Harry Kane paid tribute to his "incredible" Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Muller after he became the club's all-time record appearance holder.
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Celtic did not enjoy a completely successful January transfer window as Brendan Rodgers reportedly missed out on targets in several key positions.
The Hoops were able to secure the signing of Nicolas Kuhn on a permanent deal from Austrian side Rapid Wien but Football Insider claimed that the manager also wanted a left-back, a goalkeeper, and a centre-forward.
Adam Idah arrived on loan, with no option to buy, from English Championship side Norwich City on deadline day, and he was the only other first-team signing made before the window slammed shut.
The Daily Record reported on deadline day that the Bhoys were also eyeing up another central midfielder to bolster the squad after David Turnbull was sold to Cardiff City and Reo Hatate suffered an injury whilst playing for Japan.
However, Celtic ended the window without a new goalkeeper, left-back, or central midfielder, which may have left Rodgers frustrated with their efforts.
The Northern Irish tactician could, though, unearth a surprise homegrown replacement for Turnbull next season by calling MacKenzie Carse up to the first-team after his loan spell with Queen's Park.
The Scotland international arrived from Motherwell on a permanent deal in the summer of 2020, after an impressive tally 16 goals and seven assists in 41 appearances.
He went on to play 134 matches in all competitions for the Hoops over three years in Glasgow, which shows that the club got a decent return out of the young gem.
Turnbull showcased his quality as a scorer and a creator of goals from midfield with 31 goals and 23 assists – a return of a goal or an assist every 2.48 outings on average.
His best season in a Celtic jersey, arguably, came during the 2020/21 Scottish Premiership campaign under Neil Lennon as he caught the eye as a number ten for the former Bhoys boss.
|
20/21 Premiership |
David Turnbull |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
36 |
|
Starts |
30 |
|
Goals |
Nine |
|
Assists |
Six |
|
Big chances created |
Nine |
|
Sofascore rating |
7.47 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, the 24-year-old magician offered regular quality as a scorer and a creator from a midfield position for the club.
No Celtic player provided more key passes per game than Turnbull (2.7) that term. In fact, he created 0.8 more chances per match than any of his teammates, which illustrates how impressive his passing was for the Scottish giants.
His 15 combined goals and assists that season were the most he ever managed during a campaign for the Hoops, which is why it was his best and most productive year at the club.
This season, Turnbull offered a goal threat from the middle of the park with seven strikes in 16 Premiership appearances – a tally only Kyogo Furuhashi (nine) and Matt O'Riley (ten) have bettered within the Celtic squad.
Despite his goalscoring exploits, the former Motherwell star, who registered zero assists, only started nine league games during the first half of the campaign.
The Hoops decided on deadline day that they were prepared to cash in on him and sold the talented whiz to Welsh side Cardiff for a reported fee of £2m.
This may have been due to his lack of regular starts in midfield for Rodgers, who preferred the likes of Paulo Bernardo, Callum McGregor, and O'Riley.
Since making the move to Wales, the right-footed ace has struggled to adapt to life in the Championship in England with the Bluebirds so far.
Turnbull has made five appearances in the second tier, including two starts, and is yet to register a single goal or assist for his new club from an attacking midfield role.
In those five matches, the Scotland international has had one shot, that was off target, and failed to create a single 'big chance' for his teammates in the final third.
At the age of 24, there is still plenty of time for him to emerge as a success in Wales and, hopefully, his current struggles are just a result of a big change midway through the season.
However, his current form does suggest that Rodgers made the right call by deciding to send him away from Parkhead on a permanent basis on deadline day.
Celtic failed to land the central midfielder that they were reportedly eyeing up, although there were no names given, in the January transfer window.
However, that does not mean that Rodgers does not have a player with the potential to emerge as a dream replacement for Turnbull already at the club.
Carse, who was sent out on loan to Queen's Park for the second half of this season, is a young player who could make the step up to the first-team to take the Scottish maestro's place for the 2024/25 campaign.
The 19-year-old showcased his attacking potential during the first half of this term for Celtic's B team with a return of seven goals in 18 Lowland League matches, to go along with one goal in six UEFA Youth League outings.
His leadership skills were also on display for the club's academy as he captained the B team or Youth League side on 15 occasions before his temporary exit, which suggests that he has a mature head on his shoulders and has the mental attributes to inspire those around him.
|
MacKenzie Carse |
Vs Dunfermline |
|---|---|
|
Minutes played |
21 |
|
Shots |
One |
|
Goals |
One |
|
Dribble success rate |
100% (1/1) |
|
Interceptions |
One |
|
Sofascore rating |
7.3 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, Carse recently showcased his quality as an attacking threat at first-team level for Queen's Park with a goal off the bench against Dunfermline.
This shows that the teenage whiz has already done more at the top end of the pitch in four substitute appearances in the Scottish Championship than Turnbull has in the English Championship for Cardiff in five outings.
It is now down to Carse, who was described as a "high potential" prospect by Queen's Park manager Callum Davidson, to earn a spot as a regular starter for the second division team between now and the end of the season.
If he can translate his form as a regular scorer for Celtic B at senior level, which his goalscoring impact for the Championship suggests he has the potential to do, then the 19-year-old gem could emerge as the dream replacement for Turnbull next term.
That would negate any need for Rodgers to dip into the market to sign another midfielder as Carse could replace the goals that they have lost through the sale of the now-Cardiff ace.
Turner will be returning to Premier League as Crystal Palace seal loan deal on deadline day.
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Offspinner had last played international cricket in 2015 but was active in domestic cricket
Peter Della Penna20-Mar-2020Former Scotland offspinner Majid Haq has announced on Twitter that he is recovering after testing positive for COVID-19. The 37-year-old posted the news on Friday morning, saying he was being treated at Royal Alexandra Hospital in the Paisley area of Glasgow.”Looking forward to potentially getting back home today after testing positive with Coronavirus,” Haq tweeted. “Staff at the RAH in Paisley have been good to me & thank you to everyone who has sent me messages of support. Insha Allah the Panther will be back to full health soon. #covid19UK”
According to the UK government’s dedicated NHS web site for Coronavirus information, there were 266 confirmed cases of the virus in Scotland as of 9.00 am on March 19, part of 3,269 confirmed cases across the whole of the United Kingdom.Haq, who logged 54 ODIs and 21 T20Is for Scotland, last played for his country at the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. He was Scotland’s all-time leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket with 60 wickets until being passed in 2019 by fast bowler Safyaan Sharif. However, Haq has still been active in domestic cricket in Scotland, most recently captaining Royal High Corstorphine CC in the Cricket Scotland League Eastern Premiership for the 2019 summer.Both Cricket Scotland and the ECB announced this week that recreational cricket would be suspended indefinitely in light of the Coronavirus outbreak. Many cricketers from around the world have been under self-isolation since the Coronavirus was declared a global pandemic.
Aston Villa's search for Champions League football was handed another boost this weekend, as they defeated Fulham 2-1 on the road.
Ollie Watkins was on hand to increase his goal tally to 13 for the season, as he netted a match-winning brace.
However, what will slightly concern Unai Emery is his team's lack of depth in midfield and at the back, with injuries to Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos, and Ezri Konsa all causing issues.
The Spaniard needs versatile players in his team that can cover multiple roles, and Villa did once have a player that the boss would have loved to have in his squad today.
Marc Albrighton progressed through the ranks of the Villa academy to finally make his debut for the club in 2009 against CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Cup.
The versatile star failed to nail down a spot in the Villa starting XI over his time at the club, and his Villans career will not be remembered at all by the younger generations in the fanbase.
The former number 12 started to feature more frequently in the 2013/14 Premier League campaign, where he played 19 with a record of four assists over the season.
However, in the summer of 2015, then manager Paul Lambert decided that Albrighton was surplus to requirements, with Villa ultimately releasing the midfielder. The England international ended his time at Villa Park with 102 matches played, nine goals, and 19 assists.
Leicester City were the club to snap up Albrighton on a free transfer that summer, and in the following season, he instantly made a huge impact, particularly towards the end of the season, where he picked up two goals and assists apiece in the Foxes last six games to help avoid relegation.
However, the heights that Albrighton and Leicester went on to achieve is one of the most incredible stories in Premier League history. Despite finishing 14th the season before, Claudio Ranieri's side won the Premier League in the 2015/16 season by ten points. Jamie Vardy and Riyhad Mahrez were the stars of the show, but Albrighton was an unsung hero, playing every game.
|
Albrighton's 15/16 Leicester Stats |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats |
Albrighton |
Squad Rank |
|
Assists |
7 |
3rd |
|
Big chances created |
11 |
2nd |
|
Key passes (Per game) |
1.7 |
2nd |
|
Successful dribbles (Per game) |
1.3 |
3rd |
|
Tackles (Per game) |
1.7 |
5th |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
The 34-year-old also became the club's first Champions League goalscorer ever in the following season, and he has been a "perfect" player over the years, according to former manager Claude Puel, who said:
"He is the perfect teammate and the perfect player to have at the Club. He loves the Club and he loves his teammates. His quality is very important to me – and his fighting spirit. He’s a fantastic player for Leicester City."
Aston Villa could’ve eased Kamara injury with “superstar” who left in 2022
Unai Emery will be disappointed that Villa let their former star leave.
By
Tom Lever
Feb 18, 2024
Albrighton is now a club legend at the Foxes, having played 311 games for the club and counting, with Champions League experience and a Premier League title on his record. The move to the Foxes was a blessing, but he would have definitely been an excellent servant for Villa over the last nine years.
Elliot Lee had his say on Wrexham's doubters after the Red Dragons continued their fine start to life in League One.
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They put on 71 runs off just 34 balls before making crucial interventions with the ball during Khulna Tigers’ chase
The Report by Mohammad Isam17-Jan-2020All-round contributions from Mohammad Nawaz and Andre Russell lifted Rajshahi Royals to the BPL title, as they edged out Khulna Tigers by 21 runs in the final. Nawaz and Russell added 71 runs in the last 5.4 overs of Rajshahi’s innings, before bowling defining overs to weaken Khulna’s chase.Rajshahi became the fourth consecutive team to win the BPL final after batting first, and their 170 for 4 was at par with the average first-innings score in a final, which stood at 172 before this game.Nawaz, who made an unbeaten 41 off just 20 balls, removed Rilee Rossouw for 37 in the 11th over of the chase, a crucial wicket after the tournament’s leading run-getter had put on a superb partnership with Shamsur Rahman. Russell took an even more crucial wicket in the context of the contest, in the 18th over.Russell’s knockout blowKhulna were still in the game after 17 overs with 40 needed off the last 18 balls, with Mushfiqur Rahim and Robbie Frylinck at the crease. Russell came back for his third over, and conceded just three runs off the first four balls. The pressure was on Mushfiqur.He had no answer to Russell’s yorker, however, and was unable to jam his bat down in time. Having made 21 off 15 balls, Mushfiqur fell just four runs short of teammate Rossouw in the tournament run-getters’ chart.Khulna lean on ShamsurAfter Khulna had slumped to 11 for 2 in the second over of their chase, Shamsur and Rossouw steadied them with a 74-run third wicket stand in nine overs. Rossouw made 37 off 26 balls to finish just five short of 500 runs in the tournament. Rossouw, when on 18, was dropped at point by Abu Jayed though it wouldn’t have counted since replays showed that Shoaib Malik had overstepped. Shamsur contributed 52 off 43 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes.Kamrul’s double-strikeOne of Shamsur’s boundaries was a classy inside-out cover drive off Kamrul Islam, but the pace bowler shot back in his next over. Shamsur was caught on the cover boundary, albeit to a poor short ball outside off stump. Then Kamrul revved up his pace against Najibullah Zadran, troubling him with an in-ducker that nearly trapped him lbw, before having him caught at point. Khulna slipped from 101 for 3 to 104 for 5 by the end of the 14th over.Irfan Sukkur made a half-century in the BPL 2019-20 final•BCB
Khulna apply early squeezeRajshahi’s innings followed a similar pattern. They lost an early wicket before they had their recovery partnership, between Liton Das and Irfan Sukkur, who put on 49 off 6.4 overs. Liton didn’t really get going, falling in the tenth over for 25 off 28 balls, but his partner at the other end was having a better day.Sukkur holds Rajshahi togetherA known face in the domestic circuit, Sukkur became the first uncapped Bangladeshi cricketer to score a fifty in the BPL final. He held things together and vindicated his No 3 position when Rajshahi could have used any of their more established names there. He made 52 off 35 balls, with six fours and two sixes.Shanto misses golden opportunityBefore Russell really got going, he skied Shahidul Islam in the 17th over, a critical moment when Rajshahi hadn’t even crossed the seven-per-over mark. As the ball ballooned towards the extra-cover boundary, Najmul Hossain Shanto ran in, got under the ball with a diving effort, but couldn’t hold on to the chance. In their remaining 3.4 overs, Rajshahi scored 60 runs.Nawaz overshadows RussellMohammad Amir vs Russell was the most anticipated battle within the final, but it only lasted three balls. Amir hardly made any dent, as Russell smoked him for a big six over midwicket with a trademark flick of his bat.Nawaz was Rajshahi’s unsung hero with his unbeaten 20-ball 41, which included six fours and two sixes. Usually it is Russell who does the bulk of the big hitting in the slog overs, but Nawaz’s contribution ensured that a middling 150-ish score became a fairly daunting total.
Leeds United enjoyed a fantastic evening in Wales on Tuesday night as they hammered Swansea on their own patch with an emphatic 4-0 win.
The Whites ran out comfortable winners against Luke Williams' side as they were 2-0 up after just ten minutes, thanks to early goals from Crysencio Summerville and Joel Piroe.
A double from Wilfried Gnonto, with one goal on either side of half time, ensured that Daniel Farke's team returned to Yorkshire with all three points in their pocket.
Leeds have now won their last seven matches in succession in the Championship, and this phenomenal run of form has taken them up to second in the table, albeit having one more game than Southampton – who are two points behind – in third.
Whilst the likes of Summerville, Gnonto, and Georginio Rutter have caught the eye with their attacking brilliance, solid defensive work has been at the heart of the club's impressive form and Glen Kamara has played a big role in their solidity.
The Finland international joined from Rangers last summer and Leeds struck gold with that signing, alongside the addition of Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea, as his value has soared since his emergence as a first-team regular.
By September of last year, FootballTransfers placed Kamara's xTV (Expected Transfer Value) at €2.1m (£1.8m) as he did not make his first start for the club until the 23rd of that month.
The central midfielder arrived in Yorkshire off the back of a difficult season with Rangers in Scotland, and there was no guarantee that he would hit the ground running or be a success in the Championship.
He only started 12 of his 22 Scottish Premiership appearances under Gio van Bronckhorst and Michael Beale combined throughout the 2022/23 campaign for the Light Blues.
The former Arsenal academy prospect only made 1.0 tackles and interceptions combined per match and lost 53% of his duels in total, which suggests that opposition players found it a little bit too easy to get the better of him in physical contests at times.
Kamara only averaged 48 minutes per appearance in the Scottish top-flight and that was seemingly not enough for him to showcase the best of his abilities with irregular starts and a number of cameos off the bench disrupting his rhythm.
|
21/22 Premiership |
Glen Kamara |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
31 |
|
Minutes per game |
78 |
|
Duel success rate |
54% |
|
Tackles + interceptions per game |
1.7 |
|
Pass success rate |
91% |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, the Finnish maestro played regular minutes during the 2021/22 Premiership season under van Bronckhorst and won a higher percentage of his duels and made more defensive interventions for his side.
Farke and Leeds were not deterred by his lack of game time and underwhelming performances for Rangers last season, as they were seemingly confident that they could get him back to his best on the pitch.
The German head coach has got Kamara firing and his current market value reflects that as his xTV has soared since his full debut for the club in September.
At the time of writing (14/02/2024), the 28-year-old dynamo's xTV on FootballTransfers stands at €4.8m (£4.1m) and this is a 129% increase on the €2.1m he was valued at earlier in the season.
His value has soared as a result of his regular game time and performances on the pitch for Leeds in the Championship this season, as he has emerged as a key player for Farke in the middle of the park.
Kamara has started 22 of his 24 appearances in the second tier so far this season, with an average of 77 minutes per match, and caught the eye with his superb displays.
He currently ranks within the top 7% of Championship midfielders for progressive passes (7.35) per 90, and the top 2% for his pass success rate (93.3%).
This shows that the former Rangers gem has been incredibly reliable in possession without being regressive and safe, as the talented whiz constantly looks to progress play to build attacks for his team.
Kamara, who was once hailed as "perfect" by ex-boss Neil McCann, has also been a strong performer with his defensive play for the Whites. The midfield metronome has won 59% of his duels and made 2.0 tackles and interceptions per game in the second tier.
This means that the impressive midfielder is winning a higher percentage of his duels and making more defensive interceptions per match than he did in either of his last two Premiership seasons.
Farke has, therefore, got the best out of the Finland international, who has been a key performer in and out of possession, and that has led to his soaring market value.
Although he has played at centre-back alongside Joe Rodon in recent weeks, Kamara has thrived alongside fellow summer signing Ethan Ampadu in midfield.
The Wales international was snapped up from Chelsea ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and has been in superb form both as a defensive midfielder and at the heart of the defence.
He has started all 32 of the club's Championship matches so far this season, which speaks to how important Farke views him to his team's success.
The former Sheffield United loanee has made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game on average and won 56% of his duels in the division, which shows that he has been strong in his physical battles.
Ampadu ranks within the top 19% of midfielders in the Championship or higher for interceptions (1.44), clearances (2.10), and blocks (1.53) per 90 so far this season.
He has, therefore, been an above-average performer in several key metrics whilst playing for, as it stands, the second-best team in the league, which made him the perfect player next to Kamara as his defensive play allowed the gem to excel in possession.
The 23-year-old, whose value also soared last year, has recently slotted in at centre-back and, as you can see from the statistics above, has formed a phenomenal partnership with Rodon at the back.
Overall, Ampadu and Kamara have both been fantastic signings for Leeds as they have both thrived in Farke's system and contributed to the club's charge towards automatic promotion, which will hopefully be achieved by the end of the season.
The MLS club have added the former Dortmund attacking midfielder on a free transfer.
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A bizarre transfer twist has taken place regarding Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn's pursuit of Orlando City striker Duncan McGuire, as they battle Blackburn Rovers for his signature.
The Owls are desperate for some incoming business to be done in the current transfer window, with Danny Rohl's side still in the Championship relegation zone and only managing to draw 0-0 at home to Watford on Wednesday evening.
There is one player who has stood out as a primary target in recent days, with McGuire a wanted man after impressing in the MLS for Orlando City. However, Blackburn looked to have positioned themselves as favourites to sign the 22-year-old, reportedly hijacking the move and agreeing a deal for McGuire to join Rovers earlier this week.
The striker then flew across the Atlantic without yet sealing a move to either club, leaving his future very much up in the air, with Ewood Park looking his most likely destination. Now, with time running out to get some late January business over the line, yet another twist has emerged in this bizarre saga over the USA international.
According to journalist Alan Nixon on Patreon [via Sheffield Wednesday News], Sheffield Wednesday still have a chance of signing McGuire, after his move to Blackburn Rovers fell through.
The attacker's proposed switch to Ewood Park "has turned into a farce", and due to this, he now "hopes" that Wednesday will snap him up on a permanent deal as he waits in a hotel for something to happen. However, the Owls would prefer a loan move until the end of the season, leaving Dejphon Chansiri with a decision to make on just how badly he wants to steal the player back after Blackburn's initial hijack.
This is becoming quite the story surrounding McGuire, whose head must be spinning after looking nailed on to join Blackburn over Wednesday at one point, and is now looking nailed on to be this deadline day's famous Peter Odemwingie story.
*Update* at 18:16 on February 1 – McGuire is now heading back to Blackburn for a medical, according to Alex Miller – what a saga!
|
Sheff Wed's top goalscorers this season |
Total |
|---|---|
|
Anthony Musaba |
5 |
|
Josh Windass |
4 |
|
Marvin Johnson |
3 |
|
Bailey Cadamarteri |
3 |
|
Michael Smith |
3 |
McGuire could be a brilliant late signing for Rohl if a transfer does go through, with his quality talked up by USMNT outlet Stars and Stripes, who have described him as an attacking player who "likes to be a nuisance" to opponents. He has even been spoken of as Orlando's answer to Lionel Messi, who is now at Inter Miami, although that one may be a tad far-fetched.
USMNT striker Duncan McGuire rejects contract in Sheffield Wednesday update
An offer has been submitted for the player in question.
By
Henry Jackson
Jan 29, 2024
McGuire only has one cap to his name for the USA to date, but being in the spotlight of the English game could help him increase that tally. He will surely want to be a key man by the time the 2026 World Cup arrives, a lot of which is hosted in his homeland, and a total of 15 goals in 37 appearances for Orlando shows that he is a striker who knows where the net is.