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Celtic head coach Brendan Rodgers has not been afraid to make it clear to the board that his squad needs fresh blood before the end of the summer transfer window.

The former Liverpool and Leicester boss is in the final year of his contract at Parkhead and has urged the club to back him with more recruits at the top end of the pitch.

Speaking about transfer plans recently, the Celtic manager claimed that they “need competition at the top end of the field” and said that it is “important” for the Hoops to get that before the end of the window.

The Scottish Premiership champions are set to be without Jota until next year, potentially, as he nurses an ACL injury, and sold Nicolas Kuhn to Como earlier this summer, which has left the squad very light in the wide areas.

At this moment in time, Rodgers only has three ‘natural’ senior wingers at his disposal in Hyun-jun Yang, Daizen Maeda, and 34-year-old veteran James Forrest.

It is, therefore, no surprise to hear that the manager wants the club to bring in attacking reinforcements, particularly as Yang has yet to prove that he can be a frontline option.

Why Celtic need to replace Yang

Kuhn’s departure earlier this summer opened the door for the South Korea international to start the opening game of the Premiership season against St Mirren earlier this month.

Unfortunately, the right-sided attacker did not win a duel, produce a shot on goal, or create a chance for any of his teammates in 59 minutes on the pitch, as per Sofascore, which shows that he was totally ineffective in and out of possession.

It was telling that Yang was then an unused substitute in the 2-0 win over Aberdeen last weekend, as Rodgers clearly felt that he did not offer enough in the win over St Mirren.

The 23-year-old forward’s initial struggles at the start of this campaign suggest that he may be best suited to going back to the role that he played last term, rather than being a frontline option as a regular starter.

Appearances

23

Starts

9

Goals

5

Minutes per goal

196

Key passes

18

Big chances created

3

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, Yang provided a solid threat as a squad option for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign, producing seven goals and assists in just nine starts.

That is a role that suits his ability, as he can come off the bench to make an impact and start the odd game when needed, but he does not have the game-changing quality to be a regular starter as a ‘replacement’ for Kuhn on the right flank.

Celtic eyeing deal for Danish forward

According to the Daily Record, Celtic remain interested in a deal to sign Go Ahead Eagles attacker Jakob Breum before the end of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the 21-year-old talent is on the ‘agenda’ for the Scottish giants, as they note that Rodgers is keen for more attacking talent to be added to the squad.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It adds that the versatile Danish star, who can play out wide or through the middle as an attacking midfielder, is high up on the club’s wishlist of possible signings.

Earlier this month it was reported that Go Ahead Eagles are looking for a fee in the region of £5m for Breum, and that the Hoops have already had an approach turned down for him.

It is now down to the board to go back in with another attempt to sign the Dane, who was described as an “exciting” talent by Sport Republic video scout RDF Tactics, before the deadline at the start of September, because he could come in as a big upgrade on Yang.

Why Celtic should sign Jakob Breum

The Hoops should swoop to sign Breum because he has played 27 games as a right-sided winger in his career, as well as 60 matches on the left flank, as per Transfermarkt, which suggests that he can fill the current gaps in the squad in the wide areas.

Celtic need to sign at least one winger, given Yang’s struggles and the fact that Maeda is the only left winger in the team, and the Go Ahead Eagles star could be the ideal addition due to the versatility that he would bring.

Whilst Yang, 23, has never scored more than eight league goals in a season in his career, and no more than five in a European league, Breum plundered ten goals in the Dutch top-flight in the 2024/25 campaign.

The 21-year-old star, who is two years younger than the South Korean flanker, put in some fantastic performances in the Eredivisie for his side last term, and his displays in the Netherlands suggest that he could come in as a big upgrade on the right wing for Celtic.

Appearances

26

23

Goals

10

5

Goals per game

0.4

0.2

Big chances created

6

3

Assists

5

2

Successful dribbles per game

0.9

0.7

Dribble success rate

47%

40%

As you can see in the table above, Breum was far more impressive with his work at the top end of the pitch at league level in the 2024/25 campaign in comparison to Yang.

These statistics suggest that he has the potential to offer more to the team as a scorer, a creator, and a dribbler in any of the positions across the front, whether that is on either flank or as an attacking midfielder.

If Breum is able to translate those performances and the output that he provided over to the Premiership, he would be a superior option for Rodgers to call upon in the final third.

This would also allow Yang to go back to the role that he played last season for Celtic, coming off the bench more often than not to make an impact as a rotation player.

Edouard 2.0: "Seriously talented" £13m star has emerged on Celtic's radar

Celtic are interested in a deal to sign a star who could be an Odsonne Edouard repeat at Parkhead.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 12, 2025

Therefore, the club’s interest in a potential deal to bring Breum to Parkhead before the end of the summer could make a lot of sense, both because of how it could improve the starting line-up and what it would do for Yang’s role.

Real Madrid have been handed hope in their pursuit of challenging the state of refereeing in Spanish football. According to MARCA, it is understood that the Video Assistant Referee from Saturday's game between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, as well as on-field referee Gil Manzano, will have to bear the consequences after the controversial sending off of Dean Huijsen.

Madrid find respite as CTA set to intervene

According to a report from , CTA (Technical Committee of Referees in Spain) will review Huijsen's sending off in the 32nd minute at the Anoeta on Saturday, during Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad. The decision raised immediate concerns within the CTA. The episode is expected to be addressed publicly this week, with the error likely to be acknowledged. Particular scrutiny is being placed on referee Figueroa Vazquez, not for the decision itself, but for his failure to intervene via VAR and allow on-field referee Manzano to review the play. As a result, Vazquez is expected to be sidelined temporarily, as the CTA conducts a formal analysis of the incident.

AdvertisementAFPMadrid preparing a report on refereeing errors for FIFA

In the aftermath of the game, Real Madrid TV, the club's official media channel, confirmed that the 15-time European champions would take the matter to FIFA, the highest authority of football in the world, by submitting a report in the form of all errors compiled from the current season and the last season. Madrid, per the announcement, will urge FIFA to "take good note of what is happening in Spanish football with regards to refereeing."

Reforms to refereeing in Spain already underway

Back in June, it was revealed that RFEF (Spanish football federation) had fired the entire refereeing committee amid mounting pressure from clubs demanding a major overhaul in the way officiating is conducted in Spain. Changes have, practically, already started taking place. Indeed, referees in Spanish football are assessed after each match by up to three evaluators, including the stadium delegate and CTA’s technical directors. While the merit-based ranking system is still developing, it’s already shaping referee assignments. The revamped CTA has introduced transparency-focused reforms, requiring referees to take responsibility for mistakes, some of which have led to enforced rest periods. Though not all changes are popular, officials recognize their duty to maintain accountability and openness with clubs.

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Who are Madrid's next opponents?

After maintaining a spotless record in La Liga's opening four fixtures, Madrid will be aiming to carry the momentum in the continental arena. They are set to host Marseille in the Champions League opener on Wednesday in what could be head coach Xabi Alonso's sternest test so far in the 2025-26 season.

The last time India played at this venue, they pulled off one of the greatest wins in Test cricket

Alagappan Muthu13-Dec-20241:52

How can India bounce back in Brisbane?

Big picture: A banger for the holiday seasonWe’re back where we started with the series level and two teams with both promise and flaws squaring off again on fabled turf. The cricket has been compelling, at times unpredictable. There’s even been a little heat between the players. The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy is veering dangerously close to classic territory. Imagine if it’s 2-2 going into Sydney.Some of the bowling that’s been on show – Harshit Rana taking out Travis Head’s off stump in Perth, Pat Cummins returning the favour against Rohit Sharma in Adelaide, Jasprit Bumrah every single time he runs in – has been dreamy. So the Gabba can’t be blamed for making eyes at them. One day out, the pitch still retains a tinge of green.A first-innings average of 18.65 runs per wicket – a figure so rare it’s only been bettered once in the last 10 years, and that was in a one-off Test between England and Ireland – reflects not just the class of both teams’ bowling attacks, but a little bit about the conditions and the frailty of the batting as well.Australia are blooding in a new opener and their two most reliable run-scorers aren’t operating at the levels they’re used to. India will be able to sympathise because like Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (who could be returning as opener) have been more down than up. The last three are in their mid to late 30s, so their form comes with added scrutiny, on top of the surprise that these high-profile players are yet to really influence this high-profile series. (Kohli has a century but the match-winning innings there came from Yashasvi Jaiswal)Related

Gill toasts old Gabba memories as he prepares to make new ones

Can Smith break out of his slump?

McSweeney hopes to 'throw a few more punches' at Bumrah

Rohit is used to leaving a mark, but not like this

Past and present weigh on India, and Australia

Of course it isn’t a surprise that there are surprises when these two teams go at each other. In 2017, Australia took the lead and India hit back. Ditto in 2021. In 2018 and 2023, India took the lead and Australia hit back. This tells you there isn’t a lot separating these sides. Australia’s win in Indore last year and India’s in Perth two weeks ago bucked expectation and there are bound to be more thrills and spills as these two ring in the holiday season.Form guideAustralia: WLWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India: LWLLLIn the spotlightSteven Smith has 19 runs in two Tests. His last hundred was 24 innings ago. But there was a 91 not out in there, at the Gabba, which he put forward as proof that his opening the batting for Australia was not really the worst idea. Back at No. 4, due to popular demand, he has had a little trouble starting his innings, trouble that he used to avoid, like getting lbw.Rishabh Pant continues to do Rishabh Pant things. In Adelaide, with India three down in the 15th over, he charged out of the crease and flayed Scott Boland over cover. He was also seen at Rundle mall, putting his shopping on hold to play peek-a-boo with a little kid. Now he’s at the scene of his greatest triumph as a cricketer after his greatest triumph as a person.6:02

Cummins on Gabba: Not a ‘fortress’, just another venue for us

Team news: Will Rohit move back up the order?India might be pondering changes, particularly around the make-up of their top order. Does Rohit come back up to open again? Is he feeling like his old self again? There were positive signs in the nets on Thursday, where almost all the batters, Kohli and Shubman Gill especially, were upping their back-foot game.Akash Deep was India’s third fast bowler during the home season and he made way in Perth for a better batter. The team does not consider their depth to be a big concern anymore so Harshit Rana might find his way back on the bench. Washington Sundar might be pushing R Ashwin for a place in the XI as well.India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Rohit Sharma (capt)/ KL Rahul, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 KL Rahul/Rohit Sharma (capt), 7 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 8 Washington Sundar/R Ashwin, 9 Akash Deep, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Jasprit BumrahAustralia’s first-choice pace attack will reassemble at the Gabba with Josh Hazelwood rejoining Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.Australia: 1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Nathan McSweeney, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh HazlewoodPitch and conditions: Some wet weather aroundAustralia have lost two of their last four Tests here, after losing nothing in 32 years. There was a pattern to those two defeats though. Both took place at the end of the season, in January. In between, there was a Test against South Africa in December 2022, which ended in two days and was a party for the fast bowlers. And also one against England in December 2021 that ended in a nine-wicket win for Australia. Early-season cricket here is fast-bowler friendly, a likelihood further increased by rain forecast through the course of the Test.”[Yesterday it] looked like a good wicket, like it has the last few years,” Cummins said. “Bit of sun baking on it the last couple of days, don’t think it’s as green and leafy as it was against South Africa.”Stats and trivia Jasprit Bumrah is averaging 11.25 runs per wicket this series. The next best for India is Mohammed Siraj with 19.77 but then the gulf widens. Travis Head is averaging 80 and striking at 94 in this series. The next best for Australia is Alex Carey with 24 and 59.5. There’s a bit of catching up to do there for the hosts. Pat Cummins has an outstanding record at the Gabba: in seven Tests he has taken 40 wickets at 18.22 India could have just four players from the famous 2020-21 victory at the Gabba: Rohit, Gill, Pant and Siraj. It could be five if Washington plays.Quotes”Worked out in the Adelaide Test. It’s always in the back of your mind as a Plan B, or if it’s looking really uncomfortable or likely to take wickets maybe it becomes a Plan A to some of the batters. I’m sure we’ll give it a shot at some point this Test.”
“The mood of the team is very good. We had a team dinner yesterday, we had a lot of fun in the team dinner. I think it is very important to know that we didn’t play well in the Test match in Adelaide, but still the series is one-all. We have a series of three matches, and if we win this match, then in Melbourne and Sydney, I think we will have an upper hand there.”

Manchester United have made a new midfielder one of their priorities for the remainder of the summer transfer window – with such an area next on the list for their overhaul of the squad.

Casemiro started at the heart of the side alongside Bruno Fernandes, but the 33-year-old is certainly coming to the back end of his professional career and is unable to maintain his fitness over the course of a full campaign.

Manuel Ugarte is another option currently at Ruben Amorim’s disposal, but the Uruguayan has fallen below the standards set by the fanbase after his £50m move from PSG last summer.

Academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo has also struggled to fit into the manager’s 3-4-2-1 system, with the aforementioned duo often being chosen ahead of him – as seen on Sunday, with the youngster being an unused substitute.

Despite the four options currently on the books at Old Trafford, the boss and the hierarchy still remain in the market for added reinforcements in the midfield department, targeting numerous options before the September 1st deadline.

Man Utd targeting a new midfielder for Amorim

United’s hunt for a new midfielder has seen them target various options in the Premier League over recent weeks, but their hunt has so far been to no avail.

Moves for Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton have both been made in recent weeks, but deals for either of the 21-year-olds now look unlikely, given their current £100m asking prices.

However, no time has been wasted by the hierarchy, subsequently turning their attention to Como star Nico Paz, according to Spanish outlet Defensa Central.

They claim that the Red Devils are one of various sides currently pursuing a move for the 20-year-old, who registered 14 combined goals and assists in his 35 Serie A appearances last campaign.

It also states that Amorim’s side are preparing a €45m (£38m) offer to land the youngster, but it’s unclear if the player himself would want a move to England this summer.

Why United’s latest target joining would be bad news for Bruno

Bruno mainly operated in a number ten role under Amorim during the 2024/25 campaign, managing to register 37 combined goals and assists – easily being the shining light in what was a dismal year for United.

However, the additions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have seen the Portuguese international drop into a deeper role to allow the new additions to thrive.

The 30-year-old, who’s the club’s captain, may struggle to replicate such numbers in his new role, ultimately having to sacrifice his own numbers to allow the team to progress.

Given his allowance to play in a free role, Bruno needs a player who’s capable of sitting in front of the backline and regaining possession before handing him the ball to continue his excellent return of goals and assists.

Moves for the likes of Wharton and Baleba will undoubtedly make more sense, given the demands of the current hunt in the market, but it appears the club’s attention is now firmly on the Como star.

However, a move for Paz could spell bad news for the captain, with the youngster a similar sort of player, often making more of an impact with the ball at his feet rather than without.

The Argentine, who can play as a ten or a box-to-box midfielder, would likely provide competition for the Portuguese star, which could result in fewer minutes on the pitch for him in 2025/26.

It may seem a ludicrous decision to utilise Paz over Fernandes at Old Trafford, but when comparing their stats from last season, the Como star managed to better him in various key areas.

The youngster, who’s been labelled as a player with “immense potential” by Jacek Kulig, posted a better shot on target rate, highlighting the threat he poses in front of goal when making his third man runs in beyond the centre-forward.

Games played

35

36

Goals & assists

14

18

Shot on target accuracy

34%

28%

Pass accuracy

81%

76%

Key passes made

2.8

2.7

% of tackles won

47%

40%

Interceptions made

0.8

0.7

Take-ons completed

51%

41%

Carries into final third

2.1

1.9

Aerials won

57%

49%

Paz also completed more of the passes he attempted, whilst also making more key passes per 90, able to provide those ahead of him with constant chances at Old Trafford.

His dominance over the United star is further reflected out of out-of-possession, winning more of the tackles he entered last campaign, along with more interceptions made per 90.

Such figures could make him the perfect box-to-box option in Amorim’s side, especially if he can replicate the numbers he produced in Italy for Como in 2024/25.

Any move would certainly be an exciting one for the fanbase, possessing a lot of qualities that would provide immediate impact, but also pocketing a whole heap of potential to improve further in the years ahead.

However, as previously mentioned, it could spell bad news for Bruno if he joined the club, offering needed competition, which could result in less game time in the not-too-distant future.

New Pogba: INEOS offered bargain deal to sign "world-class" CM for Man Utd

Manchester United could finally end their midfielder pursuit with a player just like Paul Pogba.

2 ByEthan Lamb Aug 21, 2025

The Classique clash between French giants Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain has been called off and postponed due to heavy rainfall. The much-awaited Ligue 1 fixture, featuring top stars like Mason Greenwood and Ousmane Dembele, was supposed to be held at the Velodrome on Sunday evening, but it has now been postponed to a later date due to severe weather conditions.

Marseille vs PSG postponed

The LFP has announced that the highly-anticipated Ligue 1 clash between Marseille and PSG has been postponed due to extreme weather conditions in and around the Velodrome. They told AFP, "The match has been postponed because there may be significant reservoirs with significant risks of urban runoff."

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAmbiguity over the new date for the Classique

As per LFP rules, a Ligue 1 match postponed due to bad weather must be played the following day. However, as France are hosting the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday at the illustrious Theatre du Chatelet in Paris and PSG star Ousmane Dembele is being considered the favourite to win the Golden Ball, the French FA will now have to pick a fresh date for the Classique. 

Dembele to face competition from Barcelona

After a successful campaign with Luis Enrique's side, where the Frenchman won all major trophies, except for the Club World Cup, Dembele is naturally being tipped to win the Ballon d'Or on home soil. The French winger, however, will face stiff competition from Barcelona stars like Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

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AFPWhen will the Classique happen?

While a revised date is yet to be finalised, the match could be postponed to a distant date. LFP will have to juggle Ligue 1, Champions League, and international break schedules to find a slot.

The total attendance over five days surpassed the previous record of 350,534 set at the MCG in 1937

Alex Malcolm30-Dec-2024A new attendance record for a Test match in Australia has been set with more than 373,691 passing through the gates at the MCG across the five days of the fourth Test between Australia and India, surpassing the previous mark of 350,534 set in 1937.Cricket Australia [CA] confirmed early on Monday that 51,371 had already come in for the first session of the fifth day to break the record. That crowd had swelled to a final tally of 74,362 by late in the afternoon.The crowd tally meant that more people have attended the 2024 MCG Boxing Day Test than had seen a Sir Donald Bradman-led Australia play England in January 1937 at the same venue, which was played over six days.The crowds have been absolutely extraordinary for this Test match with daily tallies of 87,242, 85,147, 83,073, 43,867 and 74,362. A day five crowd exceeding day four is unheard of with the Melbourne Cricket Club, who run the MCG, underestimating the number on day five.They opened Yarra Park outside the ground for general public parking on day five, which is a rarity. But they only had one gate open and it caused a significant traffic choke point prior to play with a number of fans late to get into the ground.The record numbers follow the huge crowds India attracted at the MCG at the 2022 T20 World Cup when 90,293 saw India play Pakistan and 82,507 watched India play Zimbabwe.

Glasgow Rangers were not willing to sit on their hands and go again with the same squad or management team at Ibrox after ending the 2024/25 campaign without a single trophy.

The Light Blues appointed Russell Martin to be their new head coach and brought in 12 new recruits to bolster the Rangers playing squad for the current season.

It has not been an ideal start to the campaign, though, as they have failed to win any of their first four matches in the Scottish Premiership under their new manager.

Joe Rothwell is one of the new signings who has failed to hit the ground running, as he was subbed off at half-time in the 6-0 loss to Club Brugge and dropped down to the bench for the clash with Celtic on Sunday.

Joe Rothwell's early struggles at Rangers

The central midfielder was signed from Bournemouth on a permanent deal this summer with a view to him playing in the number six position in Martin’s 4-3-3 system.

At the age of 30, Rothwell is an experienced player who was signed to make an instant impact at Ibrox. He is not a young and promising player who needs time to develop and grow.

That is why his early struggles, compounded by being dropped for the Celtic game after starting the first three league matches, are a concern for the Scottish giants.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Rothwell needs to turn things around and show the supporters that he can impact and influence games in the number six role week-in-week-out, because, at the moment, he looks like a downgrade on John Lundstram, who left the club last year.

Rangers had a howler with John Lundstram

In a similar move to the one that brought Rothwell to Ibrox this year, Lundstram signed for the Gers on a free transfer from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021, and went on to enjoy a successful spell in Scotland.

Former Rangers defender Maurice Ross described the English midfielder as the “cornerstone” of the team and claimed that he “was strolling about the pitch like Graeme Souness” in 2022.

The former Blades ace went on to score 11 goals, including the one against Borussia Dortmund above, in 153 matches for the club in all competitions, per Transfemarkt.

Appearances

34

4

Long passes per game

5.6

1.3

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.5

2.0

Clearances per game

1.0

0.0

Duels won per game

3.8

2.5

Aerial duel success rate

55%

33%

As you can see in the table above, Lundstram produced more impressive performances in his last season at Rangers in the Premiership than Rothwell has managed in the current campaign.

Despite that, Philippe Clement allowed the English central midfielder to leave the club at the end of his contract in the summer of 2024, and signed Connor Barron on a free transfer from Aberdeen.

Ultimately, that decision has turned out to be a howler for Rangers and Clement because Martin has swooped to sign Rothwell 12 months later to replace Barron as a number six.

On top of that, Rothwell still appears to be a downgrade on Lundstram, which means that the Light Blues have yet to successfully replace the star who was once compared to Souness, despite them allowing him to leave for nothing last year.

Rangers could get Ibrox rocking by sacking Martin for "kamikaze" manager

Rangers could get the Ibrox crowd rocking again by sacking Russell Martin to appoint this head coach.

ByDan Emery Sep 2, 2025

“They have been doing that in the nets in the last seven to eight days to all our bowlers,” says Smriti Mandhana of Ghosh and Kanika Ahuja after record chase

Srinidhi Ramanujam14-Feb-2025It wasn’t a perfect opening night for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, so captain Smriti Mandhana was “really happy” to be on the winning side. Her team, the defending champions, conceded what was the fourth-highest total in the WPL, then went one better, chasing down 202 in exhilarating fashion. They chiefly had Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja and Ellyse Perry to thank for this, and Mandhana heaped praise on her middle order for delivering after an early wobble.”It was brilliant to watch,” Mandhana, who was out for 9 in the second over of the chase, said after the game. “They [Ahuja and Ghosh] have been doing that in the nets in the last seven to eight days to all our bowlers. So, really happy that things clicked on. But yeah, I think after the first innings we knew with the dew coming, it was going to be tough to bowl. So we always thought that we were in the game.”The way Richa batted and Pez [Perry] batted was amazing to watch.”Related

Blow by brutal blow, Ghosh slays Giants on WPL opening night

Ghosh, Ahuja script stunning comeback as RCB complete WPL's biggest chase

Stats – RCB kick off WPL 2025 with the tournament's highest-ever chase

RCB had been up against it after Ashleigh Gardner dented the visitors with the bat first, smashing a 37-ball 79, and then with the ball, removing Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the second over. But from thereon Giants had an awful time in the field with dropped catches, misfields, a missed run-out chance, overthrows and a flurry of full tosses. Perry, who was out in the 13th over, had done a repair job with 57 off 34, before Ghosh (64 not out off 27) and Ahuja (30 not out off 13) proceeded to snatch the game away.Ghosh took her time initially – she scored just 15 off her first 12 balls. A lot of match simulation before the tournament helped her deal with the high-pressure situation, she said later.”The plan was to take some time, and see how the pitch is reacting,” Ghosh said. “I wanted to take it deep, and I focused on my game. We [Ahuja and I] thought we could get to the total, and that we would play a positive game.”The preparation we did with sir [head coach Luke Williams] really helped us. We had a lot of match situation during practice matches. We kept targets that if the situation is so and so then what should we be doing. That helped me a lot.””Yes, the boundaries were uneven, but I didn’t have that in mind. I knew I could clear [the boundaries] so I was just reacting as the ball came.”

“I’m really happy as I’m playing after a year. All the visualisations and the rehab that I did seemed to have helped me mentally. I tried to become a better player.”Kanika Ahuja after missing last season due to injury

Ahuja, who missed the last edition due to injury, was elated. In addition to her match-turning knock, she had returned 1 for 19 from three overs with her offspin.”It feels great. I’m really happy as I’m playing after a year,” Ahuja said. “All the visualisations and the rehab that I did seemed to have helped me mentally. I tried to become a better player.”I thought I’ll go for whatever is in my reach. We were looking at a [required] run rate of 10 or 12 runs an over, and that worked out. Thankfully, we won.”RCB had lost key players like Sophie Devine (unavailable), Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana and Sophie Molineux (all injured) ahead of the season, so they had to dig deep into their squad here. This resulted in three debutants: Prema Rawat, VJ Joshitha and Raghvi Bist. The inexperience in the bowling unit showed, and sloppiness in the field did not help. Mandhana backed her young players but said there remained “a lot of things to work on” if they are to defend their title.”I think we lost pretty much the top-three wicket-takers of last year,” Mandhana said. “And we had to start, but luckily we had good options. And whoever came in for the injured people, I think they were all brilliant replacements.”[But] I think definitely a lot of things to work on as a bowling unit and fielding unit. And we have two days off before the next match, so we’ll have good discussions around it.”

Cole Palmer reportedly missed Chelsea's latest training session amid concerns about a troublesome groin problem. The England international has had an injury-hit start to the season, with the 23-year-old missing games against West Ham and Fulham due to this issue. The England international limped off in the Blues' 2-1 loss to Manchester United and it seems a spell on the sidelines beckons.

Palmer has injury-disrupted season for Chelsea

The former Manchester City man only came back from this injury in the 2-2 draw at Brentford on September 13, but was forced off after 21 minutes in the defeat at United last weekend. He also sat out the Blues' 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Lincoln City in midweek, raising fears he could be unavailable for a while. And according to , Palmer missed Chelsea's open training session on Thursday.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMaresca calls on team to thrive without Palmer

Former Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino previously challenged his squad to prove they are not "Cole Palmer FC" ahead of a clash with Arsenal. They would lose that game 5-0, with Palmer missing out due to illness. The England ace has 58 goal contributions in 98 Premier League appearances and is vital to Chelsea's success.

While head coach Maresca admits they are a better side with Palmer in it, they need to find solutions when he isn't around. 

He toldlast week: "We need him, no doubt. With Cole we are a better team. But when Cole is not available we need to find solutions and ways to win games. We did it against West Ham and Fulham. We were close against Brentford."

Chelsea need to 'protect' Palmer

The former Leicester City manager stressed the importance of not rushing Palmer back before he is ready, particularly after a long summer that included the Club World Cup and a shortened pre-season.

Maresca said, "We need to protect Cole for sure, 100%. Not only Cole, in my personal view, because as I said now, because of the Club World Cup or because we never stop, we need to manage and protect different players," Maresca explained, also referencing Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro."

He added: "The solution with Cole, I don't know, now we have a meeting with the medical staff and we decide the best solution for him. But it's also a kind of injury that is not like black and white. It's an injury that someday you can be better. It's not that you have pain and tomorrow will disappear. Sometimes you can be better, sometimes you can be worse. That's why we need to manage day by day."

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Getty Images SportWhen will Palmer return for Chelsea?

Maresca is yet to give any clear indication as to when Chelsea's attacking talisman will be fit and ready once again. The west London outfit face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday in a battle between sixth and 14th, respectively, before continuing their Champions League campaign at home to Benfica next Tuesday. Finally, the Blues have a crunch clash with defending champions and current unbeaten league leaders Liverpool on October 4, in what is their final game before the latest international break. It remains to be seen when Palmer will be available once more.

Derby County are in the hunt for a winger before the transfer deadline and John Eustace may be about to get his wish with so little time remaining in the window.

Derby County drop points late on at Ipswich Town

Despite a valiant effort from the Rams, Jack Clarke struck 16 minutes into injury time from the spot as Derby had to settle for a share of the spoils in an enthralling encounter at Portman Road.

Reviewing events, Eustace praised his side for their spirited display against a side who were only recently relegated from the top-flight, albeit he was frustrated with the end result.

He told BBC Sport: “Really, really disappointed to concede [the equaliser]. I think that’s a world record amount of time ever added to any game. I’ve never seen that amount of minutes before.

“The lads battled, worked their socks off and we deserved the three points. What an effort that was from a group of players who are going to grow throughout the season. I think there some really good signs for where we want to get to and I was really proud of the effort.”

Reports suggest Derby are in with a fighting chance of signing Ben Brereton Diaz from Southampton, which would help Eustace to realise his ambition of laying claim to another wide option before the window closes.

Chesterfield Town attacker Armando Dobra is also a target for the Rams, meaning there are plenty of plates spinning with the deadline drawing closer at Pride Park.

With that in mind, Eustace and his men are ready to offer a contract to an experienced winger who could be the key to unlocking defences in the Championship.

Derby County ready to offer contract to Patrick Roberts

According to Alan Nixon via his Patreon, relayed by Football League World, Derby are set to offer a three-year contract to Sunderland winger Patrick Roberts, who could fulfill Eustace’s wish to land a winger before the window closes.

Earning a solitary Premier League appearance against Burnley, the former Celtic loanee has also featured against Huddersfield Town in the EFL Cup and may now be available due to experiencing limited minutes.

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Labelled “dynamic” by Regis Le Bris, Roberts created 65 chances in the Championship last term and played a major role in the Black Cats’ promotion from the second-tier, albeit he has fallen victim to their summer spending spree.

Derby could now look to capitalise on his availability, though it remains to be seen if other clubs come calling for the £12,500 per week earner over the coming hours.

Eustace has had a positive impact since arriving at Pride Park that will be a tempting draw for players, something that may play on Roberts’ mind when it comes to picking his next career challenge.