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Holder’s reach, and ability to play straight, meant he alone conquered a slow surface that was once full of runs

Hemant Brar26-Sep-20212:23

Trevor Bayliss: ‘To be honest we didn’t play good enough cricket’

“There is a roundabout just outside the Sharjah ground, with a signboard saying graveyard. There is a cemetery there. I have always felt it should be pointing towards the ground as that has often proved to be bowlers’ graveyard.”That was Sanjay Manjrekar while previewing the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings game for ESPNcricinfo.Manjrekar wasn’t wrong. Sharjah has indeed been a virtual burial ground for bowlers, with batters relishing its flat pitches and small boundaries. During the first half of IPL 2020, when the pitches were fresh, teams batting first in Sharjah crossed 200 four times in six matches. The lowest first-innings total in those games was 184.Watch the IPL on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the IPL live in the US. Match highlights of Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings is available here in English, and here in Hindi (US only).

However, there is one difference this time: the pitches in Sharjah were relaid just before the UAE leg of IPL 2021 began.While the venue has hosted only two games so far this season, the ball has already been turning, gripping and holding into the surface. On Friday, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s mighty batting line-up managed only 156 for 6 against Chennai Super Kings.Saturday’s game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings was played on the adjacent pitch, but run-making proved to be even more difficult.After being put in, Kings could muster only 125 for 7. Later, at the post-match presentation, their captain KL Rahul would say, “It was not a 160-170 wicket. Even if a couple of batters had got set, we would have put 140 or 150 on the board.”Aiden Markram would go into the why part at the press conference: “Anything with pace off was really holding in the wicket. And even the pace-on balls were not coming on [to the bat], so it was very difficult to find the boundary. And the outfield was quite thick and slow. So you were not getting as much as you would have liked for your shots.”And Sunrisers stuttered too in their chase. After six overs, they were 20 for 2, the lowest powerplay total at Sharjah in the IPL.Jason Holder launches one down the ground•BCCIIn the middle overs, Ravi Bishnoi troubled the batters with a mix of legbreaks and big-turning googlies. He castled Manish Pandey, had Kedar Jadhav chopping on and got Abdul Samad miscuing to short third man. With Sunrisers 60 for 5 in 13 overs, requiring another 66 from seven overs, in walked Jason Holder.Earlier in the day, Holder had registered his best IPL figures, 3 for 19, which included the wickets of Rahul and Mayank Agarwal in the same over. When Kings were looking to accelerate towards the end of the innings, Holder returned to remove a dangerous-looking Deepak Hooda.Now, his team required him to do it with the bat too. Holder played out a few deliveries but the asking rate had crossed ten. With 58 needed from 32 balls, Bishnoi provided the perfect opportunity to tee off: a fuller ball around off stump. Holder cleared his front leg and carted it for a straight six. In the next over, he launched Nathan Ellis over deep midwicket and long-on for back-to-back sixes.Two overs later, Shami bowled one in the slot and was smashed down the ground for another six. Arshdeep Singh bowled an excellent penultimate over, which left Sunrisers requiring 17 from six balls.Holder hit Ellis’ second delivery for a six, but with seven needed on the final balls, he failed to tie the game.Related

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Still, on a pitch, where everyone else struggled, Holder struck an unbeaten 47 off 29 balls. His five sixes were three more than the combined tally of all other batters in the match.How could Holder do what he did with the bat?Sunrisers’ coach Trevor Bayliss explained after the game: “He played fairly straight [Holder scored 26 runs in the ‘V’]. He has got a long reach on him, so he can get down the wicket but primarily he played fairly straight. He hit through the ball and didn’t necessarily try to play too square.”It’s difficult to play or score runs square of the wicket or behind point and square leg when there is no pace on the ball. And he showed the boys how it should be done, by playing straight. Take your singles down to mid-on and mid-off and if the ball is in the slot… obviously he is a good striker of the ball and he lobbed a few over the fence to give us a chance. I mean that’s the lesson for the rest of the guys. Play nice and straight on a wicket like this.”As per ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, Holder’s 47 was worth 64.63 and his three wickets worth 4.48 wickets. He topped both batting and bowling ratings, which gave him a match impact of 173.52, more than double the next best (Shami’s 82.4). Player-of-the-Match awards are generally given to the best performer from the winning side, but so towering was Holder’s impact, that he left little doubt he was the one to earn it.

Manchester United Women are reportedly trying to sign Swedish defender Hanna Lundkvist and German forward Lea Schuller as the January transfer window nears. The Red Devils sit fourth in the Women's Super League and are in with a shout of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League. Now, it seems, Marc Skinner's side are keen to strengthen their squad next month.

Man Utd want reinforcements

Last week, United boss Skinner called on the club to be aggressive in the winter transfer window and expects to have new recruits in before their WSL clash with Arsenal in early January. This follows after midfielder Celin Bizet announced she is pregnant, while Hinata Miyazawa could represent Japan at the Women's Asian Cup in March. 

He told reporters: "We made have made history for Manchester United (2024 FA Cup win and qualifying for the Champions League). We are showing progression. Now we need to be aggressive in the window and bring in new players that help support the growth of the team. 

"I would hope to have one of two players potentially before then. We need three or four in the window. It is a great opportunity to build. The market is crazy but we are talking about it. We need depth so the quality doesn't drop in certain areas when we have to rotate. The (players) won't like it because they won't want to rotate but we need to be aggressive."

AdvertisementAFPMan Utd close in on signings

Ahead of United's WSL game with Tottenham on Sunday, Skinner was once again asked about the Red Devils' chances of signing some players in January. Previously, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe  has expressed lukewarm interest in the fortunes of the women's team. Aside from that, Skinner revealed the latest on the club's recruitment plans on Friday.

He said: "We are already hopefully close to a couple of players, which I think will be exciting. We need to be creative within the parameters, but what I'd say is, we need to add to the group. I think I've said this all throughout…. I think everybody's said it, haven't they? But I must stress, and I need to stress again: it's not because of the quality of my players, it's just the depth to kind of continue that experience as well, especially with the level of competition. I mean, you look at this Champions League, a tough tie at the top of the table and then [we have] Champions League again, then a quarter-final. So the level of competition is there. We need to bring in and I know both Matts [Johnson and Hargreaves], head of recruitment [and] obviously head of women's football, are looking into that and have been for ages. So there's a plan, there's a focus. Hopefully we're close to a couple and if we can bring more in that would be nice."

Man Utd eye international duo

Now, according to The Athletic, United are pursuing Lundkvist, who is about to become a free agent following the expiration of her contract with San Diego Wave. The 23-year-old Swede has also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain but it seems the WSL side may secure her services. Moreover, the Red Devils are also interested in Bayern Munich's Schuller, whose contract expires next summer. The 28-year-old has scored 103 goals in 179 appearances after joining the club in 2020. If they can sign this duo, that would be a big boost for United's thin squad. 

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AFPWhat comes next for Man Utd?

United's last three games before they head off for the winter break are against Tottenham, Juventus in the Champions League, and then Spurs again, this time in the League Cup. 

Incidentally, when pressed on where United needs to strengthen, he added: "I think we need to add to the front line. I think honestly in almost all the units in terms of defence, midfield and attack, I'd like to add some depth where we can have a little bit of adaptation, if that makes sense. So we don't become the same team. What I don't like and what I dislike is when we become one style, I need us to continue to mix that style. So yeah, I'm available, or I want to be bringing players in hopefully in each unit in order to kind of just freshen it up and just give that boost of quality and experience."

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Wolverhampton Wanderers have made contact to sign a £30m star for Rob Edwards, and the Old Gold feel he “fits the profile perfectly” at Molineux.

Wolves transfer rumours after Edwards appointment

Fosun and Wolves are ready to back Edwards in the January transfer window as they look to climb up the Premier League table and out of the relegation zone in 2026.

However, before the Old Gold can make any new additions, they’ll have to navigate eight top flight fixtures, starting this weekend at home to Crystal Palace.

Wolves’ Premier League fixtures before January

Date

Wolves vs Crystal Palace

November 22nd

Aston Villa vs Wolves

November 30th

Wolves vs Nottingham Forest

December 3rd

Wolves vs Man Utd

December 8th

Arsenal vs Wolves

December 13th

Wolves vs Brentford

December 20th

Liverpool vs Wolves

December 27th

Man Utd vs Wolves

December 30th

By the time the winter market opens, the Premier League season will be 50% complete, and with Wolves currently nine points away from safety, Edwards is facing a tough test.

It looks as if Wolves want to bolster all over the pitch following their poor start to the season as well.

A loan-to-buy bid for Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas is thought to be in the pipeline, whereas an offer is also in for Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia.

Domestically, Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips and Everton winger Dwight McNeil are two more 2026 targets, and another Etihad Stadium first-team player is on the radar at Molineux.

Wolves make contact for James Trafford

According to reports from TEAMtalk, Wolves and Fosun have made their first move to sign Man City goalkeeper James Trafford.

After returning to the club in the summer, Trafford has already dropped down the pecking order following the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, arguably the best goalkeeper in world football.

City are open to a loan-with-obligation or permanent exit in January for Trafford, valuing him up to £30m.

Wolves are firmly in the race to sign the Englishman and have even made contact, with one source from Molineux telling TEAMtalk:

However, unfortunately for Wolves and Edwards, Trafford isn’t so keen on a move the Midlands. He appears to prefer a transfer to Newcastle United instead, with the source adding:

“James wants guarantees of game time, but above all he wants to play for a club pushing upwards, not one looking over its shoulder.”

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Wolves are clearly after a new first choice shot-stopper with Sam Johnstone and Jose Sa, who are both 32 years of age, sharing the Premier League load so far. Johnstone has made seven appearances, conceding 14 goals, whereas Sa has turned out four times, letting in 11 goals.

But with Trafford preferring a move to St James’ Park where European football is on offer, perhaps Wolves may go for Mandas.

Wolves now in advanced talks to sign maestro who could be Edwards' first signing

Southampton decided to part ways with head coach Will Still after the former Lens boss only won two of his 13 matches in charge of the club in the Championship.

Interim manager Tonda Eckert has won both of his league games in the dugout so far, including a 3-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday last time out, but it remains to be seen what the future holds for him.

Irrespective of what happens now, Eckert has delivered back-to-back wins that were much-needed after a dismal start to the campaign, which led to Still’s dismissal.

Why Will Still was unfortunate to be sacked by Southampton

The Belgian-born tactician won two of his 13 league matches and averaged 0.92 points per game, per Transfermarkt, which is why it was not a surprise to see him lose his job.

However, per FotMob, Southampton rank sixth in the table for xPTS and are currently 11 places lower in the division than they would be if every game was decided by who created the higher-quality chances.

Of course, football is not played on paper and it is, ultimately, a results-based business, but these statistics suggest that performances from individuals let him down, as the Saints have underperformed their xG and conceded more than their xGA suggests that they should have.

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Whilst it is hard to know what goes on behind the scenes, perhaps Still was unable to motivate a team to win consistently, as he finished between 11th and 8th in his three seasons as a manager in France, which means that he is not used to competing at the very top of a league.

This is why Southampton could find a major upgrade on the former Lens boss by hiring reported target Brendan Rodgers as their new manager during the break.

Why Southampton should hire Brendan Rodgers

The Northern Irish manager resigned from the Celtic job last month and he could be the dream appointment for the Saints if they can convince him to drop down to the Championship.

Rodgers, who was once dubbed “world-class” by Gabriel Agbonlahor, may have the perfect track record for the situation that Southampton find themselves in, because he has experience in the Championship, the Premier League, and the Premiership.

The 52-year-old coach won promotion via the play-offs with Swansea in the 2010/11 campaign, which is relevant for where the club is now, and helped them to stay up with an 11th-placed finish in the Premier League the following season, which should be Southampton’s long-term goal.

Premier League

312

1.56

Premiership

173

2.43

Premiership top six split

15

2.20

Championship

94

1.49

Championship play-offs

3

2.33

As you can see in the table above, Rodgers is a proven Premier League manager who has excelled at Swansea, Liverpool, and Leicester City in the top-flight, which is why he would be the perfect appointment for now and in the future.

On top of that, the Northern Irishman is also a proven winner. Per Transfermarkt, he won four Scottish Premiership titles, four Scottish League Cups, and four SFA Cups with Celtic, along with an FA Cup and a Community Shield with Leicester.

This means that Rodgers has won a whopping 13 trophies in his career as a manager, whilst Southampton have not won a major trophy since the FA Cup success in 1976.

Overall, the former Celtic manager would be a major upgrade on Still, who has only managed midtable success and has no trophies under his belt, because of his career record, his history in the Championship and the Premier League, and his proven track record of winning trophies.

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If they can convince him to take the job, Rodgers could be the ideal candidate to get the Saints out of the Championship, as well as to establish them in the Premier League.

Manchester City are now rivalling Real Madrid and Arsenal for the signature of a “pacy” £52m star, who is regarded as perfect for Pep Guardiola.

Man City looking to sign new defender amid "scruffy" performances

Man City are just three points off Premier League leaders Arsenal, after taking ten points from their last four matches, signing off before the international break with a 1-0 victory away at Brentford.

However, Gary Neville has been left unconvinced by the way in which City have started the season, describing them as “scruffy” and “unpredictable”, while also suggesting it is much easier to cause their defence problems than it used to be.

Having gone seven games undefeated in all competitions, however, Guardiola will be hoping his side have turned a corner, and the manager is likely to be happy with the performances of Nico O’Reilly, who grabbed an assist in the 2-2 draw against AS Monaco.

However, according to a report from BILD (via Caught Offside), Man City have now set their sights on signing a new left-back, namely Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nathaniel Brown, who is also being targeted by Real Madrid and Arsenal.

Brown is regarded as perfect for Pep, given that the City boss deploys full-backs as auxiliary midfielders, or as touchline runners, and the Frankfurt defender is capable of slotting into those roles.

Pep is looking to bring in a new full-back able to come into midfield when required, but a deal for the one-time Germany international is likely to be on the expensive side, with the Bundesliga club only willing to cash-in for at least €60m (£52m).

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1 ByDominic Lund Oct 14, 2025 "Pacy" Brown impressing in the Bundesliga

Much like O’Reilly, the 22-year-old is capable of making a real impact on the front foot, having chipped in with three goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga last season, while he is also solid from a defensive point of view.

Indeed, the Frankfurt star is a very impressive tackler of the ball, showcasing his ability to win back possession on a regular basis over the course of the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.13 (89th percentile)

Assists

0.26 (96th percentile)

Tackles

3.37 (99th percentile)

Brown’s ability to slot in as an auxiliary midfielder is an added bonus for Pep, and Man City should undoubtedly try to get a deal done.

On a night that saw Newcastle United’s attack take lift off against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, former Magpie Shay Given hit back at Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s bizarre recent dig.

Howe: USG win a "big step" for Newcastle

Following a difficult start to their Premier League season, which was summed up by a last-gasp defeat against Arsenal last time out, Newcastle needed a good night in the Champions League. The pressure was certainly on, too. The Magpies entered their game against USG as the clear favourites and simply needed to deliver.

Goals from Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon quickly eased any fears about a potential upset, however, and the latter then scored his second penalty of the evening before Harvey Barnes rounded off a fine evening in which all of Eddie Howe’s attacking players shone.

Pleased with his side, the Newcastle boss spoke after the match: “Hopefully, it helps us when we return to the Premier League because we’ve been waiting for a performance like that where, really, we looked like we could score at any moment.

“It wasn’t a perfect performance, there’s things we can improve, but it was a big step in the right direction. It was an important stage as well in the Champions League because, as I said before, we have to start well.

“These competitions are so high, and the demands are so big on us that if we’re slow starters, we could leave ourselves too much to do. So, I certainly leave here in a lot healthier, positive frame of mind, and I’m looking forward to the next game.”

Up next for the Magpies is the visit of Nottingham Forest and Ange Postecoglou in a game that may see Woltemade score his fourth goal for the club to continue an impressive start.

Shay Given hits back at "idiot" Woltemade claim

It’s fair to say that some in Bavaria have been left with a sour taste after Newcastle signed Woltemade ahead of Bayern Munich in the summer. Ex-Bayern chief and current board supervisor Rummenigge even went as far as to say: “We shouldn’t fulfil every demand to make someone happy, especially the financiers at VfB Stuttgart.

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“I can only congratulate those in Stuttgart for finding – I’ll use quotation marks here – an idiot who paid that much money. Because we certainly wouldn’t have done that in Munich!”

Of course, that “idiot” has now seen the towering forward score three times in six games in all competitions to make £69m look like a “cheap” deal as far as former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given is concerned.

With Forest up next, Woltemade has the chance to continue the form that earned him a move to St James’ Park in the first place and the type that will continue to prove any doubters wrong.

Barcelona’s injury crisis has deepened with Pedri ruled out after suffering a hamstring tear in the aftermath of El Clasico. The midfielder, who has been a near ever-present under Hansi Flick, will miss several key fixtures as the Catalan giants face a mounting list of absentees, including Raphinha, Gavi, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, piling further pressure on the German coach ahead of a crucial run of games.

Pedri sidelined after hamstring tear adds to Barca’s injury crisis

Barcelona have confirmed that Pedri has suffered a tear in the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh, ruling him out for several weeks. The midfielder, who looked visibly fatigued during the 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, was unable to train the following morning and instead worked in the gym as medical staff assessed the damage.

The club released an official statement: “The first team player Pedri has suffered a tear in the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh. The player’s recovery will dictate his return to action.”

The 22-year-old has been Flick’s most consistent performer this season, starting all 13 of Barcelona’s competitive fixtures and logging over 1,000 minutes, more than any other player in the squad. Moreover, he started all four of Spain's World Cup qualifying matches across September and October. His relentless workload appears to have caught up with him, with fatigue and overuse likely contributing to the latest setback.

Pedri was already due to miss this weekend’s clash with Elche due to suspension, having been sent off at the end of the Clasico loss, but will now be sidelined through the international break, missing the Champions League match against Club Brugge and the La Liga fixture versus Celta Vigo.   reports that the Canary Islander midfielder could be out for up to three weeks.

AdvertisementGettyBarca’s growing fitness concerns deepen Flick’s challenges

Pedri’s injury compounds an already dire situation for Barcelona’s medical department. The club are currently without several key players, including Raphinha, Gavi, Ter Stegen and Andreas Christensen, while Lamine Yamal, Jules Kounde and Ferran Torres continue to nurse lingering fitness issues. The losses have left Flick with limited options, particularly in midfield, where Pedri’s creativity and control have been crucial. 

It’s the latest in a long string of injury blows that have derailed Barcelona’s early-season momentum. The Catalans have already endured damaging defeats against Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla and Madrid, slipping five points behind Los Blancos in La Liga. The situation highlights not only Flick’s tactical challenges but also the physical strain on a squad stretched thin by fixture congestion.

Flick turns to youth as Pedri joins growing injury list

Flick now faces the difficult task of patching together a midfield without his most influential player. The German coach is expected to rely on academy graduates such as Marc Casado, Marc Bernal, Fermin Lopez, and Dro Fernandez in the coming weeks.

While Robert Lewandowski, Joan Garcia and Dani Olmo are nearing full fitness, their returns are unlikely to offset the impact of losing Pedri, who is widely seen as the “metronome” of Barca’s midfield. The young Spaniard’s technical ability, intelligence, and vision have been irreplaceable, with his injury forcing Flick to consider tactical adjustments heading into a busy run of fixtures.

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Getty Images SportSetback before key fixtures tests Barcelona’s depth

With the Catalan giants still reeling from their Clasico defeat, Flick’s immediate focus is on stabilising results ahead of the international break in November. The Blaugrana face Elche this weekend, followed by Club Brugge in the Champions League and Celta Vigo in La Liga, all matches they must navigate without Pedri. Should his recovery go as planned, the Spain international could return to the fold after the break for crucial encounters against Athletic Club and Chelsea, but the Catalan club will not rush him back given his injury history.

For German coach Flick, Pedri’s absence could hardly come at a worse time. As the injury list grows, so does the pressure and Barcelona’s response to their recent slump in the next few weeks may determine whether they remain in contention for domestic and European honours this season.

Glasgow Rangers have just under two weeks to find a new manager to lead the Ibrox giants out in their next Scottish Premiership match after the international break.

The powers that be at Ibrox made the decision to part ways with Russell Martin on Sunday night, after a fifth draw in seven league games, and it was a decision that is hard to argue against.

Five wins in 17 matches in charge of the club in all competitions was not a record that the board could stand behind and justify to provide the head coach with more time, which is why they are now in a position where they need to replace Martin.

Rangers identify Championship manager as a target

It will be interesting to see who the likes of Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell settle on, as they are reportedly keen on bringing in an English manager.

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According to the Scottish Daily Express, Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards has emerged as a contender for the job, as Rangers are considering a move for the English coach.

The former Luton and Watford tactician only joined Boro in the summer, but the Light Blues are looking at him as a potential option to replace Martin.

Scottish Daily Express does not reveal how serious their interest is in the Championship gaffer, though, and other managers have been linked with the job.

Sean Dyche, who has been out of work since being sacked by Everton in January, is reportedly interested in joining Rangers, but Edwards would be an even better appointment.

Why Rob Edwards would be better than Sean Dyche for Rangers

One potential reason not to appoint Dyche is that he has not managed a team that has been expected to compete at the top end of a league table since the 2015/16 campaign with Burnley in the Championship.

He has finished 10th or lower in eight of his last nine seasons as a manager, with seventh being the highest finish in those nine years, per Transfermarkt, which means that it may be difficult to adjust to the expectations at Ibrox.

Edwards, however, won the League Two title with Forest Green Rovers in the 2021/22 campaign, won the play-offs in the Championship with Luton Town in the 2022/23 season, and is currently second in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

The English tactician, who has played a 3-4-3 system with Boro (Transfermarkt), has won five and lost one of his first nine league matches in charge of his current club, which is in stark contrast to Martin’s dismal form for Rangers in the Premiership.

25/26 Championship

Middlesbrough

League rank

xGA

7.2

1st

Goals against

6

1st

Goals against per 90

0.67

1st

Non-penalty xGA

7.2

3rd

Shots on target against

17

1st

Clean sheets

4

2nd

Stats via FBref

As you can see in the table above, his Middlesbrough side have been one of the standout teams, if not the standout team, from a defensive perspective in the Championship this season.

Edwards, who journalist Mark Ogden described as an “ultra-positive” manager, has shown that he can coach a solid defensive unit as part of a team that is competing at the top of the table, whilst his coaching history shows that he can win titles and improve teams, like Forest Green Rovers and Luton.

This suggests that he would be the perfect fit for what Rangers currently need after the 24 goals conceded in 17 matches under Martin, because of his ability to coach an impressive defence.

He would be an even better appointment than Dyche, as well, because he has a recent track record of competing for titles or promotion, including the current season, whilst the former Burnley boss has been a perennial survival specialist for the past decade.

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Therefore, the Light Blues should realise their interest in Edwards by approaching Middlesbrough to discuss a potential deal for the manager, rather than moving for Dyche.

Now that the Alexander Isak debacle is over, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe can get to work and make headway throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

While PIF’s intent was always to keep the Sweden international on the books this summer, Newcastle, having won last year’s Carabao Cup and qualified for the Champions League with a fifth-place Premier League finish, his obstinacy in forcing his way out of St. James’ Park made it a tricky situation to circumvent.

Luckily, the Magpies have pulled through with some shrewd dealings over the past couple of months, and Howe will feel that he has a squad fit to challenge, having replaced Isak and Callum Wilson with two new strikers.

Newcastle's centre-forward changes

Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions last season, including 23 in the Premier League, putting him behind only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.

Replacing him was never going to be an easy task, but Howe must be content with the £50m addition of Yoane Wissa from Brentford, with the 28-year-old having posted 19 strikes across the 2024/25 campaign.

Wissa doesn’t have the depth of technical quality or range of weapons as Isak, but he should provide a consistent outlet in the final third.

And with Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade having also signed in a club-record £69m deal last month, Newcastle have the potential to refashion their frontline into something special.

Newcastle have signed one of the most exciting young forwards in world football, but the jury is very much out as to whether he will hit the ground running in the Premier League – not least after netting just 17 goals in 2024/25, only 12 of which came in the Bundesliga.

With Isak now gone, Howe may well rue the sale of another free-scoring Premier League forward a few years ago.

Newcastle must regret selling the original Wissa

Newcastle signed Chris Wood from Burnley in a £25m deal in January 2022, part of a shake-up after PIF swooped in and changed the Toon’s trajectory.

Where Are They Now

Like Wissa, the one-time Leeds United man was a relative short-term solution, having moved to St James’ at the age of 30.

Like Wissa too, Wood had more than proven his Premier League credentials prior to making the switch, arriving in the North East after reaching double figures for league goals in each of his four full top-flight campaigns at Turf Moor.

In all, the 6 foot 3 striker netted 49 goals in 144 games for the Clarets in the top tier, a remarkably similar record to Wissa’s own return of 45 goals in 137 league games back in west London.

Unfortunately, Wood subsequently looked “a bit lost” during his time at the club, as pundit Tam McManus remarked at the time, only scoring five goals across his 39 appearances.

However, Wood has bounced back and then some with the Tricky Trees, sensational last season as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side qualified for Europe.

His 20-goal return surpassed both Wissa and Woltemade’s respective hauls, and given the consistency of his output in the Premier League, Howe may well regret having issued his sale so prematurely.

25/26 (NFFC)

3

2 (0)

24/25 (NFFC)

36

20 (3)

23/24 (NFFC)

31

14 (1)

22/23 (NFFC)

7

1 (0)

21/22 (NUFC)

18

2 (0)

20/21 (NUFC

17

2 (0)

The towering talisman resurrected his career at the City Ground, but it goes to show that the quality was always there, and that he might have gone from strength to strength on Tyneside had he been given more time.

But the decision to sign Isak ended his chances of becoming a superstar in black and white.

Wood might be 33 now, but he’s showing little sign of slowing down, having bagged himself a brace on the opening day of the season as Forest beat Brentford 3-1.

Had he found his footing on Tyneside, the New Zealand native might have eased the drama of the past few months and then some, providing Howe’s side with a clinical outlet over these past few weeks, which have yielded little in terms of success in the final third.

As painful as Isak: Howe must regret selling "phenomenal" Newcastle talent

This former Newcastle star could have been a superstar in Eddie Howe’s system.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 2, 2025