Russell Martin may be gone, but there is no change in fortunes for Rangers and the Ibrox masses.

On Saturday, the Gers failed to win in the Scottish Premiership yet again, this time held to a 2-2 draw, their sixth of the campaign.

Thelo Aasgaard broke the deadlock in sensational fashion for Rangers, but they required a late equaliser from James Tavernier to pinch a point in Govan.

This means, remarkably, the Light Blues have still only won one of eight Premiership matches to date, currently sixth in the table, a whopping 13 points adrift runaway league-leaders Hearts.

Martin was dismissed following the underwhelming 1-1 draw at Falkirk a fortnight ago, but no permanent successor has yet been found, U19s coach Steven Smith in interim charge for the foreseeable future, but when the new boss does belatedly arrive, could that be bad news for one of Martin’s summer signings in particular?

The latest on Rangers' search for a new manager

During the international break, Rangers were seemingly turned down by their top two managerial targets.

First, Steven Gerrard rejected the opportunity to return to Ibrox, following talks with the club, before former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Röhl also pulled out of the running.

As a result, Kevin Muscat became the front-runner to take the job; he made 26 appearances for the club during the 2002/03 season as Alex McLeish’s team won the treble.

Since becoming a coach himself, he began at A-League side Melbourne Victory, overseeing 200 matches, winning four major trophies, including two grand final titles.

He then endured a very brief stint in charge of Sint-Truidense, before succeeding a certain Ange Postecoglou as Yokohama F. Marinos manager, winning the J1 League title, as well as the Japanese Super Cup.

Manager Focus

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Since December 2023, he has been in charge of Shanghai Port, adding a Chinese Super League and FA Cup double to his roll of honours in 2024.

Yet, despite it looking as though a deal had been agreed, it was reported on Sunday evening by journalist Ben Jacobs that the Muscat move “is now off”. Subsequent reports indicate that the aforementioned Rohl has entered the frame again.

Whoever the new manager is, whether it be Rohl or not, one of Russell Martin’s summer signings should be feeling the heat.

Rangers flop on borrowed time under a new manager

Rangers made a whopping 13 new signings this summer, the majority of whom have massively underwhelmed.

Youssef Chermiti, Aasgaard, Joe Rothwell and Emmanuel Fernandez and others have, to date, not justified their transfer fees, while young loanee Jayden Meghoma has appeared out of his depth.

The left-back arrived on a season-long loan from Brentford, having made only four appearances for the Bees, as well as just four for Southampton and 14 in Preston North End colours, underlining his inexperience.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that he has struggled to make an impact in Glasgow.

Minutes

759

9th

Starts

7

5th

Tackles per 90

2.6

1st

Interceptions per 90

0.4

10th

Clearances per 90

1.2

5th

Possession lost per 90

14.4

3rd

As outlined, Meghoma has been a regular starter for Rangers this season, named in the lineup for ten of the 11 matches since his debut, the draw with Falkirk, which proved to be Martin’s final match in charge, the sole exception.

Some of his statistics are impressive, most notably tackles, but the possession lost tells the story, with the teenager continuing to be a weak link in the Rangers back line.

He was once again poor in the draw with Dundee United, failing to complete a single tackle, winning only four of his nine duels and losing possession 17 times for good measure.

Thus, if and when a new manager is appointed, he’ll surely prioritise experience at the back, thereby shifting Max Aarons over to the left or asking Derek Cornelius to fill in there, with Meghoma a leading candidate to be cast aside.

Martin once claimed that he has “big potential” but ultimately, we’re yet to see that in Glasgow. Interim manager, Steven Smith, must drop him next time out.

Rangers can prepare for Muscat by playing star with "feet like drumsticks"

Rangers can prepare for life with Kevin Muscat in charge by unleashing this star against Dundee United.

ByDan Emery Oct 18, 2025

Trent Alexander-Arnold has opened up about the exact moment he started learning Spanish ahead of his blockbuster summer move to Real Madrid. The England international ended a 20-year association with Liverpool by joining Los Blancos for £8 million (€10m/$11m) in June, wowing football supporters as he fluently spoke the language during his unveiling.

• Trent stunned supporters by speaking Spanish during his Real unveiling

  Addressing an audience which included Real club president Florentino Perez, Alexander-Arnold surprised football fans around the world when – in Spanish – he said it was a "dream come true" to switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.

  "Thank you so much to president Florentino Perez and Real Madrid for this opportunity," he said. "Signing for a club like Real Madrid doesn't happen every day. It's a dream come true. I'm very happy and proud to be here. I'm eager to show the club and the fans what I can do.

  "I want to show them what I can do, I want to win many titles, be champions, and continue to grow and enjoy football with the best in the world."

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• England international announced he was leaving Liverpool in May

  Having displayed such an exemplary grasp of the language, many were left wondering just how long Alexander-Arnold had been planning to move to Real for, before the deal was confirmed. The 27-year-old announced he was leaving Liverpool upon the expiration of his contract in May, but Real later paid the Reds a fee to release him early so he could represent them at the Club World Cup.

  Confirming his decision to leave Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold said in a video on social media: "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season. This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life.

  "I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all. My love for this club will never die."

• Spanish teacher confirms exactly when Trent started learning language

  In a video on Instagram, Alexander-Arnold’s Spanish teacher, Sara Duque, has since revealed that the defender has been studying the language for five months, meaning – if correct – he only started learning on May 30 and not before he had announced his departure from Liverpool.

  Writing on social media, Duque said: "5 months. That’s all it took, but it wasn’t easy.

  "Trent didn’t just learn Spanish. He chose to start from zero, to sound imperfect, to keep showing up, day by day.

  "When he stood on that stage in Madrid and spoke with calm, clarity, and heart, it wasn’t about fluency. It was about respect, courage, and a genuine desire to belong.

  "As his language coach, that moment meant everything. Because what I saw wasn’t just a player speaking another language, it was a person growing beyond himself.

  "In football, words can build trust, connection, identity. And this is what true professionalism really looks like."

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• Former Liverpool defender explains why he decided to study Spanish

  Displaying his fluency in Spanish once again, Alexander-Arnold lifted the lid on his experience learning the language, saying in the accompanying video on Instagram: "Hi, I'm Trent. I started learning Spanish with Sara five months ago. 

  "I didn't speak any Spanish before. I wanted to learn Spanish to communicate better with my team-mates, my coach and the Madrid fans – and adapt better to the culture.

  "I really like the lessons because they were very football-based. The terminology we were learning about was press conferences, interviews and vocabulary that I would need to talk to my team-mates on a day-to-day basis within the club. 

  "This helped me very, very much and I really enjoyed every lesson."

The pair hit aggressive half-centuries to lift India from 31 for 3; England suffer their first T20I defeat at the venue

Alan Gardner01-Jul-2025India 181 for 4 (Rodrigues 63, Amanjot 63*) beat England 157 for 7 (Beaumont 54, Ecclestone 35, Charani 2-28, Amanjot 1-28) by 24 runs
India inflicted a wounding defeat on England for the second match in succession to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur dug India out of trouble with vibrant half-centuries, and the bowlers all did their bit to keep England’s chase at bay despite a belligerent fifty from Tammy Beaumont.Coming off the back of a record loss in the series opener at Trent Bridge, England kept faith with the same XI – and the same tactics as Nat Sciver-Brunt put India in. England’s seamers backed that call by reducing India to 31 for 3 in the powerplay, only for a fourth-wicket stand of 93 in 55 balls to emphatically wrest the game from their grasp.Rodrigues recovered from a slow start to reel off a flurry of boundaries, eventually falling for 63 off 41. Amanjot was similarly brimming with energy as she brought up a maiden T20I fifty, adding an unbeaten partnership of 57 with Richa Ghosh as India recorded the second-highest total in women’s T20 internationals at Bristol. In all, the last 10 overs leaked 117 runs – India’s third-highest aggregate for the second half of a women’s T20I innings (where ball-by-ball data is available).Amanjot then claimed the key wicket of Sciver-Brunt as England suffered their own powerplay slump at 17 for 3. Beaumont made her first T20I half-century in almost four years, adding 70 off 49 in partnership with Amy Jones, but she was run out by Sneh Rana’s pinpoint throw as the required rate began to climb.Sophie Ecclestone produced some late hitting, and a reminder of her all-round ability, in making 35 off 23 but it was not enough, leaving Sciver-Brunt – who spent much of India’s innings off the field with a “tight hip” – and England coach, Charlotte Edwards, with much to ponder ahead of Friday’s crucial encounter at the Kia Oval.England’s stumbling startSince beginning the summer with an opening partnership of 51 against West Indies at Canterbury, Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s stands have since read 0, 0, 9 and 2. That has largely that has been down to Wyatt-Hodge’s struggles – she has made 18 runs in five innings – but here it was Dunkley who was first to go, slapping the ball straight to Deepti Sharma at extra cover and then being sent back after attempting a non-existent single.Wyatt-Hodge managed to end a run of three successive ducks, but her success was relative as she attempted to hit her second ball over the top only to pick out mid-off. Having been dismissed three times in a row by Zaida James’ left-arm spin during the West Indies series, she has now gone two from two against Deepti’s offies.Tammy Beaumont struck her first T20I fifty since 2021•ECB/Getty ImagesBeaumont makes her caseHeather Knight’s injury in the third T20I against West Indies opened the door for Beaumont to make a return in this format – albeit in an unaccustomed spot batting at No. 4. And the carnage suffered by England’s top order meant she was in the middle by the eighth ball of the innings anyway. She would soon set about reaffirming her credentials ahead of next year’s home T20 World Cup.From 11 off 10, she struck Radha Yadav for back-to-back boundaries in a 15-run seventh over. She was dropped on 24, a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Amanjot, before crunching Rana for three consecutive fours as England reached the 10-over mark on 76 for 3, marginally ahead of India’s score at same stage.A cut off N Shree Charani’s left-arm spin followed by a single into the leg side brought up Beaumont’s first T20I fifty since she made 97 against New Zealand in September 2021. However, she only faced two more balls. After cutting Radha firmly to backward point, she paid the price for hesitating as Jones called her through, a brilliant throw from Rana catching Beaumont inches short at the non-striker’s end to leave England needing 95 from 51.When Alice Capsey and Jones fell in the same over from Charani, the equation had become 72 off 30 and there would be no great escape, as England lost a women’s T20 international at Bristol for the first time.India’s stumbling startEngland started poorly with Capsey conceding 11 off the first over, with Smriti Mandhana, fresh off a T20I hundred at Trent Bridge, immediately back into her groove. But Lauren Filer quickly made the breakthrough from the other end, cramping Shafali Verma with one back of a length that flicked the gloves through to Jones.Lauren Bell’s first over cost just two runs, and although Rodrigues picked off a couple more boundaries, there were signs of England’s greater intensity in the field: Ecclestone pulling off a diving stop at mid-off; Dunkley pouncing on a Rodrigues drive to then shy at the non-striker’s end.That was topped by Bell’s flying catch at mid-on to dismiss Mandhana for 13, as Em Arlott claimed the big wicket with her fourth ball. While the shot would have cleared several members of the England team, Bell was able to leap and contort herself in the air to hold on brilliantly.With Filer stooping for a low take in the following over to dismiss India’s returning captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, India were seemingly in trouble on 35 for 3 at the end of the powerplay.Jemimah Rodrigues scored her first fifty against England in white-ball cricket•Andy Kearns/Getty ImagesRodrigues chimes inComing in at No. 3, Rodrigues took some time to get her eye in. She was initially troubled by Filer’s pace when she went short, and was going at just above a run a ball for the first half of her innings, happy to rebuild in partnership with Amanjot.At 64 for 3 after 10 overs, India then needed to kick on, and Rodrigues provided the impetus. She responded to a blow on the helmet from Arlott by creaming the seamer over long-on to start a sequence of 6, 4, 4. She greeted the returning Filer with two impudent scoops over the keeper – the second of which almost went for six – and a slash through third, at which point she had scored 10 of India’s 13 boundaries. In between she brought up a 33-ball half-century, her first against England in 21 limited-overs internationals.Amanjot then picked up the cudgels to take three more boundaries off Ecclestone, cutting and sweeping with elan, as India produced consecutive overs worth 16, 18 and 15. Although Rodrigues was out shortly after, slapping Bell to cover to end a scintillating stand, only one side had the momentum.Amanjot ices the cakeBatting as high as No. 5 for the first time, allrounder Amanjot showed considerable poise throughout her innings. She had one early boundary – chipping Linsey Smith over mid-off to bring cheers from the India supporters in the crowd – and was 18 off 18 balls before tucking into Ecclestone, England’s premier spinner.She then accelerated brilliantly through the back of the innings in partnership with Ghosh, bringing up her maiden international half-century from 35 balls as England’s frailties from the first T20I reemerged. Ghosh thundered six boundaries in a 20-ball cameo, though she had a life on 12 when Beaumont inexplicably made a hash of a top-edged sweep at square leg.While Bell finished with fine figures of 2 for 17 and Ecclestone looked sharper in her second match back, India’s swashbucklers were brutal on the rest.

Newcastle United are evolving, adapting to a new variant of Eddie Howe’s tactical ideology after a summer of change and upheaval.

Namely, the record-breaking sale of Alexander Isak to Premier League champions Liverpool rocked the boat and then some, but Newcastle have replaced Isak with Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

With three goals in six games, Woltemade, 23, looks a real talent, described as the “problem and solution” by reporter Craig Hope, who was discussing United’s teething problems as they adapt to a different brand of striker who, albeit, has towering potential.

Wissa’s fortunes differ, however, having yet to play or even train with the first team after his move from Brentford this summer due to a knee injury.

For all the positive additions, though, the sense can’t be shaken that the Magpies have parted with several top talents in recent years, and they might have had a big impact this season and beyond.

As Howe himself has revealed, one of those players is Elliot Anderson, who the boss would love to welcome back to St. James’ Park.

Howe's latest comments on Elliot Anderson

In 2024, Newcastle sold Anderson to Nottingham Forest. The fee was mooted to be around £35m. Here was a top midfield talent, but PSR demanded levies from Newcastle, and this was a sacrifice PIF had to make.

In hindsight, the Toon chiefs must wish they had found another way to circumvent their financial problems. Hailed as a “phenomenal player” by Three Lions teammate Reece James, the 22-year-old has only gone from strength to strength since leaving his boyhood club, so complete in his midfield role.

Howe said this week that he wants the Geordie back at the club, but that won’t be an easy one to get over the line. Anderson is the centrepiece of the Tricky Trees project, and bringing him back to Tyneside would cost a pretty penny indeed.

Nonetheless, Newcastle can dream of a reunion. Anderson’s dynamic approach to his craft suggests he would be perfect alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, creative, crunching in the duel and a veritable workhorse.

It’s a great shame that Newcastle didn’t keep him in the ranks, but the decision was an understandable one.

Anderson wasn’t the only prospect who should have stayed put, though. Indeed, another was sold around the same time who has since proved themselves in the Premier League.

The other talent Newcastle should re-sign

If Yankuba Minteh ever wore the Newcastle shirt after completing his transfer from Danish side Odense Boldklub in 2023, it was not in a competitive capacity.

Now he plays in blue and white, having joined Brighton & Hove Albion one year ago in a £30m package. Last season, Minteh impressed for the Seagulls; raw and unpolished, yes, but the Gambian winger showcased his physical and technical qualities, scoring seven goals and assisting five more across all competitions.

Across six Premier League games so far this term, Minteh has scored once and registered two assists.

And the underlying data highlights why Brighton paid the big bucks for a young gem, untested in the English game after spending the 2023/24 season on loan in the Netherlands with Arne Slot’s Feyenoord.

As per data-driven platform FBref, he ranks among the top 12% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe for successful take-ons, the top 5% for carries into the penalty area and the top 1% for tackles won per 90 over the past year.

The 21-year-old has even won 6.8 duels per game in the Premier League so far, and though his distribution could use some work, he’s a real menace in the final third.

It’s something Newcastle know only too well. After all, Minteh has scored two goals in two matches against Newcastle, including a draw in the Premier League last season and as the Seagulls knocked Howe’s outfit out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals.

Following these blows, Spanish reporter Jose Alberto Chozas even called him “public enemy number one for Newcastle fans”, and understandably so at that.

If Minteh continues to make headway in the Premier League with Brighton, there’s every chance he will strike once again, and that’s something Howe cannot abide, given he had him in his grasp.

While Newcastle ended a lengthy search for a pacy right-sided forward this summer when landing Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for a £55m fee, there’s little to suggest the Sweden international’s ceiling stretches higher than Minteh’s.

And anyway, where is the harm in having a duality of choice on the flank? Jacob Murphy is only 30 years old, but he won’t be around forever, and Minteh boasts the profile Howe looks for.

As with Anderson, it is going to cost Newcastle a hefty sum indeed, should they be interested in bringing Minteh back to the club in the coming years.

However, his trajectory on the south coast suggests that they must act swiftly, for Minteh is only getting better and better, and his price tag will rise concurrently.

TEAMtalk have recently revealed that a host of the Premier League’s top clubs are already sniffing around after witnessing the star’s early-season form, so Newcastle must pounce while they can.

Newcastle have sold "one of the best signings in the PL" & it's not Isak

Alexander Isak struggles at Liverpool as shrewd signing shines elsewhere after Newcastle exit

By
Will Miller

Oct 3, 2025

We have a genuine title race on our hands in Scotland.

On Sunday, in a match branded the biggest club game played on Scottish football for generations, it proved to be an afternoon of celebration for those bedecked in maroon.

Heart of Midlothian beat Celtic 3-1 at Tynecastle, a Dane Murray own goal breaking the deadlock in Edinburgh, only for Callum McGregor to equalise soon after, but quick-fire goals from Alexandros Kyziridis and then Lawrence Shankland secured the points.

This leaves Hearts eight points clear, with Celtic having now lost back-to-back league games, also beaten at Dundee a week earlier, just the second time Brendan Rodgers has tasted defeat in successive Premiership games, after December 2023, the second of which back then was also at the hands of the Jambos.

Falkirk will visit Parkhead on Wednesday, before all eyes will turn to next Sunday’s Glasgow derby at Hampden in the League Cup semi-finals, but which players played their way out of contention for that one with a less than impressive display in the capital?

Celtic's centre-back crisis

Last Thursday’s come from behind Europa League victory over Sturm Graz came at a serious cost, considering Kelechi Ịheanachọ and Alistair Johnston were both forced off with injuries in the first half, but the biggest blow of all was losing Cameron Carter-Vickers.

The American international has been a mainstay in the Celtic team since joining the club from Tottenham in 2021, but could be sidelined until March due to an achilles injury.

In his absence, Murray got the nod to start at Tynecastle, this only the 22-year-old’s 29th senior appearance, 20 of which have come for Queen’s Park.

Well, his inexperience was very much apparent when, with only eight minutes on the clock, he lashed a calamitous own goal into Kasper Schmeichel’s top corner.

Given this woeful error, on what was only his third start for Celtic, he may have to wait a little while for his fourth, with Auston Trusty and forgotten man Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who may as well be on Interpol’s missing persons list at this point, surely better options to partner Liam Scales going forward.

However, which other Celtic starter, who has a much higher profile and cost a hell of a lot more money, also did not impress in Gorgie?

Expensive Celtic signing could be back on the bench

Against both Sturm Graz and Hearts, having been part of the midfield trio to start the campaign, Benjamin Nygren has been deployed on the right-wing, largely due to a lack of alternative attacking options.

His header pinched the points in Europe on Thursday, while the Swede was denied a goal at the weekend on the cusp of half time by a smart save from Alexander Schwolow, possibly paying the price for his indecisiveness.

This positional move has opened up a midfield spot, with Arne Engels returning to the starting lineup, but he certainly has not grasped this opportunity with both hands, and the table below documents his miserable afternoon in Edinburgh.

Shots

1

5th

Key passes

Zero

13th

Big chances created

Zero

3rd

Accurate passes

41

4th

Passing accuracy %

82%

9th

Duels contested

11

7th

Duels won

4

13th

Possession lost

24

1st

Touches

77

4th

SofaScore rating

6

29th

As the table documents, the Belgian’s statistics at Tynecastle do not make for good reading.

While only Murray, Scales and Callum McGregor completed more passes than Engels, he did little with this possession, creating no chances, losing possession a total of 24 times, the most of any player on the pitch, while Kieran Tierney, the next highest Celtic man in that ranking, only did so on 16 occasions.

Engels arrived in Glasgow just over a year ago to sky-high expectations, considering he was replacing Matt O’Riley while costing a club-record fee of £11m.

After an up and down first campaign, the 22-year-old had only started three times this season prior to the last two fixtures, yet to score a goal, while both of his assists have been set-piece deliveries.

Also, central midfield is possibly the only area of Rodgers’ squad with genuine depth and competition for places.

Captain McGregor’s name is written in permanent marker on the team sheet, while Nygren, Reo Hatate, Paulo Bernardo and Luke McCowan are all also vying for minutes.

Having been given a chance, Engels may have played his way to the back of the queue for next Sunday’s Old Firm, so it would frankly be a surprise if he was included in the starting lineup for the visit of Falkirk on Wednesday.

Not Trusty: Celtic must replace Carter-Vickers with "exceptional" youngster

With Cameron Carter-Vickers set to be sidelined for 5 months, Rodgers must trust Celtic’s “exceptional” youngster, not Auston Trusty, to start.

ByBen Gray Oct 26, 2025

India’s decision to bat on and not call off the game at the start of the mandatory final 15 overs was a decision left to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, India captain Shubman Gill said after India secured a hard-fought draw in Manchester to keep the series alive at 1-2.Jadeja was unbeaten on 89 and Washington on 80 at the start of the last hour with India on 386 for 4, when Ben Stokes offered to shake hands for a draw. India, however, decided to bat on. “It was up to the boys,” Gill said when asked whose decision it was to stay on. “I thought they both batted brilliantly, both were in their 90s. We thought they deserved a century there.”The game was called off as soon as both batters brought up their hundreds. This was Jadeja’s second in England and Washington’s first in Tests; the pair put on an unbroken 203-run stand for the fifth wicket to secure a draw.Related

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“Very pleased with the batting effort,” Gill said. “The past couple of days, we’ve been put under a lot of pressure. The way we responded after losing two early wickets, it’s never easy but it was a very brave effort.”India head coach Gautam Gambhir agreed with Gill. “If someone is batting on 90 and the other one is batting on 85, wouldn’t they deserve a hundred? Would they have walked off if someone from England side would’ve been batting on 90 or 85? If someone has the opportunity to get his first Test hundred, wouldn’t you allow him to do it? They weather the storm. It’s up to them. If they want to play that way, that’s up to them. I’ve got nothing more to say. I think both those guys deserve a hundred and fortunately they got it in the end.”Stokes, meanwhile, said that given the quick turnaround between the Tests, he did not want to risk his frontline bowlers getting injured as the reason behind offering to shake hands once the last hour began.”We were willing to take it as far as we possibly could and throw everything at them that we did, but it got to that point where there was obviously only one result left on the table and I wasn’t going to be risking any of my frontline bowlers in a situation like that, especially when we’ve got a quick turnaround,” Stokes told the . “The only other person who actually has any bowling workload in them is Harry Brook.3:12

‘Would they have walked off?’ – Gambhir on Stokes’ draw offer

“He does actually work on that kind of stuff, but I did have to say to him, ‘please don’t do anything stupid’. We’ve been out in the field for 200-and-whatever overs, we’ve got a quick turnaround, so just do what needs to be done. I said don’t do anything daft: don’t pull a side, don’t pull a hamstring. We knew what was going on there.”While appreciating Jadeja’s and Washington’s knocks, Stokes said the “10 more runs” the duo wanted to get for their respective centuries wouldn’t have changed the fact that they got their team out of a tricky situation.”The knock that those two played was very, very good,” he said at the press conference. “The situation that India found themselves in there, with us opening the game slightly, that partnership was massive. You hold your hands up – they played incredibly, incredibly well. And I don’t think there would’ve been too much more satisfaction from walking off a hundred not out, getting your team out of a tricky situation, than walking off at 80, 90 not out. That’s what you’ve done for your team. You know, the 10 more runs or whatever it was ain’t gonna change the fact that you’ve managed to get your team out of a very, very, very tricky situation and almost saved your team from a series defeat before the last game.”India resumed the final day on 174 for 2, still trailing England by 137 runs, with KL Rahul and Gill having got together in the first over on day four with the score reading 0 for 2. Gill said the plan was “about taking the wicket out of the equation.””Day five wicket, something keeps happening, every ball is an event,” he said. “We wanted to play ball by ball, take the game as deep as possible. That’s what we spoke about.”On asked about his learnings as a Test captain four games in, Gill said, he’d learned “a lot of things.””Every match going up until the last session of the last day … so many learnings,” he said. “Each Test match teaches you something different, four matches as a group has also taught a lot. Hopefully, we can draw the series if we win the next match.”

Real Madrid’s preparations for their Champions League showdown with Liverpool have been dealt a blow after teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono has been ruled out indefinitely with pubalgia. The 18-year-old Argentine has been a key rotational player under Xabi Alonso, but his absence comes at a crucial point in Madrid’s campaign, forcing tactical adjustments ahead of their high-stakes European clash this Tuesday.

Real Madrid confirm Mastantuono’s injury

Madrid have officially confirmed that Mastantuono has been diagnosed with pubalgia, commonly known as a sports hernia. In a brief statement, the club said: “Following tests carried out today on our player Franco Mastantuono by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with pubalgia. His recovery will be monitored.”

No recovery timeline was provided, meaning the 18-year-old is sidelined indefinitely. Mastantuono did not train with the squad ahead of the trip to Anfield, working instead inside Valdebebas Sports City under the supervision of the medical team.

The injury is untimely for both the player and Madrid manager Alonso, who has relied on the Argentine teenager as part of his attacking rotations this season. Mastantuono has featured in 12 matches across all competitions, scoring once and assisting once, but has recently found himself in and out of the lineup due to the return of key players like Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAtheltic Bilbao, Barcelona and now Real Madrid – all hit with pubalgia scare

Pubalgia, also known as sports hernia, is a complex and often stubborn injury affecting the groin and lower abdominal area. It typically develops in athletes involved in high-intensity sports that demand rapid changes in direction, explosive sprints, and repetitive twisting.

Unlike a standard muscle strain, pubalgia involves inflammation and imbalance where the abdominal and adductor muscles meet near the pelvis, making recovery unpredictable. It can take weeks or even months for players to regain full fitness, and recurrence is common if rehabilitation isn’t handled carefully.

Across Europe, several young stars are battling the same issue. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer are all facing similar injuries this season. In Williams’ case, the condition limited him to just 530 minutes of football this season and has also ruled him out of Bilbao's upcoming Champions League clash against Newcastle United. Each player’s treatment involves rest, physiotherapy, and strength conditioning, while surgery remains a last resort.

For Mastantuono, Madrid’s medical staff are taking a cautious approach, prioritising long-term fitness over short-term availability.

What adjustments will Alonso make in Mastantuono's absence?

With Mastantuono ruled out, head coach Alonso must reconfigure his options ahead of the Champions League clash against Liverpool. The teenager’s ability to drift between midfield and the right flank provided tactical flexibility that will now need to be compensated for.

Rodrygo is the most natural replacement on the right, offering experience, pace, and a proven record in Europe’s biggest games. Alternatively, Alonso could deploy Arda Guler, another young attacker capable of cutting inside to create central overloads.

Eduardo Camavinga’s versatility also provides tactical depth; the Frenchman could operate in an advanced midfield role if Alonso seeks to maintain pressing intensity and defensive stability. Meanwhile, the absence of defenders Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba who are all recovering from injuries means Los Blancos' overall shape may have to adapt to ensure balance between defense and attack.

Madrid trained at Valdebebas before flying to England, with Alonso opting against a session at Anfield. The manager will address the media upon arrival in Liverpool.

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Getty Images SportMadrid face setback in defining season

For Mastantuono, this injury halts what was shaping into a breakthrough campaign. Since joining from River Plate this summer, he has impressed with his technical skill, vision, and maturity beyond his years as he quickly earned the trust of both fans and coaching staff.

However, pubalgia is notoriously difficult to manage for developing players, especially those adjusting to the physical demands of elite European football. His long-term recovery will depend on how well his body responds to conservative treatment and strengthening programs. Teams have tried to numb down it's effect with players opting for a few games out and then joining full-session, but the issue tends to be chronic in nature and thus limited time off isn't the best solution as have been in the case of Yamal, who faced constant issue yet kept playing and is still managing it, Palmer was given six-weeks off after not able to overcome it in a short-period.

For Los Blancos, the focus now turns to depth and adaptability. Alonso’s squad still boasts elite talent in midfield and attack, but the Argentine’s absence adds another layer of complexity to an already injury-hit roster.

Tottenham Hotspur have now entered talks to sign an “elite” new striker, with sporting director Fabio Paratici a big fan, it has been revealed.

Spurs looking to sign new striker amid Tel and Solanke concerns

Dominic Solanke has struggled on the injury front ever since his arrival at N17, with the striker suffering knee, thigh and ankle issues during the 2024-25 campaign, and he has been unable to put the problems behind him at the beginning of this season.

Solanke is set to be out of action for a prolonged period, with it emerging that Thomas Frank may not be particularly fond of the English striker, who was Ange Postecoglou’s first-choice option at centre-forward last season.

With the 28-year-old on the treatment table, Mathys Tel has led the line for Frank’s side in recent weeks, but Jamie O’Hara has not been impressed, and the former midfielder singled the Frenchman out for criticism after the 2-1 loss against Aston Villa.

As such, Tottenham are now ramping up their pursuit of a new striker, according to a report from Caught Offside, which states they have now opened talks over a deal for FC Porto star Samu Omorodion.

Paratici is a big fan of Omorodion’s versatility, and Spurs have held discussions over the possibility of an initial short-term deal with an option to buy, but the Portuguese club’s huge asking price has proven to be a major issue.

Indeed, the Liga Portugal side are set to hold out for a huge fee for the 21-year-old, with it being revealed they are unwilling to let him leave for below the €100m (£87m) release clause in the youngster’s contract.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Oct 26, 2025 "Elite" Omorodion could take Tottenham's attack to next level

Scout Ben Mattinson has made it clear he believes the Porto striker is able to play at a much higher level, having already established himself as a Liga Portugal star.

The three-time Spain international has made a flying start to the campaign, scoring eight goals in ten matches in all competitions, off the back of scoring 19 league goals, in what was a very impressive 2024-25 campaign.

With Tel struggling, and Richarlison finding the back of the net 23 times in 103 games for Tottenham, it would make sense for Frank’s side to bring in a new striker, and Omorodion has proven he could be a fantastic option.

Bojan Miovski insisted Rangers players felt as frustrated as the fans and urged an immediate return to winning ways at Falkirk on Sunday.

The Light Blues slumped to a 2-1 Europa League defeat to Sturm Graz in Austria on Thursday night to make it make it zero points from six in the league phase of the competition and disgruntled supporters stepped up their already-fierce criticism of Russell Martin.

The under-fire Rangers boss has won just five games from 16 since taking over the hot seat in the summer, while the Ibrox club has to look back to December 8, 2024 for their last clean sheet away from home, a 3-0 win at Ross County.

In that time, under three different management teams, Rangers have conceded 45 goals in 23 matches outside of Govan.

Miovski addressed the growing concerns of the fans, around 1,000 of whom travelled to the Merkur Arena in Graz to see their side go two down by the interval through goals from Tomi Horvat and Otar Kiteishvili before an early second-half strike from Djeidi Gassama sparked a fightback which fell short.

Miovski: Rangers better than we're showing

The 26-year-old North Macedonia striker, who signed from Spanish side Girona on a four-year deal in the summer, looked ahead to visiting the Bairns in the William Hill Premiership, claiming it is consistency lacking in the Gers squad, not quality.

He said: “In this football club we don’t have time. We need to start winning games. We feel frustrated as well because we are not winning games. Of course, we will give everything from every player, give everything on the pitch to start winning games.

“We have good players, to be honest. We have a really good squad. We don’t show this on the pitch at the moment, we are not consistent.

“But some parts of the game we show that we have a really good squad and we can hurt everyone, so we need to start to have this consistency because in this club, we must win games.

“The first half was not good enough. We conceded two cheap goals. We worked really hard to score that goal, but we conceded very easily.

“It was, to be honest, a really bad first half. But we were better in the second half.

“We were aggressive. We made fouls when we needed. We scored that early goal and I think we gave everything to score that equaliser – but it was not good enough.

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“We put everything into the last couple of minutes because it was 2-1. We put everything forward to score that equaliser because for us, it was so important to score that goal.

“But in the end it was not enough. They defended really well and we are – of course – disappointed.”

With 18 European points still up for grabs, the former Aberdeen striker remained confident that the Ibrox side could still qualify through to the knockout stages.

He said: “Yeah, of course. There are still six games to play.

“We need to show a better performance, of course, but we as a team need to start winning games.”

Crucial 43 inches visitors over the line by two wickets with four balls to spare at Old Trafford

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Jul-2025

Durham 149 for 8 (Heath 43, King 3-24) beat Lancashire 148 for 7 (Lamb 74, Turner 3-27) by two wicketsA spectacular 43 by Bess Heath allied to a good bowling performance took Durham to a narrow two-wicket victory with four balls to spare against Lancashire Thunder.Heath strode to the crease with Durham needing 73 for 3 in the tenth over of their reply with Alana King (3 for 24) threatening to turn the game in the hosts favour, but her 23-ball innings transformed the run-chase with the visitors finishing on 149 for 8 despite a late Lancashire fightback.Emma Lamb signed off with a brilliant 74 for Thunder but her fine effort was the highlight for the hosts with both teams’ top three ambitions depending on later results.Lamb, who joins up with the England squad after this match, scored exactly half of her team’s 148 for 7 with Sophia Turner taking 3 for 27 and Katie Levick 2 for 27 as Durham fought back well in the second half of the Thunder innings to restrict the hosts’ total.Suzie Bates and Emma Marlow made a swift start in their pursuit of 149, Bates taking three fours from the second over bowled by Tara Norris, but the bowler struck back four overs later by having the New Zealand international caught at short third by Sophie Morris for 33 off 22 balls.Hollie Armitage kept that early momentum going with the visitors having 50 runs on the board from the six over powerplay before King struck twice, producing a turning delivery to bowl Marlow for 7 and then a nicely flighted ball that bowled Armitage for 19.When Mady Villiers drove Phoebe Graham to Norris at mid-off for 13 the Durham reply had faltered at 79 for 4 in the 11th over.Heath and Mia Rogers put the visitors back on course with 23 runs off 16 balls before Rogers drove a return catch to King for 10 but Heath hit out powerfully taking three fours and a six off the 15th over from Graham to reduce the target to below a run-a-ball.Heath was bowled by Darcey Carter in the 17th over, and although the loss of Leah Dobson (8) and Katherine Fraser (2) gave the Thunder some late hope, Phoebe Turner (4 not out) and Sophia Turner (1 not out) steered Durham to their target two balls into the final over.After Thunder had been put in to bat, Eve Jones hit 19 in a 32-run partnership at the end of the fourth over.Lamb and Seren Smale steadily built on that with a good alliance of 41 off 33 balls but Smale falling for 12 when slicing a drive to Fraser at point off Levick as Thunder reached the halfway point on 79-2.Lamb went past 1,000 runs for Thunder this season on her way to a 33-ball fifty, achieved in style when she hit Levick for six over midwicket in the 13th over to add to 6 well-struck fours.Ailsa Lister lent good support in a stand of 46 in 5 overs before edging behind off Sophia Turner for 16 with Thunder 119 for 3 at the start of the 15th over.Durham found back well, producing some tight bowling to restrict the late over scoring with 29 runs coming from final six overs and that proved key.Lamb eventually holed out to Mady Villiers at deep midwicket off Sophia Turner at the start of the 19th over as Thunder finished on 148 for 7 after looking set to post a much higher total.