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His execution of wide yorkers after coming in as Impact Player denied Gujarat Titans

Shashank Kishore31-Mar-2025Vijaykumar Vyshak didn’t know until 13 overs into the Gujarat Titans (GT) chase in Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) IPL 2025 opener that he would be summoned as an Impact Player. But when Arshdeep Singh suggested they bring in Vyshak, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer did what was needed.With 75 runs needed from 36 balls, Vyshak, having reviewed his plans with the support staff, tried to bowl wide yorkers to Jos Buttler and Sherfane Rutherford, whose strike rates against those deliveries were “low”.”I didn’t know if I was going to be there,” Vyshak told ESPNcricinfo. “They [Iyer & Co] were also thinking of a spinner. And then I got to know I’ll be on for the 14th over. All along, I had been going through my plans – so when the opportunity came, I was ready to go.”Related

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Gill lauds Impact Player Vyshak for stifling GT's chase

As Vyshak came on, Arshdeep told him to “err on the wider side”. It was a change from their original plan of trying to mix his variations, including bowling a knuckleball that he is known to deliver effectively.”Initially, Plan A was to bowl slow bouncers,” Vyshak said. “But the wicket wasn’t two-paced. The ball wasn’t holding up. There was a lot of dew. Considering all that, the coaches said, ‘Let’s stick to the wide yorker’. It was a case of them planning and me executing.”Vyshak gave away just ten runs in his first two overs. By his third, after Buttler’s dismissal, GT needed 45 more from 12 deliveries. Despite Marco Jansen conceding 20 runs in two overs from the other end, Vyshak’s first two overs had already put GT on the back foot. So much so that even 18 runs from his third over – the 19th of the chase – left GT with an improbable 27 runs to get in the final over. PBKS eventually won by 11 runs, and it was a strong comeback for Vyshak, who had recovered from a quadricep injury that kept him out of the second half of the Ranji Trophy during the domestic season.The injury struck just as Vyshak, on the BCCI’s list of targeted fast bowlers, had broken into India’s T20I squad for the South Africa series in November.Vijaykumar Vyshak: “Until I’m satisfied, I’m not going out of the nets”•Punjab Kings”I always say this to myself that whatever I can do in my control, I will do that,” he said. “If you have to give your 100%, I’ll give my 110%. But injuries are not in your hands. I am someone who is really willing to give myself that extra push.”I don’t mind pushing extra yards in the practice session until I get what I’m doing, whether it is yorkers, whether it is length balls or slower ones. If I want to do something, I am just going to do it. And then, until I’m satisfied, I’m not going out of the nets. That is something that has helped me grow.”And then, for this sport, especially when you’re playing T20s, you’ve got to be mentally strong because some days you don’t nail your yorkers. But you’ve got to be mentally strong, and you’ve got to accept the fact that this is not happening. You’ve got to change; you’ve got to go to your Plan Bs. So that is something that I’ve been working on.”Vyshak is a strong advocate for “positive vibes” and “routines” to the extent that if he feels he did something different at training or during his pre-match routine that worked well, it’s likely he would have noted it down somewhere to be able to go back to later.”If the previous day – like match minus one, or minus two – if I did something that worked for me, I just want to write it down and then just go back to that and then do the same things again and again. So that has been helping me. So, hopefully, I can continue this and go on to achieve a lot more.””People used to tell me that I was a little healthy. I was like, ‘But I’m still bowling fast and batting, [so] how does it matter?'”•PTI Vyshak’s cricket perspective comes from a desire to make up for lost time. In 2017-18, weighing 110kg, he admitted feeling lost, and often faced criticism for his weight.”People used to tell me that I was a little healthy [heavy]. I was like, ‘but I’m still bowling fast and batting, [so] how does it matter’. It’s a funny story about how I really decided to transform. There’s this tradition of giving birthday bumps, and because I was too heavy, my friends just dropped me once. The next morning, I woke up thinking, ‘why am I like this? What am I doing?’ That is when I started my journey.”The fitness impetus was around the time Vyshak switched to fast bowling in his Under-19 days. Earlier, he was a top-order batter and captained Karnataka’s Under-16 team. He’s grateful for the guidance from former Karnataka batter Sudhindra Shinde and former India seamer Abhimanyu Mithun.”He [Shinde] has seen me as a young kid – as a fat kid,” Vyshak said. “He has really been supportive about my bowling, my mental strength, and my batting. So, if I’m feeling low, if I’m feeling anything, no matter what, I make sure that I talk to him because that is my comfort. We have a rapport that I can’t express in words. But every time I’m low, I call him, and by the end of the call, he will make sure I’m in a happy space.”During my Under-19s, he suggested to me to go to Bharat Arun sir. So when I was probably 20-21, my action was all over [the place]. He [Shinde] also helped me financially. He took care of my sessions in Chennai, [and] my stay – he helped me massively. In the last couple of years, I have worked with Mithun. He has helped me a lot with my run-up and my variations.”

“You have to make sure you come back strong and then you’ve got to be mentally strong. That is where the mental aspect has helped me a lot”

Does Vyshak feel different today than when he started in the IPL two years ago with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)?”When I started off, I didn’t know what this platform was,” he said. “My emotions were so high. When I did well, I used to feel so good, and when I didn’t, I used to like just dip down.”And then, last couple of years, with [Mohammed] Siraj being there, I think he emphasised on being neutral. Whatever happens – whether you’re playing or not playing, winning or not winning – you have to be constant. That’s the biggest lesson for me. Matches come thick and fast – if you keep brooding over what has gone wrong, you’ll keep sinking further.”You have to make sure you come back strong and then you’ve got to be mentally strong. That is where the mental aspect has helped me a lot. I can pretty much say I am a better bowler compared to what I was when I played the first game for RCB.”

The Toronto Blue Jays are headed back to the World Series.

It has been a long and winding road for the franchise to get here, but on Monday night they beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in Game 7 of the ALCS, clinching the series by the same score. Toronto is returning to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1993, when it won the second of back-to-back titles.

George Springer gives Toronto an October moment

Springer's magical season continued as the 2017 World Series MVP came up big for the Blue Jays when they needed it most.

Toronto trailed Seattle 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, and hadn't managed much offensively until that point. Mariners righty Bryan Woo walked Addison Barger to open the frame, then Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled to center, moving Barger to second. Andres Gimenez moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt, opening the door for Springer to step into the spotlight.

Seattle pulled Woo, replacing him with Eduard Bazardo, and Springer stepped up to face him. Bazardo's first offering was off the plate inside for a ball. His second drifted over the plate on the inner half, and Springer demolished it. He hammered the ball over the left center field wall for a go-ahead three-run home run, sending the Rogers Centre crowd into a frenzy.

It was just the latest big moment in an incredible bounce-back season for Springer. He hit a career-high .309 with 32 home runs, and 84 RBIs. Springer's .959 OPS ranked fourth in baseball, and his 166 wRC+ was also a career-best. The 5.2 fWAR he racked up was his best mark since 2019.

Now he has a chance to get another ring, and he'll be facing the Los Angeles Dodgers, who he topped with the Astros back in 2017.

Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez heroics not enough

The Mariners needed their big guns to be firing if they wanted to beat the Blue Jays in Toronto Monday night. They got what they needed from Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, but it wasn't enough.

Rodriguez led off the game with a double and scored on a Josh Naylor single to give Seattle an early 1-0 lead. Then he blasted a solo home run in the top of the third inning to help his team to a 2-1 advantage. Raleigh followed with a solo shot of his own in the top of the fifth. They staked the Mariners to a 3-1 advantage, but it didn't hold.

The men occupying the top two spots in Seattle's lineup combined to go 3-for-8 with two home runs, scored all three of Seattle's runs and worked one walk while striking out twice. Naylor, the No. 3 hitter was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. The top of the order did its job. It wasn't enough.

Raleigh has a legitimate argument as the American League MVP, but on Monday night the Big Dumper's big bat wasn't enough to get the Mariners to their first World Series.

Blue Jays bullpen locks it down

To win a Game 7, a team usually either needs a stellar start or a lockdown performance from its bullpen. Toronto got the latter on Monday night.

Shane Bieber started and battled through 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and seven hits while striking out five and walking one. After that, the Blue Jays' bullpen allowed just a single hit over the ensuing 5 1/3 innings. Yes, Louis Varland made a mistake that Raleigh launched into the stands, but he's hardly alone in doing that this year. Combining the regular season and the postseason, Seattle's catcher belted an AL-record 65 home runs this season.

After that, the combination of Seranthony Domínguez, Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, and Jeff Hoffman combined to shut Seattle's lineup down. Gausman had to work around three walks in his lone inning, but other than that they were perfect. Hoffman struck out all three batters in the top of the ninth, including fanning Rodriguez to end the game and Seattle's hopes.

Toronto's bullpen had a combined ERA of 3.98 during the regular season, which ranked eighth in the American League. They've largely been bad in the postseason, as that number has ballooned to 5.52. But on Monday night, they did what they had to do to get a win and lead their team back to the World Series.

Game 1 is set for Friday night at the Rogers Centre.

Arizona Diamondbacks slugging third baseman Eugenio Suarez is widely considered be one of the crown jewels of this year's trade deadline.

Suarez has been on a tear in 2025, racking up 36 home runs and an NL-best 87 RBIs through his first 105 games this year. His .898 OPS is his best in a season since 2019, when he hit a career-high 49 homers.

As the trade deadline approaches, with less than 30 hours to go until it passes, the market for Suarez is reportedly beginning to "shape up," according to MLB insider Mark Feinsand. Four teams have emerged as the primary contenders to land Suarez if Arizona does elect to deal him prior to Thursday's deadline—the Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers—per Feinsand.

With the Diamondbacks slipping out of playoff contention and having already moved on from Josh Naylor in a trade with the Mariners, it wouldn't be surprising to see them offload Suarez while his value is at its highest. Suarez is ranked No. 3 in 's among top trade candidates, ahead of Thursday's deadline.

All four of the aforementioned teams are in the mix for a playoff spot and could be true World Series contenders if they make the right additions at the deadline. Suarez would be a great pickup for all four. Of the rumored suitors, he's previously spent some time in Seattle, having played for the Mariners in 2022 and '23 and made his major league debut with the Tigers in '14.

With so much interest in the 34-year-old, the Diamondbacks could receive quite the haul of prospects in exchange for Suarez, and it looks as if some teams may be more willing to meet their demands than others.

The two matches which begin in late January are shaping as a potential decider in the race for the World Test Championship final

Alex Malcolm29-Oct-2024With Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli about to audition with Australia A for a berth on the Sri Lanka Test tour in January, former Test spinner Steve O’Keefe is urging Cricket Australia to pull spin candidates out of the BBL as early as possible to prepare for the series while the window for the Test players’ involvement in the league could narrow even further if the series dates are earlier than expected.While the immediate focus is on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the associated tussle for a top-order batting slot, Australia’s selectors already have Sri Lanka in mind. The two-Test series could be vital to their World Test Championship final hopes, particularly after India’s defeat at home to New Zealand.Murphy and Rocchiccioli are getting an early chance to book a spot with the two Australia A matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne. The pair will play one game each and when each offspinner doesn’t feature they will each spend time with Australia’s ODI squad to work one-on-one with bowling coach and former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori.Related

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Ruturaj Gaikwad to lead India A on tour of Australia

Australia had thought the first Sri Lanka Test might begin on January 29 but there is a possibility it could start as early as January 26 with the dates still being finalised between the two boards. It is understood the hierarchy wants a 10-day preparation period for overseas Test tours and could fly to the UAE or Oman for a pre-series camp. If the first Test were to start on January 26, it would mean the Australia tourists could be pulled out of the BBL by January 15.Murphy plays for Sydney Sixers and another contender, Matt Kuhnemann, is a key part of Brisbane Heat’s attack. Rocchiccioli does not currently have a BBL deal but was with Melbourne Stars last season and could yet be picked up.Regardless of exact tour dates and who is selected, O’Keefe believes early red-ball preparation is vital. He cited his own experience in India in February 2017 as an example of how important it was to have a long red-ball lead-in. O’Keefe opted not to play in the BBL at all after playing the Sydney Test. His decision to spend six straight weeks bowling with a red ball before the first Test in India paid huge dividends as he bagged 12 for 70 in Pune.”I pulled out of the last six games of the Big Bash that season because I just said, no, this is not the way that I’m going to be bowling over there,” O’Keefe told ESPNcricinfo. “And I copped a bit of criticism. I remember a couple of coaches coming out saying, well, you’re going to get slogged in India you may as well practice in the Big Bash.”I deliberately took that time off, went and played grade cricket, played a Second XI game just to get used to bowling with the red ball. I think if we’re really going to be serious about the young spinners going over there, whoever is going to accompany Nathan [Lyon], is the Big Bash the best preparation?”I’d be encouraging the selectors to let these spinners be going earlier and then I’d be encouraging those spinners to practice with a red ball in between Big Bash games.”It’s two completely different ways of bowling. In essence, sometimes in Big Bash cricket you’re bowling your six worst deliveries to a batter, and then you’re going to be seven to ten days later asked to be landing it on a tea towel for 40 overs straight.”It’s a change for batters as well. The way that you mitigate that is muscle memory, and you need to practice it.”The BBL planned for a clear window for Australia’s Test players to feature between the end of the five-Test India series, which finishes on January 7, and the start of the Sri Lanka series. However, there were already concerns within CA’s high-performance unit about the Test players involvement given their workloads coming out of what is expected to be a gruelling series. There is also concern about the physical and technical preparation for Sri Lanka, with both Tests likely to be played on sharp-turning pitches in Galle.Matthew Kuhnemann is one of the few left-arm options for Australia•Getty ImagesAustralia have recent experience of how difficult it can be for a spinner to prepare for a subcontinent tour while playing in the BBL. In 2023, Ashton Agar played the New Year’s Test against South Africa before returning to play five games for Perth Scorchers. He then had just 19 days, including a camp in Sydney and another in Bengaluru, to prepare for a Test series in India and was unable to find the consistency required to be selected before being flown home. Australia brought Kuhnemann over at short notice, but he had at least bowled 44 overs in a Sheffield Shield game after the BBL before making his Test debut.”It’s tough, because you’re coming out of Big Bash which is bowling cross-seam, cut shots and yorkers, and leg stump [line] into I need to land the ball on a similar spot consistently and allow the wicket to do the work for me,” O’Keefe said.”In Australia, we’re looking for overspin, because it’s a different game. Over there you need to be able to bowl that square spinner, which if doesn’t spin it hits a shiny side, slides on and you get an lbw. But that same ball can hit the same spot and then spin past the outside edge of a right-hand batter [for a left-arm orthodox]. Is that easy to do? I think it takes a bit of practice. But knowing what Matt bowls, and watching him bowl, I think he’s already got it in his armoury. I think Todd Murphy’s got it in his armoury.”I’ve watched Corey bowl. I think he’s got it as well. But you need to go and bowl a lot of it over there. So the preparation that these guys will have hopefully is a month, but I reckon you need a couple of weeks of going over and consistently bowling it. In Australia, you might bowl it once every two overs, over there you’ve got be bowling it 10 times out of 12 balls.”The selectors are investing in Cooper Connolly for his bowling as well as his batting•Getty ImagesThe selectors haven’t picked a specialist left-arm orthodox against India A although Cooper Connolly will play as an allrounder. The value of a left-armer in those conditions has been highlighted by the success of Mitchell Santner against India last week and Prabath Jayasuriya both against New Zealand in September, and Australia in 2022 when he took 12 wickets on Test debut to square the series 1-1.Australia did not take a left-arm orthodox spinner to Sri Lanka in 2022 with legspinner Mitchell Swepson partnering Lyon alongside two quicks, with the support of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne.Chair of selectors George Bailey spoke on Monday of his panel’s desire to find players who bowl left-arm fingerspin for future subcontinent tours.”Happy to very much publicly throw it out there that it’s an incredible skill set in the subcontinent,” he said. “We’ve seen that for many years. Realistically, there’s not a huge amount of players in domestic cricket at the moment that are doing it. It’s something that we’re looking to continue to expose. It’s certainly one of the reasons why we’re excited about Cooper Connolly and his journey.”It’s still very much a work in progress with his left-arm spin. But [beyond] Matt Kuhnemann, Ash Agar, there’s just not a great many players who can do it. We know we’re going to have plenty of subcontinent tours, plenty of Tests where that skill set would be highly desirable. So [we] encourage anyone who’s got that up their sleeve to work hard at it.”

Lionel Messi's Instagram picture of his surprise return to Barcelona has already garnered more likes on Instagram than Cristiano Ronaldo's Nations League celebration post. Messi tearfully bid farewell to Camp Nou in 2021 as Barca's crippling financial crisis left them unable to renew his contract, forcing their greatest ever player to walk away from the club he had called home since boyhood.

Messi returns to Barcelona in dead of night

After leaving Barcelona four years ago, Messi has since donned the colours of Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. However, the heart of the Argentine maestro never truly left the Blaugrana. Messi quietly returned on the hallowed turf of a revamped Camp Nou this week. While Argentina’s national team prepares for a friendly clash with Angola on November 14, Messi and Rodrigo De Paul made an unannounced detour, straight to Barcelona. He was granted private access to the newly renovated Camp Nou, now nearing completion after its extensive facelift. The last time Messi played there was May 16, 2021, in a La Liga match against Celta Vigo. 

AdvertisementMessi overtakes Ronaldo on Instagram

Messi posted a carousel of pictures on Instagram of his Barcelona return with a caption that read: "Last night I returned to a place I miss with my soul. A place where I was immensely happy, where you guys made me feel a thousand times the happiest person in the world. I hope one day I can come back, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to…💙❤️." 

The post has now racked up an astonishing 24.2 million likes at the time of writing, surpassing Ronaldo’s Nations League triumph post, which stands at 23.5 million. From Copa America to the World Cup, Messi has repeatedly shattered records. His 2022 World Cup victory post still reigns as the most-liked Instagram post ever, boasting over 74 million likes.  

However, Ronaldo holds the record for the most-liked comment on Instagram history. His cheeky reply to Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid announcement, reading “My turn to watch. Excited to see you light up the Bernabéu. #HalaMadrid”, has gathered over 5 million likes. 

Messi’s heartfelt words on returning home

Messi spoke to Spanish outlet revealing the depth of emotion he still feels for the Catalan capital.

"I really want to go back there, we miss Barcelona a lot," he said. "My wife and I, the kids, are constantly talking about Barcelona and the idea of moving back. We have our house there, everything, so that's what we want. I'm really looking forward to going back to the stadium when it's finished because since I left for Paris, I haven't been back to Camp Nou, and then they moved to Montjuic."

Messi still feels a lingering pain about his unceremonious Barcelona exit and got emotional again while turning back the pages. He said: "I was left with a strange feeling after leaving, because of how everything happened, because I ended up playing my last years without fans, because of the pandemic. After spending my whole life there, I didn't leave the way I imagined, the way I dreamed.

"I imagined, as I said, playing my whole career in Europe, in Barcelona, and then, yes, coming here like I did, because that was my plan, what I wanted. And well, the farewell was a bit strange too, because of the situation, because of everything. But well, I think the fans' affection will always be there, because of what I said, because of everything we've been through."

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Getty Images SportA proper Barca farewell awaits Messi

Though a comeback for Barcelona now seems impossible, Inter Miami’s co-owner, Jorge Mas, has promised to give Messi a fitting send-off in Catalonia.

"Messi's departure from Barcelona was not to his liking, he could not say goodbye to his club that welcomed him as a child, and I think the circumstances were not what Lionel wanted," he said. "I gave him my commitment that I will do everything possible in the coming years to give him the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans in Barcelona. Inter Miami will go or we will do some kind of match."

Messi’s contract extension with Inter Miami keeps him in Major League Soccer until 2028, taking him past his 40th birthday and is tipped to feature for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, where the Albiceleste will be looking to defend their crown.

Alana King takes four wickets as struggling Essex slump to another defeat

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-Jul-2025A brilliant century from Lancashire and England’s Emma Lamb helped her side ease to their latest Metro Bank One Day Cup victory by 138 runs over struggling Essex at the beautiful surroundings of Sedbergh.Lamb hit a career best 142 and shared a mammoth opening partnership of 162 with Eve Jones (71) as the Red Rose racked up a total of 306 for 4 off their 50 overs after being put into bat by Essex skipper Grace Scrivens.As for Essex there were few highlights with only Jodi Grewcock’s half-century to take back with them on the long journey home from the South Lakelands.Lamb and Jones have proved a hugely effective opening pair this season with three century partnerships before this game and their fourth never really looked in doubt from the moment they began to stroke Essex’s Kate Coppack and Eve Gray around Sedburgh’s lush outfield.44 runs came off the first powerplay but it was after the introduction of Esmae McGregor and Abtaha Maqsood that the openers really got going with the former going for 25 off her four overs.The century partnership was reached in the 20th over with Jones bringing up he half-century soon after with the landmarks coming regularly thereafter with the opening pair reaching 150 in the 30th over.The long-awaited breakthrough for Essex eventually came when Jones mistimed a drive to Coppack off Sophie Smale but the disruption did little to put off Lamb who brought up her century with a huge six off a waist high full toss from the expensive Maqsood.By the time Lamb was out in the 42nd over most of the damage had been done with her superb knock ending off 109 balls with 15 fours and two sixes.Fi Morris quickly followed for five to a caught and bowled from Scrivens but Lancashire powered on through to the end of their innings with some energetic running from Seren Smale and skipper Ellie Threlkeld putting on 38 for the fourth wicket in just under six overs with Smale’s run out in the penultimate over scant consolation for a tired looking Essex.The early departure of opener Scrivens, who edged Mahika Gaur behind for two in the third over, ensured Essex were on the back foot from the off and in truth Lancashire never allowed their innings to gain any momentum.Cordelia Griffith edged Gace Potts’ first delivery to keeper Threlkeld for 13 and Smale, who had battled well for 38, holed out to mid off and a grateful Potts to give Alana King her first wicket.When King bowled Australian Maddie Penna for 15 it looked like the game was up with the visitors 100-4 and over 200 runs still required with the task getting even tricker when Jo Gardner was brilliantly caught by Kate Cross at mid off for eight off left arm spinner Sophie Morris.Meanwhile the stubborn Grewcock was providing the only solace for Essex as she reached her half-century from 54 balls but that would prove as good as it got as she departed hooking a Gaur slower ball straight to Morris for 52.Gaur suddenly found herself on a hat-trick when Amara Carr hit her first ball straight up in the air to Alisa Lister to leave Essex 142-7 and all hope all but gone.Coppack was run out for two and although Gray hit a flurry of fours that was pretty much it with King picking up a third wicket when MacGregor was stumped for one and then repeating the trick the very next ball when Maqsood departed the same way to leave Lancashire challenging at the top of the table going into the break for The Hundred.

It wasn’t the perfect performance, but Chelsea are now through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

At one point in their clash away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Enzo Maresca’s men looked like they were going to run away with it.

Unfortunately, some really sloppy play and defending in the second half let the Old Gold right back into it.

With that said, Chelsea managed to get out of there with the win, and one player in particular showed why he could be another Cole Palmer, and no, it wasn’t Estevao.

Chelsea's standout stars vs Wolves

One Chelsea starter who did his chances of playing more minutes well on Wednesday night was Andrey Santos.

Chalkboard

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

The Brazilian ace started in the middle of the park and made an instant impact, scoring the opening goal just five minutes in.

It was a well-taken shot from just outside the area, but that wasn’t all he did, as he ended the game with 100% of his tackles won, ten ball recoveries and seven of eight ground duels won.

In short, it was an excellent all-action display from the 21-year-old and just the sort of showing fans were hoping to see from him this season.

One of his teammates who wasn’t quite as impactful, but is still worthy of praise, is Estevao.

The Brazilian wonderkid didn’t make any key passes or complete more than two crosses, but he did score a sensational chip to make it 3-0 in the 41st minute.

Finally, while he didn’t get a goal involvement like his midfield partner, Romeo Lavia, helped to keep things ticking over in the middle of the park for the Blues.

Minutes

61′

Key Passes

1

Touches

67

Accurate Passes

54/59 (92%)

Fouls Won

2

Interceptions

1

Clearances

1

Recoveries

7

Ground Duels (Won)

5 (4)

Aerial Duels (Won)

1 (1)

In his 61 minutes of action, the young Belgian completed 54 of 59 passes, played one key pass, took 67 touches, made seven ball recoveries and won five of six duels.

Perhaps the best thing you can say about the former Southampton gem’s performance is that Wolves scored two of their three goals when he was off the pitch.

With all that said, there was another Chelsea player who stood out above all the others and showed just why he could be another Palmer-type star.

Chelsea's new Palmer-type star

When it comes down to the player who impressed most on Wednesday night, it’s impossible to look past Jamie Gittens, and it’s the summer signing who could be the club’s new Palmer-type star.

Now, it’s important to caveat that this doesn’t mean he will become as good a player as the Blues’ number ten – few players ever will be – but there are some similarities.

For example, both of them have come from Manchester City’s academies, both can play out wide, the former Borussia Dortmund gem is almost certainly going to be involved in the senior England setup at some point, and, crucially, Gittens is capable of the incredible.

Yes, the 21-year-old has indeed underwhelmed so far this season, but against Wolves, he showed that he has it in him to utterly dominate an opposition and drag his side to victory.

For example, he provided the assist for Santos to open the scoring, and then, just ten minutes later, he did even better, setting up Tyrique George with a tap-in he simply couldn’t miss.

Then, if that wasn’t enough, the Reading-born monster made sure his side didn’t throw the game away by scoring an absolute screamer to make it 4-2 in the 90th minute.

It was the sort of goal you’d expect a player of Palmer’s calibre to score, and perhaps an indication that the Blues might have another superstar on their hands.

Overall, it really was, as one content creator put it, a “masterclass” of a performance from Gittens, and one that should see him remain in the team for the next few games.

Not Caicedo: Chelsea's "joke of a footballer" is now looking like Lampard

The international monster is beginning to embody Frank Lampard’s greatness for Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 29, 2025

Ex-Everton and Real Madrid player Royston Drenthe is in an "intensive rehabilitation process" as he recovers from a stroke that he suffered in October. The 38-year-old was hospitalised last month and has since entered a crucial phase of his recovery.

A gritty recovery begins

Tjarda Zeggelink of FC de Rebellen confirmed that the former winger is pushing his limits to recover and get back to full fitness. He has reportedly been devoting all of his time to slowly rebuilding strength and stability after the incident. His representatives claim that the process is progressing steadily, but the ex-Madrid star has been warned that patience will be key to his long-term well-being.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUpdate on Drenthe's recovery

Zeggelink believes that Drenthe’s determination has become the defining feature of his recovery.

"He's trying incredibly hard, works incredibly hard, and shows improvement every day," said Zeggelink. "What he used to do on the field, he now does off the field as well. Just a true fighter: no nonsense, just action. Royston amazes us every time. We are very hopeful for a good recovery."

Meanwhile, in an interview with , he added: "Royston is currently in an important phase of his rehabilitation process. He is working with great dedication and discipline on his recovery, showing the same commitment and motivation we have come to expect from him.

"While it is still too early to provide a specific timeline, we are pleased with Royston's approach to his recovery. His positive attitude and professional mindset are playing an important role in the overall progress of the rehabilitation process. We will continue to monitor his development closely and remain confident in a successful recovery."

A star that burnt out in Madrid

Drenthe burst onto the scene at Feyenoord in 2005 before earning a high-profile move to Real Madrid just two years later. Valued as one of the world’s most exciting young talents, he arrived in Spain with lofty expectations but struggled to fulfill them. Across five years in Madrid, he made 65 appearances and enjoyed loan spells with Hercules and Everton. After leaving Spain, he went on to play for Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and clubs in Russia and the Netherlands. He first announced his retirement in 2016 but returned to professional football with Sparta Rotterdam in 2018. His final playing chapter included spells with Kozakken Boys and Racing Murcia before retiring for a second time in November 2023.

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IMAGO / AlterphotosHow alcoholism hindered his career

Despite the early hype that surrounded his Real Madrid move, Drenthe has openly reflected on the distractions that pulled him away from his potential.

He said: "Barcelona wanted me, and Chelsea too, but they wanted me to stay at Feyenoord for a year. I preferred to go straight to Madrid. I knew that playing for Madrid, with legends like David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane, would be incredible. In Holland, just playing for Madrid made me a legend. In Madrid, the focus was not only on football. I loved life, and partying was a part of it. I was younger, and I didn’t understand that my partying would hurt my career. At 25, I didn’t realise how it would affect me when I was 30. Scoring in my debut felt amazing. I thought I was the king of the world." He also spoke about the vibrant social life in Madrid, where "if you won, you went out to eat, and if you lost, the party still continued".

Now, far from the stadium lights, Drenthe faces a different kind of battle, and those around him do not doubt that the fighter will make a remarkable comeback. 

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will begin the Super Four round on September 20

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2025Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will take on each other to begin the Super Four stage of Asia Cup 2025 on Saturday. By knocking Afghanistan out of the tournament in the penultimate group-stage game in Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka ensured they progressed to the next round unbeaten, along with Bangladesh from Group B.India and Pakistan had confirmed their spots from Group A after Pakistan’s win against UAE on Wednesday. That means the second India vs Pakistan game in the tournament will be played on September 21 in Dubai. India had beaten Pakistan in their group-stage fixture in Dubai and are undefeated ahead of their game against Oman, which will close out the first round.Pakistan will get a day’s break before they take on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi. But Bangladesh will have play on consecutive days as they take on India on September 24 and Pakistan the next day. Both matches are in Dubai.India and Sri Lanka will conclude the Super Four stage on September 26 in Dubai. The two teams topping the table will play in the final on September 28, also in Dubai. The teams will not carry any points from the group stage into the Super Four round.

Newcastle United could do with an injection of positivity after the November international break, having slumped their way down to 14th place in the Premier League after 11 matches.

Gone is the easy fluency of last season, and Eddie Howe has a task on his hands to rekindle the spark at the heart of his Tyneside squad.

While the impending return of Yoane Wissa from injury will add that extra dimension in attack, Howe will be concerned that this current international pause might inflict injury on one of his players in a similar fashion to when Wissa damaged his knee back in September, before he had even kicked a ball for the Toon.

No such bad news at the moment, though watching England defeat Serbia in their penultimate World Cup qualifier has issued a sombre reminder that PIF must do all that they can to bring Elliot Anderson back to St. James’ Park. How about that for an injection of positivity?

The latest on Newcastle's interest in Elliot Anderson

Anderson, 23, left Newcastle for Nottingham Forest in 2024, arriving at the City Ground after a fee in the region of £35m had been agreed.

How PIF must regret that PSR-influenced decision, with Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel recently hailing Anderson as being “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League” before his latest performance alongside Declan Rice, impressing as England claimed a professional 2-0 win.

So combative, cultured and composed in the middle of the park, the Tyneside-born talent never managed to spread his wings for his boyhood club, but he has made such impressive progress since leaving and forging his own path.

Howe, it should go without saying, would love nothing more than to bring Anderson back home, having expressed last month how the sale “didn’t sit right with me”, and intimating his desire to strike a transfer down the line.

It won’t be easy, though; far from it. Anderson’s all-encompassing qualities in the engine room have been picked up by some of the Premier League’s finest, with Arsenal and Manchester United among those looking to complete a deal for the £100m-rated midfielder.

Whether Newcastle manage to bring him back is anyone’s guess, but they must not let the same thing happen again, especially when there’s a new Geordie talent looking to break into the first team.

The Newcastle talent who could be bigger than Anderson

Newcastle will look for ways to bring Anderson back to St. James’ Park, but sadly there is no certainty that they will win the race for his signature.

That’s why they must prove they have learned from their blunder and ensure Sean Neave has a clear pathway from the academy to the first team.

The 18-year-old has been prolific right from the get-go this season, and his mature, confident displays are beginning to see a level of noise rise around him, with Howe sure to be considering handing him a professional breakthrough before long, should the right opportunity arrive.

While Neave hasn’t featured for the senior side yet, he was involved in Newcastle’s pre-season preparations this summer and is clearly viewed as having the potential to wedge his way into the fray.

Moreover, he was this week awarded an award during the annual Sport Newcastle ceremony for ’embodying the Newcastle spirit’, with Dan Burn taking the cake for the men’s team.

Though it’s a big leap from the world of development football to the major stage, Neave is nothing if not clinical, with an ease and accuracy in the final third that should lend itself to success in the Premier League for the seniors, albeit with physicality and maturity further elements that must be woven into the youngster’s game.

But given that he’s only just entered adulthood, there is every reason for United fans to get excited by this one. Magpie Media have already described him as “the best Geordie striker prospect in a long, long time”, after all.

If Neave reaches even the rim of what his potential suggests is possible, there’s every chance that Newcastle could have an even bigger talent than Anderson on their hands, and one who must not be allowed to leave for new pastures before being handed a shot at the big time.

Newcastle have already paid for that mistake, and they may pay more still if they succeed in re-signing Anderson. That would be a rousing transfer for the club, but one which would come at what could have been an avoidable financial cost.

Lighting surely won’t strike twice. Neave’s goalscoring efforts for the development teams underscore his quality and the importance of easing him into the first-team action under Howe’s wing.

Newcastle U18

37

21 (7)

Newcastle U21

21

9 (4)

Newcastle YL

9

2 (1)

Newcastle

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With a brace netted against Burnley last week, Neave is finding his feet for the U21s, and it’s surely only a matter of time until he is unleashed in the Premier League, just searching for that extra steel in his physicality to prove he’s every bit as talented as Anderson, maybe even more so.

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