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Players incensed by ECB clampdown on permissions to play in overseas leagues

Matt Roller06-Dec-2024

The Hundred is the focus of some players’ ire as they consider their options in the ongoing NOCs row•ECB/Getty Images

A group of English players have discussed the possibility of boycotting the Hundred in 2025 as the fall-out from the ECB’s new policy on No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) continues.The reported the boycott threat on Friday, and ESPNcricinfo understands that players have raised it as a nuclear option with their agents, and in crisis talks with the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), if the policy does not change. The PCA declined to comment, and the prospect of a boycott has so far been discussed independently of the players’ union.The timing is particularly unfortunate for the ECB ahead of Monday’s second-round deadline in the Hundred’s sales process, which will see prospective investors submitting offers for stakes in the eight teams. The ECB declined to comment, while a source insisted that the timing was coincidental and that the potential for a boycott would have been raised regardless.The latest development comes after a chaotic week behind the scenes in the English game, with players scrambling for clarification over the new policy. There is confusion at apparent discrepancies between the wording of the policy itself and the details briefed by the ECB, and frustration at limited consultation with the PCA before its publication.Around 40-50 players put their frustrations across to the PCA across two group calls staged on Monday, and suggested potential next steps. These included the idea of a collective policy of non-engagement with the Hundred’s retention process, which is expected to begin imminently and run until late February.Related

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In practice, such a move appears unlikely – not least because the ECB’s board are understood to have ratified pay rises for the 2025 edition of the Hundred, ahead of further increases once deals with private investors have been signed off. The group of players who have raised the option is not thought to include anyone on an England central contract, though does feature some who were among the Hundred’s higher earners last year.Several players were incensed to learn on Monday – via ESPNcricinfo’s reporting – that players with ‘pay-as-you-play’ red-ball provisions in their contracts would be considered the same as all-format county cricketers. Those frustrations were raised by agents in a PCA meeting on Wednesday afternoon, who cited inconsistencies with precedents around insurance.The PCA is awaiting legal advice before working out its own next steps, while several players want answers as to whether they will be granted NOCs to fulfil long-standing commitments for the winter. Male English players have already featured in leagues in Abu Dhabi, Guyana and Nepal since the end of the season, with Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) starting next weekend.Players also want to know where they stand before the six Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises step up recruitment for the 2025 season, which will clash with the first two months of the County Championship. Some English players have already agreed deals in principle to play in the PSL, with a draft date and recruitment regulations expected to be published this month.The first-class counties are understood to be generally supportive of the new policy. One source predicted that the regulations would prompt a handful of players to retire from first-class cricket, but said that the English game as a whole would benefit from the ECB’s attempts to stave off the perceived threats posed by a significant player drain to overseas franchise leagues during the English summer.

Gaikwad and Abhimanyu failed with the bat again, but the Indians ended the second day 120 in front with eight wickets in hand

Tristan Lavalette01-Nov-2024Stumps After the first day’s spotlight shone firmly on Australia’s Test hopefuls, India Test squad member Abhimanyu Easwaran and reserve Mukesh Kumar had contrasting fortunes before B Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal led an India A fightback on day two in Mackay.Trailing by 88 runs on the first innings, India stared down the barrel at 30 for 2 after the wickets of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu. But Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal steadied the ship with an unbroken 178-run partnership as batting became easier on a surface that flattened out as the day wore on.They learned the lessons from India A’s disastrous first innings of 107 when a number of batters nicked off. Sai Sudharsan and Padikkal demonstrated patience and judged the full lengths well as they closed in on centuries. They waited to pick off the bowling, which was more wayward than on the opening day.Both batters used their feet well to offspinner Todd Murphy, who did not threaten and had figures of none for 54 from 17 overs. His struggles reared just before stumps when a delivery slipped from his fingers and landed near the square leg umpire.Devdutt Padikkal scored 80 in an unbroken 178-run stand with B Sai Sudharsan•Getty ImagesIt was a terrific recovery from India A after the wickets of Gaikwad and Abhimanyu, who each had double failures for the match. Gaikwad could only tentatively poke at a length delivery from quick Fergus O’Neill and edged to second slip where Cameron Bancroft demonstrated why he is one of the country’s best fielders, with a sharp catch low to the ground.Abhimanyu is seen as a contender to play in the early part of the Test series given the uncertainty over Rohit Sharma. But he was all at sea against the new ball with O’Neill producing rampant movement.Abhimanyu was fortunate to have survived on 2 after edging quick Jordan Buckingham to third slip only for the delivery to be deemed a no-ball. The pressure was building on Abhimanyu, who attempted to play more positively and also scampered for tight singles on a couple of occasions. But he pushed his luck after dashing off for a quick run only for the athletic Buckingham at midwicket to throw down the stumps leaving the diving batter just short of his ground.India’s recovery appeared to have had a setback when Padikkal on 31 drove O’Neill straight to Nathan McSweeney at short extra-cover only for the delivery to be called a no-ball.Cooper Connolly played positively, hitting five fours in his 37•Getty ImagesPadikkal had medical treatment on his legs late in the day, but fought through as India A eyed setting a tough target with the focus soon to shift once again to those Australia A batters hoping to partner Usman Khawaja in the first Test.India A’s revival was started by Mukesh. He bowled unwavering spells and nipped the ball both ways to finish with 6 for 46, while quick Prasidh Krishna unfurled canny changes of pace, which has served him well in white-ball cricket, to claim a three-wicket haul.Australia A resumed their first innings at 99 for 4, trailing by just eight runs, with skipper McSweeney having a golden opportunity to boost his bid for first Test selection. McSweeney had survived through to stumps on a madcap day one after the early dismissals of Test candidates Bancroft, Sam Konstas and Marcus Harris.He once again showcased dogged defence and good judgment to leave deliveries outside his off stump. After a slow start to the day’s play, it took 17 deliveries until the first runs were scored when Cooper Connolly flayed a boundary through the off side.Connolly, 21, decided to counter-attack and quickly passed McSweeney after smashing 22 runs in an eight-ball whirlwind. His ability to shift gears is a reason why Connolly has risen in the ranks quickly and is seen as a contender for the Test tour of Sri Lanka early next year.Mukesh Kumar finished with innings figures of 6 for 46•Getty ImagesIn a contrast to many batters so far in this match, Connolly drove with ease and underlined why in Western Australian cricket circles he has been compared favourably to former Test batter Shaun Marsh. He appeared set for his fourth half-century from six innings in his first-class career before a tame dismissal on 37 when he mistimed a delivery from Mukesh to square-leg.It led to the quick wickets of Josh Philippe and McSweeney, whose dedication to defence was finally broken when he was caught at gully after being lured into driving a full delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy.Reddy was able to find late movement that deceived McSweeney to highlight an impressive performance of 1 for 14 from seven overs.Australia A led by just 29 runs at the fall of McSweeney’s wicket before Murphy hit a breezy 33 to frustrate India A. It was left to Mukesh to finally wrap up the innings as he clean bowled Brendan Doggett for his fifth wicket and then picked up Murphy – who was the fourth batter in the innings to fall in the 30s.

Bowling coach on Old Course as Stokes doubts compound rawness of chosen seam attack

Matt Roller04-Oct-2024

Olly Stone trains with a medicine ball ahead of a potentially key role in the first Test•Getty Images

As England trained in Multan’s searing heat for the first time on Friday, their fast-bowling coach was fighting the cold over 4,000 miles away in Scotland. James Anderson is spending this week playing the historic Old Course at St. Andrews in a pro-am golf tournament, and his late arrival highlights the extent to which a new batch of England seamers are stepping into the unknown.When England last toured Pakistan, Anderson was instrumental in their 3-0 clean sweep. He played the first two Tests, taking eight wickets at 18.50 – including a ball to Mohammad Rizwan he described as “one of my best” – and doubled up as a fast-bowling coach to Mark Wood and, in particular, Ollie Robinson, who shared 17 wickets between them.But two years hence, they are all absent: Wood has an elbow injury, Robinson has fallen out of favour after one false dawn too many, and Anderson was ushered into retirement in July. Now, it is another step into the unknown for five seamers who have never played a first-class match in Pakistan: Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone and Chris Woakes.Related

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That is only exacerbated by Anderson’s absence in the build-up to the series. England say that he has been in daily contact with their quicks while playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but he will not arrive in Pakistan until the second day of the first Test and WhatsApp is no substitute for in-person coaching.With Ben Stokes emerging as a doubt for the first Test, Woakes is likely to play his first away Test in two-and-a-half years, and his first in Asia since 2016: a chance not only to lead the attack, but to rectify his notoriously thin record overseas. England’s other four fast bowlers have played a single overseas Test between them.Atkinson was rested from September’s white-ball series against Australia after picking up a thigh niggle in the final Test of the summer, but bowled in training on Friday. Carse, Potts and Stone all featured in the ODIs but they will be learning on the job in Pakistan, even if Stone did play one home game for Multan Sultans in February.James Anderson plays the Old Course at St Andrews during the Alfred Dunhill Cup•Getty Images

Stone’s own personal circumstances could play a role in selection during the series. He is due to get married next Saturday, having planned his wedding three years after his most recent appearance: if he plays in the first Test, he faces a rush home after the fifth day’s play to reach the ceremony, and already appears highly unlikely to play in the second.Multan is a place that demands quick adjustment, on and off the field. The temperature touched 40 degrees during England’s first training session on Friday, and while the team are staying in a luxury hotel overlooking a golf course, their presidential-level security means they will see little else of the city over the next two-and-a-half weeks.The ground has not staged a Test since England’s 26-run win two years ago, and the early signs are that there will be some live grass on the pitch. “It has a bit of a green tinge,” Zak Crawley said. “There are two days to go, so with this heat, it could easily turn and be very similar to the pitches last time. We’ll wait and see, but at the moment, it’s certainly a little bit green.”Crawley became the latest England player to reference comments that Shan Masood, Pakistan’s captain, made before their series against Bangladesh last month. Masood suggested his side were at their best “wherever there’s been help for the fast bowlers” but the preparation of a lively surface in Rawalpindi backfired, with back-to-back defeats.”Looking at this wicket – and hearing what Shan said in the media – I feel like it could be a bit more green and a bit more seam movement this time [than two years ago],” Crawley said. “We’ve got a really versatile bowling attack, with a bit of pace and also some skill… and in this heat, I think the spinners are always going to play a part.”[We’ve spoken] a little bit about reverse-swing… it should be easy with the sweat, but maybe not so much with that wicket. The square looks quite green. [Anderson] has not arrived yet but he’s an absolute master of that kind of thing. In these conditions, him and Robbo were a big reason we played well last time. He’ll be valuable when he comes out.”England’s fast-bowling attack has evolved at lightning speed in the last year, with Anderson and Stuart Broad moving on and a new batch of quicks replacing them with a focus on seam movement, rather than swing. The transition has been designed to help England compete more away from home: this series is the first real test for the next generation.

انفتح كارلو أنشيلوتي، مدرب منتخب البرازيل، عن فشله مع نادي ريال مدريد خلال الموسم الماضي، ليخرج خالي الوفاض دون التمكن من تحقيق أي لقب وسط سيطرة برشلونة بشكل كامل على البطولات المحلية في إسبانيا.

وبسبب سوء النتائج رحل أنشيلوتي عن تدريب ريال مدريد في نهاية الموسم الماضي، ليقوم بتدريب البرازيل، في حين تم تعيين تشابي ألونسو كمدير فني للوس بلانكوس.

أقرأ أيضًا .. أنشيلوتي يعترف: اسمتعت بتدريب لاعب ريال مدريد.. وهذا أفضل مركز له بالملعب

ويرى أنشيلوتي في مقابلة مع صحيفة ليكيب، أن ريال مدريد عانى من إصابات كثيرة في خط الدفاع مما أثر على موسم الميرنجي.

وقال أنشيلوتي: ”كان الموسم الماضي معقدًا ولم نحقق النجاح الذي كنا نتمناه، عانينا من إصابات كثيرة في خط الدفاع، وكان من الصعب بناء فريق قوي ودعم خط الهجوم الذي نمتلكه”.

وأضاف أنشيلوتي في حديثه: ”ميليتاو، روديجير، ديفيد ألابا، فيرلاند ميندي وداني كارفاخال، هؤلاء عدد كبير من اللاعبين المهمين الذين تعرضوا للإصابة في خط الدفاع”.

وأوضح المدرب الإيطالي: ”كانت هناك مباريات لم يكن لدينا فيها لاعبين في مركز قلب الدفاع، أحدهما كان دائمًا راؤول أسينسيو، الذي انضم لتوه من الأكاديمية رغم أنه كان لاعبًا جيدًا”.

واعترف أنشيلوتي بحبه الكبير لريال مدريد، حيث اختتم: ”ريال مدريد هو الفريق الوحيد الذي سوف أقبل بتدريبه بعد البرازيل”.

تخطى قائد منتخب البرتغال، كريستيانو رونالدو، غريمه التقليدي ليونيل ميسي، نجم منتخب الأرجنتين، بعدما سجل هدفين في مباراة اليوم ضد أرمينيا، في تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم.

وخاض منتخب البرتغال مباراته الأولى في تصفيات القارة العجوز المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم، في مجموعته، ضد أرمينيا حيث حقق فوزًا بخمسة أهداف دون رد (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وتمكن كريستيانو رونالدو من تسجيل هدفين في تلك المباراة، ليرتفع رصيده إلى 38 هدفًا في إطار تصفيات كأس العالم، في مشواره الاحترافي.

كان رونالدو قد دخل تلك المباراة وهو على قدر متساوي مع ليونيل ميسي فيما يخص عدد الأهداف التي سجلها كل منهما في تصفيات كأس العالم، بعدما سجل الأرجنتيني هدفين ضد فنزويلا يوم الجمعة الماضي.

ولكن رونالدو نجح في فك الشراكة وسجل هدفين اليوم، ليتفوق على ميسي الذي خاض مباراته الأخيرة مع الأرجنتين في ملعبهم، وأثار الغموض حول موقفه من خوض كأس العالم 2026.

ويتبقى أمام رونالدو الوصول إلى رقم اللاعب الأكثر تهديفًا في مرحلة التصفيات وهو كارلوس رويز، الذي سجل مع منتخب جواتيمالا 39 هدفًا.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to tackle the summer transfer market following the confirmed arrival of Thomas Frank as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement in the dugout.

Tottenham announce as Thomas Frank as their new manager

Spurs were repeatedly linked with Frank after chairman Daniel Levy made the tough decision to sack Postecoglou, with the Australian helping to end their 17-year wait for a major trophy but also guiding them to 22 Premier League defeats last season.

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On Thursday evening, Frank was officially unveiled as the Lilywhites’ fifth manager since 2019, after Spurs triggered his £10 million release clause and reached an agreement on his backroom staff.

“Thomas has extensive experience in English football having joined Brentford in 2016 – since becoming one of the longest-serving current managers in the Premier League,” a club statement said.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

“During his time at Brentford he transformed the Club, moving them up from the Championship to an established Premier League side, consistently and significantly outperforming expectations for an extended period of time.

“In Thomas we are appointing one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches within the game. He has a proven track record in player and squad development, and we look forward to him leading the team as we prepare for the season ahead.”

On paper, Frank is arguably a perfect for the north Londoners, having worked wonders with limited resources at Brentford whilst also operating under a data-driven recruitment model.

However, the Dane also has zero experience managing a team of this magnitude, nor does he boast any silverware or Champions League know-how, yet he is the man who is about to lead Tottenham into Europe’s most prestigious competition next term.

If Frank is to become a success at Spurs, Levy will need to back him in the transfer market, and this summer is set to be another crucial one.

Frank’s side are reportedly trying to hijack Man United’s move for Bryan Mbeumo, but that is not all.

The 51-year-old has already recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Tottenham, according to GiveMeSport, and it is now reported that he’s also a fan of Nottingham Forest playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White.

Thomas Frank "pushing" Tottenham to move for Morgan Gibbs-White

That is according to journalist Sebastien Vidal, who claims that Frank is “pushing” for Tottenham to sign Gibbs-White in a “statement” move.

The England international, despite this report that a £51 million deal is possible, is likely to cost far more. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have him under contract for another two years, with other reports claiming Forest could demand as much as £100 million for him this summer.

Gibbs-White was a superstar player for Forest during their unlikely push for Champions League football last season, bagging seven goals and 10 assists in all competitions, so Spurs will have to seriously dig deep into their pockets to get them talking.

Leeds United have now made contact with the representatives of a “clinical” striker who has 88 Premier League goals to his name, according to a report.

Leeds stepping up pursuit of new striker

Joel Piroe was the top scorer in the Championship in the 2024-25 season, netting 19 goals, while also showcasing his creative talents by picking up seven assists, but there are doubts over whether the Dutchman should be selected to lead the line in the Premier League.

Piroe has no experience in the top flight, having spent the majority of his career in the second tier, and the Whites are now stepping up their pursuit of a new striker, identifying several potential options from across Europe.

Contact has been made over a deal for Hamburg striker Davie Selke, while Daniel Farke’s side are also in the race for AC Milan striker Tammy Abraham, who, of course, has experience in the Premier League from his time with Chelsea.

According to a report from Leeds Live, however, Leeds have now made an approach for a striker with a more recent track record of success in the top flight, namely Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson, having made contact to discuss a deal with the Englishman’s representatives.

The Whites are said to hold a genuine interest in Wilson, who joined Newcastle from AFC Bournemouth for a fee of £20m, but is now in line to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

The Newcastle marksman isn’t the only option on the shortlist, however, with Farke’s side exploring a number of different options, as the manager looks to rebuild his squad ahead of their return to the Premier League next season.

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2 ByKelan Sarson Jun 3, 2025 "Clinical" Wilson has solid track record in the Premier League

Prior to Alexander Isak’s arrival at St. James’ Park, the former Bournemouth man was the main man for Newcastle in attack, and he netted 18 Premier League goals during the 2022-23 campaign, during which Isak struggled with injury setbacks.

The Coventry-born striker has 88 top-flight goals to his name and 143 total for club and country, so his vast experience could be of great use to a Leeds side whose primary goal will undoubtedly be avoiding relegation next season.

Such is the 33-year-old’s attacking prowess, he was once lauded as “clinical” by The Athletic’s Chris Waugh, and if he is able to rediscover his previous form, he could be an excellent addition to Farke’s squad this summer.

That said, there will be concerns over the fact that Wilson has struggled with injuries in recent times, being sidelined for 29 games during the 2024-25 campaign, which meant he managed to score just one goal in all competitions across the entire season.

Chelsea chiefs have now offered a pacey striker personal terms to join the Blues, with an agreement described as just a “matter of time”.

Chelsea set for UEFA Conference League final

After qualifying for the Champions League and confirming an almighty boost for Chelsea ahead of next season, Enzo Maresca can also sign off his debut season in the dugout with a piece of major silverware.

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The Italian, bullish in his post-match press conference after their vital 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, told critics to ‘eff off’ after Chelsea sealed fourth spot and a place in Europe’s most prestigious competition for 2025/2026.

Despite their excellent finish to the Premier League season, with Chelsea briefly contending for the title at one early stage and winning six out of their final eight top-flight games to confirm a top five place, it hasn’t been an easy campaign for Maresca overall.

Rank

Team

Points

GD

Man City

71

+28

Chelsea

69

+21

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

Some tepid performances and results threatened Chelsea’s chase for Europe, with Maresca’s side suffering a damp patch of form soon after the turn of 2025. This prompted some supporters to turn on the ex-Leicester City boss, which in-turn caused concern from critics.

“When the fans turn on the manager, it’s never a good sign and it’s something the board will have taken note of, I’m sure,” said ex-Premier League scout Mick Brown to Football Insider back in April.

“They’ve got the core of what could be a very good squad with a little bit of work and improvement. I expect he will be backed in the summer because everything you hear from Chelsea is that the board are going to stick by him.

“But as I said, when the fans start to turn, it’s never a good sign and questions will be asked.”

While it hasn’t been plain sailing for Maresca, Chelsea can end 2024/25 with the knowledge of Champions League football, and if they beat Real Betis on Wednesday evening, the Stamford Bridge side will also have a trophy to show for their efforts.

BlueCo also have every intention of backing Maresca in the transfer market, and are reportedly turning their attention to sister club Strasbourg in pursuit of a rising star.

Chelsea offer Strasbourg striker Emanuel Emegha a six-year contract

Reports in France previously stated that Emanuel Emegha was attracting serious interest from Chelsea, and talks had been held with the 22-year-old’s representatives (Foot Mercato).

Now, journalist Santi Aouna has shared an update on the matter via X, claiming that Chelsea have offered Emegha a six-year deal and an agreement is inevitable.

The 6 foot 5 Dutchman has been ranked as the fastest player in Ligue 1 this season, which showcases his serious explosiveness and power as a forward player, and Emegha is said to be valued at £21 million.

This could end up being an astute pre-contract deal for 2026 and an ideal signing for the future, especially considering that he ended this season as one of the French top flight’s top scorers with 14.

Will Brandan Rodgers’ Celtic secure a sixth treble in just nine seasons this month?

On Saturday, the Hoops secured a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title, winning 5-0, with both Nicolas Kühn and Adam Idah bagging braces.

Victory over Aberdeen at the end of the month will rubber stamp yet another treble, with the Bhoys having now equalled Rangers’ record of 55 top division titles.

However, that victory at Tannadice did come at a cost, so should Rodgers replace Jota with Celtic’s “absolutely brilliant” youngster?

The latest on Jota injury at Celtic

Jota played a key role in Celtic’s opener on Saturday, ultimately going down as a Ryan Strain own goal, however, just five minutes later, the Portuguese winger was hobbling off, and that could be the last we see of him for a while.

A report by the Scottish Sun claims Jota will be sidelined ‘for several months’, potentially even missing the start of next season, having been spotted on crutches and in a knee brace at the title celebrations.

Rodgers is yet to officially reveal any prognosis, stating “he just felt his knee… we’re looking at whether his meniscus is a little bit sore… we’ll see in the next couple of days.”

This would obviously be a blow, although Celtic have found scoring goals no great difficulty this season, as the table below outlines.

Celtic’s season-by-season goal-scoring statistics

Season

Goals

Goals-per-game

Premiership goals

Times scored 5+

2024/25*

148

2.86

102

12

2023/24

115

2.3

95

4

2022/23

147

2.77

114

7

2021/22

137

2.28

92

4

2020/21

100

1.96

78

4

2019/20**

147

2.67

89

8

2018/19

121

1.92

77

5

2017/18

126

2.07

73

5

2016/17

150

2.54

106

9

*season ongoing- 5 games remaining. **season curtailed.

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

Just two more goals this season, which you’d have to be confident that Celtic will score, would make this their highest-scoring campaign since Rodgers’ first year in charge, already their best in terms of goals-per-game of the 21st century.

So, with the Premiership title already wrapped up, now is surely the time for Rodgers to experiment, thereby giving his “absolutely brilliant” youngster an opportunity?

Celtic's next young sensation

Johnny Kenny joined Celtic from Sligo Rovers back in January 2022 but, to date, has made just five appearances for the club, totalling 66 minutes, still yet to start.

However, he has gained plenty of first-team experience out on loan, as the table below outlines.

Johnny Kenny’s senior career statistics

Clubs

Appearances

Minutes

Goals

Assists

Celtic

5

66

0

0

Shamrock Rovers

7

4,230

26

8

Queen’s Park

12

305

0

0

Sligo Rovers

34

2,053

12

2

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

Kenny spent the last two calendar years on loan back in the League of Ireland with Shamrock Rovers, scoring 26 times for the Hoops, 20 of which came during a very productive 2024, notably bagging five in six Conference League outings, helping the Irish side reach the knockout phase.

He was named the club’s young player of the year twice, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout described his form for the Dublin-based outfit as “superb”.

Following Shamrock Rovers’ win over Borac Banja Luka in December, Kenny confirmed he would return to Celtic, hoping to “show Brendan in training” what he is capable of.

After making his debut against Ross County a month later, Rodgers described him as “absolutely brilliant”, although the 21-year-old has barely been seen since, an unused substitute on nine occasions.

Thus, with the Premiership title secured and Jota sidelined, what better time for Rodgers to find out whether or not Kenny could be a useful asset to his team?

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Posts ByBen Gray Apr 30, 2025

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League was the first time they have done the double over the Red Devils since the 1970s.

It was a win that proves how good this Wolves squad is, and next season they should be aiming for a top-half finish without a shadow of a doubt.

Vitor Pereira has worked miracles at Molineux since taking over towards the end of 2024, and if he is backed in the summer transfer window, he can take the club to the next level.

One burning question is, will Matheus Cunha be in the starting XI for the first Premier League fixture of the 2025/26 season?

Matheus Cunha’s future at Wolves is uncertain

The Brazilian may have enjoyed a wonderful season on the pitch, scoring 16 goals and grabbing four assists, but his behaviour in recent months suggests he could be sold this summer.

Cunha has clashed with supporters on social media following a post he put up on his Instagram. He even confessed that he wishes to leave in order to challenge for trophies, and if a big offer comes in, the forward may depart.

The former Atlético Madrid star only signed a new contract back in February, tying him down for another four years. A £62.5m release clause has been inserted into the deal, so whoever wants to sign him this summer will need to stump up the cash.

While losing him would be a big blow, the club sold a player in the summer of 2022 who is now worth £40m more than the Brazilian and is also starring in the Premier League.

Matheus Cunha’s stats in the PL for Wolves
Goals	14
Assists	4
Big chances created	12
Key passes per game	1.7
Shots per game	3.2
Goal conversion percentage	16%
Via Sofascore

Wolves must regret selling £100m-rated star

While Cunha has been stealing the limelight in Wolverhampton, a player not so far away in Nottingham has also very swiftly become one of the leading Premier League players; Morgan Gibbs-White.

Selling the playmaker for a fee in the region of £42.5m was seen as excellent business by the Old Gold initially. Indeed, he’d registered a total of just three goals and one assist in 88 matches for the club was hardly an impressive return, but the move has backfired spectacularly.

Since moving to Nottingham Forest, the Englishman has racked up 111 appearances for the club, registering 43 goal contributions – 16 goals and 27 assists – in the process.

It is no wonder he has been dubbed “sensational” by certain sections of the media for his displays and according to journalist Graeme Bailey, the attacking midfielder is now being valued at around £100m by Forest amid interest from Manchester City.

This is nearly £40m more than Cunha, and the statistics back up his high valuation. In the top flight this term, he has created eight big chances, averaged 1.6 key passes and succeeded with one dribble per game.

Furthermore, he ranks in the top 11% for goal-creating actions (0.63) and in the top 5% for passes into the final third (4.33) per 90 when compared to his positional peers this season in the top flight.

Wolves perhaps made the correct decision at the time by selling the 25-year-old, but boy, must they be rueing that decision now.

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