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Leeds United underwent a summer of change as new faces came in behind the scenes and on the pitch following relegation down to the Championship.

The Whites spent three seasons in the Premier League and dropped out of the top-flight at the end of last season after Sam Allardyce came in and failed to save the day.

They reacted to that disappointment with a swoop to appoint German head coach Daniel Farke to lead them back to the big time by the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

Leeds' 2023 summer signings

Player

Type of deal

Joel Piroe

Permanent

Ethan Ampadu

Permanent

Ilia Gruev

Permanent

Glen Kamara

Permanent

Karl Darlow

Permanent

Sam Byram

Free

Djed Spence

Loan

Joe Rodon

Loan

Jaidon Anthony

Loan

As you can see in the table above, the Yorkshire-based outfit backed the former Norwich City tactician with nine new signings to bolster his playing squad, after the likes of Max Wober, Rodrigo, Rasmus Kristensen, and Robin Koch, among others, moved elsewhere.

Farke has proven his worth at this level, with two Championship titles at Carrow Road, and looked to strengthen his side at the top end of the pitch with the signing of Piroe.

However, the Dutch marksman was the only striker who was brought in and that has left Patrick Bamford as the back up to the ex-Swansea man and Georginio Rutter.

This appears to be a glaring weakness within the current squad after the former England international produced his latest disaster in the 1-0 defeat to Stoke on Wednesday night.

Patrick Bamford's performance against Stoke

The former Middlesbrough number nine was brought on for Piroe with 20 minutes left to play against the Potters with the score at 0-0, seemingly with the hope that he would be able to go and win the game for the Whites.

It appeared to be the perfect start for the English forward as he won a penalty just minutes after coming off the bench. Rutter played a fantastic ball through to the striker and Ben Pearson was adjudged to have fouled him after going to ground in the box.

He then had the confidence to step up and take the spot-kick himself, instead of Rutter or Crysencio Summerville, but fired it comfortably over the crossbar after the goalkeeper dived the opposite way.

Bamford attempted to lift his strike into the top left corner and put far too much on it in what appeared to be a very relaxed effort from the experienced attacker.

Journalist Phil Hay described the miss as "hugely costly" for Leeds and this is not the first time that has been the case for the ex-Norwich loanee as he has now missed his last three penalties for the club.

To make matters worse, the centre-forward then played a part in what turned out to be the winning goal for the home side. The Leeds dud allowed Wesley to get the better of him at the front post from a corner and the Brazilian ace's header came back off the crossbar and in via Pascal Struijk's shoulder.

It was, therefore, a disastrous cameo from Bamford as he missed a golden opportunity to seal all three points for Farke's team before contributing, albeit as part of a collective mistake to not deal with the set-piece, to Stoke's winner.

The Whites head coach must now finally bin the 30-year-old dud in January after they failed to move him on during the recent summer transfer window.

It was reported that Bamford was 'ready' to part ways with the club ahead of the 2023/24 campaign as Farke was evaluating his squad. However, no switch materialised for the former Chelsea academy graduate and he remained at Elland Road.

The 6 foot 1 striker has failed to score or provide an assist in five league outings this season and has proven himself to be a worse option than Piroe, who has struggled of late.

The statistics that show Piroe is better than Bamford

Leeds brought the talented marksman in from Championship rivals Swansea City during the summer window and he has hit the ground running in Yorkshire.

Piroe has produced five goals in ten league outings for the Whites since his move from Wales and is currently the club's top goalscorer in the league, with one more than Summerville and at least three more than every other player.

This shows that the 24-year-old finisher has been a superb addition to the squad as Farke's go-to man for goals so far this season alongside Summerville.

However, the impressive ace has hit a lull in form with one goal in his last five Championship appearances for the club, with two 'big chances' missed during those matches.

He is a proven performer at this level, though, and will, hopefully, get back to his goalscoring ways after two sublime seasons with Swansea. The left-footed whiz scored 19 league goals during the 2022/23 campaign and that came off the back of 22 strikes throughout his debut year in English football.

Despite his recent struggles in front of goal, Piroe is still a far superior option to Bamford, due to his five-goal haul so far this campaign and the ex-England international's disappointing form over the last 18 months or so.

Bamford's statistics last season

The left-footed liability came into this season off the back of a poor year at Premier League level as his team were relegated back down to the Championship.

Bamford scored four goals in 28 top-flight outings, which came after two goals in nine during the 2021/22 campaign, and missed a whopping 13 'big chances' in total.

His teammates created 8.61 xG (Expected Goals) worth of opportunities for him at the top end of the pitch but he was only able to make the most of four chances.

The Whites number nine did not return the favour to his fellow attackers as he ended the season with an xA (Expected Assists) of 0.86, and created one 'big chance'.

These statistics suggest that Bamford let the team down with his performances last season as he did not take advantage of the chances that fell his way.

Taking his displays over the last 18 months into account, along with Piroe being a considerably better option, Farke must now finally bin Bamford after a prolonged spell of underperformance in January, if possible, after a move did not go ahead in the summer.

Arsenal put in a tenacious performance against Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday and claimed a huge victory in the context of their season against Pep Guardiola's men.

Mikel Arteta will be hugely satisfied with his side's grit and determination as Gabriel Martinelli's deflected strike on 86 minutes proved to be the difference between the sides in front of a raucous atmosphere in north London. For long periods, it looked as if the deadlock would not be broken at either end as solid defensive displays from both backlines indicated that the crunch tie would end goalless; however, Arsenal showed their mettle as genuine contenders for the Premier League title, which they will hope to claim for the first time since 2004 come next May.

We at FootballFanCast take a look at the best and most inefficient Gunners performers from today's encounter, which will surely go down as one of Arsenal's more memorable wins in recent years as they join rivals Tottenham Hotspur at joint-top in the league standings.

GK: David Raya – 6/10

Despite a nervous start to proceedings and nearly giving away a goal on the cheap due to a loose clearance that fortuitously ricocheted wide, the Spaniard recovered and was able to keep a clean sheet for the Gunners, though he was helped out by his defence, who were resolute throughout the entire 90 minutes.

RB: Ben White – 7/10

England international Ben White enjoyed a productive time of things against Manchester City, completing three tackles and two clearances in a solid defensive display on the right-hand side. The former Brighton & Hove Albion man also carried a threat going forward and was accurate in his passing and can be proud of his performance against a notoriously difficult opponent.

CB: William Saliba – 7/10

William Saliba just oozes class, doesn't he? The Bondy-born ace was once again a dependable presence for Arsenal and used his pace, power and aggression expertly to thwart Manchester City's attack. Keeping the likes of Erling Haaland quiet is no mean feat and his central defensive partner, Gabriel, can also take great pride in his work; however, we will come on to him next.

CB: Gabriel – 7/10

As partnerships go, Gabriel and his teammate Saliba possess a nice blend of youth and experience and both complement each other well, with the same notion extending to their collective exploits today. Gabriel made three interceptions in the tie and also maintained a pass accuracy of 92%, which isn't bad against a team dubbed the greatest on the planet by many over the last few months.

LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7/10

Oleksandr Zinchenko slotted in well and took on the role of playing as an inverted full-back with minimal difficulty for vast spells, showing quality and a keen eye for a pass in his 75 minutes on the field before being replaced by Takehiro Tomiyasu.

CM: Martin Odegaard – 7/10

Club captain Martin Odegaard continues to rise to the mantle of carrying the torch for his side during clutch moments and delivered another energetic display in the engine room against Manchester City.

CM: Declan Rice – 8/10 (Man of the Match)

Declan Rice enjoyed a dominant performance against a depleted Manchester City midfield at the Emirates and managed to win some crucial tackles, thus setting his side on their way to fashion attacking opportunities. The England international's graft in the middle of the park may have gone unnoticed due to Martinelli's late winner; nevertheless, victory wouldn't have been possible without his hard work in the engine room.

CM: Jorginho – 7/10

Veteran midfielder Jorginho was quietly effective for Arsenal and played his part in their crucial victory over the visiting Citizens before being replaced by Thomas Partey.

LW: Leandro Trossard – 5/10

Leandro Trossard has been a fantastic addition since joining Brighton & Hove Albion in January; however, he didn't capture the imagination of Arsenal supporters today and was subsequently hooked for Gabriel Martinelli at half-time.

RW: Gabriel Jesus – 6/10

Perhaps unfortunate not to be rated higher, Gabriel Jesus worked his socks off for Arsenal despite being deployed out wide by boss Arteta and his ability to get up and down helped to suffocate any momentum from Manchester City down the left-hand side.

ST: Eddie Nketiah – 6/10

Similar to Jesus, Eddie Nketiah's hard work will have been appreciated by the Gunners' support today as he endeavoured tirelessly while leading the line for his side. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, he can be pleased with his performance today and his ability to occupy defenders with his pace and movement.

Substitutes

Kai Havertz (for Eddie Nketiah) – 6/10

Gabriel Martinelli (for Leandro Trossard) – 7/10

Thomas Partey (for Jorginho) – 6/10

Takehiro Tomiyasu (for Oleksandr Zinchenko) – 6/10

Manager

Mikel Arteta – 8/10: Tactically, Arteta got almost everything spot on today and recorded arguably the biggest win of his managerial career against the reigning Premier League champions, making it a job well done from his perspective.

كشف الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم عن هوية الحكم الذي سيتولى مسؤولية المباراة المرتقبة مساء اليوم الخميس بين منتخبي إيطاليا وإسبانيا.

ويلتقي المنتخبان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية من دور مجموعات كأس أمم أوروبا، يورو 2024، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، على ملعب “فيلتينس أرينا”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. سباليتي: مواجهة إسبانيا من أهم المباريات في مسيرتي ونريد الفوز بها

ويتواجد المنتخبان في المجموعة الثانية، والتي تضم كذلك كل من كرواتيا وألبانيا، والتي إنتهت مواجهتهما بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدفين لكل منتخب. حكم مباراة إيطاليا وإسبانيا اليوم في يورو 2024

حكم الساحة: السلوفيني سلافكو فينشيتش.

حكم مساعد أول: السلوفيني توماز كلاننيك.

حكم مساعد ثانِ: السلوفيني أندراز كوفاتشيتش.

حكم رابع: الفرنسي كليمان توربين.

حكم تقنية الفيديو: السلوفيني كاجتازوفيتش.

Everton manager Sean Dyche will not be satisfied with his side's start to the 2023/24 Premier League season, having failed to string together a promising run of form; despite a summer of much alteration, there is a sense that the squad is not much stronger than it was last term.

And this is a concern. Last year, the Toffees found themselves moored in the depths of the division and only escaped the unthinkable threat of relegation through Abdoulaye Doucoure's thumping volley against Bournemouth on the final day, relegating Leicester City in their stead.

Finishing the campaign as the league's second-lowest scorers – behind only Wolverhampton Wanderers who, intriguingly, also avoided the drop – Dyche justifiably strove to bolster the attacking ranks this summer.

Signing Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma, Youssef Chermiti and Beto, there is a new look about the Merseyside club's forward line, but with Conor Coady, Yerry Mina and Mason Holgate departing, the defensive third does not look as solid as it was last term.

And with the creative Alex Iwobi also joining divisional rivals Fulham in a £22m deal on transfer deadline day, there are genuine fears over the club's sustainability in the top flight at present.

In the relegation zone after four matches, having conceded eight goals and scored a joint-divisional low of two (alongside Luton Town, who have a game in hand), Dyche will need to utilise the imminent international break to devise a plan out of the mire of the bottom three.

To do so, he might need to consider dropping centre-back Michael Keane…

How much did Everton pay for Michael Keane?

Signed for the Toffees from a Dyche-led Burnley for £30m in 2017, Keane arrived at Goodison Park with a weight of expectation, having been hailed for his "impressive" England debut by Gary Lineker just months before making the transfer.

It was a large fee – Everton's record-equalling at the time, in fact – that was paid due to Keane's hardiness and assurance from the back, very much looking the future star for both club and country, with interest from Manchester United warded off to secure his services.

Keane led Burnley from the Championship and cemented a Claret spot among England's elite prior to his move, very much looking the astute piece of business and a veritable rock at the back for years to come.

Still only 30-years-old, Football Transfers now value the one-time Manchester United youngster at just £6m, hinting at a sizable fall from grace over the past several years.

Why has Michael Keane's form declined?

Having now chalked up 204 appearances for the Blues, scoring 12 goals and supplying nine assists, Keane played consistently in a side that clinched eighth-placed finishes in the Premier League across his first two years with the outfit, becoming a regular member of Gareth Southgate's Three Lions squad.

The 12-cap England defender has not, however, donned the shirt since 2020, with a dramatic decline having left him on the periphery at Goodison Park over the past few years.

Indeed, having flattered to deceive over the past few years, Keane lost his place in the Everton team before his old manager Dyche took the reins in January, and while he played a central role in the club's travails last term, even scoring a remarkable long-range goal, he was chastised for his "amateurish defending" by the Liverpool Echo's Tony Scott.

With a match commentator also lamenting his "disgraceful defending" during Everton's recent 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park, it's clear that he is falling further and further into the abyss.

Everton supporters must feel beset with an interminable onslaught of negativity, like an unabating storm lashing down on Goodison Park.

A solution is needed, and it's needed quickly.

Dyche is a formidable manager renowned for his defensive discipline and instilling a hard-working mentality throughout his players, but with Keane continuously provided a starting berth, the sun will not paint the blue half of Merseyside any time soon.

Dyche made no mention of a fitness setback for Keane in the Sheffield United pre-match conference, but the former Burnley titan was not included in the squad, with Jarrard Branthwaite provided an opportunity in his stead.

The 21-year-old impressed, and now might be the time for a true changing of the guard.

How good is Jarrad Branthwaite?

Having spent the duration of the 2022/23 season out on loan with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, Branthwaite made 36 appearances and cemented his stature as one of England's most promising young defenders.

The 21-year-old completed 87% of his passes in the Eredivisie, also averaging 3.4 clearances and 1.4 interceptions per game and winning 57% of his contested duels, and now looks set for a prominent role on Merseyside this year.

Manchester United were interested in signing the 6 foot 4 colossus during the summer, according to the Daily Mail, but Dyche saw the value in retaining the precocious talent's services and no concrete negotiations materialised, with Everton's stance clear.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 13% of centre-backs across leagues most similar to the Eredivisie – where he was with PSV – over the past year for goals and the top 19% for interceptions made per 90, also completing an average of 86% of his passes.

Speaking in the past, former Carlisle boss Steve Pressley waxed lyrical over his former loanee's skills, saying: "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. And If he continues to develop, then, without doubt, he can be an England player."

Also described as a "skilful" defender by former Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, Branthwaite has impressed across his first two outings of the campaign in the Premier League, earning an average Sofascore rating of 7.10 after his displays against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield United.

Making a remarkable 8.5 ball recoveries and two interceptions and tackles per game, he looks robust and tenacious at the back – exactly what Dyche's side need.

He also offers more composure than the error-laden efforts of Keane, with the £80k-per-week dud shambolic against Aston Villa, receiving a lowly 5.60 match score after his mistake led to the breaking of Jordan Pickford's goal.

Branthwaite could well develop even further as the season goes on, and with Keane so unreliable at the back, perhaps it's now high time to ditch him for good and allow Branthwaite to exhibit the full scale of his skill set for Everton.

Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale hasn’t lived up to expectations so far this season, and Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd has delivered a brutal verdict on his future at Ibrox.

How long has Michael Beale been a manager?

After carrying out assistant spells at Chelsea, Liverpool, Sao Paulo, Rangers and Aston Villa, Beale’s first senior role began at Queens Park Rangers back in June 2022, where he soon departed after just months in charge following his appointment at Ibrox in November, as per Transfermarkt.

The Bromley-born coach’s contract north of the border isn’t set to expire for another three years, but having made a mixed start to the new campaign in the Scottish Premiership, there’s a strong possibility that supporters could be questioning whether he’s still the right man for the job.

The Light Blues have so far won two and lost two of their opening four fixtures, via Sky Sports, meaning that they find themselves in fourth place in the table having taken six points from a possible 12, and the 43-year-old’s displays in the dugout haven’t impressed one of the club’s former players.

What has Boyd said about Michael Beale?

Speaking to Sky Sports, Boyd blamed Beale for Rangers’ underwhelming form and ripped into murmurings around the club that their Champions League humiliation could be brushed aside.

"You're four points behind Celtic. Your objective was to get to the Champions League yet you're out of that. I've listened to all of the drivel in the week as well in terms of 'it's better to play in the Europa League'. It's embarrassing.

"There's £20m to Celtic again ahead of Rangers, it's embarrassing. For anybody to come out and say 'at least we can compete in the Europa League' – give me peace.

"It's down to the recruitment. If you don't get it spot on, you're going to come under scrutiny. That's exactly where Michael Beale finds himself. He's been backed, and he's going to have to face the questions and answer the questions. The previous regime was slated for its recruitment and the exact same thing is happening at this moment in time.

"You can't lose your home games in the Old Firm and expect to win the league because it doesn't usually happen. And with a two-week break before their next game, the critics will be out and rightly so because it's not been good enough.”

What is Michael Beale's record at Rangers?

Whilst Rangers haven’t made the perfect start to life this season, supporters have to remember the positive impact that Beale’s had prior to this, so even though the club’s current position isn’t ideal, the hierarchy should stand by their man for now.

Since putting pen to paper, the boss has overseen 37 games, and from that has recorded 26 wins, four draws and just seven losses, meaning that he’s taken 82 points from a possible 111, as per Transfermarkt, which is a very decent return while finding his feet – but he now needs to kick on in his second season.

Beale, who has a preferred formation of an attack-minded 4-3-3, will be aware that he has to start seriously challenging his Old Firm rivals Celtic for silverware, but having made nine new signings over the summer, the fresh faces should begin bonding in the near future.

Leeds United are looking to sign a Premier League midfielder before deadline day arrives in the summer transfer window, according to a new update.

Will Leeds sign a midfielder?

The Whites have conducted some exciting transfer business since returning to the Championship, enhancing their hopes of sealing a quickfire promotion in the process.

Joel Piroe has emerged as a hugely exciting recent signing, arriving from Swansea City as a regular source of goals, scoring on his debut away to Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon, in a 4-3 win for Daniel Farke's side.

Meanwhile, Karl Darlow and Ethan Ampadu have also arrived as experienced addition who could help make Leeds a more solid outfit, while the club continue to work on potential deals for Joseph Paintsil and Nadiem Amiri, from Genk and Bayer Leverkusen respectively.

It looks as though the Whites could look to raid a Premier League club for the signing of one of their players, though, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Will Leeds sign Lewis O'Brien?

According to reliable journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon [via MOT Leeds News], Leeds are keen on potentially signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien before the transfer window shuts next Friday night.

The Reds want £10m for the services of the 24-year-old, who sealed a move to the City Ground from Huddersfield Town last summer, so a loan move to Elland Road could be in the offing. A clause could even be included that means the Whites have to sign him permanently if they are promoted back to the Premier League this season.

O'Brien has found it hard to make an impact in the top flight since arriving from Huddersfield, making only six starts in the competition last season and being loaned out to MLS side D.C. United midway through the campaign.

He has excelled in the Championship, however, making 131 appearances for Huddersfield, and chipping in with eight goals and 10 assists for them in that time which earned him a move to the top flight. It could be that the second tier is his best level where he can stand out the most, which is why he could be such a shrewd signing by Leeds.

Former Huddersfield manager Carlos Corberan called O'Brien a "very special" player during their time together at the club, and his ability to dictate a midfield battle and be a tenacious presence off the ball could make such a difference at Elland Road.

Last season, he averaged 2.2 tackles per game during his stint with D.C. United and he also won five Man of the Match awards from WhoScored in 2021/22, as he stood out as one of Huddersfield's most important players.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

At 24, O'Brien is still a young midfielder who could find another gear in a Leeds shirt, and the luxury of a loan move means that if it doesn't work out, they won't have to pursue a permanent move. That could change if the Whites earn promotion, as mentioned, but if that happens, it may mean that the midfielder has been a success and deserves to be retained, so it could be one to watch.

After a lean start to the 2017-18 season, the India batsman hit back with a record-breaking double-century and says he is in a good frame of mind ahead of the Sri Lanka series

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2017Cheteshwar Pujara’s ability to bat hours on end, scoring massive amounts of runs, has become his signature. He has played the longest innings by an Indian in Tests, and his tally of 1611 runs last season is a national record in first-class cricket. So when he goes through a lean patch, questions are raised.In August, after the end of a productive series against Sri Lanka, Pujara went to play domestic cricket in England. He returned home with a top score of 34 in seven innings, and wasn’t his usual self in the Ranji Trophy either, where his first two innings yielded 35 and 13.”Sometimes, people expect a lot out of me because I have the habit of scoring big runs.” Pujara told . “The expectation is that I should score a hundred every second or third innings. It is difficult to always fulfil that.”Pre-season runs are a vital part of Pujara’s success. Upon his return from a difficult tour of the West Indies in 2016, when he was dropped from the XI, he struck 166 and 256 not out in two Duleep Trophy matches. They were vital innings, he felt, and paved the way to his becoming the highest run-getter in the world in 2016-17.Now, with two weeks to go for the home Tests against Sri Lanka, Pujara made his 12th double-hundred, another national record. He followed up with an innings of 182.”The moment I start scoring big runs, as a batsman, my rhythm comes back and my concentration improves,” Pujara said. “Everything looks good. So, it is a perfect start before I head into the Sri Lanka series.”Cheteshwar Pujara recorded his 12th first-class double-century•ESPNcricinfo LtdPujara said that his low scores prior to his back-to-back hundreds weren’t due to a lack of form. “I was playing on some tough pitches in England. All the matches were on challenging pitches and most of the games were low-scoring ones. I accepted my failures and I did learn so many things out of it.”It wasn’t that I was going through a bad phase or that I wasn’t timing the ball well,” Pujara said. “It was just a time where I had to stay patient. I was playing on tough pitches and if I get a good ball, just accept it and learn new things, what are the things I can still improve on and then start scoring runs again.”When I came back to India, in the first game, I had a little bit of jet lag but I was batting well and got good start and got out playing a bad shot for 35 [against Haryana]. Even in the next game [against Jammu & Kashmir], I looked in good touch but I made a mistake and got out [for 13]. So, overall I knew I was batting well.”The gap between the end of the Sri Lanka series and the start of the tour of South Africa is short. India play their last match at home on December 24 and the Cape Town Test begins on January 5. Pujara, however, is usually picked only for Test cricket and the last Test against Sri Lanka ends on December 6. So he will have more time to prepare for South Africa”When you travel abroad, you have to alter a few things,” Pujara said. “Obviously, the basic things remain the same. You have to have different preparations depending on the country you are visiting. If you are going to South Africa, there are certain things that I know that I need to do to perform well there, and I will work on them. I have played enough cricket in England that when we go there [in July-August 2018], I know the things I need to do there.”

Brendan Taylor and Kyle Jarvis, both back to the Zimbabwe fold after county stints, have been included in the Test squad for the two-match series against West Indies starting on Saturday in Bulawayo. Solomon Mire, the Australian-based allrounder who is also in the 16-member squad, is in line to make his Test debut.Zimbabwe have made seven changes to the squad that last played a Test, in Sri Lanka in July, with no space for Ryan Burl, Tendai Chatara, Tarisai Musakanda, Carl Mumba, Natsai Mushangwe, Nathan Waller and Donald Tiripano. Of these, Chatara is the only one missing out due to injury.

Zimbabwe squad

Graeme Cremer (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Peter Moor, Regis Chakabva (wk), Michael Chinouya, Chris Mpofu, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chisoro, Nyasha Mayavo

Wicketkeeper Nyasha Mayavo and left-armer Tendai Chisoro are the other uncapped players in the squad. However, Mayavo could miss out to regular gloveman Regis Chakabva and Chisoro may have to battle for his place alongside veterans Chris Mpofu, the returning Jarvis and Michael Chinouya, who wasn’t part of the Test squad in Sri Lanka. Chamu Chibhabha, also not part of the Sri Lanka squad, has been included.The new-look squad heralds the start of a new era in Zimbabwe cricket, with the board having actively sought the return of players who left seeking financial stability elsewhere. With a more secure governance structure in place under new managing director Faisal Hasnain, convener of selectors Tatenda Taibu has been able to convince Taylor, Jarvis and Mire to return.While Jarvis is certain to open the bowling and add much-needed pace, swing and aggression to a usually pedestrian Zimbabwe attack, Taylor and Mire will slot into a line-up that is taking on a more solid appearance. Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, PJ Moor and Sikandar Raza have all recently scored Test centuries, adding to Zimbabwe’s new-found confidence.Though Zimbabwe’s main aim over the next few months is to work towards 2019 World Cup qualification, they are also seeking to play more Tests, more so now following the addition of two new Full Members in Ireland and Afghanistan.Apart from hosting West Indies, they are also slated to travel to South Africa for the inaugural four-day Test, which will also be played under lights, in December. There is also talk of a series against Afghanistan, possibly in the UAE, before they host the World Cup qualifiers in March.Zimbabwe last won a Test more than four years ago, against Pakistan in Harare. They have since lost nine Tests: five at home, three in Bangladesh and one in Sri Lanka.

Kevin Pietersen made a grand return for Surrey in the NatWest Blast in front of 23,000 at Kia Oval, but not without an immediate injury worry

ECB Reporters Network19-Jul-2017
ScorecardKevin Pietersen soaked up the adulation once more•Getty Images

Kevin Pietersen hit four sixes in an over as he made an explosive return to domestic cricket for Surrey in the NatWest T20 Blast.The 37-year-old’s 52 off 35 balls – his highest score in 22 games for Surrey in the format – helped his side to victory by ten runs, their third win in five South Group games in front of a 23,508 crowd at the Kia Oval.Defending a total of 150 for 9 on a stodgy, two-paced pitch, Surrey restricted Essex to 140 for 7, although Pietersen was unable to field during because of a calf strain. Surrey said it was too early to assess whether he would recover in time for Friday’s game against Middlesex.Pietersen was playing his first domestic match for nearly two years and aiming to improve on a modest competition average for Surrey of 22.30. That looked unlikely in the 10th over when he picked out deep mid-wicket with a slog sweep but Dan Lawrence dropped a straightforward catch, to the obvious frustration of the unlucky bowler Ashar Zaidi, when Pietersen had made 12.Pietersen takes the strain

Kevin Pietersen: I absolutely loved being back out there. It was a date in my diary I had looked forward to for a very long time so to get there and do what I did and help the boys get the victory was magnificent.
“My calf is a little bit sore and, at 37, I know my body. If I had gone out there and started sprinting I could have done a lot of damage to it. I want to play on Friday against Middlesex but if I need to pull up I will.
“It was just nice to be batting, manipulating the field and keeping things ticking over. Hitting sixes is a by-product of the art of batting and I still love the art of batting.

Earlier, Pietersen reverse-hit his fifth ball from Simon Harmer for his first boundary but it was in the South African off-spinner’s third over that he made Essex pay for dropping him, hitting the first two deliveries for six into the crowd at long on and repeating the shots off the final two balls of an over which cost 26 runs and forced Harmer, the leading wicket-taker in the County Championship this season, out of the attack.Pietersen added 43 with Dominic Sibley in the most productive stand of the Surrey innings and he also launched Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate back over his head for his fifth six before holing out to long on off Paul Walter in the 16th over, three balls after reaching his 40th half-century in T20.Finch made 21 in an opening stand of 40 in four overs with England’s Jason Roy, but both fell victim to Mohammad Amir who was the pick of a disciplined Essex attack with 2 for 13 while Walter picked up three wickets in 12 balls to finish with 3 for 24.Essex began their chase confidently, but after openers Varun Chopra (27) and Dan Lawrence (24) were parted in the seventh over with the score on 47 no Essex batsman was able to play with the freedom Pietersen had shown earlier.Surrey captain Gareth Batty picked up Tom Westley (17), courtesy of a smart stumping by Kumar Sangakkara, who was keeping wicket for the first time in England since 2014, and Adam Wheater off successive balls and when Jade Dernbach had Ravi Bopara held at long off for 24 it left ten Doeschate too much to do.He struck boundaries off Jade Dernbach to leave Essex needing 19 to win off the final over but the impressive Tom Curran held his nerve and conceded just eight runs.

كشف مصدر مسؤول بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، موقف حسام حسن المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الأول لكرة القدم، من اللاعبين المصابين قبل انطلاق معسكر الفراعنة المقرر له في شهر يونيو المقبل.

ويستعد منتخب مصر لخوض مباراتين أمام بوركينا فاسو وغينيا الاستوائية في الجولة الثالثة والرابعة للتصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026.

وكان قد تعرض 18 لاعبًا من القوام المبدئي لمنتخب مصر لإصابات متفرقة خلال الفترة الماضية.

طالع أيضاً.. منتخب مصر يكشف عبر “بطولات” تطورات إصابة تريزيجيه وموقفه من المعسكر المقبل

وقال المصدر في تصريحات لـ بطولات: “طلب التوأم حسام حسن المدير الفني وإبراهيم حسن مدير الكرة تقريرا مفصلا بشكل عاجل عن قائمة اللاعبين المصابين في الدوريات الخارجية والدوري المصري”. قائمة اللاعبين المصابين في الدوريات الخارجية والدوري المصري

1- محمد الشناوي.

2- محمد ابو جبل.

3- محمد صبحي.

4- أحمد فتوح.

5- محمد شكري.

6- ياسر إبراهيم.

7- علي جبر.

8- أسامة جلال.

9- أحمد أيمن منصور.

10- محمود حمدي الونش.

11- مروان عطية.

12- إمام عاشور.

13- تريزيجيه.

14- مصطفى شلبي.

15- حسين الشحات.

16- أحمد سيد زيزو.

17- مروان حمدي.

18- أحمد امين أوفة.