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England spinner hopes to play big role in Somerset’s relaunch, as thoughts turn to Heather Knight’s successor

Valkerie Baynes27-Mar-2025Heather Knight’s departure as England Women’s captain last week inevitably sent a set of names fluttering around with absolutely no conviction as her replacement and all carried more arguments against than for.But there is a name, spoken more quietly than the others – much like herself, which is perhaps why she hasn’t gained more traction in the debate: Charlie Dean.A 24-year-old offspinning allrounder with 82 England caps, Dean is a new recruit for Somerset in Tier 1 of the rebuilt women’s domestic structure, a competition which has among its chief functions producing and nurturing national-team players.She has bought a house in the area, becoming what she describes as a “real adult” in the process, after coming up through the ranks at Hampshire Women and Southern Vipers.”This is a very young team and the set-up down here is brilliant,” Dean told ESPNcricinfo at Somerset’s pre-season media day. “That really brought me in to potentially play a role with bat and ball and hopefully have some match-winning contributions. Changing to the county system, it was almost the perfect time for that transition.”Sophie Luff is captain at Somerset, where Knight will also play, which limits Dean’s opportunities to further develop her leadership skills.There is also a question over whether England can pin the captaincy on their second-choice spinner. Dean forms part of a three-pronged spin attack with Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn which was expected to do great things at the T20 World Cup but, along with other departments – including fielding in particular – fell short as England were knocked out in the group stage.”It’s nice to be held in high regard in that way,” Dean said of talk about her taking on the England captaincy. “If I’m learning and getting better and growing into leadership roles when the opportunity comes, I encourage that. Whether I’m ready for that yet, I’m not sure, but it’s nice to be held in those conversations. I think I’ve still got a bit of growth to go.”Dean was part of England’s grim campaigns at the T20 World Cup and the Ashes•Getty ImagesLet’s look at the names already out there.Nat Sciver-Brunt, the current vice-captain, has expressed predictable willing when asked but didn’t fully grasp the role in England’s time of need when Knight went down with a calf injury during their T20 World Cup exit, and was also found wanting when, with Knight again injured, the side fell short of a medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.Amy Jones, thrust into the role when Knight was injured and Sciver-Brunt was taking a mental wellbeing break later in that 2022 season, said at the time that on-field leadership was “definitely not something that comes naturally to me”.Ecclestone, also part of the team’s leadership group under Knight, shoulders huge responsibility in the bowling attack and might need to polish her technique in interviews – when she gives them. Her apparent refusal to talk to former team-mate turned commentator Alex Hartley during the ill-fated Ashes tour has been frowned upon by the management.Related

• Heather Knight's captaincy ends but her work as a leader goes on

• Where it went wrong for Jon Lewis and where to now for England Women

• Kate Cross: Cultural change required as England women seek to rise from Ashes

• Alex Hartley: Sophie Ecclestone 'refused TV interview' after Ashes loss

Grace Scrivens, the former England Under-19 and Sunrisers captain, is set to lead Essex in the new era of domestic cricket. Earlier this week, she captained England A to victory in the first T20I in Australia, but is just 21 and hasn’t played a senior game for her country. Without massive buy-in from all of the above, what hope does she have to exert influence and control on a team buckling under what senior bowler Kate Cross described recently as “cultural” issues?Tammy Beaumont, the hugely experienced opening batter, would be an excellent choice but realistically only for a limited time at the age of 34. It doesn’t help that she has hasn’t managed to regain her place in the T20I line-up.And yet, while Dean is adding her voice to those not jumping at the England captaincy, and hasn’t spoken to anyone at the ECB about the prospect, her quiet, thoughtful manner has a knack of encouraging people to listen.Dean and Sophie Ecclestone are part of England’s vaunted spin attack•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesPlus, she has some experience, having captained London Spirit during the same Knight absence that thrust Jones into the England role briefly, and she has also led the England A side.Dean said she was shocked by Knight’s removal as England skipper in the wake of the 16-0 Ashes drubbing after nine years in the role.While the pair will be team-mates at Somerset, there is a further line of symmetry – through her long association with Southern Vipers and Hampshire – with Charlotte Edwards, the favourite to replace England head coach Jon Lewis, who lost his job the day before Knight.The ECB haven’t given a timeline for naming a replacement captain or coach but, in the meantime, there is a chance for candidates to make their cases.”There’s probably been statements that there are no other natural leaders in our team,” Dean said. “I think everyone leads in their own way. It’s now a great opportunity for those people to come through and hold their hands up.”Everyone’s had their specific role with Heather – Nat as vice-captain and Amy and Sophie Ecclestone all had their roles on the pitch. We’re not shy of those characters, but it’s almost giving more opportunities for them to, I guess, flourish in roles that maybe aren’t as natural.”It came as a bit of a shock to me. So it’ll be interesting how this next year goes.”And Dean, part of England’s ill-fated Ashes campaign, admits there’s only one acceptable direction of travel.”Well, the only way’s up isn’t it, in terms of performances? It’s just a sense of excitement and feel that there’s maybe a new era coming,” she said. “Impressing the new head coach is probably the way you go about it.”Cricket’s always full of up and downs, isn’t it? You can score a hundred one week and then get a duck the next. So it’s always humbling. We’ve maybe been humbled a bit more than we wanted to be this winter, which is disappointing, and you can’t look past that.”We didn’t perform as well as we wanted to, but I think that also brings in a sense of refreshment and renewal. You can draw a line under that and look towards putting in some good performances for your county before the England international stuff picks up again. It’s a great opportunity to assess where you’re at with domestic talent in this country, and put a line in the sand and just concentrate on getting better and performing.”

And is Ishan Kishan the youngest and fastest to score a double-hundred in an ODI?

Steven Lynch13-Dec-2022England won the first Test in Rawalpindi despite facing only 35% of the overs in the match. Was this any sort of record? asked Richard Anderson from England

England faced 136.5 overs and Pakistan 252 in the match in Rawalpindi, so England faced only 35.2% of the overs, yet still ended up winning. Rather surprisingly perhaps, they come in only seventh on this particular list, which is headed by India, who faced just 30.9% of the overs in beating New Zealand in Delhi in 1964-65. India made 465 for 8 declared in 113.4 overs and 73 for 3 in 9.1, and bowled New Zealand out for 262 (125.1 overs) and 272 (149.2).There are three other Tests in which the winning team faced less than half the overs of the losers: South Africa (50 overs) against Zimbabwe (106.2) in Cape Town in 2004-05, Australia (80.2) vs India (165.4) in Mumbai in 2000-01, and England (118) vs South Africa (239.4) at Lord’s in 1924.Abrar Ahmed took the first seven wickets to fall on his Test debut in Multan. Has anyone ever done better than this? asked Zeeshan Mohammad from Pakistan

That remarkable debut by the Pakistan legspinner Abrar Ahmed against England in Multan last week wasn’t quite a record: playing for West Indies against England at Old Trafford in 1950, the Jamaican slow left-armer Alf Valentine took the first eight wickets to fall. The only other man to take the first five wickets to fall in his first Test was George Bissett of South Africa, against England in Cape Town in 1927-28.If we include the second innings of the match, their sides having batted first, the England pair of Bill Lockwood (against Australia at Lord’s in 1893) and John Lever (against India in Delhi in 1976-77) took the first six wickets available to them on their debuts. Fen Cresswell (New Zealand vs England at The Oval in 1949) and Lester King (West Indies vs India in Kingston in 1961-62) collected the first five. King, who was playing in only his third first-class match, had not taken five wickets in an innings before.Is Ishan Kishan the youngest and fastest to score a double-century in a one-day international? asked Jigna Devalia from the United Arab Emirates

Ishan Kishan’s amazing 210 against Bangladesh in Chattogram at the weekend did contain the fastest double-century in a one-day international so far. Kishan zoomed to 200 in just 126 balls, 12 quicker than the previous fastest, by Chris Gayle for West Indies against Zimbabwe in Canberra during the 2015 World Cup. Virender Sehwag needed 140 balls for his double-century for India against West Indies in Indore in December 2011.And Ishan Kishan is also the youngest to score an ODI double-century. He’s 24, two years younger than his captain Rohit Sharma was when he made the first of his three doubles, against Australia in Bengaluru in November 2013.Of the other ODI double-centurions, Fakhar Zaman and Martin Guptill were 28 (with Fakhar a couple of months younger), Virender Sehwag 33, Chris Gayle 35, and Sachin Tendulkar 36. Here’s the full list of the highest individual scores in ODIs.There is, however, a younger double-centurion in women’s ODIs. New Zealander Amelia Kerr was only 17 when she hit 232 not out – and then took 5 for 17 – against Ireland in Dublin in June 2018. Australia’s Belinda Clark was 27 when she made 229 not out – the first ODI double-century by man or woman – against Denmark in Mumbai during the 1997 women’s World Cup.Devon Thomas received his Test cap nearly 12.5 years after his debut ODI•Mark Brake/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesI noticed that Devon Thomas made his Test debut for West Indies more than 13 years after his first one-day international. Has anyone had a longer gap between debuts? asked Kris Jurgensen from Australia

That’s a good spot: Devon Thomas made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in Dominica in July 2009, as part of a rejigged West Indian team during a contracts dispute. Fast-forward to last week, and Thomas made his Test debut against Australia in Adelaide.The gap of nearly 12.5 years between Thomas’s ODI and Test debuts is indeed a record, by over a year. The previous longest gap belonged to Aminul Islam, who played his first ODI for Bangladesh in Chittagong (now Chattogram) in October 1988, and his first Test nearly 12 years later, at Dhaka in November 2000; he made up for lost time by scoring 145. That was Bangladesh’s inaugural Test: Tamim Iqbal’s uncle Akram Khan, who also played in it, had made his ODI debut two days after Aminul.Next come Ed Joyce and Kevin O’Brien, who both played (Joyce for England) in Ireland’s first official one-day international, in Belfast in June 2006; both were still around for Ireland’s inaugural Test, against Pakistan at Malahide nearly 12 years later in May 2018.The previous-longest gap by someone whose country was playing Test cricket throughout his international career belongs to the Hampshire offspinner Shaun Udal, who played his first ODI for England vs New Zealand at Edgbaston in May 1994, and his first Test 11.5 years later, against Pakistan in Multan in November 2005.I just noticed that Usman Khawaja top-scored in all five of Australia’s innings in Pakistan earlier this year. Has this ever happened before? asked Leo McGuinn from Australia

Usman Khawaja’s success in Pakistan earlier this year, when he top-scored in all five of Australia’s innings in the Tests, turns out to be unique. Bobby Abel (for England vs South Africa in 1888-89), Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka vs New Zealand in 1992-93), Dave Houghton (Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka in 1994-95) and Hashim Amla (with 253 not out, 114 and 123 not out for South Africa against India in 2009-10) top-scored for their teams in all three innings of a Test series (Houghton in three matches, the others in two). The West Indies pair of Desmond Haynes (against Pakistan in 1992-93) and Brian Lara (in Sri Lanka in 2001-02) both top-scored in five out of six innings in a series.Only a handful of men have top-scored more than five times in any Test series. The most recent was Joe Root, in six out of nine innings in the split series between England and India in 2021 and 2022. The others with six were Eric Rowan (South Africa vs England in 1951), Clyde Walcott (West Indies vs Australia in 1954-55, a series in which he scored a record five centuries), Sunil Gavaskar (in his first series for India, against West Indies in 1970-71), Mohinder Amarnath (India vs West Indies in 1982-83), Andrew Strauss (England vs South Africa in 2004-05), and Steve Smith (in the 2019 Ashes series).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Root becomes the only England captain to score more than one double-century in away Tests

S Rajesh16-Jan-20211 – England batsman who has reached 8000 Test runs in fewer innings than Joe Root’s 178: Kevin Pietersen got there in 176. Four other England batsmen reached the mark in fewer than 200 innings. In all, 19 batsmen have made it to 8000 runs in fewer than 178 innings, of which Kumar Sangakkara’s 152 is the lowest.7 – England batsmen with 8000-plus Test runs. Among these players, Root’s average of 49.09 is the best, while Alec Stewart’s 39.54 is the lowest.ESPNcricinfo Ltd5 – Double-centuries by England batsmen in Asia. Root’s 228 is the second-highest among them, after Alastair Cook’s 263 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2015. Mike Gatting and Graeme Fowler scored their double-hundreds in the same innings, against India in Chennai in 1985.4 – England captains who have scored double-hundreds in an away Test (including neutral venues); the others are Cook, Len Hutton and Ted Dexter. Root is the only England captain to achieve it twice: he also scored 226 against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2019. Among all captains, only Graeme Smith (four) and Stephen Fleming (three) have more than two double-hundreds as captain in away Tests.3.65 – England’s run-rate in their last seven innings in Sri Lanka, since the start of the 2018 series. Their run-rate in the first innings here was 3.59. Before 2018, their scoring rate here was 2.58.7 – Instances of Sri Lanka conceding a first-innings lead of more than 250 in a home Test. They have lost each of the six previous matches. The last time they batted first in a home Test and fell behind more than 250 was way back in 2000, against Pakistan also in Galle. Three of the seven instances were in one series, against India in 2017; each time India batted first and piled up huge totals.

PHILADELPHIA — In the bottom of the second, he helped give away two runs. In the top of the seventh, he drove in three. This is the Teoscar Hernández Experience, and for the most part, the Dodgers have decided, it’s worth it. 

“At the end of the day, for me, anything that happened before a big moment like that, it’s in the past,” Hernández said after Los Angeles put the finishing touches on a 5–3 win over the Phillies in Game 1 of the National League division series. “I try to put it in the trash and just focus on the things that I need to do in that at-bat and especially in plays on defense and just trying to help my team.”

He has had plenty of practice. In Game 2 of the wild card series, he camped out under a two-out fly ball, stuck up his glove—and missed the ball. Afterward, he apologized to righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto, whom he believed he cost an inning or two by forcing him to pitch around the mistake, and promised to try harder. Five innings later, Hernández clubbed a two-run double to pad the lead. The Dodgers won that game, as they did the game before (Hernández home run) and the next one (Saturday’s Hernández home run).

Saturday’s miscue was less egregious, although potentially more costly. With the score tied at zero and runners on first and second, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto lined a ball to right-center field. Hernández is not terribly fleet of foot under the best of circumstances, but he averaged 28.0 feet per second running home to first this season. On Saturday, his rate to the ball was 25.0 feet per second. Center fielder Andy Pages beat him there; by the time the ball made it back to the infield, both runners had scored and Realmuto was at third base. 

“He wasn’t not trying,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But, yeah, that’s a ball that you don’t want Realmuto to have a triple, certainly a short right field.” 

This sort of inconsistency is easier to swallow when Hernández is hitting, as he did last year, when he had an .840 regular-season OPS and almost singlehandedly won three playoff games en route to the 2024 title. It was that performance that made him beloved in Los Angeles and led the front office to sign him to a three-year, $66 million deal before his age-32 season. But Hernández missed two weeks with a strained groin in May, then battled bruising after fouling a ball off his left foot in July. He has insisted all season that those ailments have not slowed him, but he had a .933 OPS before the groin strain and a .672 OPS afterward. 

For a while, he became a symbol of a team that seemed to be recovering from a World Series hangover. The Dodgers wilted down the stretch, playing .417 ball in July, then coming close to letting the division slip away in August and September. Hernández was certainly not the only problem—the bullpen had a 4.90 ERA in the final month—but his mistakes were glaring. In August, he failed to come up with an easy ninth-inning pop-up; two pitches later, that run scored to give the historically awful Rockies a walk-off win. Reporters and fans began speculating that Hernández might be moved out of right field. The team insisted that was not the plan—if only because the Dodgers were too banged up to accommodate a positional shift. A week later, Roberts benched Hernández for two games. 

“He’s an every-day guy, but I do think that where we’re at, you’ve got to perform, too, to warrant being out there every single day, regardless, right?” Roberts said.

A few days later, Roberts lamented to reporters that he felt Hernández lacked focus. “He’s a guy that I really admire, because he can balance the fun part of baseball but also have that edge,” the manager said. “And I think we’ve lost a little bit of that edge over the last couple months. So I think, for me, I want to see that edge, that fight, that fire, and I’ll bet on any result.”

He had already spoken with Hernández himself. “He was, like, ‘You know what, I’ve got to be better, I gotta play better, I gotta play better defense, I’ve got to dial up the offense,’” Roberts recalled on Saturday. “We talked about it. And he delivered.”

Hernández told reporters he thought he was pressing. He felt a bit of that unhelpful energy early on Saturday, when he chased pitches well below the strike zone—two in his first at-bat, one in his second, another in his third—against Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez and struck out three times. So for his fourth at-bat, this one against lefty Matt Strahm with two runners on, Hernández decided to simplify his approach and just look for a pitch up. 

“Not trying to do overswinging or anything like that,” he said. “Maybe a hit. Try to bring in one run to tie the game.”

He brought in three to win it, and to ensure that the Dodgers get to enjoy the Teoscar Hernández experience at least a few days longer. 

There is an anxious wait to see if Liverpool’s win over Inter Milan at the San Siro is a turning of a page or a stay of execution ahead of more poor results, dismal displays.

Arne Slot would be the first to admit that things haven’t gone to plan for the Premier League champions this summer, who find themselves 10th in the top-flight standings after a record-breaking summer of spending. Slot is also a glass-half-full kind of guy, and he sees a route out of this rut.

Circumstances apply for the Anfield side, but there’s no denying many stars have been miles off it, and while much has been made of Liverpool’s defensive disasters, the uncertain future of Mohamed Salah has heaped pressure on FSG and Richard Hughes as the sporting director searches for fresh firepower.

Why Liverpool could sign a new forward

Who knows if Salah will still be a Liverpool player in February? Regardless, the Egyptian hasn’t been good enough this season, and, aged 33, questions are being raised as to whether he has gone past the apotheosis of his glittering Premier League career.

Salah’s decline has seemingly hampered his fellow attackers. It’s only natural; ther 33-year-old has held Liverpool’s success on his back for so many years. Cody Gakpo, for example, has struggled for form too, arguably offering less than the Egyptian while reprising his starting berth

More pace and potency is surely needed, and that’s why FSG are weighing up a move for RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, with Spanish sources claiming Liverpool have raised their interest and are ready to sign the Ivorian teenager to cover Salah’s mid-season sale, should that come to pass.

Diomande might only be 19 years old, but he’s already confirmed his elite status, with Leipzig set to demand payment in the range of €100m (about £88m) to let him leave.

Arsenal and Manchester City are also known suitors.

What Yan Diomande would bring to Liverpool

Diomande is fast. Very fast. However, he’s anything but a one-trick pony, quickly establishing himself as a potent threat in the final third and a tenacious defender when against the ball.

Journalist Bence Bocsak has actually hailed him as a “generational talent”, comparing the youngster to Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland, who was several grades above when cutting his own teeth for the Red Bull group.

Diomande might actually be a better player than Gakpo even now, even before adding the building blocks to his natural foundation. The 19-year-old doesn’t match Gakpo’s rate of output, not yet, but the underlying data is certainly kind to Diomande’s completeness.

Goals scored

0.45

0.36

Assists

0.26

0.21

Shots taken

2.53

2.08

Shot-creating actions

4.16

5.23

Touches (att pen)

5.67

7.16

Pass completion (%)

72.5

81.2

Progressive passes

2.56

3.44

Progressive carries

3.33

6.66

Successful take-ons

1.31

4.01

Ball recoveries

3.01

6.01

Tackles + interceptions

1.41

2.72

And anyway, Diomande has demonstrated startling growth in a short time, having scored seven goals and supplied four assists for his Bundesliga club this season, joining them from Leganes in the summer.

Gakpo, moreover, has only completed 39% of his 1.3 dribbles per Premier League game this term, whereas Diomande is proving himself to be a highly efficient ball carrier, completing 63% of his dribbles, averaging 2.3 per game (data via Sofascore).

This is an up-and-coming talent who is quickly becoming the talk of the town. Liverpool must ensure they add him to their ranks, adding depth and dynamism to their flanks and a far more dynamic threat than someone like Gakpo.

If Liverpool are currently bracing themselves for Salah’s shock departure, such a profile will be needed.

He could be captain after Van Dijk: £35m star very keen on joining Liverpool

Liverpool clearly need to fix some defensive problems after a wretched start to the season.

1 ByAngus Sinclair 4 days ago

Samuel Luckhurst criticised a Manchester United star, who looked “haunted” in the first half of the 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Man Utd complete second-half comeback to prevail at Palace

Man United’s performance in the first half of the win against the Eagles left a lot to be desired, with Mark Goldbridge taking to X to criticise Ruben Amorim, while also taking aim at the manager’s reluctance to change things at half-time.

However, Amorim’s approach ultimately paid off, with Joshua Zirkzee cancelling out Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener early in the second half, before Mason Mount secured all three points after being laid off by Bruno Fernandes from a free-kick.

The Red Devils were able to close out a 2-1 win, bringing their four-game winless run against Palace to an end, but it was far from a vintage performance, with Luckhurst taking to X to criticise Casemiro’s performance during the first half.

The reporter said: “Not remotely got going and Casemiro looks haunted up against Adam Wharton again.”

Man Utd should go all out to sign Wharton

It is little wonder United are so keen on signing Wharton, who put in a fantastic first-half performance, once again catching the eye with his passing ability.

With Amorim in the market for a new midfielder, INEOS should go all out to sign the Crystal Palace star, who was unlucky to be on the losing side after bossing the midfield in the first half, although Casemiro did manage to turn things around.

Although he lost possession 11 times, the Brazilian made a number of key defensive contributions throughout the match, winning seven duels, the second-highest number of any United player, while also making two interceptions, three clearances and three tackles.

Man Utd have unseen teenager who "looks better than half their first team"

Carrington has produced another gem.

By
Tom Cunningham

Nov 29, 2025

Journalist Liam Canning was also left impressed with the 33-year-old’s display, in what could be his final season as a Man United player, although an encouraging new update from Fabrizio Romano suggests the central midfielder could extend his contract beyond next summer…

Manchester United have endured a superb upturn in form over the last couple of weeks, with the squad now finally reaping the rewards of the faith shown in the manager.

Ruben Amorim was a man under pressure a couple of months ago, especially after the Red Devils endured yet another dismal start to a Premier League campaign.

The 40-year-old has since led the first-team squad to five games unbeaten in England’s top-flight – a run which is undoubtedly the best during his 12-month spell at Old Trafford.

Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur showcased their ability to bounce back from losing positions – something which may have been difficult in 2024/25.

There’s little disputing that the club are certainly on the up under Amorim’s guidance, but his side could be further improved during the upcoming January transfer window.

Man Utd’s hunt for new additions in January

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been one of the sides touted with a move to land Palmeiras centre forward Vitor Roque after his impressive form in 2025.

The Brazilian youngster has scored 16 times in his 30 league appearances this calendar year, currently sitting as the division’s second top scorer at present.

His form has led to links to the Red Devils, but it would be yet another expensive addition, with the Serie A outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of £42m for his signature.

In terms of big-money additions, the Red Devils have also been touted with another move for Elliot Anderson after his incredible rise at Nottingham Forest this campaign.

According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, United have already made contact with the Reds over a deal for the central midfielder, who’s also become an England international regular in recent months.

However, the journalist has also confirmed that any deal would set the hierarchy back upwards of £100m-£120m this January – a deal that would break the club record fee paid for Paul Pogba back in 2016.

Why Anderson would finally get Sesko firing

During their £200m spending spree in the summer, the United hierarchy forked out a fee in the region of £74m for the signature of Benjamin Sesko from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

Given the magnitude of such a fee, real expectations were placed on the Slovenian to provide the goods and lead the line for Amorim’s men in 2025/26.

However, his time at Old Trafford to date has been a huge disappointment, with the 22-year-old only finding the net twice in his first 11 Premier League outings for the Red Devils.

Sesko is currently four games without a goal in England’s top-flight, even being dropped to the substitutes bench and limited to just half an hour in the draw against Spurs.

He will no doubt need time to settle into life in England’s top-flight, but he could be aided in his attempts for success at Old Trafford should the board secure the services of Anderson this winter.

It would no doubt be a mammoth investment if they were to land the 23-year-old, but such a move would provide Sesko with the ammunition he needs to thrive in front of goal.

Anderson, who’s been dubbed “sensational” by Matt Forde, has completed 1.3 take-ons per 90 – ranking him in the top 3% of all midfielders in the division at present.

Elliot Anderson – PL stats (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

11

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

83%

Progressive passes

8.8

Passes into final third

8.6

Take-ons completed

1.3

Ball recoveries

8.5

Tackles made

2.6

Duels won

7.7

Stats via FBref

The aforementioned tally showcases his ability to get the ball into attacking areas, which could provide the forwards ahead of him with the chances they need to impress.

He’s also 8.6 passes into the final third per 90 – with such a tally the highest of any player in the Premier League this season, highlighting his talents with the ball at his feet.

Other figures, such as 8.8 progressive passes and 1.4 key passes per 90, further demonstrate his talents at finding a teammate – with such numbers perfectly falling into the hands of Sesko.

The prospect of Anderson linking up with Bruno Fernandes is truly an exciting one, with the United fans potentially blessed with one of the best duos in the league.

If the youngster can replicate such numbers, there’s no reason why he can’t help Sesko finally kickstart his career in England – even if a deal would cost the hierarchy a club-record fee.

Related Man Utd "monster" is fast becoming their new Vidic and it's not De Ligt

Ruben Amorim may have uncovered Manchester United’s new Nemanja Vidic.

Posts 1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 11, 2025

The New York Yankees sent some relative shock throughout the baseball world on Friday morning, announcing that they've amended their facial hair policy ahead of the 2025 MLB season.

"We will be amending our expectations to allow our players and uniformed personnel to have well-groomed beards moving forward," Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement, citing conversations with players from several eras. "It is the appropriate time to move beyond the familiar comfort of our former policy."

While this is great news for current Yankees like Gerrit Cole and Devin Williams, who can now grow out the beards they've rocked in the past, some former players are not as lucky.

Here's a look at five former Yankees who were robbed of growing out their beards while in pinstripes.

5. Gleyber Torres

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O empate em 1 a 1 com o Flamengo na noite deste sábado (8) marcou o retorno do técnico Mano Menezes à Neo Química Arena dirigindo o Corinthians. De volta ao Timão há duas semanas, o treinador foi quem comandou o clube alvinegro na primeira partida oficial no estádio, em 2014. 

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Na ocasião, Mano estava na sua segunda passagem pelo Time do Povo, que entrou na quinta rodada do Brasileirão daquele ano na terceira colocação e invicto, com dois empates e duas derrotas. O adversário não poderia ser melhor, o Figueirense, que era o lanterna e tinha perdido todas as partidas até o momento. 

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Em campo, no entanto, o clube catarinense estragou a inauguração da arena corintiana e venceu por 1 a 0, gol marcado pelo meia Giovanni Augusto, que duas temporadas depois defenderia o Corinthians.

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Ainda assim, nos nove anos de Neo Química Arena o aproveitamento do Timão no estádio é ótimo: são 189 vitórias, 89 empates e 43 derrotas, em 321 jogos, um aproveitamento de 68,1%.

– A casa do Corinthians sempre foi algo muito forte, para a equipe e para todos. Como sentimento, é muito bom ter o torcedor como ele torce aqui, no momento de dificuldade se coloca mais ao lado da equipe, aumenta o volume e isso dá força. Então, não é à toa o aproveitamento que temos aqui e temos que parabenizar esse comportamento do torcedor porque é único – disse Mano, na entrevista coletiva após a partida contra o Flamengo. 

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O treinador corintiano acredita que o público que esteve presente no duelo contra o clube carioca ficou satisfeito com o que viu. Os flamenguistas saíram na frente, com gol de Gerson, no início do segundo tempo, mas o Timão buscou o empate no fim, com Fábio Santos, em cobrança de pênalti. 

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– Algumas coisas os torcedores devem ter gostado do que viram, do time competindo, e queremos uma identidade entre torcida e time para superar os adversários que temos pela frente – pontuou o treinador corintiano.

Nos próximos dias, Mano terá um período para colocar cada vez mais os seus conceitos em prática no Timão. Com o período de datas Fifa, serão 11 dias até o próximo jogo, contra o Fluminense, no dia 19 de outubro, pela 27ª rodada do Brasileirão.

After several summers of limited transfer activity, Newcastle United’s latest window was one of ambition and intent.

Six players arrived – Nick Woltemade, Yoane Wissa, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale and Anthony Elanga – as Eddie Howe sought to add depth to a squad competing on both domestic and European fronts.

For a team balancing the Premier League and the Champions League, rotation is key.

Injuries to Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have already underlined the need for options across the pitch, particularly in wide areas.

With fierce competition for places alongside new striker Woltemade, Newcastle’s attacking balance has been under scrutiny.

Before their 4–0 demolition of Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise, Newcastle’s expected goals tally was among the lowest in the Premier League.

Their attacking play often lacked cohesion, with promising build-up undone by wastefulness in the final third.

However, recent performances suggest Howe’s side are beginning to find rhythm.

The convincing victory in Europe was followed by a much-improved display against Nottingham Forest, in which Newcastle generated 3.45 expected goals – a sharp contrast to their earlier struggles.

The hope now is that the Magpies can build on these encouraging signs, putting an end to the inconsistency that has plagued their forward line throughout the campaign.

And as fans look for stability, it’s hard not to think back to one of the most unpredictable – yet beloved – figures of Newcastle’s recent past.

Saint-Maximin – the symbol of Newcastle’s inconsistency

Allan Saint-Maximin arrived at St James’ Park in 2019 from Nice for a fee of up to £20m, instantly becoming one of the Premier League’s most entertaining dribblers.

Over four seasons, he made 124 appearances, scoring 13 goals and producing countless moments of brilliance.

The Frenchman’s close control, flair and fearlessness in one-on-one situations made him the heartbeat of Steve Bruce’s Newcastle.

In a side often fighting relegation, Saint-Maximin was their escape valve – famously scoring twice away at Burnley to lift the Magpies six points clear of the drop zone.

He could enthral a crowd with a single run, his trademark headband and unpredictable movement making him impossible to ignore.

But just as he could dazzle, he could frustrate.

Injuries repeatedly halted his momentum – 46 matches missed through various setbacks – while his reluctance to track back limited his use in Howe’s high-intensity system.

As the team evolved into a pressing unit built on discipline and structure, the flamboyant Frenchman began to look like a relic of another era.

In 2023, Saint-Maximin left for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia.

The fee, undisclosed but rumoured to be significant, sparked questions about Newcastle’s compliance with financial regulations, particularly given the Saudi ownership connection.

Al-Ahli also brought in Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy that same summer, symbolising a broader exodus of Premier League talent to the Gulf.

Saint-Maximin remains adored by the fanbase, but his story is a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough in Howe’s Newcastle.

The team now values consistency, adaptability and tactical reliability as much as individual brilliance – lessons that feel especially relevant as they watch another gifted winger trying to find his rhythm on Tyneside.

Howe's new Saint-Maximin at Newcastle

At 23 years old, Anthony Elanga represents Newcastle’s next big hope on the flanks.

The Swedish international, who came through Manchester United’s academy between 2015 and 2021, joined from Nottingham Forest this summer in a deal worth £55m.

It was a statement signing – one that underlined Howe’s commitment to pace, directness and youth in attack.

Elanga’s raw “frightening” ability – as per journalist Laurie Whitwell – is unquestionable.

During his time at Forest, he registered 11 goals and 21 assists in 82 appearances, including an impressive 11 assists last season.

Anthony Elanga – 2024/25

Matches Played

38

Goals

6

Assists

11

Progressive Carries

102

Progressive Passes

63

Source: FBref

His acceleration, intelligent movement and ability to stretch defences make him a natural fit for Howe’s high-tempo system. Yet, much like Saint-Maximin before him, Elanga’s biggest challenge is consistency.

After a mixed start to life at St James’ Park, he silenced critics with a scintillating display in the 4–0 Champions League win over Union Saint-Gilloise.

Playing off the right, Elanga tormented defenders throughout, winning a penalty and earning the Man of the Match award.

His work rate matched his flair – he covered 7.8 kilometres, made 13 sprints, and recorded 54 touches with 30 passes (25 accurate), as per Sofascore. He also created one big chance, underlining his growing influence in the final third.

However, just as momentum seemed to build, Elanga’s form dipped again.

Against Nottingham Forest, he struggled to impose himself, cutting a frustrated figure as Newcastle’s attack once more lacked fluency.

It was a performance that reignited questions about whether he can deliver consistently at the elite level – questions that Saint-Maximin faced throughout his stay on Tyneside.

Howe has publicly defended his new signing, emphasising patience and adaptation.

It’s a familiar story for Newcastle fans: a player of immense potential, capable of brilliance one week and anonymity the next.

But if Elanga can channel his explosive talent into reliable performances, he could become the wide player Newcastle have long been searching for.

With the club pushing for another top-four finish and European progress, that balance between chaos and control might just define Newcastle’s season.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 9, 2025