Three wickets in reply keep contest in balance after first-day wash-out

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay16-Sep-2025Gloucestershire 65 for 3 (Bracey 18*, Price 16*) trail Northamptonshire 206 (Zaib 76, McManus 44, van Buuren 3-23, M Taylor 3-48) by 141 runsMatt Taylor and Graeme van Buuren produced standout performances with the ball as Gloucestershire made up for lost time on day two of their match Rothesay County Championship Second Division match against Northamptonshire at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.Following a first-day washout, left arm seamer Taylor returned figures of 3 for 48 to take out the top-order, while slow left armer van Buuren claimed 3 for 23 to rip through the tail as Northants were dismissed for 206 in 63.5 overs in their first innings after losing the toss.Only Saif Zaib mustered meaningful resistance, the in-form left-hander top-scoring with 76 to take his first-class run tally for the season to 1,268 at an average of 63.4. Stubborn opener Lewis McManus contributed an obdurate 44, but too many Northants batters surrendered their wickets cheaply on a day when bowlers held sway.Gloucestershire fared no better in the final session, reduced to 40 for 3 by some incisive new-ball bowling from Northamptonshire’s seamers. Ollie Price and James Bracey then held firm to reach the close unbeaten on 16 and 18 respectively, bad light curtailing play with 11.4 overs unused. The fourth wicket pair will resume on 65 for 3 in the morning, still 141 runs behind.Stand-in Gloucestershire captain Bracey won the toss, elected to bowl and looked on from behind the stumps as Northants openers Luke Procter and McManus negotiated the first hour without any major scares on a green-tinged pitch. Only when Matt Taylor switched to the Bristol Pavilion end did Gloucestershire enjoy success, the left arm seamer hitting the top of Procter’s off stump with a ball that nipped back. Having chiseled 21 from 40 deliveries with three boundaries, Northamptonshire’s skipper departed with the score on 34. Taylor struck again three balls later, new batsman Calvin Harrison playing on as the visitors slipped to 39 for 2 in the 14th.That soon became 54 for 3, Josh Shaw locating James Sales’ outside edge and Ben Charlesworth taking a tumbling catch at first slip as the home side registered a first bonus point. Mindful of the need to shore things up, McManus continued to eschew risk as he moved to within seven runs of a half century, but Zaib adopted a more forthright approach, twice driving Ajeet Singh Dale for four and punching Zaman Akhter to the deep mid-wicket boundary as the fourth wicket partnership advanced to 46 by the time lunch was taken with the score on 100 for 3.The stand was worth 65 when Taylor made the breakthrough Gloucestershire so badly needed, McManus playing down the wrong line to a ball that hit off stump and terminated his patient innings on 44. He had faced 92 balls and accrued 3 fours and Northants were back under pressure at 119 for 4. Broad never looked comfortable against Singh Dale’s pace and was caught at the wicket for 12 with the score 147 for 5 as Gloucestershire’s seamers made further in-roads.Unfazed by events at the other end, Zaib continued to play positively, raising 50 from 78 balls with 9 fours and prompting Gloucestershire skipper Bracey to introduce spin in the form of van Buuren from the Ashley Down Road end. Zaib issued a statement of intent, hoisting the slow left armer over deep mid-wicket for six as he progressed towards three figures.Bidding to become only the fifth Northants player and the first since Rob Bailey in 1990 to score seven first class hundreds in a season, the 27-year-old left-hander fell short on this occasion, pushing defensively at a delivery from Akhter and edging a catch behind. His score of 76 from 112 balls included 10 fours and a six and served to keep his team afloat. Rob Keogh and Aadi Sharma mustered resistance thereafter, the seventh wicket pair making it through to tea with the score 194 for 6.Sharma fell soon after the restart, hitting van Buuren’s first delivery high to mid-on where Matt Taylor took a comfortable catch to reduce Northants to 199 for 7. Gloucestershire’s experienced all-rounder struck a further blow with his next delivery, pinning Ben Sanderson lbw without scoring as the visitors displayed signs of lower-order fragility. Ben Whitehouse survived the hat-trick ball, but the home side sensed an opportunity to dismiss their opponents cheaply.When Keogh was bowled for 13 in the act of playing across the line, van Buuren had claimed three wickets in a remarkable nine-ball burst and Northants were in freefall. Singh Dale wrapped up the innings in quick time, bowling Sanderson for six in the next over, at which point the visitors had lost their last five wickets for just 28 runs in 10 overs.If Gloucestershire’s intention was to see off the new-ball threat posed by Sanderson, it proved easier said than done, the veteran seamer summoning a superb in-swinger to bowl Charlesworth for 14 in an impressive spell of 1 for 10 in six overs with three maidens. Broad then accounted for Joe Phillips, who nicked off to Harrison at second slip, while Procter bowled Miles Hammond as the home side lurched to 40-3 inside 19 overs.Bracey and Price batted diligently thereafter, staging an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 25 to keep the visitors at bay.

D’Arcy Short, the former Australia batter, has agreed a return to Gloucestershire for next season’s T20 Blast.Short, 35, finished as the leading run-scorer after the group stage of this year’s Blast, with 551 at a strike rate of 136.04, although his form wasn’t enough to propel defending champions Gloucestershire into the quarter-finals, as they finished seventh in the South Group.”It’s so great to see D’Arcy back for the 2026 Blast,” Mark Alleyne, Gloucestershire’s head coach, said. “After a slow start, he proved to be such a brilliant addition to the Glorious, becoming the leading run-scorer across the two groups.”He is much more than that, though, as some of his innings can really put the opponent on the back foot. His bowling, too, can offer an option to complement our attack, so we look forward to his return with huge anticipation.”Short, who made the last of his 31 Australia appearances in 2020, said: “I’m excited to be coming back to Gloucestershire for the Blast again. I loved my time last year. The club makes you feel welcome, and hopefully we can build on last year and have success and make it into finals.”

On Wednesday, the Pohlad family announced a shocking reversal of course regarding the sale of the Twins.

In a statement, the Pohlads revealed they would no longer be pursuing a sale of the franchise and instead will retain ownership of the Twins while adding two "significant limited partnership groups." The ownership group had spent the last year looking into selling the franchise.

"For more than four decades, our family has had the privilege of owning the Minnesota Twins," the statement read. "This franchise has become part of our family story, as it has for our employees, our players, this community, and Twins fans everywhere.

"Over the past several months, we explored a wide range of potential investment and ownership opportunities. Our focus throughout has been on what's best for the long-term future of the Twins. We have been fully open to all possibilities.

"After a detailed and robust process, our family will remain the principal owner of the Minnesota Twins. To strengthen the club in a rapidly evolving sports landscape – one that demands strong partnerships, fresh ideas, and long-term vision – we are in the process of adding two significant limited partnership groups, each of whom will bring a wealth of experience and share our family values.

"We see and hear the passion from our partners, the community, and Twins fans. This ownership group is committed to building a winning team and culture for this region, one that Twins fans are proud to cheer for."

Back in March reported the Pohlads were seeking a sale price of at least $1.7 billion and that the team had accrued over $425 million in debt, which may have complicated a possible sale.

The Pohlads now embark upon their promised quest of building a "winning team and culture" in Minnesota, which has proven difficult during their 40-plus year stewardship. It will be even more difficult going forward after the Twins underwent a dramatic firesale at the MLB trade deadline and shipped off most of the top talent on the roster, headlined by Jhoan Duran and Carlos Correa.

يستهدف ثنائي مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي، الرحيل عن صفوف الفريق خلال سوق الانتقالات الشتوي في يناير المقبل، بحسب ما ورد في تقارير صحفية.

ومر مانشستر سيتي بموسم صعب تحت قيادة بيب جوارديولا، ولم يتمكن من الظفر بأي لقب، ويأمل في العودة للمنافسة مجددًا هذا الموسم.

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز الثاني في ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بـ 25 نقطة، خلف آرسنال المتصدر بـ 30 نقطة، بعد مرور 13 جولة.

وبحسب ما أفادت صحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية، يتطلع اثنان من حراس المرمى إلى الرحيل عن مانشستر سيتي خلال انتقالات يناير.

اقرأ أيضًا | جوارديولا يعلن موقف رودري من مباراة مانشستر سيتي وفولهام

ويوضح التقرير أن جيمس ترافورد وستيفن أورتيجا يرغبان في مغادرة صفوف مانشستر سيتي، في ظل التراجع الملحوظ لدورهما، خاصة بعد التعاقد مع دوناروما.

وكان مانشستر سيتي تعاقد مع جيمس ترافورد من بيرنلي حيث عاد مجددًا لمانشستر سيتي في أوائل أغسطس.

وتوقع ترافورد دورًا رئيسيًا مع السيتي، لكن التعاقد مع دوناروما من باريس سان جيرمان، أثر على مشاركته تحت قيادة جوارديولا.

وسيضطر مانشستر سيتي للبحث عن بدائل في انتقالات يناير، إذا أبلغ ترافورد وأورتيجا النادي برغبتهما رسميًا.

والسيناريو الأقرب هو رحيل أحدهما وبقاء الآخر، وسينظر مانشستر سيتي في العروض المقدمة على أن تكون مناسبة له.

Anthony Rizzo is returning to where it all started as he caps off his stellar career.

Rizzo, beloved in Chicago, will retire as a Cub and be honored in a ceremony on Saturday at Wrigley Field, ESPN's Jesse Rogers reports. From there he'll become an ambassador for the organization.

The heart and soul of the 2016 World Series champion team that broke free of the most famous curses in sports history, Rizzo is finishing off a 14-year stint in the Major Leagues.

The sweet-swinging lefty made three All-Star teams in a row and finished in the top 10 of National League MVP voting in four consecutive years while playing on Chicago's North Side. He also racked up four Gold Gloves for his work at first base.

All told he collected 303 home runs and posted a .828 OPS over 1,727 games.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Flamengo perdeu para o Palestino na quarta rodada da Libertadores. Com isso, os rubro-negros se revoltaram com o resultado e externaram o sentimento após o apito final. A enquete foi realizada no canal do WhatsApp do Lance! Flamengo.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoWeb critica relação de Tite com jogador do Flamengo: ‘Só coloca quando o calo aperta’Fora de Campo08/05/2024Fora de CampoWeb compara trabalho de Tite com de outros técnicos do Flamengo: ‘Nota zero’Fora de Campo07/05/2024Fora de CampoInternautas perdem a paciência com jogador do Flamengo: ‘Menos um’Fora de Campo07/05/2024

➡️ Siga o Lance! Flamengo no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Rubro-Negro

Os rubro-negros definiram que a derrota do Flamengo na Libertadores foi um “vexame” com 80% dos votos (1 mil votos). Por outro lado, alguns torcedores não concordaram com os mais revoltados, com 20% dos votos (254 votos).

Além das enquetes e muita interação, os rubro-negros podem acompanhar muito conteúdo e informação no canal do Lance! Flamengo no WhatsApp.

Como faço para participar? Clique aqui para entrar no canal Lance! Flamengo no WhatsApp, a casa da Nação.

Tudo sobre

FlamengoFutebol NacionalLibertadoresTite

Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to 10-man Everton in the Premier League on Monday night highlights the job Ruben Amorim still has on his hands at Old Trafford.

Kiernan Drewsbury-Hall’s effort in the first half was enough to secure all three points for David Moyes’ men, which will no doubt leave the Red Devils boss scratching his head.

His men spent 77 minutes with a one-man advantage, but none of his first-team squad could pop up with the goods to extend their unbeaten run in England’s top-flight.

Despite spending £200m on a new attacking trio over the summer, the Red Devils looked largely toothless in front of goal, as seen by their tally of 100% big chances missed.

However, the manager will desperately want added reinforcements in the upcoming January window to aid him in his quest for success during his time at Old Trafford.

United’s hunt for added attacking signings in January

Over the last couple of weeks, Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has been identified as just one player whom United are targeting for the January transfer window.

The Ghanaian international has been in remarkable form during the early stages of 2025/26, with the winger already netting six goals and three assists in just 11 appearances for the Cherries.

However, Amorim’s men aren’t alone in the pursuit of the 25-year-old, with Arsenal and Liverpool just two other top-flight clubs seeking a £65m move for his signature.

He’s not the only player on the Red Devils’ shortlist, with Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior a player who INEOS are potentially considering a move for in the coming months.

According to The Mirror, the Brazilian international could leave the LaLiga giants in the coming months, with the forward having just 19 months left on his current deal – leading to keen interest from the Red Devils.

It also states his recent bust-up with senior members at the Bernabeu could see them cash in on his services to avoid losing him for nothing in the near future.

How Vinicius Junior compares to Bryan Mbeumo

As part of their £200m spending spree in the summer, United forked out a reported £71m on the services of forward Bryan Mbeumo from fellow Premier League side Brentford.

The Cameroonian generated huge excitement within the Red Devils fanbase after netting 20 times in the league last season, with the 26-year-old already making an excellent start to life at Old Trafford.

He’s already netted five goals in his first 12 league outings for the club, with such a tally currently making him the top goalscorer within Amorim’s squad.

However, his showing against Everton yesterday was one to forget, with the attacker struggling to provide the goods amid the absence of Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha.

Mbeumo was only able to register a single effort on target whilst also failing to complete any of his three attempted dribbles – further highlighting his lack of impact in the final third.

There’s no doubt he’s been a shrewd addition to date, but ultimately, he hasn’t been able to get near the levels produced by Vinicius during his opening matches in LaLiga.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats this campaign, the Brazilian has massively outperformed Mbeumo – showcasing why he’d be a better addition for the Red Devils.

Vinicius, who’s been dubbed the “best in the world” by Thierry Henry, has racked up more combined goals and assists this season – subsequently handing Amorim a more threatening option in front of goal.

He’s also registered more key passes and more passes into the final third per 90, with such numbers allowing those around him to be on the end of more chances in attacking areas.

The Brazilian’s all-round dominance over Mbeumo is further highlighted in his higher take-on success and greater tally of carries into the final third per 90, which showcases his ability to go alone when needed.

A player of Vini Jr’s quality would cost a small fortune in today’s market, with such a move likely to break the club’s current transfer record of £89m paid for Paul Pogba.

However, it would be a deal worth every penny, with the winger having all of the tools to take the United frontline to the next level for many years to come under Amorim’s guidance.

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed

Manchester United’s flaws were brutally exposed in Monday’s dismal defeat to Everton.

By
Robbie Walls

Nov 25, 2025

Australian played key role in 2010-11 win in Australia and was also involved in 2023 campaign

Cameron Ponsonby17-Oct-2025

David Saker has been appointed as England’s fast-bowling coach for the upcoming Ashes series, reprising a role he has held regularly over the last 15 years.Saker’s appointment comes with confirmation that Tim Southee, England’s current fast-bowling coach, will leave the squad after the first Test in Perth to play in the ILT20.Saker and Southee will work together for the warm-up fixture against the Lions in Perth as well as the opening Test, before Saker will take on the role himself. It has also been confirmed that Paul Collingwood, who has been absent from the coaching staff across the summer due to personal reasons, will not be part of the touring party. The rest of the support staff remains unchanged.Saker has long been a coach that England have turned to. He was the fast-bowling coach from 2010 to 2015, and played a key role when England last won an away Ashes in 2010-11. More recently, he was brought back into the fold for their T20 World Cup victory in 2022 and for the Ashes and ODI World Cup in 2023.The Australian’s official title will be “Specialist Skills Consultant” but he has been brought in specifically to work with the fast-bowling group and to provide local knowledge of how to succeed Down Under.It continues a theme of English, and world wide, coaching appointments where teams opt to hire on a short term basis to provide specific insight into the conditions they are about to face. England themselves hired Mike Hussey and Kieron Pollard for the recent T20 World Cups in Australia and the Caribbean respectively, while earlier this year South Africa hired Stuart Broad as a consultant for their World Test Championship final at Lord’s.While Saker’s appointment comes at the eleventh hour, it is a continuation of England’s long-term plan to take a “battery” of fast bowlers to Australia in an effort to win only their second away Ashes since 1987.England will take arguably their fastest ever seam attack to Australia, with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts in the squad. Furthermore, with the England Lions also touring at the same time, they will be able to call upon the likes of Sonny Baker, Josh Hull and Matt Fisher if they so wish.Josh Tongue chats to Saker during the 2023 Ashes•Philip Brown/Getty Images

Speaking in September, managing director Rob Key spoke of his excitement for a bowling group “on the up”, with, subject to any late fitness issues, England taking a full-strength attack.”We’ve worked so hard to get to this point,” Key said. “It is the last little step. So we get this bit right and hopefully we have every option available to us going into that First Test in Perth.”England also confirmed that Gilbert Enoka, the mental skills coach who is most famous for coining the All Blacks famous “no d*ckheads policy”, will work with the squad in the lead up to the first Test.Enoka, who lives in Christchurch, worked with the Test squad for the first time earlier this year, and is currently with the white-ball team as they prepare for their series against New Zealand.Related

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“He’s awesome,” white-ball captain Harry Brook said of Enoka. “He’s been around the Test side a little bit and he’s a great bloke. He brings a lot of knowledge to the mental side of the game which is a vital part of cricket and professional sport. To have him in the ranks, just to be able to pull for a chat for five or 10 minutes is awesome.”Ahead of this three-match T20 and ODI series, Brook also spoke of a desire to change his white-ball approach, saying that he’d been “disappointed” with his recent performances in the shorter formats.”I feel like I’ve been premeditating quite a lot,” Brook said to talkSPORT. “And there’s one goal for me this series is just to try and play on instinct as much as possible.”When I’m at my best, I’m hitting straight and then I’m adapting to line and length.”Brook made just one white-ball half century for England across the summer from 11 innings, although his average remained above 30 and his strike-rate was healthy across both formats.New Zealand cricket announced that Saturday’s opening T20 at Hagley Oval will be a sell-out. It is a coup for the series, given the cold evening weather in October and a clash with a domestic rugby final featuring Canterbury that had threatened to hurt ticket sales.”It’s pretty outstanding,” New Zealand’s captain Mitchell Santner said. “Hopefully we can put on a bit of a show and it’ll be a great contest.”Santner also announced his XI for the match, with himself and Rachin Ravindra returning, while Bevon Jacobs, Zak Foulkes and Devon Conway miss out from the squad of 14.New Zealand XI 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Mark Chapman, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Tim Robinson, 5 Michael Bracewell, 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Jimmy Neesham, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Kyle Jamieson, 11 Jacob Duffy

Australia’s new No.3 made a frustrating 26 off 37 as questions on his role remain

Andrew McGlashan04-Jul-2025It just looks like a frustrating score: 26 off 37 balls. Some hard work done, but no big pay day. For Cameron Green on the opening day in Grenada, it must have felt especially so.His career at No. 3 is still in its infancy, but now his five innings read: 4, 0, 3, 15 and 26. He has been backed for the role by captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald, although right now there is nowhere else for him to bat. Steven Smith has returned to No. 4 (when not injured) and it doesn’t appear he’ll be moving again. Meanwhile, the success Beau Webster has enjoyed early in his career, which continued at the National Stadium, is making him look like someone with a future at No. 6.It’s possible to make a link between the current progress of Green and Webster. Had Webster not been so impressive early in his career – he now has four half-centuries in nine innings – and if Green returns to bowling in time for the Ashes as it’s hoped will happen, there could have been a world where he nudged out Webster and returned to his initial Test match position at No. 6, at least until No. 4 became available in the longer-term.Related

• 'Today was a nice sign' – Green hoping to trend upwards at No.3

• Half-centuries from Smith and Green give Australia control

• King and Seales do their bit to make West Indies' grand plan work

• Seales' late strikes, King's 75 put Australia under pressure

• Webster and Carey rescue Australia after another top-order slump

Now it’s very hard to see Webster going anywhere after showing his adaptability on a wild pitch against India at the SCG, turners in Galle, the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, and now a Test-and-a-bit in the West Indies.”I’ve played six Tests now in four different countries with three different balls,” Webster said. “To come to countries I’ve never played in and with a ball I’ve never used before, just to be able to try and learn on my feet and try and get some info from some of the other guys, then go about my business my way, that’s probably the one thing I’ve learned.”Hopefully I can capitalise on one of these fifties at some stage, but at the moment I’m happy to contribute and get us to a defendable total.”Green has found it a challenge to secure a settled home in the Test side in the last two years. A few months after a maiden Test century at No. 6 in Ahmedabad, he struggled in the 2023 Ashes and eventually lost his place to Mitchell Marsh. Then, after being recalled against West Indies and New Zealand in early 2024 and making a superb 174 not out in Wellington at No. 4 – when Smith was opening – he was only able to keep that role for four games.

“The way [Konstas and Green] particularly started today, I thought it was exceptional. They put a bit of pressure back on their bowlers and made them change a little bit”Beau Webster

A back injury ruled him out of the 2024-25 season, but Smith was always likely to move away from opening against India, leaving some uncertainty about whether Green would have remained at No. 4.Therefore Green, someone marked out as generational player who would be the fulcrum of Australia’s future batting orders, is at an important juncture of a Test career that now has a not-insignificant sample size of 31 Tests.On Thursday in Grenada, he had a base to work with after Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja had opened with 47. It took Green eight balls to get off the mark. He then was squared up by an excellent delivery from Alzarri Joseph, which took the back hip and momentarily got the West Indians excited.Next ball, Alzarri Joseph strayed and Green clipped him firmly between midwicket and mid-on. In the following over against the quick, Green was beaten by a superb delivery which climbed and moved away.Then it felt like, perhaps, things were about to click. Alzarri Joseph dropped short and Green crunched him through square leg. The next ball was fuller and Green drilled it straight of mid-off; when he’s driving straight it’s often a sign his game is in good order.When Shamar Joseph returned for a spell before lunch, he dropped one short and wide which Green leathered over the covers, not even trying to keep the ball down. This had the feel of a better tempo innings from him.Beau Webster’s form adds to queries on Cameron Green•AFP/Getty Images”The way [Konstas] and Greeny particularly started today I thought it was exceptional,” Webster said. “They put a bit of pressure back on their bowlers and made them change a little bit.”Then came the final over before lunch. Taking a big stride forward to Jayden Seales, Green drove on the up straight to cover where John Campbell spilled a simple chance. It was hands on head from West Indies, and perhaps something a little more emotional from coach Daren Sammy. They had seen the cost of dropped catches in Barbados.For Green, meanwhile, it was a massive reprieve. A chance to regather and reset during the lunch break and make the most of the start he had worked hard for in conditions that, while not as tough as Barbados, were still demanding for the top order. He got himself off strike next ball, but a single to Travis Head meant he was facing the last delivery before lunch.It was a touch fuller from Seales, Green came forward to drive again when it could have been left alone. There was some lovely late shape from Seales, whose strength is getting the ball to swing. Green drove hard and the thick edge flew high to Roston Chase at gully, where he had moved for this match in a switch with Brandon King who shifted to first slip after the catching woes of the first Test. Chase took it safely.Relief for West Indies, frustration for Green. His wait for another breakthrough goes on.

England manager Thomas Tuchel was in attendance at Old Trafford on Monday night for the Premier League meeting between Manchester United and Everton. After the Toffees claimed a first win at the stadium in 12 years, the German was seen in the tunnel speaking with Jack Grealish, setting speculation in motion that an international recall ahead of the World Cup is coming.

Grealish bouncing back with Everton

After losing his way at Manchester City last season, Grealish is having a resurgent year on loan with Everton in 2025-26. He's back to starting pretty much every game – he's only been left out when he was ineligible against his parent club last month – and played 87 minutes of the dogged Old Trafford display, in which the Toffees were at a player disadvantage for most of it after Idrissa Gueye was sent off.

After the final whistle, Everton's social media team captured a moment that saw Tuchel with his arm around Grealish, before the pair engaged in an inaudible friendly discussion. The England manager had also sought out 24-year-old Toffees star James Garner, who has never been capped at senior international level but could potentially play his way into the squad by next summer's World Cup if he continues to perform and impress. Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo showed before Euro 2024 that current form, rather than international experience, is what matters.

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Grealish back on England's radar?

Grealish hasn't been called up by England in over a year, making the most recent of his 39 caps to date in October 2024, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring in a UEFA Nations League win over Finland. He'd earlier missed Euro 2024 after failing to make the jump from the provisional squad to the final cut, and hasn't been regularly called up since late 2023. The former Aston Villa winger previously appeared in all five of England's games at the 2022 World Cup, and featured in five out of seven at Euro 2020. He's only scored four international goals, but so has Phil Foden – in more games.

It's not particularly clear who else Tuchel would have been there to specifically watch.

Jordan Pickford had a splendid game for Everton, notably denying Joshua Zirkzee a Manchester United equaliser with a world-class save as he flew to his right, but the goalkeeper's place as England starter could hardly be any more nailed on. Despite a middling club career, he's the best goalkeeper England have had in a generation, and perhaps one of the best ever to rival Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton. Tuchel doesn't really need to watch him to know that.

Luke Shaw started for Manchester United, making all his appearances so far this season as a left-sided centre-back. Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount appeared off the bench in red. In the Everton ranks, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane have been out of the England picture for seven and five years respectively, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could be another wildcard Tuchel is interested in.

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Getty Images SportGrealish needs to keep pushing

An England recall in time for the World Cup will only come if Grealish is a better option than the other left wingers at Tuchel's disposal, so he needs to keep doing what he's doing to prove himself, and probably add more measurable goal contributions.

Grealish has five goals and assists to his name in the Premier League since joining Everton, but the sole goal came before the October international break and he hasn't assisted since August. Competition in the England squad primarily lies in Antony Gordon, Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze.

There is now a lengthy break until the next international fixtures on the calendar, but plenty of eyes will be on Tuchel's squad list for the March 2026 window – England's opponents are yet to be confirmed but will form the first part of the countdown to the World Cup.