It is a testament to Everton’s growth under David Moyes that their recent 1-1 draw with West Ham United in the Premier League was met with frustration.

This is because Everton were expected to win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and that belief was strengthened when Michael Keane powered home a first-half header to open the scoring.

But the Toffees ended up labouring to a draw against Nuno Espirito Santo’s Hammers, with the point gained lifting them into ninth place in the standings.

Expectations have indeed been raised, with newbie Jack Grealish leading the charge.

Jack Grealish at Everton

Grealish will be disappointed with his performance against West Ham. Everton’s positive play flowed through the 30-year-old playmaker, who wasn’t at his best but still looked a constant threat, with Sofascore recording that he created four chances and won seven duels.

With four assists to his name in August, Grealish was awarded the Premier League Player of the Month award, and though he and Everton have not since claimed three points, drawing twice and losing a close game at Anfield, his level of performance remains impressive.

Grealish, perhaps excitingly, hasn’t reached his optimum level yet. There is more to come. However, as Everton grow and improve under Moyes’ wing, so too does the spotlight increase on certain stars.

And there are a few who might be holding Grealish back.

Moyes must drop £55m duo

Grealish has yet to score in an Everton shirt, but that’s not the end of the world. The Three Lions star has never been the most prolific of attacking midfielders, and he adds much to the build-up patterns and creative flow. That is his bread and butter.

The problem, though, is that Grealish is supported by a full-back in Vitalii Mykolenko, who leaves much to be desired from an attacking standpoint, and is surmounted by Beto at number nine, who has endured a tough, luckless start to the season.

Mykolenko was chased by Napoli this summer, who were willing to pay around £26m for his services. Everton turned it down, but may come to regret that decision if his fitness and form do not improve.

Undoubtedly, Beto has improved since Moyes replaced Sean Dyche, but the Bissau Guinean striker enjoyed a bright purple patch shortly after the Scotsman’s arrival, bagging five in four, and has since plateaued, with only one strike to his name this term and a litany of missed opportunities.

Beto in the Premier League
Stats	Pre-Moyes	Under Moyes
Games	42	23
Starts	10	20
Goals	4	8
Assists	0	0
Data via Transfermarkt

Everton writer Ell Bretland even remarked that “Beto’s lack of hold-up play and Mylolenko not getting forward” has been stifling the esteemed loanee, who is not being supported effectively from behind and who is struggling to get a tune out of Everton’s misfiring centre-forward, who was signed from Udinese for up to £30m in 2023.

This may require a left-field solution. Iliman Ndiaye, for example, has played up front during his career before, and no Everton player has scored more than his 13 goals since joining the club from Marseille in 2024.

It would change the dynamic of Everton’s team, but with Tyler Dibling looking to nail down a starting berth of his own, this may be an outlook that would bear dividends for Moyes down the line.

James Garner provided a sumptuous assist for Keane at the weekend, too, and has played three times as a stand-in left-back in the Premier League this season, averaging 1.2 chances per game.

There is much for Moyes to ponder, but if Mykolenko and Beto fail to find form, they must be dropped to raise the level of the collective, and that not only includes Grealish but is shaped and charged by him.

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Kelan Sarson

Oct 2, 2025

Arsenal and Crystal Palace have both made requests to the Premier League regarding fixture congestion after the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw caused a headache. The festive season is supposed to be the highlight of the English football calendar, with packed stadiums and Boxing Day drama. But this December, fixture scheduling has been a sticking point for the league authorities as teams complain of a lack of breathing space.

A Christmas crisis brews in English football

The Carabao Cup quarter-finals have been the latest flashpoints. Arsenal against Palace is set to be played on December 23, only two days after crucial Premier League matches. The Gunners are due to face Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium that weekend on Sunday December 21, while Palace are scheduled to travel to Leeds United that same day. Both clubs have urged the league to bring those fixtures forward to ease the physical toll on their squads.

Palace’s December is shaping up to be brutal, with eight fixtures set to be played in just 23 days. A run of four games in nine days starts with Manchester City on December 14 and ends with the quarter-final at Arsenal two days before Christmas. In between, Palace must also face Finnish side KuPS in the Conference League on December 18, leaving them with barely 48 hours to travel, rest, and prepare for the next challenge away at Leeds.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGlasner & Arteta hit out at fixture congestion

"I can't believe this won't be fixed," said Eagles boss Oliver Glasner on Wednesday. "It would be irresponsible for the players and we have a responsibility for them and we have to look after their welfare, but not just ours at the club. I was really upset when I heard it for the first time yesterday. I couldn't even believe that they were considering this. We are trying the same thing that Arsenal are trying, to move our Leeds game forward to Saturday [December 20], so we don't have two days between these games."

Glasner wants dialogue among all the stakeholders and added: "There are people who work on this, and I would really like it if they talked together. We have international games, the two cups and the Premier League. It would be nice if UEFA, the Premier League and the FA talked together because it's so surprising. Maybe now you can't find a solution, but we need to get it sorted. It would be irresponsible to play on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.

"But there is a solution because the week after, on the 21st [of December] we play Leeds and then we play on the 28th. There was a big discussion as to why there are no Boxing Day [matches]. Again, they fixed these games without talking to anyone. It would be nice if they all talked together; this is their job, what they get paid for."

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta, speaking before Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague, didn’t hold back: "Hopefully they will move our Premier League match, because to play two days later doesn't make any sense. So now we decide the date [for the Carabao Cup match] I am sure they will change the Premier League [match] as well."

When pressed, if he had formally requested the change, Arteta said: "I'll leave that to the club. I think we're very clear what was the best thing, the more logical day to play, they bring a different date."

Getty Images SportEFL hits back at UEFA

The English Football League (EFL) has come out swinging, placing the blame squarely on UEFA’s expanded European competitions. In a sharply worded statement, the EFL accused UEFA of stretching the calendar to breaking point.

It read: "In determining the schedule for the quarter-finals, the League recognises the challenge it presents to Arsenal and Crystal Palace in particular, and the frustration and concern that will undoubtedly be felt by their managers and players. These are concerns which are shared by the League. The expansion of European cup competitions and number of exclusive match nights across Europe ahead of the 2024-25 season, implemented without adequate consultation with domestic leagues, means that such scheduling conflicts – for both the EFL Cup and other competitions – are now entirely unavoidable.

"With those teams competing in Europe already entering the EFL Cup in Round Three and having been forced to implement further draw conditions to avoid scheduling conflicts at that stage of the competition in the past two seasons, we have shown a willingness to compromise. However, to continue making endless concessions only serves to undermine the reputation of the EFL Cup – a competition which delivers vital revenue to EFL Clubs and provides millions of supporters with the opportunity to back their team on the road to Wembley each season. It also challenges the traditional scheduling of the English football calendar and strength of our domestic game, which relies upon teams having the necessary time for preparation and ability to field their strongest lineups, in order to entertain their supporters and progress through the competition."

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Only one Boxing Day game this season

This latest fiasco comes just weeks after the Premier League confirmed that only one match would be played on Boxing Day this year. This is a far cry from the usual full round of fixtures that have defined the holiday period for generations of fans. The only match on December 26 will see Manchester United host Newcastle United at Old Trafford at 8pm GMT, while every other team enjoys an unexpected winter pause until the weekend. The decision, once again, has been pinned on the ballooning European calendar. UEFA’s new structure now allocates 10 midweeks to continental competitions, up from six just two years ago. Each of its three tournaments, the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, now enjoys its own dedicated week, leaving domestic organisers scrambling for space.

Coming into the 2025/26 campaign, expectations were all over the place for Tottenham Hotspur supporters after the hot and cold season prior under Ange Postecoglou.

The Lilywhites finished 17th in the Premier League but won the Europa League, but it wasn’t enough for the Aussie to keep his job – with such responsibility falling into the hands of Thomas Frank.

He’s been tasked with the responsibility of leading the club back up England’s top-flight, whilst also being competitive in the Champions League after their recent European triumph.

The Dane has already made an immediate impact in North London, losing only three of his first 14 games at the helm and subsequently achieving a 50% win rate to date.

Numerous players have already managed to impress during the current campaign, with one first-team member in particular catching the eye after his summer transfer.

How Kudus compares to other PL wingers in 25/26

In an attempt to hit the ground running as Spurs manager, Frank spent big to land the signature of winger Mohammed Kudus – forking out £55m for his signature from West Ham United.

The Ghanaian international arrived with huge excitement, understandably so given the nature of the fee, but it’s safe to say he’s already delivered the goods in North London.

The 25-year-old has already netted his first goal for the Lilywhites, whilst laying on four assists for his teammates – the joint most of any player in the division.

However, Kudus’ underlying stats are just as impressive, with his figures further highlighting how big of an impact he’s already had during the early days of his time at the club.

He’s completed the most take-ons of any player in Europe’s top-five leagues across 2025/26, with his tally of 30 successful take-ons over three times higher than Arsenal star Bukayo Saka.

The Ghanaian also ranks in the 98th percentile for take-ons completed per 90 in the Premier League (3.7) – further showcasing his incredible ability at beating the opposition.

Getting past a defender is one thing, but the former West Ham star has also highlighted his ability to produce the end product at the end of his mazy runs.

Kudus has achieved an average of 7.6 crosses per 90, a tally that ranks him in the top 2% of all attackers in the Premier League, with 1.9 of his efforts finding a teammate in the 18-yard box.

Such a feat has allowed him to register 0.5 assists per 90, which also ranks him in the top 3% of all players in England’s top-flight – with his £55m fee now looking like a real bargain.

The Spurs player who’s now becoming world-class

Despite Kudus’ success in the Premier League, numerous other Spurs players have managed to impress under Frank – helping the side currently sit in 3rd place.

Micky Van de Ven has been a huge presence at the back for the Lilywhites, helping the first-team keep a total of four clean sheets in the first nine league outings of 2025/26.

However, he’s also demonstrated his talents at the other end of the pitch, scoring three times in England’s top-flight and sitting as the club’s joint-top scorer.

Such a feat has also been replicated by midfielder Joao Palhinha, with the Portuguese international making an immediate impact in North London after his summer transfer.

The Lilywhites board secured the 30-year-old’s services on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich, but it was a deal that didn’t satisfy a portion of the fanbase.

However, a couple of months on, the deal is now looking like a phenomenal piece of business, with the former Fulham star undoubtedly one of the best additions in the Premier League this campaign.

Palhinha, who earns £135k-per-week, has featured in every league game to date, subsequently producing numerous incredible figures – the most impressive of which is his tally of 39 tackles won.

Such a figure is the highest of any player in the division at present, with only one other player managing to register 30 or more successful regains of possession in the Premier League.

As a result, he’s currently averaging 5.1 tackles made per 90, whilst also coming out on top in 8.6 duels per 90 – with both tallies ranking him within the top 3% of all players in England’s top-flight.

Games played

9

Goals & assists

3

Pass accuracy

83%

Touches per 90

60.5

Tackles made

5.1

Duels won

8.6

Aerials won

58%

Dribbled past

0.6

However, like Van de Ven, he’s also managed to thrive within forward areas, already scoring twice and registering an assist – with his latest strike securing a late point against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As previously mentioned, it’s his ball-winning ability that has caught the eye most in North London, leading to one analyst labelling him as the “best in the world” for regaining possession for his side.

His current deal has a £30m option to buy next summer, with Frank and the hierarchy desperately needing to trigger such a clause amid his recent form with Spurs.

A dominant number six has been firmly on the club’s agenda over the last few years, with Palhinha finally providing such a quality – but it’s crucial the club don’t let the loanee slip through their grasp.

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ByEthan Lamb Oct 29, 2025

It’s hard to think of another point in recent memory when Arsenal have had such a strong squad.

Rival sides might have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on individual superstars, but Mikel Arteta and Co have built a group with few if any real weaknesses.

With that said, even though there are talented players in every position, it is still quite easy to proclaim Bukayo Saka the pick of the bunch and the Gunners’ most important star.

Moreover, should they get up to speed, one of Arteta’s summer signings could help the Hale Ender reach the level of Thierry Henry as a creator.

Thierry Henry's creative genius

When most people think of Henry, the first thing that usually comes to mind is his incredible goalscoring ability.

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After all, during his time with Arsenal, the Frenchman racked up an astounding haul of 228 goals in 377 games, and if that wasn’t enough, he also chalked up a tally of 51 goals in 123 senior caps for France across his career.

However, what is sometimes overlooked by non-Arsenal fans is just how creative a player he could be, for the simple fact that assists and chances created are generally less memorable than a goal.

Henry’s Arsenal record

Appearances

377

Minutes

30532′

Goals

228

Assists

104

Goal Involvements per Match

1.13

Minutes per Goal Involvement

91.96′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Yet, during his time with the Gunners, the Les Ulis-born legend managed to rack up an impressive tally of 104 assists, which works out to one every 3.62 games, and if that wasn’t enough, he also managed 20 goals and 20 assists in the 02/03 league season.

But what made the Frenchman such a creative force? Well, playing with a host of world-class attackers and under the management of Arsène Wenger certainly helps, but it was more than that.

It was in part down to the same reason he could so wonderfully place a shot into the corner of the net, but also his general attitude to trying risky things.

For example, he said that, “I know it sounds stupid, don’t be scared to make mistakes. That stops a lot of players.”

In all, Henry was an extraordinary creator as well as a world-class goalscorer, and while Saka might not ever quite reach his level when it comes to the former, a recent signing could help him do that for the latter.

The Arsenal player who could help Saka reach Henry levels

While Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi could help Saka get closer to Henry’s goalscoring levels through the chances they end up creating, it’s Viktor Gyokeres who could help the Englishman reach his creative level.

Now, it has to be said, that with the current goalscoring form of the Swede, such an idea may seem absurd. After all, he’s been so hit or miss that Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville described him as a “misfit”.

However, it’s important to remember the league season is just eight games old, he’s already put the ball in the back of the net three times and his form over the last two years was nothing short of world-class.

For example, during his two seasons with Sporting CP, the 27-year-old “monster” as he was desribed by journalist Alex Turk, scored a staggering 97 goals and provided 28 assists in 102 appearances, totalling 8417 minutes.

That works out to an average of 1.22 goal involvements every single game, or one every 67.33 minutes, so while he won’t get those numbers in England, he hasn’t just lost the ability to get shots off and find space in the penalty area.

In fact, this was something fans finally saw in the game against Fulham, as while he failed to score, there was a moment in the first half that his smart movement gave him the chance to, and who did the pass come from? Saka, of course.

The second reason the former Coventry City star could help the 24-year-old’s creative numbers explode this season is down to this movement, his physicality and the fact he, as Mattinson says, plays with “real venom.”

This bulldozing approach to centre-forward play is already freeing up more space for Saka to operate in, and once again fans saw the fruits of this at Craven Cottage.

Saka’s game vs Fulham

Minutes

99′

Expected Assists

0.55

Total Shots

2

Key Passes

7

Dribbles (Successful)

7 (6)

Big Chances Created

1

Touches

86

Fouls Won

5

Ball Recoveries

9

Ground Duels (Won)

20 (13)

All Stats via Sofascore

In his 99 minutes of action, he amassed an expected assists figure of 0.55, took two shots, took 86 touches, completed six of seven dribbles, created one big chance, played seven key passes – yes, seven – and was named the man of the match.

Ultimately, while he is firing yet, Gyokeres’ innate finishing ability and the fact he drags opposition defenders away from Saka so often could help the Hale Ender reach Henry-esque creative numbers by the end of the season.

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Posts ByBen Gray Oct 20, 2025

It is safe to say that Celtic supporters were not best pleased with how the board conducted themselves during the summer transfer window that slammed shut at the start of last month.

A section of the fanbase decided to protest the first 12 minutes of the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership in the first match after the window closed.

Some Celtic supporters also held up banners, with one reading “sack the board”, during the club’s 0-0 draw with Hibernian in the Premiership last weekend.

This shows that there is at least a section of the fanbase that is not happy with how the club is being run, which comes after they sold and failed to replace Adam Idah on deadline day, followed by the signing of Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer the day after the window.

Celtic have had four goalless draws in all competitions so far this season, including both games against Kairat in the Champions League play-off round, which speaks to their lack of quality recruitment in Brendan Rodgers’ attacking department.

However, few would argue that the signing of Sebastian Tounekti from Hammarby for a fee of around £5m on deadline day has been a good piece of business for the Hoops.

Where Sebastian Tounekti ranks among Celtic's summer signings

The Scottish giants made 11 additions to their squad during the summer window. That is, if we include Iheanacho, despite him being signed 24 hours after the window slammed shut.

Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Ross Doohan, Hayato Inamura, Shin Yamada, and Callum Osmand have all either rarely touched the pitch or not played a single minute for the first-team this season, which means that they are yet to prove themselves to be among the best signings of the window.

Kieran Tierney returning to Parkhead on a free transfer from Arsenal was a slam dunk of a signing. He is a proven player who knows what it takes to play for Celtic, which means that there was little risk attached to that deal.

Iheanacho, meanwhile, has had mixed success so far. The centre-forward scored goals against Kilmarnock and Red Star Belgrade, but he also missed two ‘big chances’ against Red Star and two ‘big chances’ against Hibernian, which shows that his finishing has been inconsistent.

Benjamin Nygren has a valid claim to be the best signing of the summer so far. The Swedish star is the club’s top scorer in the Premiership, with three goals, and is one of only four players to have registered an assist in the league, per WhoScored.

Shots per game

3.5

1st

Key passes per game

3.0

1st

Dribbles per game

2.5

1st

Crosses per game

1.0

Joint-4th

Interceptions per game

1.0

Joint-4th

As you can see in the table above, Tounekti has pressed his claim forward to be heralded as the best signing of the summer in his first two appearances in the Premiership, already leading the way in the squad for shots, key passes, and dribbles per game.

The Tunisia international also opened his account for the Scottish giants with a strike in the 4-0 win over Partick Thistle in the League Cup last month.

Given that Nygren has added an end product to his performances in the Premiership, with one goal and two assists, Tounekti may have to settle for being the second-best signing of the summer so far.

The success that the Tunisian star has already had at Parkhead, though, could mean that one Celtic attacker is already on borrowed time at the club.

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Hyun-jun Yang may have to look for a move away from the club during the January transfer window because of the success of Tounekti and what that means for the right-sided attacker moving forward.

Why Tounekti may have ended Yang's Celtic career

It is no secret that the South Korea international was close to moving on from the Scottish giants during the summer transfer window amid interest from EFL Championship side Birmingham City.

The Blues, who signed Kyogo Furuhashi in the summer, had a £3m deal lined up for the right-footed attacker, but they were not willing to wait around on deadline day and opted to sign another former Celtic winger, Patrick Roberts.

Tounekti’s arrival from Hammarby on deadline day came too late in the day for Birmingham to hold out, but that meant that the Tunisia international came through the door and Yang stayed.

A goal against Partick Thistle in the League Cup is his only goal contribution of the campaign so far, and he was left out of the matchday squad for the 0-0 draw with Hibernian last weekend.

Yang, who was described as a “raw” player by Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, has not done enough in his three appearances in the Premiership this season to suggest that he is going to win his place back in the team.

xG

0.36

Bottom 35%

Goals

0

Bottom 3%

Shots

2

Bottom 10%

xA

0.21

Bottom 35%

Assists

0

Bottom 3%

Chances created

1

Bottom 3%

Dribbles completed

1

Bottom 10%

As you can see in the table above, the South Korean attacker ranks poorly among his positional peers in the division in a host of key attacking metrics.

Tounekti has created five more chances (six) and completed four more dribbles (five) than Yang in just two outings in the division, which speaks to the gulf in quality between the two players at the top end of the pitch.

Whilst Tounekti, of course, plays on the opposite flank to Yang, his arrival at Parkhead has meant that fellow summer signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha is having to get into the side by playing on the right wing, whilst star forward Daizen Maeda has also been shifted over to the right.

Therefore, Yang, especially given how close he was to leaving in the summer, is surely on borrowed time because of the success of the Tunisian star, as it has meant that he has dropped down the pecking order in his position as a result of other players having to move across the pitch.

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Unless the former Gangwon star can turn his fortunes around and start to prove that he can deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch, a January exit could be on the cards for the winger.

Former midfielder Jamie O’Hara has slammed two Tottenham Hotspur stars in the wake of the 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday, branding their performances “painful”.

Spurs fall to sixth after Aston Villa defeat

Tottenham suffered their second Premier League defeat of the season at the weekend, suffering a 2-1 loss at home against Villa, which means they have now fallen to sixth in the table.

On the balance of play, it was a relatively even game, with very few big chances being created by either side, but the visitors were ultimately more clinical, and Morgan Rogers’ first-half goal was particularly eye-catching.

Thomas Frank admitted the loss was a fair result in his post-match interview, saying: “I don’t think we did enough. If we’d done enough we wouldn’t have lost this game. I don’t think we gave too much away, they scored two goals from outside the box. But I think we can also create more for ourselves.”

As you’d probably expect, O’Hara was a little more scathing in his assessment of Spurs’ performance, taking to X to single out two players in particular for heavy criticism.

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The former midfielder said: “We’re so frustrating to watch it’s painful, why is Tel playing? Why is Odebert starting? They are not good enough, we need more than just long throws, our home form needs to be million times better.”

Tottenham must improve ahead of tricky run of fixtures

Frank’s side’s fixtures have been relatively kind on paper so far this season, but things are about to get more difficult, with upcoming Premier League opponents Everton still undefeated at home since their move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Everton (a)

October 26th

Chelsea (h)

November 1st

Manchester United (h)

November 8th

Arsenal (a)

November 23rd

Fulham (h)

November 29th

As such, Spurs must start showing signs of improvement soon, and O’Hara is right to be concerned about Odobert’s performances, with the winger still yet to register a single goal or assist in eight Premier League games this season.

Tel has also disappointed since his arrival, scoring just four goals in 28 outings, and the 20-year-old struggled once again on Sunday afternoon, receiving a 6.1 SofaScore match rating before being withdrawn on the hour mark.

Consequently, Frank could do with Dominic Solanke returning sooner rather than later, and the Tottenham boss recently provided a promising update on the centre-forward’s return from injury, saying: “The good thing is it’s positive, he’s progressing now. But he’s still training on his own. I don’t want to be too excited or too negative either way, so I’m actually taking it a little bit day-by-day and week-by-week to see how quick he progresses.”

أكد وليد صلاح الدين، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، أن بطولة كأس السوبر المصري تحمل أهمية كبيرة، مشيرًا إلى أن المارد الأحمر يستعد للمباراة النهائية أمام الزمالك بشكل جيد بعد فترة من الأداء المميز.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي والزمالك، اليوم الأحد، على ملعب محمد بن زايد بولاية أبو ظبي، للمنافسة على لقب بطل كأس السوبر المصري.

وقال وليد صلاح الدين في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “بطولة السوبر مهمة فعلًا، واستعداداتنا الحمد لله جيدة، ونحن نلعب كرة جيدة منذ فترة طويلة، منذ قدومي، خضنا حوالي 11 مباراة مع الكابتن عماد النحاس، حققنا خلالها ثلاثة تعادلات وثمانية انتصارات، وإن شاء الله ستكون المباراة المقبلة التاسعة ونتوج بالبطولة”.

طالع أيضًا | مصطفى عبده: الأهلي قد يُكرر الـ6-1 أمام الزمالك في السوبر

وتابع: “الأداء في المباريات السابقة كان دائمًا مميزًا، فنحن نتفوق على أي فريق في الملعب من حيث الاستحواذ وصناعة الفرص، اللاعبون يبدون جهدًا كبيرًا ويظهرون انضباطًا عاليًا في التدريب والمباريات”.

وأضاف: “حتى الآن، غاب عن الفريق عنصر التوفيق قليلًا، والحمد لله حققنا الفوز في آخر مباراة، وأود أن أحيي الكابتن علي ماهر وفريق سيراميكا، فهم فريق محترم وبذلوا جهدًا كبيرًا، وكانت المباراة ممتعة للجميع، ومع ذلك، كنا الأفضل طوال التسعين دقيقة في صناعة الفرص والاستحواذ والجانب البدني، والحمد لله توجنا بالانتصار”.

واختتم: “إن شاء الله، ننتظر دعم جماهيرنا أمام الزمالك في مباراة النهائي، فهم سندنا وذخيرتنا، ونأمل في العودة بالبطولة إلى مصر”.

Wayne Rooney’s son Kai is nearing a return to action after suffering a “life can’t get any worse” injury blow. The talented youngster, who continues to catch the eye in the Red Devils’ academy system, has been nursing a foot problem since September. His recovery is almost complete, with Rooney junior back in boots and stepping out onto the training field.

• Another Rooney to lead the line for Man Utd?

  Kai celebrated turning 16 on November 2, but has spent several weeks stuck on the sidelines unable to do what he loves most. The highly-rated teenager is held in high regard at Old Trafford, with there every chance that he will follow in the illustrious footsteps of his famous father.

  Wayne remains United’s all-time leading scorer, having registered 253 goals for the Red Devils, but could see his eldest son begin to chase down that record at some point in the not too distant future.

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• Has Kai Rooney recovered from injury?

  Kai has been stepping up the age groups in United’s youth ranks, earning a call-up to their U19 side prior to being laid low with an untimely knock. He has already savoured success in tournaments around Europe, with trophy wins being added to his CV.

  It was, however, revealed in September 2025 that a blow to his right foot had been suffered – leaving Rooney sporting a protective boot. He posted an image on social media alongside the caption: “Life can’t get worse.”

  More pictures from behind the scenes have now been shared, with Kai revealing how close he is to earning a recall at United. He is back on the grass, with boots being laced up again as he works on rebuilding match fitness and sharpness.

  Instagram

• Man Utd urged to appoint Rooney as a coach

  The Rooneys have been lapping up some sunshine of late, with Kai joining dad Wayne on a trip to Dubai. The ex-England captain was in the Middle East during the October half-term break as he continues to deliver coaching sessions in that region with Football Escapes. He was joined on this occasion at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel by former Nottingham Forest and Tottenham defender Michael Dawson.

  Having enjoyed a relaxing break, Kai is now ready to resume his football career. It has been suggested that his ongoing development could be aided by a return to Old Trafford for his father – who has struggled as a manager across stints with Derby, D.C. United, Birmingham and Plymouth.

  Former team-mate Danny Simpson recently told GOAL when asked if United should add Rooney to their coaching team – allowing him to work with Kai in the academy ranks: “Kai, I’ve seen him play a few times and he looks fantastic – looks just like his dad but obviously left-footed! Any time that you get a chance to bring these ex-players back in, I think you have to. Whether he would want to do that, I don’t know.”

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• Getty
  

  Disney documentary: What next for the Rooneys?

  Kai has not always wanted his father to be that close, with mother Coleen telling of how Wayne can be an unwelcome distraction: “I’ve got to make them aware that with social media, things can come back around again. My eldest is 15, he’s at a football academy [in Manchester] where they have social media workshops. They’re told if they put anything online now and you’re in the public eye, it can affect you later on.

  “But I think our kids grew up with it. There’s certain things that it does affect – there were times when the kids have said, when Wayne was playing, ‘Can Dad stay at home?’ because we didn’t get around the theme park. Or, ‘He’s not watching me play football because he’s being asked for selfies.’

  “He’s grateful for fans too, so it’s a hard situation. We’ve obviously made them aware of things as they’ve got older and started to understand things.”

  Wayne is free to watch Kai in action at present, having opted against another return to management, with the 40-year-old enjoying punditry work with Match of the Day and TNT Sports. He is also set to star in an upcoming Disney+ documentary alongside Coleen and their four sons.

England accused Gill of hypocrisy after he took issue with their time-wasting tactics in a dramatic final over

Matt Roller12-Jul-2025

Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley were involved in a heated exchange•Getty Images

England accused India’s captain Shubman Gill of hypocrisy after he took issue with their time-wasting tactics in a dramatic final over on the third day at Lord’s.Gill, who spent several minutes lying down and receiving treatment during India’s fielding innings on the second day, appeared to tell Zak Crawley to “grow some f***ing balls” after he twice pulled out while Jasprit Bumrah was running into bowl the first over of England’s second innings, which started around six minutes before the close of play.Crawley called for treatment two balls later when he was struck on the glove, prompting several India fielders to walk towards him while clapping sarcastically. Both Gill and Crawley pointed fingers at one another in a heated exchange and Tim Southee, England’s bowling coach, suggested that Gill had no right to complain about time-wasting.