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Premier League star Ola Aina has been told to “own up” after revealing that he is at the “talking stage” with a fellow football player’s girlfriend. The Nottingham Forest defender claims that the woman in question likes him more than her current clinch, but their budding relationship remains secret for now. Aina is being urged to address the issue with his love rival.

Forest star Aina makes shock revelation

Nigeria international Aina made his shocking revelation when appearing on show. The versatile 29-year-old said he was there to seek advice from the children and adults on the panel for what has become an obvious “dilemma”.

The former Chelsea and Fulham player, who has been at the City Ground since 2023, was happy to state in public that he has become close with the partner of a fellow performer. He now finds himself in a difficult position.

Aina said: “My dilemma is I'm in a talking stage with another baller's girl.” Asked if he is able to reveal the identity of the other player, the Forest full-back added: “Can't disclose that one.” He went on to confirm that he is at the “talking” stage, rather than the “walking” one, with the surprising scenario only playing out over a matter of weeks.

AdvertisementGettyLove triangle: Aina offered advice on what to do

Quizzed on whether interest has been reciprocated, Aina said that he “knows she likes me back”. He went on to say that he can “easily” take his fellow player one-on-one, but saw it put to him that the girl in question may be “a bit of a clout chaser” as she pits “two footballers” against one another.

Aina maintains that: “I believe she likes me more.” He has, however, been advised to clear the air with everybody involved. The ‘Aunties’ told him to “own up to the guy” and “be honest” about what has happened.

One of the children on the panel added: “Me personally, I think she's only there for your money. You're a professional footballer, you're earning bread, plenty more girls will come. She's on a permanent sin bin off the pitch, red card.”

The two sides proceeded to battle it out in a bid to convince Aina of their argument. He eventually sided with the Aunties, much to their delight. That would suggest that he is ready to speak with the fellow professional that he has become locked in a love triangle with.

Untimely injury: Aina underwent hamstring surgery

Aina does, however, have plenty of his plate at the moment. Away from his private life, every effort is being made to recover from an untimely injury that has kept him out of action since September. His last appearance for Forest came on August 31.

An unfortunate knock was then picked up during the first international break of the 2025-26 campaign, as he headed off with Nigeria. A hamstring problem has been difficult to shake, with surgery required a matter of days after being forced onto the treatment table.

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GettyAfrica Cup of Nations: Will Aina figure for Nigeria?

Aina did not figure for Forest at all during Ange Postecoglou’s ill-fated 39-day spell in charge of the Reds. He has been unable to show current coach Sean Dyche what he is capable of, with it revealed that he is unlikely to grace a Premier League fixture again until 2026.

Dyche has said when delivering a fitness update on his walking wounded: “The ones left not with us yet are Taiwo [Awoniyi], Woody [Chris Wood] and Douglas [Luiz] – although they are getting closer. Ola is getting closer to fitness but obviously can’t be with us until January.”

That is because, alongside his rehabilitation, Aina is in contention to represent Nigeria at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations. Selection there would come as a surprise, given how much football he has missed over recent months.

The Super Eagles may take a calculated gamble on the 48-cap star, allowing him to rebuild form and fitness before returning to Trentside. The 35th edition of AFCON is set to get underway on December 21 and run through to January 18. Nigeria have been placed in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania.

Sudharsan spoke about Gambhir’s influence on him, his approach to Test cricket and wanting to be versatile like KL Rahul

Shashank Kishore29-Oct-2025

B Sai Sudharsan has been named India A vice-captain for the two four-dayers against South Africa A•PTI

B Sai Sudharsan has hailed India head coach Gautam Gambhir for backing him unconditionally through a challenging initiation into Test cricket.Sai Sudharsan scored 140 runs at an average of 23.33 in his debut Test series on the tour of England, and was out for 7 in his only innings in the first Test against West Indies in Ahmedabad earlier this month. He felt under some pressure coming into the second Test in Delhi until a chat with Gambhir put him at ease.”The support has been impeccable,” Sai Sudharsan said in Bengaluru where he will be India A’s vice-captain in the first unofficial Test against South Africa A, which begins on Thursday. “After the first game in Ahmedabad, we were practicing at the Feroz Shah Kotla nets. As always, I was the last to come out of the nets.Related

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“GG [Gambhir] sir called me and said, ‘You are not getting desperate. You are one of the best players in the country. So do not think about any of the other things. Don’t think that you have to score runs in this game or what will happen if you don’t.'”He told me, ‘You will play.’ The way he said that gave me so much confidence and freedom. I was trying to be more free and not think about external factors or the magnitude of things. But when you hear it from the head coach himself, the perspective and environment change drastically.”That helped me express myself better as well. Even in that game [2nd Test], I wasn’t in a mindset just to get runs, I was in a mindset to fight and win for the team, to dominate for the team.”Sai Sudharsan hit a composed 87 in his last Test outing•AFP/Getty Images

Sai Sudharsan made 87 and 39 in Delhi as India won by seven wickets to clinch the series 2-0. While those knocks have given him confidence, he doesn’t want to put himself under the pressure of having to live up to some of India’s past No. 3s.”I take it game by game, inning by inning, look at the situation, and react as best as I can,” he said. “Playing for India, there’s so much competition. So many great cricketers who have done well, are doing well, and will continue to do well. I’m not looking at a spot to cement or thinking about securing a place. I’m playing for a reason and that is to win games and fight for my team. That’s my mindset when I walk in.”When I think about sealing a spot or playing for safety, I tend to go defensive and play for myself, which I definitely don’t want to do. I look at it from a different perspective – to win one session at a time and make a difference there. Runs will be a byproduct of that process.”That said, Sai Sudharsan acknowledges the challenges that will come with batting at No. 3, having come through domestic cricket primarily as an opener for Tamil Nadu.”It’s a great responsibility, and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “No. 3 is also like an opening spot. There’s not a big difference, to be honest. But playing for India, wherever we get an opportunity, we have to be on point, not just fill a place but be really ready for whichever spot we play.”We have great examples. Like KL [Rahul] , who has played in almost all positions and is so versatile. We can learn from him. We have to be ready for all those challenges. I wouldn’t say I prefer one or the other. I’ve played quite a lot at No. 3, even in the IPL, and when I was younger in the Under-14s and Under-16s also I’ve batted at No. 3. So I enjoy both. It’s not a big difference”

Lancashire 241 for 6 (Lister 96, Threlkeld 92) beat The Blaze (K Bryce 124, Elwiss 55) by five runs Lancashire Women maintained their hold over The Blaze in this season’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup to book a place in the final despite Kathryn Bryce’s magnificent 124 in a tense semi-final at Trent Bridge.Ellie Threlkeld’s side await the winners of Wednesday’s second semi-final between Hampshire and Surrey at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton. The final is on the same ground on Sunday.Lancashire Women beat The Blaze home and away in the league phase and pulled off a five-run victory in this match despite being without the competition’s top runscorer, Emma Lamb, who is with England ahead of the Women’s World Cup, and another of their key batters in Eve Jones, who is injured.With the bat they recovered from 52 for four to post 241 for six after Scotland international Ailsa Lister hit a career-best 96 from 91 balls and captain Threlkeld a season’s best 92 from 128.Seamers Grace Potts, who limped through most of her spell after suffering an injury in her first over, took three for 32 and Kate Cross ( three for 47) then led an excellent bowling display, restricting the home side to 236 for nine.Bryce and Georgia Elwiss (55) combined to add 150 for the fourth wicket in The Blaze’s reply but a superbly disciplined Lancashire attack ensured that The Blaze were never on top of the required scoring rate and that pressure paid off for them as the home side, 179 for three with 10 overs remaining, ultimately fell short.Lister and Threlkeld shared a 166-run partnership for the fifth Lancashire wicket, 21-year-old Lister underlining her potential by hitting 11 boundaries before she was stumped in search of the one more needed for a maiden hundred, the home side rueing a dropped catch when she was on 66.Seamers Cassidy McCarthy (two for 27) and Orla Prendergast, who conceded only 26 runs in 10 overs, impressed among The Blaze bowlers.Asked to bat first on the pitch that would have been used for England’s washed-out T20 international against South Africa last Sunday, Lancashire Women found themselves in trouble at 33 for three after 10 overs.McCarthy uprooted Gaby Lewis’s middle stump and had Seren Smale caught at short backward square, the left-armer Grace Ballinger finding the edge to have Fi MorrisAlice Clarke – tasked with filling the shoes of Lamb at the top of the order – fell to a good catch on the legside boundary as she pulled Prendergast and with their opponents 52 for four in the 18th, The Blaze were well on top.But Threlkeld brought her experience to bear in guiding her younger partner through a testing period before the pair kicked on from the 35-over mark, upping the scoring rate to seven per over for the next 12 before Lister, spared by the normally safe hands of Kathryn Bryce at deep midwicket on 66, went down the pitch to Kirstie Gordon’s left-arm spin and paid the price.Threlkeld departed in the next over, run out going for a second by McCarthy’s arrow throw from the point boundary.The Blaze, missing their three England players but accustomed to managing without them, would have seen chasing 242 as well within their compass, although less so after matching their opponents in losing three wickets in their opening powerplay.Mahika Gaur bowled Sarah Bryce with a full delivery before Kate Cross removed Georgie Boyce, caught and bowled off a leading edge, and Prendergast, who stepped across to be leg before for a second-ball duck, leaving The Blaze in peril at 37 for three.But just as Threlkeld and Lister rescued Lancashire, Elwiss joined Kathryn Bryce to turn their side’s innings around. Yet though Bryce passed fifty for the seventh time this season from 64 balls, none of Threlkeld’s six bowlers conceded runs easily.Bryce brought up her hundred, the fifth of her career in List A cricket and a first in Blaze colours, from 121 balls as the partnership ticked over to 150, but the big breakthrough for Lancashire came shortly afterwards as Elwiss, who had clocked up her fifth half-century of the season, was caught at backward point on the reverse sweep off Fi Morris, with 55 still needed off 52 balls.The wicket opened up one end for the visitors and after Marie Kelly, Michaela Kirk and and Lucy Higham all went cheaply, The Blaze needed 33 from 18 balls, which came down to nine off the last over, but when Bryce holed out to mid-off to give Potts her third wicket, their chance had gone.

Planning for a career after football is always wise, but that usually comes in the form of punditry or coaching. Gary Neville famously did one far more successfully than the other, whilst Mikel Arteta is now one of the best managers in the world.

Alfie Whiteman has done neither after leaving Tottenham Hotspur, however.

The 26-year-old has retired from football to pursue an entirely different dream. The goalkeeper was part of Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League-winning squad just last season, providing backup for Guglielmo Vicario and Antonin Kinsky, but failed to get a single minute on the pitch.

In fact, the goalkeeper’s last senior appearance came on loan at Swedish side Degerfors IF in the 2021/22 campaign. Playing 21 games in the Allsvenskan, Whiteman kept just two clean sheets and conceded 40 goals in a difficult spell.

Life as a goalkeeper and as a professional footballer, Whiteman admitted, was not the dream that he had imagined. The goalkeeper, who left Spurs as a free agent in the summer, recently told The Athletic: “I signed for Spurs at 10 years old. Then I left school at 16 and went straight into this full-time life of football.

“When I was around 17 or 18, living in digs, I just had this feeling inside of, ‘Is this it?’ Getting on the mini bus, going to training, doing the Sports Science BTEC (he also did an A Level in Economics) and going home to play video games. I realised, ‘Oh, I’m not happy here’ from quite a young age.

“The stereotype of a footballer is generally quite true. It’s the golf, washbag culture. I was that young footballer. I wanted the Gucci washbag and I drove the Mercedes. You all just become a reflection of each other. You’re a product of your environment. It’s the way football is in this country; it’s so shut off from anything else. You go to training and then you go home, that’s it.”

Unfulfilled and released from his boyhood club, Whiteman has since gone in pursuit of happiness in the film industry.

Whiteman swaps the football for the camera in stunning change

After earning £1.5m in wages at Spurs, Whiteman has retired from football at 26 years old to become a film director and photographer. The former goalkeeper now works for Somesuch – an award-winning production company – where he plans to take a much more fulfilling career path.

It’s been a long time coming too. During his time sitting on the Spurs bench, Whiteman was working as a runner for directors, photographers and producers in preparation for his dream role. Although the expectancy is for footballers to retire in their 30s, he didn’t wait until then to make the jump.

Although many goalkeepers can boast careers at the highest level, you’ll struggle to find a shot-stopper who’s got his hands on a European trophy and an Oscar, but that’s the dream for Whiteman.

Tottenham Hotspur player salaries 2025/26

Celtic lost a huge talent in the recent summer transfer window when they decided to cash in on Nicolas Kuhn by selling him to Italian side Como for a fee of £16.5m.

The German winger has endured a difficult start to life in the Serie, failing to score or assist a goal in any of his first five matches in the division, but his time at Parkhead suggests that the best is yet to come.

Celtic signed the left-footed star from Rapid Vienna in the January transfer window at the start of 2024, and his best form for the club came after a difficult start to life in Glasgow.

How Nicolas Kuhn saved his Celtic career

The former Bayern Munich and Ajax trainee produced three goals and three assists in 18 appearances in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, including one goal and one assist in the cup, per Transfermarkt.

Kuhn needed time to adapt and adjust to the intensity of Scottish football and the pressure of playing for Celtic, though, and his best performances for the club came after that initial period of adaptation.

In his full season at Parkhead, the 25-year-old star racked up an eye-catching return of 21 goals and 15 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he found his feet in Scotland to deliver consistent performances.

Kuhn is, therefore, the poster boy for why supporters and pundits alike should perhaps give some players more time to adapt to life at Celtic if they do not hit the ground running.

With this in mind, the Scottish Premiership champions may be brewing their next version of the German superstar, and it is not Sebastian Tounekti.

The Celtic player who is the next Nicolas Kuhn in the making

Unlike Kuhn, Tounekti has enjoyed a fairly strong start to his career at Parkhead and all but nailed down a place in the starting XI on the left flank, thanks to his exciting wing play after his deadline day move from Hammarby.

The Tunisia international has completed 14 dribbles in five matches in all competitions, per Sofascore, and scored against Partick Thistle in the League Cup.

Meanwhile, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who joined from Royal Antwerp in the summer, has not had as much success in winning the fanbase over since his move to the club.

After the 3-2 win over Motherwell, Brendan Rodgers explained that it has “all been a wee bit of a blur” for the Belgian forward since he moved to Parkhead, which suggests that he may be suffering from the same adaptation issues that Kuhn had at first.

Appearances

16

4

Shots per game

1.1

0.0

Goals

4

0

Key passes per game

1.6

0.5

Big chances created

7

1

Assists

3

1

Successful dribbles per game

0.4

0.0

As you can see in the table above, Balikwisha’s statistics for Royal Antwerp in the Pro League last season suggest that he has more gears to find in Glasgow, as he has struggled at the top end of the pitch for Celtic so far.

The young forward did deliver a fantastic assist for Daizen Maeda’s winner against Motherwell in the Premiership last weekend, his first goal contribution for the club, and that could be the moment that he needs to kick on and make a name for himself at Parkhead.

Balikwisha, who was described as an “exciting” player by Rodgers, has been a bit too timid in his early outings for the Hoops, as evidenced by no shots and 0.5 key passes per game across four matches.

The Belgian attacker needs to show more conviction and drive in his performances on the wing, as he did in the Pro League with his former club, and not worry about making a mistake or the crowd getting on his back.

Celtic must rue binning "magic" outcast who's now outperforming Tounekti

Brendan Rodgers must rue moving on from this Celtic star who is now outperforming Sebastian Tounekti.

ByDan Emery Oct 7, 2025

If he can step up to produce fearless performances, then his form from Belgium may translate to Scotland. He could follow in Kuhn’s footsteps by hitting his stride in front of goal after a difficult start to life in Glasgow.

Eddie Howe said he doesn’t have “a rabbit I can pull out of the hat” when quizzed on Newcastle United’s early-season injury problems.

Newcastle are enduring their perennial teething problems during the first months of the campaign, but there are certainly signs of new life stretching sunward from the squad, who have been rattled and turned during the summer transfer window but are coming off the back of big performances in the Champions League and Premier League as we pause for the October international break.

Nick Woltemade, in particular, is the talk of the town after his fast start to life at number nine. Four goals from seven games and a penalty to behold during Sunday’s win over Nottingham Forest.

There’s work to be done, but the 23-year-old is showing signs of significant potential. And while Alexander Isak has left for Liverpool, this talented frontman could be a dream partner for Anthony Gordon over the coming years.

Gordon's new Isak

Gordon and Isak formed quite the partnership over the past two years at Newcastle. The England winger even described Isak as being “the best in Europe” back in January, with the striker having scored nine in seven in the Premier League.

Isak is undoubtedly an elite goalscorer, having notched 27 in all competitions last year. His pace and potency and intelligence worked wonderfully with Gordon’s own rip-roaring style, with the duo each dominating the headlines across the past two Toon terms.

For Gordon, this is a striker who might even surpass his connection with Isak – and what a duo that was. The 24-year-old even remarked after Sunday’s victory, “My style suits playing with that style of striker because I can run off them.”

Woltemade’s rise coincides with Yoane Wissa’s injury-ruined start to life on Tyneside, and now, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento face extended spells on the sidelines themselves.

There’s a blow to Newcastle’s flanks and transitional play. Still, Howe’s system has many times overcome obstacles of similar shapes and sizes, and the manager has crafted a new partnership to ease any defensive issues.

They might even be the best since Isak and Gordon were at their best.

Newcastle's new Isak & Gordon

The beauty of Howe’s Newcastle tactics is the stability of it, the way it roots players down and allows them to grow into top talents capable of challenging at the higher end of the Premier League and compete for silverware.

And that’s not restrictive to any one position or personality. Flashy forwards like Isak and Gordon can achieve big things, but so can those at the other side of the field.

Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw bear testament to that.

While the full-back injuries have pulled Dan Burn back into his wide berth, this flowering connection between two terrific centre-backs has led captain Bruno Guimaraes to hail them as “the future of this club”.

Since joining in 2022, Botman has been widely regarded as Newcastle’s most talented centre-half, but he’s been blighted by injuries.

Burn and Fabian Schar formed a strong alliance at the rear last season, but the £35m signing of Thiaw from AC Milan speaks of evolution. Hailed as a “monster in the air” by journalist Martino Puccio, the German is also confident and high-quality when on the ball, and athletic besides.

Across the past three top-flight fixtures, Botman and Thiaw have kept two clean sheets, only foiled during that exasperating defeat by Arsenal at St. James’ Park.

Indeed, Botman has now completed three successive 90s in the Premier League, a feat he achieved not once last season. As his fitness improves and his partnership with Thiaw develops, Newcastle fans truly might be in for a return to sustained iron-clad protection but with a technical flair added in.

Sven Botman – PL Career by Season
Season	Apps (starts)	Minutes
25/26	5 (4)	340′
24/25	8 (6)	415′
23/24	17 (15)	1,378′
22/23	36 (35)	3,129′
Data via Transfermarkt

Journalist Mark Douglas has noted that Thiaw is “a Rolls-Royce driving one of the best defences in the Premier League.” It is understood that the summer acquisition was the culmination of two years of scouting.

Newcastle, time and time again, have their wits about them in the transfer market. They know when to pounce on an earmarked target, and Howe knows how to develop them.

Newcastle have a few fitness problems at this early-season stage. But they are adapting, and they are evolving. Woltemade is he new attacking poster boy, but in Botman and Thiaw, there is a budding partnership fit to rival Isak and Gordon as the finest Tyneside has seen in modern years.

Not Woltemade: Newcastle star is "one of the signings of the summer"

Nick Woltemade may not be Newcastle’s best signing of the summer.

By
Will Miller

Oct 7, 2025

West Indies fall well short in ODI series opener despite 91-run opening stand

Valkerie Baynes30-May-2025England’s experiment with Amy Jones at the top of the order paid dividends as she and opening partner Tammy Beaumont scored centuries in a 108-run victory over West Indies in the first ODI in Derby.It was Jones’ maiden international century after 12 years and more than 200 games across formats for England, helping to set a lofty victory target of 346 after captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who chimed in with a 35-ball fifty, won the toss.Linsey Smith, the left-arm spinner on ODI debut following a career resurgence in 2024 after nearly five years on the outer, claimed a five-wicket haul to bowl West Indies out for 237 with 10 balls to spare despite a 91-run opening partnership between Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph.Jones and Beaumont both scored at better than a run a ball and shared a 222-run stand for the first wicket as England reached 345 for 6.Jones had opened the batting 22 times previously in ODIs, but not since the 2019 Women’s Ashes – and 18 times in T20Is, most recently during the World Cup in Australia five years ago.But perhaps in a sign of what was to come, she had opened with Beaumont in all seven of her innings for The Blaze in this year’s domestic one-day cup competition and scored 80, 52 and 41 in her last three outings there.Jones’s innings was chanceless until, on 92, she drove the ball hard back at bowler Jahzara Claxton who couldn’t hold on despite getting both hands to it. Karishma Ramharack missed a similarly well-struck return catch off Jones in the next over.Jones displayed excellent placement and timing, highlighted by a beautiful cover drive off Zaida James for four followed by two more boundaries off the same bowler, threaded expertly between backward and cover point and plundered over mid-on. She brought up her half-century in 59 balls with a single into the leg side off Matthews.Beaumont was more circumspect in raising her fifty although an assertive six over wide long-on, also off Matthews, put her in touching distance and she met the milestone off 74 balls with a cut single off Afy Fletcher.Beaumont signalled a remarkable shift in tempo when she followed back-to-back fours off Aaliyah Alleyne immediately with another six pulled over deep square leg. Her third maximum came off Claxton through wide long-on and she showed great innovation moments later to uppercut a four through deep third before edging Claxton’s next ball just past wicketkeeper Mandy Mangru for four more.Suddenly Beaumont had moved to 92 off 93 and it became a century race between the openers after they posted a first-wicket stand worth 200 for only the fourth time in England Women’s ODI history.Beaumont reached the landmark first, having faced just 22 balls for her second fifty, as she struck two fours in three balls off Ramharack for her 11th ODI ton.She could have fallen three balls later had Mangru held a faint edge as Beaumont looked to work a Ramharack delivery fine and she capitalised with another six over wide long-on off Matthews.Jones brought up her century with a four through extra cover off Cherry-Ann Fraser, prompting a satisfied smile to spread across new head coach Charlotte Edwards’ face.Linsey Smith took a five-for on ODI debut•ECB via Getty ImagesBeaumont’s innings finally ended as she advanced to Fraser, missed the cutter and heard her middle and leg stumps rattled.Emma Lamb came in at No. 3 after forcing her way back into the England squad after a peerless start to the domestic 50-over competition. Replacing Maia Boucher in the squad for this series, her stay at the crease was short-lived on Friday when she attempted a reverse-sweep off Matthews and sent a faint top edge to the keeper via her forearm.Jones launched Fraser down the ground for six, followed by back-to-back fours, but she holed out in Matthews’ next over, ending a brilliant innings.Sophia Dunkley fell cheaply but Alice Capsey – called into the ODI squad as cover for Heather Knight, who is out for the rest of the summer with a hamstring injury – slotted in at No. 6 and shared a 57-run partnership with Sciver-Brunt.Sciver-Brunt made a rapid 52 off 36 balls before she fell lbw to Fletcher and Capsey ended with 24 off 19 before she chipped Alleyne to Matthews at extra cover in the final over.Matthews – player of the T20I series despite her side failing to win a game – and Joseph made a decent start in the face of some scrappy England fielding, although the hosts’ efforts weren’t anywhere near as poor as the last time this duo combined so well at the top of the order against them. On that occasion, during the T20 World Cup, England put down five catches to lose the game and exit the tournament.Em Arlott, joining Smith on ODI debut after making her first appearances for England during the T20s against West Indies, made the crucial breakthrough by drawing an edge from Matthews, who was caught behind by Jones two runs shy of her half-century.Arlott should have had her second in the same over – a wicket maiden in the end – as James flashed at a drive which flew straight to backward point but Dunkley spilled the chance.Arlott then beat James with a late-moving fuller ball but it was Smith who pinned James lbw for a laboured 7 off 29 balls.In the meantime, Joseph raised her second fifty in ODIs, greeting Capsey’s introduction to the attack with consecutive fours either side of the V followed by a single to long-on to bring up the mark off 53 deliveries.But it was Capsey who ended Joseph’s stay on 62. After missing a tough caught-and-bowled chance off Shemaine Campbelle the previous delivery, Capsey sent down a slower ball that dipped and beat Joseph’s attempted slog to rattle the stumps.That sparked a mini-collapse in which West Indies lost three wickets for eight runs in the space of 20 deliveries as Smith bowled Campbelle and Mangru to make it 147 for 5 after they had been 124 for 2.Dunkley twice held on in the deep midwicket region to give Smith her five-wicket haul, taking skied chances off Claxton and Fraser, the latter off the last ball of Smith’s allocation to give her figures of 5 for 36 off 10 overs.Alleyne proved stubborn with 44 of 45 balls but she became the last wicket to fall, skying Lauren Bell down the ground and caught by Kate Cross.

Everton timidly exited the Carabao Cup after a 2-0 defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

There’s been an overarching feeling of progressiveness since David Moyes returned to the club in January, but the Merseysiders reverted to their former type against Wolves.

There has been a collective drive at Everton to attack domestic cup competitions, and so this one will sting for the Toffees, with Wolves having started the Premier League season off dismally, losing all five of their opening fixtures.

It was an uncharacteristically shoddy defensive performance from the away side, and James Tarkowski was at the epicentre.

James Tarkowski let Moyes down at Molineux

Tarkowski has been a pillar of strength for Everton since joining from Burnley on a free transfer in 2022, but the skipper endured a tough showing last night.

Moyes, it must be said, wasn’t best pleased with the performance. But then, the weakened team the Scotsman put out were always going to be up against it.

While it wasn’t a terrible showing from the 32-year-old, he lost both of his ground duels, as per Sofascore, and ceded possession 12 times, seemingly hesitant to engage with the hulking Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.

The return of Jarrad Branthwaite from injury cannot come soon enough, and unless Tarkowski recovers his aggressive, solid nature in central defence, it may be Michael Keane – one of the better performers against the Old Gold – who keeps his starting spot.

However, while Everton flattered to deceive in defence, they were toothless in attack, and Dwight McNeil was among the worst performers. It’s quite likely the 25-year-old will be making a swift return to the bench.

Dwight McNeil has already lost his starting spot

McNeil battled against injury for much of the 2024/25 campaign, with his absence for most of the start of this new Moyes era especially frustrating given his emphatic form under Sean Dyche’s wing at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

He offers a potent threat when firing on all cylinders, but none of the playmaker’s vim and vigour was on display against a spirited Wolves side, and Moyes hooked him before the hour mark.

Given that McNeil has sat as an unused substitute across four of Everton’s five Premier League matches so far this season, he will be concerned about his playing time going forward, with Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye both in inspired form down the flanks.

25/26

1

0 (0)

24/25

21

4 (8)

23/24

35

3 (6)

22/23

36

7 (3)

Statistician Tactically Matt put in no uncertain terms after the Englishman was hooked before the hour mark, saying, “Dwight McNeil has been a difficult watch for a while now.”

Chris Beesley of the Liverpool Echo branded McNeil with a 5/10 match score and drew attention to the fact that the overload of addition to the attacking midfield will have left the former Burnley man frustrated, having blown a good chance to stake his claim.

He completed only eight passes across the evening at a success rate of 62%, and that having failed to create a chance or complete a cross.

Moreover, McNeil lost four of his five duels, drifting out to the left to try and collect the ball and funnel it on through to the danger area – to no avail.

Moyes is almost certainly going to take the player’s starting place away from him, and it’s going to take a big effort for McNeil to make his way back into the ascendancy at Everton.

He's playing like Haaland: Everton sold the original Barry in CF "beast"

Barry’s potential at Everton echoes one former starlet now thriving in Serie A

ByWill Miller Sep 23, 2025

“I felt that I would pick up three wickets today – I felt I had more wicket-taking options,” Fahima Khatun says

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-2025

Jannatul Ferdus returned remarkable figures of 5-3-7-5•International Cricket Council

Nigar Sultana scored an 80-ball 101. Bangladesh put up their highest score in ODIs – 271. They then bowled Thailand out for 93 to record their biggest win in terms of runs in the format – 178. The most remarkable event in the win in the World Cup qualifying match in Lahore, though, was Fahima Khatun and Jannatul Ferdus, the spin twins, picking up five wickets each, the first time it has happened in women’s ODI cricket.In fact, it’s the second such occurrence in all ODI cricket – Greg Chappell and Gary Cosier had done it for Australia against England in Birmingham in 1977.”Such a record, where two bowlers pick up five-wicket hauls in an innings, is a remarkable achievement,” Sultana said in a video released by the BCB. “Their contribution today is inspiring for the team. I am hoping they continue to do similar things in the rest of the games.”Related

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Sultana ton and Fahima, Ferdus five-fors give Bangladesh big win

In another BCB video, where legspinner Fahima, who took 5 for 21 in 8.5 overs, and Ferdus, the offspinner who returned 5 for 7 in five overs, chat with each other, Fahima said, “Of course it’s reason to be very happy. I have had the opportunity to do this before, pick up five wickets in an innings, but I haven’t been able to do it, so this is very pleasing.”I must say that the end I was bowling from, when I started bowling, I felt that I would pick up three wickets today. I felt I had more wicket-taking options. Fortunately, it worked out.”In an ODI career that’s worth 45 matches now, Fahima had two three-wicket hauls but never a five-for. In T20Is, she has one four-for. For Ferdus, playing just her third ODI and seventh game for Bangladesh overall, it was well beyond anything she had achieved – the five wickets took her tally to eight, across formats.”This is the first time I have picked up five wickets for Bangladesh,” Ferdus said. “Of course, it’s very special. The first time is something to remember for the rest of my life. It will be a wonderful memory. I started bowling late in this game, so I didn’t think there was any opportunity to pick up five wickets. But I was trying to maintain the process, and fortunately it worked out.”Fahima had three wickets to her name – and figures of 5-1-8-3 – when Ferdus came on to bowl in the 20th over of Thailand’s chase. Ferdus’ first over was a double-wicket maiden. Fahima came back soon enough, and they had four wickets each soon after. Ferdus got to her milestone first, and Fahima got there when she finished off the match.”At what point did you feel you could pick up five wickets?” Fahima, the senior pro, asked Ferdus.”The thought had never crossed my mind. I was trying to follow the plan of bowling wicket to wicket. And, fortunately, I was successful,” Ferdus replied.The achievement of the two spinners overshadowed, somewhat at least, a remarkable innings from Sultana, the Bangladesh captain, where she walked out in the 28th over, but still managed to get to the three-figure mark. Sharmin Akhter, the No. 3 batter who was part of two century partnerships, ended on 94 not out, while Fargana Hoque, the opener, scored 53.”It’s our first win of the tournament, and I am very happy to have contributed to it,” Sultana said. “It’s my first century in ODI cricket, but there was no such target in my mind. The target was to take the team score to 250-plus. So, when [Hoque and [Sharmin] were batting, I felt that when I go out, I should also score at a good strike rate and score quickly. So that the batters to follow are in a position to take Bangladesh past 250. There was the opportunity, we grabbed it, so we got a good total.”The margin of victory has put Bangladesh at the top of the points table after all teams have played a match each. They next play Ireland on Sunday.

With Pulisic delivering one of his best performances for Milan, GOAL US writers discuss the heights he can reach this season

Christian Pulisic is back again. There was so much furor, so much anger about him. Here was the U.S. men's national team star who skipped out on the Gold Cup, bailed when U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino needed him.

Turns out that there’s other football to be played. And Pulisic might be quite good for his club. He was excellent against Napoli Sunday, scoring and assisting to lead to a 2-1 win against last year’s Serie A champs. After five games, Milan are top of the table – who could have predicted that?

With his recent scoring streak, the question begs – is Pulisic officially part of that world-class club? Or is this simply a spark of form at the right time? One thing is for sure: Pochettino is smiling somewhere.

GOAL US writers debate Pulisic’s form and analyze Milan’s Scudetto hopes in the latest edition of… The Rondo

Getty Images SportWhere does Pulisic's showing against Napoli rank among his best?

Tom Hindle: Well, it’s gotta be up there. We’ve seen Pulisic take charge of individual fixtures before, and he was excellent in a couple of games last year. But this seemed seismic. A goal, and an assist in a contest that may be decisive at the end of the year. Immense from the American.

Alex Labidou: It’s definitely in the top three. And part of the reason is that it cements Pulisic as AC Milan’s best player. It is rare to see a star deliver on outsized expectations, and he did just that against Napoli. Remember, talk before the game was whether or not and Pulisic’s surge of form was real and whether they could do it against the defending champions in Napoli. Well, they did. Pulisic’s assist on Milan’s opener was arguably his best and it set the stage for the rest of the match. As for the others in the top three: Pulisic’s goal against Real Madrid, which helped Chelsea reach the 2021 Champions League Final – which the Blues won – has to be up there. And then on the USMNT side, who could forget his hat-trick against Panama in Orlando that all but sealed the Americans trip to the 2022 World Cup?

Ryan Tolmich: Pretty high, particularly given the stakes. This was a true "prove-it" game for Milan, and it was one for Pulisic, too. He has looked like one of the best players in Serie A. You need to play well in the big games to do that. This wasn't the biggest game of his career, but it was the biggest game of this season so far, and he rose to the occasion.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesHas Pulisic reached world-class level?

TH: PLEASE CALM DOWN. Maybe he has. Maybe he hasn’t. Let’s just enjoy the streak and hope it continues for the USMNT.

AL: Not yet, but he’s knocking at the door. Pulisic has world-class attributes, but as we saw last season – a campaign in which he also got off to a hot start – he needs it to sustain. On a positive, it does seem as if he’s got a competent manager who is driving success at the club, and has full faith in him. That hasn’t happened previously during his time in Europe. 

RT: Not quite yet, and it'll be hard for him to get there this season. Without Champions League soccer, Pulisic and Milan, realistically, have to win Serie A to ignite that conversation. Is that possible? Sur. But it's a little early. If Pulisic is still scoring for fun come, say, January, we can revisit the question.

AFPAre Milan serious Serie A title contenders?

TH: They’re certainly picking up results. You wouldn’t say they’re favorites, but if the streak continues, and everyone else drops points here and there, they could be in the picture. Ask again in March. 

AL: Yes. The win over Napoli proved they can go blow for blow with arguably Serie A’s best. More importantly, while and Roma – another surprise contender – have Europe to contend with, Milan do not. The rest between fixtures should help Milan, and Pulisic.

RT: Right now, you have to say they are. It's been hard for any club to keep hold of the Scudetto, which shows both the parity and volatility of life at the top of Serie A. Milan have a good coach, some talented players and, at present, momentum. Teams such as Napoli, Inter and Atalanta are probably better but, hey, it could happen.

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AFPHow many goal contributions will Pulisic have?

TH: This season, in the 25-30 range – and that will be just fine. 

AL: If he stays healthy, this could be a 30-goal contribution season for him. The reality is he has to slow down at some point, but 30 goal contributions would put him firmly in the running for Serie A Player of the Year – which would be uncharted territory for a U.S. international. 

RT: The baseline is about 20, given that's the number he hit in each of his first two Serie A runs. If he can hit 30, Milan will be in a very different place. That, obviously, will depend on fitness, form and, in some ways, luck. But Pulisic seemingly has it in him. More conservatively, put him in that 20-25 range to account for rougher moments.