Jordan Neill and Stephen Doheny have been named replacements for the series starting on Wednesday

ESPNcricinfo staff20-May-2025

File photo: Curtis Campher has fractured a finger•ICC/Getty

Ireland have been dealt a double blow with injuries to fast bowler Craig Young and fast-bowling allrounder Curtis Campher ruling them out of the ODIs against West Indies starting on May 21 in Dublin.While Young sustained a hamstring injury and has been replaced by Jordan Neill, Campher fractured a finger while batting in the nets and has been replaced by wicketkeeper-batter Stephen Doheny.Young picked up the injury last week while playing in an Inter-Provincial Cup match for North West Warriors against Leinster Lightning in Oak Hill. He could not complete his ninth over and finished with figures of 8.5-1.49-1, even as he struck with the wicket of Barry McCarthy with the last ball he bowled. The 47th over of the innings was then completed by Scott MacBeth.Campher’s injury was a lot more recent; he fractured a finger while batting in the nets on Monday. The injuries add to Ireland’s concerns as Mark Adair is already out of the ODI series to recover from a knee injury before he plays the following T20Is.”It’s not ideal when you lose a player to injury just prior to a series, but unfortunately, both Young and Campher join a bit of a lengthy list on the rehabilitation table,” Andrew White, the national selector, said on Monday. “Most pertinently, our seam attack is heavily impacted with Mark Adair, Graham Hume, Craig Young, Fionn Hand and Curtis Campher all out.”This series will be a real test of our depth, and instead of bemoaning what we won’t have, my view is that these absences provide a real opportunity for some of our up-and-coming talent to play at home against a world-class opposition.”Captain Paul Stirling was of the view that the injuries would give the newer faces more games than they had expected.”Yeah, look it’s unfortunate that injuries happen in sport and I think you’ve got to look at the positive side of this that there’s going to be a few new faces around probably getting a look slightly earlier than we had considered,” Stirling said on Tuesday. “Ultimately, getting more games of cricket into a number of different cricketers is going to help us in the long run.”Doheny last played ODIs against South Africa in the UAE last October and has 11 ODIs and three T20Is under his belt. He comes into the squad soon after a century last week in the domestic 50-over competition for Munster Reds against Northern Knights. He had played for Ireland A in the one-day tri-series against Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A before that last month.Neill, the 19-year-old batter, is the fourth uncapped player to join the Ireland squad after Cade Carmichael, the top-order batter, and seamers Thomas Mayes and Liam McCarthy.All three ODIs will be played in Dublin on May 21, 23 and 25 before the three T20Is in Bready on June 12, 14 and 15.

Celtic’s dominance in Scotland has continued under Brendan Rodgers, and the Northern Irishman has worked with a number of star players at Parkhead during his two stints as manager who have gone on to bring in huge transfer fees for the Hoops.

But who is the club’s record departure? Here’s a look at Celtic’s most expensive sales in their history, as per Transfermarkt, with a detailed look at the top 10.

=1

Matt O’Riley

£25m

Brighton

2024

=1

Jota

£25m

Al-Ittihad

2023

=1

Kieran Tierney

£25m

Arsenal

2019

4

Moussa Dembele

£19.7m

Lyon

2018

5

Nicolas Kuhn

£16.5m

Como

2025

6

Odsonne Edouard

£14m

Crystal Palace

2021

7

Kristoffer Ajer

£13.5m

Brentford

2021

8

Virgil van Dijk

£13m

Southampton

2015

9

Victor Wanyama

£12.5m

Southampton

2013

10

Jeremie Frimpong

£11.5m

Bayer Leverkusen

2021

=11

Liel Abada

£10m

Charlotte FC

2024

=11

Kyogo Furuhashi

£10m

Rennes

2025

=11

Josip Juranovic

£10m

Union Berlin

2023

=11

Fraser Forster

£10m

Southampton

2014

15

Aiden McGeady

£9.5m

Spartak Moscow

2010

=16

Stuart Armstrong

£7m

Southampton

2018

=16

Mark Viduka

£7m

Leeds

2000

18

Stiliyan Petrov

£6.5m

Aston Villa

2006

=19

Ki Sung-yueng

£6m

Swansea City

2012

=19

Adam Idah

£6m

Swansea City

2025

Here's a detailed look at Celtic's top 10 sales… 10 Jeremie Frimpong £11.5m to Bayer Leverkusen, 2021

Jeremie Frimpong has had one of the more impressive post-Celtic careers, as his £11.5m move to Bayer Leverkusen has certainly worked out for the Dutchman.

Frimpong was a key part of the Leverkusen side which went unbeaten in their double-winning season in 2023/24, as well as reach the Europa League final, which proved to be their only defeat of the campaign.

Not only did Celtic receive a handsome fee following Frimpong’s departure, but they also had a 30% sell-on fee is in his Leverkusen contract, where he was sold to Liverpool for £30m in 2025.

9 Victor Wanyama £12.5m to Southampton, 2013

Celtic really found a gem in powerful central midfielder Victor Wanyama, making a huge profit on the fee they paid Beerschot in 2011, with Southampton paying £12.5m to take the Kenyan to the Premier League.

Wanyama made more than 90 appearances for Celtic in his two-year stay, starring in the Champions League before moving to the south coast.

8 Virgil van Dijk £13m to Southampton, 2015

Yet another player to depart for Southampton in the top 10 list is Virgil van Dijk, who is now regarded as one of the best centre-backs of the modern era.

The Hoops signed Van Dijk in 2013 from FC Groningen, and after winning back-to-back titles in Glasgow, he caught the eye of the Saints, who were managed by fellow Dutchman Ronald Koeman.

The south coast side paid £13m to lure Van Dijk to St Mary’s, before they received a then-world-record fee for a defender when Liverpool came calling in late 2017.

7 Kristoffer Ajer £13.5m to Brentford, 2021

Signed as a teenager after a trial with Celtic in 2016, Kristoffer Ajer grew into one of the best defenders in the Scottish Premiership.

The Norway international won three trebles in a row with Celtic between 2018 and 2020 before leaving the club in 2021 for London and Brentford. The Bees spent an initial £13.5m to bring him to the Gtech Community Stadium.

6 Odsonne Edouard £14m to Crystal Palace, 2021

One of Celtic’s record signings, Odsonne Edouard scored goals for fun at Parkhead after joining permanently from PSG.

In total, Edouard scored 87 goals in 179 games for the Hoops and was too good for the division when he left for Crystal Palace on deadline day in the summer of 2021, with the Eagles sealing a £14m deal.

5 Nicolas Kuhn £16.5m to Como, 2025

Nicolas Kuhn was Celtic’s high-profile transfer saga in the summer of 2025, with the Hoops not exactly splashing the cash despite receiving £16.5m for their star winger.

Serie A side Como, managed by Cesc Fabregas, struck a deal with Celtic for Kuhn, who spent just £3m on the forward in January 2024.

4 Moussa Dembele £19.7m to Lyon, 2018

Another free-scoring French striker who brought in plenty of money was Moussa Dembele, who left three years before Edouard in 2018.

Dembele netted 51 times in 94 Celtic appearances and went on to be successful in a Lyon shirt. The Ligue 1 side paid close to £20m for the striker, with Celtic making a handsome profit in the process having signed him for around £500,000.

3 Kieran Tierney £25m to Arsenal, 2019

Kieran Tierney holds the record as Celtic’s joint-most expensive sale, as well as the outright record for an academy player, with the boyhood Hoops fan bringing in an eye-catching £25m in his move to Arsenal back in 2019.

The left-back fell out of favour at the Emirates and made the surprise move back to Celtic Park in 2025 on a free transfer.

2 Jota £25m to Al-Ittihad, 2023

After a memorable loan spell from Benfica, Celtic activated their option-to-buy clause to sign Jota in 2022.

However, after another impressive campaign at Parkhead, the Portuguese winger attracted interest from Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad making him their club-record signing for £25m. Things didn’t work out for Jota with Al-Ittihad, signing for Rennes a year later before re-joining the Hoops.

1 Matt O’Riley £25m to Brighton, 2024

Also top of the charts as Celtic’s most expensive sale is midfielder Matt O’Riley, who cost the Hoops a tiny fee in comparison to what they sold him for this past summer.

Signed from MK Dons, O’Riley starred at Celtic Park and won his first caps for Denmark as a result, with Brighton spending £25m on his signature in 2024.

He may have finally left the club, but former Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy often came under huge fire during his tenure for his actions off the field in North London.

The 63-year-old spent over two decades in the role, but was constantly called into question for his lack of spending to help improve the first-team squad.

He was undoubtedly part of the reason for the Lilywhites’ failures on the pitch, with the club even going 17 long years without a piece of silverware during his tenure.

Levy often became known for offloading key talents on the books of the club, something which once again led to anger from the supporters – especially given his lack of funding after such departures.

One player in particular was sold without an immediate adequate replacement being signed in the same window, which undoubtedly contributed to his demise in the role.

Levy’s decision to sell Harry Kane from Spurs

No Spurs fan would’ve predicted the success Harry Kane would have had for the first-team in North London, after he made his first Premier League start back in 2012.

The Englishman was an unknown quantity to many despite rising through the youth ranks, but rapidly adhered himself to the supporters with his form in front of goal.

He rapidly became a first-team regular, with his first major taste of success coming in the 2014/15 campaign, scoring 31 times in his 51 outings for the Lilywhites across all competitions.

Such a year would be the fourth-best of his time in North London, with his highest goalscoring year seeing him net a total of 35 goals – subsequently winning the Premier League golden boot that year.

As a result of his tremendous goalscoring record, the 32-year-old remains their highest ever goalscorer, with his total of 280 goals breaking the record set by the late Jimmy Greaves.

However, he was sold in the summer of 2023, subsequently joining German side Bayern Munich for a fee in the region of £82m – the second highest in their history.

Whilst they received a mammoth fee for his signature, no new centre forward was brought into the club until 12 months later, with Dominic Solanke costing a club-record £65m from Bournemouth.

However, the former chairman also made a huge mistake in allowing one other former player to depart the club, with the 63-year-old unable to land the reinforcements after his move away.

Levy’s biggest mistake whilst at Spurs

After such dismal years on the pitch for a prolonged period of time, it was hardly a surprise to see numerous top-level talents moving away for pastures new.

Just like Kane, numerous players caught the eye for the Lilywhites, including Kieran Trippier who has to depart and join Atlético Madrid to fulfil his ambitions of winning trophies.

The right-back racked up over 100 appearances in North London, but failed to win a single trophy – subsequently claiming the LaLiga trophy in his second year in Madrid.

He wasn’t the only player to move to Spain to take his career to the next level, with Gareth Bale making the leap and joining Real Madrid in a £85m deal in the summer of 2013.

His move remains a club-record fee received for a player, but such a deal left a huge hole in the club’s forward line and understandably so given his record in North London.

The Welsh international, who was dubbed “world-class” by John Hartson, scored 73 goals for the club before his big-money transfer, with his final campaign in the Premier League by far and away his best.

He netted 26 times in his 44 appearances for the Lilywhites, further highlighting the task the hierarchy had in trying to replace such a top-level talent.

In an attempt to do just that, Levy decided to fork out around £60m on the signatures of Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela, but both ultimately failed to produce the goods in England.

The pair only scored 53 goals combined during their respective seasons at the club, with such a tally miles below the one Bale managed to achieve on his own.

21/22

20

11

2

12/13

33

21

8

11/12

36

10

13

10/11

30

7

2

09/10

23

3

5

08/09

16

0

0

07/08

8

2

1

Given his tally of 15 major trophies in Madrid, the player himself certainly made the right call in leaving the club, but it’s safe to say owner Levy should have tried harder to keep hold of the winger.

After seeing the replacements brought in to the club, there’s no question that Levy made a huge mess of the transfer, with such a decision one of his worst at the club.

Spurs already have dream Son heir who's yet to play in the Premier League

Tottenham Hotspur could save themselves millions with a Heung-min Son replacement within their ranks.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 3, 2025

After the perfect start against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade has revealed how he’s similar to the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane.

Howe "really pleased" with "humble" Woltemade

Eddie Howe couldn’t have asked for much more from his £69m striker on his debut last time out. The 6’6 forward rose highest to head home what proved to be the winning goal against Wolves, before wheeling away in celebration. After waiting all summer for a new striker, St James’ Park got the emphatic introduction that they had been desperate for.

Like the rest of those watching on in Tyneside, Howe was left delighted with Woltemade, telling reporters: “It was a great moment for Nick. I was very pleased with how he played today.

“You saw his qualities, his technical qualities that we’ve been discussing and his intelligence but most importantly for a striker, when the ball comes into the box, you need to be there and he was.

“It was a great finish. I’m really pleased for him personally because that just settles him down and relaxes him, he’s a very humble guy, he wants to do well and he’s delighted to be here — I think it’s a great start.”

Woltemade’s debut goal would have surprised no one back in Germany. There’s every reason why Bayern Munich were so keen to secure his signature and even more reason why he stole the show at the U21 Euros in the summer. Now, he’s the man that could make Newcastle forget all about Alexander Isak.

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The 23-year-old is hardly short on confidence, either, and has already told Newcastle fans exactly what they can expect from him in the coming years.

Woltemade makes Ibrahimovic comparison

Revealing the players that he’s most similar to, Woltemade compared himself to the great Ibrahimovic. One inch taller than the former AC Milan star, the German’s comparison is a fair one to make, given how he still maintains his technical ability despite his height. Whether he eventually reaches the same level as the Swede is the big question.

Describing his style as “rare” for someone of his height, Newcastle can expect the unexpected from their new striker, who will be looking to follow up his debut goal with another against Barcelona this week.

MatériaMais Notícias

Quando o treinador aposta em dois jogadores durante o jogo e eles são os responsáveis pelo gol do seu time em um empate fora de casa no último minuto, a sensação é de que foi um grande acerto do comandante, não é?! Geralmente, mas não no caso do Corinthians de Vanderlei Luxemburgo, que ficou no 1 a 1 com o Cruzeiro, em Belo Horizonte, na noite deste sábado (19).

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Mais uma vez o Timão foi um deserto de ideias em relação ao nível técnico. Quando teve a bola, criou muito pouco, principalmente para um time que jogou todo o segundo tempo atrás do placar por um gol. Mesmo vencendo por 1 a 0, foi do Cruzeiro as grandes chances de marcar na etapa final, por exemplo.

É terra arrasada? Não. Porque são algumas individualidades observadas e exploradas pelo treinador corintiano que tem resolvido as paradas quase sempre.

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+ Olho no Brasileirão! Assine o Prime Video e acompanhe todos os jogos do TIMÃO

Contra os cruzeirenses, Gabriel Moscardo parecia um veterano ao roubar a bola do atacante Gilberto e sair jogando pelo Timão no último minuto da partida. E o jovem só estava lá por conta da ousadia de Luxemburgo em colocá-lo para jogo mesmo com pouquíssima experiência.

Durante a partida, o atacante Wesley foi a grande válvula de escape corintiana, pelo lado esquerdo, mas ficou sobrecarregado muitas vezes ao descer sem a aproximação dos seus companheiros. De toda forma, a escalação do garoto é totalmente responsabilidade de um Luxa que tem dado confiança para o garoto assumir cada vez mais um papel de destaque no Timão.

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No fim, futebol é resultado. Mas análise é desempenho. E não dá para dizer que o Corinthians joga bem quando o clube tem apresentado um futebol tão pobre, sem aproximação entre os atletas ou repertório, e, principalmente, com base no aleatório. Por outro lado, algo precisa explicar as seis partidas sem perder no Brasileirão e como o Timão tem conquistado uma sequência de bons placares. E isso se explica justamente em ações isoladas, individuais, de alguns atletas. E, nesse caso, os méritos precisam ser dados a Vanderlei Luxemburgo, que tem visto esses valores, garimpados e colocados para jogo.

Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand cannot understand the criticism Florian Wirtz is currently facing. Signed by Liverpool for the second-highest transfer fee in British football history over the summer, the German international has been below par in the first two months of his career at Anfield. Hjulmand, however, is confident that Wirtz will "prove to everyone" what he is really capable of.

Wirtz yet to hit the ground running for Liverpool

After two outstanding seasons at Leverkusen under coach Xabi Alonso, Wirtz moved to Liverpool over the summer. If all bonus clauses are fulfilled, the Reds' transfer costs will amount to €150 million (£130m/$175m). So far, however, the 22-year-old has fallen far short of the high expectations.

After seven league games and two Champions League matches, Wirtz is still waiting for his first goal for the reigning English champions. In the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea before the international break, the attacking player did not make it into manager Arne Slot's starting line-up. He has also failed to score for the German national team recently. His unimpactful displays have drawn intense criticism from large sections of the media, prompting the likes of former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and ex-international team-mate Ilkay Gundogan to come to his defence.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesKasper Hjulmand confident in Wirtz's abilities

"Come on, he's only just arrived there. Believe me, he'll prove himself to everyone. Even the experts in England. I'm sure of it," said Leverkusen boss Hjulmand in an interview with . "Show me the player who can perform at his best from day one in a new club and a new league. It's impossible. Florian is a fantastic footballer with outstanding qualities. We all know how fast-paced everything is in football: if he scores two great goals in the next two games, people will say, 'Now he's arrived.' That will be just as wrong as the recent criticism.

"Give him time, let him play – and everyone in Liverpool will see how good he is. I have no doubt that he will prove himself."

Wirtz unfazed by underwhelming start to Liverpool life

Wirtz has no qualms about the fact he will turn things around sooner rather than later. Reflecting on his early struggles at Anfield, Wirtz recently said: “I know what I can do, and I know that eventually I’ll show it fully on the pitch. So I just stay calm. That’s good advice.

“Of course, I’d like to have scored or assisted already, but I know that it will come. Sometimes things don’t go your way, but I work every day to improve. I know I can play good football, and it’s just a matter of time.”

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GettyLiverpool eager to end three-game losing streak

With the international break now over, domestic duties will return this weekend. Slot's troops had lost three consecutive games heading into the international break. They will need a win against Manchester United on Sunday in order to reignite their hopes of retaining their Premier League crown.

Thomas Frank praised Tottenham’s mentality after Joao Palhinha’s stoppage-time leveller rescued a “huge” point at home to Wolves.

Palhinha struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to deny the visitors a shock victory after Santiago Bueno tapped in a 54th-minute opener for bottom-of-the-table Wolves.

Frank shares what he liked from his Tottenham side in Wolves draw

Wolves arrived in north London after five consecutive Premier League losses and three points for Tottenham would have sent them second within two points of leaders Liverpool, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances until Palhinha’s fine curled finish late on.

Frank elected to play Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur together in midfield again, which was also the case in the 1-0 home loss to Bournemouth in August.

The experienced duo have impressed this season and bring a level of defensive steel, but little creativity.

Frank praises Bentancur and Bergvall alongside Palhinha

Asked about his midfield selection, Frank said: “I will always look back at it but a good, old coach told me once that the line-up you picked, you did that for a reason and you don’t know what would happen if you pick the other one. Maybe you would have lost 2-0.

“So, I need to go with what I believe in of course. That is not to say I am not watching the game back and not reflecting and thinking. I actually think first half was quite good and we created enough.

“We would like to create a bit more, yes but actually after I took Rodri out, you could say it didn’t work because we lost the structure, so who knows? One thing is for sure, we need to do a little bit better in the second half.

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Tottenham salvaged a point against Wolves in the Premier League.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 28, 2025 Pereira reacts to late Spurs equaliser

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira praised the fight of his players, but conceded letting victory slip at the death was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after no points from their first five Premier League matches.

“One I am proud of my players and happy with the spirit they show in the game and the ambition they show in the game, but frustrated because when we have three points and we lose two in the last minute, it is difficult,” Pereira said.

“The question is did we win one point or lose two? My answer is we lost two points because the team showed that we came here to win the game, especially in the second half.”

Alishan Sharafu’s composed half-century under pressure and Haider Ali’s splendid spell of 3 for 7 led UAE to a historic series win against Bangladesh in Sharjah. The hosts chased down 163 with seven wickets in hand to clinch the series 2-1, having already beaten the visitors by two wickets on Monday. It is UAE’s second T20I series win against a Full Member team, having beaten Ireland by the same margin in 2021.Left-arm spinner Haider led the charge to reduce Bangladesh to 84 for 8, before they recovered to reach 162 for 9. Bangladesh, however, couldn’t quite use the momentum with the ball, as Sharafu, only 22, struck his eighth half-century in T20Is to anchor the chase. He struck five fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 47-ball 68 as the chase went down to the last over. He added 87 runs for the unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Asif Khan, who damaged Bangladesh with five sixes in his unbeaten 26-ball 41.

Zohaib steps up on Waseem’s off day

UAE didn’t quite get their chase off to the best of starts, though. After consecutive fifties in the first two games, captain Muhammad Waseem fell early in for 9 this time. Shoriful Islam got him to drive at a slightly wide one, edging to Tanzid Hasan at slip. Muhammad Zohaib then struck Hasan Mahmud for consecutive sixes in the fifth over, both times hitting through the line, one over long-on, and the other through extra cover.Sharafu got his big-hitting going with a top-edged six off Tanzim Hasan in the seventh over, before Rishad Hossain cleaned up Zohaib for 29 with one that spun back into the left-hand batter. Rahul Chopra was the next to go just after the halfway mark, heaving at a slower bouncer from Tanzim to midwicket for 13.

Sharafu aces the chase

Sharafu didn’t get bothered by UAE being three down and the equation reading 84 required off 56. He ramped Tanzim for a six over deep third two balls after Chopra’s wicket. He pinged the same bowler in his next over for a four through point, but then UAE were kept quiet for about 16 deliveries that left UAE to get 53 to win from 30.Alishan Sharafu led UAE’s chase under pressure•Emirates Cricket Board

Sharafu then hammered Rishad down the ground at the start of the 16th over, with Tanzid parrying the catch at long-off for a six. Asif, always on the prowl for big hits, also smacked Rishad for consecutive sixes in the same over to make it a 19-run over. It brought the required run rate down from 10.60 to 8.50 and 34 to get from the last four.Sharafu finished the next over with a cracking four through the covers and Asif smashed Mahmud over midwicket next ball to bring it close to a run-a-ball equation. With 14 to win from 12, Asif clubbed two more sixes in the penultimate over off Tanzim on the off side before Sharafu aptly struck the winning runs next over, a blistering cover drive off Mahmud.

Haider weaves his magic

Waseem used four different bowlers to bowl the first four overs after winning the toss, and the fourth of those did the trick. Haider struck with his first ball, trapping the Bangladesh captain Litton Das lbw for 14. Litton missed his sweep after going across too far that exposed his middle and leg stumps, but he was disappointed on being given out.Towhid Hridoy was also given out lbw two balls later, as he charged down and missed the ball, which struck the front pad. The raised finger caused pandemonium in the UAE side, with Haider jumping all over the place.Haider finished with a double-wicket maiden, before removing Mahedi Hasan, who was trying to cut against a delivery that came back to hit the top of leg stump. Haider remained accurate in his next two overs too, giving him magical figures in just his third T20I.Asif Khan does the snake gesture as Alishan Sharafu looks on after hitting the winning runs•Emirates Cricket Board

UAE hunt for more wickets

Tanzid batted exactly the opposite to how his team-mates had been going about it. He started with a couple of big hits in the first over, he lofted Matiullah Khan for his second six in the third over, before hammering Dhruv Parashar for consecutive sixes in the fifth over after Bangladesh had lost three wickets. Tanzid sweetly timed two more fours off Akif Raja before the seamer bowled him with the around-the-wicket angle in the seventh over.Both Parashar and Raja supported Haider, as did Matiullah after the halfway mark. Matiullah, who was expensive in the first two games, removed Shamim Hossain and Rishad in the space of four balls. Saghir Khan then had Tanzim caught at long-on, as Bangladesh were in risk of getting bowled out for less than 100.

Jaker scrapes a recovery

Jaker struck a couple of sixes to get Bangladesh past the 100-run mark, all the while needing the physio’s attention due to exhaustion. Mahmud struck Matiullah for his first six in the 18th over, before Jaker struck his third six, a blast down the ground in the penultimate over. Jaker, however, fell next ball, slicing Saghir to deep backward point for an easy catch. No. 11 Shoriful then deposited Saghir over the midwicket fence and Bangladesh had started to put up a respectable total.Waseem’s decision to bowl the last over backfired, as he went for 23 runs in five balls. He was taken off the attack for bowling too many high full-tosses. Sharafu had to complete the over, as his only delivery went for three runs.

Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Pedro Miguel Pauleta has labelled Vitinha a "phenomenon," comparing the midfielder to Barcelona's Pedri and the legendary Andres Iniesta. The praise comes after the Portuguese star scored in PSG's 7-2 Champions League demolition of Bayer Leverkusen, with Pauleta hailing his compatriot's technique and positioning.

• Pauleta hails 'Iniesta-like' phenomenon

  The comprehensive victory at the BayArena on Tuesday saw PSG maintain their perfect start to the new Champions League league phase. Vitinha capped off the dominant display by scoring the seventh goal in the 90th minute, adding to a scoresheet that included an own goal from Willian Pacho, a brace from Desire Doue, and strikes from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes and Ousmane Dembele.

  Ex-Portugal international Pauleta, who scored 109 goals for the Parisian club during his career, was unequivocal in his admiration for the midfielder and his development under Luis Enrique.

  "It's a huge pleasure to watch players of this quality," Pauleta said on . "Is he the best midfielder in the world? He's at a huge level, like Pedri at Barca. They remind me of Iniesta. Vitinha, he doesn't lose the ball, he's always well positioned. He knows how to do everything with the ball. He doesn't make a mistake and doesn't miss a pass. He has the confidence of his club. He's a phenomenon."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Leverkusen rout cements PSG's European dominance

  Pauleta's comments were triggered by Vitinha's commanding performance against Bayer Leverkusen, a match that cemented PSG's control of their Champions League destiny. The 7-2 victory was a statistical mismatch, with PSG registering eight shots on target from 22 total attempts and commanding 67 per cent of the possession away from home.

  The German side, who managed only two goals from Aleix García penalties, were reduced to 10 men after Robert Andrich's red card and could not cope with the relentless Parisian attack. The win gives PSG nine points from three matches, placing them firmly at the top of the 36-team table. They are one of only five teams, alongside Bayern Munich, Inter, Arsenal, and Real Madrid, to maintain a 100% winning record at this stage of the new format.

• Vitinha's growing influence this season

  The 25-year-old has been central to PSG's strong start to the 2025-26 campaign. In the Champions League, he has started all three fixtures, contributing one goal and one assist over 270 minutes of play.

  His domestic form has been equally impressive. In seven Ligue 1 appearances, Vitinha has already scored one goal and provided three assists, helping his side remain unbeaten. His versatility across defensive, central, and attacking midfield roles has made him indispensable to Luis Enrique's tactical setup. The confidence mentioned by Pauleta is evident in his play, as he has become a primary link between the defence and the club's formidable attack.

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• Praise for Mendes and Neves

  Vitinha was not the only Portuguese player to draw praise from Pauleta. The 52-year-old also highlighted the exceptional technical ability of wing-back Nuno Mendes, who also found the scoresheet in the 50th minute.

  "Nuno Mendes? It's not normal for a defender to have this technique!" Pauleta said. He also singled out 21-year-old midfielder Joao Neves for his maturity: "Joao Neves, given his age, it's not normal either to have such quality, such confidence. He's a treat. It's good for Portugal and for PSG!"

  While his compatriots flourished, striker Goncalo Ramos has had a challenging start to the season, finding opportunities limited. Pauleta offered a lenient perspective on the forward's situation, attributing his struggles to a mismatch in tactical systems. "He's a striker who stays in the box. And that's not how PSG plays," Pauleta explained. "But every minute he plays, he takes advantage of it to help the team."

One of the most notable players in Leeds United’s history over the past 25 years or so is certainly Rio Ferdinand. The former England centre-back only spent two seasons at Elland Road, between 2000 and 2002, but certainly left a huge impact on the club.

Ferdinand, who has gone into punditry and presenting since his retirement, played 73 times in West Yorkshire and was a key figure in the heart of the defence. He skippered the club on numerous occasions, including during their famous Champions League run of 2000/01, where he helped them reach the semi-final.

Since Ferdinand’s days at the club, there have been a couple of other notable English talents ply their trade at Elland Road.

Leeds’ notable English talents since Ferdinand

It is certainly hard to find a player as good as Ferdinand was, yet, through their academy, the Whites produced a couple of big names. One of those was Kalvin Phillips, who was lovingly dubbed the “Yorkshire Pirlo” for his ability to control the game at the heart of midfield.

Now 29 years of age, Phillips played 234 games for his boyhood club after graduating from their academy. He was pivotal to their success in returning to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa and England’s run to the final of Euro 2020.

Eventually, he earned a big move to Manchester City, although his career has stalled since.

Another player who could be considered one of Leeds’ most talented since Ferdinand is Archie Gray. The 19-year-old now plays for Tottenham Hotspur and helped them win the Europa League last season.

Like Phillips, Gray is an academy graduate and only had one full season at Elland Road before the Lilywhites snapped him up. He played 52 games for his boyhood club before departing for North London, a huge £30m move which highlighted his talent.

As good as Phillips and Gray are, there is someone in the Leeds academy who could be considered their best talent since Ferdinand.

Leeds’ most talented player since Ferdinand

It is always a proud moment when you bring a player through the academy and into the first team, like Phillips and Gray. Ferdinand, of course, came through West Ham United’s academy before his move to Leeds.

Well, the man who could be their biggest talent since the centre-back is Harry Gray, the younger brother of Archie. At just 17 years of age, Gray has already made his debut for the club and has shone at youth level.

The England under-17 striker made his debut for the first team last season, with Daniel Farke giving him a four-minute cameo in the 6-0 win over Stoke City. He was also on the bench for the 3-1 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers this season.

The Whites academy graduate has proven why he is “the real deal,” as football analyst Ben Mattinson put it, for the youth sides. Gray has 15 goals and two assists in just 24 appearances for the under-18s and under-21s side combined.

Games

11

13

Minutes

819

998

Goals

8

7

Assists

0

2

Misn per G/A

102

110

One of the standout moments from Gray’s campaign so far is the hat-trick he scored against Scunthorpe United.

Donning the number nine shirt, you can see from this one game that the striker possesses pace, a real instinct in the box and the ability to score a range of goals.

It is easy to see why you might consider the 17-year-old to be Leeds’ best talent since Ferdinand was at the club. In a separate post on X, Mattinson described him as “one of England’s best prospects in his generation”, while evoking a certain Harry Redknapp when suggesting that he’s “going to the very top”.

With the numbers he puts up and the skillset he possesses, it feels like only a matter of time before Gray breaks into the first-team for his boyhood side and makes a real name for himself.

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