كشف شريف إكرامي حارس مرمى فريق الكرة الأول بنادي بيراميدز، حقيقة اعتزاله كرة القدم بنهاية الموسم الجاري. 

وكان شريف إكرامي قد توج مع فريق بيراميدز ببطولتي دوري أبطال إفريقيا وبطولة السوبر الإفريقي على حساب فريق نهضة بركان المغربي. 

طالع.. أحمد الشناوي: أتمنى الفوز بجائزة أفضل حارس في إفريقيا.. وهذا أصعب مهاجم واجهته

وقال شريف إكرامي في تصريحات على قناة “إم بي سي مصر2”: “سعداء جدًا بما حدث في آخر 8 أو 9 شهور، النادي ظل لفترة طويلة يحاول أن يصل لهذه المكانة، وكان يوجد تشكيك أن النادي غير قادر ولكن في النهاية وصلنا”. 

وأضاف: “بالنسبة لي أول مرة لم أطلع على المنصات حيث صعدت مع الأهلي وحصدت ألقابًا عديدة ولكن مع بيراميدز الأمر له طعم مختلف”.

وتابع: “رمضان صبحي بحالة جيدة وهو الآن في مرحلة علاج وجميع التفاصيل الخاصة مع اللاعب يعلمها هاني سعيد المدير الرياضي لنادي بيراميدز”. 

 وأختتم: “لا أعلم حتى هذه اللحظة سأستمر في الملاعب الموسم المقبل أم لا، والأمر لا يوجد فيه حساسية ما بين الإدارة والمدرب، جددت هذا الموسم وأنا مقتنع بدوري، وأشعر بالراحة مع النادي والمدير الفني، ويوروتشيتش من المدربين الذين سأظل أتذكرهم لأنه ليس متصنعًا”.

Scott Munn, who left Tottenham in the summer after less than two years as the club's chief football officer, is reportedly finalising a deal to join Serie A side Parma. His departure from north London came amid a major boardroom overhaul that saw even the chairman Daniel Levy and star manager Ange Postecoglou also exit the club.

• Munn finalising Parma executive role

  Munn is closing in on a new senior role with Serie A side Parma, according to reports in Italy. and state that the Australian is finalising a deal to become the new head of the Krause Group's football division, the American consortium that owns the Italian club.

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  Departure followed major Spurs overhaul

  Munn was placed on gardening leave by Spurs in June, bringing an end to a tenure of less than two years in north London. His departure came as part of a summer of significant change at Tottenham, which saw the sacking of his key ally, manager Postecoglou. Munn's exit also coincided with a major boardroom shake-up that included the departures of long-serving chairman Levy and executive director Donna-Maria Cullen, as a new chief executive officer, Vinai Venkatesham, arrived.

  Spurs endured a dismal domestic 2024-25 campaign despite their Europa League success. Injury issues were a constant source of frustration for then-coach Postecoglou. It was claimed that the fitness issues flared up after long-serving head of medicine Geoff Scott was forced out, a decision that followed a review that Munn had been at the head of. In April, it was reported that he would be leaving the club, even before Postecoglou's sacking.

• The original vision for Munn at Tottenham

  Munn joined Tottenham from the City Football Group in 2023 to fill the newly-created role of chief football officer, designed to oversee all of the club's footballing activities. Upon his appointment, then-chairman Levy said: "Scott has a unique and broad experience of running sporting organisations at the highest level and will take responsibility for the leadership and management of our football activities to instil best practice both on and off the pitch."

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  What next for Munn and Parma?

  An official announcement from Parma is expected in the coming weeks. Munn will be tasked by president Kyle Krause with strengthening the club's organisational structure as they look to consolidate their position back in Italy's top flight. After a brief and turbulent spell at Spurs came to an abrupt end, the 51-year-old will be aiming to implement his long-term vision in Serie A.

MatériaMais Notícias

Lanterna do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Vasco tenta se movimentar no mercado em busca de reforços. Um dos jogadores que o clube negocia é o colombiano Jorge Carrascal, meia-atacante de 25 anos de idade. Revelado pelo Millonarios, da Colômbia, e com passagens pelo Sevilha, da Espanha, Karpaty, da Ucrânia, e River Plate, da Argentina, o atleta defende atualmente o CSKA, da Rússia.

Apesar de ter sido titular em apenas 16 dos 30 jogos do Campeonato Russo – saiu do banco em outras dez rodadas -, Carrascal terminou a temporada como o maior driblador da competição, com 62 fintas certas, segundo dados do site de estatística Sofascore. Número bem superior, por exemplo, ao dos brasileiros Malcom, Wendel e Claudinho, que realizaram 43, 33 e 31 dribles, respectivamente.

Por outro lado, Carrascal teve a segunda pior média de perdas de posse de bola do campeonato, com 21,4 a cada 90 minutos em campo. Com uma média de 1,88 desarme sofrido por jogo completo, foi o 22º na estatística. Confira mais números do colombiano na última temporada:

CARRASCAL NO CAMPEONATO RUSSO 22-23
– Dados Sofascore e OGol | Média por 90 minutos

26 jogos
16 como titular
1526 minutos em campo
6 gols
1 assistência
3,65 dribles certos em média (1º da Liga)
2,0 passes decisivos em média (25º da Liga)
1,06 finalização certa em média (30º da Liga)
10,1% de taxa de conversão em gol (104º da Liga)
21,4 perdas de posse de bola em média (2ª da Liga)
1,88 desarme sofrido em média (22º da Liga)
0,53 interceptação feita em média (176º da Liga)
1,65 desarme feito em média (85º da Liga)

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It felt as if there was an unspoken agreement among Manchester United supporters last season. No matter the on-field turmoil, no matter the new lows reached, the Old Trafford faithful would remain behind manager Ruben Amorim regardless.

Parachuted in mid-way through the campaign, despite his desire to join this summer, the Portuguese coach was almost afforded a free hit last time out, with a notable Europa League run also helping to cloud the club’s Premier League undoings.

That night in Bilbao was drab and disappointing, yet the 40-year-old teased brighter days ahead following the final league clash against Aston Villa. “The good days are coming”, he exclaimed.

Five games into the new season, however, and those ‘good days’ have yet to return. Perhaps the cries for patience need to be heeded, but this all feels very much like more of the same.

There was a willingness to ‘suffer’ in 2024/25, with the proviso that Amorim would get it right after a full summer window, a full pre-season and a full week between games. Four points from four and a Carabao Cup exit would suggest otherwise.

Unsurprisingly, the debate over the ex-Sporting CP man’s future is ramping up – could it be time for a change before too much damage is done?

How Amorim's start to the season compares

The honesty and candour of Amorim’s pre and post-match musings has been to his credit, yet while the one-time Braga boss is able to talk the talk, he has thus far failed to walk the walk.

Steadfast in his refusal to tweak a flawed 3-4-2-1 system, the latest post-Sir Alex Ferguson appointment may well fall on his sword sooner rather than later, having overseen the club’s worst start to a Premier League campaign since 1992.

Of course, that inaugural season in the new-look top-flight saw United clinch the title under Fergie’s watch, but in an era where almost perfection is needed to finish at the summit, the current crop appear so far off the pace.

With the next international break now just three games away, Amorim could be heading for a crucial juncture in his relatively brief Red Devils tenure, with it having been October last year which saw the end of Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman had actually collected more points this time last year with six from the opening four league games, although with United slumping to 14th in the table, a defeat to West Ham United was the final straw.

Having overseen another extensive summer of investment in the region of £250m, Amorim may also find himself on the chopping block before too long – but just who could replace him?

How Man Utd can replace Ruben Amorim

There is a sense that the INEOS hierarchy have almost jumped the gun with Amorim’s appointment. Rather than taking the approach of employing a safe pair hands in the dugout, while considerable change continues at boardroom level, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co have gambled on the two-time Portuguese title winner and his much-debated back three system.

That risk, so far, has yet to pay off, and while it is still early days in the 2025/26 season, there could well be a desire to nip things in the bud sooner rather than later, instead of simply watching another campaign drift into nothingness.

If a change is to be made in the managerial department, there have been whispers that long-time target Mauricio Pochettino could be in the equation, with the Argentine coach currently at the helm of the United States national team.

A record of seven defeats in 18 games in charge of the upcoming World Cup hosts is certainly nothing to shout about, with the post-Tottenham Hotspur period having been distinctly unkind for the 53-year-old, amid his brutal sackings at both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

That being said, while his time at international level may suggest otherwise, the 4-2-3-1 manager is no busted flush. At Stamford Bridge, for instance, he overcame the chaos to steer the Blues to a respectable sixth-place finish. At the Parc des Princes, meanwhile, three domestic honours were claimed for the Ligue 1 giants.

There was a time, too, when he was even deemed by Ferguson to be the “best manager in the league” – as relayed by MP David Lammy – with Pochettino having been a revelation following his appointment at Spurs in 2014.

Formerly of Southampton, the “genius” coach – as hailed by journalist Alex Keble – steered a youthful side in north London to incremental progress, unleashing an exciting brand of football led by the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dele Alli.

In his five full seasons in charge of the Lilywhites, ‘Poch’ finished no lower than fifth, even while largely operating on a shoestring budget, having secured a top-four finish in four successive campaigns.

While a trophy was elusive, the one-time Espanyol boss did defy the odds to take the club to the Champions League final in 2019, having been harshly sacked by Daniel Levy just a matter of months later. As Keble stated, he was arguably “too good” for Spurs, while he was “so above Levy, the chairman didn’t know what to do.”

With Amorim currently ‘boasting’ a Premier League record of just 31 points from 31 games, Pochettino would undoubtedly be an upgrade in that department.

Indeed, the latter man has won 150 games in the competition from 294 outings, with a points per match ratio of 1.77.

USA

18

1.83

Chelsea

51

1.78

PSG

84

2.15

Spurs

293

1.84

Saints

60

1.45

Espanyol

161

1.22

Still a relatively youthful figure in the coaching world at 53, the experienced coach appears to have missed the boat on numerous occasions when it comes to moving to Manchester, having notably been in the running when both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were fired.

This move has been a long time coming, with Pochettino able to provide that long-term approach alongside the ability to get results at Premier League level in the short-term.

Amorim, it must be said, is a figure to get behind, but this is a results business, and well, the results simply haven’t been up to scratch.

No Dorgu, new role for Amad: How Amorim can save Man Utd job & keep 3-4-2-1

Ruben Amorim appears intent on sticking with his 3-4-2-1 formation at Man Utd, but could he at least change the personnel within it?

ByRobbie Walls Sep 17, 2025

Football is cyclical. Great teams rise, and then they fall. However, Aston Villa appear to have reached a concerning crossroads at a premature point in their project.

At the end of the 2024/25 season, Unai Emery watched in agony as his side put in a meek performance at Old Trafford. It was the final match of the Premier League campaign, and a single point would have been enough to reprise a place in the Champions League. Villa were beaten, and contentiously at that.

Four games into the new league season, the Lions have yet to roar, blanking across each of their matches and losing twice. It’s hardly time to panic, but fears of a regressive year have been heightened by this slow start, and Emery knows he needs to bring it all together.

Only, Villa were inhibited across the summer transfer window, a by-product of that frustrating defeat in Manchester. It was for this reason that Jacob Ramsey was forcibly sold to Newcastle United, and only Evann Guessand was brought in.

Villa, still, have Ollie Watkins leading the line.

Ollie Watkins is still Villa's talisman

Watkins has been at this game for a while, having played 228 matches across all competitions for Aston Villa, scoring 87 goals and supplying 42 assists.

He’s been synonymous with the club’s advancements over recent years, and offers at number nine a varied and deep take on the craft.

Watkins is one of the finest Premier League forwards of his generation. Behind a select few superstars, it is the Three Lions star who produces clinical performances as such that has led statistician Statman Dave to describe him as “one of the best 9s in the world”.

PL – Top Scorers Since 22/23

Player

Apps

Goals (per 90)

Erling Haaland

100

88 (0.88)

Mohamed Salah

111

67 (0.60)

Alexander Isak

86

54 (0.63)

Ollie Watkins

115

50 (0.43)

Chris Wood

95

39 (0.41)

Bryan Mbeumo

101

39 (0.39)

Data via Transfermarkt

However, he’s 29 years old (hardly ancient), and reflective of the ageing nature of Emery’s first-team squad. Given the trammels imposed on Villa Park in the summer transfer market indeed led to only the permanent signing of Guessand, there’s no question the young and inspiring signings will need to be made in the window ahead.

Villa’s isn’t a team solely comprised of veterans, though, with one of the Premier League’s brightest young stars in the ranks, and though he’s not a striker, Morgan Rogers has the capacity to replace Watkins as Villa Park’s talisman.

Emery has struck gold on Morgan Rogers

Rogers, 23, signed for Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in January 2024, joining for a £15m fee. What a bargain. He played a part across the latter end of the 2023/24 season, but came alive after a full pre-season, notching 29 goal involvements across all competitions as Villa battled across domestic and Champions League fronts.

As remarked by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to be “unstoppable” when he gets going on the ball, Rogers’ athleticism and pace enable him to shift between wide and central attacking berths, and the division is taking note.

Indeed, Rogers was crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season, and he is definitely beginning to establish himself as the Midlands club’s best signing since Watkins was welcomed from Brentford for £28m in September 2020.

He sits among esteemed company.

PFA Young Player of the Year Winners (20/21 – 24/25)

Season

Club

Player

24/25

Aston Villa

Morgan Rogers

23/24

Chelsea

Cole Palmer

22/23

Arsenal

Bukayo Saka

21/22

Man City

Phil Foden (2)

20/21

Man City

Phil Foden

Watkins has been the man his teammates turn to for quite some time, but that started to shift last term, with Rogers proving a focal point from deep but also a combative and tenacious force with talents across different phases of play.

Sofascore recorded, for example, that he created 16 big chances in the Premier League last year and averaged 1.8 dribbles and 4.7 successful duels per game, with his heatmap showcasing his energy, covering so much ground.

Now a fully-blooded England international too, the £75k-per-week talent might not have clicked into gear across the opening weeks of the current campaign, but when Emery’s system does start purring once more – and it will – then Rogers will surely form the nucleus of the next phase.

Villa must be delighted that they managed to avoid parting with their young prize this summer, despite financial concerns and a tidal wave of interest.

Indeed, Tottenham Hotspur had taken a particular liking to the dynamic midfielder, enquiring about his availability and not appearing dissuaded by Aston Villa’s £80m valuation.

The truth is, Emery and his leadership coterie might share an opinion that Rogers is unsellable, his price tag something that would stretch into record territory, should they need to cash in.

But the fierce resistance to piqued curiosity from divisional rivals this summer emphasises the pedestal on which Emery has placed him.

Already accomplished in the Champions League, Rogers has the world at his feet, and must surely fancy his chances of rivalling the very best in the business in the years to come. Not just in the Premier League, but across the globe.

Rogers has not yet developed into the player those coaches who watch him every day feel he can become. Here is the biggest testament to the one-time Manchester City academy member’s growth, and indeed Emery’s ability to bring him to the fore.

It’s easy to forget that Rogers has only just begun his second season consistently playing at top-flight level. So much more is still to come, and Aston Villa will fight tooth and nail against anyone who wishes to prise him away. Here we have the new talisman, ready to guide his side toward a sustained period of success.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Sep 11, 2025

Boon officiated in 87 Tests, 190 ODIs and 119 T20Is (including seven women’s T20Is)

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-2025David Boon, the former Australia batter, has ended his 14-year career as an ICC match referee on Wednesday, with the second Bangladesh-Zimbabwe Test in Chattogram his final assignment. Boon officiated in 87 Tests, 190 ODIs and 119 T20Is (including seven women’s T20Is).Boon, 64, is now set to don a new hat as a board director at Cricket Australia (CA), with whom he’d been previously associated as national selector. Prior to his association with the ICC as a match referee, Boon had also served in the administration at Cricket Tasmania for 12 years following a 12-year international career.”It is with mixed emotions that I finish my time as a match referee with the ICC,” Boon said in a statement. “It has been an incredible honour and pleasure to be a part of this journey spanning nearly 14 years. I am grateful for the opportunity, including the challenges, the many cherished memories and friendships I’ve made along the way.”I feel privileged to have stayed so connected to our great game, witnessing international cricket from such close quarters. I hope that I leave having made a difference and contributed to officiating the world game. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the ICC and Cricket Australia for their support over the years in this chapter of my involvement in the game.”As Boon stepped aside formally, he touched upon a few areas of opportunity at the ICC with regard to the rules. “I’m not sure about the over-rates, whether we’ve got that right,” he said. “Pace of play can be an issue. And I’d hope from an administrative point of view we have a massive umbrella over cricket, and every nation looks at themselves as being under that umbrella form rather than their own little pieces of turf.”Boon’s career as a player stretched from 1984 to 1996. He won four Ashes titles as a player, and one 50-over World Cup in 1987, a tournament where he was named player of the final for top scoring with 75 as Australia beat England. In all, Boon scored 7422 runs in 107 Tests with 21 centuries and 5964 runs in 181 ODIs with five centuries.

Liverpool have opened the 2024/25 season in perfect fashion, sitting top of the Premier League with four wins from four.

Under Arne Slot, they’ve quickly shown resilience and attacking flair, but the journey has not been without its flaws.

Three times already this season – against Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Atlético Madrid – the Reds have let two-goal leads slip, only to be rescued by late winners. The most special of all perhaps being Rio Ngumoha’s strike at St James’ Park.

That ability to find decisive moments in the dying stages has become a hallmark.

The 93rd-minute strike against Atlético was Liverpool’s fourth goal scored in stoppage time across all competitions this season, underlining the winning mentality that carried them to their second Premier League crown last season.

While Dominik Szoboszlai has been central to the team’s fluid play, it is a different player who increasingly embodies the leadership once associated with the great Steven Gerrard.

Szoboszlai: A creative hub and tactical fix

Szoboszlai’s start to the season didn’t go smoothly.

Slot publicly criticised him for his role in Bournemouth’s opening goal during the 4-2 win at Anfield on the opening weekend.

Since then, however, the 24-year-old has responded with consistent excellence and versatility.

Last season, the Hungarian produced 12 goal involvements this campaign, a reminder of his value in the final third. His numbers reflect a midfielder who drives play forward relentlessly:

Progressive Carries per 90

2.60

Progressive Passes per 90

4.73

Shot-Creating Actions per 90

4.30

Pass Completion Rate

84.3%

Progressive Passing Distance per 90

131.4m

These metrics paint a picture of a player who not only initiates attacking moves but sustains them with precision passing and clever movement.

His decisive 30-yard free-kick against Arsenal was the standout moment of Liverpool’s season so far, sealing a 1-0 win that kept their perfect record intact.

What makes Szoboszlai even more valuable is his tactical adaptability.

Against Newcastle, with Liverpool stretched at St James’ Park, he filled in at right-back and barely put a foot wrong all evening. He did the same when Arsenal came to town a few weeks ago.

This flexibility makes him a manager’s dream – a midfielder capable of influencing games both with creativity and discipline.

It’s tempting to compare Szoboszlai to Gerrard, as many pundits have, but this season he is functioning as Liverpool’s alternative to Florian Wirtz.

While Wirtz has struggled to adapt since his high-profile Premier League arrival, Szoboszlai has thrived in high-pressure situations, reinforcing why Liverpool chose him as a centrepiece in midfield.

That said, the Hungary international isn’t quite as iconic as Gerrard just yet.

Liverpool's new Gerrard

If Szoboszlai is Liverpool’s creator, Virgil van Dijk is their leader.

At 34, the Dutchman remains a colossal presence at the back, but this season he has added moments of attacking inspiration too.

His stoppage-time winner against Atlético epitomised a player taking responsibility in decisive moments.

Football analyst Josh Williams has described Van Dijk as “outrageous” this season, adding that he “takes responsibility like Gerrard used to.”

It is rare for a centre-back to be compared with Liverpool’s most iconic midfielder, but the parallels are clear.

Just as Gerrard dragged teams through games with moments of inspiration, Van Dijk is now doing the same from defence.

Statistically, his influence remains elite and he showcased that against Atletico.

To illuminate his qualities, Van Dijk ranks in the 86th percentile among his fellow central defenders for pass completion (91.5%) over the last year, ensuring that Liverpool can build calmly from the back.

He is also in the 90th percentile for progressive passes (5.24 per 90), showing how often he breaks lines with distribution from deep.

Defensively, he dominates in the air, winning 3.02 aerial duels per 90, placing him again in the 86th percentile among centre-backs.

Statistical comparisons with Ronald Araújo and Gabriel Magalhães highlight his profile: a defender who combines physical dominance with elite ball progression.

But Van Dijk’s role extends beyond numbers. As club captain, with a contract running until 2027, he is the figure setting standards in this rejuvenating side.

Liverpool’s start has not been flawless. Throwing away leads three times already is a warning sign for a team with ambitions of another title.

Yet those setbacks have been countered by players willing to step up in decisive phases.

Szoboszlai has driven the creative rhythm with his passing and chance creation, while Van Dijk has shown the authority and timing to decide contests late on.

Together, they have shaped Liverpool’s early-season identity: a side capable of brilliance, but reliant on its big leaders to seize the big moments.

Not Salah or Van Dijk: Liverpool star is now "one of the best in the world"

Liverpool left it late once more to collect a Champions League victory at Anfield over Atletico Madrid.

ByKelan Sarson Sep 18, 2025

At 14, Vaibhav Suryavanshi could become the youngest to make his IPL debut. Rajasthan Royals’ stand-in captain Riyan Parag said that Suryavanshi is slated to replace the injured Sanju Samson in Rajasthan Royals’ XI against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). However, with LSG captain Rishabh Pant winning the toss instead and opting to bat in Jaipur, Suryavanshi’s official debut would have to wait, as he finds himself on the bench in RR’s bowl-first XI.Pant said he opted to bat since he felt the pitch was “on the drier side”. He also felt dew was unlikely to be a factor. LSG are looking to bounce back from a defeat to Chennai Super Kings in their previous game. They brought in fast bowler Prince Yadav for Akash Deep in a like-for-like change in their bat-first XI.LSG could also unleash Mayank Yadav, among the fastest bowlers in India, after he made it to their impact player list for the first time this season. Mayank was recovering at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru till recently owing to a lumbar stress injury.Royals are currently eighth and are looking to bounce back from three successive losses. LSG are fifth with four wins in seven matches, and can jump into the top three with a win tonight.Playing XIs:RR bowl-first XI: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Shubham Dubey, 3 Riyan Parag (capt), 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 6 Shimron Hetmyer, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Tushar DeshpandeImpact players: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yudhvir Singh, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kunal Singh RathoreLSG bat-first XI: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant (wk, capt), 5 David Miller, 6 Abdul Samad, 7 Ravi Bishnoi, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Prince Yadav, 10 Digvesh Rathi, 11 Avesh KhanImpact players: Mayank Yadav, Ayush Badoni, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Matthew Breetzke

Essex fight back late in day as see-sawing match continues to defy expectations

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Apr-2025

Haseeb Hameed led the way with 92•Jack Bird

With Essex surrendering their five remaining wickets for 66 runs in the day’s opening 90 minutes to claim a bare 20-run first-innings lead, Nottinghamshire threatened to take hold of their Rothesay County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge.But after Ben Slater, who made 67, and skipper Haseeb Hameed had posted a rapid 113 for the first wicket the home side were pegged back in the final session as Hameed fell 25 minutes from the close for 92 and Kyle Verreynne then came and went for 3.Hameed’s side carry an advantage into Monday of 213 with five men gone but it is hard to see how a declaration can come before lunch is reached, even assuming they get there intact. This intriguing game, however, has repeatedly refused to follow either of these side’s very best laid plans.Having weathered seven probing overs from Jamie Porter and Sam Cook before lunch as sunshine replaced cloud, the Notts openers picked up the tempo in the afternoon, claiming the initiative in finding four runs an over until over-ambition did for Slater, ten overs from tea.The left-hander had belted a brace of sixes, hitting against the spin, before Simon Harmer had completed his first five overs but the offspinner, gaining turn out of the rough, smiled last when Slater bottom-edged a cut into his wicket. His 67 included 56 in boundaries.Harmer soon made it two wickets in eight balls when Freddie McCann, another left-hander, edged low to first slip and went without score. But Hameed, surviving a close lbw call against Harmer, reached a polished fifty from 96 balls and at the interval his side were 142 for 2.Eight balls into the last session, however, another had gone when Porter, summoned for a second spell, immediately produced a beauty that left Joe Clarke off the pitch and had him caught behind for 19. Porter’s next ball also found the edge but the new batter Jack Haynes, destined for an unbeaten 49 at the close, could breathe easy when it fell millimetres short of second slip.Though just 15 came from ten overs, the fourth-wicket pair saw out Porter’s fine burst and accelerated against Shane Snater and also against Matt Critchley’s legspin when he relieved Harmer for three overs of what proved a 27-over stint from before tea.The stand had swelled to 83 when Hameed, attempting a late dab, played Noah Thain on to his stumps and, two overs later, a recalled Cook sent Verreynne’s county batting average plummetting from 379.0 to 189.5 when he edged to the keeper.It remains to be seen whether Notts can reach a declaration and, more to the point, how generous they feel they can be. They are pursuing the perfect start of wins in both opening games of the campaign and would ideally hope to set a target.If rapid runs will be the hope first thing they were a rarity earlier as Sunday started with frantic action. Cloud cover and a freshened pitch helped bring venom to a new ball only six overs old from Saturday’s play. Essex innocently added 13 to their overnight 301 for 5, but – in as many overs – then suddenly lost three batters.Fergus O’Neill had Critchley twitching at one that left him and caught behind for 52 before removing Thain lbw for 33, a Championship best in his nascent career. In between Dillon Pennington’s lift did for Harmer, taken at second slip without score.Lusty blows carried Snater to 12 and Cook to 26 from 38 balls but both perished swinging in three overs from Brett Hutton who finished with three for 61 as Essex ended on 367, with a slender lead but six bonus point to the home side’s five.

Leeds United are looking to establish themselves as a Premier League outfit for the foreseeable future and could now swoop for an experienced marksman in January.

Leeds await players returning from injury after internationals

Out of everyone in the top-flight, there is an argument to say that the Whites have been dealt the cruelest hand due to injuries and Daniel Farke will be keen to see some key faces return after the international break.

Offering an explanation of where his crocked stars are at in terms of sharpness before his side took on Tottenham Hotspur, the former Norwich City coach laid out respective timeframes for them to return.

“James is out for a few weeks He rolled his ankle in training, Likely out for 4-6 weeks. We expect him back after November international break. If he was available before it would be a bonus. Not great news. Gnonto will miss this came with his calf problems, not back in team training. Back after international break.

“Question marks over Harry Gray, some problems with hip flexor after (youth) game on Monday. Lucas Perri is back in team training since yesterday. Good news but too early to involve him. International break is good for two weeks of training – we expect him out after that.”

While Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s impact behind the scenes at Leeds earns plaudits and Noah Okafor found the net again on Saturday, depth is so important in the top flight and Leeds will need to add to their squad in January if they want to position themselves in a comfortable predicament heading into the second half of the campaign.

Ultimately, only the strongest survive in the Premier League. The Whites have done a good job of making a fist of it so far, but they could take their fight to the next level by beating their domestic rivals to the signature of an experienced striker.

Leeds eyeing Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood

According to TBR, Leeds are eyeing a move for Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to bolster their forward line, albeit both Everton and West Ham United also want to sign the New Zealand international.

Ange Postecoglou’s arrival at the City Ground has left the 33-year-old at a crossroads due to the Australian’s style of play, and a switch to Yorkshire may be a more suitable fit, given his physical attributes and previous affection for the Elland Road faithful.

Daniel Farke says Leeds have a "world-class" versatile player who he's not picking

He hasn’t been seen for a while.

ByCharlie Smith Oct 3, 2025

With a track record of 91 Premier League goals in 269 appearances to go with 45 in 86 at international level, Wood is an experienced campaigner and has just came off the back of a 20-goal season, following that up with three strikes from seven outings in 2025/26.

It remains to be seen whether Nottingham Forest would be open to offloading such a prolific member of their squad. On the flipside, his age coupled with the emergence of Igor Jesus may lead Postecoglou to cash in come January.