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The Monterrey striker can't stop scoring and is already proving his doubters wrong after making the big move in the winter

As the ball floated through the night sky at the Estadio BBVA, there was no way anyone in the Atletico San Luis defense sensed any danger. How could they? A long and hopeful cross from the left was too far away from goal to cause any harm, surely.

Enter Brandon Vazquez. Just weeks into his Monterrey career, the 25-year-old must have been the only one in the stadium who knew he was about to create a signature moment, one that would announce to Liga MX that he had truly arrived.

To be fair, his headed golazo, a legitimate masterpiece, wasn't the first time he'd found the back of the net since making the move from MLS to Monterrey. It was his second, and a third soon followed. Just weeks into his time in Mexico, Vazquez already seems like a player who could very well make a difference at the very top of Liga MX. And, with an early-season clash with fellow title hopefuls Club America on the horizon, Vazquez has a big chance to prove that he can be the guy for Monterrey and, perhaps, the U.S. men's national team.

Getty ImagesA controversial move

The reaction to Vazquez's move was far from universal acclaim. In fact, many in the American soccer scene immediately blasted the decision as an unnecessary step.

After never fully breaking through at Atlanta United, Vazquez found his feet in Cincinnati, even if it wasn't immediate. After scoring six goals combined in his first two seasons in front of the Bailey, Vazquez netted a combined 36 in 2022 and 2023 to assert himself as one of MLS' best strikers.

Ever since that 2022 MLS breakout, Vazquez looked like a player destined for a big transfer. A move to Borussia Monchengladbach never came to fruition, and they weren't the only suitors. Reports indicated that Cincinnati wasn't in a rush to sell to anyone as they chased glory in MLS.

They fell short. A Supporters' Shield-winning campaign ended prematurely with a loss in the Eastern Conference finals. After that, it felt like a matter of time for Vazquez.

Monterrey, ultimately, won out, and Vazquez was criticized for it. The move was seen by many as a sidestep, with MLS seemingly closing the gap on Liga MX in recent years. In a tight USMNT striker race, Vazquez didn't make the big leap to a European team

Instead, he joined a Mexican giant, and, in the first few weeks of the season, he's proven to be exactly what they needed.

AdvertisementA goalscoring start

It didn't take long, did it? We're just three games into the Liga MX season and Vazquez already looks like a legitimate force.

His first appearance for the Liga MX giants came in a 2-0 win over Santo Laguna on January 21. It was a 69th-minute substitute appearance, a first taste for a player that had much more to offer.

In his first start, he needed just 41 minutes to get a goal, giving Monterrey the lead against Queretaro. The goal was a fantastic header, although it was nowhere near as audacious as the one that would come in his second start. More on that later, though.

Against Queretaro, Vazquez showed how physically dominant he can be. The cross in from Jorge Rodriguez was pinpoint and the finish from Vazquez was perfect. Stationed just outside of the six-yard box, he needed just a simple flick of his neck to place the ball into the back of the net and give his side the lead.

Seemingly content to ease in the club's new signing, Monterrey boss Fernando Ortiz took Vazquez out early in the second half. They ultimately would squander the advantage the new striker gave them, conceding in an eventual 1-1 draw.

Vaquez would make sure that wouldn't happen in his second start as he proved that his initial goal was far from a fluke.

Heading home a golazo

It's about as good of a headed goal as you'll see. Power, precision, distance… it was the perfect combination of just about everything.

Vazquez's opening goal against Atletico San Luis was his real 'Welcome to Liga MX' moment. It was the goal that solidified him as a dangerman. Monterrey will hope it's the real start of something special, as will Vazquez, who surely brought his goalscoring ability south of the border after his big move.

It wasn't his only goal that night. No, there was a second. This one came with his feet, proving that Vazquez is much more than a target man.

With the score level at 1-1, Rayados pounced on a turnover, quickly working the ball to Vazquez. The American striker picked a corner and struck, once again placing the ball where no goalkeeper could reach.

It was his third goal in two starts, and a vital one at that as Monterrey made it three wins and a draw from four games thanks to the 3-1 triumph.

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Getty ImagesA huge match ahead

For those that don't follow Liga MX, there is a universally recognized Big Four. Monterrey are not one of them. They do get to face one on Saturday, though, in a match that gives them a huge early-season chance to prove that they belong right up there with the title contenders.

On Saturday, Vazquez and Monterrey will face Club America. Entering that match, Monterrey are top of the table, as one of four teams on 10 points. The winner of Saturday's match will feel pretty good about themselves at this early stage of the Liga MX season.

Make no mistake, though: Monterrey are no plucky underdog. This is a team that finished second in last season's Apertura before ending the Clausura phase in first. The club has won the CONCACAF Champions Cup five times and has lifted a Liga MX trophy three times since 2009.

For much of the past decade or two, Monterrey have been among the very best CONCACAF has to offer. The club is still searching for a bit more domestic success against the teams seen as Mexico's elite. And that pursuit continues on Saturday, with Vazquez expected to play a big part in the marquee match of the Mexican season so far.

Barring a glitch or two, both teams are extremely well balanced, and the quality of resources at their disposal should mean that Eden Gardens is in for a top-notch contest

The Preview by Akshay Gopalakrishnan13-Apr-20183:08

Dasgupta: Gill better than most Indian batsmen in KKR squad

Big PictureForty-eight hours. After barely surviving a rollercoaster against the defending champions Mumbai Indians, that is the time Sunrisers Hyderabad have to recuperate and be back in full swing. It’s another reminder of how punishing the IPL can be, and the challenges teams face in staying fresh through two whole months in the peak of the Indian summer. Moreover, Sunrisers will have to switch cities, as they step out of home into the bastion that is Eden Gardens.With 41 victories, Kolkata Knight Riders are the third-most successful home team in IPL history. That trend extended with a dominant win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in their opening game. Knight Riders are among the most well-balanced teams. Their batting order is full of firepower, and they bat very deep. It came to the fore against Chennai Super Kings, when Andre Russell shellacked an unbeaten 88 off 36 balls to power them to 202, after they were 89 for 5 at the halfway stage.Knight Riders’ only concern at the moment is with the domestic fast bowler’s slot. Vinay Kumar, who is their senior-most player in that department, has fallen flat, having gone at 2.82 runs per ball in the two games so far. After their failure to defend 202 against Chennai, the bowling coach Heath Streak called for better execution from the players. And while Streak placed emphasis on a change in approach over wholesale changes to the XI, Knight Riders may consider testing the Under-19 duo of Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti in place of Vinay.Like Knight Riders, Sunrisers have a wonderfully-balanced side. Shikhar Dhawan has done his best to make up for the absence of David Warner with a pair of belligerent knocks. Sunrisers’ middle order has never looked stronger, after the acquisitions of Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan. And Shakib Al Hasan has added teeth to an already potent bowling attack. However, Sunrisers lack a quick striker to complement Dhawan at the top. T20 cricket has often shown us that having one partner buckle down while the other tees off isn’t necessarily a winning strategy. And assuming that Kane Williamson will be largely responsible for holding his end up to build the innings, Sunrisers cannot afford to have two slow scorers in their top three.In the newsMitchell Johnson was rested from Knight Riders’ match against Chennai Super Kings due to a “slight niggle”, but Streak confirmed that the left-arm pacer had recovered, and was hopeful of his return. Streak also said that Lynn’s shoulder problem shouldn’t be a concern. On the eve of the match, captain Dinesh Karthik confirmed the same but also said that team decisions would be made on the morning of the game.Bhuvneshwar sat out the Mumbai game due to a sore back. While he is their spearhead, Sunrisers wouldn’t be sweating too much in case Bhuvneshwar doesn’t recover, seeing as Sandeep Sharma, his replacement, fared well with returns of 2 for 25 in four overs.The likely XIsKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dinesh Karthik (capt, wk), 6 Rinku Singh/Shubman Gill, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Shivam Mavi/Kamlesh NagarkotiSunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Yusuf Pathan, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Deepak Hooda, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Siddarth Kaul, 10 Sandeep Sharma/Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Billy StanlakeESPNcricinfo LtdStats that matter Of the 48 balls that Siddarth Kaul has bowled this season, batsmen haven’t been in control of their shots against 25 of them. The numbers are identical for Kaul’s teammate Rashid Khan. Kaul has taken a particular liking to the short delivery. He has bowled 11 of them so far – the second-most this season – and to great effect, giving away just nine runs, including a solitary boundary, and picking up a wicket. Sunrisers have never beaten Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. Of the five matches these two sides have played here, the home team has won all of them. Among players with at least 600 career IPL runs, Andre Russell’s Smart Strike Rate of 220.40 is, by far, the best. No other player even touches the 200-mark. Glenn Maxwell is a distant second, with 1245 runs at a Smart Strike Rate of 194.79. Contrary to the norm this season, four of the last five meetings between these two sides have been won by the team batting first. Robin Uthappa has an excellent record against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the IPL. Off the 53 balls he has faced from the bowler, Uthappa has scored 65 runs, and is yet to be dismissed.Strategy puntUse your fast bowlers against Narine. Royal Challengers did the mistake of bowling Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar at Narine upfront, and he sunk them with a 17-ball half-century. Chennai, too, turned to Harbhajan Singh for the second over with Narine at the crease. While the move paid off for them, the contrast is telling. Since the 2015 IPL, Narine has averaged 29.7 and struck at 240.5 while being dismissed thrice in nine innings against spin. Against pace, he averages 18.6, while the strike-rate drops to 156.9, and he has got out to them 11 times in 19 innings.Fantasy picksBatsmen at the top are most likely to score the big runs, which makes Chris Lynn an automatic lock. Even if he does end up being dismissed for a low score, Lynn is unlikely to scratch around, which will make the loss of points minimal. Likewise, Narine would make a safe pick, given his batting position and utility with the ball. Since the previous season, Narine has averaged 19.06 with the bat and struck at 186.92; with the ball, he has conceded just 6.85 runs an over: as fantasy as it gets.Quotes”Yes, we’ve got to be careful. He’s not the first bowler, and he won’t be the last bowler who won’t defend 17-20. We’ve seen (Dwayne) Bravo – what he can do. We’ve seen Andre (Russell) hit quite a few overs for those sort of numbers, like 20-plus. It’s tough when you’re defending the last one, but we did the same thing: hit their bowlers for 20-plus.”

A lip reader has claimed Kyle Walker threatened to "knock out" Neal Maupay after taunts about his children during Manchester City's win at Brentford.

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Lip reader claimed Walker threatened MaupayMaupay allegedly taunted WalkerWalker recently separated from his wifeGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The two players got involved in a heated confrontation towards the end of the Premier League clash on Monday. According to the , a professional lip reader has now revealed that the Cityzens defender threatened to "knock out" Maupay, after claiming that the Brentford striker had been taunting him about his children.

AdvertisementWHAT HAS BEEN SAID

Speaking to , the expert lip reader said: "Walker approached the 4th official and shouted: 'I'm gonna knock him [Maupay] out'. To which Stuart Attwell replied: 'Shush'."

However, Walker refused to back down and said "Wait there" – pointing to the tunnel – before walking back over to Gillet. The England international is said to have continued: "Ref he spoke about my kids, he spoke about my kids, not once, but twice." Maupay then interrupted by saying: "I didn't, it's OK."

Gillet attempted to calm things down by saying "Let's deal with it at the end" before facing Maupay and adding: "Now, now, just calm down, listen to me… think about it, think about it." Maupay then responded: "'That's a lie, that's not fair, I promise you now.'"

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

As reports, Walker split with his wife Annie Kilner in January and is currently living alone in a rented property away from all five of his children – with Annie expecting another in March. Walker admits that he has brought those problems on himself, with divorce now a distinct possibility.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR KYLE WALKER?

The defender will be next seen in action on Saturday as Pep Guardiola's side take on Everton in another important Premier League fixture. City are now up to second in the table, two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand.

Nottingham Forest seem set to lose one of their talismanic attackers, Anthony Elanga, in the coming days.

It appears that the Sweden star will sign for Newcastle United in the coming days for £55m, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the winger has completed his medical with the North Eastern side.

As a result, Forest need a new winger to don Garibaldi Red next season. Sky Sports suggested that they ‘are interested in a deal’ to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko and they are thought to have made an approach to the Dutch outfit to enquire about his availability this summer.

However, Bakayoko is not the only player on the list to replace Elanga, with Forest linked with a few more options out wide.

Nottingham Forest target new winger

It is certainly a frustrating situation that Forest find themselves in, having to replace Elanga this summer. However, the fee they are receiving is substantial, and allows them to sign a suitable replacement. Bakyoko is certainly not their only option.

In fact, according to journalist Greame Bailey, one of the players who Forest are considering to replace their number 21 is Ipswich Town star Omari Hutchinson.

Bailey explains that there is a ‘whole host of options out there’, but confirms that Hutchinson is one player the East Midlands side are considering.

At this stage, a price for the England U21 star has not been confirmed. However, given he cost the Tractor Boys £20m from Chelsea last summer, they would surely look to break even on the attacker, at the very least.

Why Hutchinson would be a good signing for Forest

At just 21 years of age, Hutchinson impressed in his first full season as a Premier League footballer. Once described as an “outstanding” player by football scout Antonio Mango, he would be an investment for both the present and future of Forest.

Last season, the versatile attacker, who has played for both Arsenal and Chelsea’s academies, played 31 times in the top flight for Ipswich. He bagged three goals and two assists, all of which came against some big sides, including both Chelsea and Manchester United.

Hutchinson was also a key member of England’s U21 European Championship-winning side last month under Lee Carsley. He played in all six games, including 98 minutes in the final against Germany, where he scored as England won 3-2 in extra time.

As a replacement for Elanga, there is no doubt that the Ipswich star would have a lot of work to do to match his numbers. The Sweden international managed six goals and 11 assists in 38 Premier League games last season.

However, there are similarities between the players, and Bakayoko, too, who managed 15 goals and assists last term.

Elanga and Hutchinson, in particular, are versatile and can play either flank or as a number 10. Bakayoko, too, is naturally a right winger.

The 21-year-old is naturally a left-footed player, and likes to cut inside on his strong foot when playing on the right-hand side. Just look at this goal he scored against Man United, picking up the ball in the right half-space, driving inside and firing home.

Indeed, the stats on FBref stack up well for Hutchinson against the other two players. For example, the Ipswich star stands out when looking at progressive numbers. Last season, he was averaging 1.57 passes into the final third per 90 minutes, more than Elanga’s 1.15 and Bakayoko’s 1.37 each game.

Key passes

1.08

1.80

2.60

Passes into final third

1.57

1.15

1.37

Progressive passes

2.61

2.27

3.60

Take-ons completed

1.78

0.90

2.69

Ball recoveries

3.83

3.20

2.49

Even though a price is not clear at this stage, a deal for Hutchinson could be a snart move for Forest. He has shown elite potential and versatility, and is already comparing well against Elanga and another of their targets in Bakayoko.

As far as an Elanga replacement goes, this could be a dream move for Forest this summer, and help them build for the present and the future.

Forget Fofana: Nottingham Forest could land instant Elanga upgrade for £34m

Nottingham Forest could replace Anthony Elanga with a current Premier League star

ByRoss Kilvington Jul 5, 2025

Ange Postecoglou made a number of impressive additions for Celtic during his two-year spell at Parkhead and right-back Alistair Johnston is proving himself to be one of them.

The Australian head coach, who has since moved on to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, was unable to unearth a host of gems for the Bhoys; including the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Jota, Matt O'Riley, and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Brendan Rodgers is now tasked with carrying on the talented tactician's work and will hope that his nine new signings have similar success at Paradise.

Nat Phillips, Paulo Bernardo, Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Hyun-jun Yang, Hyeok-kyu Kwon, Marco Tilio, Odin Thiago Holm, and Luis Palma all came through the door this summer to bolster the squad, either permanently or on loan.

The Hoops and Rodgers will be hoping that they can progress in the same way that Johnston has in his short time in Scotland as the superb defender has been a fantastic signing so far and there could be more to come from him.

The Canada international produced an excellent display against Rangers in the Old Firm clash on Sunday in what was just his second Scottish Premiership appearance of the season.

How did Alistair Johnston perform against Rangers?

He lined up at right-back for the big league match at the weekend and played a key role in the 1-0 win over their rivals with a strong defensive performance.

As per Sofascore, Johnston won seven of his 11 physical contests throughout the match and made five tackles alongside two clearances against the speedy Rabbi Matondo, who posed a threat on the counter with his immense pace.

The Hoops star stuck to his task against the former Manchester City starlet and none of his teammates managed to make as many tackles as him on the day, with Matt O'Riley's four challenges being the closest, showing that the exceptional enforcer was a brick wall in defence for the Northern Irish boss.

He has become accustomed to putting in fantastic performances at the back for Celtic over the last nine months, which has been reflected in his market valuation.

Postecoglou hit the jackpot with the 24-year-old as his value has soared since making the move to Parkhead in January, thanks to his excellent displays on the pitch.

How much was Alistair Johnston worth at CF Montreal?

At the time of his switch from the MLS in January of this year, Football Transfers estimated Johnston's Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €1.7m (£1.4m) after his form for Montreal throughout 2022.

The strong defence, who was once described as a "warrior" by international teammate Kamal Miller, made 35 MLS appearances over the course of the year and averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.93.

He showcased his attacking quality with four goals and seven 'big chances' created, alongside one key pass per match from a right-back position, which proved that the Canadian could burst forward to make things happen at the top end of the pitch.

The 24-year-old did not shy away from his defensive duties as he made 2.4 tackles and interceptions per match and a 50% duel success rate, more than holding his own in physical battles.

What is Alistair Johnston's market value now?

Johnston has spent nine months in Scotland since those performances in the MLS for Montreal and his form for Celtic has caused his market value to soar.

FootballTransfers currently rate his xTV at €5m (£4.2m), meaning that his valuation has rocketed up by roughly 194% in less than a year at Parkhead.

The Hoops number two has seen his stock rise primarily because he has he delivered consistently impressive appearances for Postecoglou during the second half of last season.

Why is he worth that much?

He hit the ground running in the Scottish Premiership and proved himself to be capable of catching the eye week-in-week-out at right-back.

Johnston averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.20 across 14 league starts for the club last term, which was the sixth-best score within the squad and the third-best of any current Hoops player now that Josip Juranovic, Jota, and Carl Starfelt have all moved on.

This shows that the former MLS star was one of the team's outstanding performers despite having never played a minute of football in Europe prior to 2023, indicating that he adapted quickly to his new surroundings and did not need a period to settle in.

The Celtic hotshot caught the eye with his contributions at both ends of the pitch. Going forward, the former Nashville talent created five 'big chances' for his teammates and produced 1.2 key passes per game as he provided a consistent attacking threat from full-back to break down the opposition's defence.

To put those numbers into context, Anthony Ralston, who is his competition for a place in the side at right-back, only created one 'big chance' in 16 league appearances for the Scottish giants last season. Clearly, Johnston is able to offer considerably more than the academy graduate at the top end of the field.

Defensively, the Canada international, who started three games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for his country, made 2.7 tackles and interceptions per match and won 52% of his duels, as per Sofascore, compared to Ralston's two tackles and interceptions per game for the Hoops.

These numbers suggest that Johnston is a better option than the Scottish defender at right-back as a result of his ability in and out of possession. Indeed, he can win possession back more frequently whilst also being able to create better opportunities for his teammates to score from.

His Premiership form has also been an improvement on his performances for Montreal in the MLS and that is why his soaring market value is justified. The young stopper has truly developed his game and improved as not just a defender but as an attacker.

At the age of 24, the marauding ace also has plenty of time left to grow further and increase his market value even more. For that reason, Postecoglou hit the jackpot with this signing in January.

Johnston has already made himself a valuable asset to Celtic and now has the potential to earn the club a significant payday in the future if his positive progression continues over the months and years to come.

Milan boss Stefano Pioli has urged winger Samuel Chukwueze to be more like USMNT star Christian Pulisic amid his goal drought.

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Pulisic on a tear for Milan in ItalyChukwueze struggling for goal contributionsMilan boss urges Nigerian to be like USMNT starWHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday ahead of their Serie A clash against Atalanta on Sunday, the Italian revealed some rather harsh words for struggling winger Samuel Chukwueze. He compared him to the USMNT star, who has eight goals and even assists in all competitions this season, revealing that he believes they share similar characteristics.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT PIOLI SAID

“Pulisic and Chukwueze have the same characteristics,” Pioli said at a press conference. “Pulisic scores goals, assists and works. Chukwueze has to score goals, he has to get assists and has to work.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Chukwueze had started just 10 games for the Rossoneri in 2024, managing two goals and one assist during that span. He net 12 goals in La Liga for Villareal last season, and Milan forked over $22m for him over the summer, with a proper return from the Nigeria international yet to arrive.

Pulisic, meanwhile, recently net a goal and an assist for Milan in a 4-2 loss to Monza. Even in disappointing team showings, he has been a bright spot for the Rossoneri.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MILAN, PULISIC, AND CHUKWUEZE?

The Rossoneri take on Atalanta Sunday afternoon in a Serie A clash. third place Milan could leapfrog second place Juventus with a victory and a Bianconeri loss against Frosinone.

Newcastle United dispatched Arsenal 1-0 at St James' Park on Saturday evening and now attention turns back to the Champions League.

The Magpies face a trip to Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night to take on Borussia Dortmund and seek revenge after losing 1-0 against them at the end of October.

Eddie Howe is currently dealing with an overflowing injury table as key stars, such as; Alexander Isak, Sven Botman and Harvey Barnes all remain sidelined, meaning he could name a similar lineup to the one that recorded victory over the Gunners.

Considering the Toon are fighting for a place in the Champions League knockout stages, the Englishman can ill-afford to rest his key players with only one change expected to be made. Here's the predicted lineup for their clash with Dortmund.

1 GK – Nick Pope

Only Manchester City have conceded fewer xG in the Premier League than Newcastle United's 10.32, as per Understat, and Nick Pope has played a pivotal role in that statistic, making crucial saves and showcasing his presence in between the sticks.

2 RB – Tino Livramento

Livramento replaced the injured Dan Burn at half-time against Arsenal and the "phenomenal" full-back, as described by journalist Thomas Hammond, impressed with his all-action display against the Gunners. With Burn now sidelined, the 21-year-old can now have an extended run in the team, starting against Dortmund on Tuesday. This would be his first Champions League start too; timely.

3 CB: Jamal Lascelles

Sven Botman's injury opened up the opportunity for Jamal Lascelles to showcase his defensive attributes in the heart of the Toon defence and he's done so in fine fashion, captaining the side to clean sheets in victories over Burnley, Crystal Palace and Arsenal. The 29-year-old will continue marshalling Howe's backline against Dortmund.

4 CB: Fabian Schar

Having conjured up a wonder strike against PSG in the Champions League, Fabian Schar has been the man for the big occasion this term. He will start alongside Lascelles once more versus Dortmund where he has the unenviable task of dealing with the pacey and direct Donyell Malen, should he start down that side.

5 LB: Kieran Trippier

With Burn sidelined, Howe could shuffle Trippier across to left back, a position he's played on numerous occasions for England, to accommodate Livramento into the starting eleven. The Englishman, who has posted seven assists this term, is crucial to their attacking output, utilising his wand of a right foot from set pieces.

6 CM: Joelinton

The "monster" – as dubbed by journalist Aaron Stokes for his rapid rise to stardom in a Newcastle shirt – Joelinton's explosive ball-carrying and industry will be crucial to them winning the midfield battle on Tuesday.

7 CM: Bruno Guimaraes

Whilst Joe Willock is knocking on the door for a starting spot, Bruno Guimaraes has firmly closed it on the Englishman. The 25-year-old is the lynchpin of Howe's midfield, with his strength and aggression vital to his side regaining possession. He is one of several Newcastle players who are undroppable at the moment.

8 CM: Sean Longstaff

An immovable object at the heart of Newcastle's midfield this term, Sean Longstaff's tough-tackling and energetic midfield performances have earned him a spot in the midfield alongside Joelinton and Guimaraes.

9 RW: Miguel Almiron

The fleet-footed winger is vital to Newcastle launching their explosive counter-attacks and enjoys cutting in on his peach of a left foot. Having already scored against PSG this term, he will pose a huge threat to Remy Bensebaini, who is likely to start at left-back for the hosts.

10 LW: Anthony Gordon

Although he is yet to register a goal or an assist in the Champions League, Anthony Gordon has been in scintillating form on the left flank for the Toon, frightening the life out of defenders with his pace and trickery while posting four goals and two assists in the top flight, including the winner against Arsenal last time out.

In a game where bat dominated ball almost right from the start, both teams will probably look back at the last six overs of the Indian innings as the phase which turned out to be the most critical

On the Ball with S Rajesh06-Feb-2006In a game where bat dominated ball almost right from the start, both teams will probably look back at the last six overs of the Indian innings as the phase which turned out to be the most critical. After 44, India were cruising along at 300 for 4 – a run-rate of 6.82. In the next six overs, that rate fell drastically to 4.67, as Pakistan nailed six wickets, starting with the crucial scalp of Sachin Tendulkar in the 45th over. No over fetched more than seven, and a total which appeared headed towards the 340-plus mark finished up only on 328.Even that total was a huge one, but Pakistan’s batting, led by Salman Butt, ensured that the Indians were on the back foot very quickly. The most impressive aspect of his batting was the manner in which he scored runs almost equally off all the Indian bowlers – the bowler who finished up with the best economy rate against him was Zaheer Khan, and even he went for 15 from 18 balls.

Zaheer Khan 18 15 5.00 Irfan Pathan 42 37 5.29 Ajit Agarkar 14 13 5.57 Murali Kartik 18 18 6.00 S Sreesanth 15 18 7.20The performance which would have most pleased the Indian fans was Sachin Tendulkar’s hundred. Plenty had been written about him after his failure in the Tests, but he answered the critics in the manner he knows best – with runs off the bat. Tendulkar didn’t start as fluently as he normally does – against the fast bowlers (Naved-ul-Hasan, Asif, Gul and Razzaq) he only scored 41 off 66 balls. Against the slow bowlers, though, Tendulkar was in his elements, milking 59 from 47. With the confidence back, he could well be more aggressive against the fast bowlers through the rest of the series.

Inter Milan teenager Kevin Zefi has been seen as a potential summer signing by Newcastle United in the summer transfer window and a big update has now emerged.

How old is Kevin Zefi?

The Irishman is just 18 years old currently and moved to Inter from Shamrock Rovers two years ago, such was his ability as a young and emerging footballer.

While Zefi is yet to make a senior first-team appearances for the Serie A giants, he has shone in the youth teams, scoring six goals and registering seven assists for the Under-17 side, as well as an incredible 16 strikes in just 13 games for the Under-18 outfit.

The young winger signed his first professional deal last years and is contracted at Inter until the summer of 2024, but it could be that he moves on before the current transfer window closes at the end of this month.

Newcastle have emerged as strong potential suitors for Zefi and a fresh update further suggests that he could be plying his trade at St James' Park in the very near future.

Will Newcastle sign Kevin Zefi?

Eddie Howe revealed Lewis Hall would be the last first-team signing, but according to NUFC Blog, Newcastle are now expected to sign Zefi for the academy:

"Newcastle United look set to follow the signings of AC Milan youngster Cathal Heffernan and Chelsea’s Lewis Hall with the arrival of fellow 18-year-old Kevin Zefi.

"Zefi is being advised by former Toon defender Stephen Carr and is set to join our U21s after a breakthrough in talks. He also plays at international level alongside Toon duo Alex Murphy and Reece Byrne; two players Dan Ashworth has brought to the club’s academy over the past 12 months."

This is a very exciting update for Newcastle, as they continue to show that they are not only planning for the present, instead making sure they sign young players with big futures in the game.

In Zefi, they have someone who is considered something of a wonderkid, with former coach Shane Robinson explaining what makes him so special:

“Kevin is that type of player that catches the eye easily – he backs himself 100% in possession of the ball. He has lovely balance and uses his body very well to protect the ball.

"He has worked very hard on his overall game over the last number of years and deserves credit for that, he has gone up through the levels impressively from U15 to U19 with First Division appearances last season also."

While Zefi clearly wouldn't be arriving as an important member of the senior setup to begin with, given his lack of experience, he is someone who could continue to start at youth team level, gradually blossoming into a top-level footballer who can cut it on the biggest stage.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

It is always hard to gauge how a youngster will develop, with injuries and work ethic always potentially getting in the way, but the former Shamrock ace has all the tools to make it and could be a future hero on Tyneside.

Manchester United and England star Mary Earps has signed yet another brand deal as her popularity continues to soar.

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Earps announces new brand dealGoalkeeper partners with NOCCOEarps' popularity has soaredWHAT HAPPENED?

On Thursday Earps took to Instagram to announce her partnership with soft drink company Nocco, who produce sugar-free beverages high in BCAA and vitamins. In typical Earps fashion, she had a little fun with the announcement.

AdvertisementWHAT EARPS SAID

Earps shared with her 765,000 Instagram followers a series of photos of her posing with a can of NOCCO. In the final snap, she is sticking her tongue out and giving a thumbs up.

In the caption she wrote: "Life is better with NOCCO."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Earps' social media reach has skyrocketed following her performances for England at last summer's Women's World Cup and after she won the 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Her increased marketability has seen her recently sign a 12-month styling deal with Mark Hill Hair.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR EARPS?

After enjoying some time off during the WSL winter break, Earps will be in contention to feature when United take on Newcastle in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday. The weekend after, she'll have the small matter of a trip to WSL leaders Chelsea to think about.