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Star allrounder will be assessed overnight after hurting his knee while fielding

Andrew McGlashan09-Dec-2021Ben Stokes will be assessed overnight by England’s medical staff after picking up an injury on a chastening second day at the Gabba.Stokes appeared to suffer the injury to his knee when he chased a ball to the boundary in the 29th over and was clearly struggling for the rest of the day. He had bowled three overs in his first spell, which included the David Warner wicket off a no-ball, and another two before lunch but only sent down four more in the day.Ollie Robinson, who had an excellent day with three wickets including two in two balls to claim Warner and Cameron Green, also left the field during the final session and did not take the second new ball but England bowling coach Jon Lewis said he wasn’t injured.”Obviously Ben has hurt himself on the field today so didn’t bowl full pace at the back end of the day,” Lewis said. “Think our medical guys will assess him overnight and see how he is. Other than that the guys are okay.”Related

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Both teams had their build-up disrupted by poor weather but whereas Australia only had to spend 50 overs in the field on the opening day, the effects on England’s bowlers were clear during the final session.”Our preparation probably played a part in the last session, but it is what it is, similar for both sides,” Lewis said. “I know the guys will front up again tomorrow, there’s a lot of character, I know they’ve been in some pretty sticky situations before and they’ve come through it all right. I know the guys will dust themselves down tonight.”By the end of the day Joe Root was left with few options, his problems compounded by left-arm spinner Jack Leach being taken at nearly nine-an-over in what was a clear game plan by the Australia batters to put him under pressure. He picked up the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne but could never control the scoring rate and was taken for five sixes.”It wouldn’t be one of his better days and he’ll want to put it at the back of his memory, but like I said about the other guys I know Jack is a pretty resilient fella,” Lewis said. “We’re definitely not defeated yet. Expect Jack to come back strong tomorrow and show the character I know he has.”

Scotland won their two warm-ups, Bangladesh have series win over New Zealand and Australia to their credit in the near past

Mohammad Isam16-Oct-2021Big PictureThere’s very little history between Bangladesh and Scotland, but going by the lead up to this tournament, Scotland will come in buoyed. In the warm-ups, Scotland registered wins in a high-scorer against Namibia and in a low-scorer against Netherlands, while Bangladesh were downed by Sri Lanka and Ireland.That said, Bangladesh have T20I series wins over Australia and New Zealand, from the last three months, to draw confidence from. Together with their 2-1 win over Zimbabwe in July, they are enjoying their best period as a T20I team, and they will want to translate that into a big T20 World Cup campaign. Scotland, and then PNG and Oman, stand in their way to begin.The reliable trio of captain Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan – the latter hopped over to Muscat overnight after the IPL final in Dubai – will have a big say in Bangladesh’s progress. But the likes of Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar and Mustafizur Rahman have also been on the international stage long enough to be expected to get them big wins.Then there’s Mohammad Naim, a developing white-ball opener, while Afif Hossain and Nurul Hasan are the type of big-hitting finishers that this batting line-up has been missing previously. They also have allrounders Mahedi Hasan and Mohammad Saifuddin who are exciting talents.Related

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Bangladesh will face a Scotland side that has had a mixed bag in T20Is of late, with three defeats in their last five T20Is, including a home series loss to Zimbabwe in September, but, given their results in the warm-ups, head coach Shane Burger believes his side is peaking at the right time.Experienced batters like Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, George Munsey and Calum MacLeod, of course, have crucial roles to play. Alasdair Evans and Safyaan Sharif will head the fast bowling attack, while legspinner Chris Greaves, who took a four-wicket haul against the Netherlands, could surprise Bangladesh given his ability to spin the ball both ways.Of course, on this big stage, nerves also play a big part. Bangladesh might have more experience in such situations, but Scotland will be determined to show what they’ve got.Form guideBangladesh: LWLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Scotland: LWLLWPlayers to watchMahmudullah will not only dictate terms in the field as the Bangladesh captain, but his batting could make or break big finishes too. He was the only batter to get a half-century in Bangladesh’s T20I series win over Australia and was also their top-scorer against New Zealand.Scotland will look for quick, early runs from George Munsey whose T20I career strike rate of 153.36 speaks volumes of his big-hitting ability. The left-hand batter with the low grip can clear the infield with ease, both against pace and spin, and could give the likes of Berrington and Coetzer the right platform.Team newsSoumya Sarkar’s form puts him ahead of Mohammad Naim, who hasn’t looked in good touch lately. Playing three seamers in Muscat may be the way to go, which would leave Nasum Ahmed out of the XI. Shoriful Islam’s variety may be preferred over Taskin Ahmed.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Soumya Sarkar, 2 Liton Das, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim, 5 Mahmudullah (capt), 6 Afif Hossain, 7 Nurul Hasan (wk), 8 Mahedi Hasan, 9 Mohammad Saifuddin, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanScotland have the option of legspinner Chris Greaves after his four-for against Netherlands in the practice match. Hamza Tahir, the left-arm spinner, wicketkeeper-batter Craig Wallace and fast bowler Brad Wheal are also options available to them.Scotland (possible): 1 George Munsey, 2 Kyle Coetzer (capt), 3 Matthew Cross (wk), 4 Richie Berrington, 5 Calum MacLeod, 6 Dylan Budge, 7 Michael Leask, 8 Mark Watt, 9 Safyaan Sharif, 10 Josh Davey, 11 Alasdair EvansStats that matter Scotland have won the sole T20I between the two sides, although Bangladesh won all four completed ODIs Bangladesh have won only five out of 25 completed matches at the T20 World CupQuotes”I genuinely believe that this is as strong and as powerful a squad as we could have selected. We feel confident with the team we have here and believe we’re capable of putting in some strong performances.”
“I don’t think the losses in the practice matches will have an effect on us. We are only focused on tomorrow’s match against Scotland. I think the confidence is intact. We will play our best cricket.”

Roy struck Shakib Al Hasan’s first ball for four on the way to a commanding 61 from 38 balls

Matt Roller27-Oct-20211:23

Jason Roy – ‘There’s no chance of us resting on our laurels’

Jason Roy was the only batter on either side to pass 30 in England’s thumping Super 12s win against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi and credited his work in the nets facing Liam Dawson as a key factor in his success.England had expected Bangladesh to open the bowling with left-arm spin, as many teams have against Roy and Jos Buttler over the last 18 months, and Roy set the tone for a straightforward chase by carving Shakib Al Hasan’s first ball away for four through cover point. In all, he scored 21 runs from the 15 balls of left-arm spin he faced, and said that his work against Dawson – a reserve in England’s squad – had been vital.”As a batsman – as a cricketer – you always have some darker thoughts going into your mind before the game: ‘what if, this can happen, this can happen’,” Roy said, “but you just have to remind yourself that your training has been so good.Watch cricket live on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the US. Match highlights of Bangladesh vs England is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

“I worked a hell of a lot against Liam Dawson in the nets. He’s been bowling so much to me which has really helped my game. I’ve just got to keep reminding myself to do what I do in training, and things will be all right”I think it’s an area of my game I’ve been working extremely hard on, on slow pitches against left-arm spinners and the angle as such. It was a big game for me to go out there today put all the hard work I’ve been doing into the nets into play. Credit to the bowlers but still, to knock it off, [I’m] very pleased.”Jason Roy and Dawid Malan run between the wickets•Francois Nel/Getty ImagesOpposing captains have often targeted Roy with spin early in his innings in recent years but his T20 record against it has gradually improved of late. In 2018 and 2019, he averaged just 17.14 against left-arm spin, with a strike rate of 134.83; since the start of last year, he has averaged 30.33 and struck at 135.82.He was generally subdued against it after his early boundary off Shakib, knocking singles into gaps, but issued a reminder of his power game by thumping Nasum Ahmed straight back over his head for six to bring up his fifty.”It’s a part of my game that has improved a lot,” Roy said. “Today was a very big test for me coming in with two left-arm spinners, two left-arm seamers and an offspinner. I had to really use all the skills I’ve learnt, and it seemed to work.”Eoin Morgan, England’s captain, said: “It was nice for him and Dawid [Malan, who made 28 not out] to get some time at the wicket. With Jason, the way he plays is so imposing at the wicket and when you play like that on really slow wickets, it makes it very difficult to set fields and [decide] who to bowl. It’s great to see him in good touch.”Related

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England bowlers deliver again before Jason Roy's 61 seals successive wins

Roy also addressed England’s decision to take a knee before the game – as they had done against West Indies – after Quinton de Kock’s controversial and last-minute withdrawal from South Africa’s side on Tuesday. England had intended to continue the ‘moment of unity’ that they had observed during their home summer, but opted to take a knee instead after the ICC told them that wearing their anti-discrimination t-shirts would contravene the tournament’s kit regulations.”It’s an integral part of the way we play our cricket,” Roy said. “Our team is extremely diverse with people from all over the world. It’s only right that we support that and we support what they are going through.”

As the full-time whistle rang out, the ever-outspoken Gary Neville was quick to criticise Manchester United’s display. He was appalled, quickly labelling it a “disgrace”.

It’s harsh but true. What this great club has become is nothing short of a laughing stock. From the halcyon days of Sir Alex Ferguson to the rubble, almost quite literally, that engulfs them at Old Trafford in 2024, they are a shadow of their former selves.

This United side under Erik ten Hag, put it simply, has not been good enough and they showed as much against Tottenham on Sunday evening, losing 3-0. Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke were all on hand to put the Red Devils to the sword in a match where the hosts were totally outplayed, even before Bruno Fernandes’ red card.

It was the highest xG (4.67) by a visiting team since Manchester City thrashed Norwich at Carrow Road in 2022. That just about sums it up.

So, who do we blame? You can certainly look to Ten Hag. It’s not getting any better for him, nor is it getting any better for club captain Fernandes.

Fernandes' performance in numbers

Over the last couple of weeks, the Portuguese has started to become a hindrance rather than a help.

It’s a puzzling situation, really. He’s the best player at the club, quite comfortably too. Most things tick through him and when he’s not on song, United struggle.

Last term the former Sporting man was at his brilliant best, scoring 15 goals and supplying 13 assists in all competitions. This season? Well, he’s yet to find the net or assist a single goal in the Premier League. It’s pretty grim reading, truth be told.

It’s over the last three matches now that the Portugal international has really struggled. Handed a 4/10 match rating by MEN’s Samuel Luckhurst for his showing in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, Fernandes ceded possession a quite remarkable 34 times.

It didn’t get much better against Spurs this weekend either with the 30-year-old completing just 78% of his passes and losing every duel he entered before being sent off.

Harsh or not, it was a clumsy error from Fernandes who was given his marching orders for a rash challenge on James Maddison. He will now miss the next three games.

That said, he wasn’t the only underperformer in red, far from it.

Diogo Dalot's performance in numbers

Fernandes’ international colleague Diogo Dalot was in sparkling form during the 2023/24 campaign, winning Manchester United’s Player of the Season award.

He deputised well at left-back and flourished at right-back, ending the year with a haul of three goals and five assists.

This season, however, the difference has been stark. Dalot is noticeably struggling at left-back and was given a right runaround by Spurs winger Johnson on Sunday evening.

Handed a 3/10 rating by the aforementioned Luckhurst, he wrote that the defender was ‘so bad for the first goal he held his hands up before Brennan Johnson had scored’.

If that didn’t typify his display then his yellow card did. Dalot gifted the ball away and then in the process of trying to win it back rashly fouled Johnson.

To make matters worse, the 25-year-old completed a dismal total of 74% of his passes, handing away possession 13 times as he somehow survived the full 90 minutes.

Minutes played

90

Accurate passes

32.43 (74%)

Touches

55

Key passes

0

Crosses

0

Long balls

4/10

Duels won

3/4

Clearances

2

Interceptions

3

Tackles

2

Possession lost

13x

Fouls

1

Shots

0

Dribbles

0

Truth be told, the Portuguese simply has to move back to a right-sided role. He will no doubt thrive there but for now, Ten Hag will surely lust after the return of a certain Luke Shaw.

Saying that, not even he could save the mess at Old Trafford right now. Sadly enough, the Dutch boss has bigger fish to fry than solving Dalot’s inconsistencies on the left.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been handed a potential Martin Odegaard injury boost after initial fears over his timeline, and there is a prospect of him returning earlier than expected.

Odegaard suffers "significant" ankle injury at Arsenal

While Arteta coped brilliantly without Arsenal’s captain in their 1-0 North London Derby win away to Spurs last weekend, Odegaard was a sore creative miss during the Gunners’ 0-0 draw away to Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday evening.

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In their bid to beat Man City and Pep Guardiola to the Premier League title this season, all the while ending their 21-year-wait for a league crown, Arteta will be privately hoping that their chief creator can return to action as soon as possible.

Odegaard injured his ankle on international duty with Norway, and was forced off with the issue during their 2-1 UEFA Nations League win over Austria. Since then, Arteta has confirmed that the 25-year-old suffered “significant” ankle ligament damage and could be out for a while.

Appearances

156

Goals

35

Assists

25

Yellow cards

12

Red cards

0

Minutes played

12,108

“The scan showed some damage around the ligaments in the ankle so we are going to miss him,” said Arteta in an Odegaard injury update before Atalanta.

“It’s something quite significant so we are going to lose him for a while. Hopefully not months. He’s our captain, he’s been one of the biggest and best players in our team. Our identity is very linked to how he plays and behaves. It’s a big test for the team to see how able we are to show a different face.”

With Mikel Merino sidelined after a shoulder fracture, Odegaard’s absence prompted Arteta to drop Kai Havertz back into midfield against Atalanta – as opposed to his usual makeshift centre-forward role where he has been very effective.

Gabriel Jesus started up top in Bergamo, with Arsenal struggling to match their usual attacking prowess. Some reports have even claimed that Odegaard could be out till Christmas, but these initial fears have been somewhat put to bed by GiveMeSport.

Martin Odegaard could return for Arsenal in six weeks

As per their information, Arsenal are hopeful that Odegaard could return within six weeks, and potentially for their all-important clash against Liverpool on October 27.

Indeed, it is believed that Arteta’s side are optimistic over their midfielder returning late next month or early November, but there is also caution, as Arsenal are fully aware Odegaard may take even longer to get back to full fitness.

In the meantime, Arsenal are gearing up for a crucial encounter against Man City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and it will be very interesting to see how Arteta sets up his side in one of their most testing matches of the season.

The £240,000-per-week star bagged eight goals and 10 assists last campaign, helping to push City all the way to the final day as Arsenal finished 23/24 with 89 points.

Warwickshire pace bowlers Craig Miles and Liam Norwell demolished Derbyshire before the home side hit back strongly on day two of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at Derby.The pair shared nine wickets to skittle Derbyshire for 121 but after Warwickshire chose not to enforce the follow on, Michael Cohen took 3 for 26 as the visitors collapsed to 132 for 7, a lead of 285.Miles took 5 for 30, including a post-lunch spell of 3 for 5 in five overs, and Norwell 4 for 24 as Derbyshire’s last eight wickets fell for 45 in 14 overs.The day’s wicket count reached 18 despite Sam Hain’s 46 but Warwickshire are still favourites to complete a fourth victory in Group 1.There was no sign of the mayhem that unfolded in the afternoon when Derbyshire went into lunch on 61 for 2 after Warwickshire added only two more runs to their overnight 272 for 9.Luis Reece was lbw when he offered no shot to a Oliver Hannon-Dalby delivery that seamed back but Warwickshire tended to bowl too short and wide in the first session.Billy Godleman and Brooke Guest took advantage until Miles had Derbyshire’s captain caught behind four overs before the interval.Warwickshire’s bowlers adjusted their sights and ran through Derbyshire in 14 overs after lunch with wickets tumbling to a combination of good bowling and poor shot selection.Wayne Madsen missed a drive, Ben McDermott edged to third slip pushing hard at Miles who then moved one away to have Matt Critchley caught behind.Norwell swept aside the lower order, having Guest caught behind and Anuj Dal snared at first slip before Alex Hughes edged into Michael Burgess’s gloves as he pushed forward.Ben Aitchison gave Tim Bresnan another catch at first slip and although Norwell speared the hat-trick ball wildly down the leg side, Derbyshire were still four short of the follow-on target of 125 when Cohen became Burgess’s fifth victim.Warwickshire’s decision to bat again looked questionable when Will Rhodes played around Sam Conners and Pieter Malan bagged a pair when he was caught down the leg side off Cohen.Derbyshire sensed an opening when Rob Yates was bowled driving at Reece but Hain and Matt Lamb restored order until another clatter of wickets gave the home side a glimmer of hope.

Newcastle United have less than 12 hours to go before the end of the summer transfer window as the deadline passes at 11pm later this evening.

The Magpies have already missed out on one of their top targets after failing to strike a deal with Crystal Palace for their captain Marc Guehi.

A bid of up to £70m was placed for the England international and it was claimed that he was Eddie Howe's number one target, but the Eagles look set to keep hold of him.

Attention now appears to have turned to the other end of the pitch as the Premier League side are eyeing up a forward from one of their rivals.

Newcastle keen on Premier League winger

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United are eyeing up a late deadline day swoop to sign Nottingham Forest attacker Anthony Elanga.

The report claims that the Magpies would like to sign a new right winger before the summer transfer window slams shut but they may need to sell Miguel Almiron, amid links to Fulham, before they make a move.

It states that they are now considering a move to sign Elanga from their Premier League rivals to replace the Paraguay international this season.

TalkSPORT reporter Alex Crook backs this claim up by stating that the club are plotting a "big-money" move for the Sweden international, although it remains to be seen how much it would take to get a deal done.

Why Newcastle should sign Anthony Elanga

The Magpies must push to replace Almiron, if they can cash in on him, with Elanga before the deadline because he could come in as a big upgrade on the right flank.

They both played in the Premier League, for Newcastle and Forest respectively, last season and this means that it is fair to compare their returns at the top end of the pitch.

Elanga, who journalist Laurie Whitwell once claimed has "frightening speed", has started this term in fine form with five chances created in two league outings.

Whereas, Almiron has made one appearance, off the bench, and failed to score or create a chance for his teammates in the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.

23/24 Premier League

Anthony Elanga

Miguel Almiron

Appearances

36

33

Goals

5

3

Big chances created

14

6

Key passes per game

0.9

0.7

Assists

9

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old Forest star outperformed Almiron as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a right wing position.

Elanga created over twice as many 'big chances' for his teammates in the Premier League, which suggests that he would be far more likely to create quality opportunities for Alexander Isak in the final third if Newcastle sign him to start on the flank.

The Swedish speedster is also eight years younger than Almiron and this means that he has plenty of time left ahead of him to develop and improve under Howe, which makes him a terrific upgrade on the Paraguay international now and potentially in the future too.

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Posts 2 ByBrett Worthington Aug 29, 2024

Everton are reportedly interested in completing the loan signing of an "incredible" player who has been voted his country's Footballer of the Year four times.

Everton transfer news

The Toffees continue to be linked with new signings as an up-and-down summer transfer window at Goodison Park slowly reaches its conclusion.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler is one of the most recent players to have been backed to join Everton before the window slams shut next week, with a possible hijack of West Ham's move for him taking place. The Merseysiders have made contact with him over a switch to Goodison Park, but it remains to be seen what the Spaniard's decision will be.

Kieran Trippier has also emerged as a reported target for Everton in the coming days, with the England international wanting more regular football than he is being given at Newcastle United. Eintracht Frankfurt ace Junior Dina Ebimbe is being looked at as another target.

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has been linked with Everton at times, too, with the Scot in a similar situation to Trippier, while Roma's Edoardo Bove could also come in and provide Sean Dyche with more depth in the middle of the park. Now, an intriguing new transfer update has emerged as the Premier League side look to complete a high-profile piece of business.

Everton eyeing "incredible" player on loan

According to a new update from Calciomercato [via Sport Witness], Everton are in the mix to sign Milan Skriniar on loan from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

The centre-back finds himself out of favour at the Ligue 1 giants, with a number of clubs eyeing him up on a temporary basis. Brighton and Juventus are also mentioned as possible suitors, with the Slovakian's wages a potential stumbling block for the Toffees.

Skriniar could be a signing of real intent by Everton, even if only on loan, considering the 72-cap Slovakia international has been considered one of Europe's leading central defenders for a number of years.

Granted, his time at PSG doesn't appear to be going smoothly with Luis Enrique casting him aside, but he has been voted his country's Footballer of the Year four times, taking home the award in successive years between 2019 and 2022.

Slovakia may not be a hotbed of footballing talent, but that highlights Skriniar's consistency as a footballer and what a star he is in his homeland, while journalist Jerry Mancini once said of him: "Best defender in Serie A. Milan Skriniar has been incredible the past two seasons. Credit to Antonio Conte who helped him take his game to another level."

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Posts ByBrett Worthington Aug 23, 2024

It would be a surprise if Everton managed to pip a club like Juve to Skriniar's signing, especially considering the likely finances involved – he currently earns £266,000 per week at PSG – but the idea of him alongside Jarrad Branthwaite is a mouthwatering prospect, with all due respect to the reliable James Tarkowski.

The 'Portuguese Magnifico' is back on the scoring path and his resurgence could make him reconsider his plans to retreat deeper into midfield

"Bruno, Bruno, Bruno, came from Sporting like Cristiano," begins Manchester United fans' chant for Bruno Fernandes, who they lovingly label ‘Our Portuguese Magnifico'. They can now tweak the song to include a reference to Ruben Amorim, the latest man to take the well trodden path from the Estadio Jose Alvalade to Old Trafford after Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Marcos Rojo and Fernandes.

Amorim has joined United in the midst of a goal-scoring resurgence for the United captain, who has struck five times in his last five games for club and country. After failing to score in the first 13 games of the season, Fernandes has been unleashed since Erik ten Hag was sacked.

He struck twice in the first game under interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy against Leicester in the Carabao Cup, slotted a penalty against Chelsea and then fired in from outside the area in the 3-0 win over the Foxes, also sparking the second goal in that game which was given as an own goal by Viktor Kristiansen. He took that rediscovered confidence into the internationals with Portugal, slamming a venomous strike in off the bar against Poland.

Fernandes' insatiable form in front of goal is a throwback to the incredible start he made when he joined United and has got fans excited about the prospect of him leading the team's attack under his compatriot and firing the team to an exciting new future. However, Amorim's arrival comes just when Fernandes was settling into a deeper role in midfield and when he envisaged himself dictating the team's overall play rather than being the goal-scoring hero.

That vision, however, seems to be at odds with Amorim's system, which operates with two defensive-minded midfielders and two narrow wide forwards. Where Fernandes fits into the coach's plans will be one of the most interesting aspects of what is set to be an exciting new era at Old Trafford…

Getty Making himself a target

Amorim is the sixth coach Fernandes has worked with in just under five years with United since his move from Sporting CP. He worked longest with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag but took on very different roles with each coach. When he joined United at the end of January 2020, Fernandes found a team that had lost three of its previous four Premier League games and after a disappointing goalless debut the team were languishing in seventh in the table.

Fernandes quickly raised their level and was named Premier League player of the month for February. He was in a hot streak just when football was halted by the Covid-19 pandemic but when it resumed in June he was even more prolific. He contributed 14 goals and eight assists in all competitions in half a season, inspiring them to finish third in the table and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Europa League. From the day of his debut, United took more points than any Premier League team – even runaway champions Liverpool. Fernandes was named the Sir Matt Busby player of the year despite playing just half a season and he retained that award the following season, when he was even more prolific, notching 28 goals plus 17 assists.

Fernandes looked set for another incredible campaign when he bagged a hat-trick (all from open play) in the opening game of the 2021-22 season against Leeds, but the arrival of Ronaldo disrupted his flow and eventually the team's too. He scored just seven more times in all competitions that season, ending on 10 league goals, while United slumped to their worst points total in Premier League history after sacking Solskjaer in November, with Michael Carrick and then Ralf Rangnick taking the reins.

The team's fortunes improved in Ten Hag's first campaign but Fernandes posted just eight league goals, his lowest amount since the 2016-17 season with Sampdoria. Last season, he went four months without a Premier League goal and more than five without one from open play. He was still a vital player, but his role had changed and he was often blamed for the team's dismal results. Speaking last November, he said his stunning start had ended up working against him.

"I know since I arrived at the club my numbers made myself a target so not keeping the same numbers on goals and assists is sometimes a problem for me," he said. "In the beginning everything was perfect, because when you arrive in the first game if you do something different to what anyone else is doing, it is going to be all flowers. But after that I understood that the tough part is always coming."

AdvertisementGettyFeeling responsible for Ten Hag

Even as the goals and assists dried up, Fernandes was still greatly appreciated by Ten Hag, partly because he was always available to play, which meant a lot to the coach in a season of endless injuries. The Portuguese only missed games when he was suspended and when he was forced to sit out the game with Crystal Palace last May, it was the first time in his career he had missed a game through injury.

Fernandes had played through the pain barrier on many occasions and against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup last season battled through what Ten Hag described as "a serious injury". The coach took offence to Fulham accusing him of playacting, branding their criticism "pathetic".

Fernandes' play-at-all-costs attitude was not always a good thing though and at several stages of the campaign he looked physically spent. Ten Hag also used him in multiple positions, in holding midfield, attacking midfield, on the wing and even at centre-back in the FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool.

But although Fernandes seemed to relish his role as the team's do-it-all saviour, it ended up being to the detriment of him and the team. Indeed, when Ten Hag was sacked, Fernandes revealed he had personally apologised to him. He said: "We are not scoring goals and I feel responsible. I normally score a lot of goals but I always give 100% and he is aware of that."

AFPRight moment for Amorim's energy

Bruno may have been the team's willing emergency serviceman, but he deserved to play in a properly functional team with a clear style of play. He should get that with Amorim and although the pair's paths never crossed at Sporting, Fernandes had watched the coach closely from afar. A lifelong Sporting fan as well as a player, he watches the team at home with his family and spoke enthusiastically about his arrival.

"This is the right moment for him to come, bring his energy, his qualities and his knowledge of football because he did something very special at Sporting," Fernandes told .

"He brought the excitement back to the club. He brought a lot of good things to the club and hopefully, he can do the same here because sometimes a person can change the energy of a space if it's the right moment. He's done really good things tactically, from what I've seen."

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Getty Images SportDeep-lying or flying forward?

It will be fascinating to see what Amorim does tactically with Fernandes. Even though the United captain admitted his drop in goals and assists is a stick with which he is regularly beaten, he has expressed a desire to continue his retreat in midfield from a traditional No.10 to a No.8, with his ultimate goal to be a No.6, having enjoyed playing there last season in the 2-0 win over Everton, which he has described as "one of the most complete games I've played, at all levels".

"The game with Everton was the one in which I created the most scoring opportunities, even though I was playing deeper and not playing as a No.10," he told in March.

"In terms of passing, game organisation, defence, tactics. I have a little thought in my head that I'm going to end my career further back, because everyone who started there and went to no.10 ended up retreating on the field at the end. It's a position I like, playing deeper, facing the game more.

"With the ball, it makes my game a lot easier because I have a broader view of the game and it is ideal for what we've talked about with the last pass, which can sometimes come from deeper on the pitch."

The talented full-back looks destined for a switch to Europe after a remarkable rise to stardom in his homeland with Lanus

The Premier League, and more specifically Manchester United, has a strong history when it comes to Argentine players. The Red Devils have regularly raided the Albiceleste's talent pool down the years, bringing in the likes of Juan Sebastian Veron, Gabriel Heinze, Carlos Tevez, Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero, while Alejandro Garnacho and Lisandro Martinez are currently representing the reigning world champions at Old Trafford.

It has been reported that the Red Devils have their eye on another promising Argentina starlet in the form of Julio Soler, who is already earning senior international recognition at the tender age of 19. Soler has been playing regular football for Lanus in Argentina's Primera Division for two years, and he looks ready to take the next step in his fledgling career.

The Premier League seemingly beckons for Soler, but it's by no means a foregone conclusion that United will win the race for his signature. That's because Liverpool are also said to be huge admirers of the teenager, and a bidding war between two of English football's biggest clubs could be on the cards next summer if he stays on his current trajectory.

It's no exaggeration to say that Soler has the potential to be a leading figure for Argentina's next generation, and GOAL is here to explain what makes him such an exciting prospect…

• Where it all began

  Soler was born in Paraguay on February 16, 2005, but moved to Argentina as a child and started to pursue a path towards professional football. Boosted by the guidance of his father Jose, who played in the Paraguayan top-flight for Sol de America, Soler eventually attracted the attention of Argentinos Juniors as a child.

  He honed his skills in the academy best known for producing global icon Diego Maradona, but his journey took an unexpected twist when he played in a 2017 match against Lanus. Argentinos Juniors lost 1-0, but Soler's performance impressed everyone, including then-Lanus first team manager Ezequiel Carboni, who was in the stands to watch his son Valentin in action.

  According to , Carboni said to reserves coach Rodrigo Acosta: "We have to go and get him now." Two days later, Soler made the swift nine-mile trip across Buenos Aires to begin his Lanus career, though Argentinos Juniors still managed to retain 40 percent of his economic rights.

  Lanus also employed Soler's father as a kit man for their children's team, and the family gave approval for the youngster to live in the club's boarding house. By 2021, Soler had worked his way up to the reserves squad, and the following year he was handed his senior debut at 17.

  When Julian Aude went down injured in the 77th minute of a Copa de la Liga Profesional group-stage clash against Independiente on April 30, 2022, Soler was thrown on as his replacement, and made a big impact as Lanus went on to seal a 1-0 victory courtesy of a stoppage-time winner from Angel Gonzalez. Soler would also make three league appearances that year, but would have to wait for a regular role.

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  The big break

  Soler made 12 appearances for Lanus across all competitions in 2023 as they finished fourth in the Primera Division and qualified for the 2024 Copa Sudamericana. However, under the stewardship of Ricardo Zielinski, Lanus made a poor start to the 2024 campaign, losing two of their first three Copa de la Liga games, which led him to promote Soler into his starting XI.

  The youngster shone in a 3-0 win over Platense, and has been a fixture in Zielinski's line-up ever since. Soler was one of Lanus' top performers in the first half of the year and also managed to break into Argentina's Under20 set-up. On June 10, Javier Mascherano started Soler in Argentina's final warm-up game for the Olympics, and he notched an assist in a 2-0 win against Paraguay. That impressive display convinced the ex-Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder to include Soler in his 18-man squad for the Paris Games.

  Geronimo Rulli, Nicolas Otamendi and Julian Alvarez took the three over-age spots, while Thiago Almada also made the cut, giving Soler the chance to play alongside four World Cup winners. Unfortunately, their presence did not guarantee a strong start to the tournament.

  Argentina were upset by Morocco 2-1 in their first group game, which lasted 116 minutes due to a ridiculously drawn-out VAR review that eventually ruled out Cristian Medina's stoppage-time equaliser. It was a crazy introduction to international tournament football for Soler, but he showed no sign of feeling the pressure in his 71 minutes on the pitch, and even set up Giuliano Simeone to score Argentina's only goal of the game.

  Soler retained his place in subsequent wins over Iraq and Ukraine as Argentina bounced back to reach the quarter-finals. There would be no fairy-tale finish for Soler, though, as Mascherano decided to drop him to the bench against hosts France. Soler came on as a half-time substitute in the last-eight tie, but left the field in tears after just 30 minutes due to injury, and Les Bleus managed to close out a 1-0 victory.

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  How it's going

  Argentina's Olympics campaign was a huge disappointment, but Soler was able to return to South America with his head held high. He made the most of every minute he got on the pitch and put himself on the radar of top clubs across Europe.

  The teenager emerged as a more mature footballer for the experience, too, and immediately picked up from where he left off at Lanus. He played a vital role in their run to the Copa Sudamericana semi-finals, even scoring one of the penalties in their shootout win over Independiente Medellin in the last eight.

  Lanus ultimately crashed out against Cruzeiro, and are now destined to finish the season without silverware, but it will go down as Soler's breakout year. That was confirmed in October, when Lionel Scaloni drafted him into the Argentina senior squad for the first time, after an injury to Marcos Acuna.

  Unfortunately for him, Soler was an unused substitute as Scaloni's side played out a 1-1 draw against Venezuela and a 6-0 win over Bolivia in their most recent set of World Cup qualifiers. He got to witness a Lionel Messi masterclass up close in the latter game, though, as the Inter Miami star scored a hat-trick and provided two assists.

  Not many teenagers get the chance to rub shoulders with Messi; it's a testament to how far Soler has come in such a short space of time. He was understandably a little bit star struck in training, as he admitted to reporters: "I haven't spoken to Messi much. I've watched him on TV all my life and now he's right here, it's amazing. It doesn't seem real."

  Soler didn't receive a call-up for Argentina's November qualifiers, but that shouldn't dishearten him. The Lanus ace is way ahead of schedule development-wise, and will remain in Scaloni's thoughts ahead of the 2026 World Cup, especially if he seals a switch to Europe next year.

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  Biggest strengths

  Soler is a forward-thinking left-back with bags of energy and pace. He's already a very mature, technical player with a good range of passing and an aggressive streak that makes him difficult to get past or dispossess.

  There are often times when Soler takes it upon himself to get Lanus up the pitch, accelerating away from his marker effortlessly even in the tightest of spaces. He has a knack for drawing fouls, can keep the ball under control at top speed and always plays with his head up, which is a sign of his general footballing intelligence.

  Soler relishes one-on-one duels, too, and rarely comes off second-best. He has everything needed to make it to the very top of the game, it will just be a case of keeping his feet on the ground as the hype around him continues to grow.