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Barbados and West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has said she had no warning that Deandra Dottin was planning to retire from international cricket midway through the Commonwealth Games, and is planning to discuss the matter with her team-mate now that their campaign in Birmingham is over.Matthews, who was appointed as West Indies captain in June, said she was as surprised as anyone by Dottin’s shock announcement via Twitter on Monday, citing concerns over the team environment.Related

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• Deandra Dottin announces West Indies retirement

• Matthews, Taylor and Dottin to lead Women's CPL teams

“Thankful to Deandra for everything she’s done for West Indies cricket,” Matthews said when asked about her reaction to Dottin’s decision. “She’s obviously been a wonderful player for us over the last couple of years, and it’s sad to see her go, but at the same time if it’s something that she’s ready for, then supporting her 100%.”Matthews said she hadn’t spoken to Dottin before the announcement and that she had “no interpretation” of Dottin’s comments about the team culture and environment.”[I’m] obviously down here representing Barbados and everything, so probably not looking to speak too much on that at the moment,” Matthews said on Wednesday after her side suffered a 100-run defeat against India in their final Group A game. “But yeah, I definitely would have a chat with her and see how things go.”Barbados won their opening match of the Commonwealth Games against Pakistan by 15 runs before losing by nine wickets to gold-medal favourites Australia on Sunday.The following day, Dottin published a letter addressed to Cricket West Indies on Twitter announcing her “formal retirement from the senior women’s West Indies team effective 1st July 2022”. Dottin, who has a contract to play in the Hundred for Manchester Originals and will captain Trinbago Knight Riders in the Women’s CPL, also said that she was “looking forward to playing domestic cricket around the world”.Deandra Dottin in her retirement note said she was looking forward to play domestic cricket around the world•BCCI

“There have been many obstacles during my cricket career that I have had to overcome, however, the current climate and team environment has been non-conducive to my ability to thrive and reignite my passion,” Dottin wrote in her announcement. “With much sadness but without regret, I realise that I am no longer able to adhere to team culture and team environment as it has undermined my ability to perform excellently.”Dottin, the scorer of the fastest century in Women’s T20Is and West Indies’ most-capped international cricketer, having played 124 T20Is and 143 ODIs for them, had a lacklustre Commonwealth Games. She played three T20Is for Barbados, scoring 8, 8 and 0, and taking 1 for 65 from six overs in the tournament.When she juggled a catch running from point to short cover, the ball bouncing out of her hand and onto her chin before she held on at the second grab to dismiss India’s Taniya Bhatia off Matthew’s bowling on Wednesday, the Barbados team-mates shared a laugh and a warm hug.While Matthews said she was “a bit disappointed with the result” against India, she was proud of what her team had achieved with a mix of seven West Indies-capped players among a clutch of players without prior international experience.”I think we put up a really good fight,” Matthews said. “The highlight was our first game against Pakistan and winning one out of three I think is better than a lot of people expected us to do. So although we didn’t have the result we wanted today, I still think we had a great tournament, and the girls were able to learn a lot for sure.”Hopefully spurs West Indies and the entire Caribbean to want to put more into women’s cricket within the Caribbean. I think they’re doing a great job now. We just had our regional tournament, and if over the next couple of years we can continue to grow our domestic set-up, hopefully, we can see some younger players that we had today being able to compete at the highest level.”Having had her first taste of international captaincy with Barbados, who secured a place at the Commonwealth Games on the strength of being T20 Blaze champions in 2019, Matthews was keen to carry on with West Indies.”I would have learned a lot just throughout these three games, taking responsibility and working with a lot of the younger players who weren’t as experienced at this level,” she said. “The support I’ve gotten from the team has been amazing.”You probably think that the pinnacle of the career is if you can lead out your nation or your country, so I think [it was] definitely something I eyed up. But [I’m] just grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to lead not only Barbados but the region as well and really humbled by it.”

Aston Villa are blessed with two exciting strikers. Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran are two of the most reputable centre-forwards in the Premier League, and both have excellent goal records this season to show for it.

The “unstoppable” Watkins, as Jamie Carragher once described him, has scored eight times and has six assists in all competitions for the Villans this term. Emi Martinez believes Duran can be “one of the best strikers in the world”, and his 12 goals this season suggest he is playing well.

Although they are already spoiled for choice up front, Unai Emery seems eager to add even more depth to their frontline. They have recently been linked with one man who will bring quality to their attack.

Aston Villa target new attacker

The player in question here is Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani. The 26-year-old has not been a regular under Luis Enrique this season, and could now leave the club in the January transfer window.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to a report from journalist Ben Jacobs, the Villans are one of the sides to have “considered” a move for the Frenchman this winter. However, they will not be alone in their race for his signature.

Fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also interested, as are Italian giants Juventus and German outfit Bayern Munich.

Should Villa manage to win the race for Kolo Muani, it seems like it would only be on a loan deal. However, it is not clear at this stage if that would include a buy clause, obligatory or otherwise, or whether it would just be a loan.

Why Kolo Muani would be a good signing

As aforementioned, it has not been an easy season for France international Kolo Muani. The striker has barely featured for PSG this term, playing 14 times across all competitions, with two goals to his name so far.

Incredibly, the PSG number 23 has played just 453 minutes in the 2024/25 season, which is the equivalent of around five full 90-minute games. It is fair to say opportunities have been sparse for him this term.

However, there is no doubting Kolo Muani’s ability, even if he has not been able to show that in the French capital this season. He is a France international who has eight goals in 27 caps and has scored at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

The 26-year-old was also fantastic for his old club, Eintracht Frankfurt. In his only full season with the Bundesliga outfit, he scored 23 goals and grabbed 17 assists in 46 appearances. Off the back of that campaign, German legend Lothar Matthaus described him as a “future superstar”.

Interestingly, the striker’s best season in the Bundesliga is far better than another Villa target, Donyell Malen. The Dutchman, who plies his trade at Borussia Dortmund, is a target for the Villans and negotiations are ongoing.

Malen, who used to be part of Arsenal’s academy, has scored and assisted 16 goals in a single German top-flight season twice. In 2022/23 he was fantastic, with nine goals and seven assists, although he was still outperformed by Kolo Muani.

Not only did the Frenchman get more goals and assists in 2022/23 than Malen, but he also outperformed him in several key FBref metrics.

For example, the PSG star averaged 0.43 goals per shot on target and 0.89 goals and assists per game. In comparison, Dortmund’s number 21 averaged 0.3 goals per shot on target and 0.79 goal involvements per game.

Stat (per 90)

Kolo Muani

Malen

Goals and assists

0.89

0.79

Goals per shot on target

0.43

0.3

Assists

0.38

0.32

Goal-creating actions

0.75

0.74

Carries into penalty area

2.26

2

As the statistics show, signing Kolo Muani on loan might be a better option for Villa than bringing Malen to the club. It is a temporary fix, and allows the club to reassess in the summer rather than spending money on the Dutchman.

Matthaus said it himself, Kolo Muani is going to become one of the deadliest strikers in the world. He already showcased what he can do during his stint in Frankfurt; perhaps Villa is the place where he can get back to his very best again.

Shades of Grealish: Aston Villa can ditch Bailey by signing £30m sensation

Aston Villa are already eyeing up potential signings…

1 ByRoss Kilvington Jan 3, 2025

Tillman managed 45 minutes in his first appearance since sustaining a serious ankle injury in December

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• Malik Tillman saw the field for the first time in 3 months
• Sergino Dest also started for PSV
• Peter Bosz's side lost to Ajax in title decider

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Two U.S. internationals made key strides in their injury recoveries Sunday, with Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman both seeing the field for PSV against Ajax.

  Dest started for the reigning champions for the first time in more than a year, managing 77 minutes at right back. Tillman, meanwhile, played the entire second half in an earlier-than-expected return after sustaining a serious ankle ligament injury last December.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The duo may have seen the pitch together, but it was a forgettable afternoon for PSV overall. With the loss, they fell nine points behind league leaders Ajax in the title race – and now seem unlikely to retain the Dutch top flight title.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Tillman's cameo came sooner than some at the club expected. Initial reports following his injury suggested that he may be out for the campaign. Instead, he is working his way back into the fray, and would seem to be in contention for a spot in Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT for the Gold Cup this summer.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR DEST, TILLMAN AND PSV?

  The American duo will look to recapture their best form for the Eredivisie side in the coming weeks. PSV are nine points behind Ajax with seven games to go, and will hope to close the gap when they take on Groningen next Saturday.

Things have been going well for Enzo Maresca since he became Chelsea manager in the summer. They have been one of the best sides in front of goal in the Premier League, as the stats suggest on Sofascore.

The Blues have found the back of the net 38 times, the third most in the league, bettered only by Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. They have also created the second-highest number of big chances, again bettered only by the Reds, who have created 72 to Chelsea’s 64.

There is certainly plenty of firepower up front for the Blues, and they have been linked with another reinforcement ahead of the January transfer window.

Chelsea target Ligue 1 striker

The player in question here is Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani. The 26-year-old has struggled to break into the PSG side under Luis Enrique this season and could depart the French capital in the winter.

According to a report from TEAMTalk, the Blues are believed to be ‘very keen due to the fact he can play anywhere across the front three’. They have reportedly ‘made contact to find out the conditions of a potential deal’ this January.

However, they won’t be alone in their quest to sign the Frenchman within the next month or so. Manchester United are thought to be ‘one of the sides keen on him’, with North Londoners Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal also interested in doing a deal this winter.

Why Kolo Muani would be a good signing

It has been a tough season for the France international so far. He has played 14 times in all competitions, featuring for a mere 453 minutes, the equivalent of five full 90 minutes. Even when he has played, he has only managed to score twice in total.

However, there is no denying his class, given he scored 15 goals and grabbed 14 assists in 32 Bundesliga games for Eintracht Frankfurt during his final campaign at the club. It was that form that earned him a £76.4m move to the French capital in the summer of 2023.

A full France international, Kolo Muani was part of the 2022 World Cup squad which lost to Argentina. Rather infamously, he missed a last-gasp one-on-one in the final. However, he did score in the semi-final, a poacher’s finish against Morocco after being on the pitch for just 44 seconds.

There have certainly been plenty of high-profile footballing people who have been full of praise for the 26-year-old. Perhaps the best of the bunch is German legend Lothar Matthaus.

He once described him as a “future superstar”, explaining that he is “ice-cold in front of goal” – high praise from a legend of the game.

There are certainly comparisons that can be drawn between Chelsea’s first-choice striker Nicolas Jackson, and their reported target Kolo Muani.

The Senegal international has been on fire this season, with nine goals and three assists in 17 games in the Premier League this term. That includes two goals and an assist in a 3-0 away win to London rivals West Ham United.

There can certainly be statistical comparisons drawn between Jackson and Kolo Muani, with the deemed to be similar players among those in Europe’s top five leagues, according to FBref.

For example, the PSG man averages 0.5 goals per game and has 1.51 shots on target per 90 minutes in Ligue 1. Comparatively, the Chelsea number 15 averages 0.61 goals each game and 1.63 shots on target.

Stat (per 90)

Kolo Muani

Jackson

Goals

0.5

0.61

Shots on target

1.51

1.63

Expected goals

1.18xG

0.61xG

Shot-creating actions

3.27

2.98

Goal-creating actions

0.75

0.47

Having someone like Kolo Muani in the Chelsea squad to offer serious competition to Jackson could be a smart move for Maresca. The 26-year-old, who earns £202k-per-week as per Capology, has not been at his best this season, but on the other hand, has not really played either.

At Stamford Bridge, there would be the opportunity to play regularly, and if he can find his groove, the Blues could have a deadly player on their hands. Kolo Muani could be the perfect addition to help push Chelsea up the table and perhaps make a title charge.

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Everton felt the effects of a manager bounce in the Premier League this afternoon. Sadly, it was Manchester United who enjoyed the fruits of a new head coach, blowing the Toffees away 4-0 at Old Trafford.

The ice is rapidly thinning beneath Sean Dyche’s feet, with honking defensive errors and a total disjointedness sending the visitors tail-spinning back to Merseyside.

December has arrived, and so too has a forbidding run of fixtures that could prove too much for Dyche’s slipping grip on the manager’s seat.

There’s little to be positive about, candidly, albeit with some promising attacking efforts on show in the first half. At the back, however – misery.

Everton's defenders toil

The Theatre of Dreams served up a nightmare for Everton, whose absence of confidence and cohesion was evident through the battering handed out by United’s regenerated frontline.

Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski formed one of the steeliest defensive axes in the English top flight last term, but such solidity has melted away since the summer, and shortcomings were brutally highlighted against a United attack that demonstrated a hitherto unseen clinical edge.

Neither centre-back did themselves justice, shipping four and both at fault for goals. Branthwaite looked like a titanic star worthy of the £75m price tag that dissuaded Man United from signing him in the summer, but he was pickpocketed by Amad Diallo to make it 2-0.

Minutes played

90′

82′

Touches

57

62

Accurate passes

47/50 (94%)

48/50 (96%)

Key passes

0

0

Dribbles (completed)

1 (1)

0 (0)

Tackles

2

4

Interceptions

0

1

Clearances

1

3

Total duels (won)

5 (4)

7 (6)

Errors leading to goal

1

1

Tarkowski, conversely, struggled throughout. The screech of the final whistle proved to be a blessing for the 33-year-old, making two errors and being lambasted for his “embarrassing” efforts by journalist Dave Downie.

Both centre-halves flattered to deceive, but neither was actually the poorest defender of the afternoon – after all, contrary to plausibility, they won ten out of 12 contested duels between them.

The weakest link would be Vitalii Mykolenko.

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Vitalii Mykolenko might have cost Dyche his job

Mykolenko has started 11 Premier League matches this season, but he’s struggling to lay down his marker for the left-back berth in the coming years.

If Dyche’s days are indeed numbered, the Ukrainian’s might be too.

Voting him as the worst performer of the day, The Liverpool ECHO branded Mykolenko with a dismal 3/10 match rating, with correspondent Chris Beesley brutally claiming that he was ‘hopelessly out of position on far too many occasions,’ also criticising his ‘personal nightmare on a day of collective woes.’

Wandering into lands uncharted and leaving acres of space for orchestrator Bruno Fernandes to exploit, it was a terrible showing from the full-back, whose inability to stand firm in the duel – losing four of five battles, as per Sofascore – exacerbated his struggles and then some.

It’s pouring for the Toffees alright. With such a tough run of fixtures up ahead, Everton might find their manager hoisted from his seat in short time, with the horror shows of players such as Mykolenko rendering his tactical ideas negligible, and closing the door, perhaps, on a bleak era.

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أدلى المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر يونايتد روبن أموريم، بتصريحات صحفية وذلك عقب تعادل فريقه أمام مانشستر يونايتد في منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتعادل مانشستر يونايتد أمام مانشستر سيتي بنتيجة 0/0 في منافسات الجولة الحادية والثلاثين من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، على ملعب “أولد ترافورد” (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وبهذه النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد مانشستر سيتي إلى النقطة 52 في المركز الخامس في ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي، بينما ارتقى رصيد مانشستر يونايتد إلى النقطة 38 في المركز الثالث عشر.

وقال روبن أموريم في تصريحات لـ “سكاي سبورتس”: “أعتقد أننا أتيحت لنا بعض الفرص للفوز بالمباراة، حاولنا استغلال المساحات في التحولات الدفاعية، والدفاع بتشكيلة دفاعية منخفضة، لكننا سنحت لنا فرصنا”.

وأشار أموريم: “أتيحت لنا بعض اللحظات مع الكرة، ودفعنا السيتي إلى نصف ملعبهم، وكنا أقرب إلى الهدف، لكننا نقبل التعادل. كنا أقرب إلى الهدف، بينما استحوذوا على الكرة بشكل أكبر، وهذا أمر طبيعي”.

عما يحتاجه مانشستر يونايتد للتحسين، أجاب قائلاً: “لدينا العديد من الجوانب التي نحتاج إلى تحسينها. نحتاج إلى تحسين كل جانب، من بناء الهجمات، والانتقالات، واتخاذ القرارات في الثلث الهجومي الأخير. كل لاعب قادر على التحسن، فهم هنا لأنهم أظهروا أداءً مميزًا في فرق أخرى. لديهم الجودة، وما زلنا فريقًا يعتمد على الانتقالات، ونحتاج إلى قضاء المزيد من الوقت في الثلث الهجومي الأخير للحصول على فرص أكثر.”

وأضاف قائلاً: “أنا لست ساذجًا أو مجنونًا، وأستطيع أن أرى اللحظة التي نحن فيها، وأستطيع أن أنظر إلى المنافسين وأفهم أن هناك فجوة كبيرة، ولكن كقائد لا أستطيع أن أقول إننا سنأخذ كل الوقت لإغلاق الفجوة”.

وتابع حديثه: “حتى لو تعاقدنا مع المزيد من اللاعبين، علينا الإسراع وإظهار الإلحاح لتقديم أداء أفضل، لأننا لا نملك الكثير من الوقت في نادٍ كهذا. نحن في عجلة من أمرنا”.

وعن تأثير معاناة الفريقين على قوة المباراة، أردف قائلاً: “إذا نظرت إلى اللحظة التي لم يعد فيها كلا الفريقين يتنافسان على الألقاب، فإن هذا يغير مجرى المباراة تمامًا”.

واختتم أموريم قائلاً: “شعور الفوز، وعدم القدرة على خسارة نقطة واحدة، ليس حاضرًا. من الصعب عليّ كمدرب أن أقول ذلك. علينا أن نناضل من أجل أهداف كبيرة، وإذا فعلنا ذلك، فسيكون الشعور مختلفًا تمامًا”.

Ronald Araujo's future at Barcelona appears uncertain, as he has fallen out of favour with Hansi Flick.

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Araujo recently renewed his contractHasn't cracked Hansi Flick's XIFuture appearing away from BarcelonaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

With each passing day, Ronald Araujo’s time at Barcelona seems to be nearing its inevitable end. As the current campaign enters its final phase and the summer transfer window approaches, the Uruguayan center-back could depart for €65 million, according to AS.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Araujo was on the verge of leaving Barcelona this January, with Juventus leading the race for his signature. During the Spanish Super Cup, the Uruguay international seemed almost out the door. However, an injury to Inigo Martinez led to a change of heart from Barcelona's sporting department, led by Deco, who quickly offered Araujo a renewal.

The new contract, valid until June 30, 2031, included a clause reducing his release fee to €65 million if a suitor emerged within the first ten days of the summer transfer window, replacing the previous €1 billion clause. Araujo accepted the terms, hoping to secure his place in Hansi Flick's starting lineup.

DID YOU KNOW?

However, things haven't gone as planned for Araujo. Martinez, the defensive leader, along with Pau Cubarsi's rise and Eric Garcia's breakout performances, have pushed Araujo down the pecking order, so much so that he has become fourth-choice for Flick. The 25-year-old has not played in the last three games, remaining on the bench against Rayo Vallecano, Las Palmas, and Atletico Madrid. His last appearance was on February 9 against Sevilla.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RONALD ARAUJO?

Andreas Christensen's imminent return to fitness, with the potential arrival of Jonathan Tah on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, point towards a bleak Barca future for Araujo. He could probably seek greener pastures and move to the Premier League in the summer, with reports indicating that Manchester United are plotting a blockbuster transfer for the Barca No.4.

Over the last couple of months, Tottenham Hotspur’s academy has caught the eye, allowing multiple youngsters to make an impact on the club’s first team.

Mikey Moore is undoubtedly the biggest beneficiary, starting his first competitive match against Ferencvaros a couple of weeks ago, after a handful of cameos off the bench.

Despite being just 17, he’s given boss Ange Postecoglou a lot to think about regarding his role, potentially forcing himself into the Aussie’s plans after the ongoing international break.

Striker Will Lankshear also made his first senior start during the same outing as Moore, featuring for over an hour, demonstrating the success of the club’s academy in recent times.

However, the club have also recruited well, with one player transforming Spurs in the defensive department, making them a much harder outfit to break down since his arrival.

Micky Van de Ven’s stats for Spurs

Dutch centre-back Micky Van de Ven would’ve been an unknown quantity to many Spurs supporters before his move back in August 2023, but just over a year on, he’s cemented himself as one of the best in his position within the Premier League.

The former Wolfsburg ace has made 36 appearances since his £34.5m transfer, forming a solid partnership with Argentinian, Cristian Romero, at the back for Postecoglou’s side.

Van de Ven isn’t your average centre-back, often seen going on a mazy run or two, as demonstrated against Manchester United where he picked up a loose ball before driving from his own half to the byline before teeing up Brennan Johnson for a tap-in.

The 23-year-old currently holds the record for being the fastest player in Premier League history, clocking a speed of 37.38km/h last season.

Van de Ven has been part of a Spurs backline that has kept three clean sheets already this season, as he looks to boost the club’s chances of returning to Champions League football next campaign.

Should they qualify, he could be partnered by one talent who’s set to move to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium upon the completion of the 2024/25 season.

The man who could be Spurs’ own Gabriel

Every Spurs fan must be sick of the sight of Arsenal centre-back Gabriel, with the Brazilian scoring the winning goal against the Gunners in the North London derby earlier this season.

The 26-year-old has also scored against Manchester City, demonstrating a goalscoring threat despite his main responsibility being defensive work, having chalked up 17 goals in total during his time in English football.

Postecoglou’s side could be about to get their hands on their own version of the defender in the form of youngster Luka Vuskovic, who’s set to arrive in North London ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The 17-year-old agreed a £12m deal with Spurs last summer to join the club when he turns 18, subsequently spending the current season on loan at Belgian outfit Westerlo.

It’s already been a successful move for the “scary” youngster, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, with the 6 foot 5 defender scoring four times in his first ten appearances in the Belgian Pro League, showcasing that Gabriel-like threat in the attacking penalty area.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The Croatian is already a regular member of his nation’s under-21 side, with his defensive qualities just as impressive as his offensive numbers during his temporary loan spell in Europe.

Vuskovic has already won 47 duels this season, whilst also boasting an 83% aerial success rate, providing that aerial dominance that Postecoglou’s side have been craving at the back.

Given his tender age, he will need time to settle into life in England, but all the early signs are positive for the youngster, with the hope being that he can form a long-term partnership with left-footer, Van de Ven, in the near future.

He has the potential to develop into one of the very best centre-halves in the league, potentially having a huge impact on both boxes for Spurs over the years to come.

It's not Moore: Spurs have a £100m star in the making who's like Yamal

Tottenham have a future star in the making under Ange Postecoglou.

By
Matt Dawson

Oct 10, 2024

Ipswich Town will be attempting to bounce back from two Premier League defeats on the spin with a top performance away at Brentford this coming Saturday, but will be aware they’ll be up against it once more on their travels to face the Bees.

Of course, the Tractor Boys’ last visit to London saw Kieran McKenna’s men come unstuck away at West Ham United – with the Hammers turning over the leaky away side 4-1 – but there’ll be fingers crossed in Suffolk all the same that a first win of the campaign is going to come soon.

Liam Delap’s electric form – scoring four goals – has been a notable highlight of the season but there’s a player outscoring him in the Premier League who once played down at Portman Road in Ipswich colours.

Chris Wood's time at Ipswich

It will be a stint across his playing days that the New Zealand international won’t recollect with much emotion attached. Indeed, Chris Wood was on the roster at Ipswich on loan during the 2014/15 season away from then-parent club Leicester City.

Before he ultimately exploded into life away from Suffolk, Wood struggled to ever get going for the Tractor Boys as he attempted to make a name for himself with only eight appearances coming his way that campaign donning Ipswich blue.

He also failed to find the back of the net across those forgettable displays, before heading back to the King Power Stadium to be sold permanently to Leeds United, where he began to show off his now well-known goalscoring prowess.

Wood then netted an impressive 44 strikes from 88 games playing in West Yorkshire, leading to him eventually making the grade in the top-flight where he now shines week in week out as Nottingham Forest’s main talisman.

Chris Wood's form at Forest

Wood has been a man possessed for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side this season to date, hammering home five strikes from eight Premier League contests, with the 32-year-old cementing his reputation as a top striker at that level now.

It was previously up for debate whether the 6 foot 3 forward could really cut it in the top division after a harrowing spell with Newcastle United saw him score just five times in 39 outings, but he is adored at the City Ground away from any lingering St James’ Park demons and rightly so.

Games played

8

Goals scored

5

Assists

0

Shots*

1.6

Expected goals (xG)

3.39

Scoring frequency

129 mins

Goal conversion %

31%

Big chances missed

6

Looking at the table above, it’s abundantly clear that the 32-year-old has been potent in front of goal for Forest, with the on-fire number 11 outperforming his expected goals at 3.39 with a stunning five strikes.

Moreover, Wood has also missed six big chances this campaign, which is astounding when you realise how impressive his numbers have been away from shots going astray, with perhaps even more to come from the standout Forest man as the season drags on.

The final goal of his glittering back catalogue for the season so far – which saw him instinctively fire home this winner against Crystal Palace – was actually Wood’s 21st strike from 50 clashes playing for Santo’s men, as his team sit pretty in a respectable eight spot in the current league standings.

There is still a lot of the campaign to go, but Wood – who is bettering Delap’s league goal numbers for Ipswich – is really turning into a crucial player for Forest, after once looking timid in front of goal at Portman Road.

Whilst he strives to reach even dizzier heights at the City Ground, Ipswich will be desperate for a win to come their way soon in the tricky division, with the Tractor Boys anxiously hovering just above the relegation zone.

Ipswich are wasting money on one player who earns more than Liam Delap

Ipswich Town haven’t reaped the rewards of this expensive deal yet.

1 ByKelan Sarson Oct 22, 2024

Opener Tim Ward produced a classy maiden Sheffield Shield century to put Tasmania in control on the opening day of their rescheduled clash with Queensland in Adelaide.Ward, playing just his second first-class match, batted through the day on another very benign Karen Rolton Oval pitch to finish unbeaten on 126 from 270 balls.The 23-year-old was well supported by Charlie Wakim (62) and Ben McDermott (71), sharing century stands with both men. Ward’s patience and discipline were a feature of his play. He struck 17 boundaries and took 219 balls to reach three figures, bringing up the milestone with a cracking pull shot off Michael Neser off the first delivery with the second new ball.The pitch offered little assistance for the experienced Bulls attack. Tasmania assisted their opponents in all three wickets that fell. Caleb Jewell was the only one in the Tigers’ top four to miss out, caught at third slip for 10 trying to drive a wide delivery from Neser on the up in the first hour.Wakim cruised to his half-century only to clip a leg-stump half-volley from Mark Steketee straight to Marnus Labuschagne at square leg. McDermott took 25 balls to get off the mark but eventually settled striking eight fours and two powerful sixes. He passed 50 for the 8th time in his last 14 Shield innings but once again failed to add to his lone Shield century, holing out to fine leg off Steketee with just four overs left in the day.New Tasmania skipper Beau Webster sent in nightwatchman Lawrence Neil-Smith to see out the day alongside Ward.This match was moved to Adelaide after the original fixture in Brisbane was postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the city.