Wayne Rooney has brought in Mike Phelan as his new number two to help Plymouth fight relegation.
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Phelan joins PlymouthWorked previously with Sir Alex at Man UtdPlymouth in bottom threeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Phelan spent nine years in two separate spells at Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson's number two and worked with the Plymouth Argyle boss when he was a player at Old Trafford. He replaces Pete Shuttleworth who has left for personal reasons.
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On the appointment, Rooney said: "I am sad to see Pete leave the club. He is someone I have worked with very closely throughout my managerial career having first met at Derby County and he has also been a close friend.
"Mike is someone I know well having worked with him when I was a player at Manchester United and he has vast experience at the highest level of football.
"I am really pleased to bring him to Argyle and look forward to seeing him get to work immediately."
WHAT PHELAN SAID
Posting on X, Phelan said: "I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be #ReUnited with Wayne Rooney at Argyle. Looking forward to to this new challenge."
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Rooney has a huge task on his hands to keep Plymouth in the Championship. Argyle are 22nd in the division and sit in the relegation zone but, with Phelan's experience coming through the door, Rooney will be hoping his former coach will help change their fortunes.
Everton’s first two outings in the Premier League have highlighted the need for added reinforcements in attacking areas before the transfer window closes on Friday night.
Sean Dyche’s side have failed to score a single league goal so far this campaign, falling to heavy defeats against Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur.
The Toffees have registered the fewest number of shots on target in the division during the opening matches of the new campaign, averaging just one per match – with last season’s attacking issues once again proving to be a cause for concern.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
However, with just over one day remaining in the market, Dyche and co will have to act quickly if they are to secure a deal for any new attackers to hand themselves the best opportunity of avoiding yet another relegation scrap this season.
As a result, they could turn to one talent, with the Toffees expected to lodge a bid for his services before tomorrow’s deadline.
Everton plotting bid for Championship star
According to TEAMtalk, Everton are pondering whether to bid to sign West Bromwich Albion’s talented young forward, Tom Fellows.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2024/25 campaign for the Baggies, registering three assists in his first three outings, prompting interest from various other top-flight outfits.
Southampton are just one of the sides in the race, having a £15m bid rejected for the Englishman yesterday, with TEAMtalk’s report claiming Carlos Corberan’s side value him at around the £15m mark.
Fellows may be a risky addition given his lack of Premier League experience, but it could allow him to follow in the success of one talent who developed rapidly at Goodison Park.
Why Fellows has shades of Gordon in his play
Although he left the club in an unsavoury manner, Anthony Gordon produced many moments of magic during his time at Everton after breaking through the club’s academy.
The winger went on to feature 80 times for the Toffees, scoring on ten occasions, before swapping Merseyside for Tyneside in January 2023, joining Newcastle United in a £45m deal.
Newcastle player Anthony Gordon
It was a great deal on the face of it for the club, making a huge profit on an academy product, aiding their battle against the Premier League’s strict PSR rules.
However, 18 months on from the 23-year-old’s departure from Goodison, they have an opportunity to land a similar talent in Fellows, with the youngster having traits very close to those of Gordon.
Both are right-footed wingers who like to play off the left-hand side and cut inside onto their stronger foot, with the West Brom ace demonstrating his talent with his strike against Ipswich Town in the Championship last season.
The “unbelievable” Fellows, as described by teammate Karlan Grant, might not have blistering pace but, it’s his ability to carry the ball into attacking areas that makes him so dangerous averaging 5.2 progressive carries per 90 – a tally that Gordon simply couldn’t match last season.
His ability to either cut inside or take the ball down the line and deliver a cross is very similar to that of Gordon, with the Baggies' talent potentially the club’s next version of the academy star.
Games played
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35
Goals + assists
7
21
Progressive carries
5.2
4.3
Shots on target
0.5
0.9
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3.5
Take-on success
44%
40%
Shot-on-target accuracy
47%
36%
He would be an addition that would require time to settle given his age, but once he does he would be a phenomenal pickup for Dyche’s side, with the Secret Scout previously hailing him as a player who has 'a good team ethic and provides a constant threat'.
Fellows has demonstrated in the Championship that he has the quality to move on to bigger things, with a move to the Premier League in the coming months almost a certainty.
Tom Fellows celebrates for West Brom.
£15m would be an excellent price for an exciting youngster who has the potential to boost Everton’s offensive output, whilst also developing into a leading player during the club in their current transitional period on and off the pitch.
Imagine him & DCL: Everton plot move for "the best right back in Europe"
The law firm responsible for handling Paul Pogba's appeal against a doping ban has been hired by Mykhailo Mudryk after the Chelsea star was suspended.
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Mudryk hit with shock suspensionHas turned to law firm Pogba hiredWinger's fate still uncertainFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Ukraine international has been handed a provisional suspension after he allegedly failed a drugs test after the November international break, having tested positive for meldonium. The winger will have to wait until the results of a B sample come through before he can be cleared.
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According to , Mudryk has employed the same firm, Morgan Sports Law, that Pogba hired after he was hit with a four-year suspension, which was subsequently reduced to 18 months after an appeal. The France international, who has been linked with a free transfer to Manchester City, is clear to return to training next month and can play again in March.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mudryk last featured for Chelsea in their Conference League win against Heidenheim at the end of November, having been absent for the last five Premier League matches. The winger said the news came as a "shock" and insists he has done "not done anything wrong".
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The 23-year-old will be eager for news on his backup sample so that he can get a clear idea on his fate. The ex-Shakhtar player could be hit with a large suspension if found guilty, or be given the green light to play again if turns out to have been a false positive.
Opener’s availability may be impacted by Australia series in the Caribbean
ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-2021Hampshire have announced D’Arcy Short, the Australia batter, as one of their overseas signings for the summer’s Vitality T20 Blast.Short was earlier named in Australia’s preliminary squad to play ODIs and T20Is in the West Indies in July, and if he is selected for the final touring party, that could impact on his availability for the Blast. Hampshire hope to have him involved throughout the tournament.Short, 30, has previously appeared in the Blast for Durham, as well as featuring in T20 leagues around the world, including the IPL. An aggressive opener, he averages 36.40 with a strike rate of 133.58 in T20, and also offers a handy bowling option with his left-arm wristspin.Related
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“We are delighted to secure the signing of D’Arcy for this summer’s Vitality Blast competition,” Giles White, Hampshire’s director of cricket, said.”He is a high-class performer who has consistently shown his ability to score a high volume of runs at the top of the order, both for Australia and in a number of the world’s best T20 competitions. Alongside his skill with the bat, he also gives us another spin bowling option with the ball so we’re excited about what he brings to the side and are looking forward to having him with us.”Short’s most-recent Australia outings came in December, during the T20I series against India. Overall, he has 23 T20I caps and eight in ODIs, having debuted in 2018.Short said: “I am so excited to join a club with as much history as Hampshire Hawks. I can’t wait to get to the Ageas Bowl and hopefully we can have a strong season and win our first title since 2012.”Hampshire, who came bottom of the South Group in last summer’s T20 Blast, have also signed Colin De Grandhomme for the second half of the Blast, and have South Africa seamer Kyle Abbott on their books as an overseas player.
Ruben Amorim has not ruled out an imminent return for Marcus Rashford amid his continued exile from Manchester United's matchday squads.
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Rashford wants to leave Man UtdLeft out of last three gamesAmorim doesn't rule out returnFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Rashford’s form has been dwindling since the start of the 2023-24 season and that hasn't changed since the arrival of Amorim as United head coach. The winger has come out and indicated he is considering leaving Old Trafford and has been left out of the matchday squad for the club's last three games.
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Amorim has not included Rashford for their Premier League clashes against Manchester City and, most recently, Bournemouth, and also for their Carabao Cup loss to Tottenham Hotspur. The Portuguese coach has now opened up regarding the forward's potential return to the squad with the January transfer market being touted as a potential departure window.
WHAT AMORIM SAID
Speaking to the media, Amorim said: “It’s my decision and it always will be. It is selection. I want to see the best of my players and I try different things with different players. That’s my focus.”
When questioned whether Rahsford will return for the upcoming clash against Wolves, Amorim added: “It depends. We will see.”
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD & RASHFORD?
It seems unlikely that Rashford will return to United’s squad when they take on Wolves on Thursday, December 26. However, it will remain up to Amorim to decide what the future holds for the 27-year-old as January fast approaches.
Having missed out on signing a new right winger in the summer transfer window, Newcastle United are now reportedly willing to match the valuation of a player who would be an instant upgrade on Miguel Almiron.
Newcastle transfer news
The Magpies endured a nightmare summer, there's no escaping that, after failing to sign Marc Guehi and any other centre-back alternative aside from a free deal for Lloyd Kelly at the start of the window, who is also likely to be used on the left. What's more, those at St James' Park also failed to sign an upgrade on Miguel Almiron, who was linked with a move away himself, throughout the summer.
Newcastle failed with £21m bid for "great" Guehi alternative from UCL club
The Magpies ended the window without signing a central defender…
ByTom Cunningham Sep 5, 2024
Sporting director Paul Mitchell recently spoke about his first summer in charge, telling The Telegraph's Luke Edwards: "There are things we got wrong in our strategy, for sure. If we could have signed a player that we actively felt could make a really good squad better, would we? Of course we would have done.”
"Eddie was very clear and it’s not up to me after seven weeks to say, ‘We’ll do this and that’, because I’m in a supporting role. Were there options? Of course there were, as that’s the responsibility of the department and Newcastle."
Now tasked with making up for lost time in 2025 – be that in the January window or next summer – the Magpies have reportedly set their sights on an exciting target. According to reports in Spain via Football365, Newcastle are now willing to match Barcelona's €60m (£52m) price tag to sign Raphinha in 2025.
Barcelona star Raphinha.
Newcastle were reportedly in advanced talks to sign the Brazilian in the summer window, but ultimately failed to tempt Barcelona into a deal to sell their winger. Now, amid Raphinha's impressive start to the campaign, the Magpies are seemingly prepared to splash out on his signature, making the January window instantly interesting to watch.
"Amazing" Raphinha would end Howe's Almiron problem
Alongside Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon, Eddie Howe lacks the same firepower on the right-hand side that Raphinha would instantly provide to replace Almiron. The former Leeds United star has enjoyed an electric start to the campaign in Spain, scoring a hat-trick against Real Valladolid last time out in a stunning 7-0 victory for Barcelona.
His stunning start follows Ben Mattinson's praise for the winger last month, in which the analyst dubbed Raphinha "amazing" at right-wing and "genuinely quality off the left too".
Following Almiron's disappointing season last time out – scoring just five goals and assisting a further three – Newcastle must find an upgrade as soon as possible if they are to compete for a place inside the Premier League's top four once again.
Howe could yet form a deadly front three of Gordon, Isak and Raphinha to fire Newcastle back on track in 2025.
All the updates, news and stats from day four of the second Test at Edgbaston
Valkerie Baynes13-Jun-2021* Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local12.10am: They know it’s all overTom Latham sealed the win•PA Images via Getty ImagesThe first ball said it all, really. Trent Boult sent it down with scrambled seam, it found the bat and Tom Blundell’s waiting gloves leaving Olly Stone, England’s last man out visibly exhaling in deflated resignation to his side’s fate. And the Edgbaston clock hadn’t even ticked over to 11am yet.The man at the other end, James Anderson, was into the changing room and straight back out again, producing a maiden first up. He wasn’t going down without a fight.Nor was his old mate, Stuart Broad, who struck with the last ball of the following over when he removed Devon Conway, the man who had racked up 306 runs at 76.50 this series in the only two Tests of his career. Broad enticed Conway to one that pitched outside off and found an edge which James Bracey took behind the stumps with the visitors only needing 32 more for victory.Stone came into the attack in the 10th over and struck with his sixth ball. Having had a wider delivery punished to the fence by Will Young two balls prior, Stone had Young out chopping onto his stumps with just five runs needed.Stand-in captain Tom Latham sealed the result in the next over with a four clubbed through square leg off Mark Wood followed by another two balls later guided through third man. It was New Zealand’s first Test series win in England since 1999 and consigned England to their first home Test series defeat since 2014.11.45am: Too good
The thing we'd all love to see…
Come on @England! #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/9CDe3MRYIo
— Kent Spitfires (@KentCricket) June 13, 2021
11.25am: Conway outDevon Conway is out early•Getty ImagesStuart Broad isn’t going down without a fight, luring Devon Conway to one outside off and the batter snicks to James Bracey behind the stumps. The visitors only need 32 more for victory though.11.05am: No, it really didn’t last long
Well that didn't last long!
Stone is caught behind with the first ball of the day!
New Zealand need 38 runs to win! https://t.co/qQc1V6pQCg | #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/PGBDnvhCCi
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 13, 2021
10.50am: Who’s in?Chris Silverwood said he’d keep an open mind on selection changes: “So, if people are getting runs, I’ll be taking notice.” What do you reckon?
10.05am: How long have you got?Hello there, and the question is, how much longer does this Test have to go? England have only one wicket in hand with Olly Stone not out 15 and James Anderson yet to score. They lead by just 37 runs at 122 for 9. George Dobell paints a picture for us – an accurately bleak one for the home side – and also reports that Chris Silverwood, the head coach, is under no illusions with the recognition that his side were “not good enough” yesterday.Joe Root nicks one behind to Tom Blundell•Getty Images
Lionesses star Ella Toone could make her return from a two-month injury lay-off this weekend, as Man Utd kickstart their Women's FA Cup title defence.
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Toone sidelined for last two months with injuryMissed final eight games of 2024 for Man Utd & EnglandBut Lionesses star could make her return this weekendFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Toone has been out of action since mid-November due to a calf problem, one which ruled her out of Manchester United's final six games of 2024 and England's last two fixtures of the calendar year, too.
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However, head coach Marc Skinner has revealed that the creative midfielder could be in line for a return on Saturday, when Man Utd take on third-tier West Brom in the FA Cup fourth round. It'd be a timely comeback, as the Red Devils have some huge games on the horizon.
WHAT SKINNER SAID
Speaking in his press conference on Friday, Skinner said: "Ella Toone is back and hopefully in the squad, she will hopefully play some part against West Brom. We are looking at that obviously with the games coming up as well. Probably (playing) around half an hour, I think is probably sensible. The competitive chaos nature of a game that you can’t control a little bit more fatigues mentally. So you make different decisions. But she trained yesterday with the team, working on the shape, and she was really sharp. So hopefully we can get her into the game and introduce her after the long time she’s had out."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Getting some minutes in Toone's legs in a game United are expected to win comfortably would be wise, given what lies ahead. On January 19, the Red Devils will make the short journey to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City, as the Women's Super League returns from its winter break. Then, just three days later, United will host their crosstown rivals in the League Cup quarter-finals.
Wolves suffered their third defeat in four Premier League games on Sunday, but one player was given special recognition for his performance in the game against Newcastle United.
It has been a frustrating start to the new campaign for Gary O’Neil’s side, as they are yet to win a game, picking up just one point from a possible 12.
Wolves keen on signing "terrific" in-demand gem ahead of Arsenal for O'Neil
He’s one for the future.
ByTom Cunningham Sep 14, 2024 Wolves keen on Championship midfielder
It was a very mixed summer for Wolves and O’Neil, as the Premier League side lost Max Kilman and Pedro Neto, two important players, but they finished the transfer window by adding Andre and Carlos Forbs to their squad.
Those additions are yet to have the impact the club had wished for, but given time, they could turn out to be shrewd additions. The poor start to the season will be putting pressure on O’Neil and the board, and they may already be putting plans in place for January as they eye potentially more arrivals to strengthen the team.
Wolves manager Gary O'Neil
According to a recent report, Wolves are keen on signing Souleymane Sidibe from Stoke City. If the Midlands side were able to get a deal over the line, they could beat the likes of rivals Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, as well as Manchester City and Arsenal, to the signing.
At 17, Sidibe is already part of the Potters’ midfield, and he played an important role in the first game of the season, as he provided the assist in their 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle. His performances don’t seem to have gone unnoticed, as Wolves are now keen on signing the youngster in what you would presume to be in January. Wolves may enter January in a relegation battle given how their season has started, and it didn’t get much easier on Sunday, but one player earned special praise despite suffering a 2-1 loss.
Paul Merson left stunned at Wolves star and makes Messi comparison
As stated, Wolves suffered a 2-1 defeat on Sunday to Newcastle United in a game that saw the Midlands side take the lead through Mario Lemina but were overcome by late goals from Fabian Schar and Harvey Barnes.
Wolves’ only goal of the game was a very fine move by the home side, as Lemina finished off what was a well-worked goal that involved fellow midfielder Joao Gomes producing an excellent dummy.
Gomes won the ball in the midfield; he then allowed Matheus Cunha to carry the ball before playing out wide; the ball was then delivered into the path of Lemina, with Gomes producing a moment of magic in the box with the ball before Lemina slotted it home.
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1
That move and in particular the piece of skill from Gomes left Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson amazed, and he was full of praise for the player. Merson labelled the moment as “unbelievable” and even went on to compare Gomes to the great Lionel Messi.
Merson said, relayed by Molineux News: “That is unbelievable.
“If Messi did that, we’d be going mad. Everything about it is phenomenal.”
Somerset saved by rain as DLS calculations unable to kick in before deluge
ECB Reporters Network05-Aug-2021Somerset 220 (Goldsworthy 96, Moriarty 4-30) vs Surrey 66 for 0 – No Result Lewis Goldsworthy’s impressive 96 and Dan Moriarty’s controlled 4 for 30, both List A bests, were the stand-out performances of a rain-ruined Royal London Cup match at the Kia Oval in which Surrey were left an agonising two overs short of gaining victory against Somerset on Duckworth Lewis Stern calculations.Surrey, to their huge frustration, were cruising at 66 for no wicket from just eight overs when rain intervened for the final time, in reply to Somerset’s 220 all out in 48.3 overs. With a minimum of ten overs needing to be bowled at the team batting second, both sides ended up with a point apiece from the no result.Initially chasing 217 from 48 overs, due to the first of several afternoon rain squalls, Surrey were 7 without loss from 2.3 overs when more heavy rain arrived.After a delay of 100 minutes, play resumed with Surrey’s DLS target now 147 from 25 overs and, immediately, openers Mark Stoneman and Ben Geddes set about Somerset’s attack to plunder 59 from 5.3 overs.Stoneman, unbeaten on 29, smashed Josh Davey through extra cover and straight drove Sonny Baker powerfully for another four, while Geddes also hit out attractively with five boundaries to reach 31 not out before more rain forced the abandonment.Goldsworthy, the highly-promising 20-year-old Cornishman in his first full season, had earlier almost single-handedly dragged Somerset past 200 with a superbly-paced 105-ball innings that featured three late sixes and also six fours.It was, however, an ultimately disappointing day for a near 5,000 crowd and unbeaten Somerset now have three wins and two no results from their first five group 1 games, while Surrey have two wins and two no results from their initial five Royal London fixtures.Matt Dunn struck two new ball blows after Somerset had chosen to bat, the Surrey paceman producing excellent deliveries to have Sam Young caught behind for a duck, driving, in the third over and James Rew pouched at second slip for 6 four overs later.Steven Davies swung Rikki Clarke for six and also struck seven exquisitely-timed fours in a 32-ball 45 before steering Nick Kimber’s pacy seamers to backward point, and James Hildreth unfurled one beautiful extra cover driven four off Kimber before Clarke had him caught behind for 19 with the first ball after a drinks break.Goldsworthy, who had narrowly avoided being yorked by Kimber first ball, could only watch as Moriarty had Eddie Byrom lbw for 2, prodding half-forward, and then sent back Davey for 5, edging to keeper Jamie Smith an attempted reverse-sweep.That was 114 for 6, in the 24th over, but at least Kasey Aldridge and then George Drissell hung around long enough to help Goldsworthy put on 27 and 25, respectively, for the seventh and eighth wickets.Both made 12 but Aldridge edged a rising ball from Kimber to slip and Drissell was smartly stumped by Smith from a legside ball from Moriarty that would have been called as a one-day wide had he not overbalanced.Marchant de Lange was then bowled by Moriarty for 4, aiming a legside swipe when he might have better concentrated on supporting Goldsworthy, and it took a sensible 7 not out from last man Baker to enable Somerset’s rising young batting star to press down the accelerator in the closing overs.Goldsworthy first swung Clarke high over long on before adding two more sixes, both off Dunn in a 47th over costing 22, again clearing the ropes over mid wicket and long on besides collecting two fours with a thick-edged slash to third man and a punch through extra cover.There was one final four, a flat-batted pull off Kimber wide of mid on, before Goldsworthy was caught above his head on the wide mid wicket ropes by Tim David as he clubbed Ryan Patel’s medium pace to leg in a bid to reach three figures.