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Dale Steyn’s absence from the Hobart Test will mean an inclusion for either Kyle Abbott or Morne Morkel, with Abbott seemingly the more likely candidate

Firdose Moonda08-Nov-2016

Kyle Abbott looks set to step into Dale Steyn’s shoes in the second Test in Hobart, ahead of Morne Morkel and new call-up Dwaine Pretorius. With Morkel yet to be declared fully match fit following two months on the sidelines with a back injury and, Pretorius only due to jet in once he receives confirmation of a visa, without saying it in so many words, coach Russell Domingo indicated Abbott could complete the three-man pace pack.”We’ve got two options at the moment. Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel,” Domingo said. “Morne is coming off a back injury. We’ll assess him two days before the Test and make the call on whether he is 100% fit. Kyle Abbott is a consistent solid performer and has been every time he has come in.”We need to weigh up what type of bowler we want to use under the conditions in Hobart, because I think they are different to what they are here. It’s a fascinating series because all three venues have totally different conditions. I’ve never been to Hobart, I’ve heard its cold and the wickets are a little New Zealand-like, a little slower.”At the WACA pace and bounce provided what Kagiso Rabada called a “bowler’s paradise,” but, as Domingo said, cold, wet weather in Tasmania is unlikely to assist in the preparation of anything similar in the second Test. That may mean the pacemen have to play more defensive roles which could mean bowling longer spells. Morkel was initially left out because of concerns he would not be up for that and even though he is making progress, Abbott is regarded as more of a workhorse.South Africa are unlikely to change from their usual combination of three seamers and a spinner, Keshav Maharaj. After a debut Test in which Maharaj had to do more than he may have bargained for in a three-man attack and did it well, and performed impressively with the bat, Tabraiz Shamsi will wait for his turn.”Keshav Maharaj’s performance has been nothing short of phenomenal considering it was his first Test,” Domingo said. “He allowed seamers to have breaks when they needed to and I see him playing a massive role for this side going forward”Still, without Morkel, South Africa’s attack can be seen to lack a certain superstar status; after all Morkel and Steyn were long regarded as the golden pair. Philander proved he deserves the respect he earned when he first came in, with the way he stepped after up after Steyn went down, and Kagiso Rabada is quickly establishing himself as the leader of the attack, a label he prefers to distance himself from. But names like Abbott, Maharaj and Pretorius mean South Africa’s bench is stacked with so-called unknowns and their ability to step up to the biggest stage is what has pleased Domingo.”We’ve won some games of late without some of the best players in the world. We don’t have AB de Villiers and we’ve put in some wonderful performances. At the end of the day, they are all wonderful players,” Domingo said. “We’ve got some really good young players coming into the system and some really good young players back home. We are trying to focus on the group we have at the moment and trying to get the best out of them at the moment.”Domingo, like du Plessis had done pre-series, played down suggestions that de Villiers would make a surprise return for Adelaide after the captain told a radio station he hoped to fast-track his recovery from elbow surgery. “He has been caddying for a mate at a golf tournament,” Domingo said. “I don’t think he is going to be fit for Adelaide.. I am not a doctor but I can’t see AB being being there.”That means the batting line-up will continue to demand more from Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock, who have made up for inexperience with impressive temperament. De Kock has already been compared with Adam Gilchrist and if Stephen Cook’s misfiring goes on for much longer, he may be moved to the top temporarily.South Africa also have Rilee Rossouw in hand should they want to experiment, and Pretorius’ batting ability to add depth lower-down if they are unsure about the length of the tail. Pretorius has scored four half-centuries in five innings in the domestic first-class competition which put him ahead of candidates like Duanne Olivier, Marchant de Lange and Hardus Viljoen to head Down Under.

Giles Clarke, the ECB president, is set to renew his relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board, after being tasked to explore ways to boost the board’s economy

Nagraj Gollapudi and Umar Farooq14-Oct-2016Giles Clarke, the ECB president, is set to renew his relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board, after being tasked alongside David Richardson, the ICC chief executive, to explore ways to boost the board’s economy in the absence of any home international matches.The decision was taken at the quarterly ICC board meeting that concluded in Cape Town on Friday. The board also agreed to look into financial “assistance” for the PCB given that it has now been almost eight years since their cricketers were last able to play a match in front of their home fans.Clarke, who is a member of the powerful Financial and Commercial Affairs Committee, headed up the ICC’s original Pakistan Task Force in 2009, although he was unable to visit the country in that capacity due to the ongoing security concerns.Despite their difficulties, Pakistan’s Test team rose to become the No.1 nation earlier this year following a hugely creditable 2-2 draw in their away series against England. It is understood that Clarke is scheduled to meet PCB officials in a month’s time to chalk out the details of the ICC’s funding exercise.”We reflect the unique contribution of Pakistan to world cricket. There is a huge amount of goodwill at the ICC board table for Pakistan,” Clarke told ESPNcricinfo. “Along with the [ICC] chief executive, I have been charged with looking at how we can assist Pakistan. Some of the economics of life has not been easy for Pakistan because they can’t play home games.”We are looking at the economics of Pakistan cricket, seeing where the ICC can help in recognising the importance of Pakistan to the international cricketing community, and to the cricketing world. They got the Test mace and played a superb series in England this summer. They were magnificent on and off the pitch during the England series.”Describing himself as a “very committed supporter” of Pakistan cricket, Clarke said he had spent seven years trying to figure out ways to develop the game in the country.”We have made a bit of progress today with some of the ideas that came out of the meeting. David Richardson and I are going to see what we can do to help Pakistan cricket economically and what we can do what possibilities are there for anyone to tour Pakistan.”However, the prospect of international cricket making a permanent return to Pakistan remains doubtful. Earlier this year, memories of the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in March 2009 were revived when another terrorist attack ripped through Lahore, killing at least 72 people and injuring 300 others in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, a popular hangout.”As you know, we were a very long way down the road with a concept of having a heavyweight world team tour Pakistan and play against Pakistan,” said Clarke. “Then the atrocity in Lahore absolutely scuppered that.”As a consequence of that attack, the PCB had to terminate a planned World XI versus Pakistanis match, an exercise that had been intended to provide a first step towards a return of full international cricket.”Cricket does not belong in a war zone,” said Clarke. “[But] Cricket does belong in Pakistan. If we are going to bring world cricket back to Pakistan, then we will need the help of the vast number of massively enthusiastic Pakistani cricket followers – which in my view is most of the country. Because it is the bad guys who are stopping us. If you love cricket in Pakistan, you know we can’t have atrocities. It stops people from coming. But if you give up, then the terrorist wins. I am not bloody giving up.”According to Clarke, PCB executive chairman Najam Sethi made a “very powerful plea” which had struck a chord with the ICC board during the Cape Town meeting. Sethi had been representing his board in the absence of Shaharyar Khan, who could not attend due to health reasons.During his address, Sethi focused on the major issues that were denting Pakistan cricket financially. Aside from Zimbabwe’s limited-overs tour in May 2015, have played all of their matches since 2009 in the UAE. However, the extra costs incurred by those matches have directly hampered the development of the game back home in Pakistan.In a bid to shore up their domestic infrastructure, the PCB recently began work on 16 regional academies as a part of their developmental plan. Another option under consideration is that ICC should help carry the cost of Pakistan’s bilateral series in the UAE.There is, however, an acceptance from all parties that it will ultimately be down to the players themselves to determine whether they are prepared to tour Pakistan again. As England’s current tour of Bangladesh shows, administrators cannot force players to tour when they are not comfortable with the security.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering an approach for Sporting CP boss, Ruben Amorim, with chairman Daniel Levy still deciding on a suitable candidate for the club's managerial vacancy.

What's the latest on Amorim to Spurs?

According to journalist, Rudy Galetti, the 38-year-old remains in the running to take on the top job at N17, having also previously been linked with a move to rivals Chelsea prior to Mauricio Pochettino's recent agreement with the Blues.

Writing on Twitter regarding that developing situation, the respected insider revealed: "Tottenham bench: Ruben Amorim – current Sporting manager – is among the names still in the race.

"To date, the talks between Nagelsmann and THFC are stalled and the [English] club is exploring other profiles: evolving situation."

As Galetti noted above, ex-Bayern Munich man Julian Nagelsmann is no longer believed to be a candidate for the position, while fellow target Xabi Alonso has also seemingly ruled out a move to north London.

Would Amorim be a good appointment for Spurs?

It has been another frustrating week in Levy's search for a successor to Antonio Conte following the recent news surrounding both Nagelsmann and Alonso, although in Amorim, the Lilywhites could well find a dream alternative and a highly-regarded figure.

As Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola stated earlier this year, the emerging coach is arguably "one of the best" in the game at present, having guided his current side to a league and cup double during the 2020/21 campaign.

The former Braga boss also followed up that success after winning both the Portuguese League Cup and Super Cup last season, having "achieved an incredible amount in his brief coaching career", according to writer Zach Lowy.

The Lisbon native – who typically favours a 3-4-3 formation – has also been hailed as "the most exciting young manager in European football" in the recent past by The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke, with that a further indication of the potential diamond that Levy could have on his hands.

Tottenham saw first-hand the quality of Amorim's work when Sporting met the north Londoners in the Champions League earlier in the campaign, with the Primeira Liga side running out 2-0 winners on home soil, before holding Conte's men to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.

The young tactician also endeared himself to his potential future employers by dumping Arsenal out of the Europa League in the round of 16 stage earlier this year, further showcasing his ability to better English opposition.

That impressive body of work bodes well for the impact that Amorim could make at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Levy needing to keep the one-time Casa Pia gem in mind as the club's managerial search hots up.

Muttiah Muralitharan has been working with Australia in a consulting role in the lead-up to their first Test against Sri Lanka in Pallekele

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Jul-2016

Muttiah Muralitharan has become the second former Sri Lanka cricketer to work with Australia’s players ahead of the upcoming Test series on the island. Captain Steven Smith confirmed Murali had begun to work with Australia’s spinners in their training sessions in Colombo, where the team arrived last weekend. Murali is expected to continue in this consulting role until the start of the first Test, in Pallekele. Some Australia players had also worked with former Sri Lanka batsman Thilan Samaraweera, who is presently coaching at the National Cricket Academy in Brisbane.”Murali’s got a lot of experience in Sri Lanka,” Smith said. “He took a truckload of wickets. It’s great to have someone like that helping our spinners in this series – to give us that insight. He’s been really good around the group so far, and he’s enjoying his time with us.”SL’s injury concerns continue

Ongoing injuries will continue to affect Sri Lanka’s bowling stocks through the Australia tour, with Dushmantha Chameera ruled out of the forthcoming series with the same stress injury that had seen him withdraw from the England tour. Angelo Mathews said the team was also still waiting on Dhammika Prasad’s shoulder injury to heal.
“Dhammika’s situation is not 100% yet, but he’ll start bowling very soon,” he said. “Dushmantha Chameera won’t be available.”
Sri Lanka is also waiting on legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who is yet to play a Test, but had been in contention for a Test cap following an encouraging start in the limited-overs formats.
“We’re not quite sure yet about Vandersay,” Mathews said. “He tried to bowl a couple of sessions and he suffered quite a bit in the third session and had to stop bowling. The physio is working with him, but he’s looking unlikely.”

Australia had previously hired Murali in a short-term consulting role ahead of their Test series against Pakistan, in the UAE, in 2014. Both offspinner Nathan Lyon and left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe, who are on the Sri Lanka tour, had worked with Murali on that occasion. He has had two training sessions with the Australia team in this stint so far.”Murali has been fantastic around the guys,” Australia coach Darren Lehmann said. “Murali loves the game of cricket, so I’m sure he’d work well with other teams as well – he’s a fantastic coach.”Also equipping Australia with knowledge of Sri Lankan conditions is batting consultant Stuart Law, who worked as Sri Lanka’s assistant coach from 2009 to 2011 and also briefly as the interim head coach. Law will be with the Australia side through the tour. The visitors’ first and only practice match against a Sri Lanka Board XI will begin on July 18 – seven days after the team arrived on the island.”We made a choice to come a little bit earlier,” Lehmann said. “Steven likes the extra time. That’s the best thing for all the guys for this tour – it’s a tough tour, as we know. Stuart Law has spent some time here and has some expertise. To have him and Murali to talk about the way the wickets might play in Kandy, Colombo and Galle, and how Sri Lanka play and how we should play, has been great.”There had been consternation within SLC earlier in the year, when Mahela Jayawardene worked with England ahead of the World T20, but Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews was less perturbed by Murali’s appointment.”Well he’s a professional and he’s into coaching now,” Mathews said. “I think helping Australia out with insight – he’s got so much experience – it will be a great help for them to get some advice.”The first of three Tests begins in Pallekele on July 26. The series is unusually beginning in Kandy in order to get the Pallekele Test out of the way before the – a Buddhist festival – season begins in the city.

Arsenal remain in the hunt for their first Premier League title since 2004, as the Gunners hope for Manchester City to fumble in their final run-in.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been front-runners for the majority of the season, however when injury struck the defence, form came to a halt in April, costing them points at a vital time and taking the league out of their hands.

Defensive blows to both William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu proved too costly to the north Londoners, ultimately highlighting their lack of depth in comparison to league leaders City.

Now that Arteta knows what it takes to go all the way, Arsenal are reportedly looking towards the summer transfer window already, with a number of players speculated to be on their radar.

One of those linked with a move to the Emirates is £45m Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano earlier this year, the Gunners are one of a host of teams interested in the former Manchester City academy player, who has been magnificent for the struggling Saints.

The headlines regarding Arsenal are dominated by talk of Declan Rice potentially relocating across London, however, with Granit Xhaka rumoured to be leaving this summer, chances for a midfield rebuild are there.

How can Romeo Lavia improve Arsenal?

Described by Southampton correspondent Benjy Nurick as an "absolute monster", the midfielder displays the talent of a true holding player, acting as a metronome in the middle of the park.

At just 19 years old the Belgian is competing among Europe's elite this season, despite being in a Championship-bound squad.

The Brussels-born teen ranks in the top 9% for blocks made per 90 minutes this season in Europe’s top five leagues for midfielders, averages a pass completion rate of 86.1% – as per FBref – and sits inside the top 7% for fouls drawn as a marker of his industrious and bustling nature.

The signing of the young midfielder with heaps of potential resonates with the capture of Cesc Fabregas in 2003, who joined Arsenal’s academy to become the World Cup-winning footballing legend he is today.

The Spaniard arrived in north London and quickly became a world-beater in midfield, orchestrating attacks with his innate ability to read the game. Similar attributes are shown by Lavia, who has been described by Paul Scholes as being a player who "sets the play in motion."

The Manchester United legend went on to say the Belgian has "so much potential" and is as good going forward as he is sitting back in midfield.

That was certainly the case for that man Fabregas, who scored 19 goals and registered 17 assists in the 2009/10 campaign. That was at the peak of his powers with the Spaniard eventually moving back into a deeper role, but even then, he won 2.3 tackles per game, similar to Lavia's two per game.

It's unlikely the teenager will ever register those attacking numbers but he could certainly act as a metronomic presence in the way Fabregas did in the later stages of his Premier League career.

That said, with this being Lavia's first full season playing senior first-team football, the sky is the limit for the teen sensation, who if nurtured correctly at a club like Arsenal, could prove to be one for the ages at the Emirates.

Leeds United are finalising a move for Hamilton Academical teenager Josh McDonald, Football Insider report.

What’s the latest Leeds transfer news involving McDonald?

The Whites currently find themselves in free fall on the pitch, with Sam Allardyce the man tasked with keeping the club in the Premier League. He has three games to do just that following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to league leaders Manchester City, with Leeds now in 19th place and two points off safety after Everton and Nottingham Forest picked up wins on Monday.

However, despite the possibility of Championship football on the horizon, it looks as if the club, now without a sporting director after Victor Orta departed Elland Road, are still looking to add to their academy ranks, with McDonald seemingly on his way to Yorkshire.

Football Insider stated in the last 48 hours that Leeds have reached a full agreement to sign McDonald worth around £150,000. The midfielder has accepted a scholarship which will turn into a professional contract and was at Elland Road last week.

The report states that the 16-year-old has had a medical and ‘completed the formalities in a deal which is seen as a major coup by Leeds.’

Bigger fish to fry for Leeds right now…

McDonald is regarded as an ‘exceptional talent’ and one of the best in his age group in Scotland, and it appears as if the Whites have pipped Rangers to his services and are happy to do just that.

A transfer could well be looked back on in years to come as a shrewd piece of business, should McDonald break into the first-team ranks at Leeds, but right now, the club have a number of pressing issues.

It looks set to be an extremely busy summer off the pitch over the coming months, with another new manager likely after Allardyce's interim stint. A new director of football will also be on the agenda to replace Orta, whereas a full takeover for the 49ers from Radrizzani could also be about to materialise.

McDonald may well be a name to keep an eye on further down the line alongside another young midfielder in Archie Gray, with the teenager recently penning a professional contract with Leeds and making the bench against Manchester City last time out.

Fulham have been handed a boost in their pursuit of PSV Eindhoven midfielder Erick Gutierrez, as he has recently confirmed he will consider his future, should offers come in for him this summer.

Who could Fulham sign this summer?

The Cottagers are believed to be in the market for a number of new players this summer, and they have recently held 'informal contacts' with agents about the potential signing of FC Porto star Mateus Uribe, who's available for free this summer.

Uribe may be targeted as a replacement for Joao Palhinha, as journalist Dean Jones has confirmed that a number of Premier League clubs are interested in the Portugal international, including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Central midfield is not the only area Marco Silva is keen to strengthen in the upcoming window, having made contact with Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech, while Borussia Monchengladbach defender Joe Scally could also be targeted.

A report from March detailed that Gutierrez is a summer target for the Cottagers, and they have now been handed a boost in their pursuit of the midfielder, as he has confirmed he will consider offers from elsewhere this summer.

As relayed by Soccer News (via Sport Witness), the PSV ace said: “My children are now three and four years old, born here and completely used to the environment,”

“I will soon be here for five years, and the club is in my heart, forever. If offers come in, I’ll look at them calmly with my agent and it’s also important what PSV want.”

Should Fulham sign Erick Gutierrez?

The Mexican has received regular game time for PSV so far this season, making 25 appearances in the Eredivisie, although a fair few of those have been as a substitute, owing to the solid performances of Ibrahim Sangare and Joey Veerman.

Having averaged 2.97 tackles per 90 in the past year, ranking in the 89th percentile compared to his positional peers, the 27-year-old is very solid defensively, which indicates he could be a good replacement for Palhinha.

The £14k-per-week maestro's defensive attributes are not his only strength, however, with journalist Cesar Hernandez claiming he's capable of doing "a little bit of everything", due to his ability to play in defence, and occasionally get on the scoresheet.

Gutierrez would be a versatile option for Silva, having played as far back as centre-back five times in his last 50 appearances, and Fulham should definitely look to make an offer in the summer.

Manchester United's primary focus this summer is likely to be on securing a new long-term, centre-forward solution to help spearhead Erik ten Hag's attack, with the Red Devils currently suffering due to their lack of a reliable goalscoring presence.

With long-serving enigma Anthony Martial having been hampered by injury this term, making just 14 appearances across all fronts, the onus has fallen on January arrival Wout Weghorst to lead the line in recent months, albeit with limited success.

The towering Dutchman started 18 successive games heading into the international break after joining on loan from Burnley, although the 30-year-old has scored just two goals in that time, with pundit Richard Keys branding him the 'worst player' he's ever seen in a United shirt.

That rather harsh assessment may be somewhat hyperbolic, although it is hard to deny that the Carabao Cup winners are in need of a more ruthless and clinical asset in attack, with Weghorst looking like nothing more than a mere short-term fix.

That was the view that ESPN's Mark Ogden held amid the 6 foot 6 man's move to Old Trafford, with the respected insider revealing that the temporary signing of the Netherlands international was merely to help bridge a gap until a marquee, summer move could be made.

According to recent reports, it does appear that Ten Hag and co could well have found the answer to their long-standing, striking woes, with Danish starlet Rasmus Hojlund having been mooted for a move to the Theatre of Dreams.

Will Man United sign Hojlund?

According to Ekstra Bladet – via Sports Witness – the Premier League giants are among the potential suitors for the Atalanta sensation, with the player himself having only recently outlined that he is a "huge" fan of the club.

Unlike the misfiring Weghorst, the 20-year-old – who is said to be valued at around €50m (£44m) – has been in rampant form of late for both club and country, having already scored eight goals in all competitions this season in Italy since making the €17m (£15m) move from Sturm Graz.

Hailed as a "monster in the making" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the Copenhagen native has only recently hit the headlines as a result of his breathtaking displays for Denmark in Euro 2024 qualifying, having scored five goals in just two outings over the past few days.

Such finishing prowess has only served to generate further excitement surrounding the 6 foot 3 marksman, with the youngster having already set tongues wagging due to his apparent likeness to fellow Scandinavian star, Erling Haaland.

That comparison has been drawn by club boss Gian Piero Gasperini earlier in the campaign, with the experienced coach having stated: "Hojlund has this spirit, energy, intensity, but also technical quality that is just remarkable. He still has so much margin for improvement, too. He has very similar characteristics to Haaland, not just his face."

Also dubbed "scary quick" by journalist Sacha Pisani, Hojlund could seemingly be the mobile, all-action asset that Ten Hag will likely be craving, while his relative youth should also ensure that the emerging Dane can be a figure for the long term in Manchester, unlike Weghorst.

The four-cap menace would also seemingly offer the benefit of his creativity when leading the line as he ranks in the top 1% among those in his position in Europe's top five leagues for progressive passes received, while Weghorst ranks in just the bottom 9% in that regard.

The stark difference between the pair is noted by the fact that the latter man appears to be currently showcasing all he has to offer to Ten Hag, while with Hojlund, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation as to the heights that he can go onto reach in the coming years, despite already beginning to thrive at senior level.

In truth, the former Ajax boss must simply cut Weghorst loose this summer and plump for the Atalanta machine instead.

Arsenal may well be fighting atop the Premier League, enjoying a season that could well go down in history, but the pedigree of their title rivals cannot be forgotten.

Manchester City have been in this position countless times before, pushed to their limit by Liverpool only to surpass them on almost every occasion. They are a relentless machine, which would make this potential league victory all the more special.

There are so many moving parts and romantic storylines that have invested the country in this battle. With Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola, it offers a 'student becomes the master' dynamic, as two Spaniards boasting great tactical minds come together.

However, no matter what the conclusion of this campaign brings, one thing is for certain. The former Barcelona man will be keen to ensure there is no such scrap next year.

He will invest heavily, looking to build around his already phenomenal squad with further quality to allow them to challenge on all fronts once again. Therefore, if Arteta seeks to truly build a long-term dynasty at the Emirates, challenging for every honour too, he must seek to do the same.

Despite the rich talent running throughout the current squad, the exploits of some of their former players cannot be overlooked in relation to their most impressive recent assets. The mercurial midfielder Santi Cazorla springs to mind, with his potential successor, Gabri Veiga, seemingly keen on a move to north London.

Who is Gabri Veiga?

The tricky 20-year-old has burst onto the scene for Celta Vigo this season, scoring goals for fun in La Liga and deservedly earning links to some top teams, having been mentioned amongst many Premier League clubs who are seeking to bolster their midfield ranks tenfold.

But with a reported preference for Arsenal over the likes of Newcastle United and a €40m (£35m) release clause present, perhaps the Spanish contingent that has run through the club over the years could be a factor in his preference.

Cazorla stands out as the shining example of such a figure, with his ability remembered fondly by many fans of the Premier League.

A silky customer, the 38-year-old was equally as adept with both feet and could score or assist from anywhere. His ability over a dead ball also became legendary by the end of his tenure, and he would score 29 and assist 45 across 180 appearances.

Having recorded 24 goal contributions in his debut campaign in England, the 5 foot 6 magician would see his career marred by injuries that often left him sidelined for long periods.

However, his impact clearly remains lasting.

In Veiga, there is precedent to believe he could be moulded in such an image, especially given his nine goals and three assists already in the league at such a young age.

Not only this, but when compared to other midfielders across Europe he ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals, the top 7% for progressive carries, and the top 2% for successful take-ons (via FBref).

Also branded "incredible" and "dangerous" by Spanish football expert Euan McTear, this equally talented midfielder has all the attributes to emulate Cazorla's brilliance and help maintain their place at the top of English football.

Glasgow Rangers Jonny McFarlane has shared an injury update from Michael Beale on Ryan Jack after the midfielder did not play at Ibrox over the weekend.

The Lowdown: Unused substitute

Jack was an unused substitute as Rangers beat Raith Rovers 3-0 in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals on Sunday afternoon.

He had started their last Scottish Premiership prior to the match, prompting questions as to why he did not play a part at all at the weekend.

The Latest: Calf injury

Taking to Twitter, McFarlane has shared from Beale that Jack ‘has had a slight issue’ with his calf, and the club have been ‘managing’ him, hence why he was an unused substitute over the weekend:

“Michael Beale says Ryan Jack has had a slight issue with his calf and Rangers have been managing him. Given a well-deserved rest today.”

The Verdict: Do not rush him back

The Gers do not need to rush Jack back if he is not ready, with their next fixture away at Motherwell at Saturday lunchtime.

The central midfielder has struggled with injuries before this season, and has been fairly injury-prone throughout his Light Blues career.

Still, he remains a key player under Beale, with the manager himself admitting that Jack is among the ‘best eleven‘ players at the club.

Nonetheless, the Teddy Bears will be eager to manage his latest injury with caution, at the risk of aggravating it further and him facing a longer spell out on the sidelines.