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Giorgos Giakoumakis is expected to miss Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Rangers through injury, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The Lowdown: Celtic face huge game

The Hoops take on their biggest rivals at lunchtime, with the pair meeting at Hampden Park for a place in next month’s Scottish Cup final.

Ange Postecoglou’s side earned the bragging rights in a Scottish Premiership clash recently, winning 2-1 at Ibrox to move six points clear at the top of the table.

Victory today would keep Celtic’s treble chances alive, but Postecoglou will be well aware that Rangers will be eyeing up revenge.

The Latest: Giakoumakis to miss out

Speaking to GiveMeSport, O’Rourke claimed that Giakoumakis would miss out with a hamstring injury, having picked it up in the 7-0 win at home to St Johnstone last weekend:

“Giakoumakis came off injured against St Johnstone at the weekend with a hamstring injury, which looks like it’s going to rule him out of the Scottish Cup semi-final with Rangers, which is a big blow for Celtic because he’s been in good form.”

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The Verdict: Undoubted blow for Hoops

This is a clear blow for Celtic ahead of one of their biggest games of the season, with Giakoumakis a key figure for the Hoops throughout the campaign.

He played the whole 90 minutes in the aforementioned win at Ibrox and has scored nine goals in just 10 league starts in 2021/22, not to mention four in two Scottish Cup outings.

It means the likes of Jota and Liel Abada will be tasked with providing the firepower in Giakoumakis’s absence, as Celtic look to get one over Rangers once again.

In other news, a key on-air Celtic claim has emerged. Read more here.

South Africa have asked the ICC to take disciplinary action against West Indies left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn following his altercation with Dale Steyn during the third Test in Barbados. Steyn was fined his entire match fee for spitting while walking past Benn immediately after his dismissal. The incident was preceded by an exchange of words between the players in the previous few overs.”Dale Steyn’s action was regrettable and he has apologised for it,” Mohammad Moosajee, the South African team manager, told reporters upon his team’s arrival in Johannesburg from the Caribbean. “But it came after lots of provocation and there was also retaliation after the incident.”We have laid a code of conduct charge against Sulieman Benn with the ICC and that must now go through the judicial process.”The fact that Benn, who has been punished for indiscipline before but not penalised this time, had provoked Steyn had also been acknowledged by the match referee Jeff Crowe when he decided to fine the latter. “Dale’s behaviour was entirely unacceptable and he knows that. The fact that he was provoked by Sulieman during his time at the crease helps to explain his actions but cannot excuse them.”In a separate incident in the same game, fast bowler Kemar Roach was fined 50% of his match fee for an “unpleasant altercation” with Jacques Kallis.

An Everton scout was in attendance for Friday’s Primeira Liga clash between FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon, according to Portuguese newspaper O Jogo (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Paulinho and Nuno Santos fired Sporting into a two-goal lead within 35 minutes, but Fabio Vieira and Mehdi Taremi responded to preserve Porto’s unbeaten record and indeed the six-point gap between the two teams.

The game also saw five red cards, with Sebastian Coates dismissed in the second half and four more players – Joao Palhinha, Bruno Tabata, Agustin Marchasin and Pepe – seeing red after the final whistle as a fight broke out.

Planning will be underway for Frank Lampard’s first full transfer window at Everton, with the 43-year-old only officially appointed on deadline day last month.

The latest

A report from O Jogo on Saturday (via Sport Witness) revealed that an Everton official was watching on at the Estadio do Dragao.

They weren’t the only Premier League club assessing the talent on show, with a Newcastle scout also on the scene.

The verdict

Who might Everton have been watching on Friday? One likely candidate would be Sporting midfielder Matheus Nunes.

O Jogo reported last summer that the Toffees were interested in the Brazilian, while Record claimed that a deal was ‘very close’ at one point and raised the possibility that it could happen at a later date. The player himself admitted that the interest from Merseyside was genuine.

Nunes produced a decent showing on the night, completing four of his five dribbles, winning the majority of his 25 duels and making three tackles (via SofaScore).

The 23-year-old, who is valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt and was described as a ‘quality box-to-box midfielder’ by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may be one for Blues fans to keep an eye on, particularly with the eminent possibility that Goodison Park scouts have noticed his talents.

In other news, a potential defensive target for Lampard has emerged

Aston Villa have Marseille’s Boubacar Kamara on their list of midfield targets.

That’s according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, and as to be expected, a number of Villa fans have been sharing their thoughts on the rumour.

Kamara is 22 years of age and is primarily a defensive midfielder, an area of the pitch that Villa want to bolster following Marvelous Nakamba’s injury.

He is out of contract with the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season and has been linked with the likes of Leeds United and Manchester United this month.

However, it appears as if a Villa Park switch could be on the cards in the final days of the January transfer window following Romano’s claim. The journalist revealed that Kamara is also on Villa’s midfield shortlist alongside Juventus’ Rodrigo Bentancur.

Villa fans react

@villareport relayed Romano’s update regarding Kamara on Twitter. Here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with many excited at the links and one labelling a possible deal as ‘perfect’.

“Oh my lord, yes please”

Credit: @HarryMummery

“DO IT NOW”

Credit: @Finleysurrell1

“Must be dreaming”

Credit: @STAUNT0N

“B. Kamara is the dream IMO. The perfect player for us. Hope we can get him.”

Credit: @ClaretVillans

“AAAAAAAAAA YES”

Credit: @DanAV___

“Please I beg, Don Lange”

Credit: @nedhandy8

In other news: ‘Such a talent’ – Some Aston Villa fans ‘confused’ as club confirms exit news

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Espanyol and Spain striker Raul de Tomas, as are a couple of other Premier League teams.

The Lowdown: De Tomas impressing in Spain

The 27-year-old is enjoying a hugely impressive season in his homeland, scoring 12 goals in just 21 La Liga appearances for Espanyol.

De Tomas also won his maiden international cap for Spain back in November, as his career has really turned up a gear this term.

It looks as though the Spaniard could potentially be off to the Premier League, too, if a new rumour is to be believed.

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The Latest: Leeds linked with move

According to AS, Leeds are set to do battle with Arsenal and West Ham for the signature of the Espanyol man, whose current deal doesn’t expire until 2026.

The Gunners have identified him as an alternative to Dusan Vlahovic, while Leicester City are also mentioned as possible suitors.

It is stated that Espanyol don’t want to sell him for anything under €70million (£58.76m), though, so we would surely need to see that price come down if Victor Orta is to strike a deal.

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The Verdict: Too expensive?

De Tomas’ ruthless form this season means he could be exactly what Leeds are after, in terms of providing stiff competition for Patrick Bamford.

The Englishman is the only real out and out goalscorer in the squad, meaning there is huge pressure on his shoulders and a gaping void to fill when he is not fit.

That being said, there is little to no chance that the Whites would pay the amount allegedly being demanded for De Tomas –  Rodrigo is the club’s record signing at £27million.

Cheaper alternatives must instead be looked at by Orta, with a summer addition more likely than January reinforcements, due to financial issues.

In other news, Phil Hay has provided a key Leeds transfer update. Read more here.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Dale Steyn’s three-wicket burst rocked Deccan, but they fought back superbly to keep their semi-final hopes alive•Indian Premier League

Deccan Chargers survived three huge blows in the first two overs of the match, and some more towards the end by Robin Uthappa, to keep alive their hopes of a semi-final berth. In a match that lurched wildly one way and then another, Harmeet Singh delivered the most decisive blow as Deccan held their nerve and eked out a 13-run win to move up to fifth in the points table.There were several moments in the match when it seemed Royal Challengers Bangalore had nailed the decisive advantage. First, when Dale Steyn took three wickets in first two overs, including those of Adam Gilchrist and Hershelle Gibbs, to reduce Deccan to 14 for 3; then, when Rahul Dravid creamed a classy and effortless 35-ball 49 to put Bangalore right on track in their run-chase; and again, when Uthappa struck two towering sixes off Ryan Harris in the 17th over to reduce the target to 18 from 12 balls.That’s when Harmeet delivered the blow from which there was no comeback for Bangalore. Bowling his back-of-the-hand slower deliveries, he ended Uthappa’s swashbuckling innings, and effectively ruined Bangalore’s run-chase. That over went for just one run, and it was clear which team would end up the winner.Teams have struggled at overhauling even modest totals at this ground, and it was a similar story today, thanks to the conditions which make it a far more even contest between bat and ball than most other venues – the boundaries were much bigger, ensuring shots which would have cleared the ground elsewhere stayed within the arena, and the pitch was slow and assisted spin, causing several batsmen to mis-time lofted shots.Even accounting for those factors, Bangalore, with their power-packed batting line-up, should have fancied their chances, and their run-chase seemed in good health while Dravid was timing the ball crisply after the first-ball dismissal of Manish Pandey. During his 35-ball knock he showcased a whole gamut of strokes, even as Jacques Kallis struggled for timing in a laborious 37-ball 27.The first ominous sign came when Pragyan Ojha, who turned in another sterling display, got one to turn, jump, and bounce at Kallis in his first over. The new ball was probably Bangalore’s best opportunity for runs, but Kallis’ slow knock ensured Deccan still had plenty of runs to defend when the slower bowlers came on. Ojha put in his second superb display against Bangalore – he had taken 2 for 24 four days back – while Harmeet was a revelation with his slower deliveries. Kallis, Dravid and Virat Kohli all fell to lofted shots, while Ross Taylor was done in by a fine yorker from RP Singh, who put forward a much-improved performance.In the end it was left to Uthappa to rescue the team again, but the combination of the conditions and the bowling attack was too much to conquer even for him.Deccan’s score of 151 owed largely to the 82-run fourth-wicket stand between Rohit Sharma and Monish Mishra, who lifted Deccan after a stunning burst from Steyn had them floundering. There wasn’t much pace on the track, but you wouldn’t know it watching Steyn bowl his first three overs. He clearly loves bowling at this venue: on his previous visit here a couple of months back, he returned match figures of 10 for 108 and destroyed India’s famed batting line-up; this time, he did the same with Deccan’s top order.He didn’t touch the 150 kph-mark like he had in the previous two games in his home ground, but the rewards were far more substantial this time. Gilchrist edged his first ball, T Suman had no answers to a perfect short delivery aimed at the body, while Gibbs was beaten by pace and away movement.Rohit and Monish then began the rescue act. After a slow start, both turned it on during a four-over spell between the ninth and 13th overs, which fetched 48. Mishra struck sixes off three consecutive overs, while Rohit caressed three fours in a single over from Kallis. The stand was already worth 82 and threatening many more when a terrible misunderstanding undid all the good work. Andrew Symonds struck a couple of powerful blows down the ground, while Rohit stroked his second half-century of the tournament, but both fell at inopportune moments. Even then, it turned out they had enough runs on the board to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

MatériaMais Notícias

Boas notícias para o torcedor atleticano. O departamento médico do Galo está a todo vapor para que o time comece a temporada de 2018 com o elenco mais completo.

Clayton é o primeiro a se recuperar de uma tendinite no tornozelo esquerdo. O jogador já treina e é uma das possíveis opções de Mano Menezes para a partida contra o Grêmio, no Independência.

Outro atleta que estava lesionado, mas agora está perto do retorno aos gramados é o zagueiro Felipe Santana. Em fase final de tratamento de uma entorse no joelho direito, o defensor já iniciou a transição e, ainda nesta semana, pode voltar aos treinos com os demais jogadores.

O lateral-direito Carlos César, que já esteve em campo após se recuperar de uma cirurgia no tornozelo, voltou para o departamento médico está fazendo fisioterapia. O lateral Lucas Cândido, depois de operar o joelho, também faz um trabalho com os fisioterapeutas.

O goleiro Uilson passou por cirurgia de reconstrução do ligamento cruzado anterior e só deve retornar ao time em seis a oito meses, enquanto o lateral Alex Silva tem previsão de retorno para o ano que vem.

Aston Villa have suffered a potentially significant injury blow ahead of their Premier League clash with Norwich City at Carrow Road this evening.

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans, Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury, although the seriousness of the issue is not yet known.

He tweeted: “Big blow for Nakamba sustaining a knee injury. The severity will be revealed later in the week but if it is bad, #AVFC may consider sourcing a replacement in the transfer window.

“Villa have acted on injuries before in the Jan window and will be flexible enough to do so again.”

The in-form 27-year-old has been a key player for Steven Gerrard’s charges in the opening period of the current campaign, and his absence from the matchday squad to face Norwich will come as a huge setback.

Steven Gerrard will be gutted

News that Nakamba is expected to be unavailable for the trip to Norfolk and potentially beyond will leave Gerrard feeling gutted, given his importance to the first-team squad.

The Zimbabwe international has forced his way into the starting lineup in recent weeks, featuring from the off in Villa’s last seven top-flight fixtures – including all five games of Gerrard’s short tenure.

And when taking a closer look at the defensive midfielder’s underlying numbers, it’s easy to understand why he has become a mainstay for the Midlands outfit.

As per WhoScored, Nakamba has averaged two tackles per league game throughout 2021/22 – the third-highest total compared to his teammates – and 1.5 defensive dribbles, the highest tally amongst his colleague.

The midfield gem has also produced 0.8 interceptions and one clearance while recording a passing accuracy of 86.6%, highlighting his hugely effective displays of late.

With the busy festive schedule set to kick in, Gerrard will be disappointed to lose such a pivotal player at this moment in time, and he’ll be hoping the likes of Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey can step up in his absence.

And, in other news…Imagine him & McGinn: Gerrard can form scary AVFC duo with £21k-p/w “special talent” 

Everton could form a formidable attacking duo after they were linked with a move for Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard as the January transfer window fast approaches.

What’s the story?

According to The Express (who cite The Mirror), Los Blancos have given up hope of extracting the 30-year-old’s best form and now prepared to part ways with their £88 million signing.

The report states that Madrid have slapped a mere £21m price tag on Hazard, attracting interest from the Toffees and fellow Premier League outfit West Ham United as a result.

Imagine him & Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Enticing Hazard back to English football would be a significant coup for Everton, and the diminutive dynamo could create a deadly partnership with star striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

During his time at former club Chelsea and for his national team, the Belgium international has often prospered when playing alongside a more traditional centre-forward.

The likes of Diego Costa, Romelu Lukaku and Olivier Giroud have all enjoyed lining up in the same side as Hazard, and the creative talent could certainly have a similar fruitful time with Calvert-Lewin.

Over the last two-and-a-half years, the 6 foot 2 gem has elevated his game to new heights, scoring 39 goals in 83 appearances for the Merseyside outfit, highlighting his potential to become an elite-level striker.

And Calvert-Lewin would also complement Hazard’s more relaxed approach to the game. While the Englishman is renowned for his hard work, the Madrid ace is known for a more laissez-faire attitude, as John Obi Mikel pointed out.

“He didn’t like to train hard. While we were working he was waiting for us to finish training just standing there. But on Sundays, he was always Man of the Match, it was unbelievable,” the retired midfielder revealed to BeIN Sport.

“Hazard has an incredible talent, maybe not as good as (Lionel) Messi, but he can do whatever he wants with the ball at his feet.”

Therefore, Everton’s hierarchy must swoop for Hazard over the coming months, putting him out of his Santiago Bernabeu nightmare and potentially reviving his career.

And, in other news…Journalist provides big Lucas Digne update after Everton absence, fans surely fuming 

The USACA has announced the squads for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier and World Cricket League Division 5 tournaments in Dubai, UAE and Nepal

Cricinfo staff06-Jan-2010The USA Cricket Association has announced the squads for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier and World Cricket League Division 5 tournaments in Dubai, UAE and Nepal.In Dubai, USA will have practice sessions at the Sharja Stadium on February 4 and 5, before a practice match at the Abu Dhabi Stadium on February 6. Another practice session is scheduled for February 8, before the round-robin matches in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier begins in Dubai on February 9, 10 and 11, with the semi-finals and final on February 12 and 13.The squad will leave Dubai for Nepal on February 14 and have three days of practice, before participating in World Cricket League round-robin matches from February 20 to 27. They will leave Nepal two days later for the journey back home, arriving in New York on March 1.This is one of the first times that the USA will have its men’s senior team and its Under-19 squad participating in back-to-back international tournaments outside of the USA. The USA Under-19 squad is currently in New Zealand preparing to participate in the ICC Under-19 World Cup and is expected to return home at the end of this month.USA Squad Steve Massiah (capt), Timroy Allen, Imran Awan, Orlando Baker, Lennox Cush, Kevin Darlington, Sudesh Dhaniram, Glen Hall, Rashard Marshall, Sushil Nadkarni, Usman Shuja, Aditya Thyagarajan, Saurabh Verma, Clain Williams and Carl Wright.