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UAE go in as tournament favourites, but don’t rule out Canada, Nepal or the hosts Oman

Peter Della Penna17-Feb-2022After rampaging through the Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in 2012 and 2013 as tournament favorites, not to mention ascending to Full Member status in 2017, Ireland arrive to the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier A in Oman in the curious position where – at least on paper – they are not the tournament favorites. Both by ranking and by form, that distinction arguably rests with United Arab Emirates.In the leadup to this eight-team tournament, UAE came out victorious in a four-team quadrangular series held in Oman among a group that also included Oman, Ireland and Nepal. They won two out of three matches, including a 13-run victory over Ireland. It’s a margin that is more flattering to Ireland than the course of play demonstrated, and a result that is not an anomaly. In fact, UAE have won four of their last five T20Is against Ireland, including two of three immediately prior to the T20 World Cup in October.Related

New format for T20 WC Qualifier: fewer games, higher stakes

The sting of being on the outside looking at the main event as it was happening on home soil has given UAE all the motivation they need to reach their first T20 World Cup since 2014. They’re also a long way from where they were 29 months ago on the eve of the 2019 T20 World Cup Qualifier, also played in their backyard, when their squad was decimated by a match-fixing scandal that claimed numerous players including former captain Mohammad Naveed and star batter Shaiman Anwar.It would be hard to find someone who could say with a straight face at the time that It would be one of the best things that ever happened to the UAE cricket system, but a proper cleanout not only left them with players fully committed to the cause, but also unearthed some hidden gems who might not have otherwise gotten opportunities stuck behind the likes of those who were allegedly undermining their own team-mates.At the top of that list is Muhammad Waseem, a dashing opening batter who sunk Ireland last October with an unbeaten century and has shown no signs of slowing down in 2022, having bulldozed his way to 84 off 44 balls in his last innings prior to the start of the qualifier against Oman. But not far behind are 21-year-old legspinner Karthik Meiyappan and 19-year-old wicketkeeper Vriitya Aravind. Both were handed senior team debuts as teenagers in December 2019 in the immediate aftermath of the fixing saga and the wisdom of that is paying off with two years of experience now under their belts. Meiyappan took a four-for in a win over Ireland last October while Aravind struck an audacious half-century in a win over the same side last week. Combined with the experienced trio of captain Ahmed Raza, Rohan Mustafa and Zahoor Khan, it’s no wonder why UAE are entering this event as the highest ranked team in Oman.Ireland have been in a bit of a rut since losing to Namibia in the T20 World Cup last year•Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty ImagesMeanwhile, Ireland appear to be stuck in a prolonged malaise. After being knocked out of the T20 World Cup by Namibia in October, their woes against Associates have not ceased. A visit to Florida in December saw them lose by 26 runs to USA before clawing out a nine-run win to escape with a series draw. Though they then went on to take two of three ODIs from the West Indies in January, their T20I form remains worrisome. After a nine-wicket win over Oman to kick off the T20I quad series, they fell once again to the UAE before scratching their way to 127 all out in a less than convincing 16-run win over Nepal.The recurring theme is that if the top order doesn’t score the bulk of the runs, Ireland are in trouble. Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie and Gareth Delany all pack a serious punch, but the lack of consistency down the order puts extreme pressure on the bowling unit to set up or defend low totals. Craig Young has been in solid form in Oman and will need to keep that up to give Ireland the best chance of beating UAE to finish at the top of their group.In the same half of the draw as Ireland and UAE are underdogs Germany and Bahrain. Germany will lean heavily on the services of Dieter Klein and Michael Richardson, who both bring County cricket experience to the table from Leicestershire and Durham respectively. Bahrain’s fielding may leave a lot to be desired, but they have some heavy hitters in the form of the opening combo of Muhammad Younis and Sarfaraz Ali.The opposite half of the draw is a cricket version of the group of death. Oman, Nepal and Canada are expected to wage an intense battle to claim two semi-final berths on offer. Two years ago, it would have been a foregone conclusion that Oman would take one of the spots, particularly since they are hosting the event. But their opening round stumbles in the T20 World Cup in October exposed what is a rapidly aging squad. But just when alarm bells looked like they were ringing progressively louder after a pair of lopsided defeats to start off the T20I quad series last week, they came back on the final day to spring a shock upset of UAE as 40-year-old left-arm spinner Aamir Kaleem dipped his bowling hand in the fountain of youth to bag 5 for 29.Allround superstar Aqib Ilyas recently announced he will miss six months while getting treatment for a benign tumor, and already his absence has been felt at the top of the batting order. It only adds to the pressure heaped on opener Jatinder Singh to make up for the runs lost from Ilyas. Captain Zeeshan Maqsood has gone from firecracker to accumulator with the bat, but he may need to turn back the clock to reprise the approach from his youth to give the batting unit the extra bit of oomph they’ve been missing. Maqsood is still more than handy leading the spin attack and the pace unit still has sharper teeth than most in the Associate world led by Bilal Khan.Nepal has survived plenty of upheaval in the buildup to the tournament with Gyanendra Malla dumped as captain in favor of Sandeep Lamichhane. But the return of Pubudu Dassanayake as coach may have been just the elixir that was needed to wash away any ill feelings. Vice captain and allrounder Dipendra Singh Airee was in scintillating form in the T20I quad series, but the rest of the batting unit produced tepid displays.Despite being the highest ranked team in their half of the draw, Nepal will also have to deal with the absence of Karan KC, who had traveled to Oman for the tournament but failed a fitness test on the eve of the event and will take no part. His death overs hitting was just as important as his new ball bowling and Nepal showed few signs of adequately replacing either during the quad series.Can Oman captain Zeeshan Maqsood roll back the years?•Peter Della PennaCanada may be ranked below both Oman and Nepal on paper, but are in excellent form leading into this tournament. They finished as runner-up to USA in the Americas Regional Qualifier, losing in a Super Over after a bizarre sequence in which USA stole two byes off the final ball of regulation. In past appearances at the global qualifier, Canada have traditionally started off red hot before fitness concerns have caught up to them and affected their performances the longer the group stage has dragged on. No better example of that came in 2019 when they ripped off three straight wins, including one over Ireland, to start off the event before losing three straight to fall short of the knockout stage.Longtime stalwart Nitish Kumar is absent due to work commitments, but his runs are more than made up for by the emergence of the big hitting Rayyan Pathan, captain Navneet Dhaliwal, Ravinderpal Singh and Hamza Tariq. Matthew Spoors, an Australian-based player who qualifies as a dual citizen, is expected to make a big impact on his Canada tournament debut after impressing at the top of the order in warm-up games held in Oman. Former Pakistan Under-19 left-arm quick Kaleem Sana, who was ineligible for the Americas Regional Qualifier in Antigua, has now fully cleared ICC qualification protocols for his adopted country and will provide a significant boost to Canada’s pace attack.Making their ICC Global Qualifier debut, Philippines round out the tournament field. Eight of the 14 players are based in Australia (all of them are dual citizens by virtue of having at least one parent from the Philippines) and have varying degrees of grade cricket experience. The highest echelon player in their ranks is Dan Smith, spent eight years playing for Gordon CC in the Sydney Grade competition and briefly appeared for the New South Wales 2nd XI. If they can win a game, let alone qualify for the semi-finals after entering the event ranked 46th in the world, it would become one of the great underdog success stories in cricket history.

Major League Baseball will continue testing the automatic balls and strikes (ABS) challenge system at the All-Star game in Atlanta next week, according to a report from Jesse Rogers of ESPN.

After initially testing the ABS challenge system in spring training, MLB plans to try it out again at the Midsummer Classic. The same process will be used as in the spring. Each team will be allowed two challenges, with the ability to keep them if they are successful with their challenge. The pitcher, catcher, and batter are the only three who can call for a challenge, which must happen immediately after a pitch. No outside help from the dugout is allowed.

According to Rogers's report, MLB officials said that 72% of fans polled during spring training said the ABS challenge system was a "positive experience" while 69% said they wanted it to be a part of the game moving forward.

The ABS challenge system could be implemented at the major league level as soon as next season. The league's competition committee will formally meet to discuss the measure later this summer.

Leeds United’s scouts have now reportedly been spotted keeping close tabs on a Champions League talent who just helped shock Borussia Dortmund.

Leeds join the race to sign Tyrique George

The Whites are beginning to turn their full attention towards the January transfer window. With survival in mind, those at Elland Road have already reportedly set their sights on key attacking reinforcements, who could take Daniel Farke’s from a relegation battle into much-needed Premier League comfort.

Whether one of those reinforcements is Tyrique George will certainly be interesting to see. The Chelsea youngster has struggled for game time at Stamford Bridge this season and desperately needs a move away from West London to get back on track next month.

The 19-year-old isn’t the only name on Leeds’ reported shortlist, however. Alongside the Chelsea youngster, the Yorkshire club have also reportedly set their sights on Barcelona’s Roony Bardghji in what would be a sensational move.

The young La Liga star is one of the best young talents around recently scored his first league goal for Barcelona since arriving in the summer.

Improving Farke’s frontline seems to be the priority at Elland Road next month and that should come as no surprise after Leeds missed out on a number of attacking targets in the summer.

Whilst the likes of Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have got off to impressive starts, the addition of another consistent goalscorer would certainly do Leeds’ survival hopes no harm. And if it’s not George or Bardghji, then it may well be Jens Petter Hauge who arrives in January.

Shades of Klich & Dallas: Farke's Leeds "monster" must now start every week

This Leeds star has become a key man in midfield

ByJoe Nuttall 5 days ago

The Bodo/Glimt winger is reportedly on Leeds’ radar, with the 49ers joining their Premier League rivals in the race to secure his signature when 2026 arrives.

Leeds scouts spotted watching Jens Petter Hauge

As reported by TeamTalk, Leeds scouts have now been spotted keeping tabs on Hauge ahead of making a potential January move. Joined by Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton in the race for the 26-year-old, the Whites would be landing an impressive coup if they secured Hauge’s signature.

It’s easy to see why there’s so much interest in his signature, too. The Bodo/Glimt star was in clinical form in the Champions League earlier this week, shocking Borussia Dortmund by equalising for his side and securing a 2-2 draw against the odds.

His strike against Dortmund took Hauge’s total for the season to 11 goals in all competitions, which certainly looks good alongside the 11 assists that he’s also provided for the Norwegian side.

Having returned to his best form with a return to Bodo/Glimt in the summer, reports are now suggesting that Hauge wants to complete a Premier League switch in a major boost for Leeds and others.

Dubbed “exceptional” by Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank earlier this season, Hauge could earn redemption away from Norway after previous struggles at AC Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt on Europe’s top stage.

Anita 2.0: Farke signing already looks like he’ll never make it at Leeds

Marnus Labuschagne fell cheaply while Matt Renshaw couldn’t convert a start

AAP30-Oct-2025

Usman Khawaja produced his best innings of the season just three weeks out from the Ashes, with a timely 87 for Queensland against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield.In a match that appears destined to for a draw, Queensland went to stumps on day three at 238 for 4 in reply to NSW’s first-innings score of 429 for 7 dec.Related

Australia's top order: What are the selectors' options?

Marsh has a route to the Ashes; Khawaja backs Renshaw

Smith puts England on notice with sparkling Gabba knock

Matt Renshaw missed out on a chance to further press his Test claims on Thursday when bowled for 29, while Marnus Labuschagne was also out for 4.But there were at least positive signs for Khawaja, with the veteran’s form looming as crucial for Australia this summer. While all eyes have been on who will partner him at the top against England, Khawaja only averaged 15.37 in four Tests last winter.The 38-year-old has had scores of 69, 46 and 0 in the Shield for Queensland, before looking in good touch at the Gabba on Thursday. Khawaja hit three boundaries in one over early from Ryan Hadley, while his shot of the day was a lovely drive down the ground off the quick later in his innings.He also looked at his laconic best clipping Test team-mate Nathan Lyon for two more boundaries through the legside, after sweeping the spinner for another. But with a century in sight he fell in common fashion, edging a Charlie Stobo ball that was angled across his stumps and swung away.Renshaw also gave himself the foundation to produce a score befitting his Test claims, before attempting to leave a Jack Edwards ball and edging it onto his stumps.Australia’s selectors will name an extended squad for the first Test in Perth after this Shield round, with Renshaw likely battling with Jake Weatherald for a spot in the group. Whether either plays will likely depend on if Beau Webster and Cameron Green are both included in the XI, or if one makes way and a specialist opener is preferred.Labuschagne looks certain to be there in Perth after a hot start to the summer, with the only question being if he is used as a makeshift opener or in his normal role of No. 3. He was out when he glanced Hatcher straight to a deep leg gully, before Hatcher also had Lachlan Hearne caught in the slips for 9.But Jack Clayton’s unbeaten 81 has all but killed off NSW’s hopes of victory after a washed-out opening day. They would theoretically need to bowl Queensland out for under 280 on Friday, enforce the follow on, and then knock them over again.

Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli picked up five wickets between them, but couldn’t stop India A from hunting 412 down

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-2025KL Rahul, who had retired when on 74 on the third evening, returned to the middle on the fourth morning at the fall of nightwatcher Manav Suthar’s wicket. Rahul batted till the job for his team was completed, ending unbeaten on 176 as India A hunted down 412 to beat Australia A by five wickets and take the two-match unofficial Test series 1-0 after the first match was drawn.By Rahul’s side when he walked out was B Sai Sudharsan, past the half-century mark at that stage, and then, Dhruv Jurel. Rahul and Sai Sudharsan added 78 runs in the morning, with Rahul first and then his partner getting to a century. Once Sai Sudharsan fell for 100, Rahul and Jurel added 115 in quick time as their stand required just under 19 overs.Those partnerships, between members of the senior India Test side, was too much to handle for the Australians, whose bowling attack boasted the experience of just eight Tests between them – seven for Todd Murphy, and one for Cooper Connolly. Murphy lived up to his status, adding the wicket of Suthar to the two he had on the third evening – N Jagadeesan and Devdutt Padikkal, both part of India’s Test squad for the games against West Indies next month. Corey Rocchiccioli, tipped to make the Test team in the not-too-distant future, removed Sai Sudharsan and Jurel.Corey Rocchiccioli picked up the wickets of B Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel•Tanuj/ Ekana Cricket StadiumBut those were the rare lapses on the part of the Indian batters, who started the day on 169 for 2, still 243 runs behind the target, with eight wickets in hand. Sai Sudharsan did the early scoring, not allowing Australia A from snatching the initiative away, and once Rahul came in, it became one-way traffic. After Sai Sudharsan became Rocchiccioli’s first victim, Jurel walked out and got going immediately. Rahul, though, was slower only in comparison. Jurel hit five fours and three sixes in his knock of 56 in 66 balls, going at a strike rate of 84.85, before falling with India A just 30 runs away from the target.Rahul, already past 150 by then, finished the job in the company of Nitish Kumar Reddy, hitting 16 fours and four sixes in his 210-ball innings. He finished with a strike rate of 83.81, underscoring the dominance of the Indian batters when the game was in the balance after a below-par show in the first innings. Reddy, meanwhile, hit three boundaries, and scored 16* at better than a run a ball.Australia were left to rue missed opportunities after they failed to defend 411. “I think that at the start of the day, anytime you’re defending over 400 in these conditions, you’re pretty confident that you can apply enough pressure,” Murphy said after the end of the game. “I think we stuck at it really well. We did create a lot of chances and probably just off the back of our homework, we let ourselves down a little bit by not taking them.”But I thought we applied ourselves pretty well out there. It was a tough grind. Rahul and Sudharsan batted really well, but I thought we stuck at it pretty well and it’s rid of a couple of missed opportunities.”Murphy also said that adapting to the Indian conditions was difficult. “I think the biggest challenge for us was probably dealing with the heat and the humidity,” he said. “Bloody, tough work and even personally just trying to figure out different ways to hold the ball when your hands were slippery with so much sweat. It was a big challenge for me and I think of fronting up day in, day out and still trying to put really good performances on the board.”The action between India A and Australia A now moves from Lucknow to Kanpur, in roughly the same part of India, for the three-match one-day series, with the first game to be played on September 30.

MatériaMais Notícias

O zagueiro Bruno Méndez, que foi expulso na partida contra o Grêmio, há três semanas, levou dois jogos de suspensão, pela 3ª Comissão Disciplinar do Superior Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD), nesta quarta-feira (29). Como já cumpriu um, ficando de fora do embate contra o Vasco, ele seria desfalque apenas contra o Internacional no sábado (02), podendo enfrentar o Coritiba na próxima semana. Porém, cabe recurso por parte do Timão.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

Bruno foi expulso por uma forte entrada em Besozzi, no início da partida contra o Imortal. Como há uma última instância no próprio tribunal, é provável que o Corinthians entre com um recurso para novo julgamento no Pleno do STJD, o que adiaria a punição. 

O presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves e o gerente de futebol Alessandro Nunes também foram julgados na manhã desta quarta-feira (29). O primeiro foi suspenso por 15 dias, enquanto, o segundo, por 60, em decorrência da confusão no jogo entre Corinthians e Grêmio, pela 34ª rodada do Brasileirão.

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Segundo publicado pelo GE, Alessandro foi condenado nos artigos 243-F e 258-B, levando 30 dias de punição em cada, além de pagamento de multa de R$10 mil. O diretor também havia sido denunciado nos códigos 219 e 243-C, mas foi absolvido. Vale lembrar que o gerente já estava suspenso de forma preventiva e com a punição só poderá ir aos estádios em 2024.

Duílio, por sua vez, foi enquadrado nos mesmos artigos, mas tomou um gancho de 15 dias por seus atos terem sido de menor gravidade – Alessandro tentou invadir a sala do VAR. O Corinthians trabalha para entrar com um efeito suspensivo para que ambos, principalmente o presidente, possam se despedir do clube diretamente da Neo Química Arena.

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+Clique aqui e simule os últimos resultados do Corinthians no Brasileirão 2023

RELEMBRE A CONFUSÃO:

Irritados pelas decisões do árbitro José Pereira de Lima, de não marcar pênalti para o Timão e expulsar Bruno Méndez, no duelo contra o Grêmio, Duílio e Alessandro partiram para cima do juiz, lhe xingando de “vagabundo”, conforme relatado em súmula. Após a confusão inicial, o gerente tentou invadir a sala do VAR, como uma forma de protesto, ainda que não tivesse nenhum indivíduo ali, apenas aparelhos.

“Protestar pela incompetência do (Rafael) Traci em ter auxiliado o árbitro de campo em um pênalti escandaloso. Eu precisava me manifestar, foi uma forma de protesto”, desabafou Alessandro, ao apito final.

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حقق فريق الأهلي، فوزًا صعبًا وغاليًا على نظيره الاتحاد، بهدف نظيف، في المباراة التي جمعتهما اليوم السبت، ضمن منافسات الدوري السعودي.

واستضاف الاتحاد نظيره الأهلي، ملعب الملك عبد الله الدولي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين.

طالع.. فيديو | رونالدو يقود النصر لفوز قاتل على الفيحاء ومواصلة الصدارة في الدوري السعودي

وسجل الجزائري الدولي رياض محرز، هدف الأهلي الوحيد في الدقيقة 55 ليحصد فريقه ثلاث نقاط غالية.

ورفع الأهلي رصيده إلى 16 نقطة في المركز الخامس من جدول ترتيب الدوري السعودي جمعها من 4 فوز وهزيمتين وتعادلين.

وتجمد رصيد الاتحاد عند 11 نقطة جمعها من 3 فوز وتعادلين و3 خسائر. هدف فوز الأهلي على الاتحاد

هدف رياض محرز 🇩🇿⚽️
الوحيد «حتى الآن» في اللقاء 🔥

⁧#الاتحاد_الأهلي | #دوري_روشن_السعودي pic.twitter.com/U2vx5Eb6xF — رياضة ثمانية (@thmanyahsports) November 8, 2025

Andre Onana was labelled as "The Wall" by Trabzonspor as the exiled Manchester United goalkeeper kept a clean sheet to inspire his side to a 2-0 victory over Eyupsor in the Turkish Super Lig. The once heavily criticised goalkeeper, whose time at Old Trafford crumbled under the weight of mistakes, has suddenly become the heartbeat of Trabzonspor after a string of impressive performances between the sticks.

Redemption for Onana in Turkey

Onana has swapped the bright lights of Manchester for the serene backdrop of Turkey’s northern coast. His move to Trabzonspor came as a surprise to many, especially considering the club’s modest finish in seventh place last season and absence from European competition. But with transfer windows closed across Europe and options dwindling fast, Onana needed a fresh start. Since arriving last month, the former Ajax man has made an instant impact. Against Eyupsor, he was unbeatable as he registered four crucial saves and a passing accuracy of 86%. Trabzonspor fans roared his name throughout the game, while the club’s official account later shared a striking graphic hailing him as “The Wall.”  

AdvertisementGOALA chance to rise again for Onana

After being pushed aside at United, first by Altay Bayindir and then by the signing of Senne Lammens, his confidence appeared in tatters. However, away from the harsh glare of English football, he has rediscovered his swagger. A reported pay boost, including lucrative performance bonuses, sweetened the deal, but those close to Onana insist it’s the opportunity for redemption that truly drives him. It’s not just his shot-stopping that has caught attention. In a previous match against Gaziantep, Onana produced one of the most audacious assists of the Turkish season. Charging out of his box, he launched a pinpoint long pass that sliced through the opposition defence, allowing striker Paul Onuachu to score and snatch a dramatic 1-1 draw. Reports in Turkey suggest he’s become a key dressing-room leader, helping to motivate younger teammates. 

Onana to stay permanently in Turkey?

Trabzonspor have already hinted they’d love to keep him beyond his current loan deal, which runs until June 2026. However, any permanent move will require tough negotiations, as United did not include an option-to-buy clause in the agreement. With Trabzonspor’s transfer record barely reaching €7 million, any deal for a permanent switch would demand breaking that threshold. If Onana continues his resurgence, his price tag could soar beyond the Turkish club’s financial reach. But if his form dips, United might struggle to attract serious bidders and sell him at a throwaway price to the Turkish side. 

After sealing his move to Turkey, Onana said: "I am very happy. I can say that I am very happy. I am starting a new project, a new adventure for me, I am very happy to be here. This is a feeling that makes me so happy. I've never felt so much love from people around me. It's a wonderful feeling to be made to feel at home from the very first moment. I want to start working as soon as possible and reciprocate that love by making them happy on the field. I'm always ready. Every player wants to play and take part in these kinds of matches. Of course, we'll be playing against an important and strong opponent. But we're also aware of our strength."

However, United legend, Peter Schmeichel, took aim at Onana for his error-laden stint at United and said: "You think about the goalkeepers that we’ve had over these last couple of years and how many goals we’ve conceded from errors – nine already this season – it’s too much. My instruction when I played was to save the team 10 points a season, not give them away."

He went on to lavish praise on Senne Lammens and added, "This young lad [Lammens didn’t have much to do for a long time, but he did well when called upon. You could see his confidence grow after that first save, and the defenders reacted well. It’s far too early to judge him, though; he’s young, hardly played any competitive football, and the pressure at Manchester United can be relentless. He did well, it was clean and positive, things we haven’t been used to. But we’ll really see what kind of goalkeeper he is when he makes mistakes and has to respond to them. That’s when we’ll know how good he can be.”

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AFPOnana set to face his biggest test yet

Onana’s newfound fame, however, will face its sternest test this weekend when Trabzonspor travel to Istanbul to face reigning champions Galatasaray. A win would close the gap at the top to just two points, but a defeat could halt their growing momentum. 

Mexico’s right back position remains unsettled ahead of the 2026 World Cup, but there’s a new glimmer of hope. El Tri striker Santiago Giménez shared an encouraging update on Copenhagen defender Rodrigo Huescas, who’s recovering from a torn ACL. The two came up together in Cruz Azul’s youth academy, where they formed a close bond.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Reasons for optimism

  Huescas' injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the season with FC Copenhagen, but despite the setback, the young Mexican defender is dreaming big. During a TikTok live session, Giménez revealed that he recently spoke with Huescas and relayed that the right back remains optimistic about making it to the 2026 World Cup.

  “I talked to Rodrigo the other day – he’s hopeful, and we all have hopes that he’ll make it to the World Cup,” said the AC Milan striker.

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• AFP
  

  How the injury happened…

  The injury occurred during a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Qarabağ, where Huescas exited the field in the 13th minute after a challenge on the right flank, visibly distraught as the severity became evident.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  The recovery process

  Despite the grim diagnosis, recent updates have provided encouraging signs. On social media, Huescas shared footage of himself training on a stationary bike, sporting only light wrapping on the injured knee. The video sparked optimism among Copenhagen fans – and especially among Mexican supporters who see him as a potential solution for El Tri’s right-back dilemma.

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  Who is on the list?

  The race to fill that position remains open. While regular names like Julián Araujo, Kevin Álvarez, and Jorge Sánchez remain in contention, new options such as dual-national Richard Ledezma have begun to surface – even though he has yet to be called up by Javier Aguirre.

Sunderland’s return to the Premier League has been full of energy, unpredictability, and glimpses of promise.

A raucous Stadium of Light watched as the Black Cats stormed past West Ham with a convincing 3-0 win on the opening day.

Reality soon bit as a 2-0 defeat away at Burnley reminded everyone of the ruthless margins in the top flight.

Momentum was clawed back in dramatic fashion as Brentford were undone 2-1 by a stoppage-time Wilson Isidor strike.

However, the subsequent 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace highlighted the attacking inconsistency of a newly-promoted side still finding its rhythm.

A 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa showcased grit and determination. Sunderland battled for the majority of the match with 10 men and were unlucky not to claim all three points. If they had done so, they would have climbed to fourth in the table – unthinkable for a team promoted via the Championship play-offs only months ago.

With the shadow of relegation firmly in the distance for now, Sunderland next face a trip to Nottingham Forest. Ange Postecoglou’s side are still adapting to life under their new coach, and Sunderland will hope to exploit any teething issues.

What is clear, though, is that this squad will need big characters to drag them through the long campaign.

One summer signing in particular has already drawn parallels with a figure who once embodied Sunderland’s fighting spirit.

Henderson is the embodiment of Sunderland’s attitude

When fans think about Sunderland players who gave everything in red and white, Jordon Henderson’s name still comes up.

The midfielder, now 35, began his career at his boyhood club and went on to make 79 appearances, scoring five goals and registering 10 assists, per Transfermarkt.

His £20 million move to Liverpool in 2011 would see him lift the Champions League and the Premier League under Jürgen Klopp.

His 492 appearances for the Reds were defined not just by his technical ability as a defensive midfielder but also his ability to lead.

Named Liverpool captain in 2015, he held the armband for eight years, guiding one of the most successful eras in the club’s modern history.

His leadership extended beyond Anfield.

Henderson earned 85 England caps, scoring three times, including at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, per Transfemarkt.

This summer, he joined Brentford, where he has already made five Premier League appearances

Jordan Henderson – 2025/26

Matches Played

5

Minutes

323

Progressive Carries

3

Progressive Passes

16

Assists

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For Sunderland, Henderson’s example serves as a reminder: survival is not just about talent, but about attitude and responsibility.

One player in their current squad has stepped forward to assume that mantle.

Granit Xhaka is Sunderland’s modern-day Henderson

In a transfer that underlined the club’s intent, Sunderland secured Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee rising to £17 million.

The Swiss international, now 32, represents exactly the type of big character they need to stabilise themselves in the Premier League.

Xhaka brings enormous experience and has “been valued by so many” around him, per analyst Ben Mattinson.

He made 297 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions, where he won two FA Cups and wore the captain’s armband, per Transfermarkt.

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After leaving North London, he joined Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen project and played a pivotal role in their historic unbeaten Bundesliga title win in 2024.

The German side came agonisingly close to completing an unbeaten treble, only halted by Ademola Lookman’s famous Europa League final hat-trick for Atalanta.

For Sunderland, his decision to return to England is invaluable.

Xhaka has spoken about wanting to experience “solidarity and suffering” in this phase of his career, a mentality that fits perfectly with a club battling against the odds.

Already made captain at the Stadium of Light, he also continues to lead Switzerland, having represented his country at six major tournaments.

Xhaka has wasted no time showing his influence on the pitch.

In the 2-1 win over Brentford, he registered a 7.7 match rating across 90 minutes, contributing one assist.

His 73 touches and 59 passes (49 accurate) underlined his role as the heartbeat of Sunderland’s midfield, while his defensive contribution – three ground duels won and five clearances – provided balance.

That blend of composure in possession and determination without the ball is exactly what Sunderland require.

Just as Henderson once rallied those around him, Xhaka’s leadership and quality make him the modern-day equivalent.

He is a player who elevates those beside him, provides direction in tough moments, and gives fans belief that this squad can survive the Premier League storm.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Sep 24, 2025