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Manchester United’s season has been nothing short of a mess, which can be highlighted by the fact that Erik ten Hag’s future is now uncertain.

However, that’s also the case for plenty of the Red Devils players, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe now looking to recruit young, value-for-money talents.

A new midfielder is at the top of the new owner's priority list, with that particular position being highlighted as a problem in recent weeks.

That's notably been the case when former Real Madrid star Casemiro has taken to the field.

Casemiro’s 23/24 campaign

Last season, Casemiro filled the defensive midfield void that had been holding Man United back for years, playing 51 matches across all competitions.

But the £70m fee spent on the Brazilian is now looking like a rather huge blunder, with the veteran's performances ringing alarm bells this season, especially since he’s returned from injury in January.

The midfielder has two major flaws to his game that simply can’t be looked past, with the first being the lack of control he brings to the side, as shown by his pass accuracy of 82% in the league this season.

Yet the biggest problem is his pure lack of athleticism and the fact he can’t cover ground, with pundit Jamie Redknapp even stating that “Casemiro looks like he’s playing in Soccer Aid.”

Man Utd line up £60m transfer who's an "enormous" upgrade on Antony

The Manchester United target has six more goals than Antony in the league this season.

ByTom Lever Apr 17, 2024 Angel Gomes could’ve fixed Man Utd’s midfield

In 2020, Man United academy graduate Angel Gomes left his boyhood club in search of minutes, which has certainly worked out for the player but not the club.

The Englishman joined French side Lille having left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer behind, signing on a free transfer after rejecting a new contract offer at Old Trafford. He was then loaned out to Boavista in Portugal.

Fast forward to today, and the former United “wonderkid,” as dubbed by football scout Jacek Kulig, is a key player at the heart of the Ligue 1 team's midfield, performing to an extremely high standard.

The 23-year-old is a versatile player who can play as an attacking midfielder, a box-to-box player, or even a defensive-minded midfielder in a double pivot, which is the exact profile that United need right now.

Assists

0.26

Top 1%

Key passes

1.49

Top 18%

Progressive passes

7.19

Top 17%

Shot-creating actions

3.73

Top 12%

Passes completed

53.86

Top 17%

Touches

67.11

Top 32%

However, as you can see by the table above, he’s the type of player to bring security to the side in terms of possession retention rather than defensive actions, unlike Casemiro, whose style of play is the complete opposite.

Despite being just 5 foot 6, Gomes uses his small stature to his advantage, wriggling out of tight spaces and resisting the press with ease, which allows his side to be strong in the buildup phase.

That said, the number 8’s biggest strength is his ability to use his excellent vision to showcase his vast passing range, which also enables him to flourish creatively.

Gomes ranks in the top 1% for assists compared to midfielders in Ligue 1, registering six assists across 25 matches, but that tally could’ve been higher considering he’s created ten big chances.

Today, Gomes is estimated to be worth £26m by CIES Football Observatory, which just further highlights the massive mistake United made by not giving Gomes an opportunity to thrive.

Funnily enough, the Lille star ticks every single box that Ratcliffe would look for in a new midfield signing, in terms of cost, age, and potential.

What the Man Utd team could look like once Shea Lacey becomes a regular

A look at how the Red Devils could line up once teen sensation Shea Lacey breaks into the side…

ByRobbie Walls Apr 16, 2024

Peshawar Zalmi will have no case to answer for alleged ball-tampering during their game against Quetta Gladiators, after the PCB confirmed that Quetta had failed to formally make a complaint. Quetta captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s claim they had reported what they perceived as ball-tampering by Peshawar has been refuted by the PCB, who in a press release stated Quetta had not filed the complaint through the “correctly stated procedure”.Following the conclusion of the match between Quetta and Peshawar on Saturday, Sarfaraz said his side believed Peshawar had altered the condition of the ball, and they were taking the matter up with the match referee and the PCB. “As far as ball-tampering is concerned, we have followed the protocols of [the] PCB and submitted our report on the matter,” he said. Team manager Nabeel Hashmi, who was with Sarfaraz at the press conference, appeared to clarify the comment, suggesting a formal complaint had not been made.The procedure to file a formal complaint was never followed though. Quetta wrote their complaint on the match evaluation form, which is not the platform to lodge formal complaints. Instead, the PCB pointed out, “all Reports must be completed on Form “Rep 1″ (or such other form as may be made available for such purpose by the PSL from time to time). All Reports must be signed and dated by the person lodging the Report.”That needed to be done within 48 hours of the conclusion of the game, which Peshawar won by six wickets. With that time having now lapsed, the window of opportunity available to Quetta to make a complaint has closed.”The Pakistan Cricket Board today confirmed match referee Roshan Mahanama has not received an official complaint from Quetta Gladiators against Peshawar Zalmi for changing the condition of the ball…” the PCB media release said.The PCB made clear they will not recognise Sarfaraz’s public comments as an official complaint, and were not happy with the manner in which Quetta had handled the matter.”We are aware that a statement on changing the condition of the ball has been made without providing any concrete evidence or lodging a formal complaint through the correctly stated procedure,” Wasim Khan, the PCB CEO, said.”In this case, this should have been submitted to the match referee by 6pm on Monday, 24 February. Such irresponsible statements without formal follow-up will only effect the integrity of the event and cast doubts on international cricketers, and, as such, I request the players to use caution and show responsibility.”A source at Quetta Gladiators told ESPNcricinfo that they had no intention to formally complain, insisting Sarfaraz’s comments had been misinterpreted. Quetta merely wanted to raise awareness of the issue, and to ask umpires to pay more attention to the ball’s condition, which would explain why they included their remarks on the umpire evaluation form instead of lodging a complaint to the match referee.The PSL resumes in Multan on Wednesday, where Multan Sultans will take on Peshawar. Quetta next play in Rawalpindi against Islamabad United.

Liverpool will be painted in red on the day Jurgen Klopp lifts his arm to touch the famous 'This Is Anfield' sign in Liverpool's home ground for one final time.

The sun is westering on Merseyside as the lionised German's tenure draws to a close, and with the Carabao Cup bagged this season and silverware very much grabbable in the Premier League and Europa League, a deafening conclusion is on the cards.

Self-branded 'heavy metal' football, devastating counter-transitions, mentality monsters, rich emergence of youth. This is Klopp's legacy. The nuts and bolts of the 56-year-old's success in Liverpool lie with the astute transfer activity over the past eight years or so, with shrewd deals and pinpoint bids shaping a team bitterly admired by rivals near and far.

Mohamed Salah: signed from Roma for £34m. Virgil van Dijk? Arrived from Southampton for £75m – that one hit the mark. Andy Robertson, you say? He joined from Hull City for just £10m, since becoming one of the finest full-backs in Europe.

Imagine if Liverpool employed a strategy that precluded this, implementing the transfer policy that has been in place at Athletic Bilbao over in Spain since 1912, only signing players originating from Basque Country or having developed their formative skills at a Basque club.

With Klopp leaving in the summer, the frontrunner to succeed the legendary gaffer Xabi Alonso could craft an interesting team from city-grown stars, with the Spaniard working wonders at Bayer Leverkusen and fiercely pursued.

Michael Edwards has returned as FSG's new CEO of football, while Richard Hughes has been appointed as Liverpool's new sporting director, and in this hypothetical scenario, the duo would have their work cut out to make things work, signing exclusively from Merseyside.

But would such a team succeed in the Premier League?

1

GK – Harvey Davies

Born: Liverpool

Goalkeeper is a tough one, with Caoimhin Kelleher on Liverpool's books since he was 16 years old, arriving from Irish outfit Ringmahon Rangers.

He's not scouse though, and so Harvey Davies would earn his place between the sticks, with the 20-year-old Reds shot-stopper currently out on loan with Crewe Alexandra in League Two, saving 69% of his shots faced.

2

RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold

Born: West Derby

Who to stick at right-back was a tough one, but we suppose Trent Alexander-Arnold will do. Klopp's vice-captain has gone from strength to strength since graduating from Liverpool's academy and is now one of Europe's most influential stars, described as a "genius" for his ball-playing ability by reporter Neil Jones.

3

CB – Jarell Quansah

Born: Warrington

New on the block but cultured and possessed by a swagger that belies his years, Jarell Quansah is Merseyside's standout centre-back right now (born between the Manchester/Mersey divide), with his future at Liverpool tipped to be laden with success.

Remarked to be "excelling" this season in a "master/apprentice" partnership with indomitable captain Virgil van Dijk by The Athletic's James Pearce, this kid is the real deal – and even better, he's one of our own.

4

CB – Conor Coady

Born: St Helens

The first player not actually in Liverpool's real squad goes to Conor Coady, though he did graduate from the academy way back when and made a grand total of two appearances before being purchased by Huddersfield Town back in 2014 for £500,000.

Slim pickings really, barring Quansah, though Coady is now a veteran of the English game and has played 176 games in the Premier League,

5

LB – Martin Kelly

Born: Whiston

In this distorted version of footballing life, Liverpool would have had to make use of Martin Kelly's talents at left-back for far longer than was actually the case, with the West Bromwich Albion defender joining Liverpool aged seven and playing 62 times for the Merseyside club before moving away.

He's naturally a right-sided player but is competent across the back four and would be a valuable asset for a Liverpool team constrained by local signing restrictions.

6

DM – Tyler Morton

Born: Wallasey

A rising star who could yet find a place in Liverpool's senior side, Tyler Morton currently plies his trade out on loan with promotion-chasing Hull City, but in this parallel world, he'd have been placed in the midfield anchor under Alonso.

Described as an "incredible talent" by media man Matthew Stanger, Morton is an underrated player, completing 89% of his passes for the Tigers and averaging 1.3 key passes and 4.7 ball recoveries per fixture.

7

CM – Tom Davies

Born: Liverpool

Ah, perhaps the first real point of contention, here. Fair enough, Tom Davies is actually a product of Everton's academy. Yes, he's struggled to cement a spot at Goodison Park over the past few years and now plays for imperilled Sheffield United, starting just two top-flight matches this term.

But there's not much to choose from here and Liverpool would have sought him out as one of Merseyside's brightest midfield talents and guided him to prominence at Liverpool. Maybe he might have realised some of that potential woven into his natural skill set.

8

CM – Ross Barkley

Born: Wavertree

Another Everton man, but this one does make more sense. Ross Barkley is a very good player but he has struggled against injuries most of his career and saw his huge potential derailed after completing a £15m move from Goodison to Chelsea back in 2018.

He's returned to England this term with newly-promoted Luton Town after a stint in France and has proved himself one of the standout summer signings, said to be "not far off player of the season" by Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson.

As per Sofascore, the 30-year-old Merseysider has posted four goals and three assists from 24 Premier League matches in the current campaign, completing 84% of his passes and averaging 1.7 key passes, 1.5 tackles, 6.4 ball recoveries, 2.3 dribbles and 6.8 successful duels per match.

9

RW – Anthony Gordon

Born: Liverpool

Anthony Gordon is scouse through and through, though both sides of the Merseyside pond seem to loathe the electric winger. For Everton, he fled during a time of great need, completing a £45m transfer to Newcastle United in January 2023; for Liverpool, Gordon is the enemy, though he actually spent some time at the Liverpool youth academy during his teenage years.

Anthony Gordon: Premier League Stats 23/24
Stat	#
Matches played	27
Goals	9
Assists	5
Pass completion	83%
Big chances created	10
Key passes per game	1.1
Ball recoveries per game	3.5
Dribbles per game	1.3
Tackles per game	1.5
Duels won per game	5.0
Stats via Sofascore

For this reason, Liverpool would have nurtured his qualities in this reality and guided him through the layers toward the senior set-up, where he would be thriving on the wing and wreaking havoc in his native city.

10

LW – Curtis Jones

Born: Liverpool, raised in Toxteth

A true Liverpudlian, a proper denizen. Curtis Jones' importance at Liverpool would have been swelled and then some here, featuring prominently in the Liverpool-born XI.

A central midfielder, Jones is more than capable out on the left wing and that is where he would ply his trade for this team, dazzling with elite control and savvy match intelligence.

As per FBref, the 23-year-old ranks among the top 14% of positional peers for goals, the top 17% for assists, the top 5% for pass completion, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90 – need more be said?

Liverpool have been handed a significant boost regarding one of their "world-class" superstars, following an update from a reliable journalist.

Liverpool's greatest players under Klopp

The Reds have enjoyed extraordinary success under Jurgen Klopp, with the German masterminding a memorable period at Anfield over the past eight-and-a-half years. While the 56-year-old has been the driving force behind Liverpool winning so many trophies, not to mention playing superb football, there have also been numerous world-class stars who have had a major impact, too.

£128m release cause: Liverpool “come really close” to signing “top talent”

The Reds are still keen on completing a move.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 9, 2024

Mohamed Salah has become one of the greatest players in the club's history since arriving from Roma in 2017, smashing endless records, including being on the verge of becoming the first Reds player ever to score at least 20 goals in seven consecutive seasons.

Meanwhile, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk have grown into arguably among the best of all time in their respective positions, as Klopp and Michael Edwards used the Philippe Coutinho money expertly, bringing in two colossal figures.

Others are also worthy of a mention, from current heroes Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to past legends such as Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, and the key now is for Liverpool to kick on without their iconic manager around.

Now, a new update has emerged regarding one of those aforementioned Anfield heroes, in what represents positive news in the short-term.

Liverpool given Salah boost

According to journalist Ismael Mahmoud on X, Salah will not have to represent Egypt in the upcoming international break, after Liverpool requested he stays put on Merseyside after a recent injury absence:

"Mo Salah will be ruled out from Egypt squad for the next international break. Good news for Liverpool and for Mo."

This will come as a massive relief for Liverpool supporters and Klopp, with Salah needing to be wrapped in cotton wool during the internationals, as he looks to be in the best possible shape between now and the end of the season.The Reds have already lost their star attacker in recent times because of his involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations, so seeing him head off on Egypt duty again could have been a massive concern.

Liverpool's attackers' stats this season Appearances Starts Goals Assists

Mohamed Salah 29 23 19 9 Darwin Nunez 39 24 16 11 Diogo Jota 28 18 14 4 Luis Diaz 37 29 11 3 Cody Gakpo 39 24 11 4 If Liverpool are to go all the way in the Premier League this season, they will surely need Salah available for the run-in, with Klopp himself lauding his player's adaptability alongside Darwin Nunez in the recent past, saying:"Now it’s slightly different, especially with Darwin [Nunez] when he is playing, we have another speed player up there. So that changed Mo’s position, definitely, and he is smart enough to adapt to all these different things. Yes, massive development since he arrived, but he was in all phases world-class – and that is probably the best you can say about a player."

The hope is that Salah stays at Liverpool long beyond this summer, ignoring any potential interest from Saudi Arabia, with many more record-breaking moments to come.

Manchester City are willing to spend a whopping £127m to sign a player who has been compared to Ronaldinho this summer, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola's side are in ominous mood heading into Sunday's mouthwatering Premier League clash with Liverpool, with the Cityzens primed to pick up their first win at Anfield in front of fans since way back in 2003.

While City's squad is littered with world-class footballers from back to front, whether it be Ederson, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne or Erling Haaland, to name just a few, new signings are still to be expected in the summer, in order to retain a freshness within the group.

One report has claimed that Guardiola's men are at the front of the queue to snap up Bayern Munich youngster Jamal Musiala, who may be eyeing a move to the Premier League at the end of the campaign. Liverpool are also believed to be in the mix to sign him, but City are confident of getting their man.

Aston Villa midfield Douglas Luiz is also seen as a target for the reigning Premier League and European champions this summer, with Guardiola a big admirer of the Brazilian, who has already enjoyed one spell at the Etihad in the past.

Man City want Ronaldinho-like star

According to a report from Spain [via Caught Offside], Manchester City want to sign Rafael Leao this summer, and are willing to splash out €150m (£127.8m) on the AC Milan superstar.

The report suggests that it could mean trouble for Jack Grealish, considering the Portuguese also adopts a left-sided attacking role, with injuries and patchy form affecting the former's season.

Leao could be a spectacular signing by City in the summer window, considering what a magnificent player he has developed into, still having age on his side. Owen Hargreaves has even backed him to become "world-class" one day, also comparing him to Brazilian legend Ronaldinho.

Appearances

24

14

Starts

21

7

Goals

4

3

Assists

7

1

Dribbles per game

2.0

1.0

Shots per game

1.8

1.1

Key passes per game

1.8

1.4

This season, Leao has registered 11 goal contributions (four goals and seven assists) in 21 Serie A starts, also netting three times in the Champions League and Europa League combined.

At 24, he isn't yet at his peak either, and he does feel like an upgrade on Grealish, who turns 29 later this year and has never truly set the world alight at City, despite being an effective cog in the machine.

Man City at the front of the queue to sign “exceptional” £80m-rated star

He could become one of the best players in the world.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 4, 2024

Leao has a world-class ceiling if he can find consistency in his all-round game, and he couldn't have a better manager than Guardiola when it comes to fine-tuning his talent, should he join City.

Sheffield Wednesday have plenty of reasons to be optimistic again about their Championship survival chances, when at one point Danny Rohl's Owls look destined to return straight back down to League One.

Now, with three wins from their last four matches in the league next to their name, Wednesday are dreaming of an unbelievable escape from the dreaded drop zone.

Still, not everything is entirely rosey in South Yorkshire with a number of contracts up in the summer for key first-team personnel, with the likes of Barry Bannan's time with the club nearly up if another contract extension cannot be reached.

Likewise, Wednesday could wave goodbye to another dynamic attacking midfielder in their ranks if more deals can't get over the line to extend their stays. But, that could well be a blessing in disguise when it comes to this injury-prone high earner.

Josh Windass' salary at Sheffield Wednesday

Yet to feature in an Owls game this month after his latest injury knock, Josh Windass' £15k-per week-wage could be argued as being extortionate owing to the 30-year-old being a permanent fixture in the Hillsborough treatment room.

Missing 15 Championship matches in total this season, Rohl will be frustrated at the lack of game-time he's managed to get out of his exciting attacker who has been dangerous for his South Yorkshire employers when fit.

Described as being a potential "game changer" for Wednesday in their bid to stave off the drop by his German boss, the explosive midfielder does have three goals and two assists from 19 second-tier games managed.

Etching himself immediately into the Wednesday hall of fame by scoring a last-gasp winner in the Playoff Final last year that saw the sleeping giants return to the second tier, it's no doubt been a frustrating stop-start campaign for the 30-year-old in truth.

Regardless of any long-standing connections to Hillsborough however, Rohl could well be cut-throat when it comes to extending Windass' contract when you compare his hefty pay packet to other members of the Wednesday squad who are now starring regularly.

Windass' salary compared to the Wednesday squad

Windass' handsome £15k-per-week salary sees him rank as the club's joint eighth highest earner overall, with the likes of Bannan and Michael Smith bettering his wage.

Still, although there's many other culprits who are earning inflated wages at Hillsborough – with Smith earning £17.5k-per-week despite now being frequently on the substitutes bench – Windass is still arguably being overpaid himself.

Player

Wage

1. Jeff Hendrick

£35k per week

2. Barry Bannan

£24,038k per week

3. Kristian Pedersen

£18k per week

4. Michael Smith

£17.5k per week

5.Will Vaulks

£15,962k per week

6. Ike Ugbo

£15.5k per week

7. Michael Ihiewke

£15,192k per week

8. Callum Paterson

£15k per week

8. Josh Windass

£15k per week

Removing the handsomely paid loanees from the equation, Windass would come in far higher up the list. If Wednesday wanted to keep Ugbo around on a permanent deal – with the Troyes loanee scoring five goals in his last four Owls games – they could do far worse than ditching Windass for good to free up wage space.

Moreover, regular first-teamers this season such as Liam Palmer and Anthony Musaba come in far lower than Windass when casting an eye at the top earners in South Yorkshire – decorated Wednesday servant Palmer coming in at £3k less per week than the injury-prone attacking midfielder, earning £12k-per-week.

Wednesday will have to juggle with who they keep around this summer, with much of that dependent on their league status still.

Yet, regardless of whether or not Rohl's men drop down a division or valiantly stay put in the second tier, Windass could be heading for the exit door soon owing to his reoccurring injury problems as the Owls then opt for fresher bodies.

Matt Turner was forced off during the USMNT’s Copa America defeat to Panama, with an injury update offered heading into a clash with Uruguay.

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• Shot-stopper replaced at half-time
• Costly defeat suffered against Panama
• Positive result required in Kansas City

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, who is seeing questions asked of his future at club level, was replaced at half-time by Ethan Horvath as the United States suffered a disappointing setback in Atlanta. The game was tied at 1-1 when Turner was laid low.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The U.S. were always up against it, though, after seeing Tim Weah pick up a reckless red card inside the opening 16 minutes. Panama were also reduced to 10 men late on, but had established a 2-1 lead by that stage and saw out the final minutes to claim three precious points.

• Getty
  

  WHAT TURNER SAID

  A positive result against Uruguay in their final Group C fixture is now imperative for the USMNT, as they take aim at the quarter-finals, with Turner telling that his status for that game is “unclear” but remains “positive” that he can play – with the next 48 hours set to determine the full extent of a left knee problem.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

  Turner added on fearing the worst against Panama: “Don’t know why but I had this feeling before the match that something bad was going to happen.” It did and Gregg Berhalter’s side must now offer a positive response as a collective when they head to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Monday.

Sergiy Rebrov claimed Ukraine players "showed the spirit of the country" after his troops scripted a stirring Euro 2024 comeback against Slovakia.

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Ukraine beat Slovakia 2-1 Scored late to clinch the three points Rebrov delighted with his team's character WHAT HAPPENED?

The completed a remarkable comeback against Slovakia, securing a 2-1 victory in Dusseldorf on Friday. This victory is vital for Ukraine's hopes of advancing to the knockout stages after their heavy 3-0 defeat to Romania in their opening match. Going into the half-time break trailing 1-0 after a goal by Slovakia's Ivan Schranz in the 17th minute, Ukraine turned the tables in the second half with goals from Mykola Shaparenko and substitute Roman Yaremchuk.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT REBROV SAID

Rebrov's calm and focused approach during half-time was crucial. "I didn't shout [at half-time]. We had to react in the second half," Rebrov told reporters. "We weren't pressing high enough. We understood this was our chance and that's what I said. I said 'Don't worry about the score and just go for it'.

"This is not a different team. There was a different spirit — I am pleased for the players — they showed the spirit of Ukraine and deserved this win. It was important to win for our country, our fighters, our supporters."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite the loss, Slovakia still has a viable path to qualification. They had previously defeated Belgium 1-0, and their manager, Francesco Calzona, remains optimistic. "We had the opportunity [today] but we knew we had to win against a team who had to win at all costs," Calzona said. "We are the Cinderella story of the group stage — the fact we're still competing at Matchday 3 is significant. We try to play football against anyone, regardless of the opposition, and I'm proud of that. We'll do everything in our power to beat Romania".

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR UKRAINE?

Ukraine will have their tails high when they take on Belgium on June 26 in the final group match. A victory will fire them to the knockouts at the expense of Romelu Lukaku and Co.

Since the start of the Professional Cricket League Regional 4 Day Tournament, West Indies’ first-class competition that was revamped in 2014, Rahkeem Cornwall has been one of the tournament’s most consistent wicket-takers. The Leeward Islands offspinner is fourth on the list of the leading wicket-takers since the 2014-15 season, having taken 197 wickets over the years. On three occasions, he has been among the top three bowlers in an edition, including in 2018-19, when he finished as the leading wicket-taker with 54 wickets in nine matches with an average of 17.68.This consistency is one of the reasons Cornwall believes he is well-suited to the Test format, especially with the possibility of a debut during the upcoming fixtures against India, the first of which starts on August 22 as part of the World Test Championship.”I believe the Test format suits my game because of the consistency a player needs over a long period of time to be successful, and I’ve enjoyed that challenge so far in my career playing first-class cricket,” Cornwall told the Cricket West Indies website. “The feeling [on getting called up] is great – it’s something I’ve been pushing to achieve for a long time.”His tally of 54 wickets in the first-class tournament followed a haul of 23 wickets in List A and first-class games against England Lions earlier in 2018, and in the recent series against the touring India A, Cornwall took nine wickets in six matches. Playing against two quality oppositions was good preparation for Cornwall, who said that his on-field results were signs of the progress he had made.”The A-team preparation has been very good,” he said. “England Lions and India A were two quality opposition teams featuring guys that played Test cricket. Overall it has been very challenging and it was a good place to test skills that I’ve been trying to perfect every year in our domestic competition.”I’ve been putting in a lot of work over the last couple of months. I’ve always pushed myself. I feel I can go on and I think the on field results I’ve achieved have shown the progress I’m making.”Cornwall’s cricketing hero is former South Africa allrounder Jacques Kallis and one of his earliest inspirations to play for West Indies came from watching Brian Lara’s 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004.”My cricket hero is definitely Jacques Kallis,” he said. “The way he carried himself as an allrounder on and off the field, I’ve tried to visualise and work to match certain things I saw Kallis to do my game.”The Test match I remember most watching was Brian Lara’s 400 in Antigua 2004. It was early inspiration for sure to become a professional cricketer and to play for the West Indies.”

Lionel Messi's goal for Inter Miami was not enough as Atlanta United defeated them 3-1 at Chase Stadium Wednesday evening.

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• Atlanta defeat Inter Miami
• Lobjanidze scores brace and Almada runs show
• Messi scores in defeat

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  TELL ME MORE

  Two goals from Saba Lobjanidze and a third from Jamal Thiare sunk Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Wednesday. A 3-1 road victory for Atlanta United, they snapped a nine-game winless streak while handing the Herons their first loss in MLS action since March 23.

  Messi did net a goal himself, but it was not enough to propel the South Beach club towards a comeback after conceding two unanswered through the first 62 minutes of the match.

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• Kevin C. Cox
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Tata Martino's first stint in MLS was with Atlanta United from 2017-2019. He led them to 2018 MLS Cup, with a roster that had both Josef Martinez and Miguel Almiron.

• Getty Images
  

  THE MVP

  Thiago Almada:

  Lionel Messi's 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning teammate shined brighter Wednesday evening, with the attacking midfielder putting on a clinic at Chase Stadium.

  The 23-year-old was beyond sensational for the Five Stripes, linking the midfield and the attack on all three goals. Although he didn't end up on the scoresheet, his influence on the match cannot go unnoticed.

  He made Sergio Busquets and Federico Redondo look average, and not many players across MLS can even come close to doing that.

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• THE BIG LOSER

  The Inter Miami defense:

  Losing Nicolas Freiere to a torn ACL for the season is having a rippling efect. Miami's central duo of Tomas Aviles and Serhiy Kryvtsov do not mesh well, and neither seem to be on the same page with the other.
  They were carved up on the third goal, and on both the openers, they failed to press and/or close down to limit the shot attempts.

  It's easy to see why Martino has a centerback on his shopping list this summer, with Real Madrid's Nacho rumored to be his top target.