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The Argentine ace has been criticized in some quarters for doing very little running during games but it's wholly understandable…

It's become quite clear that, at some point, Inter Miami are going to have to win without Lionel Messi. They basically did it in their most recent match, a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls that saw Messi come off the bench to seal the win with a dazzling late goal.

But, even so, that was still a cameo, and a Messi cameo is still a massive advantage in MLS. It's also a luxury Miami won't have in the very near future as they prepare for some time without their superstar signing.

But how can Miami win without him and, as the season reaches its most important moments, why does Messi have to miss games in the first place?

The answer to the first question will come over the next month or two, while the answer to the last one has been made clear over the last week or so. With Miami pushing for a miracle run towards their playoffs, head coach Tata Martino is already making preparations for life without Messi.

(C)Getty ImagesIn need of a rest

There's a reason that Messi started on the bench against the Red Bulls: he was in need of a rest.

Since arriving in Miami, Messi played in eight games in just over a month leading up to that MLS debut. Those games came in five different cities, with Miami fortunate enough to host a few along the way through their Leagues Cup run.

It's a lot to ask a 36-year-old player that arrived fresh off a vacation. Messi has given his heart and soul to Miami since arriving, and has looked as happy as ever to do so, but the fact is that he isn't at the age where he can play two or three games a week for months at a time anymore.

“Leo and many other players are reaching an important physical limit," Martino said last week, "and from today we will start to evaluate this – how do I face at least the next three games? You also have to take into account the large number of games that we played in 45, 50 days.”

Because of that, Martino gave him 30 minutes off the bench against the Red Bulls. He entered with Miami up a goal and, by the end, they were up two thanks to Messi's brilliance.

Advertisement(C)GettyImagesThe master of walking

There has been some questioning, though, over Messi's need to rest. Why does a player that has become so famous for walking and not covering great distances require rest?

Especially in recent years, Messi's walking has become infamous. Statistically, he walked more than any other player at the 2022 World Cup, leaving his Argentina teammates to do the dirty work while he provided the magic.

Messi's walking, though, isn't out of laziness; it's by design. He's like a snake that's coiled up and waiting for the moment to strike. The second the defense loses track of him for one second, he's sprinting on by them for a game-changing goal.

Still, there are those that say Messi's playing style should make him less reliant on rest, with former U.S. men's national team star Alexi Lalas among those pointing out that Messi's legs probably won't be as tired as some of his teammates'.

“Load management? Messi walks around most of the game," Lalas tweeted. "Don't be so insecure. Messi has always walked…until it's time not to walk.”

Getty ImagesThe international break

It won't just be MLS games that will be tiring Messi out. No, the Argentine has international duty coming in the very near future.

Messi will join Argentina for the upcoming international break, which runs from September 4-12. That will rule him out of a match against Sporting KC on the ninth. There's another break in October, too, and Inter Miami do have a match the day after Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Peru on the 17th.

You have to account for travel, strain and tiredness when it comes to those international breaks and, as a result, Martino thinks Messi can miss up to three of Miami's 11 remaining MLS matches this season.

"It's something we have to get accustomed to," said Martino. "He's going to miss at least three games – he's going to get called up by his national team – and we need to keep winning."

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Getty ImagesNot the only one

Messi isn't the only Inter Miami star that could miss time for international soccer. No, the club could be totally decimated by call ups over the next two months.

DeAndre Yedlin, Josef Martinez, Drake Callendar, Kamal Miller, Diego Gomez, Leo Campana, Robert Taylor, Serhiy Kryvtsov, David Ruiz, Edson Azcona and Benjamin Cremachi could all be involved in international matches over the coming two windows. It's not a guarantee that all will leave, and some likely won't, but it's a lot of players to potentially lose for any period of time as Miami chase a postseason spot.

The good news is that the club reinforced this summer, and Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are obviously equipped to lead in Messi's absence. Players like Facundo Farias could certainly use the opportunity, while the club has done a good job of building up some of the homegrown stars mentioned above, not all of whom will be called in for international matches.

The good news? Martino dropped some news about next season, saying MLS plans to do away with the long-criticized scheduling that has seen teams play through the international breaks.

"I understand that they are analyzing that for next year," Martino said. "It is probable that that will happen."

Still, it'll be tricky to navigate in the here and now, especially given Miami's situation in MLS.

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been linked with a shock move away from Anfield this summer and now a fresh update has emerged regarding his future.

Will Alisson leave Liverpool?

The 30-year-old has been a sensational signing for the Reds ever since arriving from Roma in the summer of 2018, becoming arguably the best player in the world in his position in the process.

Alisson has been a colossal figure between the sticks, making an enormous difference and playing such a key role in Liverpool becoming one of Europe's leading sides under Jurgen Klopp, winning the Premier League and Champions League along the way, as well as numerous other trophies.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

While the Brazilian is contracted at Anfield until the summer of 2027, worrying reports have emerged regarding a potential move to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, joining the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson there in the process.

Fortunately, a new claim has now emerged that allays those fears, during a summer that is threatening to go wrong for Liverpool, particularly in the midfield department.

What's the latest on Alisson's Liverpool future?

According to reliable journalist David Lynch for This Is Anfield, a summer move isn't on the cards for Alisson, despite rumours suggesting otherwise:

"Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has not been the subject of an approach from Saudi Arabia, despite some reporting of such on Tuesday.

"However, This Is Anfield can confirm that no such approach has been made to Liverpool, and even if one was the club would swiftly reject it. Indeed, the Reds’ No.1 is happy on Merseyside, where he has a contract until 2027."

Frankly, the thought of Liverpool losing Alisson at any point in the near future is a horrifying one for supporters, with the Brazilian superstar arguably the first name on Klopp's team sheet these days, bailing his side out so often in one-on-one situations and winning the club's Player of the Season award last season.

At 30, he still has so many years remaining at the very top level, and if the Reds are to have any chance of mounting a Premier League title challenge this season, he has to be fit for almost every game. James Milner has rightly hailed Alisson as a "world-class" player in the past and to see him depart for Saudi Arabia at the peak of his powers would be a depressing sight.

This update is, therefore, a hugely positive one for anyone of a Liverpool persuasion, suggesting that he is perfectly happy on Merseyside for the foreseeable future, continuing to play a massive role in any success his team achieves.

The hope is that Alisson remains at Anfield beyond 2027, at which point he will still only be 34 when his contract expires, which can still easily be in and around prime age for a goalkeeper in the modern game. His importance cannot be downplayed and that isn't going to change at any point in the near future.

Ben Stokes will be available to his new IPL franchise, Rising Pune Supergiants, for the full six-week group stage of the competition

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Feb-20172:37

England players attract big bids in the auction

Ben Stokes will be available to his new IPL franchise, Rising Pune Supergiants, for the full six-week group stage of the competition, after he was given clearance to miss England’s two-match ODI series against Ireland that takes place in early May.Stokes, who was yesterday signed by Supergiants for USD 2.16 million, a record fee for an overseas player, will instead be required to return to England on May 14 to prepare for three ODIs against South Africa in late May that serve as a warm-up for the ICC Champions Trophy.England IPL availability

Due back May 14 Stokes, Woakes, Buttler
Due back May 1 Morgan, Roy, Billings
Available all matches Mills, Jordan

Jos Buttler, who has been retained by Mumbai Indians after playing in the 2016 IPL, and Chris Woakes, who was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders for USD 625,000, have also been cleared to take part in the tournament until May 14. Should their teams finish in the qualification slots, it would mean missing out on the knockout stages as well as the final, which is scheduled to take place on May 21 in Hyderabad.As anticipated, England’s captain, Eoin Morgan, will be recalled to England duty sooner than his team-mates, with his availability for his new franchise, Kings XI Punjab, limited to the first month of competition. He is due to return to England on May 1 to prepare for the Ireland matches that take place at Bristol and Lord’s on May 5 and 7.Jason Roy, who was picked up by Gujarat Lions for USD 150000, will also return to England on May 1, as too will Sam Billings, retained by Delhi Daredevils, who may see the Ireland matches as a good opportunity to press his claims for a starting berth in the Champions Trophy, following a decent showing on the recent tour of India.Tymal Mills, who was signed by Bangalore Royal Challengers for USD 1.8 million and who is limited to T20 matches due to a congenital back condition, is available to his franchise for the duration of the tournament, as is his fellow Sussex seamer, Chris Jordan, who seems unlikely to be back on England duty until the South Africa T20s in late June.

Crystal Palace fans expected Wilfried Zaha’s departure to be the most detrimental storyline of the window.

But, Chelsea and Manchester City are now circling around the club’s next most influential talent, Michael Olise.

Last season, the Frenchman recorded 11 assists, which was the joint-fourth-highest tally in the Premier League. This fabulous statistic also meant he was the first Palace player to ever claim double-digit assists in a top-flight campaign.

If Olise departs, it will leave the Eagles scrambling for another attacker.

However, instead of rummaging through outside options, the club already possesses Malcolm Ebiowei, who deserves a chance in the first team.

Who is Malcolm Ebiowei?

The 6 foot 1 Englishman enjoyed youth stints at Chelsea, Arsenal, and Rangers, before joining Derby County in 2021.

Ebiowei made his senior debut in February 2022 when the Rams beat Hull City in the Championship. Two months later, the youngster scored his first senior goal in a 2-0 victory away at Blackpool.

Although he only notched 16 senior appearances for Derby, his brimming talent was quickly recognised. After the club’s 1-1 draw with Coventry in March, then-manager Wayne Rooney described his performance as “one of the best I have seen from a young player consistently for 90 minutes in a long time.”

The Manchester United legend added:

“He was excellent all game. He was the best player on the pitch, and he deserves that because he’s worked so hard. His attitude is incredible, and he’s an exciting young player.

“He has got an enormous amount of ability. He’s brave — he’s not afraid to take players on, get tackled, and make mistakes.”

How good is Malcolm Ebiowei?

The 19-year-old gem also netted seven goals in eight games for the U18 side, which alerted the Eagles to his glimmering potential, and he joined on a five-year deal that summer. He was then swiftly given his debut when he came on as a substitute on the opening day of last season against Arsenal.

Since then, he joined Hull on loan, and despite only being used sparingly, has displayed a glistening effervescence. Last term, in just 12 second-tier starts, the former Chelsea academy gem averaged the most dribbles per game (2.3) in the squad.

Ebiowei also excelled across the continent, as he ranked within the best 1% outside Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for successful take-ons per 90. His pace, directness, and dynamism could make him a formidable asset for Roy Hodgson.

If fast-tracked to the first team, his journey could bare similarity to that of Tyrick Mitchell.

The left-back made his debut in 2020 and in the last two seasons, has featured in 72 of the club’s last 76 Premier League games.

Although, unlike Ebiowei, Mitchell spent time in the Palace academy, and Hodgson and Patrick Vieira both displayed undeterred faith in the defender, who rewarded them with consistency, reliability, and tenacity.

The full-back’s former U16 coach Anthony Hayes lauded him as an “outstanding talent from day one” and a “silent assassin”, who looks comfortable at the top level.

Palace have never been notoriously big-spenders, so having to possibly source Zaha and Olise replacements is an extremely daunting prospect.

But, half the issue could be solved if more trust is placed in Ebiowei. If the attacker can pinpoint some elusive productivity, then he could forge a promising career at Selhurst Park.

Victorian team-mate Peter Handscomb is also willing to keep wicket “if it’s good for team balance” in Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2017Australia allrounder Glenn Maxwell has altered his bowling technique, shortening his delivery stride to generate more dip and drift, ahead of the tour of Bangladesh. He has done so in a bid to strengthen his case as the squad’s fourth genuine spin-bowling option, behind Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson and Ashton Agar.”I’ve shortened my bowling stride a little bit to make sure that I’ve got that drop on the ball and that I’m getting the shape that I actually want,” Maxwell said at Australia’s training camp in Darwin. “It’s obviously one of my skills that I can bring to the side, and something that’s going to help me try and nail down that No. 6 position, having that extra string to my bow.”Maxwell is Australia’s incumbent No. 6 after his comeback century against India in Ranchi in March – his first Test since 2014. However, Maxwell bowled just six overs in two Tests on spin-conducive surfaces in that series.”I could understand why I wasn’t bowling at certain stages,” Maxwell said. “I suppose coming into this tour, I’m hoping that I can show that I’ve put a lot of work into my bowling and I can get that opportunity.”Australia are likely to go in with two specialist spinners and Maxwell, but could consider the option of three genuine spinners if the pitches favour spin from the outset. To open that spot, Maxwell’s Victorian team-mate Peter Handscomb could be asked to keep wicket. Matthew Wade is the designated wicketkeeper in Australia’s squad for Bangladesh.”I guess it’s an interesting one. I was doing some white-ball keeping for Yorkshire in England as well,” Handscomb said. “Ultimately I’m happy to do it if it’s good for team balance, if it opens up another position for a batter or a bowler to come into the side. But first and foremost I’ve always said that batting is my No.1.”In the tour of India earlier this year, Handscomb scored 198 runs in four Tests at an average of 28.28, including a match-saving 72 not out in the third Test in Ranchi. “I felt really good in India, obviously, like I said, getting starts, getting into the game, and then just not converting as many times as I would have hoped to.”

The under-fire Gunners star was deployed in a surprising new position for his national team, but should he change roles at club level too?

The international break is not the most-popular concept among most Premier League fans. Many see it as an irritating interruption to the absorbing club season, but it can often provide some intriguing stories of its own.

Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann provided one of the most eye-catching narratives of the most recent pause by shockingly deploying Kai Havertz at left-back for Die Mannschaft's games against Turkey and Austria.

Havertz has played in a string of positions during his career so far – midfield, second striker, out wide and centre-forward. Still, nobody expected his versatility to extend as far as being able to play in a defensive role. Quizzed on his decision before the Turkey game, Nagelsmann responded in forthright fashion: "I have a great idea, he's an exceptionally good footballer. This is a very good option."

Getty ImagesNagelsmann's surprise pays off?

Despite the ex-Bayern Munich boss' confidence, it was hard not to raise an eyebrow when Havertz trudged over to the left wing at the Olympiastadion in Berlin to take his place alongside Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rudiger and Benjamin Henrichs in the back four.

However, inside five minutes, the Arsenal man had scored, sweeping home Leroy Sane's cross after the ball broke from a set-play. It was a nice moment, especially considering how badly Havertz has struggled in front of goal since joining the Gunners, but it told us little about how he might fare as a left-back long-term.

As the game progressed, though, there were a few promising signs in this regard. Havertz scampered forward each time Germany were in possession, generally staying wide as opposed to coming inside, as is all the rage in the Premier League currently.

Despite this attacking intent, he was not culpable for either of Turkey's first-half goals, matching up well against his opposite number. The blame for each of those must instead be apportioned to right-back Henrichs, whose positioning was lax for both strikes.

Turkey's third, however, scored after Niclas Fullkrug had levelled the scores up in the 49th minute, did involve Havertz. He was penalised for handball in the box, rather unfortunately, when his arm was deemed to have been in an 'unnatural position' when it blocked Abdulkerim Barakci's volleyed cross. Yusuf Sari would then dispatch the resulting penalty.

That moment aside, Havertz enjoyed a pretty solid first outing in his new role. He got up and down the wing, though his defensive positioning was a little suspect at times, and made a team-high five clearances, as well as registering two interceptions. He got on the ball far more frequently than he has been for his club recently too, registering more touches (63) than he's managed in all-but one of his Arsenal appearances so far.

Nagelsmann was certainly impressed, saying at full-time: "Kai said he wanted to do it, wanted to try it. I don't see this as a risk for him, but as a very, very big opportunity to play a key role at the Euros. For a first time in an unfamiliar position, he did extremely well and probably was our best player."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesDon't back down, double down

Not everyone was as enthused by the experiment, with Lothar Matthaus one of Nagelsmann's most vocal critics. The Germany legend wrote in his column: "It can’t be a permanent solution if we suddenly let one of the best German offensive players of recent years play full-back. This is also a slap in the face to those who have played there recently, even if there were problems on the left side of the defence."

Nagelsmann was not deterred by this criticism, again fielding Havertz at left-back for his team's trip to Vienna. Germany repeated their ultra-attacking approach and were torn apart by Ralf Rangnick's side in transition. By the time Marcel Sabitzer made it 1-0 just before the half-hour mark, they could have already been two goals down.

Things got even worse early in the second half when Leroy Sane was sent off for a brainless shove on Phillipp Mwene. That dismissal ended round two of the Havertz experiment early as he shifted to a right-sided attacking role before being subbed off 13 minutes from time – shortly after Christoph Baumgartner scored Austria's second.

When he was at left-back, Havertz again looked comfortable enough defensively and carved open a few opportunities for his team-mates, finding an unmarked Sane with an inch-perfect crossfield pass late in the first half. But after the game, his new position was scarcely addressed. As one might expect, the significance of Germany succumbing to back-to-back defeats attracted far more interest.

GettyIndicative of a wider malaise

This latest pair of worrying results continue the trend of Germany's long-term demise as a footballing superpower, with both the men's and women's senior sides exiting their most recent World Cups in the group stage.

It's not just on-field results that are the issue either. There is also a startling lack of connection between the national team and the supporters, with many fans choosing to boycott Qatar 2022. Havertz himself addressed this recently, saying: "We had no support. There were also other reasons for this, we understand that. But there was also no support in terms of football. We were on our own."

The reasons for this severing of emotional ties are complex. One key issue is the perceived overcommericalisation of the national team, but the chaos in the dugout and on the pitch has certainly not helped things either. Hansi Flick was supposed to bring some order on the men's side, but failed, becoming the first Germany manager to ever be sacked in September following a terrible run of results.

Nagelsmann had offered some hope in the previous international break, leading the team to positive results against the United States and Mexico, but the Turkey and Austria defeats have swiftly extinguished hopes of a swift revival. It's clear that the new coach is still not sure what he wants the team to be. Opting to play Havertz in a brand new role speaks to this, even if left-back has been a real problem area over the past few years.

He tried to explain his gung-ho approach after the Austria game, saying: "We're not defensive monsters. We won’t be defensive monsters next summer either. That's not us. Our players play at clubs where they have to focus less on defence and more on attack."

It's a bold way to play, especially with a tournament around the corner, and the stress of potentially having to thrive in an unfamiliar position is unlikely to help Havertz get back to his best at club level any time soon.

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Getty ImagesHavertz looks absolutely lost

Despite its challenges, the international break likely came as welcome respite for the £65-million ($81.5m) man. The stats since Havertz joined Arsenal from Chelsea this summer make for grim reading.

He's managed just one goal and one assist in 19 appearances so far, with his poor 2022-23 form for the Blues bleeding over into the current season. It's not just the lack of attacking output that's been concerning either. Even Havertz's most staunch supporters would struggle to defend his start in north London.

There's a growing list of grimace-inducing moments that will have worried manager Mikel Arteta: his air kick against Manchester United, him somehow avoiding a red card at Newcastle and that pitiful first-minute header in the Sevilla game. More generally, there's a feeling that he looks a little lost each time he takes to the field, with his body language being criticised.

He's underperformed his Premier League xG by a team-high 1.2 this season and isn't carving out many chances much either; 14 Arsenal players are averaging more shot-creating actions in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool's tumultuous transfer window has left the Merseyside club scrambling to secure a defensive midfielder, but a shrewd option might have been identified.

Who will Liverpool sign instead of Caicedo?

According to ESPN, PSV ace Ibrahim Sangare is attracting the attention of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Premier League side sold Fabinho to Al-Ittihad for £40m and are yet to sign a replacement, missing out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, who are also hoping to swipe Southampton's Romeo Lavia from under Jurgen Klopp's nose.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Sangare has a release clause of £32m and could prove to be a worthy alternative for the Anfield side, bringing tenacity and a tough-tackling approach to fortify the ranks.

How good is Ibrahim Sangare?

Liverpool technical director Jorg Schamdtke is approaching desperation mode and will need to act swiftly to provide the club with the best chance of succeeding this season.

Liverpool drew 1-1 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend in the Premier League opener, and while there were positives to take from the affair the absence of a sturdy No. 6 was clear, with The Athletic's James Pearce saying, "the lack of both control and protection in front of the back line was glaring."

Whether the Reds succeed in their bid to sign Lavia remains to be seen, but Sangare could prove to be a first-rate alternative, having impressed in the Netherlands over the past several seasons, chalking up 136 appearances, scoring 14 goals and supplying ten assists.

Described as a "dangerous" player in the centre by analyst Aad de Mos, Sangare could quickly allow the Merseyside club to forget about Caicedo, who has been heralded as a "physical monster" by Dr. Rajpal Brar and admittedly looks to be a superlative machine in the middle, ranking among the top 5% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 14% for tackles and interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

Comparatively, the 31-cap Ivory Coast international ranks among the top 8% of midfielders across the eight leagues most comparable to the Eredivisie for goals, the top 18% for passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive passes, the top 13% for successful take-ons, the top 19% for clearances and the top 12% for clearances per 90.

While it's important to remember that Sangare plies his trade outside the top five European leagues and this, therefore, is reflected through his metrics, he clearly boasts an all-encompassing midfield skill set and has the passing ability and defensive work rate to provide Klopp's team with the component it has been missing. With such traits and attributes in mind, you could say he is Caicedo 2.0.

Pivotally, he would also be available for a portion of the price of Caicedo, who is expected to cost Chelsea £115m. In turn, this would allow Liverpool to focus on further targets and perhaps create a winning squad, spreading the need for reinforcements across several players.

Jacek Kulig hailed the 25-year-old as "one of Ligue 1's best midfielders" before he made the move to PSV, and while Sangare is not the highlight name of the Brighton ace, he could prove to be a most shrewd acquisition and bolster Liverpool's midfield with the toughness and tenacity to set them on their way this season.

Newcastle United continue to be linked with Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney, who has admitted he remains unsure where his future lies beyond the end of this summer's transfer window.

Is Kieran Tierney leaving Arsenal?

Tierney, a £25m signing from Celtic in August 2019, lost his place in the Arsenal side last season following the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.

The Scotland international has been linked with a move away in the past two transfer windows, with Newcastle widely considered to be the favourites for his signature.

According to The Evening Standard, Newcastle remain interested in Tierney, despite spending close to £100m already this summer on Harvey Barnes and Sandro Tonali.

Asked about his future during Arsenal's pre-season tour of the United States, Tierney, who is set to fetch around £35m for his services, said: "It's not really up to me. I'm happy, I'm working hard every day and getting minutes. I'm just trying to do as well as I can."

How good is Kieran Tierney?

Newcastle do not have many weaknesses in their squad, but left-back is certainly an area that Eddie Howe could do with strengthening. Dan Burn, a centre-back by trade, played there 32 times in the Premier League last season and did a good job on the whole.

However, if the Toon are to push on from last season's fourth-place finish and make an impact in the Champions League, they need a top-class player in that position.

While Tierney may have been restricted to just six league starts last season, on top of 21 appearances from the substitutes' bench, he still showed what he is capable of when called upon.

Ironically, Tierney – who can himself also play centre-back – recorded very similar figures to Zinchenko last season in a number of key metrics. According to FBref's comparison tool, Zinchenko was the player ninth-most like Tierney across Europe's top five leagues.

Comparing Tierney and Burn's figures from last season must first be prefaced by the fact that both played in a couple of different positions, but the numbers still provide an indication of the two players' quality.

Tierney outperformed Burn in terms of tackles won per 90 minutes (1.25 v 1.10), interceptions per 90 (1.25 v 0.92) and recoveries per 90 (4.89 v 4.80) though the Newcastle fan favourite was stronger when it came to blocks per 90 (1.21 v 0.91) and aerial duels won percentage (69.4 v 25).

Ultimately, Howe must decide what type of player he wants playing down the left-hand side. In Burn, he has a player who is defensively solid and can offer the occasional attacking threat – albeit in a rather awkward manner – while Tierney is attack-minded but can also do a solid job defensively.

The fact Tierney has been restricted largely to substitute appearances of late means his stock has undoubtedly fallen, but it would be unfair to write him off just yet.

Tierney's versatility in particular, being able to play at full-back, wing-back or in central defence, could come in particularly handy for Howe. Just do not ask him to play as an inverted full-back, which is the reason he is not fancied by Mikel Arteta.

As former Scotland international Billy Dodds put it after watching Tierney play in a couple of different positions in the same game against Israel, the defender – on a reported £110k-a-week, according to Capology – remains an "outstanding" talent.

A move away from the Emirates Stadium may do Tierney's career a lot of good, though it is a transfer that could ultimately come back to haunt Arsenal should he shine at top-four rivals Newcastle.

Appointment of Dr Phil Jauncey on a short-term basis comes following a recommendation from head coach Chandika Hathurusingha

Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Jan-2018Sri Lanka Cricket have hired the services of performance psychologist Dr. Phil Jauncey on a short-term basis, at the behest of new head coach Chandika Hathurusingha. Jauncey has previously worked with Hathurusingha on the Bangladesh national team, completing at least two stints in Dhaka. His work with the Sri Lanka side began on Wednesday, and is expected to last 10 days. The team hopes to engage him over many more stints along the way.”[Jauncey] is currently working with the Sri Lankan national side, where he will focus on identifying the personality traits of each player, the best communication and learning methods suited for each player, and also of the coaching staff,” a board release said.A lecturer in field psychology, Jauncey also works as a psychologist with the Australian Baseball team. Hathurusingha had met him during a previous Big Bash League season, when Hathurusingha was coaching the Sydney Thunder. “I think [Jauncey] will be very useful both for me and the players,” Hathurusingha had said soon after taking the Sri Lanka job. “In fact, he has helped me quite a bit in the past in better understanding my players.”Sri Lanka have previously hired sports psychologists on short-term engagements – Jeremy Snape being the most recent such appointment, during the 2015 World Cup.

Following an impressive showing in the IPL and domestic cricket, a call-up for the T20I series against New Zealand has put fast bowler Mohammed Siraj closer to realising his India dream

Arun Venugopal23-Oct-20171:10

Mohammed Siraj: Fast lane to team India

BioMohammed Siraj’s rise over the last year has been as fascinating as it has been swift. The son of an autorickshaw driver in Hyderabad, Siraj got hooked to the game while in class seven after he was part of the team that won an inter-school tournament. From then on, he would frequently skip classes to play tennis-ball cricket. His pace and an ability to take wickets in clumps meant he acquired a cult status in his mohalla in the Banjara Hills locality.It wasn’t until 2015 that Siraj took to playing with the cricket ball, upon a friend’s insistence. He took took a slew of five-fors in his first few club matches and soon found himself in Hyderabad’s Under-23 side, and then in the senior team. While he played only one game in his first season in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy, he grabbed eyeballs the very next year with 41 wickets at an average of 18.92 as Hyderabad made the quarter-finals. He was subsequently picked in the Irani Trophy to play for the Rest of India.Earlier this year, aged only 22, Siraj made the jump to the big leagues when Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired him for a whopping INR 2.6 crore. During the 2016-17 domestic season, Siraj admitted to being taken in by the lavish lifestyle – the air travel and five-star accommodation – a professional cricketer’s life offered. Midway through the IPL, Siraj was doing promotional events and obliging requests for selfies, even if somewhat awkwardly. Such initiation is certain to come in handy once he links up with the Indian side for the T20Is against New Zealand.StrengthsSturdy and athletic, Siraj has a deceptive run-up, which initially suggests that a left-arm bowler is steaming in. He is, however, a right-armer and by his own admission is a natural at getting the ball to swing into the right-hander. It was only since 2016 that he started expanding his repertoire. He has always been able to bowl a pretty quick bouncer though, something that had impressed his captain David Warner and team mentor VVS Laxman in the Sunrisers set-up.FormSiraj picked up 10 wickets from six games in the IPL, including a four-for against Gujarat Lions. He took that form into the India A tour of South Africa, where he took a match haul of 5 for 103 in the only unofficial Test he played. He also claimed five wickets from three limited-overs matches against South Africa A and Afghanistan A. Siraj took 2 for 74 in the only Duleep Trophy game he played last month, and in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A, he bowled the obstinate Jeet Raval for 34 and broke Will Young’s stumps for a duck as well. He also finished with two wickets in the two List A matches against New Zealand A.