Another Sunderland player is set to miss his side’s Championship clash with Plymouth Argyle this weekend, according to manager Regis Le Bris.

Sunderland suffer Abdullahi injury blow

The Black Cats are looking to continue their pre-international break form on Saturday afternoon, as they make the trip to lowly Plymouth. Another win would make it five victories in a row for Le Bris’ side, which would further suggest that they are genuine promotion contenders this season.

Ahead of Sunderland’s long trip to the south west, they have been dealt a blow with the news that summer signing Ahmed Abdullahi will be out for the foreseeable future, potentially even missing as much as three months of action.

Le Bris himself has given an update on the situation, saying: “Ahmed is different because he will have surgery. He will probably have ten to 12 weeks off the pitch. It wasn’t so clear when we signed him. We need an expert to understand exactly what the problem was. Now, we know. The diagnosis is clear and it will be solved after this surgery.”

Sunderland will know the importance of keeping players fit throughout the season, with fitness woes having the potential to derail any campaign, and another individual is now also confirmed to be unavailable for the Plymouth game this weekend.

Sunderland also without Salis Abdul Samed vs Plymouth

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Thursday [via Sunderland AFC News], Le Bris said that new loan signing Salis Abdul Samed also won’t be available for selection for another week or 10 days, despite returning to training. “Salis is now training in the first part of the sessions, and he will be available for selection in eight or ten days.”

It makes sense for Le Bris not to rush Samed into the team too quickly, as he searches for full fitness in training, but it’s still a shame not to have him in contention to feature this weekend, even if it was from the substitutes’ bench.

The 24-year-old has the potential to be an important signing for Sunderland, coming in on a season-long loan deal from Lens, looking to give them an extra spark in midfield. He is a 19-cap Ghana international, which immediately stands out when assessing his pedigree, and he has also made 91 appearances in Ligue 1, showing that he can perform in one of Europe’s big five leagues, while Ghana manager Otto Addo has said of him:

“The way Abdul Salis was running and how he controlled the game was really, really impressive. But all the others did well too. To hold them with ten-men in their half and pin them was a massive thing. We had good possessions; we helped and supported each other in the right timing, especially Abdul Salis.”

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Hopefully, Samed’s debut won’t be too far away, perhaps coming at home to Middlesbrough next weekend (Saturday, 12.30pm), should he show enough progress in training in the coming days.

Bancroft, Jones see Durham home by 10 wickets in final over on third day

ECB Reporters' Network05-Jun-2021

Jake Libby scored 126 in a losing cause•MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Worcestershire opener Jake Libby’s third century of the summer was unable to prevent Durham from triumphing by 10 wickets on day three of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at New Road.Libby struck 126 to take his run tally for the campaign to 776 – a figure only bettered by Durham batsman David Bedingham with 787. He received support throughout the day from the middle to lower order as Worcestershire totalled 336 all out after resuming on 99 for 3.But the home side were only able to set a modest 87 target and Cameron Bancroft (46 not out) and Michael Jones (34 not out) saw them home without being parted in the final over of the day.Related

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Durham’s third win keeps them in contention for a top-two spot when they resume Championship action in early July. They have a potent attack, even in the absence of England’s Mark Wood, spearheaded by Chris Rushworth, Brydon Carse and Ben Raine.But Matty Potts also stepped up to the mark in his second appearance of the campaign with match figures of 36.3-10-98-8.Worcestershire’s hopes ended with this third defeat in the last four games after drawing the first five fixtures. They were playing catch-up after being bowled out for 131 on the opening day thanks to a mixture of excellent bowling and poor shot selection before Bedingham and Michael Jones pressed home the advantage for Durham with the bat.Rushworth made the first breakthrough of the day when nightwatchman Josh Tongue was lbw for 15.Raine struck in his first over with Ross Whiteley on four driving at a delivery slanted across him and edging to Bancroft at first slip.Brett D’Oliveira, who had top-scored with an unbeaten 39 in Worcestershire’s first innings, looked in good form. He straight drove Potts for four and clipped Raine through mid-wicket for another boundary.Libby had a let-off on 75 when keeper Ned Eckersley failed to hold onto a chance off Rushworth. But otherwise he and D’Oliveira played with freedom and the century stand came up immediately after lunch from 147 balls.Carse bowled a testing post-lunch spell to Libby, who was caught at first slip off a no ball on 96. He went to his hundred – from 180 balls – with his 14th four.D’Oliveira, after making an accomplished 46, was bowled by Potts from a delivery which kept low to end a 106-run partnership with Libby.Libby struck three successive boundaries off Potts but his fine knock ended on 126 when he gave spinner Scott Borthwick the charge and was stumped. His 210-ball knock contained 18 fours.Cox made 26 before he was caught at second slip off Raine and captain Joe Leach, with 19, top-edged Potts and was caught behind.Ed Barnard was left unbeaten on 34 after last man Dillon Pennington edged Carse to second slip.

Amid a hectic transfer window, Aston Villa are reportedly willing to pay £30m to end their summer by signing a backup for Ollie Watkins, who Unai Emery and Monchi love.

Aston Villa transfer news

The Villans are undoubtedly among the winners of the summer transfer window, welcoming the likes of Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana and Jaden Philogene. The opening day of their Premier League campaign presented that success too, with Emery's side picking up a hard-fought 2-1 victory over West Ham United, in which Hammers target Jhon Duran netted a winning goal that was not short on irony at the London Stadium.

Even after picking up those three points to get their campaign underway courtesy of Duran, those in the Midlands look set to make their move to sign another backup for Watkins.

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The England international enjoyed an excellent season last time out and took that form into Euro 2024 – becoming England's hero in their semi-final victory over the Netherlands – but can't take on the responsibility for Villa at all times. With both the Champions League and Premier League to balance, another backup wouldn't go amiss.

According to reports in Spain relayed by Sport Witness, Aston Villa are now willing to pay as much as €35m (£30m) to sign Samu Omorodion from Atletico Madrid in the final nine days of the transfer window. Omorodion was, of course, on his way to Chelsea at one stage before the move broke down and Atletico instead sold Joao Felix to the Blues as they welcomed Conor Gallagher.

Now, it's Villa who could take advantage. Monchi and Emery are reportedly fans of the forward and with a deal accelerating, Omoriodion could yet become a Premier League player.

"Powerful" Omorodion could complete Emery's attacking options

Having two high-standard forwards in Watkins and Duran hands Emery a major boost, but adding a third option could complete his attacking options once and for all. And Omorodion is a solid candidate to become that option. The Spaniard spent last season on loan at Alaves, where he showed just how much potential he has at just 20 years old.

League stats 23/24 (via FBref)	Samu Omorodion	Jhon Duran	Ollie Watkins
Goals	9	5	19
Assists	1	0	13
Expected Goals	11.5	2	16.8
Minutes	1,998	475	3,217

Although the Atletico Madrid man scored below what was expected last season, his numbers still make for positive reading with nine goals to his name last season. Of course, the clinical nature of Duran may create question marks over just where Omorodion would fall in the pecking order, but those questions and competition for places should be seen as a positive for Emery.

Praised as a "powerful finisher" by analyst Ben Mattinson, Omoriodion will be one to keep an eye on in the closing stages of the window. He came close to completing a move to Stamford Bridge, but may yet end the summer wearing the claret and blue of Aston Villa.

Let’s all just calm down a minute, why don’t we? First of all, let’s be candid. Liverpool have not enjoyed the transfer window that supporters hoped for, with gaps remaining in defence and midfield.

Martin Zubimendi was the man for the role at No. 6, perfectly press-resistant and tailor-made for Arne Slot’s control-focused system, but despite giving Richard Hughes the indication he would move to Anfield, Real Sociedad’s ferocious efforts to keep him in the Basque Country prevailed.

The Athletic’s James Pearce has since issued the solemn statement that Liverpool simply didn’t feel there was a suitable alternative on the market. Spending for the sake of spending is not FSG’s way, has never been, and prudence may yet prove to be the right decision.

Ryan Gravenberch has shown that he’s apt to succeed in the deep-sitting midfield position, with promising performances to start the season. It’s an internal solution but were the 22-year-old brought in this month, fans would rejoice at Liverpool’s innovation and ambition.

Ryan Gravenberch: Premier League Stats
Stats (*per game)	2023/24	2024/25
Matches (starts)	26 (12)	2 (2)
Goals	1	0
Assists	0	0
Touches*	28.8	80.5
Pass completion	83%	90%
Key passes*	0.6	0.00
Dribbles*	0.9	1.0
Ball recoveries*	2.8	5.0
Tackles + interceptions*	1.5	4.5
Total duels won (%)	2.8 (47%)	5.0 (50%)
Stats via Sofascore

Is it perfect? No, but Liverpool are in a transitional season that may yet bring silverware through the doors. And anyway, Liverpool completed their attack with the transfer of Federico Chiesa – and what a signing at that.

Why Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa

Many would point to Liverpool’s sole summer signing as a gamble, but Anfield bosses would stress that the shrewd deal is an emphatic move for a small fee – an initial £10m, to be exact.

Versatile and hard-working, the Italy international has myriad qualities that will enhance the creativity and fluency of Slot’s system, though the 26-year-old leaves his homeland with a shoddy injury record that has wrecked much of his growth.

Federico Chiesa: Career Stats by Position
Position	Apps	Goals	Assists	G/A Rate
Right winger	130	42	22	0.49
Left winger	72	15	16	0.43
Attacking midfield	71	15	10	0.35
Centre-forward	17	3	4	0.41
Stats via Transfermarkt

Following Liverpool’s signing, Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports News that Chiesa was a “£70m player” back in 2021, having starred at Euro 2020, playing an instrumental role in his nation’s victorious campaign.

He was also hailed for his “absolutely world-class” performances by journalist Zach Lowy during that period, and will hope to recapture that heady form, now at Liverpool.

Moreover, Chiesa will hope that he has put his injury issues to bed after featuring at the front and centre of Juventus’ 2023/24 term, starting 25 Serie A fixtures and scoring ten times in all competitions.

Should his fitness hold up, it’s hard to imagine that Liverpool have landed anything other than a masterful piece of business, bringing depth and dynamism to a team that already boasted one of Europe’s superlative frontlines.

Mohamed Salah is the cream of the crop, but he’s not the only superstar in the ranks, with Darwin Nunez looking to raise his game and live up to that club-record price tag, rising to £85m, that saw him brought in from Benfica two years ago.

Why Liverpool have hit gold on Darwin Nunez

An interesting striker, Nunez. Jurgen Klopp fell in love with the Uruguayan’s footballing ability during the 2021/22 season and orchestrated his transfer following an incredible season with Benfica that saw him score 34 goals from 41 matches, including two against Liverpool, two against Barcelona and one more against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

He’s only scored 33 goals across 97 appearances since joining the Merseysiders, missing not so much a catalogue as a thick tome of chances in the Premier League – 47, in fact, despite scoring just 20 times. That’s not a good shooting rate.

Still, Nunez might be wasteful in front of goal but it is something that, if fixed, would place him among the finest forwards in the world: Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

His underlying numbers speak volumes. As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 4% for assists, the top 13% for shot-creating actions, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

His positional value, his movements and his endless energy tank suggest that Liverpool could yet hit the jackpot on their maverick, who might flourish within Slot’s ball-playing style of football.

Nunez has played a bit-part role throughout the first month of Slot’s reign, but expect big things down the line. He’s a top-class forward and reportedly even attracted interest from Arsenal in the late stage of the transfer window.

Indeed, according to Spanish sources, Nunez was on the Gunners’ radar this week, with Mikel Arteta and his transfer team mulling over completing a stunning £73m transfer.

This would have been a deal that would have sent shockwaves through English football, but alas, nothing concrete materialised and the £140k-per-week talent remains at Liverpool.

But it does serve as a marker of the player’s skill set, and the high regard in which he is held by Europe’s elite. Chiesa, for example, is an excellent player but his £13m transfer to Liverpool means that he’s currently worth far less than the South American star – with CIES Football Observatory noting that he could be valued at as much as €111m (£94m).

There’s absolutely no reason why the respective players cannot strike a formidable partnership at Liverpool, with Chiesa even ranking among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions per 90 (FBref).

Will Liverpool hit gold with their Italian addition? Only time will tell. But for Nunez, despite his foibles, Liverpool already have, for he adds something different to a vibrant frontline and is worth quite the pretty penny – now imagine a world where he solves his ball-striking quandary.

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شهد أشرف صبحي، وزير الشباب والرياضة، المباراة الاستعراضية التي جمعت بين نخبة من نجوم كرة القدم العالمية بقيادة النجم الإيطالي فرانشيسكو توتي، ونجوم الكرة المصرية بقيادة الكابتن حسن شحاتة، وذلك في إطار الترويج لمصر كوجهة رياضية وسياحية عالمية.

وشارك في المباراة نخبة من أساطير كرة القدم، من بينهم: الإيطالي فرانشيسكو توتي، البرازيلي جوليو سيزار، الإيطالي ماركو ماتيرازي، الفرنسي ديفيد تريزيجيه، الإيطالي جيانلوكا زامبروتا، البرازيلي كافو، البرازيلي أليكس، إلى جانب نخبة من نجوم الكرة المصرية، أبرزهم الكابتن حسن شحاتة، الكابتن أحمد فتحي، الكابتن محمد بركات، الكابتن عصام الحضري، الكابتن محمد ناجي جدو، الكابتن عبد الستار صبري، الكابتن حسني عبد ربه، الكابتن جمال حمزة، والكابتن هاني سعيد، وبحضور نخبة من السادة الصحفيين والإعلاميين.

من جانبه، أكد أشرف صبحي وزير الشباب والرياضة، أن هذا الحدث يعكس ريادة مصر على خريطة الرياضة الدولية، ويعزز ثقة الشخصيات الرياضية العالمية في قدراتنا التنظيمية والبنية التحتية المتطورة، كما أوضح أن استقدام نجوم الكرة العالمية يسهم في تنشيط السياحة الرياضية وإحداث نهضة رياضية شاملة.

وزارة الرياضة ترد على شكوى نادي دمياط.. وحظر مواقع المراهنات في الأندية المصرية

كما اوضح وزير الشباب والرياضة أن إقامة مثل هذه الفعاليات الكبرى لا تقتصر فقط على الترويج لمصر كوجهة رياضية وسياحية، بل تحمل رسالة واضحة بأن الدولة المصرية تدعم رياضييها، وتوفر بيئة مثالية لاكتشاف المواهب وصقل مهاراتهم، من خلال الاحتكاك بأفضل الخبرات العالمية.

وتعمل وزارة الشباب والرياضة جاهدة على تطوير البنية التحتية الرياضية، ليس فقط لاستضافة البطولات الكبرى، ولكن أيضًا لإتاحة الفرصة أمام الأجيال الصاعدة لإثبات قدراتها على المستوى الدولي.

وشدد أشرف صبحي على أن القيادة السياسية تولي اهتمامًا كبيرًا بتطوير الرياضة في مصر، باعتبارها وسيلة لتعزيز القوة الناعمة المصرية.

وأوضح: “استضافة نجوم العالم في مختلف الرياضات يرسخ مكانة مصر كدولة قادرة على تنظيم واستضافة كبرى الفعاليات الرياضية، ويعزز من ثقة المجتمع الرياضي الدولي في قدرتها على احتضان البطولات العالمية”.

كما دعا وزير الشباب والرياضة جميع الشباب إلى استلهام روح النجاح من هؤلاء النجوم، مؤكدًا أن الدولة المصرية ستظل داعمة لمواهبها الرياضية في مختلف الألعاب، وستوفر لهم كل الإمكانيات الممكنة ليكونوا سفراء لمصر في المحافل الرياضية العالمية.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly plotting a brand-new role for fan favourite Kai Havertz ahead of their north London derby clash against Tottenham, and the tactical tweak will also impact deadline day summer signing Raheem Sterling.

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The north Londoners go into this all-important match against Spurs off the back of their first dropped points of the new Premier League campaign, with Brighton holding Arteta's side to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium last weekend.

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Joao Pedro's second-half strike cancelled out a stunning lobbed finish from Havertz, but the game also had disastrous consequences for star midfielder Declan Rice, who was perhaps unfairly sent off for two bookable offences against the Seagulls.

Rice will now miss Arsenal's trip to Tottenham, with summer signing Mikel Merino also sidelined for nearly two months after fracturing his shoulder in training at London Colney.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Merino could be their fourth potential absentee, as both Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are also very unlikely to feature in Arsenal's next game, with no return date confirmed yet for the pair.

Rice and Merino's absence in particular will leave Arteta pretty short in midfield, but there is some good news, as Sterling could well make his Arsenal debut against Spurs following his arrival at the eleventh hour on deadline day.

The 29-year-old, who worked under Arteta at Man City, is a proven Premier League player who boasts plenty of both goals and assists from stints at every high-profile English club he's been with.

Sterling also possesses big-game and trophy-winning experience, which will be invaluable for Arteta, as he seeks to make it third-time-lucky and finally beat his old mentor Pep Guardiola to a domestic league crown.

Arteta plotting new Havertz role which will impact Sterling at Arsenal

The Chelsea loanee, according to GiveMeSport this week, is set to have a big say on Arsenal's starting eleven and tactical plans for their face-off against Spurs.

It is believed that Arteta is planning to drop Havertz deeper and play Sterling in a false-nine role against Tottenham, as both Merino and Rice's unavailibility requires the Gunners to make significant changes in that area of the park.

The tactical gamble would remove Havertz from a position where he has been starring for Arsenal since he signed from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, with the German already scoring two goals and registering an assist in their opening three matches.

"He’s so intelligent; he ghosts through," said Arsenal legend Martin Keown on the 25-year-old's displays lately.

"As a centre-half, you want someone to mark, but when he keeps disappearing into midfield all the time you get a bit nervous, and suddenly he’s there with two or three other players, so he can be really effective and that’s working for Arsenal."

Khadka was a talismanic figure in Nepal and the longest-serving captain in Associate Cricket before resigning in 2019

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Aug-2021Former Nepal captain Paras Khadka has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 33-year old allrounder, who started out representing Nepal at the Under-15 level in 2002, played 10 ODIs and 33 T20Is and served as captain from 2009 to 2019, which made him the longest-serving captain in Associate cricket when he had resigned from the role.Related

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“Playing for Nepal has been my biggest achievement and for that, I will always be indebted towards my coaches, players, fans, stakeholders, friends and family for their continuous support over the last 18 years since I started as a young 15-year-old, back in 2002,” Khadka said in a statement on his Twitter account.”Why now? Because it’s about time. As a cricketer, I have given my heart, blood and soul and have always dreamt to achieve better for my country. My ultimate dream is to see Nepal have a better cricketing system for which I have spent all my energy in the last two decades and to improve it will require equal support from everyone in the cricketing community and beyond.”I believe with everyone’s honest effort and intention; we will be able to do so.”

pic.twitter.com/btB0k11Xqe

— Paras Khadka (@paras77) August 3, 2021