Category Uncategorized

Maiden first-class hundred for former England Under-19s captain

ECB Reporters Network22-Aug-2024

A magnificent maiden first-class century from Ben McKinney and a dogged hundred from Alex Lees put Durham in a dominant position on day one of their Vitality County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire.McKinney, who is playing in just his second County Championship match, smashed an experienced Notts bowling attack around the park at the Seat Unique Riverside after Haseeb Hameed put the hosts into bat at the toss, while Lees anchored the Durham innings to reach three figures for the third time this season in the County Championship.McKinney was very much the aggressor in the early stages of the day as the pair put on 189 runs for the first wicket, the hosts’ highest opening stand of the season. The visitors then made a mini-fightback and picked up three wickets for 58 runs, but Lees combined with Ashton Turner for a partnership worth 122 to leave the hosts 393 for 5 at close.McKinney, who was part of the England Lions side that beat Sri Lanka last week, was excellent throughout his innings and laid a fantastic foundation for Durham in this mid-table battle. The 19-year-old dominated with some great shots, particularly on the off side, while Lees offered few opportunities as he went through the gears on the way to a 15th first-class century for Durham.Meanwhile Notts skipper Hameed will be scratching his head after his decision to bowl first allowed the hosts to post a big total. As a result his side already look like having a mountain to climb.On the opening morning at Chester-le-Street Durham managed to negotiate a tough period of opening bowling from Olly Stone, who was released from the England Test squad to play in this game, and Brett Hutton, but McKinney and Lees looked in good touch.Once he made it through the opening exchanges, McKinney looked to attack whenever he could and he hit two glorious boundaries on the off side from a Stone over. The tall left-hander passed fifty for the second time in his first-class career with a cover drive for four while Lees kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end to take the partnership past 100 just before lunch.McKinney continued where he left off after lunch as he remained positive and he picked up several boundaries including a lovely pull shot off the bowling of Hutton.Then came a flurry of milestones for the hosts with Lees reaching his fifty from 114 balls and former England Under-19s skipper McKinney brought up his maiden hundred from 117 balls with a beautiful cover drive. He then hit Freddie McCann for the first six of the match over the long-off boundary, but his excellent knock didn’t last much longer as he chipped a McCann delivery straight to midwicket and had to depart for 121.Scott Borthwick looked in good touch but Lyndon James bowled him for 26 after he left one which clipped the top of off stump and the Notts bowler struck again soon after, removing Ollie Robinson for 13, which gave the visitors some hope.While wickets were falling at the other end, Lees remained firm and joined McKinney in getting a century after tea, albeit in a somewhat different style with the former England man’s milestone coming from 223 balls with just seven boundaries.Turner, who is making his first-class bow for Durham, came to the crease and ran well between the wickets with Lees as they accumulated runs and passed 300. Turner then played a delightful pull shot for four and Lees got in on the act as he dabbed a Stone ball to the third man boundary as the hosts piled on the runs.The second new ball initially couldn’t help Notts in their pursuit of wickets as Turner reached his fifty from 70 balls. However, Hutton then bowled Lees for 145 to end a fine innings and give the visitors a sniff in the final stages of the day.James picked up his third of the day as Graham Clark went for 7, but Turner remained unbeaten on 62 at stumps.

Lionel Messi called an English icon a “once in a generation player” and claimed that there was “nobody like him” in world football.

The Argentine is regarded as the greatest footballer of all time by many, beginning his professional career back in 2004 at the age of 17.

After Ronaldinho set up Messi’s first goal in a Barcelona shirt, he has gone on to break numerous records and is the most decorated player in the history of professional football with 45 team honours.

On a personal note, no player has won more than his eight Ballon d’Or titles, while he has also been named FIFA’s world’s best player on eight occasions. Messi’s first Ballon d’Or crown came in 2009 and his last was in 2023, a year on after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.

Years Messi has won the Ballon d’Or

Club

2009

Barcelona

2010

Barcelona

2011

Barcelona

2012

Barcelona

2015

Barcelona

2019

Barcelona

2021

Barcelona

2023

Inter Miami

Messi named Brazilian striker Ronaldo as his favourite ever player, and he has also named his 10 favourite teammates, all of which played alongside him at the Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi’s 10 favourite teammates in pictures:

The iconic attacker has also come up against several English stars in his career, and one in particular stood out.

Messi: Wayne Rooney was “special" and a “once in a generation player”

One player who Messi came up against on several occasions was Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. The England striker is the Red Devils’ record scorer with 253 goals, but Messi broke Rooney’s heart twice in the Champions League.

Messi scored in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals at the Stadio Olimpico and Wembley Stadium, with Barca lifting the European crown on both occasions. Rooney scored Man Utd’s goal in the 3-1 defeat at Wembley, and he was a player who caught the eye of Messi during his career.

Talking back in 2015, Messi hailed Rooney after the striker became England’s all-time leading goal-scorer with his 50th international goal.

That tally has since been surpassed by Harry Kane, however, Messi called Rooney “a once in a generation player” and that there was “nobody like him”.

Tottenham Hotspur and their recruitment plans under Thomas Frank are evolving by the day, with the Lilywhites currently involved in a transfer saga with La Liga champions Barcelona.

Spurs are expected to utilise the significant financial windfall from their Champions League qualification over the coming months.

Frank holds Tottenham talks over signing £300k-p/w ace who's open to joining

The Spurs boss has been discussing him with Lilywhites hierarchy.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 18, 2025

Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge recently stated that Daniel Levy and the recruitment team want to strengthen in all areas of the squad bar their goalkeeper, so it appears they’re determined to back their new manager ahead of his first full season in charge.

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

This apparently includes a new right-back, despite the emergence of previous outcast Djed Spence in a more regular first-team role and Pedro Porro’s place in the squad.

Spence became a fixture under Ange Postecoglou and finished 2024/2025 as one of Tottenham’s breakout stars of the campaign, and there is reason to believe that Frank will be keen to work with the Englishman given Brentford’s attempts to sign him in the past (Alasdair Gold).

While the north Londoners won’t need to adopt a ‘sell to buy’ policy this summer after their qualification for the Champions League (Michael Bridge), reports have suggested that Spence’s evolution could motivate Levy to offload Porro for a decent fee.

As well as this, Porro is attracting rumoured interest from former club Man City, so the Spaniard could well look to end his Spurs stint on a high after winning the Europa League.

If he does end up leaving Spurs, Frank will still need a replacement who can rotate with Spence, and Monaco defender Vanderson could be a very adept choice. A report from UOL earlier this week stated that Tottenham are ready to invest significantly on Vanderson’s signing, but Barcelona’s talks for the 23-year-old proved a major obstacle in their way.

Tottenham "best placed" to sign Vanderson from Monaco

However, as per an update from Spanish newspaper Sport, this is no longer the case.

Barca have decided to cool their interest in Vanderson, due to Eric Garcia’s excellent performances at right-back when Jules Koundé was out injured towards the back end of 2024/2025. This has opened the door for Spurs, who could now have a free run at signing the South American wing-back.

Tottenham are apparently “best placed” to sign Vanderson, and Monaco are convinced that Frank’s side will meet his £30 million asking price.

Despite his fairly young age, the defender boasts top-level European experience and his Ligue 1 performances over the last 12 months have earned him five starts for the Brazil national team.

He also put in an excellent display against Barca in the Champions League early last season, grabbing two assists for Monaco in a 2-1 win against Hansi Flick’s side.

“Every day he wants to be better than the last,” said his former manager, Philippe Clement.

“That can give him a lot of pressure, lots of stress with all of the ambition that he has. We need to manage that more for him. If I left him to it, he would train for 18 hours a day. He is like that. Sometimes we need physical and mental breaks and he is a young player that needs to manage that. He will do it, because he has such a positive frame of mind.”

Tottenham Hotspur are now confident they can win the race for a midfield “magician” following their Europa League triumph against Manchester United, according to a report.

Spurs end 17-year trophy drought in Bilbao

Tottenham’s long wait for a trophy came to an end earlier this week, sealing European glory with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao, which sparked some wild scenes upon their return to north London.

Ending the 17-year wait for major silverware was of the utmost importance to Ange Postecoglou, who once again delivered in his second season, but his side’s Europa League triumph also secures a return to the Champions League next season, despite their dismal Premier League form.

As such, moving to Spurs should be an attractive proposition for some top players in the summer transfer window, and they are now growing in confidence they can win the race for a midfielder, who is also being targeted by Man United.

Indeed, according to a report from The Boot Room, both Tottenham and United are interested in signing Lille’s Angel Gomes, who is set to be available on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract this summer, and the north Londoners are now confident about winning the race.

The Red Devils’ defeat in the Europa League final means they will not be playing European football of any description next season, which could make a move to north London more appealing for Gomes, who has been a long-standing target for Postecoglou’s side.

"Magician" Gomes could be excellent signing for Spurs

Ange has been plagued with injuries throughout the campaign, with the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison spending time on the sidelines, while there is also a feeling the manager could look to offload fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma in the summer.

As such, it makes perfect sense for Tottenham to bring in more depth in the middle of the park this summer, and the Lille maestro could be an excellent addition to the squad, having received his first England call-up earlier this season.

Related Tottenham submit bid for Kompany-esque defender to replace Cristian Romero

He’s been likened to the former Man City captain and Bayern Munich manager.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini May 24, 2025

Indeed, the Englishman caught the eye of former interim boss Lee Carsley, while he has also received high praise from former teammate Jonathan Panzo, who said: “He’s like a magician,”

“He’s a small player, but his IQ is so smart and he just knows how to get around the pitch.”

Tottenham’s return to the Champions League should ensure they have money to spend in the upcoming window, but signing Gomes on a free transfer would still be a smart piece of business, and a move to north London should be far more appealing than Old Trafford after the heroics in Bilbao.

Manchester United have endured a season to forget in 2024/25, losing yet another Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday afternoon.

Ruben Amorim has been unable to transform the side over the last couple of months, with the summer window absolutely pivotal if he is to be a success at Old Trafford.

With survival secured for the next campaign, all focus now will undoubtedly be on the Europa League, with such a competition their only chance of ending the season with a trophy.

Should they go all the way in Europe, it would secure Champions League football for the club, undoubtedly saving what has been a truly dismal year for the Red Devils.

Despite the defeat on Sunday afternoon, numerous players managed to impress, looking to build up their form ahead of the European clash in just over a week’s time.

Man Utd’s star performers against Wolves

Noussair Mazraoui has been one of the club’s best additions in recent years, looking to be a bargain after his £12.8m move from Bayern Munich in the summer.

The Moroccan featured for the entirety of the defeat, winning 10 duels, whilst also completing 92% of the passes he attempted – showcasing his talents with and without the ball.

He wasn’t alone in impressing, with youngster Harry Amass taking advantage of another start that was handed his way in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.

The 18-year-old operated in a left wing-back role, winning two tackles and making three clearances, whilst completing 100% of the dribbles he attempted, looking a threat at both ends of the pitch.

However, despite the showings of the pair, one other United star managed to impress, with the manager simply unable to drop him from the side after such a display.

The United star who now looks undroppable after Wolves

With just a handful of games to go in the Premier League, Amorim has the perfect opportunity to experiment with his side to work out what he wants to do this summer.

There’s no denying that additions and sales need to be made to the squad if they are to return to their former glory, with a repeat of the ongoing campaign nothing short of unacceptable.

It remains to be seen who could be sold or brought in, but the hierarchy need to trust the 40-year-old’s judgement if he is to succeed in the role at Old Trafford.

However, centre-back Tyler Fredricson was handed his first senior start in the clash with Wolves yesterday, taking his opportunity in the first-team with both hands.

The 20-year-old was part of a back three alongside Mazraoui and Victor Lindelof, arguably outshining the pair with his own showing in the North West.

Fredricson featured for all 90 minutes, completing 93% of the passes he attempted, whilst completing 100% of his dribbles, showcasing his impressive showing in possession – leading to Statman Dave labelling him “outstanding”.

However, out of possession, the youngster was also just as impressive, winning 12 duels and making four tackles – not looking out of place whatsoever despite his tender age.

As a result of his showing, the centre-back was handed an 8/10 match rating by The Express’ Alex Turk, further indicating what a sensational showing he produced on his debut.

After such a display, Amorim simply can’t drop the 20-year-old from his starting eleven, potentially saving the club millions of pounds in the summer transfer market.

He evidently has huge potential, needing vital minutes under the manager’s guidance next season to continue his excellent development, having the ability to be a key player throughout 2025/26.

Man Utd leading race to sign "powerful" £70m star who Ruben Amorim loves

Ruben Amorim is a huge admirer.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Apr 19, 2025

A Europa League club have held talks over a move to sign a Wolverhampton Wanderers player who Molineux chiefs are ready to sell, and it’s not Matheus Cunha.

Wolves could cash in on Cunha as numerous Premier League clubs circle

Despite signing a contract extension earlier this year, there has still been plenty of talk about Cunha leaving Wolves this summer.

The Brazilian penned new terms until 2029, however, importantly, the new contract to includes a release clause. Cunha, talking in recent weeks, admitted the “need to take the next step” and “fight for titles” in his career, hinting at a Molineux exit.

“I had a lot of offers but I wouldn’t feel well if I had done it (left Wolves). Some things you can’t control but I couldn’t leave the club in the middle of the season, in a difficult situation, in the relegation zone. Now, we’re close to achieving our goal (of staying up). But I’ve made it clear that I need to take the next step. I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential.”

There is plenty of interest in Cunha as well, with reports recently saying both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are ready to pay a huge £75m to sign the Wolves star over the coming months.

Both Villa and Forest could be able to offer Champions League football ahead of the new season, so Vitor Periera may soon lose his star striker.

£23m Wolves star is going to swiftly become more important than Cunha

Wolves could be set to lose Matheus Cunha this summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 15, 2025

However, another forward on the books at Molineux, Fabio Silva, could also be about to find a new club. Currently on loan in Spain at Las Palmas, recent reports have claimed that Wolves are ready to sell Silva for £25m.

That would be a loss for the Old Gold, and one club have made their move for the Portuguese attacker.

Wolves may sell Fabio Silva as Eintracht Frankfurt hold talks

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Eintracht Frankfurt have held “initial talks” over a move for Wolves forward Silva.

Currently in the Europa League quarter finals, Frankfurt see Silva as a “very interesting option”, although there are more clubs keen on the 22-year-old.

Things haven’t gone to plan for Silva in England after signing for a then record €40m (£33.4m) from FC Porto in 2020.

He’s scored just five goals in 72 Old Gold appearances, whereas on loan at Las Palmas this season, Silva has already netted 10 times.

Therefore, it could make sense for Wolves to cash in on Silva, and who knows, with Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike linked with a move to the Premier League, the Wolves man could be seen as his replacement in Germany.

Analysis suggests that Sunrisers Hyderabad bowled him sparingly in the Powerplay and got more out of him

Shiva Jayaraman06-Apr-2024Since he burst on to the scene in 2017, Rashid Khan has arguably been the best spinner in the IPL. Batters have struggled to pick up his variations because of his quick arm action. And Rashid’s control over his lengths have made it even more difficult to score off him in the T20 format. Oppositions have preferred to play out his overs and attack his team-mates. There aren’t many better signs of respect than that for a cricketer. Lately, however, it looks like he is losing a little bit of his touch.Two days ago, Rashid went for 40 runs in four overs against Punjab Kings. A week before that, he gave away 49 in four overs to Chennai Super Kings. There is, of course, a mitigating factor. He had back surgery recently and this IPL season is the first real test of how his body has been holding up since then. But some of these trends pre-date his injury.Take his economy rate, for example. Until 2023, he could only be hit for about a-run-a-ball. Since then, it’s been a different story.