Manchester United have been known over recent years to invest heavily in youngsters who can make an immediate and long-term impact at Old Trafford.

Part of their £800m spending spree in the last four years has seen numerous big-money talents arrive at the club – with Leny Yoro making the move to join the Red Devils last summer.

Despite being just 18, the hierarchy forked out a reported £52m for the teenager’s signature, even fending off competition from Real Madrid for his services.

He’s since become a key component of Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad, already racking up 42 appearances in the last 12 months or so since his big-money transfer.

However, whilst he still has bags of time to reach world-class status, the Frenchman would do very well to hit the heights of one player during his own stint at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man Utd’s best ever young first-team addition

Back in the summer of 2004, eyebrows were raised across England after United paid a staggering £27m for the signature of teenage sensation Wayne Rooney from Everton.

Such a fee was a mammoth investment for an 18-year-old, but over two decades on, it’s clear the transfer is one of the Red Devils’ best in their 146-year history.

He would spend 13 successful years as a star player at Old Trafford, winning countless individual awards along with team success under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The now 40-year-old won England’s Player of the Year award on five separate occasions, even winning the PFA Player of the Year award back in 2009/10 after scoring 34 times in all competitions.

Under the management of Sir Alex, he won five Premier League titles and a Champions League – subsequently making himself one of the most decorated English players of all time.

Individually, he was just as impressive, scoring 253 times for the Red Devils, a tally that ranks him top of the club’s all-time goalscorer charts – sitting ahead of Sir Bobby Charlton.

His talents were also there for all to see at international level, scoring 53 times, a record that saw him top the list for the Three Lions until Harry Kane came along.

Alongside his tangible contributions, Rooney made a name for himself as a warrior on the pitch, with one current player currently possessing a very similar playstyle.

The United player who is becoming the new Rooney

After scoring just 44 times across the 2024/25 campaign, Amorim made it abundantly clear to the United hierarchy that he wanted reinforcements within the final third.

Bryan Mbeumo was just one of the signings made during the off-season, arriving in a staggering £71m transfer from fellow top-flight outfit Brentford.

The Cameroonian international has already made a stellar start to life in Manchester, scoring five times and registering one assist in his first ten outings for the club.

His latest appearance against Brighton and Hove Albion was arguably his best to date, subsequently scoring twice and helping secure the manager’s third Premier League win in a row.

He was also joined at the Red Devils by Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian also costing a pretty penny at £62.5m including add-ons from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Brazilian international has occupied the number ten role with Mbeumo at Old Trafford and has undoubtedly played a key role in the recent revival under Amorim.

Unlike the Cameroonian, he’s had to wait to make the desired impact, only registering his first goal for the Red Devils in this weekend’s convincing win over Brighton.

However, he’s still received key praise from former first-team member Patrice Evra, who claimed Cunha “has the same raw chaos as Rooney” – certainly high praise indeed.

His underlying stats at Old Trafford showcase the reasoning behind Evra’s comments, with the Brazilian currently creating 1.2 chances per 90 in the Premier League.

Games played

8

Goals & assists

1

Chances created

1.2

Shots on target

1.6

Dribbles completed

1.9

Possession won in final third

0.7

Fouls won

2.4

Ball recoveries

4.3

Other figures, such as 1.6 shots on target per 90 and 1.9 dribbles per 90, showcase his ability within the final third, which has already seen the forward become a fan-favourite.

However, his chaos without the ball is reflected in his tally of 0.7 ball regains per 90 in the final third – a tally which ranks him in the top 25% of all attackers in the division.

It’s certainly early days in his career at Old Trafford, but the signs are all positive for Cunha to become an influential figure in any success endured in the years ahead.

Should he continue on his current path, there’s no reason why he can’t have a similar impact to Rooney during his own period at the Theatre of Dreams.

Forget Cunha & Mbuemo: Man Utd star was the shining light against Brighton

Manchester United secured their third win in a row against Brighton & Hove Albion last night.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 26, 2025

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is weighing in on the club’s January recruitment plans after a solid start to life at N17.

Tottenham put international break curse behind them after Leeds win

Before their latest victory at Leeds United, thanks largely to a Man of the Match display from in-form summer signing Mohammed Kudus, Spurs had suffered defeat in seven of their last seven matches prior to an international break.

Leeds United 1-2 Tottenham – best players	Match Rating
Mohammed Kudus	8.4
Mathys Tel	7.8
Noah Okafor	7.0
Sean Longstaff	7.0
Jayden Bogle	6.8
via WhoScored

A run of two consecutive Premier League draws in the build up to Leeds, not to mention a disappointing share of the spoils away to Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League, perhaps told a sign that Frank’s side could’ve been on to extend that bizarre record.

However, a gritty, resilient display on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Yorkshire saw Frank’s side come away with all three points, despite Leeds battling to the very bitter end and ferociously knocking on Spurs’ door.

Tottenham not only put that international break voodoo behind them, but they also became the first side to beat Leeds at Elland Road for over a year in the league.

It took a couple of crucial saves from Guglielmo Vicario to thwart Leeds’ attempts to get on the scoresheet for a second time, and Frank can also give a special nod to Mathys Tel, who opened the scoring after being given the starting nod ahead of Richarlison.

Dominic Solanke’s niggling ankle problem, which required minor surgery, means that Richarlison has started up top in almost every game for Spurs so far, but there are doubts that the hot and cold Brazil international can be relied upon.

Spurs are hopeful Solanke could return just after the October international break, but fitness issues have been a real issue for the Englishman since his move from Bournemouth last year.

As such, the Lilywhites are being linked with a new striker, and it is believed that former Brentford star Ivan Toney is on their radar.

Frank worked with Toney during his peak years at the Gtech Community Stadium, with the 29-year-old bagging 20 Premier League goals in the 2022/2023 season.

Since moving to Al-Ahli in 2024, Toney has scored for fun, racking up 30 strikes in 44 appearances over his debut campaign and eight goals from 10 run outs already this season.

Thomas Frank contacts Ivan Toney over joining Tottenham in January

According to a report from Indy News, Spurs could now offer the £426,000-per-week talisman a chance to make a return to his homeland.

Indeed, it is believed that Frank has personally contacted Toney over joining Tottenham on loan in January, with Chelsea named as another suitor as both sides ponder bringing in a new centre-forward mid-season.

It is unclear whether Al-Ahli would sanction a temporary move away for the number nine who’s been their arguable star player since joining, but Frank has previously lavished praise on Toney as a “remarkable” striker, so it is clear why he’d be keen to reunite with him in North London.

Leeds United have now opened talks to sign a Europa League midfielder, with their first official offer set to be sent in a matter of weeks.

Leeds looking to strengthen in midfield amid downturn in form

While they still remain outside the Premier League relegation zone, Leeds’ form has gone downhill in recent weeks, most recently suffering a 2-0 defeat away against Burnley, which could prove to be a real six-pointer at the end of the season.

Speaking after the match, manager Daniel Farke claimed the result was “tough to take”, given that the Whites were the better team on the balance of play, with Brenden Aaronson hitting the woodwork, while Jack Harrison, Lukas Nmecha and Jayden Bogle also missed big chances.

Ultimately, however, it is a results business, and Farke’s side now find themselves just three points clear of 18th-placed Nottingham Forest, with the Clarets also closing the gap to just one point courtesy of their victory on Saturday.

It is still a little early to panic, considering the Elland Road outfit remain outside the bottom three, but Farke may have one eye on the January transfer window, and it has now been revealed that a new midfielder is of interest.

That is according to a report from Africa Foot (via Sport Witness), which reveals Leeds have now opened talks over a deal for Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Issouf Sissokho, who has emerged as a target for the January window.

The Whites plan to send their first official offer within a matter of weeks, given that talks with Sissokho’s entourage are progressing nicely, although it is unclear what sort of fee the Israeli side will demand to sanction a departure.

A verbal agreement with the Malian could soon be reached, with a winter move on the cards, and there are signs he could be a fantastic acquisition for the west Yorkshire outfit.

Pass-master Sissokho could be fantastic signing

The Maccabi Tel Aviv maestro is particularly impressive in possession of the ball, placing in the 99th percentile for his pass completion rate per 90 over the past year, when compared to other midfielders, having averaged 93.2%.

The defensive midfielder has also gained experience at a high level, having made ten Europa League appearances during his time with Maccabi Tel Aviv, and the 23-year-old was particularly impressive against Greek side PAOK at the end of September.

£90,000-a-week Leeds player who started vs Burnley could leave in January

The Whites could be set to reshuffle one area of their squad.

1 BySean Markus Clifford Oct 19, 2025

Indeed, the Mali international put in a solid display in a holding midfield role to help his side pick up a clean sheet, recording a 100% pass completion rate, while also completing four defensive actions.

Leeds have been left a little light on options in central midfield at times this season, with Ao Tanaka and Ethan Ampadu spending time on the sidelines, so it could make sense to bring in another option, and Sissokho has proven he could be a solid addition.

يستعد النادي الأهلي بقوة لخوض منافسات دور المجموعات في دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وسط تركيز كبير على تحقيق بداية مثالية تمنح الفريق دفعة معنوية نحو اللقب القاري الثالث عشر في تاريخه.

ويستهل الأهلي مشواره بمواجهة مرتقبة أمام شبيبة القبائل الجزائري على استاد القاهرة الدولي، قبل أن يشد الرحال إلى المغرب لملاقاة الجيش الملكي في الجولة الثانية.

اقرأ أيضًا | الأهلي يبدأ ميركاتو يناير.. 3 صفقات في مرحلة التفاوض وظهير أيسر في الطريق موعد مباراة الأهلي والجيش الملكي في دوري أبطال أفريقيا

وأكد نافع الرفاعي، المتحدث الرسمي لنادي الجيش الملكي المغربي، في تصريحات خاصة عبر بطولات، أن المباراة أمام الأهلي ستقام يوم 28 نوفمبر الجاري في الساعة الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت المغرب، أي التاسعة بتوقيت القاهرة.

وأضاف الرفاعي أن اللقاء سيُقام على ملعب الأمير مولاي عبد الله بالعاصمة الرباط، في أجواء جماهيرية كبيرة ينتظرها عشاق الفريق المغربي، خاصة أن المباراة تجمع بين اثنين من أعرق أندية القارة الإفريقية.

ويواجه الأهلي نظيره شبيبة القبائل الجزائري يوم 22 نوفمبر الجاري على استاد القاهرة، في افتتاح مشواره ضمن المجموعة التي تضم أيضًا الجيش الملكي ويانج أفريكانز.

ويأمل الجهاز الفني بقيادة ييس توروب أن يحقق الفريق نتائج إيجابية في أول جولتين، تمهيدًا لتصدر المجموعة مبكرًا، خاصة مع عودة عدد من اللاعبين المصابين الذين يمثلون قوة إضافية للفريق الأحمر في هذه المرحلة المهمة وعلى رأسهم إمام عاشور.

Nathan McSweeney, who was opening the batting, fell before the close of play

AAP21-Jul-2025Australia A’s batters faced a searching test to save their two-game series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin after the visitors built a formidable first innings total, thanks mostly to a century from Pavan Rathnayake.Resuming on day two of the second four-day match at 263 for 4, Sri Lanka A fully punished rival captain Jason Sangha’s decision to send them in, powering on to make 486 for 6 declared.In reply, the hosts were 76 for 1 at stumps at the Marrara Cricket Ground on Monday, with Jake Weatherald on 45 and Kurtis Patterson 19, and with a mountain still to climb to win the series after the first match was drawn.Australia A’s former Test opener Nathan McSweeney couldn’t replicate his fine 94 from the first match, falling for 12 when bowled between bat and pad by offspinner Nishan Peiris.Rathnayake resumed on 43, and made the most of an ideal batting strip in reaching 122 off 223 balls – his side’s second century following Nuwanidu Fernando’s 102 on day one.Sonal Dinusha, resuming on 5, also joined the run-fest in moving to 88 off 191 deliveries, as he and Rathnayake added 170 for the fifth wicket in 53 overs.Their stand ended when left-arm spinner Zanden Jeh lured Rathnayake into a rash clip to short midwicket where he was well caught low down by Oliver Peake.Dinusha and Sohan de Livera continued to punish the bowlers, adding 40 runs in 14 overs before Dinusha mishit a lofted pull and was caught at mid-on by Patterson.That gave a third wicket to unknown 22-year-old Zeh who was the pick of the eight bowlers used despite never having played top level state cricket. The Queenslander was chosen from left-field for game one as Australian officials continue their search for quality left-arm spinners.De Livera was the fifth batter to make a half-century or more, finishing 50 not out when the declaration came.McSweeney hit two fours in his 20 balls before being bowled between bat and pad. Weatherald and Patterson guided the home side to stumps adding 44 without further loss.

Beth Mead and Alessia Russo took centre stage on Sunday as Arsenal looked much more like themselves in a comfortable and convincing 4-1 win at Leicester. Despite being crowned European champions back in May, the Gunners have struggled at the start of this new season, unable to use that continental triumph as a springboard for a Women's Super League title challenge. This win, though, was a sign that the tide is turning, with it certainly the most impressive of the three on the bounce they have now registered.

One of Arsenal's most notable issues in recent times has been the inability to really kill games off once they take the lead and, in that sense, this was a really encouraging day out as goals from Russo and Stina Blackstenius, either side of an own goal from Sari Kees, allowed the Gunners to race into a 3-0 lead before half time. Renee Slegers' side were positive, looked confident and showcased the sort of ruthlessness that is going to be vital if they are to mount a serious charge for a first WSL title since 2019.

That Arsenal were able to play at this level given the list of absentees was notable, too. Olivia Smith and Frida Maanum both sustained injuries on international duty, Lotte Wubben-Moy and Kyra Cooney-Cross were missing due to illness and Emily Fox could only make the bench, having played in the United States on Wednesday night. It meant a first league start for Laia Codina in over a year; just a second start of the season, in all competitions, for Blackstenius; and a place at right-back for the left-footed Taylor Hinds, fresh off an England debut in midweek.

But that enforced reshuffle proved to be anything but a negative as Arsenal breezed to a well-needed victory, as a clinical strike from Russo, an own goal from the England striker's teasing cross and two great finishes from Blackstenius saw off Leicester with ease, despite Noemie Mouchon's late consolation. Was it a performance of title contenders? It's perhaps hard to say so, given this was a game many expected Slegers' side to win and the fact there were a few decent opportunities that a better team than Leicester would not have wasted. However, it was certainly a good tune-up for the Gunners ahead of next week's clash with Chelsea, where those credentials will really be put to the test. 

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the King Power Stadium…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Daphne van Domselaar (6/10):

Had a couple of iffy moments in possession but was confident claiming crosses and stood tall in a big one-v-one chance for Leicester, even if Mouchon should've done better with her effort.

Taylor Hinds (7/10):

Looked settled and assured throughout, despite starting at right-back and switching to left-back on the hour. Her pass in behind for Russo kickstarted the move for the second goal.

Laia Codina (6/10):

A solid performance on her first league start since October of last year, and first start in all competitions since February. Won all four of her aerial duels.

Steph Catley (6/10):

Like Codina, she was good on the ball and won most of her duels. 

Katie McCabe (6/10):

Strong in her duels and good on the ball, delivering some teasing crosses.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Kim Little (7/10):

Tidy in possession and excellent in her defensive work, winning nine of her 11 ground duels.

Mariona Caldentey (6/10):

Created more chances than any other player, showcasing her quality on the ball, though did also have some sloppy moments in possession, including one which gave Leicester their biggest opportunity of the game.

Alessia Russo (8/10):

Somehow seemed to get more service in this deeper role than she often has as a No.9. Broke the deadlock with a clinical strike and created the second with a teasing cross.

Getty Images SportAttack

Beth Mead (8/10):

After a couple of really good performances for England during the international break, she continued that momentum here with an excellent display at both ends of the pitch.

Stina Blackstenius (8/10):

Was full of running and on the end of a fair few chances as a result of her good movement, ending the day with two goals and an assist. Could've had a hat-trick, or better, had she been more clinical, too.

Caitlin Foord (6/10):

Perfect in possession, completing all 16 of her passes, and created a couple of opportunities. Was lively when involved, just didn't see tons of the ball.

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Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Chloe Kelly (6/10):

Still looks a little bit off her full fitness in terms of sharpness but, despite that, created a couple of chances after being introduced on the hour.

Emily Fox (6/10):

Slotted in at right-back just fine for the final half an hour as the game winded down.

Victoria Pelova (5/10):

Couldn't really get involved enough to make a significant impact on the game.

Jenna Nighswonger (N/A):

Made her first appearance of the season in the closing stages, having been surprisingly unable to get any game time until this point.

Katie Reid (N/A):

A late introduction when Little limped off with a knock.

Renee Slegers (6/10):

Hand was forced for most of her team selection, given the absentees, but she adapted well to put out a side capable of running riot. Some questions about her subs, with it a surprise to see her introduce Fox at all given this felt a great opportunity to rest a player who is almost ever-present, but it was good to see Nighswonger finally involved.

Brendan Rodgers could return to the Premier League after two years, as the ex-Liverpool manager is being deemed the front-runner to become Wolves' new head coach, replacing Vitor Pereira at the helm. The Portuguese coach was relieved of his duties following the club's humiliating 3-0 defeat against Fulham this weekend, which left them winless after their first 10 league matches.

• Pereira shown the door

  After weeks of speculation over Pereira, the Wolves boss was finally shown the door on Sunday after they suffered a 3-0 defeat against Fulham and remained winless in their first 10 matches of the 2025-26 campaign. The club are currently languishing at the bottom of the table with just two points. Pereira helped Wolves avoid relegation last season and had even penned a new three-year contract with the club in September, only to be sacked just under two months later. 

  After the loss at Fulham, Pereira had said: "I’m disappointed today. I’m not proud of my work, of our work, because I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s because mentally, we put a lot of energy in the last game against Chelsea until the last minute. But what I realised today was a very difficult game for us, tactically, technically, physically. We played maybe one of the worst games that we’ve played. Even with 11 against 11, since the first minute the energy to move, the offensive dynamic, and the energy to press was not there.

  "After five minutes, I started to realise that something is missing today. But the game was balanced, because even then, they were not playing in a high level. But after the goal, we tried to do something, but not in our level. After the red card, it was very difficult for us."

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• AFP
  

  Rodgers set for Premier League return

  According to multiple media reports, former Liverpool and Leicester City manager Rodgers is poised to make a comeback to the Premier League after three years, as Wolves are considering appointing the Irish manager as their next permanent head coach. Earlier this week, Scottish Premiership giants Celtic announced that Rodgers had tendered his resignation, news which raised eyebrows across Scottish football. After suffering a surprise 2-0 loss at the hands of Dundee on 19 October, the Bhoys were consigned to back-to-back league defeats for the first time since 2023 following the reverse against Hearts on Sunday.

  In their statement, Celtic said: "Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation. It has been accepted by the Club and Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect. The Club appreciates Brendan’s contribution to Celtic during his two very successful periods at the Club. Brendan leaves Celtic with our thanks for the role he has played during a period of continued success for the Club and we wish him further success in the future. The process to appoint a new permanent manager is underway and the Club will update supporters further on this as soon as possible."

• Pereira angrily confronted fans after Burnley loss

  After last weekend's 3-2 defeat against Burnley, an angry confrontation took place between Pereira and the Wolves supporters, with the head coach needing to be pulled away. 

  Following the ugly scene at Molineux, Pereira defended his action by saying: "We understand the frustration of the people and supporters but what I must say, if we fight united with them, we can win games and compete and achieve our targets – without them, it is impossible. If we win two or three games in a row, things will change. Two months ago they sang my name, because together with the work we did last season, we are competing in the Premier League and not the Championship. 

  "Now they sing my name to sack me. If I was a supporter, I would feel proud of my team because they worked and showed the spirit, mentality and ambition to win the game, even losing 2-0 [after 30 minutes]. If you fight for 90 minutes to win a game and in the last minute, when the other team was trying to get a draw, wasting time to finish the game, defending in a low block to defend the result, even if we draw it was not fair. We deserved the three points but it's football. I feel proud of my players because they showed in a very difficult moment, the mentality, the team spirit, the organisation to try until the last minute to win the game."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What next?

  Relegation-threatened Wolves next face Enzo Maresca's Chelsea in a difficult Premier League encounter on November 8, which means the club have to act swiftly to finalise their next manager before their upcoming clash, which is only six days from now.

MatériaMais Notícias

Atuesta comentou sua evolução no tratamento da lesão que sofreu em fevereiro deste ano, durante um treino do Palmeiras. Em processo de transição física, nesta sexta-feira (13), participou de algumas atividades de campo junto ao elenco e fez outros trabalhos à parte. O colombiano rompeu o ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho direito.

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Sobre o tratamento, Atuesta comentou que foi essencial para ‘começar a valorizar mais outras coisas’. Para ele, este processo de transição física requer que ele volte a se acostumar com fundamentos básicos do futebol, como ‘passar a bola’, por exemplo.

– Ninguém quer se machucar nunca, mas, com esse acontecimento, eu comecei a valorizar muitas coisas, como o carinho do torcedor, dos meus companheiros e de todos os trabalhadores daqui da Academia. O que passei me fez valorizar coisas que provavelmente eu não ligaria – disse.Você quer trabalhar no seu clube do coração? Matricule-se no curso Gestor de Futebol e entenda como!- Estou me acostumando de novo a passar a bola, ao esforço de um passe forte e ao de chutar. É algo difícil, mas dá muita alegria conseguir esses pequenos objetivos que parecem simples, mas, quando você vem de cirurgia, enche de felicidade – completou.Afastado desde a lesão, Atuesta analisou a temporada do Palmeiras. O colombiano explicou que entende a frustração após a eliminação na Copa Libertadores, mas é preciso focar no Campeonato Brasileiro também.

OLHAR DO PORCO: Leila Pereira precisa aprender a respeitar a história do Palmeiras

– Eu vejo que todo mundo ficou com muita raiva e acho isso muito bom. Nós sabemos o que podemos fazer e chegamos longe, pois não é fácil chegar a uma semifinal de Copa Libertadores de novo. E sabemos também que somos vencedores, que sabemos jogar partidas difíceis e como ganhá-las. Por isso, é normal sentir essa raiva, não sei uma palavra melhor para usar, mas acho que isso vai dar mais motivação para o ano que vem brigarmos por todos os campeonatos que a gente disputa – finalizou.

O Palmeiras treinou na manhã desta sexta-feira (13), na Academia de Futebol, e seguiu a preparação para enfrentar o Atlético-MG, quinta-feira (19), às 19h (de Brasília), no Allianz Parque, pela 27ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. A comissão comandou atividades técnicas de marcação e finalizações em campo reduzido.

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When you think of Newcastle United, you don’t first think of a full-flowing youth system.

While Alan Shearer began his youth in his home city, he did not play for Newcastle and signed an academy deal with Southampton before the Magpies could swoop. On the south coast, he was schooled and developed into the superstar the Toon would one day welcome home.

Newcastle have since sharpened their academy ranks, with the PIF investing in young talent to underlay Eddie Howe’s first-team squad. It is by supporting the seniors with promising up-and-comers that the chances of sustained success are raised, forging a closer bond with the city besides.

But Newcastle are still putting their emphasis on bringing over impactful additions to help Howe achieve his goals. However, one of these recent arrivals, Anthony Elanga, has struggled to get going so far, and a continuation of his woes could see a young prospect rise up and take his place.

Elanga's start to life at Newcastle

Let’s scale it back a bit. It’s transfer deadline day, August 2024. Newcastle need a right winger, need one badly.

And Elanga has been profiled as the man for the job, with Newcastle persistent after an initial £35m offer was rejected by Evangelos Marinakis. A second £50m bid arrives, proving the scale of Newcastle’s ambition, but Marinakis doesn’t want to play ball, and Tyneside do not welcome their man.

One year on, Elanga has signed for Newcastle in a £55m deal, and this tells us of a clear strategy for a player who has been scouted and analysed. He fits Howe’s vision and racked up 31 goal contributions across two Premier League terms with the Tricky Trees.

But he’s struggled thus far in the north east, having gone 12 matches in all competitions this term without a single direct goal involvement. Limited in attacking quality, Howe, and Elanga himself, will expect much more over the coming months.

The jury remains out, of course, but there’s a lot to be excited about, with Elanga’s fleet-footed pace and creative flair singled out by pundit Jamie Carragher as being perfect for Woltemade, who has suffered no such slowness in his start to life at SJP.

However, if Newcastle’s speedy signing fails to improve, he may fall quickly down the pecking order, with Jacob Murphy racking up an assist in midweek.

But it’s not just the 30-year-old stalwart who could threaten Elanga’s berth, with a Lamine Yamal-esque youngster looking to make headway on Tyneside after arriving from overseas this summer.

The Newcastle teen who's 'like Yamal"

Newcastle have a wave of youth talent incoming on Tyneside as has not been seen in many years. The likes of Elliot Anderson (sadly sold to Nottingham Forest) and Lewis Miley are among the brightest rising stars.

But that’s not all. An impetus has been placed on signing formative players and developing them. Seung-soo Park is a fine representation of this, having been dubbed ‘the Korean Lamine Yamal’ by one Asian football writer, who understands the teenager has been given his own locker at St. James’ Park, which tells much of Howe’s belief in the youngster’s potential.

Aged 18, Park joined the Magpies from K League 2 side Suwon Bluewings this summer, fee undisclosed. He had featured 18 times for the Suwon first team, scoring once and providing three assists.

Instantly among the senior fold, journalist Liam Kennedy marvelled at the “surprise package”, with the high regard he was held in clear from the off.

Like Elanga, Park is endowed with speed and power, and he’s versatile enough to play across the frontline. Across two matches in the EFL Trophy this term, he has shown much promise, combative in the challenge while being creative and enterprising on the ball.

Seung-soo Park in the EFL Trophy

Stats

vs Huddersfield

vs Mansfield

Minutes played

62′

90′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

1

Touches

26

49

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

2 (1)

Accurate passes

16/18 (89%)

23/28 (82%)

Chances created

1

3

Dribbles

2/3

3/3

Recoveries

2

3

Tackles won

0/0

0/1

Ground duels

3/4

5/7

Data via Sofascore

Those ball-carrying statistics tell a tale. Park has the trappings of an elite dribbler, and in this, he could rival Elanga in the years to come at St. James’ Park.

The comparisons to Yamal are not without substance, and if the talent can develop his prolific edge in front of goal, he could topple Elanga and maybe even rival the likes of Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade for the talismanic crown among Howe’s star men.

After all, the evidence thus far shows a player whose creativity and flair on the ball is cut from a similar cloth to those at the highest step of the Newcastle pyramid. To put that another way, it’s only a matter of time.

Hailed as a “real find” by Toon correspondent Charlier Bennett, Park is billed for big things, all right, with the reporter going on to whether the versatile forward “should remain with the first team this season?”

He has now made eight appearances for the U21s, and while Park continues to search for his first goal in black and white, like Elanga, he is adapting to a wholly new environment and could find himself fast-tracked with a bit more match action.

The five-cap South Korean U20 international, with one goal to his name, is one of the most exciting young talents to emerge from Asia in recent years, and though he faces stiff competition for a place on the Newcastle flanks, he has a big fan in Howe, and boasts the ability to leapfrog Elanga down the line, should the Swedish winger fail to kick on at the senior level.

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Posts 1 ByMatt Dawson Oct 22, 2025

Bumrah is set to return after being rested in Edgbaston, while Archer will play his first Test in more than four years

Andrew Miller09-Jul-20251:39

Manjrekar: India should not get carried away with Edgbaston win

Big picture: India have the momentum after Edgbaston triumphAt Headingley, India lost the unlosable Test. At Edgbaston, they made spectacular amends, in circumstances that belied even their most optimistic pre-series hopes.If there had been a quiet belief before the tour that Shubman Gill was too good to keep averaging below 30 in overseas Tests, then the captain’s match haul of 430 runs – second only to Graham Gooch in a famous forerunner of this latest Lord’s contest 35 years ago – was an insatiable response to his team’s hour of need.And if India’s team selection – with their focus on batting depth in the lower-middle order – had implied a willingness to settle for a draw while their star strike bowler Jasprit Bumrah preserved his strength for the back end of the campaign, then no one told Akash Deep that he was intended as a conservative pick.Related

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Akash Deep’s superb ten-wicket haul dripped with a new-ball threat of which Bumrah himself would have been proud, most particularly his candidate for ball of the series to Joe Root in the second innings (and no, it was not a back-foot no-ball – MCC has clarified the ruling).With Mohammed Siraj stepping up as he has often done in Bumrah’s absence (his average in 15 Tests without Bumrah is almost eight points lower than when he plays second fiddle), India’s seamers harnessed an especially truculent Dukes ball and made sure that barely an over went to waste while it was at its shiniest and newest. England’s startling tally of six ducks in the first innings confirmed the extent to which England were caught cold by fast bowling of the highest class.Not that England will be unduly rattled by the extent of this setback. It’s easy to mock their determination to take on any given run-chase, particularly when two of their last four fourth innings have resulted in defeats by 423 runs against New Zealand in Hamilton in December, and now by 336 runs at Edgbaston.But six 250-plus chases in the Bazball era, with India on the receiving end of each of their two highest in history, confirms the extent of England’s divorce from precedent. Where once there might have been shame at such a monumental thumping in a Test match, now there’s merely a shrug, and a determination to do the same again next time, only better.4:11

Harmison draws parallels between Archer and Mo Salah

Whether India allow England to improve on that showing, however, is a different matter. Gill’s relentless run-making at Edgbaston reflected his determination not to be drawn into playing his opponents’ game – as had arguably been the case when he holed out for 147 to trigger the dramatic collapse that allowed England back into that first Test. In the second, fatigue eventually got the better of him on 269 but, until that point, he had been in control of 93% of his shots across 386 balls, a remarkable figure that confirmed his refusal to give any suckers an even break.Perhaps the return of Jofra Archer will give Gill the hurry-up that was so lacking at Edgbaston. The mind’s eye is sure to drift back to Archer’s stunning debut on this ground six years ago, when he felled Steven Smith in the midst of a witheringly quick spell in the 2019 Ashes.The reality, however, might be subtly different. At the age of 30 and with a litany of injuries now hopefully behind him, Archer would be within his rights to pitch himself as a different type of bowler for this second coming: a scalpel rather than the sledgehammer that Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue set out to be, with varying degrees of success, across the first two matches.Either way, it promises to be the grandest of events. Last month, the most illustrious stage in the game proved utterly pivotal to the success of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Now, Lord’s plays host to the modern game’s actual overlords, at the most perfect juncture of a compelling five-Test series. Neither team seems minded to take a backward step, but to judge by the battles that have gone before, someone will have been forced to blink by the time these five days are done.Form guideEngland LWWLW
India WLLLDIn the spotlight: Jofra Archer and Jasprit BumrahThere’s no denying the buzz of anticipation that Jofra Archer’s return to Test cricket has created. There aren’t many more box-office cricketers in England’s ranks, especially given his exploits here at Lord’s in 2019. To say a fair bit of water has flowed under the bridge since then is a gross understatement, but despite his well-documented elbow and back issues, Archer has now been injury-free for the best part of two years.That said, his robustness hasn’t been tested to the fullest extent in white-ball cricket. He bowled just 18 overs on his comeback for Sussex last month, on an admittedly placid deck at Chester-le-Street, but that was sufficient for England to fast-track him back into the big time.1:41

Who makes way for Bumrah?

When it comes to box-office, even Archer has to cede status to the undisputed grandee of contemporary seam bowling. Every ball that Jasprit Bumrah bowled in the first Test at Headingley felt like a wicket about to happen – and so it proved in the first innings, when he struck in each of his first three spells, and would surely have powered India into an indomitable position had it not been for his costly overstep with Harry Brook on 0.Even when his threat was negated in England’s second innings, it first required an outbreak of rare deference from Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett to set the course for their 371-run chase. He’ll be rested and raring to go at Lord’s, with a place on that dressing-room honours board very much in his sights.Team news: Will India persist with Nair at No. 3?True to form, England confirmed their XI well before the match, with Archer returning to the fray. He is the only change from the team that lost at Edgbaston, with Tongue – the series-leading wicket-taker with 11 at 33.63 – making way after his heavy workload in the first two Tests.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Shoaib BashirBumrah’s absence did not derail India’s ambitions at Edgbaston – far from it – but his return after a fortnight’s rest could turbo-charge their bid to move 2-1 up, in a series in which they’ve been on top for at least seven days out of ten. He is expected to slot back in in place of Prasidh Krishna, whose economy rate took a battering in the first two games.With Akash Deep and Siraj sharing 17 wickets at Edgbaston, that seam unit suddenly looks potent in the extreme. Which is all the more reason why India will likely resist the temptation to include the wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav. Washington Sundar was the safer option and justified his pick with a key 42 from No. 8 in the first innings.India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Karun Nair, 4 Shubman Gill (capt), 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Akash Deep, 11 Mohammed Siraj2:22

Harmison: England don’t want a traditional England pitch

Pitch and conditions: Look up, not downLord’s, as the cliché goes, is a “look up, not down” venue, where the overhead conditions play a bigger role in the pitch’s behaviour than the surface itself. This notion was borne out at the WTC final last month, when the sun broke through for the final day and a bit, and a pitch on which both sides had struggled became a road.That precedent is unlikely to discourage England from their preferred “we’ll have a chase” mentality, for all that Stokes insists his team are not webbed to the notion. A clear and dry forecast will be a factor, and so too a surface that still had a covering of live grass on the eve of the match and might offer some assistance on the first morning.Stats and trivia: Root nears 3000 Archer is set to play his 14th Test, and his first since the tour of India in February 2021, 1595 days ago. In that period, he has missed 53 Tests across 18 series, home and away.Gill has a current series tally of 585 runs at 146.25, with three hundreds and a best of 269. Among the many records he could challenge in the remaining three Tests, Gill needs just 18 more to pass Rahul Dravid’s haul of 602 in 2002, the most by an India batter in England. Joe Root needs 45 runs to become the first batter to score 3000 against India in Test cricket. Chris Woakes has taken 32 wickets at 12.90 in seven Tests at Lord’s, including three five-wicket hauls. He has also scored 340 runs at 42.50, including his only Test century … against India in 2018. India have won just three of their previous 19 Tests at Lord’s (against England’s 12 wins). However, two of those have come in their last three visits, in 2014 and in 2021, when Siraj claimed eight wickets in the match after KL Rahul’s match-defining hundred.Quotes”It’s great for English fans, but also for Jof. It’s been a long time coming for him. He can be pretty proud of himself that he’s managed to get himself back here after two pretty big injury scares.”
“Everything. How accurate he is, the way his mind works. It is just amazing. It is more difficult for a wicketkeeper than for a batsman.”
Rishabh Pant is in awe of Bumrah, as he prepares to return for the Lord’s Test