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Chris Jordan, Surrey’s highly-rated 21-year-old allrounder, could miss the first 10 weeks of the season due to a back problem

Cricinfo staff06-Apr-2010Chris Jordan, Surrey’s highly-rated 21-year-old allrounder, could miss the first 10 weeks of the season due to a back problem.He is two weeks into a six-week rehabilitation programme, after which he will be carefully guided back to match fitness. Surrey have said it could be up to a further six weeks before Jordan is fit enough for selection, but he may be available within a fortnight of the rehab programme ending.Barbados-born Jordan was troubled by the back problem last season after suffering a stress fracture earlier in his career. Chris Adams, the Surrey coach, said they will be patient with his recovery. “We’re working towards his career and improving his career from this point in time. He carries the tag of great potential. It’s been a really frustrating time for him, frustrating for us as well. We certainly want that talent out on the field.”But let’s hope that we’ve finally got to the bottom of something. His bulging disc through this period will have time to rest but I’m quietly confident that we are doing everything we possibly can now.”

Kevin Phillips (speaking to Football Insider), claims Tottenham are ‘scouring the world’ for a new right-back, but they will not be tempted into re-signing former Lilywhites star Kieran Trippier.

The Lowdown: Emerson Royal not an attacking threat

In a recent report by The Athletic, it has been claimed that Spurs have made an attacking right wing-back a priority in the January transfer window.

Emerson Royal was able to secure himself the right-back position under previous manager Nuno Espirito Santo and it seems he will continue to be utilised under new boss Antonio Conte, having played in all three games that he’s been available to the Italian for. The Brazilian full-back has been noted for his phenomenal defensive qualities, illustrated by his tackles stats; he leads Spurs with 3.8 tackles per game.

However, the 22-year-old does not offer the attacking threat seen in many current full-back’s games. For example, he has produced just one assist in 17 matches for Tottenham, whilst left-back teammate Sergio Reguilon has made nine assists in 55 appearances for the club.

 The Latest: Spurs will not go in for Trippier, says Phillips

With Conte’s attacking style of football relying on the full-backs to constantly push forward, Tottenham may well pursue a more attacking right-back in the January window, to fit this system.

However, according to former European Golden Shoe winner Kevin Phillips (via Football Insider), Spurs will not look to re-sign Trippier, despite his attacking threat fitting the proposed bill.

The Atletico Madrid defender has been linked with a move back to the Premier League and north London, but Phillips, 48, does not believe that Spurs will go in for the England international.

“I think he’ll look somewhere else.

“Will he come back and perform the way he did when he was there before? I don’t see it.

“They will probably look for a player with age on his side. Who that is, I don’t know.

“But they will be scouring the world for an attacking right-back that you can get four or five seasons out of.

“That would be better for them than going after Trippier.”

The Verdict: Spurs to look elsewhere

Trippier’s attacking threat has always been the main aspect of his game. England manager Gareth Southgate has described his quality in this position as ‘outstanding’, as he claims his ‘great delivery’ is ‘very important’ as a full-back.

However, despite providing Atletico with six assists in 28 appearances last season, Trippier has registered just one assist in the 2021/22 LaLiga campaign. This could suggest the start of a decline for the player, who is now 31-years-old.

Tottenham should be looking for a full-back who they can mould into a more long-term proposition, just like Emerson, who is only 22-years-old.

Boasting two young and quality full-backs on each flank – with Reguilon and Ryan Sessegnon on the other side – would be massive for Conte’s squad depth in the future.

Celtic are interested in a deal to bring Zinedine Ferhat to Parkhead in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Foot Mercato (via Daily Record), who claimed that Ange Postecoglou has identified the Nimes playmaker as a potential target in the winter market, with the 28-year-old believed to be available on a cut-price deal due to his contract with the Ligue 2 side expiring at the end of the current campaign.

The report added that, as a result of his contract situation, the forward is expected to move onto pastures new in the January transfer window, with French duo Montpellier and Saint-Etienne also reported to be interested in the wide midfielder.

He loves to “turn on the style”

While Ferhat has not been in the best of form so far this season, having failed to score a goal or register an assist over his seven Ligue 2 appearances, it is undeniable that, should Postecoglou manage to seal a deal for the Algeria international this month, it would still be something of a major coup for the Bhoys.

Indeed, over his 33 Ligue 1 appearances in Nimes’ 2020/21 campaign, the £4.05m-rated man scored six goals, registered a whopping 10 assists and created nine big chances for his teammates, as well as taking 1.9 shots and making 1.6 key passes per game.

These returns saw the £13k-per-week winger who he himself claimed loves to “turn on the style” earn a rather astonishing seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.07, ranking him by far and away as his side’s best performer in the top flight of French football.

As such, it is clear to see that the Algerian forward would make a fantastic addition to Celtic’s current options out wide, leading us to believe that Postecoglou must do all he can to seal a swoop for Ferhat in the January transfer window.

In other news: Celtic confirm major transfer update which will leave Bhoys fans buzzing

Opening batsman Wayne Madsen reached his highest ever first-class score asDerbyshire took control against Northants on a rain-affected third day atWantage Road in the County Championship

29-Apr-2010
Scorecard
Opening batsman Wayne Madsen reached his highest ever first-class score asDerbyshire took control against Northants on a rain-affected third day atWantage Road in the County Championship.Only 26 overs in the morning were possible before the rain fell, during whichMadsen reached 179 before he was eventually dismissed by Northamptonshirepaceman Jack Brooks – this after skipper and fellow opener Chris Rogers hadscored 141 yesterday.The visitors added 103 for the loss of three wickets to their overnight totalbefore declaring on 480 for 5 once the rain had subsided, leaving the hoststo bat out a nervy eight overs without loss in the evening.The visitors began the day 157 runs ahead with Madsen on a mammoth 163 andyoungster Paul Borrington on 41. But it only took Madsen until the third over of the day to reach his previous best first-class high score of 170, made against Gloucestershire on hisDerbyshire debut last July.But he could only make nine more before he was caught at slip by Andrew Halloff the bowling of Brooks having faced 344 balls and smashed 17 fours and onesix. Hall’s wicket ended a third-wicket stand of 123 and Northants did not have towait long before they claimed another.Greg Smith – recently installed as Derbyshire’s vice-captain – made just eightbefore he gloved James Middlebrook to Vishal Tripathi at short leg. Borrington reached a diligent half-century from 155 balls with a thin edge that nearly carried to wicketkeeper Paul Harrison but resulted in a boundary.John Sadler was next in and he began his innings in explosive fashion, smashinga huge six off Middlebrook over mid-on. But his innings was all too brief for Derbyshire’s liking as he made just 14 before he was bowled by Northants skipper Nicky Boje, the former South Africa spinner clipping the top of the leg stump before the rain triggered an earlylunch.The rain subsided briefly an hour later but, just as the players were due toreturn to the field, the heavens opened again and they retreated to the dressingroom.Derbyshire declared their innings shortly before play restarted at 5.50pmleaving Borrington unbeaten on 79 and former South Africa international RobinPeterson on 22. It meant that Northants needed to negotiate eight overs in gloomy conditions to survive to the close but openers Stephen Peters (10) and Tripathi (5) held ontotheir wickets to leave trailing by 243 runs.

There was a time, not so long ago, when batsmen visiting Edgbaston would drool in anticipation. Not any more.

George Dobell at Edgbaston04-Jun-2010
ScorecardThere was a time, not so long ago, when batsmen visiting Edgbaston would drool in anticipation. The slow, flat pitches promised a chance to fill their boots and, between the start of 2007 and the end of 2009, only five championship matches here ended in an outright result as sides found it well nigh impossible to claim 20 wickets.Not any more. Edgbaston is a ground transformed. No side has taken maximum bonus batting bonus points here this season and, judging by the evidence of the first day of this match, they’re not about to start.While Somerset’s first innings total of 268 might appear, from a glance at the scorecard, a modest total, it is likely to prove highly competitive. The pitch is offering assistance to bowlers of all types, with Warwickshire’s seamers achieving steepling bounce and their spinners gaining sharp turn and bounce. Batting, at times, was very difficult indeed.Some made it appear more difficult than others, however. Arul Suppiah laboured for 96 minutes and 56 deliveries over his two runs – his dismissal in the 24th over was cricket’s version of a mercy killing – while Jos Buttler (17 balls) was little more fluent.Others, however, coped more easily. Marcus Trescothcik, after a sticky start, produced some characteristically thumping drives, while James Hildreth underlined the impression that he has taken a step forward this season. Looking compact and solid, yet unleashing some rasping square cuts, Hildreth passed 50 for the sixth time in his last seven championship innings. Craig Kisewetter, Peter Trego and Alfonso Thomas also weighed in with useful contributions.Somerset also benefited from Warwickshire’s profligacy in the field. Depending on your level of generosity, the hosts spurned at least half-a-dozen chances, with young keeper Richard Johnson responsible for half of them.Johnson, only 21 and playing just his second championship match, understandably struggled. He can rarely, if ever, have kept to a legspinner of Imran Tahir’s class and this dry pitch was hardly the easiest training ground. No doubt he will improve for the experience. It was a reminder, however, of how much Warwickshire miss Tim Ambrose. Or an in-from Tim Ambrose, anyway.As things stand, it appears that Ambrose is on his way out of Edgbaston. Out of contract at the end of the season, he is currently unable to maintain a place in the team after averaging just 11.63 with the bat in championship cricket.Rather than playing for the seconds, he has been given time off to clear his head and take stock. Already Hampshire have issued an official 28-day notice of approach and it is likely that other counties will follow. It seems hard to believe that it was just 15 months ago that he was playing, with some success, for the Test team in the Caribbean.None of Johnson’s reprieves were hugely costly. But, on a pitch where Trescothick reasoned that 250 was a good score and on which batting will only grow more difficult, they could prove crucial. Zander de Bruyn, on 12, was missed off an outside edge off the bowling of Woakes, before Kieswetter should have been stumped off Tahir when he had just seven. Trego, on 14, was also missed off the impressive Ant Botha.Johnson was not the only culprit. Varun Chopra, at midwicket, put down Trescothick on 32, off Maddy’s first ball, while Tahir missed a hard caught-and-bowled opportunity offered by Kartik and Rikki Clarke, at slip, put down a fiendishly tricky chance offered by Thomas off Botha.Clarke more than made amends with the ball, however. Bowling admirably straight and with some venom, he was easily the pick of the Warwickshire seamers and fully deserved to be handed the second new ball. After promising much but delivering little as a bowler for some years, there are now signs that Clarke – in tandem with Warwickshire’s new bowling coach, Graeme Welch – is beginning to harness his undoubted ability.Here he dislodged Suppiah, who had taken a stinging blow to the helmet from a Boyd Rankin bouncer, with a short ball that reared on the batsmen, before Buttler edged a similar delivery to slip and Trescothick was drawn into feeling for one angled across him. At the time Clarke had figures of 3 for 3.Botha was, perhaps surprisingly, the more potent of Warwickshire’s spinners. He dismissed Hildreth, trying to withdraw his bat, with an unplayable delivery that bounced and turned sharply, before Kieswetter and Phillips were caught at short leg as they struggled to nullify the spin. The wicket of Hildreth was his 300th in the first-class game.Botha also took a fine catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Trego, who was slog-sweeping, before Woakes returned to wrap-up the tail. Given the spinners’ success, however, it was something of a surprise that Westwood did not call them into the attack until the 50th (Imran) and 63rd (Botha) overs.Warwickshire faced only 16 deliveries before stumps, but it was enough to suggest they face a torrid examination on day two. Their first innings scores in their last three games (113 against Lancashire, 127 against Somerset and 100 against Durham) don’t exactly inspire confidence, so when Ian Westwood was caught at gully, trying to avoid a short ball that climbed on him from Charl Willoughby, it brought a familiar groan from the Edgbaston faithful. It will be a surprise if this match reaches a fourth day.

Everton have already signed two players in the first week of the January transfer window, and could be set to make their third signing, but not on manager Rafa Benitez’s terms, if rumours are to believed.

What’s the story?

According to ESPN, Everton are in talks to sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona with Premier League clubs interested in the Brazilian attacking midfielder.

However, the report suggests that there is an internal debate at the club as whilst Farhad Moshiri is keen to do a deal for the player, Rafa Benitez is not on board with the signing.

Coutinho has failed to impress at Barcelona and has been heavily linked to many clubs across the Premier League and Europe, however according to Sky Sports, just two clubs remain in the race to secure the signature of the £380k-per-week player.

Disasterclass

If Moshiri wasn’t able to convince Benitez about a move for Coutinho but signed him anyway, the owner could fracture his relationship with the Spanish manager, and it never ends well when Rafa is involved.

Mike Ashley allegedly felt the wrath of the former Newcastle United head coach when the ex-Magpies owner refused to back him in the January transfer window of 2017, with The Express reporting that the Spaniard demanded answers from Ashley.

The relationship between the pair never repaired, and the problems only escalated behind the scenes until Benitez’s contract expired in 2019.

Sadly, Moshiri could be set for a similar situation if he was to blow the budget on the £16.2m-rated star hailed a “magician” by former Liverpool team mate and Aston Villa manager, Steven Gerrard.

There are many key areas of concern that Everton need to focus on, as well as finding a solution for the ongoing issues with Lucas Digne during the four-week window, and Benitez will want to avoid adding to the reckless spending habits of the past that the club has become famous for since Moshiri landed at Goodison Park.

The owner has signed 43 players and spent over £500 million over the last five years, not including the two additions this week, with little return of investment considering the club have not won a single trophy in that time and sit 15th in the Premier League currently.

Benitez has clearly attempted to adopt a different direction when it comes to signing transfer targets, just judging by his signings of Demarai Gray and Andros Townsend in the summer, with Gray costing just £1.7m and Townsend joining on a free transfer.

It will be interesting to see if Everton continue their pursuit of Coutinho if the owner and manager cannot agree on the signing, and if he does go to Everton, it will only add to speculation that Benitez’s time at the club is slowly but surely coming to an end.

In other news: Benitez can axe Holgate with Araujo signing

Northamptonshire’s David Sales blasted his first century of the season as the hosts took control on the first day of their County Championship clash against Glamorgan at Wantage Road

05-Jul-2010
ScorecardNorthamptonshire’s David Sales blasted his first century of the season as the hosts took control on the first day of their County Championship clash against Glamorgan at Wantage Road. Sales, who missed the whole of last season with a serious knee injury, scored 127 off 184 balls and his brilliant knock included 16 fours and one six. Ex-captain Nicky Boje fell for 98 off 107 balls and Stephen Peters also made 76, with James Harris and David Harrison claiming two wickets each for the visitors.Northants won the toss, chose to bat and got off to a solid start, with openers Peters and Ben Howgego making 47 between them before Harris forced the latter (18) to edge to Mark Cosgrove at third slip. Alex Wakely could only make 16 before edging Harrison to Glamorgan captain Jamie Dalrymple at second slip, who took a simple catch.Peters and Sales then survived until lunch with their side on 78 for 2, with Sales finally getting off the mark just after the break off the 28th delivery that he faced. Peters then completed a patient half-century off 106 balls and, having taken so long to get going, Sales followed suit off 71 balls thanks to a flurry of boundaries.Peters, who fell just one run short of a double century in his last Championship match at Middlesex, made it to 76 before edging Dean Cosker to wicketkeeper Mark Wallace to break up a third-wicket stand of 94. It was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon and Sales remained unbeaten alongside Boje as Northants reached 206 for 3 at tea.Boje made an explosive half-century off just 53 balls before Sales completed his century in the 77th over off 150 balls, his first ton in first-class cricket since his effort in August 2008 against Gloucestershire.Boje was just two short of his first hundred of the season when he was trapped lbw by Harris eight overs before the close to end a magnificent fourth-wicket partnership of 175. It was just eight runs short of the Northants record against Glamorgan, made by Sales and Rob White in Swansea two years ago.Harrison finally managed to remove Sales by taking out his middle stump in the following over as Glamorgan’s attack made full use of the new ball. Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura and captain Andrew Hall then survived a late onslaught to finish unbeaten on six and five respectively.

West Bromwich Albion have lost the services of highly-rated left-back Lino Da Cruz Sousa.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by football.london, who claim that Arsenal have secured a deal for the 16-year-old West Brom wonderkid in the January transfer window, with the defender becoming Mikel Arteta’s first signing of the winter market.

The report goes on to state that, after highly impressing in the Baggies academy set up, the England U16 international had caught the eye of a number of top-flight sides this month, however, it would now appear that the North London side have won the race for the Albion starlet.

Fans will be fuming

Considering the sheer amount of potential Sousa quite clearly possesses, in addition to the fact that West Brom have made something of a habit of losing their most prized youth prospects for next to nothing in recent seasons, the news that the 16-year-old has also left The Hawthorns for greener pastures is sure to have left fans of Albion fuming.

Indeed, despite his tender age, the left-back had been a regular in West Brom’s U18 side last season, scoring two goals and registering one assist over his 16 U18 Premier League appearances, in addition to making one outing for the U23 side.

As such, it is not difficult to see why expectations were so high for Sousa at The Hawthorns, with West Brom coach Peter Gilbert previously stating of the teenager: “Lino’s an athletic full-back, reads the game well, has a lovely left foot. It’s not often a 16-year-old plays an entire season with the 18s, but that’s credit to him because he has so much potential.”

However, despite clearly being extremely highly thought of at West Brom, Sousa has now become the latest in a long line of Albion academy prospects to leave the club before having the opportunity to make any real impact in the first team over the last three years, following the likes of Morgan Rogers, Nathan Ferguson, Tim Iroegbunam, Finley Thorndike, Finn Azaz and Louie Barry – all of whom have left the club in the last three years.

Indeed, were West Brom able to keep hold of these talents, alongside the likes of Taylor Gardner-Hickman, Reyes Cleary and Ethan Ingram, Valerien Ismael would currently be in possession of an extremely talented crop of youth players, many of whom would undoubtedly be pushing for a regular starting spot in the Frenchman’s side.

However, yet again, West Brom have let another extremely talented prospect slip through their fingers in Sousa, with Ismael now having played a part in what is turning into a rather serious and long-term issue at The Hawthorns – something the club simply must address as quickly as possible.

In other news: Valerien Ismael must ruthlessly axe £24k-p/w West Brom dud who’s “not in the plans”

Canada Women bounced back from their 3-0 defeat in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers against USA with two comfortable wins in the Women’s America 20-over Championship at the Maple Leaf ground in King City

Cricinfo staff18-Jul-2010
Scorecard

ScorecardCanada Women bounced back from their 3-0 defeat in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers against USA with two comfortable wins in the Women’s America 20-over Championship at the Maple Leaf ground in King City.In the first game, Mikaela Turik and captain Suthershini Sivanantham ensured Canada made light work of the modest target set by USA. Chasing 114 for victory, Turik ticked along at a run a ball, hitting four fours in her 45 not out while Sivanantham made an unbeaten 31 to ease Canada over the finish line.It was thanks to Sivanantham’s 3 for 14 in the first half of the game that the batsmen had such a comfortable target. She removed Indomatie Goordial-John and 49-year-old Joan Alexander-Serrano in quick succession to take the heart of USA’s top-order. After being reduced to 70 for 6 it was only an enterprising 27 not out from Nadia Gruny that gave the USA total any hint of respectability, but it was not enough.Canada followed up their good showing in the first match with a 38-run win in the second game. Defending 145 Mona Persaud followed up her unbeaten 24 with three wickets to give Canada the spoils. USA had made a solid start with Doris Francis and Rajashree Mahale taking them to 59 without loss. But Persaud removed both openers and Gruny to choke the tourists and leave them well short of the target.The victory was set up by Monali Patel, who made 37 to anchor the innings after the loss of a two early wickets. Shondell Ward castled Turik and Sheryl Tittlemier early to leave Canada wobbling at 35 for 2 but Patel found a willing partner in Sivanantham, who smashed 24 in 17 balls to wrestle the momentum back. Persaud then took control to lift Canada towards 150 and give the bowlers all they needed to wrap up victory.

Taking to Twitter, a number of West Ham fans have slammed the rumours suggesting that Andy Carroll could return to the club, following the news that he was pictured at the Hammers’ Rush Green training ground.

Shared by WestHamFans.org (via Claret & Hugh), images of former Hammers player Carroll at West Ham’s training ground have recently emerged, sparking rumours that he could be making a shock return to the club.

The 6 foot 3 striker made 142 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 34 goals during his tenure at the East London side.

In November last year, the 32-year-old joined Reading on a short-term contract. However, this contract has now expired, and the former Newcastle man is without a club. As a result, it remains to be seen what lies in the player’s imminent footballing future.

These West Ham fans react to the Carroll news

Club insider ExWHUemployee downplayed the rumours of Carroll’s return on Twitter, claiming that he has ‘been told the deal isn’t on’, further stating that he was ‘not sure why this Carroll rumour has so much legs’.

However, this still doesn’t explain why the player was pictured at the club’s training ground.

Consequently, fans flocked to the comments to share their disbelief, many slamming the club for entertaining such a prospect.

Here’s what some of them had to say:

“It’s baffling he is playing in the championship for a reason IMO even if we were in the bottom 4 it’s the wrong move and there are better options out there.”

Credit: @AshBarton70

“Don’t need to sign him ( we do need a striker). That’s a step backwards for us . Leave him in our history & move on .”

Credit: @SkeltonTony

“We’re desperate. That’s why hahahahaha”

Credit: @breggertelli

“Think it’s more about just how low our expectations still are!”

Credit: @richards_shaun

“Would be my last day as a West Ham fan”

Credit: @altgram

“Why on earth would they even consider it, are our fans deluded or something???”

Credit: @BKhammer1