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Celtic are now considering a January bid to sign Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, who is also being targeted by bitter rivals Rangers.

Following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, Martin O’Neill has been keeping things steady at Parkhead, with the veteran manager winning his first three matches in charge, most recently defeating Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden.

Extra-time goals from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand secured a 3-1 victory for the Hoops, setting up a clash with St. Mirren on December 14th, although O’Neill was none the wiser, given his response when asked if he would take charge of the final.

The interim boss said: “I was 73 on Monday, I’m 94 now! I don’t even know when the final is. I would imagine the club are making inroads to a permanent manager.”

Reaching a final is always cause for optimism, but the 55-time Scottish champions’ league form suggests they need to make improvements in the winter window, currently sitting nine points behind league-leaders Hearts.

Celtic considering January bid to sign David Watson

According to a report from The Herald, Celtic are now considering a January bid to sign Kilmarnock midfielder Watson, with the 20-year-old’s current contract due to expire at the end of the campaign, meaning he is free to negotiate pre-contract terms with other clubs.

The Hoops may have to hijack Rangers, however, with it last month being revealed their rivals have also identified the youngster, who could be Danny Rohl’s first signing, as a transfer target.

Foreign clubs have also expressed an interest in the midfielder, which means Kilmarnock could cash-in this January, although they may also choose to retain him until the end of the season to boost their chances of finishing higher in the Scottish Premiership.

Kilmarnock vice-captain Robbie Deas has waxed lyrical about the starlet’s work ethic in the past, saying: “Davey’s fantastic, honestly. He’s one of the hardest workers you’ll ever meet. He’s absolutely fantastic. You see that today, and he’s putting those tackles in later on.”

Not only that, but the Scotland U21 international is already very experienced at senior level, despite his age, making 117 appearances for the Kilmarnock first team, and he has already scored three league goals in 11 outings this term.

As such, there are clear signs Watson could be capable of making the step-up to a club the size of Celtic, but their main priority should be to bring in a permanent replacement for Rodgers.

O’Neill’s solid start has bought Dermot Desmond & co some time, but bringing in a top manager could really help put the pressure on Hearts, with Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen, who has won four league titles in the last five seasons, recently emerging as an option.

Charlie Mulgrew urges Celtic to appoint Jurgen Klopp Charlie Mulgrew shares "big" contract Celtic should now offer Jurgen Klopp

The ex-Celtic star has had his say…

ByTom Cunningham Nov 4, 2025

Cole Palmer is set to miss Chelsea’s Champions League trip to Atalanta despite only just returning from injury, with the Blues opting for a carefully controlled recovery plan after his long spell on the sidelines. The midfielder was absent from training at Cobham ahead of the flight to Italy, but his omission is precautionary rather than due to any new physical setback.

Palmer misses Chelsea training ahead of Atalanta

Chelsea finalised their preparations for Tuesday night’s Champions League meeting with Atalanta during an open training session, but Palmer was notably absent. His exclusion from the squad travelling to Bergamo is not related to a fresh issue, but instead part of a pre-planned recovery schedule after weeks out with a recurring groin problem and a fractured toe, as per various reports. Having only just made his first start since September in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bournemouth, the medical staff opted to ease his workload to prevent aggravation.

The England attacker's recent return has been closely monitored, beginning with a 30-minute cameo in last week’s defeat to Leeds before starting against Bournemouth at the weekend. Chelsea want to avoid overloading him, especially given the two-month gap between competitive starts, and viewed the Atalanta fixture as one that could be safely skipped. Palmer is expected to resume full involvement ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Everton at Stamford Bridge.

With Palmer not featuring in training, the door opens for alternative No.10 options, including Facundo Buonanotte, who did take part in the session. The Brighton loanee has played only sporadically under Enzo Maresca but represents the most natural fit to replace Palmer behind the striker. Other creative attackers, such as Joao Pedro or Estevao Willian, may also be considered as Maresca reshuffles his forward structure.

AdvertisementAFPChelsea already contending with numerous injuries

Chelsea enter the Atalanta clash on 10 points, level with the Italian side, and know victory would go some way to helping them secure automatic qualification from the Champions League league phase. The Blues have shown signs of improvement in Europe, particularly during their convincing 3-0 win over Barcelona, but they remain inconsistent domestically as injuries continue to disrupt momentum.

The list of absentees is already significant, with Liam Delap out after sustaining a shoulder injury against Bournemouth and long-term casualties including Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill, and Dario Essugo. Reece James may also be rested given Moises Caicedo’s return from suspension increases tactical flexibility.

Maresca has emphasised that building physical rhythm is essential for Palmer after missing more than two months of action. The Chelsea boss recently explained that the midfielder’s gradual increase in minutes is intended to stabilise his condition before restoring him as a permanent starter. With the Premier League schedule intensifying, the club’s sports science department is adamant that short-term caution will lead to long-term gain.

Palmer's disrupted season post Club World Cup

Palmer’s stop-start season has been defined by two separate injuries: the groin issue that first sidelined him in September and the fractured toe sustained in a freak accident at home. The latter setback delayed his planned comeback, leaving Chelsea without their chief creative outlet during a congested part of the calendar. His absence was felt sharply as the Blues struggled for goals and consistency, making his eventual return even more significant.

Despite missing 19 matches across competitions, Palmer remains central to Maresca’s tactical vision as the side’s primary playmaker. His performance in the No.10 role offers a unique blend of threat and creativity that few in the squad can replicate. That is precisely why the Blues are determined not to jeopardise his recovery by rushing him into high-intensity European matches too quickly.

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GettyPalmer to be ready for the Everton game

Palmer is expected to resume training in the coming days and is being prepared to start against Everton on Saturday. The Premier League fixture is viewed internally as the more important game for maintaining Chelsea’s domestic trajectory.

Looking further ahead, Palmer’s reintegration will be pivotal to Chelsea’s hopes in both Europe and the Premier League. If the club’s phased recovery plan succeeds, he should be able to return to the consistent match rhythm that makes him one of the most dangerous players on the planet on his day. A fully fit Palmer remains essential to Chelsea’s ambitions, and that is why missing Atalanta is seen as a necessary sacrifice rather than a setback.

Former captains Mohammad Ashraful and Akram Khan point at systemic issues around team selection, lack of batting plans, and players not adapting to the modern way

Mohammad Isam16-Oct-2025Bangladesh’s seemingly never-ending issues in the batting department remains in focus as they head into another ODI series – this time against West Indies at home – within three days of their 3-0 whitewash at the hands of Afghanistan.There is a confidence problem within the batting group, with captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz conceding after their 200-run defeat in the third ODI that they wanted to bat 50 overs but were struggling to.Fans are irate too. On Wednesday, one group gave the Bangladesh players an unsavoury welcome, including inflicting damage on some players’ vehicles. Another group urged people to stay away from the Shere Bangla National Stadium for the first ODI against West Indies on Saturday.Related

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Bangladesh call up Soumya and Mahidul for West Indies ODIs

Former Bangladesh captains Mohammad Ashraful and Akram Khan have both said that Bangladesh’s batting approach and overall strategy in the last 12 months have left them baffled.Ashraful, who has recently started his coaching career, said that the problems begin at the top, with Bangladesh’s top-order. Only Saif Hassan, playing his maiden ODI series, played the lead in whatever starts Bangladesh got against Afghanistan. Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto scored 22 runs in five innings between them. Mohammad Naim scratched around for seven in his only appearance.The situation was slightly better against Sri Lanka in July, although Tanzid and Parvez Hossain Emon scoring a fifty each hardly made a difference to the team’s performances. Shanto made 37 runs in three innings back then.”I think the biggest concern is the lack of runs from the top order,” Ashraful told ESPNcricinfo. “It has been going on for a while now. Shanto isn’t scoring runs, so that’s becoming a problem. In fact, the lack of runs from the top order goes back quite a long way. During the West Indies series last year, it was Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali and Mehidy Hasan Miraz bailing us out every time. We did put up reasonable totals but I kept feeling that we were at least 50 runs short in those three matches. Even before that, in the previous Afghanistan series last year, we couldn’t get good starts because of poor strike rates.”Ashraful said that the lack of runs from Shanto and Litton Das, and Mehidy’s lukewarm batting tempo through the middle-overs, have dented Bangladesh severely. Among the batters around the national side these days, Mehidy is the most experienced with 113 ODIs, while Litton is on 95 and Shanto 55.Litton Das has been in and out of the ODI team•AFP/Getty ImagesLitton’s ODI career has stalled after a prolonged batting drought in the format. He has scored only 35 runs in his last nine innings going back to December 2023. He has been dropped twice from ODIs, although he is a Test regular and the T20I captain.”Whenever the team’s established batters don’t score runs, it makes life difficult for the rest,” Ashraful said. “Litton has been in and out of the ODI team for a while now. He is sometimes out of the squad, and then they bring him in on the back of some runs in another format. He returns, and then he fails again.”I also feel that since Mehidy began batting at No. 5, he is scoring runs but not how modern batters go about it. We are going back to our time when a batter would score 65-70 off 100 balls.”

“The ODI team hasn’t settled down. There’s too much chopping and changing. I think many of these decisions are being taken due to pressure from media and social media”Mohammad Ashraful

Bangladesh have been going through a batting transition in the last 24 months. Those who exited the format – Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah – possessed vast ODI experience. Tanzid, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy and Jaker have since taken over those batting positions and the swaps haven’t been smooth.Tanzid no longer enjoys a blanket backing from the management. Hridoy’s honeymoon period is long gone – he has failed to make meaningful contributions since the century against India in the Champions Trophy. Jaker is struggling, too, in the last few months.Akram, the BCB’s cricket operations chairman across two terms in the last ten years, is sympathetic.”I think there’s too much pressure on the players,” Akram told ESPNcricinfo. “They are not a bad team. These are not bad players. Generally, however, I am not seeing the ability to play big knocks. I don’t see the batters planning their innings, or at least breaking them down to phases of 15 balls each. Batting like this was possible in Abu Dhabi where we saw that only one innings got close to the 300-run mark. But we didn’t plan well.ODI captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been among the runs, but his strike rate has been a concern•AFP/Getty Images”I think the coaches should be held accountable. Losing one in ten matches is okay, but when you lose most games, there will be questions. It is high time we understand the importance of the men’s cricket team. Their level of performance reflects the overall health of cricket in the country. I think there’s a lot of room for improvement.”Ashraful also feels there should be better decision-making in the selection of the side. Apart from what he said about Litton, he pointed to the selection policy when it came to Soumya Sarkar.”The ODI team hasn’t settled down. There’s too much chopping and changing,” Ashraful said. “I think many of these decisions are being taken due to pressure from media and social media.”It will be a tough series against the West Indies. It won’t be like the ODI series in the past few years. West Indies are fresh from a Test series in India where two of their batters struck centuries in the second Test. I think that makes them a team with more confidence.”In home conditions, however, “we can always hope to do well,” Ashraful said. Which, of course, might only serve to paper over the cracks.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-match ban for sustaining a red card in Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against Ireland has been suspended for a year, and the reason why has now been revealed.

Why Ronaldo will be allowed to play at 2026 World Cup

Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for violent conduct in his side’s 2-0 defeat against Ireland this month, having elbowed Dara O’Shea, but he is set to be involved from the start of the World Cup next summer.

FIFA have taken the decision to suspend the final two games of the ban, and with the forward sitting out of his side’s 9-1 drubbing of Armenia, he will be able to take part in all of Portugal’s group games.

The decision has caused plenty of controversy, with talkSPORT’s Andy Goldstein calling it “disgusting”, given that the same rules haven’t been applied to Nicolas Otamendi and Moises Caicedo, who both have one-match bans, meaning they are set to miss the first World Cup game.

Darren Bent also weighed in, saying the only reason FIFA have decided to make an exception is because the Portugal star sells tickets, but the BBC have now revealed that another factor is at play.

According to their sources, FIFA have taken into account that it was the 40-year-old’s first red card in 226 international appearances when making their decision.

The statement put out by the governing body is also relayed, which states: “If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately.”

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ByDominic Lund Nov 4, 2025 Ronaldo has one last chance at World Cup glory

In truth, the decision is definitely questionable, given that similar exceptions haven’t been made for Otamendi and Caicedo, and journalist Colin Millar has drawn comparisons to Inter Miami being allowed to play at the Club World Cup.

However, Ronaldo will undoubtedly be relieved, given that he has already confirmed the 2026 World Cup will be his last, saying: “Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old and I think [this] will be the moment in the big competition.”

Should the Al-Nassr star win the competition with Portugal, there is a case to be made for him winning the ‘GOAT’ debate, but it will be a tall order, with the likes of Spain, England, France and Argentina all looking strong.

The international break is often an unwelcome distraction for Premier League fans, but Arsenal supporters had something to celebrate last night.

England boss Thomas Tuchel started Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, and then brought on Eberechi Eze midway through the second half of the World Cup qualifier against Serbia.

It wasn’t the most memorable of games, but the Gunners’ trio of stars all played brilliantly, especially Saka and Eze.

Yet, so far this season, the pair of them are being outperformed by another former Hale Ender who left the club as a youngster.

Saka & Eze's England performances

Alongside Rice, Saka started for England on Thursday night, and once again reminded everyone why he should, and will, be one of the first names on the teamsheet come the summer.

The Hale End icon was a constant threat for the Three Lions, and opened the scoring just 28 minutes in with a sensational volley from a fair distance out.

It was the kind of goal that a lesser player would be wholly incapable of replicating, as proven in the second half when a Serbian player attempted and failed to do just that.

He didn’t just score the goal and then fade into the background, though, as in his 94 minutes of action, the 24-year-old played one key pass, took three shots, completed 100% of his dribbles, made one clearance, won 66% of his ground duels and recovered the ball five times.

Not to be outdone by his teammate, Eze entered the fray in the 64th minute and was an instant threat, hitting the woodwork and then scoring a goal of his own in the 90th minute.

It wasn’t just any goal, though, as it was another superb strike that nestled in the top corner, giving the Serbian keeper no chance of saving it.

In all, it wasn’t a great night for England, but an excellent one for the Arsenal contingent, who continue to perform for both club and country.

With that said, both Saka and Eze are being outperformed by another former Hale Ender who left the North Londoners as a child.

The former Arsenal gem outplaying Saka & Eze

The unfortunate reality is that every club, let alone one as large as Arsenal, will inevitably miss out on more than a few incredibly talented youngsters over time.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

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It is notoriously difficult to predict how good a prospect will really be, and even if a team wants to keep them, they aren’t always able to.

That is what seems to have happened in the case of Michael Olise, who opted to join Chelsea’s youth setup and leave the Gunners’ as a youngster.

However, he wouldn’t make an appearance for the Blues, and after moving a couple more times, would find himself at Reading, where he’d make his senior debut and eventually secure an £8m move to Crystal Palace.

It was at Selhurst Park where the young Frenchman would make his name, as in 90 appearances he’d racked up a tally of 16 goals and 25 assists, which was enough to tempt Bayern Munich to splash £50m on him last summer.

To describe the Hammersmith-born star’s first season in Germany as a success would be a colossal understatement, as in 55 appearances, totalling 3842 minutes, he scored 20 goals and provided 23 assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.27 games, or every 89.34 minutes, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing down this year.

For example, he has scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 17 appearances, totalling 1358 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.21 games, or every 97 minutes.

With outrageous numbers like these, it’s easy to understand why Oliver Glasner described the Frenchman as being “one of the best talents in the world.”

Olise vs Saka vs Eze

Player

Olise

Saka

Eze

Games

17

14

15

Starts

15

11

11

Minutes

1358′

963′

973′

Goals

7

6

2

Assists

7

0

3

All Stats via Transfermarkt

For comparison’s sake, Saka has scored six goals in 14 appearances this season, and Eze has produced five goal involvements in 15 games so far.

Ultimately, Arsenal fans understandably wouldn’t want to swap their talismanic number seven for anyone in the world, and the former Crystal Palace star is starting to pick up steam. However, a team with them and Olise in it would surely be almost unstoppable.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 14, 2025

A report into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool supporters, has stated that 12 police officers would have faced gross misconduct proceedings had the case been handled properly. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) report has detailed how "fundamental failures" and "concerted efforts" to blame fans led to justice never being served.

• Why no legal action can be taken

  Former South Yorkshire Police (SYP) chief constable Peter Wright and Ch Supt David Duckenfield are among the officers who would have had a case to answer had they been brought before the courts.

  The latest report has also upheld or unearthed new misconduct cases in 92 complaints. Those at the centre of said findings will not face any legal action as they had all retired by the time that investigations were opened again in 2012. Regulations were changed in 2017 and retired officers can now face misconduct charges, although laws cannot be applied retrospectively.

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• Getty
  

  Revealed: Findings of IOPC report

  Representatives of the families that lost loved ones at Hillsborough have stated that it is a “bitter injustice” that nobody can be held to account for what happened on that fateful day in Sheffield.

  Lauren Poultney, the current South Yorkshire Police chief constable, said she was “deeply sorry for the pain and heartbreak caused” by the “litany of failures” that rumbled on for over two decades. She added: “There is nothing I can say today which can take away the years of pain and hurt caused by the force I now lead.”

  The IOPC report is said to have exposed “a system that has allowed officers to simply walk away, retiring without scrutiny, sanction or consequence for failing to meet the standards the public has every right to expect”.

  Key findings from the 366-page document, as covered by the , include how the late Mr Wright “would have faced a case over 10 alleged breaches of the Police Disciplinary Code regarding his actions in the aftermath of the disaster”.

  Former Ch Supt David Duckenfield, who was match commander, would also have faced 10 alleged breaches for “failures in decision making and communication in relation to managing the build-up to the game” as well as “key failings” relating to crowd control.

  Eight other SYP officers would have had cases to answer, while former WMP Assistant Chief Constable Mervyn Jones and Det Ch Supt Michael Foster would have needed to explain their roles in leading the initial investigation carried out into the disaster, with it claimed that they showed “alleged bias towards police and against supporters”.

• Victims and their families were failed by the system

  IOPC deputy director general Kathie Cashell admits that those hit hardest by the tragedy, which saw 97 lives lost, have been repeatedly let down. She said: “What they have had to endure over more than 36 years is a source of national shame.”

  Ms Cashell revealed a watchdog investigation has ended up costing £88 million ($116m), while Operation Resolve will add a further £65m ($86m) to that tally. Only six people have faced criminal charges in the wake of the disaster, with only former secretary of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, Graham Mackrell, being convicted.

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• Getty Images
  

  Changes to the law as a result of Hillsborough disaster

  Ms Cashell added: "The 97 people who were unlawfully killed, their families, survivors of the disaster and all those so deeply affected, have been repeatedly let down – before, during and after the horrific events of that day.

  "First by the deep complacency of South Yorkshire Police in its preparation for the match, followed by its fundamental failure to grip the disaster as it unfolded, and then through the force's concerted efforts to deflect the blame onto the Liverpool supporters, which caused enormous distress to bereaved families and survivors for nearly four decades.

  "They were let down again by the inexplicably narrow investigation into the disaster conducted by West Midlands Police, which was a missed opportunity to bring these failings to light much sooner."

  As changes are made to the legal system, in the wake of what happened on the terraces at Leppings Lane, the Public Office Accountability Bill – known as the Hillsborough Law – will introduce a legal duty of candour for all public officials.

يرى أحمد عبد الرؤوف، المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، أن لاعب الفريق، مع التركيز، سيكون له شأن آخر مع القلعة البيضاء، خلال الفترة القادمة.

وفاز الزمالك على زيسكو، بهدف دون رد، في إطار الجولة الأولى من مواجهات المجموعة الرابعة لمنافسات كأس الكونفدرالية، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الأحد، في القاهرة.

وقال عبد الرؤوف خلال تصريحات في المؤتمر الصحفي بعد مباراة زيسكو: “أنا راض عن شيكو بانزا فنيًا، ومع التركيز سيكون له شأن آخر مع الزمالك، هناك بعض القصور الفنية ونعمل على علاجها ولكن بسبب ضيق الوقت لم أتمكن من العمل معه بشكل مطول ليكون أفضل”.

وأضاف: “شيكو بانزا تواصلنا معه ومع الجهاز الفني لمنتخب أنجولا وأخطرونا بوفاة شقيقه، علاقتي بكل اللاعبين طيبة وأتحدث معهم بشكل مستمر وعلاقتي الطيبة معهم قد تكون أهم من كرة القدم”. 

طالع | أحمد عبد الرؤوف بعد الفوز على زيسكو: نعاني من الإصابات.. وهذا وعدي لجماهير الزمالك

وتابع: “خروج محمود جهاد كان بسبب رغبتي في حماية اللاعب بعدما شعرت بأنه مُعرض للإصابة في ظل الالتحامات القوية من لاعبي زيسكو للمحاربة على التعادل خاصة أن عودته كانت منذ 7 أشهر”.

وأكمل: “لن أستطيع أن أرضي كل اللاعبين، لكن سيف جعفر لاعب مهم في الفريق وسيكون معنا مثلما سيكون هناك لاعبين مستبعدين في الفترة المقبلة ويتواجد غيرهم”.

وواصل: “سأتابع مباريات كايزر تشيفز، من أجل دراسة المنافس القادم لنا في المباراة المقبلة بكأس الكونفدرالية، كما أوكد على أننا نعمل بشخصية الزمالك رغم الظروف المحيطة بالفريق ورغم الفوز لم أكن راضيًا عن المباراة”.

وأكمل: “محمد السيد بعيد عن المباراة اليوم بسبب ملف التجديد، أقدره على المستوى الفني ولكن في النهاية هو قراره”.

وأتم: “أحمد فتوح لم يكن له بديل في مباراة اليوم وعملت على معالجة الضغط الهجومي من الناحية اليسرى”.

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