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After sacking Liam Manning, Norwich City have reportedly conducted an interview with former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil and set a managerial deadline.

The Canaries made the decision to sack Manning after 15 Championship games in charge. The former Bristol City manager arrived off the back of an excellent campaign with the Robins, in which they secured a playoff place, but was unable to replicate that form in charge of Norwich.

Instead of the top six, the Canaries have found themselves in the bottom two courtesy of Manning and only above Sheffield Wednesday, who were hit with a 12-point deduction after entering administration.

After two wins in 15 league games, Manning’s tenure suddenly makes former manager Johannes Hoff Thorup’s time at the club look rather promising, on reflection. Whether there’s some regret that those at Carrow Road didn’t give the latter more time is up for debate, however.

Sporting director Ben Knapper released a statement after sacking Manning, telling fans that they “tried absolutely everything possible” to turn things around under the former Bristol City boss.

Meanwhile, the search for a new manager is very much underway with reports going as far as to claim that the Canaries have already interviewed two candidates for the job.

Norwich interview Gary O'Neil

As reported by The Telegraph’s John Percy, Norwich have now interviewed O’Neil for their vacant managerial role and are keen to make an official appointment in the next 10 days.

The ex-Premeir League manager was recently linked with a second stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but turned his former club down. Now, he could be on his way to Carrow Road.

Former Blackburn Rovers manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has also reportedly been interviewed, but O’Neil’s Premier League experience should make him Norwich’s number one choice.

Dubbed “fantastic” by former Wolves winger Jordan Graham during his time in the Midlands, O’Neil has all the credentials needed to finally turn things around at Norwich, who sit four points adrift of safety in the Championship.

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In Sandro Tonali, Newcastle United are enjoying the rise of a truly special player. Walk around the city and ask fans for their opinion of the Italian maestro, and many would say he is the very best they have witnessed at St. James’ Park.

It’s just one masterclass after another. Tottenham Hotspur couldn’t cope on Wednesday evening, dumped out of the Carabao Cup following Tonali’s brilliant midfield performance.

Eddie Howe engineered a covert contractual renewal when the star was serving a suspension for betting breaches, and so the Magpies need not worry about their central talisman playing elsewhere any time soon.

But Tonali alone cannot uphold the midfield, and it looks like change is afoot in the engine room, with United gearing up to sign a new central midfielder.

Newcastle angling for new midfielder

Joelinton has been a stalwart at Newcastle for many years, but the 29-year-old has come under fire at times already this season, with his questionable performances leaving some, such as blogger Thomas Hammond, to question whether this is “the start of the end” for the powerful Brazilian, who seems the weak link in this evolving midfield.

The emergence of Lewis Miley certainly suggests Joelinton’s place in the starting line-up is not as secure as it once was, and the continued question marks over Joe Willock’s long-term future in the Newcastle midfield add fuel to the fire.

Well, given that Howe is determined to re-sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, it does seem the cabinet could be set for a reshuffle.

As per Spanish sources, Newcastle are rivalling the mighty Real Madrid for the Three Lions star, who has been valued as high as £120m by Evangelos Marinakis. Technical director Ross Wilson will know he needs to act swiftly.

Moreover, Football Insider have followed reports with the claim that Liverpool and Manchester United have both placed the 22-year-old at the top of their lists.

Why Howe wants Elliot Anderson back at SJP

In the summer of 2024, Newcastle were being pressured by the Premier League’s PSR parameters, and sold two top talents – Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – to divisional rivals, easing away from financial bother.

Anderson signed for Nottingham Forest in a deal worth around £35m, and he’s only gone from strength to strength at the City Ground, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as a “powerhouse” of a “midfield warrior”.

Indeed, you need only look at the metrics to see how he has evolved in his short time in red, with the current campaign seeing him take so many touches of the ball, creating and defending and leading by example.

He is the complete number eight, and in this, just like Tonali, who is now considered “the best midfielder in the Premier League” by English legend Paul Scholes.

Anderson isn’t there – yet. However, he is earlier in his development and surely on track to rival the likes of Tonali if he continues to add strings to his bow.

Now part of Thomas Tuchel’s England set-up, Anderson is finding a home alongside the more adventurous Declan Rice. Perhaps Bruno Guimaraes could serve as this type of partner, with Tonali elegantly keeping things moving from the side.

This is all to say that Anderson could be a stunning addition to Howe’s team, and maybe even come to surpass Tonali down the line.

Pulling him back over to Tyneside won’t be easy, but Howe has already shown his hand, speaking of his desire to bring the talent back home in a press conference last month, and must now hope that Anderson is swayed toward the nostalgia of returning to his boyhood club.

In any case, that aside, Newcastle might actually be able to canvass the most compelling proposal to the English talent.

New Tonali: Newcastle's 8/10 ace has been an "incredible piece of business"

Newcastle have proved their skill in the transfer market once again this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 30, 2025

Wolves have made an enquiry for Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira, with executive chairman Jeff Shi receiving a reply.

Wolves to “take time” in new manager search

The Old Gold parted ways with Vitor Pereira on Sunday following their eighth Premier League defeat of the season and are no further down the line in regards appointing a long-term replacement.

David Ornstein has revealed that Wolves didn’t begin the process for a new manager until Pereira was sacked after the 3-0 loss at Fulham, despite their struggles all season.

“I think they wanted to give Vitor Pereira as long as possible. And therefore, they didn’t start a process to replace him before he was actually sacked.

“Once he was, the work began in earnest, or maybe Saturday night after the Fulham defeat, into Sunday, phone calls were starting to be made to express interest in a number of candidates, including Gary O’Neil.”

It looked as if Gary O’Neil was going to return to Molineux, however, he walked away from talks to leave the club at square one.

Under-21s head coach, James Collins, and under-18s head coach, Richard Walker, are in interim charge ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.

Sam Allardyce keen on taking Molineux job but reveals what Wolves are after

Veteran manager Sam Allardyce could potentially make a dramatic return to Premier League management.

ByJames O'Reilly Nov 5, 2025

It has been claimed that Wolves “want to take time” to find the right man after O’Neil’s move fell through and Rob Edwards distanced himself from the vacancy.

A leadership group involving Shi and Matt Jackson are involved in the managerial process, whereas Wolves are also being influenced by Jorge Mendes in the background.

The new Nuno Santo: "World-class" manager wants to hold talks with Wolves

Now, a new name has emerged with Wolves even making contact over a deal.

Wolves make Abel Ferreira approach

According to reports from ESPN Brazil, Wolves have made an enquiry over a move for Palmeiras boss Ferreira.

The Portuguese manager was wanted by Nottingham Forest following Nuno Espirito Santo’s exit and was also linked with Chelsea back in 2023.

However, following the latest move from Molineux chiefs, Ferreira has rejected Wolves’ offer as he is focused on the CONMEBOL Libertadores final and the Brazilian Championship with Palmeiras.

A two-time Brazil league winner with his current employers, Ferreira plays a 4-2-3-1 manager and has won 6-0 on four separate occasions.

Wins

361

Draws

149

Losses

154

Goals scored

1,093

Goals conceded

652

Points per game

1.86

Two of those came with Palmeiras and the other two in Portugal when he was in charge of Braga, and as can be seen, the 46-year-old has plenty of managerial experience at a relatively young age.

Unfortunately for Shi and co, a move to Wolves for Ferreira doesn’t look like it is on the cards in 2025, leaving Wolves to look elsewhere once again.

Sam Konstas is fully aware he faces a “massive” run of Sheffield Shield matches early in the season if he is to retain his Test place for the start of the Ashes but is focused on shutting out much of the talk and trusting his inner circle.Konstas endured a torrid series against West Indies where he made 50 runs in six innings albeit in challenging conditions where the top orders of both teams found life tough. They were his first Tests since bursting into the side against India last season, but he is now back in the pack as far as selection goes to face England in November.He has resumed training with New South Wales having taken a break after the tour and will return to playing on the four-day leg of the Australia A tour of India next month. That trip has a longer lens from the selectors – Australia have a five-Test tour in early 2027 – so while runs won’t hurt Konstas’ shorter-term ambitions, of most relevance will be what he’s able to do in the early rounds of the Shield in October.Related

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“It’s massive, it’s going to be a big four games and I expect that,” Konstas said on the day a new four-year deal with Sydney Thunder in the BBL was announced that will keep him at the club until 2029. “But for me, [it’s about] just being in the present moment, don’t get too fixated about the outcome and just be very process-driven in those games. Not getting too fazed about what other people say, and obviously have that inner circle that I trust.”For me it’s just trying to best prepare, and then obviously trusting what I think is right in that current moment,” Konstas added. “It was my first time playing in the West Indies, and first time facing those bowlers. They bowled well and hopefully I can build from that experience.”Adopting the right mindset, training hard, not leaving any regrets. For me, that’s the big thing, just the way I prepare, and especially with the people that I trust, having honest conversations with them when necessary and leaving it to that.”Jack Edwards, the New South Wales captain who will also be part of the Australia A tour, has been training alongside Konstas in recent weeks”He definitely doesn’t hold onto it [the tour] for too long,” Edwards told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s great to have him around. He’s working extremely hard at his game as he always does, hitting a mountain of balls…such a young man, he’s definitely going to have a long career for Australia.”Konstas spoke of leaning on Steven Smith and David Warner, his captain at Thunder, for advice. “I’m very lucky to be working with the best in the world,” he said.Picked for Australia after just 11 first-class matches, it’s been acknowledged by the coaching staff that Konstas has been doing a lot of his developing at the top level although there is a belief in the set-up that the setbacks in West Indies won’t do long-term harm.”I’m still learning about my game and finding what works in different conditions,” he said. “Understanding the situations, when to soak up pressure [and] when to attack the game.”That’s where Warner has been a valuable sounding board for him. “I just like his mindset, to be honest,” Konstas said. “He takes the game on and he’s very aggressive. He’s always trying to dictate terms in the way he likes to.”Still only 19 – he turns 20 early in October – Konstas is trying to keep a level head. “As an athlete, you’re going to go through failures and successes, but I tell you, build from those failures and become a better person and cricketer.”

And if that doesn’t work either, you’re better off building a death ray and hoping it will somehow fly with ICC regulations

Alan Gardner28-Oct-20251:51

Mithali: Australia ‘less invincible’ than they used to be

There are some problems that have left humanity stumped for the longest of time. To the list that includes cold fusion, Fermat’s Last Theorem and why toast always lands buttered-side down, we can add another: how to beat Australia Women in an ODI?There is a working hypothesis that it can be done, but the results are almost impossible to reproduce in laboratory conditions. Over the last five-and-a-bit years, Australia have played 58 times in the format, and won 52 of them. Go back further, to the start of the 2017 World Cup, and the figure is P87 W78, which includes their world-record winning streak of 26 ODIs in a row.Such is their level of dominance that it even puts the Australia Men’s team of the 2000s in the shade. To take a random sample, between the start of the 2003 World Cup (which they won) and the end of the 2007 World Cup (which they won), Ricky Ponting’s side played 136 ODIs, winning 102 and losing 28.Related

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Very impressive, but a win/loss ratio of 9.750 it isn’t.For this Australia Women’s team, defeat is a once-a-year event – and they’ve already had their one scheduled blip for 2025.The losses are cosmic outliers, little more than confirmation of the randomness of the universe. They either come via Spandex-tight margins – three runs, two wickets, two wickets – or require inspirational performances from the opposition’s talisman: Harmanpreet Kaur in Derby; Nat Sciver-Brunt in Taunton; Marizanne Kapp in North Sydney; Smriti Mandhana in New Chandigarh.In World Cups, the permutations become even more head-scratchingly confounding. Since their defeat in the semi-final of the 2017 edition, Australia have won 15 ODI World Cup games on the bounce. They waltzed through the tournament unbeaten in 2022, and are on track to do so again after six wins from seven in the group stage.The one side to escape during that run was Sri Lanka, who abandoned science and invoked the unquenchable thirst of the Colombo rain gods. That or they capitalised on some truly abysmal scheduling during the monsoon, but it amounts to the same thing.Is there any stopping the Australian juggernaut at this World Cup?•ICC/Getty Images

Stopping the irresistible force

Back in the dark ages, learned folk spent much of their time trying to discover a substance that could turn base metal into gold. You would too, right? If it were in any way real. For the alchemists of antiquity, read the analysts of today anxiously flicking through their data points whenever Australia occupy the opposition dressing room.Signs of weakness are few and far between. When they slipped to 76 for 7 in their group game against Pakistan, one of the great World Cup upsets was in the offing. Instead, Beth Mooney – who looks, and plays, like she could be one of Bradman’s Invincibles – made a granite-hewn hundred as part of a century stand for the ninth wicket. Australia ended up winning by 107 runs.

“Time and again, teams have scrapped and sweated over the magic formula that will help them get one over on the canary-yellow juggernaut. Almost without exception, every time they hold their discovery up to the light it turns out to be fool’s gold”

India might have felt pretty pleased with themselves after posting 330 (at the time their highest-ever World Cup total) in Visakhapatnam; Alyssa Healy responded with a searing 142 off 107 balls to set up a three-wicket win. England must have thought they were in with a sniff when reducing Australia to 68 for 4 chasing 245; Annabel Sutherland and Ash Gardner disabused them of this notion with an unbroken 180-run stand.The England game finished with Gardner blocking balls in order to try and get Sutherland to her hundred, which is a pretty brutal summation of where it had got to as a contest.Time and again, teams have scrapped and sweated over the magic formula that will help them get one over on the canary-yellow juggernaut. Almost without exception, every time they hold their discovery up to the light, it turns out to be fool’s gold.Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth walk off after Australia sealed the highest chase in women’s ODI history•Getty Images

Can a new champion emerge?

We at ESPNcricinfo decided to take up the challenge, too. After crunching the numbers, consulting the experts and triangulating every possible weakness, we came up with this devastating statistic: since the start of 2024, between overs ten and 20, Australia have lost the third-most wickets among all teams (33). At this World Cup, the tally reads nine, behind only South Africa and Pakistan.Read it again and weep, sisters.Okay, you’re saying you need more? Well, Ellyse Perry is averaging 24.50 for the tournament. Not so flashy, eh. Similarly, new-ball stalwart Kim Garth has only taken four wickets in five matches – three of which came during Pakistan’s capitulation. And in the field, they produced a distinctly un-Aussie performance when shelling six chances against Bangladesh (although, yes, they still went on to win by ten wickets).In case it wasn’t already clear, for the three other teams still in with a theoretical chance of winning this World Cup, the omens are not good. But for those of you who made it this far, here’s our three-point plan to stopping Australia from winning this World Cup:Be India. Handy news for Australia’s semi-final opponents. India’s record of four ODI wins over Australia in the last ten years is as good as anyone’s – and, crucially, that includes being the last side to actually beat them at a World Cup. They are the host nation, they are captained by the hero of Derby, and they ran Australia the closest in the group stage.Make sure someone scores a hundred. Preferably a big one, like Harmanpreet’s Derby piece de resistance. Since the start of the 2017 World Cup, 13 individual centuries have been scored against Australia; three times in a winning cause. That’s nearly a 25% chance, people! Although Sciver-Brunt (four hundreds, including 148 not out in the 2022 World Cup final, only one of which came in a victory) can tell you first-hand, it’s no guarantee.Beware the legspinner. Alana King is very good, as figures of 7 for 18 – the first seven-wicket haul at Women’s World Cups – in her last outing attest. Top tip: go back and look at the footage of how South Africa played her. Then do the opposite.If none of the above works, then you’re best off building a death ray and hoping that will somehow fly with the ICC playing regulations. Good luck!

Former Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has left his role as head of loans and pathways after six months in the role at Old Trafford. At 37, Evans decided to hang up his boots after his second spell as a player with the Red Devils came to an end last summer. In his first period at Old Trafford, Evans won the Premier League, Champions League, League Cup and Club World Cup.

Evans leaves Man Utd role

According to of , Evans has left his role as Manchester United's head of loans and pathways, a job he took only six months back, following his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

The report adds that Evans left his job to spend more time with his family and his departure was mutually agreed upon with the Red Devils. Evans made 241 appearances for United after coming through their academy. The centre-back won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Club World Cup, the FA Cup and two League Cups with the Premier League giants. 

Other than his two spells at Old Trafford, Evans also played in the Premier League for West Brom and Leicester City and had enjoyed two loan spells at Sunderland. He also won 107 caps for the Northern Ireland national team.

AdvertisementAFPWhat were Evans' duties at Old Trafford?

After officially announcing that he had hung up his boots, Evans returned to his boyhood club almost immediately after leaving them as a player as he accepted the role of head of loans and pathways. The 37-year-old's job saw him work closely with United's director of football Jason Wilcox to enhance the progress of young players and help them become ready for the first team.

After accepting the role, Evans had said: "I want to officially announce my retirement from my playing career, not with sadness, but with pride, gratitude and excitement for the next chapter ahead. I’ll be forever indebted to the managers, coaches, staff and, of course, my team-mates, that I have had the privilege of working alongside throughout my 20 years in professional football. I am looking forward to working with the next generation of talented players to support them to reach their potential. Having had experience of loans myself, I know the crucial role that they can play within a player’s development."

Wrexham were linked with Evans

In April, Wrexham were keen on a move for the experienced defender, who was supposed to leave Old Trafford after his second spell at the club following the expiry of his contract. However, no such move materialised as the Red Dragons never formally approached the player, who later announced his retirement.

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Getty Images SportWill Evans return to Man Utd in future?

While there has been no indication from Evans' side that he would come back to Old Trafford in future, his former team-mate Wes Brown had backed him to become United manager someday. Earlier this season, Brown said: "Could Jonny Evans be a future Manchester United manager? It’s happened before with Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy getting chances. He has a calmness about him and he has been a great servant to the club and a fantastic professional. If he wants to go into management then he will give it everything and I’d love to see it. Giggs, Carrick and Ruud have been in the hotseat, sometimes it just takes a bit of luck and it will be a dream for all United players that go into management."

Marco Verratti could be set for a stunning reunion with former Paris Saint-Germain teammates Edinson Cavani, Ander Herrera and Leandro Paredes, with Boca Juniors exploring an ambitious move for the Italian midfielder. With the 33-year-old looking to leave Al Duhail and Boca preparing for a high-profile Libertadores return in 2026, president Juan Roman Riquelme has quietly opened the door to a sensational transfer.

Boca open talks as Verratti considers next move

Boca Juniors have begun planning their 2026 Copa Libertadores return, and head honcho Riquelme is already targeting elite reinforcements. According to , one name at the top of the list is Verratti, who left PSG in 2023 for a new chapter in Qatar but is now looking for a fresh challenge after a difficult campaign marked by injury and limited minutes.

The Italian midfielder joined Al Duhail this summer after two seasons at Al Arabi, yet spent much of November recovering from a muscle injury. Despite signing a contract through June 2026, the Italian has privately explored the possibility of leaving early, speaking with clubs in Italy including Inter, AC Milan and Juventus as he weighs his next step.

Those conversations led to a new idea, sparked by discussions with former PSG teammates Cavani, Herrera and Paredes. The trio encouraged him to consider Argentina and the possibility of joining Boca, prompting Riquelme to step in. The club chief has already made direct contact with Verratti and even started wooing his wife, Jessica Aidi, by introducing opportunities in Buenos Aires – a clear signal of Boca’s intent.

AdvertisementAFPA reunion years in the making and a Libertadores vision

This potential move reflects Boca’s broader strategy ahead of the 2026 Libertadores campaign. Riquelme is determined to assemble a veteran core with international pedigree, and Verratti fits the blueprint perfectly: a Champions League-proven midfielder, a former Italy international, and a player who has spent a decade competing at the top of European football. It also underlines Boca’s ongoing effort to build a squad capable of dominating South America, much like their “Euro Boca” phase in past years. 

Cavani, signed in 2023, was the first major piece, followed by Herrera and Paredes, who helped advocate for Verratti. The possibility of a PSG-style midfield reunion in Buenos Aires signals just how far Boca are willing to go to regain continental supremacy. Meanwhile, Verratti’s desire to return to high-level competition works in Boca’s favour. After exploring Serie A interest and considering a return to Italy, a Libertadores challenge offers both prestige and a new kind of sporting motivation, one he appears increasingly open to.

Contract status, departure dynamics & a Dybala twist

Despite the excitement surrounding the move, the deal is complicated. As Verratti is still under contract with Al Duhail, Boca must either negotiate an early exit or hope the midfielder presses for a release. For now, the player’s camp has begun sounding out exit options, and the Qatari club are aware of his desire to leave.

Beyond Verratti, Boca fans have also been buzzing over a separate rumour involving Paulo Dybala. The Roma star has been loosely linked with the club due to his contract situation in Italy and past comments about Argentine football. While the Dybala talk remains speculative, his name adds even more intrigue to Boca’s 2026 project. If both moves somehow materialised, Boca would suddenly boast a squad filled with some of the biggest names to ever play in South America.

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Getty Images SportNegotiations underway as Boca push for a blockbuster signing

Verratti is Boca’s clearest target, and Riquelme has already activated the early steps of his recruitment strategy. The midfielder’s openness to leaving Qatar combined with encouragement from Cavani, Herrera and Paredes makes this more than just a dream. Progress now depends on whether Boca can strike an agreement with Al Duhail or find a creative exit route before mid-2026. With the Libertadores return looming, the Argentine giants want the deal done well before the continental campaign begins.

One thing is certain, if Verratti completes the move, Boca’s ambition for 2026 becomes unmistakable. And with Cavani, Herrera and Paredes already in the dressing room, the stage is set for one of the most surprising South American reunions in recent memory.

The 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star starters were announced on Wednesday night. National League frontrunner for MVP, Shohei Ohtani, and American League MVP candidate Aaron Judge highlighted the lists for both leagues, securing their spots earlier this month as leading vote-getters.

Now we know which players will fill out the AL and NL starting lineups alongside them.

The 2025 Major League All-Star game is set for Tuesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. ET at Truist Park in Atlanta.

American League All-Star Starters

C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

2B: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers

SS: Jacob Wilson, Athletics

3B: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

OF: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers

OF: Javier Baez, Detroit Tigers

DH: Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles

National League All-Stars

C: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

1B: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers

2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets

3B: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres

OF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

OF: Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Moghees Ahmed had his registrations as an agent suspended by the ECB in March

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Aug-2025England’s Cricket Regulator has handed a prominent agent a five-year ban from “any cricket-related activity” that falls under the ECB’s jurisdiction. Moghees Ahmed, who fronts the International Cricketers Association, was ruled to have made a corrupt approach to the head coach of a county and will serve a minimum of 30 months of his suspension.The Cricket Regulator ruled in March that Ahmed – who represents a number of prominent Pakistan players – had proposed an arrangement whereby a coach would receive a share of his commission in exchange for selecting certain players he represents in franchise leagues. The coach reported the approach later that day, and a tribunal was satisfied that it had been made.Ahmed was found guilty of four charges of breaching the ECB’s anti-corruption code and had his registration to act as an agent suspended. He has now been “declared ineligible” for five years from March 26, 2025, with the first 30 months served in full and the remaining 30 suspended on condition of no further offences and the completion of an anti-corruption education programme.”Moghees Ahmed sought to engage a professional county coach in a corrupt scheme which would have had serious consequences for the integrity of cricket in England and Wales and beyond,” Chris Haward, the director of the Cricket Regulator, said in a statement.”This lengthy ban rightly reflects the seriousness of the conspiracy Ahmed sought to embark upon. Offering, seeking or taking illicit financial inducements for selection is never acceptable and strikes at the heart of the integrity of our sport. Where corrupt conduct is suspected, it will be investigated and those responsible will be held to account.”This case came to light due to the courage of the coach and others who reported their concerns within moments of the corrupt offer being made. They have also greatly assisted the investigation and tribunal process and are commended for their conduct.”Ahmed told ESPNcricinfo that he “categorically denies all allegations” made against him and “rejects the decisions of the ECB tribunal”. He added that he is “considering legal options to challenge the decision”.

After winning three games in a row, Manchester United’s run came to an end against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday with the Red Devils held by Sean Dyche’s side, made to settle for a 2-2 draw on the road.

Despite taking a first-half lead through Casemiro, Ruben Amorim’s side were behind five minutes into the second 45, after goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nicolo Savona. However, a sensational 81st-minute strike from Amad on the volley was enough for United to secure a point in the East Midlands.

Despite having the majority of possession, United struggled to break down the low block deployed by Dyche. The Red Devils managed 18 shots at the Forest goal, but, concerningly, ten of those were from outside of the penalty area.

Another concern for United is the fact that they didn’t create one big chance in the game. Forest did, and scored from it, but it did feel like Amorim’s side struggled to create chances against the deep block of Forest.

Someone who was directly affected by that was Benjamin Sesko, who struggled against the men in Garibaldi Red.

Why Benjamin Sesko struggled against Forest

It is certainly not ideal for your number nine to be so isolated when you are trying to break down a side that played as Forest did. After a run of good form, Sesko could barely get into the game at the City Ground.

Incredibly, the Slovenian striker has just 21 touches of the ball, fewer than any other starter for either side. He was incredibly isolated, which must have frustrated Amorim. Their summer signing has shown great instinct in the penalty box and excellent link-up play, so he needs to be in the game more.

Yet, Sesko did try and have an impact in front of goal. The 22-year-old had three shots, and whilst two of them were from inside the area, none of them found the target and tested Matz Sels.

After what was a largely anonymous performance from United’s number 30, he was given a 5/10 for his performance by Steven Railston of the Manchester Evening News.

He did praise the striker for the fact that he “provided a focal point” for United, although they didn’t use him much.

As tough a night as it was for Sesko, there was a United player who was certainly worse.

Worse than Sesko: Man United's biggest underperformer vs Forest

United’s struggles with breaking down the Forest low block were perhaps emphasised in Sesko’s performance, with the Slovenian barely involved. However, he was not the only person who struggled at the City Ground.

The Red Devils certainly lacked going forward, and one of those players was Diogo Dalot. The Portuguese full-back once again operated at left wing-back, but didn’t offer much going forward, and struggled defensively, notably making fewer passes than Senne Lammens.

Of course, with a 6-foot-5 striker in the box like Sesko, it is ideal for the United wingbacks to find him with crosses into the box.

Dalot, however, failed to complete a cross from two chances, and defensively, he only won three out of eight duels.

Touches

43

Passes completed

21/24

Possession lost

12

Ground duels won

2/5

Aerial duels won

1/3

Crosses completed

0/2

Key passes

0

Railston was certainly critical of the former FC Porto defender. He gave Dalot a 3/10 for his performance and said the Portugal international was “exposed at various stages of the contest” against Forest.

Well, he was certainly not the only person to feel frustrated with Dalot’s performance. United content creator Dev Bajwa said their number two has “got to be dropped” by Amorim ahead of their next game, a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Thomas Frank’s Spurs.

At the end of the game, Amorim pointed out that Dalot can struggle to find crosses because “he’s a right-footer.” Well, factoring that in on top of this tough performance against Forest, it makes sense that the Portugal star might be dropped.

Amorim has options, too. Patrick Dorgu could operate as a left wing-back, a role for which he was signed by Amorim. Alternatively, Luke Shaw could play higher up with Ayden Heaven or Harry Maguire coming into the side, although this seems less likely.

All things considered, it is clear to see why Dalot might be rotated out of the side to face Spurs next week. Having a left footer in the side would surely be a benefit for the Red Devils, as they look to get back on track with a win.

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