Troy Parrott has become a “cult hero” with the Republic of Ireland, but will he be back in England by the time a bid to reach the 2026 World Cup is completed? That question has been put to Stephen Carr, with the former Tottenham defender discussing future plans for the in-form striker and collective efforts to reach a first global gathering since 2002.

• Purple patch: How Parrott fired Ireland into World Cup play-offs

  The Boys in Green have earned themselves a shot at securing tickets to FIFA’s flagship event in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer. A dramatic end to their group stage campaign has seen Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side land a play-off berth.

  Former Tottenham striker Parrott fired them to that point, with the 23-year-old frontman hitting a personal purple patch at the perfect time. He bagged a brace in a thrilling 2-0 victory over Portugal in Dublin that saw five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo sent off for the first time in his international career.

  Parrott, who is now on the books of Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar, went on to net a hat-trick in a final showdown with Hungary – with that treble being completed in the 96th minute – and there is talk of him attracting interest from Premier League sides. The likes of Leeds, West Ham and Wolves are all said to be mulling over their options.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  Transfer talk: Parrott linked with Premier League return

  Asked about Parrott’s heroics and whether he could soon be on the move, ex-Ireland international Carr – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “Amazing! Fair play to him. He’s had a lot of loans where it hasn’t worked out. He’s found something at Alkmaar that just clicked, so his confidence is very high – which you can see now.

  “He’s a threat. Evan Ferguson will be back, so the manager will have a decision. But Troy has earned it. He scored five goals in two games, a hat-trick away from home – don’t know the last time that happened. He’s a threat. He’s a different player to Evan Ferguson, for me he’s completely different. It’s good now because it’s been a while since the Irish team had to pick up front, we haven’t had that. It’s good for the competition.

  “Hopefully he keeps going at Alkmaar and keeps the form up. He’s turned himself into a cult hero, brilliant. He’s worked at it, kept going and didn’t give up, and now he’s in a really good position. I think he will have offers. Whether that is in January, I don’t think so, probably the end of the season. But it would be nice to get to a World Cup, and then it all opens up for him.”

• Who will Ireland face in the 2026 World Cup play-offs?

  Ireland have been placed in Path D of the European World Cup play-off section. They will face Czechia at the semi-final stage, with either Denmark or North Macedonia to come on home soil if they can progress beyond that point.

  Quizzed on that draw, Carr said: “I think it’s a good one. I think it could have been a lot worse. I’m not saying it’s easy, but I think the manager will be pretty happy with it. It will still be difficult. Any game that you are getting into now, there is a World Cup spot on the line.

  “We play away against Czechia, a tough game. People are already thinking we will play Denmark at home, but you need to get through. The difference now is they are going into it with other teams fearing them a bit. With the last two results, it has given the country a lift, the team a lift because it was on a low. They have proved that they can do it, they can match anyone. Going to Hungary was one of those nights, but you need that bit of luck. Unbelievable result, one of the best in a long time in Irish football. I was at the Portugal game at home as well. There is a good feeling. Confidence will be very high. The break to the next game in March is a little unfortunate, because it will feel like a long time ago since you played that game, but it’s there for them.

  “If they get through, I think Denmark will beat North Macedonia. Denmark are a very good team. There are two tough games, so take it one at a time. Going away to Czechia, it’s only a small stadium – 19,000 and there will be a thousand Ireland fans. They need to get through it. The confidence will be very high and they are going into games with a lot more positivity now they have shown that they can do it. Portugal and Hungary were unbelievable results.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Added motivation: Ireland will have eyes on World Cup draw

  Ireland did grace European Championships in 2012 and 2016, but have failed to qualify for a major tournament since then and are looking to bring a 24-year barren run on the World Cup front to a close.

  Ahead of facing Czechia, they will be among the interested observers when the group stage draw for next summer’s finals takes place at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC on Friday – with it likely that added incentive to qualify will be delivered there.

Chelsea are actively trying to convince one Arsenal star to join them next year following discussions with his representatives, according to a report this week.

Chelsea enjoy triumphant 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League

While the January window is fast approaching, Enzo Maresca’s side are currently riding high off a statement 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Chelsea dominated proceedings from the opening whistle, pressing Barcelona aggressively and preventing the Spanish champions from establishing any rhythm in possession.

The Blues’ high-octane approach paid dividends when Jules Kounde’s unfortunate own goal broke the deadlock after 27 minutes, deflecting Pedro Neto’s effort beyond his own goalkeeper.

Barcelona’s evening unraveled further when captain Ronald Araujo received his marching orders just before halftime, collecting a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Marc Cucurella. The dismissal effectively ended any realistic hopes of a Catalan comeback and allowed Chelsea to dictate throughout thcond period.

Chelsea open talks with star who's "very keen" to join amid Barcelona triumph

Enzo Maresca’s side are in dreamland right now.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 26, 2025

The standout moment arrived ten minutes after the restart when teenage sensation Estevao produced a moment of individual magic. The 18-year-old Brazilian embarked on a mazy dribble from out wide, leaving Pau Cubarsi trailing before cutting inside and firing a thunderous strike into the top corner.

The goal showcased his immense potential on the biggest stage and marked his third consecutive Champions League scoring performance, with Estevao making all the headlines for outshining Barca’s own sensation Lamine Yamal.

Substitute Liam Delap wrapped up the victory with 17 minutes remaining, capitalizing on Enzo Fernández’s clever pass to slot home calmly. The goal initially appeared offside, but VAR intervened to overturn the decision.

Cucurella earned widespread praise for his defensive masterclass against Yamal, with the left-back’s discipline and tactical awareness proving instrumental in keeping the visitors’ attack quiet.

Marc Cucurella’s game v Barça
Minutes	93′
Expected Assists	0.59
Tackles (Won)	5 (4)
Interceptions	1
Clearances	2
Blocked Shots	1
Recoveries	4
Aerial Duels (Won)	1 (1)
Key Passes	1
Passes	55/63
Touches	97
All Stats via Sofascore

Chelsea’s stupendous display comes as the perfect warm-up for their pivotal Premier League clash this weekend against league leaders Arsenal, a match which will define their credentials as genuine title contenders.

Off the field, BlueCo are apparently eyeing one of Mikel Arteta’s young stars.

Chelsea actively tempting Myles Lewis-Skelly into joining them

That is according to journalist Simon Phillips, who reports that Chelsea have held talks with the representatives of Hale End academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The England rising star was recently told by Thomas Tuchel that he’d have to play more to stand any chance of getting into the Three Lions squad for next year’s World Cup, with Riccardo Calafiori’s form severely limiting his minutes this season.

That being said, neither the teenager nor Arsenal want to part ways any time soon.

However, this hasn’t stopped Maresca’s side from testing the water, and it is believed that Chelsea are making a ‘bold’ attempt to convince Lewis-Skelly that Stamford Bridge is the place for him.

This comes as Chelsea make future contingency plans for when Cucurella leaves, even if that doesn’t appear to be in the immediate future.

The Spain international eventually wants to return to play in La Liga before he reaches his twilight years, with Lewis-Skelly viewed as an ideal long-term successor.

It was his 50th home Test, but the first one Ravindra Jadeja was playing without his long-time spin partner R Ashwin, who retired from international cricket last December. It was an unusual experience, but it made no difference as far as the impact Jadeja was able to make on the match. He scored an unbeaten 104, his sixth Test hundred, and took four second-innings wickets as India wrapped up victory over West Indies by an innings and 140 runs inside eight sessions in Ahmedabad.Among the factors behind India winning so commandingly was the strength of their spin attack even without Ashwin, with Jadeja bowling alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar, and with Axar Patel on the bench.”Obviously we do miss him,” Jadeja said after the Test, when asked how Ashwin’s absence felt. “Ash has contributed so much to Indian cricket, been a match-winner for so many years.”I was playing a [Test] match in India without Ash for the first time, so sometimes I did find myself thinking, yeah, Ash will come on and bowl, and then realising he isn’t there. But Kuldeep and Washy have already played so many matches, and we can’t call them youngsters, but it was a different combination.”In the future you will ask, Jaddu isn’t here, and someone else will be there. This is inevitable, and it will keep happening, but it feels good to contribute to the team.”Related

• India trying to ready Reddy for greater challenges

• Jadeja, Siraj wrap up India's innings win inside three days

• Gill: 'No complaints, was a near-perfect game for us'

Jadeja’s performance in Ahmedabad left him tantalisingly close to the double of 4000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. He needs only 10 runs to become the fourth member of that particular club, and membership to an even more exclusive club — 5000 runs and 400 wickets, which presently only includes Kapil Dev — could also be within reach.”You’re putting pressure on me now,” Jadeja joked when asked about this. “I’ll have to start thinking about how to score 1000 more runs and take 60-70 more wickets.”At this stage I’m enjoying my cricket. I’m not thinking about records or milestones. I’m just working on my fitness and enjoying my cricket. Whenever I’m at home I always work on my fitness so that I just continue doing what I’ve been doing [for] so many years, so that’s about it.”At 36, Ravindra Jadeja is still sprightly on the field•Associated Press

The century in Ahmedabad extended a sensational 2025 with the bat for Jadeja. So far this year, he has scored 659 runs in seven Tests at an average of 82.37, with two hundreds and five fifties, with 516 of those runs coming in a series of remarkable consistency in England, which included a stretch of eight innings with six 50-plus scores.”I’ve worked on my batting — I’ve made some changes both mentally and skill-wise,” Jadeja said. “I used to have a different mindset before, in my batting, but I’ve made a few changes now.”Part of this, he said, came from regularly batting up the order. Since the start of 2023, he has batted 22 times at Nos. 5 and 6 in 40 innings.”If you get the chance to bat up the order, you definitely bat with a different mindset,” he said. “I’ve batted at No. 8 and 9 in Test matches before, and that comes with a different mindset, and if you bat with that mindset you can end up playing a loose shot and getting out.”I’ve also batted at No. 5 and 6, and that comes with a different mindset. You are aware of the responsibility you have to build partnerships with whichever batsman you are batting with. That has definitely made a difference.At 36, Jadeja is showing no perceptible signs of slowing down; he prowls the outfield as athletically as ever, and he has been largely injury-free since getting through a frustrating period in 2021-23 when injuries repeatedly kept him away from action.”Injuries can happen anytime,” he said. “There is no guarantee, and no precautions you can take [against them]. If you’re giving your 100% on the ground, you could have to dive anytime or put in an effort for a catch or a run-out.”Luckily, by god’s grace, I haven’t been injured that much and I work a lot on my fitness. I don’t put up a lot of videos of what all I do on social media, but I do it. And it has been making a difference on the ground, and it feels good that I’m able to give my 100% at this age, and it doesn’t feel like my fitness level is going down, so it puts me in a good frame of mind.”On being asked to expand on his fitness routines and whether that included monitoring his sleep cycles, Jadeja burst into laughter. “I keep it simple,” he said. “Not 8-9 hours, sometimes I sleep for longer too, and if I’m [enjoying my evening] I might sleep less too. But on a serious note, when matches are approaching, I know when to start my training, when to change my food intake. I have a very good idea of my body and what it needs and in what state it is in at any time.”

They were victors in 2023 and 2024 and things are looking good this year as well

Mohammad Isam10-Oct-2025

Afghanistan have had the wood over Bangladesh in recent ODIs•ACB

Big picture: Series win beckons AfghanistanAfghanistan are on the cusp of a third consecutive ODI series win against Bangladesh. They won the last two series in 2023 and 2024, as these two sides have become frequent bilateral opponents. Afghanistan’s five-wicket win on Wednesday was also a breath of fresh air after they lost their last five international matches.Azmatullah Omarzai was the all-round star in the game, taking three wickets and scoring an important 40 in the chase. His ODI stocks have been on the rise for the last few years. Rashid Khan also had a strong outing, picking up 3 for 38 and going past 200 ODI wickets.Afghanistan’s win this week also highlighted their other strengths. Rahmanullah Gurbaz played a mature knock under pressure, curbing his natural flair for the sake of the team’s stability. Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi continued as the background guys, keeping the batting line-up in shape in tricky chases. Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote was another unsung hero, conceding just 31 runs in his full quota, taking Saif Hassan’s wicket. It is these percentage performers that keep the Afghanistan team going in ODIs.That isn’t the case for Bangladesh, who are having a hard time finding any consistent performers in this format. They are now lurching from one defeat to another in ODIs, having won just two games in the last 12 months. It was evident on Wednesday why they are no longer an ODI force. Bangladesh threw away a good start with soft dismissals and despite a recovery through a 101-run fourth-wicket stand, the rest of the batters succumbed to Rashid’s accuracy. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali and Nurul Hasan were all lbw to Rashid, which might have kept the head coach Phil Simmons busy in the lead-up to Saturday’s match.Bangladesh also need to figure out the Abu Dhabi conditions better. Afghanistan picking four spinners may have a lot to do with their confidence in the likes of Kharote and AM Ghazanfar, but Bangladesh missed out on playing Rishad Hossain. Bangladesh won the T20I leg of the tour 3-0. They’ll need some of that form seeping into the one-day leg if they are to keep the series alive.Form guideAfghanistan: WWLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Bangladesh: LLWLLNajmul Hossain Shanto needs to turn his form around•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlight: Rahmat Shah and Najmul Hossain ShantoRahmat Shah goes undetected in the Afghanistan line-up of star allrounders and mystery spinners. But he leads the engine room – the middle-order – from where he has scripted many match-winning efforts. The latest was against Bangladesh, when he scored an invaluable half-century, in a 78-run third wicket stand with Gurbaz. It provided the foundation for Omarzai to thrive later on. Rahmat is the accumulator, and without him in the background, the Rashids, the Nabis and the Omarzais wouldn’t be able to grab the limelight.It has been a quiet few months for Najmul Hossain Shanto. Captain of Bangladesh in all three formats even last year, Shanto has taken a step back to work on his batting. Except that too hasn’t worked out well, after making just 37 runs in Bangladesh’s last ODI series against Sri Lanka. He came into this Afghanistan series with a single fifty in four matches for Rajshahi in the domestic T20 tournament. The format is different but Bangladesh need more from their No. 3 batter.Team news: Bangladesh need extra spinnerAfghanistan are likely to be unchanged for the second ODI.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 AM Ghazanfar, 10 Nangeyalia Kharote, 11 Bashir AhmadBangladesh could bring in Rishad to bolster their spin attack.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 6 Jaker Ali, 7 Nurul Hasan (wk), 8 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 9 Rishad Hossain, 10 Tanvir Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditions: Another slow pitch awaitsAbu Dhabi will continue to dish out slow pitches, so it is up to the batters to find ways to increase their scoring rates. The weather will be hot throughout the evening.Stats and trivia: Bangladesh struggling Bangladesh have won just two ODIs in the last 12 months, which has left them at No 10 in the ICC ODI Team Rankings. Rahmat took 119 innings to become Afghanistan’s first batter to reach 4000 runs in ODIs. He is now two runs short of reaching 5000 runs in all international formats. Bangladesh played out 168 dot balls, which represented 57.34% of the balls faced in the first match. Afghanistan meanwhile played 53.36% dot balls in their reply.

Giancarlo Stanton is back and New York Yankees fans are happy to see him.

The Yankees are hosting the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night, and Stanton made his first appearance of the season. He had been on the injured list due to elbow issues. The 35-year-old was the team's designated hitter and was slotted in the fifth spot in the lineup.

When he stepped to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, Yankees fans greeted Stanton with a raucous ovation.

Video is below.

Stanton has had an injury-plagued tenure with the Yankees, but was incredible during the 2024 MLB playoffs. He was named ALCS MVP and slashed .273/.339/.709 with seven home runs and 16 RBIs in 14 games. That endeared him to Yankees fans.

He grounded out to third in his first at-bat back, but here's hoping he remains healthy.

The Cincinnati Reds lost to the Atlanta Braves in 11 innings Thursday night off a walk-off single from Drake Baldwin that drove in Ozzie Albies. Just a few batters before the walk-off, the Reds had their final chance at the plate, and if you ask them, they had their opportunity cut short.

Designated hitter Blake Dunn attempted to steal second base and was called out on the field. Cincinnati challenged the call, hoping to have it overturned as they seemed to feel that either Dunn was safe and/or that Braves infielder Albies was blocking the bag.

Albies's knee appeared to overlap the first-base edge of second base as he went to apply the tag. Meanwhile, it looked like Dunn may have overslid and lost contact with the bag at some point. Dunn's helmet flew off, making replay footage somewhat difficult to review with any certainty. To overturn a call, clear and conclusive video evidence is needed.

Reds coaches started dropping like flies after the play. First was the first base coach, Collin Cowgill, who let his displeasure be known after the call. Then, the Reds challenged the call, and upon news of the call standing, manager Terry Francona came out and expressed his negative feelings as well.

See videos of what led to those ejections here:

Francona was ejected, but not after a slightly confusing moment where he didn't actually realize he had been ejected, and the umpire had to walk to the dugout to ask him to leave:

With the loss, Cincinnati fell just below .500 at 19–20, 3.5 games back in the tight NL Central. Atlanta, meanwhile, is 18–19 and 5.5 games back in the NL East.

Manchester United got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory away from home against Crystal Palace. The Red Devils struggled in the first half and went into the break a goal down, but an energetic performance in the second 45 minutes, combined with two smart goals, ensured they got all three points.

Indeed, it was a penalty from Jean-Philippe Mateta which gave the Eagles a lead. Leny Yoro made a clumsy tackle in the penalty area, with the Palace striker eventually slotting home from 12 yards. He was asked to retake his initial kick after striking the ball against his standing foot.

United came out with far more energy in the second half, and it only took them nine minutes before they managed to equalise. Joshua Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal in almost a year to pull things level.

United’s winner came from Mason Mount, who bagged his second goal of the season. It was a good effort, with Bruno Fernandes laying a free kick into his path and Mount slotting home through a disjointed Palace wall.

The Englishman’s strike was enough to win United the game. There were some standout performances, with Zirkzee someone who played particularly well.

How Zirkzee downed Crystal Palace

It has not been the easiest season for Netherlands international Zirkzee. Saturday lunchtime at Selhurst Park felt like a big moment, and, after a first half where he struggled to get into the game, he certainly took his chance.

The goal from the attacker was simply sensational. He also got on the end of a Fernandes freekick, bringing the ball down on his chest before smashing a volley across goal into the far corner. It was a sublime strike from a man who needed a goal.

However, it was not just the goal from Zirkzee which stood out. His second-half showing was described as “amazing” by Alice Talks Footy over on X, with the United number 11 constantly linking up play, showing off his exceptional technical ability with clever touches.

Indeed, his numbers at full-time show just how well he played. Zirkzee had 50 touches of the ball, completing 14 passes in the opposition half and creating one chance. He also won eight duels and made three ball recoveries.

It was a brilliant second-half showing from the United striker, who will now be hoping to kick on. As well as he played, one of his Red Devils teammates was arguably better.

Man Utd star outshines Zirkzee vs Palace

One of the real standouts for United against the Eagles was Luke Shaw. Making his 300th appearance for the Red Devils, Shaw continued his good form this season on the left of Amorim’s back three.

The United number 23 made some key defensive contributions, including a crunching tackle to stop Eddie Nketiah from getting a shot off in the first half. He also made three interceptions, ball recoveries and clearances in a strong performance.

Shaw stats vs. Palace
Stat	Number
Touches	78
Pass accuracy	87%
Duels won	3/6
Clearances	3
Interceptions	3
Ball recoveries	3
Blocks	1
Stats from Sofascore

Indeed, one person who rated Shaw’s efforts in South London was Goal journalist Calum Preston Kelly. He gave the Englishman a 7/10 for his afternoon’s work and praised him for the fact that he “defended strongly” against Oliver Glasner’s men.

Just last game, Gary Neville said Shaw is a “waste of time” in a United squad. Yet, after a statement showing at Selhurst Park, it is easy to see that the defender could be considered an undroppable member of the squad.

There is plenty of competition for places in that left centre-back role, too. Shaw was replaced with minutes remaining in the game by Lisandro Martinez, and his return could perhaps have signalled the end of the Englishman’s run in the starting lineup.

Yet, after a performance like that, it is hard to see Amorim dropping one of his most experienced players. Shaw was crucial in United keeping Palace at bay from open play, and looks undroppable ahead of a busy festive period.

Shades of Pogba: INEOS have signed star who can end Mainoo’s Man Utd stay

Manchester United have landed a star who could reach the next level under Ruben Amorim.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 29, 2025

Eddie Howe didn’t rip things up ahead of Newcastle United’s crunch Premier League clash against Manchester City, but instead opted for smaller tweaks to arrest the slide in form that had cast an air of frustration across Tyneside.

Hope reigned across the November international break that the Toon would undergo a systematic reset, with three defeats from four leaving the club down in the bottom half. But Howe got it right, and Pep Guardiola was sent packing with none of the spoils.

With Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga, ostensibly the Magpies’ two most talented wide forwards, out of sorts, it was crucial that Howe saw some other attacking stars step up.

Newcastle's evolving frontline

When Newcastle sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British record fee, it was a poignant moment. But Newcastle have evolved, and Nick Woltemade has proved by this stage his potential to be a star in the Premier League.

Theoretically, the 23-year-old German’s technical quality on the ball and his willingness to roam, dropping deep and aiding the pacy wingers either side of him, should give rise to Gordon and Elanga’s qualities, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Harvey Barnes is thriving, though. The prolific left winger scored twice to sink City, and that’s three in two Premier League matches for him.

Then, of course, Jacob Murphy continues to add flair and industriousness down the right flank. This is important, given Elanga’s own woes. Murphy, 30, worked so hard against his tide of the opposition, and he still managed to showcase his creativity, creating three chances and completing four of six attempted crosses, as per Sofascore.

We haven’t even mentioned Yoane Wissa, who was involved in Saturday’s celebrations but remains sidelined after joining from Brentford this summer. The DR Congo striker will add a new dimension to Howe’s frontline and offer a more traditional take than Woltemade, an interesting counterpoint.

These are all influential forwards, but it might be that Newcastle are developing another more influential member of their squad. This player offers shades of Erling Haaland, and yet he’s anything but a striker.

Newcastle's own version of Haaland

Haaland is one of the best players in the world, and, at Manchester City, his influence is unmatched.

Newcastle might not have anyone in their side who comes close to the Norwegian in terms of attacking output, but Malick Thiaw is beginning to single-handedly define his side’s defensive strength, and in this, he could curiously become United’s own version of the free-scoring machine.

Newcastle completed a £35m move for Thiaw in August, reinforcing a backline that was crying out for some extra depth last season.

Hailed as an “absolute steal” of a signing by one United content creator, who lauded Thiaw’s “Saliba-esque” presence in central defence, this is a defender who has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, and this was underscored and then some upon keeping Haaland at bay on Saturday.

Haaland failed to score, but his physicality and the scare factor that comes into play when he’s involved were both negated by the Germany international, whose willingness to go one-on-one and engage with crisp and combative challenges emphasise the level of player Newcastle have reeled in. One podcast host actually marvelled at the display and said, “he might be the Premier League’s next elite centre-back.”

Mentality is just as important as technical mastery, and luckily, the £75k-per-week Thiaw offers both elements in bucketloads.

Sofascore record that he made seven clearances and six ball recoveries against City, timing a last-man challenge just right.

Moreover, Thiaw is already sitting pretty across some intriguing statistical metrics. In the Premier League this season, for example, the 24-year-old ranks among the top 15% of centre-backs for interceptions, the top 13% for blocks, the top 9% for ball recoveries, the top 15% for progressive passes and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90 (data provided by FBref).

Couple that with his remarkable success rate in the duel, both in the Premier League and out on the continent this season, and you begin to see why so many Newcastle supporters are boarding the hype train at this early stage of his English career.

Matches (starts)

9 (8)

4 (3)

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches*

52.7

57.0

Accurate passes*

35.1 (86%)

43.8 (91%)

Recoveries*

4.1

4.8

Tackles + interceptions*

2.4

1.8

Clearances*

5.0

3.3

Ground duels*

1.4 (68%)

1.5 (55%)

Aerial duels*

3.1 (72%)

3.3 (76%)

Errors made

0

0

Error-free, confident on the ball and commanding in defensive phases, Thiaw is a “monster” of a centre-half, in the words of journalist Martino Puccio, and he’s only going to keep getting better as he settles into his role on Tyneside.

Given the current struggles of Sven Botman – who started from the bench at St. James’ Park at the weekend – and the ageing legs of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar – Newcastle’s new central defender may well far outstrip his positional competition and enter a league of his own.

In this way, he could emulate Haaland’s own matchless presence at the Etihad Stadium and establish himself as a one-of-a-kind talent on Tyneside, becoming not just one of the best players in Newcastle’s first team but a figure to be feared across the entire continent, just as Haaland is right now.

PIF can fund Anderson move by selling Newcastle star who's a "nightmare"

Newcastle are proving themselves to be a team in transition this season.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 25, 2025

Tottenham’s unbeaten Champions League run came to a dramatic end at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night against PSG, but there were positives to take from the thrilling encounter.

The European champions were rocked by Thomas Frank’s plucky Spurs side, who gave Luis Enrique a real nightmare, with PSG mounting two separate comebacks to secure a pulsating 5-3 victory.

Midfielder Vitinha claimed a memorable hat-trick, with PSG having to rely on moments of sheer quality just to overcome the north Londoners in France.

Frank’s men stunned the home side by taking a deserved lead on 35 minutes through Richarlison, who headed home from close range after brilliant build-up play involving youngsters Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. The Brazilian’s opener looked set to give Spurs a halftime advantage, but Vitinha crashed in a spectacular 25-yard equaliser via the crossbar just before the break.

Randal Kolo Muani

8.7

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

8.4

Vitinha

8.4

Willian Pacho

8.1

Joao Neves

8.0

via WhoScored

Tottenham regained their lead five minutes into the second period when Randal Kolo Muani fired home against his parent club, converting the rebound after Gray’s effort was cleared off the line. However, PSG responded immediately with a devastating 13-minute blitz that turned the contest decisively in their favour.

Tottenham plan record-shattering January transfer swoop after "clear" Frank message

Spurs want to back their under-fire manager.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 26, 2025

Vitinha curled home his second goal after being afforded excessive space to cut inside, before Fabian Ruiz completed the turnaround six minutes later following a costly turnover from Pape Matar Sarr outside his own penalty area. William Pacho then extended PSG’s advantage to 4-2 after Tottenham failed to clear Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s corner adequately.

Kolo Muani bundled his way through to drill home his second goal with 18 minutes remaining, briefly offering Spurs hope of salvaging something from the match. Those aspirations were dampened moments later, when Cristian Romero’s handball gifted PSG a penalty, which Vitinha confidently converted to complete his hat-trick and seal all three points.

The loss was Tottenham’s first in nine Champions League matches and leaves them sitting 15th in the league phase standings. Despite showing attacking intent and twice taking the lead, Frank’s young side were ultimately undone by defensive lapses during crucial moments in the second half.

Kolo Muani’s man of the match display against PSG, a club he’s still under contract with, gave Spurs major hope that they could have the answer to their striking problems after all.

The Frenchman, who’s suffered repeated injury setbacks since joining on loan, bagged his first goals for the Lilywhites and proved a real mence against one of the continent’s top sides.

However, Kolo Muani wasn’t Tottenham’s only bright spark on the night.

Thomas Frank praises "very impressive" Archie Gray in Tottenham loss to PSG

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Frank reserved special praise for Gray, who linked up with Bergvall for Spurs’ opening goal of the contest and provided real energy in midfield.

The 19-year-old has spent most of this season out with a calf injury so far, and before that, found it hard to get consistent first-team minutes with Joao Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Sarr and Bergvall all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Much like last season, Gray responded with a solid performance when called upon last night, and it could be time for the Englishman to earn Frank’s starting nod much more often.

The former Leeds United sensation was given a baptism of fire under Ange Postecoglou last season when asked to play multiple unfamiliar roles during Spurs’ 24/25 injury crisis, and he’s done arguably done enough to earn the club’s favour.

With the 2026 World Cup just round the corner, Gray will be hoping that he can potentially stake his claim in Thomas Tuchel’s squad, but he’ll need Frank’s faith with more game time.

قدّم النجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو، لفتة رائعة لزملائه في المنتخب وأخرى لأسرة الراحل ديوجو جوتا، لاعب ليفربول الذي لقى مصرعه قبل أشهر.

وكان منتخب البرتغال قد حسم التأهل إلى كأس العالم 2026 والذي يقام في شهر يونيو القادم، وتستضيفه الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وكندا والمكسيك.

وبحسب ما ورد في صحيفة “ذا صن” البريطانية، كشف الصحفي نونو لوز، من قناة SIC، على التلفزيون البرتغالي أن رونالدو، قائد المنتخب البرتغالي، أرسل ساعات من ماركة Jacob and Co الفاخرة، لزملائه في الفريق.

كما أرسل رونالدو ساعة مصممة خصيصًا تحمل اسم جوتا ورقمه وأرسلها إلى عائلة اللاعب البرتغالي الراحل.

وعرض صانعو الساعات على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي شكل التصاميم، ولا يوجد سوى 35 ساعة فقط بإصدار صنع خصيصًا للاعبي البرتغال.

وقالت شركة Jacob & Co: “مينا هيكلي، تصميم مُخصص، وشعار النبالة البرتغالي – ساعة استثنائية كالأبطال أنفسهم”.

وقال لوز: “هذه تفاصيل تُصنع دون ضجة إعلامية، وتُظهر أصالة كريستيانو رونالدو، غالبًا ما تكون لدى الناس صورة عنه لا تتوافق مع الواقع”.

اقرأ أيضًا | فيفا يعلن عقوبة رونالدو بعد واقعة “الكوع”.. وموقفه من أول مباراة في كأس العالم

ولم يعلن عن تكلفة الساعات، لكن أشارت صحيفة “ذا صن” البريطانية إلى أن ساعات Jacob & Co تُباع بعشرات الآلاف من الجنيهات الإسترلينية، والساعات المُخصصة ستكون أعلى سعرًا بالتأكيد.

كان جوتا قد لقى مصرعة هو وشقيقه أندريا سيلفا في حادث سيارة مروع بشهر يوليو الماضي، وأُقيمت جنازته في البرتغال، بحضور العديد من زملائه في ليفربول والمنتخب، ولم يتواجد رونالدو.

وغياب رونالدو عن جنازة جوتا كان محل سخرية كبيرة آنذاك، وصرّح البرتغالي في مقابلة مع بيرس مورجان مؤخرًا: “أمران، ينتقدني الناس كثيرًا، لا يهمني ذلك، عندما يكون ضميرك مرتاحًا وحرًا، لا داعي للقلق بشأن ما يقوله الناس”.

وأوضح: “لكن أحد الأشياء التي لا أفعلها؟ بعد وفاة والدي، لم أزر مقبرةً مرةً أخرى، عندما تعرفني وتعرف سمعتي؟ أينما ذهبت، يكون الأمر أشبه بسيرك، لا أخرج، لأني إن ذهبت، ينصبُّ عليّ الاهتمام. لا أريد هذا النوع من الاهتمام”.

وأكد رونالدو: “لا يعجبني أن تذهب إلى لحظة حساسة لإجراء مقابلات، للحديث عنه، للحديث عن كرة القدم، هذا يُظهر كيف أن السيرك هو الحياة أحيانًا، لستُ جزءًا منها، إذا أردتَ أن تكون جزءًا من هذا العالم، فحظًا سعيدًا، لكنني سأكون جزءًا من جانب آخر، يمكن للناس الاستمرار في انتقادي. شعرتُ بالارتياح لقراري”.