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Newcastle United need to improve if they want to match the heights of the 2024/25 campaign. If they want to surpass those heights and continue this period of sustained growth in Eddie Howe’s system.

Struggling in the Premier League but making headway in the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, the Magpies must find that all-important stream of balance. The forwards are not in sync right now, and the finely-wrought passing patterns lack the smoothness when everything’s clicking.

The win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday evening was hardly one to remember, but St. James’ Park responded after the haggard defeat at the London Stadium against West Ham United last weekend.

Sandro Tonali was as brilliant as ever, claiming his latest Man of the Match award, but there were a few unsung heroes who came up trumps and reminded Howe of his squad depth.

Newcastle's unsung heroes vs Bilbao

Dan Burn opened the scoring in the Champions League with a stunning header. Perhaps it’s inaccurate to label the 32-year-old Geordie an ‘unsung hero’, but he’s certainly surpassed expectations since joining from Brighton for £12m in 2022, right at the start of Howe’s reign.

Lewis Hall is back following a long injury, and his ball-playing expertise will open new dimensions. However, Burn is one of the staples of this successful chapter in the club’s history, and he reminded Tyneside that he still has a part to play.

In the middle, Joelinton put in a commanding and powerful performance. The Brazilian has struggled at times this term, but he still offers a unique skill in the engine room, linking up well with Nick Woltemade up top alongside his goal after the break.

Further up the field, Harvey Barnes earned praise for a lively performance on the right. Naturally left-sided, the clinical forward showed the second string to his bow by showing off his fleet feet and crisp crossing to find the unmarked Joelinton, who scored.

But perhaps the most underrated winner on the evening was a man who staked his claim once again, having reportedly come close to leaving Newcastle this summer.

Newcastle 'standout' was set to be sold by PIF

Tino Livramento has missed Newcastle’s past eight matches across all competitions with a knee injury, and while he’s closing on a return, Kieran Trippier will feel that his efforts in recent weeks have demonstrated there is mileage still in the tank.

The 35-year-old was excellent against Athletic Bilbao, strong in his defensive duties while maintaining that ever-impressive creative flair when whipping into the area from deep and finding the head of Big Dan Burn, whose header was akin to an angled missile.

Handing the veteran an 8/10 match rating for his performance, Chronicle Live acknowledged the delivery to get Newcastle up and running, though also paid homage to his leadership and defending.

Minutes played

90′

Assists

1

Touches

73

Accurate passes

35/52 (67%)

Chances created

1

Crosses completed

2/4

Possession lost

20x

Dribbles

0/1

Recoveries

7

Tackles

3/4

Clearances

3

Duels won

5/9

We must draw attention to Bilbao’s somewhat laboured performance. Trippier will find a sterner test against Brentford at the Gtech on Sunday afternoon, and Trippier will need to draw upon every ounce of his athleticism in this later stage of his career.

But it’s curious to note that he’s still got it, standing firm at right-back while pinging balls forward and altogether enhancing Howe’s transitional tactical outlook. He is, after all, one of the finest defensive playmakers of his generation.

In fact, Trippier’s haul of 38 assists across 212 appearances in the English top flight marks him as the fourth-highest out-and-out defender for that metric in the division’s history.

Pinched from Atletico Madrid at the start of Howe’s Newcastle tenure, Trippier established himself as “the best right back in Europe”, according to Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley earlier in his Tyneside career, and he’s still got a part to play.

PIF must be thankful that they didn’t follow through with plans to part ways this summer.

25/26

8

0 (0)

24/25

25

0 (3)

23/24

28

1 (10)

22/23

38

1 (7)

21/22

6

2 (0)

Indeed, the £120k-per-week full-back has entered the final year of his Toon contract, but he may have parted with Howe’s side a year ago, having agreed personal terms with Turkish Super Lig outfit Eyupspor before a U-turn was pulled.

The former England international’s hefty salary and diminished role over the second half of his spell at Newcastle had made such a scenario seem far from improbable, though he and the club ultimately convened and thought that it was worth letting him see out the duration of his contract.

As Livramento eases himself back into the way of things over the next couple of months, Trippier will continue to earn starting roles across the various competitions in front of the club.

Once, Trippier was in with a shout as Newcastle’s most important player. It was not that long ago that industry figures believed he was the finest right-back on the continent.

That might not be the case any longer, but the experienced ace remains an important part of Howe’s plans, with journalist Charlie Bennett even singling him out as one of the “standouts” during the midweek win in the Champions League.

Howe must boldly drop Newcastle star who has now moved clear of Isak

Newcastle fought their way to a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 6, 2025

Breetzke and de Zorzi have been added to the T20I squad; Baartman has been included in the ODI squad

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2025

David Miller has been sidelined by a hamstring injury•Associated Press

David Miller has been ruled out of South Africa’s T20I series in Pakistan, while fast bowler Gerald Coetzee will miss the entire white-ball leg of the tour due to injuries.Miller was named stand-in captain for the T20I series with regular captain Aiden Markram rested, but he has been sidelined after scans conducted on Wednesday confirmed he had suffered a grade-1 right hamstring strain during training in the build-up to the tour. “He will now begin a phased rehabilitation program,” CSA said.Allrounder Donovan Ferreira will captain the side in the three-match T20I series, which begins on October 28 in Rawalpindi. Ferreira had recently led South Africa in a one-off T20I against Namibia, which South Africa lost by four wickets.Coetzee was ruled out of both the T20I and ODIs in Pakistan due to a pectoral muscle injury. The 25-year-old sustained the injury during the T20I against Namibia. He bowled 1.3 overs in that game before he left the field and did not return.”Subsequent scans revealed the extent of the injury and following specialist consultation, he has commenced a structured rehabilitation program under the supervision of the Cricket South Africa High Performance and Momentum Multiply Titans medical teams,” CSA said.Left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka had also been ruled out of the Pakistan tour with a hamstring strain, which he sustained while playing in a domestic first-class match in early October.South Africa have included batters Matthew Breetzke and uncapped Tony de Zorzi in the T20I squad, while fast bowler Ottneil Bartman was named as Coetzee’s replacement in the ODI squad. Breetzke had earlier also been named captain of the ODI side. The three-match ODI series begins right after the T20I leg, on November 4 in Faisalabad. The T20I squad will depart for Islamabad on October 23.South Africa’s squad for Pakistan T20IsCorbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira (capt), Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil BaartmanSouth Africa’s squad for Pakistan ODIsMatthew Breetzke (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Ottneil Baartman

Despite looking like the better team, India were in threat of being 3-1 down. Thanks to the riveting draw in Manchester, they now have a chance at 2-2

Sidharth Monga27-Jul-20252:09

Manjrekar: ‘Warriors’ keep sprouting for India when needed

One of the least appreciated aspects of cricket narratives is the sheer physicality of it.There were times during the Old Trafford Test when we sat and wondered what the narrative would have been had this been a three-match series. It would have offered India an honourable series defeat that they could have won with a little bit of luck or with a little bit of ruthlessness.Instead, it felt like the fourth Test was exposing them physically. Their strike bowlers were down on pace and looking toothless, their injury replacement was not serviceable for whatever reason (which they should investigate and prevent a repeat of), and they looked like they were losing to a side that had a bit of luck in the early part of the series, which was now displaying superior conditioning, not by much but enough to outlast them.India’s batters had one final chance to flip that narrative on its head. To show two can play the game. That even though Ben Stokes believes pain is just an emotion, they can make some of his team-mates feel the physical pain of a long Test series that has been going into the final session of the final day on flat pitches.Related

Drawn out, but never dull – India's Old Trafford escape rekindles the art of Test survival

Down but not out: India's greatest Test escapes of the 21st century

Weary England show their frustrations as Test ends on sour note

Cricket must be played by the rules, not Stokes' moral code

Gill, Washington, Jadeja tons script India's great escape

It was just that India had lost two wickets in the first over. That can happen. Especially in a short period before a break when batters appear to be facing a lose-lose situation. They still had five sessions to go with two wickets gone and their best batter of the last five years down with a broken foot.India had an ally in the dying pitch – otherwise you can’t hope to bat five sessions for a draw against modern Test attacks – but this was as much a test of their temperament as it was of their physicality. Batting out draws is a task modern batters have to rarely face. Unless the deficit is small – 311 wasn’t – you can get there only one ball at a time. There is no counterattacking, there is no rushing. Time moves at its own objective pace. It can feel excruciatingly slow, especially when you are not in the middle.Out in the middle, India needed only four batters to negotiate 875 balls between them.Why KL Rahul had a middling batting average had been an enigma coming into the series. He had never scored 400 runs in a series nor scored more than one hundred in one. A lot of his good work in the rest of his Test career had happened in the first quarter of series. Here, he had scored a second century in a series for the first time, but even that resulted in a turning point in a Test India lost at Lord’s.Ben Stokes sees his offer for a draw to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar rebuffed•Getty ImagesRahul and Rishabh Pant, his partner at the time, wanted to get the milestone out of the way if they could before lunch. Pant ended up getting run-out. It was a human reaction. Rahul was honest enough to acknowledge what that happened. And good enough to regroup a week later and go back to doing what had brought him close to that second hundred.Except that runs didn’t matter here. So engrossed was he in just defending, switching off and switching on, that he was not even awake to a misfield late on the fourth evening. The milestone didn’t matter in this innings. The greatest achievement for Rahul was that he forced the opposition captain to risk an injured bicep and then come up with an absolutely unplayable ball to get him out. Not before he had faced 230 balls.Rahul’s partner on the fourth evening, Shubman Gill, is in the form of his life but under the pump as captain. There have been questions if this is his team. Whether it was him who wanted Shardul Thakur and not Kuldeep Yadav in the XI, and if so, why did he not bowl Thakur enough? Why were India 2-1 down, and going towards 3-1, after looking like the better team for long periods of this series? He also had to face the hat-trick ball with India needing to bat out five whole sessions.His bat doesn’t ask Gill these questions. That’s the one thing he is in control of. Not the injuries, not the weather that keeps turning against him, not the toss. He faced 238 balls with calmness and composure that have been the hallmark of his batting. This was his slowest Test hundred. Only once has he left more balls alone in an innings. He needed to quickly put behind the one he left alone and was out lbw.2:34

Has Washington nailed his spot in India’s Test XI?

Batters generally tend to not tempt cricketing gods. They take the runs that are available unless batting with the tail or with an injured batter. Gill was not afraid of doing that when he decided to face all the left-arm spin – in the first session of the day – when Liam Dawson was firing it in the rough for Washington Sundar.Washington, who had to be promoted to cover for the injury to Pant. Washington, who is so good a player that the team management is moving mountains to fit him in the XI. He has bowled balls and hit shots that will fit in the highlights reels of the series, but this innings was about anything but highlights.For more than two sessions, he and Ravindra Jadeja needed to negotiate everything thrown at them. India’s No. 1 allrounder and his heir apparent. Jadeja became only the third visiting player to score over 1000 runs and take more than 30 wickets in a single country. Washington finally got his maiden Test century after having been stranded on 96 and 85 before. They batted together for 55.2 overs, keeping out shooters and kickers. By the end of it, England were so knackered they wanted to get off the field with 15 overs left.The physicality was now catching up with England. India now have a full set of fit fast bowlers to choose from. The luck finally turned for them with three dropped catches that proved pivotal. They now have a chance to walk away with 2-2, which, at this point, seems like a fair result. It’s a good thing this was not a three-Test series.

Wolves now see Rob Edwards as a leading choice to replace Vitor Pereira as manager, having failed to bring Gary O’Neil back to the club.

Pereira was relieved of his duties over the weekend, following a dreadful start to the season that sees Wanderers sit bottom of the Premier League table, with Jeff Shi confirming the decision.

“Vitor and his team worked tirelessly for Wolves and helped guide us through a challenging period last season, for which we are grateful. Unfortunately, the start to this season has been a disappointment and, despite our strong desire to give the head coach time and matches to find an improvement, we have reached a point where we must make a change. We thank Vitor and his staff for their efforts and wish them the very best for the future.”

O’Neil had emerged as a front-runner to replace Pereira, but the former Wolves manager has now reportedly decided against a return to Molineux, feeling it isn’t the right time.

Meanwhile, former Wanderers striker Robbie Keane is another name who has been thrown into the mix, and now a key update has emerged regarding Middlesbrough manager Edwards taking charge.

Edwards speaks out about taking Wolves job

Speaking to BBC Radio Tees, Edwards didn’t rule out taking over as Wolves manager, but admitted his focus is on his current club at the moment.

“I can understand it with my links to the club but my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around for a really big game against Leicester. It’s hard for me to comment on speculation and anything other than Middlesbrough. We’ve done a decent job so far, and all I care about is trying to win tomorrow.”

Journalist Ben Jacobs has added that Edwards is high on Wolves’ wishlist after O’Neil’s snub and has a release clause in his Boro contract, with the Old Gold looking to ‘try and line up a replacement for Pereira before the Chelsea game’.

Edwards is an impressive young manager who already knows Wolves well, not only spending four years there as a player, but also having a brief spell in interim charge back in 2016.

The 42-year-old famously guided Luton Town into the Premier League from the Championship, which was a special achievement, and he has been hailed by journalist Mark Ogden for his “ultra-positive” approach.

Middlesbrough

14

1.79

Luton Town

103

1.18

Watford

11

1.27

Forest Green

53

1.75

England Under-16s

1

0.00

Wolves Under-23s

34

1.76

Telford United

42

1.26

While Edwards will clearly be focusing on guiding Middlesbrough into the top flight, the lure of Wolves could be great for him, both in terms of returning to the club and also getting another Premier League job.

He is still a relatively young manager, so there is some risk in Wanderers appointing him, at a time when a more experienced head who knows how to get out of trouble arguably makes more sense.

Better than O'Neil: Wolves looking to hire "insanely talented" English boss

Wolves are reportedly keen on a manager who would be a better option than Gary O’Neil.

ByDan Emery Nov 3, 2025

But if those high up at the club feel that the 3-4-2-1-playing Edwards is the right man to get Wolves out of this current mess, they need to be trusted, with age only a number and the Englishman already impressing so much in his managerial career.

Robbie Keane in talks with Wolves as Steven Gerrard gives clarity on future

Manchester City are now monitoring FC Koln forward Said El Mala, with it being revealed that Pep Guardiola is personally an admirer.

Injuries are piling up for Arsenal, with both Gabriel and Viktor Gyokeres suffering blows ahead of the North London derby, which could be a major boost for Man City in the Premier League title race, having recently closed the gap to four points at the top of the table.

However, if Guardiola’s side are going to mount a serious push for the title, they may need to start finding some goals from elsewhere, with Erling Haaland scoring 14 of the 23 the Blues have to their name in the Premier League this term.

Haaland has been susceptible to injuries in the past, missing 21 City games across the previous two seasons, which means they cannot afford to be overreliant, and the manager may be keen to provide the Norwegian with some additional support in attack during the January transfer window.

Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Rodrygo have recently been named as potential targets, with the latter’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu now in major doubt, while another, lesser-known target is also now of interest…

Man City monitoring Said El Mala with Pep personally keen

According to a report from Sky Sports, Man City are now closely monitoring FC Koln forward El Mala, as Pep has been left impressed by the 19-year-old, having reviewed several videos and clips.

City scouts have recently been in attendance at the Bundesliga side’s matches to observe the youngster’s performances, but there could be competition for his signature, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also being named as potential suitors.

Koln are in a strong negotiating position, having extended the teenager’s contract until 2030, which puts them in a position to demand over €40m (£35m), and the player himself isn’t in a hurry to leave.

Hailed as a “flamboyant” winger by scout Jacek Kulig, it is little wonder the German starlet is attracting so much attention, having performed very well in the Bundesliga so far this season, netting four goals and picking up two assists in ten outings.

That said, it is still very early days for the Koln star, given that this is his debut campaign in the Bundesliga, so there are doubts over whether he would be able to make an immediate impact at Man City in the title race.

El Mala could be a future star, but there have recently been encouraging signs that Guardiola will be able to rely on some of his other attackers to provide support for Haaland, with Jeremy Doku scoring and receiving the Man of the Match award in the 3-0 win against Liverpool.

As such, Guardiola’s squad should already be strong enough to push Arsenal all the way this season, but if the manager feels a fresh injection of quality is needed, Rodrygo, who has far more top-level experience, could be a suitable option.

AC Milan's asking price for Rafael Leao revealed amid Man City interest Pep's a fan: Man City keen on Rafael Leao, AC Milan's asking price revealed

Pep Guardiola is an admirer of the AC Milan forward, who has a huge release clause in his contract.

ByDominic Lund Nov 11, 2025

Glasgow Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell has been questioned by some supporters for the work that was done during the summer transfer, with signings and the appointment of Russell Martin.

It is hard to describe the former Southampton manager’s tenure at Ibrox as anything other than disastrous after he won five matches in all competitions before being sacked last month.

The ex-Rangers centre-back did not have much joy in the dugout during his second stint at the club, as a manager rather than as a player, with 24 goals conceded in 17 matches.

On top of the clearly poor decision to bring Martin to Ibrox, Thelwell’s signings during the summer transfer window have come under some scrutiny, after the new owners provided him with plenty of money to spend.

The appointment of Martin and the work done in the summer window led to a start of one win in the first eight matches of the Scottish Premiership season for the Light Blues, which has put them on the back foot in the title race.

Danny Rohl has come in and won all four of his Premiership games in charge, to his credit, but there are still several summer signings who are yet to prove their worth.

Picking out the worst summer signings for Rangers

It would be hard to look past the most expensive signing of the summer when talking about the worst signings, as Youssef Chermiti was signed for £8m from Everton. That is the most money Rangers have paid for a player since they paid £12m to sign Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

Since that mega-money move to Ibrox, the Portugal U21 international has scored one goal in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, and that goal came via some rather questionable goalkeeping, as shown in the clip below.

Chermiti is not the only centre-forward signing who has struggled this season, though, as Rangers signed Bojan Miovski for a fee of up to £4.2m and he has delivered two goals in 16 outings in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Further back on the pitch, central midfielder Joe Rothwell has been a disappointment since his permanent move from Bournemouth. The 30-year-old talent was brought in to offer experience and quality in the middle of the park, but he has failed to make a positive impact.

25/26 Premiership	Rothwell	Percentile rank vs CMs
Tackles	7	Bottom 27%
Interceptions	8	Top 29%
Duels won	16	Bottom 26%
Duel success rate	47%	Bottom 39%
Aerial duels won	4	Bottom 25%
Possession won in the final third	1	Bottom 19%
Ball recoveries	22	Bottom 36%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the English flop ranks poorly among his positional peers in the Premiership in a host of key defensive metrics, whilst playing as a number six for the Light Blues.

Thelo Aasgaard, who was signed from Luton Town, is another summer signing who has failed to deliver, with one goal and one assist in 19 appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore, which shows that the attacking midfielder has been ineffective at the top end of the pitch.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Whilst there are understandable question marks over all of the summer signings mentioned so far, there is a player signed by Thelwell who impressed against Livingston, and may be on his way to becoming the new Calvin Bassey at Ibrox.

After signing from Leicester in 2020, the Nigeria international only played eight Premiership games in his first season. In the 2021/22 campaign, the versatile defender featured in just three of the first nine league games under Steven Gerrard, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed star then became a regular in the side when Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over in October and went on to play 50 games in all competitions before sealing a £19.6m move to Ajax in the summer of 2021.

Now, central defender Emmanuel Fernandez could follow a similar path to success at Ibrox after he produced an impressive display against Livingston on Saturday.

Why Emmanuel Fernandez may be the next Calvin Bassey for Rangers

As was the case with Bassey under Gerrard, the summer signing from Peterborough rarely got an opportunity to showcase what he could do on the pitch during Martin’s time at the club.

Per Transfermarkt, Fernandez featured in one of Martin’s seven league matches in charge of the Light Blues and was an unused substitute in all six of the Champions League qualifiers.

The 24-year-old centre-back only started in a 1-1 draw with St Mirren in the Premiership and a 4-2 win over Alloa Athletic in the League Cup, scoring his first goal for the club in the latter appearance.

Fernandez finally got his first start in the league of the Rohl era against Livingston on Saturday and did not disappoint. On top of scoring the opening goal in the match, making it two goals in three starts for the club, he won eight of his 13 duels and was not dribbled past a single time, per Sofascore.

After the win over Livingston, one Rangers podcaster described him as a “massive” player who “makes a difference” at both ends of the pitch because of his imposing physique.

25/26 Premiership	Emmanuel Fernandez per 90	Percentile rank vs CBs
Tackles made	0.99	Bottom 26%
Duels won	10.44	Top 1%
Duel success rate	72.4%	Top 5%
Aerial duels won	6.96	Top 1%
Aerial duel success rate	87.5%	Top 1%
Interceptions	2.49	Top 5%
Shots blocked	0.99	Top 31%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Fernandez is one of the most dominant and impressive central defenders in the Premiership if you compare his two starts in the league to his positional peers on a per 90 basis.

These statistics suggest that the English defender deserves more chances to start and showcase his quality, which he may well get with John Souttar and Derek Cornelius both missing through injury at the moment.

If he continues to start and produce the level of performance that he has in his first two outings in the division, Fernandez could go on to be a defensive monster for Rohl and anchor the team for the foreseeable future.

Like Bassey, Rangers may look back in the future and wonder why he did not play more regularly earlier in the season, because the towering star looks like he has been a hidden gem at Ibrox.

Fewer touches than Butland: Rohl must bin "missing" Rangers flop after Livi

Rangers did claim another league win over Livingston on Saturday, but one player went “missing” at Ibrox, registering fewer touches than Jack Butland.

By
Ben Gray

Nov 23, 2025

Sandro Tonali maintained an interesting stance about a move away from Newcastle United earlier this week and now Real Madrid are reportedly preparing a move worth over £40m.

It’s an all too familiar feeling for Newcastle, who were forced to bid farewell to Alexander Isak for a Premier League record in the summer as they scrambled to find his replacement. Now, they potentially face the prospect of losing more key men amid reported interest from around English football in Sven Botman and, of course, Tonali.

It’s the last thing that Eddie Howe needs in the middle of the Magpies’ current domestic form. In the Champions League, his side have been close to perfect, but that couldn’t be further from the case in the Premier League with just three wins in their opening 10 games.

The Newcastle boss admitted in his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s trip to Brentford that his side must rise up the ranks in the Premier League after a disappointing run.

Missing out on Champions League qualification would only make Newcastle’s attempts to keep hold of key men even tougher, especially if Real Madrid do come calling for Tonali.

Tonali shares exit stance as Real Madrid prepare move

According to reports in Spain, Real Madrid are now preparing a move to sign Tonali from Newcastle worth €50m (£44m) in 2026. Now, whilst the Magpies are unlikely to accept such a low offer for a player that cost them £55m, Madrid’s attempts would certainly spark some interesting questions about the midfielder’s future.

Newcastle have "one of the best teen prospects" & he can surpass Woltemade

Newcastle’s youthful underbelly is as talented as it’s ever been right now.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 8, 2025

Despite recent reports revealing that the Italian has already signed a new deal which could keep him at St James’ Park until 2029, Tonali refused to rule out an exit away from the club when questioned about his Newcastle future earlier this week.

Described as “excellent” by Howe, Tonali’s admission will undoubtedly concern those on Tyneside, who saw Isak force his way out of the club in the summer. The last thing they need is another summer-long transfer saga.

PIF's "massive overpay" is quickly becoming Howe's new Almiron

Aaronson has often been labeled a tweener, but his versatility has been vital for Leeds this season. That same flexibility could position him for increased minutes with the USMNT.

PHILADELPHIA – Recent Brenden Aaronson stats circulating on social media confirm what has been easy to overlook: despite steady criticism, the Leeds United midfielder is thriving this season.

The truth is this: Aaronson has been one of the Premier League’s most effective attacking players so far. Not always pretty, not necessarily prolific, but undeniably impactful. He’s a major reason Leeds sit just outside the relegation zone roughly one-third of the way into his second Premier League go-around. His performances have also put him firmly back in the U.S. men’s national team picture. For a while now, Aaronson has had a point to prove. This season, he is proving it.

“I think that the confidence that I have now and the sustainability of it is at a really good level,” Aaronson said to reporters on Wednesday's USMNT media call. “I’m happy with my mental space, and I think that’s the biggest thing in football. When you’re playing at your best level, you have the confidence, and that’s what I feel like is changing my game.”

So now, as he returns to Philadelphia – the place where he started his soccer career –  for the final USMNT camp of 2025, Aaronson is in a unique spot. He's in form and thriving. He's also fighting for a spot. After being benched for much of the Gold Cup, a tournament that lacked some of the USMNT's heavy hitters, Aaronson's spot is still anything but certain. This camp, then, is another chance to go out and earn it and show why his effectiveness for Leeds could translate to whatever plans Mauricio Pochettino has for him.

• Getty Images
  

  Changing perceptions

  Aaronson spoke about it with GOAL last year: he doesn't like the perceptions of him or his game.

  "It's definitely upsetting," Aaronson told GOAL, "Because I think, in moments, I show a lot of quality with the ball. I don't think a lot of people see that. People see my energy and that type of thing, and that's easy to see. You'll always see me giving 100 percent. That's something that I've always had. That was the first thing I learned from my dad at a young age."

  "I want to be outside of that box," he added. "I'm not just a runner. I'm not just a guy who's pressing all the time. I'll show that, of course, but I think I'm also more than that, you know? I think I'm a guy that brings other things to the pitch and, yeah, I just wish people could see that more."

  Leeds United fans have seen more of it this season. The numbers don't jump off the page, admittedly. He scored a goal recently against West Ham in an standout Man of the Match performance that included a mazy run through the entire Hammers team. He then set up a goal in this past weekend's loss to Nottingham Forest, notching his first assist of the season. One goal and one assist, generally, aren't anything to get excited about, but the underlying numbers tell a different story.

  Yes, the defensive statistics are still elite when compared to other midfielders and wingers, which is always helpful for a promoted team looking to stay up. The chance creation numbers are good, too. Per DataMB, Aaronson is right among the league leaders in chance creation ratio, which measures the amount of key passes per 100 attempts. When it comes to creating danger, Aaronson has been right up there among the Premier League's very best, even if there hasn't been as much to show for it as many would like.

  “It’s always a learning process going out there and playing,” Aaronson said. “But I think I’ve been playing at a good level this year, and I need to continue to get better and better and help the team the best I can."

  All of that isn't to say that Aaronson is at the level of the Premier League's best. Few would believe that. It does indicate, though, that Aaronson is getting better and is making a real effort to prove that doubters wrong.

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  Learning from criticism

  There have been multiple times during Daniel Farke's two-year Leeds United tenure when he has had to publicly defend his American midfielder from criticism. The most recent came just a few short weeks ago.

  “It’s important not to put too much weight on his shoulders,” Farke said in September. “Sometimes the feeling with Brenden is that we are a bit over-critical in public. We know Brenden has challenges in his offensive game in terms of decision-making, being a bit clearer and more straightforward. This is something we speak a lot about.

  “It’s not like I press a button, do my magic, and he’s a completely different player. In training, we bring him more into positions where he has to make decisions. It’s not like he is not willing to score or is not highly motivated. Sometimes, because he is so on it, he is, perhaps, losing a bit of his calmness, but it’s not helpful if everyone is always criticizing him.”

  Aaronson, meanwhile, recently acknowledged that he avoids looking into that criticism. It's something he's dealt with for much of his professional career. In his first season with Leeds, the club was relegated. A subsequent move to Union Berlin didn't work out. He returned to Leeds knowing he'd have to win back the fans' trust. That process is ongoing, even after helping the club back to the Premier League with an ironman run through the Championship.

  “Listen. I wear the shirt of Leeds United. One of the biggest clubs in England,” Aaronson told Morning Footy. “The fan base is amazing. We have amazing fans, and sometimes it can be tough. It comes with the pressure of wearing the kit. [Criticism] is always there, it is always gonna be there. 

  "I’m not someone who uses social media. I never go on. My fiancée and my parents can look at that stuff. I tell them not to sometimes, but my mom can’t help it. I try to stay away from it. Week in and week out, all I can do is do the best I can and just go out there to be myself. That’s what I try to focus on.”

  This week, Aaronson is focused on the USMNT and making a mark that could, ultimately, carry him to a second World Cup roster.

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  Finding his place with the USMNT

  One of Aaronson's biggest assets is his versatility. He can play as an attacking midfielder. He can play on the wings. He can slot in as a No. 8 or even as a wingback, in theory. He's also a player that, no matter where you play him, seems like an ideal supersub, one that brings obvious energy and, if his Premier League run is anything to go by, a little bit of danger.

  “I play the winger like a No. 10 if I’m being honest with you,” Aaronson said. “I think at [Leeds] my coach talks to me about having the freedom to go and get involved with the game. Of course, he wants the formation and, of course, he wants me to stay in the positions, but I just kind of go out there and play like I would in the midfield. I don’t really change too much about it.

  “I’m not a winger that’s going one-v-one or stuff like that. I want to be in between the lines; I want to be driving with the ball. I want to be playing the final pass and shooting the final shot.”

  Despite that versatility, this season has been a difficult one for Aaronson on the USMNT front. He was left out of the USMNT's March CONCACAF Nations League roster, although hindsight does say that may have been a blessing in disguise given how that camp went. Then, after returning to the Gold Cup, Aaronson was largely a substitute, starting just one game: a largely meaningless game against Haiti to close the group stage after two wins to start the tournament. It wasn't a surprise when he was then left out of the September squad as Pochettino looked elsewhere.

  Aaronson returned in October and, despite playing just 26 minutes, he made an impression. In that cameo against Australia, he looked extremely dangerous. That performance, along with his recent run with Leeds, led to him being called back in for this November camp.

  "Brenden is an experienced player who has already brought a lot to the national team," Pochettino said this summer. "He’s a player who has a total commitment to the national team. His character, whichever position he's in, he’s always helping, always being positive in all moments. He’s a very dynamic player. We're very familiar with his characteristics and he’s a player who brings a lot of positives to the group."

  With Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, and Weston McKennie all sidelined, the U.S. are short on attacking midfield options. That gives Aaronson a chance to step into the spotlight in the place where he spent six years developing before moving to Europe.

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  A chance and a homecoming

  Even now, five years after he left the club, Aaronson remains one of the Philadelphia Union's top success stories. He burst onto the scene in 2020 as a Best XI player. He's since played in Europe at the highest level. This week, Aaronson is one of four Union academy alumni in the USMNT group alongside Matt Freese, Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty. All four are fighting for World Cup places. All four's next chance to do so comes in a stadium that they, at least for a time, called home.

  On Saturday, the USMNT will host Paraguay at Subaru Park in their penultimate friendly of 2025. Aaronson, along with Gio Reyna, Diego Luna and Timothy Tillman, will be looking to show he deserves a larger role as one of the team’s No. 10s. The 25-year-old Leeds star will hope for that opportunity as he returns to where it all began.

  “I think the best thing about the Philly development is we have the mentality from a young age, this winning mentality,” Aaronson said. “I think from when we both went to the school, there was always Champions League on TV, football all the time, and that was the beauty of it. I think you were just kind of just surrounded by all these guys who wanted to be the best player they could be.

  "It’s not cutthroat, but it is competitive. So I think everybody wanted to reach the highest level. And that’s what the beauty was.”

  There isn't always beauty in Aaronson's game. He hopes that the outside world will notice more of it than they have in the past, though, and, as long as he keeps providing those types of moments, Aaronson's fight will continue as he pushes for more with club and country.

He has played just 12 Tests for South Africa in all these years, but away from the limelight, Simon Harmer has put together a truly remarkable body of work

Sampath Bandarupalli23-Oct-20254 – Harmer is only the fourth South Africa player to claim 1000 wickets in first-class cricket. Charlie Llewellyn (1013), Mike Procter (1417) and Allan Donald (1216) were the ones to get there before him.2 – Only two players who made their first-class debuts in the 21st century have taken 1000 wickets in the format. Harmer, whose first-class debut was in November 2009, and James Anderson, who had made his debut in May 2002. His milestone 1000th wicket came in July 2021. Anderson was also the last of the 216 bowlers to reach 1000 first-class wickets before Harmer.Related

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Harmer is the only bowler in the world with over 900 wickets since his first-class debut, with Malinda Pushpakumara’s 874 being the next best.514 – Wickets for Harmer in first-class cricket in England. Of those, 513 have come for Essex, all since 2017, and one for South Africa in a Test in 2022. Harmer is the only bowler with 500-plus first-class wickets in England since 2017, with Kyle Abbott’s 442 being the next highest.Harmer’s 35 five-fors and ten ten-wicket match hauls are also the most by any bowler in England in this period.Not to forget, Harmer has 453 wickets at home in South Africa, the second-highest since his first-class debut, behind only Shaun von Berg (522).Simon Harmer is an Essex legend, with 513 wickets for them in first-class cricket•Getty Images58 – Five-wicket hauls for Harmer in first-class cricket. Only Pushpakumara (80) and Gayan Sirisoma (61) have more five-fors than Harmer since his first-class debut in November 2009. R Ashwin (51) is the only other bowler with 50-plus five-fors in this period.Harmer’s effort in the Rawalpindi Test was his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket outside of England and South Africa, where he has 35 and 22 respectively. Harmer, however, has played only 11 first-class matches outside those two countries.331 – Wickets for Harmer in Chelmsford, the home ground of his county team, Essex. Only one bowler has taken more first-class wickets at a ground in the last 20 years – 374 by Tim Murtagh at Lord’s.Harmer has 27 five-wicket hauls across the 58 matches he played in Chelmsford, the most by a bowler at a venue in the last 20 years. Harmer has taken ten-plus wickets in a game on ten occasions at the venue, which is also the most.20 – Right-arm offspinners with 1000-plus wickets in first-class cricket before Harmer. Robert Croft was the last offspinner to reach 1000 wickets, having got there in 2007. (Twenty other players with 1000 FC wickets had multiple bowling styles throughout their careers, with right-arm off-break being one of them)55,618 – Balls that Harmer has bowled in his first-class career so far. Only one other player has bowled over 50,000 balls in the format since his debut – Nathan Lyon (55,790).

England 172 for 2 (Jones 86*, Beaumont 40) beat New Zealand 168 (Plimmer 43, Smith 3-30, Sciver-Brunt 2-31, Capsey 2-34) by eight wicketsAn injury to key bowler Sophie Ecclestone proved no barrier for England as Amy Jones overhauled a meagre target to send New Zealand out of the World Cup with a heavy defeat.Ecclestone injured her bowling shoulder while fielding and sent down just four deliveries, including a wicket, before England bundled New Zealand out for 168 inside 39 overs in their final group game.Her fellow left-arm spinner, Linsey Smith, overcame a difficult start to capture three wickets while part-time off-spinner Alice Capsey and seamer Nat Sciver-Brunt took two each before Jones’s unbeaten 86 took England home with ease.Related

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The result meant that England secured the No. 2 spot behind Australia, meaning that in the unlikely event of their semi-final against South Africa being washed out in Guwahati on Wednesday and on the subsequent reserve day, they would progress on the basis of holding a superior position on the table.It also ensured there would be no fairytale farewell for New Zealand captain Sophie Devine, who has played her last ODI in a match where New Zealand’s batters collectively failed convert starts and their bowlers struggled to put dents in England’s top-order.On the face of it, England had an easy ride into their semi-final campaign, but Ecclestone’s injury was cause for concern and they had to overcome a wayward start with the ball and in the field while their re-jigged middle-order went untested.The openers Jones and Tammy Beaumont broke the back of the run chase with a 75-run partnership and Jones combined with Heather Knight for an 83-run stand that took England within 11 runs of victory.England’s top four have all scored runs at this tournament, with Knight and Sciver-Brunt posting centuries and Beaumont and Jones reaching fifty before this game. Down the order they brought in the vastly experienced Danni Wyatt-Hodge for her first match of the tournament, replacing Emma Lamb who has struggled at No. 6.Knight’s dismissal, lbw to Devine for 33, prompted England to send Wyatt-Hodge in at No. 4 ahead of Sciver-Brunt to give her some exposure in the middle ahead of the knockout phase, although it was limited as she faced seven deliveries for 2 not out.Sophie Devine waves farewell after her final ODI•ICC/Getty Images

Beaumont raced to 26 off 20 balls, with four of her five boundaries up to that point coming in one Jess Kerr over. Back-to-back fours off Amelia Kerr put Beaumont in touching distance of 40 but, once she arrived there, she was struck on the pad by a Lea Tahuhu nip-backer right in line with middle stump.Knight carved the next ball expertly through backward point for four and, having overturned an lbw dismissal to New Zealand’s bemusement as Melie Kerr’s delivery was shown to be going over the stumps, Knight advanced down the pitch to power a huge six over long on in her next over.All the while, Jones had been steadily creeping towards her half-century with excellent timing and she brought up the milestone with six off Suzie Bates. Jones upped the tempo and helped herself to three fours in a row off Rosemary Mair before eventually bringing up the winning runs with consecutive boundaries off Devine, who left the field through a guard of honour from both teams.Earlier, Ecclestone took a tumble trying to intercept a boundary from Bates off the second ball of the match and jarred her shoulder after running from mid-off to chase Capsey’s misfield at extra cover.Bates only managed to reach 10 before spooning a waist-high full toss from Smith straight to mid-off where Lamb stood as a substitute for Ecclestone.Struggling to grip the new ball, Smith continued to serve up some wayward lengths and, after Bates had failed to capitalise, Kerr did with four boundaries on the trot as she set about rebuilding through a 68-run partnership alongside Georgia Plimmer.Sophie Ecclestone picked a wicket in the four deliveries she bowled before going off with injury•Getty Images

With Smith pulled from the attack and Ecclestone still off the field having her injury assessed, Capsey entered to make a crucial strike as Kerr sought to go big down the ground and picked out Charlie Dean, who then struck with the first ball of the next over, pinning Plimmer on the pad for 43 as England wrested back control.Ecclestone returned briefly to remove Brooke Halliday, caught by Sophia Dunkley at deep midwicket, but then Dunkley bowled the remaining two balls of the over as Ecclestone, feeling more discomfort in her shoulder, left the field for the remainder of the innings.So it fell to Devine to make one last stand with the bat, even more so when Capsey took an excellent diving catch off her own bowling to remove Maddy Green – although she dropped another off Izzy Gaze next ball – but it wasn’t to be. Devine managed 23 off 35 before she strode forward to a Sciver-Brunt off-cutter which kissed the inside edge before landing in the glove of wicketkeeper Jones.Smith returned in the 29th over and, more comfortable with the worn ball, removed Gaze playing around a slow, full delivery that angled in to hit the top of off stump.Sciver-Brunt grabbed her second wicket by pinning Mair lbw and Jess Kerr was run out by a good throw from Dean at extra cover to Jones to put New Zealand on the brink of being bowled out. Dean finished it with a superb catch over her shoulder while running back at mid-off to remove Tahuhu and give Smith her third.