Former England captain is optimistic about prospects but warns against presuming all-out pace is key

Vithushan Ehantharajah31-Oct-2025

Ben Stokes will lead England to Australia with expectations high•Getty Images

Michael Vaughan believes winning the Ashes would vindicate Ben Stokes’ work as Test captain, adding the allrounder may prove to be England’s most valuable bowler on “very English” Australian pitches.With the first Test in Perth just three weeks away, the majority of England’s Test squad are in New Zealand, either involved in the ongoing ODI series or training alongside it. The Ashes group will come together in Western Australia on Monday, where they will be joined by the England Lions who will help them prepare with a three-day game starting on November 13, eight days before the series opener at Optus Stadium.Despite their last Test win on Australia soil coming in January 2011 – confirming a historic 3-1 success – and an aggregate 13-0 scoreline in the three tours since, England are optimistic. Much of that is down to the belief and more confrontational style instilled in the group by Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.Results have dramatically improved under Stokes. He has personally overseen 22 wins in 36 Tests as full-time skipper, flipping a slump of one win in 17 prior to his appointment. However, England have yet to win a five-match series since he and McCullum took the reins at the start of the 2022 summer, which includes a 2-2 draw in 2023’s home Ashes. They have also failed to make an impression in the World Test Championship, sitting sixth in the current cycle after drawing with India this summer.Speaking at a Viagogo event, Vaughan, who marshalled England’s 2005 Ashes success, ending an 18-year drought, feels the time has come for Stokes to mark his captaincy with some tangible success.”I think they need a trophy,” he said.”I mean, would I take two-all now? Probably, let’s be honest. In the last few series, 2010-11 is the only time that I’ve seen England have success. We won one Test match in 2002-03, we won three Test matches in 2010-11. We haven’t won a Test since. So actually looking at growth in terms of what English cricket is delivering and, crikey, if you could get a two-all series, you’d obviously take that.Michael Vaughan and Chris Woakes speak to the media at a Viagogo event in London•Viagogo

“But I think Ben and his mentality, and the way that he plays his cricket, this is his moment. He has to deliver and he has to get that urn in his hand. And it’s not putting him under pressure. They’ll be speaking in this kind of language in the dressing room. They will expect to win this series and now’s the time to deliver.”Vaughan also warned England not to get carried away with the notion that all-out pace is the way to go in Australia.The tourists have spent the last two years cultivating a more rounded seam attack for all conditions, but particularly in Australia with the Kookaburra ball.James Anderson was pushed into retirement last year, ultimately, because they did not believe, at 43, he would be effective on this tour. In turn, there was a focus on raising the average speed of their attack and favouring those with high release points, with the likes of Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. Diligent work behind the scenes has ensured Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, two of the quickest in the world, have made it to this hallmark series.As such, England believe they possess the fastest attack they have ever taken on an Ashes tour. However, it is worth noting recent Australian pitches have tended to be greener and thus more amenable to the Kookaburra ball.The numbers highlight the shift, with top seven batters averaging 30.22 since the start of the 2021-22 Ashes, compared to 38.14 in the previous 20 Tests. Following the retirement of Chris Woakes and the non-selection of Sam Cook, Vaughan sees Stokes as the only bowler with the wares to excel if conditions turn out to be more sporting than anticipated.”I don’t think it’s all about pace,” said Vaughan. “I’d be very, very wary to just think that because we’ve got Jofra, because we’ve got Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson that can bowl with a bit of gas, that’s all you need.Related

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“Scott Boland, he averages 12 (12.63) because he hits the top of off stump more often than not, and the ball just wobbles around a bit. This series is the series that I look and think. ‘give me a Chris Woakes or a Sam Cook’ just in case, because we might get conditions that are very, very English and top of off will still be the main threat. And it’s who’s going to consistently hit the top of off stump.”There’s not many quick bowlers that hit the top of off stump. They’re basically there to bowl a bit of pepper and change up the pace of play.”I guess Ben’s the one bowler that you can just go, okay, you go back to top of off. It’s the one concern I have about the England attack that I’m thinking, who’s going to continuously hit the top of off if the ball’s wobbling around? Pace, yes, but it might be a series where the top of off stump is the area to go for.”Though Stokes is working his way back from a shoulder injury in New Zealand, he comes to Australia in perhaps his best bowling form. His 17 wickets at 25.23 in the home season’s Anderson-Tendulkar trophy were his most productive, beating a previous best 15 in 2013-14 Ashes, his first Test series.Despite arriving into the 2025 summer off the back of two right hamstring tears in the space of six months, Stokes was remarkably fit. His speeds were consistently challenging, around the mid-80s, and his skills undimmed. That he had also retained his will for long spells was a nod to his remarkable endurance, but also a familiar cause for concern when he broke down on the final day of the fourth Test against India.Feeling discomfort in his right shoulder, he continued bowling, subsequently ruling himself out of contention for the decider at the Kia Oval. England went on to lose a thriller, allowing India to square the series. It was the fifth Test Stokes had missed in the space of 12 months.Woakes, who dislocated his shoulder on day one of that fifth Test, leading to his international retirement, urged his former teammate to play it sensible to ensure he features throughout the series.”He’s bowling probably the best he’s ever bowled in his career,” said Woakes. “He’s as fit as he’s ever been. But as he’s getting older and you know, he’s a chance of breaking down.”I think at Old Trafford this year, I think he knew was f**ked, basically. ‘I’m broken anyway, I’ll just keep going’. Which isn’t a clever thing to do, but that’s the way Stokes is. He wants to give all to the team, as a leader, he wants to be the guy to do it. We need him to play all five Test matches.”

Liverpool's misfiring squad held forthright talks in a bid to end the dreadful run of form following the shock 3-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest last weekend. The Premier League champions are floundering in the league and face a mountain of worrying injuries, while high-profile summer signings have failed to integrate into the team, and Reds forward Cody Gakpo has revealed details of the players' candid conversation.

Reds' season fails to launch

The English champions' defence of their title has imploded so far this term, undone by defensive vulnerabilities and difficulties in adapting to Arne Slot's system, particularly following key player departures and injuries. Gakpo's form has mirrored the team's inconsistency, bagging three goals and two assists in 12 appearances. While his goal contributions per 90 minutes are respectable, he has faced scrutiny, along with the club's new signings, as the team has lost eight of their first eleven games in all competitions. Gakpo himself has acknowledged a feeling of "embarrassment" after some losses and participated in "honest" team discussions, highlighting the collective responsibility to improve. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGakpo: 'We have to stick together'

Gakpo said: "After the game on Saturday it was a kind of embarrassment as we lost 3-0 at home in front of our own fans. We know they are here to help us in every tough situation but we have to give them something back as well. In the days after that, I don't want to say angry, but we tried to speak together and be honest with each other about what we have to do to perform better on the pitch."

He added: "We also know we have to stick together to put in good performances and get wins. Everybody is aware we have to take responsibility on and off the pitch. This was a conversation you have with a team-mate, it wasn't really a meeting, but we are aware we have to take responsibility. That's what we spoke about, we are honest because otherwise there's no point in speaking.

"There were games we got back level and then lost the games in the last minutes – Palace and Chelsea and United. We've shown we can fight back but not been able to maintain that. We have to not go behind and then score more goals. I wouldn't really want to say it plays on your mind, but when it happens a couple of times then yes. That's why we train – to change that."

Staying in touch with PSV players

Gakpo enjoyed a prolific and successful career at boyhood club PSV, emerging as a star academy graduate. He made his first-team debut in February 2018 and became a central figure, primarily as a left-winger or forward. Gakpo made 159 appearances, scoring 55 goals across all competitions for the senior team. His standout season was 2021-22, where he bagged 21 goals in 47 games and was named Dutch footballer of the year. He won several trophies, including the Eredivisie title in 2017-18 and two KNVB Cups. 

And ahead  of the Champions League clash at Anfield, he revealed he stays in touch with some of his former team-mates. Gakpo said: "From time to time I speak to someone. All the lads who were there when I was there. Not about the match (against Liverpool), I don't talk about this. More about how it's going and how they are."

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Getty Images SportTrip to London after PSV clash for Liverpool

Liverpool head south to West Ham on Sunday in a crucial Premier League match at the London Stadium as both teams are struggling with poor form and mounting injuries. The Hammers, currently 17th in the table, are hoping to capitalise on the Reds' recent slump, leaving them in 12th position. But Slot's side have history on their side against West Ham, winning 86 of their 153 total meetings, and are heavily backed as favourites despite their current form.

أشاد إنزو ماريسكا المدير الفني لفريق تشيلسي الإنجليزي، بأحد لاعبي فريقه في حديثه عقب المباراة أمام برشلونة بدوري أبطال أوروبا.

وخاض تشيلسي مباراة أمام برشلونة، مساء الثلاثاء، على ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج” ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة لمرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتغلب تشيلسي على برشلونة بثلاثة أهداف دون مقابل، وسجل له إستيفاو وليام ديلاب، هذا بالإضافة إلى تقدمه بفضل هدف عكسي سجله جول كوندي بالخطأ في مرمى فريقه.

وأشار ماريسكا إلى لاعبه إستيفاو الذي قدّم أداءً مميزًا خلال المواجهة أمام برشلونة، مشيرًا إلى تصريحات البرازيلي رافينها لاعب برشلونة.

اقرأ أيضًا | ماركا: أخطاء متكررة يدفع ثمنها برشلونة في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وسبق وصرح رافينها قبل مواجهة الفريقين بأنه لا يحب المقارنة بين اللاعبين، حين سُئل عن مواطنه إستيفاو وزميله لامين، وأكد أنهما من ظواهر كرة القدم.

وقال ماريسكا في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “قال رافينها ذلك، وأنا أتفق معه، إستيفاو ولامين يامال سيكونان المنافسة الكبرى القادمة، ميسي وكريستيانو جيلهما”. 

وأضاف: “عمره 18 عامًا فقط، موهبة فطرية، والأهم من ذلك، أنه لا يكترث بالضجيج، لا يعيش على مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي، بل يعيش من أجل كرة القدم”.

A day out from what will likely be one of the most-followed matches of this Women’s World Cup, both teams are insisting they are focused on the cricket. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana appeared to suggest that as far as Pakistan are concerned, India are a team like any other. She also spoke briefly about the good relations these teams have enjoyed in the past.India bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said, meanwhile, that in a big tournament “the area of focus is only cricket”. There have been no indications on whether the India players would decline to shake the hands of the Pakistan players on Sunday, as the men’s team had done during the recent Asia Cup, although BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia did not rule out the possibility in an interview this week. Both teams also requested that questions at the pre-match press conference be constrained to the cricket.Sana did, however, speak briefly on the camaraderie between the players in past tournaments. At the 2022 World Cup in New Zealand, for instance, several India players were seen interacting with then-Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof’s six-month old daughter, as players comforted the toddler on their shoulder, in what was one of the most heartwarming moments of that tournament.Related

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Political tensions between the nations have worsened substantially since then. India’s male players were previously seen interacting with Pakistan players at earlier Asia Cups but refrained from doing so during the most recent edition, which ended last week.”We have great relationships with all other teams, and we try and keep good relations with everyone,” Sana said a day ahead of the match against India. “We’ll try to do everything within the spirit of the game.”Those pictures in the past with everyone mingling with each other around Bismah’s daughter – those scenes look good and everyone enjoys seeing that. But, of course, our focus has to be on what we’re here for – to play.”Both teams were keen to stress that they were doing their best to ignore the politics of this moment. “We’re like a family of 20-22 people here,” Sana said of the Pakistan team environment. “We don’t really worry about what’s going on outside our bubble. We get to hear about things happening external to cricket, but we focus on our game. The World Cup is something every player waits for, so we just want to focus on the thing we’ve come here for.”Salvi’s comments on the eve of the match echoed that sentiment. “The area of focus is cricket,” he said. “We want our girls to bring that ‘A’ game to the day. We want them to take it just as a game, because the World Cup is a long campaign. It’s a long campaign – there will be a lot of games coming up.”

Paul Doyle has changed his plea to guilty for all 31 charges after ramming his car into a crowd at Liverpool's Premier League title victory parade. The 53-year-old previously said he was not guilty of dangerous driving, affray, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, causing GBH with intent, and wounding with intent in September. But more than six months on from 130 people being injured in the incident, Doyle has now pleaded guilty and a sentencing awaits.

• Doyle faces jail sentence of 'some length'

  According to BBC News, Doyle sobbed as he changed his pleas – for affray, dangerous driving, 17 counts of attempting to cause GBH, nine of causing GBH with intent, and three counts of wounding with intent – on the second day of his trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The charges relate to 29 people aged between six months and 77 years, all of whom were there on May 26 when Doyle's attack on the parade happened in Liverpool city centre. His Honour Judge Andrew Menary KC, told Doyle it was "inevitable" he would be facing a custodial sentence of "some length". A sentencing date has been set for December 15 at the same court.

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  Celebrations turn to nightmares

  On a day that should have been remembered for Liverpool's title celebrations, it ended up being hijacked by scenes of terror on Merseyside. A total of 50 people required hospital treatment after Doyle drove his Ford Galaxy into the dense crowd on Water Street, leading to his subsequent arrest. According to The Athletic, no explanation was given in court for his actions but more details are likely to take place when the former Royal Marine is sentenced next month. 

  Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald, of Merseyside Police, said it was only by "sheer luck that nobody was killed" because of Doyle's "reckless actions". And Sarah Hammond, chief crown prosecutor of the Crime Prosecution Service, described Doyle's actions as an "act of calculated violence".

  "Dashcam footage from Doyle's vehicle shows that as he approached Dale Street and Water Street, he became increasingly agitated by the crowds," she said. "Rather than wait for them to pass, he deliberately drove at them, forcing his way through. Driving a vehicle into a crowd is an act of calculated violence. This was not a momentary lapse by Paul Doyle — it was a choice he made that day and it turned celebration into mayhem."

• 'Distressing and frightening experience'

  The Judge told Doyle that he would consider "character evidence" from his defence lawyers before deciding on a verdict. 

  "The purpose of the delay is to ensure that everything is prepared and the court has, in writing, all the submissions that are to be made in respect of the sentencing exercise," said Menary. "In the meantime, you must remain in custody. Plainly, its is inevitable there will be a custodial sentence of some length, and you should prepare yourself for that inevitable outcome."

  Officer Fitzgerald also gave a snapshot of the horror experienced on that day.

  He told the court, "It is hard to forget the shocking scenes from that day. What should have been a day of celebration for the city turned into a distressing and frightening experience which we know continues to have a physical and psychological impact on many people. We know that a lot of people are still recovering from the injuries they suffered on that day and our thoughts remain with them and those that continue to be affected. We hope that the knowledge Doyle is now facing a considerable prison sentence will be able to help those affected to move on with their lives."

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• Liverpool release club statement

  Liverpool have issued an official statement responding to the news of Doyle's change of plea, which reads: "Our victory parade last May allowed an unprecedented number of Liverpool fans to celebrate together our Premier League title win – something we were unable to do in 2020. The day of incredible joy ended in unimaginable circumstances and we hope today's conviction brings some peace to all those affected by the horrific incident. Our thoughts are with them all. We would like to thank our emergency services and partner agencies – Merseyside Police, North West and St John Ambulance Services, Merseyside Fire & Rescue – and members of the public, who responded with such bravery and compassion on the day. Their actions undoubtedly saved lives and exemplified the spirit of our city."

Russell Wilson and his family are in attendance for Sunday's edition of the Subway Series, as the New York Yankees prepare to host the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium.

Prior to the game, Wilson and his family got to spend some time on the field during batting practice, during which Wilson's children got to meet some of their favorite ballplayers, including superstar outfielder Aaron Judge.

Judge had an awesome surprise ready for the kids, too. After greeting Wilson's children, Judge was seen gifting each child a pair of his batting gloves.

Wilson has some strong ties to New York and the Yankees organization. In addition to joining the New York Giants in the offseason, Wilson was previously acquired by the Yankees in a trade with the Texas Rangers, who had acquired him in the Rule 5 Draft in 2013.

The Super Bowl-winning quarterback, who also played middle infield as a high schooler, was drafted by two MLB teams, once in the 41st round by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007 when he was coming out of high school, and again in the fourth round by the Colorado Rockies in 2010.

New York traded for him in exchange for cash considerations in 2018 and even invited him to spring training. Wilson suited up for the team in a Grapefruit League game that spring, serving as a pinch-hitter for Judge.

Although Wilson never fully lived out his baseball dreams, he's remained close to one of the organizations that gave him an opportunity, and he got to experience a wholesome moment with his family ahead of Sunday's game.

On Wednesday, the Detroit Tigers—despite their high-flying start—were dealt a crushing blow.

Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the 2025 season, Detroit told reporters Wednesday afternoon via Evan Petzold of .

Jobe, 22, ends his season with a 4-1 record with a 4.22 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 49 innings pitched.

The Tigers are currently 44-24—a half-game clear of the New York Mets for the best record in baseball. That has largely been thanks to a bulletproof starting rotation; Jobe, as productive as he has been, is the only one of the team's top five starters with an era over 4.00.

Jobe saw limited action toward the end of the 2024 season as well, pitching four innings in the regular season and 1 2/3 in the playoffs.

The Irving, Texas native has been on the injured list since May 29.

Any Glasgow Rangers fan who uses social media every day will likely have seen the clip going around of Hamza Igamane’s goal for Lille at the weekend.

The Morocco international, not for the first time this season, provided the Gers with a reminder of what they are missing with a brilliantly worked goal for the French side.

Igamane was sold to Lille for a fee of £10.4m in the summer transfer window, due to a release clause in his contract that existed before Kevin Thelwell’s arrival at Ibrox.

Ranking Rangers’ attempts to replace Hamza Igamane

It is fair to say that, on current evidence, have failed to replace the Moroccan star with the work that they did for Russell Martin heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

Igamane, as shown in the graphic above, provided a big goalscoring presence as a maverick playmaker, who could play out wide on the left or through the middle as a centre-forward, in his one season with the club.

Rangers signed six wingers and strikers in an attempt to replace the mercurial talent in the summer, and Djeidi Gassama, with six goals, is the only one of them to have scored more than two goals so far this season, per Transfermarkt.

Ranking Rangers’ attempts to replace Igamane

Rank

Player

1

Djeidi Gassama

2

Mikey Moore

3

Thelo Aasgaard

4

Youssef Chermiti

5

Oliver Antman

6

Bojan Miovski

Thelo Aasgaard, in theory, should have been the Igamane replacement as he is a number ten with good technical ability and flair, as evidenced by his wonder goal against Dundee United at Ibrox, but he has only scored one goal all season.

In terms of the strikers, Bojan Miovski has scored two, and Youssef Chermiti has scored one, per Sofascore, but the latter is five years younger and could develop into a star in the future.

Meanwhile, we have ranked Mikey Moore in second place for now, but he could rise up to first if Danny Rohl unleashes him in a central position when he is back fit.

The new position Mikey Moore should be unleashed in

The 18-year-old starlet is currently out with a muscle injury, which he is set to return from later this month, so he will not be available for selection against Dundee United on Wednesday night.

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However, when he is back and available for selection, Rohl should unleash Moore as a number ten in the 4-2-3-1 system, which is the role that Thelo Aasgaard has played, as he has not had an opportunity in that position yet.

Per Transfermarkt, the only two matches that the Englishman has played as an attacking midfielder came against Hibernian and Roma as one of two 10s in a 3-4-2-1 system, which meant that he drifted wide more than being the central pivot of the attack.

Moore, as shown in the clip above, produced his best moment in a Rangers shirt against Dundee when he drifted into a central area from the right wing to spark an attack and score a brilliant goal, in Igamane-esque fashion.

Like the former Rangers playmaker, the teenage whiz has the technical quality, explosive burst of pace, and finishing potential to emerge as a real star for Rohl as a number ten or second striker.

The Spurs loanee, who was described as an “outrageous” talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, scored 19 goals and provided 13 assists in 24 matches for Tottenham’s U19s, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the potential is there for him to deliver goals and assists on a regular basis.

However, the vast majority of his appearances for Rangers have come out wide, on the left or the right, and he has only scored one goal and registered two assists in 17 games, which is why Rohl should look to unleash him in a new position.

If Moore thrives in a central role and starts to display the kind of form that he did at U19 level for Spurs, Rangers will have a super talent on their hands and could finally say that they have replaced Igamane’s mercurical quality at the top end of the pitch.

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Leeds United have now made contact over signing a midfield star who’s been likened to Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard, according to recent reports.

Daniel Farke Leeds "preparing" for January window

There’s no rest for the wicked and Leeds’ clash against Liverpool at Elland Road represents another tough test for Daniel Farke’s side, who have already squared off against Manchester City and Chelsea this week.

On paper, the visit of the reigning champions should be a daunting task, but Liverpool’s crown has been snatched this season and the Reds find themselves in the middle of a disastrous defence. Leeds, meanwhile, just ran Man City close and swept past Chelsea in shocking fashion. Those at Elland Road couldn’t be facing Liverpool at a better time.

Victory over Slot’s side could take the Whites five points clear of the dropzone if results go their way in a crucial step towards survival as the festive fixtures arrive thick and fast.

Meanwhile, as things progress on the pitch, the 49ers are already “planning” ahead for the January transfer window, according to Farke. The Leeds boss told reporters earlier this week: “I have not one second to think about what could happen, it also depends on injuries and how the players deliver in these upcoming games.

“I spoke in the summer about what he might have liked to sign and this has not gone away, in the background we are preparing but now is not the time to speak about it.”

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On that front, names such as Nilson Angulo have emerged as reported targets. The impressive winger has been dubbed one of Europe’s standout wingers this season and would certainly inject some added spark to Farke’s frontline.

The same can be said for Jens Hjerto-Dahl. The midfielder has been likened to fellow Norway star Odegaard and now finds himself on the radar of those at Elland Road.

Leeds make contact over signing Jens Hjerto-Dahl

As reported by TeamTalk, Leeds have now made contact to sign Hjerto-Dahl in 2026, but face competition from Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Tromso midfielder has built up an impressive reputation in Norway for his ability as a goalscoring box-crasher – scoring five goals in 35 games in all competitions this season – and could now get the chance to do that in the Premier League.

Described as “powerful” by scout Kai Watson, Hjerto-Dahl was likened to Odegaard when he was linked with a move to Brighton earlier this month and Leeds should go all out to land his signature.

The towering star certainly fits the physical profile of what’s needed in the Premier League these days, but it remains to be seen if clubs act as early as January.

Farke must unleash "wonderkid" who'd be perfect for Nmecha's new Leeds role

INEOS could reportedly sanction a £70m deal to sell one of Ruben Amorim’s most important Manchester United players in 2026, according to recent reports.

Amorim expecting "tough" Bournemouth clash

After sweeping past bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers to win 4-1 last time out, Amorim is expecting a far tougher outing against Bournemouth on Monday. The Cherries are certainly no pushovers and could close the gap on Man United in sixth to just two points with victory at Old Trafford.

Previewing Monday’s game, Amorim told reporters: “I think they are a top team, top manager, with special players. I don’t look to their results, I look at the way they face every opponent, and they press really strong.

“They are really direct in the game, they can play with different options in front, which gives us a lot of options to work and prepare for the game. I expect a Premier League game that is really tough, but we need to win, especially at home, which is the goal.”

The Man United boss also reserved praise for Andoni Iraola, saying: “Special. The way they play the game like a big team, what he is doing for some players.

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“He is improving players and you can look at that team and think several of their players can play at a high level, so it’s an amazing job from the manager.”

With one defeat in their last nine, this is a game that the Red Devils will be expected to win, even if Bournemouth provide plenty of threats in their own right.

It’s the type of consistency that Amorim has been searching for since his arrival, but reports are now claiming that INEOS could snatch a key player from his grasp just when things are looking up.

INEOS could sanction Fernandes sale with Man Utd expecting offer

According to Caught Offside, Man United are now expecting offers to sell Bruno Fernandes worth £70m from the Saudi Pro League and could sanction his sale to fund a midfield overhaul next summer.

It’s easy to assume that the club captain hasn’t made the same impact when it comes to output in a deeper role this season, but the numbers tell a different story. Take him out and a midfield which already lacks quality would look a whole lot worse and that’s the last thing that United need.

Goals

0.27

0.24

Assists

0.4

0.3

Key Passes

3.02

2.72

Ball Recoveries

6.04

6.36

There’s still a long season ahead for those numbers to change, but Amorim is well aware of Fernandes’ importance, telling reporters back in March: “He’s a perfect captain for our team. We need to help him to win titles because he’s a legend.”

Whilst the money will be tempting to take in pursuit of Adam Wharton and others in the summer, United must keep hold of Fernandes next year.

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