performances in the Premier League, with a consistent stream of goals and assists at the top end of the pitch.
xG
0.29
Top 4%
Goals
0.45
Top 3%
Shots on target
0.84
Top 7%
xA
0.29
Top 4%
Chances created
2.03
Top 10%
Assists
0.35
Top 4%
As you can see in the table above, Maddison ranked as one of the most effective attacking midfielders in the Premier League last season when it came to scoring and creating goals per 90.
The likes of Rafa van der Vaart, Harry Kane, Robbie Keane, Teddy Sheringham, and Glenn Hoddle all donned the number ten shirt before the Spurs star inherited it from Kane in the summer of 2023.
Maddison’s impact at the top end of the pitch, with goals and assists, shows that he is worthy of being a number ten for the club, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to get back to his best after an ACL injury.
If the England international does not get back to his best in an attacking midfield role for Spurs, that number ten shirt could be up for grabs in the not-too-distant future.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Whilst some may look to Xavi Simons as a potential successor to Maddison’s number ten shirt, there is an exciting young star in the academy system who could steal the number ten from the vice-captain.
Luca Williams-Barnett made his first-team debut for Tottenham off the bench against Doncaster in the League Cup earlier this season, and could have a bright future in North London.
Why Luca Williams-Barnett can steal the number ten shirt for Spurs
Per Transfermarkt, the 17-year-old starlet has worn the number ten shirt for Spurs at U18, U19, and U21 level so far, which shows that he is a fan of the number.
This suggests that his dream would be to wear the number ten shirt for Tottenham at first-team level in the future, but he currently has Maddison in his way and will need to emerge as a star for Frank’s team to have a shot at claiming it.
Williams-Barnett’s form for the club’s academy so far this season suggests that he is well on his way to breaking into the senior side, which would then put him into contention to steal that shirt number.
The teenage talent, who was hailed as “special” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has scored eight goals and provided five assists in ten appearances in all competitions this season, per Transfermarkt, which includes a three-minute appearance for the first-team.
Williams-Barnett, typically deployed as an attacking midfielder, has delivered consistent performances at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals in his number ten role.
Appearances
23
10
Minutes
1857
719
Goals
20
8
Minutes per goal
93
90
Assists
12
5
Minutes per assist
155
144
Minutes per goal contribution
58
55
As you can see in the table above, the 17-year-old starlet’s form since the start of last season has been breathtaking, with a goal or an assist every hour or so on average.
Not only is Williams-Barnett an output machine who can score and create goals at an exceptional rate, but the Spurs sensation also “scores bangers”, per analyst Ben Mattinson on X.
That comment from Mattinson is backed up by the two goals from the attacking midfielder in the video above, as it shows that he is an effective finisher from range.
However, it is now down to Williams-Barnett to prove that he can score and create goals at an impressive rate for the senior team, as he has done at U18, U19, and U21 level so far.
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If Frank provides the England U18 international with a chance to play regular minutes for the first-team, the impressive attacking midfielder may just steal Maddison’s number ten shirt in the future.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin would have been the most relieved man in the ground when Max Aarons scored the winner in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
The Ibrox side avoided a sixth game without a win to start the top-flight season thanks to the substitute’s last-gasp strike from Nicolas Raskin’s corner.
It was far from a perfect performance from Rangers, hence why they needed a stoppage-time winner, but there were some positives to take from the match.
Connor Barron’s emergence in the middle of the park was one of those positives, as the Scotland international showed that he is ready to stand up and fight for a place in the team.
How Connor Barron made himself undroppable against Livingston
At least for the time being, the former Aberdeen star has made himself undroppable in the Premiership because of his workman-like display against Livingston on Sunday.
Barron’s constant pressing and harrying of the opposition made life difficult for the hosts and helped the Gers to gain control of the game, particularly in the first half.
The young ace made six ball recoveries, without getting dribbled past once, and played six passes into the final third, per FotMob, which shows that he worked hard to win the ball back and was progressive in his passing.
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This is why Barron is currently undroppable, as his work rate, defending, and progressive passing have made him a valuable member of the side. It is also why he is currently an even better option than a star who was once compared to Zinedine Zidane.
The Rangers star who is even worse than Connor Barron
Mohamed Diomande was an unused substitute in the 2-1 win over Livingston just days after he was sent off in the 1-0 loss to Genk in the Europa League at Ibrox on Thursday night.
The Ivorian midfielder’s form has dropped off in the 2025/26 campaign, just months after being compared to Zidane by Turkish legend and TV pundit Nihat after the 3-1 win against Fenerbahce in the Europa League in March.
After an assist and five out of eight ground duels won for the midfielder, per Sofascore, Nihat said: “Mohamed Diomande was brilliant – like the best of Zinedine Zidane – thank God they substituted him.”
Diomande, who was linked with a move to Besiktas in the summer, has been unable to carry his impressive from last season over to the current campaign, as he has been outperformed by Barron in the Premiership.
Appearances
4
5
Sofascore rating
6.73
6.38
Tackles per game
1.8
1.4
Clearances per game
1.0
0.2
Duels won per game
3.8
3.4
Ground duel success rate
52%
49%
Aerial duel success rate
40%
17%
As you can see in the table above, the Scottish midfielder has been far more strong and reliable to the team in the middle of the park in comparison to the left-footed ace.
On top of his struggles in the Premiership, Diomande was, as aforementioned, shown a red card against Genk and will be unable to bounce back in Europe against Sturm Graz on Thursday.
The Light Blues and Martin need the Ivorian star to get back to being like Real Madrid legend Zidane again, because he is currently underperforming and finds himself behind Barron, who has been an unusued substitute on six occasions this season, in the pecking order.
Hopefully, the red card against Genk will provide Diomande with a bit of time to recharge and come back into the team with a point to prove, starting with the game against Falkirk on Sunday.
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