Newcastle United fans have felt equal levels of excitement and bewilderment at how their up-and-down team has fared so far this season.

In the Champions League, the Toon have looked energetic and vibrant, with eight goals coming their way across two wins in the illustrious competition.

Yet, back in the big time of the Premier League, Newcastle have looked lost and lethargic, instead of potential world-beaters, with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of a relegation-threatened West Ham last time out, seeing the Magpies sink to new lows.

Unfortunately, many of the old guard Eddie Howe has favoured since taking on the Newcastle job post are beginning to show very visible signs of decay, with Dan Burn a declining presence who is hard to defend at this point, heading into the Toon’s latest European clash with Athletic Club.

Burn's decline at Newcastle

Before delving further into the number 33’s out-of-sorts form in the here and now, it should be said that Burn is definitely viewed as a modern-day hero at St James’ Park.

After all, the 6-foot-7 colossus was the man who headed home the all-important opener earlier this year to help Newcastle triumphantly lift the EFL Cup, as Howe continues to regularly wax lyrical about how “incredible” a servant the Blyth-born defender has been over the years on Tyneside.

But, Burn could now be overstaying his welcome, with the likes of Malick Thiaw – who joined in the summer from AC Milan – a shinier new model who will stay in the heart of Newcastle defence, you imagine, for the foreseeable future.

With Sven Botman rock-solid, too, as his consistent centre-back partner, Burn has had to make do with minutes as a makeshift left-back as of late, with the position not playing to his commanding strengths whatsoever.

Away at West Ham, Burn failed to register a single successful dribble, which then limited Newcastle’s attacking options down the left flank, with the 33-year-old also giving possession away a high 14 times.

With Lewis Hall edging back to full fitness, he could be in for a starting space against Ernesto Valverde’s challengers in midweek as Burn is perhaps given a rest after a shaky couple of games in a row.

Howe will also have to push his sentiment to one side, again, with another possible alteration on Wednesday.

Newcastle star who's "nowhere near his best" faces the chop

Thankfully, some of the 47-year-old’s long-standing servants continue to excel, so deep into their stays in the North.

Bruno Guimaraes – who has lined up for 168 games under Howe to date – finds himself three goals down this season in the Premier League already, which has led to pundit Michael Carrick hailing him as the club’s ever-dependable “talisman.”

1. Bruno Guimaraes

168

= 2. Fabian Schar

163

= 2. Dan Burn

163

4. Jacob Murphy

148

5. Joelinton

143

But, his fellow compatriot and midfield partner Joelinton isn’t receiving similar praise right now, despite boasting a colossal 143 games under Howe’s management.

Indeed, Joelinton – much like Burn – will be viewed as a modern-great amongst the hardened St James’ Park masses long after he departs the building, with teammate Kieran Trippier branding him as a “machine” when he’s at his high-octane peak.

With 31 goals and 21 assists up his sleeve too for Newcastle, Joelinton is clearly fondly respected and admired.

But, in the words of journalist Mark Douglas in mid-October, he has been “nowhere near his best” in recent times, as Newcastle continue to struggle to spark into life in the Premier League this season.

Only a sorry two strikes have come Joelinton’s way this season, with both of those efforts coming against lowly Bradford City in EFL Cup action.

Moreover, the number 7 was one of Newcastle’s worst culprits for looking lethargic against the Hammers, with just three of his seven duels being successfully won, as Lucas Paqueta and Freddie Potts controlled the game from the middle of the park for the hosts instead.

Last time out in Europe’s top competition, both Lewis Miley and Jacob Ramsey were given run-outs in the middle, as Joelinton then came on against Benfica in the latter stages.

A similar refreshed look could be on display against the visitors from Bilbao, with Hall possibly given some crucial minutes back in the first team fold, too, in place of Burn.

Newcastle's £100m star in the making is "all over the place" without Isak

This Newcastle United star is seriously struggling at the moment, having once been touted to be worth £100m.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 4, 2025

It is an excellent time to be an Arsenal fan at the moment.

Mikel Arteta’s side still have a long way to go, but after another practically perfect weekend, they remain atop the Premier League table, now six points clear of Manchester City and seven clear of Liverpool.

Moreover, while the North Londoners could still improve in some areas, such as scoring from open play, they currently look the best they have been in a very long time.

EPL

C. Palace

1-0 (W)

UCL

Atlético

4-0 (W)

EPL

Fulham

1-0 (W)

EPL

West Ham

2-0 (W)

UCL

Olympicacos

2-0 (W)

As if that isn’t enough, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to deny that more than a handful of Arteta’s players now rank among the very best in the league, including one who is becoming even more influential than Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.

Arteta's Arsenal leaders

During the final years of Arsène Wenger’s reign, and even under Unai Emery and early in Arteta’s time at the club, it wasn’t uncommon to hear fans and pundits alike lambast Arsenal for a lack of leaders in the team.

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However, over the last few years, such accusations have become far less prevalent, so much so, in fact, that to say such a thing today would be considered by many to be patently incorrect.

Arteta has helped turn the Gunners from a soft side that opposition teams loved playing against into a monstrous side that few, if any, teams look forward to playing.

From front to back, there are now leaders and mentality monsters all over.

For example, while he had a poor season last year, Martin Odegaard has been the club captain since the summer of 2022 and has been Norway’s captain for even longer.

Often alongside him, Declan Rice was the captain of West Ham United before his move, has now captained England on occasion and is often seen as the most vocal and ‘old-school’ leader in the squad.

Even Saka, who is still just 24 years old, has become a real leader in recent years, wearing the armband in Odegaard’s absence and keeping the side’s attack competitive when his fellow forwards have underwhelmed.

With all that said, there is another star of this Arsenal team who is not just becoming one of the most influential players at the Emirates, but within the entire league.

Arsenal's most influential player

When it comes to other leaders in this Arsenal team, it is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook the utterly superb Gabriel Magalhaes.

The Brazilian international first joined the team in the summer of 2020 for a fee of around £27m, and for the first couple of years, was seen as something of a liability at times.

However, over the last few years, the former LOSC Lille gem has managed to rid his game of the silly mistakes that were holding him back and transformed into one of the very best centre-backs in the Premier League, if not the world.

That might sound somewhat hyperbolic, but the facts suggest otherwise: since the 23/24 season, the Gunners have had the best defence in the Premier League, and over those campaigns, the 27-year-old has made 36, 28, and nine appearances, respectively.

Moreover, as things stand, the North Londoners have conceded just three goals across all competitions this year, one of which was Dominik Szoboszlai’s outrageous free-kick at Anfield.

So, there is a very real chance that the Sao Paulo-born titan could play a crucial role in breaking Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 goals in a Premier League season this year.

Finally, while the 6 foot 3 wall’s most important job is keeping other teams from scoring, he has also become a serious threat in the opposition’s box over the years, and has been a massive reason why the Gunners are now the best set-piece team in the world.

For example, since moving to the Emirates, the towering “colossus,” as dubbed by Arsenal writer Adam Keys, has scored 22 goals and provided seven assists in 223 games, and as things stand, is now the 100th top scorer in the club’s history.

Ultimately, when you take into account his incredible defending, outrageous goalscoring threat and sensational leadership qualities, it’s impossible to disagree with Jamie Carragher’s claim that he’s “the most influential player in the Premier League right now.”

Forget Eze: Arsenal's 8/10 star is becoming Arteta's most important player

Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 27, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 on Tuesday night at PNC Park. Unfortunately for the Tigers, there was a real moment in the 4th inning as a sacrifice fly turned into an inning-ending 9-2 double-play when a baserunner forgot to touch the plate.

With the Tigers down 3-0 in the top of the 4th, Detroit outfielder Wenceel Perez led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to third on a single by Spencer Torkelson. With one out, Zach McKinstry hit a fly ball to right field that was caught cleanly by Alexander Canario. That's when Perez tagged up, but forgot his assignment on his way home.

Perez beat the throw to the plate, but as he slid in head first he apparently had his eyes closed and neglected to reach out and touch home. Eventually, Pirates catcher Henry Davis applied the tag as Perez completely slid past home without ever sticking out any body part to make any contact with the plate whatsoever.

Instead of scoring a run and still having a runner in scoring position, the inning ended without any runs. The Pirates added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning and the Tigers were never able to catch up.

Vinicius Junior has urged Brazil to “switch into World Cup mode,” insisting the Selecao’s opportunity has finally arrived under coach Carlo Ancelotti. The Real Madrid star claims the Italian has transformed Brazil’s mentality, tactics and daily culture since taking charge by bringing calm, confidence and clarity to a team desperate to end a 24-year World Cup drought.

• Vinicius Jr sets the tone for the upcoming World Cup

  The bond between Ancelotti and Brazil has grown into one of the defining stories of the national team’s new era. When he left Madrid in the summer, a year after delivering another Champions League title, few expected his next job to be with the Selecao. But for one of the most decorated managers in football history, the lure of leading Brazil was irresistible.

  After six games – three wins and two draws – under the coach, the national team have qualified for the next World Cup and are aiming to end a long wait for the global crown, and Vinicius has given the clearest endorsement of the Italian.

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• AFP
  

  How Ancelotti has 'evolved' Brazil

  Speaking to CBF’s official media, ahead of Brazil's international friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia, he said they are finally becoming the team they need to be: “With Ancelotti, we’re evolving and building a clear playing identity. Finding that balance before the World Cup will be crucial. We all have to get into the World Cup mindset and understand that our opportunity has arrived.”

  Vinicius explained the transformation in detail pointing out to the renewed confidence the manager has instilled within the team.

  “He’s done the same thing everywhere he’s gone—instilling confidence and getting the best out of every player in their ideal position. He always says his dream is to make the Brazilian people happy, to bring back the joyful football that defines us, and to win the World Cup.

  “He gives us calm and confidence. He reminds us that we already have the passion and intensity to wear this shirt—and that’s the hardest part. We just need to win so that his work gets the recognition it deserves.”

• Will Neymar be a part of Brazil's World Cup squad?

  Ancelotti's selections have also reflected a shift toward merit rather than reputation. Fitness, form and tactical fit have dictated squad decisions, even if it meant temporarily leaving out heavyweights like Vinicius, Rodrygo or Neymar. At the same time, Ancelotti has expanded the talent pool, integrating emerging names such as Endrick and Vitor Roque while encouraging competition by insisting that “around 70 players” are capable of reaching the World Cup squad.

  As Ancelotti builds a disciplined, modern Brazil, one monumental question hangs over the project: Will Neymar be part of that squad?

  His return to Santos has been overshadowed by repeated thigh and knee injuries, including a rectus femoris issue, his fourth setback since returning. Though the player insists his omission from recent squads is “technical, not physical,” doubts remain.

  Brazil's legendary striker Ronaldo, however, is adamant: “He’s a key player. We don’t have another Neymar. If he’s fit, Brazil will be stronger, simple as that. People don’t understand how hard it is to come back. It’s a gradual process.”

  Neymar continues to play full matches for Santos and has extended his contract until the end of 2025, with an option through the World Cup. Yet Ancelotti’s Brazil has learned to function without him.

  With Vinicius, Raphinha and Matheus Cunha leading the front line, the Selecao are balanced but sometimes lack moments of magic. Whether Neymar provides them again will decide his World Cup fate. And it will be Ancelotti’s biggest selection decision yet.

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• AFP
  

  Vinicius and Ancelotti aiming for glory with Brazil

  If Brazil are to challenge for a sixth World Cup, the heart of that push will be the relationship between Vinicius and Ancelotti. Vinicius’ evolution under Ancelotti is one of European football’s success stories with two Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, Champions League Best Player 2023-24 and a Ballon d’Or favourite.

  Ancelotti refined him from a raw winger into one of the world’s most decisive attackers, improving his finishing, decision-making and leadership. That dynamic has now transferred seamlessly to Brazil. As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Brazil stand at a crossroads. For 24 years, they have chased a sixth star. Now, under a calm, experienced leader and with a superstar maturing into his prime, belief is returning. 

It would be fair to say that, at West Ham United, Nuno Espírito Santo has one of the most challenging jobs in the Premier League.

The Portuguese manager has to drag a massive club out of the relegation zone, but unlike in seasons past, the promoted sides are actually putting up a fight.

However, the win over Newcastle United showed two things: the squad are behind him, and it has more than a handful of quality players in it.

There is one in particular who could end up becoming Nuno’s new Morgan Gibbs-White, and no, it’s not Freddie Potts.

The West Ham players vital to Nuno this season

While it is a simplification, Nuno was able to get the most out of Nottingham Forest by playing a direct brand of football that saw his side defend well and then counter-attack effectively.

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Therefore, while they’ve hardly impressed this season, the manager’s success at the London Stadium could rest heavily on the form of Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo and Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Fortunately, the first two finally looked like the players the Hammers signed against Newcastle, as between them, they made 16 clearances, won five of seven duels, and were dribbled past just once.

If they can replicate that display more often, then there is every chance the Hammers could start climbing the league.

Another player who was crucial for the Tricky Trees last time out was Elliot Anderson, and while it is still early days, Potts could be the Irons version.

The academy graduate was unreal against the Toon, demonstrating everything that could make him an excellent all-action midfielder, from crunching tackles to crisp passing and an ability to win aerial duels.

Now, while solidity is going to be important for the East Londoners, they are also going to need to be explosive on the counter, and with a left-hand side of El Hadji Malick Diouf and Crysencio Summerville, they’ll have just that.

The former has already shown himself to be a powerhouse of a left-back with a sensational cross on him, while the latter’s speed and close control could give opposition defenders nightmares.

With all that said, Nuno will also need a talismanic Gibbs-White-esque figure in his squad, and the good news is that he already does.

Nuno's new Gibbs-White at West Ham

Now, when talking about a West Ham player who could become Nuno’s new Gibbs-White, plenty of people will think of Lucas Paqueta.

After all, the Brazilian is an attacking midfielder who plays with flair and can grab a goal or provide an assist.

However, in this instance, it’s not really about position, but more stature, personality and importance to the club, which is why it has to be Jarrod Bowen.

Like the Forest ace, the former Hull City star is the Hammers’ captain and really is Mr West Ham.

For example, it was his goal that delivered the club their first piece of European silverware, and he is the player the rest of the team turns to when they are in desperate need of a goal.

Since joining the East Londoners in January 2020, the 28-year-old has scored 77 goals and provided 53 assists in 249 appearances, totalling 19881 minutes.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.91 games, or every 152.93 minutes.

On top of simply being world-class, such a return truly justifies Jamie Carragher’s claim that he is “one of the greatest players to have ever played for the club.”

Ultimately, Nuno has a handful of genuinely impressive players in his West Ham squad, but the most important, and the one who could become his new Gibbs-White, is Bowen.

West Ham flop now looks totally finished under Nuno after Potts' emergence

Following Potts’ brilliant performance, it might be the end of the line for the West Ham dud.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 4, 2025

Players like Deandra Dottin, Sneh Rana and Heather Knight could fill some vacant spots

S Sudarshanan12-Dec-2024Delhi Capitals (DC)Slots remaining: 4 (1 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 2.5 crore
Retained players: Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Marizanne Kapp, Titas Sadhu, Alice Capsey, Minnu Mani, Taniya Bhatia, Jess Jonassen, Sneha Deepthi, Arundhati Reddy, Annabel SutherlandWhat they need at the auction
A back-up wicketkeeper and a spare hard-hitting batter. They could also do with a frontline fast-bowling option as a back-up for Marizanne Kapp and Shikha Pandey. One of Lauren Bell and Kim Garth, or the left-arm angle of Lauren Cheatle, could fit the bill. The legspin of Alana King will also be on their mind since they have let go of Poonam Yadav.Related

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Dottin, Knight, Rana among big attractions at WPL 2025 auction

WPL 2025: Mini auction on December 15 in Bengaluru

Gujarat Giants (GG)Slots remaining : 4 (2 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 4.4 crore
Retained players: Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Harleen Deol, Dayalan Hemalatha, Tanuja Kanwar, Shabnam Shakil, Laura Wolvaardt, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Mannat Kashyap, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Sayali Satghare, Bharti FulmaliWhat they need at the auction
Strong bowling options. GG were the least economical bowling unit in WPL 2024 (8.53) and significantly expensive at the death – they had an economy rate of 11.11 with the second-poorest (Mumbai Indians) at 9.75. That partially explains why they released four bowling options in Sneh Rana, Lea Tahuhu, Kathryn Bryce and Cheatle. That could bring Darcie Brown and Tess Flintoff into contention – the former for her pace and abilities specially with the new ball, the latter for her hard-hitting apart from her seam-bowling.Mumbai Indians (MI)Slots remaining: 4 (1 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 2.65 crore
Retained players: Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Yastika Bhatia, Amanjot Kaur, Saika Ishaque, Hayley Matthews, Chloe Tryon, Jintimani Kalita, Shabnim Ismail, Sajeevan Sajana, Amandeep Kaur, SB KeerthanaWhat they need at the auction
MI have been far too reliant on their top order and should look to add a strong lower-middle-order batting option, essentially a finisher. Having released Issy Wong, they could look to target Nadine de Klerk, who bowls seam and adds firepower to the lower-middle order, or West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin. An injury-ridden season for Bhatia could also prompt them to look for a back-up wicketkeeper, possibly Uttarakhand’s Nandini Kashyap, who raked up runs at a quick rate in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy as well as the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy.RCB are the defending WPL champions•AFP/Getty ImagesRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)Slots remaining: 4 (0 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 3.25 crore
Retained players: Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, Ellyse Perry, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Kanika Ahuja, Asha Sobhana, Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Ekta Bisht, S Meghana, Sophie Molineux
Traded in: Danni Wyatt (from UP Warriorz)What they need at the auction
Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine combined for over 50% of the overs pace bowlers bowled for RCB in their title-winning campaign in WPL 2024. Perry and Devine shoulder much lesser bowling loads for their national sides, so RCB could look at a frontline fast bowler to partner Renuka Singh. They could look at S Yashasri or Falak Naz, both part of the Under-19 T20 World Cup win last year. Mandhana’s Maharashtra team-mate, Shradda Pokharkar, a replacement for them last year, could also offer a left-arm angle. A middle-order batting option could be handy, too, with Bengal’s Tanusree Sarkar or Maharashtra’s Tejal Hasabnis possible options.UP Warriorz (UPW)Slots remaining: 3 players (1 overseas)
Purse remaining: INR 3.9 crore
Retained players: Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti Sharma, Tahlia McGrath, Alyssa Healy, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Shweta Sehrawat, Kiran Navgire, Grace Harris, Vrinda Dinesh, Poonam Khemnar, Saima Thakor, Gouher Sultana, Chamari Athapaththu, Uma ChetryWhat they need at the auction
Firstly, a few Indian batters to reduce UPW’s over-reliance on their overseas names. They also need a finisher to reduce the load on Deepti Sharma. Having released Bell, they should also target a pedigreed fast-bowling option. They could look at Dottin for the power down the order and her seam bowling. Chinelle Henry could be another option, if they don’t manage to buy Flintoff. UPW also have the option of going left-field with Ireland’s Orla Prendergast, who has had an impressive all-round year in T20Is.

Have we found the real Newcastle United so far this season? Probably not. If Eddie Howe’s side have played at their full capacity this term, such efforts have been scattered among too many frustrating, incoherent results.

The Premier League provides the clearest illustration of this. Ten matches into the league campaign, the Magpies are 13th, with 12 points on the board. Sunday’s defeat at West Ham United means they have gone seven months without a top-flight win on the road.

But they have also made a convincing start on their return to the Champions League, nine points from 12, while beating Mansfield Town and then Tottenham Hotspur to reach the last eight of the Carabao Cup, that title they won so emphatically last season.

Newcastle, too be sure, are a team carrying some burdens, but they responded in the right way against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday evening, and now Howe has got to build on that positivity and fix his biggest problems.

How Howe can fix Newcastle's biggest problems?

Newcastle have been effective at St. James’ Park this term; they have struggled on the road. There’s something about Tyneside on a big night that draws the belief and quality and conviction from stars in black and white, and Dan Burn and co showed this against Bilbao this week.

However, for all Burn’s tenacity and embodiment of ‘The Howe Way’ at Newcastle, he might be played out of the side in the coming weeks, with Lewis Hall returning from injury and making a positive impression off the bench. Content creator Geordie Josh claimed post-match that the rising star is a “generational left-back in the making”.

By adding the 21-year-old, more athletic and progressive than his towering counterpart, Newcastle’s left-hand side will become more dynamic and balanced. After all, Hall ranks among the top 16% of full-backs across Europe over the past year for passes attempted and progressive passes, as well as the top 9% for tackles won per 90 (data via FBref).

Ultimately, Newcastle have to keep piecing the squad with talented players while retaining the all-important centre of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, the former of whom claimed another Man of the Match award on Wednesday, and is storming his way toward a clean sweep of individual accolades on Tyneside this term.

Newcastle have a strong spine, with Nick Woltemade the perfect frontal prosthetic to replace Alexander Isak after that summer of turmoil and divorce.

But there’s one Howe mainstay who’s letting his teammates down right now, and has been labelled Newcastle’s new version of Gabriel Obertan after another disappointing performance.

Newcastle's new Gabriel Obertan

Newcastle have been alchemised into a force to be reckoned with over the past four years. Players like Obertan, fondly remembered though they are, no longer ply their trade at St. James’ Park, who host a team of trophy winners and regular European contenders.

Obertan, once held in high regard by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, joined Newcastle aged 22 for a shrewd £3m figure. Injuries had prohibited him. Across 77 appearances, he returned only three goals, assisting ten more.

Now, Anthony Gordon’s below-level displays have led one prominent fan base to suggest that Obertan’s spirit lives on. Indeed, the Three Lions star was said to have entered “Gabriel Obertan territory” after the loss at West Ham, having gone 21 Premier League matches without a goal and 19 without making an assist.

For a leading winger with such blistering pace and dangerous dribbling, this isn’t good enough. After all, Liverpool have been linked with a swoop for their one-time academy member since 2024, and the price tag mooted has reached £100m.

Gordon, 24, can look like a brilliant, unplayable talent, a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, by his own admission. But, equally, he isn’t hitting the same levels of fluency and sharpness as 2023/24, when he was so easily handed the club’s Player of the Year award after coming into his own and reaching double digits for goals and assists.

That Premier League season threatens to be an outlier if he not rekindle his form in the final third. Isak’s departure will have hampered him some, but more is needed, especially as he’s yet to break his domestic duck this year despite missing three big chances (as per Sofascore).

25/26 (NUFC)

7

0 (0)

24/25 (NUFC)

34

6 (5)

23/24 (NUFC)

35

11 (10)

22/23 (NUFC)

16

1 (0)

22/23 (EFC)

16

3 (0)

21/22 (EFC)

35

4 (2)

20/21 (EFC)

3

0 (0)

19/20 (EFC)

11

0 (1)

Gordon joined Newcastle from Everton for £45m in January 2023. He was young and raw but with bundles of potential, and he’s now one of the biggest names in English football, one of Howe’s leading forwards.

But he’s toiling through the current campaign, and now faces a potential layoff after such exciting previous revelations regarding the depth and breadth of his skillset.

Instances such as the red card against Liverpool won’t have helped matters, and neither will his recent showing against Bilbao, branded with a 5/10 match rating by the Chronicle Live before being taken off with a suspected recurrence of a hip injury. They said he ‘never looked right’.

What to do with a high-profile and high-quality star who is consistently flattering to deceive? A talisman, of sorts, magnified in importance after the summer’s tumultuous events.

Gordon is not a newcomer at Newcastle. He is an elite member of Howe’s title-winning squad. More is needed lest he fall into obscurity and find more heads nodding in agreement at the claims that he is morphing into the Toon’s new version of Obertan.

Newcastle teen who's 'like Mbappe' could take the #10 shirt from Gordon

Eddie Howe could look towards the Newcastle United youth ranks to assess his other options in attack.

1 ByKelan Sarson Nov 4, 2025

Lionesses star Alex Greenwood has put pen to paper on a new contract at Manchester City. The 32-year-old has signed an extension that will keep her at the club until 2027 and says she has "unfinished business" with the Cityzens. Greenwood was into the final year of her existing deal but has now committed her future to the club after a strong start to the new WSL campaign.

Man City handed Greenwood boost

Greenwood's new contract is a big boost to Manchester City as she is a key player for club and country. The City captain has played 152 games for the club since joining from Lyon in 2020, winning the Women's FA Cup and the League Cup in that time. Greenwood was also part of the Lionesses' Euro 2025-winning squad, starting all of England's six matches in the tournament in Switzerland, and picking up her second European Championship title.

AdvertisementGreenwood thrilled with new contract

She told the club's media: "I’m really happy to stay here, it’s the club I love and the club I want to be successful at and I’m really happy to be here for another two more [years]. Personally, I have so much unfinished business to be done, and I love this football club. It feels like home to me now and I feel this is where I belong and am meant to be.

"I’m really excited for what’s to come.  I’m excited by the players, the new manager. And the start has been really positive, but I know there’s still so much more to come from this team. I would love nothing more than to lift more silverware at this football club."

Therese Sjogran, Manchester City’s Director of Football, said: "We’re absolutely delighted that Alex has signed a new deal with the club. It’s difficult to put into words how important she is on and off the pitch, and I know my respect and admiration for her as a player and person is shared by everyone at City. We’re excited by the direction this team is going in this season and beyond, and Alex is central to those ambition."

City leading the way in 2025-26

Manchester City have enjoyed a strong start to the new Women's Super League season and currently sit in top spot after eight games played, one point clear of defending champions Chelsea. Greenwood is yet to win the WSL in her career but admits she's gunning for the title this year.

She told the club's media: "As much as I’ve played for lots of years and I’ve experienced so much in my career, I’m still learning too as a captain and as a player. I’m someone who will always look at myself first before I give advice to anyone else. I think the group is exciting and that’s another reason why I’m so happy to stay here. We’ve got so much potential and the young players coming through are so exciting and they keep you on your toes to say the least.

"I really don’t believe we can’t not do it and that’s why I want to be here. I want to do it because I think the club deserves it.The team deserves it, but there’s one thing deserving it and another doing it and I do genuinely believe we can do that.  I’m so positive about this team. We have short-term and long-term goals as a team, I do individually. For me personally, I’ll be lying if I didn’t say I really want to win the league with this club."

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Getty Images SportGreenwood sidelined through injury

Greenwood is currently sidelined through injury after picking up a problem during City's win over West Ham. Manager Andrée Jeglertz has said the Lionesses star will miss "a number of weeks" in what is a blow to the WSL leaders.

Manchester City are due to play neighbours Manchester United next in the WSL and then face a trip to Nottingham Forest in the League Cup. The Cityzens then see out 2025 with league matches against Leicester and Aston Villa.

The 2025 All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta couldn't be decided in just nine innings. Instead of the typical extra innings we'd see in any other game, we got another Home Run Derby to finish off the night.

Each league got to send up three batters who each got three swings apiece. Whichever side had the most total homers would win the game. The National League came out on top of the swing-off thanks to three homers from Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. In total, the NL had four homers compared to three for the American League after the even 6-6 contest.

Here are the full results from each player who participated in the swing-off. Remember, they only had three swings to hit as many long balls as they could.

The AL had a 3-1 lead before Schwarber stepped to the plate and went 3-for-3 which put the NL on top heading into the final two batters. Rays infielder Jonathan Aranda followed Schwarber with an opportunity to tie things up or give the AL the lead before the NL's final batter, Pete Alonso. Aranda hit a ball just off the top of the wall in right field for a close call, but wasn't able to go deep, which ended the thriller with the NL on top.

Schwarber was named the All-Star Game MVP for the swing-off performance. What a way to end the festivities.

“Sometimes we can be too humble. We don’t show off to the world enough what we’re capable of doing”

Firdose Moonda16-Aug-2025

Shukri Conrad wants South Africa to play with a little more chutzpah•Getty Images

It’s not whether South Africa have the skills and mental fortitude to come out on top in close games that concerns their coach Shukri Conrad. It is whether they have the confidence to show that they possess those qualities.In the aftermath of their last-over defeat in the T20I series decider against Australia in Cairns, which came after a last-over defeat in a tri-series final against New Zealand last month, Conrad asked his players to strut their stuff a little more if they want to become a champion side.”Sometimes we can be too humble. We don’t show off to the world enough what we’re capable of doing,” Conrad said, as he almost used Australia as an example of what self-belief could look like.Related

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“This has got nothing to do with the way Australia plays, but they have got a blueprint as to how they want to play. There are times when it looks absolutely brilliant and it’s box-office stuff. And there are times when you can have them in trouble, like we had them in the first couple of games. But they stay true to it. What does it mean for us? It’s easier on the batting front, guys like [[Tristan Stubbs] and Ricks [Ryan Rickelton] and Aiden [Markram] himself… there’s so much that they can do. But feel that they have maybe boxed themselves in a little bit too much.”Of the three Conrad mentioned, only Rickelton made a score of significance in the series – 71 off 55 balls in the first game – but even after that knock, he acknowledged that he started too slowly for South Africa to successfully chase 179. There was another name on Conrad’s lips when he spoke about how he wants to see his players approach matches: Dewald Brevis.Dewald Brevis finished the series with a strike rate of 204.54•AFP/Getty Images

The 22-year-old was the leading run-scorer in the series, became the holder of South Africa’s highest individual T20I score of 125 not out in the second match and had the highest strike rate among all batters of 204.54. He played in a way that is best described by the Afrikaans word , which is a mixture of confidence and cockiness and is maybe best explained by one of his shots in this series.In the second T20I in Darwin, Brevis was on 22 when he lofted Sean Abbott for six over long-on and didn’t even need to look at where the ball went. Watch the replays and you’ll see Brevis keep his head down until well after the ball has gone into the stands in a manner that seems to suggest, “I’ve hit that so well, I don’t even need to look at where it’s gone.” Off the field, Brevis is as modest as they come, and attributes his talent to God alone. Whatever ego he has is confined to what happens on the field but it’s enough to allow him to play with freedom, and Conrad hopes it will rub off on other players.Chief among them is Markram, who has gone 31 innings without a T20I half-century, and who was dismissed driving waftily in all three matches in the series. One reason for Markram’s under-performance in Australia is that he is still getting used to his new role as an opener; another could be that he has been too tentative in his shot selection. Whatever it is, Conrad knows Markram has it in him a little because he saw him do it just two months ago, when it mattered most. “I know it’s a different format, but in the World Test Championship final not so long ago, Aiden showed exactly what he is about,” Conrad said. “And I’m sure he is a couple of games away from unlocking that state of genius.”Even when he does, Conrad cautioned that South Africa could not expect to come out on top every time because that’s just the nature of sport but at least, they would be giving themselves a good chance. “It’s not always going to result in winning. But I just want us to show off a bit more.”Whether that’s Conrad talking up or having a little dig at his hometown is to be figured out at another time. For now, his work is to continue preparations for the next T20 World Cup in six months time. So far, under his watch, South Africa have lost two deciders – one chasing, one defending. Against New Zealand, they needed seven runs off the last over and Conrad believes they “should have won going into the last over” but “in and amongst all of that, I’m really happy with the growth”.That was a series played without several regulars, this is one that is only without David Miller, which has left the batting line-up unbalanced. Conrad conceded that South Africa were a “batter light” but explained that if the players they have were willing to play with a little more chutzpah, it could work in their favour. “If we want to be brave, we have got to select attacks to beat a team like Australia and if I can nudge a batting unit into playing a certain way where we are a batter light and I concede we were a batter light, imagine what they can do when we have got a properly balanced side,” he said. “It’s all part of the slightly longer-term plan.”He also rejected the idea that he has put his store in allrounders, albeit that both his left-arm spinners, George Linde and Senuran Muthusamy, were also picked on batting strength, and that his selections are conventional. “Your top six will be your best batters, and Nos. 7, 8 possibly allrounders, so there’s nothing untoward,” he said. “I’m not obsessed with allrounders in T20 cricket, I can guarantee you that.”And he said it with the kind of conviction he expects his players to have.