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Newcastle United's season has not gone off without a hitch, but the quality and potential within Eddie Howe's blooming side is crystal clear, summed up in the recent drubbing of Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

8-0. A record-equalling victory in the top-flight for the Tyneside club (the other match, interestingly, came against the Blades' city rivals Sheffield Wednesday in 1999), Newcastle can delight in the incisiveness and ruthless edge to their efforts, exactly what is needed for a side pushing for Champions League qualification once again.

Indeed, the Magpies defied expectations last season by finishing in fourth place in the Premier League, transferring some fine form from the 2021/22 season – form that ensued from the PIF takeover and Howe's subsequent appointment – and making it something lasting, tangible.

Where once the devout Newcastle faithful hoped for a sustained spot away from the jaws of relegation from the top flight and pushed for a bit more ambition on the transfer front, their stoical support has been duly rewarded with a war chest fit to serve an outfit at the very forefront of the game.

Now within Champions League competition and boasting a squad fit for purpose in Europe's elite club competition, Howe deserves all the plaudits for the work that he has forged at St. James' Park, making good use of supplies and investing in players who would fight for the badge and contribute toward the revival.

Who better to typify this than captain Kieran Trippier, with the veteran right-back joining from the genesis of the creation of this new-look Newcastle side and serving with aplomb, paramount to the rise.

Against Sheffield United, he became the first Magpie to bag a hat-trick of assists since Allan Saint-Maximin against Bournemouth in 2020, but then this is just one – admittedly sensational – performance from a player who has already etched his name into the record books for his role in rebuilding a football club desperate for an escape from obscurity.

How much did Newcastle sign Kieran Trippier for?

In October 2021, Mike Ashley's tyrannical reign of Newcastle came to an end. One month later, Howe was appointed in the managerial role, replacing Steve Bruce.

As the Magpies made merry and the brilliant red of the carpets rolled from St. James' Park, welcoming a new era and a clean slate, glimmering in the Tyneside sunlight after years of hurt, the club still languished at their nadir in the Premier League, but a revitalised strategy and some astute business on the transfer front worked wonders for an outfit targetting a renaissance.

Howe had the plan, but he needed the tools to rebuild the outfit and was granted a significant pool of expenditure to set his idea into motion, and the moves made in January 2022 proved to catalyse Newcastle's hopes for an illustrious new chapter.

Bruno Guimaraes

£40m

Chris Wood

£25m

Dan Burn

£13m

Kieran Trippier

£12m

Matt Targett

Loan

Some standout names in there that play a big role at the club to this day, but none more so than the cheapest permanent signing of that decisive winter transfer market, with diminutive right-back Trippier embodying everything that Howe has striven to achieve since taking the helm at the Toon.

Trippier, a £12m acquisition, had played the lion's share of his career in his English homeland but was actually signed for Newcastle from Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

The dynamo had made 86 appearances across two-and-a-half seasons in LaLiga, registering 11 assists and playing a key role in winning the 2020/21 LaLiga title – his only major honour to date – and was heralded for his "very important" standing in the squad by Atletico manager Diego Simeone.

While there were murmurings from certain segments of rival fanbases that he was moving to Newcastle for a big payday in the later phase of his career, he has quashed such ludicrous claims with a staunch devotion to the rise of this exciting side, and he has arguably been their most important player.

How good is Kieran Trippier?

The 43-cap England international is a distinguished presence down the right flank and a proven force as one of the most creative and influential in his position.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 6% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 2% for progressive passes per 90, evidently a playmaker with an "elite output", as praised by Statman Dave on Twitter.

Having now completed 60 matches, scoring three goals and providing 13 assists, the £120k-per-week phenom has been hailed as a "revelation" by talkSPORT's Simon Jordan, and there is no question that the side's ascendancy might not have been quite so profound had he not been signed.

Boasting commanding leadership qualities to blend with his talent and technicality on the pitch, Trippier has been integral and actually earned an impressive average Sofascore rating of 7.61 in the Premier League last term, keeping 14 clean sheets, making 1.9 tackles and two clearances per outing, creating 2.9 key passes per game and succeeding with 60% of his attempted dribbles.

So much so, that perhaps he has had an even greater impact than Bruno Guimaraes, who has recently penned a lucrative new contract with the Tyneside outfit after arriving in the same month as his English peer.

The Brazilian has been a "world-class" addition to Newcastle's squad, as has been said by Dan Burn, and is undoubtedly one of the most technically proficient midfielders in the Premier League.

Having forged 40 displays last term and started every match so far this season, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 20% of midfielders for goals, the top 15% for assists, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for progressive passes and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90.

He is undoubtedly a starring member of Howe's team, the orchestrator in the middle and the conduit between the thirds, but with Trippier's authority and dynamism, he might not be the man to have made the biggest impact, albeit he has been absolutely sensational.

Trippier is 33-years-old and ostensibly approaching the twilight of his career, but based on the evidence from his dismantling creative display against Sheffield United, he is still every bit the multi-functional phenom Newcastle signed to spearhead a way out of danger at the bottom of the division.

I'd say he's ticked all the boxes, wouldn't you?

Before we know it, the Champions League will be returning to our screens and Football FanCast has run through the tournament’s key dates, qualified teams and much more.

Who has qualified for the Champions League?

Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United

Sevilla, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad

Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Union Berlin

Napoli, Inter, Milan, Lazio

Paris Saint-Germain, Lens

Feyenoord, PSV

Benfica, FC Porto, Braga

Antwerp

Celtic

RB Salzburg

Red Star

Galatasaray

Young Boys

Shakhtar Donetsk

Copenhagen

A real mix of teams this year, then. We've got plenty of historic names there, with Real Madrid, Milan, Barcelona and Bayern Munich being some of the most successful teams in the competition's history.

But we've also got quite a few rare names. Newcastle United appear for the first time in 20 years, as do Lens. Union Berlin have never appeared in the competition and will debut. We can't help but note the return of Arsenal, too, even if their absence hasn't been quite as long as some of the names mentioned.

What is this year’s Champions League format?

This year’s Champions League is the same as what we have come to know it as – 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four, where the top two sides will qualify for the last 16.

Here, it will be a straight knockout over two legs, where away goals no longer count. The final is one leg, which includes extra time and penalties if required.

This will be the last time the Champions League plays out in this format, with the 2024/25 campaign set to be a completely different style.

The next edition of the Champions League will see the number of teams increased from 32 to 36, all competing in one league. Each team will play eight games, upping the total of matches from 125 to 189.

When is the Champions League group stage?

August's play-off rounds saw the likes of Rangers, AEK Athens, Maccabi Haifa, Molde and Panathinaikos bow out, with all having to be content with a spot in the group stage of the Europa League.

For the victors in midweek, however, the Champions League group stage beckons, and takes place between 19th September and 13th December.

Here are those group stage dates in full:

19th-20th September

3rd-4th October

24th-25th October

7th-8th November

28th-29th November

12th-13th December

What are the Champions League pots?

Manchester City

Real Madrid

Shakhtar Donetsk

Young Boys

Sevilla

Manchester United

RB Salzburg

Real Sociedad

Barcelona

Inter

Milan

Galatasaray

Bayern Munich

Borussia Dortmund

Braga

Celtic

Napoli

Atlético Madrid

PSV

Newcastle United

Benfica

RB Leipzig

Lazio

Union Berlin

Paris Saint-Germain

FC Porto

Red Star

Antwerp

Feyenoord

Arsenal

Copenhagen

Lens

Maybe it's just us, but those pots look a lot stronger than usual – perhaps because of the surprise returning and debuting teams this time around.

Napoli winning Serie A, for instance, pushes Inter into pot two and Milan into pot three. All three are amongst the strongest in their pots.

A top seed getting Real Madrid is essentially a nightmare scenario for any of them, while Newcastle being in pot four will terrify everyone.

A team could conceivably start in Pot 1 and end up with Real Madrid, Milan and Newcastle United. Bayern Munich or PSG could end up with that, in fact.

One other consequence of 'smaller' teams getting into the competition is that Pot 4 is unusually scary. You'd typically see it full of smaller nations' champions, with little threat to the bigger teams.

But Spain, England, Germany and France all have teams in there thanks to surprise entrants. Sociedad, Newcastle, Union and Lens have little European history, but all placed at the top of elite European leagues.

Who could Newcastle United draw?

Newcastle United return to the Champions League for the first time in a long, long time – but they won't have it easy. They're in Pot 4 as a consequence of their lack of European football.

And that sets up some scary-looking prospects, here. Their worst-case scenario essentially creates a 'Group of Death' as many will have them down as the strongest side in that final pot.

Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Milan, Newcastle United

There's an argument there that Milan are actually the weakest side in this particular group, depending on how you view their transfer business this summer. After all, they did lose Sandro Tonali to the Magpies. Really, though, no one is enjoying that group one bit.

Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Porto, Copenhagen, Newcastle United

From this one, Newcastle might even be favourites to progress along with Porto. Feyenoord comfortably feel like the weakest of the Pot 1 teams, while Copenhagen have received a boost into Pot 3 because of the newbies in this year's competition.

Who could Arsenal draw?

Arsenal are back in the Champions League after six years away and find themselves in Pot 2. They can possibly consider themselves a little fortunate after their absence – the Gunners are the lowest-ranked side in the second tier of teams.

It makes their best and worst-case scenarios significantly more palatable. In fact, Arsenal will surely be down as one of the favourites to progress no matter who they end up with on Thursday.

Worst-case scenario: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Milan, Galatasaray

It's very possible that we're being generous to Galatasaray by putting them in this, but of all the Pot 4 teams, they're the ones who made the biggest moves of the summer (Newcastle aside). They'll be a threat if things click for them. Of course, Bayern are there because Arsenal are forever obliged to run into the German giants at some point.

Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Arsenal, Copenhagen, Royal Antwerp

Quite honestly – and perhaps this is harsh on Feyenoord – this is a group that Arsenal could chase maximum points from. It reads more like a Europa League group, in fact, and the Gunners would be overwhelming favourites to progress, along with the Dutch champions.

Who could Celtic draw?

Brendan Rodgers will lead a Celtic team back into the Champions League this season – but it's not a competition he's had much luck in. We'll see if he can change that this time around.

Of course, a lot of that depends on the group Celtic get. They've always gone into the competition knowing that there's potential for a devastating draw, but things could look on them favourably this time around with a bit of luck.

Worst-case scenario: Manchester City, Real Madrid, Milan, Celtic

You would imagine that most Celtic fans would never expect to get out of such a group – they may not even expect to get a single point. This would see the last two champions, after all, as well as a Milan side boasting some fantastic talent right now.

But honestly, you can build quite a few scary-looking groups for the Bhoys – Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Lazio, Celtic is marginally kinder, but not exactly by much.

Best-case scenario: Feyenoord, Porto, Copenhagen, Celtic

While Celtic wouldn't be certainties to progress from this group, with some real fortune going their way, they'd have a real chance. They could easily target a Europa League spot, too, but second place really wouldn't be out of the question. Fingers crossed, they get the luck of the draw on Thursday.

Where is the 2024 Champions League final?

The Champions League final will be held at Wembley Stadium in London on 1st June 2024.

It will be the first time the stadium has held the showpiece event since 2013 when Bayern Munich triumphed over Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund. Last season's Champions League-winning captain Ilkay Gundogan was on the losing side that night as Arjen Robben's winner broke the hearts of Jurgen Klopp and the Yellow Wall.

Where can I watch the Champions League final in the UK?

The Champions League final will be available to watch on TNT Sports – previously BT Sport – as well as streamed for free on YouTube for those who do not have the relevant subscriptions.

BT Sport has been the home of Champions League football in the UK since 2015 and enters a ninth season as rightsholder under its new guise in 2023/24.

How will the 2024/25 Champions League format work?

Not without its controversy, the Champions League is going through a major shake-up going forward. In the 2024/25 format, 32 teams will become 36, while the number of games will increase from 125 to a total of 189.

This is because every team qualifying for the Champions League will compete in one league, in which all teams will play eight matches. The top eight teams will qualify directly for the knockout stage, with the following 16 teams (placed 9th-24th) entering a two-legged play-off round in order to claim a place in the round of 16.

From here, the format will remain the same as we currently know it. But can anyone stop Pep Guardiola's men this year?

It can be assumed that Rahul Dravid doesn’t take anything for granted since he has twice declined doctorates that were being conferred on him by two different universities in Karnataka. Dravid believed in earning the honour.No surprise then that Dravid recently asked the BCCI to halve the monetary reward he was being allotted for helping India win the Under-19 World Cup. To celebrate the victory, the BCCI, at the behest of the Committee of Administrators (COA), decided to give Dravid, the Under-19 coach, INR 50 lakhs while granting the players INR 30 lakhs each, and the support staff members INR 20 lakhs each.Once the garlands and bouquets were binned and the celebratory noise died, Dravid quietly contacted the BCCI chief executive officer Rahul Johri and informed him that as a matter of principle, he would not want any more than the players or the support staff members, who had played an equal role in India winning the title.In fact, Dravid expressed his disagreement over the BCCI’s decision on the day India beat Australia in the final to win the Under-19 World Cup. ESPNcricinfo understands Dravid informed Ratnakar Shetty, incharge of women’s and Under-19 cricket at the BCCI, of his displeasure, saying the board could not hold him over the rest of the coaching staff.The CoA chief Vinod Rai confirmed that Dravid’s request was accepted at a meeting in Mumbai this week. Although the BCCI is yet to communicate the decision officially to the Under-19 support staff, they are set to receive the same amount as Dravid: INR 25 lakhs each. “He felt that all the support staff should be adequately compensated, too. So he gave a viewpoint,” Rai told ESPNcricinfo. “He (Dravid) said you can reduce my [reward] but pay the players and other people, too.”In the past, whenever India have won global tournaments, the BCCI has paid the players more than the coach. This was the first time the coach was getting nearly double that of the players. According to Rai, the decision to pay Dravid more was because of his seniority. “Our logic was since he is a senior official and he has been involved with the team [for a long time], so we can’t equate him with the junior players. But he talked about principle and so we have acceded to his request and accepted his proposal.”According to Rai, Dravid had submitted a “list” of coaching staff who were assisting him in the lead-up to the World Cup and ought to have been compensated in addition to the coaching bench that assisted him during the tournament. Along with Dravid, the support staff that was involved in the Under-19 campaign comprised Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach), Abhay Sharma (fielding coach), Yogesh Parmar (physiotherapist), Anand Date (trainer), Mangesh Gaikwad (masseur) and Devraj Raut (video analyst).During his meeting with Johri upon returning from New Zealand, Dravid said the preparations for the World Cup had started early last year, including the tour of England.According to the , Dravid had listed the following people saying that they should also be rewarded for their contributions: former Indian opener WV Raman, who was the head coach of the Indian Under-19 team on the tour of England last summer, Amogh Pandit (trainer), Rajesh Savant (another trainer who died on Under-19 duty last year), Manuj Sharma and Sumeet Malahapurkar (logistics managers). It is not clear yet what amount Raman and others, who were not in New Zealand, would get. Dravid had asked the BCCI to work it out themselves without giving any set figure.

He will be Dinesh Chandimal’s deputy in Bangladesh, where the team will be play a two-match series starting on January 31

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Jan-2018Sri Lanka’s first Test squad of the Chandika Hathurusingha era features a more dynamic set of bowlers than they have recently fielded. It also sees the return of batsmen Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka.Sri Lanka squad

Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Roshen Silva, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal (vice-captain), Dilruwan Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Gamage, Lahiru Kumara
In: Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Lahiru Kumara
Out: Vishwa Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Thirimanne

There is an emphasis on pace, with Dushmantha Chameera and 20-year-old Lahiru Kumara being picked. But it is the first-time selection of unorthodox offspinner Akila Dananjaya that is the strongest indication that the selectors and new coach are looking at taking Sri Lanka’s attack in a new direction.Dananjaya, who began as a T20 bowler, was thought of largely as a limited-overs option by previous selection committees. He has earned a Test call-up on the basis of decent ODI performances against India, however, and has a creditable first-class record (98 wickets at 28.31) behind him in any case. The prevailing thought about Dananjaya is that he is a player who raises his performance to fit the occasion. At the age of 19, he had been a steady contributor in Sri Lanka’s run to the 2012 World T20 final.Alongside the likes of Chameera, Kumara and Dananjaya are more experienced hands. Suranga Lakmal has been rewarded for a good 2017 with the team’s vice-captaincy. Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera head up the spin department, with left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan also included. Right-arm seam bowler Lahiru Gamage has been picked as well.There are notable omissions. Nuwan Pradeep has been left out, with the selectors seemingly now considering him for limited-overs duties alone, due largely to his propensity to pick up injuries in Test cricket. Allrounder Dasun Shanaka, who had some success with the ball against India, has been dropped, as has left-arm quick Vishwa Fernando. That batsmen Lahiru Thirimanne and Sadeera Samarawickrama were also dropped is little surprise, given their lack of runs in India, but more unexpected is the omission of allrounder Asela Gunaratne, and batsman Kusal Perera – both of whom are in the ODI squad.Gunathilaka, who has been in modest form across formats, has been chosen, however – perhaps on potential. It is possible he will open the batting alongside Karunaratne.The two-Test series begins in Chittagong on January 31, before the action moves to Dhaka.

The fast bowler became the first bowler in nearly 40 years – and only the second Australian ever – to claim two hat-tricks in the same first-class match

The Report by Daniel Brettig07-Nov-2017
ScorecardMitchell Starc became the first bowler in nearly 40 years – and the first in Australia – to claim two hat-tricks in the same first-class match when he blasted out Western Australia’s last three batsmen to claim outright points for New South Wales against Western Australia at Hurstville Oval.Having gone wicketless in the second innings up to that point, Starc had Jason Behrendorff caught behind and then bowled David Moody with the last two balls of his 15th over, then returned to have Jon Wells caught at slip by the captain Steven Smith with the first ball of his 16th. This hat-trick followed another on day three of the Sheffield Shield match, when he had dismissed Behrendorff, Moody and Simon Mackin.Starc’s feat was the first instance since Amin Lakhani managed to do the same for a Combined XI against the Indian tourists in a match at Multan in 1978. Overall only seven other bowlers have taken two hat-tricks in the same match, and only one Australian T.J. Matthews doing so against South Africa at Manchester in 1912. Matthews’ feat is also the only time two hat-tricks have been taken by a bowler in the same Test match.Smith said that Starc’s old-ball angle from around the wicket and reversing the ball away was fiendishly difficult to deal with for any batsman. He also complimented Hazlewood for his excellent rhythm throughout his first match back from injury.”They’ve found it pretty hard for a long period of time, the shape that he gets, the angle that he creates when going so wide,” Smith said. “It’s difficult for batters, let alone tail-enders. To take two hat-tricks in a game … most people are lucky to take one in their career. They’re not easy to come by.Getty Images

“I thought [Hazlewood] bowled like an absolute genius, he’s a superstar. Starcy, I think, has probably taken a little more time to get going and get some rhythm. But the back end of today showed why he’s world-class. Patty Cummins has had a couple of good games as well. They’re up and going and bowling really well.”Starc and Cummins will rest from the final round of Shield matches before the first Ashes Test while Hazlewood will play against Queensland in Brisbane.The sheer destructive power of Starc to obliterate an opposing tail, which had also been on show in the Blues’ opening defeat of South Australia under lights at Adelaide Oval last week, meant that NSW always fancied their chances of winning on the final afternoon of the Shield match, despite a sparkling opening stand of 179 between Shaun Marsh and Cameron Bancroft, who carried his bat for 76 in the first innings then followed up with 86 on the final day.Both Marsh and Bancroft are contenders for Test spots in Australia’s Ashes middle order, and their exits were followed by less fruitful results for Hilton Cartwright, who had played as an allrounder in the most recent Test played by Australia, against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Dismissal by Pat Cummins gave Cartwright a pair for the match in what was a case of horrid timing as selectors deliberate over their options for the Gabba Test.Mitchell Marsh, the WA captain, also fell cheaply to Josh Hazlewood for the second time in the game, and from there it was a question of whether the Warriors could survive long enough to stave off defeat. Nathan Lyon gained a couple of vital – and contentious breakthroughs – winning an lbw verdict against Ashton Turner then having D’Arcy Short caught in close off what the umpire adjudged to be an inside-edge onto the pad.Wells and Behrendorff took WA into the final hour of the match, before Starc arrived to seal the visitors’ fate and his own lofty place in hat-trick history. England have been warned.

Manchester United have reportedly identified a left-field option to help strengthen their centre-back ranks this summer, amid reports that Erik ten Hag is showing an interest in Everton youngster, Jarrad Branthwaite.

How much would Jarrad Branthwaite cost?

According to journalist Simon Jones – writing in his Transfer Confidential for the Daily Mail – the 21-year-old is a 'surprise name' that has been mentioned by those at Old Trafford, with the England youth international having 'impressed scouts' during his spell on loan at PSV Eindhoven last season.

That stint in the Netherlands saw the Carlisle native – who has two years left to run on his existing deal with the Toffees – link up with United legend, Ruud van Nistelrooy, albeit with the 6 foot 5 starlet having since made his return to Goodison Park.

Read the latest Manchester United transfer news HERE…

If the Red Devils are to prise him from the Merseyside outfit then it has previously been suggested that a fee of around £20m could be required, albeit with alternative reports indicating that the one-time Blackburn Rovers loanee could fetch as little as £5m-£6m.

How good is Jarrad Branthwaite?

The Toffees sensation has clearly been on the radar of Ten Hag and co in recent times with reports last year indicating that the Premier League giants were targeting a move for the then-teenager, ahead of their first window with the Dutchman at the helm.

That interest is likely to have only been heightened by the towering rock's form while at PSV last season, with the Eredivisie clearly a league that Ten Hag continues to keep a close eye on, with the former Ajax boss having recruited the likes of Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia from his homeland during his United tenure to date.

The hope will be that Branthwaite can emerge as a dream heir to that man Martinez as a natural fit in a left-sided centre-back berth, with the Carabao Cup winners having been forced to deploy Luke Shaw in that role at times last season due to the lack of adequate cover.

While physically somewhat different to the 5 foot 9 Argentine, the Everton ace does appear to share the 25-year-old's quality on the ball, with former Carlisle boss Steven Pressley having previously stated:

"The truth is, I think he has got everything. He can pass the ball almost equally as good with both feet. He’s a terrific footballer."

Also dubbed "complete" by Van Nistelrooy, Branthwaite's ability to play out from the back is shown by the fact that he has averaged 3.61 progressive passes per 90 across the last 365 days, with that a similar record to what Martinez has achieved in that time (3.96 per 90).

That is significant as the latter man has been lauded for his ball-playing prowess during his time at the Theatre of Dreams, having been described as "so clean and composed" by ex-United man, Patrice Evra.

Defensively, Martinez has also been an "absolute monster" – according to teammate Luke Shaw – having averaged an impressive 3.2 tackles and interceptions per game in the Premier League in 2022/23, with young Branthwaite only just behind after averaging 2.3 in that regard in Holland.

With the World Cup winner having arguably been a "huge miss" after he was ruled out of the final stretch of the season through injury, as per Paul Scholes, it would make sense to bring in a suitable understudy, like Branthwaite, who can help to plug the gap, while also proving a dream successor in the long run at the heart of the defence.

Everton are in the market to improve their attacking threat this summer, and now a new update has emerged on the club's pursuit of a potential transfer target.

What's the latest on Everton's interest in Brian Brobbey?

According to Football Insider, Everton have made an approach with interest in signing Ajax forward Brian Brobbey.

As per the report, the Toffees have made the Eredivisie club aware that they are interested in signing Brobbey this summer and are currently weighing up their options before pushing forward with a concrete move for the striker.

It is noted that Sean Dyche is on the hunt for another No 9 to help Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the centre-forward role next season due to the Everton striker's injury struggles.

How good is Brian Brobbey?

There is no doubt that reinforcements are needed in the final third at Goodison Park, with Everton finishing last season as the second-lowest goalscorers in the Premier League.

The departures of Richarlison and Anthony Gordon over the last 12 months have significantly weakened the Toffees' attacking threat, and has left the Everton boss with limited options to work with, let alone any prolific and consistent performers in front of goal.

Indeed, the Merseysiders did acquire the services of Neal Maupay last summer, however, like many of Farhad Moshiri's transfer moves, he has been a complete disappointment, with the forgettable Frenchman only finding the back of the net once across all competitions.

As a result, the signing of Brobbey – once hailed "dangerous" by former Dutch striker Pierre van Hooijdonk – would be a great piece of business for Everton and would provide Dyche with a player who can compete for Calvert-Lewin's spot as well as be a huge upgrade on Maupay.

The £14m-rated Netherlands native is an incredible attacking presence, as he ranks in the top 5% of his positional peers across the competitions at a similar level for non-penalty goals, touches and progressive passes received, whilst he featured in the top 15% for shots on goal and pass completion, as per FBref.

When comparing the Ajax gem's output to Maupay's last season, Brobbey comfortably outperformed his Everton counterpart in a number of key attributes, including goal contributions (16 v 1), rate of shots on target (47% v 40.6%), shots on goal per 90 (3.50 v 2.58), shot-creating actions per 90 (2.29 v 1.45) and goal-creating actions per 90 (0.22 v 0.08).

It was reported by Football Insider last month that Maupay was attracting interest from Italy and France, which led to Everton opening talks with a number of Serie A and Ligue 1 clubs over a potential exit.

The sale of the former Brighton & Hove Albion striker would be massively advantageous to the Toffees in their pursuit to boost funds amidst Financial Fair Play concerns, which would, in turn, help them to provide an attractive financial package to secure the signing of Brobbey.

With that being said, a move for Brobbey is definitely one to watch for Everton, as he would boost goal contributions and make significant improvements in the final third to help the team compete more comfortably in the Premier League next season should he replicate his Eredivisie form in the English top flight.

Reece James' injury nightmare continues as the Chelsea star is expected to be out of action until at least February after a fresh hamstring blow.

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• James limped off with issue against Everton
• Scan results not encouraging
• Might be sidelined until February

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The full-back was handed a start against Everton last Sunday for the first time since November 25, but could only last 26 minutes after picking up a fresh hamstring injury. According to , James might not be back on the pitch until March, with a February return date the most optimistic outlook for the 24-year-old. Given his recurrent hamstring problems, there is a realisation that the recovery process might be complex.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  James has made just eight Premier League appearances so far this season as he had to sit out a chunk of games with another hamstring issue. He also missed England's run to the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar due to damage to his knee ligaments. James has struggled to build up any rhythm due to various injuries, with his last stretch of five consecutive full games in the Premier League occurring between the end of the 2021-22 campaign and the start of the following season.

• WHAT CHELSEA SAID

  The London club put out a statement confirming the new injury, which read: "Captain Reece James has undergone medical assessment following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton. The defender was withdrawn during the first half at Goodison Park, and scan results have confirmed a hamstring injury. Reece will now begin his rehabilitation programme at Cobham."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  James has missed 35 matches due to hamstring injuries since the 2021-22 campaign. Additionally, he has missed 28 matches due to muscle issues, illness, and two knee injuries, with the latter sidelining him for 18 matches in the 2022-23 season.

An independent committee has found Gautam Gambhir guilty of “seriously inappropriate behaviour”, and handed out a four-match suspended ban

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Jun-2017Delhi captain Gautam Gambhir was handed a four-match suspended ban from first-class cricket for his altercation with coach KP Bhaskar in March this year. A three-member independent inquiry committee, set up by Justice Vikramjit Sen, comprising Madan Lal, Rajendra Rathore and Soni Singh, found Gambhir guilty of “seriously inappropriate behaviour”.The committee, however, suspended the punishment for a two-year period, ending on March 19, 2019, contingent on Gambhir accepting the ruling.During this year’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, Gambhir had criticised Bhaskar of creating an insecure environment for youngsters. Subsequently, the DDCA set up a committee to investigate the argument.”The Committee Members agree that considering the above facts and circumstances that have come to light, Mr Gambhir’s actions towards Mr Pillai with premeditated intent to humiliate the coach were highly inappropriate and of serious nature,” Sen said in a statement.”The position of a coach among the team members is of high respect and dignity. It is a serious disgrace to a coach to be humiliated in front of team members by one of the team members even though if it is a senior player.”The actions of Mr Gambhir, however well intended, cannot be said to be in the interest of the team, or its performance or the game as it was done on the very last day of the season and therefore could not have been any corrective effect,” the statement said.Among other decisions, the committee also recommended the creation of a grievance-redressal system for players and framing of disciplinary-action rules that would inform them of the consequences of a transgression.”It is also recommended that disciplinary action rules and mechanism of imposing penalty are required to be formulated to inculcate discipline in the team members and for predictability and deterrence, where players know that an act of indiscipline would have serious repercussions and are therefore deterred from committing them,” Sen said.

Steven Smith, like his namesake Hannibal Smith, loves it when a plan comes together. And Australia’s plans for this tour of India – a campaign of which Smith is immensely proud regardless of what happens in the final Test in Dharamsala – have been coming together since they were humiliated with a 0-3 defeat in Sri Lanka last year.For Smith, that tour was a wake-up call. Prior to that series Australia had only ever lost a single Test to Sri Lanka; now they lost three in a month. Their run of consecutive Test defeats in Asia had stretched to nine. And so Smith and coach Darren Lehmann needed a new approach, a new resolve, when a four-Test tour of India was on the horizon.A two-week training camp was scheduled in Dubai prior to Australia’s arrival in India, so they could control the types of surface on which they trained, and formulate plans for difficult conditions. Still, it is hard to imagine that even the Australians themselves believed they would dominate the first Test in Pune in quite the way they did, and would remain alive in the series with one Test to play.”I learned a lot out of Sri Lanka when we lost there, just about playing in the subcontinent and leading in the subcontinent,” Smith said in Dharamsala ahead of the fourth Test against India. “I had a reasonable idea before I went to Sri Lanka of how I wanted to do things, how I wanted to do thing a lot differently and didn’t want to over-attack and things like that.”I think you can see it in the way that you have to play here. You can’t attack non-stop. You have to have defensive fields at times and people are going to be critical at that but they’re not the ones out in the middle that have to do the job. I know that if you get a bit defensive on occasions and build a bit of pressure.”Back home when you’re talking about building pressure you talk about maiden overs but here it’s more if you go for two an over it’s pretty good over. It’s very hard to contain the scoreboard. If you’re limiting the boundaries, keeping the runs down and building the pressure that you need it makes a big difference.”As unsexy as such talk of defence and containment can be, Smith’s plans have put him within touching distance of becoming the first Australian captain since Adam Gilchrist in 2004 to lead a series victory in India. That would not have been the case but for some impressive fight from Peter Handscomb and Shaun Marsh on the final day in Ranchi, where they toughed out a draw that felt like a win.”If you look at past sides that have come here recently that day five result we had the other day where we were able to play out the draw, that’s just ended pretty quickly for us on a few occasions where we’ve just rolled over,” Smith said. “Having the fight and willingness to work hard to get the results we’re after, it’s been great from the boys.”I thought the way we fought out that draw was magnificent. I’m sure they [India] would be disappointed that they couldn’t get the result they were after. In that regard I’d rather be in our boat than theirs.”Steven Smith on Matt Renshaw: “For a guy that’s only played a handful of Tests, to go out there and just play his game and back what he’s worked on over the last few weeks has been amazing.”•Associated Press

In particular, Smith has been thrilled with the work of the young opening batsman Matt Renshaw in this series, in what is his first exposure to cricket in the subcontinent. Renshaw will turn 21 during the Dharamsala Test but has outperformed most other batsmen in the series – only Smith and Cheteshwar Pujara from either side have faced more deliveries this series than Renshaw.”I’ve been really impressed with Renshaw,” Smith said. “For a guy who’s never been here before it’s almost a different game when you get out to the middle and you see guys around the bat and crusty wicket, things like that, and that can get to players, players who have played for a long period of time.”For a guy that’s only played a handful of Tests, to go out there and just play his game and back what he’s worked on over the last few weeks has been amazing. I think a lot of the guys, the more senior players, have taken a bit out of the way he’s done things having only been a youngster and not been here before. That’s been really good.”The teams enter the final Test with the series locked at 1-1, meaning the winner in Dharamsala’s inaugural Test will claim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – and in the unlikely event of a draw, Australia will retain it as the current holders. Smith said that although much hard work remained over the next few days, he was proud of his men regardless of the final outcome of the series.”We all know that this is one of the toughest places to come to play as an Australian team,” he said. “Regardless of what happens in this last Test match I think the way we’ve played has been a credit to each and every individual here. We’ve played some very good cricket. We probably did a couple of things wrong in Bangalore where we could have wrapped up there series or had a two-nil lead. The cricket we’ve played has been really good.”Right now we’re in a good position. We’ve got to play well this week and hopefully win the series here but we’ll do that by doing the things that we’ve done well in this series so far and just doing it for just a little bit longer. I’m not worried about the result as such … It’s obviously a relatively young side and this team could be together for a very long time.”