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In the end the target was well out of reach for Hong Kong but there are greater challenges ahead

Danyal Rasool10-Sep-20251:36

Mukund: Dropped catches a concern for Afghanistan

While Pakistan have five days between the final of the tri-series on Sunday and their first game in the Asia Cup on Friday, Afghanistan did not get that luxury. Less than 48 hours after a humbling defeat in that game, they lined up for the tournament opener of the biggest T20I competition this year.They were aware that, bunched together in a group with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, defeat against Hong Kong would put them on the brink of elimination as soon as the tournament began. They needed to shake the early nerves off, but four balls into the game, Sediqullah Atal nicked Hong Kong seamer Ayush Shukla to first slip.It felt like a continuation of their horror run with the bat from two days earlier and a hundred miles further north, when Afghanistan folded for 66. But this is a new tournament, and it brought with it better fortune for the Afghans. Captain Yasim Murtaza put the sitter down, and it would be two hours before Atal walked off: not as a man vanquished, but one who had batted through his side’s innings, scoring an unbeaten 73 off 52 as Afghanistan ran up an imposing 188, 34 more than the average first-innings score in Abu Dhabi.Related

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Atal, Omarzai and Afghanistan bowlers dismantle Hong Kong

It was a sliding-doors moment Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott acknowledged.”We started averagely today,” Trott said following the game. “We were a bit fortunate with a few dropped catches that sort of let us off. We need to make sure we improve on a few areas for the rest of the group games. We’ve got a few days off now. We’ve had a hectic schedule, six games in 12 days. So this is a good win. An important game for us and glad we’ve won it in the style we have.”However, for a side that opened the tournament with a 94-run win, Trott emphasised how far away this performance was from Afghanistan’s ceiling, or even the median level the coach has come to demand of this ever-improving group.Much of the concern will come from another turgid batting display for four fifths of the innings, when Hong Kong kept themselves in the game with the ball; better fielding would have put them in an even handier position. With 24 deliveries to go, Afghanistan had shuffled along to 119 for 4, needing to accelerate to even get to that average Abu Dhabi score.Azmatullah Omarzai ensured Afghanistan had plenty of runs in the bank•Getty ImagesIt was only as Hong Kong’s bowling fell away, particularly in an errant 17th over from Ateeq Iqbal, that the quality gap between these two sides began to reveal itself. A pair of sixes, a pair of fours, and a pair of balls that produced three wides combined for a 25-run over. With Azmatullah Omarzai at his explosive best, Shukla – of first-over misfortune – was pumped for another 24 in the penultimate, and 69 came off the final four.It took the target well beyond Hong Kong’s realistic ability, but Trott was adamant not to let this paper over the cracks.”We need players to take responsibility,” Trott said. “For me it’s important some of our players need to get in some form and need to start going runs. That’s very important.”I would like us to have batted better. But then the way Sediq played and the way Azmat came in and hit the ball showed us it’s a pretty good pitch. I’m fairly happy with the total that we got, but there are still things we need to work on and make sure we’re ready for the rest of the games.”

“We’ve won nothing. Let’s just make that clear. We’re an up and coming side and we’ve got a lot of work to do”Jonathan Trott

The strength of Trott’s words suggest he wants to head the problem off before the stakes are raised. They have a week off before two games in three days, with the quality of opposition vastly superior in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. One of those three sides – barring a miracle from Hong Kong – will be elbowed out at the expense of the other two. Trott appeared to warn his players – despite the heavy win – that a drop in level might mean it could be them against more familiar opponents.”All three teams have played each other quite a lot. We know each other quite well,” he said. “Recently we haven’t played a lot of games each other, but in the last couple of years we have. It’s about remembering those things that we’ve done well against them individually but as a side as well. For me, Azmat coming into a bit of form today and Sediq carrying on the form that he’s been in [are good signs].”But still, we need to play better because I think we were helped a little bit by Hong Kong’s fielding. Because if Azmat had been caught or Sediq had been caught in the first over, it could have been a very different game so we need to make sure we’re better in the next few games.”2:26

Mukund impressed by Afghanistan’s on-field trial

However, Trott knows the difference between self-criticism and dwelling on the past, and where he was keen to draw the line was that dispiriting loss in the tri-series final to Pakistan on the weekend.”This win was helpful just to move on and get past the final and move on and go into the Asia Cup,” he said. “So we don’t have to dwell on a very disappointing game for us which I think we were a good shot of winning at the halfway mark. Lessons learnt and I think the guys applied those lessons very well. We’ll get those habits going again, and get ready for the next game.”Afghanistan now come with a large fan following, particularly in the UAE, where their supporters perhaps outnumbered Pakistan’s in that final on Sunday. It is by far the most followed sport in a country that has bought into South Asian cricket fan culture much the same way as the more established nations from the region, with every moment, decision, selection or omission parsed and analysed to within an inch of its life.1:36

Chopra: ‘It will take time for Atal to mature into a T20 rockstar’

That support may be the lifeblood of a cricketing ecosystem, but in tournaments like these, it is not always helpful.”I’m not really worried about the media’s expectation or the outside expectation,” Trott said. “I’m worried about our expectation as players and as a side that we have for each other, and the standards we hold each other to on the field and off the field. That’s the most important thing. If we get those right, the bigger picture will take care of itself. We’ve been pretty good and come pretty close to being within a shot of a few things. But we need to be better.”We’ve won nothing. Let’s just make that clear. We’re an up and coming side and we’ve got a lot of work to do.”With that unflinching focus on constant improvement, Trott, and Afghanistan, may change that over the next three weeks.

Aston Villa are now seriously considering a January move for an “incredible” striker, who has been in fantastic form this season.

Villa looking to sign new striker this winter

It is becoming increasingly clear that Villa want to bring in a new centre-forward in the upcoming transfer window, having identified a number of targets over the past week or so, namely Brentford’s Igor Thiago, Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee and Bologna’s Santiago Castro.

On the face of it, pursuing a move for Thiago would appear to make the most sense, given that the Brazilian has emerged as one of the best strikers in the Premier League this season, with only Manchester City star Erling Haaland scoring more goals.

However, Aston Villa have now joined the race for another striker who has been prolific in front of goal so far this season, according to a report from Spain, which states they are seriously considering a January move for Strasbourg star Joaquin Panichelli.

Unai Emery’s side are said to be closely monitoring the striker, and hold a genuine interest, off the back of Panichelli impressing in the first half of the Ligue 1 season, with Chelsea and West Ham United also joining the race for his signature.

With the Argentinian’s contract not due to expire until 2027, the French club should be in a strong negotiating position, which complicates a deal, and finalising a move in the January transfer window could be difficult.

Panichelli has made "incredible" start in Ligue 1

Given that Ollie Watkins has just three Premier League goals to his name this season, Emery could do with bringing in a more prolific striker next month, and the Cordoba-born marksman has regularly been amongst the goals for Strasbourg, scoring ten times in all competitions.

Scout Jacek Kulig has also praised the former CD Mirandes man for the start he’s made to life at the Ligue 1 side, having only arrived at Strasbourg from the Spanish side in the summer.

The one-time Argentina international is the second-highest scorer in Ligue 1, behind only Mason Greenwood, and at 23-years-old, he is at the right age to be a long-term replacement for Watkins.

Aston Villa could launch attack to sign £44m striker who's outscoring Watkins

The Villans are looking to bring in a new centre-forward.

By
Dominic Lund

4 days ago

That said, with Panichelli tied down to a long-term contract and yet to prove himself in one of Europe’s top leagues over a sustained time period, it may be worth Villa continuing to monitor him, ahead of potentially launching a move next summer.

Real Madrid came from behind but were unable to get over the line in a frustrating 1-1 draw with a well-drilled Girona. Kylian Mbappe's second half penalty cancelled out a well-worked opener from the La Liga strugglers, yet Madrid couldn't find a second – and stay one point off the top in La Liga in another twist to the title race.

Madrid probed for opportunities early on, but were left rather exposed on the break. Thibaut Courtois responded, though, producing a couple of good saves to keep the visitors level. Los Blancos thought they had taken the lead when Mbappe slotted home, but his goal was correctly chalked off when VAR determined there was a handball in the build-up. The visitors were then made to pay for a major defensive lapse. Girona were allowed to work the ball down the right, before Azzedine Ounahi swept one past Courtois from the top of the box after a well-timed feed from Viktor Tsigankov. 

Los Blancos had their chances to start the second half. They had the ball in the net again on the hour mark, but saw it ruled out again after Vinicius Junior was in an offside position when he poked home. Madrid got their equalizer from the spot after 65 minutes. Vinicius scampered around his man and was brought down inside the box. Mbappe coolly tucked the penalty into the bottom corner to ease Xabi Alonso's nerves on the touchline. Madrid came close numerous times after. Vinicius missed a couple narrowly. Mbappe was denied from close range. 

But there was never a second. Girona were resilient at the back, and Madrid lacked a crucial bit of quality needed to put the game away. This can be considered nothing other than a chance to go top wasted, with Barcelona holding the initiative at the La Liga summit. 

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from Estadio Montivili…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Thibaut Courtois (7/10):

Made a few silly saves. Could do nothing about the goal. Denied a second. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold (6/10):

A very Trent performance. Did some ridiculous things with the ball but failed to track his man on the goal.  

Eder Militao (7/10):

A composed performance on his return to the side. Good on the ball and effective in the air. 

Antonio Rudiger (6/10):

First appearance since late August, and he was a little mixed. Solid on the ball but a little slow to react – and handed Girona a good chance as a result. 

Fran Garcia (6/10):

A surprise to see him start at left back. Scampered up and down the left but his final ball was lacking. 

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Aurelien Tchouameni (5/10):

Offered plenty of control at the base of midfield, but didn't get across to track the runner on Girona's opener. 

Jude Bellingham (8/10):

Dropped a little deeper and did plenty of dirty work in the first half. Pushed up more in the second. Madrid's most consistent performer throughout. 

Federico Valverde(6/10):

Full of legs and industry, clean on the ball, but rather stripped of his attacking nous in this role. 

Arda Guler (5/10):

Used in a No.10 role in the opening exchanges, but saw his influence wane. Removed at the break. It's been a tough few games.

GettyAttack

Kylian Mbappe (7/10):

Unfortunate to have a goal ruled out for an unlucky handball. Buried his penalty with ease. Not his most involved game, but got on the scoresheet, regardless. 

Vinicius Jr (8/10):

Won the penalty thanks to a lovely bit of skill. Put a couple of others narrowly wide. Very good without being at his scintillating best. 

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GettySubs & Manager

Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

Introduced at the break and gave Madrid some much-needed energy and balance in midfield. Seriously impressive thus far this year. 

Rodrygo (6/10):

A late introduction as Madrid chased a winner. Barely involved. 

Alvaro Carreras (N/A):

No time to make an impact. 

Gonzalo Garcia (N/A):

No time to make an impact. 

Xabi Alonso (5/10):

Rotated a bit, making changes at left back and centre-back. His side were a bit lacklustre, though, and unconvincing at both ends. 

GT have assembled a squad of neatly interlocking parts, with a bowling attack that allows their top order to play to their strengths and maximise them

Karthik Krishnaswamy18-May-20251:21

Moody: Gill, Sai Sudharsan now have five gears

On Saturday night, Bengaluru’s cricket fans paid tribute to Virat Kohli’s Test career when they poured into the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for a T20 game that never happened. On Sunday night, another man from Bengaluru paid his own tribute to Kohli – in Kohli’s hometown, no less – though this was a T20 tribute in a T20 game.It came in the 19th over of Delhi Capitals’ (DC) innings against Gujarat Titans (GT), and it came off a ball that pitched 8.7m from the stumps. That’s solidly back of a length, a length that’s incredibly hard to hit down the ground for six, especially off a rapid, hit-the-deck bowler, with a bat not quite vertical but certainly more vertical than horizontal.Kohli famously hit a 19th-over six like that, off Haris Rauf at the MCG. Sunday’s effort at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, from KL Rahul off Prasidh Krishna, was similar in conception and mechanics, even if it went over long-off rather than back over the bowler’s head.Related

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Sai Sudharsan: 'I have expanded my batting; mentally I'm a bit more free and expressive'

Stats – GT second team to pull off double-century chase without losing a wicket

Rahul hit GT’s fast bowlers for three sixes over long-off during his unbeaten 112 on Sunday, and none of them was straightforward. The one off Prasidh took the prize for difficulty level, but the two off Kagiso Rabada didn’t come off slot balls either. In the sixth over, he used his reach to extend his arms through a lofted front-foot drive off a 6.75m ball – 6-8m is the fast bowler’s good-length band. In the 11th over, Rabada followed his movement away from leg stump with a 6.99m ball, seemingly cramping him for room, only for Rahul to manufacture a straight-bat jab down the ground.There were only four sixes in Rahul’s innings – that’s the joint-fewest he’s hit in his seven T20 hundreds. That he hit only four sixes, and that three of them came off genuinely hard-to-hit balls, told a tale – an important tale in the context of this match and of IPL 2025 on the whole, but one that won’t immediately leap out of the scorecard.That scorecard is dominated by three big innings from opening batters – Rahul’s 65-ball 112, B Sai Sudharsan’s 61-ball 108, and Shubman Gill’s 53-ball 93, all three unbeaten, all three scored at strike rates between 172 and 178.GT won by ten wickets, with an over to spare, and they romped home in a manner so clinical that the target they were chasing, 200, seemed inadequate. It probably was, but the story of this match wasn’t the usual story of matches like this, of the team batting first showing too little ambition and ending with a below-par total, of the first-innings centurion ending up with question marks over his intent or lack thereof.1:13

‘DC got it wrong with their bowling match-ups’

Those questions have been asked of Rahul numerous times in his career, but Sunday’s innings wasn’t that sort of innings. If DC only made 199 despite losing just three wickets, they did so not because they didn’t take enough risks with the bat but because GT tied them down with the quality of their bowling.And that quality, though apparent if you watched closely, only really began to stand out when it had something to stand out against. And that something was the opposition’s bowling.Sai Sudharsan and Gill batted brilliantly, in a manner we have come to watch with open jaws, putting on an unbroken 205, their highest partnership in a season that has so far brought them 839 runs as a pair, at an average of 76.27, with seven 50-plus stands of which three have gone past the century mark. It’s almost unheard of for an opening pair to score so consistently, with such control, while seeming to take so few risks, without leaving you wondering if they left ten or 15 runs out in the middle.It’s a neat trick, and it’s partly explained by the quality of batsmanship: you only need to watch Sai Sudharsan’s no-look flicked six off T Natarajan, or Gill’s flicked six off the same bowler, hit nonchalantly against the angle, to know that these are hugely gifted strokemakers.But that’s not the whole story. The other thing that makes this trick possible is GT’s bowling attack, which gives Sai Sudharsan and Gill the luxury of taking chances less frequently than opening pairs who play for teams with inferior attacks.Watch the highlights of Rahul’s innings and count the boundaries off hit-me balls. Do the same with the highlights of GT’s chase. Compare.1:07

Moody: ‘Rahul has managed to adjust again to a different role’

Sai Sudharsan hit four fours and a six off the first nine balls he faced, and four of them came off hit-me balls: two hip-high balls angling down the leg side, two short balls offering room to free the arms.There were periods when DC managed to string together sequences of quiet overs – they only conceded 27 from the fifth to the eighth overs, for instance – and neither Sai Sudharsan nor Gill tried to break free by manufacturing a boundary. But DC simply couldn’t sustain that pressure for long enough, and this is how most IPL attacks operate.And GT, at all times, were only chasing 200, because their attack hadn’t operated like most IPL attacks. They operated, instead, like an attack that had Ashish Nehra’s eyes on them at all times.As GT’s head coach, Nehra’s bowling philosophy is simple: bowl good lengths, bowl to your field, and keep at it; if the batter still manages to find the boundary, say “well done, let’s see you try that again”. A lot of coaches talk the same game, but few keep their bowlers on as tight a leash as Nehra does, screaming instructions from the edge of the playing area.And it helps when those instructions are carried out by fast bowlers as good as Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh – both of whom have benefited immensely from the simplicity of Nehra’s stick-to-your-strengths philosophy – and spinners as good as Rashid Khan and R Sai Kishore. All four have featured in all of GT’s matches this season.2:40

What could DC have done differently?

The moment that best illustrated GT’s bowling quality on Sunday came from their one questionable tactical call, giving Sai Kishore the 16th over when Axar Patel was at the crease. That over, pitting a left-arm fingerspinner against a left-hand batter known for his prowess against spin, brought DC 15 runs, but Sai Kishore really made Axar earn his runs. Both the four and the six he hit in that over came off quick, good-length balls angled away from his hitting arc; both times, Sai Kishore forced Axar to use all of his immense reach to find a way to hit down the ground.The contrast between that over and the big overs that littered GT’s innings was stark, the latter invariably chock-full of slot balls or balls offering width.And this wasn’t just the story of this match. It’s been the story of IPL 2025. GT have assembled a squad of neatly interlocking parts, with a bowling attack that allows their top order to play to their strengths and maximise them. DC have never quite found that sort of structure or coherence – they didn’t have it even during their run of four straight wins at the start of the season.It’s why the two teams are where they are right now. GT are into the playoffs, and DC need other results to go their way to have a chance of joining them. And while the top order will take a lot of credit for how GT’s season has gone, they will know that their bowlers have made things a lot easier for them.

عاد كيفن برينس بواتينج، نجم الكرة الغانية السابق، لتذكر كواليس انتقاله إلى صفوف برشلونة، موضحًا أن أحد اللاعبين كان بإمكانه إيقاف صفقة انضمامه إلى البلوجرانا.

برشلونة تعاقد مع بواتينج خلال شهر يناير من عام 2019، وذلك على سبيل الإعارة قادمًا من صفوف نادي ساسولو حتى نهاية الموسم، قبل أن تنتهي الإعارة ويعود اللاعب إلى النادي الإيطالي.

وكانت فترة بواتينج مع برشلونة فاشلة بكل المقاييس، حيث شارك الدولي الغاني السابق مع البلوجرانا في أربع مباريات فقط ولم يسجل أو يصنع أي هدف.

أقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | فليك يثير قلق جماهير برشلونة بسبب حالته بعد مباراة ألافيس

واعترف بواتينج في بودكاست ”Unscripted”، أن الأسطورة ليونيل ميسي كان بإمكانه منع انتقاله إلى برشلونة، موضحًا أن توقيعه مع البلوجرانا لم يتم إلا بعد موافقة الدولي الأرجنتيني.

وقال بواتينج: “في ذلك الوقت كان هناك مديران رياضيان في برشلونة، أحدهما كان إريك أبيدال وقال لي نعم نريدك، وقال المدير الرياضي الآخر نريدك”.

وأضاف: ”أرادني الرئيس بارتوميو والمدرب فالفيردي أيضًا، فقلت ممتاز، لنوقع غدًا، فأجابا لا، علينا التحدث إلى ليو أولًا، كان يمتلك تلك القوة، نمت على أمل أن يوافق ميسي على انضمامي، لو رفض لما وقعت لبرشلونة”.

ويمتلك بواتينج مسيرة مميزة في أوروبا لعب خلالها للعديد من الأندية، لكن التجربة الأبرز للاعب كانت اللعب في صفوف إي سي ميلان والذي قدم معه بواتينج مستويات كبيرة.

To say it has been a topsy-turvy season for West Ham United would be an understatement.

For the first couple of months, the Hammers couldn’t buy a win and looked almost certain to be relegated from the Premier League come May.

However, over the last month or so, Nuno Espírito Santo has steadied the ship and, as things stand, has led the club out of the drop zone.

He’ll be looking to continue the side’s unbeaten run against Liverpool this afternoon, but to ensure West Ham collects at least a point, if not all three, he’ll need to make at least one change and drop someone who was once compared to Mohammed Kudus.

West Ham's record against Liverpool

West Ham’s game against Liverpool this afternoon will be the 153rd competitive meeting between the sides in all competitions.

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The two historic clubs first met back in January 1901, in an FA Cup game that the Hammers sadly lost 1-0 courtesy of a Sam Raybould goal, which the hosts argued should have been ruled offside.

Unfortunately, that match served as a warning for how this fixture would go over the following 124 years, with the East Londoners winning just 29 games, drawing 38 and losing 86.

Somehow, things have been even worse for the Hammers in recent years. Across their last ten meetings, they have won just a single game, drawn another and then lost the other eight.

With a history like this, you’d be forgiven for thinking Nuno’s side have no chance this afternoon, but based on the last month or so of football, that may not be the case.

For example, Arne Slot’s side have lost their last three games by a staggering 10-1 scoreline and currently look as bad, if not worse, than the Irons did at the start of the campaign.

In stark contrast, West Ham have won two of their last three games and drawn one, so they should be going into this game confident of keeping their good form up and dumping more misery on the Merseysiders.

With that said, to ensure his side do come out the victors, or at the very least, with a point, Nuno needs to make at least one change to the team and drop someone compared to Kudus.

The West Ham player Nuno has to drop vs Liverpool

There may well be arguments for dropping more than one player from the side that drew at Bournemouth last week, but when it comes to the player most in need of being removed, it has to be Luis Guilherme.

The Brazilian was given the go-ahead in place of the injured Crysencio Summerville, but instead of the dynamism, directness and trickery the Dutchman brings to the team, he looked weak, out of place and simply not ready.

Now, that doesn’t mean the teenager shouldn’t get another chance to make his mark on the team.

After all, he remains a highly-rated prospect who respected analyst Ben Mattinson claims “still has the world at his feet” and someone who has “similarities to Kudus” in terms of the attacking traits he possesses.

However, after a 45-minute performance in which he registered an expected assists figure of 0.01, failed to take a single shot, took just 21 touches, failed in 66% of his dribbles, lost the ball nine times, completed ten passes and lost seven of eight duels, he should be dropped.

Guilherme’s v Bournemouth

Minutes

45′

Expected Goals

0.00

Expected Assists

0.01

Shots

0

Passes

10

Touches

21

Lost Possession

9

Dribbles (Successful)

3 (1)

Ground Duels (Won)

8 (1)

Dribbled Past

1

All Stats via Sofascore

Moreover, there is someone available for selection again who will give far more than that: Lucas Paqueta.

Yes, after serving his one-match ban, the Brazilian can play again, and given his incredible ability and recent form, there is no reason he shouldn’t be right back in the team, either out wide or in the middle.

So far this season, the former Lyon star has scored four goals in 12 appearances and, according to FBref, ranks in the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league for successful take-ons and in the top 13% for progressive passes, all per 90.

In other words, on top of the goals, he is helping to create chances both through his immense close control and brilliant passing range.

Ultimately, if Nuno wants to ensure West Ham collect all three points against Liverpool this afternoon, he should drop Guilherme for Paqueta.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 27, 2025

Kobbie Mainoo is ready to leave Manchester United on loan in January after getting increasingly frustrated with his lack of opportunities under Ruben Amorim. The midfielder was an unused substitute during United's 1-1 draw with West Ham on Thursday, the fourth time he has remained on the bench in a Premier League game this season. The 20-year-old is still yet to start a league game this term.

Getty Images SportMainoo set to seek loan move again

Mainoo, who asked to leave United on loan in the summer but saw his request rejected by the club, is ready to seek a loan again in January, according to . Mainoo is described as being 'deeply frustrated' with the lack of opportunities Amorim has given him, only starting him in the Carabao Cup tie against Grimsby back in August. The report claims Mainoo would prefer a loan move abroad, with Bayern Munich having shown interest in signing him in the past. United, however, are expected to wait until the Africa Cup of Nations is over and whether Noussair Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo or Amad Diallo sustain injuries during the tournament.

The decision over whether Mainoo will be allowed to leave in January, as fellow United academy graduate Marcus Rashford did earlier this year, comes down to whether United prefer to have him around for Amorim to call upon for the remainder of the season or will prioritise protecting his value for a future sale by assisting him in kick-starting his season by playing regularly elsewhere.

AdvertisementMidfielder repeatedly snubbed by Amorim

United wasted a huge opportunity to move into the Premier League's top five when they drew 1-1 at home to struggling West Ham, conceding an 83rd-minute equaliser by Soungoutou Magassa after Diogo Dalot had given them a second-half lead. Amorim used all five of his substitutions in a bid to win the game but did not turn to Mainoo, who has played a grand total of 171 minutes in the league this season spread across nine appearances off the bench.

And when it was suggested by a journalist in the post-match press conference that Amorim could have brought on Mainoo to boost United's attack, the coach laughed. Mainoo was seen as the club's future central midfielder for many years when he broke into the team under Erik ten Hag in November 2023, delivering an outstanding performance on his debut at Everton. 

He locked down his place in the starting XI and scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Mainoo also played a big role in England's run to the final of Euro 2024, playing in all but one match and starting all of the knockout games. But he has barely featured this season, with Amorim sticking with the midfield pairing of Casemiro and Bruno in 12 of the 14 matches and starting Manuel Ugarte in the two games the Brazilian has missed.

Getty Images SportAmorim: I know you love Mainoo but…

Amorim told a press conference: "Of course, I understand. My job is to answer but I am trying to answer always the same thing. And you ask me always the same thing. I understand what you are saying. You love Kobbie. He starts for England, but that doesn’t mean I need to put Kobbie when I feel I shouldn’t put Kobbie.

"I see it. I see it and I just want to win, I just put the players, I don’t look who it is, I don’t care about that, I just try to put the best players on the pitch. You have Ugarte that played two games, one of them, Case was out. Bruno is always fit, he’s the guy that is doing his position so maybe it has to do with that."

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AFCON absences won't necessarily help Mainoo

United will lose Mbeumo, Mazraoui and Amad for around a month due to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations which begins later in December. The trio will have to report for Cameroon, hosts Morocco and the Ivory Coast respectively on Monday December 15, the day United are due to host Bournemouth. They could be involved in the tournament until the final on January 18.

Although none of the players play in midfield, their absences in theory open up more opportunities for Mainoo to play, especially if Amorim decides to put Bruno Fernandes further forward into the attack while Mbeumo is away. But Amorim was not prepared to make any predictions about whether Mainoo would get a bigger role in the team during the AFCON.

"I don’t know, I don’t know," he said. "It’s the same question. I don’t know what is going to happen. It depends. If I see in the training it is the best thing, I will put it. That is the only way I know how to respond to that."

Despite using Mainoo so little, Amorim has said that he will not allow the midfielder or another out of favour player such as Joshua Zirkzee to leave the club in the January transfer window.

Desert Vipers gained from their tactical decision to retire Max Holden out, going on to win the contest by one run

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2025Desert Vipers won a one-run thriller over MI Emirates in the ILT20 on Tuesday night, and fun as the game itself was, nothing beat what transpired in the 16th over of the first innings, which involved a declined stumping and a retired out, off successive balls, involving Nicholas Pooran and Max Holden.Batting first after losing the toss in Abu Dhabi, Vipers had started the 16th over on 110 for 1. Max Holden and Sam Curran were in the middle, but were going nowhere. The four preceding overs had netted exactly 20 runs, and Shimron Hetmyer and Dan Lawrence were in the shed.Vipers needed a move on, and Englishman Holden, their top-scorer in the innings, was on strike from the third ball after Curran had hit a four and taken a single off Rashid Khan. But no runs came off the third and fourth balls, and MI Emirates lost a review off the last of those when Pooran felt Holden had nicked the ball but the ball had only come to him off the pads. The fifth ball went for two.Then the drama began.Rashid to Holden. Holden charges down the track and goes for maximum, but misses the line completely as Rashid keeps it wide. He is so far down the pitch that he doesn’t even attempt to get back. Pooran has the ball, but isn’t interested in effecting the stumping. Holden realises what Pooran is up to and returns to ground his bat.