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ESPNcricinfo previews the third ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Chittagong

The Preview by Kanishkaa Balachandran05-Dec-2011Match factsTuesday, December 6
Start time 1330 (0730 GMT)Can Nasir Hossain inspire his team to put up a better show?•AFP

Big PictureThe fact that the third ODI is a dead rubber is hardly surprising. There has not been an ounce of competitiveness in each of the three games so far in this tour. Nasir Hossain’s battling century in the second game in Mirpur wasn’t enough to mask the bigger problem for Bangladesh – the batting. The overall reaction among passionate Bangladesh fans, going by feedback received by ESPNcricinfo, was not necessarily that of disappointment, but more specifically, anger. Some went as far as to question Bangladesh’s right to participate at the international level. Their status as a Test nation has always been debated, though now fans have extended that discussion towards their ODI status too. Public memory is short. It’s easy to forget that just over a year ago, Bangladesh thrashed a listless New Zealand 4-0 at home.It’s the failure of the batsmen that has deflated the team. All efforts on the field have been nullified by the top order collapses. They were dismissed for 91 in the first game and in the second, the chase was all but lost at 19 for 4. Bangladesh threw in the towel at that stage. Given the situation, Bangladesh did the best they could to salvage some pride by batting out the 50 overs. It didn’t make a good advertisement for one-day cricket, but in the process they discovered what Nasir is capable of. A bit more support from the top order would’ve been handy though.”The wicket was really good in the last game, but there were several dot balls,” Mahmudullah said. “Shakib and Nasir played well, especially Nasir who has taught us some stuff, like how to be patient against this attack.”There are fewer concerns for Pakistan. However, they didn’t have the best outing in the field for the second match, spilling catches off Nasir and Shakib Al Hasan. Shahid Afridi had a rare off-day with the ball, conceding 49 off 7 overs and failing to take a wicket. The final game gives them a chance to rest a couple of players and give everyone in the squad a chance.Form guideBangladesh: LLWLL (most recent first)
Pakistan: WWWWWIn the spotlight…Since his 128 against India in the 2009 Champions Trophy, Shoaib Malik has gone 14 innings without a fifty, with a highest of 39. He’s been a shadow of the player he was when he was captain, and before. His bowling gives Pakistan another spin option, but he’s in the team primarily as a batsman.After hitting two half-centuries against Australia, Shahriar Nafees has done little of note, with the highest score of 14 in his last five ODIs. He has failed to recreate the kind of form he showed in 2006. It’s been nearly five years since he scored an ODI century.Team newsPakistan are likely to make a couple of changes, dropping Imran Farhat and Sohail Tanvir, and bringing in Asad Shafiq and the left-arm seamer Mohammad Khalil.Pakistan (probable) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Asad Shafiq, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, (capt) 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Shahid Afridi, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Mohammad Khalil.Imrul Kayes is set to miss out due to a groin injury, and will be replaced by Alok Kapali or Naeem Islam. If the pitch takes more turn than the one in Mirpur, Bangladesh could field a spin-heavy attack at the expense of a fast bowler.Bangladesh (probable) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Shahriar Nafees, 3 Alok Kapali/Naeem Islam, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Nasir Hossain, 7 Mahmudullah, 8 Abdur Razzak, 9 Elias Sunny, 10 Shafiul Islam, 11 Rubel Hossain.Stats and trivia Bangladesh have found boundaries hard to come by at the start of the innings. In the Twenty20, they scored their first in the ninth over, in the first ODI it came in the sixth, but the wait was the longest in the second ODI – it took them 11 overs. Bangladesh have won both their day-night games at this venue, against England and West Indies.Quotes”Some of the youngsters who’ve come into the side have worked hard to make their spot worthy. All of us have set a goal that we will now need to raise the bar.”
“The top order has no clue how to bat, and @ the moment it has left me clueless in regard to what I tweet next.”
“Everyone says this is our lucky ground. Let’s see what it can do for our fortunes. We have some good memories at this ground.

Chris Gayle has said he thinks West Indies Twenty20 champions Trinidad and Tobago have the potential to win the Champions League Twenty20

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2011

Chris Gayle may be playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2011 Champions League Twenty20, but he thinks West Indies Twenty20 champions Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) have the potential to win the tournament if they get through the qualifying stage. T&T take on Sri Lanka’s champions Ruhuna on Monday, with three out of the six teams in the qualifier going through to the main draw.”They have been playing good T20 cricket for the last couple of years and can win if they qualify for the main draw,” Gayle told . “It is unfortunate that they have to play in the qualifier. They have been dominant in the Caribbean.”The team have the experience [playing in the Champions League] and know what it is like. Definitely I am confident that they will do well and qualify.”T&T will be without two of their biggest stars – allrounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard – who did not take part in the West Indies domestic tournament and have chosen to play for the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians respectively in the Champions League. But Gayle believes there is enough talent in the T&T squad and the pair will not be missed.”Yes, they definitely can [compete]. I mean you saw it in the regional tournament. Bravo and Pollard did not take part and they actually won it without the two big names.”T&T were the surprise package of the first Champions League, reaching the final before losing to New South Wales, and Gayle said the team would benefit from that experience. “Most of the guys have been there in India and that is good for the team. There is no reason why they cannot do well and win.”Gayle, who is making his Champions Leage debut, said he was looking forward to the tournament and hoped that he could make the same kind of impact as he did in the IPL 2011, where he finished as the top scorer with 608 runs at an average of 67.55 and a strike-rate of 183.13.”It was a massive IPL, “Gayle said. “I took a lot of positives [from it], but the Champions League is a different scenario. There will be different teams we will be playing against and different situations. It is going to be a big good contest amongst the bowlers from the different teams. So I am excited to be a part of it. I want to do well there, just like any other player, and I am looking forward to it, fingers crossed hopefully.”

تحدث كارلو أنشيلوتي لوسائل الإعلام بعد فوز ريال مدريد على فالنسيا في نصف نهائي كأس السوبر الإسباني.

تعادل النادي الملكي 1-1 مع فالنسيا، لكن انتهى به الأمر بالفوز بركلات الترجيح (4-3)، واعترف الإيطالي بأن الفريق ليس في أفضل حالاته، لكنه سعيد بالتواجد في نهائي آخر. أهداف وركلات ترجيح مباراة ريال مدريد وفالنسيا في كأس السوبر الإسباني 

ويلاقي ريال مدريد في نهائي الأحد، الفائز من مباراة برشلونة وريال بيتيس التي تقام ليلة الخميس.

وقال أنشيلوتي: “عانينا وكان الأمر معقدًا، في هذا المستوى هم دائما هكذا، لقد تعقدت الأمور علينا بسبب خطأ واضح للغاية في بداية الشوط الثاني”.

وأضاف: “كان الشوط الأول جيدًا ونهاية المباراة أيضًا، دافع فالنسيا جيدًا وحاول البحث عن الخطر في المرتدات، نحن سعداء، من الواضح أن الفريق ليس في أفضل حالاته، لكن يجب علينا التحسين من خلال الامتثال”.

أكد أنشيلوتي: “لم تكن مشكلة جسدية لأننا في النهاية قمنا بعمل أفضل، نحن لسنا في القمة وهذا أمر طبيعي، لقد تأثرنا بمشاكل إصابة كامافينجا ولوكاس فاسكيز، الأمر الذي أجبر لاعبين كانوا على حدود الملعب مثل كورتوا وكارفاخال على اللعب، لقد امتثلنا ونحن في النهائي مرة أخرى”.

وبشأن الخطأ الدفاعي، أفاد مدرب ريال مدريد: “كان خط الدفاع أفضل اليوم، كانت لقطة هدفهم خطأ فردي وجماعي، لم يضغط لاعبو الوسط ولم تكن قراءة خط الوسط جيدة من جانب المدافعين”.

وعن الإصابات، أوضح أنشيلوتي: “أصيب كامافينجا بضربة في الركبة تسببت في إزعاجه، لوكاس أعتقد أنه التواء في الكاحل وميليتاو شعر بالدوار، علينا تقييم حالة كامافينجا، وإصابة لوكاس تبدو أكثر جدية”.

وشدد الإيطالي: “بلوغ النهائي هو ما أردناه، في النهائيات نقوم بعمل جيد، إنه وقت مختلف مقارنة بالعام الماضي، لكنني أعتقد أننا سنقاتل بجد للفوز بكأس السوبر”.

وعن مواجهة النهائي يوم الأحد، أشار مدرب الميرنجي: “يوم الاحد سيكون لدينا دفاع تنافسي لان كارفاخال وميندي اظهرا أنهما تعافا”.

وأصر أنشيلوتي: “المستوى ليس في القمة ولكي تربح عليك أن تعاني أكثر، جميع المباريات معقدة، لقد كلفنا ذلك، لكن الشيء المهم هو الفوز”.

وحول ركلات الترجيح، أردف: “أضع الثلاث لاعبين الأكثر خبرة وهدوء، آخرهم كان فينيسيوس، لكم لم يسدد”.

وأتم موجهًا رسالة إلى المدريديستا: “أشكركم، يبدو أننا كنا نلعب على أرضنا، احتفلنا جميعا بالفوز”.

Chris Gayle smashed his way to his first IPL century, the second fastest in this edition of the competition, and was the architect of Bangalore’s victory over his former team, Kolkata

The Bulletin by Firdose Moonda22-Apr-2011

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChris Gayle has arrived. He smashed his way to his first IPL century, the second-fastest in this edition of the competition, and was the architect of Bangalore’s victory over his former team, Kolkata. Gayle formed powerful partnerships with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Virat Kohli as Bangalore were untroubled in their chase of 172, winning by nine wickets.The pitch was proving to be tricky for the quicks and Kolkata opted to start with a spinner after having posted 171. Yusuf Pathan, who was battling a knee niggle, opened the bowling. After three good deliveries, Yusuf strayed on the leg stump and Dilshan cashed in with four through square leg. With that, the flood gates were opened.In the fourth over, Gayle had scored just three singles – while Dilshan had notched up 19 – when he was offered a full toss. He drove it down past the non-striker for the first of his 17 boundaries. It didn’t matter what Bangalore tried after that. Jaidev Unadkat was dispatched with disdain as Gayle went down on one knee, smacking him for six over long-on. Shakib Al Hasan was tossed around like a limp ragdoll, slogged over midwicket and mowed over deep square. Yusuf was smoked through the covers. Gayle even showed a touch of deftness, playing one fine to the third man boundary.It didn’t matter who was given the ball, even though spin proved difficult to get away during the Kolkata innings. Manoj Tiwary was slapped over long-on and even mishit for six. Medium pacer Rajat Bhatia was hit for 17 runs in his second over, 16 off Gayle’s bat. At the end of 12 overs, Bangalore were cruising on 123 for 1 when Dilshan was bowled by L Balaji, who controlled the swing admirably.The Gayle force blew on though. Together with Kohli, he brought the required run rate down to less than a run a ball. Kohli was given some room to express himself too, taking advantage of full balls offered by Balaji and showing off his wrist work against Bhatia. Kohli almost had too much fun and denied Gayle a century with a boundary off the first ball of the 18th over, that left Bangalore with just two to win. He blocked out the rest of the over to make amends.Even a wide from Iqbal Abdulla couldn’t stop Gayle, who ended the innings with a smashing shot through the covers, winning the match with 11 balls to spare. Gayle, who was picked up by Bangalore as a replacement for the injured Dirk Nannes, wore a jersey with 333 – his highest Test score – on the back and made light work of a total that Kolkata should have been able to defend.Their innings was held together by a classy 48 from captain Gautam Gambhir, patience from Jacques Kallis and a measured assault by Yusuf.Things started disastrously for Bangalore with Zaheer Khan’s first over going for 19 runs. It consisted of three wides, one of which went for four, and three boundaries, all off the bat of Kallis. Sreenath Aravind fared a little better, his first over going for 14.Daniel Vettori rung in the changes immediately, replacing Khan with left-arm spinner Syed Mohammed. Together with Dilshan, he hauled the run rate back to reasonable 8.33 per over. Mohammed was impressive in his initial two-over spell and was rewarded for tight bowling when Haddin tried to hit him over mid-off but got an edge that Kohli collected at point.Kallis and Gambhir batted with patience against the slower bowlers and unleashed when Khan was brought back in the 11th over. Gayle played a role in the field as well, taking the catch that sent Kallis on his way. Vettori bowled a shorter one which Kallis drove on the up towards extra cover where Gayle dived to his left and plucked the ball out of the sky.Yusuf, batting at four, allowed himself five balls to settle before depositing a Mohammed delivery over long-on. After Gambhir was caught by Dilshan at extra cover, Yusuf unleashed. He destroyed Aravind, pulling the short one for four, smashing the full one for six and dispatching the low full toss to the boundary.The quicks redeemed themselves a bit with Khan bowling a decent last over, mixing up slower balls and yorkers, and Aravind claiming the wicket of Yusuf, who was trying to force the ball over long off but only got it as far as Kohli.

Australia secured the one-day series with two matches to spare after a comprehensive 51-run victory at the Gabba as England’s batting once again flopped

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan at the Gabba30-Jan-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChris Woakes took six wickets but it was in a losing cause•Getty Images

Australia secured the one-day series with two matches to spare after a comprehensive 51-run victory at the Gabba as England’s batting once again flopped. The top order was rocked by the pace of Brett Lee, then John Hastings removed the key pair of Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell before the innings subsided rapidly to give Australia their first piece of silverware since March last year.The hosts’ innings had been far from problem-free but Michael Clarke registered a much-needed half-century, which was his first since the Adelaide Test. He fell to the Man of the Match Chris Woakes, who took 6 for 45, England’s best overseas analysis in one-day internationals, but he was a lone shining light. Although the visitors have twice nudged 300 in the series – at Melbourne and Adelaide – there has been far too much inconsistency and soft dismissals.Pietersen and Bell battled nicely to steady England from 3 for 22, but having been given a life on 34 when Steve Smith missed a return catch, Pietersen picked out mid-on as he tried to pull a Hastings slower ball. Eoin Morgan continued his poor series when he lofted his fourth ball to long-off against Smith, even though the required rate was below a run-a-ball. Morgan has struggled to live up to his reputation as a world-class finisher in the series after his extended period on the sidelines during the Ashes.England’s last real hope disappeared when Bell, who had been at his most fluent, dragged Hastings into his stumps. Shane Watson bagged two in his first over in front of an appreciative home crowd, who could put the troubles of the past month behind then at least for an evening. A record-last wicket stand of 53 between James Anderson and Steven Finn, on his ODI debut, only narrowed the margin and showed up the batsmen.Australia’s bowlers hunted as a unit and the one-day attack has most bases covered, even though Xavier Doherty was left out with a stiff back. Lee bowled with real venom early on, twice whistling rapid bouncers past Andrew Strauss’s helmet and Doug Bollinger wasn’t far behind when he struck Matt Prior in his opening over. But neither of England’s openers wanted to back down and Prior responded with three boundaries against Bollinger. However, Lee was a different prospect and Prior lost his off stump when he tried to play square on the off side.From the next delivery, the first ball of Bollinger’s third over, Strauss picked out square leg with a pull and it became worse when Lee put himself on a hat-trick as Jonathan Trott flicked a delivery off his hip straight to short fine-leg. Although the hat-trick ball to Bell was a no-ball it was also a rapid bouncer and Australia were in no mood for this series to stay alive.Even though their total proved plenty, it was a tale of missed opportunity as several batsmen made starts only to give their wickets away. Watson (16) cut to point and Brad Haddin (37) walked across his stumps to give Finn his first ODI wicket. Shaun Marsh (16) lazily flicked to midwicket and David Hussey chopped on against Woakes for 34, having set a platform alongside Clarke with a 65-run fifth-wicket stand. Cameron White couldn’t do much about his dismissal as an excellent ball from Woakes bounced and took the edge.Clarke’s innings had three distinct phases. After being booed to the crease, he began with aggressive intent and moved to 17 off 13 balls, but then slowed considerably with 18 off his next 41 deliveries before driving Finn through cover. The fifty came from 70 balls but he couldn’t carry on, top-edging Woakes while trying to work through the leg side on 54.England were hampered in the closing overs when Ajmal Shahzad injured his hamstring and Johnson took 15 off his eighth over during the batting Powerplay. Smith and Hastings also cashed in as Finn was struck for 14 off his ninth but Woakes, who was preferred to Michael Yardy and struck three times in the first over of a spell, returned to have Hastings caught at deep midwicket to complete his five, after which Lee carved to third man.Woakes’ figures sit behind Collingwood’s 6 for 31 against Bangladesh, at Trent Bridge in 2005, but they were a hollow success. England are now left with the task of avoiding a 6-1 scoreline to match the drubbing after the 2009 Ashes.

ذكرت صحيفة “ليكيب” ما قاله أنطوان جريزمان، لاعب منتخب فرنسا، بعد نهاية الشوط الأول خلال مواجهة الديوك في ربع نهائي كأس العالم ضد إنجلترا.

وانتهت المباراة بفوز فرنسا 2-1 وتأهلوا إلى نصف النهائي لمواجهة المغرب.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بنزيما يوجه رسالة للاعبي فرنسا قبل مواجهة المغرب في نصف نهائي كأس العالم

وبحسب “ليكيب”، فقد وجه أنطوان جريزمان بعض الكلمات لتشجيع فريقه ليكون أفضل وأكثر حدة في الشوط الثاني.

وقال جريزمان في حديثه للاعبين: “قد لا نلعب أبدًا نصف نهائي كأس العالم مرة أخرى، كلنا نريد أن نعيش هذه اللحظات، لا يمكننا العودة إلى المنزل الليلة يا رفاق، علينا أن نفعل المزيد”.

وتبعه شريك خط الوسط أدريان رابيو الذي عبّر عن أفكاره لتشجيع فريقه وتنبيهه قبل بداية الشوط الثاني، لينجح أبطال العالم في مواصلة مشوارهم للحفاظ على اللقب الغالي.

وحقق جريزمان رقمًا قياسيًا بالأمس، بعدما أصبح صاحب أكبر عدد من التمريرات الحاسمة في تاريخ المنتخب الفرنسي بـ28 تمريرة.

Sri Lanka 3 for 213 (Tharanga 86*) beat Australia 210 (Watson 40) by 29 runs on D/L method
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Upul Tharanga set up Sri Lanka’s success with a composed 86 not out•Getty Images

Sri Lanka came on this tour with one goal and achieved it with a match to spare. By handing Australia a seventh straight defeat, Kumar Sangakkara’s men delivered their maiden series win in Australia in 26 years of trying. When the hosts slipped over for 210 in the greasy conditions it gave Sri Lanka victory by 29 runs – and it had come more easily than expected.There was much to like about Sri Lanka’s play in a match regularly threatened by rain, but there was little to inspire the hosts as they head to Brisbane for Sunday’s dead rubber. The only time the visitors struggled was in the first two overs of the match – when they didn’t score – but once the openers Upul Tharanga, who held the innings together with 86 not out, and Tillakaratne Dilshan got going there was nothing that could stop them. Not even the weather.The rain disrupted Sri Lanka’s innings twice as it finished early at 3 for 213 in 41.1 overs, but Australia’s target was quickly inflated to 244 in 39 overs under the Duckworth Lewis method. The calculations added more difficulty to what was already a tricky pursuit in a seamer-friendly environment, and they began needing more than a run a ball. A short rain break towards the end trimmed another over from the match and reduced the target to 240. It didn’t help.Mistakes came quickly, starting with Brad Haddin’s flash at a Nuwan Kulasekara inswinger and the knocking back of his middle stump. Ricky Ponting (10) fell hooking, just as he did so often last summer, and when Michael Clarke’s (25) attempted pull ended up with a lunging Muttiah Muralitharan at third man, Australia were 4 for 80 and the game was heading one way.Murali then watched Michael Hussey tap a catch to deep mid-off, a wicket which came after Shane Watson had missed a sweep on 40 to be lbw. He finished with 2 for 30 off seven while Thisara Perera, Suraj Randiv and Kulasekara also claimed two victims. Cameron White (35) and Steven Smith (33) could not achieve the miracle, especially when Lasith Malinga was varying his pace superbly.Sri Lanka were 2 for 161 off 34 overs when the weather intervened for the first time, chopping five overs from their original allocation, and they finished in a rush before the clouds reopened. Tharanga ensured Sri Lanka built on the high gained from their stunning victory in Melbourne on Wednesday as he put on 98 for the first wicket with Dilshan.The 70-run stand between the captain Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga was starting to warm up when the rain arrived for the first time. Instead of acceleration, the ground received 90 minutes of saturation. Sangakkara (45) sliced Watson (2 for 45) to Clint McKay at third man before Angelo Mathews, the hero from the first game, provided a timely surge by swinging to 17 off 11.Tharanga, who was comfortable chipping over the infield, was the slower partner alongside Dilshan, but he ended up in the lead role during his 112-ball stay. His half-century came up with two lofted boundaries to the legside off Nathan Hauritz and there were six fours in his display.While his innings was highly worthy, Tharanga was dropped on 61 by Haddin and also survived a comical run-out attempt when stranded at the wrong end on 76. Haddin’s throw flew over the bowler Watson’s head before Clarke backed up and shied at the bowler’s end. His on-target effort hit the leg of Watson, who was trying to get out of the way of the stumps, and Tharanga eventually regained his ground. It is a moment that will be replayed often until Australia can show they are a committed, unified and successful unit.After Australia’s bowling troubles in their awful loss in Melbourne, they demoted the spinner Xavier Doherty to 12th man despite his four-wicket debut, and also dropped John Hastings. The replacements didn’t create a sudden shift in the team’s fortunes.McKay (0 for 42) came in to take the new ball and was steady, while Hauritz showed some useful signs in picking up 1 for 49 from nine overs. Mitchell Johnson gave away 11 runs in his first over while Peter Siddle was handy without being dangerous.While there only 11,495 watching at the ground, Australia’s seventh consecutive loss in all forms of the game will be noticed by everyone. England are in Perth, having started well in their tour opener, and can see a host of Ashes weaknesses. Over in Colombo there will be celebrations for the Sri Lankan team after their biggest obstacle ended up being the weather.

Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side return to Premiership action today, with the Bhoys making the trip to Edinburgh for a midday kickoff against Hibernian.

Following the Hoops’ disappointing exit from European competition in midweek, the 56-year-old manager will certainly be hoping for a much-improved result and performance from his side at Easter Road – especially as Celtic could take a six-point lead at the top of the table with a victory over Shaun Maloney’s outfit.

So, will Postecoglou make any changes that started the 2-0 loss to Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night? Here’s how we think Celtic could line up against Hibs, as well as the latest team and injury news…

With Celtic not appearing to have any fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s clash, although Kyogo Furuhashi and David Turnbull do remain unavailable for selection, we predict that Postecoglou will make eight changes to the side that lined up against Bodo/Glimt.

Three of these changes come in the back four, with Liam Scales, Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston making way for Greg Taylor, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Josip Juranovic coming in at left-back, centre-back and right-back respectively.

There are a further two changes in the middle of the park, with Nir Bitton making way for club captain Callum McGregor, while Matt O’Riley – who Russell Martin dubbed a “two-footed” and “intelligent” player – gets the nod ahead of the Tom Rogic, and Reo Hatate also returns to the XI.

In attack, Giorgos Giakoumakis is the only of the front three to retain his starting spot from midweek, with Daizen Maeda – who The Celtic Analysis dubbed a “great presser” – and James Forrest making way for Jota and Liel Abada on the left and right-wing respectively.

In other news: Huge blow: Ange drops fresh 5-word injury update, Celtic fans will be devastated

Leeds United midfielder Adam Forshaw is expected to return from injury for the Whites’ Premier League clash with Aston Villa next week.

The Lowdown: Forshaw absent again

The 30-year-old missed almost two years of action with a serious hip injury, having been a key figure during Leeds’ Championship days.

Forshaw made a triumphant return to action earlier this season, however, and he has started ten Premier League matches in 2021/22 to date.

Unfortunately, the midfielder has again been sidelined with a hamstring issue in recent weeks, but his return now appears to be imminent.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Back in time for Villa

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Forshaw is expected to be back in contention to start next Wednesday’s taxing-looking trip to Villa Park.

Leeds go into the game sitting 15th in the table and just seven points clear of the relegation zone.

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The Verdict: Huge boost for Leeds

This is a massive boost for Leeds at a time when Kalvin Phillips is also missing with a hamstring injury of his own, therefore making Forshaw even more important.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side will come up against a strong Villa midfield featuring the likes of Douglas Luiz, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey, so the returning Forshaw will need to be at his best.

He has won an average of 2.3 tackles per game in the league this season, which is only bettered by McGinn (2.9) in Villa’s midfield, suggesting he will be a good match for his opponents when the challenges start flying in.

In other news, Leeds are still thought to be plotting a deal for one player. Find out who it is here.

MatériaMais Notícias

Ainda na busca por um atacante de velocidade pelos lados, o São Paulo já abre mão de quem atua por ali, mas não está nos planos de Dorival Júnior. Está encaminhada a ida por empréstimo de Maicosuel para o Grêmio, em negociação que deve ser anunciada em breve.

O meia-atacante só foi relacionado uma vez nesta temporada, sendo titular na estreia do São Paulo no Campeonato Paulista. O camisa 7 era um dos mais experientes em uma equipe repleta de jogadores recém-promovidos da base e acabou perdendo a bola e sendo driblado no primeiro gol sofrido pelo time na derrota por 2 a 0 para o São Bento, no dia 17, em Sorocaba.

Maicosuel, de 31 anos, deve acertar com o Grêmio até dezembro. No acordo, o São Paulo ficaria responsável por pagar parte de seus salários – o jogador foi comprado do Atlético-MG por 1 milhão de euros (R$ 3,6 milhões, na época) em junho, a pedido do então técnico Rogério Ceni, e seu contrato com a equipe paulista vai até a metade de 2020.

O jogador deixa o Morumbi com apenas nove partidas disputadas e um gol marcado. Sofreu com seguidos problemas musculares e não convenceu Dorival Júnior a utilizá-lo com mais frequência. Nas últimas semanas, ficou claro que, no São Paulo, ele não teria mais espaço.

Dorival tem repetido com frequência em suas últimas entrevistas que deseja a contratação de um jogador exatamente com as mesmas características de Maicosuel. Na segunda-feira, logo após apresentar Nenê e Tréllez, Raí, diretor executivo de futebol, não só confirmou que busca um atacante para o setor do camisa 7 como avisou que esperava por uma oportunidade de negociar Maicosuel.

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