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Tottenham Hotspur have had a fair few talents that have been underappreciated over the years, but none more so than central midfielder Mousa Dembélé.

The Belgian joined the Lilywhites in a £15m deal from Fulham back in the summer of 2012, with many supporters unaware of the quality he possessed prior to his switch to North London.

He racked up a total of 249 senior appearances during his seven-year spell at the club, arguably cementing himself as one of their best ever midfielders.

From dazzling runs with the ball at his feet to dominant physical displays out of possession, the talent cemented himself as a key player during his spell in the Premier League.

Since his move to Guangzhou City in 2019, the Lilywhites have massively lacked a player of his quality, with Thomas Frank unable to rely upon one player to be his own version of the Belgian.

Why Bentancur has struggled with Spurs in 2025/26

After Frank’s arrival in the summer, there was a huge question mark around what system the Dane would operate with at Spurs after utilising various formations at Brentford.

However, it appears as though the 52-year-old has settled on a three-man midfield in a 4-3-3 system, which has seen Joao Palhinha operate at the base, with two box-to-box players ahead of him.

Rodrigo Bentancur has been one of the most utilised players in such an area, as seen by his tally of 10 appearances out of a possible 11 in the Premier League to date.

However, the Uruguayan has struggled to impress in those outings, even being benched against Manchester United in the final game before the ongoing international break.

The 28-year-old’s underlying stats from the 2025/26 season showcase his struggles of late, which could see him drop down the pecking order further in the months ahead.

He has only created 0.6 chances per 90 this season, which ranks him in the bottom 25% of all players in the division – often struggling to make a huge impact when in possession.

Such a skillset is vital when playing with Palhinha at the heart of the side, with the Portuguese international known to break up the play and allow those around him to provide the creative spark.

However, out of possession, Bentancur has also struggled under Frank, only making 0.5 interceptions per 90, which also places him in the lower quarter of all midfielders in England’s top-flight.

The aforementioned figures highlight his all-round struggles in North London, which could certainly put his long-term future at the club in jeopardy – that’s despite penning a new deal earlier this campaign.

The Spurs star who’s already showing 'shades of Dembele'

Top-level midfielders in the modern game cost a small fortune, with numerous clubs in the Premier League often forking out mammoth sums to land world-class talents.

Four teams in England’s top-flight have spent £100m or more on a midfielder in the last five years, with Chelsea doing so on more than one occasion, with deals for Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández.

However, Spurs are a club that unfortunately aren’t in a position to willingly fork out such funds in the market, with more of a focus being directed to younger prospects.

Dominic Solanke remains the club’s record addition at £65m back in the summer of 2024, with no midfielder in Frank’s current first-team squad being bought for over £55m.

The likes of Lucas Bergvall and Pape Sarr both cost a combined £22m, with both now managing to establish themselves as key first-team members in 2025/26.

However, the academy system is another avenue for clubs to go down, with the Lilywhites desperately needing to put faith in youngster Tyrese Hall in the years ahead.

The midfielder joined the club at the age of just eight, subsequently spending 12 years in the youth ranks, before making the move to join Notts County on loan in the summer.

Such a move came after the youngster registered six goals and seven assists in 28 U21 appearances in 2024/25, with such a move being his first taste of senior football.

However, whilst it may appear a daunting task to many, Hall has taken it all in his stride, as seen by his impressive numbers at Meadow Lane over the past few months.

Central midfield

30

6 (5)

Defensive midfield

19

3 (4)

Attacking midfield

18

5 (3)

Centre-forward

6

3 (2)

Left midfield

3

1 (1)

Right midfield

1

1 (0)

The 20-year-old has already found the net on six occasions, with his latest strike proving to be the winner in the affair with Cheltenham Town at the beginning of the month.

Whilst he’s operated in a more advanced role with the Magpies, Hall has previously featured slightly deeper – even playing as a number eight for the Lilywhites in a post-season friendly back in 2024.

The youngster was brought on as a substitute in such a fixture and even impressed, with one of the commentators that day claiming he was showing “shades of Mousa Dembele”.

Such praise is huge given the levels produced by the Belgian during his own time in North London, with real hope that Hall can match such levels if given the opportunity.

At 20, he still has bags of time to reach his full potential, with his loan spell at Notts County undoubtedly helping him in his quest in the professional game.

However, Frank will need to keep a close eye on his progress and potentially hand him the opportunity to impress him in pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Dream Simons replacement: Frank has "one of England's best talents" at Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur already have an elite-level prospect on their hands in North London.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 18, 2025

England tested him, challenged him, and made him a hero. A month and a bit after being part of an epic Test series, Prasidh Krishna recounts the highs and the lows

Shashank Kishore02-Sep-202524:48

‘My god, that was one good series’ – Prasidh recounts the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

Prasidh Krishna has had plenty of time to reflect on an unforgettable summer in England. Over the past month, he has swapped new-ball spells and short-ball strategies for mountain trails, hiking across Europe and unwinding with family.Now, he’s back to the grind, preparing for a busy home season. Although he isn’t part of the men’s T20 Asia Cup squad, he is expected to play a role in India’s upcoming Tests, two each against West Indies and South Africa starting in October.”I did take a week to ten days off [after the England series],” Prasidh tells ESPNcricinfo. “I was fortunate that the Mysuru Warriors [his Maharaja Trophy franchise] owner was kind enough to say, ‘You go have your time off, and when you’re back, you can get back to play’.Related

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“Even when I was on a break [after the series] – hiking and all that – I could actually feel my body hurting. I was still sore from that last Test [at The Oval] and the three hard days [during the vacation]. On the fourth day, I told myself, ‘I’m not going to do anything’. I let my wife go on her hiking trip. I stayed back for a day, and actually felt my body recover a little bit more.”Prasidh played in three of the five Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, making a big impact in India’s series-squaring win at The Oval. He bowled 43 overs in the match, claiming 8 for 188 as part of a three-pronged pace attack with Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.The performance was all the more satisfying as it came just after he’d been left out of the fourth Test in Manchester, with the team management opting for debutant Anshul Kamboj straight off a flight.”Physically, it took a lot out of me,” Prasidh says looking back at the series. “It took me about a week to shake it off. Then I came back, played a few games in the Maharaja Trophy. It felt good to go back to my state, be with my statemates, chat with the youngsters, and just get that feeling of being back in cricket again.”Once that was over, I got back to training in Bengaluru, started bowling, and we had a few [BCCI-mandated fitness] tests over the last two days. And now, this morning when I woke up, I felt really good – like, ‘Okay, I’m ready to go play some more cricket now’.”

****

The English summer headed into its 25th day with its outcome uncertain. England had been cruising towards their target of 374. Prasidh should have had Harry Brook on 19 the previous day, but for Siraj stepping on the fine-leg boundary toblerones with ball in hand.India were sent on a leather hunt for much of the fourth afternoon until Prasidh brought India back with two late wickets in nine deliveries. Then, rain and bad light took the game into the final day, where England needed 35 runs, and India four wickets.Prasidh Krishna picked 14 wickets in three Tests in England•Getty ImagesPrasidh saw his first two balls disappear for boundaries. As tension gripped The Oval, the man at the centre of it all remained calm. “The first ball, I had clearly planned, was going to be a bouncer,” he remembers. “It made me feel like I could set up the over – or even the following overs – better, knowing how the bouncer was behaving. I felt that was one of my main weapons.”That ball went for a boundary, but it also helped me understand what was happening with the pitch. The second one was an inside edge altogether. Even with eight runs coming off the first two balls, I was still pretty composed. I knew I had to hit a certain area, a certain length, and let the ball do the talking.”Siraj, from the other end, started off really well. The ball was swinging – not as much for me in the first couple of overs, but it was swinging for him. So I had to pull myself back a little and ask myself, ‘Okay, what can I do now? How do I get straighter?'”The wicket of Jamie Smith changed everything. From there, it was about us being consistent in the right areas, and then it was just a matter of time before the wickets fell.”India eventually sealed a dramatic six-run win to set off wild celebrations.

“We had put in so much as a team – every single person out there – so much mental grit and physical effort to win from the situation we were in”Prasidh Krishna on India’s win at The Oval

“It was a big sigh,” Prasidh says of their triumph. “The joy, the shouting, the celebration we had right after the last wicket fell – it was all relief. We had put in so much as a team – every single person out there – so much mental grit and physical effort to win from the situation we were in.”It was just that sigh of relief saying, ‘Okay, we’ve put in so much effort’, and when you put in all that effort and actually end up on the positive side, it gives you such a sense of satisfaction. After that, we all went back, sat together, and spoke about how we did so many things right, and how it felt like we are a team that can fight from any situation we’re put into.”Prasidh says he can’t explain the feeling soon after India had won. It’s been a month, but a lot of those moments, especially on the final day, feel like a blur.”When I sit and watch the game now, it doesn’t feel the same – because being out there, the atmosphere was so good, so electric, and the joy was so immense. That’s something that will stay with me forever. I don’t think I’ll ever feel a similar moment just sitting back and watching from the outside.”

****

On the second day of the final Test, Prasidh was involved in what seemed like a heated exchange with Joe Root, which needed the intervention of the umpires.Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna celebrate the win•AFP/Getty Images”I don’t know why Rooty reacted,” Prasidh said at the end of the day’s play. “I just said, ‘you’re looking in great shape’ and then it turned into a lot of abuse and all of that.”In the immediate aftermath of India’s victory, Prasidh had a chance to settle the matter with Root. And this time, things were a lot calmer.”I did go and speak to most of them – including Root,” Prasidh says with a laugh. “I asked him what happened. He said, ‘I thought you abused me’. I said, ‘No’, and he replied, ‘I actually just wanted to get myself going as well, so I had to pump myself up’.”That’s what I love about the sport – that’s the way I’ve always played it. To see everybody, and especially a legend like him, putting it all out there and fighting for the team, even today, that’s something for everyone to learn from. You’re out there to fight, to win battles. Sometimes it takes a lot more than just skill; it takes a lot of mental grit to be part of that journey.”Each of the five Tests, Prasidh agrees, was like an episode of a TV series: drama, excitement, intrigue, comebacks, heartbreaks, elation.”I don’t think any of us expected the series to go that way,” he says of each Test going into the final day. “It kept swinging back and forth and, in hindsight, 2-2, we’re really happy with how we played the whole series.Prasidh Krishna was involved in a heated argument with Joe Root on the second day of the final Test•Getty Images”The way we fought every time we were under pressure – and how, each time, someone stood up and delivered for the team – was really pleasing for all of us.”For Prasidh, England was a massive opportunity. India had announced in the pre-series build-up that Jasprit Bumrah would be available for only three of the five Tests because of workload management. Prasidh had previously been part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he only got to play in the fifth Test. He hadn’t yet left his imprint as a Test bowler, and there was plenty to prove.”For me, Australia was really, really challenging mentally,” Prasidh says. “I went there to play the ‘A’ games, bowled well, was in great rhythm, and still had to wait for my chance. When I finally played [in the SCG Test], it took a lot out of me mentally. Fighting for my spot and then finally getting to start was a battle in itself.”If you’re not playing, you prepare a certain way on the outside – that’s a different challenge. Coming into England, I was in a much better place because I knew I had already handled a five-match series, both without playing and then playing.

“It is very important for both of us [Shubman Gill and him] to understand each other – for me to know what the team actually wants, why I am here, and what they want from me”

“Taking that experience forward was a different challenge again, and that brought in the physical aspect. It was very, very hard – you bowl a lot of overs, and we were playing with mostly pacers doing the bulk of the job, especially in the first and second innings. It was gruelling.”Once the series was over, it felt like, ‘Oh my god, that was one good series’.”

****

The series in England, however, didn’t start all that well. At Headingley, Prasidh became the first bowler in Test cricket to go at more than a-run-a-ball in both innings (minimum 15 overs bowled in each innings). He also registered the highest match economy for an India Test bowler. Despite scoring five individual centuries, India lost.Prasidh’s economy was down to him adopting a short-ball strategy aimed at England’s lower-middle order – something that had been planned. The team management had felt that his height and high release points would make it harder for the batters to control their pull shots against the short ball.Although not entirely convinced, Prasidh did the job for the team. “It is very important for both of us [Shubman Gill and him] to understand each other – for me to know what the team actually wants, why I am here, and what they want from me,” Prasidh says. “It’s equally important for the team to understand what is the best that Prasidh can give in a given situation.Prasidh Krishna had a tough start to his series at Headingley•Getty Images”We started off knowing there would be instances where I would have to do the job the team wanted – and I took it. It was actually a first-time experience for me, where the team wanted me to do something that I wasn’t fully convinced about.”But then you have 20 people sitting outside who have a plan. We’ve spoken about it, and agreed on it. So it becomes your duty to come in and do the job for the team. I was more than happy to do it, because that’s why you play a team sport. If you only wanted to do what you wanted, you’d be playing something else, just by yourself.”It was a very good learning experience for me as well, especially in terms of communication. It got better after or during the second Test, when I actually went up and said, ‘Okay, this is the plan, but maybe we could have done something differently’. The conversations were very open, the communication was very good, even though it was a first-time experience for me.”I think we took some time but learned about each other really well.”Prasidh admits that looking at his economy rate wasn’t as much fun. “It’s never a good sight when you look at the scoreboard and see your economy rate on the higher side. It took me some time to be okay with that and to stay focused on the task at hand in that moment.”What was fun, though, was him being able to cherish moments of joy and elation with close mates KL Rahul and Karun Nair on tour.

“I think the first Test itself – that spell when I got [Zak] Crawley and [Ollie] Pope in the second innings – was very important for me. I wasn’t hitting my lengths right early on, and I was finding the wind and the slope a lot harder to handle than I ever had before”The favourite spell in England

“Absolutely, I think it makes a very, very big difference,” he says of having had the company of “friends” on tour. “It was my wife who kept reminding me, saying, ‘When you went on long tours earlier, you would always feel homesick by the end; now that you have your Bangalore boys with you, it’s much easier, you haven’t really spoken about missing home or anything this time’.”It makes a lot of difference because yes, we have played a lot of cricket together. Yes, we think alike. We even do similar things off the field, and that definitely helps. It gives you that comfort zone. And what it also does is, once you have that comfort zone, you find space to make new friends, bring people together, join different groups, and have a great time as a team.”Prasidh is spontaneous when asked to pick his most memorable spells from the summer. “I think the first Test itself – that spell when I got [Zak] Crawley and [Ollie] Pope in the second innings – was very important for me,” he says. “I wasn’t hitting my lengths right early on, and I was finding the wind and the slope a lot harder to handle than I ever had before.”That spell actually made me feel good. Otherwise, the spell I bowled to [Ben] Stokes in the second innings [in Birmingham] – I didn’t get a wicket there, but that morning when I came in gave me a bit of confidence as well.”England tested him, challenged him, and gave him a chance to celebrate. Now, back home and preparing for the Test season, Prasidh wants to carry the same fire and intensity. He is ready to embrace fresh challenges and build on his gains from a memorable IPL 2025 – where he was the purple cap winner – and, in his words, an “unforgettable English summer”.

Rishabh Pant, who hasn’t played any cricket since fracturing his foot during the Old Trafford Test, is understood to be walking comfortably now

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Sep-2025

Rishabh Pant, who hasn’t played any cricket or even trained since the Old Trafford Test match against England where he fractured his right foot, is headed to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to resume his training. ESPNcricinfo has learnt that Pant’s foot is not in a cast anymore and he has been walking comfortably.Pant is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in Test cricket, and India’s next World Test Championship assignment is at home against West Indies in a two-Test series next month (in Ahmedabad, Oct 2-6 and in Delhi, Oct 10-14). The selection for that series is expected in the last week of September.After Pant was injured at Old Trafford, in what was the fourth Test in England, Dhruv Jurel kept wicket both in that game and at The Oval in the final game, and N Jagadeesan was flown in as back-up. In case Pant doesn’t regain full fitness in time for the Tests against West Indies, Jurel and Jagadeesan could be the frontrunners to be the wicketkeepers in the squad.Pant picked up the injury on the first day of that Old Trafford Test when he attempted a typically audacious reverse sweep off quick bowler Chris Woakes, inside-edging the ball on to his foot. He retired hurt, the fracture was confirmed not long after, and came out to bat the next day despite having arrived at the ground in the morning wearing a moonboot. He went on to add valuable runs, ending with 54 (he had retired hurt when on 37).Jurel kept wicket in both England innings in the game, and while Pant was available to bat if needed in India’s second, he wasn’t required to as Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar – the last two ordinarily below Pant in the batting order – scored centuries to save the Test, which kept the series 2-1 in England’s favour. India went on to win the final Test without Pant to square the series 2-2.

It was a tale of two halves for Everton, having dominated Sunderland at the Stadium of Light for much of the opening half of their Premier League clash.

Ultimately, David Moyes’ side had to settle for a draw, with Iliman Ndiaye’s irresistible dribble and strike after 15 minutes cancelled out by Black Cats skipper Granit Xhaka, whose piledriver took a nasty deflection off James Tarkowski’s outstretched leg to wrong-foot Jordan Pickford.

In some ways, the Toffees will be content with a point gained on the road, but Moyes cut a frustrated figure on the sideline as his side continued to be so wasteful in attack.

And (with apologies for the continuing trend), Thierno Barry flattered to deceive once again as the focal frontman.

Thierno Barry's struggles continue

At the moment, it’s something of a pick-your-poison situation for Moyes when it comes to naming a striker. Beto and Barry are powerful, mobile strikers, but neither can hit a barn door at the moment, with one goal between them in the Premier League this season.

Barry was given the nod here, and while he caught the eye with strong link-up play and confident movement in the early stages, he came unstuck when skying a glorious close-range chance to put the Blues 2-0 up in the first half.

How that could have changed things, but the £27m summer recruit fizzled out along with Everton, and he was hooked before the hour mark for Beto, who found himself marooned in the final third as Sunderland upped the ante and cranked up the pressure and pushed for a winner that did not come.

Sometimes in football, it really is that simple. Everton need a striker, someone reliable and clinical in the final third to connect with Ndiaye and Jack Grealish and the like.

However, football isn’t that simple. Everton are a team of 11 players, and there was one Moyes mainstay in particular who had an evening to forget behind Barry and then Beto.

Moyes must relocate Everton mainstay

Everton have been profligate this season, no doubt about it. However, too much creative emphasis has been placed on the wide players, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall will be disappointed with a limp display in Sunderland.

Having arrived from Chelsea for about £28m this summer, the English midfielder has been one of Everton’s most important cogs this term, industrious and influential in his advanced role, sat behind the striker.

However, a strong start has tapered away some, having created only two chances across his past three Premier League matches, missing a litany of crosses and long passes besides.

Against Sunderland, this lapse in form was on full show. The 27-year-old’s passing was errant, with former Everton correspondent Ric George even saying the Englishman’s “passing is atrocious” when observing a slew of failed efforts to connect with his teammates in the danger area.

While he’s still a fantastic player with plenty in his locker, Moyes might want to consider starting Dewsbury-Hall from a deeper midfield berth over the coming weeks; given Barry and Beto’s issues in front of goal, it might be worth digging out alternative routes. Dwight McNeil and Tyler Dibling would both fancy themselves able in the role, for example.

Dewsbury-Hall nearly showed off his quality with a late through ball to Beto, but this was about the extent of his good work in attempting to break lines and thread the thirds together. Liverpool World handed him a creditable 6/10 match rating, though acknowledged he faded quickly after a bright start.

Brighter days are ahead for the talent, but perhaps he should be connecting with an attack-minded midfielder next, sitting in the centre and showing off his all-encompassing midfield qualities.

Moyes could be brewing Everton's own Adam Wharton in "abnormal" 18-year-old

Everton could now be brewing their very own version of Crystal Palace midfield sensation Adam Wharton.

By
Kelan Sarson

Oct 31, 2025

The 2025/26 campaign promised a new dawn for Tottenham Hotspur and their supporters.

Before too long, Ange Postecoglou and Daniel Levy had both been replaced. Thomas Frank was the new manager and Fabio Paratici had even returned for a second bite of the cherry.

Yet, rather like it did with Ange, things have unravelled all too quickly for Frank. There’s one word for it: Spursy.

The North Londoners began the season brilliantly. Their new Danish manager had engineered more security and better organisation at the back.

From the remarkably high line of Ange-ball to the more sedate Frank ball, excusing the Super Cup defeat to PSG, Spurs kept five clean sheets in their opening seven games of the Frank regime. How times change, eh?

Tottenham have now won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions and have shipped 18 goals in that time.

While Spurs may not be in 17th place, the position Postecoglou steered them to, a number of players have regressed.

The biggest issues of Thomas Frank's reign

The Dane moved from west to north London over the summer and while his appointment did not garner the level of fanfare a certain Antonio Conte or Jose Mourinho attracted, it was viewed as a smart appointment.

From Championship to the top half of the Premier League, what Frank achieved with Brentford was first-class.

Yet, he is no longer with the Bees and Spurs fans demand more. They demand good football, they demand that they challenge for honours.

Well, despite Postecoglou’s tenure now a thing of the past, Spurs look no closer to achieving their goals under Frank.

The defence improved for a limited amount of time but the biggest issues have emerged in attack.

Chalkboard

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

Brennan Johnson ended last season as Spurs’ top scorer with 18 strikes to his name but he has put in a number of abject performances of late. The Welshman has found the net just once across his last 12 matches, a dire run that’s caused frustration.

Up top, Dominic Solanke has rarely been seen due to injury and the same can be said of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

Without them, Spurs have a creativity problem. According to FBref, their expected goals tally sits at just 11.9, the fourth-worst record in the division. That’s hardly a surprise considering that they rank 18th in the Premier League for key passes (88), and 16th for expected assists (8.1) across the campaign so far.

That’s even with marquee signing Xavi Simons in the team. Their failure to sign Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze is well documented and how Frank must wish they’d secured a Premier League-proven creative midfielder instead.

That said, their full-backs are not offering enough either. Pedro Porro, usually so creative and dangerous, particularly over a dead ball, has only carved out 1.39 key passes per 90 minutes, down on last season’s tally of 1.97 per 90.

His partner in crime on the left isn’t faring much better either. In fact, his drop off has been somewhat reminiscent of Dele Alli.

Spurs star is heading down the Dele Alli path

When analysing the right back position at Spurs, it’s clear that improvement is needed. Perhaps Archie Gray or Djed Spence could profit from Porro’s lack of form.

Likewise at left-back, Destiny Udogie is enduring a tough season. He spent early parts of the term out injured but is now back in action. However, he’s largely disappointing.

It was only a few years ago that the young Italian was described as “one of the best left-backs” in the league by pundit Clinton Morrison but that now couldn’t be further from the truth.

In many senses, Udogie’s rise and fall mirror that of someone like Dele, like a Tanguy Ndombele. He’s got all the talent in the world, all the raw attributes to thrive at this level.

We’ve already seen that. In 2023/24, the wing-back collected two goals and three assists. Not jaw-dropping numbers sure, but this was a player well on his way to cementing himself as a future hero in these parts. He’d get into “nearly every team in the world” remarked journalist Hunter Godson.

Sadly for the 23-year-old, he’s regressed big time under Frank, much like the aforementioned Dele did under Mourinho. While Frank hasn’t called Udogie “lazy”, which was the criticism the ‘Special One’ handed to the England international, his performances have begun to decline.

Like Dele, this was a player with the world at his feet. He looked like a world beater, one of the best young talents in England. Now, however, it’s all gone pear-shaped.

Udogie’s last two performances, in particular, have proven to be a problem. In the defeat to Fulham last weekend, Football.London’s Alasdair Gold noted how the defender ‘didn’t offer too much going forward’ and made an untimely slip when Harry Wilson found the net.

His display against Newcastle United on Tuesday, a 2-2 draw, left plenty to be desired too.

Minutes played

90

Touches

52

Accurate passes

30/36 (83%)

Key passes

0

Accurate crosses

0/2

Successful dribbles

0/1

Shots

0

Tackles won

1

Interceptions

0

Ground duels won

2/7

Aerial duels won

0/2

The aforementioned Gold slated the Italian for having a few ‘sloppy moments’ while flagging that Newcastle got a lot of joy down the Tottenham flanks.

Safe to say his numbers don’t particularly paint a very vivid picture either. Udogie won just two of his nine duels and failed to register a single shot, supply a key pass or successfully complete a dribble.

All in all, it was a poor day at the office for the Italy international and he must improve moving forward.

He’s a talented player, one of the best young talents we’ve seen in the division across the last few years. Under Frank, however, it’s heading in the same way as Dele under Mourinho. Both had immense potential, but their talents could go to waste.

Thomas Frank may have just found Spurs' new Mousa Dembele vs Newcastle

Tottenham battled back to claim a draw against Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

3 ByAngus Sinclair Dec 3, 2025

India head coach Amol Muzumdar has said leaving Jemimah Rodrigues out of the World Cup clash against England on Sunday was “one of the toughest decisions” the team has had to make, and one dictated purely by combination and conditions.”To be fair, Jemi [Rodrigues] has been a very important player, an integral part of this side we have built,” Muzumdar said. “Sometimes you just have to take those tough calls. That game, particularly against England, required the sixth bowling option, given the ground of Indore and the [high-scoring] conditions over there, we thought six bowling options would be a better call on that particular day and for that particular match.”Rodrigues, who has managed just 65 runs from four innings this tournament, including two ducks, made way for seamer Renuka Singh in the weekend.”It was a tough call, there is no doubt about it,” Muzumdar said. “One of the toughest decisions, but sometimes tough calls do need to be taken. She took it really nicely and very sportingly.”Related

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Ahead of India’s crucial clash against New Zealand, Rodrigues had an extended net session, closely working on her drives, though Muzumdar said the decision to bring her back into the XI will be taken only on match day.India have now lost three consecutive matches, to South Africa, Australia, and England, all after getting into promising positions. Muzumdar conceded that the pressure of playing a home World Cup is being felt, but backed the squad, including young pacer Kranti Gaud, who’s gone for runs in her second spell in all three games, to bounce back.”I think a home World Cup, of course, there has to be some kind of pressure. But this side, this particular side is well-equipped to handle that. We’ve built a side around it and I think all the players are well-equipped to handle pressure.5:13

‘Fans need to temper expectations with India’

“[Gaud] had not much of experience in international cricket, but that’s the stage we are in. She’s been the spearhead of the fast bowlers in the team. And we’ve had several discussions, we’ve not left any stone unturned with regards to discussion and taking the load off her.”While six Indian batters have crossed fifty in the tournament so far, none has reached three-figures, something Muzumdar said the team is actively trying to address. Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur had laid the platform in the England game with a 125-run stand but were dismissed for 88 and 70 respectively.”We are well aware that a three-figure mark hasn’t come this World Cup. But if you look at the past year-and-a-half, the 18 months that have passed before the World Cup, we’ve had definitely a lot of hundreds that we’ve seen than ever before. I don’t think there is a lot of load on anyone. But we’ve had honest discussions about it. And the players also have been honest that, ‘Yes, instead of a fifty, we could have converted that into a hundred’. They are aware of it. And I’m hopeful that it will come in the next couple of games.”Muzumdar also said there was no burden on either Harmanpreet as captain or on Richa Ghosh to finish games single-handedly.”As a batting group, we’ve discussed we need to get into a certain stage where we can have that, that kind of a liberty for Richa to go out there and play her shots.”

Goalkeeper Andre Onana has suffered another crushing blow after being left out of Cameroon’s squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. The 29-year-old has endured a torrid 2025-26 season, having lost his position as Manchester United’s No. 1 before being allowed to move to Turkish side Trabzonspor on a season-long loan in September.

Onana not included despite Cameroon selecting four 'keepers

Eyebrows were raised on Monday when Cameroon released their 28-man squad for AFCON, which gets under way on Sunday, 21 December when tournament hosts Morocco take on Comoros. Despite selecting four goalkeepers, Onana was a shock absentee from The Indomitable Lions’ roster.

Two players who have been included in the squad are United forward Bryan Mbeumo and Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba, who was strongly linked with a big-money move to Old Trafford in the summer. Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou – who now plays for Saudi Arabian outfit Diriyah Club – has also been selected by his country.

AdvertisementOfficial: Cameroon's 28-man squad which does not include Onana

Cameroon squad for the 2025 AFCON:

Devis Epassy, Simon Omossola, Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Edouard Sombang

Samuel Junior Kotto, Gerzino Nyamsi, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Nouhou Tolo, Flavien Enzo Boyomo, Nagida Mahamadou, Junior Tchamadeu, Christopher Wooh, Darlin Yongwa

Martin Ndzie, Carlos Baleba, Arthur Avom, Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe, Fidel Brice Ambina, Danny Namaso, Christian Bassogog, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Jean Junior Onana, Olivier Kemen

Bryan Mbeumo, Christian Kofane, Frank Magri, Karl Etta Eyong, Patrick Soko

AFPFive-time AFCON winners also sacked manager on same day

Capping off a chaotic 24 hours, The Cameroon Football Federation – led by former Barcelona, Chelsea and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o – sacked manager Marc Brys on the same day the squad was announced. 

The five-time AFCON winners, who have named David Pagou as Brys’ successor, face Gabon in their opening fixture in just three weeks’ time (24 December). Cameroon also take on Ivory Coast (28 December) and Mozambique (31 December) in the group stage.

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Cameroon snub the latest blow in torrid 2025-26 season for Onana

Having been expected to be named in Cameroon’s squad, the snub represents the latest blow in what has been a dreadful season for Onana. Losing his place in the United XI to Altay Bayindir for the first three Premier League games of the season following a hamstring injury sustained in pre-season, the former Inter shot-stopper made two mistakes as the club were beaten 12-11 on penalties by League Two minnows Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup on 27 August.

Onana, who has earned 53 caps for Cameroon, was then allowed to leave United for Super Lig side Trabzonspor in early September, following the arrival of Senne Lammens from Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp. The 23-year-old has been a revelation since moving to the Red Devils, firmly establishing himself as the club’s new No. 1 ahead of Bayindir.

“We can pick a side capable of winning in most conditions,” says Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott ahead of game against Bangladesh

Shashank Kishore15-Sep-2025Jonathan Trott believes Afghanistan will start as “slight favourites” against Bangladesh, who face a must-win situation, in their Asia Cup Group B fixture in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. And going by recent history, there’s merit in that confidence.”Since I’ve been with the side, we’ve had some memorable moments,” Trott said. “I think back to when we beat Bangladesh in a 50-over series in Bangladesh for the first time [in 2023]. It had never been done before, and given how strong Bangladesh have been at home, to go there and do that gave us a lot of confidence and positivity.”Then there was the win in St Vincent at the [2024] T20 World Cup, which helped us qualify for the semi-final. That was such a tight, historic game, and it gave us great belief. This group I’m currently working with is not shy about achieving new things or breaking new ground.Related

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“Whenever there’s something that hasn’t been done before, like a big obstacle or a big challenge, this Afghan side rises to the occasion. They’re not only setting new standards for themselves but also paving the way for future players to keep pushing those boundaries.”Since opening their Asia Cup with a convincing win over Hong Kong on September 9, Afghanistan have had six days off. The break, in Trott’s opinion, has helped refresh them “mentally and physically” after the gruelling pre-Asia Cup tri-series against UAE and Pakistan, where they played five games in ten days.”I’m actually quite happy with the break,” he said. “Playing in the extreme heat here in the UAE takes a lot out of you. It’s been a good chance to recharge the batteries, take stock of where we are, and get ready to go again. Hopefully, with a win and qualification into the next round, we know there will be quite a few games in a short space of time.”At the opening press conference in Dubai, barely a few hours prior to their Asia Cup opener in Abu Dhabi, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan had spoken of the short turnaround – less than 48 hours – between the tri-series final and the game against Hong Kong. He had also said that it wasn’t ideal to be staying in Dubai and having all their group games in Abu Dhabi, leaving them with an added commute of three hours on match days.Looking at the schedule and putting that break into context, Trott felt it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. “I think our schedule has actually played into our hands, as long as we play well tomorrow and do the job in Abu Dhabi,” he said. “Playing there is very different to Dubai. It looks like it’s been spinning a little more here and in Sharjah. Abu Dhabi is a very different type of pitch – the make-up of the soil is different too.1:36

Mukund: Dropped catches a concern for Afghanistan

“That’s the challenge of playing in these tournaments: you’re constantly adapting to a variety of conditions. I certainly feel that with our squad and the options we have, we can pick a side capable of winning in most conditions.”Trott, expectedly, talked up Afghanistan’s spin stocks, joking that they were good enough to field an XI of spinners if needed. There’s Rashid and Noor Ahmad as their frontline options, along with Mohammad Nabi. They have also got Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar and Sharafuddin Ashraf in the squad. That said, he felt that it wasn’t a given that Afghanistan would do well just because they had competent spinners.”We saw during the triangular series that just because the ball is spinning, it doesn’t automatically mean we’re going to win games,” Trott said. “We still have to do everything else well, and I stress that. Yes, our spinners have played a lot of franchise cricket and plenty of international T20 and ODI cricket, but we’ve got to be consistent across all departments. That’s why we work so hard as a side.”Right now, we have a great opportunity with the Asia Cup. Looking a bit further ahead, with the World Cup coming up in February, we have good memories of playing in the subcontinent – in Sri Lanka and India. It can be tempting to look too far ahead, but for now, Bangladesh is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, and we’re focused on winning that game.”

Erling Haaland reportedly has an “escape route” out of Manchester City to Real Madrid, in a hugely concerning development for Pep Guardiola.

On current form, Haaland is arguably best player in the world, with the Norwegian in genuine unstoppable form so far this season, scoring 11 goals in just nine Premier League appearances.

He is a priceless figure for City, holding the key to Guardiola’s side’s title challenge, and at just 25, he is still such a young player, despite already achieving so much in his career.

Incredibly, Haaland is contracted at City until the summer of 2034, having committed his long-term future to the club, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a threat of losing him at some point.

Madrid have been linked with a move for the City superstar, with the Spanish giants so often eyeing up the best footballers on the planet, and now a worrying update has dropped regarding their pursuit of him.

Haaland has "escape route" out of Man City

According to journalist Jorge Picon [via Sport Witness], Haaland has an “escape route” to Madrid in a release clause at Manchester City, and is keen on making a move there.

It goes without saying that City losing Haaland would be the biggest blow imaginable, with the striker an irreplaceable figure who has been lauded as a “phenomenon” by Pat Nevin, with Guardiola saying he is in the form of his life back in September.

“Erling has been incredible. This season, he is better than ever. I would say it’s better than the treble season. Very dynamic. We want him to score goals and to help us.”

The lure of Madrid is great for so many players, and it is only natural that Haaland may like the idea of playing alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior at the Santiago Bernabeu, but he appears to be loving life at City, and has committed his future to the club.

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Players in the modern game often don’t see out their contracts, so there will always be a risk of Haaland moving on, but it would be a shock if he suddenly stressed a desire to leave for Madrid so soon after signing such a long contract extension at the Etihad.

Where does Erling Haaland rank among Man City's highest-earning players?

The 20-year-old Queensland allrounder has impressed many around the game and credits his recent stint in English club cricket

Alex Malcolm04-Oct-2025The first-class debut of a former Australia Under-19 captain at the age of 20 wouldn’t normally feel like a slow arrival, but Hugh Weibgen has had to wait quite a bit longer than most of his 2024 World Cup-winning team-mates.Sam Konstas has already played five Test matches, while Ollie Peake has played three times for Australia A. Harry Dixon, Tom Straker and Callum Vidler have all been selected in Australia A white-ball teams while Mahli Beardman has been on a white-ball tour with Australia. Raf McMillan has played first-class cricket while Charlie Anderson also played List A cricket last year.Related

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Weibgen had to bide his time until this season to get his List A debut for Queensland but it was worth the wait as he thrashed 115 not out from 94 balls in just his second game batting at No. 6 to guide his side home to a chase of 323 having walked into bat at 38 for 4. It was an innings that impressed a lot of astute judges around Australia.The other benefit of the wait is that he enters Sheffield Shield cricket for the first time against Tasmania in the form of his life, having had the chance to develop his game away from the spotlight.”I love seeing all those team-mates going really well,” Weibgen told ESPNcricinfo. “Of course you want to be on those tours with them. But I think the slower build for me has been good. I’ve got to know my game a little bit. I went to England. I don’t think many people do that often anymore, which I thought was so beneficial for me.”Weibgen did not quite escape the spotlight entirely during an English summer where he played for Sunbury Cricket Club in the Surrey Premier League. It’s hard to go unnoticed when you pile up 1307 runs at 72.61, with five centuries, striking at 105.92 for the summer.

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