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Will Alyssa Healy be the most in-demand player?

Shashank Kishore12-Feb-2023Smriti MandhanaMandhana is likely to be on the radar of all five WPL teams because she can tick all three items on the checklist: marketability, performance and captaincy. A renowned face in the franchise circuit around the world, having already featured in the Women’s Big Bash League and the Women’s Hundred, Mandhana’s power game coupled with her consistency, makes her a key figure in any T20 outfit. Among players to have scored over 200 runs at the Women’s Hundred last year, Mandhana’s strike rate of 151.79 was second-best. She is currently in the midst of a minor form slump, but that’s unlikely to diminish her demand.Related

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Batty, Keightley, Hemlata Kala, Biju George in Capitals coaching staff

Shafali VermaShe broke through at the Women’s T20 Challenge in 2019, a tournament put together to test the waters before formulating plans for the WPL. Her swift rise as one of the most destructive batters in the women’s game has left many wondering what could’ve been had the T20 Challenge not been introduced, given she plays for Haryana and not traditional powerhouses Railways, who have dominated the Indian women’s cricket scene. Shafali is on a career high. Over time, franchises have tended to invest in young players for the long run. Shafali, who recently led India to the inaugural women’s U-19 World Cup title, could be that one big investment teams may want to make.Alyssa Healy is one of the most destructive batters going around in world cricket•AFP/Getty ImagesAlyssa HealyShe can hit some of the biggest sixes in the women’s game. The ability to unsettle the best in the business up front lends an air of intimidation to her batting. You’d struggle to find harder hitters of the cricket ball in the women’s game than Healy, who over the past decade, has grown from strength to strength. She is also a big-match player. Ask the Indians, who bore the brunt of her carnage in front of 86,174 fans at MCG at the previous Women’s T20 World Cup final in 2020. Her tidy glove work and game smarts will make her an in-demand player.Marizanne KappA prolific title winner in franchise cricket, Kapp offers the advantage of pace and swing, as well as lower-order batting muscle that puts her in the same bracket as Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner among others when it comes to the top allrounders in the women’s game currently. She is been part of the back-to-back title-winning Oval Invincibles team at the Women’s Hundred, apart from clinching the 2021 WBBL title with Perth Scorchers. She is a big-match player, well-showcased by her player-of-the-match winning effort in all three finals.Amelia Kerr is one of the best allrounders in women’s cricket•AFP/Getty ImagesAmelia KerrHolder of the highest individual score in women’s ODIs, Kerr, 22, is well-placed to take over the baton from Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine as one of the pillars of New Zealand cricket for the decade to come. A top-order batter who can deliver four overs of ripping legbreaks, Kerr is among the best multi-skilled cricketers in the franchise circuit. Her WBBL record over time for Brisbane Heat is testimony to that. Her 52 wickets have come at an average of 19.86 and an economy of 6.19. Having broken through as a teenage sensation, Kerr has continued to push the bar with her skills.

Mustafa and UAE captain Ahmed Raza both think the local talent is ready to kick on

Barny Read29-Jan-2021With arms outstretched and wearing a knowing grin, Abdul Shakoor lapped up the applause of his team-mates having launched Rayad Emrit for six over square leg to bring up a 14-ball half-century that got the T10 League off to a flier.Shakoor became the first UAE player to hit a T10 fifty in the process, with his eventual 73 from 28 balls sealing Man-of-the-Match honours as Maratha Arabians began their defence with victory.For a man who hasn’t represented his country since 2018, it was the perfect way to announce himself – especially against a Northern Warriors side that is led by UAE coach Robin Singh – and for the tournament it highlighted the benefit of its one local player rule as the Sharjah-born wicketkeeper stole the show in some style.”It’s a big achievement for me and the UAE guys,” Shakoor said in his post-match interview, with a delight etched across his face that unfortunately didn’t return on day two when he got a second-ball duck.In the opposite ranks on Thursday, however, sat Junaid Siddique – the 28-year-old seamer with six ODI caps and 13 T20I appearances under his belt, who left the field with no overs to his name. It was hardly a ringing endorsement given his national team coach was sitting in his own dugout.Siddique last year picked up two wickets for the Warriors in just three overs spread across three games, having shared duties with UAE youngster Ansh Tandon for the local player slot. A left-handed middle-order batsman, Tandon made 1* in his sole three-ball visit to the crease.Shakoor and Siddique represent both the opportunity and challenge that UAE players have in their mandatory inclusion in T10 team sheets.Former UAE captain Rohan Mustafa knows both intimately, having been one of many bystanders in the first two editions before coming to the fore as the ace up Team Abu Dhabi’s sleeve, taking the new ball in 2019 and being named vice-captain ahead of the 2021 edition. Now, he wants more of his countrymen to be given the same chances he was and he is adamant it will lead to similar performances as Shakoor’s.”If you don’t get opportunities, then how will you show the world what you can do?,” Mustafa told ESPNcricinfo. “The only thing is trust; if they trust us, I believe we have the kind of players that can play extraordinary innings.’It’s not about just getting picked, it’s about getting picked and then performing so people all around the world are taking notice of you’ – UAE captain Ahmed Raza•Getty Images”I don’t know why [Siddique] didn’t bowl but the captain has to trust him. I was very shocked to see he wasn’t bowling. You have to trust him and you have to give him confidence. If you don’t give a bowl to Junaid Siddique in the first match, automatically he will be under pressure in the second match, thinking: ‘If I don’t bowl well, they will remove me from the team.'”UAE captain Ahmed Raza also believes it was an oversight that when Shakoor was going all guns blazing, the Warriors didn’t throw the ball to the one man on the pitch who would have bowled to him previously and so would have known his game better than the rest.”There’s so much talk about match-ups in shorter forms like T20 and T10 and that’s a great match-up there,” said Raza. “Someone who is going very hard and is from the UAE when you have an opening bowler from the UAE in your ranks – I think they missed a trick there. Junaid has probably bowled at Shakoor a million times.”I think we will start seeing these match-ups more. Teams will start thinking outside of the box more and maybe changing their order slightly or giving the ball to someone else as teams are still getting to know the UAE players.”A major surprise in the draft saw Raza among the players to initially go unsold before later being brought in by Pune Devils after dropouts among their imported stars. Muhammad Usman – who hit an unbeaten, match-winning ODI century against Ireland at Zayed Cricket Stadium as recently as January 8 – was another to miss out. He is one of the UAE players now in a kind of quarantine purgatory, waiting in the wings should any players pick up injury or coronavirus.Raza went through the same process before being picked up by Pune and although he admitted his own surprise at not being initially selected, he is now delighted to be involved. He has also noticed a change among his fellow UAE players, who are no longer satisfied to simply take part but instead want to leave their mark on the tournament with contributions such as Shakoor’s.”Players were happy in the first year to be part of the team, but we started to get opportunities in the following years and now the mindset is totally different,” Raza said. “It’s not about just getting picked, it’s about getting picked and then performing so people all around the world are taking notice of you and next year teams are taking you or you’re being retained. I think it’s good, it’s about getting the opportunity and taking it with both hands.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Num período de 11 dias, Paysandu e Remo vão se enfrentar por quatro vezes seguidas, em duas competições diferentes. O Papão e o Leão Azul disputam a semifinal da Copa Verde e decidem a final do Parazão. O primeiro jogo jogo terá transmissão da TV Cultura do Pará e da TV Cultura pelo YouTube.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalSão Paulo entra na justiça contra o Botafogo e cobra valor milionário por jogadorFutebol Nacional02/04/2024SantosSantos quita dívida com clube russo por Cueva e aguarda queda do transfer banSantos02/04/2024PalmeirasPalmeiras anuncia início de venda de ingressos para grande final do PaulistaPalmeiras02/04/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte

Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
PAYSANDU X REMO
COPA VERDE – IDA (SEMIFINAL)
Data e horário: sábado, 02 de abril de 2024, às 20h (de Brasília);
Local: Estádio do Mangueirão, em Belém (PA);
Onde assistir: TV Cultura do Pará e da TV Cultura pelo YouTube.

⚽PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES
PAYSANDU (Técnico: Hélio dos Anjos)
Diogo Silva, Edílson Júnior, Wanderson, Lucas Maia, Geferson, João Vieira, Leandro Vilela, Robinho, Vinícius Leite, Nicolas e Jean Dias.

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REMO (Técnico: Ricardo Catalá)
Marcelo Rangel, Thalys, Ligger, Jonilson, Nathan, Henrique Vigia, Matheus Anjos, Sillas, Jaderson, Ribamar e Kelvin.

📅 REMO X PAYSANDU
PARAZÃO – IDA (FINAL)
Data e horário:sábado, 07 de abril de 2024, às 20h (de Brasília);
Local:Estádio do Mangueirão, em Belém (PA).

continua após a publicidade

📅 REMO X PAYSANDU
COPA VERDE – VOLTA (SEMIFINAL)
Data e horário: sábado, 02 de abril de 2024, às 20h (de Brasília);
Local: Estádio do Mangueirão, em Belém (PA).

📅 PAYSANDU X REMO
PARAZÃO – VOLTA (FINAL)
Data e horário:sábado, 02 de abril de 2024, às 20h (de Brasília);
Local:Estádio do Mangueirão, em Belém (PA).

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Futebol NacionalPaysanduRemo

كشفت صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو اليوم الخميس، عن آخر التطورات المتعلقة بمفاوضات نادي برشلونة مع الأهلي المصري لضم مهاجمه الشاب، حمزة عبد الكريم.

حمزة عبد الكريم يعتبر بين أبرز المواهب الشابة في كرة القدم المصرية خلال السنوات الأخيرة، ويبلغ المهاجم من العمر 17 عامًا فقط.

وتألق حمزة عبد الكريم في الفئات السنية بالنادي الأهلي، وقدم مستوى مميزًا مع منتخب مصر في بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين تحت 17 عامًا.

وجعل مستوى عبد الكريم اسمه يرتبط بالعديد من الأندية الأوروبية الكبرى خلال الفترة الأخيرة، وعلى رأسها برشلونة، وكذلك بايرن ميونخ.

طالع.. حقيقة انتقال رافينها إلى الدوري السعودي بعد كأس العالم

وأكدت موندو، أن نادي برشلونة قد اقترب وبشدة من التوصل إلى اتفاق مع الأهلي من أجل التعاقد مع حمزة عبد الكريم خلال فترة الميركاتو الشتوي المقبل في يناير.

وأضافت أنه حال سارت المفاوضات بشكل جيد بين الأهلي وبرشلونة، فإن عبد الكريم سوف يوقع للبلوجرانا الشهر المقبل عندما يبلغ من العمر 18 عامًا.

وأوضحت أن الأهلي وبرشلونة تجمعهما علاقة جيدة حقًا، حيث استقبل النادي الإسباني وفدًا من المارد الأحمر بقيادة الرئيس محمود الخطيب ومحمد كامل، رئيس شركة ريد كاسل ورئيس مشروع الملعب الذي يأملان افتتاحه عام 2029 في مدينة برشلونة.

وأردفت أن عبد الكريم سوف يوقع للفريق الثاني لبرشلونة، وذلك في ظل غياب نجوم الفريق أوسكار جيستاو وفيكتور باربيرا، بسبب الإصابة.

ومن المرجح أن يوقع عبد الكريم ستة أشهر في صفوف برشلونة على سبيل الإعارة، قبل أن تصبح الصفقة نهائية في نهاية الموسم.

Sources have described an incoming Chelsea starlet as another potential superstar, as BlueCo prepare to welcome another Estevao-like talent.

Estevao rise leads Chelsea youth transfer revolution

Estevao has announced himself as one of world football’s brightest young talents since joining Chelsea this summer, producing performances that suggest the Brazilian teenager could become a generational superstar at Stamford Bridge.

The 18-year-old has enjoyed a sensational start to life in English football, scoring five goals and providing one assist in just 740 minutes across all competitions.

Statistically, he’s already surpassed legendary figures at similar stages of their careers, with his goal contributions eclipsing what Lionel Messi and Ronaldo managed in their first seventeen appearances for Barcelona and Manchester United respectively.

Estevao’s finest hour yet came against Barça in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

His breathtaking solo goal left top-level defenders trailing in his wake before the ex-Palmeiras sensation fired into the roof of the net, making him only the third teenager in history to score in each of his first three Champions League starts alongside Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Man City’s Erling Haaland.

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Estevao’s Premier League performances have shown similar promise, with the South American’s dramatic last-gasp winner against Liverpool in October sending Enzo Maresca into raptures on the touchline.

Chelsea’s investment in young talent continues to shape their long-term recruitment strategy, with Estevao representing just the beginning of an exciting wave of arrivals.

Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Paez, who is currently on loan at sister club Strasbourg, has been tipped for an exciting future, with Kairat Almaty forward Dastan Satpaev and Corinthians left-back Denner also set to arrive in 2026 — alongside Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha.

As well as the aforementioned quartet, Chelsea will welcome Sporting CP sensation Geovany Quenda to London next summer.

Maresca’s side struck a £44 million deal for the winger in March, and he’s already been described by some as one of the most exciting young talents in world football.

Quenda has been on fire this term with five goals and eight assists in 20 appearances, with Chelsea signing Quenda for half of his release clause earlier this year in what could turn out to be a bargain move.

Chelsea have already signed 'the next Cristiano Ronaldo' in Geovany Quenda

That is according to Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol, who also says that those in Portugal are describing Quenda as ‘the next Cristiano Ronaldo’ in very high praise.

Speaking in a video down at the bottom of a Sky Q&A, Solhekol also reports that there are ‘more Estevaos on the way ‘— referencing Quenda as chief among them.

Commenting on his move to Chelsea, Sporting boss Rui Borges did have a word of caution for the Portugal Under-21 international — namely that this hype could ‘affect his mental state’.

Being compared to Ronaldo brings its own pressure, but from what Quenda has shown already, Chelsea could indeed be about to welcome yet another Estevao to Maresca’s ranks.

أعلن الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم، عن هوية الحكم الذي سيتولى إدارة مباراة ريال مدريد وإلتشي، مساء الأحد، ضمن منافسات البطولة المحلية لذلك الموسم.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على إلتشي في ملعب “مانويل مارتينيز فاليرو” ضمن منافسات الجولة الثالثة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإسباني، موسم 2025/26.

ويمتلك ريال مدريد 31 نقطة حيث يحتل المركز الثاني في جدول الدوري الإسباني، بعد ارتقاء برشلونة إلى الصدارة مؤقتًا عقب فوزه برباعية على أتلتيك بلباو أمس.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ترتيب الدوري الإسباني بعد فوز برشلونة على أتلتيك بلباو

في حين أن إلتشي لديه 15 نقطة حيث يحتل حاليًا المركز الثاني عشر في جدول الدوري الإسباني للموسم الجاري.

وحسبما نشر الاتحاد الإسباني عبر موقعه الرسمي، فإن الحكم فرانشيسكو هيرنانديز، سيكون مسؤولًا عن إدارة مباراة ريال مدريد وإلتشي في الدوري الإسباني.

وبالنسبة لتقنية الفيديو في المباراة المذكورة، بين ريال مدريد وإلتشي، سيكون مسؤولًا عنها ماريو ميليرو لوبيز، حسبما أعلن الاتحاد الإسباني لكرة القدم كذلك.

MatériaMais Notícias

Martinelli revelou como foram as conversas com Fernando Diniz antes da final da Copa Libertadores. Contra o Boca Juniors na conquista inédita do Fluminense, o volante de 22 anos foi titular.

RelacionadasFluminenseDiniz celebra título da Libertadores com o Fluminense: ‘O campeão é aquele que não desiste’Fluminense04/11/2023FluminenseFelipe Melo comenta papel de líder no Fluminense e revela qual Libertadores teve mais emoçãoFluminense04/11/2023FluminenseCampeão da Libertadores, Felipe Melo revela que estava fechado com outro clube antes do FluminenseFluminense04/11/2023

O meia destacou que o treinador ‘o preparou para este momento’ e que sempre demonstrou confiar bastante em seu potencial. De acordo com suas palavras, Diniz é alguém ‘excepcional’.

➡️A capa da Liberta 2023 com a sua cara! Monte a final histórica com o Lance!

– Ele me preparou para esse momento, disse que eu ia jogar, que tinha confiança em mim. Tenho total gratidão. Ele é um treinador excepcional, dá total confiança. Não é à toa que ele está na Seleção Brasileira, ainda vai brilhar – comentou.

➡️ Tudo sobre o Tricolor agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Fluminense

Martinelli também foi questionado sobre ter jogado a final do continental ao lado de André. Os dois atuaram juntos na base do Fluminense quando mais novos e estiveram juntos na decisão também.

– É um cara sensacional, não tenho palavras. Merece tudo o que está vivendo, não sei se vamos ter por muito tempo aqui. Ele merece muito, ele ficou muito feliz. Conversava comigo, a gente estava na base e jogou a final da Libertadores. Desde os treinos a gente falava de ganhar junto – disse o volante.

O atleta também relembrou alguns problemas com lesões que enfrentou nesta temporada. Martinelli destacou a influência dos veteranos, como Marcelo e Felipe Melo, na sua recuperação.

– Passei por momentos difíceis depois da lesão, mas Felipe, Marcelo, falavam muito comigo. Me recuperei, Deus me deu uma nova chance e consegui aproveitar – concluiu.

A two-person bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has observed that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise was “responsible” for the gathering of about “three to five lakh people” outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium on June 4, a day after RCB had won their maiden IPL title.Eleven people died and over 50 were injured as a result of the stampede caused outside Chinnaswamy stadium, after the police did not have any means to control the swelling crowd.The two-person bench of CAT comprising Justice BK Shrivastava and Santosh Mehra said RCB, which is owned by Diageo, had “created nuisance” by going ahead with the IPL victory celebrations without seeking or getting necessary regulatory permissions. The remarks were part of the 29-page order issued on Tuesday by CAT, which was hearing a case filed by Vikash Kumar, Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru (West).Related

• Karnataka government holds RCB accountable for Bengaluru stampede

• Karnataka High Court orders state government to disclose RCB stampede report

• BCCI forms committee to prevent incidents like Bengaluru stampede

• Gambhir: No need for roadshows, lives more important

• RCB senior official granted interim bail by Karnataka High Court

Vikash, along with four other cops, were suspended by the Karnataka government which alleged “substantial dereliction of duty” and not seeking “guidance” which led to the situation going “out of control, meant a lot of misery, loss of precious life and embarrassment” to the state government. Vikash challenged his suspension, and the CAT quashed the government order saying the top cop should be reinstated.The CAT order stated that neither RCB nor M/S DNA Entertainment Network Private Limited, the franchise’s event management firm, had sought any permission formally to conduct the victory parade at Chinnaswamy stadium, which has been the home base for the team since beginning of the IPL in 2008. To organise any event like that, the CAT pointed out that under the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Public Procession (Bengaluru city) order, 2009, an application has to be made seven days prior (excluding the date of submission and the event). No such application was filed by RCB or DNA.

‘Gathering of immense proportion’

The order said that on June 3, the day of the IPL final, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) chief executive officer Shubhendu Ghosh wrote a letter, on behalf of DNA Network, to the Inspector at Cubbon Park Police Station (adjacent to Chinnaswamy stadium) that in case RCB won the IPL, there would be “potential victory parades” around the ground which would “end with victory celebrations” inside the stadium. The victory parade route was submitted in the same, but no permission was sought.The CAT order said that when the letter was submitted, it was “not certain” RCB would win the final and importantly it did not contain “any request for granting the permission” to organise the victory parade and celebrations.”The organiser did not wait for the response of the Police,” the order said. “At the eleventh hour, they submitted a letter and started the scheduled programme.”The order also put out the sequence of announcements made by RCB on June 4 on the franchise’s various social media handles starting with the “victory parade is scheduled in Bengaluru” post.The first post was put out at 7.01 am, the order said, and at 8 am RCB “posted a link” on their Instagram: “Army, We can’t wait to be back to the Home of Champions and celebrate with all of you today. Details out soon.” At 8.55 am, the same post was issued again, this time accompanied with a statement from Virat Kohli, RCB’s most senior player.The order said at 3.14 pm on June 4, RCB issued another post on all three social media handles saying the victory parade was being held at 5 pm IST the same day and would be followed by celebrations at Chinnaswamy stadium. The CAT pulled up RCB for “unilaterally” putting up information on celebrations without “obtaining the permission” or without the “consent” of the police.While the RCB post advised fans to “follow guidelines set by police and other authorities” so the roadshow would be enjoyed peacefully, it also said there were free passes being issued on the franchise website with a “limited entry” disclaimer. The order said since the post had no information about “disbursement of passes” it “implied” the event was “open to all”.According to the order, the first post (7.01 am) received 16 lakh views, second (8 am) 4.26 lakh views, the third (8.55 am) 7.6 lakhs views while the fourth (3.14 pm) 17 lakh views.The order said all that resulted in the “gathering of immense proportion” with nearly three lakh people gathered around Chinnaswamy Stadium, whose official capacity is 35,000. The order also stated the police machinery was already stretched having had to regulate in the night immediately after RCB’s victory in the IPL final against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on June 3.It was hard for the police to control the large number of people who turned up to catch a glimpse of RCB•Associated Press

‘Police are not God or have magic powers’

The burden on the cops increased further with the Karnataka government organising a felicitation programme. “Therefore, prima facie it appears that RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people,” the order said. “RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the Police. Suddenly, they posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public were gathered. Because of the shortage of time on 04.06.2025, the Police was unable to do the appropriate arrangements. Sufficient time was not given to the Police. Suddenly, RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission.”The order defended the police saying cops are also “human beings” and they are “neither God (Bhagwan) nor Magician and also not having the magic powers like “” which was able to fulfil any wish only by rubbing a finger.”CAT is a quasi-judicial body which deals with issues related to government and public servants. RCB itself is not part of the proceedings. The tribunal’s observations will have no bearing on the inquiry set up by the Karnataka government to probe the stampede. The inquiry is being conducted by former High Court Justice Michael da Cunha.

After claiming three points against previously unbeaten Crystal Palace before the October international break, Everton manager David Moyes spoke of how Jack Grealish has had a significant impact since arriving on loan in August.

The England international, for sure, has been one of the signings of the summer in the Premier League, assisting four goals in August and claiming the division’s first Player of the Month award.

When the Toffees handed the 30-year-old a lifeline and welcomed him to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, they did so without inserting a future purchase option into the deal.

It has since become clear that they must chase a permanent package as soon as possible.

Why Everton must sign Jack Grealish

Grealish and Moyes have proved a match made in heaven. The Everton manager recognises the playmaker’s talismanic qualities and has given him the license to stand tall as the outfit’s main man.

Fleet-footed and always dangerous, Grealish has averaged more touches per Premier League match than any other Everton attacker this season (52.4), as per FBref, and L’Equipe journalist Pierre-Etienne Minonzio has observed that the fans “immediately fell in love” with the star.

Grealish’s winner against Palace before the October international break wasn’t the finest within his catalogue, but he’s off the mark all the same, and these early-season displays suggest that he will continue to play a starring role across the campaign as Everton angle for heights unscaled over so many recent campaigns.

The plain truth of it is he’s a special player, one of a kind. Grealish has that irreplicable X-Factor that is either there or not. He might have hit 30, but there is plenty left in the tank for this man, and Moyes must ensure his second tenure on Merseyside is shared with this leading on-field light.

Might that come at the expense of some other first-teamers? Perhaps so. Everton need new recruits over the coming years, but one area where they are somewhat overloaded is attacking midfield.

And, for that reason, Dwight McNeil might be on borrowed time in an Everton shirt.

Dwight McNeil is on borrowed time at Everton

It was unfortunate that McNeil succumbed to a campaign-ruining knee injury in December 2024, thus keeping him on the fringes for Moyes’ return and Everton’s restoration at the start of the Friedkin Group era.

The 25-year-old has completed 106 matches in all competitions since arriving from Burnley in 2022, scoring 15 goals and providing 18 assists.

And he was on fire through the early weeks of the 2024/25 campaign, a shining light at the end of Sean Dyche’s stint. Four goals and eight assists were what he notched.

Named in the matchday squad for each of Everton’s Premier League fixtures so far this season, McNeil has recovered from injury and was involved in the club’s pre-season preparations, but he’s simply been kept on the sidelines for the lion’s share of the action.

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Moyes, it would seem, fancies a different flavour of playmaker, with the industrious Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also plying his trade from the frontal midfield role this season and looking good while doing so.

Statistician Tactically Matt criticised the Englishman after being hooked before the hour mark during Everton’s September defeat to Wolves in the Carabao Cup. “Dwight McNeil has been a difficult watch for a while now.”

He’s got time to turn things around, but if Grealish pens a permanent deal, following previous acquisitions of Dewsbury-Hall and Charly Alcaraz, it’s not hard to envisage a scenario where the Blues cash in on their creative star.

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Wayne Rooney has named a “brilliant” former England star as his toughest-ever opponent, given both his tackling ability and skill in possession of the ball.

Rooney reveals toughest-ever opponent

Very few defenders were able to get the better of Rooney on a regular basis, as evidenced by the fact the Manchester United legend is the third-highest scorer in Premier League history, with a whopping 208 goals to his name.

The Liverpool-born forward spent the majority of his career at Old Trafford, where he enjoyed a great deal of success, playing a part in the Red Devils winning five Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, one FA Cup and one Champions League.

During the Sir Alex Ferguson era, United were extremely dominant, but they did go three seasons without winning the title in the early noughties, given the emergence of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, who finished top back-to-back in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

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The likes of Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech all cemented themselves as Blues legends in the process, but it is their former captain who was named as Rooney’s toughest-ever opponent when speaking on The Overlap. The 39-year-old said:

“I’ve always said John Terry was one of the toughest defenders to play against. On the ball he was very good – he was brilliant, and he could tackle. I also used to like playing against big centre-backs because I wanted a challenge and wanted that body contact – I could spin them all and come off them, then take them on. John Terry was the toughest though.”

Terry was part of the greatest-ever Premier League defence

It should come as no surprise that Rooney regards Terry as his most difficult opponent, given everything the former England star achieved at Chelsea, most notably playing a key role in the west Londoners setting the record for fewest goals conceded in a Premier League season.

During the 2004-05 campaign, Mourinho’s side shipped just 15 goals across the entire season, with the 78-time England international missing just two games, and he has since gone on to lavish the Portuguese manager with praise.

Not only was the ex-Chelsea captain a rock at the back, but he is also the highest-scoring defender in Premier League history, scoring 41 goals in 492 appearances.

With Levi Colwill set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to an ACL injury, Chelsea are in need of a new centre-back, but it will be extremely difficult to find one capable of coming close to replicating the impact Terry had at Stamford Bridge.