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Everton will host Leicester at Goodison Park this evening in an important clash that could push Frank Lampard’s side further into safety from the relegation zone if they can take all three points from the game.

In terms of injury news, despite having an almost fully fit squad when Lampard spoke yesterday in his press conference to confirm the return of Yerry Mina and Donny Van de Beek, there has now been a new injury worry in the team that could see a starting player out for the game ahead.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been named as a doubt for selection following a rumoured injury problem according to journalist Chris Beesley from the Liverpool Echo. However, there is no clarity yet on whether he will play against Leicester City and will likely come down to the game itself for official confirmation of the striker’s condition.

With that being said, this is how Football FanCast expects Everton to line up against Brendan Rodgers’ side…

We expect to see three changes in the team that beat Manchester United, with a 4-2-3-1 formation deployed.

The first change we expect to see is Yerry Mina’s instant inclusion in the selection following his long-term injury problems that have kept him sidelined since the beginning of February when he picked up a high-grade quadriceps tendon injury during the game against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

The Toffees boss confirmed that the 6 foot 3 defender hailed a “monster” by Michael Ball, will “feature” in today’s team, and we predict he will replace Michael Keane to play alongside Ben Godfrey, which will be a huge boost in the back-line.

The second change that we think we will see in tonight’s game is the return of van de Beek but placed in a more attacking role, allowing the Man United loanee to have more freedom to be creative and play a part in troubling the Foxes defence, his attacking attributes are something he is well known for from his time at Ajax.

The third and final change we predict is Demarai Gray coming in on the left wing to replace Richarlison, who will take the centre-forward role in Calvert-Lewin’s absence.

If the rumours are true that the striker is injured again, Lampard will not be wanting to take any chances on his fitness and will likely either bench the forward or remove him from the squad completely ahead of the Merseyside Derby this weekend.

Everton can go six points clear of 18th place Burnley if they can secure their second win in a row against Leicester tonight, and Lampard will surely be hoping his team can carry their confidence from their surprise win over Man United into the game, especially with the added quality re-joining the side in the likes of Yerry Mina.

AND in other news: Lampard must unleash “unselfish” £22.5m-rated Everton star, he’ll terrify Leicester

Craig Hope has revealed some big Newcastle United team news ahead of their game at home to Everton in the Premier League next Tuesday night.

The Lowdown: Wood ‘concern’

Shields Gazette journalist Dominic Scurr previously raised a ‘concern’ with regards to Chris Wood, who was away on international duty with New Zealand. The All Whites suffered a virus outbreak in their squad, which forced them to postpone their game against Uzbekistan on Tuesday.

It was not clear whether Wood was one of the players affected, but having likely come into contact with some of his affected teammates, it would naturally have raised some question marks over his participation against the Toffees next week.

The Latest: ‘Should be fine’

Taking to Twitter, Daily Mail journalist Hope has now revealed that Wood ‘should be fine’ to play in the match, as the Newcastle striker travelled back to the UK.

The reporter tweeted: “Chris Wood should be fine for Newcastle game v Everton on Tuesday & is travelling back to UK. There had been a Covid outbreak in New Zealand national-team camp which forced cancellation of yesterday’s game against Uzbekistan.”

The Verdict: Relief

It will most certainly come as a relief to the Toon Army that Wood is fine to play, given the injury to Callum Wilson.

It means that the former Burnley striker should now be able to play against Everton, against whom he has scored three times previously, including a fine finish at Goodison Park last season with Burnley.

His presence would give the Magpies a focal point in attack as they look to secure another vital three points in their race to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

In other news, find out who may have played his last game for NUFC

Grant Flower’s return to international cricket at the age of 39 has encountered a temporary hitch after he was denied permission to depart for South Africa from Harare airport

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2010Grant Flower’s return to international cricket at the age of 39 has encountered a temporary hitch after he was denied permission to depart for South Africa from Harare airport on Monday because of invalid travel documents.”I’ve had a long day, but I think it’s getting sorted out,” Flower told ESPNcricinfo. “I should be on the flight to South Africa tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon. I’m either going to get a new passport, or an emergency travel document.”Flower is set to play his first match for Zimbabwe in six years during their short series of two Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs against South Africa, having agreed to combine a playing return with his primary duty as national batting coach. However, he was left behind as the squad flew into Johannesburg, because his passport is still at the Zimbabwe Consulate in London awaiting renewal.”We are hoping to resolve the matter in the next 24 hours,” Zimbabwe team manager Lovemore Banda told Reuters. “Grant Flower had to travel on a temporary document because his passport is still in the embassy in London waiting for a visa application. Those temporary documents are usually accepted all over the world, but South Africa have recently changed their rules due to all their immigration problems.”Flower is one of Zimbabwe’s most experienced cricketers of all time, having played in 67 Tests and 219 one-day internationals between 1992 and 2004, when he joined an exodus of senior players following the removal of Heath Streak from the captaincy. Streak has also rejoined the Zimbabwe fold as bowling coach, as the team seeks to re-emerge from the doldrums and build towards a competitive showing in the 2011 World Cup.”Having some experience around is vital as we make our way back into international cricket and head towards test cricket, and there’s no doubt Grant still has what it takes,” said Alistair Campbell, the chief selector. “We’re very excited about having him back in the team. He is still as fit as a 21-year-old, and had a brilliant season for Essex in the one-day game.

Alastair Cook is confident of taking part in England’s Test series against Pakistan after recovering from the back injury that kept him out of most of the England Lions fixtures in their recent tri-series

Cricinfo staff09-Jul-2010Alastair Cook is confident of taking part in England’s Test series against Pakistan after recovering from the back injury that kept him out of most of the England Lions fixtures in their recent tri-series against A sides from India and West Indies. But the left-handed opening batsman conceded that the problem may require further treatment and surgery in the future.”There is a possibility that I may need surgery in the future, but it’s not high at the moment and I was fully fit to play in the final,” said Cook, who returned for the final of the series against India A after missing three games. “If it [the back] stays like this, I’ll be fully fit and I won’t need surgery in the future.”I’ll also definitely be fit for the series with Pakistan unless something drastic happens and I’ll now go and play Twenty20 and four-day cricket for Essex.”Cook previously suffered back problems on England’s tour of South Africa last year when he was pulled out of the one-day squad mid-way through the series. It was diagnosed as a bulging disc and at the time Cook said it was something he would need to manage, but recovered to take part in the Test matches.”My back is obviously a little bit frustrating but hopefully I’ve just turned the corner on that. Hopefully, with the treatment I’ve just had, it works.”It is something I’m having to manage at the moment. I don’t think it will be ongoing forever. Whilst we know what it is, we are just trying to sort it out and try and make sure I can carry on playing as well.”The first Test between England and Pakistan, which takes place at Trent Bridge, starts on July 29. Essex have five Friends Provident t20 fixtures in the interim, as well as a home County Championship game against Yorkshire and a Clydesdale Bank 40 engagement against Northamptonshire.

Ricky Ponting has had some tough experiences as Test captain, but it’s hard to recall an Australian team under his leadership enduring a worse day than this

Brydon Coverdale at Headingley21-Jul-2010As the dark, gloomy weather descended on Headingley late in the afternoon, the Australians drifted from the ground thankful to see the end of one of their grimmest days. Ricky Ponting has had some tough experiences as Test captain, but it’s hard to recall an Australian team under his leadership enduring a worse day than this.In terms of significance, decisive Ashes occasions like the second day at The Oval last year or the first at Edgbaston in 2005 are at the top of the list. But for a single, self-contained day of Test cricket, this was terrible. Australia were all out for 88, their lowest Test total in 26 years, and Pakistan passed the score with one wicket down.Yes, the Australians can say they have a chance. At the SCG in January they were in a remarkably similar position and somehow Pakistan handed the match back. To expect the same result again is to anticipate predictability from Pakistan, and that’s never a wise move.The Australians will be left to wonder if they made the wrong decision to bat first. Ever since Ponting infamously sent England in at Edgbaston five years ago with a McGrath-less attack, batting first has been almost a Pavlovian response when the coin falls his way.Even when logic dictates – as it did on a Sydney greentop in January or February 2009 on a Johannesburg pitch described by Michael Hussey as having branches growing off it – that bowling first is the logical move. Even when it means playing into the hands of the opposition.The Australians never like to cede control of a Test and they feel that by bowling first, they are doing just that. They often speak of focusing on their own plans and not concerning themselves with their opponents. It’s an approach that looks pigheaded when it fails.Against a Pakistan team whose strength clearly is swing bowling, batting first under overcast skies after overnight rain defied common sense, especially given the inexperience of the Pakistan batting line-up. As Ponting himself said two days before the Test, “in Pakistan you don’t generally see the ball seam around and swing around like it did last week”.So why not subject their batsmen to those hardships? Umar Gul said he was surprised at Ponting’s decision, and that the Pakistanis were ready to bowl first had they won the toss. Australia’s coach Tim Nielsen said the idea of sending Pakistan in was discussed, but they felt the pitch would deteriorate later in the week. The match might not get that far.Perhaps the coin-flip didn’t matter. Truth be told, Australia were outplayed in every department. When their bowlers were given a chance in the afternoon they did not display the guile and skill shown by their Pakistan counterparts. Whereas Mohammad Asif had deceived batsmen with a sequence of outswingers followed by an inswinger, the Australians possessed no such patience.They tried to take a wicket every ball, without building to a plan. Ben Hilfenhaus bowled too straight and often saw the ball whipped through leg, while Mitchell Johnson was erratic. The bowlers say the right things about working in England – they know they must pitch it up and allow the ball to swing – but too many deliveries were banged in short of a length.Nor did the batsmen handle the conditions with complete composure. They reached forward against the swinging ball, hoping to negate the movement but at times that exacerbated the issue, as they allowed themselves no time to adjust when the ball swerved late.The innings was over in less than three hours, and not since 1984-85 had Australia scored so few. That was against a vintage West Indian attack at the WACA, on a day when Michael Holding, Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall were so fearsome that Courtney Walsh didn’t even have to bowl. You can bet on that occasion they weren’t pitching it up and searching for swing.Australia’s SCG memories will sustain them into the second day at Headingley. They know the sun will rise again – they just hope there’ll be plenty of clouds as well.

A day after being named in Australia’s Test squad to face Pakistan, Brad Haddin has been ruled out and replaced by Tim Paine

Peter English23-Jun-2010A day after being named in Australia’s Test squad to face Pakistan, Brad Haddin has been ruled out and replaced by Tim Paine for the two-match series in England next month. Haddin was initially given another week to prove his fitness from an elbow tendon problem, but the decision to keep him home was made by Dr Trefor James after reviewing the injury.While the complaint doesn’t hamper Haddin when he is behind the stumps, it has troubled the 32-year-old’s batting since the end of last year. He faced an over in the nets on Tuesday but could still feel the pain.”It is extremely disappointing to miss any match for your country and especially frustrating in this situation where I can do everything but pick up a cricket bat,” he said. “I have been extremely aggressive in the treatment process of this tendon injury, doing everything I possibly could to play against Pakistan. After seeing the specialist in Sydney today he has advised me that the best course of action is to take a slow and steady approach to getting it right.”Haddin, the first-choice gloveman since Adam Gilchrist retired, has played 27 Tests and is aiming to return to the national side for the tour of India in October. “Now that I have time on my hands, the specialist and I are very confident I can let the injury repair itself in normal time and be ready to go,” he said.The decision gives Paine, the Tasmanian, two matches at Lord’s and Leeds to challenge Haddin for the position in the long term. Haddin’s superior batting – he averages 38.62 with two hundreds – means he will come back as soon as he is fit, but Paine has a rare opportunity.Not since Ian Healy’s debut in 1988-89 has an understudy gained more than one Test cap, with Phil Emery and Graham Manou limited to a single appearance each. Emery filled in for Healy in Pakistan in 1994 while Manou replaced Haddin when he broke a finger on last year’s Ashes trip.Paine is currently on the limited-overs tour of the British Isles and scored 26 as an opener in the loss to England on Tuesday. He has appeared in 19 ODIs and 37 first-class games, collecting 102 four-day dismissals and averaging 30.96 while playing the majority of his games on a tricky Bellerive Oval pitch.Andrew Hilditch’s selection panel has been impressed by Paine’s work with Tasmania and in Australia’s one-day team. “We feel he has the skills and temperament to do extremely well in Test cricket for Australia,” Hilditch said. “It is a well deserved opportunity which we are sure Tim will make the most of during the series against Pakistan.”

Chaminda Vaas starred with bat and ball as Northamptonshire finally broke their duck in this year’s Friends Provident t20 with a 21-run win over Worcestershire

11-Jun-2010
ScorecardChaminda Vaas starred with bat and ball as Northamptonshire finally broke their duck in this year’s Friends Provident t20 with a 21-run win over Worcestershire. He hit a fluent 54, including three huge sixes, as a makeshift opener as the hosts posted a total of 143 for 8 from their 22 overs.Vaas went on to grab two wickets with the ball as Northamptonshire ended a run of three straight defeats by restricting the visitors to 122 for 8. Worcestershire bowler Jack Shantry had been the pick of their attack, taking two for 24, but his batsmen badly let him down with Vaas and James Middlebrook doing the damage for Northants.Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to bat in glorious conditions and former New Zealand international Lou Vincent made a breezy 18 before hitting James Cameron to Shantry at mid on. Cameron then dropped Vaas twice, first at deep extra cover then deep midwicket, both off Australia spinner Steve Smith, as Vaas and Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien added 71 runs between them.Vaas went past 50 off 39 balls by smashing Gareth Andrew for six over mid-wicket but perished by blasting the same bowler to Smith at long off. O’Brien departed soon after when his off-stump was taken out by Moeen Ali before Northamptonshire captain Andrew Hall smashed stand-in Worcestershire captain Daryl Mitchell to Alexei Kervezee at deep midwicket.Shantry claimed two wickets in the 19th over by bowling Rob White for 13 before Nicky Boje tamely struck his first ball to Mitchell at extra cover. In the final over, David Willey was run out by Cameron at backward point before Smith caught Alex Wakely at long off against Andrew.Chasing 144, Worcestershire got off to a bad start when Jack Manuel, who was making his senior debut, made just three before launching Vaas to Boje at deep square-leg. Ex-skipper Boje then bowled Phil Jaques for 10 and an awful running mix-up in the ninth over involving Ali and Kervezee led to Boje running out the former for 19.Smith made nine before he hit James Middlebrook to Jack Brooks at deep cover and Vaas removed Kervezee’s middle stump to leave the visitors on 72 for 5. Worcestershire’s sorry procession continued when Cameron made just a single before he was bowled by Middlebrook as the spinner ended his impressive spell.Two more wickets fell in the last two overs with Mitchell hammering Hall to Brooks at deep midwicket and Andrew then struck his first ball to Vincent at extra cover.

Jimmy Adams batted with great determination and concentration on his way to anunbeaten century on the second day of the County Championship Division One duel at Chelmsford

10-Apr-2010
ScorecardJimmy Adams batted with great determination and concentration on his way to anunbeaten century on the second day of the County Championship Division One duel at Chelmsford. The left-hander opened the Hampshire innings and by stumps had resisted for five and a half hours to reach 113 in a total of 234 for 5 in reply to the visitors’ total of 345.He did suffer a few anxious moments against the new ball early on but remainedunruffled as he provided the backbone of the innings. Adams adopted a cautious approach but when the bad ball arrived he usually dispatched it with confidence. He picked up 15 boundaries in his effort spanning 245 balls, and the docile nature of the pitch suggested he would continue to be a thorn in the side of the Essex bowlers tomorrow.After Michael Carberry and Liam Dawson had fallen cheaply to David Masters andGraham Napier, neither reaching double figures, it was Neil McKenzie who helpedAdams put the innings back on even keel. They added 103 in 25 overs for the third wicket before off-spinner Tom Westley got rid of McKenzie for 39, thanks to a fine catch by Masters who clung on to a fierce pull at midwicket.Chris Benham hung around while scoring 21 in as many overs before a diving catch by wicketkeeper James Foster provided Maurice Chambers with success, and shortly afterwards Nic Pothas was caught by a diving Tim Phillips, substituting for Matt Walker who was nursing a pulled thigh muscle, in the slips.But Adams remained a rock-like figure while surviving to fight another day. His effort might not have rated high in entertainment value but no-one could doubt his application and temperament.Earlier paceman David Griffiths picked up two of the remaining Essex wickets after they had resumed the morning on 325 for 7. In removing Masters and Chris Wright he finished with a career-best return of 5 for 85 from 22 overs, while left-arm spinner Danny Briggs finished with 3 for 61.

West Ham have joined Tottenham in the race to sign Adama Traore in the January transfer window, according to reliable journalist John Percy.

The Lowdown: Traore on the fringes

The 25-year-old has found himself in and out of Wolves’ team this season, starting 10 Premier League matches overall but only completing a full 90 minutes on five occasions.

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Traore has been linked with a move away from Molineux this month, with Liverpool one of the clubs thought to be keeping an eye on the situation.

The speedy winger’s current Wolves deal expires in the summer of 2023 and he doesn’t appear to be close to extending his stay at the club.

The Latest: West Ham linked with move

According to The Telegraph’s Percy, West Ham have now entered the race to sign Traore, who could be available for £20m in January.

Spurs are also mentioned as potential suitors for the Spain international, as the two clubs look to strengthen their squads in the race for Champions League football.

The Verdict: Potential big-money risk?

Traore is a hugely entertaining player to watch – Jurgen Klopp has described him as ‘unplayable’ – with his pace arguably unrivalled and his dribbling ability often a nightmare for defenders to handle – his match average of 4.7 in that respect is the best of any player in the Premier League.

That being said, a lack of end product has long been his downfall, and he is yet to register a single goal or assist in 17 league appearances this season prior to his team’s clash against Manchester United this evening. Ten goals and 18 assists in 150 Wolves appearances overall is also a disappointing return.

David Moyes may believe he can turn Traore into the all-round package, but given the transfer fee being mooted, there would be a clear element of risk behind the prospective signing.

In other news, some West Ham fans have reacted to a fresh transfer claim. Read more here.

Leeds United look set to launch a January move for Reading star John Swift according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Swift links

Leeds were first linked with the former Chelsea man back in 2019 while they were still in the Championship. As we know, the 26-year-old remained with The Royals and is currently enjoying a brilliant season in the second tier.

He’s scored eight times and has registered nine assists in 21 games, with Leeds once again linked with a move earlier in the season.

Phil Hay has revealed in recent months that Marcelo Bielsa is a big fan of Swift and recently stated that a January move could be a realistic one for the Whites, and it seems as if Victor Orta is now set to make his move.

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider shared a story early on Thursday morning regarding Leeds and Swift. They relayed claims suggesting that Orta wants a number six and a number eight in the New Year, with Swift fitting in the latter of the two categories.

A Leeds source informed the site the Whites are lining up a winter window swoop for Swift, with his £7m asking price set to drop as he enters the final six months of his contract.

The Verdict: Sign

Leeds have been tracking Swift for a number of years now, so they’d know just how he’d fit into Bielsa’s squad.

He could inject the creativity in a central role that the Whites are lacking, with Leeds’ four senior midfielders scoring just one Premier League goal combined this season.

Swift has already contributed to 17 Championship goals and has even played on the left and in a second striker role in 2021/22. His versatility may well appeal to Bielsa, and at a fee under £7m, it appears to be a no brainer.

In other news: Leeds and Orta now closing in on midfielder once dubbed ‘different class’ as first Jan signing.