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The England international forward burst onto the scene in 2023-24, and is enjoying an excellent sophomore season under Sonia Bompastor

When Emma Hayes departed Chelsea last summer after 12 remarkable years at the helm, it was only natural for there to be some trepidation about the club’s next chapter. As Sonia Bompastor arrived from Lyon, where she won the Champions League as a player and a coach, fans sat and wondered whether she would be the right fit. The squad, too, shaped entirely by Hayes, had a new face to impress.

As Aggie Beever-Jones, the 21-year-old academy product who enjoyed her breakout season in Hayes’ final year, pondered what the change could mean, her mother had done some “research”. “She was like, ‘Oh, she’s known for developing young players’,” the forward tells GOAL with a laugh. So far, Bompastor has lived up to that billing, while also having not yet tasted defeat as the Blues’ boss.

Along with youngsters such as Wieke Kaptein and Maika Hamano, Beever-Jones has played a growing role in that success, already surpassing her minutes and starts from last season while having a best-ever goal return well within her sights. She has won high praise from Bompastor and made her first England start back in December, with a place in Sarina Wiegman’s squad for this summer’s European Championship well up-for-grabs.

"She has a lot of quality, she is able to score and help the team to possess the ball,” Bompastor told earlier this season. “She just needs to trust herself more sometimes.” It’s a message that is getting through to Beever-Jones as the business end of the season approaches and she looks to produce big moments for a club she admits she still has to “pinch” herself at times to believe she is representing.

Getty ImagesGreater expectations

Last year was huge for Beever-Jones. After loan spells with Bristol City, in the Championship, and Everton, in the Women’s Super League, she finally got her chance in the first-team at Chelsea, the club she joined aged nine. Despite starting just six league games, the young forward bagged 11 goals, plus two more in the cups, helped the Blues win the Women's Super League and concluded her season with a first England cap. As a result, the expectation was raised around her, though it was something that she struggled to deal with at first.

“I think at the start of this season, I kind of realised what I did last year, if that makes sense, and the achievements I made,” Beever-Jones tells GOAL. “While the whole season was going on, I was almost just engulfed in it. I never really took a step back and thought, 'Oh, I've scored 13 goals for Chelsea’, which I never thought would have happened.

“I think I got to the point at the start of this season where I was in my own head a little bit about it all, going, 'Oh, I've got to match those stats from last year or beat them'. And I had the reputation of the super-sub last year, so every time I wasn't starting and I came on, I felt that I had to score.”

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRelieving the pressure

It was a different feeling to the start of the previous season, when Beever-Jones almost had nothing to lose. Of course, there is the pressure that comes with playing for Chelsea and the pressure that anyone representing the club puts on themselves to perform. But she was a young player looking to break through; the expectation was more on the experienced heads around her.

How, then, did she shake that growing weight off her shoulders this year? “I think it was just almost taking a step back and just relieving that pressure,” Beever-Jones says. “I only put the pressure on myself because I knew what I was capable of and sometimes, inevitably, you do overthink some things. For me, scoring the West Ham goal [in January] was nice, because I felt it was almost a bit of, 'Oh, you still got it'. Sometimes when you get a few games where maybe you haven't scored or you haven't had your best performances, to get a goal back is always a nice little pick you up, almost.

“Sometimes it is just taking a step back and talking – I have such a great support network around me – and trusting those people, that they can help me out. I've been extremely lucky. For me, football is such a confidence sport. I think when you're confident and you have people that you can rely on that can really help you get out of those little ruts… I'm in a good place now and I think it's just continuing that, managing my expectations, managing disappointment, in terms of, if I've made a mistake, how do I react to that? I think that's definitely something that I've improved on massively and that has helped me out.

“I'm in a good place mentally now where it is just making sure I go out onto that pitch and I make the people happy that I need to make happy. I work hard, create things for the team, whether that's scoring or assisting, which is obviously a great bonus, but for me, it is just playing well. I think that's the main thing, focusing on my performance, and everything else will fall into place.”

Getty ImagesGrowing in stature

Things have been falling into place, too. Beever-Jones is becoming a more regular starter for her childhood club and has been included in every England squad since last May. Aiding her ability to compete for spots in two extremely talented sides is her admirable versatility, which has seen her deployed on the right wing, left wing, as a centre-forward and even in the No.10 role this season.

“I think it is just trusting my own ability and what I know in each position and being able to add my own unique bit of flair to it,” she says. “I definitely have developed that side of my game.

“I know, being at Chelsea, it's never straightforward. You have different personnel for different positions, different connections. One that springs to mind is Lauren James. When she plays on the wing, she inverts a lot more, which allows Sandy [Baltimore] or me to get around. So I think it is just creating the connections and I think at Chelsea, we're such a team, we're a team who rotate as well, so it is just managing the rotations and maybe falling out into a different position than usual.”

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Getty ImagesLearning from the best

Fortunately for the 21-year-old, she is surrounded by knowledgeable people who can share nuggets of information to help her adjust, adapt and thrive. Among those are the likes of Sam Kerr, Mia Fishel and Mayra Ramirez, Chelsea’s trio of “world-class” centre-forwards who are teaching Beever-Jones about a role she has needed to understand more in recent times, or the coaching duo of Bompastor and assistant Camille Abily, who have enjoyed the highest of highs both on the pitch and in the dugout.

“For me, it is just making sure I have a good relationship with Sonia off the pitch and then trusting what she needs from me on the pitch,” the Chelsea star believes. “I think she's really helped me with some finer details. Cami as well. I really respect Cami. I think she's technically such a good coach. I know she tells me little details that sometimes might not even be that recognisable, but it's the finer margins which make you a bit different from everyone else.

"They're both so talented as coaches and I feel extremely lucky to be able to work with both of them, and I can see my game is developing. It's always nice to feel that you're developing. I'm still quite young, a 21-year-old at one of the best clubs. Sometimes it is a bit of a 'pinch me' moment. But I am really enjoying it and I think it is just not being so hard on myself and making the right people happy.”

Lack of biobubbles at DPL “was one of the reasons I signed the contract,” Pakistan veteran jokes

Mohammad Isam16-Mar-2022Mohammad Hafeez is playing in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League in Bangladesh for his “own enjoyment and passion” and to “inspire youngsters”, but he will have a big job to do at his team, Mohammedan Sporting, too, as they are without some of the top international players, who are on tour in South Africa.”I am playing for my own enjoyment and passion, and to inspire and help youngsters around the world,” Hafeez, Player of the Match in the PSL final last month, said. “My motivation is to enjoy the cricket. I am retired from international cricket but, personally, I still have something in me to give to cricket. I try to inspire the youngsters, so that they can learn from me. I always try to be helpful to everyone, whoever wants me in their game.Related

Prime Bank hit hard as Mithun and Raja travel to SA

Vihari, Easwaran among seven Indians at DPL

“I didn’t play ODIs in the last couple of years, but I believe I can do well in this format. I try to hit the same fitness levels every day that is required at the international level. Mohammedan were very welcoming, they were kind in handling lots of things.”Hafeez’s heroics helped Lahore Qalandars lift the PSL trophy for the first time this season, and he is now with a team that is looking for their first DPL title since 2009-10. And they are missing Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Abu Jayed, who are all in South Africa.”Some of the teams will miss their best players,” Hafeez said. “They are on the tour. It is a good opportunity for the youngsters to show their talent. We are very confident that we will do well as a team. We have some international experience like Soumya Sarkar. It will be good to be part of Mohammedan club.”Hafeez said, half-jokingly, that he became more excited about playing in the DPL when he was told that there wouldn’t be ant biobubbles.”It was one of the reasons I signed the contract,” he said. “I asked him [a team official] if there’s a biobubble, he said, ‘no’. I said, ‘I am coming’. I wanted to be a part of this beautiful Muslim culture. I want to move around freely, enjoy my stay, enjoy the cricket. Biobubble gets on you mentally. In this league, everyone will enjoy a little bit extra.

“You need to be result-oriented. No one wants to watch drawn Tests. The fans basically want results, which is why Super Over has been inducted in T20s. Draws aren’t the best way to move forward”Mohammad Hafeez on the Pakistan vs Australia Test series

“We all are human. We spent two-and-a-half months in England, without our family. It can break you mentally. You don’t feel like a human being staying in a controlled environment. Everyone needs a bit of freedom, so now we all know how to live a life in Covid.”Hafeez admitted that he would be interested in a role in Pakistan cricket in the future, but doesn’t want to hurry into anything: “At the moment, I am enjoying my cricket, giving time to my family members. I am not a job-seeker. If I can add value in any system, I will definitely opt for it.”Hafeez has also kept an eye on the ongoing Tests in Pakistan and said that Australia had showed more intent than the home team in the series so far. At the start of the fifth day of the second Test in Karachi, Pakistan were 192 for 2 and needed another 314 runs to win, after the first game in Rawalpindi ended in a high-scoring draw on a “below-average”pitch.”You need to be result-oriented,” Hafeez said. “No one wants to watch drawn Tests. The fans basically want results, which is why Super Over has been inducted in T20s. Draws aren’t the best way to move forward.”We all want Test cricket to be the No. 1 format of international cricket. I don’t mind assistance to seamers or spinners, but there should be a result. I am a fan of Test cricket, so it feels more when you know on the first day it is going to be a draw. There’s no excitement then. Intent wasn’t good, but so far Australians are showing a little bit more intent to win the game and the series.”

Tammy Beaumont reprised the run-hungry form that earned her the Player of the Tournament award at last year’s World Cup, as England completed a come-from-behind 2-1 series win

The Report by Andrew Miller15-Jun-20182:49

‘Heather Knight is captain cool’ – Beaumont

England 232 for 3 (Beaumont 105, Knight 80*) beat South Africa 229 (van Niekerk 95) by seven wickets
ScorecardTammy Beaumont reprised the run-hungry form that earned her the Player of the Tournament award at last year’s World Cup, as England completed a come-from-behind 2-1 series win over South Africa with a seven-wicket victory in the third ODI at Canterbury.Set a target of 229 after a mixed South African innings that featured a powerful knock of 95 from Dane van Niekerk as well as another masterclass of wicketkeeping skills from Sarah Taylor, Beaumont’s 105 guided her team’s fortunes, as she and Heather Knight (80 not out) added 154 for the third wicket to seal the series with 36 balls to spare.It was a one-sided final flurry from England, as Beaumont completed her fifth ODI hundred from 121 balls with 13 fours. It was her third against South Africa, and second in the space of three days, and though she fell lbw to Marizanne Kapp two balls after sealing this latest landmark, Knight and Nat Sciver carried England home with no further alarms.It was England’s most complete performance of an entertaining and competitive series – and it secured their ninth consecutive series win against South Africa since their rivalry began in 1997.A major factor in the ease of England’s victory was undoubtedly the early extraction of their nemesis from the opening two contests, Lizelle Lee, who was thwacked on the pad by a big inswinger from Anya Shrubsole for 2. Replays showed that the ball would in fact have missed leg stump, but Lee’s own reaction had been one of horror as she missed a booming drive, and with no recourse to DRS in this series, it was a hammer blow to South Africa’s hopes of setting an imposing total.Nevertheless, Lee’s opening partner, Laura Wolvaardt, set herself to anchor the innings, and after Andrie Steyn had fallen lbw to Sophie Ecclestone’s fourth delivery, she found in van Niekerk an equally determined partner. The pair added 103 for the third wicket, albeit with the assistance from some lacklustre catching from England’s fielders, who shelled three chances. Even so, it took until the 32nd over for South Africa to post their 100, as they were tied down by some diligent line and length from Georgia Elwiss in particular.Van Niekerk stepped up her intent as the front-line seamers, Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt returned to the attack. Wolvaardt, however, found the change in pace harder to compute, and after a fine 64 she holed out tamely to mid-off off Elwiss. Her departure, however, wasn’t the worst result for South Africa, as it brought the aggressive Chloe Tryon to the crease, and she displayed her credentials with a volley of boundaries before picking out Amy Jones on the long-on rope.The outstanding moment of the innings, however, was still to come. That came with van Niekerk on 95, and eyeing up her maiden ODI hundred. Taylor was standing up to the stumps against Brunt, the quickest bowler in England’s ranks, when she scooped a leg-side delivery down at her ankles, and whipped off the bails in a single motion. It was a breathtaking display of class from a keeper who had already pulled off one leg-side blinder in the series opener. This was arguably even better.Moments later, Sune Luis was caught by Sciver before Kapp drilled a drive straight back to the spinner, Laura Marsh. South Africa’s innings ended with a hat-trick of line calls: two run-outs in a row followed by the first-ball stumping of Shabnim Ismail – Taylor, for once, fumbled the initial opportunity, but still had time to recover before the batsman had remade her ground.In response, Beaumont and Amy Jones set a platform in an opening stand of 39, and though Beaumont was fortunate with one lbw appeal, on 16, she barely played a false stroke thereafter. She and Knight made light of a rare misjudgement from Taylor, who played across the line to the impressive Ayabonga Khaka, but by the end, they were displaying the poise of champions. South Africa’s women, however, had proven without doubt that they have closed the gap to the world’s leading teams.

Arsenal and Bournemouth has become a fairly regular Premier League fixture in the past few years.

The Cherries have established themselves as a top-flight mainstay since their first promotion to the Premier League in 2015, returning in 2022 after a couple of seasons away.

Despite only having had a handful of matches against each other, there have been plenty of dazzling goals between the pair.

Here, we count down the 10 best goals from Bournemouth’s matches against the Gunners.

10 Jordon Ibe – January 2018

Jordon Ibe is the first goalscorer on this list and he is etched into the AFC Bournemouth history books as the matchwinner in their first-ever triumph over Arsenal.

Hector Bellerin had given the Gunners the lead at the Vitality Stadium before Callum Wilson made it 1-1.

Wilson then turned provider, with a couple of neat touches setting up Ibe, who made no mistake in powering the ball past goalkeeper Petr Cech – a goal which the Champions League-winning shot-stopper won’t want to see again.

Ibe was a huge prospect at Liverpool, but due to injuries, amongst other reasons, he was never able to live up to the expectations with his most recent stint coming over in Turkey for Adanaspor.

9 Bukayo Saka – January 2020

Bukayo Saka is someone who has lived up to the hype and then some as a Hale End academy graduate, who is now one of Arsenal’s most influential players at just 22 years of age.

Saka has been performing consistently for a few years now and it was him that scored and assisted in the only FA Cup meeting between these two.

He put in a delicious ball that was swept home by Eddie Nketiah, but prior to that, he was fed by Gabriel Martinelli and proceeded to fire the ball into the roof of the net with precision that matched his power.

Sam Surridge scored a late goal for the home side, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation, with Arsenal progressing to the next stage of the tournament. Mikel Arteta’s men went on to win the FA Cup that year, beating London rivals Chelsea in the final just a few months into the Spaniard’s reign.

8 Jefferson Lerma (OG) – November 2018

Next up is quite a peculiar goal in that it was scored at the wrong end of the field.

Alex Iwobi played it down the line for left-back Sead Kolasinac, whose first-time cross went flying beyond the reaches of Cherries’ Asmir Begovic, courtesy of Jefferson Lerma’s intervention.

It was clear he was just trying to intercept the ball and so it was a rather unfortunate moment for the Colombian midfielder – now of Crystal Palace – and one he won’t be glad to be reminded of.

7 Joshua King – November 2018

From that same game, Lerma’s teammate Josh King scored at the right end to cancel out that mistake – and he did so in emphatic fashion.

A rapid counterattack started by Ryan Fraser was rounded off by King, and is a goal that doesn’t get talked about enough.

Everyone played their part, with Fraser driving forward and finding Callum Wilson, who found David Brooks in the middle of the pitch. The Welshman then let the ball do all the work, picking out King, who made no mistake in curling home an equaliser with his weaker left foot.

Bernd Leno had no chance of reaching the strike, though unfortunately, the same can be said regarding Begovic for the third goal in that game, with Kolasinac putting it on a plate for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to slide home the winner.

6 Olivier Giroud – January 2017

With their maiden win over Arsenal yet to be achieved, AFC Bournemouth looked to be well on the way towards it in early 2017 when they stormed into a 3-0 lead at the Vitality.

Charlie Daniels and Ryan Fraser scored either side of a Callum Wilson penalty, with the home side leading for the best part of an hour.

Olivier Giroud was the man to make the difference for the visitors, though, playing a part in all three of the goals that secured a dramatic comeback.

The Frenchman assisted Alexis Sanchez and Lucas Perez as they gave Arsenal the faintest hope of an unlikely turnaround.

The clock had then ticked into the red in more ways than one as Bournemouth had Simon Francis sent off in their efforts to cling on to the three points.

Giroud’s header beyond the 90th minute and beyond Artur Boruc was a solid enough goal, but it is not only the circumstances that ensure that this goal gets a spot on this list, thanks to the striker’s eye-catching celebration.

He imitated a scorpion kick after scoring one against Crystal Palace just a couple of days prior – a momentous strike that earned him a Puskas award for his troubles.

5 Philip Billing – March 2023

The first goal in the top five was from the most recent meeting between Bournemouth and Arsenal.

There were less than 10 seconds gone in the game at the Emirates when Philip Billing stunned the Gunners faithful into silence.

A training ground move from kick-off worked to perfection with Dango Ouattara bursting down the right and finding Billing in the centre, with the Danish all too glad to oblige.

While the game ended in dramatic fashion, this was the second-fastest goal in Premier League history – not quite beating Shane Long’s strike for Southampton against Watford in the 2018/19 campaign.

4 Mesut Ozil – December 2015

Mesut Ozil assisted a Gabriel Paulista header for the opener against Bournemouth in December 2015.

The German maestro was then amongst the goals himself as he masterminded the Gunners to a 2-0 victory in front of their own fans.

Ozil played the perfect one-two with Olivier Giroud and the striker’s chip in behind set up the German, who made no mistake with the finish.

As was often the case with one of the most technically proficient players to ever grace the Premier League, he made it look so easy and effortless as he let the ball bounce before stroking it past oncoming Cherries’ goalkeeper Boruc.

This 2015/16 season was Ozil’s best in the red of Arsenal statistically by some distance, contributing to 25 Premier League goals, including a ridiculous 19 assists. The following year he may have scored two more goals, but he had 10 fewer assists to his name.

3 Mesut Ozil – February 2019

From one Mesut Ozil goal to another… His goal against the Cherries in February 2019 saw him pull it what many would consider to be his signature move, and a skill that very few players even at that level could master quite like he did.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s goal and two assists look just as impressive as Ozil’s two goal contributions in this 5-1 drubbing of Bournemouth in the capital.

But the first goal of the game, scored by Ozil, is what had everyone talking and set the precedent for the remainder of the contest.

Sead Kolasinac played Ozil through, and with on-lookers unsure as to what he could do from this position, he hit the ball into the ground so that the ball looped up over Boruc perfectly. The goalkeeper scrambled to react and got a fingertip on the ball, but had to admit defeat against a truly special talent.

2 Lucas Perez – January 2017

A forgotten name in red takes second place on this list in the form of Lucas Perez.

It never really worked for the diminutive Spaniard in London, whether that be with Arsenal or West Ham United, although he was able to show a few glimpses of magic.

This strike was the second of three for the Gunners in the aforementioned comeback against AFC Bournemouth that was topped off with Giroud’s aerial dominance.

A smart flick over the defence from Giroud set Perez up, and he had no hesitation in lashing the ball into the far-side netting – making it look relatively simple, too.

Perez returned to his home country after departing the London Stadium and is now playing for his beloved Deportivo La Coruna once again in the Spanish third tier.

1 Reiss Nelson – March 2023

With Philip Billing’s shock opener after ten seconds setting up a nervy afternoon in N5, at the top of the list is a finish at the climax of a bonkers game at the Emirates Stadium from last season.

A back-and-forth affair in north London was decided by substitute Reiss Nelson whilst the clock read 90+7 minutes.

Nelson assisted Ben White’s equaliser just moments after he entered the fray in the place of Emile Smith Rowe, who had himself been subbed on when Leandro Trossard picked up an early injury.

Bournemouth were on the verge of securing a big point when a half-cleared corner found its way to Nelson on the edge of the box. He brought it down and struck the perfect shot with his weaker left foot, with pandemonium ensuing at the Emirates as a result.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman is heading to Hampshire for the Blast – and, at 17, he will make England’s legspin novice Mason Crane look an old man by comparison

ESPNcricinfo staff17-May-2018Hampshire have signed the tyro Afghanistan spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman for this year’s Vitality T20 Blast competition, pinning their faith in a 17-year-old legspinner who has already stood up impressively to the pressures of interntional cricket and IPL.Mujeeb, who first shot to priminence by becoming the first international cricketer born in the 21st century, and became the youngest IPL debutant at 17 years 11 days when he turned out for Kings XI Punjab, will be avalable for the entire tournament.Mujeeb’s signing is bound to overshadow the capture of the explosive New Zealand batsman Colin Munro, whose arrival at the Ageas Bowl this summer has also been confirmed. Munro will remain until his Caribbean Premier League commitments in August.Hampshire are banking on a continuation of Mujeeb’s extraordinary entrance into the professional game. He has burst onto the scene in the last 12 months with his ability to bowl ripping off-breaks, leg-breaks and googlies.The 17-year-old first impressed as part of an Afghanistan U19 side that claimed a historic victory in the Under-19 Asia Cup in 2017, and his performances as leading wicket-taker there earned him a full international debut at the age of just 16.Composed beyond his years, he was also a key factor in Afghanistan’s success in the 2019 Cricket World Cup qualifying tournament earlier this year, helping secure their place at next year’s full tournament hosted in England and Wales.Those achievements and his ability to bowl match-winning spells saw him selected by Kings XI Punjab for more than 600,000 USD in this year’s IPL, taking 14 wickets to date.He could team up with Hampshire’s legspinner, Mason Crane, who became England’s youngest specialist spinner to make a Test debut for 90 years against Australia in Sydney in January and whose performance brought more praise than his return of 1 for 193 might suggest.Crane suffered a stress fracture playing for England Lions in the West Indies in February, but he is back in full training and could make a return in the Royal London Cup this weekend.Described supportively by the Lions coach, Andy Flower as “still a work in progress”, Crane, 21, might benefit from observing the confidence and maturity of Rahman, who is nearly four years younger and who brings a whole new meaning to the term “inexperienced”.Munro, 31, offers less delicate skills but his record suggests he can also have a sizeable impact. He boasts an average of 33.51 and a strike-rate of 163.59 in 45 T20Is for New Zealand, and is second in the ICC’s World T20I batting rankings.The 31-year-old is the only player to score three T20I centuries in the history of the game and has been involved in the best T20 competitions across the world, including the Big Bash and Indian Premier League, where he’s currently featuring for Delhi Daredevils.

A “tibial bone stress in his right leg” has ruled Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc out of the fourth Test against South Africa, and the IPL starting April 7 in Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Mar-20181:25

‘Starc’s injury a huge blow to KKR’ – Deep Dasgupta

A “tibial bone stress fracture in his right leg” has ruled Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc out of the fourth Test against South Africa, and the IPL, which starts on April 7 in Mumbai. Starc’s injury has added to a series of horrible news for Australia after the ball-tampering controversy, which most recently saw Darren Lehmann’s announcement to step down as their coach after the ongoing Test in Johannesburg.Starc will fly home after the fourth Test for further assessment. His injury handed a Test debut to Chadd Sayers on Friday, which was the fourth change in the Australia XI with Steven Smith, David Warner Cameron Bancroft having flown back home.Starc’s injury has added to Kolkata Knight Riders’ worries too, who bought him for nearly USD 1.47 million in January. Knight Riders are already waiting on injury updates for Chris Lynn and Andre Russell, and an update on Sunil Narine, whose action was reported during the PSL earlier this month. Narine will be allowed to bowl in the IPL, but will be under scrutiny by the match officials considering he had been banned from bowling in the league in the past. Knight Riders are confident about Russell and Lynn being available during the first half of the tournament.Starc is the third Australian player to be ruled out of the IPL this week after Smith and Warner were banned from participating in the league by the BCCI. Starc had been troubled by a calf injury before the start of the third Test, and suffered a heel problem that ruled him out of the Boxing Day Test in the Ashes too.

For the first time in his Manchester United tenure, Erik ten Hag is in an unexpected rut, watching on as his side struggle to even show signs of picking up all three points, losing three of their first five Premier League games this season.

Their latest defeat, coming against Brighton & Hove Albion, proved once again just how far away the Red Devils are from returning to their best, with this season seen as two steps back so far, after progressing so much during the last campaign.

The bad news just keeps coming for those at Old Trafford, with the latest injury news revealing the timeline for another star's absence, dealing Ten Hag even more injury woes.

What's the latest Manchester United injury news?

On top of their poor form this season, United have been fairly unfortunate when it comes to injuries, losing the likes of Raphael Varane, Mason Mount, and Luke Shaw. That said, their summer transfer business, welcoming Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, and Sofyan Amrabat, as well as others, means that they've got no excuse for their results.

Now, to make matters worse, they've been dealt another long-term injury blow, potentially impacting them on the pitch once again. According to Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic, Aaron Wan-Bisska will miss the next two months through injury:

"Aaron Wan-Bissaka out for up to two months after sustaining hamstring injury in final minutes after coming on against Brighton."

The news will leave those at Old Trafford fairly frustrated, given that Wan-Bissaka's introduction to the game was unnecessary so late on, with Brighton 3-1 up and cruising to victory. Nonetheless, they must now face the consequences of being without Wan-Bissaka in what will be a busy period, especially when the Champions League gets underway.

When it comes to right-back options, Ten Hag will have to hope that Diogo Dalot avoids injury, with the Portugal international now the Red Devils' only natural option in the role.

How has Aaron Wan-Bissaka performed this season?

There was a period of time when it looked as though Wan-Bissaka's Manchester United career was destined to end in failure. To his credit, however, he has battled back superbly to put himself firmly in Ten Hag's plans.

Prior to his injury against Brighton, the former Crystal Palace man had started all four games for United this season, and looked like the first-choice option when it came to the right-back role, making his injury all the move devastating.

Wan-Bissaka has been credited for turning his United career around, too, with commentator Micky Gray praising the defender after his performance in the Carabao Cup win over Burnley, telling talkSPORT: “Aaron Wan Bissaka has been absolutely fantastic tonight, he really has. He’s been out of the frame for a long, long time, I saw him midweek, he set up the first goal for Christian Eriksen.

“What a performance he’s put in tonight, not a foot wrong, and he’s getting in the opposition's half, putting balls in the box, making things happen, great performance.”

With that said, United will be hoping to have the defender back as soon as possible, particularly after their poor start to the season, combined with the fact that they've now been left short at right-back.

Some worrying team news has come out of Arsenal ahead of their crunch Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, with a key player set to miss out.

Arsenal vs Tottenham preview

Mikel Arteta's side, after battling with PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night, will now take on arch rivals Spurs in the north London derby on Sunday.

Arsenal head into the contest in good stead, having won four out of their opening five league games with top flight victories over Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Man United and Everton.

Arteta's men remain unbeaten despite not being at full throttle; grinding out a narrow three points against the likes of Forest, Palace and Everton.

However, Tottenham enter the contest on a similar run of form and the feeling around Ange Postecoglou's tenure is one of much promise.

Spurs are also yet to taste defeat in the league this season, with Postecoglou's brand of exciting, attack-minded football on display for all to see.

The Lilywhites convincingly beat Bournemouth, Man United and Burnley prior to the international break and displayed real character to see off Sheffield United in the dying seconds of added time last weekend,

This match comes as, arguably, one of the most interesting head-to-heads between the two sides in recent memory.

Arsenal vs Tottenham team news

Arteta has been without a fair few key players lately, including summer signing Jurrien Timber, who suffered an ACL injury on the opening day against Forest.

Arsenal's boss described it as a "huge blow" at the time, with Timber not expected back until far after the new year.

Another player currently sidelined is Mohamed Elneny, who is apparently in the latter stages of his rehab.

“He’s in a good place, obviously it’s been a while and it’s been a very significant injury, but I think he's in the latter stages of that rehab process," said Arteta ahead of PSV.

“He’s been training for almost two weeks with the team and he is in a good place. It’s always great to have him around.”

The Evening Standard, sharing news on Thomas Partey's situation, have an update on the Ghanaian on top of the aforementioned duo.

He will certainly miss Tottenham, as that has come too soon in this stage of his recovery, with the outlet estimating his return date to be around October time.

Partey was a key player for Arsenal last term, standing out as one of their best-performing players per 90 while making 33 appearances.

How good is Thomas Partey?

The midfielder has been praised for his defensive work in the middle of the park.

Partey, who averaged more tackles per match than any of his Gunners teammates in the league last season, was called a "monster" player earlier this year by members of the press.

"Thomas Partey is a defensive monster and controller," wrote journalist Abdu Dilshan Wasike on X in January.

"Usually clubs are partnering 2 players with one of each to have this attribute in their midfield. Arsenal have both qualities in 1 player. He is the best six (6) in the league. MoTM against Newcastle"

It will be a huge boost for Arteta to have Partey back next month, but he will be missed against Spurs this weekend.

As the glitter and cacophony of the IPL engulfs India, Cheteshwar Pujara is in Yorkshire hoping to return the former champions to title contention

Melinda Farrell11-Apr-2018As the glitter and cacophony of the IPL engulfs India, with maximums and power hitting among the most prized batting traits, Cheteshwar Pujara is happily discussing the value of the leave in Leeds.While it is common for the County Championship to see visiting Test players use the competition as a valuable acclimatisation period before a Test series, Pujara maintains he would have played in England even if India were not touring later this summer. It is, after all, his fourth stint in the Championship and his second for Yorkshire. At Headingley they hope his return is an omen: when he was here in 2015 the title followed.Yorkshire are seeking a refocus in their approach to batting this season, with an emphasis on consolidation before attack. They could hardly have found a better exponent of this than Pujara. Generally a cautious starter, he is notoriously difficult to pry from the crease, as evidenced by his 14 Test and 44 first-class centuries.”They have spoken to me about that,” Pujara told ESPNcricinfo. “The guys played too many shots in the last couple of seasons. They’ve learned from their mistakes and obviously they will try to change the way they play a little bit but at the same time one has to know their strengths and weaknesses so you still need to play according to your strength.”It is always important to spend a lot of time at the crease, have a lot of patience when the ball is doing a lot understand the situation where you need to be a little defensive and know your time to attack because you will always have a time when the ball doesn’t do much and that is where you can capitalise.”Not everyone appreciates Pujara’s discipline and control. His trademark slow starts and a Test strike rate of 47.45 frustrate those fans who have grown impatient on a white ball diet and its effect on the longer formats. When Pujara scored a majestic double-century against Australia in the third Test in Ranchi, which ended in a draw, some critics pointed to the time it took – 525 balls – for him to make 202 as a major impediment to India winning the match. He feels fans in England have a greater appreciation of his skills and temperament.Cheteshwar Pujara works the ball to the leg side•BCCI”Sometimes I do feel that when I start leaving the ball people really don’t appreciate that because of shorter formats of the game, ” said Pujara. “But when I come here they understand what my role is.”In the India team they do understand but I’m talking about the fans’ perspective where they want to see fours and sixes. So when I come here fans they do understand the game, they do appreciate if you’re leaving the ball, if the bowler is bowling well, if the conditions are challenging, they understand that you need to survive that. Then obviously, once I’m set, I always start scoring runs.”

Since Nottingham Forest’s promotion to the Premier League ahead of the 2022/23 season, they have gained a reputation for their activity in the transfer windows.

Owner Evangelos Marinakis has overseen a total of 43 signings, some of which have already moved on.

Despite the remarkable number of incomings, the Reds don’t intend to slow down their presence in the market, with another target already being lined up ahead of the winter transfer window.

Who have Forest signed since being promoted?

Of the Reds’ 43 signings, some have stood out more than others.

The likes of Morgan Gibbs-White and Taiwo Awoniyi have since become central to Steve Cooper’s plans since their big-money arrivals last season, while some of the newer faces such as Anthony Elanga and Matt Turner have made early impact at the club.

Jesse Lingard, who joined the club as a free agent last season, was unable to earn himself a contract extension and was subsequently released after an underwhelming spell at the City Ground.

After the departure of star player Brennan Johnson, who joined Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day for £47.5m, Forest are already planning how to spend the money, with Spanish newspaper Estadio Deportivo reporting that Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez is high on their list for the January window.

Who is Guido Rodriguez?

Rodriguez has been playing in Spain for almost four years now, after joining Betis from Mexican outfit Club America in January 2020.

The 29-year-old has been capped 29 times for his native Argentina and featured at the 2022 World Cup as they became world champions.

The Argentine has excelled in Manuel Pellegrini’s side playing in a pivot alongside Portuguese midfielder, William Carvalho, and is best described as a deep-lying playmaker who can also be deployed in a back line of defence.

Rodriguez has been linked with a number of clubs in recent summers, including Barcelona, who would instead go with the cheaper option in Oriol Romeu, while Forest’s previous interest was disregarded by the player.

When questioned on Rodriguez’s potential summer move, Pellegrini stressed his side could not afford to lose another creative outlet, following the departures of several forwards who had already moved on.

As the midfielder enters the final season of his current contract, the report suggests that Betis would prefer to cash in during the January window, which could hand Forest a timely boost on a player that is estimated to be worth £15m by FootballTransfers.

Where could Rodriguez fit in at Forest?

Should Forest be able to tempt the 29-year-old "defensive monster" – as once lauded by analyst Marcus Bring – into a winter move, it would bring a priceless amount of experience into the squad, having racked up nearly 300 senior appearances since his professional debut back in 2014/15.

Rodriguez could be utilised alongside either Orel Mangala or Ryan Yates or among a back three, whilst his relationship with Forest’s new signing and his Argentina teammate, Gonzalo Montiel, can prove extremely useful for Steve Cooper’s side.

The next 12 months will certainly involve movement regarding Rodriguez’ current situation, whether that sees him sign a new deal with the club that brought him into European football or a new experience elsewhere, though Cooper and Forest would be wise to launch a move in the upcoming window to bolster the Reds' engine room substantially.