Reddy has been suspended from playing and has 14 days to respond to the charges against him
ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2025
Akhilesh Reddy had made his USA debut earlier this year•Getty Images
USA cricketer Akhilesh Reddy has been charged by the ICC with three violations of the Anti-Corruption Code and is suspended from playing effective immediately.The charges stem from alleged misconduct during the ongoing Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, where Reddy is playing for Aspin Stallions and has featured in two matches so far.He has been booked under the following sections of the anti-corruption code:Article 2.1.1 – Attempting to fix, contrive, or improperly influence, or being party to an agreement or effort to improperly influence, the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of matches in the ADT10 2025.Article 2.1.4 – Soliciting, inducing, enticing, instructing, persuading, encouraging, or intentionally facilitating (or attempting to do so) another Participant to breach Article 2.1.1 during one or more matches in the ADT10 2025.Article 2.4.7 – Obstructing the investigation by deleting data and messages from a mobile device that may have been relevant to the inquiry.Reddy, 25, had only made his international debut earlier this year, when he played four T20Is for USA in the North America T20 Cup. He has 14 days to respond to the charges.
تحدث مدرب برشلونة هانز فليك، عقب فوز فريقه على ريال بيتيس في منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني، حيث التقى الفريقان مساء اليوم السبت.
وتمكن برشلونة من تحقيق الفوز على ريال بيتيس بنتيجة 5-3، وذلك في إطار مباريات الجولة الخامسة عشر لليجا.
وقال فليك في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “كان الشوط الأول جيدًا جدًا، كنا متعبين للغاية مع اقترابنا من نهاية المباراة، في مباريات عديدة لم نتمكن فيها من تغيير مجرى اللعب دفاعيًا”.
وأضاف: “لكنني أريد أن أكون إيجابيًا في تقييمي، مع أننا سنحلل ذلك، المهم هو أننا فزنا، أنا سعيد جدًا بالفريق، أحترم كيف قاتلنا وعدنا، كان اللاعبون منهكين في النهاية، قاتلوا لمدة 90 دقيقة، أقدر حقًا ما قدمناه اليوم”.
وأردف: “من المهم دائمًا تسجيل هدفين في وقتين متقاربين والفوز، وهذا ليس بالأمر السهل ضد فريق مثل بيتيس، الذي يتمتع بقدرات فنية عالية وجودة عالية، ويملك لاعبين رائعين”.
وعن لاعبه لامين يامال، في مركز خط وسط مهاجم، أشار فليك: “لقد رأيته يؤدي بشكل جيد، دفاعيًا أيضًا، إنه خيار متاح لدينا، ولم ندربه من قبل على هذا المركز”.
وبشأن ثنائية لامين يامال وباردجي، أفاد: “تحدثتُ مع لامين وسألناه إن كان يرغب باللعب كصانع ألعاب، فأجابني بالموافقة، وأنا سعيدٌ جدًا بذلك، هذا يمنحنا خياراتٍ أوسع، وهذا أمرٌ جيد، كل ما رأيته منه أعجبني، ينسجم بشكلٍ رائع، يتراجع للخلف، ويبذل جهدًا دفاعيًا كبيرًا، إنه يتطور ويتحسن، إنه لاعبٌ رائع”.
اقرأ أيضًا | ترتيب الدوري الإسباني بعد فوز برشلونة على ريال بيتيس
وأشاد بـ فيران توريس قائلاً: “فيران لاعب ذكي للغاية، يجيد قراءة المساحات، وقد تألق اليوم بشكل لافت، يتمتع بالعقلية والثقة اللازمتين، هذا هو الطريق للمضي قدمًا”.
وأكمل: “يستحق أن يكون ضمن التشكيلة الأساسية، إنه دائمًا حاضر عند الحاجة، هذا الملعب هو ملعب فيران توريس، حتى عندما يلعب مع المنتخب الوطني، حيث سجل أيضًا ثلاثية”.
وعن الدقائق الأخيرة في المباراة، حيث أحرز ريال بيتيس هدفين في شباك برشلونة، علّق: “إذا أردتم التفكير في الجانب السلبي، فافعلوا، لكنني لا أفعل، أنا سعيد جدًا بلاعبيّ، بيتيس فريق رائع، وإذا لم يكن لاعبو فريقي في كامل لياقتهم في النهاية، فهذا طبيعي، أداء اليوم إيجابي”.
وسُئل عن رد الفعل بعد الهزيمة أمام تشيلسي، وأجاب: “أركز على التدريب وجودة اللاعبين، نلعب بالمستوى الذي نتدرب عليه، والآن نتدرب بكثافة عالية جدًا، ما رأيته رائع، أؤمن بهذا الفريق، بما أراه”.
وأتم: “أنا سعيد جدًا، نتقدم خطوة بخطوة، نحن على الطريق الصحيح، قدمنا أداءً جيدًا، وعلينا الفوز على آينتراخت يوم الثلاثاء (في دوري أبطال أوروبا)”.
Liverpool are reportedly eyeing the signing of AZ Alkmaar youngster Kees Smit, with the Dutchman expected to have a huge future in the game.
The Reds’ midfield is full of quality and depth, so from the outside looking in, there isn’t a great need to bring in new signings in the middle of the park for the time being.
That said, Alexis Mac Allister’s form has been a concern for Liverpool so far this season, and while the Argentine is still only 26 years of age, years of relentless football at club and international level may be taking its toll.
Not only that, but Mac Allister has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, and the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai could also be the subject of interest from other clubs, so the Premier League champions need to keep an eye out on potential additions.
Signing young players with a huge amount of promise is an avenue that Liverpool could go down at the end of this season, which is where Smit comes into play.
Liverpool eyeing signing of Kees Smit
According to Soccer News [via Sport Witness], Liverpool are interested in signing Smit from Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar, with the 19-year-old midfielder considered a massive young talent.
The Reds and Arne Slot are “seriously considering” tabling a bid for him, with Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United, Barcelona and Real Madrid all mentioned as potential suitors, too. It is added that Slot is a fan of the teenager and that he was ‘charmed by him’ when he was a youngster at AZ Alkmaar.
Smit is a player with so much to admire about him, with scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as “fantastic” and Ronald Koeman comparing him to Barca star Pedri, which is high praise.
“I almost regret mentioning his name again (Pedri), but he’s a guy who plays in the same position. The way he turns away from his opponent, the way he scans the area, his two-footedness—I saw that in Pedri too. If he gets half his career, we’ll be very happy in the Netherlands.”
At 19, he could be eased in at Liverpool, arriving as a squad player who can mature at his own pace, before eventually becoming more of a fixture in Slot’s starting lineup.
Netherlands Under-21s
3
0
Netherlands Under-19s
16
4
Netherlands Under-18s
3
0
Netherlands Under-17s
7
0
Netherlands Under-16s
6
0
The teenager is already delivering impressive numbers, despite his tender years, with four goals and six assists coming his way in 50 appearances for Alkmaar.
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He has also represented the Netherlands at five different youth levels, including the Under-21s, and it feels like a matter of time until he received a senior call-up, with the 2026 World Cup around the corner.
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Since leaving Tottenham Hotspur in search of trophies back in 2013, Harry Kane, who has been named as one of the best strikers in the world, has continued his remarkable record in front of goal, having found the back of the net a whopping 108 times in 113 games for Bayern Munich.
Harry Kane’s goal return by season
Appearances (all competitions)
Goals
2023-24
45
44
2024-25
51
41
2025-26
17
23
Not only has the 32-year-old established himself as Bayern’s talisman, but he has also remained a consistent source of goals for England at international level, most recently scoring a brace in the Three Lions’ final World Cup qualifier in Albania.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup in style, having won every single game in Group K without conceding a goal, and fans will be dreaming of football finally ‘coming home’, after two heartbreaking losses in finals of the Euros.
With one of the world’s best strikers leading the line, England certainly have a chance, and the captain recently surpassed a record set by three-time World Cup-winner Pele.
Harry Kane moves ahead of Pele for international goals
Indeed, courtesy of the brace against Albania, Kane has now moved ahead of Pele for international goals, while also going 25 clear of nearest-rival Wayne Rooney at the top of the Three Lions’ all-time goalscoring charts.
As such, it will come as no surprise that Thomas Frank has previously made it clear he wants to re-sign the former Tottenham star, saying: “He is an unbelievable player who did fantastic for Spurs and is doing fantastic for Bayern. Top player. I think there’s a lot of Tottenham fans, including myself, who would like to see Kane back.”
Frank’s comments came after learning about a clause in the Bayern Munich star’s contract, which means he will be available for just £54m in January, while Spurs also have a first option to sign the centre-forward, should they decide to open talks with the German club.
Kane is in the form of his life at Bayern, and will have aspirations of winning the Champions League this season, so it may be difficult to tempt him to return to N17, but if Tottenham were able to do so, he would undoubtedly be a fantastic signing, and could go on to break the Premier League goal record too.
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Leeds United and 49ers Enterprises are said to be interested in completing the signing of Celtic winger Sebastian Tounekti in the January transfer window.
The Whites suffered a humbling afternoon in their 3-0 defeat away to Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, with Daniel Farke assessing a disappointing performance after the game.
“We don’t have to overanalyse this game. They were the better side today and deserve to win this game and for that, you have to say congratulations. I think there were a few key periods in this game. The first 10-15 minutes didn’t start brave and confident enough, we were hanging a little bit on the ropes, and in this period, they scored the goal.
“Brighton is a side who always wants to invite and wait until the opponent opens, and if you’re then one nil down in the away game, it’s difficult because you have to go a bit more for it. It was not our day today, there were a few key moments, and for that, we have to accept the loss. So we stay self-critical, but it’s also pretty quick to analyse, and individually as a team it was not our best performance today. For that, they deserve to win it.”
It was the type of afternoon that showed why Leeds should be eyeing new signings in January, in terms of adding quality and depth to their squad, aiding their Premier League survival hopes in the process.
Leeds want to sign Celtic attacker Tounekti in January
According to Maghreb Foot [via Sport Witness], Leeds are interested in signing Tounekti from Celtic in the January window, seeing him as a strong option to bring in. The 49ers, who also own Rangers, would also be getting one over a rival, should a deal go through.
The Whites have reportedly taken notice of his “outstanding performances” for the Hoops following his £5m transfer in the summer, not least the “impressive speed” that he possesses.
Tounekti could be an exciting signing for Leeds midway through the season, giving Farke the extra attacking unpredictability and firepower that he craves in his squad, being hailed by Brendan Rodgers earlier this year.
“He’s so good. He’s got a bit of everything – he can beat a man, go either way, slip runners in as well and it’s nice for him to get his goal.”
The 23-year-old has only managed six starts for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership this season – he hasn’t come on at all as a substitute – so a chance of regular football could appeal to him, too.
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Tounekti is a player with the pace to scare defences, even if the step-up to the Premier League is great, and £5m in the modern game is far from expensive for a young player with the potential to grow into more of a force as the years pass, although it remains to be seen how much Celtic would demand.
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Big picture: Starc’s milestone match carries significance for both sides
Although it will be played nearly 15,000km from his home in Sydney, it is fitting in some respects that Mitchell Starc’s 100th Test match is a pink-ball game under lights in Jamaica. No bowler has been more prolific with the pink ball, and it seems very likely that Starc will celebrate a second major landmark at Sabina Park, as he is just five wickets away from 400 Test wickets.If Australia’s bowlers continue to share the spoils this week as they have done throughout the series, then there could be further milestones celebrated. Josh Hazlewood needs eight wickets to pass 300, which would make Australia’s bowling quartet the first in history to play together with 300 wickets apiece. Nathan Lyon needs just two wickets to pass Glenn McGrath’s tally of 563 on Australia’s all-time list and move to second behind Shane Warne.Related
'Everything's an option' – Could Lyon be left out for first time in 12 years?
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'Might be a few things going on' as Sabina Park makes pink-ball debut
However, in a potential twist, Pat Cummins left the door ajar for a rare all-pace attack. Lyon bowled just one over in Australia’s previous day-night Test last December against India. Australia have never played with a pink Dukes before in a Test, but the prospect of a well-grassed Sabina Park pitch will have the quicks licking their chops as West Indies desperately search for the required runs to avoid a series sweep.The first day-night Test in Jamaica, and just second in the Caribbean, will be a significant occasion but it is also a key moment in the evolution of this new-look West Indies team. Coach Daren Sammy has been left torn between praising the outstanding bowling by his team while lamenting the batting displays. He has urged his batting group to adjust their techniques and temperaments depending on what the situation demands.But the reality is that the batting challenge might only get harder in Jamaica unless the surface provides some relief during the daylight hours or when the pink Dukes balls soften. Sammy has been encouraged by the effort of his team overall so far in this series to keep pace with Australia, but a win would go a long way to boosting confidence both within the dressing room, and throughout the Caribbean, and reassuring all that the revamped team is on the right path.Australia’s middle order has been key for them this series•AFP/Getty Images
Australia’s batting will be under equal pressure, despite the middle-order having done more than enough to secure the Frank Worrell Trophy in the first two Tests. The nature of the World Test Championship means there are no dead rubbers anymore and a third victory will be vital for Australia in a cycle that includes a home Ashes, an away series in South Africa and an away five-Test series in India.But there are also significant ramifications for the here and now for a top order that has been described as “muddled”. Cameron Green’s half-century in Grenada aside, it has been a difficult series for the trio against a pacey and skilled West Indies attack on some difficult pitches. While Cummins, coach Andrew McDonald, and batting coach Michael Di Venuto have all been strong in their defence and support of the struggling openers in particular, twin failures this week for Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja and even Green would spark a four-month public referendum on the make-up of the top three for the Ashes in November.A substantial score from any or all of them, especially in difficult batting conditions, would calm the debate significantly. But it would take three outstanding performances from all of them to completely quell any questions over their spots given the amount of time that will pass between now and when England arrive in Australia.
Form guide
West Indies LLWLL Australia WWLWWUsman Khawaja has fallen in familiar fashion in the first two matches•Associated Press
In the spotlight: John Campbell and Usman Khawaja
John Campbell has arguably looked as comfortable and fluent as any opener in the series but he has only two starts to show for it. He made a breezy 23 in the second innings in Barbados before falling attempting to scoop-sweep Hazlewood. He played an equally poor shot in the first innings in Grenada having done the hard part to reach 40 and lay a decent foundation for West Indies.His Test record does not reflect his talent, and he does deserve more time than just three Tests on difficult pitches against an all-time attack to settle back into Test cricket after three years. But West Indies would want to see a more balanced approach to his batting in Jamaica, and a conversion of a start, to be assured that he is the right long-term option at the top of the order for this new-look team.Usman Khawaja has a lot of credits in the bank and there have been reasonably strong backings from Australia’s hierarchy that his place for the Ashes is safe. But those credits are dwindling at an alarming rate. He said at the start of the series that his stats speak for themselves. Right now, they are saying he has passed 50 just four times in 33 innings since the 2023 Ashes, with his 232 in Sri Lanka doing a lot of heavy lifting as his lone century. Worse than that, he is averaging 18.93 against pace bowling in his last ten Tests.That is worse than the axed Marnus Labuschagne and fractionally better than lower-order batters Starc and Cummins. His Jasprit Bumrah problem has spread. The repetitive nature of his dismissals is also of concern. He has been pinned lbw by full inswingers from around the wicket three times in a row in this series while sitting deep in the crease on each occasion. He may bemoan two umpire’s calls, but he’s had one successful review to overturn a decision in his last 10 tries in Test cricket, having lost six for his team and retained three through umpire’s calls. The last time he walked off without reviewing an lbw decision was 2018. He is equal fourth all-time for unsuccessful reviews, with only Steven Smith, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root above him.The pitches have been brutal for openers in this series, and he is not the only one struggling. It may not get any easier this week against the pink Dukes. He is the only Australian batter to have faced a pink Dukes previously in England in 2018 and he returned 0 and 19 for Glamorgan at No. 4 against Jofra Archer and Sussex in a game that lasted two days. A solid performance would quieten the questions that are growing louder.Kraigg Brathwaite has had a series to forget•AFP/Getty Images
Team news: Will Brathwaite survive?
Roston Chase didn’t reveal West Indies’ XI, saying discussions had yet to take place after their final training session. Given he did not confirm Kraigg Brathwaite’s spot, it appears a chance that he would be dropped. Chase also said there was strong consideration to recalling left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican.West Indies (possible): 1 Kraigg Brathwaite/Mikyle Louis, 2 John Campbell, 3 Keacy Carty/Kevlon Anderson, 4 Brandon King, 5 Roston Chase (capt), 6 Shai Hope (wk), 7 Justin Greaves, 8 Alzarri Joseph, 9 Shamar Joseph, 10 Anderson Phillip/Jomel Warrican, 11 Jayden SealesCummins said Australia wanted another day to consider their options, explaining they were factoring in the night-time session and how the practice pitches have behaved. However, it would appear unlikely there will be any changes to the top order. The workload of the bowlers hasn’t been high, so any changes to the attack would be tactical.Australia (probable): 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Sam Konstas, 3 Cameron Green, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Beau Webster, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Pitch and conditions: Even grass coverage, fresh pink Dukes
Starc said it was the best-looking pitch of the series when he surveyed it two days out with a much more even covering of grass than was presented in Barbados or Grenada. The weather looks pretty good for the week, although the odd shower may pass through as it did in Grenada and some forecasts show Monday as considerably wetter. The pink Dukes balls and the new lights at Sabina Park would be the biggest challenge for both sides. Australia’s top-order batters reported “swing and nip” during training and, albeit over a limited time span, the balls had retained their hardness. The red Dukes have been a problem throughout the series in terms of retaining their shape, as they have been in England. The new lights reach all the required levels but are potentially not as bright as what the players might be used to. Chase said they were a little lower than he would have liked but neither side has reported any significant issues.
Stats and trivia
Starc has 74 wickets at 18.14 in pink-ball Tests, striking at 34.8 with four five-wicket hauls. He has 31 wickets more than the next-best in Lyon.
Each of Australia’s four bowlers have taken 37 or more wickets in pink-ball Tests. Alzarri Joseph has the most of the current West Indies players with 11.
The combined batting average for the two teams in the series so far is 20.60, without a century scored. Only one three-match series in the last 25 years has yielded a combined batting average under 20.
Roberto De Zerbi explained why Mason Greenwood was taken off at half-time during Marseille's collapse at Sporting. The French outfit's Champions League night in Lisbon ended in heartbreak as the hosts came from behind to seal a dramatic 2-1 win. The French side had led through Igor Paixao’s thunderbolt in the first half, but the game unravelled spectacularly after Emerson Palmieri was controversially sent off just before half-time.
Controversial red card sparks fury
Marseille appeared to have won a penalty after Emerson went down under a challenge inside the area, but after VAR intervened, the decision was dramatically overturned. To make matters worse, referee Rade Obrenovic deemed Emerson guilty of simulation and showed him a second yellow card, leaving De Zerbi’s side a man down. Playing with ten men for the entire second half, Marseille were left hanging on by their fingernails as wave after wave of green and white pressure eventually broke through. Geny Catamo levelled with a stunning low strike in the 69th minute after a lengthy VAR check, before Alisson Santos completed the comeback in the 86th minute with his curling effort taking a slight deflection before nestling into the top corner.
AdvertisementAFPDe Zerbi disgusted with the match official
De Zerbi’s fury was visible on the touchline. From there, Marseille were forced into damage control, retreating into a deep defensive block while Sporting grew stronger with every passing minute. The Italian coach later made no attempt to hide his disgust with the officiating. “I didn’t like the refereeing at all,” De Zerbi snapped in his post-match interview. "It wasn't made for this match, and with the red, the match changed. Those against Rennes or Lyon are a certain type of defeat. Today, it's something else. This one should give us even more pride and confidence in ourselves."
De Zerbi explains Greenwood substitution
Among the many talking points from the night was Greenwood’s surprise withdrawal at half-time. The English forward, who had looked lively early on, was replaced by defender Amir Murillo as Marseille shifted into a more defensive formation. Many questioned the decision, but De Zerbi explained his reasoning with clarity.
"It's because they sent off Emerson! We had to defend with five, and between Greenwood and Paixao, at that time, the one who had the characteristics to defend and attack was Paixao," he said. "Last year, Greenwood, against Lyon with 10, we put him as a centre forward and he had a lot of trouble. Even Vermeeren, who had played well, I replaced him (with O'Riley) to add a bit more weight."
Away from the chaos in Lisbon, Greenwood’s name continues to generate headlines in the transfer market. According to TBR Football, Barcelona are plotting an ambitious move that could see him reunited with Marcus Rashford in Catalunya. Rashford, currently enjoying a career revival on loan from Manchester United, has been thriving under Hansi Flick in La Liga. Barca are now reportedly keen to secure a deal for Greenwood as they plan a major attacking rebuild ahead of Robert Lewandowski’s expected departure next summer. Greenwood, 24, has been sensational since joining Marseille, lighting up Ligue 1 with a series of stunning performances. He finished the 2024-25 season with 29 goals in 46 games, sharing the Golden Boot with PSG superstar Ousmane Dembele, who later went on to win the Ballon d’Or. In his most recent outing, Greenwood scored four goals in a 6-2 demolition of Le Havre, a performance that reportedly drew the attention of Barcelona scouts.
However, De Zerbi wanted to see more from his striker and said: "It's true that Mason can do more, not just in terms of goals scored because in that area he doesn't need to do better. He's already a top player in front of goal, but he can become one of the best players in the world, because he has the ability. He can improve in helping the team when it needs it, when it's necessary. But I want to protect Mason from criticism, he's always scored a lot of goals and never missed a training session. But he still has room for improvement.”
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GettyA chance for redemption against Lens
Marseille’s Champions League campaign may have taken a hit, but there’s no time to dwell. De Zerbi’s men return to Ligue 1 action on Saturday against Lens, where Greenwood is expected to start. The manager will hope his star forward channels the frustration from Lisbon into another commanding domestic performance.
Newcastle United eased some of the concerns surrounding their early-season form with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
For Eddie Howe, it was an important three points, but the performance also highlighted ongoing areas for improvement.
The Magpies have had a mixed start to the campaign.
While their Champions League adventure produced a resounding 4-0 victory over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise last week, the Premier League has been more testing.
Before the Forest clash, Newcastle were near the bottom of the table in expected goals created, their attack lacking sharpness despite the arrival of high-profile summer signings such as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.
Sunday’s victory, alongside the midweek European triumph, suggested signs of improvement.
Howe’s side have now scored six without reply across their last two matches, showing greater cohesion in both attack and defence.
Importantly, these results came despite a growing injury list.
Full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are both facing extended spells on the sidelines, Wissa is yet to even train for the club, and Ramsey is only just nearing a return.
Squad depth will be vital if Newcastle are to juggle the demands of domestic and European competition.
Newcastle's performance vs Forest in numbers
The win over Nottingham Forest was, in many respects, Newcastle’s most complete attacking performance of the Premier League season so far.
The Magpies generated an expected goals tally of 3.28 – their highest in a single match this campaign – and created six big chances while taking 18 shots. On another day, the margin of victory could have been far greater.
Bruno Guimarães was the standout performer.
Wearing the captain’s armband, the Brazilian midfielder dictated the tempo and constantly found space to progress play.
He scored a wonderful curling strike from outside the area in the 58th minute to break the deadlock and later won the penalty, courtesy of a foul by former Newcastle player Elliot Anderson, that Woltemade converted to seal the points.
Guimarães’ match rating, via Sofascore, of 9.4 reflected his dominance.
Elsewhere, however, not everything clicked – Newcastle’s wingers continue to underwhelm.
Both Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga found it difficult to impose themselves, struggling to provide consistent service into the box. The latter walked from the field after 70 minutes having delivered just one accurate cross from nine attempts. He also only won three of his 12 duels.
Howe will be concerned by their lack of productivity, especially given the volume of chances wasted.
The positives outweighed the negatives on this occasion, but the game underlined that Newcastle are still searching for fluency in certain areas of the pitch.
Joelinton's struggles vs Forest
One of the more disappointing displays came from Joelinton.
The Brazilian midfielder has become a divisive figure within the Newcastle fanbase, admired for his physicality and work rate but also criticised for his inconsistency.
Against Forest, like Elanga and Gordon, he struggled to impact the game in a positive way.
He registered 50 touches and attempted 35 passes, completing 32 of them with a strong 91% accuracy.
However, his influence largely stopped there. He failed to complete a single dribble, won only two of his seven ground duels, and missed a big chance in the first half.
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His tendency to concede unnecessary fouls also stood out, with three infringements breaking up momentum and handing Forest opportunities to relieve pressure.
At times, Joelinton looked more focused on disrupting the opposition than building play.
Joelinton vs. Forest
Match Rating
6.7
Minutes Played
89
Expected Goals
0.49
Expected Assists
0.02
Big Chances Missed
1
Source: Sofascore
He lost possession four times and rarely provided the driving runs that have made him such an effective marauding presence in midfield.
Substituted for Lewis Miley, his performance was a reminder that fatigue may be playing a role – with Newcastle now playing every few days due to Champions League and domestic cup commitments, he appears less able to sustain his usual high-intensity style.
For Howe, the return of Jacob Ramsey cannot come soon enough.
Jacob Ramsey for Newcastle
The England U21 international is expected to challenge directly for Joelinton’s spot, and his arrival could provide both competition and inspiration.
Joelinton has shown before that he can rise to the occasion when pushed; now, he may need that extra spark to rediscover his best form.
While there is plenty to work on, Newcastle’s recent results have helped ease the pressure that was beginning to mount.
Back-to-back wins, six goals scored, and two clean sheets point towards progress, even if performances are not yet polished.
Howe has weathered the early storm, but the weeks ahead will test just how deep and adaptable this Newcastle squad really is.
90-touch Newcastle ace is now as undroppable as Bruno Guimaraes & Woltemade
Newcastle United secured a vital 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest this afternoon.
Sheffield United have endured a miserable start to the Championship season, though they now want a Sheffield Wednesday ace before Monday’s deadline.
Sheffield United lose again at Middlesbrough
Five matches into the season, and five straight defeats across all competitions for Ruben Selles have put the Blades’ promotion hopes at risk even at an early stage in the campaign, with the club rooted to the bottom of the table without a single point.
Despite a narrow defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday, Sheffield United were second-best by a long shot and away supporters made their feelings known that Selles should be relieved of his duties.
Responding to speculation surrounding his future, the former Hull City boss made it clear that he isn’t in control of what happens next despite a torrid start in the dugout.
He told the Wiltshire Times: “Listen, I cannot control the situation. I will expect to go to my house tonight and then tomorrow go to work and then continue as normal. It’s not in my hands to make a decision.
“And until the very last moment, I will just do my best and try to do my things. When the situation is not in my control, I don’t think too much about what is going to happen in the future. Because realistically, I do as much as I can.”
With a scramble set to take place ahead of the transfer deadline, Sheffield United are advancing in talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Alex Matos, though it isn’t clear whether he would arrive on a permanent deal or loan agreement.
Either way, the Blades need improvements after a shoddy time of things under Selles and have now made a controversial offer to sign a rival player.
Sheffield United receive response to Bailey Cadamarteri bid
According to The Star, Sheffield United have seen a shock £1 million bid for Bailey Cadamarteri rejected by rivals Sheffield Wednesday, while Blackburn Rovers have also been knocked back after making a similar approach.
Although the Owls are desperate to keep their man, it is believed that further bids will arrive before the window closes on Monday evening, and it remains to be seen whether they will bite in light of well-documented off-field problems.
Sheffield United could sign "incredible" £10m star in McAtee repeat
Sheffield United can seal a stunning James McAtee repeat by signing this £10m star.
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Kelan Sarson
Aug 17, 2025
Labelled “dangerous” by former boss Danny Rohl, the 20-year-old scored against Wrexham earlier this month and would be the first player to join Sheffield United after playing for Sheffield Wednesday since Max Lowe.
Undoubtedly, any such move would cause controversy, though it is understood that he has no desire to cross the divide or to leave his current surroundings by his own violation.
Nevertheless, financial problems at Sheffield Wednesday will make it harder to turn down offers than usual, so it remains to be seen how this one plays out.
Glenn Phillips, who picked up a groin injury while fielding in Gujarat Titans’ (GT) game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad on April 6, has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2025. An IPL statement said that Phillips has “returned to New Zealand”. GT, the table-toppers at this stage with four wins from five games, haven’t named a replacement for Phillips yet.Phillips, who didn’t get into GT’s starting line-up even once during his stay with the team, came on as a substitute fielder after the fifth over of the SRH innings but had to limp off within minutes. He fielded the fourth ball of that over, bowled by Prasidh Krishna, and hurled a throw to the wicketkeeper’s end as Ishan Kishan and Nitish Kumar Reddy stole a quick single. He went down clutching his groin straightaway. “Looks like he might have pulled his groin while getting that throw away,” we noted on our live ball-by-ball commentary.He hobbled off before the next delivery, helped along by some of the others from the GT camp.Related
GT pick Shanaka as replacement for injured Phillips
GT had earlier lost the services of Kagiso Rabada, on April 3, when he left home “to deal with an important personal matter”. There is no clarity on when, and if, he would be returning. GT hadn’t named a replacement for Rabada either.Only seven overseas players had been acquired by GT for the season, and now they are down to five. Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan and Sherfane Rutherford have played all their games so far. They also have Karim Janat, the Afghanistan allrounder, and Gerald Coetzee, the South Africa quick bowler, in their ranks. Coetzee, though, is on his way back from an injury, which put him out of both the SA20 and Champions Trophy earlier this year.